4. Restaurants

Oishii Sushi Bar

612 Hammond St, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467
  • (617) 277-7888
  • Store is closed

Oishii Sushi Bar Menu

  • Cold Appetizers
  • Soups
  • Salads
  • Entree
  • Dessert

Healthy Meal suggestions for Oishii Sushi Bar

  • Cold Appetizers
  • Soups
  • Salads
  • Entree
  • Dessert

Visit below restaurant in Chestnut Hill for healthy meals suggestion.

Chestnut Hill Restaurant ( 616 Hammond St )
Panera Bread ( 220 Boylston St,Ste 1 )

Visit below restaurant in Chestnut Hill for healthy meals suggestion.

Panera Bread ( 220 Boylston St,Ste 1 )

  • Jake M.

    OMG!!! I LOVE this place!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    (5)

  • richard s.

    Yum. Sushi, cooked food, everything. Be prepared to wait as the place is tiny (15 seats total). Prices reasonable for the quality of food.

    (5)

  • Kate P.

    If you're cool with the fact that this place is TINY, usually has Law and Order playing on the TV, and the chairs have tennis balls on the legs to help them scoot more easily, this is a great place to go for incredible sushi at a great price. Compared to their South End location, the food is less abstract and what you would expect of a traditional sushi bar. My favorite is the super white tuna maki. Really incredible taste and so fresh. Definitely a great place to watch some awesome sushi chefs at work.

    (4)

  • Juggy W.

    Wake up people... just because a place is always packed, it doesnt mean it is 5-star good. the sushi here is decent... on par with sushi man but more expensive.... but their menu does offer more innovative items. 1 tip - just do takeout.... unless ur one of those morons who would wait outside for 5 days for a stupid iPhone... the thing is you cant even resell your oiishi sushi on eBay for profit. btw this place is so tiny that its not handicap accessible... that almost makes me wanna give 1 less star.

    (4)

  • Jose T.

    INCREIBLE There are not many accolades I can add to this amazing sushi bar other than I have not had better even in the big bad NYC. Yes it is cramped and if you are looking for ambiance this is not the place for you. What I can offer is some pointers for eating in: Try to go during the middle of the week before 7:30PM (they are closed on Monday). Call ahead and put your name on the list. Be realistic about your arrival time or you may get passed over if they call your name and you are not there. Some highlight dishes: baby hamachi, black cod with sweet miso sauce, white tiger roll, Jeffrey's Roll and "the Maki" but generally all of the sushi is delicious.

    (5)

  • Ha T.

    I live in the city and decided to venture out on the T after hearing mucho about it! It's literally a tic-tac box.. but certainly worth bumping elbows with strangers for. The sashimi is uber fresh! Go there.. everyone has... it's worth the try! Make the day of it and go to Bloomies up the street!

    (4)

  • Natalia T.

    This place should definetly be take out only, because even if you manage to get a spot at this tiny sushi bar, you always have people walking by, pushing you and you feel like you're in a way ... and everybody coming in for a take out just ruins your atmosphere. Now taste ... I really don't see what the buzz is all about. It's good, but it's not amazing and best ever. I'd order from there just because it's not too far away from our house, but it's nothing I would flip over backwards for.

    (3)

  • Chewie L.

    OMG. I love this place. It's a ways from where I live and I got lost the first time trying to get there... my girlfriend and I actually got into a bit of an argument since I didn't know where I was going... but all was forgotten and forgiven after arriving at the restaurant. VERY VERY SMALL.. but it made me feel like I was getting the real experience. Definitely sit at the bar, that way you can watch what the sushi chefs are whipping up and order more as the really delicious stuff comes up. Everything there is so well made and presented. The toro, the spicy scallop roll, the beef negima. Also, very reasonable priced for the quality and amount of food that you get. I've gone several times since that first time and always try to try something else... For whatever reason, it just really hits the spot for me. The only sushi restaurant that I've been to more than once. Sometimes, I dream of Oishii.

    (5)

  • Iska B.

    I had gone here awhile ago after reading all the reviews on Yelp...and the fact that it has remained number one on the "Best of Yelp" list since I've joined. I didn't write the review until I had compared it with other sushi. OK yeah this place wins. It is really really too bad that it is so annoyingly small and cramped and that you have to bump elbows with the person next to you because the food is incredible. It's so damn fresh that I swear they kill the fish minutes before they serve it. On top of that the rolls are so artfully prepared that they are a "feast for the eyes" as well as for your mouth. It really is the best in Boston. I suppose I have to suck it up and learn to deal with having my conversations overheard by the people next to me. Although I suppose my mouth will most likely be stuffed with sushi so I won't be saying much at all. Going on weekday nights is your best bet if you don't want to wait. I've been on Wednesdays at around 8PM and we didn't have long to wait. Parking was easy then too.

    (5)

  • Annie c.

    Really fresh and wonderful sushi. This is where i really got into sushi as a student. It's tiny so if there's a long wait, i just get take out. A bit out of the way from boston and definitely need a car, but worth the drive

    (4)

  • T T.

    This restaurant is a bit out of the way, but it is definitely worth the trip. The sushi bar is incredibly small, so make sure you get there early. The sushi there is nothing short of amazing. I haven't been to the new Boston location, but I'm sure that the Chestnut HIll restaurant is much more relaxed and (probably) more enjoyable. It is a real treat to see such masterful sushi chefs prepare your meal right in front of you!

    (5)

  • N J.

    BFF wanted to take us to Oishii after reading rave reviews on Yelp. Takeout took a long time, but was expected. I think we waited too long to eat the sashimi (had to make a beer run first before 11 pm) ...because it was good but nothing special. I think we should've gotten rolls, etc. I'll probably update this review after a second take.

    (4)

  • Robert C.

    Used to be that Oishi had the fattest, freshest sushi in the entire Boston area...that's passe. I have witnessed the piece sizes gradually minimizing to where I almost need a magnifying glass to find them. Go ahead, compare with Super Fusion on Washington Street, Brookline, and you will instantly know what I mean. I can't in all good conscience get my takeout at Oishi again, though they are very conveniently located for me.

    (2)

  • Jungmin L.

    Much fresher and more creative than any other sushi/roll place in boston. The only downside is that there may be a wait due to the small number of seats available. The evan's roll is torched just right - Fugakyu torched rolls are hard, torching is a delicate technique. Rice/mayo/pop of roe - just right balance. I would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Matthew A.

    Thanks to fellow Yelper Mihirr S. for pointing out this fine BYOB restaurant. See my full list of all BYO Establishments in New England.

    (5)

  • Joanne R.

    I don't know why I didn't write a review before this as I practically live at this place as literally I can walk to it! I usually get to do and have friends over, as unless you go early, the wait is long as they only have bar seating and one table. Everything and I mean EVERYTHING on their menu is fresh and delicious and the presentation is awesome. While they also opened a restaurant in Boston, which I haven't tried, it doesn't get better than here at Oishii!

    (5)

  • Jonathan L.

    Not much to say that hasn't already been said. I had read some reviews and had pretty much known what to expect. The limited seating and lines out the door didn't shock me too much. The price didn't shock me either, as I knew I was getting top quality. Went with the girlfriend on a Sunday night around 5PM. Figured we'd get take-out since there was a line. But damn, the chefs were so fast that we could have easily gotten a seat. To make a long story short, the sushi was awesome. We shared a chef's choice plate a tempura shrimp sushi roll. Very fresh. I definitely want to try Oishii again. Next time I'll dine in and try some more daring stuff.

    (4)

  • Jaime V.

    Being from Vancouver (BC) and spoiled by the plethora of great sushi and izakaya restaurants, I've been meaning to find a good one here in Boston. I have been twice now and have had a good experience both times at Oishii or yummy in Japanese. The first time I went with friends we were sat in the back towards the right area of the restaurant. This is typically reserved for large parties while the left hand side is where pairs are usually sat. We had an amazing salmon sampler, sushi rolls and sashimi. The sake was also perfectly warm. On my second excursion we were sat in the couples' area and although the food was great we could literally hear a pin drop in the room, maybe it was the proximity of the tables, the room acoustics or the very low background music. We still had a great time and the service was efficient, although with the wine it ended up being a bit on the pricey side. Oh yeah, and I highly recommend the grilled black cod. Now I just gotta find a great place for ceviche.

    (4)

  • K T.

    Keep in mind this is a tiny place, but you will never see an empty seat here! The market is fairly efficacy. They always serve the best fish. You need to order sushi and Sashimi when you come here simply because only the very fresh is serviced. Scallop sushi and oyster sushi are SOOO GOOD! Uni my favorite. It is pricy but well worth your money. This is what I am talking about traditional, real Japanese cuisine! They serve bento box during weekday lunch, great price with this high quality food!

    (5)

  • Angela L.

    This place has amazing sushi and the plating is a work of art in itself. The restaurant is tiny, but extremely cozy. I'm probably bi-est because I'm a recent college graduate, however I found the sushi to be fairly overpriced. There were so many amazing-sounding sushi rolls, but I had to hold back because of the prices listed! I will definitely be back, but only when my wallet can take it!

    (4)

  • Al N.

    Holy crizzap! This place is a few cuts above anywhere else I've eaten--my second favorites being Fugakyu in Brookline and Ginza in Chinatown. On the advice of a number of sushi freaks, we went early and we had "omakase"--which is where the chef serves what's best that night. It was not cheap, but it was well worth the $70 per person we paid. Seared rolls with exotic fish and sauces made on the spot, salmon so fatty is was almost white, Hokkaido uni that blew my mind, and everything plated like a work of art. I eat a lot of sushi and I can safely say that I've pretty much tried everything that's available in over dozen of the area's best sushi restaurants over my 20 years in town. Oishii is fresher, more innovative, and tastier than the rest. Warning: the room is tiny and they don't take reservations. Get there early or bring entertainment. Update: Went again. Ordered omakase again. Blown away again. Fugakyu's omakase is amazing, but nowhere near Oishii's league. The service was great and not rushed at all.

    (5)

  • Ina C.

    Oishii is definitely among the short list of top sushi restaurants in Boston. How in the world have I not reviewed this place until now? I used to get take-out from here all the time when I was at Boston College. (The dining hall food went right through me for a little while. The only cure? Sushi. No joke!) And as an adult (ahem), I've been to Oishii for lunch a couple times and I've loved it. Read other reviews for info about how small the place is, blah, blah, blah. But this place is awesome because it's all about the sushi!

    (5)

  • Andrew S.

    Absolutely, positively, the best sushi in the Boston area. Nothing else to say other than please don't tell anyone because it's so tough to get a table!! Oh, also try the "customer creation" rolls, they are very weird sounding but you will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Steve S.

    There is a Sushi restaurant named Oishii. The original is a shoe box sized spot in Chestnut Hill off Route 9. For years people in the know have always told that Oishii is the place for the best Sushi period. I never eat Sushi until recently, but it begs the question: How can it be that much better? Its raw fish after all. So now I have decided to eat Sushi, and ventured to their new place in the South End on Washington st. The place is beautiful. The layout is inetresting as well. But I do not get it. The sushi was good, but did not blow me away by any means. Maybe my Sushi palate is not yet developed. I also ordered the $20 ramen soup as well, and it tasted kind of like the instant Ramen soup that you just add water. I feel like the only one not laughing at a very good joke, but for $75 for 2 plus tip for a little food, I should be blown away

    (2)

  • Mike D.

    Been here several times. It's got phenomenal sushi and a very good menu all-around. It's not huge, so you might have to wait a few minutes. It's only got a sushi bar and one table, so it is what it is. This place is VERY solid though. Will continue to go here.

    (4)

  • Yb W.

    Oiishi is a tiny little restaurant tucked away in a nondescript corner within posh Chestnut Hill. Seating is limited to a single table and at a short bar staffed with at least three sushi chefs. While the menu does offer sashimi and nigiri, it is heavily weighted towards Americanized rolls. The lion share of Oiishi's business appears to be take-out, with Americanized rolls in especially high demand. That being said, their traditional sushi menu, while not extensive, is of very high quality. Admittedly, this place would be considerably less well regarded were it located in SoCal or NorCal, but I agree that it is the best, or at least one of the best, sushi places in the greater Boston area.

    (4)

  • Margaret O.

    The traditional sushi is excellent. The Ikura is sometimes have out of this world fresh ikura and often the ikura that is better than anywhere else in Boston but not out of this world. Oishii I and II are the only places in Boston that I will even order it. The non-traditional sushi is generally excellent in both Brookine and Sudbury subtly different. The tuna hand roll at Oishii II (Sudbury) is better than the one in Brookline. If you are watching, you'll notice that at Oishii II the cucumber is almost always peeled while making the roll, while at Oishii I they prep these in advance. Same with the chopped tuna - it's chopped while you wait at II and a little bit of spicy mayo dressing is stirred into the corner of the box of pre-chopped tuna at Oishii I. It's hard to put your finger on the difference but you can tell. I had to watch the prep process to figure this out after noticing that the Brookline tuna salad hand roll was consistently inferior. On the flip side, the fancy cooked dishes (lobster tempura) etc tends to be better in Brookline. You can't see into either kitchen so I'm not sure why. As another reviewer noted stick to fish. We tried the Kobe beef. It was not seared and prepared in a toaster oven. Yikes! I was horrified when I saw what they were doing to it, and the dish was an excellent demonstration of why searing matters. On a busy evening all non-food aspects of the experience are downright unpleasant, but it's fine and kind of funky and fun on a Sunday afternoon or other light traffic times of the day. There is hardly any room to stand inside, so if it is busy and you are sitting at the one table and the end of the bar (about 1/2 the seating) there will be people breathing down your neck. While you are waiting the staff will try to get you to order, so they can get you in and out faster. So you are standing in a cramped corner trying to study a menu. It's awful. If there is a wait turn around and go somewhere else. I give this place four stars just because in Boston hardly any other sushi is at the same level. In San Francisco I'd give it 3.

    (4)

  • Tony P.

    Good, not great food. Awesome , but small atmosphere. I took my family here while they were visiting from out of town last week. The place is very small, I highly recommend take-out or reservations. The food was good, but I don't think it was 'the best sushi ever'. I had my first experience with Hamachi sashimi last month in San Francisco and Oiishi's wasn't close unfortunately. They did a good job on the Tuna and Salmon sushi though. If you are looking for a good takeout place I'd recommend it, but I wouldn't go head over heels expecting the best sushi experience ever.

    (3)

  • Lana G.

    Ok, this is a little (and I mean little!) piece of haven on earth. I know there's another location in Sudbury, but I've never been there, so this review is based on the Chestnut Hill location. From the look of it, it doesn't look like much, just a little hole in the wall. But do yourself a favor and try their sushi. It's almost impossible to sit down (unless you come there at odd hours), because there are only about 14 seats. It's a NY style sushi bar. It's very causal too. I see people waiting outside for hours regardless of the weather. I am lucky to live very close, so I order out. Unfortunately, not everything can be ordered out. They have special pieces that you can only get by sitting down. They have some neat customer creations as well, some are VERY good. I tried almost every sushi place in Boston. Oishii is my favorite. PS If you don't want to pick up your order, I think they deliver via diningin.

    (5)

  • DeeJay H.

    I have been to Oishii a few times and it is always a pleasure. I try to go to this location at odd hours as seating is limited. Everything Chef Ting does is exquisite- so you cannot really go wrong. BUT...you MUST have the foie gras. Have to. It is #3 in my top tasting experiences. I get it everytime I go. Hot delicious force fed duck liver over a bed of strawberries wrapped and tempura-ed and then topped with dry carrot. Heaven. Heaven I tell you. ;) The waitresses are really cute too.

    (5)

  • Tammie P.

    My fave sushi restaurant in Boston! I get take out from here almost every week and eat in about once a month. My faves are the Maki (toro with asparagus and jalapeno), the Emily sushi, Chilean sea bass, Jeffrey's maki, gyu tataki, spicy tuna cucumber handroll in the summer, and anything else on the menu, seriously.

    (5)

  • Kristina F.

    By far the best sushi in the Boston area. Elias maki, amazing. The wait staff is awesome. Friendly and cordial. Only problem? It's small so a wait is normal. For me, I'm all about take out. Their special rolls are phenomenal.

    (5)

  • Coupé P.

    Probably Boston's best place for sushi, but since I've had better (so it's not as good as it gets) can't give it 5 stars. TINY place. Oh, and I've been to the other Oishii in Boston, and this one is much better in terms of sushi experience.

    (4)

  • wsl l.

    I have a love hate relationship with this place. I hate that this place always has a 30min or more wait and that it is soooo tiny. Unforutanley it is by far one of the best sushi places in Boston. The service is quick and .. hit or miss somewhat friendly., they are as eager to get you in the door as they are for you to get out. The prices are a bit steep but the quality- freshness and creativity makes up for everything. Luv everything on their menu and the best uni in boston!!

    (5)

  • Joyce K.

    This establishment is so tiny and parking is pretty difficult to find. There is one table and the bar...I saw one woman beg for a seat at the bar. My friend and I sat at the bar where we awkwardly rubbed elbows with fellow diners. We ordered the following: The "Sunshine Tata" ($17) appetizer looked like a cream puff. "Salmon mixed with Wasabi, sesame and chives, wrapped in marinated white seaweed, topped with a thin layer of mashed mountain yam, and granished with sterling caviar." It's served on top of sliced lemons with a little japanese plum. What you do is mash down the caviar and yams with the salmon into the lemon to get all the flavors together and shovel in. It was pretty good but so tiny. The "Maki" covered in Toro ($20) which looked like an obese catepillar. The waitress said this one sold like 'hot cakes". It's a reverse maki with steamed asparagus and cucumbers but instead, we got cucumbers and avocado since asparagus sucks. It's topped with thick slabs of toro which is torched, topped with a ginger sauce and little jalapeno dots. The "White Tiger" ($9.50) was also insanely good. It's tuna, roe and cucumber rolled in white seaweed with sauce. The white seaweed they use is striped in black seaweed so that the roll seriously resembles a white tiger. The sauce is similar to a bernaise and kind of fuses all the ingredients of this roll together making soy sauce completely unecessary. Finally, Oishii has fish directly from Japan so we tried their Mackerel ($10ish) nigiri and it was ok. It pretty much tasted like Mackerel and I don't even like Mackerel that much... The waitress was very knowledgable and made excellent recommendations since this place is very overwhelming. Oishii is definitely an inventive sushi restaurant and from watching the orders being filled, most people get a maki topped with slices of fish, avocado, etc. It seems to be their specialty and justifiably so.

    (5)

  • L J.

    This is the best sushi place I have ever eaten at. The oishii roll is unbelievable and so is the spicy salmon handroll. Service is perfect. The wait is worth it but the best time to go is in the middle of the afternoon when it is relatively quiet. You can also ask them to just send out their best items and you will experience a treat unlike any other.

    (5)

  • Ronald L.

    Food is great, very fresh. Not worth to wait over 30 minutes to sit in this closet. If you are even a little claustrophobic, don't even walk in the door. Sushi is very good, have frequented this establishment often. Service is fast though not the friendliest. A

    (3)

  • Lalin A.

    Best Sushi in Boston. I hardly give 5 stars but Oiishi is well worth it! What to try: - California Maki with Roe: awesome presentation, mouthful - Unagi Maki: quite flavorful, a real, simple eel delight - Hamachi Tata: out of this world! Incredibly rich. - Agi Dashi Tofu: I am usually not a big fan of Tofu but this one melts in your mouth - Shiitake Mushroom Tempura Roll: crispy yet soft, such a great combination! edgy, woody flavor! Not a big fan: - White Tiger Maki: even though, previous reviews highly recommended White Tiger, I usually enjoy Unagi much more. WTiger is nearly flavorless, with a subtle taste of tuna (too subtle for me) Watch out for: - Parking can be a challenge - 15 seats + 1 with a stool: long wait, especially when the weather is nice enough to stand outside!

    (5)

  • Ross G.

    I want to love this place like everyone else, but you know what? I think its BS that people can tell how "amazingly fresh" the fish is (that one was killed three hours ago and this one was killed 17.5 minutes ago, I call bullshit). I'm sorry, its good, but its not 50 a person w/o drinks good. Hit Fugakyu *duck under rocks everyone just threw at me* Yama is dang good, Sushi Man to Go is awesome, cheap and fresh. Ginza of course, Mr Sushi is a personal favourite. Is Oishii good? Sure, would I wait an hour, outside, to eat there again? God no. Edit: In retrospect I may have sounded too critical. Its not that the food at Oishii isn't good, I just want people to remember that they have other tasty and less expensive options, instead of bying into the cult status this place is getting.

    (3)

  • Mary M.

    Oiishi is one of those places that makes me wish we could give half-stars, because this is a three-and-a-half if ever there were one. I finally checked it out last Friday, since I was going to be in the area, and came away less than overwhelmed. Here's what I thought, pros and cons: - Atmosphere: I like. Oiishi has a medium-sized sushi bar with seating along the front and one end, and one table. Total seating is about 22 people if you pack 'em in. With that said, I was pleased to find that I wasn't jostling elbows with my sushi-bar neighbor. I got there at 6:30 on Friday and found two open seats at the sushi bar. People came and went, and seats continued to be open, but I wouldn't walk in at say 8 pm and count on finding a seat. If you're coming with several people and want The Table...well, maybe you should try for a reservation, if they do them. Service was prompt, smooth and unobtrusive. The place was quiet without trying for the sort of faux-zen garden/pan-Asian chic that's notably overdone at some other establishments. If you love sushi but could live the rest of your life without a ton of "lookit me I'm eating SUSHI!" kollege kidz and young yups in your face, this is a good choice. - Location: oh the suck. Well, it is what it is, and if I lived in the neighborhood, I might be a regular. But probably not. See below. - Prices: comparable to Fugakyu, maybe even a smidge higher. - Quality: with one exception, not comparable to Fugakyu. I got three benchmark pieces (tekka maki, sake maki, hamachi nigiri) and one just-for fun (shrimp tempura maki -- I confess a weakness). The hamachi was notably good, on a par with what I've had at Fugakyu. The salmon and tuna...were not. Not actively offensive, just completely unexceptional in taste and texture. To be truthful, I've had better many a time at Shino Sushi Express, only I didn't have to check my credit limit before I went there. The shrimp tempura maki, which is definitely a medium that calls for forgiving attitudes, was nice but unexceptional. In sum, while I might give it another try if I were to be in the neighborhood, I doubt I'll make the trip a second time.

    (3)

  • トモ T.

    The best sushi restaurant in Boston area - maybe one of the best in the country. Be prepared to wait in a line as there are only dozen seats at the counter and one table in this tiny restaurant. Bring your own sake since they don't have a liquor license.

    (5)

  • Chris W.

    Amazing, amazing, AMAZING sushi! Definitely one of the top 5 places on both coasts! Try the spicy scallop roll, sit back, watch the heavens part, and hear the angels sing. Admittedly, we've never even tried to get a seat at this incredibly crammed and tiny place. But even taking the sushi home, it really is that good. If there is another liability here, the sushi can be so huge, that it's good to eat this with lots of friends. And, don't be shy about cutting up some pieces to spread the wealth. Recently went to the S. Boston location and it was an utter disappointment. DO NOT judge this place by the S. Boston food. If they get their act together down there, they'll have a gold mine. Right now, just feels like the shaft.

    (5)

  • Avi T.

    I like to think that I can tell decent sushi from great sushi. This is fantastic. I've had sushi as good in few other places. I can't think of one that would be better. A - plus for quality and for service.

    (5)

  • Caroline T.

    This place has the most amazing sushi -- nay, *food* -- I've ever had in my entire life. I'm speechless when I think about how amazing Oishii is. It's tiny and crowded and expensive, but it's oh so worth the wait (and the cost).

    (5)

  • Nikol K.

    After hearing so much about this place, I finally decided to do the long wait to be seated at this tiny restaurant. I ordered the Chilean Sea Bass that was broiled. It arrived burnt and chewy. I know I've made it tastier in my own kitchen. Maybe Oishii just isn't good at anything but sushi. Not so. I also ordered the scallop roll and the tuna roll. Very disappointed by the bland tastes and boring texture. I just don't see what all the hype is about. I've had much better sushi at your run-of-the-mill Japanese restaurants in California.

    (3)

  • Ellen C.

    I love Oishii. This is the best place in Boston for Sushi and you must must must come to this one - the original one on Route 9! I have been to Tokyo for sushi and this is equivalent to the sushi at Sushi Dai at the Fish Market. The line is always long though so I'd recommend going when it opens.

    (5)

  • Debra K.

    Oishi in Chestnut hill is TINY - but the sushi is very clean, fresh and simply very good. It is on par with the one in Sudbury, in fact, I saw the same chef in both. This continues to be my MA go-to sushi place - reasonably priced and a cut above mostly everything else around. I'm confident that there is a high turn over, never any fishy or lemon-y smells and the staff is friendly. The only place to go...

    (4)

  • B. B.

    It's worth the wait... As other reviewers have pointed out, Oishii has very limited seating and this can be very frustrating. I would recommend that you get take-out, but it's fun to watch the sushi chefs in action. (Blowtorches are involved). I think Oishii probably has the highest sushi chef -to-customer ratio I've seen in Boston, with three chefs serving fifteen people. Of course wait-time and entertainment aren't nearly as important as the food. The sushi at Oishii is innovative and tasty. They have quite a few amazing rolls. I highly recommend the "trust me, it's Oishii" (though not if you don't like spicy food). There's also an item on the menu that has lemon slices wrapped around salmon, wrapped around a roll. Though I was skeptical before tasting it, it's now one of my favorites.

    (4)

  • Stefano B.

    Been here once. A bit more expensive than your average sushi joint but definitely worth checking out. Some very interesting stuff on the menu. I can't wait top go back and experience more. Quality all around is definitly above average.

    (4)

  • S. C.

    I have been to many sushi restaurants in and and around Boston. I have yet to find one that I like more than Oishii. My must-have at Oishii is the Lobster Tempura.

    (5)

  • Kim N.

    The best sushi I've had in Boston... and yet technically it's not even in Boston. We don't have a car, so we have to trek out here via T, but it is totally worth it. The food is delish and the prices are reasonable. Try to have an early dinner so you can avoid the wait. Can't wait to eat here again!

    (5)

  • Apiron A.

    Greatest sushi in Boston. Much better than its sister Boston location. Only downside, limited seating. Prepare to wait or go prior to opening or do pickup.

    (5)

  • Sam S.

    Oishi is hands down the best Sushi bar in the entire boston area. I have lived here for 24 years and never tasted fresher yummier fish, or experienced more delectable chef's specials. Don't believe the hype of other Sushi restaurants....GO HERE. WARNING: This restaurant seats about 14 people. You have to put your name on a clipboard - CALL AHEAD when you're on your way and they'll put it on for you. You will be in sushi heaven. I'm hungry.

    (5)

  • ben -.

    Here's the scoop on Oishii: their sushi is fantastic. It's been popular for years, and it always crowded. They're a little out of the way and the place is tiny, which just makes it more crowded. It's also pretty expensive so get ready. To me, it's one of those places you go once or twice to see what really fantastic sushi tastes like and then you go somewhere without the hassle on a regular basis.

    (4)

  • tman s.

    This place is small but hands down the best sushi and freshest tasting that i been too... If you go get there early before the rush or right after the rush... Chef prepares everything right in front of you. And although this place is small you can feel overcrowded... Oh yes and please don't forget to grab a tall sapporo beer for me and let the night come to you..!

    (5)

  • K K.

    My boyfriend and I ate here many times before and it wasn't the line out the door or the small space that bothered us, we are willing to wait for good sushi. The reason we were so displeased with this specific Oishii is that I ordered the Black Cod and it being a pricey dish, was expecting it to be as good as the Black Cod at the Oishii in the South End. We placed the order for the Cod immediately upon sitting down knowing it would take a long time. It took much longer than expected, my boyfriend was done eating his food by the time I finally got the Cod and sadly, it was very dry and tasted very over cooked. When I tried to politely complain about the quality of the fish and request to not be billed for it, the staff would have nothing of it. There were not friendly or understanding at all, unlike the other Oishii in the south bay, who actually cares when their customers have an issue and will do whatever they can to resolve it or at least meet you half way. If you are considering Oishii, I'd recommend the south end location more than this one, the staff isn't very understanding if you have an issue with the quality of their food. I feel, if you are spending money on what you expect to be quality fish you should get it or not have to pay. The customer is always right kinda thing.

    (2)

  • thomas k.

    oishii is probably the best sushi in the boston area. at least it's the best i've ever had. i had to spend an inordinate amount of time in cambridge / boston for about 4 years straight. and had tried pretty much everything. there are great italian restaurants in town. french too. but ethnic wasn't so hot. coming from LA, i had to get my sushi fix. after a few years of trying a bunch of different places in town, i came upon oishii, not even close to cambridge, and after a $30 cab ride from my hotel in front of some god forsaken mall, i landed at oishii. the fish was properly cut. the presentation wasn't noteworthy due to the world's smallest sushi restaurant (it's really just a sushi bar with one table) at least when i used to go there. and the small dishes was excellent. when i see a yellowtail collar, or any other collar for that matter, on the menu, i always try to get it. never have i had collar grilled so perfectly as this place, outside of my few favorite places back home, not even in NYC. really, it's the best sushi i've had in the east coast period. this place makes me think about detouring everytime i fly across the country.

    (4)

  • Barbara S.

    By far the best sushi in all of Boston and perhaps the East Coast... I don't really like eating at the restaurant because they do not have a very good wine selection. I would say we have take out at least once every two weeks and when our kids are home even more frequently. They keep track of what we order and how we like the sushi or maki prepared. They know that we like low sodium soy. The sushi is spectacular. Some of our favorites include Joe's Kazan Maki, Brad's maki and all of the sushi.

    (5)

  • Wendy L.

    Sushi dishes are interesting but totally overpriced. Unless you don't mind dropping $20 per sushi dish, don't even think about going to Oishii.

    (3)

  • Anonymous P.

    The fish is extraordinarily fresh and tasty. If you venture away from sashimi and nigiri, the chefs have a tendency to overdo it with mayonnaise and pools of soy sauce (once I ordered the finest toro, on ice, soaking in salty soy sauce--ruined it). Most but not all items are very, very expensive--if you order wrong you will regret it. My personal belief is that the ultra-complicated, ultra-expensive rolls are a waste of money--you can't taste all those delicate, pricey ingredients when they're combined into a roll, torched, mixed with mayo, wrapped in shisho or avocado, what have you. Every time I go to Oishii I end up spending over $100 on just myself. There are some decent deals, like the sashimi or sushi platters. It is comforting to know that the fish will absolutely be high quality. I think the rolls are done well, but generally I'd prefer less use of mayo. Great place, no doubt about it--it's only the high prices that make me miss Los Angeles. And the difficulty getting a seat. Otherwise I'd eat here every other day. Definitely merits five stars if price isn't factored in.

    (4)

  • David F.

    Best Sushi north of NYC. It's crowded, it's tight, and the food is amazing. Completely different than the Oishii in Copley Mall in Boston.

    (5)

  • Caroline O.

    We had been waiting to try Oishii in person. We had ordered takeout from them several years earlier and dining in brought it to us so late that the sushi just didn't taste as good. We decided to finally get a sitter and go in person to see if the reviews we had read lived up to the hype. It was a very special meal. We waited 25 minutes to be seated but it was worth the wait. The sushi was fresh, creative, and delicious. I did not give Oishii 5 stars because I was expecting extraordinary and it just wasn't. It was great but not spectacular. Parking is difficult and the wait was long but if you are craving yummy sushi and good service-Oishii does have it!

    (4)

  • Kathleen M.

    Hands down the best sushi I've ever had...EVER! So delicious that you'll forget how long you waited (and wait you will!). The specials are amazing, as are many of their customer-created rolls. "The maki" covered with toro is one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten..when they say "trust me, it's Oishi", your best choice is to do so! Chefs wielding blowtorches add to the atmosphere, and the deliciousness of many items.

    (5)

  • Jordan S.

    Hands down, greatest sushi restaurant in the United States. You'll wait a while to get a seat, you'll pay through the ass in prices but you will get a ton of great sushi. The quantity of tuna this restaurant goes through it astounding. The nigiri portions are huge and the rolls are very creative. I've eaten at Nobu and many other top rated sushi restaurants across the US and Japan, and it still kicks the crap out of anywhere else. I believe dinner starts serving at 5:30, make sure to call in early and get your name on the list then wait outside, it will save you time.

    (5)

  • Naomi T.

    BEST SUSHI, hands down. Sushi is so fresh. The menu is different than most other places (kobe beef on hot stone, extravagant rolls, a lot of hot torched specialities, outrageously delicious combos/hand rolls). I brought friends who've never had sushi before and now they love it and can tell the difference between the fresh sushi here from the junk at other places. It's definintely quality. It's a tiny little place off of the Chestnut Hill T-Stop. It's such a hotspot that there's always a long line that wraps outside to the sidewalk. It's worth the wait, and many who stand outside agree. Sometimes you get seated within 5 minutes, sometimes it's 45 minutes. There's only 1 table that will accomodate a group of 4, everyone else sits in a single line around the sushi bar. It's difficult for large groups to sit together. Parties of 2 work best. It's a great date place, though it can get stuffy. Just remember to check in with the host and write your name down on the wait list. If you don't want to wait, just call-in for a pickup. We saw Bob Kraft picking up his order one night. My boyfriend, being a die-hard Pats fan, pointed one finger up in the air and told him "I love you, man!" Mr. Kraft knodded and said thanks as he left the building.

    (5)

  • Russell F.

    I feel sorry for all of the reviewers that have raved about the sushi here. YOU DON"T HAVE A CLUE!!!! When I read reviews that state that a sushi bar is great because of its California rolls or tempura xxx rolls or seaweed salad (purchased in bulk by the way) or it's shumai (purchased frozen in bulk by the way) I get very peeved. Oishii does more things wrong than it does right, and although it may be in the top 20 for the Boston area, the sad fact is that Boston does not have good sushi. I have eaten at Oishii about ten times and each time there was a fatal flaw or 5. The first time I had 'Nobu style' blackened miso cod because the owner was said to have worked for Nobu. The fish was overcooked and chewy, the sauce was all sugar and no flavor and the dish was NOTHING like Nobu's which I have had about 100 times. I also had their version of the Nobu dish that they call toro 'tata' (can't spell?) which was served so cold that the flavor of the fish was missing. Even when I have had fish at the proper temperature, most of the time the flavor is lacking. I think that they skimp on quality to give customers larger portions. And what about the proportions? Authentic Japanese sushi is very much about proportion, balance, aesthetics. I don't want a huge chunk of fish, whether sushi or sashimi, I want a properly cut piece of fish. With sushi, it should balance the rice and be a single mouthful. This make a big difference when it comes to flavor also. But at Oishii it seems like they prefer to give you more fish and less flavor. In addition, the rice has seldom been prepared to the proper texture and temperature. If you have a chance, visit Sushi Yasuda, Hatsuhana, Nobu or the best of all, Masa in New York and you will get a great lesson in proper sushi-making. If in LA go to Nobu's original restaurant, Matsuhisa. Once you know what sushi can be, perhaps you will help change these restaurants. When it comes to Oishii, all I can say is OyVay.

    (1)

  • David P.

    Five for food, two for the wait and the atmosphere. The sushi is as good as anyplace in the area, much better than most. They offer really fine cuts of fish and generous slices of fish on their sushi. For me, this explains and justifies the higher prices. The problems come from the wait and the size of the place. The people who seem to tolerate the wait the best seem to enjoy the camaraderie of their fellow Oishii fanatics. However once inside there is no place far away from the buzz of anxious customers waiting in line. Sushi is a subtle sensual experience and the atmosphere is not conducive to really enjoying it. My advice: Take out, or, Call ahead and ask to be put on the wait list. Come when the weather is nice and you won't have people cramming in the entrance way while waiting to be seated. Come a little while before opening time on a slow day.

    (4)

  • Ryan D.

    This is my go to spot for sushi when i dont feel like dishing out hundreds of dollars at O ya. Second best sushi in Boston! The Fish is always fresh and the place is always packed. The Kobe steak is very sweet and very tender. I could almost taste the great life the wagyu cow had mmm nothing like a drunk cow! Overall the product they offer is worth more then what they charge.

    (5)

  • Rachel T.

    Definitely more of a takeout friendly place, as it is really small. However, I was not disappointed in the food. My roomie and I ordered 6-8 different items for takeout and loved every piece!

    (4)

  • J L.

    If we're basing the review just on food, it's without a doubt 5 stars and home to some of the best sushi in the Boston area. Incredibly fresh and delicious. The prices are decent. It's not a budget place, but it's not particularly expensive either considering how good it is. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the place is smaller than your living room. One or two small tables and a sushi counter that seats maybe 12. It's not a good place for groups and if you don't luck out, you may get stuck waiting for awhile; even on a random weeknight. But, I certainly recommend checking it out even if it's just for takeout.

    (4)

  • Tim B.

    They don't have much to offer besides the best sushi in town. But did I mention it's the best sushi in town?

    (5)

  • Sandra C.

    Really great inventive sushi. I haven't seen these rolls anywhere else. Unfortunately, I love their most expensive stuff! My boyfriend and I ate $74 worth of sushi in one night. :-/ Be forewarned, it's really crowded there and the line is long. We had to wait about an hour just to sit on a very cramped side of the sushi bar. Loved the sushi, but wasn't willing to wait that long since that first time.

    (4)

  • Christopher L.

    Best sushi of my life. I live in CA and have considered flying to Boston just for Oishii. It's very expensive but who cares. Did I mention it was the best sushi of my life? Expect to pay $60-120 but it's worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Annie P.

    This place is golden, right? It has been in the Yelpers No.1 spot forever now. I think it's only fair to say that out of respect for the restaurant and everyone that I can't give it the 5 stars yet because I've only been there once. There to wait an hour in the corner for our food-to-go. It was totally our faults going in at 9PM when they close at 10PM. Got lost, it was like mission impossible made possible. No sarcasm.. we should have gotten there early. Oh but have no fear because they squeezed in two people right after they told us to order takeout. Forgot to mention that we went in a group of four. Also a mistake that everyone warned us about. Anyway.. I hope you understand that I think I really got the whole "FEEL" of the entire place including customers within that hour. Customers that would chew their food so slowly and nod in approval to each other without saying a word.. then simultaneously looking at the super professional busy chefs in front of them in awe. I swear I saw one woman savoring the tiny Tobiko (flying fish eggs) probably stuck between her teeth. These people were just SILENTLY in bliss. That reminds me... it's way too quiet in there. Eating should be somewhat loose and fun up to a point. I "get" the high demand but c'mon. It is all there though because you had the business high clientele trying to seat their late friends with them at the one sole table and not thinking about anybody else. Basically rushing and making the poor couple sitting with them uncomfortable enough to chug their food in 10 minutes and leave. They didn't seem to mind though.. like they felt lucky to have sat there any way. HA! Then you also had the sweat pants students coming in to pick up their call orders.. many many of them. So that was nice to observe. Staff was nice and courteous while we waited.. watching them open bottles left and right, bringing out amazing looking dishes one after another.. bussing and wiping down everything within minutes. Skilled. Okay I shut the mouth and go into what really matters... the GOODS. We went basic O.G for our first time.. the Sushi Deluxe and Sashimi Deluxe. For those two bins.. price was reasonable. Packaged perfectly... took about 30 minutes to get home. Everything was fresh and tasty. Didn;t care for Ebi.. but the less popular Tako was good. Best Unagi tasted. Would die for Saba (Mackeral) and Toro again. Too norm.. must try the more crazy items.. made us feel like we really did not get the full experience but till next time.

    (4)

  • Eva B.

    This restaurant definitely gets 5 stars for sushi, but a 3 for seating situations, although the environment is not terrible. The waitress was going to seat another party of two at the same table that I was sitting at with my friends. She eventually realized that this was a terrible idea, and sat them down somewhere else. The sushi here is absolutely top notch, and the best I have yet to have in Boston. I highly recommend it for take out, as well. Now I need to go try Oishii Boston...$30 a roll I hear?! Best be good!

    (5)

  • Amy W.

    Best sushi around. No question. Fish is extremely fresh & portion size is generous. Absolutely worth the wait & the tight seating. Gives me a chance to check out what all the other folks are eating & strike up a conversation with them. Always a blast watching the sushi masters torch, roll, slice, basically whip up masterpieces. Would recommend going early or late on weeknights to avoid waiting too long.

    (5)

  • Samantha B.

    As an admitted sushi snob from LA, I was thrilled to find a decently priced sushi joint not in the middle of the hustle and bustle that is downtown Boston. This place is, by far, the best sushi I have had in Boston. It was decently priced, fresh, and delicious. We even made up our own roll! The green tea was ever-flowing and the experience was perfect.

    (5)

  • Tiffany W.

    fantastic. fresh. fish. Not exactly close by in Boston, but Oishii is well worth the hike out to Chesnut Hill. It's actually quite easy to get to by T (Green Line C to Chesnut Hill). Oishii is my first choice for sushi in the area and a definite must try: very fresh, melt-in-your-mouth sashimi, creative maki rolls (order the torched maki!), and authentic japanese fare. The place is very tiny which adds to the authenticity of Oishii's atmosphere, just don't plan on bringing a big party unless you have a lot of time to kill. There's a new location open in Copley but skip it for the original if you get the chance.

    (5)

  • Anastasia M.

    By far the best sushi in town! What I like about it is that it is set up in a true Japanese matter, and you feel like you are entering a venue in Japan. Sushi is done right and it tastes absolutely delicious! Know before you go, though... Be sure to get there before 5:30, or after 9, as the place gets crowded and there are only 15 seats!!!! Or do take out, which seems to be as equally popular with people who do not want to wait for a seat!

    (5)

  • steve h.

    Good stuff! Besides incredibly high quality fish, the beef and chicken terriyaki are awesome. Cooked on a raised metal block makes the experience even more wonderful! No need to add anymore comments here. Just see everyone else's review!

    (5)

  • Tristan W.

    I'm a simple man. I like my beer cold, my woman smart, and my steak medium rare. I didn't mind sushi, but then I wasn't sending mass emails at work to see who wanted to join me for some sashimi at the local sushi train. I just didn't get it. Then there was Oishii, and god damn if this place doesn't fit the bill. A small discrete location, friendly and skilled chefs, and some of the freshest and most delicious raw offerings in Boston. Of course its pricey, but so aren't Bentley's and Benz's, and when it comes to raw fish do you really want a Hyundai??? Cozy up to the bar, drink some sake, strike up conversation with the chef du jour and let them wow you with their many offerings. My favorites; seaweed salad, spider roll, and make. Call ahead, and happy chopsticking!

    (5)

  • Mindy G.

    I believe this is the FIRST of oishii sushi bars in Boston. It's very small in size, but very cozy. Also, compared to the one in washington street, much more affordable and has cute combo's such as "Sushi for Two" -- among others. It's fun to watch the sushi man make sushi right in front of customers!

    (5)

  • Dylan Q.

    this place is very good. the only reason that it is not perfeft is because their salmon is just ok. i once went here for my birthday. the eel is really good i would come back again

    (4)

  • J. N.

    I was on an Oishii hiatus for a while due to another spot I found that is a bit less costly, but went back today. To say it melts in your mouth is an understatement. I don't know what it is - maybe the way they roll their rolls, maybe it is the fish they use - something distinguishes Oishii from anywhere else (and not just their prices). It is expensive. Get over that, and you'll have your new favorite sushi spot.

    (5)

  • parul v.

    oishii is like the boyfriend i broke up with when i moved out of cambridge that i'm dying to get back together with. if only he'd move to san francisco. we might be forever geographically doomed, but i can still taste the tempura lobster claw, the maki, and jeffrey's maki if i think about it really hard.....it gives me the goosebumps.

    (5)

  • Anup A.

    White Tiger....'nuff said.

    (5)

  • Michael T.

    I'd give it Six Stars if I could. Only Nobu is better than this place, but alas, it is so sad what has become of it. In college it was this cool place that no one knew of and those who did kept it a secret. Now, everyone and they're saba knows about it. One word, two syllables: TAKEOUT. hmmm, nothing like sashima, B52s, softshell crab maki rolls, alligator maki rolls...in candlelight...in the North End.

    (5)

  • Kate S.

    AMAZING!!! The wait can be extremely long given the small size of the restaurant, but you will not regret it! I highly recommend ordering the more obscure and inventive sushi rolls and chef specials despite the fact that these are the most expensive. The Kinzan Sake (Salmon sashimi, truffle oil, chives, sesame seeds, Yuzu Wasabi, truffle, caviar and gold flakes) sounds a bit over the top and is very pricey, but it is honestly the best food (of any genre) I have ever eaten.

    (5)

  • George A.

    All I have to say is WOW!!!! Oishii has just about the greatest sushi in the Boston area and is probably better than most of the sushi bars in Tokyo. In fact I went to Oishii's with my Japanese friend (born and raised in Tokyo), who was in Boston on vacation in July, and he said that the sushi at Oishii was some of the best that he's had anywhere. The only drawback is that the meal was really expensive ($80 for LUNCH!!) but it was quite good so that made up for the cost.

    (5)

  • Heather M.

    The sushi here is unreal. If you care about quality this is your place. It is also really quick and the service is great! I had the caterpillar roll and rainbow roll. The miso soup is OK. Try the Spicy Tuna Hand roll.... AMAZING.

    (5)

  • Pete W.

    It's a very good... some nights they are really on the ball, other times, its been dreadful*. Their specials are always worth a try; their non-sushi dishes are overlooked by most who go there, and it's a true mistake, the flavors are perfect and a far better quality consistency than the sushi. ::worth trying:: -baby hamachi sashimi -wild fugu (it's rare that they have it, but when they do, it's a treat) -beef teriyaki ::other:: - while they don't take reservations, you are able to call ahead and have your name put on the list (all those who have waited outside know of the list). -don't be afraid to keep on ordering after each course. -a bowl of rice is always good to have along with your meal -they charge for extra ginger *i've been there 20 times in the past 14 months --edit-- Just had another lunch there... the quality was out of this world! I don't believe I've ever had O-Toro prepared so perfectly- in the US or Japan. ::other advice:: -there are times when a fatty cut like O-Toro has just too much fatty tissue (sorta like a like fat back), and you'll end up chewing and chewing- the whole experience is shot- I've found that many chefs will be very prompt to fix a mistake like this- I suggest that one takes the leap and tell the chef, they'll understand. :::update:::: the portions are getting smaller and smaller.

    (3)

  • Tony O.

    Oishi is the best sushi around, period. Thank you Jackie and Ting-san!

    (5)

  • H Y.

    Not the best sushi I have ever had but it is good. Maybe I missed something here but it didn't knock my socks off. That place in Vienna though, that made me weep. Yummy but I wouldn't wait in line for this.

    (3)

  • Lemuel L.

    Excellent. The best, yet small, so call in for take out. I've been to Japan several times and this is Japan in Boston.

    (5)

  • Micaela L.

    Oishii is an excellent if tiny sushi bar right off Rt. 9 in Chestnut Hill. There's one table and seating at a long bar, so many opt to take out instead. The specials are very creative and the ingredients are always very fresh -- you won't be disappointed! It's my favorite Japanese food in Boston, hands down.

    (5)

  • So S.

    Yes, I finally went and I have to agree with fellow Yelpers! Wow, such an extensive menu for a really tiny place!! Really great sushi complimented by really great presentation. Also, love love love their chilean sea bass! Kobe Beef Sushi is orgasmic!! YUM!! Although it is small you really to meet some nice pppl there who love the sushi as much as you do. A bit pricey but worth it!! BEST SUSHI ever!

    (5)

  • Erin G.

    4 stars purely for the sushi. the sushi is amazing. i never tasted a difference in 'raw fish' until i had the sushi here. it was beautiful. i think everyone owes it to themselves to try it at least once. if we could break this down and i could give stars for ambience this would get a flat out zero. oishii has maybe 17 seats, absolutely no waiting space, no parking and very slow service. i can excuse the slow service to the fact that during the 40 minutes i waited (a short blessing, people who arrived 5 minutes after me had to wait 90 MINUTES!!) at least a dozen people came in picking up to-go orders, some of them huge platters. you would think the waiting to get a seat would be the worst part but it isn't. it's waiting at the table to get served while hundreds of handrolls and maki walk out the door in the arms of very happy people. oishii is wonderful, that's not debatable. i would not recommend eating there.

    (4)

  • George K.

    The ratings don't lie, this is the BEST sushi in Boston.

    (5)

  • Lala L.

    Excellent sushi. Love the specialty maki such as Joe's Kazaa and Jeffrey maki. Another fave is the spicy salmon salad in a cucumber handroll. I don't like to tell alot of pple about this place, because it is crowded as it is already. good luck waiting in line!

    (5)

  • Grace C.

    the best in boston for creative sushi. the fish is fresh, and the prices are modest, for sushi that is. best to go in pairs, or you might not get seated for a lonnnng time.

    (5)

  • Rico B.

    Pro: -The best sushi I ever tasted in the US. Con: - Wait time is like 45 minutes to an hour. (Try come during lunch time for faster service) - Finding parking is a hassle - A bit expensive, but well worthed.

    (5)

  • Mamoon H.

    Best sushi I've had...better than Nobu and all places I've tried in Japan. Only downside, place is small (15 seats or so).

    (5)

  • Rebecca Y.

    This is the highest rated Zagat restuarant in Boston for a reason. Out of this world sushi. Don't bother with the restaurant (you won't get a table) so plan on the take out and enjoy. Mmmmmmm.

    (5)

  • Paul Z.

    Best sushi I've ever had. Period.

    (5)

  • Danae K.

    5/5!!! Aside from the fact that it's tiny, and only fits 15 people, it's wonderful! You can get every single type of sushi your heart desires and it is amazing! My favorite is getting ikura with quail eggs, unagi, Uni etc. I also got their udon soup! Very flavorful. Portions are superb, and the quality of fish is excellent!

    (5)

  • Nam L.

    Don't order sushi combos here, the chefs won't put as much care in your order. Order the fresh specials of the day, the special varieties of salmon (white salmon), tuna (toros), uni (Hokkaido vs CA or Maine), shrimp, scallops, etc. Order the special makis and appetizers. This is where all the hype about Oishii comes from. The sushi here is the most fresh in Boston. If you order the specials, you can be assured of their super freshness and quality, and the skills the chefs put in preparing those piece of fish. I think there is a new crop of chefs in Boston who have arrived and are coming who were trained in the superior skills and creative flavors of Oishii. Fish Market was the first I knew about, and it seems more are cropping up, like Koi in Quincy. Now try the original and see if you can perceive the difference yourself. Even if the skills of the chef are up to standard, most haven't developed the long term relationship w/ suppliers that Oishii has, so their fish won't be as extremely fresh or so high quality. I go here and not the South End one because that seems too large and impersonal. The menu seems more expensive there to compensate for the space! Also, I saw the recent new locals, Tom Brady and Gisele leaving here last year. I was standing next to the door about to go in, and he and Gisele walked out. I was an arm span's a ways, and the closest I will be to gods. Lastly, you can eat gold here if you want, but we should all strive towards losing weight.

    (5)

  • Matt M.

    I find it befuddling that this place is held in such high regard by my fellow yelp reviewers. Sure, the dishes are beautifully plated, the food is vibrant and colorful, and service is wonderful. But, and this is a big but, the food isn't that good. I've loved sushi my entire life and while I was blown away by their take on the California roll, everything else was just "eh". I loved how they take a chance and try to incorporate truffles into some rolls and an ice cream dish (which was certainly not to my liking) but its just too overpowering. Obviously I'm not a trained chef, but it seemed like they ordered too much and were trying desperately to use it all before it spoiled. That being said if you have an adventurous pallet and a fat wallet give this place a shot.

    (3)

  • Tess K.

    Went here with a party of 4 on Saturday at 6:30. We got a table right away, but 10 minutes later a line started building up out the door. Great sushi, great presentation, large portions. Yes, perhaps a bit pricey, but with sushi you don't want cheap! The "Soup for Two" was big enough for 4 and had lots of vegetables. Will absolutely go back again.

    (5)

  • Dee A.

    Place is wayyyy tiny. During the winter, sitting by the entrance is the worst. Service was neither good nor bad. Food was OK.

    (3)

  • Erin S.

    Came here on a Wednesday evening - right before they were about to close which was a mistake. We asked if they could still serve us when we walked in and they assured us they could but that it was last call. We sat at the sushi bar (only two diners in the restaurant) and looked at the menu for about 3 minutes before the server came over to take our order so not a ton of time to look at the menu. But since it was on the later side, we ordered spicy tuna handrolls and then asked the server for recommendations on a few more rolls partly because it didn't appear he was going to give us anymore time with the menu. The sushi was prepared in record time (we were the only table after all) and was really good - fish is fresh and some of their dishes are unique. I had actually given my credit card to the server just after we ordered because I was trying to outpay my dining companion. And they left the check for us to sign after delivering the food - which would have been fine but one of the employees came by after 2 minutes (meaning mid-meal) to insist I sign the check. Meanwhile, while we are eating, the rest of the staff is clearing out and cleaning - which made for a bit of an awkward experience for us because it's increasingly clear that they want us out of here. As I mentioned, we had asked before sitting if it was ok for us to come in - and while the food was good, the dining experience was terrible. Imagine if you went to someone's house for dinner and they spent the entire time hovering around you waiting for you to finish and essentially cleaning things around you. At the end of our meal - we commented to the server that we felt rushed and that we did have high expectations but were disappointed with the experience. While he did sort of apologize - he didn't acknowledge the issue which was one of hospitality. He was a bit defensive and inquired only whether the food was good. Had he apologized and perhaps suggested that we come back another time we may have considered it. We had really high expectations for this place because of the way that people rave about the food but due to service/experience we will not be back.

    (1)

  • Timothy D.

    Couldn't agree more with Pamela's review. I spent a number of years in Southern California before the sushi craze spread across the US. Truly great sushi is hard to find here (as is good Mexican). However, while Oishii (Newton) is good, it's not 5 stars. Perhaps it was because I went for lunch versus dinner, but I expect the bar to be more upbeat and the chefs to be engaging with their customers. Granted I am not a regular, so perhaps my expectations are too high, but I am used to a little chatter with the itamae-san. I got there around 11:45 and it was packed by lunch time. Forewarned, I am a sushi purist. I don't do the silly rolls and don't mind paying top dollar for top quality. Sushi is not where you should look for a bargain. Service was prompt. Here is the play by play: Uni - excellent, fresh and firm - the sign of a good sushi restaurant Hamachi - good, but slices were skimpy Tako - very good Ama-Ebi - very good, excellent job frying the heads, nice presentation Saba - very good Unagi - disappointing, eel sauce was thin and lacked flavor I would definitely go back and would recommend it to anyone looking for good sushi. If I lived closer I could see this being a regular spot for dinner.

    (4)

  • Arbutus C.

    Well, I haven't been back to this place for a while. It used to be one of my favorite Japanese restaurants. But, to my surprise, the quality of the food has dropped precipitously. They have replaced the sushi rice with the cheaper one and the sushi fish is so thinly sliced that makes the taste incoherant. I have known the owners, both husband and wife, for a real long time. They are real business people who count their profit and manage their cost excesively. But I think this time they have really gone too far. I am definitely not going back. There are many options, much better options, now in the greater Boston area. You are better off to buy a sushi package at Wholefood than at Oiishi's. That shows how far it has dropped. Enjoy your money and kick out your customers!

    (2)

  • Cassandra M.

    Good sushi, not overwhelmingly mayonnaisey as some rolls can be. The place is very small with just one table and the sushi bar - but we actually didn't have to wait very long. Tip - you put your name on the list hanging on the wall in front of you when you walk in.

    (4)

  • Maria E.

    Very good sushi. However, I didn't approach this place correctly. I came here during lunch one day and ordered the lunch special (Boston Maki). Mistake. Don't get me wrong, the sushi was fresh and delicious but in a place that offers very innovative rolls (sea urchin, kobe beef, etc.) this felt like a waste. The lunch special came with miso (good), green salad (I've had better ginger dressing elsewhere) and 3 pieces of sashimi and 6 pieces of sushi. Good but c'mon - snoozefest. I had to order a special roll to go just to feel like I tried something here. I didn't inspect the menu thoroughly until after I ordered. The really crazy rolls on the special menu (they even have a foie gras roll - which I don't eat but I've never seen that before) are pricey but are definitely a treat for the sushi lover looking for something new. I'd absolutely come back here to try some of the more fun rolls. The service was quick and good but I was also one of the only customers at the time. It is a small and popular place and tends to get packed/busy at certain times. I did stop by here once on a Saturday afternoon (mid) and there was a 20 minute wait so we left.

    (4)

  • Kevin L.

    Having gone to school in Newton, I had no idea this hole-in-the-wall existed! I've definitely driven past this spot a million times as well. My first experience here was superb!!! I arrived at 5pm, but this place got PACKED by the time I left at 6:15pm. My suggestion is to go early. The place is also pretty small as well. However, I don't think it'd be too long of a wait seeing how they bring out your food lightning quick. We probably got our sushi within 10 mins of ordering it. I had the Tokyo Style Soft Shell Crab maki and the Crispy maki with tuna.....I think that's what it was called???? Regardless, all the fish was extremely fresh. Can't wait to try the entrees next time!

    (5)

  • Dan V.

    Wonderful, small, sushi bar and restaurant. Great service, authentic style. One of my favorite places.

    (5)

  • Christine J.

    i think i'll be the only one giving a 1 star review but i gotta be honest with how i feel. one word: UNIMPRESSED. i never trust chinese owned sushi places and this place solidified my belief. we came bc we had a gift card here. heard good things about this place from several ppl. mostly those who's never lived in japan or non japanese. but with all these 5 star reviews, i had high expectations of the place. we got miso soup, avocado salad, and chef's sushi deluxe. not 1 item was authentically japanese. it was like one of those chinese restaurants that serve sushi and the late night post clubbing crowd type of food. comparing it to Ginza and Suishaya in chinatown. the sushi was not fresh, the sushi rice was sour, not the right mixture. the smell made me almost vomit. shrimp was tough and old.. i was so appalled by it all. the only thing thats authentic is the set up of the restaurant, small with limited room (which is a sad imitation of japan - bc thats japan's only downside) the waiters/hosts were all chinese or vietnamese, yelling loudly as they run around the place trying to organize/direct traffic. their nails were long and it was in my miso soup as they brought it to me. ya.. nothing else needs to be said. i am sooo unimpressed with this place, regretting we went there. but had to bc of the kind gesture a friend did - getting us a big gift card there. i wish i liked it but it's so not good that i'm beyond boggled at their rating on yelp. ask any japanese person to rate this restaurant and you will see.

    (1)

  • Justin C.

    I should probably put a disclaimer that I haven't had sushi or any decent Asian food since I moved to the south 5 months ago. But dear god was this place pretty amazing. This was probably some of the best I've had in a really long time (I lived in San Francisco prior for a few years). There is some unusual dishes and some common rolls that will please just about anyway. I definitely would recommend the spicy scallop, which really isn't very spicy. Maybe more like a mild. O-toro and dragon eye were also great. For these I wished I savored it a bit more. The tofu was also very tasty and a good way to fill your belly because the price can be a little shocking for a poor grad student like myself. The only weak point was for me was the white tiger, while still good, couldn't compare to the others. Oh, and also I was told the kobe beef was not worth it at $9 a piece ($18 for 2). I don't eat beef so I didn't try. This place is tiny, so come at a reasonable time. We came in right when it opened and so we didn't have a problem. We left about 12:15 pm and there were still a few seats open.

    (5)

  • Rita V.

    Pricey, but OH SO Creative, not your run-of-the-mill Sushi. Rice is always fresh. Their popcorn shrimp is addictive. Its a "special date night" sushi joint, because it is small, intimate, cozy and pricy. AND you DO GET what you pay for here. Applaud the kitchen - their creativity is really superb.

    (4)

  • Carl B.

    Amazing......nothing else to say... oh wait, there was a seared fatty tuna roll that gets seared with a food torch; not only is it a treat to watch them sear the tuna, it's absolutely a party in your mouth once you take that first bite. - I'd knock off one star for having so little seating, but I suppose I knew what I was getting myself into when I walked in.

    (5)

  • Greg P.

    Excellent Sushi in the Boston Suburbs Oishii is located just past the Chestnut Hill Mall and the Street Shopping Complex on the way to Brookline. My wife and I have both eaten in and taken out. If you can arrive early (definitely before 6PM), you will encounter little or no wait. The dining area is very small and simple. The dining in experience is all about the sushi... it's not going to be a great place for a large meeting of friends, special occasion, romantic dinner, etc. It IS a great place for devastatingly good sushi though. We have found that Oishii really excels at the take-out experience. Fast and efficient, the sushi quality is just as good in the comfort of your own home. Standout sushi offerings include the spicy tuna roll which is fresh and not overloaded with spicy mayo. Also, the sashimi is extremely fresh with nice generous chunks. We loved the salmon, yellowtail, and amberjack. The soft shell crab maki and shrimp tempura are also crunchy, warm, and delicious. The highlight was the hamachi torched maki which had a great flavor from the seared yellowtail. The service is excellent and the prices are comparable to other competitors. For comparison, Oishii provides better value than Fugakyu in Brookline. In addition, Oishii has a more innovative and creative menu with many more offerings than Fugakyu. Oishii has become one of our regular places for Sushi!

    (4)

  • Steven E.

    We ordered a large plate of sushi here for a birthday party. It was a very large order. Some of the rolls had cream cheese in them "example: Philly Rolls" and unfortunately the cream cheese was old and moldy. I took most of the order back to them, and they remade the whole order from scratch. Other than that little mishap, the rolls were tasty and the fish is fresh. Thanks Oishii!

    (4)

  • Amy P.

    4 stars because of the space limitation. I think this is the best sushi restaurant in Boston area. They are very fresh as always. I had the sushi and sashimi for two and they were amazing. The crispy mango(?) roll was also really good!

    (4)

  • Mike S.

    Walked in 9:30pm and was told that I have to eat quick since they are closing soon - walked away same moment - what a BS - never will go again

    (1)

  • Tanya L.

    I'd give them 100 stars if I could!! I am an avid sushi lover and have lived in four different major cities now (ATL, BOS, NYC, SF) - AND I still think this is the ABSOLUTE BEST SUSHI place around! The only sushi spot that comes close is Nobu NYC and it definitely doesn't compare on a price level as it is far more expensive. Only thing is that there are only 12 seats at Oishii so be ready to wait a bit, but its totally worth the wait, you won't be disappointed! Favorites: Paula Maki, Black Cod Appetizer, Salmon Meal on the Hot Stone, Spicy Tuna Hand Roll, and just about every roll on the menu....

    (5)

  • Scott M.

    The best sushi in the New England area. If you dont mind waiting and sitting at the small sushi bar you will not be disappointed. I have been going to Oishii for years and each time has been amazing. They have the most creative rolls around and everything tastes incredibly fresh! I prefer the Chestnut Hill location over Boston or Sudbury

    (5)

  • Vivian C.

    My most expensive lunch thus far - $45, for two rolls and a shared order of the lobster tempura. But I have to say, those lobstar claws were the bomb! (typo intended). According to the menu, the lobster tempura $24 were to come 4 claws to an order with some kind of honey mustard sauce, fried potato chips and cucumbers. Instead, we received 7 claws (nice and so very much appreciated in these days of the cheaper crustacean) carefully set above a pool of super yummy (yet crystally with unmelted sugar) creamy sauce, with crisp chips and cool slices of cukes. I really enjoyed this dish. The Tokyo style soft shell crab maki $14 and the Scorpion Maki $11 were less impressive in comparison yet still satisfying. The soft shell crab was huge. But even more impressive were the number of lobster claws I witnessed one of the sushi chefs cramming into another party's maki order - no wonder the cost of some of these dishes are so high! The sashimi pieces in my friend's Chirashi lunch special $25 (which came with miso soup and salad) were rather huge - more than one bite apiece, but everything glistened appetizingly if I were a raw fish eater. Within 10 minutes, we had received our entire order, which was delivered piecemeal as each item was prepared. The place didn't quite fill up completely during lunch on this Saturday, but some seats turned over quite quickly. At the single four person table top, they prefer parties of two to sit across from one another and (quite understandably) to be willing to share the table. They open for lunch at 1pm on Saturdays, and they have a single bathroom by the cashier if you need it. *** 9/2013 *** There were seats available at the bar (sushi bar) when I popped in to pick up a take-out order around 5:40pm one Thursday evening. My order came in a reusable store branded bag - bring it back, I was told, and get 5% off my next take-out order. Nice!

    (4)

  • David O.

    I have always been very satisfied with Oga's. The sushi is delicious and when I go for lunch the bento box does the trick. Large parties are welcome and I have used them to cater huge events at my work. You will always get my recommendation.

    (5)

  • Michael L.

    Consistently excellent. The freshness and size of the sushi and sashimi are second to none. Chefs are impressive to watch in their efficiency, artistry, and cleanliness.

    (4)

  • Lee D.

    Used to be a the best Sushi in Boston, but these days it is a hit and miss. One day you get a great sushi and great service, then the next time service is horrible and sushi is just ok... I keep coming back remembering the good old days when this was great each and every time, but sometimes it is just not worth it...

    (3)

  • Jennifer S.

    Tiny place but the sushi was delicious. The rolls were beautiful and I enjoyed my dining experience. I totally recommend this place and it's better than most sushi restaurants in the Boston area.

    (4)

  • Maria G.

    The best Sushi restaurant in Massachusetts, most likely. This will be the only restaurant we will miss when we head West in 7 days.

    (5)

  • Joyce H.

    Came here for a late lunch, and yum. It's a very small eatery with most of the seats at the bar. We enjoyed ourselves by watching the sushi chefs in their skilled-ness practically the whole time that we ate! Even at 3pm, the restaurant was still pretty busy. They give you a menu while you wait and ask you for your order once you sit down. We bit off way more than we could chew! We got a little overzealous because in the midwest, there really isn't fresh sashimi (that I trust at least!) We ordered 3 things - all really good. Sashimi lunch - 5. Comes in a bento with salad, 3 pieces of tuna, salmon, and hamachi. You can finish it off with the piece of watermelon they give you. The sashimi pieces are very fresh and hearty with rather large cuts. You can't go wrong with this. Hamachi kama - 5. Very very tender hamachi (yellowtail) with very large portions. The flavor was memorable. We couldn't finish this because we ordered way too much for lunch! If you are interested in a warm, cooked dish, hamachi kama is the way to go! Chirashi lunch - 5. Plenty of fresh seafood with a good variety of the usual suspects - tuna, salmon, hamachi, red snapper, tamago, and a few others. Always enjoyable with good flavor and tender cuts. One cool thing about oishii is that they offer a lot of sustainable types of fish which they offer it for lunch specials at fairly good deals. Very exciting!

    (5)

  • Daniel E.

    My favorite sushi bar by far west of the city. The key differentiating feature of this sushi bar is the high quality fish. Particularly the salmon and tuna taste very fresh. The value ratio here is quite good in terms of quality/price, i.e. (High/Medium). Strongly recommend this restaurant if you are in metro west, passing buy or in chestnut hill looking for a good sushi eat!

    (4)

  • Kevin C.

    The food here is legit. We've tried a bunch of different stuff on the menu. Everything we've tried was delicious. Definitely lived up to its hype.

    (4)

  • SaraLee C.

    Fantastic. TRULY Fresh Fish! Be wary of the hole-in-the-wall feel. My date and I enjoyed it, but, it is certainly not for all.

    (5)

  • Francisca W.

    there's a reason why this is one of my "last supper" choices. minus the one time we unwisely came on a sunday afternoon and had slightly less than superb quality of food and service, this place never fails. ok that wait can get frustrating, but you just gotta plan your entrance strategically, and you'll be all set. came by couple Tuesdays ago as hub was taking me out for my bday; arrived around 6pm, i was the first to set foot into the door!! the Jay Chou-lookalike waiter was gone (that was couple years ago), position replaced by a meek young boy (yes, "young" by my book) by the name of Pete. upon learning that i wanted seats for 2, he politely asked if the other person was near, and i said maybe 5-10 min away. he was hesitant for 1 second and realized that it'd be silly to tell me to wait for all parties to arrive when the place was completely empty at the moment, i was allowed to choose "any seat i wanted". that felt goooood! hub arrived about 10-15 min, the place was already filling up w/couple seats left. Pete checked on me a couple times before then, and we placed the order relatively quickly after hub sat down. when we gave him the menus i asked if they happened to have GF soy sauce, and they did!! WOOHOO OISHII! saw a few new things on the menu ("new" because i don't remember seeing these before); veered off our usual path a bit, though not very far. a couple things failed (and could easily improve), the rest was good as always. see pics for the dishes. - uni quail egg shooter: thought i saw (2) but i could have been hallucinating. 1 shooter came; the uni & quail egg was DRENCHED in "light soy sauce" -- forgot to ask if they could use GF tamari instead. not that it made much of a difference. the pure amount of soy in there just killed it. i poured most of it out onto my saucer (for dipping sushi later); hub drank the rest. said it was good but STILLLL too salty. - the double "i" (ikura & ika): torched squid w/salmon roe. a good bite regardless, tho each flavor was not very distinct. - broiled eggplant salad: hub recently fell in love w/eggplants. the creamy softness of it along w/the mayonnaise-based looking sauce sat on top of salad w/a ginger-based dressing. very nice contrast, and yummy. - a "special" sushi named after a customer (rachel?): turned out to be just scallop sushi w/a tiny slice of lemon, a dab of mayonnaise, and some flying fish roe. fresh, but not "special". the usual: - ame-ebi (sweet shrimp) sashimi -- maybe out of season, not as good as always. - toro gukan (crunchy) sushi -- not as fatty and crunchy as i remember before, but still very good. - torched hamachi roll -- always love it, w/a hint of the citrus sauce, just to cut the fat. - dragon(?) eye roll -- the riceless roll using squid instead. love it. food was good as always; only "complaint" would be the order in which they appeared. basically there was no planning, whatever made first came first. for ex, the eggplant salad came last, after the rolls and stuff. sushi came first, and the other appetizers just interposed themselves in between. was a bit weird on the brain/palette if i have to nit-pick, but the stomach didn't complain. dessert offerings were two inverted cup shaped ice-cream; obviously not homemade but not really expecting them to be. red bean flavor was almost strawberry-like (not very red bean-y); the green tea was pretty decent. place got a bit busy (esp w/all the phone orders) and Pete forgot to refill our water. tsk tsk tsk! kidding, Pete. and yes, my last supper had been served and i can die happy now. again.

    (5)

  • The Throwin S.

    Oishii is the best sushi in the Boston area, bar none. I have visited several times over the last 5 years and it is consistently superb. Super fresh. Fast and impeccable service. I recommend going early or taking out, since there are very few seats.

    (5)

  • Pamela L.

    Coming from California, I find it nearly impossible to find: 1) decent Japanese food; 2) decent hair stylists; and 3) decent Mexican food. Oishii, though, has the best sushi in the Boston area. I've been to both locations--Chestnut Hill and Boston. Both are good, but the Chestnut Hill location is more quaint (but also incredibly cramped). The sushi is top notch, and presented beautifully--very artistically done.

    (5)

  • Nancy T.

    It will ruin your sashimi experience at all other sushi places. seriously the fish is very good. REAL eel not the packaged stuff. Amazing fish mostly. However last time my salmon had an unappetizing dried up piece at the bottom. Also the quality of the nori and the seasoning on the specialty rolls are not good. overall not really refined. Nori should taste like nori and not be dry. The rice was not great. In that respect fish market sushi in allston is better. But I will definitely go here again just to get the plain sashimi. at busy times you really feel it is just a takeout delivery joint which definitely lessens the experience. Overall I will probably come back again unless I can figure out how to buy that amazing fish.

    (3)

  • Ash C.

    Sushi and sashimi was fresh. It was a full house so service was a little bit clumsy. They close @ 9:30pm so we felt like we were getting kicked out when we barely drank our sake.

    (3)

  • Ralph O.

    Nice food and creative rolls! Location is very informal, small and smokey, good enough for a sushi place. Service is standard and effective. A little pricey for the atmosphere, but the food is great.

    (4)

  • Lauren F.

    I personally think this is the best and freshest sushi in Boston. On the pricey side though. It is a super small place, not good for parties over 2. I usually get take out. They give you a reusable bag and everytr me you bring it in for takeout they give you 5% off your order.

    (5)

  • Xiao Z.

    Stop reading this review and go here already! Just make sure you plan to wait for a while, cause you're not the only person who loves eating amazing, beautiful, sexy sushi delicacies. I don't even know how to start this review as my keyboard is already flooded with drool. One bad part...it's $$$. It's certainly cheaper than it's cousin in Boston, but still expect to shelve out a coupla pretty pennies if you're here to sample their $30 sushi marvels.

    (5)

  • J B.

    Really really great sushi! Extremely fresh! It is very small, so be ready to cozy up with other parties at the bar table! Bottomless hot green tea! Yum! Try one of the costumers creation rolls!

    (4)

  • Roger C.

    I start this by saying I have been a long and loyal Oishii Fan, back to when there was only one. I started to write this review a year ago when I had good sushi but a poor customer service experience, but in deference to my many outstanding experiences passed. Used to live in Brookline and dined weekly here. Now live out of state and had made this a must stop when we visited. Last year was served a drink that was very off. Advised the waiter and asked for a coke. When I got the bill I was charged for both, on a high dollar check. The waiter, was good, apologized and looked to the gentleman handling the incoming orders. I spoke with him and he said it was opened so it had to be paid for. I asked how do you know the taste is bad without opening it. He very imperiously told me that was the way it was. As I said I passed it off to a bad experience and thought nothing of it till we were back in Boston and had a yen for good sushi and decided to try it again. Got there around 5:30 and it was empty. Sat down and asked for a diet coke, Looked like the same pleasant waiter as last year, He said they did not have any diet cokes, In fact they had no diet soda. I ordered a beer and they only had a large Sapporo. The restaurant was freezing. We asked to if he could adjust the AC and he did and as soon as he lowered it the gentleman taking the orders and operating the register adjusted it back. ( It looked like the same one who we had the strange encounter with the previous year) While we were trying to place the order we again asked if he could adjust the AC, He did and once again the other gentleman put it back. When this happened a third time in under 5 minutes we decided our Oishii days were over and we got up to leave. The waiter apologized, the gentleman by the order desk smirked and we were out of there. I am thankful that I had not opened my drink. An example of what happens when the owner is not present and the employees have a different concept of what makes a great restaurant great.

    (1)

  • Dorothy W.

    It's practically a crime to compare sushi restaurants in the Boston area without trying Oishii Sushi Bar, one of the early leaders in the sushi stampede. (Remember when it was virtually impossible to get any sushi around here? I do.) Everything that you get at this casual, cramped mecca of seafood goodness is beautifully prepared and delicious. I recommend going with an appetite, a sushi loving friend and the bulk of your last birthday check from Mom and Dad. (Better yet, bring them along.) Just try a lot of different things, take your time and enjoy. When I first went here, I was still relatively new to the sushi scene, and it helped to be there with friends who knew their way around the menu. If you are a rookie in the raw fish world, try to go with someone who can make suggestions. Or you can read up on line about the different types of fish and the various definitions. It can be confusing. Sushi? Sashimi? Uni? Unagi? Maki? Nigiri? Dragon? Scorpion? This bombardment of unfamiliar terms can be stressful when you are just beginning your adventure in the world of raw seafood. The one flaw in an otherwise flawless experience is the fact that this place is always totally packed. You will be jammed in like little sardines in a little tin can, knee to knee and toe to toe with strangers. You may also have a serious wait. Other than that, it's a true educational experience for a neophyte in the sushi world and a joyful treat for the old pro. Not much else around here compares.

    (4)

  • Donna H.

    Good food but deathly slow with takeout. Not sure I would come back for this experience. A half hour for 3 rolls and no apologies. Disappointing...

    (2)

  • Marsha F.

    Despite the Korean lineage, the owners they certainly do Japanese cuisine Justice! This would be a perfect rating- the sushi is 6 stars- the only thing that decreases the score is the suboptimal dining space. Physical plant layout is such they only have 16 or 17 seats and only two tables; one is never quite sure if the seating plan At the hostess stand is actually accurate. Be advised that if you park in any of the lots nearby for other businesses they will tow you... Like it's their job! That said -this is tremendous sushi, hands down Despite the inconvenience and or discomfort you might experience while eating it!

    (4)

  • Mike K.

    I am always happy to find another sushi option around Boston. Don't have time for a long review but in short, the food was great and very fresh (sushi and rolls) and the service was super-attentive, friendly, and very fast. The menu has a lot of variety and a few interesting rolls. The space here is very tiny, one or two tables, I think, with the rest of the seats being at the bar. Unfortunately, the chefs at the bar didn't even acknowledge any of the customers and there wasn't an interactive atmosphere you expect when sitting at a sushi bar. So there goes one star. I took the other star away because the place seemed unreasonably overpriced. I would expect to find prices like that at a very fancy sushi restaurant but not in a hole-in-the-wall type setting, even if the food was very good.

    (3)

  • Kate J.

    This is still a fabulous sushi location. Chestnut Hill is elegant unto itself and makes this dining experience all the better. I had a new item of octopus and it was delicious! I could not have been happier with my selection.

    (4)

  • Alexander R.

    So, yeah, this place is really good. We bought an obscene number of things, and they all blew my mind. Fairly expensive, though, even by sushi standards.

    (5)

  • Michelle S.

    I will never be able to enjoy sushi the same. I finally tried Oishii this week for the first time, and the fact that I ordered takeout the very next day for the second time says it all. This place has raised the bar on sushi for me. I ordered the Alligator Maki and the Spicy Scallop Roll, based on what other Yelpers had said in previous reviews. Both were out of this world. I couldn't believe how big the scallops were! I ordered takeout both times, but I did see how small the actually restaurant is. Looks like a lot of fun though! The place has a certain air of intimacy since the sushi chefs are literally right in front of you. I like that. I will definitely be returning for a third time in the very near future, and I imagine a lot of my business will be coming here now. I know that the prices are a bit more expensive than what I am used to paying, but it is so worth it. This is now my go-to sushi spot.

    (5)

  • Gray L.

    Good sushi... Will come back to try the makis which look really yummy. Also ordered shrimp tempura, which was really fresh and crispy and light. The place is super cramped and small though so try to avoid peak hours and days. The service is also kind of questionable with the servers a bit rude when clearing out the plates. Think for the price, it's a good value and can understand why people close by are regulars. However as someone living a bit out of the way, I will prob not drive out to dine here often.

    (3)

  • ZZZZ T.

    Spectacular sushi. For a tiny restaurant, they are at the top of the game. By far the most consistent delicious sushi in Boston. Try the Zach Roll. It's highly recommended.

    (5)

  • kim s.

    JACKIE the owner I hope you read this and take appropriate action!!! As a very long time loyal customer of many years, sometime eating there 3 times a week, I was appalled at how bad your place have suddenly turned into when you're not there. When I came in last Sunday nite and seated at the slow period 4:25pm Pats football game, the seats were dirty with tobiko and soy sauce and all 6 white menus the waitress handed us were also sticky with tobiko and brown sauce. Fine. I wiped them clean myself. I ordered the unagi ota as usual but the portion was insultingly stingy...2-3 unagi pieces chopped and topped over maybe 2-3 strands of seaweed. I order this dish multiple times weekly for my 10yo so he knows exactly what it's supposed to look like. Fine. We simply order something else. The waitress were in the back and the cashier were busy with two pickup customers, so I turned to the sushi chef to order. The chef pointed to the busy cashier and angrily said, "GO ORDER FROM HER." WT#$@^%&*?! was that all about? I just paid and left. I'm used to the ghetto and I'd be ok if this was an cheap eatery in chinatown boston or flushing. But such unkemptness and disrespectful behavior in a sushi bar like this is uncalled for.

    (1)

  • Cornel F.

    Expensive but good and creative sushi

    (4)

  • Ronen Olga R.

    I ordered some sushi to go, and honestly I don't know how this place gets all it's good reviews. The sushi is overpriced and a step better than Star Market sushi, the sushi was cold, old and had no taste. This was my second and last time ordering there, I thought the second time would be better than the first but opposite. STAY AWAY

    (1)

  • Darren G.

    Fantastic sushi! The yellow tail was amazing and the o-toro was fantastic. The place was busy, but the sushi orders came up really quickly. I always come hear when in the area since my first time here two years ago.

    (4)

  • Wendy L.

    Oishii is definitely one of the best sushi places in the Boston area. It's pricey but they give you big portions and offer some pretty creative stuff. I was surprised to be seated in 15 minutes for two on a Friday night since this place is tiny. A ton of people came in to get take out from this place...I might do that next time! We started off with Spicy Tuna Ta Ta and Hamachi Kama. Both were amazing! They really give you a lot here so it's worth the money. The Spicy Tuna Ta Ta wasn't mixed with spicy mayo but a different spicy sauce. The most epic dish was Kin Zan Sake!!!!!! It was chopped up pieces of salmon, tossed in a special sauce on top of crispy fried breaded salmon skin. I wasn't quite sure what else was in this but the flavors were complex and so delicious! The waitress came by to explain it to us and recommended us to try it without soy sauce. It looked liked an appetizer you would see at a fancy cocktail reception. YUM!! We got a few Nigiris and we were impressed. They were so fresh and delicious! We got the Toro Gukan which I absolutely recommend, King Salmon and Snow Crab. I love fresh Nigiris and you can't find this at all sushi places! We also tried to Foie Gras sushi which was delicious but I was surprised to find strawberries in it! I took it out since I don't really enjoy fruit with my food but the foie gras was great. The only dish we really didn't enjoy was the Hamachi Tango. The sauce was extremely fruity and I think seared hamachi is just a little bit too fishy for me. I don't think this is their fault because it's a personal preference. Overall the service was great, the waitress was extremely attentive and friendly. We didn't have much space at our table so she came by a lot to make sure she cleared our plates. This place has really big portions but isn't cheap! I'm not a big fan of their American style rolls because they overload on sauce and rice but their Nigiri is fresh and they have great appetizers. I will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Simon F.

    good food except relatively small place.

    (4)

  • Luke T.

    ITADAKIMAS!! Here's the problem. This place has set a new high for Sushi. I brought 4 friend with me and introduced them to good sushi and Hamachi Kama. Now, they will forever be dissapointed at other sushi places. Nigiri sushi and rolls are outstanding. With the 5 of us, we sampled plenty of variety and everything is good. Everyone agree the yellow tail was fantastic. I saw a few folks eating ramen or udon and it looked awesome. Will be back to try that. The place is very small. Takes in about 20 people, but well worth the wait. Would like to see this place stock some better sake, some quality dai ginjo is needed.

    (5)

  • Ben S.

    Probably the best sushi I've ever had. The only comparison I can make is to Uni Sashimi bar at Clio restaurant in the Eliot Hotel. Prices at Uni were dramatically higher, and I'd say the menu at Uni was more inventive and "modern" (with various foams, reductions, etc.), but the sushi was no better.

    (5)

  • Nina N.

    I have been reading yelp reviews on this place for the longest time. The plan was to go for my birthday last year but I had eaten sushi with a girlfriend for lunch and my boyfriend denied me sushi again for dinner. Apparently he doesn't believe in having sushi for lunch and for dinner. Our meal started with three orders of nigiri sushi. We had the toro (fatty tuna), sake (salmon), and escolar (super white tuna). We had ordered the super white tuna as a sashimi order, however, either the waitress or chef messed up the order and presented it as sushi instead. It worked out for the better since the sushi came out balanced and beautifully presented. My favorite of the three sushi had to be the toro. It was so soft and delectable. It had the melt in your mouth effect. The other two was also very good although I have had better salmon. The escolar was really fresh but because I have had it too often, it has now lost its magic. Escolar is really tasty when you try it for the first few times. We were then served avocado salad. The purple orchid used to garnish the dish added elegance compared to other restaurants that serve this dish unaccompanied. Though better in term of presentation, tastes wise I would have to say that the salad tasted no different from any other avocado salad I have tried. We next had the kappa sashimi maki which is tuna, salmon & hamachi wrapped in cucumber served with ponzu sauce. The idea was to have a refreshing maki that did not have rice in it. However, this was a bad decision on my part for two reasons. One, we just had salmon and tuna so by now, it seemed redundant. Two, the cucumber was not as fresh or as crispy as I would have liked it to be. It was rather dry possibly due to the fact that they were paper dried with a paper towel and later stored wrapped in a paper towel. Now I am being redundant. Partially my fault that the experience was not what I had hoped for. Our orders of the Oishii Spicy Scallop Maki and Tokyo Style Soft Shell Crab Maki came together. I would highly recommend the Oishii Spicy Scallop Maki. It has scallop, black tobiko, cucumber, kaiwaii & spicy mayo. It was definitely an art piece and the scallop was so refreshing. The Tokyo Style Soft Shell Crab Maki was soft shell crab with tamago, unagi, cucumber, scallion and tobiko wrapped in seaweed and daikon. I do not recommend this roll. Unfortunately, the daikon they used had been again, cut, paper dried, and left our for too long and tasted like paper towel. Fresh ingredients is always better. Same as with the cucumber in my earlier kappa sashimi maki roll. The chef should take care not prepare the daikon and cucumber in advance. Also wiping them and storing them with paper towel sure does not help. The last dish we ordered was the Grilled Kobe Beef. This was cubed kobe beef with red onion, chives, capers, caviar and wasabi ponzu sauce. While my boyfriend felt that it was good but not $35.00 dollars good, I felt that if I was to judge the dish without the price tag, I would have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this dish. It had layers of flavors and was juicy. I would definitely order it again even though it is $35.00. Overall, I had a few memorable dishes and there is still many others I have yet to try. Seating is very limited. Personally, it was a bit uncomfortable for me. On the bright side, because my boyfriend and I came in before the line started, we were seated upon arrival. I felt bad for the people who had to wait because it felt like no one wanted to leave. I would definitely come back though not right away. See my pictures.

    (4)

  • Austin J. A.

    Three of us went to Oishii tonight at 6:30PM. Even though it's a Tuesday, the joint was hopping. It took us almost an hour to get in; there's only eight seats at the counter, and one four-top table in the front window. There is only a tiny place to seat, and since other people were sitting in it, we stood outside. Though it was cold out there, the food was delicious and worth the wait. I enjoyed standing under the street lights and placing my order with a dry-erase marker on a laminated menu - it was fun and built up the anticipation for a far-away day when I'd order the $30 maguro toro roll with caviar and gold flake. There will be another visit soon, I'm sure, for the chef's special. This place serves some high-end specialty rolls; we were all far too hungry this time to properly enjoy anything truly over-decadent. Tonight, we had beef negima(ki) with salad, miso soup (excellent), and edamame for appetizers. We had beautiful, thick salmon and hamachi (yellowtail) sashimi, an alligator roll (eel, avocado, crab stick, shrimp tempura, orange roe, scallions, cucumber), another roll that was basically that roll but wider and inside-out, shrimp tempura roll (herbed on the outside), lots of salmon nigiri (it was a lovely size and weight, but the salmon itself was bias-cut with a lip on it, not very pretty), salmon tempura (the salmon tempura interior was flanked by a field of rice and two baby carrots), caterpillar roll (eel, avocado, cucumber - the avocado was really thinly sliced, very nice). I love sitting at the counter, watching the chefs work (there were four chefs working, shoulder-to-shoulder, with a lovely assortment of ingredients). I didn't even notice the muted, bar-mounted TV showing Extra news magazine while we were eating. The meal cost $127 before the tip. The service was attentive, with plates cleared swiftly, which made the tiny venue seem just a tad less tiny. It would have been nice to have received a glass of water at any time, or a refill on our hot tea. I'd heard the rave reviews of Oishii in Chestnut Hill, and I saw the steady stream of people coming and going with their take-out orders; my own experience was similar. The quality, if not the overall experience, at Oishii is on par with that of Café Sushi in Harvard Square, Cambridge, a top sushi place I love to eat.

    (4)

  • Adi R.

    While I'm sure they do fancier stuff well, they also do a brilliant job of the simple stuff for a relative sushi novice such as myself. I'm not adventurous when it comes to sushi, so we usually end up getting staples like salmon cucumber maki, spicy tuna, sweet potato, shiitake mushroom, soft shell crab and the salmon sashimi. Each of these is exquisite. The salmon sashimi in particular just melts in the mouth. The Agedashi tofu is also outstanding. The only drawback is that Oishii becomes the standard that one measures all sushi restaurants by, so there aren't a ton of places you'll really like after experiencing Oishii. Completely worth it, however.

    (5)

  • Erica B.

    Fabulously fresh fish. Tiny place--- one table seats 6 then bar seating. We feasted on super white tuna (shame on us), red tuna, yellowtail, octopus, scallop sushi. Four or five simple rolls. All was delicious. Best I've had in Boston a notch above Super Fusion (my neighborhood joint). Haven't been to O Ya yet, though. Very reasonably priced for the quality.

    (5)

  • David C.

    All the reviews in the world couldn't prepare me for just how tiny Oishii is. I counted maybe only eight or nine seats crammed around the sushi bar where my friends and I were seated (with about three feet of space behind our backs) and one table of four. I rarely sit at the bar in sushi restaurants, but it's actually quite fun (although I would have traded my strange white leather chair for one that didn't make me lean so far forward). I find the art of sushi-making to be fascinating, and the chefs at Oishii are definitely at the top of their game. I came for lunch and only had to wait about 10 minutes for a party of three. The servers were a little brain dead, but they got the job done (ie they brought the sushi and only spilled soy sauce on us once). My friends and I racked up a pretty good-sized bill by the time we were done trying specials and whatnot ("The Maki," covered in torched toro and a tamarind-like sweet sauce was good, but not worth the hefty $23 price tag), but it was the simple, traditional rolls that I enjoyed most. The spicy tuna and Boston rolls were both simple but delicious, filled with generous portions of tender tuna and salmon, respectively. The Alligator maki, an eight-piece shrimp tempura roll topped with avocado, eel, tobikko, and eel sauce, was a little more extravagant, but equally tasty. All-in-all, I'm glad I finally got to try the original Oishii. It kind of boggles my mind that this unassuming little sushi bar spawned that overpriced monster in the South End.

    (4)

  • Brendan C.

    Decent sushi but they could have a better menu

    (3)

  • Josephine L.

    I wouldn't make the hour-long trek out to Chestnut Hill again but this wasn't bad for a one-time thing. The sushi is quite fresh and certainly more affordable than the full Oishii restaurant in the South End. They stick to most of the basics here and the result is simple, pure flavors made by seasoned sushi chefs. Rice is just the right amount of sticky and sour, rolls are appropriately bite-sized, cuts are thick and generous, and as mentioned before, the quality is fresh. I started with 3 slices of hamachi sashimi because it is the single greatest fish in the world (besides salmon) and if you disagree, I will beat you down with my fishing rod. The slices were pink and beautiful and made me wish I could reach into the glass in front of me and just bite into the big fillet of hamachi that was sitting there right before my eyes (a fantasy I've been told is odd yet understandable). From there, I had the Rainbow Roll, Boston Roll and Rick's Roll (one of their customer creations apparently). The last roll came with sea bass which tastes just as good raw as it does seared and encrusted. My friends also got some form of sea bass and between the 3 of us, there were several moments of long silence where all you could hear was the sound of chewing and the inaudible sound of sushi cravings being satisfied. Service was friendly and attentive, seating happened pretty quickly considering how packed it was and as many have mentioned, the space is tiny so claustrophobes need not apply.

    (4)

  • Wendy L.

    Sushi can be so misunderstood sometimes. It has evolved overtime from being a small bits delicacy to a full blown intricate world of explosion of freshness and flavors. Oiishi sushi restaurant in Newton Highlands, Ma is such a restaurant that has paved the path of this sushi vision. It really started more than a decade ago when Oiishi opens its doors. I remember the first time my mother brought me to this place; it's a tiny restaurant with approximately 10-12 seats max! The price at the time was slightly high but I would say fair. At the time, California rolls and salmon sushi were really the staple and standard of all sushi places. No one really expected much more. The caterpillar, the rainbow rolls, the dynamite, the Route 66 ( tempura salmon and cream cheese), and many other varieties had never even come across in many Bostonian imaginations before. So for this tiny restaurant to execute with passion, really began my love affair with this cuisine. They even made steak and chicken teriyaki a meal to remember. Now many years later, they have expanded to a few more locations, but, chestnut hill still being the best. Their cost are more than doubled but seems that business is booming!! Their foods I would say aren't necessarily cutting edge now, but, execution has never been off. In comparison to sushi in California, Oiishi is on par, but in metro Boston, Oiishi is by far the set bar for quality, presentation, and taste. Tonight, we had: The salmon and yellowtail sashimi were thick fatty slices and fresh. Spicy tuna and tempura shrimp rolls were simple but well done. We also ordered the Crispy Foie Gras which came with 4 pieces of sushi rolled foie gras and dried strawberries. It was a bit odd tasting, especially the chewy dry texture of the strawberry with the added unagi sauce on top. The foie gras was normal and all in all a decent dish, but I'm not sure worth the $35. In addition, the Chilean sea bass came a beautifully presented plate with salad and fried crispy rice noodles, side of rice and hefty portion of fish. The fish was flaky and flavorful but a bit dry. The price of $28 I feel is a bit much, especially when their black cod is just as good is only $13. My favorite was the Crispy Mango roll which had spicy tuna mixed with tempura flakes on top and asparagus and mango on the inside. Overall the textures were well rounded and the mango was a nice balance to the spicyness of the tuna. If you're looking for sushi in Boston, there really is nothing to think about...there's only Oiishi.

    (4)

  • james w.

    Sushi is very good. Some of the snobs say the place in Natick is better; they're so obnixious in their insistence that I dont want to go there for fear of running into them. As for Oishii Food's great. Place is tiny, you're likely to stand in line. Parking's a challenge.

    (4)

  • JAZON L.

    Immediately have to state for the time impaired, there's always a 15-30 minute so don't bother if you don't have the time. Lose 1 star for the wait. Otherwise, they deserve the Best of Boston sushi. Always fresh and they have access to fish most places do not. Secret is out the owner knows "someone" on the docks. Most of the reviews nailed it on the head - freshness, taste, preparation and presentation are top notch. Downside is the limited size and the wait. So be patient and it's well worth the effort. Here's a YELP tip...call ahead and ask them to put your name on the list. They do not take reservations.

    (4)

  • Meridith H.

    To be honest, we were on our way somewhere else, but missed our exit off 90 and *poof,* there's Newton! Two changes of plans later, we were in the mood for sushi. This place is SMALL. As in, so small that when we initially tried to enter, the one guy placing a take-out order inadvertently blocked the entire entrance. It's also so small that the chairs at the bar are practically on top of each other; do you want to have a private conversation? TOO BAD. Do you want to unobtrusively scoot your chair closer to the bar? TOO BAD. Do you maybe think it's a bit awkward to stare at the sushi chefs while they prepare both your own and your neighbors' meals? GET OVER IT. Oh, and didn't you know beforehand that the chefs are going to hand the sushi plates to the server over your head (because there is no other option given how little space there is)? That said, the food is excellent & the presentation beautiful. Most of the action seemed to be due to orders for take-out, which is, of course, exactly what I would order if I lived nearby.

    (3)

  • Rob R.

    Amazing sushi and a far better value than Nobu. As a matter of fact, I believe that the owner of Oishii was a chef at Nobu. What can I say? Each time I'm up in Boston I make sure to stop in. The sushi is always incredibly fresh and the fish is perfectly sliced, each bite like butter. Their slices are just right (not too thick) and a perfect balance with the rice and nori. Ditto the sashimi - perfectly sliced. No matter the type fish (I've tried them all), it's all good, so I recommend everything. They also make an awesome Beef Negimaki which I've ordered as an appetizer many times. Their udon isn't spectacular, but it's good. But, I'll be honest....I'm here for the sushi. The only drawback is the seating. It's very small and sometimes there's a wait, but once seated, everyone is accommodating.

    (5)

  • Sasha P.

    I've been to both the fancier Oishii in the South End and this less ostentatious location in Chestnut Hill several times, and I prefer this spot hands down. Although they both have delicious food, the no-nonsense attitude and coziness of this location wins me over every time. Yes, there is only a limited amount of cramped seating, but nothing beats watching the chefs create their masterpieces right in front of your eyes. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I usually get a couple of appetizers (the Oishii tuna chips and seaweed salad are some of my favorites). I never can make up mind as to what to order for my meal, so I typically let the chef decide for me. I wish I could remember everything I've gotten, but I've found that it's a great way to try things I typically would never think to order. The udon is also delicious on a cold day (I prefer the spicy seafood Udon). I've also gotten takeout from this location, and it's been amazing every time.

    (5)

  • S J.

    Very good- dine-in was very nice, but they seem to do most business through take-out. Will go back to.

    (4)

  • Shea H.

    Great Sushi! The quality of the fish they use is outstanding! The toro was to die for!

    (4)

  • Alan G.

    Excellent sushi. Cramped and very busy. Really high quality fish. Worth seeking out when in Boston

    (5)

  • John W.

    When I go to a Japanese sushi restaurant, I like to try the most exotic and different sashimi/nigiri on the menu. Therefore, for authentic fresh sashimi and nigiri in the Boston area, this is the place to go! It's not Tokyo or New York CIty. I get it! But this is the closest to authentic we can get in the area. Yes, it's a little pricey, but I think it's worth it. This is my second visit at the Chestnut Hill location. I had the lobster tempura (my all time favorite appetizer!) to start with, followed by oyster, surf clam, red crab, scallop, and ama ebi (sweet shrimp) nigiri. Everything was so fresh and sweet. So good! I've also been to the Boston location, the food was excellent there as well, and I had a great experience. However, the menu is a little different, for example, they don't have lobster tempura (a must have at oiishi!). The only downside to the Chestnut Hill location, is capacity. The place only accommodates about 12 to 16 people. Subsequently, the waits are long if you don't time it correctly.

    (5)

  • Daniel B.

    Best sushi restaurant around. Very small but makes for a fun atmosphere where everything is focused on the excellent quality of the Sushi. Highly recommended. Try it and you will be back many times after, guaranteed.

    (5)

  • Alexander K.

    This small quaint well organized place is a diamond !! Just awesome !!

    (5)

  • Anne W.

    God... I still love this place. I am literally broke when I walk out.. but it's so worth it everytime. You have to go with the right people.. but it's as authentic as it gets. Don't go with the Oishii at South End. Mistake everytime!

    (5)

  • Manolo E.

    Best Sushi in Metro West! Really more deserving of a 4 star review but seeing as Daikanyama ranks higher and shouldn't, trying to give a little push here. The rolls are good, but it's all about quality fish and it hits here on the sushi. The sushi pieces are a little smaller but the quality is all there!

    (5)

  • Aboud Y.

    Awesome spot. A truly authentic sushi experience in a cozy environment. Everything I've eaten here has been excellent and they've featured some truly standout specials the last few times I've been. Hats off to Ting San. However, the location is small and its not really a great date spot or someplace for families (just too cramped, no reservations accepted, and the ambiance is not right). I had high hopes for Oishii Boston but it left me disappointed.

    (4)

  • Mark W.

    Wow, this place is small boarding on cramped but damn good sushi I mean super fresh.

    (4)

  • Emily G.

    I'm in love with this place. It's small and I'd recommend takeout for the clausterphobic, but if small spaces don't bother you, then I highly recommend taking a seat at the bar and indulging in the freshest, tastiest fish in the Boston area. The staff is great - super friendly and attentive. And have I mentioned how tasty and fantastic the sushi is? Not to mention they give you really healthy slabs of fish.

    (5)

  • Sara M.

    Wow, ok, now I understand why people rave about this place. I had gotten so used to sub-par sushi that I didn't even realize it was sub-par... until I had Oishii sushi for lunch today. It is a really tiny space, so take that into consideration when you plan your meal (they do take out, FYI). We sat at the bar and ordered the spicy seafood miso to start. I highly recommend this soup! The flavors were subtle but definitely not one-note as some miso can be. It had a great heat to it without being too spicy (I love spicy food, but it annoys me when hot soup is overly spicy) and the shrimp, scallops, and tofu were delicious. I already know I'll be craving this soup on a regular basis. We ordered a selection of maki rolls and they were all fantastic. The spicy tuna, Boston roll (salmon), crazy maki, and sweet potato tempura maki all exemplified what great sushi should be. The rolls presented a combination of textures - crispy tempura, crunchy veggies, lightly fried sweet potato that was still soft in the middle, raw fish so fresh it was almost creamy... this is what I was missing in sub-par sushi. And of course everything was so fresh that the flavors were spot on. The rolls themselves were works of art - even the sweet potato tempura had tempura of various lengths artfully rising from the midst of the roll. The crispy mango roll was beautiful. Full of shrimp, veggies, mango, and topped with tuna - it was colorful, light and airy, and HUGE! The prices were not too horrible either - very comparable with other sushi spots. I definitely am on the Oishii bandwagon now. If you haven't tried it yet, what are you waiting for??

    (5)

  • Jennifer M.

    Oishii was recommended by a co-worker as the best sushi is the area so I had to try it out. As other Yelpers reviews stated the place is very small with only one table and about 10 bar seats. Choosing our rolls by photos posted on Yelp we ordered six super tasty creations. Favorites included the Spicy Scallop Maki and Tokyo Style Soft Shell Crab Maki. The place was hopping but the one server did a fantastic job juggling all the tables including the impolite older women we shared the one table with in the place. Can't wait to visit this place again but we may just order take out...

    (4)

  • Rachel N.

    Oh my god, I don't know how I went this long w/o reviewing Oishii. It's unbelievable, and I've whored myself out to sushi restaurants in almost every part of the world, so this it quite a distinction. I went to school in Boston and made the pilgrimage to Oishii at least once a week--the one in Sudbury is just as wonderful and bigger too, so I recommend that one, but the quality is top notch across the board. At first they were fussy w/ my special veggie roll orders, but once I broke them in, they were always accommodating. Fish is always wonderful. Service is brusque, and you often have to flag down your waitress, but oh man is it worth it. Go early, go often, or go home. Oh, I maxed out at 6 rolls, which will set you back quite a bit of cash, so be prepared to drop some dollar bills, but ah, it's just so good!

    (5)

  • Seisei T.

    Its popularity has killed it. I have been coming here once or twice for the past few years, but this recent visit in early August will be my last. You should be able to eat sushi in one bite. They've supersized their rolls at Oishii, in true American fashion, and the result is that I nearly choked on a couple pieces. The sashimi is cut so thickly that all the traditional subtlety, grace, and flavor have disappeared. I actually lost my appetite when I saw how large the rolls have become (which, by the way, also changes the ratio of rice to fish, which in Japan is quite specific). I suppose they're trying to provide "value" but wow, has quality gone down in return. The fish is ok, not as good as what you can get in Tokyo, but better than what you can get in other parts of Boston. Most of it's covered in mayonnaise, though (another American invention). What a waste.

    (2)

  • Lala I.

    altho im not a huge fan of the way they make their sushi, i gotta admit that their fish is mad fresh. probably one of the freshest fish in boston. very great value, huge pieces, but they are too big for my liking. not so well executed.

    (4)

  • Monique S.

    I had tuna sashimi, salmon rolls, and miso soup. It was good, but nothing to write home about. But compared to other local places it's a little better with the quality of the fish. The venue is small. You're going to be sitting around the sushi bar. There is only one table.

    (3)

  • Alyson G.

    I love Oishii! Definitely the freshest sushi I've had in the area. I met a friend for dinner recently and we started with the yellowtail and sea bass sushi and it was delicious. So fresh and tender I wanted to order more. But we had already ordered an assortment of maki rolls including the spicy yellowtail, spicy tuna, and Boston roll which were all beautifully presented and so tasty. We decided to order Paula's maki too since I love tuna and my friends prefers salmon, and it was another great choice. The thin lemon slices and avocado are a delightful combination with tuna, salmon and wasabi roe. I always love spicy tuna rolls but their spicy yellowtail is now one of my faves too. The service is excellent and and I have to say their takeout is fabulous. They even remember how I like to order maki cut into 8 pieces when I call and give them my order. Love, love, love this place.

    (5)

  • Jeff D.

    I'd heard and read plenty of good things about Oishii and they were largely justified when I finally visited here last night. The small size reminded me of the small sushi joints I frequented when I lived in Tokyo and the quality was right up there. The o-toro was fatty and melt-on-your-tongue delicious and the kumatomo oysters we got were fresh and well complemented by a dash of hot chilies. The sea bass nigiri and handrolls were excellent as well. The only mild disappointment was the grilled hamachi neck. It was tasty and we devoured it, but I've had better elsewhere. Good job all around, next time I think I will go with the takeout menu to avoid the wait.

    (4)

  • Michelle T.

    Totally a 4.5 star restaurant, but I rounded down to 4 just because it IS a little out of the way and it IS on the pricey side in a rather cramped space. However, excellent flavors, interesting menu and good service. It's made it to one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Boston of all time! It was only a short 10 minute wait for a table for 2 around 1pm on a Saturday afternoon. There was only one table that seats 4 ppl, and the rest of the seats were at the sushi bar (maybe another 10 max seats). So...forget about bringing your big group of friends here! We ordered 3 special rolls and 1 appetizer between two people, which turned out to be the perfect amount of food. Unfortunately, they brought us the check before our appetizer even made it out of the kitchen!! (Grilled cod) So we ended up having the rolls first before eating the appetizer, but the fish was well worth the wait. Grilled cod with sweet miso sauce - ~$13 Excellent flavors with a piping hot piece of tender, melt-in-your-mouth cod sitting in a cold sweet and sour miso based sauce. Topped with fresh sliced scallions that bring a lovely crunch and contrast to the soft bites of fish. Tokyo Style soft shell crab maki - $14 Our favorite roll! (see pics) Freshly fried warm soft shell crab, rolled with tamago (egg), unagi, cucumber, and daikon. A rich, hearty and flavorful maki. You can't go wrong with this one! We also had two other maki's which I can't remember the names of (one was named after a person!)...Sorry! They were both really delicious and in the $14 or so price range. Delicious, filling meal...I would definitely come back! just wish it weren't so far our of the way for me!

    (4)

  • Sharon Z.

    Finally made to the original Oishii after so long! Now I have completed my quest of conquering all the Oishii's and they are all beyond amazing. We found ourselves 2 blocks away from Oishii after a sushi making class (and already being stuffed out by sushi), but how could we pass the perfect opportunity to venture into this legendary sushi place? (No line and no wait on Saturday at 4 pm) The place is small, with around 10 seats at the sushi bar and one table that sits a few people. And you really must try pretty hard to squeeze in one of the seats. ALL VERY WORTH IT. A wall full of food awards and recognition plaques says a lot. The food is amazing, from presentation of the dish, to quality of the fish, to the very taste. Perfection can be found here. We ordered just one maki (negitoro maki), agedashi tofu and himachi kama (how we wished our stomach can hold unlimited food). The negitori maki is surprisingly simple, fatty tuna with scallion with seaweed on the outside. Who knew. The fresh flavor of the scallion prepares your mouth for the delicious, tender, soft toro, so refreshing, so heavenly. The portions for the hamachi kama and agedashi tofu are relatively large (compared to Oishii Boston). The hamachi kama is cooked thoroughly and tender but not drying, the flavor along with the sauce, exquisite. The age dashi tofu fittingly light, but full of flavor, the scallions, pickled veggies and dry bonito flakes complements the flavor. The outside is perfectly crispy and the inside soft and melts on your tongue. It's also really entertaining to watch the chefs create their wonderful and unique dishes, cavier with gold flakes, uni shots with quail egg while planning out what to order next time. They did forget part of our order, but it's all forgiven since the food is just too good to have negative thoughts. What an experience. I'm so impressed with is that all the Oishii's have consistently wonderful food with exquisite quality. That is perfection.

    (5)

  • Nicholas U.

    I live down the street from here and finally was able to go here (twice) in the past couple of weeks. It is very small, so going with over 3 people isn't recommended. Also try going during off hours if possible because you'll be standing in a line if you go during the rush. The staff is very friendly here and the sushi is wonderful. Tried a couple of the combo plates along with some of the maki rolls. Everything was quick, fairly priced compared to any other sushi establishment, fresh, and most importantly extremely delicious. I have read other reviews with the fish not being fresh. It makes me think that it depends what day you go on and if you visit them the same day they get a fresh delivery.

    (5)

  • Nils R.

    Intimate and authentic sushi restaurant with most seating at a bar and only a few tables.

    (5)

  • Milee S.

    So I finally got to try Oishii after MONTHS of wanting to go here (not really easy to get to without a car, in my opinion). Note: always go before the rush. In this case, before 630 pm. We snagged two seats at the bar and literally 5 minutes after we got there, the place filled up. I don't know if they take reservations, but we saw lots of take out orders (due to the size, it makes a lot of sense). Menu is pretty big. We stuck to sushi: philadelphia roll, oshinko roll, california roll, vegetable roll (sweet potato) and soft shell crab. All were really good. I particularly liked the sweet potato and oshinko. I never had the soft shell crab and was surprised by the warmth (as I had no idea that it was cooked) of it. It was a monster roll and too big for me to eat in one bite! Service was fantastic and we were served really quickly (well there were 4 sushi chefs working). We paid $23 each after tax and tip (and sodas). The only problem I had was after dining there, I didn't feel so well. Not sure if it was the sushi or not, but my stomach did not agree with the food.

    (4)

  • Tantri B.

    YUM!!!! This restaurant is definitely one of the best sushi places around Chestnut Hill area. My fav dish is the Oishii Spicy Scallop Maki - its raw sea scallop rolled in a bed or rice and topped with black tobiko). My friend ordered some sashimi of the white fish (sea bream), mackerel, scallops (which are amazing!! - they're huge!!), and squids). All the sushi were all served beautifully and i love the stone plate that they used to serve the spicy scallop maki!! Even for Wednesday night, this restaurant is pretty packed but we luckily managed to get a table at the bar and we can see how the sushi were made by the chefs! One of the dishes that i will hopefully try next is the chirashi. Its sashimi on top of a bed of rice!! Will order that when I come back next time! This place is small and can easily get crowded but its worth it to try.

    (5)

  • livingston c.

    went this past friday for a late lunch. even though it was 1:30 already, there was still a wait, given that there's only 1 table for four, and the rest are bar seats. the hostess was very nice, and the wait was only about 5 minutes. not bad at all. i think getting a seat is really a hit or miss thing. you either get there early or be prepared for a long wait. probably why they do a lot of take out. we ordered the chirashi, the oishii spicy scallop roll, hamachi torched maki, and "the maki" covered with toro. quite a lot of food for the two of us, but we enjoyed every bite. our favorite was probably the spicy scallop roll. it came in four large pieces. i took my first piece in one bite, and awkwardly chewed for a minute or so since it was so big. the scallop sashimi in the middle was sweet and delicious. we had two ladies that sat next to us that kept on asking us what we got. i think they both just got bento boxes, so they were really intrigued with all the rolls we got. they even took notes so they could try the same rolls next time. cool atmosphere! our lunch ended up to be almost $100 with tax and tip, but it was worth it. not an every week trip, or even monthly, but a great little joint for excellent sushi. prices are comparable to other high-end sushi places.

    (5)

  • Alan K.

    Plug the [listed] address into your GPS and when it says "you have arrived at your destination," don't blink, otherwise you'll miss this place. Yes, from the outside, this might look like a "hole-in-the-wall" place but trust me, once you taste the food, it is anything but like it. But seriously, I think this is really one of the best places for sushi in the Boston-area, at least in my most humble opinion. This isn't my very first time eating here, for I've been here for a few times prior already but however, this time it was... oh how should I say it, nom nom nom! The uni (sea urchin) was good. It wasn't warm and looked all "melty" like last time... it [didn't taste too pleasant] last time... mmm it tasted like heaven in my mouth this time, if I could taste heaven that is. Mmm mmm mmm I also love raw shrimp (ama-ebi) ... when it's good, it's like my mouth is having a [very inappropriate word that I won't list here]... ok TMI hahaha. The tuna was good too -- maguro (the red tuna that most people are familiar with) or toro (fatty) -- can't go wrong with either one; I'm a big fan of tuna anyways. Ohhhh just typing this out is making me salivate in my mouth now. Hmm what else did we order? Oh yeah: - For appetizers, the Hotate Hokkaiyaki (baked scallop or squid in shell with mayo): no comment on this since I didn't try it - Hamachi (yellowtail): nothing too much to rave about, nor were there any complaints from me - Saba (mackerel): not too good, tasted like it was cooked even though it really wasn't... - Kaibashira (scallop): ohhh my goodness, probably one of the only few times I've ever had this and it was sooo gooood! Yummm! - Ikura (salmon roe): if you like the taste of smooth salty [spherical objects] in your mouth, well then, this is for you And of course, we have to order the ubiquitous makis. I think we ordered two of them: one of them was the White Tiger Maki (Tuna, tobiko, and cucumber roll, in white seaweed with sauce) and another one, the Hamachi Torch Maki (Roe, cucumber inside and hamachi-torched outside, with sweet miso sauce and black tobiko on top), but ehh... don't get me wrong, they are still good hands-down and I would chomp them all up if they were right in front of my face but I'm not really that big of a fan for makis anymore; I would much much rather just eat the raw fish (sashimi) separately... mmm om nom nom! And to wash all that down with, I would recommend you getting some hot green tea or a 32 oz can of Sapporo for EACH person, yes I said EACH and that's exactly what we did too... hahaha yah!!! Or, if you are real hardcore, then just go for a bottle of Sake... heck, why not?! Recommendation for Sake novices: "Crazy Milk." Overall, it was a good experience. I think of all the times I've been here, there was only one time that I came out of here a little bit discontented. But that was an anomaly. Most of the time the food here is good, no, very good. I understand that even a place like this can have a bad day once in a while so I'm disregarding my one bad day here. If this place can keep up the quality like what I had last time around, then I'm sure to be keep coming back here, no matter how much the food costs.

    (5)

  • lily l.

    Awesome sushi, awesome service. Although the restaurant was incredibly small but oh was everything good. Must try would be the "chips" fried nori with little bits of raw salmon and topped with truffle and gold. Or other fave was a roll that was topped with some type of hot mayo scallop....at that point I was so full I could not even remember the name. I will be back for that dish I saw them bringing out when we left. Some meat served on a very hot rock so it sizzled and the smell was absolutely drool worthy. My only request....EXPAND PLEASE!

    (5)

  • Sara M.

    I came here last night on a whim for good sushi with my husband. The place is tiiiiiny. I mean, it's smaller than what I expected and I thought it was going to be small. There is literally ONE table and a sushi bar. Makes for quite intimate encounters but there we were, a bit awkward. I had fluke, sake, saba, and scallop nigiri along with a spider maki. The fluke had a bit of grit to it and that was quite unpleasant - almost like biting into grains of sand. The mackerel was a bit warmer than I would have liked. The sake was delicious as always but the real winner was the scallop! It was the consistency of a creamy cheese and it silkily slid down my throat. The spider maki was good but there wasn't too much flavor. The portions were small compared to Fugakyu with comparable prices. I didn't enjoy my meal here as much as I expected to - I prefer the entire dining experience at Fugakyu and was disappointed that I passed on it to come here.

    (3)

  • Cindy W.

    Had a amazing time with my boyfriend last night. Everything we ordered was soooooooo pretty and very good. My favorites was the Uni shooters with quail eggs and the Oishii Spicy Scallop Maki! This place is small so couples or singles. Any group more than 3 is not a good idea. Just writing about this makes me want it again tonight. ;)

    (4)

  • katie j.

    The moment I tried my first bite of Tsujiki fish market sushi in Tokyo, I knew that meal would be a huge blessing and curse. Blessing in that it was the best sushi I had and probably would ever eat in my entire life, curse in that everything else would pale in comparison from that moment on. So you can understand that when I, a New Yorker unashamed to rank NYC alongside Japan in terms of quality sushi, approached Oishii in Chestnut HIll, MA... I had my hesitations. They did not disappoint. Our meal was fabulous. The "maki roll" was particularly amazing, but not cheap ($25+ if I remember correctly). I usually like my toro in sashimi form, simple and pure. This toro-covered roll was delicious though and had a nice kick from the spicy mayo and ginger-jalapeno sauce. We also tried the Elias roll and the sushi sampler which was full of generous slices of fresh fish. The restaurant is small and crowded, but still very pleasant. There's only 1 larger, round table in the front. Our party of 4 sat at the sushi bar which is perfect if you're like us and enjoy watching the chefs. I'd definitely come back, mainly for "the maki". Worth the splurge.

    (5)

  • H T.

    Sushi! Sushi! So yummy! So yummy! In 'ma tummy! Everything was SOOOOO yummy and very beautifully presented. I don't think it was that expensive because we ate A LOT of sushi too. As a vegetarian, the makis are less expensive than Gari. However, their options for veggies are somewhat less too. But no worries, because after 3 makis and a big bowl of Udon Noodle with veggie tempura, I was STUFFED! They also have special fish of the day too. Definitely check it out. And put your name on the list a few minutes before you're there. They'll hold it for 30 minutes.

    (5)

  • David V.

    In my experience, the smaller a sushi restaurant is, the better. Many of my favorites are not large enough to swing a dead cat in - Miyake, Fish Market, O Ya. As previous Yelpers have pointed out, the fish here is easily 5-star quality. The first thing that came out was a special maki that featured salmon, avocado and wasabi-infused tobiko inside, and was covered with salmon and tuna and topped with paper thin slices of lemon. I tried a piece with the lemon on it, and it tasted like, well, eating a lemon. With subsequent bites I removed the lemon, allowing me to enjoy its flavor without chewing on peel for an extra minute. Next up was a sushi/sashimi plate. I usually don't order eel nigiri because so many places do a mediocre version, but this was some very good eel. The salmon sashimi melted in my mouth, and the tuna was dark and rich. There was a piece of white fish that was garnished with some sort of sweet eel-esque sauce, but I wasn't able to figure out what it was. At Miyake and Cafe Sushi, both specialists in exotic nigiri, the servers are very descriptive about each little piece of fish they serve. One of my favorite warm sushi bar appetizers is commonly called Kiayke, but I've seen it called other things - it's that yummy, spicy pile of seafood, tobiko, spicy mayo and sometimes cheese baked into a large scallop shell. Oishii's version was hearty and flavorful, but I've had better. While scarfing down that first roll, I observed one of the sushi chefs preparing a creation that featured torched yellowtail maki topped with a dab of spicy sauce, scallions and black tobiko and decided that I was ordering that. Which I did, and enjoyed thoroughly, but was shocked to find out later that said roll was $21. For that price I expect toro and kobe beef... With a craving for foie gras, the final thing ordered was some foie gras sushi, which again was more expensive than I'd like to pay, but everything to that point had been very good. What I had ordered was the simpler, cheaper of two foie dishes - what came out was a concoction featuring chopped foie, some tiny pieces of strawberry topped with what appeared to be a thin, crunchy noodle. It was delightful, but ultimately more expensive and less satisfying than what I had ordered. I can't really say I have any complaints about this place, but upon observing the bill I couldn't help but think I could've enjoyed something similar at one of my favorite spots for a lot less. The servers were attentive and friendly, the atmosphere was cozy and inviting.

    (4)

  • Katie F.

    Ok, I'm always reviewing sushi places because I'm pretty sure I've eaten at nearly every reputable (and not so reputable) sushi joint in the greater Boston area. Oishii, though extremely yummy, fresh, and creative, is in a word overrated. 1) The portions don't look any different to me than other good sushi places. 2) Just because it was started by a chef who worked at Nobu doesn't mean it suddenly becomes God's gift to sushi lovers everywhere. 3) The wait, though endearing for some, is not exactly for the faint of heart. I mean, I don't want to wait 45 minutes in a small corner nose to nose with the stranger I'm about to sit next to throughout my entire meal. Plus, the "list" is the biggest trainwreck disaster. There's really no rhyme or reason to it. You put your name down and still, people 3 names below you can get seated before you. Huh? 4) It's small. There's no denying that. So no, I don't think it's quaint, cozy, divine, or an honor to sit at the sushi bar. However, the food was good, so I'm not going to punish them by giving them a lesser review than they deserve. Nonetheless, this is not the cat's meow. I would only come here on a week night knowing about 5 of the 10 seats were taken.

    (4)

  • Debra L.

    The food was excellent but the experience was frustrating! Whenever there are issues when we dine out, I am usually the bitchy one who gets irritated easily by bad service etc. and my guy is the nice one (or at least the one with more patience). But this time HE wanted to walk out before we were seated and I had to coax him into staying (simply because I was being selfish and really wanted sushi). Anyway, here's what happened: 1. We were the only ones in line and were told the wait was about 5 minutes. 2. A party of 4 came in shortly after us. 3. Not long after, 2 bar seats opened up and we thought, cool, we'll get seated now. 4. But NO. There just happened to be 2 people seated at the only 4-top in the place. So, when they saw the 2 bar seats open up and saw all of us waiting, they offered to move to the bar seats to free up their table for the party of 4. Nice of them. 5. Well, we watched as they moved to the 2 open bar seats and the party of 4, that came in after us, sat at the 4-top. Now, from a space saving standpoint this makes sense. We know this. But, we were there first and 2 seats opened up first. They should have been our seats. That's the way things work. Or, we should have at least been asked if we minded. Somebody should have at least acknowledged this whole seat switcheroo thing with us. We are reasonable folks. We would have said we didn't mind at all, and waited for the next 2 bar seats to open up (which we ended up doing anyway). So, the annoying part - the "minus 2-stars" part is the utter lack of courtesy we were shown. Yeah, the sushi was delicious. Yeah, it's fun to watch the sushi chefs make the food. Yeah, if I lived near here I would get take-out from here, a lot. But I will never dine-in here again. Now, I realize to anyone reading this review, I may sound ridiculous but when it comes to my expectations, I make no apologies.

    (3)

  • annie o.

    Super Oishii!! The name says it all! Great quality sushi rolls! I have tried the eel rolls, tuna rolls, and yellow tail rolls. All fresh, and melts in your mouth quality!!! As for the service, I don't usually ask for too much, as long as the staff appears when I need him and that's good enough!!

    (5)

  • nomo c.

    Best sushi in Boston hands down. It's tiny but the food is worth waiting for. I don't know why people complain about the prices because it seems like typical pricing for great sushi. If you haven't been yet, what are you waiting for???

    (5)

  • Tommy N.

    Quality of the fish was great, the service was good, and the tea was piping hot. There wasn't anything that wowed me in particular (I had the sushi for two, ikura a la carte, and the hamachi tata, all of which were very tasty) but I left having a positive impression of my experience. A few downsides: a bit expensive. Sure the fish was delicious, but in terms of quality/preparation I'm not sure if the price is justified. But still, it's not through the roof expensive like some other places, so it's still doable, maybe just once in a while. As everyone has yelped, the place is quite small.

    (4)

  • Curtis C.

    I can't believe I haven't written a review for Oishii before.. This is probably my favorite sushi bar in or around beantown. It does come with a couple of warnings though: 1.) They really only seat about 13 people, so if you're not there before they open.. good luck. 2.) It's a very depressing experience if you happen to get one of the less experienced chefs. Honestly, I think that the larger your group, the less care they put into your sushi. Some of the rolls sound a bit pretentious (ie "The Maki" with the description: "Trust us, it's Oishii") but the fish is very fresh and everything is quite good. I've been here about half a dozen times in the past and had a phenomenal experience a couple of these times. I think it's akin to going to a celebrity chef's restaurant... sure everyone follows the recipe, but not everyone does it exactly right. I guess that's what makes the head chef who he(she) is.. I should mention that when I haven't had a phenomenal experience.. the sushi was still quite good. It just didn't have the extra bit to set it apart from other good sushi places. Favorite dishes... it's been awhile, so lets see if i can get the menu right. Obviously the nigri is very good. I'm not huge on sashimi, but it definitely follows suit. My friends like to eat the hand rolls and the various maki dishes they have (I think one is a Brass Dragon, and obviously "The Maki") Probably my favorite non-standard dish they serve here is Hamachi Tartare, which consists of ground up baby hamachi with hamachi roe on top.. and some fruits. It's been awhile so maybe I'll have to update after the next time I go back..

    (5)

  • Kathy L.

    Did the omakase with the hubby... LOVED EVERY BITE!!! we were so full that we had to make ourselves finish everything!!! Will come back again!!!

    (5)

  • David L.

    Many have declared Oishii to be the best sushi they have ever tried. Remember trying it for the first time when I was still a young college student at Harvard when a friend brought it back for a late night snack. The fish melted in my mouth. Amazing. Now, all grown up and having to wait many hours for sushi at both locations, I can tell you that the only place in Boston that does sushi better than the Oishii South End is the original Oishii in Chestnut Hill. If you don't mind waiting two hours for the 12 seats at the original (sushi bar and one and a half tables), you'll be rewarded with possibly the best sushi on the East Coast. The South End place comes close.

    (5)

  • Kendall H.

    considering we're in Massachusetts here, Oishii is pretty solid. Some say its pricey, but it can be reasonable if the right things are ordered off the menu. Definately the best japanese anything i've had yet, pretty authentic workers, great service, friendly environment and not as uptight/trendy/contemporary as the oishii in Boston. I do appreciate the tight supply of parking around the area because it makes it more difficult for huge crowds to form long lines outside this small restaurant. BEWARE: a bit different from Oishii's Boston location, i prefer this one...

    (5)

  • Ryan O.

    I was very disappointed by my experience here. I was expecting "the best" in Boston. Sadly, I think I got it. Full disclosure, I am coming from LA and have high sushi standards. The chefs did not acknowledge our existence. Having the chef pass my food over my shoulder to the waitress behind me, so she can reach over my shoulder again to place it in front of me is a subtle act of caste absurdity. If your chefs are no more than line cooks, then why the pretense of a bar? I have had more interaction with the guy flipping my eggs at a diner. Hint: if your chef doesn't look like the owner or that he's been working there for 30 years, then it's likely not "the best" you can get. The Chef's Choice Special was uninspired. If I wanted a bland cookie-cutter platter of something even less than the-usual-sushi-suspects, I'd have gone to the mall. The ebi "tasted like sweat"; we didn't get a single item with ponzu sauce, despite ordering 42 pieces of "chef's choice" sushi and sashimi between us; the unagi was flavorless; the tuna fatless; the crab pitifully meager (aren't we in NE?); the salmon, squid, and snapper that made up the rest of our meal was an unsettling lukewarm temperature; the spicy tuna hand roll was fine, though chewy. A *small* bottle of house hot sake is $12. This just seems ridiculous to me. $6-$9 for the cheap stuff in that size is standard. $12 is excessive considering the other prices. It seemed like most people around us were ordering rolls and drinking diet coke. If that's your thing, then cool. I know rolls are a popular gateway to the hard stuff, but aficionados be warned. This place ain't shit. You'll be disappointed at $150 for dinner for two. It was not worth it by far for the quality. I'm feeding the leftovers to my cat right now.

    (1)

  • Tracy C.

    A dear friend and a faithful believer in sushi once said "Every human being should do themselves a favor and eat at this restaurant." (Michelle L.) in honor of those who have recently left Boston, many of those fellow obsessors of Oishii, I am dedicating this review to all the Oishii Sushi Bar lover that can no longer enjoy the privilege of feasting at this adorable little joint. Since I am not Japanese, I do not believe I have the right to judge what is real authentically GOOD sushi, I left the job to my Japanese friends. And they all say, Oishii truly represents what a sushi bar is like at home. I personally love the Agi Dashi Tofu and Yaki Ika as appetizers, and I want to try their Hotate or Ika Hokkaiyaki. I love pretty much all the nigiri and rolls at this place, although I prefer Oishii creation much better than the customer creations. I don't like too much cooked stuff in my sushi. Everything is just delicious, go with your guts and get what looks yummy to you! Something I highly recommend is the handrolls that come in cucumber wraps... amazing! Cool thing about this place is that if someone doesn't like raw fish/sushi (how can u not?) you can always find hot dishes here too, and they are equally authentic and delicious! I love their udon, soup or yaki, but good. There's a lot of things you can find here that you'd see in Japan but not elsewhere in Boston. it's definitely worth the drive and the wait.

    (5)

  • Jef S.

    People lose their goddamn minds over Oishii, and I just don't get it. Yes, the sushi and sashimi are excellent here. Best ever? I don't think so. New Ginza's is just as good. I'm somewhat prejudiced against maki...too Americanized and not in the true spirit of Japanese sushi. If you're looking for that great maki, they have it here, but again, you could get this at any high quality sushi place in Boston. Oishii is one of the most crowded restaurants I've ever been to relative to the space they have inside. The place is miniscule. Excellent food, yes, but why would I come here when I can get to what amounts to basically the same quality of sushi and more comfort at New Ginza?

    (4)

  • Sueyeon K.

    extremely tiny but the BEST sushi restaurant(makis are delicious) out of approximately 100 sushi restaurants I have been to in Greater Boston area. I haven't been there in 3 years but no sushi restaurant I have been to in the past 3 years was as good as Oishii sushi. LOVE THIS PLACE ! one of the guys who worked there was pretty hot too!

    (5)

  • David J.

    This place is ver small. That is the only negative, well and the fact that it is a little ways outside of the city. Everything else about the place is perfect, especially the sushi. The prices are higher than usual, but you get what you pay for. In terms of sheer quality this is probably the best sushi I have had in Boston. Definetely not a place I could afford to go to every night, but I wish I could.

    (5)

  • Anchalee M.

    Best sushi in Boston. Everything is so fresh! Difficult to get a table, but well worth the wait. Very entertaining watching the chefs roll the sushi.

    (5)

  • Greg Y.

    Holy sh*t. Okay sure, I realize profanities make me seem rather crass. But in all honesty, there are no other words I can use to describe the dining experience at Oishii. They put out the best sushi I've had in a very long time, by FAR. My friend and I ate: -Chef Special Combo -Spicy Scallop Roll -Fatty Tuna & Scallions -Tuna handrolls x2 Everything was fantastic. The sashimi from the Chef Combos.. like butter. All the sushi I've had prior to Oishii did not even come close to the level of texture. Scallop roll was off Yelp recommendation; each piece is MASSIVE - almost too big, but it's made in such a way that if you only take a bite, you're missing out on the experience. So good though.. Yes, everything's expensive, but the point of sushi is not pig out. When you take the time to enjoy the flavors, textures, and presentations that the chefs give you, you realize you definitely get what you pay for. The only negatives? 1) Small space. I don't see this as a negative, since, for sushi bars at least, size is inversely proportional with quality. 2) Chef-to-customer interaction. In many places I've been, when you sit at the bar, the chef has more face-time with the customers. On the other hand, it was really fun watching the four chefs go at it. 3) Service is a bit slow; there's only one lady covering the bar + the table in the corner. Between filling out take-out orders (they do a LOT of take-out) as well as in-restaurant requests, the chefs have a lot on their hands. Not enough to take away from the food, though.

    (5)

  • Snuffles B.

    I am a complete and total sucker for any place that is tiny, quaint, homey, and adorable. Oishii is all those things plus it has very respectable sushi. After living in LA and my last trip to Tokyo, my sushi standards are sky high, which is a bad thing, because its hard to find reasonably priced sushi that is also good quality.The place is microscopically tiny, so I hear it can get really busy with lines going out the door, but both times I've gone for late lunches and we were able to sit at the bar immediately and had swift and attentive but unobstrusive service. Good initial signs included: actual Japanese sushi chefs (I know that sounds stupid, but its not as common as you'd think), a 1:1 staff to customer ratio, nearly bar-only seating, and completely adorable white squishy seats. In addition to their fresh fish, I really enjoyed their shitaki roll and monkfish liver. The seaweed salad was nothing extraordinary but did the job. I think that everything we ate was pleasing. While I haven't been back long enough to compare it to many places in Boston yet, I was really pleased to have so quickly found a solid source of clean, simple sushi served in a pleasant environment - and not have to lose an arm and a leg and some other limbs to get it.

    (4)

  • matt c.

    Excellent sushi. What separates oishii from other sushi spots is their specialty rolls. it can be expensive if youre the type to order multiple rolls and an appetizer to yourself, but you cold also eat their simpler rolls and not take the hit to the wallet. the spot is cozy, so go in groups of 4 or less.

    (5)

  • Sarah M.

    Went here on a Friday night, and despite its size we were seated right away. Ordered some warm Saki and large Sapporo to drink and started with the seaweed salad and beef nagima appatizer. both were delicious! For our sushi we went with the spicy scallop, scorpion maki, and spider maki. the flavors were nice, but the sushi seemed to be wrapped a little sloppily. Overall i thought this place was good but a bit overpriced. I am interested to try Fish Market which is the same people and a lot closer to my house.

    (3)

  • EricaLynn J.

    What an absolute honor it is for me when I have the opportunity to eat here. A rarity, but that makes it even better. It's not your typical sushi restaurant; it has about three small tables total and then about 10 seats at the sushi bar. And holy crap, the food... it's so good that you may feel that there's no possible way you deserve to be eating it.

    (5)

  • Denise F.

    I went to Oishii for the first time with my friends! This place is amazing. I ordered the miso soup which was really delicious and hit the spot on a cold day. My friends ordered a variety of handrolls. The hand rolls are beautiful and delicious. The sushi is fresh and the blend of ingredients in the rolls make my tastebuds happy! I really enjoyed my tempura roll that I ordered a second order! I really enjoyed sitting at the sushi bar so I can see the sushi masters prepare and cook all the different types of sushi. I can't wait to go back!

    (4)

  • neph n.

    Sushi is my favorite food. I used to live in Boston and this place is "it." I now live in Virginia and the sushi there is... weak. So when I return to Boston to visit friends, going to Oishii is at the top of my To Do List. When I visited Boston in 2012, this Oishii location was closed for their annual trip to Japan--horrible timing for me! And because eating at Oishii is a once in a year or two occasion for me now, we decided to try the incomparable, overly expensive, and not nearly as delicious South Boston location--which I would never - ever bother visiting again. The Chestnut Hill location is the only place I'd bother going to now, knowing the huge difference between Chestnut Hill and the South Boston location. Anyway, the salmon nigiri is delicious, avocado salad is delicious, I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the Jeffrey roll, I've loved everything I've had there. I like sitting at the counter and going with friends who know to talk until the food arrives and then mostly eat in silence so you can enjoy the texture and delicious flavors with each overly stuffed mouthful of deliciousness. I love the atmosphere (if you want a 'Disney version of the traditional Japanese experience then go to FugaKyu in Brookline, if you want a restaurant with a nice, classy-ish atmosphere balanced with very good sushi, got to Genki Ya in Brookline, but if you want superior, delicious, mouthwatering sushi, go to Oishii), I love the challenge of getting a seat, I do wish the sushi chefs talked to you a little more and occasionally gave you a little free sample of something which usually results in me ordering more at other places. I also wish the servers were better at refilling drinks, I usually bring my own waterbottle so I'm never without a drink. This place is a little tiny bit more expensive than the average sushi (which is already a bit expensive) but without a doubt, this place is worth it. Whenever I hear of anyone visiting Boston, I make a big deal to say that this restaurant is a must. Enjoy. Management ...please establish a location in Virginia?

    (5)

  • Justin Gwailo H.

    Oishii is a tiny place which makes you feel like you are in a Tokyo restaurant! Their traditional sushi/sashimi dishes are my favorite. I love the fact that they are generous with their portion. I've been there for the past 8 years and never been disappointed.

    (5)

  • Simone H.

    Great Sushi, very friendly staff. Love this restaurant:)

    (5)

  • Naini G.

    Best sushi ever! I started loving sushi after I decided went to this place. The mango based dish is incredible, do try it!

    (5)

  • Carmen C.

    I love Oishii! this is by far my favorite place for fresh sushi. They do not have the typical sushi rolls that you can find at every sushi restaurant. They are a little pricier but well worth it. The sashimi is always fresh and their quality has consistently been great. Definitely give it a try if you are an adventurous sushi eater.

    (5)

  • Cecilia L.

    We came here on my birthday prepared to wait and pay a lot, and were pleasantly surprised on both counts. Got there 8:30 on a Saturday and were seated in 15 minutes. Hamachi tata: A small cylinder of fatty hamachi belly in ponzu sauce topped with caviar. The presentation was lovely, the hamachi in a small bowl set in a larger bowl of ice and garnished with some delicious berry. It's a little thing for $17 but so decadent you won't crave more. An unusual and luscious treat. Chef's special platter: 22 pieces of sushi and sashimi for $42. Everything was beautiful and delicious, particularly the scallop, broiled eel and the fish wrapped in shiso leaf. Oishii spicy scallop roll: Fantastic but probably the least special part of our meal. Spicy tuna hand roll: We ended the night with one each. It went almost from the chef's hands to ours, so the nori was still wonderfully crackly, the fish deliciously seasoned. We drank only tea because they require Massachusetts ID or passport. We figured we'd try to order anyway as we're in our late 20s, until we saw a 40-ish Russian couple get denied wine. Our check was $91 before tip, more than a good value for some of the best sushi in Boston. My one complaint is the lack of interaction with the chefs. The place is set up for intimacy with only bar seating and one table, but everything goes through the waitresses and the chefs seem unapproachable. Oishii. I want some meowww.

    (5)

  • Alicia N.

    All sushi in Boston is sub-par until I found this place - super fresh, super legit sushi - hamachi melted in my mouth! The tuna is the right color - finally! The best seats in the house are at the bar...very small space, cozy, friendly chefs!

    (4)

  • Susan D.

    It is no longer BYOB. The dining room is enough for about 12 people. There was a traffic jam because I couldn't get into my aisle chair quick enough, and someone picking up her takeout was leaving. It is that packed. The server advised me to call 30 minutes ahead to put my name on the waitlist. Luckily, it was a Thursday night with plenty of I-95 traffic, I was late, but there was still plenty of seating at 7pm. I went with some of the Elite Yelp suggestions: evans roll (torched salmon - interesting), toro gukan (torched mashed tuna- Okay), and some shrimp tempura roll (very good)... and later the chef's sushi deluxe (30-piece set - decent platter - salmon sashimi was the best). Perhaps, I am not a torching-your-sushi-so-it-becomes-warm kind of girl. The actual sashimi pieces are the best bet because you can feel and taste the freshness, fattiness, unctuous fish more than in the rolls. The experience itself was rather unusual because you are seated below your own master sushi chef without ever exchanging a word for about two hours. This may be typical of what you would find in Japan if you are interested in reliving that. I felt a little uncomfortable because there is a bunch of people right on top of me hearing every quiet word I say. I whispered to my hubby to get the menu if he really wanted more, and all of the sudden, the waitress brought over the 3 page double sided menu for us to gaze at confusedly again. Overall, it is worth trying if you enjoy fresh fish, but I agree with many of the yelps to order takeout and eat it in the comforts of your own home.

    (3)

  • Bryan L.

    Every single time I go to a supermarket, I walk by the prepackaged sushi display and every now and then I will buy something. I get home, and with a huge grin on my face, I start eating. However, without a doubt, that grin immediately turns into a disgusted look, and I vow never to buy prepackaged sushi again. Why? Because places like Oishii exist. So, when I saw the email on Thursday about the good chance people were going to Oishii on Friday night, I thought to myself, the last time I went there, I was a poor college student who could only get the cheapest California roll and I could only get two of them. Now I could sample the whole menu! Also, I had forgotten about the quality, so as a new Yelper, I felt it was my civic duty to try it again and report my findings. We ordered a pretty decent amount of food so here are just some of the highlights. The spicy tuna roll melted in my mouth, the sake (or salmon for you non-Japanese speaking folk) sashimi pieces were fresh and ginormous, and their special rolls, such as the B-52 and Jeffrey's customer special, were delectable. They had other choices on the menu besides sushi, but seriously now, were you even thinking about getting them? "Yada, yada, the place is too small, blah blah blah". Well, for being in such a small space, they seem to get people in and out quickly (even letting people, in essence, pre-order their food before they sit down). Their take-out was extremely popular - while I was sitting down it seemed as though 20 people were walking in and out during my 2 hours there. If you're claustrophobic, I would probably recommend calling it in, and going to pick it up. As for price, I felt that for the quality you get, the price is actually cheaper than most places, which is a great thing. I've certainly dropped more at other places that weren't as good. I've been to a lot of different sushi places in Boston, around Boston and out of Boston, but so far this, in my opinion, is the best. The only place(s) that I've been to that could (keyword here) give it a run for its money is on the West Coast, but that doesn't really help many people here. Would you expect any less? This restaurant prominently displays their Phantom Gourmet, Zagat Ratings/Awards, and articles on a WHOLE wall. If professional reviewers are going to give this place accolades annually, a Yelper who references "J*zz in my Pants" or alludes to diarrhea in his first few reviews is certainly going to give it 5 stars. Go there. Now.

    (5)

  • Len G.

    Good quality Sushi. Place has become popular over the years so most nights expect a wait for a table. The only negative aspect is that it's small, so take out is the best option. Even if you do get a table it's uncomfortable because everyone is squeezed in.. but because the sushi is good I give it 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Eileen S.

    Ate here with a relative who is a Bostonian. She highly recommended this place and this place did not disappoint. As the name suggests, the food here is truly OISHII (delicious!) One of my faves: cucumber hand rolls. Refreshing. How do they slice the cucumbers oh so thinly that they can be used as delicate wraps? True skills, other places try but the cucumbers are not sliced this thin. Tiny place, counter seats and a small table.

    (4)

  • Stephanie G.

    I ordered take out from Oishii tonight, expecting it to be the best food I've ever eaten, based on all of these reviews. Granted, I didn't want to totally splurge since I was just eating alone while studying, and so I only got a couple of maki. Maybe their other stuff is what is really to die for. Still, I gotta say, it was just OK. I can't really say that anything was *bad* exactly, but it just wasn't amazing. It was fresh, sure, but I don't think it was that much fresher than other places. I could have probably had the same thing, same quality and everything, from Fins for a few dollars cheaper. And the place is so small that even getting take out is an issue - there literally wasn't enough room for both me and the man in front of me to get our food. I ended up basically standing on top of someone who was trying to eat. Try it... just don't expect to be completely blown away.

    (3)

  • Jason W.

    Good sushi, nothing orgasmic though, ....way overpriced especially for the chestnut hill shack size location. I've had better sushi and qty for 2/3 the price. Generic typical sake bottle (i think the brand was Ozeki Nigori) that we had was marked up about 300%....good profit margin for them.

    (3)

  • Lisa L.

    I live down the street from this small sushi bar and every time I pick up my take out order or sit down in the cramped, yet cozy space they call a "dining" room it's always packed. It's unfortunate they don't open until 1pm on weekends b/c by the time I wait for this place to open I am starving already! Okay...let's get to the food.... This place is on the pricey side, but you get what you pay for. The tuna sashimi order (3 pieces) is about $12 which is quite expensive compared to its competitors in the Boston metro area, but it's definitely the freshest slice of fish I've had in my entire life. They don't skimp out on the portions either. It's a thick cut of the freshest tuna you'll get in the area. The salmon sashimi is right up there with the tuna sashimi. As for maki, I ordered the oiishi spicy scallop maki and it was amazing. It's topped with black tobiko and small alfalfa sprouts adding a nice little crunch after biting into the succulent raw scallop. And as for the scallop, it was extremely fresh and didn't have an ounce of that "fishy" that often comes with a bad scallop. (WARNING: the scallop does have a slimy consistency so if you're not into that I would suggest you not order this). I didn't notice this until the second bite, but there is a thin slice of cucumber wrapped delicately in the middle of this little slice of heaven which adds even more crunch and freshness to the entire maki. No complaints.... Well, I do have one which is accessing their online menu. It could be my computer, but their official website seems outdated and it was confusing as to how to download their menu. Thus, I've been kind enough to attach this link for those hungry sushi-goers, even if it means waiting until 1pm on a Saturday afternoon..... boston.menupages.com/res… And if you like speedy take out service, Oiishi is definitely a winner. I also love how they add a fresh orchid to all of their take out orders. Flowers make every girl smile =)

    (5)

  • Shang S.

    Wow, wow, wow, wow, and WOW. I've been to so many sushi places in Boston that I've lost count. There have been the good (Douzo, Ginga, Fugakyu to some extent), and there were many bad ones. You have no idea how many YEARS I've waited to go to Oishii (just because it was a bit far for me) - and not the big one in South End. Oh no, if I'm going to be going to the most storied sushi place in town, I WILL MAKE THAT TREK TO THE MECCA OF CHESTNUT HILL. Ahem. So finally my 2-year anniversary came around and we made it there, ready to splurge, and Oishii did NOT disappoint. What really makes Oishii stand out are its chef's specials, and also look out for new items they introduce, which they set on a placard on the table. Yes, the place is tiny, yes, the waitresses get takeout orders being called in every 5 minutes (a good sign). This place is just soooo worth the premium prices. We arrived on Wednesday at 6PM - just as the seating was mostly still empty. What luck! They don't take reservations but you can call ahead to see what the wait is. Also, get waitresses' recommendation if you prefer a particular fish. We got hamachi tata and diamond shrimp for appetizer. I love how they used a mint leaf in the diamond shrimp, and the hamachi tata melted on our mouths but the caviar was a bit undetectable. Then we got this chef's special that the waitress recommended, called kinzan sake, it had salmon resting on seaweed tempura with truffle, gold leaf, roe, with truffle oil, it was sooooo amazing, the best kind of creative sushi I've had in a long time. We finished with 2 maki rolls - the Alligator and the Dragon Eye. Was not impressed with Dragon Eye (I'm not really used to having cucumber rolls), but enjoyed both. This is definitely a place for something special!

    (5)

  • Daniel P.

    My friend described Oishii to me like this: "It's really small---the sushi is really good---get there at 11:30 on Sunday so we can get a table" I showed up and was not at all disappointed - as far as I know this is as good as it gets in Boston and considering that Boston is a seafood production center, that is about as good as you are gonna get in most of the USA. Pricewise, you are paying for what you get (few would categorize sushi as being a CHEAP meal) but the quality of the fish is a lot better than what you get at most places and the price is about the same. I would actually recommend going here in a smaller group so you can sit at the bar, we had a party of 5 and got the table but somehow it distracts from the experience not being able to watch the chefs work. Plus, you need to worry about getting bumped when people enter through the door.

    (4)

  • Sam D.

    so so so Good!, i always order to go. best sushi around bar none.

    (5)

  • Jay W.

    Went last night, very small place, felt like I could barely move inside to be frank, but it's some of the best sushi I've ever had (as I was telling my guest one bite was borderline orgasmic.)

    (3)

  • David B.

    I have been wanting to go to Oishii for almost a year, after reading all the positive reviews on Yelp. I finally got a chance to go, and it was everything I thought it would be. If you haven't been before, when you arrive squeeze your way into the foyer and put your information on the clip board hanging on the wall, that's how they seat you. We arrived around 6:15pm on a Saturday evening, and were seated about 15 minutes later. The place is small/intimate, a few tables and the rest is around the bar. There are 4-5 servers and 4 chef's behind the bar. I put myself in the chef's hands. He asked me if there was anything I didn't eat and what my dollar limit was. I replied that I would eat what ever he recommended and that I was looking to spend around $40-$50. About 10 minutes later he handed me a plate with 10 pieces of nigirizushi along with the usual pickled ginger, wasabi paste was a piece of melon with a fried head-to-tail fish skeleton. The portions were perfect and the selection was wonderful. The two that stood out for me were the Escolar and the sardine, heavenly. I saved the skeleton for last, it tasted like a smokey fish cracker, it was quite nice actually. My wife got makizushi, which were as beautiful as they were tasty. There was some very high end maki being made that night, one had gold leaf and another had lobster and caviar. One could easily leave spending more than one intended too, but that wouldn't be a bad thing! The servers were great and checked in on us frequently. There is a short wine and saki list, and for beer (which was what we went with) they only have the big Sapporo cans. Our total was $72 for my plate, my wife's 3 makizushi and 2 Sapporo. I wish I could afford to be a regular! I will recommend this wonderful little spot to my friends.

    (5)

  • Nan S.

    Best sushi I've had in Boston!!! Crazy wait, and crazy tight seating/space... and it's still unbelievable that this place is so small and hasn't expanded it's restaurant, but still super mouth-watering delicious!! It's quite expensive, but when I eat EACH roll, it tastes like it had so much work and effort put into making it. Every single roll is just as delicious as the first. It's fresh, it's big... and it's so flavorful! This is what quality sushi should taste like if you're going to pay so much money for it anyway. I would give this place 5 stars if they had more seating and less wait time. PS) I loved the Jeffrey's roll!

    (4)

  • Aaliya Y.

    One word: WOW. Definitely worth the trip on the T. Will definitely make it a point to come back here all the way from LA :)

    (5)

  • Jamie G.

    JUST AMAZING.... Its just amazing... really fresh great sushi every time! ... both the Brad & Evan Torch Maki are fantastic.... Ask for the Salmon Tempura appetizer (not on menu) ... BUT TO DIE FOR !!!... Its difficult to sit there -- TAKEOUT is a great option at the Chestnut Hill Oishii... they always put hot / cold items in two seperate bags etc... Well worth the money! LOVE IT

    (5)

  • Cyn C.

    Nothing new here: move along, move along. seriously folks, if you need to read review #kazillion and three to convince you to eat here, then maybe you should stay away. this restaurant is already stuffed to the gills with customers, and I doubt they'd miss your patronage. I know that sounds snarky, but DANG the lines are LONG and the space is tight. I went on a Friday night around 830pm. Parking was plentiful (princess parking!) but we had to wait at least 30-40 minutes to share a table with another couple. Do not be alarmed at the sign that says "Alcohol served to Massachusetts ID only." I almost panicked, but I just confidently ordered my wine, and there was no problem (and no, i don't look older than 35). I don't recall what the dish was called, but it had salmon, truffles, and gold leaf. Hell yes it was pricey. and hell yes it was tastey. I came back and gave it the five stars it deserves. Tempted to only give four b/c of the wait. But seeing as I'm looking forward to waiting in line for more Oishii sushi, I guess I can't do that.

    (5)

  • Karla M.

    Fresh, delicious, overrated, small. 3.5 if they had it, but we' I have mixed feelings about Oishii. They have wonderful sushi, which is what my score is heavily weighted by. However, the inconvenience of being squeezed in and rushed out, even on a weekday lunch, is ridiculous. I wouldn't even mind the cramped seating if I didn't feel like they were trying to move people in and out so quickly. If I'm going to spend that much on sushi that is, honestly, no more delicious than Sushi Yasu (Waltham) or Minfune (Arlington), I want to sit and enjoy it. Go for the experience. You can say you had delicious Oishii sushi. But go expecting to wait a good long time and sit down for a very short period of time. Or opt for the take-out. But know that you aren't getting any more bang for your buck in taste, design, or portion size. PS - Parking is a mess, but that isn't their fault.

    (4)

  • Tan E.

    In my opinion the best sushi place. Come here at least once a year. ( I don't wanna spoil myself). Always have a great time, full time, leaving very satisfied. Place is small, but what do you expect from a hole in the wall (usually those are the best kind). Recommend the jeffery special $20 or so-a must get for me

    (5)

  • Fay R.

    By far, the best sushi place in the Boston area! I've been lucky enough to live within a block of this culinary haven since it first opened, and continue to order out or eat there 1-2x week! In addition to the fresh, fabulous and innovative sushi and sashimi, they offer a delicious array of japanese soups, sides, and entrees. I'm addicted to the Kinoko soup (which is for 2, but I always finish it myself) - a large satisfying bowl of clear broth brimming with generous portions of mushrooms (shitaaki, enoki, oyster,etc), carrots, cabbage, greens, and more... on a cold day, if you're feeling under the weather, or just fancy a great healthy bowl of soup, this is what you're after! It literally tastes like a concoction of health (the japanese penicillin, perhaps ;-) In my opinion, the quality and presentation of food at Oishii can compete with that of Nobu any day, at least the one in Miami.

    (5)

  • Brent G.

    I'm a little torn with this rating. For the east coast, this is probably the best sushi place I have been to. But it's not the best I have ever had moreover, I don't believe it is 5 star sushi. That should be saved for places like Sushi Ran in SF or Nozawa in LA. And thus a dilemma... What I had: Real California Roll - Rather bland actually but it was great to eat real crab instead of the imitation crab. Spicy Scallop - Delicious, the scallop just melted in my mouth and it had the right amount of spice for sushi (it can't be too spicy otherwise it detracts from the scallop). Ikura - Good but nothing special, I have had better at other places. Saba - Solid, I liked how it wasn't dry. A lot of times I go to a sushi restaurant and the saba is too dry. Spicy Tuna Hand roll - This thing was huge, it could have been a whole meal. Service was good and we went on a Wednesday so there wasn't that long of a wait. I will definitely go back because it is pretty good but I don't think I can bring myself to give it a 5 star rating.

    (4)

  • Alison L.

    Don't be discouraged if you have a bit of a wait, it is well worth it. Oishii is delicious and fresh. Everything I have eaten here tasted as if it was just plucked from the sea and put on my plate. The consistent crowds are not a fluke, people flock here for a reason.

    (5)

  • david l.

    OK, the sushi here is extremely good but I after multiple experiences eating here, I decided never to come back because it is just an unpleasant eating experience. The place is basically a sushi bar with one additional table right by the door. There is always a line outside, and in the cold winter months, the line moves inside so that people waiting to eat are literally standing RIGHT BEHIND the customers eating at the sushi bar, hovering over their shoulders! Talk about getting pressure to hurry up your dinner, sheesh! That and the waitresses have a bad tendency to rush patrons out the door asap - last time I was there, they slapped down the check and took away my plate when I still had one more piece of sushi on it. WTH? That's some expensive sushi she just confiscated. I should have docked it off her tip. This place does an impressive take-out business because the locals have all learned that it is just not worth waiting in line. Do yourself a favor - call in your order about an hour before you want to pick it up (that's how long it will take on average), and enjoy at home at your own pace with a big cold can of Sapporo.

    (4)

  • Nelson S.

    The original Oishii will always have a special place in my heart! Love it!

    (5)

  • Rob O.

    Best sushi I've ever had anywhere! Had sushi all over the country, and nowhere can touch this place. GO HERE!

    (5)

  • Kyle D.

    OMG this place is so good that it's special. That's all...

    (5)

  • Gabe L.

    Oh I guess updates go in separate reviews now. So my rating for Oishii hasn't changed. But one of the regular items I order has. The kobe beef sushi. Yes, it's wicked expensive. But omg it is SO good. Best. Sushi. Ever. When I ate it the first time, I had to stop eating and contemplate how good it was. I almost cried, literally. And then, when we left I called my brother from the street and had to tell him about the best sushi I ever had. And I almost cried, literally. In fact, I'm almost crying now. Actually I'm not but I am starting to have a pavlovian drool reaction.. I brought my friends there about a month ago. Their curiosity was all piqued because I rave about it all the time. They were skeptical "c'mon - we've been to a lot of sushi joints... " but they walked away converts. The sushi here is the good.

    (5)

  • Linda M.

    Best sushi I have ever had! I have lunch here about every other week, sometimes takeout, sometimes eat in, equally good experience. Waitstaff and manager(s) always friendly, and they get to know what I like. My favorite is Paula's maki - SUPERB!

    (5)

  • Karman L.

    WHITE SALMON SASHIMI!!!! MUST TRY!!! Good Lord! That was so yummy....It was heaven!! The white salmon literally just melts in your mouth! GOOOOOOOOOD!!!! Maki Maki Maki! What a great menu, I wish I can order everything on there. But I have some self-control, I only order like 3 rolls. 15 seats! There's always gonna be a line....so bring a book/magazine to read while you are waiting! Parking can be challenging too. So good luck. Just FYI - There's another Oishii in Sudbury, and they are opening up another one South End (1166 Washington Street) on 7/13!!!!

    (5)

  • Joe B.

    I love this place and it's hard to get a seat so don't tell anybody about it. Been to Nobu, Been to Roku, even been to Japan. Overall this little fifteen seat shotgun sushi bar has the feel of Tokyo and the culinary inspiration that makes the food interesting. Some will detract but I've rarely had a bad meal at Oishii which means "yummy" in Japanese. I miss Ting San since he has opened his Boston place but the faithful still line up at the Brookline spot for fresh fish expertly prepared and some very creative twists. Here's what I recommend. Hot Sake and Large Sapporo Oishii Tuna Chip Kobe beef sushi tempura uni w/ponzu tempura foie gras w/dried strawberry Alex maki Brad maki Spicy tuna roll in cucumber cone Agedashi dofu Yakitori Spicy Crispy tuna on the outside maki Ama Ebi w/tempura fried heads lobster tempura You can always order more. Great crowd, Great vibe.

    (5)

  • popan f.

    Best sushi in Boston area. Totally authentic and fresh! Totally worth the wait (it's always packed). If you don't want to wait, do take out!

    (5)

  • chriss t.

    I am sooo lucky to be living so close to great sushi place. I give them a solid A. Yes it's small...but I kind of like how cozy and casual it is. Great when I have a major craving for some sushi and don't want to go far or someplace fancy to get some fresh and reasonably priced sushi. Definitely will be one of my fave local haunts.

    (4)

  • Anonymous K.

    Perhaps reviewed to death, I decided to pitch in. This place most certainly has the best sushi in Boston. However, your enjoyment of it may be blunted if you visit it for dinner due to the waiting and the crowding. For a while, I made a habit of visiting it weekly for lunch. This cuts the the time it takes to get seated and offers you the exact same menu selection, with the lunch specials as an addition rather than a pared down version of the offerings many other restaurants provide for lunch. My frequent visits meant that several of the waitresses knew me by face and some by name, so I was treated as a bit of a VIP. This meant that every once in a while I got comp'd some miso soup, and that I got much bigger piles of chocolate mint candy that arrives with the check rather than the customary two packets. I haven't seen people talk to the sushi chefs, but I can tell you that inquiring with the waitresses about what is best today can be very handsomely rewarded. Sometimes you will discover some off the menu fish that will blow your mind (happened to me several times). Although expensive, most of the sushi on the specials menu that's on the bar next to the little drink menu plastic things is quite good. If you're feeling adventurous and don't mind a bit of uni (sea urchin, that gooey orange stuff) the Omakase is often very excellent. For those who don't know omakase means "It's up to you", and basically tells the chef to do what he wants for $85. Hopefully I added something to the pile of reviews. Basically, if you enjoy sushi, this place is a must to check out. MBTA: A short walk directly south from the Chestnut Hill stop on the Green D line. Often an overlooked option, it really isn't far, so if you don't have to drive, I recommend doing it the public way.

    (5)

  • Colin N.

    The best sushi in boston. Period. There is nothing outlandish in the presentation. It's not nouveau-sush. It's just impeccably good. Oishii is to Sushi in Boston as the bloomin' onion is to outback steakhouse. The crown jewel. I don't waste my time with the cheaper dishes that fill you up. Straight to my sushi jugular. Dip in wasabe infused soy and suck down some raw fish. Preparation and ingredients are top notch. The price is right too. You will spend more than at a normal meal, but this is sushi, not a bacon double cheeseburger. Yum yum yum yum yum. Oishiiiiiiiiii

    (5)

  • Chi N.

    Remember your first kiss? Holding his or her face against you, both of you drooling like a baby eating a softserve ice cream. That's what I feel when I go to Oishii. That feeling of an intense blood rush, followed by a paleness only comparable to the Arctic. Do you like sushi? Like, like sushi, not "I eat sushi to pick up Asian chicks". Then you will go to Oishii and drop a c-note like it's a 99 cent burger from McDs. No thinking twice, no passing go, if sushi is your thing, make Oishii your destination.

    (5)

  • Alex T.

    The sushi here is devine. Oishii has to be in the running for best sushi in Boston on anybody's list. The cuts of fish are generous and out portions the rice(the way it should be). The seafood here are all very fresh and the cutting of the fish here is superb. They have a lot of sushi choices and special rolls. Whenever I dine Oishii, I always savor every little bite. Thats how good(and expensive) their sushi is. They are also one of the few sushi places that I see try to decorate their sushi plates with flowers, leaves, etc. which is quite unique. I took a star off obviously because this place is extremely small. That may even be an understatement. This is very unfortunate but I had to do it because you can't enjoy the sushi very well in a cramped setting or bringing home a platter. With not much focus on a sit-down dining experience, I can't really rate them on service either. My takeout experience here has been positive. I'm surprised they are able to run the place as well as they do with all the takeout orders, minimal staff, and small space.

    (4)

  • Jen L.

    This place is small. Lots of people come here so it is crowded. Even more people get takeout. There is a reason why. This place is awesome. I love sushi and I really love this place. Some highlights: Lady Tataki salad: Blow torch seared tuna pieces on a place of mesclun with a ponzu dressing Salmon sashimi - so mouth meltingly (is that a word) awesome my knees buckled (good thing I was sitting). I was pondering the salience of catching my own salmon and risk a bear encounter, but decided this was a much safer way to get delicious and fresh raw salmon. They have some innovative, tasty rolls if that is your thing. The sashimi pieces are thick and generous and the fish is fresh. The variety is impressive. It isn't cheap, but this is sushi. It isn't as expensive at other places (Oishii Boston which was very disappointing). I cannot wait until I can go again.

    (5)

  • aaron t.

    By FAR my FAVORITE sushi place in boston if not in the states! Makes all the other sushi places in boston seem like walmart. The wait is long, but totally worth it. If your go for lunch or an early 5 pm dinner, the wait is short if none, but after 6pm, its a 1-2 hr wait. Try the "customer" rolls, or their sashimi. Their speciality rolls are amazing. Be prepared to order before you sit, but you can also order after you get your first order.

    (5)

  • Kristen L.

    The sushi is very good and they have some really great special rolls. However, I don't think the high prices are justified, especially for a place (dining area AND kitchen) that is smaller than my first apartment in Boston (500 sq. ft.) and outside of the city. The place only fits about 8-10 people at the sushi bar and if you are looking for a table for 2, get ready to share the same table with 2 other people. I just feel that for such small real estate, they could cut their customers a break on price. 1 special roll with crabstick, mango, cuke, and roe covered in spicy tuna is $16!! I've found just as tasty and high quality spots in the Boston area that is much more reasonably priced.

    (3)

  • Victoria N.

    Wow. Wow about sums up Oishii. Wow as in: Wow, this place is tiny. They have a bar with maybe ten seats around the sushi counter, and a couple tables as well, so the wait can be outrageous. They have a "waiting list" system, where they write your party's name on a pad of paper and when you're at the top and there's a table, you get one. You can call ahead to put your name on the waiting list, but forget about reservations. You're now on Oishii time. Wow, the menu is serious. They give you a dry-erase marker and laminated menu. You can choose from sushi (fish on a bed of rice) or sashimi (just fish). There's a column on the right with different types of rolls, but it's clear that real connoisseurs order from the left side, where you can choose your grade and type of fish in more detail. Wow, the fish is fresh. We ordered tuna and salmon sushi, cucumber maki, inari, and uni. The tuna and salmon were amazing. How amazing? One of my reasons for going out for good sushi was to try good quality fish sushi, because I had only had it in cheap places and not enjoyed it. I was blown away. It's that amazing. The cucumber maki and inari were pretty standard. I think it's hard to really make either of them amazing or total crap. Wow, the uni was... uni. We ordered it as a bit of a dare, because my dining companion had eaten it in Japan and disliked it immensely. In the wild, plants are red to signify that they are poisonous. Uni has a color and consistency pretty close to vomit... Conclude what you will. I'd have to report that this is not a good choice for the faint of stomach or sushi newbie. We also had some edamame, which were good but under-salted. All in all, I would give this place four stars, but as long as you accept that it is not a finely decorated establishment for parties of more than three, and that the real reason to go here is sushi (not the other stuff), then this should be your first choice for the best (and admittedly most expensive) sushi you can get.

    (5)

  • Sun Y.

    Great presentation, decent portion size, and fun atmosphere! The sushi was tasty and the service was great.

    (5)

  • Dow C.

    My favorite sushi place in all of the Boston Metro area. It's small and cramped, but it has amazing specials and fish on par with the best high-end sushi restaurants in NYC. It's well worth the line!

    (5)

  • Sasha R.

    As if this place needed more praise! I loves me some fresh raw stuff, and I loves me tiny restaurants, and this place caters to both those turnons. My advice is, don't bother with more than maybe 1 fancy roll. The fish is so fresh and so raw and so pretty, that you should just order sashimi or nigiri and enjoy it just like that, plain and simple. Fancy stuff is for later, when the novelty has worn off. Expect to drop some cash. Expect it to be worth it. Bring some extra napkins, know whatta mean... Yes. Sushi IS sexy.

    (5)

  • Jenna S.

    Just ate here Thursday night and I was truly impressed. They had great cuts of fish, fresh and perfectly seasoned! I recommend trying some of their sushi plates and small appetizers rather than going for the usual rolls.

    (4)

  • Ben G.

    Oishii sets the bar in terms of what an amazing sushi experience should be like. This little hole in the wall serves up some of the freshest seafood in town. Aside from the super fresh fish, amazing flavor combinations and stellar service, I also really love the intimacy of Oishii. There can't be more than 10 seats in the restaurant. No, not 10 tables, 10 seats. It's ultra small but not cramped or crowded. I came here on election day. You know, the day the battle over Teddy Kenndey's senate seat was going to be decided. Coakley wasn't running the best campaign and I had a feeling she was gonna lose, so I figured if I was gonna watch the Dems lose, I might as well do it while stuffing my face with some of the best sushi in Boston. We started off our meal with some raw Komamoto oysters. They were amazing. Silky, juicy, meaty with some hints of cucumber topped with a hint of creamy chili sauce. Hands down my favorite oyster. Then we ordered a spicy tuna cone. Sure you've heard and probably have eaten the spicy tuna roll. Just imagine a spicy tuna roll that looks like an ice cream cone. The nori is the cone, the tuna/ spicy mayo combo topped with some scallions on top. It was not only artistic but delicious. Up next we went with a crazy roll ( shrimp tempura) which was also amazing but when you fry shrimp in an awesome batter it's really hard for it to be anything but amazing. After we got a Little "crazy" (sorry couldn't help myself) we had a customer creation. The Jeffery roll was freaking drool-worthy. It was a simple avocado roll but it was topped with heaping mounds of buttery seafood: super fresh scallops. Yum... And to top it all off, we had some Crazy Milk... No we weren't sampling the milk from an aggravated cow. Crazy milk is an unfiltered sake. Its served cold, and tastes of cream and coconut. it was very easy to drink and in my humble opinion is the perfect compliment to sushi. Like my mother told me big things come in small packages. (I'm only 5'4) But i feel like the owners of Oishii subscribe to the same philosophy. The amazing fresh fish, the impeccable service, the fancy plating techniques, intimate surroundings and the great unfiltered sake and lets not forget the great company made for a fabulous meal.

    (5)

  • Jeremy S.

    Best Sushi in the Boston area and perhaps beyond. The head chef comes from NYC's famed Nobu. Very difficult to get seating in this tiny establishment, so if you're pressed for time order carry out. If you call ahead you can get your name on the list to cut down on the wait.

    (5)

  • James M.

    Very good food. Clearly the chefs have the perfect balance of knowing how to cut the fish and knowing what it should taste like. It is the only place I eat maki but also has excellent sushi and sashimi. Japanese blue fish and other specials are fantastic. The wait staff are pleasant and attentive and even though there are tons of people waiting don't rush you. I can't recommend a place more. Don't be grumpy if you have to wait. They have very few seats so get there early.

    (5)

  • Rachel J.

    Oishii is great. I went on a Saturday night, and i recommend reserving a spot. I did have to wait for a while, with less that 30 seats. Once we sat, our food came quickly. I had the Best maki ever. I enjoyed a crazy soft shell crab maki and it was to die for. I loved how fresh and crunchy it was. It melts in ur mouth! I also got the foie gras sushi. Its 22$ for two pieces, and it was my first time experiencing it. I didn't really taste anything special, but it was still great. But I'm not sure if it was worth 22$! next, i got the scallop and crab meat torched. This is a Delicious appetizer and its very filling. Over all, i thought that my meal was GREAT. i Loved the vibe and how i saw the chefs making my own roll. Everything was great, the staff were friendly, and the fish is local (i believe) and totally worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Jaffe J.

    Oishii was a pleasant experience. Good fresh fish at relatively affordable prices. There were four of us and the bill came down just around $100 so not too bad price wise. A lot of people on Yelp touted this as the best sushi in Boston and while it was definitely enjoyable, I wasn't blown away in any way. The place is small - maybe 10 bar seats and a small 4 seat table. We got here around 530 and were seated immediately which was nice but the place got busy right after us with all the seats filling up pretty quickly. There were also a lot of people coming in to get takeout. It's always nice to see a sushi place be busy since good turnaround leads to fresh fish. The pieces of sushi(fish and rice) we got were definitely the highlight of the meal as they tasted fresh and melted in your mouth. The Aji(Horse Mackerel) was absolutely amazing but at $10 for 2 pieces, it would be a bit expensive to just have a ton of it. We also got some yellowtail and mackerel sushi, both of which were great. For an app got a miso glazed cod which tasted good with an excellent sauce and some soups. The large 2 person pot of mushroom soup was only OK but the miso soup was excellent and well worth having. For dinner, we just got a bunch of rolls. Maybe that was our mistake as while the rolls were good, they weren't much different from rolls I've had at other sushi places so nothing amazing. There was a large circular crab roll which was probably the best one, a rainbow roll with some decent salmon/tuna, a standard philly roll and an eel/avocado roll - none of which were bad but none were anything mind blowing. I think the best bet is to skip the rolls and just get a bunch of sushi to try as the fish is definitely the highlight here, don't want to hide the fish behind a bunch of sauces and other things as you do in some rolls. It's a bit more expensive to get a filling meal this way but might be the best way to experience the place - I know that's what I'll be doing next time I'm down here. Overall, a solid sushi place - nothing spectacular and I think I'll be trying O Ya and the Oishii main location next time I'm in town to compare. However, the prices here are pretty affordable so definitely worth a visit if you want some pretty good sushi and don't want to break the bank.

    (4)

  • Matthew G.

    It took this high maintenance, bagel-loving New York a LOT of restraint last night not to get into an argument with the Oishii waitress/manager. My friend and I arrived after a good session of hitting some golf balls and graciously put our name on "The List." We were told that it would be about 20 minutes. Not bad for a spontaneous sushi-eating decision. About 15-20 minutes later, a nice couple strolls in to the restaurant, only to be seating right away! I asked the manager why they sat before us and she replied, "They called." Oh. "So you can make reservations?" She replied, "No." Oh. She tells me, "if you call, you put your name on the list and then if you show up, you get first shot." Oh. I asked, "so you're RESERVING a spot on the list." She said, "no." OK. Then a lovely young customer also on line felt the need to bud in to explain to ME that it wasn't a reservation. I'm sorry, Miss This-Is-My-Local-Sushi-Restaurant-So-I-Feel-The-­Need-To-Defend-It. (deep breath). Regardless of what the system is, it sucks. You could be waiting for an hour, and someone calls in from their SUV an hour and 1 minute before you, decides to go get a mani/pedi and then shows up right about the time when you think you're going to get some Toro and rains on your parade. First come, first serve, people. That's the only way to be without pissing off high-strung New Yorkers like myself. The sushi is good - but I'll spare the drive, the wait and the cramped quarters.

    (3)

  • Barbara J S.

    yes, Ting was at nobu. i have been a regular since ting and jackie opened at chestnut hill. the sushi is wonderful!

    (5)

  • Kara M.

    Oishii probably doesn't need my review as they have already been reviewed by fans and experts from all over the world, yes, the world. This cramped little 12 seat restaurant (seats not tables) serves the best sushi I've ever had. In some restaurants, it's the ambiance you go for, in some it's the convenient location but here it is unequivocally the SUSHI. I don't have a car so I walk an hour to get here. Then I wait for an hour to get a seat at the bar. After I'm finally sitting in my bar stool and the line of take-out customers is shifting impatiently behind me, and after I take that first bite of gem-colored, buttery, thick salmon... well, shoot me in the head, I'd never notice. I'm too busy savoring the sushi-sex going on in my mouth. It's that good. And it's *always* that good. Also, you can get items here that you cannot get anywhere else. Why are you still sitting there?! Go.

    (5)

  • Gabriele M.

    The best sushi place for this part of the country

    (5)

  • L C.

    I grew up in Tokyo, Japan and my best friend (also from Japan) used to go to college in Waltham. Not sure how she found this place but we loved it!!! This is the best Sushi restaurant in the state of MA (and possibly all of New England). We used to come here quite often back when we were students in New England. I live in Hawaii now but I havent found a sushi place quite as good as Oishii Sushi even though I am closer to home here! I remember the food being quite pricey at Oishii Sushi but if you want authentic Japanese food (not just california rolls or spicy ahi rolls), then this is the place to eat at! Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Josh C.

    Visiting Oiishi reminds me of trips to Tokyo with my dad who took me through streets of Tokyo eating like local. I was recommended to visit Oiishi by a Japanese friend almost 5 years ago and like it since. Still second to my favorite Japanese restaurant in RI anyway! Sushi here is fresh but little bit over pricing like other places in Boston and NYC and pain in the butt to get seated...long wait... I guess because of the hype. Somebody told me that the owner used to be a cook at NOBU. Honestly, who care? As long as his sushi continue to be kicking some -ss and fresh. Otherwise, I still love this place. Pros : Good place to eat Sushi alone.....so nobody fight with you over the last piece of FATTY TUNA! .......I am serious! Con : DON"T everthink about having dinner here with over 7 friends. If you love bitchy dinner with friend. Try it. There is only one table. And it is a pain in the butt squeezing 7 people on that round table in the corner and hear them bitch and moan throughout the meal... entertaining actually. Take out is my suggestion to you. You don't have to wait. Edit: If you have deep pocket like Tom Brady and a hotty to impress like Giselle, yeah, go to Oishi in South End. Sushi for two will cost you above two hundred dollar. If you nib your sushi like a cat, then it will cost you less. But I am sorry. I have never left this sushi place hungry.

    (5)

  • E W.

    Saying this place is small is a vast understatement - minuscule is more to the point. The size of the place is enough to not recommend - not to mention it has zero charm. Spicy tuna roll about as average as I've ever eaten - textbook case of the "hype" not being equal to the product.

    (2)

  • Caitlin R.

    Oishii is small and cozy (great for a date night!)-most of the seating at the sushi bar and a few small tables around the perimeter. Often there is a wait to be seated but it is worth it! When you walk in the small entrance there is a clipboard on the wall to write your name and # in your party. Don't forget to put your name on the list, they seat guests in order (no hostess taking names). The fish is the most fresh I have had and the price is fair for the quality. I highly recommend the unagi, and white tuna sashimi. Definitely check it out!

    (5)

  • Jin W.

    been to both downtown and chestnut hill locations, both are fantastic just depends on what you are in the mood for. If you are looking for a traditional sushi bar feel then you need to go to brookline, but if you want a modern cool sushi place then the boston location will be the better choice but no matter which location you choose you will always get the best service and food.

    (5)

  • Lauren V.

    Oishii Sushi is incredible. The seafood is so fresh and tender and the edamame is never soggy like at some places. The only downside is that a lot of people seem to share the same affinity for Oishii that I do. Especially during the lunch hour on weekdays. The place is tiny, but really worth the wait. On top of that, it is fairly inexpensive and I have never really had a problem finding a parking spot on the street. I would definitely recommend it for a lunch break if you work in the area. If you get to Oishii Sushi with some lingering doubts after reading the Yelp reviews, check out the wall of accolades, grab a menu and place your order. You won't be sorry.

    (5)

  • Sarah M.

    This place's specials will blow your mind. Best sushi in Boston. Expensive but worth it's quality and creative but classically done rolls. Only a few seats so advised to go on off dinner hours or get pickup. The interior is nothing great but watching the chefs make the sushi is worth the seat. Parking can be crappy but generally easy to get street parking.

    (5)

  • Sunny C.

    This place is rated #1 in Boston on Zagatz. I don't know if I just had very high expectations but this was not what I was expecting. It is *tiny*. There are only one or two tables and the sushi bar. Do not go here if you are going with a large group. Also, they close at 10pm, and the kitchen closes around 9:45pm. They do not take reservations. Regarding the food, the sushi is the freshest I've tasted! Price-wise, on the cheaper side. So this is a great place for take-out, or if you are looking for a casual date spot then this is it. There was some presentation (the wasabi was shaped nicely, the sushi laid out artistically) but it did not "wow" me. I think Oishii (Chestnut Hill) is a no frills restaurant and if that is what you're looking for, then go for it. I prefer Fugakyu (Brookline). They are open later, have an extensive drink menu, and are great for large parties. I have heard great things about Oishii (Boston) so it might be more of a restaurant feel than this Oishii. But def. check it out as it is the #1 restaurant in Boston!

    (3)

  • J C.

    It's about time for me to review my fav sushi restaurant in Boston. This place is the best. Love it. Small, cozy and intimate restaurant. The fish here is always fresh. Generous nigiri slices. For some reason, the mackerel is the best here (typically not a fan of mackerel). No other Boston area sushi restaurants can make the mackerel taste any better. Tuna, sake, ika, toro, yellowtail, take your pick it'll be good. The gunkan sushi is a wonderland. The spicy salmon salad handroll can't be replicated. For customer created makis, get em all. Ok if not, then my favs...the Jeffrey's (baked spicy scallop maki). It's greatly satisfying. Love spicy mayo and scallops. Nice crisp roll. Amy's is great. Joe's Kazan is excellent, tako salad anyone?! Go! There will be no disappointments here! .. Getting hungry...

    (5)

  • buckminster f.

    High quality sushi for decent prices. Between the two of us, we had a sushi/sashimi deluxe platter, spicy scallop rolls, dragon rolls, two miso soups, a sapporo, and a small order of the hot sake, and the total came out to less than a hundred dollars. I am usually not a fan of salmon sashimi, but theirs was fantastic. Next time, I'll probably skip the basics and jump straight into the creative rolls. The spicy scallop roll was definitely the shining star of the night. My only caveat is that they serve miso soup with a spoon and the sushi chefs are not Japanese, if that matters to you.

    (5)

  • CK N.

    Best sushi I've had in Boston. What more can you say? well, actually I can say a lot more: it's kind of small, so if you're unlucky you'll have to wait a bit, and parking kind of sucked, but the sushi overrides all those details. Honestly, if a lot of people say it's great, then there's a reason why they say that.

    (5)

  • Stephen Y.

    We showed up without reservation but managed to get seats. The restaurant quickly filled up 15 minutes into our meal. Sushi was quite fresh and tasty. I liked the unagi hand roll (not sharing !). Have to say that sushi and sashimi is this place's forte since the cooked food sucked. The chicken yakitori consisted of molded chicken breast on a stick..... smothered in teriyaki sauce.... yum... and the grilled squid consisted of a squid of stunted growth/amputated of all appendages/grilled in a toaster oven (not charcoal).... and smothered in teriyaki sauce... However, I would still come back but only to try more of the items on the sushi/sashimi menu.

    (4)

  • Glenn B.

    Oishii in Chestnut Hill is _unquestionably_ the best quality Sushi in Boston. The nigiri has huge portions of meat, the maki is adventurous and delicious, and the atmosphere is special. Lines can be bad - seems like most of the locals order take-out.

    (5)

  • Anino X.

    While sushi enjoys a reputation as an adventurous and trendy culinary pursuit, there are different grades to it, just like any other cuisine. For instance, you can get a $13 steak at Uno's or you can get a $40 steak at Morton's. There are plenty of obvious differences between the steaks offered at these two establishments, and for most, it's pretty clear that you get what you pay for (depending on how much you value red meat). Sushi restaurants are tougher to grade because many of the restaurants charge very similar prices even though the quality of the ingredients will vary from place to place. As I continue to gain more experience in sushi delving, my preferences change as well. I have been favoring sushi places that are conveniently located, offer consistent, (and above average) quality. Sushi can be an expensive experience and the last thing I want is to come away disappointed. Where does that leave Oiishi? They've got three locations now: Sudbury, Chestnut Hill and now in the South End, each with different menus. I've dined at the South End location twice and ordered takeout from Chestnut Hill on eight separate occasions during my tenure at a local banking institution. I was initially impressed by the breadth of creativity for maki at the Chestnut Hill location, but the prices are some of the highest in the Boston area, comparing to Fugakyu and Oga's. My disappointment in the restaurant stems from the swings in the quality of seafood ingredients. Some orders have tasted less fresh than others. The actual presentation (for a takeout order) was fine, but at the price Oishii charges, I expect higher quality than a place like Shino Express on Newbury St. Oiishi in Chestnut Hill has one of the most inventive menu of the Japanese restaurants in the greater Boston Area: there are rolls here that you won't find any place else. However, the sushi at Oga and Fugakyu are consistently higher quality than Oishii. In addition, the Chestnut Hill location isn't convenient or spacious as the aforementioned establishments either. If you drive and want to sample some unique sushi flavors, Oiishi is good for takeout. However, there's better value to be had elsewhere.

    (3)

  • Valerie A.

    Everyone I know that has been to this restaurant raves about it but I'm starting to believe that it's because they haven't been to New York. I've been there a couple of times and I absolutely love sushi but theirs just doesn't do it for me. I've heard that their chef comes from Nobu but their sushi just doesn't compare to Nobu's. Plus, there is always a wait because the place is tiny and takeout takes a good hour too. I'm not the type to wait for mediocre food. Try Takeshima for sushi in that area.

    (3)

  • Ebrahim B.

    The sushi is great but the place is really cramped. Only about 15 people can be there at a time and they don't take reservations which can be a downside. The sushi though really is the best in boston

    (4)

  • Dan M.

    Best sushi. Stinks for me that I am allergic to fish, but still the vegetable sushi was incredible - nice people, good crowd. Certainly, one of the best places in nation.

    (5)

  • Scott B.

    my second favorite sushi place in massachusetts - little pricey but you will definately get some new and exciting maki rolls you havent seen anywhere else

    (4)

  • Joyce H.

    Came here for a late lunch, and yum. It's a very small eatery with most of the seats at the bar. We enjoyed ourselves by watching the sushi chefs in their skilled-ness practically the whole time that we ate! Even at 3pm, the restaurant was still pretty busy. They give you a menu while you wait and ask you for your order once you sit down. We bit off way more than we could chew! We got a little overzealous because in the midwest, there really isn't fresh sashimi (that I trust at least!) We ordered 3 things - all really good. Sashimi lunch - 5. Comes in a bento with salad, 3 pieces of tuna, salmon, and hamachi. You can finish it off with the piece of watermelon they give you. The sashimi pieces are very fresh and hearty with rather large cuts. You can't go wrong with this. Hamachi kama - 5. Very very tender hamachi (yellowtail) with very large portions. The flavor was memorable. We couldn't finish this because we ordered way too much for lunch! If you are interested in a warm, cooked dish, hamachi kama is the way to go! Chirashi lunch - 5. Plenty of fresh seafood with a good variety of the usual suspects - tuna, salmon, hamachi, red snapper, tamago, and a few others. Always enjoyable with good flavor and tender cuts. One cool thing about oishii is that they offer a lot of sustainable types of fish which they offer it for lunch specials at fairly good deals. Very exciting!

    (5)

  • Daniel E.

    My favorite sushi bar by far west of the city. The key differentiating feature of this sushi bar is the high quality fish. Particularly the salmon and tuna taste very fresh. The value ratio here is quite good in terms of quality/price, i.e. (High/Medium). Strongly recommend this restaurant if you are in metro west, passing buy or in chestnut hill looking for a good sushi eat!

    (4)

  • Kevin C.

    The food here is legit. We've tried a bunch of different stuff on the menu. Everything we've tried was delicious. Definitely lived up to its hype.

    (4)

  • SaraLee C.

    Fantastic. TRULY Fresh Fish! Be wary of the hole-in-the-wall feel. My date and I enjoyed it, but, it is certainly not for all.

    (5)

  • Glenn B.

    Oishii in Chestnut Hill is _unquestionably_ the best quality Sushi in Boston. The nigiri has huge portions of meat, the maki is adventurous and delicious, and the atmosphere is special. Lines can be bad - seems like most of the locals order take-out.

    (5)

  • Robert C.

    Used to be that Oishi had the fattest, freshest sushi in the entire Boston area...that's passe. I have witnessed the piece sizes gradually minimizing to where I almost need a magnifying glass to find them. Go ahead, compare with Super Fusion on Washington Street, Brookline, and you will instantly know what I mean. I can't in all good conscience get my takeout at Oishi again, though they are very conveniently located for me.

    (2)

  • Francisca W.

    there's a reason why this is one of my "last supper" choices. minus the one time we unwisely came on a sunday afternoon and had slightly less than superb quality of food and service, this place never fails. ok that wait can get frustrating, but you just gotta plan your entrance strategically, and you'll be all set. came by couple Tuesdays ago as hub was taking me out for my bday; arrived around 6pm, i was the first to set foot into the door!! the Jay Chou-lookalike waiter was gone (that was couple years ago), position replaced by a meek young boy (yes, "young" by my book) by the name of Pete. upon learning that i wanted seats for 2, he politely asked if the other person was near, and i said maybe 5-10 min away. he was hesitant for 1 second and realized that it'd be silly to tell me to wait for all parties to arrive when the place was completely empty at the moment, i was allowed to choose "any seat i wanted". that felt goooood! hub arrived about 10-15 min, the place was already filling up w/couple seats left. Pete checked on me a couple times before then, and we placed the order relatively quickly after hub sat down. when we gave him the menus i asked if they happened to have GF soy sauce, and they did!! WOOHOO OISHII! saw a few new things on the menu ("new" because i don't remember seeing these before); veered off our usual path a bit, though not very far. a couple things failed (and could easily improve), the rest was good as always. see pics for the dishes. - uni quail egg shooter: thought i saw (2) but i could have been hallucinating. 1 shooter came; the uni & quail egg was DRENCHED in "light soy sauce" -- forgot to ask if they could use GF tamari instead. not that it made much of a difference. the pure amount of soy in there just killed it. i poured most of it out onto my saucer (for dipping sushi later); hub drank the rest. said it was good but STILLLL too salty. - the double "i" (ikura & ika): torched squid w/salmon roe. a good bite regardless, tho each flavor was not very distinct. - broiled eggplant salad: hub recently fell in love w/eggplants. the creamy softness of it along w/the mayonnaise-based looking sauce sat on top of salad w/a ginger-based dressing. very nice contrast, and yummy. - a "special" sushi named after a customer (rachel?): turned out to be just scallop sushi w/a tiny slice of lemon, a dab of mayonnaise, and some flying fish roe. fresh, but not "special". the usual: - ame-ebi (sweet shrimp) sashimi -- maybe out of season, not as good as always. - toro gukan (crunchy) sushi -- not as fatty and crunchy as i remember before, but still very good. - torched hamachi roll -- always love it, w/a hint of the citrus sauce, just to cut the fat. - dragon(?) eye roll -- the riceless roll using squid instead. love it. food was good as always; only "complaint" would be the order in which they appeared. basically there was no planning, whatever made first came first. for ex, the eggplant salad came last, after the rolls and stuff. sushi came first, and the other appetizers just interposed themselves in between. was a bit weird on the brain/palette if i have to nit-pick, but the stomach didn't complain. dessert offerings were two inverted cup shaped ice-cream; obviously not homemade but not really expecting them to be. red bean flavor was almost strawberry-like (not very red bean-y); the green tea was pretty decent. place got a bit busy (esp w/all the phone orders) and Pete forgot to refill our water. tsk tsk tsk! kidding, Pete. and yes, my last supper had been served and i can die happy now. again.

    (5)

  • Nancy T.

    It will ruin your sashimi experience at all other sushi places. seriously the fish is very good. REAL eel not the packaged stuff. Amazing fish mostly. However last time my salmon had an unappetizing dried up piece at the bottom. Also the quality of the nori and the seasoning on the specialty rolls are not good. overall not really refined. Nori should taste like nori and not be dry. The rice was not great. In that respect fish market sushi in allston is better. But I will definitely go here again just to get the plain sashimi. at busy times you really feel it is just a takeout delivery joint which definitely lessens the experience. Overall I will probably come back again unless I can figure out how to buy that amazing fish.

    (3)

  • Ash C.

    Sushi and sashimi was fresh. It was a full house so service was a little bit clumsy. They close @ 9:30pm so we felt like we were getting kicked out when we barely drank our sake.

    (3)

  • Roger C.

    I start this by saying I have been a long and loyal Oishii Fan, back to when there was only one. I started to write this review a year ago when I had good sushi but a poor customer service experience, but in deference to my many outstanding experiences passed. Used to live in Brookline and dined weekly here. Now live out of state and had made this a must stop when we visited. Last year was served a drink that was very off. Advised the waiter and asked for a coke. When I got the bill I was charged for both, on a high dollar check. The waiter, was good, apologized and looked to the gentleman handling the incoming orders. I spoke with him and he said it was opened so it had to be paid for. I asked how do you know the taste is bad without opening it. He very imperiously told me that was the way it was. As I said I passed it off to a bad experience and thought nothing of it till we were back in Boston and had a yen for good sushi and decided to try it again. Got there around 5:30 and it was empty. Sat down and asked for a diet coke, Looked like the same pleasant waiter as last year, He said they did not have any diet cokes, In fact they had no diet soda. I ordered a beer and they only had a large Sapporo. The restaurant was freezing. We asked to if he could adjust the AC and he did and as soon as he lowered it the gentleman taking the orders and operating the register adjusted it back. ( It looked like the same one who we had the strange encounter with the previous year) While we were trying to place the order we again asked if he could adjust the AC, He did and once again the other gentleman put it back. When this happened a third time in under 5 minutes we decided our Oishii days were over and we got up to leave. The waiter apologized, the gentleman by the order desk smirked and we were out of there. I am thankful that I had not opened my drink. An example of what happens when the owner is not present and the employees have a different concept of what makes a great restaurant great.

    (1)

  • Dorothy W.

    It's practically a crime to compare sushi restaurants in the Boston area without trying Oishii Sushi Bar, one of the early leaders in the sushi stampede. (Remember when it was virtually impossible to get any sushi around here? I do.) Everything that you get at this casual, cramped mecca of seafood goodness is beautifully prepared and delicious. I recommend going with an appetite, a sushi loving friend and the bulk of your last birthday check from Mom and Dad. (Better yet, bring them along.) Just try a lot of different things, take your time and enjoy. When I first went here, I was still relatively new to the sushi scene, and it helped to be there with friends who knew their way around the menu. If you are a rookie in the raw fish world, try to go with someone who can make suggestions. Or you can read up on line about the different types of fish and the various definitions. It can be confusing. Sushi? Sashimi? Uni? Unagi? Maki? Nigiri? Dragon? Scorpion? This bombardment of unfamiliar terms can be stressful when you are just beginning your adventure in the world of raw seafood. The one flaw in an otherwise flawless experience is the fact that this place is always totally packed. You will be jammed in like little sardines in a little tin can, knee to knee and toe to toe with strangers. You may also have a serious wait. Other than that, it's a true educational experience for a neophyte in the sushi world and a joyful treat for the old pro. Not much else around here compares.

    (4)

  • Ralph O.

    Nice food and creative rolls! Location is very informal, small and smokey, good enough for a sushi place. Service is standard and effective. A little pricey for the atmosphere, but the food is great.

    (4)

  • Lauren F.

    I personally think this is the best and freshest sushi in Boston. On the pricey side though. It is a super small place, not good for parties over 2. I usually get take out. They give you a reusable bag and everytr me you bring it in for takeout they give you 5% off your order.

    (5)

  • Xiao Z.

    Stop reading this review and go here already! Just make sure you plan to wait for a while, cause you're not the only person who loves eating amazing, beautiful, sexy sushi delicacies. I don't even know how to start this review as my keyboard is already flooded with drool. One bad part...it's $$$. It's certainly cheaper than it's cousin in Boston, but still expect to shelve out a coupla pretty pennies if you're here to sample their $30 sushi marvels.

    (5)

  • J B.

    Really really great sushi! Extremely fresh! It is very small, so be ready to cozy up with other parties at the bar table! Bottomless hot green tea! Yum! Try one of the costumers creation rolls!

    (4)

  • Donna H.

    Good food but deathly slow with takeout. Not sure I would come back for this experience. A half hour for 3 rolls and no apologies. Disappointing...

    (2)

  • Mike K.

    I am always happy to find another sushi option around Boston. Don't have time for a long review but in short, the food was great and very fresh (sushi and rolls) and the service was super-attentive, friendly, and very fast. The menu has a lot of variety and a few interesting rolls. The space here is very tiny, one or two tables, I think, with the rest of the seats being at the bar. Unfortunately, the chefs at the bar didn't even acknowledge any of the customers and there wasn't an interactive atmosphere you expect when sitting at a sushi bar. So there goes one star. I took the other star away because the place seemed unreasonably overpriced. I would expect to find prices like that at a very fancy sushi restaurant but not in a hole-in-the-wall type setting, even if the food was very good.

    (3)

  • Kate J.

    This is still a fabulous sushi location. Chestnut Hill is elegant unto itself and makes this dining experience all the better. I had a new item of octopus and it was delicious! I could not have been happier with my selection.

    (4)

  • Alexander R.

    So, yeah, this place is really good. We bought an obscene number of things, and they all blew my mind. Fairly expensive, though, even by sushi standards.

    (5)

  • Michelle S.

    I will never be able to enjoy sushi the same. I finally tried Oishii this week for the first time, and the fact that I ordered takeout the very next day for the second time says it all. This place has raised the bar on sushi for me. I ordered the Alligator Maki and the Spicy Scallop Roll, based on what other Yelpers had said in previous reviews. Both were out of this world. I couldn't believe how big the scallops were! I ordered takeout both times, but I did see how small the actually restaurant is. Looks like a lot of fun though! The place has a certain air of intimacy since the sushi chefs are literally right in front of you. I like that. I will definitely be returning for a third time in the very near future, and I imagine a lot of my business will be coming here now. I know that the prices are a bit more expensive than what I am used to paying, but it is so worth it. This is now my go-to sushi spot.

    (5)

  • Gray L.

    Good sushi... Will come back to try the makis which look really yummy. Also ordered shrimp tempura, which was really fresh and crispy and light. The place is super cramped and small though so try to avoid peak hours and days. The service is also kind of questionable with the servers a bit rude when clearing out the plates. Think for the price, it's a good value and can understand why people close by are regulars. However as someone living a bit out of the way, I will prob not drive out to dine here often.

    (3)

  • ZZZZ T.

    Spectacular sushi. For a tiny restaurant, they are at the top of the game. By far the most consistent delicious sushi in Boston. Try the Zach Roll. It's highly recommended.

    (5)

  • kim s.

    JACKIE the owner I hope you read this and take appropriate action!!! As a very long time loyal customer of many years, sometime eating there 3 times a week, I was appalled at how bad your place have suddenly turned into when you're not there. When I came in last Sunday nite and seated at the slow period 4:25pm Pats football game, the seats were dirty with tobiko and soy sauce and all 6 white menus the waitress handed us were also sticky with tobiko and brown sauce. Fine. I wiped them clean myself. I ordered the unagi ota as usual but the portion was insultingly stingy...2-3 unagi pieces chopped and topped over maybe 2-3 strands of seaweed. I order this dish multiple times weekly for my 10yo so he knows exactly what it's supposed to look like. Fine. We simply order something else. The waitress were in the back and the cashier were busy with two pickup customers, so I turned to the sushi chef to order. The chef pointed to the busy cashier and angrily said, "GO ORDER FROM HER." WT#$@^%&*?! was that all about? I just paid and left. I'm used to the ghetto and I'd be ok if this was an cheap eatery in chinatown boston or flushing. But such unkemptness and disrespectful behavior in a sushi bar like this is uncalled for.

    (1)

  • Cornel F.

    Expensive but good and creative sushi

    (4)

  • Ronen Olga R.

    I ordered some sushi to go, and honestly I don't know how this place gets all it's good reviews. The sushi is overpriced and a step better than Star Market sushi, the sushi was cold, old and had no taste. This was my second and last time ordering there, I thought the second time would be better than the first but opposite. STAY AWAY

    (1)

  • Darren G.

    Fantastic sushi! The yellow tail was amazing and the o-toro was fantastic. The place was busy, but the sushi orders came up really quickly. I always come hear when in the area since my first time here two years ago.

    (4)

  • Aboud Y.

    Awesome spot. A truly authentic sushi experience in a cozy environment. Everything I've eaten here has been excellent and they've featured some truly standout specials the last few times I've been. Hats off to Ting San. However, the location is small and its not really a great date spot or someplace for families (just too cramped, no reservations accepted, and the ambiance is not right). I had high hopes for Oishii Boston but it left me disappointed.

    (4)

  • Mark W.

    Wow, this place is small boarding on cramped but damn good sushi I mean super fresh.

    (4)

  • Emily G.

    I'm in love with this place. It's small and I'd recommend takeout for the clausterphobic, but if small spaces don't bother you, then I highly recommend taking a seat at the bar and indulging in the freshest, tastiest fish in the Boston area. The staff is great - super friendly and attentive. And have I mentioned how tasty and fantastic the sushi is? Not to mention they give you really healthy slabs of fish.

    (5)

  • Wendy L.

    Oishii is definitely one of the best sushi places in the Boston area. It's pricey but they give you big portions and offer some pretty creative stuff. I was surprised to be seated in 15 minutes for two on a Friday night since this place is tiny. A ton of people came in to get take out from this place...I might do that next time! We started off with Spicy Tuna Ta Ta and Hamachi Kama. Both were amazing! They really give you a lot here so it's worth the money. The Spicy Tuna Ta Ta wasn't mixed with spicy mayo but a different spicy sauce. The most epic dish was Kin Zan Sake!!!!!! It was chopped up pieces of salmon, tossed in a special sauce on top of crispy fried breaded salmon skin. I wasn't quite sure what else was in this but the flavors were complex and so delicious! The waitress came by to explain it to us and recommended us to try it without soy sauce. It looked liked an appetizer you would see at a fancy cocktail reception. YUM!! We got a few Nigiris and we were impressed. They were so fresh and delicious! We got the Toro Gukan which I absolutely recommend, King Salmon and Snow Crab. I love fresh Nigiris and you can't find this at all sushi places! We also tried to Foie Gras sushi which was delicious but I was surprised to find strawberries in it! I took it out since I don't really enjoy fruit with my food but the foie gras was great. The only dish we really didn't enjoy was the Hamachi Tango. The sauce was extremely fruity and I think seared hamachi is just a little bit too fishy for me. I don't think this is their fault because it's a personal preference. Overall the service was great, the waitress was extremely attentive and friendly. We didn't have much space at our table so she came by a lot to make sure she cleared our plates. This place has really big portions but isn't cheap! I'm not a big fan of their American style rolls because they overload on sauce and rice but their Nigiri is fresh and they have great appetizers. I will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Simon F.

    good food except relatively small place.

    (4)

  • Luke T.

    ITADAKIMAS!! Here's the problem. This place has set a new high for Sushi. I brought 4 friend with me and introduced them to good sushi and Hamachi Kama. Now, they will forever be dissapointed at other sushi places. Nigiri sushi and rolls are outstanding. With the 5 of us, we sampled plenty of variety and everything is good. Everyone agree the yellow tail was fantastic. I saw a few folks eating ramen or udon and it looked awesome. Will be back to try that. The place is very small. Takes in about 20 people, but well worth the wait. Would like to see this place stock some better sake, some quality dai ginjo is needed.

    (5)

  • Rob O.

    Best sushi I've ever had anywhere! Had sushi all over the country, and nowhere can touch this place. GO HERE!

    (5)

  • Kyle D.

    OMG this place is so good that it's special. That's all...

    (5)

  • Nina N.

    I have been reading yelp reviews on this place for the longest time. The plan was to go for my birthday last year but I had eaten sushi with a girlfriend for lunch and my boyfriend denied me sushi again for dinner. Apparently he doesn't believe in having sushi for lunch and for dinner. Our meal started with three orders of nigiri sushi. We had the toro (fatty tuna), sake (salmon), and escolar (super white tuna). We had ordered the super white tuna as a sashimi order, however, either the waitress or chef messed up the order and presented it as sushi instead. It worked out for the better since the sushi came out balanced and beautifully presented. My favorite of the three sushi had to be the toro. It was so soft and delectable. It had the melt in your mouth effect. The other two was also very good although I have had better salmon. The escolar was really fresh but because I have had it too often, it has now lost its magic. Escolar is really tasty when you try it for the first few times. We were then served avocado salad. The purple orchid used to garnish the dish added elegance compared to other restaurants that serve this dish unaccompanied. Though better in term of presentation, tastes wise I would have to say that the salad tasted no different from any other avocado salad I have tried. We next had the kappa sashimi maki which is tuna, salmon & hamachi wrapped in cucumber served with ponzu sauce. The idea was to have a refreshing maki that did not have rice in it. However, this was a bad decision on my part for two reasons. One, we just had salmon and tuna so by now, it seemed redundant. Two, the cucumber was not as fresh or as crispy as I would have liked it to be. It was rather dry possibly due to the fact that they were paper dried with a paper towel and later stored wrapped in a paper towel. Now I am being redundant. Partially my fault that the experience was not what I had hoped for. Our orders of the Oishii Spicy Scallop Maki and Tokyo Style Soft Shell Crab Maki came together. I would highly recommend the Oishii Spicy Scallop Maki. It has scallop, black tobiko, cucumber, kaiwaii & spicy mayo. It was definitely an art piece and the scallop was so refreshing. The Tokyo Style Soft Shell Crab Maki was soft shell crab with tamago, unagi, cucumber, scallion and tobiko wrapped in seaweed and daikon. I do not recommend this roll. Unfortunately, the daikon they used had been again, cut, paper dried, and left our for too long and tasted like paper towel. Fresh ingredients is always better. Same as with the cucumber in my earlier kappa sashimi maki roll. The chef should take care not prepare the daikon and cucumber in advance. Also wiping them and storing them with paper towel sure does not help. The last dish we ordered was the Grilled Kobe Beef. This was cubed kobe beef with red onion, chives, capers, caviar and wasabi ponzu sauce. While my boyfriend felt that it was good but not $35.00 dollars good, I felt that if I was to judge the dish without the price tag, I would have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this dish. It had layers of flavors and was juicy. I would definitely order it again even though it is $35.00. Overall, I had a few memorable dishes and there is still many others I have yet to try. Seating is very limited. Personally, it was a bit uncomfortable for me. On the bright side, because my boyfriend and I came in before the line started, we were seated upon arrival. I felt bad for the people who had to wait because it felt like no one wanted to leave. I would definitely come back though not right away. See my pictures.

    (4)

  • Austin J. A.

    Three of us went to Oishii tonight at 6:30PM. Even though it's a Tuesday, the joint was hopping. It took us almost an hour to get in; there's only eight seats at the counter, and one four-top table in the front window. There is only a tiny place to seat, and since other people were sitting in it, we stood outside. Though it was cold out there, the food was delicious and worth the wait. I enjoyed standing under the street lights and placing my order with a dry-erase marker on a laminated menu - it was fun and built up the anticipation for a far-away day when I'd order the $30 maguro toro roll with caviar and gold flake. There will be another visit soon, I'm sure, for the chef's special. This place serves some high-end specialty rolls; we were all far too hungry this time to properly enjoy anything truly over-decadent. Tonight, we had beef negima(ki) with salad, miso soup (excellent), and edamame for appetizers. We had beautiful, thick salmon and hamachi (yellowtail) sashimi, an alligator roll (eel, avocado, crab stick, shrimp tempura, orange roe, scallions, cucumber), another roll that was basically that roll but wider and inside-out, shrimp tempura roll (herbed on the outside), lots of salmon nigiri (it was a lovely size and weight, but the salmon itself was bias-cut with a lip on it, not very pretty), salmon tempura (the salmon tempura interior was flanked by a field of rice and two baby carrots), caterpillar roll (eel, avocado, cucumber - the avocado was really thinly sliced, very nice). I love sitting at the counter, watching the chefs work (there were four chefs working, shoulder-to-shoulder, with a lovely assortment of ingredients). I didn't even notice the muted, bar-mounted TV showing Extra news magazine while we were eating. The meal cost $127 before the tip. The service was attentive, with plates cleared swiftly, which made the tiny venue seem just a tad less tiny. It would have been nice to have received a glass of water at any time, or a refill on our hot tea. I'd heard the rave reviews of Oishii in Chestnut Hill, and I saw the steady stream of people coming and going with their take-out orders; my own experience was similar. The quality, if not the overall experience, at Oishii is on par with that of Café Sushi in Harvard Square, Cambridge, a top sushi place I love to eat.

    (4)

  • james w.

    Sushi is very good. Some of the snobs say the place in Natick is better; they're so obnixious in their insistence that I dont want to go there for fear of running into them. As for Oishii Food's great. Place is tiny, you're likely to stand in line. Parking's a challenge.

    (4)

  • Adi R.

    While I'm sure they do fancier stuff well, they also do a brilliant job of the simple stuff for a relative sushi novice such as myself. I'm not adventurous when it comes to sushi, so we usually end up getting staples like salmon cucumber maki, spicy tuna, sweet potato, shiitake mushroom, soft shell crab and the salmon sashimi. Each of these is exquisite. The salmon sashimi in particular just melts in the mouth. The Agedashi tofu is also outstanding. The only drawback is that Oishii becomes the standard that one measures all sushi restaurants by, so there aren't a ton of places you'll really like after experiencing Oishii. Completely worth it, however.

    (5)

  • David C.

    All the reviews in the world couldn't prepare me for just how tiny Oishii is. I counted maybe only eight or nine seats crammed around the sushi bar where my friends and I were seated (with about three feet of space behind our backs) and one table of four. I rarely sit at the bar in sushi restaurants, but it's actually quite fun (although I would have traded my strange white leather chair for one that didn't make me lean so far forward). I find the art of sushi-making to be fascinating, and the chefs at Oishii are definitely at the top of their game. I came for lunch and only had to wait about 10 minutes for a party of three. The servers were a little brain dead, but they got the job done (ie they brought the sushi and only spilled soy sauce on us once). My friends and I racked up a pretty good-sized bill by the time we were done trying specials and whatnot ("The Maki," covered in torched toro and a tamarind-like sweet sauce was good, but not worth the hefty $23 price tag), but it was the simple, traditional rolls that I enjoyed most. The spicy tuna and Boston rolls were both simple but delicious, filled with generous portions of tender tuna and salmon, respectively. The Alligator maki, an eight-piece shrimp tempura roll topped with avocado, eel, tobikko, and eel sauce, was a little more extravagant, but equally tasty. All-in-all, I'm glad I finally got to try the original Oishii. It kind of boggles my mind that this unassuming little sushi bar spawned that overpriced monster in the South End.

    (4)

  • Brendan C.

    Decent sushi but they could have a better menu

    (3)

  • Josephine L.

    I wouldn't make the hour-long trek out to Chestnut Hill again but this wasn't bad for a one-time thing. The sushi is quite fresh and certainly more affordable than the full Oishii restaurant in the South End. They stick to most of the basics here and the result is simple, pure flavors made by seasoned sushi chefs. Rice is just the right amount of sticky and sour, rolls are appropriately bite-sized, cuts are thick and generous, and as mentioned before, the quality is fresh. I started with 3 slices of hamachi sashimi because it is the single greatest fish in the world (besides salmon) and if you disagree, I will beat you down with my fishing rod. The slices were pink and beautiful and made me wish I could reach into the glass in front of me and just bite into the big fillet of hamachi that was sitting there right before my eyes (a fantasy I've been told is odd yet understandable). From there, I had the Rainbow Roll, Boston Roll and Rick's Roll (one of their customer creations apparently). The last roll came with sea bass which tastes just as good raw as it does seared and encrusted. My friends also got some form of sea bass and between the 3 of us, there were several moments of long silence where all you could hear was the sound of chewing and the inaudible sound of sushi cravings being satisfied. Service was friendly and attentive, seating happened pretty quickly considering how packed it was and as many have mentioned, the space is tiny so claustrophobes need not apply.

    (4)

  • Wendy L.

    Sushi can be so misunderstood sometimes. It has evolved overtime from being a small bits delicacy to a full blown intricate world of explosion of freshness and flavors. Oiishi sushi restaurant in Newton Highlands, Ma is such a restaurant that has paved the path of this sushi vision. It really started more than a decade ago when Oiishi opens its doors. I remember the first time my mother brought me to this place; it's a tiny restaurant with approximately 10-12 seats max! The price at the time was slightly high but I would say fair. At the time, California rolls and salmon sushi were really the staple and standard of all sushi places. No one really expected much more. The caterpillar, the rainbow rolls, the dynamite, the Route 66 ( tempura salmon and cream cheese), and many other varieties had never even come across in many Bostonian imaginations before. So for this tiny restaurant to execute with passion, really began my love affair with this cuisine. They even made steak and chicken teriyaki a meal to remember. Now many years later, they have expanded to a few more locations, but, chestnut hill still being the best. Their cost are more than doubled but seems that business is booming!! Their foods I would say aren't necessarily cutting edge now, but, execution has never been off. In comparison to sushi in California, Oiishi is on par, but in metro Boston, Oiishi is by far the set bar for quality, presentation, and taste. Tonight, we had: The salmon and yellowtail sashimi were thick fatty slices and fresh. Spicy tuna and tempura shrimp rolls were simple but well done. We also ordered the Crispy Foie Gras which came with 4 pieces of sushi rolled foie gras and dried strawberries. It was a bit odd tasting, especially the chewy dry texture of the strawberry with the added unagi sauce on top. The foie gras was normal and all in all a decent dish, but I'm not sure worth the $35. In addition, the Chilean sea bass came a beautifully presented plate with salad and fried crispy rice noodles, side of rice and hefty portion of fish. The fish was flaky and flavorful but a bit dry. The price of $28 I feel is a bit much, especially when their black cod is just as good is only $13. My favorite was the Crispy Mango roll which had spicy tuna mixed with tempura flakes on top and asparagus and mango on the inside. Overall the textures were well rounded and the mango was a nice balance to the spicyness of the tuna. If you're looking for sushi in Boston, there really is nothing to think about...there's only Oiishi.

    (4)

  • Sarah M.

    This place's specials will blow your mind. Best sushi in Boston. Expensive but worth it's quality and creative but classically done rolls. Only a few seats so advised to go on off dinner hours or get pickup. The interior is nothing great but watching the chefs make the sushi is worth the seat. Parking can be crappy but generally easy to get street parking.

    (5)

  • Stephen Y.

    We showed up without reservation but managed to get seats. The restaurant quickly filled up 15 minutes into our meal. Sushi was quite fresh and tasty. I liked the unagi hand roll (not sharing !). Have to say that sushi and sashimi is this place's forte since the cooked food sucked. The chicken yakitori consisted of molded chicken breast on a stick..... smothered in teriyaki sauce.... yum... and the grilled squid consisted of a squid of stunted growth/amputated of all appendages/grilled in a toaster oven (not charcoal).... and smothered in teriyaki sauce... However, I would still come back but only to try more of the items on the sushi/sashimi menu.

    (4)

  • Meridith H.

    To be honest, we were on our way somewhere else, but missed our exit off 90 and *poof,* there's Newton! Two changes of plans later, we were in the mood for sushi. This place is SMALL. As in, so small that when we initially tried to enter, the one guy placing a take-out order inadvertently blocked the entire entrance. It's also so small that the chairs at the bar are practically on top of each other; do you want to have a private conversation? TOO BAD. Do you want to unobtrusively scoot your chair closer to the bar? TOO BAD. Do you maybe think it's a bit awkward to stare at the sushi chefs while they prepare both your own and your neighbors' meals? GET OVER IT. Oh, and didn't you know beforehand that the chefs are going to hand the sushi plates to the server over your head (because there is no other option given how little space there is)? That said, the food is excellent & the presentation beautiful. Most of the action seemed to be due to orders for take-out, which is, of course, exactly what I would order if I lived nearby.

    (3)

  • Rob R.

    Amazing sushi and a far better value than Nobu. As a matter of fact, I believe that the owner of Oishii was a chef at Nobu. What can I say? Each time I'm up in Boston I make sure to stop in. The sushi is always incredibly fresh and the fish is perfectly sliced, each bite like butter. Their slices are just right (not too thick) and a perfect balance with the rice and nori. Ditto the sashimi - perfectly sliced. No matter the type fish (I've tried them all), it's all good, so I recommend everything. They also make an awesome Beef Negimaki which I've ordered as an appetizer many times. Their udon isn't spectacular, but it's good. But, I'll be honest....I'm here for the sushi. The only drawback is the seating. It's very small and sometimes there's a wait, but once seated, everyone is accommodating.

    (5)

  • Sasha P.

    I've been to both the fancier Oishii in the South End and this less ostentatious location in Chestnut Hill several times, and I prefer this spot hands down. Although they both have delicious food, the no-nonsense attitude and coziness of this location wins me over every time. Yes, there is only a limited amount of cramped seating, but nothing beats watching the chefs create their masterpieces right in front of your eyes. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I usually get a couple of appetizers (the Oishii tuna chips and seaweed salad are some of my favorites). I never can make up mind as to what to order for my meal, so I typically let the chef decide for me. I wish I could remember everything I've gotten, but I've found that it's a great way to try things I typically would never think to order. The udon is also delicious on a cold day (I prefer the spicy seafood Udon). I've also gotten takeout from this location, and it's been amazing every time.

    (5)

  • S J.

    Very good- dine-in was very nice, but they seem to do most business through take-out. Will go back to.

    (4)

  • Shea H.

    Great Sushi! The quality of the fish they use is outstanding! The toro was to die for!

    (4)

  • Alan G.

    Excellent sushi. Cramped and very busy. Really high quality fish. Worth seeking out when in Boston

    (5)

  • John W.

    When I go to a Japanese sushi restaurant, I like to try the most exotic and different sashimi/nigiri on the menu. Therefore, for authentic fresh sashimi and nigiri in the Boston area, this is the place to go! It's not Tokyo or New York CIty. I get it! But this is the closest to authentic we can get in the area. Yes, it's a little pricey, but I think it's worth it. This is my second visit at the Chestnut Hill location. I had the lobster tempura (my all time favorite appetizer!) to start with, followed by oyster, surf clam, red crab, scallop, and ama ebi (sweet shrimp) nigiri. Everything was so fresh and sweet. So good! I've also been to the Boston location, the food was excellent there as well, and I had a great experience. However, the menu is a little different, for example, they don't have lobster tempura (a must have at oiishi!). The only downside to the Chestnut Hill location, is capacity. The place only accommodates about 12 to 16 people. Subsequently, the waits are long if you don't time it correctly.

    (5)

  • Daniel B.

    Best sushi restaurant around. Very small but makes for a fun atmosphere where everything is focused on the excellent quality of the Sushi. Highly recommended. Try it and you will be back many times after, guaranteed.

    (5)

  • Alexander K.

    This small quaint well organized place is a diamond !! Just awesome !!

    (5)

  • Anne W.

    God... I still love this place. I am literally broke when I walk out.. but it's so worth it everytime. You have to go with the right people.. but it's as authentic as it gets. Don't go with the Oishii at South End. Mistake everytime!

    (5)

  • Manolo E.

    Best Sushi in Metro West! Really more deserving of a 4 star review but seeing as Daikanyama ranks higher and shouldn't, trying to give a little push here. The rolls are good, but it's all about quality fish and it hits here on the sushi. The sushi pieces are a little smaller but the quality is all there!

    (5)

  • Erica B.

    Fabulously fresh fish. Tiny place--- one table seats 6 then bar seating. We feasted on super white tuna (shame on us), red tuna, yellowtail, octopus, scallop sushi. Four or five simple rolls. All was delicious. Best I've had in Boston a notch above Super Fusion (my neighborhood joint). Haven't been to O Ya yet, though. Very reasonably priced for the quality.

    (5)

  • Ben S.

    Probably the best sushi I've ever had. The only comparison I can make is to Uni Sashimi bar at Clio restaurant in the Eliot Hotel. Prices at Uni were dramatically higher, and I'd say the menu at Uni was more inventive and "modern" (with various foams, reductions, etc.), but the sushi was no better.

    (5)

  • Sara M.

    Wow, ok, now I understand why people rave about this place. I had gotten so used to sub-par sushi that I didn't even realize it was sub-par... until I had Oishii sushi for lunch today. It is a really tiny space, so take that into consideration when you plan your meal (they do take out, FYI). We sat at the bar and ordered the spicy seafood miso to start. I highly recommend this soup! The flavors were subtle but definitely not one-note as some miso can be. It had a great heat to it without being too spicy (I love spicy food, but it annoys me when hot soup is overly spicy) and the shrimp, scallops, and tofu were delicious. I already know I'll be craving this soup on a regular basis. We ordered a selection of maki rolls and they were all fantastic. The spicy tuna, Boston roll (salmon), crazy maki, and sweet potato tempura maki all exemplified what great sushi should be. The rolls presented a combination of textures - crispy tempura, crunchy veggies, lightly fried sweet potato that was still soft in the middle, raw fish so fresh it was almost creamy... this is what I was missing in sub-par sushi. And of course everything was so fresh that the flavors were spot on. The rolls themselves were works of art - even the sweet potato tempura had tempura of various lengths artfully rising from the midst of the roll. The crispy mango roll was beautiful. Full of shrimp, veggies, mango, and topped with tuna - it was colorful, light and airy, and HUGE! The prices were not too horrible either - very comparable with other sushi spots. I definitely am on the Oishii bandwagon now. If you haven't tried it yet, what are you waiting for??

    (5)

  • Jennifer M.

    Oishii was recommended by a co-worker as the best sushi is the area so I had to try it out. As other Yelpers reviews stated the place is very small with only one table and about 10 bar seats. Choosing our rolls by photos posted on Yelp we ordered six super tasty creations. Favorites included the Spicy Scallop Maki and Tokyo Style Soft Shell Crab Maki. The place was hopping but the one server did a fantastic job juggling all the tables including the impolite older women we shared the one table with in the place. Can't wait to visit this place again but we may just order take out...

    (4)

  • Rachel N.

    Oh my god, I don't know how I went this long w/o reviewing Oishii. It's unbelievable, and I've whored myself out to sushi restaurants in almost every part of the world, so this it quite a distinction. I went to school in Boston and made the pilgrimage to Oishii at least once a week--the one in Sudbury is just as wonderful and bigger too, so I recommend that one, but the quality is top notch across the board. At first they were fussy w/ my special veggie roll orders, but once I broke them in, they were always accommodating. Fish is always wonderful. Service is brusque, and you often have to flag down your waitress, but oh man is it worth it. Go early, go often, or go home. Oh, I maxed out at 6 rolls, which will set you back quite a bit of cash, so be prepared to drop some dollar bills, but ah, it's just so good!

    (5)

  • Seisei T.

    Its popularity has killed it. I have been coming here once or twice for the past few years, but this recent visit in early August will be my last. You should be able to eat sushi in one bite. They've supersized their rolls at Oishii, in true American fashion, and the result is that I nearly choked on a couple pieces. The sashimi is cut so thickly that all the traditional subtlety, grace, and flavor have disappeared. I actually lost my appetite when I saw how large the rolls have become (which, by the way, also changes the ratio of rice to fish, which in Japan is quite specific). I suppose they're trying to provide "value" but wow, has quality gone down in return. The fish is ok, not as good as what you can get in Tokyo, but better than what you can get in other parts of Boston. Most of it's covered in mayonnaise, though (another American invention). What a waste.

    (2)

  • Lala I.

    altho im not a huge fan of the way they make their sushi, i gotta admit that their fish is mad fresh. probably one of the freshest fish in boston. very great value, huge pieces, but they are too big for my liking. not so well executed.

    (4)

  • Monique S.

    I had tuna sashimi, salmon rolls, and miso soup. It was good, but nothing to write home about. But compared to other local places it's a little better with the quality of the fish. The venue is small. You're going to be sitting around the sushi bar. There is only one table.

    (3)

  • Alyson G.

    I love Oishii! Definitely the freshest sushi I've had in the area. I met a friend for dinner recently and we started with the yellowtail and sea bass sushi and it was delicious. So fresh and tender I wanted to order more. But we had already ordered an assortment of maki rolls including the spicy yellowtail, spicy tuna, and Boston roll which were all beautifully presented and so tasty. We decided to order Paula's maki too since I love tuna and my friends prefers salmon, and it was another great choice. The thin lemon slices and avocado are a delightful combination with tuna, salmon and wasabi roe. I always love spicy tuna rolls but their spicy yellowtail is now one of my faves too. The service is excellent and and I have to say their takeout is fabulous. They even remember how I like to order maki cut into 8 pieces when I call and give them my order. Love, love, love this place.

    (5)

  • Jeff D.

    I'd heard and read plenty of good things about Oishii and they were largely justified when I finally visited here last night. The small size reminded me of the small sushi joints I frequented when I lived in Tokyo and the quality was right up there. The o-toro was fatty and melt-on-your-tongue delicious and the kumatomo oysters we got were fresh and well complemented by a dash of hot chilies. The sea bass nigiri and handrolls were excellent as well. The only mild disappointment was the grilled hamachi neck. It was tasty and we devoured it, but I've had better elsewhere. Good job all around, next time I think I will go with the takeout menu to avoid the wait.

    (4)

  • Milee S.

    So I finally got to try Oishii after MONTHS of wanting to go here (not really easy to get to without a car, in my opinion). Note: always go before the rush. In this case, before 630 pm. We snagged two seats at the bar and literally 5 minutes after we got there, the place filled up. I don't know if they take reservations, but we saw lots of take out orders (due to the size, it makes a lot of sense). Menu is pretty big. We stuck to sushi: philadelphia roll, oshinko roll, california roll, vegetable roll (sweet potato) and soft shell crab. All were really good. I particularly liked the sweet potato and oshinko. I never had the soft shell crab and was surprised by the warmth (as I had no idea that it was cooked) of it. It was a monster roll and too big for me to eat in one bite! Service was fantastic and we were served really quickly (well there were 4 sushi chefs working). We paid $23 each after tax and tip (and sodas). The only problem I had was after dining there, I didn't feel so well. Not sure if it was the sushi or not, but my stomach did not agree with the food.

    (4)

  • Tantri B.

    YUM!!!! This restaurant is definitely one of the best sushi places around Chestnut Hill area. My fav dish is the Oishii Spicy Scallop Maki - its raw sea scallop rolled in a bed or rice and topped with black tobiko). My friend ordered some sashimi of the white fish (sea bream), mackerel, scallops (which are amazing!! - they're huge!!), and squids). All the sushi were all served beautifully and i love the stone plate that they used to serve the spicy scallop maki!! Even for Wednesday night, this restaurant is pretty packed but we luckily managed to get a table at the bar and we can see how the sushi were made by the chefs! One of the dishes that i will hopefully try next is the chirashi. Its sashimi on top of a bed of rice!! Will order that when I come back next time! This place is small and can easily get crowded but its worth it to try.

    (5)

  • livingston c.

    went this past friday for a late lunch. even though it was 1:30 already, there was still a wait, given that there's only 1 table for four, and the rest are bar seats. the hostess was very nice, and the wait was only about 5 minutes. not bad at all. i think getting a seat is really a hit or miss thing. you either get there early or be prepared for a long wait. probably why they do a lot of take out. we ordered the chirashi, the oishii spicy scallop roll, hamachi torched maki, and "the maki" covered with toro. quite a lot of food for the two of us, but we enjoyed every bite. our favorite was probably the spicy scallop roll. it came in four large pieces. i took my first piece in one bite, and awkwardly chewed for a minute or so since it was so big. the scallop sashimi in the middle was sweet and delicious. we had two ladies that sat next to us that kept on asking us what we got. i think they both just got bento boxes, so they were really intrigued with all the rolls we got. they even took notes so they could try the same rolls next time. cool atmosphere! our lunch ended up to be almost $100 with tax and tip, but it was worth it. not an every week trip, or even monthly, but a great little joint for excellent sushi. prices are comparable to other high-end sushi places.

    (5)

  • Alan K.

    Plug the [listed] address into your GPS and when it says "you have arrived at your destination," don't blink, otherwise you'll miss this place. Yes, from the outside, this might look like a "hole-in-the-wall" place but trust me, once you taste the food, it is anything but like it. But seriously, I think this is really one of the best places for sushi in the Boston-area, at least in my most humble opinion. This isn't my very first time eating here, for I've been here for a few times prior already but however, this time it was... oh how should I say it, nom nom nom! The uni (sea urchin) was good. It wasn't warm and looked all "melty" like last time... it [didn't taste too pleasant] last time... mmm it tasted like heaven in my mouth this time, if I could taste heaven that is. Mmm mmm mmm I also love raw shrimp (ama-ebi) ... when it's good, it's like my mouth is having a [very inappropriate word that I won't list here]... ok TMI hahaha. The tuna was good too -- maguro (the red tuna that most people are familiar with) or toro (fatty) -- can't go wrong with either one; I'm a big fan of tuna anyways. Ohhhh just typing this out is making me salivate in my mouth now. Hmm what else did we order? Oh yeah: - For appetizers, the Hotate Hokkaiyaki (baked scallop or squid in shell with mayo): no comment on this since I didn't try it - Hamachi (yellowtail): nothing too much to rave about, nor were there any complaints from me - Saba (mackerel): not too good, tasted like it was cooked even though it really wasn't... - Kaibashira (scallop): ohhh my goodness, probably one of the only few times I've ever had this and it was sooo gooood! Yummm! - Ikura (salmon roe): if you like the taste of smooth salty [spherical objects] in your mouth, well then, this is for you And of course, we have to order the ubiquitous makis. I think we ordered two of them: one of them was the White Tiger Maki (Tuna, tobiko, and cucumber roll, in white seaweed with sauce) and another one, the Hamachi Torch Maki (Roe, cucumber inside and hamachi-torched outside, with sweet miso sauce and black tobiko on top), but ehh... don't get me wrong, they are still good hands-down and I would chomp them all up if they were right in front of my face but I'm not really that big of a fan for makis anymore; I would much much rather just eat the raw fish (sashimi) separately... mmm om nom nom! And to wash all that down with, I would recommend you getting some hot green tea or a 32 oz can of Sapporo for EACH person, yes I said EACH and that's exactly what we did too... hahaha yah!!! Or, if you are real hardcore, then just go for a bottle of Sake... heck, why not?! Recommendation for Sake novices: "Crazy Milk." Overall, it was a good experience. I think of all the times I've been here, there was only one time that I came out of here a little bit discontented. But that was an anomaly. Most of the time the food here is good, no, very good. I understand that even a place like this can have a bad day once in a while so I'm disregarding my one bad day here. If this place can keep up the quality like what I had last time around, then I'm sure to be keep coming back here, no matter how much the food costs.

    (5)

  • lily l.

    Awesome sushi, awesome service. Although the restaurant was incredibly small but oh was everything good. Must try would be the "chips" fried nori with little bits of raw salmon and topped with truffle and gold. Or other fave was a roll that was topped with some type of hot mayo scallop....at that point I was so full I could not even remember the name. I will be back for that dish I saw them bringing out when we left. Some meat served on a very hot rock so it sizzled and the smell was absolutely drool worthy. My only request....EXPAND PLEASE!

    (5)

  • Sara M.

    I came here last night on a whim for good sushi with my husband. The place is tiiiiiny. I mean, it's smaller than what I expected and I thought it was going to be small. There is literally ONE table and a sushi bar. Makes for quite intimate encounters but there we were, a bit awkward. I had fluke, sake, saba, and scallop nigiri along with a spider maki. The fluke had a bit of grit to it and that was quite unpleasant - almost like biting into grains of sand. The mackerel was a bit warmer than I would have liked. The sake was delicious as always but the real winner was the scallop! It was the consistency of a creamy cheese and it silkily slid down my throat. The spider maki was good but there wasn't too much flavor. The portions were small compared to Fugakyu with comparable prices. I didn't enjoy my meal here as much as I expected to - I prefer the entire dining experience at Fugakyu and was disappointed that I passed on it to come here.

    (3)

  • Cindy W.

    Had a amazing time with my boyfriend last night. Everything we ordered was soooooooo pretty and very good. My favorites was the Uni shooters with quail eggs and the Oishii Spicy Scallop Maki! This place is small so couples or singles. Any group more than 3 is not a good idea. Just writing about this makes me want it again tonight. ;)

    (4)

  • katie j.

    The moment I tried my first bite of Tsujiki fish market sushi in Tokyo, I knew that meal would be a huge blessing and curse. Blessing in that it was the best sushi I had and probably would ever eat in my entire life, curse in that everything else would pale in comparison from that moment on. So you can understand that when I, a New Yorker unashamed to rank NYC alongside Japan in terms of quality sushi, approached Oishii in Chestnut HIll, MA... I had my hesitations. They did not disappoint. Our meal was fabulous. The "maki roll" was particularly amazing, but not cheap ($25+ if I remember correctly). I usually like my toro in sashimi form, simple and pure. This toro-covered roll was delicious though and had a nice kick from the spicy mayo and ginger-jalapeno sauce. We also tried the Elias roll and the sushi sampler which was full of generous slices of fresh fish. The restaurant is small and crowded, but still very pleasant. There's only 1 larger, round table in the front. Our party of 4 sat at the sushi bar which is perfect if you're like us and enjoy watching the chefs. I'd definitely come back, mainly for "the maki". Worth the splurge.

    (5)

  • H T.

    Sushi! Sushi! So yummy! So yummy! In 'ma tummy! Everything was SOOOOO yummy and very beautifully presented. I don't think it was that expensive because we ate A LOT of sushi too. As a vegetarian, the makis are less expensive than Gari. However, their options for veggies are somewhat less too. But no worries, because after 3 makis and a big bowl of Udon Noodle with veggie tempura, I was STUFFED! They also have special fish of the day too. Definitely check it out. And put your name on the list a few minutes before you're there. They'll hold it for 30 minutes.

    (5)

  • David V.

    In my experience, the smaller a sushi restaurant is, the better. Many of my favorites are not large enough to swing a dead cat in - Miyake, Fish Market, O Ya. As previous Yelpers have pointed out, the fish here is easily 5-star quality. The first thing that came out was a special maki that featured salmon, avocado and wasabi-infused tobiko inside, and was covered with salmon and tuna and topped with paper thin slices of lemon. I tried a piece with the lemon on it, and it tasted like, well, eating a lemon. With subsequent bites I removed the lemon, allowing me to enjoy its flavor without chewing on peel for an extra minute. Next up was a sushi/sashimi plate. I usually don't order eel nigiri because so many places do a mediocre version, but this was some very good eel. The salmon sashimi melted in my mouth, and the tuna was dark and rich. There was a piece of white fish that was garnished with some sort of sweet eel-esque sauce, but I wasn't able to figure out what it was. At Miyake and Cafe Sushi, both specialists in exotic nigiri, the servers are very descriptive about each little piece of fish they serve. One of my favorite warm sushi bar appetizers is commonly called Kiayke, but I've seen it called other things - it's that yummy, spicy pile of seafood, tobiko, spicy mayo and sometimes cheese baked into a large scallop shell. Oishii's version was hearty and flavorful, but I've had better. While scarfing down that first roll, I observed one of the sushi chefs preparing a creation that featured torched yellowtail maki topped with a dab of spicy sauce, scallions and black tobiko and decided that I was ordering that. Which I did, and enjoyed thoroughly, but was shocked to find out later that said roll was $21. For that price I expect toro and kobe beef... With a craving for foie gras, the final thing ordered was some foie gras sushi, which again was more expensive than I'd like to pay, but everything to that point had been very good. What I had ordered was the simpler, cheaper of two foie dishes - what came out was a concoction featuring chopped foie, some tiny pieces of strawberry topped with what appeared to be a thin, crunchy noodle. It was delightful, but ultimately more expensive and less satisfying than what I had ordered. I can't really say I have any complaints about this place, but upon observing the bill I couldn't help but think I could've enjoyed something similar at one of my favorite spots for a lot less. The servers were attentive and friendly, the atmosphere was cozy and inviting.

    (4)

  • Katie F.

    Ok, I'm always reviewing sushi places because I'm pretty sure I've eaten at nearly every reputable (and not so reputable) sushi joint in the greater Boston area. Oishii, though extremely yummy, fresh, and creative, is in a word overrated. 1) The portions don't look any different to me than other good sushi places. 2) Just because it was started by a chef who worked at Nobu doesn't mean it suddenly becomes God's gift to sushi lovers everywhere. 3) The wait, though endearing for some, is not exactly for the faint of heart. I mean, I don't want to wait 45 minutes in a small corner nose to nose with the stranger I'm about to sit next to throughout my entire meal. Plus, the "list" is the biggest trainwreck disaster. There's really no rhyme or reason to it. You put your name down and still, people 3 names below you can get seated before you. Huh? 4) It's small. There's no denying that. So no, I don't think it's quaint, cozy, divine, or an honor to sit at the sushi bar. However, the food was good, so I'm not going to punish them by giving them a lesser review than they deserve. Nonetheless, this is not the cat's meow. I would only come here on a week night knowing about 5 of the 10 seats were taken.

    (4)

  • Debra L.

    The food was excellent but the experience was frustrating! Whenever there are issues when we dine out, I am usually the bitchy one who gets irritated easily by bad service etc. and my guy is the nice one (or at least the one with more patience). But this time HE wanted to walk out before we were seated and I had to coax him into staying (simply because I was being selfish and really wanted sushi). Anyway, here's what happened: 1. We were the only ones in line and were told the wait was about 5 minutes. 2. A party of 4 came in shortly after us. 3. Not long after, 2 bar seats opened up and we thought, cool, we'll get seated now. 4. But NO. There just happened to be 2 people seated at the only 4-top in the place. So, when they saw the 2 bar seats open up and saw all of us waiting, they offered to move to the bar seats to free up their table for the party of 4. Nice of them. 5. Well, we watched as they moved to the 2 open bar seats and the party of 4, that came in after us, sat at the 4-top. Now, from a space saving standpoint this makes sense. We know this. But, we were there first and 2 seats opened up first. They should have been our seats. That's the way things work. Or, we should have at least been asked if we minded. Somebody should have at least acknowledged this whole seat switcheroo thing with us. We are reasonable folks. We would have said we didn't mind at all, and waited for the next 2 bar seats to open up (which we ended up doing anyway). So, the annoying part - the "minus 2-stars" part is the utter lack of courtesy we were shown. Yeah, the sushi was delicious. Yeah, it's fun to watch the sushi chefs make the food. Yeah, if I lived near here I would get take-out from here, a lot. But I will never dine-in here again. Now, I realize to anyone reading this review, I may sound ridiculous but when it comes to my expectations, I make no apologies.

    (3)

  • annie o.

    Super Oishii!! The name says it all! Great quality sushi rolls! I have tried the eel rolls, tuna rolls, and yellow tail rolls. All fresh, and melts in your mouth quality!!! As for the service, I don't usually ask for too much, as long as the staff appears when I need him and that's good enough!!

    (5)

  • nomo c.

    Best sushi in Boston hands down. It's tiny but the food is worth waiting for. I don't know why people complain about the prices because it seems like typical pricing for great sushi. If you haven't been yet, what are you waiting for???

    (5)

  • Tommy N.

    Quality of the fish was great, the service was good, and the tea was piping hot. There wasn't anything that wowed me in particular (I had the sushi for two, ikura a la carte, and the hamachi tata, all of which were very tasty) but I left having a positive impression of my experience. A few downsides: a bit expensive. Sure the fish was delicious, but in terms of quality/preparation I'm not sure if the price is justified. But still, it's not through the roof expensive like some other places, so it's still doable, maybe just once in a while. As everyone has yelped, the place is quite small.

    (4)

  • Curtis C.

    I can't believe I haven't written a review for Oishii before.. This is probably my favorite sushi bar in or around beantown. It does come with a couple of warnings though: 1.) They really only seat about 13 people, so if you're not there before they open.. good luck. 2.) It's a very depressing experience if you happen to get one of the less experienced chefs. Honestly, I think that the larger your group, the less care they put into your sushi. Some of the rolls sound a bit pretentious (ie "The Maki" with the description: "Trust us, it's Oishii") but the fish is very fresh and everything is quite good. I've been here about half a dozen times in the past and had a phenomenal experience a couple of these times. I think it's akin to going to a celebrity chef's restaurant... sure everyone follows the recipe, but not everyone does it exactly right. I guess that's what makes the head chef who he(she) is.. I should mention that when I haven't had a phenomenal experience.. the sushi was still quite good. It just didn't have the extra bit to set it apart from other good sushi places. Favorite dishes... it's been awhile, so lets see if i can get the menu right. Obviously the nigri is very good. I'm not huge on sashimi, but it definitely follows suit. My friends like to eat the hand rolls and the various maki dishes they have (I think one is a Brass Dragon, and obviously "The Maki") Probably my favorite non-standard dish they serve here is Hamachi Tartare, which consists of ground up baby hamachi with hamachi roe on top.. and some fruits. It's been awhile so maybe I'll have to update after the next time I go back..

    (5)

  • Kathy L.

    Did the omakase with the hubby... LOVED EVERY BITE!!! we were so full that we had to make ourselves finish everything!!! Will come back again!!!

    (5)

  • David L.

    Many have declared Oishii to be the best sushi they have ever tried. Remember trying it for the first time when I was still a young college student at Harvard when a friend brought it back for a late night snack. The fish melted in my mouth. Amazing. Now, all grown up and having to wait many hours for sushi at both locations, I can tell you that the only place in Boston that does sushi better than the Oishii South End is the original Oishii in Chestnut Hill. If you don't mind waiting two hours for the 12 seats at the original (sushi bar and one and a half tables), you'll be rewarded with possibly the best sushi on the East Coast. The South End place comes close.

    (5)

  • Kendall H.

    considering we're in Massachusetts here, Oishii is pretty solid. Some say its pricey, but it can be reasonable if the right things are ordered off the menu. Definately the best japanese anything i've had yet, pretty authentic workers, great service, friendly environment and not as uptight/trendy/contemporary as the oishii in Boston. I do appreciate the tight supply of parking around the area because it makes it more difficult for huge crowds to form long lines outside this small restaurant. BEWARE: a bit different from Oishii's Boston location, i prefer this one...

    (5)

  • Ryan O.

    I was very disappointed by my experience here. I was expecting "the best" in Boston. Sadly, I think I got it. Full disclosure, I am coming from LA and have high sushi standards. The chefs did not acknowledge our existence. Having the chef pass my food over my shoulder to the waitress behind me, so she can reach over my shoulder again to place it in front of me is a subtle act of caste absurdity. If your chefs are no more than line cooks, then why the pretense of a bar? I have had more interaction with the guy flipping my eggs at a diner. Hint: if your chef doesn't look like the owner or that he's been working there for 30 years, then it's likely not "the best" you can get. The Chef's Choice Special was uninspired. If I wanted a bland cookie-cutter platter of something even less than the-usual-sushi-suspects, I'd have gone to the mall. The ebi "tasted like sweat"; we didn't get a single item with ponzu sauce, despite ordering 42 pieces of "chef's choice" sushi and sashimi between us; the unagi was flavorless; the tuna fatless; the crab pitifully meager (aren't we in NE?); the salmon, squid, and snapper that made up the rest of our meal was an unsettling lukewarm temperature; the spicy tuna hand roll was fine, though chewy. A *small* bottle of house hot sake is $12. This just seems ridiculous to me. $6-$9 for the cheap stuff in that size is standard. $12 is excessive considering the other prices. It seemed like most people around us were ordering rolls and drinking diet coke. If that's your thing, then cool. I know rolls are a popular gateway to the hard stuff, but aficionados be warned. This place ain't shit. You'll be disappointed at $150 for dinner for two. It was not worth it by far for the quality. I'm feeding the leftovers to my cat right now.

    (1)

  • Tracy C.

    A dear friend and a faithful believer in sushi once said "Every human being should do themselves a favor and eat at this restaurant." (Michelle L.) in honor of those who have recently left Boston, many of those fellow obsessors of Oishii, I am dedicating this review to all the Oishii Sushi Bar lover that can no longer enjoy the privilege of feasting at this adorable little joint. Since I am not Japanese, I do not believe I have the right to judge what is real authentically GOOD sushi, I left the job to my Japanese friends. And they all say, Oishii truly represents what a sushi bar is like at home. I personally love the Agi Dashi Tofu and Yaki Ika as appetizers, and I want to try their Hotate or Ika Hokkaiyaki. I love pretty much all the nigiri and rolls at this place, although I prefer Oishii creation much better than the customer creations. I don't like too much cooked stuff in my sushi. Everything is just delicious, go with your guts and get what looks yummy to you! Something I highly recommend is the handrolls that come in cucumber wraps... amazing! Cool thing about this place is that if someone doesn't like raw fish/sushi (how can u not?) you can always find hot dishes here too, and they are equally authentic and delicious! I love their udon, soup or yaki, but good. There's a lot of things you can find here that you'd see in Japan but not elsewhere in Boston. it's definitely worth the drive and the wait.

    (5)

  • Jef S.

    People lose their goddamn minds over Oishii, and I just don't get it. Yes, the sushi and sashimi are excellent here. Best ever? I don't think so. New Ginza's is just as good. I'm somewhat prejudiced against maki...too Americanized and not in the true spirit of Japanese sushi. If you're looking for that great maki, they have it here, but again, you could get this at any high quality sushi place in Boston. Oishii is one of the most crowded restaurants I've ever been to relative to the space they have inside. The place is miniscule. Excellent food, yes, but why would I come here when I can get to what amounts to basically the same quality of sushi and more comfort at New Ginza?

    (4)

  • Sueyeon K.

    extremely tiny but the BEST sushi restaurant(makis are delicious) out of approximately 100 sushi restaurants I have been to in Greater Boston area. I haven't been there in 3 years but no sushi restaurant I have been to in the past 3 years was as good as Oishii sushi. LOVE THIS PLACE ! one of the guys who worked there was pretty hot too!

    (5)

  • David J.

    This place is ver small. That is the only negative, well and the fact that it is a little ways outside of the city. Everything else about the place is perfect, especially the sushi. The prices are higher than usual, but you get what you pay for. In terms of sheer quality this is probably the best sushi I have had in Boston. Definetely not a place I could afford to go to every night, but I wish I could.

    (5)

  • Anchalee M.

    Best sushi in Boston. Everything is so fresh! Difficult to get a table, but well worth the wait. Very entertaining watching the chefs roll the sushi.

    (5)

  • Greg Y.

    Holy sh*t. Okay sure, I realize profanities make me seem rather crass. But in all honesty, there are no other words I can use to describe the dining experience at Oishii. They put out the best sushi I've had in a very long time, by FAR. My friend and I ate: -Chef Special Combo -Spicy Scallop Roll -Fatty Tuna & Scallions -Tuna handrolls x2 Everything was fantastic. The sashimi from the Chef Combos.. like butter. All the sushi I've had prior to Oishii did not even come close to the level of texture. Scallop roll was off Yelp recommendation; each piece is MASSIVE - almost too big, but it's made in such a way that if you only take a bite, you're missing out on the experience. So good though.. Yes, everything's expensive, but the point of sushi is not pig out. When you take the time to enjoy the flavors, textures, and presentations that the chefs give you, you realize you definitely get what you pay for. The only negatives? 1) Small space. I don't see this as a negative, since, for sushi bars at least, size is inversely proportional with quality. 2) Chef-to-customer interaction. In many places I've been, when you sit at the bar, the chef has more face-time with the customers. On the other hand, it was really fun watching the four chefs go at it. 3) Service is a bit slow; there's only one lady covering the bar + the table in the corner. Between filling out take-out orders (they do a LOT of take-out) as well as in-restaurant requests, the chefs have a lot on their hands. Not enough to take away from the food, though.

    (5)

  • Snuffles B.

    I am a complete and total sucker for any place that is tiny, quaint, homey, and adorable. Oishii is all those things plus it has very respectable sushi. After living in LA and my last trip to Tokyo, my sushi standards are sky high, which is a bad thing, because its hard to find reasonably priced sushi that is also good quality.The place is microscopically tiny, so I hear it can get really busy with lines going out the door, but both times I've gone for late lunches and we were able to sit at the bar immediately and had swift and attentive but unobstrusive service. Good initial signs included: actual Japanese sushi chefs (I know that sounds stupid, but its not as common as you'd think), a 1:1 staff to customer ratio, nearly bar-only seating, and completely adorable white squishy seats. In addition to their fresh fish, I really enjoyed their shitaki roll and monkfish liver. The seaweed salad was nothing extraordinary but did the job. I think that everything we ate was pleasing. While I haven't been back long enough to compare it to many places in Boston yet, I was really pleased to have so quickly found a solid source of clean, simple sushi served in a pleasant environment - and not have to lose an arm and a leg and some other limbs to get it.

    (4)

  • matt c.

    Excellent sushi. What separates oishii from other sushi spots is their specialty rolls. it can be expensive if youre the type to order multiple rolls and an appetizer to yourself, but you cold also eat their simpler rolls and not take the hit to the wallet. the spot is cozy, so go in groups of 4 or less.

    (5)

  • Sarah M.

    Went here on a Friday night, and despite its size we were seated right away. Ordered some warm Saki and large Sapporo to drink and started with the seaweed salad and beef nagima appatizer. both were delicious! For our sushi we went with the spicy scallop, scorpion maki, and spider maki. the flavors were nice, but the sushi seemed to be wrapped a little sloppily. Overall i thought this place was good but a bit overpriced. I am interested to try Fish Market which is the same people and a lot closer to my house.

    (3)

  • EricaLynn J.

    What an absolute honor it is for me when I have the opportunity to eat here. A rarity, but that makes it even better. It's not your typical sushi restaurant; it has about three small tables total and then about 10 seats at the sushi bar. And holy crap, the food... it's so good that you may feel that there's no possible way you deserve to be eating it.

    (5)

  • Eileen S.

    Ate here with a relative who is a Bostonian. She highly recommended this place and this place did not disappoint. As the name suggests, the food here is truly OISHII (delicious!) One of my faves: cucumber hand rolls. Refreshing. How do they slice the cucumbers oh so thinly that they can be used as delicate wraps? True skills, other places try but the cucumbers are not sliced this thin. Tiny place, counter seats and a small table.

    (4)

  • neph n.

    Sushi is my favorite food. I used to live in Boston and this place is "it." I now live in Virginia and the sushi there is... weak. So when I return to Boston to visit friends, going to Oishii is at the top of my To Do List. When I visited Boston in 2012, this Oishii location was closed for their annual trip to Japan--horrible timing for me! And because eating at Oishii is a once in a year or two occasion for me now, we decided to try the incomparable, overly expensive, and not nearly as delicious South Boston location--which I would never - ever bother visiting again. The Chestnut Hill location is the only place I'd bother going to now, knowing the huge difference between Chestnut Hill and the South Boston location. Anyway, the salmon nigiri is delicious, avocado salad is delicious, I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the Jeffrey roll, I've loved everything I've had there. I like sitting at the counter and going with friends who know to talk until the food arrives and then mostly eat in silence so you can enjoy the texture and delicious flavors with each overly stuffed mouthful of deliciousness. I love the atmosphere (if you want a 'Disney version of the traditional Japanese experience then go to FugaKyu in Brookline, if you want a restaurant with a nice, classy-ish atmosphere balanced with very good sushi, got to Genki Ya in Brookline, but if you want superior, delicious, mouthwatering sushi, go to Oishii), I love the challenge of getting a seat, I do wish the sushi chefs talked to you a little more and occasionally gave you a little free sample of something which usually results in me ordering more at other places. I also wish the servers were better at refilling drinks, I usually bring my own waterbottle so I'm never without a drink. This place is a little tiny bit more expensive than the average sushi (which is already a bit expensive) but without a doubt, this place is worth it. Whenever I hear of anyone visiting Boston, I make a big deal to say that this restaurant is a must. Enjoy. Management ...please establish a location in Virginia?

    (5)

  • Justin Gwailo H.

    Oishii is a tiny place which makes you feel like you are in a Tokyo restaurant! Their traditional sushi/sashimi dishes are my favorite. I love the fact that they are generous with their portion. I've been there for the past 8 years and never been disappointed.

    (5)

  • Simone H.

    Great Sushi, very friendly staff. Love this restaurant:)

    (5)

  • Naini G.

    Best sushi ever! I started loving sushi after I decided went to this place. The mango based dish is incredible, do try it!

    (5)

  • Carmen C.

    I love Oishii! this is by far my favorite place for fresh sushi. They do not have the typical sushi rolls that you can find at every sushi restaurant. They are a little pricier but well worth it. The sashimi is always fresh and their quality has consistently been great. Definitely give it a try if you are an adventurous sushi eater.

    (5)

  • Cecilia L.

    We came here on my birthday prepared to wait and pay a lot, and were pleasantly surprised on both counts. Got there 8:30 on a Saturday and were seated in 15 minutes. Hamachi tata: A small cylinder of fatty hamachi belly in ponzu sauce topped with caviar. The presentation was lovely, the hamachi in a small bowl set in a larger bowl of ice and garnished with some delicious berry. It's a little thing for $17 but so decadent you won't crave more. An unusual and luscious treat. Chef's special platter: 22 pieces of sushi and sashimi for $42. Everything was beautiful and delicious, particularly the scallop, broiled eel and the fish wrapped in shiso leaf. Oishii spicy scallop roll: Fantastic but probably the least special part of our meal. Spicy tuna hand roll: We ended the night with one each. It went almost from the chef's hands to ours, so the nori was still wonderfully crackly, the fish deliciously seasoned. We drank only tea because they require Massachusetts ID or passport. We figured we'd try to order anyway as we're in our late 20s, until we saw a 40-ish Russian couple get denied wine. Our check was $91 before tip, more than a good value for some of the best sushi in Boston. My one complaint is the lack of interaction with the chefs. The place is set up for intimacy with only bar seating and one table, but everything goes through the waitresses and the chefs seem unapproachable. Oishii. I want some meowww.

    (5)

  • Alicia N.

    All sushi in Boston is sub-par until I found this place - super fresh, super legit sushi - hamachi melted in my mouth! The tuna is the right color - finally! The best seats in the house are at the bar...very small space, cozy, friendly chefs!

    (4)

  • Susan D.

    It is no longer BYOB. The dining room is enough for about 12 people. There was a traffic jam because I couldn't get into my aisle chair quick enough, and someone picking up her takeout was leaving. It is that packed. The server advised me to call 30 minutes ahead to put my name on the waitlist. Luckily, it was a Thursday night with plenty of I-95 traffic, I was late, but there was still plenty of seating at 7pm. I went with some of the Elite Yelp suggestions: evans roll (torched salmon - interesting), toro gukan (torched mashed tuna- Okay), and some shrimp tempura roll (very good)... and later the chef's sushi deluxe (30-piece set - decent platter - salmon sashimi was the best). Perhaps, I am not a torching-your-sushi-so-it-becomes-warm kind of girl. The actual sashimi pieces are the best bet because you can feel and taste the freshness, fattiness, unctuous fish more than in the rolls. The experience itself was rather unusual because you are seated below your own master sushi chef without ever exchanging a word for about two hours. This may be typical of what you would find in Japan if you are interested in reliving that. I felt a little uncomfortable because there is a bunch of people right on top of me hearing every quiet word I say. I whispered to my hubby to get the menu if he really wanted more, and all of the sudden, the waitress brought over the 3 page double sided menu for us to gaze at confusedly again. Overall, it is worth trying if you enjoy fresh fish, but I agree with many of the yelps to order takeout and eat it in the comforts of your own home.

    (3)

  • Bryan L.

    Every single time I go to a supermarket, I walk by the prepackaged sushi display and every now and then I will buy something. I get home, and with a huge grin on my face, I start eating. However, without a doubt, that grin immediately turns into a disgusted look, and I vow never to buy prepackaged sushi again. Why? Because places like Oishii exist. So, when I saw the email on Thursday about the good chance people were going to Oishii on Friday night, I thought to myself, the last time I went there, I was a poor college student who could only get the cheapest California roll and I could only get two of them. Now I could sample the whole menu! Also, I had forgotten about the quality, so as a new Yelper, I felt it was my civic duty to try it again and report my findings. We ordered a pretty decent amount of food so here are just some of the highlights. The spicy tuna roll melted in my mouth, the sake (or salmon for you non-Japanese speaking folk) sashimi pieces were fresh and ginormous, and their special rolls, such as the B-52 and Jeffrey's customer special, were delectable. They had other choices on the menu besides sushi, but seriously now, were you even thinking about getting them? "Yada, yada, the place is too small, blah blah blah". Well, for being in such a small space, they seem to get people in and out quickly (even letting people, in essence, pre-order their food before they sit down). Their take-out was extremely popular - while I was sitting down it seemed as though 20 people were walking in and out during my 2 hours there. If you're claustrophobic, I would probably recommend calling it in, and going to pick it up. As for price, I felt that for the quality you get, the price is actually cheaper than most places, which is a great thing. I've certainly dropped more at other places that weren't as good. I've been to a lot of different sushi places in Boston, around Boston and out of Boston, but so far this, in my opinion, is the best. The only place(s) that I've been to that could (keyword here) give it a run for its money is on the West Coast, but that doesn't really help many people here. Would you expect any less? This restaurant prominently displays their Phantom Gourmet, Zagat Ratings/Awards, and articles on a WHOLE wall. If professional reviewers are going to give this place accolades annually, a Yelper who references "J*zz in my Pants" or alludes to diarrhea in his first few reviews is certainly going to give it 5 stars. Go there. Now.

    (5)

  • Denise F.

    I went to Oishii for the first time with my friends! This place is amazing. I ordered the miso soup which was really delicious and hit the spot on a cold day. My friends ordered a variety of handrolls. The hand rolls are beautiful and delicious. The sushi is fresh and the blend of ingredients in the rolls make my tastebuds happy! I really enjoyed my tempura roll that I ordered a second order! I really enjoyed sitting at the sushi bar so I can see the sushi masters prepare and cook all the different types of sushi. I can't wait to go back!

    (4)

  • Len G.

    Good quality Sushi. Place has become popular over the years so most nights expect a wait for a table. The only negative aspect is that it's small, so take out is the best option. Even if you do get a table it's uncomfortable because everyone is squeezed in.. but because the sushi is good I give it 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Stephanie G.

    I ordered take out from Oishii tonight, expecting it to be the best food I've ever eaten, based on all of these reviews. Granted, I didn't want to totally splurge since I was just eating alone while studying, and so I only got a couple of maki. Maybe their other stuff is what is really to die for. Still, I gotta say, it was just OK. I can't really say that anything was *bad* exactly, but it just wasn't amazing. It was fresh, sure, but I don't think it was that much fresher than other places. I could have probably had the same thing, same quality and everything, from Fins for a few dollars cheaper. And the place is so small that even getting take out is an issue - there literally wasn't enough room for both me and the man in front of me to get our food. I ended up basically standing on top of someone who was trying to eat. Try it... just don't expect to be completely blown away.

    (3)

  • Jason W.

    Good sushi, nothing orgasmic though, ....way overpriced especially for the chestnut hill shack size location. I've had better sushi and qty for 2/3 the price. Generic typical sake bottle (i think the brand was Ozeki Nigori) that we had was marked up about 300%....good profit margin for them.

    (3)

  • Lisa L.

    I live down the street from this small sushi bar and every time I pick up my take out order or sit down in the cramped, yet cozy space they call a "dining" room it's always packed. It's unfortunate they don't open until 1pm on weekends b/c by the time I wait for this place to open I am starving already! Okay...let's get to the food.... This place is on the pricey side, but you get what you pay for. The tuna sashimi order (3 pieces) is about $12 which is quite expensive compared to its competitors in the Boston metro area, but it's definitely the freshest slice of fish I've had in my entire life. They don't skimp out on the portions either. It's a thick cut of the freshest tuna you'll get in the area. The salmon sashimi is right up there with the tuna sashimi. As for maki, I ordered the oiishi spicy scallop maki and it was amazing. It's topped with black tobiko and small alfalfa sprouts adding a nice little crunch after biting into the succulent raw scallop. And as for the scallop, it was extremely fresh and didn't have an ounce of that "fishy" that often comes with a bad scallop. (WARNING: the scallop does have a slimy consistency so if you're not into that I would suggest you not order this). I didn't notice this until the second bite, but there is a thin slice of cucumber wrapped delicately in the middle of this little slice of heaven which adds even more crunch and freshness to the entire maki. No complaints.... Well, I do have one which is accessing their online menu. It could be my computer, but their official website seems outdated and it was confusing as to how to download their menu. Thus, I've been kind enough to attach this link for those hungry sushi-goers, even if it means waiting until 1pm on a Saturday afternoon..... boston.menupages.com/res… And if you like speedy take out service, Oiishi is definitely a winner. I also love how they add a fresh orchid to all of their take out orders. Flowers make every girl smile =)

    (5)

  • Shang S.

    Wow, wow, wow, wow, and WOW. I've been to so many sushi places in Boston that I've lost count. There have been the good (Douzo, Ginga, Fugakyu to some extent), and there were many bad ones. You have no idea how many YEARS I've waited to go to Oishii (just because it was a bit far for me) - and not the big one in South End. Oh no, if I'm going to be going to the most storied sushi place in town, I WILL MAKE THAT TREK TO THE MECCA OF CHESTNUT HILL. Ahem. So finally my 2-year anniversary came around and we made it there, ready to splurge, and Oishii did NOT disappoint. What really makes Oishii stand out are its chef's specials, and also look out for new items they introduce, which they set on a placard on the table. Yes, the place is tiny, yes, the waitresses get takeout orders being called in every 5 minutes (a good sign). This place is just soooo worth the premium prices. We arrived on Wednesday at 6PM - just as the seating was mostly still empty. What luck! They don't take reservations but you can call ahead to see what the wait is. Also, get waitresses' recommendation if you prefer a particular fish. We got hamachi tata and diamond shrimp for appetizer. I love how they used a mint leaf in the diamond shrimp, and the hamachi tata melted on our mouths but the caviar was a bit undetectable. Then we got this chef's special that the waitress recommended, called kinzan sake, it had salmon resting on seaweed tempura with truffle, gold leaf, roe, with truffle oil, it was sooooo amazing, the best kind of creative sushi I've had in a long time. We finished with 2 maki rolls - the Alligator and the Dragon Eye. Was not impressed with Dragon Eye (I'm not really used to having cucumber rolls), but enjoyed both. This is definitely a place for something special!

    (5)

  • Daniel P.

    My friend described Oishii to me like this: "It's really small---the sushi is really good---get there at 11:30 on Sunday so we can get a table" I showed up and was not at all disappointed - as far as I know this is as good as it gets in Boston and considering that Boston is a seafood production center, that is about as good as you are gonna get in most of the USA. Pricewise, you are paying for what you get (few would categorize sushi as being a CHEAP meal) but the quality of the fish is a lot better than what you get at most places and the price is about the same. I would actually recommend going here in a smaller group so you can sit at the bar, we had a party of 5 and got the table but somehow it distracts from the experience not being able to watch the chefs work. Plus, you need to worry about getting bumped when people enter through the door.

    (4)

  • Sam D.

    so so so Good!, i always order to go. best sushi around bar none.

    (5)

  • Jay W.

    Went last night, very small place, felt like I could barely move inside to be frank, but it's some of the best sushi I've ever had (as I was telling my guest one bite was borderline orgasmic.)

    (3)

  • David B.

    I have been wanting to go to Oishii for almost a year, after reading all the positive reviews on Yelp. I finally got a chance to go, and it was everything I thought it would be. If you haven't been before, when you arrive squeeze your way into the foyer and put your information on the clip board hanging on the wall, that's how they seat you. We arrived around 6:15pm on a Saturday evening, and were seated about 15 minutes later. The place is small/intimate, a few tables and the rest is around the bar. There are 4-5 servers and 4 chef's behind the bar. I put myself in the chef's hands. He asked me if there was anything I didn't eat and what my dollar limit was. I replied that I would eat what ever he recommended and that I was looking to spend around $40-$50. About 10 minutes later he handed me a plate with 10 pieces of nigirizushi along with the usual pickled ginger, wasabi paste was a piece of melon with a fried head-to-tail fish skeleton. The portions were perfect and the selection was wonderful. The two that stood out for me were the Escolar and the sardine, heavenly. I saved the skeleton for last, it tasted like a smokey fish cracker, it was quite nice actually. My wife got makizushi, which were as beautiful as they were tasty. There was some very high end maki being made that night, one had gold leaf and another had lobster and caviar. One could easily leave spending more than one intended too, but that wouldn't be a bad thing! The servers were great and checked in on us frequently. There is a short wine and saki list, and for beer (which was what we went with) they only have the big Sapporo cans. Our total was $72 for my plate, my wife's 3 makizushi and 2 Sapporo. I wish I could afford to be a regular! I will recommend this wonderful little spot to my friends.

    (5)

  • Nan S.

    Best sushi I've had in Boston!!! Crazy wait, and crazy tight seating/space... and it's still unbelievable that this place is so small and hasn't expanded it's restaurant, but still super mouth-watering delicious!! It's quite expensive, but when I eat EACH roll, it tastes like it had so much work and effort put into making it. Every single roll is just as delicious as the first. It's fresh, it's big... and it's so flavorful! This is what quality sushi should taste like if you're going to pay so much money for it anyway. I would give this place 5 stars if they had more seating and less wait time. PS) I loved the Jeffrey's roll!

    (4)

  • Aaliya Y.

    One word: WOW. Definitely worth the trip on the T. Will definitely make it a point to come back here all the way from LA :)

    (5)

  • Jamie G.

    JUST AMAZING.... Its just amazing... really fresh great sushi every time! ... both the Brad & Evan Torch Maki are fantastic.... Ask for the Salmon Tempura appetizer (not on menu) ... BUT TO DIE FOR !!!... Its difficult to sit there -- TAKEOUT is a great option at the Chestnut Hill Oishii... they always put hot / cold items in two seperate bags etc... Well worth the money! LOVE IT

    (5)

  • Cyn C.

    Nothing new here: move along, move along. seriously folks, if you need to read review #kazillion and three to convince you to eat here, then maybe you should stay away. this restaurant is already stuffed to the gills with customers, and I doubt they'd miss your patronage. I know that sounds snarky, but DANG the lines are LONG and the space is tight. I went on a Friday night around 830pm. Parking was plentiful (princess parking!) but we had to wait at least 30-40 minutes to share a table with another couple. Do not be alarmed at the sign that says "Alcohol served to Massachusetts ID only." I almost panicked, but I just confidently ordered my wine, and there was no problem (and no, i don't look older than 35). I don't recall what the dish was called, but it had salmon, truffles, and gold leaf. Hell yes it was pricey. and hell yes it was tastey. I came back and gave it the five stars it deserves. Tempted to only give four b/c of the wait. But seeing as I'm looking forward to waiting in line for more Oishii sushi, I guess I can't do that.

    (5)

  • Karla M.

    Fresh, delicious, overrated, small. 3.5 if they had it, but we' I have mixed feelings about Oishii. They have wonderful sushi, which is what my score is heavily weighted by. However, the inconvenience of being squeezed in and rushed out, even on a weekday lunch, is ridiculous. I wouldn't even mind the cramped seating if I didn't feel like they were trying to move people in and out so quickly. If I'm going to spend that much on sushi that is, honestly, no more delicious than Sushi Yasu (Waltham) or Minfune (Arlington), I want to sit and enjoy it. Go for the experience. You can say you had delicious Oishii sushi. But go expecting to wait a good long time and sit down for a very short period of time. Or opt for the take-out. But know that you aren't getting any more bang for your buck in taste, design, or portion size. PS - Parking is a mess, but that isn't their fault.

    (4)

  • Tan E.

    In my opinion the best sushi place. Come here at least once a year. ( I don't wanna spoil myself). Always have a great time, full time, leaving very satisfied. Place is small, but what do you expect from a hole in the wall (usually those are the best kind). Recommend the jeffery special $20 or so-a must get for me

    (5)

  • Fay R.

    By far, the best sushi place in the Boston area! I've been lucky enough to live within a block of this culinary haven since it first opened, and continue to order out or eat there 1-2x week! In addition to the fresh, fabulous and innovative sushi and sashimi, they offer a delicious array of japanese soups, sides, and entrees. I'm addicted to the Kinoko soup (which is for 2, but I always finish it myself) - a large satisfying bowl of clear broth brimming with generous portions of mushrooms (shitaaki, enoki, oyster,etc), carrots, cabbage, greens, and more... on a cold day, if you're feeling under the weather, or just fancy a great healthy bowl of soup, this is what you're after! It literally tastes like a concoction of health (the japanese penicillin, perhaps ;-) In my opinion, the quality and presentation of food at Oishii can compete with that of Nobu any day, at least the one in Miami.

    (5)

  • Brent G.

    I'm a little torn with this rating. For the east coast, this is probably the best sushi place I have been to. But it's not the best I have ever had moreover, I don't believe it is 5 star sushi. That should be saved for places like Sushi Ran in SF or Nozawa in LA. And thus a dilemma... What I had: Real California Roll - Rather bland actually but it was great to eat real crab instead of the imitation crab. Spicy Scallop - Delicious, the scallop just melted in my mouth and it had the right amount of spice for sushi (it can't be too spicy otherwise it detracts from the scallop). Ikura - Good but nothing special, I have had better at other places. Saba - Solid, I liked how it wasn't dry. A lot of times I go to a sushi restaurant and the saba is too dry. Spicy Tuna Hand roll - This thing was huge, it could have been a whole meal. Service was good and we went on a Wednesday so there wasn't that long of a wait. I will definitely go back because it is pretty good but I don't think I can bring myself to give it a 5 star rating.

    (4)

  • Alison L.

    Don't be discouraged if you have a bit of a wait, it is well worth it. Oishii is delicious and fresh. Everything I have eaten here tasted as if it was just plucked from the sea and put on my plate. The consistent crowds are not a fluke, people flock here for a reason.

    (5)

  • david l.

    OK, the sushi here is extremely good but I after multiple experiences eating here, I decided never to come back because it is just an unpleasant eating experience. The place is basically a sushi bar with one additional table right by the door. There is always a line outside, and in the cold winter months, the line moves inside so that people waiting to eat are literally standing RIGHT BEHIND the customers eating at the sushi bar, hovering over their shoulders! Talk about getting pressure to hurry up your dinner, sheesh! That and the waitresses have a bad tendency to rush patrons out the door asap - last time I was there, they slapped down the check and took away my plate when I still had one more piece of sushi on it. WTH? That's some expensive sushi she just confiscated. I should have docked it off her tip. This place does an impressive take-out business because the locals have all learned that it is just not worth waiting in line. Do yourself a favor - call in your order about an hour before you want to pick it up (that's how long it will take on average), and enjoy at home at your own pace with a big cold can of Sapporo.

    (4)

  • Nelson S.

    The original Oishii will always have a special place in my heart! Love it!

    (5)

  • JAZON L.

    Immediately have to state for the time impaired, there's always a 15-30 minute so don't bother if you don't have the time. Lose 1 star for the wait. Otherwise, they deserve the Best of Boston sushi. Always fresh and they have access to fish most places do not. Secret is out the owner knows "someone" on the docks. Most of the reviews nailed it on the head - freshness, taste, preparation and presentation are top notch. Downside is the limited size and the wait. So be patient and it's well worth the effort. Here's a YELP tip...call ahead and ask them to put your name on the list. They do not take reservations.

    (4)

  • Gabe L.

    Oh I guess updates go in separate reviews now. So my rating for Oishii hasn't changed. But one of the regular items I order has. The kobe beef sushi. Yes, it's wicked expensive. But omg it is SO good. Best. Sushi. Ever. When I ate it the first time, I had to stop eating and contemplate how good it was. I almost cried, literally. And then, when we left I called my brother from the street and had to tell him about the best sushi I ever had. And I almost cried, literally. In fact, I'm almost crying now. Actually I'm not but I am starting to have a pavlovian drool reaction.. I brought my friends there about a month ago. Their curiosity was all piqued because I rave about it all the time. They were skeptical "c'mon - we've been to a lot of sushi joints... " but they walked away converts. The sushi here is the good.

    (5)

  • Linda M.

    Best sushi I have ever had! I have lunch here about every other week, sometimes takeout, sometimes eat in, equally good experience. Waitstaff and manager(s) always friendly, and they get to know what I like. My favorite is Paula's maki - SUPERB!

    (5)

  • Karman L.

    WHITE SALMON SASHIMI!!!! MUST TRY!!! Good Lord! That was so yummy....It was heaven!! The white salmon literally just melts in your mouth! GOOOOOOOOOD!!!! Maki Maki Maki! What a great menu, I wish I can order everything on there. But I have some self-control, I only order like 3 rolls. 15 seats! There's always gonna be a line....so bring a book/magazine to read while you are waiting! Parking can be challenging too. So good luck. Just FYI - There's another Oishii in Sudbury, and they are opening up another one South End (1166 Washington Street) on 7/13!!!!

    (5)

  • Joe B.

    I love this place and it's hard to get a seat so don't tell anybody about it. Been to Nobu, Been to Roku, even been to Japan. Overall this little fifteen seat shotgun sushi bar has the feel of Tokyo and the culinary inspiration that makes the food interesting. Some will detract but I've rarely had a bad meal at Oishii which means "yummy" in Japanese. I miss Ting San since he has opened his Boston place but the faithful still line up at the Brookline spot for fresh fish expertly prepared and some very creative twists. Here's what I recommend. Hot Sake and Large Sapporo Oishii Tuna Chip Kobe beef sushi tempura uni w/ponzu tempura foie gras w/dried strawberry Alex maki Brad maki Spicy tuna roll in cucumber cone Agedashi dofu Yakitori Spicy Crispy tuna on the outside maki Ama Ebi w/tempura fried heads lobster tempura You can always order more. Great crowd, Great vibe.

    (5)

  • popan f.

    Best sushi in Boston area. Totally authentic and fresh! Totally worth the wait (it's always packed). If you don't want to wait, do take out!

    (5)

  • chriss t.

    I am sooo lucky to be living so close to great sushi place. I give them a solid A. Yes it's small...but I kind of like how cozy and casual it is. Great when I have a major craving for some sushi and don't want to go far or someplace fancy to get some fresh and reasonably priced sushi. Definitely will be one of my fave local haunts.

    (4)

  • Anonymous K.

    Perhaps reviewed to death, I decided to pitch in. This place most certainly has the best sushi in Boston. However, your enjoyment of it may be blunted if you visit it for dinner due to the waiting and the crowding. For a while, I made a habit of visiting it weekly for lunch. This cuts the the time it takes to get seated and offers you the exact same menu selection, with the lunch specials as an addition rather than a pared down version of the offerings many other restaurants provide for lunch. My frequent visits meant that several of the waitresses knew me by face and some by name, so I was treated as a bit of a VIP. This meant that every once in a while I got comp'd some miso soup, and that I got much bigger piles of chocolate mint candy that arrives with the check rather than the customary two packets. I haven't seen people talk to the sushi chefs, but I can tell you that inquiring with the waitresses about what is best today can be very handsomely rewarded. Sometimes you will discover some off the menu fish that will blow your mind (happened to me several times). Although expensive, most of the sushi on the specials menu that's on the bar next to the little drink menu plastic things is quite good. If you're feeling adventurous and don't mind a bit of uni (sea urchin, that gooey orange stuff) the Omakase is often very excellent. For those who don't know omakase means "It's up to you", and basically tells the chef to do what he wants for $85. Hopefully I added something to the pile of reviews. Basically, if you enjoy sushi, this place is a must to check out. MBTA: A short walk directly south from the Chestnut Hill stop on the Green D line. Often an overlooked option, it really isn't far, so if you don't have to drive, I recommend doing it the public way.

    (5)

  • Colin N.

    The best sushi in boston. Period. There is nothing outlandish in the presentation. It's not nouveau-sush. It's just impeccably good. Oishii is to Sushi in Boston as the bloomin' onion is to outback steakhouse. The crown jewel. I don't waste my time with the cheaper dishes that fill you up. Straight to my sushi jugular. Dip in wasabe infused soy and suck down some raw fish. Preparation and ingredients are top notch. The price is right too. You will spend more than at a normal meal, but this is sushi, not a bacon double cheeseburger. Yum yum yum yum yum. Oishiiiiiiiiii

    (5)

  • Chi N.

    Remember your first kiss? Holding his or her face against you, both of you drooling like a baby eating a softserve ice cream. That's what I feel when I go to Oishii. That feeling of an intense blood rush, followed by a paleness only comparable to the Arctic. Do you like sushi? Like, like sushi, not "I eat sushi to pick up Asian chicks". Then you will go to Oishii and drop a c-note like it's a 99 cent burger from McDs. No thinking twice, no passing go, if sushi is your thing, make Oishii your destination.

    (5)

  • Alex T.

    The sushi here is devine. Oishii has to be in the running for best sushi in Boston on anybody's list. The cuts of fish are generous and out portions the rice(the way it should be). The seafood here are all very fresh and the cutting of the fish here is superb. They have a lot of sushi choices and special rolls. Whenever I dine Oishii, I always savor every little bite. Thats how good(and expensive) their sushi is. They are also one of the few sushi places that I see try to decorate their sushi plates with flowers, leaves, etc. which is quite unique. I took a star off obviously because this place is extremely small. That may even be an understatement. This is very unfortunate but I had to do it because you can't enjoy the sushi very well in a cramped setting or bringing home a platter. With not much focus on a sit-down dining experience, I can't really rate them on service either. My takeout experience here has been positive. I'm surprised they are able to run the place as well as they do with all the takeout orders, minimal staff, and small space.

    (4)

  • Jen L.

    This place is small. Lots of people come here so it is crowded. Even more people get takeout. There is a reason why. This place is awesome. I love sushi and I really love this place. Some highlights: Lady Tataki salad: Blow torch seared tuna pieces on a place of mesclun with a ponzu dressing Salmon sashimi - so mouth meltingly (is that a word) awesome my knees buckled (good thing I was sitting). I was pondering the salience of catching my own salmon and risk a bear encounter, but decided this was a much safer way to get delicious and fresh raw salmon. They have some innovative, tasty rolls if that is your thing. The sashimi pieces are thick and generous and the fish is fresh. The variety is impressive. It isn't cheap, but this is sushi. It isn't as expensive at other places (Oishii Boston which was very disappointing). I cannot wait until I can go again.

    (5)

  • aaron t.

    By FAR my FAVORITE sushi place in boston if not in the states! Makes all the other sushi places in boston seem like walmart. The wait is long, but totally worth it. If your go for lunch or an early 5 pm dinner, the wait is short if none, but after 6pm, its a 1-2 hr wait. Try the "customer" rolls, or their sashimi. Their speciality rolls are amazing. Be prepared to order before you sit, but you can also order after you get your first order.

    (5)

  • Kristen L.

    The sushi is very good and they have some really great special rolls. However, I don't think the high prices are justified, especially for a place (dining area AND kitchen) that is smaller than my first apartment in Boston (500 sq. ft.) and outside of the city. The place only fits about 8-10 people at the sushi bar and if you are looking for a table for 2, get ready to share the same table with 2 other people. I just feel that for such small real estate, they could cut their customers a break on price. 1 special roll with crabstick, mango, cuke, and roe covered in spicy tuna is $16!! I've found just as tasty and high quality spots in the Boston area that is much more reasonably priced.

    (3)

  • Victoria N.

    Wow. Wow about sums up Oishii. Wow as in: Wow, this place is tiny. They have a bar with maybe ten seats around the sushi counter, and a couple tables as well, so the wait can be outrageous. They have a "waiting list" system, where they write your party's name on a pad of paper and when you're at the top and there's a table, you get one. You can call ahead to put your name on the waiting list, but forget about reservations. You're now on Oishii time. Wow, the menu is serious. They give you a dry-erase marker and laminated menu. You can choose from sushi (fish on a bed of rice) or sashimi (just fish). There's a column on the right with different types of rolls, but it's clear that real connoisseurs order from the left side, where you can choose your grade and type of fish in more detail. Wow, the fish is fresh. We ordered tuna and salmon sushi, cucumber maki, inari, and uni. The tuna and salmon were amazing. How amazing? One of my reasons for going out for good sushi was to try good quality fish sushi, because I had only had it in cheap places and not enjoyed it. I was blown away. It's that amazing. The cucumber maki and inari were pretty standard. I think it's hard to really make either of them amazing or total crap. Wow, the uni was... uni. We ordered it as a bit of a dare, because my dining companion had eaten it in Japan and disliked it immensely. In the wild, plants are red to signify that they are poisonous. Uni has a color and consistency pretty close to vomit... Conclude what you will. I'd have to report that this is not a good choice for the faint of stomach or sushi newbie. We also had some edamame, which were good but under-salted. All in all, I would give this place four stars, but as long as you accept that it is not a finely decorated establishment for parties of more than three, and that the real reason to go here is sushi (not the other stuff), then this should be your first choice for the best (and admittedly most expensive) sushi you can get.

    (5)

  • Sun Y.

    Great presentation, decent portion size, and fun atmosphere! The sushi was tasty and the service was great.

    (5)

  • Dow C.

    My favorite sushi place in all of the Boston Metro area. It's small and cramped, but it has amazing specials and fish on par with the best high-end sushi restaurants in NYC. It's well worth the line!

    (5)

  • Sasha R.

    As if this place needed more praise! I loves me some fresh raw stuff, and I loves me tiny restaurants, and this place caters to both those turnons. My advice is, don't bother with more than maybe 1 fancy roll. The fish is so fresh and so raw and so pretty, that you should just order sashimi or nigiri and enjoy it just like that, plain and simple. Fancy stuff is for later, when the novelty has worn off. Expect to drop some cash. Expect it to be worth it. Bring some extra napkins, know whatta mean... Yes. Sushi IS sexy.

    (5)

  • Jenna S.

    Just ate here Thursday night and I was truly impressed. They had great cuts of fish, fresh and perfectly seasoned! I recommend trying some of their sushi plates and small appetizers rather than going for the usual rolls.

    (4)

  • Ben G.

    Oishii sets the bar in terms of what an amazing sushi experience should be like. This little hole in the wall serves up some of the freshest seafood in town. Aside from the super fresh fish, amazing flavor combinations and stellar service, I also really love the intimacy of Oishii. There can't be more than 10 seats in the restaurant. No, not 10 tables, 10 seats. It's ultra small but not cramped or crowded. I came here on election day. You know, the day the battle over Teddy Kenndey's senate seat was going to be decided. Coakley wasn't running the best campaign and I had a feeling she was gonna lose, so I figured if I was gonna watch the Dems lose, I might as well do it while stuffing my face with some of the best sushi in Boston. We started off our meal with some raw Komamoto oysters. They were amazing. Silky, juicy, meaty with some hints of cucumber topped with a hint of creamy chili sauce. Hands down my favorite oyster. Then we ordered a spicy tuna cone. Sure you've heard and probably have eaten the spicy tuna roll. Just imagine a spicy tuna roll that looks like an ice cream cone. The nori is the cone, the tuna/ spicy mayo combo topped with some scallions on top. It was not only artistic but delicious. Up next we went with a crazy roll ( shrimp tempura) which was also amazing but when you fry shrimp in an awesome batter it's really hard for it to be anything but amazing. After we got a Little "crazy" (sorry couldn't help myself) we had a customer creation. The Jeffery roll was freaking drool-worthy. It was a simple avocado roll but it was topped with heaping mounds of buttery seafood: super fresh scallops. Yum... And to top it all off, we had some Crazy Milk... No we weren't sampling the milk from an aggravated cow. Crazy milk is an unfiltered sake. Its served cold, and tastes of cream and coconut. it was very easy to drink and in my humble opinion is the perfect compliment to sushi. Like my mother told me big things come in small packages. (I'm only 5'4) But i feel like the owners of Oishii subscribe to the same philosophy. The amazing fresh fish, the impeccable service, the fancy plating techniques, intimate surroundings and the great unfiltered sake and lets not forget the great company made for a fabulous meal.

    (5)

  • Jeremy S.

    Best Sushi in the Boston area and perhaps beyond. The head chef comes from NYC's famed Nobu. Very difficult to get seating in this tiny establishment, so if you're pressed for time order carry out. If you call ahead you can get your name on the list to cut down on the wait.

    (5)

  • James M.

    Very good food. Clearly the chefs have the perfect balance of knowing how to cut the fish and knowing what it should taste like. It is the only place I eat maki but also has excellent sushi and sashimi. Japanese blue fish and other specials are fantastic. The wait staff are pleasant and attentive and even though there are tons of people waiting don't rush you. I can't recommend a place more. Don't be grumpy if you have to wait. They have very few seats so get there early.

    (5)

  • Rachel J.

    Oishii is great. I went on a Saturday night, and i recommend reserving a spot. I did have to wait for a while, with less that 30 seats. Once we sat, our food came quickly. I had the Best maki ever. I enjoyed a crazy soft shell crab maki and it was to die for. I loved how fresh and crunchy it was. It melts in ur mouth! I also got the foie gras sushi. Its 22$ for two pieces, and it was my first time experiencing it. I didn't really taste anything special, but it was still great. But I'm not sure if it was worth 22$! next, i got the scallop and crab meat torched. This is a Delicious appetizer and its very filling. Over all, i thought that my meal was GREAT. i Loved the vibe and how i saw the chefs making my own roll. Everything was great, the staff were friendly, and the fish is local (i believe) and totally worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Jaffe J.

    Oishii was a pleasant experience. Good fresh fish at relatively affordable prices. There were four of us and the bill came down just around $100 so not too bad price wise. A lot of people on Yelp touted this as the best sushi in Boston and while it was definitely enjoyable, I wasn't blown away in any way. The place is small - maybe 10 bar seats and a small 4 seat table. We got here around 530 and were seated immediately which was nice but the place got busy right after us with all the seats filling up pretty quickly. There were also a lot of people coming in to get takeout. It's always nice to see a sushi place be busy since good turnaround leads to fresh fish. The pieces of sushi(fish and rice) we got were definitely the highlight of the meal as they tasted fresh and melted in your mouth. The Aji(Horse Mackerel) was absolutely amazing but at $10 for 2 pieces, it would be a bit expensive to just have a ton of it. We also got some yellowtail and mackerel sushi, both of which were great. For an app got a miso glazed cod which tasted good with an excellent sauce and some soups. The large 2 person pot of mushroom soup was only OK but the miso soup was excellent and well worth having. For dinner, we just got a bunch of rolls. Maybe that was our mistake as while the rolls were good, they weren't much different from rolls I've had at other sushi places so nothing amazing. There was a large circular crab roll which was probably the best one, a rainbow roll with some decent salmon/tuna, a standard philly roll and an eel/avocado roll - none of which were bad but none were anything mind blowing. I think the best bet is to skip the rolls and just get a bunch of sushi to try as the fish is definitely the highlight here, don't want to hide the fish behind a bunch of sauces and other things as you do in some rolls. It's a bit more expensive to get a filling meal this way but might be the best way to experience the place - I know that's what I'll be doing next time I'm down here. Overall, a solid sushi place - nothing spectacular and I think I'll be trying O Ya and the Oishii main location next time I'm in town to compare. However, the prices here are pretty affordable so definitely worth a visit if you want some pretty good sushi and don't want to break the bank.

    (4)

  • Matthew G.

    It took this high maintenance, bagel-loving New York a LOT of restraint last night not to get into an argument with the Oishii waitress/manager. My friend and I arrived after a good session of hitting some golf balls and graciously put our name on "The List." We were told that it would be about 20 minutes. Not bad for a spontaneous sushi-eating decision. About 15-20 minutes later, a nice couple strolls in to the restaurant, only to be seating right away! I asked the manager why they sat before us and she replied, "They called." Oh. "So you can make reservations?" She replied, "No." Oh. She tells me, "if you call, you put your name on the list and then if you show up, you get first shot." Oh. I asked, "so you're RESERVING a spot on the list." She said, "no." OK. Then a lovely young customer also on line felt the need to bud in to explain to ME that it wasn't a reservation. I'm sorry, Miss This-Is-My-Local-Sushi-Restaurant-So-I-Feel-The-­Need-To-Defend-It. (deep breath). Regardless of what the system is, it sucks. You could be waiting for an hour, and someone calls in from their SUV an hour and 1 minute before you, decides to go get a mani/pedi and then shows up right about the time when you think you're going to get some Toro and rains on your parade. First come, first serve, people. That's the only way to be without pissing off high-strung New Yorkers like myself. The sushi is good - but I'll spare the drive, the wait and the cramped quarters.

    (3)

  • Barbara J S.

    yes, Ting was at nobu. i have been a regular since ting and jackie opened at chestnut hill. the sushi is wonderful!

    (5)

  • Kara M.

    Oishii probably doesn't need my review as they have already been reviewed by fans and experts from all over the world, yes, the world. This cramped little 12 seat restaurant (seats not tables) serves the best sushi I've ever had. In some restaurants, it's the ambiance you go for, in some it's the convenient location but here it is unequivocally the SUSHI. I don't have a car so I walk an hour to get here. Then I wait for an hour to get a seat at the bar. After I'm finally sitting in my bar stool and the line of take-out customers is shifting impatiently behind me, and after I take that first bite of gem-colored, buttery, thick salmon... well, shoot me in the head, I'd never notice. I'm too busy savoring the sushi-sex going on in my mouth. It's that good. And it's *always* that good. Also, you can get items here that you cannot get anywhere else. Why are you still sitting there?! Go.

    (5)

  • Gabriele M.

    The best sushi place for this part of the country

    (5)

  • L C.

    I grew up in Tokyo, Japan and my best friend (also from Japan) used to go to college in Waltham. Not sure how she found this place but we loved it!!! This is the best Sushi restaurant in the state of MA (and possibly all of New England). We used to come here quite often back when we were students in New England. I live in Hawaii now but I havent found a sushi place quite as good as Oishii Sushi even though I am closer to home here! I remember the food being quite pricey at Oishii Sushi but if you want authentic Japanese food (not just california rolls or spicy ahi rolls), then this is the place to eat at! Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Josh C.

    Visiting Oiishi reminds me of trips to Tokyo with my dad who took me through streets of Tokyo eating like local. I was recommended to visit Oiishi by a Japanese friend almost 5 years ago and like it since. Still second to my favorite Japanese restaurant in RI anyway! Sushi here is fresh but little bit over pricing like other places in Boston and NYC and pain in the butt to get seated...long wait... I guess because of the hype. Somebody told me that the owner used to be a cook at NOBU. Honestly, who care? As long as his sushi continue to be kicking some -ss and fresh. Otherwise, I still love this place. Pros : Good place to eat Sushi alone.....so nobody fight with you over the last piece of FATTY TUNA! .......I am serious! Con : DON"T everthink about having dinner here with over 7 friends. If you love bitchy dinner with friend. Try it. There is only one table. And it is a pain in the butt squeezing 7 people on that round table in the corner and hear them bitch and moan throughout the meal... entertaining actually. Take out is my suggestion to you. You don't have to wait. Edit: If you have deep pocket like Tom Brady and a hotty to impress like Giselle, yeah, go to Oishi in South End. Sushi for two will cost you above two hundred dollar. If you nib your sushi like a cat, then it will cost you less. But I am sorry. I have never left this sushi place hungry.

    (5)

  • E W.

    Saying this place is small is a vast understatement - minuscule is more to the point. The size of the place is enough to not recommend - not to mention it has zero charm. Spicy tuna roll about as average as I've ever eaten - textbook case of the "hype" not being equal to the product.

    (2)

  • Caitlin R.

    Oishii is small and cozy (great for a date night!)-most of the seating at the sushi bar and a few small tables around the perimeter. Often there is a wait to be seated but it is worth it! When you walk in the small entrance there is a clipboard on the wall to write your name and # in your party. Don't forget to put your name on the list, they seat guests in order (no hostess taking names). The fish is the most fresh I have had and the price is fair for the quality. I highly recommend the unagi, and white tuna sashimi. Definitely check it out!

    (5)

  • Jin W.

    been to both downtown and chestnut hill locations, both are fantastic just depends on what you are in the mood for. If you are looking for a traditional sushi bar feel then you need to go to brookline, but if you want a modern cool sushi place then the boston location will be the better choice but no matter which location you choose you will always get the best service and food.

    (5)

  • Lauren V.

    Oishii Sushi is incredible. The seafood is so fresh and tender and the edamame is never soggy like at some places. The only downside is that a lot of people seem to share the same affinity for Oishii that I do. Especially during the lunch hour on weekdays. The place is tiny, but really worth the wait. On top of that, it is fairly inexpensive and I have never really had a problem finding a parking spot on the street. I would definitely recommend it for a lunch break if you work in the area. If you get to Oishii Sushi with some lingering doubts after reading the Yelp reviews, check out the wall of accolades, grab a menu and place your order. You won't be sorry.

    (5)

  • Sunny C.

    This place is rated #1 in Boston on Zagatz. I don't know if I just had very high expectations but this was not what I was expecting. It is *tiny*. There are only one or two tables and the sushi bar. Do not go here if you are going with a large group. Also, they close at 10pm, and the kitchen closes around 9:45pm. They do not take reservations. Regarding the food, the sushi is the freshest I've tasted! Price-wise, on the cheaper side. So this is a great place for take-out, or if you are looking for a casual date spot then this is it. There was some presentation (the wasabi was shaped nicely, the sushi laid out artistically) but it did not "wow" me. I think Oishii (Chestnut Hill) is a no frills restaurant and if that is what you're looking for, then go for it. I prefer Fugakyu (Brookline). They are open later, have an extensive drink menu, and are great for large parties. I have heard great things about Oishii (Boston) so it might be more of a restaurant feel than this Oishii. But def. check it out as it is the #1 restaurant in Boston!

    (3)

  • J C.

    It's about time for me to review my fav sushi restaurant in Boston. This place is the best. Love it. Small, cozy and intimate restaurant. The fish here is always fresh. Generous nigiri slices. For some reason, the mackerel is the best here (typically not a fan of mackerel). No other Boston area sushi restaurants can make the mackerel taste any better. Tuna, sake, ika, toro, yellowtail, take your pick it'll be good. The gunkan sushi is a wonderland. The spicy salmon salad handroll can't be replicated. For customer created makis, get em all. Ok if not, then my favs...the Jeffrey's (baked spicy scallop maki). It's greatly satisfying. Love spicy mayo and scallops. Nice crisp roll. Amy's is great. Joe's Kazan is excellent, tako salad anyone?! Go! There will be no disappointments here! .. Getting hungry...

    (5)

  • buckminster f.

    High quality sushi for decent prices. Between the two of us, we had a sushi/sashimi deluxe platter, spicy scallop rolls, dragon rolls, two miso soups, a sapporo, and a small order of the hot sake, and the total came out to less than a hundred dollars. I am usually not a fan of salmon sashimi, but theirs was fantastic. Next time, I'll probably skip the basics and jump straight into the creative rolls. The spicy scallop roll was definitely the shining star of the night. My only caveat is that they serve miso soup with a spoon and the sushi chefs are not Japanese, if that matters to you.

    (5)

  • CK N.

    Best sushi I've had in Boston. What more can you say? well, actually I can say a lot more: it's kind of small, so if you're unlucky you'll have to wait a bit, and parking kind of sucked, but the sushi overrides all those details. Honestly, if a lot of people say it's great, then there's a reason why they say that.

    (5)

  • Anino X.

    While sushi enjoys a reputation as an adventurous and trendy culinary pursuit, there are different grades to it, just like any other cuisine. For instance, you can get a $13 steak at Uno's or you can get a $40 steak at Morton's. There are plenty of obvious differences between the steaks offered at these two establishments, and for most, it's pretty clear that you get what you pay for (depending on how much you value red meat). Sushi restaurants are tougher to grade because many of the restaurants charge very similar prices even though the quality of the ingredients will vary from place to place. As I continue to gain more experience in sushi delving, my preferences change as well. I have been favoring sushi places that are conveniently located, offer consistent, (and above average) quality. Sushi can be an expensive experience and the last thing I want is to come away disappointed. Where does that leave Oiishi? They've got three locations now: Sudbury, Chestnut Hill and now in the South End, each with different menus. I've dined at the South End location twice and ordered takeout from Chestnut Hill on eight separate occasions during my tenure at a local banking institution. I was initially impressed by the breadth of creativity for maki at the Chestnut Hill location, but the prices are some of the highest in the Boston area, comparing to Fugakyu and Oga's. My disappointment in the restaurant stems from the swings in the quality of seafood ingredients. Some orders have tasted less fresh than others. The actual presentation (for a takeout order) was fine, but at the price Oishii charges, I expect higher quality than a place like Shino Express on Newbury St. Oiishi in Chestnut Hill has one of the most inventive menu of the Japanese restaurants in the greater Boston Area: there are rolls here that you won't find any place else. However, the sushi at Oga and Fugakyu are consistently higher quality than Oishii. In addition, the Chestnut Hill location isn't convenient or spacious as the aforementioned establishments either. If you drive and want to sample some unique sushi flavors, Oiishi is good for takeout. However, there's better value to be had elsewhere.

    (3)

  • Ha T.

    I live in the city and decided to venture out on the T after hearing mucho about it! It's literally a tic-tac box.. but certainly worth bumping elbows with strangers for. The sashimi is uber fresh! Go there.. everyone has... it's worth the try! Make the day of it and go to Bloomies up the street!

    (4)

  • Natalia T.

    This place should definetly be take out only, because even if you manage to get a spot at this tiny sushi bar, you always have people walking by, pushing you and you feel like you're in a way ... and everybody coming in for a take out just ruins your atmosphere. Now taste ... I really don't see what the buzz is all about. It's good, but it's not amazing and best ever. I'd order from there just because it's not too far away from our house, but it's nothing I would flip over backwards for.

    (3)

  • Chewie L.

    OMG. I love this place. It's a ways from where I live and I got lost the first time trying to get there... my girlfriend and I actually got into a bit of an argument since I didn't know where I was going... but all was forgotten and forgiven after arriving at the restaurant. VERY VERY SMALL.. but it made me feel like I was getting the real experience. Definitely sit at the bar, that way you can watch what the sushi chefs are whipping up and order more as the really delicious stuff comes up. Everything there is so well made and presented. The toro, the spicy scallop roll, the beef negima. Also, very reasonable priced for the quality and amount of food that you get. I've gone several times since that first time and always try to try something else... For whatever reason, it just really hits the spot for me. The only sushi restaurant that I've been to more than once. Sometimes, I dream of Oishii.

    (5)

  • Jake M.

    OMG!!! I LOVE this place!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    (5)

  • Iska B.

    I had gone here awhile ago after reading all the reviews on Yelp...and the fact that it has remained number one on the "Best of Yelp" list since I've joined. I didn't write the review until I had compared it with other sushi. OK yeah this place wins. It is really really too bad that it is so annoyingly small and cramped and that you have to bump elbows with the person next to you because the food is incredible. It's so damn fresh that I swear they kill the fish minutes before they serve it. On top of that the rolls are so artfully prepared that they are a "feast for the eyes" as well as for your mouth. It really is the best in Boston. I suppose I have to suck it up and learn to deal with having my conversations overheard by the people next to me. Although I suppose my mouth will most likely be stuffed with sushi so I won't be saying much at all. Going on weekday nights is your best bet if you don't want to wait. I've been on Wednesdays at around 8PM and we didn't have long to wait. Parking was easy then too.

    (5)

  • Annie c.

    Really fresh and wonderful sushi. This is where i really got into sushi as a student. It's tiny so if there's a long wait, i just get take out. A bit out of the way from boston and definitely need a car, but worth the drive

    (4)

  • T T.

    This restaurant is a bit out of the way, but it is definitely worth the trip. The sushi bar is incredibly small, so make sure you get there early. The sushi there is nothing short of amazing. I haven't been to the new Boston location, but I'm sure that the Chestnut HIll restaurant is much more relaxed and (probably) more enjoyable. It is a real treat to see such masterful sushi chefs prepare your meal right in front of you!

    (5)

  • N J.

    BFF wanted to take us to Oishii after reading rave reviews on Yelp. Takeout took a long time, but was expected. I think we waited too long to eat the sashimi (had to make a beer run first before 11 pm) ...because it was good but nothing special. I think we should've gotten rolls, etc. I'll probably update this review after a second take.

    (4)

  • Jungmin L.

    Much fresher and more creative than any other sushi/roll place in boston. The only downside is that there may be a wait due to the small number of seats available. The evan's roll is torched just right - Fugakyu torched rolls are hard, torching is a delicate technique. Rice/mayo/pop of roe - just right balance. I would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Matthew A.

    Thanks to fellow Yelper Mihirr S. for pointing out this fine BYOB restaurant. See my full list of all BYO Establishments in New England.

    (5)

  • richard s.

    Yum. Sushi, cooked food, everything. Be prepared to wait as the place is tiny (15 seats total). Prices reasonable for the quality of food.

    (5)

  • Jose T.

    INCREIBLE There are not many accolades I can add to this amazing sushi bar other than I have not had better even in the big bad NYC. Yes it is cramped and if you are looking for ambiance this is not the place for you. What I can offer is some pointers for eating in: Try to go during the middle of the week before 7:30PM (they are closed on Monday). Call ahead and put your name on the list. Be realistic about your arrival time or you may get passed over if they call your name and you are not there. Some highlight dishes: baby hamachi, black cod with sweet miso sauce, white tiger roll, Jeffrey's Roll and "the Maki" but generally all of the sushi is delicious.

    (5)

  • Kate P.

    If you're cool with the fact that this place is TINY, usually has Law and Order playing on the TV, and the chairs have tennis balls on the legs to help them scoot more easily, this is a great place to go for incredible sushi at a great price. Compared to their South End location, the food is less abstract and what you would expect of a traditional sushi bar. My favorite is the super white tuna maki. Really incredible taste and so fresh. Definitely a great place to watch some awesome sushi chefs at work.

    (4)

  • Juggy W.

    Wake up people... just because a place is always packed, it doesnt mean it is 5-star good. the sushi here is decent... on par with sushi man but more expensive.... but their menu does offer more innovative items. 1 tip - just do takeout.... unless ur one of those morons who would wait outside for 5 days for a stupid iPhone... the thing is you cant even resell your oiishi sushi on eBay for profit. btw this place is so tiny that its not handicap accessible... that almost makes me wanna give 1 less star.

    (4)

  • Joanne R.

    I don't know why I didn't write a review before this as I practically live at this place as literally I can walk to it! I usually get to do and have friends over, as unless you go early, the wait is long as they only have bar seating and one table. Everything and I mean EVERYTHING on their menu is fresh and delicious and the presentation is awesome. While they also opened a restaurant in Boston, which I haven't tried, it doesn't get better than here at Oishii!

    (5)

  • Jonathan L.

    Not much to say that hasn't already been said. I had read some reviews and had pretty much known what to expect. The limited seating and lines out the door didn't shock me too much. The price didn't shock me either, as I knew I was getting top quality. Went with the girlfriend on a Sunday night around 5PM. Figured we'd get take-out since there was a line. But damn, the chefs were so fast that we could have easily gotten a seat. To make a long story short, the sushi was awesome. We shared a chef's choice plate a tempura shrimp sushi roll. Very fresh. I definitely want to try Oishii again. Next time I'll dine in and try some more daring stuff.

    (4)

  • Jaime V.

    Being from Vancouver (BC) and spoiled by the plethora of great sushi and izakaya restaurants, I've been meaning to find a good one here in Boston. I have been twice now and have had a good experience both times at Oishii or yummy in Japanese. The first time I went with friends we were sat in the back towards the right area of the restaurant. This is typically reserved for large parties while the left hand side is where pairs are usually sat. We had an amazing salmon sampler, sushi rolls and sashimi. The sake was also perfectly warm. On my second excursion we were sat in the couples' area and although the food was great we could literally hear a pin drop in the room, maybe it was the proximity of the tables, the room acoustics or the very low background music. We still had a great time and the service was efficient, although with the wine it ended up being a bit on the pricey side. Oh yeah, and I highly recommend the grilled black cod. Now I just gotta find a great place for ceviche.

    (4)

  • K T.

    Keep in mind this is a tiny place, but you will never see an empty seat here! The market is fairly efficacy. They always serve the best fish. You need to order sushi and Sashimi when you come here simply because only the very fresh is serviced. Scallop sushi and oyster sushi are SOOO GOOD! Uni my favorite. It is pricy but well worth your money. This is what I am talking about traditional, real Japanese cuisine! They serve bento box during weekday lunch, great price with this high quality food!

    (5)

  • Al N.

    Holy crizzap! This place is a few cuts above anywhere else I've eaten--my second favorites being Fugakyu in Brookline and Ginza in Chinatown. On the advice of a number of sushi freaks, we went early and we had "omakase"--which is where the chef serves what's best that night. It was not cheap, but it was well worth the $70 per person we paid. Seared rolls with exotic fish and sauces made on the spot, salmon so fatty is was almost white, Hokkaido uni that blew my mind, and everything plated like a work of art. I eat a lot of sushi and I can safely say that I've pretty much tried everything that's available in over dozen of the area's best sushi restaurants over my 20 years in town. Oishii is fresher, more innovative, and tastier than the rest. Warning: the room is tiny and they don't take reservations. Get there early or bring entertainment. Update: Went again. Ordered omakase again. Blown away again. Fugakyu's omakase is amazing, but nowhere near Oishii's league. The service was great and not rushed at all.

    (5)

  • Ina C.

    Oishii is definitely among the short list of top sushi restaurants in Boston. How in the world have I not reviewed this place until now? I used to get take-out from here all the time when I was at Boston College. (The dining hall food went right through me for a little while. The only cure? Sushi. No joke!) And as an adult (ahem), I've been to Oishii for lunch a couple times and I've loved it. Read other reviews for info about how small the place is, blah, blah, blah. But this place is awesome because it's all about the sushi!

    (5)

  • Andrew S.

    Absolutely, positively, the best sushi in the Boston area. Nothing else to say other than please don't tell anyone because it's so tough to get a table!! Oh, also try the "customer creation" rolls, they are very weird sounding but you will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Steve S.

    There is a Sushi restaurant named Oishii. The original is a shoe box sized spot in Chestnut Hill off Route 9. For years people in the know have always told that Oishii is the place for the best Sushi period. I never eat Sushi until recently, but it begs the question: How can it be that much better? Its raw fish after all. So now I have decided to eat Sushi, and ventured to their new place in the South End on Washington st. The place is beautiful. The layout is inetresting as well. But I do not get it. The sushi was good, but did not blow me away by any means. Maybe my Sushi palate is not yet developed. I also ordered the $20 ramen soup as well, and it tasted kind of like the instant Ramen soup that you just add water. I feel like the only one not laughing at a very good joke, but for $75 for 2 plus tip for a little food, I should be blown away

    (2)

  • Mike D.

    Been here several times. It's got phenomenal sushi and a very good menu all-around. It's not huge, so you might have to wait a few minutes. It's only got a sushi bar and one table, so it is what it is. This place is VERY solid though. Will continue to go here.

    (4)

  • Yb W.

    Oiishi is a tiny little restaurant tucked away in a nondescript corner within posh Chestnut Hill. Seating is limited to a single table and at a short bar staffed with at least three sushi chefs. While the menu does offer sashimi and nigiri, it is heavily weighted towards Americanized rolls. The lion share of Oiishi's business appears to be take-out, with Americanized rolls in especially high demand. That being said, their traditional sushi menu, while not extensive, is of very high quality. Admittedly, this place would be considerably less well regarded were it located in SoCal or NorCal, but I agree that it is the best, or at least one of the best, sushi places in the greater Boston area.

    (4)

  • Margaret O.

    The traditional sushi is excellent. The Ikura is sometimes have out of this world fresh ikura and often the ikura that is better than anywhere else in Boston but not out of this world. Oishii I and II are the only places in Boston that I will even order it. The non-traditional sushi is generally excellent in both Brookine and Sudbury subtly different. The tuna hand roll at Oishii II (Sudbury) is better than the one in Brookline. If you are watching, you'll notice that at Oishii II the cucumber is almost always peeled while making the roll, while at Oishii I they prep these in advance. Same with the chopped tuna - it's chopped while you wait at II and a little bit of spicy mayo dressing is stirred into the corner of the box of pre-chopped tuna at Oishii I. It's hard to put your finger on the difference but you can tell. I had to watch the prep process to figure this out after noticing that the Brookline tuna salad hand roll was consistently inferior. On the flip side, the fancy cooked dishes (lobster tempura) etc tends to be better in Brookline. You can't see into either kitchen so I'm not sure why. As another reviewer noted stick to fish. We tried the Kobe beef. It was not seared and prepared in a toaster oven. Yikes! I was horrified when I saw what they were doing to it, and the dish was an excellent demonstration of why searing matters. On a busy evening all non-food aspects of the experience are downright unpleasant, but it's fine and kind of funky and fun on a Sunday afternoon or other light traffic times of the day. There is hardly any room to stand inside, so if it is busy and you are sitting at the one table and the end of the bar (about 1/2 the seating) there will be people breathing down your neck. While you are waiting the staff will try to get you to order, so they can get you in and out faster. So you are standing in a cramped corner trying to study a menu. It's awful. If there is a wait turn around and go somewhere else. I give this place four stars just because in Boston hardly any other sushi is at the same level. In San Francisco I'd give it 3.

    (4)

  • Lana G.

    Ok, this is a little (and I mean little!) piece of haven on earth. I know there's another location in Sudbury, but I've never been there, so this review is based on the Chestnut Hill location. From the look of it, it doesn't look like much, just a little hole in the wall. But do yourself a favor and try their sushi. It's almost impossible to sit down (unless you come there at odd hours), because there are only about 14 seats. It's a NY style sushi bar. It's very causal too. I see people waiting outside for hours regardless of the weather. I am lucky to live very close, so I order out. Unfortunately, not everything can be ordered out. They have special pieces that you can only get by sitting down. They have some neat customer creations as well, some are VERY good. I tried almost every sushi place in Boston. Oishii is my favorite. PS If you don't want to pick up your order, I think they deliver via diningin.

    (5)

  • DeeJay H.

    I have been to Oishii a few times and it is always a pleasure. I try to go to this location at odd hours as seating is limited. Everything Chef Ting does is exquisite- so you cannot really go wrong. BUT...you MUST have the foie gras. Have to. It is #3 in my top tasting experiences. I get it everytime I go. Hot delicious force fed duck liver over a bed of strawberries wrapped and tempura-ed and then topped with dry carrot. Heaven. Heaven I tell you. ;) The waitresses are really cute too.

    (5)

  • Tammie P.

    My fave sushi restaurant in Boston! I get take out from here almost every week and eat in about once a month. My faves are the Maki (toro with asparagus and jalapeno), the Emily sushi, Chilean sea bass, Jeffrey's maki, gyu tataki, spicy tuna cucumber handroll in the summer, and anything else on the menu, seriously.

    (5)

  • Kristina F.

    By far the best sushi in the Boston area. Elias maki, amazing. The wait staff is awesome. Friendly and cordial. Only problem? It's small so a wait is normal. For me, I'm all about take out. Their special rolls are phenomenal.

    (5)

  • Coupé P.

    Probably Boston's best place for sushi, but since I've had better (so it's not as good as it gets) can't give it 5 stars. TINY place. Oh, and I've been to the other Oishii in Boston, and this one is much better in terms of sushi experience.

    (4)

  • Joyce K.

    This establishment is so tiny and parking is pretty difficult to find. There is one table and the bar...I saw one woman beg for a seat at the bar. My friend and I sat at the bar where we awkwardly rubbed elbows with fellow diners. We ordered the following: The "Sunshine Tata" ($17) appetizer looked like a cream puff. "Salmon mixed with Wasabi, sesame and chives, wrapped in marinated white seaweed, topped with a thin layer of mashed mountain yam, and granished with sterling caviar." It's served on top of sliced lemons with a little japanese plum. What you do is mash down the caviar and yams with the salmon into the lemon to get all the flavors together and shovel in. It was pretty good but so tiny. The "Maki" covered in Toro ($20) which looked like an obese catepillar. The waitress said this one sold like 'hot cakes". It's a reverse maki with steamed asparagus and cucumbers but instead, we got cucumbers and avocado since asparagus sucks. It's topped with thick slabs of toro which is torched, topped with a ginger sauce and little jalapeno dots. The "White Tiger" ($9.50) was also insanely good. It's tuna, roe and cucumber rolled in white seaweed with sauce. The white seaweed they use is striped in black seaweed so that the roll seriously resembles a white tiger. The sauce is similar to a bernaise and kind of fuses all the ingredients of this roll together making soy sauce completely unecessary. Finally, Oishii has fish directly from Japan so we tried their Mackerel ($10ish) nigiri and it was ok. It pretty much tasted like Mackerel and I don't even like Mackerel that much... The waitress was very knowledgable and made excellent recommendations since this place is very overwhelming. Oishii is definitely an inventive sushi restaurant and from watching the orders being filled, most people get a maki topped with slices of fish, avocado, etc. It seems to be their specialty and justifiably so.

    (5)

  • L J.

    This is the best sushi place I have ever eaten at. The oishii roll is unbelievable and so is the spicy salmon handroll. Service is perfect. The wait is worth it but the best time to go is in the middle of the afternoon when it is relatively quiet. You can also ask them to just send out their best items and you will experience a treat unlike any other.

    (5)

  • Ronald L.

    Food is great, very fresh. Not worth to wait over 30 minutes to sit in this closet. If you are even a little claustrophobic, don't even walk in the door. Sushi is very good, have frequented this establishment often. Service is fast though not the friendliest. A

    (3)

  • Lalin A.

    Best Sushi in Boston. I hardly give 5 stars but Oiishi is well worth it! What to try: - California Maki with Roe: awesome presentation, mouthful - Unagi Maki: quite flavorful, a real, simple eel delight - Hamachi Tata: out of this world! Incredibly rich. - Agi Dashi Tofu: I am usually not a big fan of Tofu but this one melts in your mouth - Shiitake Mushroom Tempura Roll: crispy yet soft, such a great combination! edgy, woody flavor! Not a big fan: - White Tiger Maki: even though, previous reviews highly recommended White Tiger, I usually enjoy Unagi much more. WTiger is nearly flavorless, with a subtle taste of tuna (too subtle for me) Watch out for: - Parking can be a challenge - 15 seats + 1 with a stool: long wait, especially when the weather is nice enough to stand outside!

    (5)

  • Tony P.

    Good, not great food. Awesome , but small atmosphere. I took my family here while they were visiting from out of town last week. The place is very small, I highly recommend take-out or reservations. The food was good, but I don't think it was 'the best sushi ever'. I had my first experience with Hamachi sashimi last month in San Francisco and Oiishi's wasn't close unfortunately. They did a good job on the Tuna and Salmon sushi though. If you are looking for a good takeout place I'd recommend it, but I wouldn't go head over heels expecting the best sushi experience ever.

    (3)

  • Ross G.

    I want to love this place like everyone else, but you know what? I think its BS that people can tell how "amazingly fresh" the fish is (that one was killed three hours ago and this one was killed 17.5 minutes ago, I call bullshit). I'm sorry, its good, but its not 50 a person w/o drinks good. Hit Fugakyu *duck under rocks everyone just threw at me* Yama is dang good, Sushi Man to Go is awesome, cheap and fresh. Ginza of course, Mr Sushi is a personal favourite. Is Oishii good? Sure, would I wait an hour, outside, to eat there again? God no. Edit: In retrospect I may have sounded too critical. Its not that the food at Oishii isn't good, I just want people to remember that they have other tasty and less expensive options, instead of bying into the cult status this place is getting.

    (3)

  • Caroline T.

    This place has the most amazing sushi -- nay, *food* -- I've ever had in my entire life. I'm speechless when I think about how amazing Oishii is. It's tiny and crowded and expensive, but it's oh so worth the wait (and the cost).

    (5)

  • Nikol K.

    After hearing so much about this place, I finally decided to do the long wait to be seated at this tiny restaurant. I ordered the Chilean Sea Bass that was broiled. It arrived burnt and chewy. I know I've made it tastier in my own kitchen. Maybe Oishii just isn't good at anything but sushi. Not so. I also ordered the scallop roll and the tuna roll. Very disappointed by the bland tastes and boring texture. I just don't see what all the hype is about. I've had much better sushi at your run-of-the-mill Japanese restaurants in California.

    (3)

  • Mary M.

    Oiishi is one of those places that makes me wish we could give half-stars, because this is a three-and-a-half if ever there were one. I finally checked it out last Friday, since I was going to be in the area, and came away less than overwhelmed. Here's what I thought, pros and cons: - Atmosphere: I like. Oiishi has a medium-sized sushi bar with seating along the front and one end, and one table. Total seating is about 22 people if you pack 'em in. With that said, I was pleased to find that I wasn't jostling elbows with my sushi-bar neighbor. I got there at 6:30 on Friday and found two open seats at the sushi bar. People came and went, and seats continued to be open, but I wouldn't walk in at say 8 pm and count on finding a seat. If you're coming with several people and want The Table...well, maybe you should try for a reservation, if they do them. Service was prompt, smooth and unobtrusive. The place was quiet without trying for the sort of faux-zen garden/pan-Asian chic that's notably overdone at some other establishments. If you love sushi but could live the rest of your life without a ton of "lookit me I'm eating SUSHI!" kollege kidz and young yups in your face, this is a good choice. - Location: oh the suck. Well, it is what it is, and if I lived in the neighborhood, I might be a regular. But probably not. See below. - Prices: comparable to Fugakyu, maybe even a smidge higher. - Quality: with one exception, not comparable to Fugakyu. I got three benchmark pieces (tekka maki, sake maki, hamachi nigiri) and one just-for fun (shrimp tempura maki -- I confess a weakness). The hamachi was notably good, on a par with what I've had at Fugakyu. The salmon and tuna...were not. Not actively offensive, just completely unexceptional in taste and texture. To be truthful, I've had better many a time at Shino Sushi Express, only I didn't have to check my credit limit before I went there. The shrimp tempura maki, which is definitely a medium that calls for forgiving attitudes, was nice but unexceptional. In sum, while I might give it another try if I were to be in the neighborhood, I doubt I'll make the trip a second time.

    (3)

  • トモ T.

    The best sushi restaurant in Boston area - maybe one of the best in the country. Be prepared to wait in a line as there are only dozen seats at the counter and one table in this tiny restaurant. Bring your own sake since they don't have a liquor license.

    (5)

  • Chris W.

    Amazing, amazing, AMAZING sushi! Definitely one of the top 5 places on both coasts! Try the spicy scallop roll, sit back, watch the heavens part, and hear the angels sing. Admittedly, we've never even tried to get a seat at this incredibly crammed and tiny place. But even taking the sushi home, it really is that good. If there is another liability here, the sushi can be so huge, that it's good to eat this with lots of friends. And, don't be shy about cutting up some pieces to spread the wealth. Recently went to the S. Boston location and it was an utter disappointment. DO NOT judge this place by the S. Boston food. If they get their act together down there, they'll have a gold mine. Right now, just feels like the shaft.

    (5)

  • Avi T.

    I like to think that I can tell decent sushi from great sushi. This is fantastic. I've had sushi as good in few other places. I can't think of one that would be better. A - plus for quality and for service.

    (5)

  • Ellen C.

    I love Oishii. This is the best place in Boston for Sushi and you must must must come to this one - the original one on Route 9! I have been to Tokyo for sushi and this is equivalent to the sushi at Sushi Dai at the Fish Market. The line is always long though so I'd recommend going when it opens.

    (5)

  • Debra K.

    Oishi in Chestnut hill is TINY - but the sushi is very clean, fresh and simply very good. It is on par with the one in Sudbury, in fact, I saw the same chef in both. This continues to be my MA go-to sushi place - reasonably priced and a cut above mostly everything else around. I'm confident that there is a high turn over, never any fishy or lemon-y smells and the staff is friendly. The only place to go...

    (4)

  • B. B.

    It's worth the wait... As other reviewers have pointed out, Oishii has very limited seating and this can be very frustrating. I would recommend that you get take-out, but it's fun to watch the sushi chefs in action. (Blowtorches are involved). I think Oishii probably has the highest sushi chef -to-customer ratio I've seen in Boston, with three chefs serving fifteen people. Of course wait-time and entertainment aren't nearly as important as the food. The sushi at Oishii is innovative and tasty. They have quite a few amazing rolls. I highly recommend the "trust me, it's Oishii" (though not if you don't like spicy food). There's also an item on the menu that has lemon slices wrapped around salmon, wrapped around a roll. Though I was skeptical before tasting it, it's now one of my favorites.

    (4)

  • Stefano B.

    Been here once. A bit more expensive than your average sushi joint but definitely worth checking out. Some very interesting stuff on the menu. I can't wait top go back and experience more. Quality all around is definitly above average.

    (4)

  • S. C.

    I have been to many sushi restaurants in and and around Boston. I have yet to find one that I like more than Oishii. My must-have at Oishii is the Lobster Tempura.

    (5)

  • Kim N.

    The best sushi I've had in Boston... and yet technically it's not even in Boston. We don't have a car, so we have to trek out here via T, but it is totally worth it. The food is delish and the prices are reasonable. Try to have an early dinner so you can avoid the wait. Can't wait to eat here again!

    (5)

  • Apiron A.

    Greatest sushi in Boston. Much better than its sister Boston location. Only downside, limited seating. Prepare to wait or go prior to opening or do pickup.

    (5)

  • Sam S.

    Oishi is hands down the best Sushi bar in the entire boston area. I have lived here for 24 years and never tasted fresher yummier fish, or experienced more delectable chef's specials. Don't believe the hype of other Sushi restaurants....GO HERE. WARNING: This restaurant seats about 14 people. You have to put your name on a clipboard - CALL AHEAD when you're on your way and they'll put it on for you. You will be in sushi heaven. I'm hungry.

    (5)

  • ben -.

    Here's the scoop on Oishii: their sushi is fantastic. It's been popular for years, and it always crowded. They're a little out of the way and the place is tiny, which just makes it more crowded. It's also pretty expensive so get ready. To me, it's one of those places you go once or twice to see what really fantastic sushi tastes like and then you go somewhere without the hassle on a regular basis.

    (4)

  • Danae K.

    5/5!!! Aside from the fact that it's tiny, and only fits 15 people, it's wonderful! You can get every single type of sushi your heart desires and it is amazing! My favorite is getting ikura with quail eggs, unagi, Uni etc. I also got their udon soup! Very flavorful. Portions are superb, and the quality of fish is excellent!

    (5)

  • Nam L.

    Don't order sushi combos here, the chefs won't put as much care in your order. Order the fresh specials of the day, the special varieties of salmon (white salmon), tuna (toros), uni (Hokkaido vs CA or Maine), shrimp, scallops, etc. Order the special makis and appetizers. This is where all the hype about Oishii comes from. The sushi here is the most fresh in Boston. If you order the specials, you can be assured of their super freshness and quality, and the skills the chefs put in preparing those piece of fish. I think there is a new crop of chefs in Boston who have arrived and are coming who were trained in the superior skills and creative flavors of Oishii. Fish Market was the first I knew about, and it seems more are cropping up, like Koi in Quincy. Now try the original and see if you can perceive the difference yourself. Even if the skills of the chef are up to standard, most haven't developed the long term relationship w/ suppliers that Oishii has, so their fish won't be as extremely fresh or so high quality. I go here and not the South End one because that seems too large and impersonal. The menu seems more expensive there to compensate for the space! Also, I saw the recent new locals, Tom Brady and Gisele leaving here last year. I was standing next to the door about to go in, and he and Gisele walked out. I was an arm span's a ways, and the closest I will be to gods. Lastly, you can eat gold here if you want, but we should all strive towards losing weight.

    (5)

  • Matt M.

    I find it befuddling that this place is held in such high regard by my fellow yelp reviewers. Sure, the dishes are beautifully plated, the food is vibrant and colorful, and service is wonderful. But, and this is a big but, the food isn't that good. I've loved sushi my entire life and while I was blown away by their take on the California roll, everything else was just "eh". I loved how they take a chance and try to incorporate truffles into some rolls and an ice cream dish (which was certainly not to my liking) but its just too overpowering. Obviously I'm not a trained chef, but it seemed like they ordered too much and were trying desperately to use it all before it spoiled. That being said if you have an adventurous pallet and a fat wallet give this place a shot.

    (3)

  • Tess K.

    Went here with a party of 4 on Saturday at 6:30. We got a table right away, but 10 minutes later a line started building up out the door. Great sushi, great presentation, large portions. Yes, perhaps a bit pricey, but with sushi you don't want cheap! The "Soup for Two" was big enough for 4 and had lots of vegetables. Will absolutely go back again.

    (5)

  • Dee A.

    Place is wayyyy tiny. During the winter, sitting by the entrance is the worst. Service was neither good nor bad. Food was OK.

    (3)

  • Erin S.

    Came here on a Wednesday evening - right before they were about to close which was a mistake. We asked if they could still serve us when we walked in and they assured us they could but that it was last call. We sat at the sushi bar (only two diners in the restaurant) and looked at the menu for about 3 minutes before the server came over to take our order so not a ton of time to look at the menu. But since it was on the later side, we ordered spicy tuna handrolls and then asked the server for recommendations on a few more rolls partly because it didn't appear he was going to give us anymore time with the menu. The sushi was prepared in record time (we were the only table after all) and was really good - fish is fresh and some of their dishes are unique. I had actually given my credit card to the server just after we ordered because I was trying to outpay my dining companion. And they left the check for us to sign after delivering the food - which would have been fine but one of the employees came by after 2 minutes (meaning mid-meal) to insist I sign the check. Meanwhile, while we are eating, the rest of the staff is clearing out and cleaning - which made for a bit of an awkward experience for us because it's increasingly clear that they want us out of here. As I mentioned, we had asked before sitting if it was ok for us to come in - and while the food was good, the dining experience was terrible. Imagine if you went to someone's house for dinner and they spent the entire time hovering around you waiting for you to finish and essentially cleaning things around you. At the end of our meal - we commented to the server that we felt rushed and that we did have high expectations but were disappointed with the experience. While he did sort of apologize - he didn't acknowledge the issue which was one of hospitality. He was a bit defensive and inquired only whether the food was good. Had he apologized and perhaps suggested that we come back another time we may have considered it. We had really high expectations for this place because of the way that people rave about the food but due to service/experience we will not be back.

    (1)

  • Timothy D.

    Couldn't agree more with Pamela's review. I spent a number of years in Southern California before the sushi craze spread across the US. Truly great sushi is hard to find here (as is good Mexican). However, while Oishii (Newton) is good, it's not 5 stars. Perhaps it was because I went for lunch versus dinner, but I expect the bar to be more upbeat and the chefs to be engaging with their customers. Granted I am not a regular, so perhaps my expectations are too high, but I am used to a little chatter with the itamae-san. I got there around 11:45 and it was packed by lunch time. Forewarned, I am a sushi purist. I don't do the silly rolls and don't mind paying top dollar for top quality. Sushi is not where you should look for a bargain. Service was prompt. Here is the play by play: Uni - excellent, fresh and firm - the sign of a good sushi restaurant Hamachi - good, but slices were skimpy Tako - very good Ama-Ebi - very good, excellent job frying the heads, nice presentation Saba - very good Unagi - disappointing, eel sauce was thin and lacked flavor I would definitely go back and would recommend it to anyone looking for good sushi. If I lived closer I could see this being a regular spot for dinner.

    (4)

  • Arbutus C.

    Well, I haven't been back to this place for a while. It used to be one of my favorite Japanese restaurants. But, to my surprise, the quality of the food has dropped precipitously. They have replaced the sushi rice with the cheaper one and the sushi fish is so thinly sliced that makes the taste incoherant. I have known the owners, both husband and wife, for a real long time. They are real business people who count their profit and manage their cost excesively. But I think this time they have really gone too far. I am definitely not going back. There are many options, much better options, now in the greater Boston area. You are better off to buy a sushi package at Wholefood than at Oiishi's. That shows how far it has dropped. Enjoy your money and kick out your customers!

    (2)

  • Cassandra M.

    Good sushi, not overwhelmingly mayonnaisey as some rolls can be. The place is very small with just one table and the sushi bar - but we actually didn't have to wait very long. Tip - you put your name on the list hanging on the wall in front of you when you walk in.

    (4)

  • Maria E.

    Very good sushi. However, I didn't approach this place correctly. I came here during lunch one day and ordered the lunch special (Boston Maki). Mistake. Don't get me wrong, the sushi was fresh and delicious but in a place that offers very innovative rolls (sea urchin, kobe beef, etc.) this felt like a waste. The lunch special came with miso (good), green salad (I've had better ginger dressing elsewhere) and 3 pieces of sashimi and 6 pieces of sushi. Good but c'mon - snoozefest. I had to order a special roll to go just to feel like I tried something here. I didn't inspect the menu thoroughly until after I ordered. The really crazy rolls on the special menu (they even have a foie gras roll - which I don't eat but I've never seen that before) are pricey but are definitely a treat for the sushi lover looking for something new. I'd absolutely come back here to try some of the more fun rolls. The service was quick and good but I was also one of the only customers at the time. It is a small and popular place and tends to get packed/busy at certain times. I did stop by here once on a Saturday afternoon (mid) and there was a 20 minute wait so we left.

    (4)

  • Kevin L.

    Having gone to school in Newton, I had no idea this hole-in-the-wall existed! I've definitely driven past this spot a million times as well. My first experience here was superb!!! I arrived at 5pm, but this place got PACKED by the time I left at 6:15pm. My suggestion is to go early. The place is also pretty small as well. However, I don't think it'd be too long of a wait seeing how they bring out your food lightning quick. We probably got our sushi within 10 mins of ordering it. I had the Tokyo Style Soft Shell Crab maki and the Crispy maki with tuna.....I think that's what it was called???? Regardless, all the fish was extremely fresh. Can't wait to try the entrees next time!

    (5)

  • Dan V.

    Wonderful, small, sushi bar and restaurant. Great service, authentic style. One of my favorite places.

    (5)

  • Christine J.

    i think i'll be the only one giving a 1 star review but i gotta be honest with how i feel. one word: UNIMPRESSED. i never trust chinese owned sushi places and this place solidified my belief. we came bc we had a gift card here. heard good things about this place from several ppl. mostly those who's never lived in japan or non japanese. but with all these 5 star reviews, i had high expectations of the place. we got miso soup, avocado salad, and chef's sushi deluxe. not 1 item was authentically japanese. it was like one of those chinese restaurants that serve sushi and the late night post clubbing crowd type of food. comparing it to Ginza and Suishaya in chinatown. the sushi was not fresh, the sushi rice was sour, not the right mixture. the smell made me almost vomit. shrimp was tough and old.. i was so appalled by it all. the only thing thats authentic is the set up of the restaurant, small with limited room (which is a sad imitation of japan - bc thats japan's only downside) the waiters/hosts were all chinese or vietnamese, yelling loudly as they run around the place trying to organize/direct traffic. their nails were long and it was in my miso soup as they brought it to me. ya.. nothing else needs to be said. i am sooo unimpressed with this place, regretting we went there. but had to bc of the kind gesture a friend did - getting us a big gift card there. i wish i liked it but it's so not good that i'm beyond boggled at their rating on yelp. ask any japanese person to rate this restaurant and you will see.

    (1)

  • Justin C.

    I should probably put a disclaimer that I haven't had sushi or any decent Asian food since I moved to the south 5 months ago. But dear god was this place pretty amazing. This was probably some of the best I've had in a really long time (I lived in San Francisco prior for a few years). There is some unusual dishes and some common rolls that will please just about anyway. I definitely would recommend the spicy scallop, which really isn't very spicy. Maybe more like a mild. O-toro and dragon eye were also great. For these I wished I savored it a bit more. The tofu was also very tasty and a good way to fill your belly because the price can be a little shocking for a poor grad student like myself. The only weak point was for me was the white tiger, while still good, couldn't compare to the others. Oh, and also I was told the kobe beef was not worth it at $9 a piece ($18 for 2). I don't eat beef so I didn't try. This place is tiny, so come at a reasonable time. We came in right when it opened and so we didn't have a problem. We left about 12:15 pm and there were still a few seats open.

    (5)

  • Rita V.

    Pricey, but OH SO Creative, not your run-of-the-mill Sushi. Rice is always fresh. Their popcorn shrimp is addictive. Its a "special date night" sushi joint, because it is small, intimate, cozy and pricy. AND you DO GET what you pay for here. Applaud the kitchen - their creativity is really superb.

    (4)

  • Carl B.

    Amazing......nothing else to say... oh wait, there was a seared fatty tuna roll that gets seared with a food torch; not only is it a treat to watch them sear the tuna, it's absolutely a party in your mouth once you take that first bite. - I'd knock off one star for having so little seating, but I suppose I knew what I was getting myself into when I walked in.

    (5)

  • Heather M.

    The sushi here is unreal. If you care about quality this is your place. It is also really quick and the service is great! I had the caterpillar roll and rainbow roll. The miso soup is OK. Try the Spicy Tuna Hand roll.... AMAZING.

    (5)

  • Greg P.

    Excellent Sushi in the Boston Suburbs Oishii is located just past the Chestnut Hill Mall and the Street Shopping Complex on the way to Brookline. My wife and I have both eaten in and taken out. If you can arrive early (definitely before 6PM), you will encounter little or no wait. The dining area is very small and simple. The dining in experience is all about the sushi... it's not going to be a great place for a large meeting of friends, special occasion, romantic dinner, etc. It IS a great place for devastatingly good sushi though. We have found that Oishii really excels at the take-out experience. Fast and efficient, the sushi quality is just as good in the comfort of your own home. Standout sushi offerings include the spicy tuna roll which is fresh and not overloaded with spicy mayo. Also, the sashimi is extremely fresh with nice generous chunks. We loved the salmon, yellowtail, and amberjack. The soft shell crab maki and shrimp tempura are also crunchy, warm, and delicious. The highlight was the hamachi torched maki which had a great flavor from the seared yellowtail. The service is excellent and the prices are comparable to other competitors. For comparison, Oishii provides better value than Fugakyu in Brookline. In addition, Oishii has a more innovative and creative menu with many more offerings than Fugakyu. Oishii has become one of our regular places for Sushi!

    (4)

  • Steven E.

    We ordered a large plate of sushi here for a birthday party. It was a very large order. Some of the rolls had cream cheese in them "example: Philly Rolls" and unfortunately the cream cheese was old and moldy. I took most of the order back to them, and they remade the whole order from scratch. Other than that little mishap, the rolls were tasty and the fish is fresh. Thanks Oishii!

    (4)

  • Amy P.

    4 stars because of the space limitation. I think this is the best sushi restaurant in Boston area. They are very fresh as always. I had the sushi and sashimi for two and they were amazing. The crispy mango(?) roll was also really good!

    (4)

  • Mike S.

    Walked in 9:30pm and was told that I have to eat quick since they are closing soon - walked away same moment - what a BS - never will go again

    (1)

  • Tanya L.

    I'd give them 100 stars if I could!! I am an avid sushi lover and have lived in four different major cities now (ATL, BOS, NYC, SF) - AND I still think this is the ABSOLUTE BEST SUSHI place around! The only sushi spot that comes close is Nobu NYC and it definitely doesn't compare on a price level as it is far more expensive. Only thing is that there are only 12 seats at Oishii so be ready to wait a bit, but its totally worth the wait, you won't be disappointed! Favorites: Paula Maki, Black Cod Appetizer, Salmon Meal on the Hot Stone, Spicy Tuna Hand Roll, and just about every roll on the menu....

    (5)

  • Scott M.

    The best sushi in the New England area. If you dont mind waiting and sitting at the small sushi bar you will not be disappointed. I have been going to Oishii for years and each time has been amazing. They have the most creative rolls around and everything tastes incredibly fresh! I prefer the Chestnut Hill location over Boston or Sudbury

    (5)

  • Michelle T.

    Totally a 4.5 star restaurant, but I rounded down to 4 just because it IS a little out of the way and it IS on the pricey side in a rather cramped space. However, excellent flavors, interesting menu and good service. It's made it to one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Boston of all time! It was only a short 10 minute wait for a table for 2 around 1pm on a Saturday afternoon. There was only one table that seats 4 ppl, and the rest of the seats were at the sushi bar (maybe another 10 max seats). So...forget about bringing your big group of friends here! We ordered 3 special rolls and 1 appetizer between two people, which turned out to be the perfect amount of food. Unfortunately, they brought us the check before our appetizer even made it out of the kitchen!! (Grilled cod) So we ended up having the rolls first before eating the appetizer, but the fish was well worth the wait. Grilled cod with sweet miso sauce - ~$13 Excellent flavors with a piping hot piece of tender, melt-in-your-mouth cod sitting in a cold sweet and sour miso based sauce. Topped with fresh sliced scallions that bring a lovely crunch and contrast to the soft bites of fish. Tokyo Style soft shell crab maki - $14 Our favorite roll! (see pics) Freshly fried warm soft shell crab, rolled with tamago (egg), unagi, cucumber, and daikon. A rich, hearty and flavorful maki. You can't go wrong with this one! We also had two other maki's which I can't remember the names of (one was named after a person!)...Sorry! They were both really delicious and in the $14 or so price range. Delicious, filling meal...I would definitely come back! just wish it weren't so far our of the way for me!

    (4)

  • The Throwin S.

    Oishii is the best sushi in the Boston area, bar none. I have visited several times over the last 5 years and it is consistently superb. Super fresh. Fast and impeccable service. I recommend going early or taking out, since there are very few seats.

    (5)

  • Pamela L.

    Coming from California, I find it nearly impossible to find: 1) decent Japanese food; 2) decent hair stylists; and 3) decent Mexican food. Oishii, though, has the best sushi in the Boston area. I've been to both locations--Chestnut Hill and Boston. Both are good, but the Chestnut Hill location is more quaint (but also incredibly cramped). The sushi is top notch, and presented beautifully--very artistically done.

    (5)

  • Sharon Z.

    Finally made to the original Oishii after so long! Now I have completed my quest of conquering all the Oishii's and they are all beyond amazing. We found ourselves 2 blocks away from Oishii after a sushi making class (and already being stuffed out by sushi), but how could we pass the perfect opportunity to venture into this legendary sushi place? (No line and no wait on Saturday at 4 pm) The place is small, with around 10 seats at the sushi bar and one table that sits a few people. And you really must try pretty hard to squeeze in one of the seats. ALL VERY WORTH IT. A wall full of food awards and recognition plaques says a lot. The food is amazing, from presentation of the dish, to quality of the fish, to the very taste. Perfection can be found here. We ordered just one maki (negitoro maki), agedashi tofu and himachi kama (how we wished our stomach can hold unlimited food). The negitori maki is surprisingly simple, fatty tuna with scallion with seaweed on the outside. Who knew. The fresh flavor of the scallion prepares your mouth for the delicious, tender, soft toro, so refreshing, so heavenly. The portions for the hamachi kama and agedashi tofu are relatively large (compared to Oishii Boston). The hamachi kama is cooked thoroughly and tender but not drying, the flavor along with the sauce, exquisite. The age dashi tofu fittingly light, but full of flavor, the scallions, pickled veggies and dry bonito flakes complements the flavor. The outside is perfectly crispy and the inside soft and melts on your tongue. It's also really entertaining to watch the chefs create their wonderful and unique dishes, cavier with gold flakes, uni shots with quail egg while planning out what to order next time. They did forget part of our order, but it's all forgiven since the food is just too good to have negative thoughts. What an experience. I'm so impressed with is that all the Oishii's have consistently wonderful food with exquisite quality. That is perfection.

    (5)

  • Nicholas U.

    I live down the street from here and finally was able to go here (twice) in the past couple of weeks. It is very small, so going with over 3 people isn't recommended. Also try going during off hours if possible because you'll be standing in a line if you go during the rush. The staff is very friendly here and the sushi is wonderful. Tried a couple of the combo plates along with some of the maki rolls. Everything was quick, fairly priced compared to any other sushi establishment, fresh, and most importantly extremely delicious. I have read other reviews with the fish not being fresh. It makes me think that it depends what day you go on and if you visit them the same day they get a fresh delivery.

    (5)

  • Nils R.

    Intimate and authentic sushi restaurant with most seating at a bar and only a few tables.

    (5)

  • Marsha F.

    Despite the Korean lineage, the owners they certainly do Japanese cuisine Justice! This would be a perfect rating- the sushi is 6 stars- the only thing that decreases the score is the suboptimal dining space. Physical plant layout is such they only have 16 or 17 seats and only two tables; one is never quite sure if the seating plan At the hostess stand is actually accurate. Be advised that if you park in any of the lots nearby for other businesses they will tow you... Like it's their job! That said -this is tremendous sushi, hands down Despite the inconvenience and or discomfort you might experience while eating it!

    (4)

  • Vivian C.

    My most expensive lunch thus far - $45, for two rolls and a shared order of the lobster tempura. But I have to say, those lobstar claws were the bomb! (typo intended). According to the menu, the lobster tempura $24 were to come 4 claws to an order with some kind of honey mustard sauce, fried potato chips and cucumbers. Instead, we received 7 claws (nice and so very much appreciated in these days of the cheaper crustacean) carefully set above a pool of super yummy (yet crystally with unmelted sugar) creamy sauce, with crisp chips and cool slices of cukes. I really enjoyed this dish. The Tokyo style soft shell crab maki $14 and the Scorpion Maki $11 were less impressive in comparison yet still satisfying. The soft shell crab was huge. But even more impressive were the number of lobster claws I witnessed one of the sushi chefs cramming into another party's maki order - no wonder the cost of some of these dishes are so high! The sashimi pieces in my friend's Chirashi lunch special $25 (which came with miso soup and salad) were rather huge - more than one bite apiece, but everything glistened appetizingly if I were a raw fish eater. Within 10 minutes, we had received our entire order, which was delivered piecemeal as each item was prepared. The place didn't quite fill up completely during lunch on this Saturday, but some seats turned over quite quickly. At the single four person table top, they prefer parties of two to sit across from one another and (quite understandably) to be willing to share the table. They open for lunch at 1pm on Saturdays, and they have a single bathroom by the cashier if you need it. *** 9/2013 *** There were seats available at the bar (sushi bar) when I popped in to pick up a take-out order around 5:40pm one Thursday evening. My order came in a reusable store branded bag - bring it back, I was told, and get 5% off my next take-out order. Nice!

    (4)

  • David O.

    I have always been very satisfied with Oga's. The sushi is delicious and when I go for lunch the bento box does the trick. Large parties are welcome and I have used them to cater huge events at my work. You will always get my recommendation.

    (5)

  • Michael L.

    Consistently excellent. The freshness and size of the sushi and sashimi are second to none. Chefs are impressive to watch in their efficiency, artistry, and cleanliness.

    (4)

  • Lee D.

    Used to be a the best Sushi in Boston, but these days it is a hit and miss. One day you get a great sushi and great service, then the next time service is horrible and sushi is just ok... I keep coming back remembering the good old days when this was great each and every time, but sometimes it is just not worth it...

    (3)

  • Jennifer S.

    Tiny place but the sushi was delicious. The rolls were beautiful and I enjoyed my dining experience. I totally recommend this place and it's better than most sushi restaurants in the Boston area.

    (4)

  • Maria G.

    The best Sushi restaurant in Massachusetts, most likely. This will be the only restaurant we will miss when we head West in 7 days.

    (5)

  • tman s.

    This place is small but hands down the best sushi and freshest tasting that i been too... If you go get there early before the rush or right after the rush... Chef prepares everything right in front of you. And although this place is small you can feel overcrowded... Oh yes and please don't forget to grab a tall sapporo beer for me and let the night come to you..!

    (5)

  • K K.

    My boyfriend and I ate here many times before and it wasn't the line out the door or the small space that bothered us, we are willing to wait for good sushi. The reason we were so displeased with this specific Oishii is that I ordered the Black Cod and it being a pricey dish, was expecting it to be as good as the Black Cod at the Oishii in the South End. We placed the order for the Cod immediately upon sitting down knowing it would take a long time. It took much longer than expected, my boyfriend was done eating his food by the time I finally got the Cod and sadly, it was very dry and tasted very over cooked. When I tried to politely complain about the quality of the fish and request to not be billed for it, the staff would have nothing of it. There were not friendly or understanding at all, unlike the other Oishii in the south bay, who actually cares when their customers have an issue and will do whatever they can to resolve it or at least meet you half way. If you are considering Oishii, I'd recommend the south end location more than this one, the staff isn't very understanding if you have an issue with the quality of their food. I feel, if you are spending money on what you expect to be quality fish you should get it or not have to pay. The customer is always right kinda thing.

    (2)

  • thomas k.

    oishii is probably the best sushi in the boston area. at least it's the best i've ever had. i had to spend an inordinate amount of time in cambridge / boston for about 4 years straight. and had tried pretty much everything. there are great italian restaurants in town. french too. but ethnic wasn't so hot. coming from LA, i had to get my sushi fix. after a few years of trying a bunch of different places in town, i came upon oishii, not even close to cambridge, and after a $30 cab ride from my hotel in front of some god forsaken mall, i landed at oishii. the fish was properly cut. the presentation wasn't noteworthy due to the world's smallest sushi restaurant (it's really just a sushi bar with one table) at least when i used to go there. and the small dishes was excellent. when i see a yellowtail collar, or any other collar for that matter, on the menu, i always try to get it. never have i had collar grilled so perfectly as this place, outside of my few favorite places back home, not even in NYC. really, it's the best sushi i've had in the east coast period. this place makes me think about detouring everytime i fly across the country.

    (4)

  • Barbara S.

    By far the best sushi in all of Boston and perhaps the East Coast... I don't really like eating at the restaurant because they do not have a very good wine selection. I would say we have take out at least once every two weeks and when our kids are home even more frequently. They keep track of what we order and how we like the sushi or maki prepared. They know that we like low sodium soy. The sushi is spectacular. Some of our favorites include Joe's Kazan Maki, Brad's maki and all of the sushi.

    (5)

  • Wendy L.

    Sushi dishes are interesting but totally overpriced. Unless you don't mind dropping $20 per sushi dish, don't even think about going to Oishii.

    (3)

  • Angela L.

    This place has amazing sushi and the plating is a work of art in itself. The restaurant is tiny, but extremely cozy. I'm probably bi-est because I'm a recent college graduate, however I found the sushi to be fairly overpriced. There were so many amazing-sounding sushi rolls, but I had to hold back because of the prices listed! I will definitely be back, but only when my wallet can take it!

    (4)

  • Anonymous P.

    The fish is extraordinarily fresh and tasty. If you venture away from sashimi and nigiri, the chefs have a tendency to overdo it with mayonnaise and pools of soy sauce (once I ordered the finest toro, on ice, soaking in salty soy sauce--ruined it). Most but not all items are very, very expensive--if you order wrong you will regret it. My personal belief is that the ultra-complicated, ultra-expensive rolls are a waste of money--you can't taste all those delicate, pricey ingredients when they're combined into a roll, torched, mixed with mayo, wrapped in shisho or avocado, what have you. Every time I go to Oishii I end up spending over $100 on just myself. There are some decent deals, like the sashimi or sushi platters. It is comforting to know that the fish will absolutely be high quality. I think the rolls are done well, but generally I'd prefer less use of mayo. Great place, no doubt about it--it's only the high prices that make me miss Los Angeles. And the difficulty getting a seat. Otherwise I'd eat here every other day. Definitely merits five stars if price isn't factored in.

    (4)

  • David F.

    Best Sushi north of NYC. It's crowded, it's tight, and the food is amazing. Completely different than the Oishii in Copley Mall in Boston.

    (5)

  • Caroline O.

    We had been waiting to try Oishii in person. We had ordered takeout from them several years earlier and dining in brought it to us so late that the sushi just didn't taste as good. We decided to finally get a sitter and go in person to see if the reviews we had read lived up to the hype. It was a very special meal. We waited 25 minutes to be seated but it was worth the wait. The sushi was fresh, creative, and delicious. I did not give Oishii 5 stars because I was expecting extraordinary and it just wasn't. It was great but not spectacular. Parking is difficult and the wait was long but if you are craving yummy sushi and good service-Oishii does have it!

    (4)

  • Kathleen M.

    Hands down the best sushi I've ever had...EVER! So delicious that you'll forget how long you waited (and wait you will!). The specials are amazing, as are many of their customer-created rolls. "The maki" covered with toro is one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten..when they say "trust me, it's Oishi", your best choice is to do so! Chefs wielding blowtorches add to the atmosphere, and the deliciousness of many items.

    (5)

  • Naomi T.

    BEST SUSHI, hands down. Sushi is so fresh. The menu is different than most other places (kobe beef on hot stone, extravagant rolls, a lot of hot torched specialities, outrageously delicious combos/hand rolls). I brought friends who've never had sushi before and now they love it and can tell the difference between the fresh sushi here from the junk at other places. It's definintely quality. It's a tiny little place off of the Chestnut Hill T-Stop. It's such a hotspot that there's always a long line that wraps outside to the sidewalk. It's worth the wait, and many who stand outside agree. Sometimes you get seated within 5 minutes, sometimes it's 45 minutes. There's only 1 table that will accomodate a group of 4, everyone else sits in a single line around the sushi bar. It's difficult for large groups to sit together. Parties of 2 work best. It's a great date place, though it can get stuffy. Just remember to check in with the host and write your name down on the wait list. If you don't want to wait, just call-in for a pickup. We saw Bob Kraft picking up his order one night. My boyfriend, being a die-hard Pats fan, pointed one finger up in the air and told him "I love you, man!" Mr. Kraft knodded and said thanks as he left the building.

    (5)

  • J L.

    If we're basing the review just on food, it's without a doubt 5 stars and home to some of the best sushi in the Boston area. Incredibly fresh and delicious. The prices are decent. It's not a budget place, but it's not particularly expensive either considering how good it is. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the place is smaller than your living room. One or two small tables and a sushi counter that seats maybe 12. It's not a good place for groups and if you don't luck out, you may get stuck waiting for awhile; even on a random weeknight. But, I certainly recommend checking it out even if it's just for takeout.

    (4)

  • Tim B.

    They don't have much to offer besides the best sushi in town. But did I mention it's the best sushi in town?

    (5)

  • Sandra C.

    Really great inventive sushi. I haven't seen these rolls anywhere else. Unfortunately, I love their most expensive stuff! My boyfriend and I ate $74 worth of sushi in one night. :-/ Be forewarned, it's really crowded there and the line is long. We had to wait about an hour just to sit on a very cramped side of the sushi bar. Loved the sushi, but wasn't willing to wait that long since that first time.

    (4)

  • Christopher L.

    Best sushi of my life. I live in CA and have considered flying to Boston just for Oishii. It's very expensive but who cares. Did I mention it was the best sushi of my life? Expect to pay $60-120 but it's worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Russell F.

    I feel sorry for all of the reviewers that have raved about the sushi here. YOU DON"T HAVE A CLUE!!!! When I read reviews that state that a sushi bar is great because of its California rolls or tempura xxx rolls or seaweed salad (purchased in bulk by the way) or it's shumai (purchased frozen in bulk by the way) I get very peeved. Oishii does more things wrong than it does right, and although it may be in the top 20 for the Boston area, the sad fact is that Boston does not have good sushi. I have eaten at Oishii about ten times and each time there was a fatal flaw or 5. The first time I had 'Nobu style' blackened miso cod because the owner was said to have worked for Nobu. The fish was overcooked and chewy, the sauce was all sugar and no flavor and the dish was NOTHING like Nobu's which I have had about 100 times. I also had their version of the Nobu dish that they call toro 'tata' (can't spell?) which was served so cold that the flavor of the fish was missing. Even when I have had fish at the proper temperature, most of the time the flavor is lacking. I think that they skimp on quality to give customers larger portions. And what about the proportions? Authentic Japanese sushi is very much about proportion, balance, aesthetics. I don't want a huge chunk of fish, whether sushi or sashimi, I want a properly cut piece of fish. With sushi, it should balance the rice and be a single mouthful. This make a big difference when it comes to flavor also. But at Oishii it seems like they prefer to give you more fish and less flavor. In addition, the rice has seldom been prepared to the proper texture and temperature. If you have a chance, visit Sushi Yasuda, Hatsuhana, Nobu or the best of all, Masa in New York and you will get a great lesson in proper sushi-making. If in LA go to Nobu's original restaurant, Matsuhisa. Once you know what sushi can be, perhaps you will help change these restaurants. When it comes to Oishii, all I can say is OyVay.

    (1)

  • David P.

    Five for food, two for the wait and the atmosphere. The sushi is as good as anyplace in the area, much better than most. They offer really fine cuts of fish and generous slices of fish on their sushi. For me, this explains and justifies the higher prices. The problems come from the wait and the size of the place. The people who seem to tolerate the wait the best seem to enjoy the camaraderie of their fellow Oishii fanatics. However once inside there is no place far away from the buzz of anxious customers waiting in line. Sushi is a subtle sensual experience and the atmosphere is not conducive to really enjoying it. My advice: Take out, or, Call ahead and ask to be put on the wait list. Come when the weather is nice and you won't have people cramming in the entrance way while waiting to be seated. Come a little while before opening time on a slow day.

    (4)

  • Ryan D.

    This is my go to spot for sushi when i dont feel like dishing out hundreds of dollars at O ya. Second best sushi in Boston! The Fish is always fresh and the place is always packed. The Kobe steak is very sweet and very tender. I could almost taste the great life the wagyu cow had mmm nothing like a drunk cow! Overall the product they offer is worth more then what they charge.

    (5)

  • Rachel T.

    Definitely more of a takeout friendly place, as it is really small. However, I was not disappointed in the food. My roomie and I ordered 6-8 different items for takeout and loved every piece!

    (4)

  • Annie P.

    This place is golden, right? It has been in the Yelpers No.1 spot forever now. I think it's only fair to say that out of respect for the restaurant and everyone that I can't give it the 5 stars yet because I've only been there once. There to wait an hour in the corner for our food-to-go. It was totally our faults going in at 9PM when they close at 10PM. Got lost, it was like mission impossible made possible. No sarcasm.. we should have gotten there early. Oh but have no fear because they squeezed in two people right after they told us to order takeout. Forgot to mention that we went in a group of four. Also a mistake that everyone warned us about. Anyway.. I hope you understand that I think I really got the whole "FEEL" of the entire place including customers within that hour. Customers that would chew their food so slowly and nod in approval to each other without saying a word.. then simultaneously looking at the super professional busy chefs in front of them in awe. I swear I saw one woman savoring the tiny Tobiko (flying fish eggs) probably stuck between her teeth. These people were just SILENTLY in bliss. That reminds me... it's way too quiet in there. Eating should be somewhat loose and fun up to a point. I "get" the high demand but c'mon. It is all there though because you had the business high clientele trying to seat their late friends with them at the one sole table and not thinking about anybody else. Basically rushing and making the poor couple sitting with them uncomfortable enough to chug their food in 10 minutes and leave. They didn't seem to mind though.. like they felt lucky to have sat there any way. HA! Then you also had the sweat pants students coming in to pick up their call orders.. many many of them. So that was nice to observe. Staff was nice and courteous while we waited.. watching them open bottles left and right, bringing out amazing looking dishes one after another.. bussing and wiping down everything within minutes. Skilled. Okay I shut the mouth and go into what really matters... the GOODS. We went basic O.G for our first time.. the Sushi Deluxe and Sashimi Deluxe. For those two bins.. price was reasonable. Packaged perfectly... took about 30 minutes to get home. Everything was fresh and tasty. Didn;t care for Ebi.. but the less popular Tako was good. Best Unagi tasted. Would die for Saba (Mackeral) and Toro again. Too norm.. must try the more crazy items.. made us feel like we really did not get the full experience but till next time.

    (4)

  • Eva B.

    This restaurant definitely gets 5 stars for sushi, but a 3 for seating situations, although the environment is not terrible. The waitress was going to seat another party of two at the same table that I was sitting at with my friends. She eventually realized that this was a terrible idea, and sat them down somewhere else. The sushi here is absolutely top notch, and the best I have yet to have in Boston. I highly recommend it for take out, as well. Now I need to go try Oishii Boston...$30 a roll I hear?! Best be good!

    (5)

  • Amy W.

    Best sushi around. No question. Fish is extremely fresh & portion size is generous. Absolutely worth the wait & the tight seating. Gives me a chance to check out what all the other folks are eating & strike up a conversation with them. Always a blast watching the sushi masters torch, roll, slice, basically whip up masterpieces. Would recommend going early or late on weeknights to avoid waiting too long.

    (5)

  • wsl l.

    I have a love hate relationship with this place. I hate that this place always has a 30min or more wait and that it is soooo tiny. Unforutanley it is by far one of the best sushi places in Boston. The service is quick and .. hit or miss somewhat friendly., they are as eager to get you in the door as they are for you to get out. The prices are a bit steep but the quality- freshness and creativity makes up for everything. Luv everything on their menu and the best uni in boston!!

    (5)

  • Jordan S.

    Hands down, greatest sushi restaurant in the United States. You'll wait a while to get a seat, you'll pay through the ass in prices but you will get a ton of great sushi. The quantity of tuna this restaurant goes through it astounding. The nigiri portions are huge and the rolls are very creative. I've eaten at Nobu and many other top rated sushi restaurants across the US and Japan, and it still kicks the crap out of anywhere else. I believe dinner starts serving at 5:30, make sure to call in early and get your name on the list then wait outside, it will save you time.

    (5)

  • Samantha B.

    As an admitted sushi snob from LA, I was thrilled to find a decently priced sushi joint not in the middle of the hustle and bustle that is downtown Boston. This place is, by far, the best sushi I have had in Boston. It was decently priced, fresh, and delicious. We even made up our own roll! The green tea was ever-flowing and the experience was perfect.

    (5)

  • Tiffany W.

    fantastic. fresh. fish. Not exactly close by in Boston, but Oishii is well worth the hike out to Chesnut Hill. It's actually quite easy to get to by T (Green Line C to Chesnut Hill). Oishii is my first choice for sushi in the area and a definite must try: very fresh, melt-in-your-mouth sashimi, creative maki rolls (order the torched maki!), and authentic japanese fare. The place is very tiny which adds to the authenticity of Oishii's atmosphere, just don't plan on bringing a big party unless you have a lot of time to kill. There's a new location open in Copley but skip it for the original if you get the chance.

    (5)

  • Anastasia M.

    By far the best sushi in town! What I like about it is that it is set up in a true Japanese matter, and you feel like you are entering a venue in Japan. Sushi is done right and it tastes absolutely delicious! Know before you go, though... Be sure to get there before 5:30, or after 9, as the place gets crowded and there are only 15 seats!!!! Or do take out, which seems to be as equally popular with people who do not want to wait for a seat!

    (5)

  • steve h.

    Good stuff! Besides incredibly high quality fish, the beef and chicken terriyaki are awesome. Cooked on a raised metal block makes the experience even more wonderful! No need to add anymore comments here. Just see everyone else's review!

    (5)

  • Tristan W.

    I'm a simple man. I like my beer cold, my woman smart, and my steak medium rare. I didn't mind sushi, but then I wasn't sending mass emails at work to see who wanted to join me for some sashimi at the local sushi train. I just didn't get it. Then there was Oishii, and god damn if this place doesn't fit the bill. A small discrete location, friendly and skilled chefs, and some of the freshest and most delicious raw offerings in Boston. Of course its pricey, but so aren't Bentley's and Benz's, and when it comes to raw fish do you really want a Hyundai??? Cozy up to the bar, drink some sake, strike up conversation with the chef du jour and let them wow you with their many offerings. My favorites; seaweed salad, spider roll, and make. Call ahead, and happy chopsticking!

    (5)

  • Mindy G.

    I believe this is the FIRST of oishii sushi bars in Boston. It's very small in size, but very cozy. Also, compared to the one in washington street, much more affordable and has cute combo's such as "Sushi for Two" -- among others. It's fun to watch the sushi man make sushi right in front of customers!

    (5)

  • Dylan Q.

    this place is very good. the only reason that it is not perfeft is because their salmon is just ok. i once went here for my birthday. the eel is really good i would come back again

    (4)

  • J. N.

    I was on an Oishii hiatus for a while due to another spot I found that is a bit less costly, but went back today. To say it melts in your mouth is an understatement. I don't know what it is - maybe the way they roll their rolls, maybe it is the fish they use - something distinguishes Oishii from anywhere else (and not just their prices). It is expensive. Get over that, and you'll have your new favorite sushi spot.

    (5)

  • parul v.

    oishii is like the boyfriend i broke up with when i moved out of cambridge that i'm dying to get back together with. if only he'd move to san francisco. we might be forever geographically doomed, but i can still taste the tempura lobster claw, the maki, and jeffrey's maki if i think about it really hard.....it gives me the goosebumps.

    (5)

  • Anup A.

    White Tiger....'nuff said.

    (5)

  • Michael T.

    I'd give it Six Stars if I could. Only Nobu is better than this place, but alas, it is so sad what has become of it. In college it was this cool place that no one knew of and those who did kept it a secret. Now, everyone and they're saba knows about it. One word, two syllables: TAKEOUT. hmmm, nothing like sashima, B52s, softshell crab maki rolls, alligator maki rolls...in candlelight...in the North End.

    (5)

  • Kate S.

    AMAZING!!! The wait can be extremely long given the small size of the restaurant, but you will not regret it! I highly recommend ordering the more obscure and inventive sushi rolls and chef specials despite the fact that these are the most expensive. The Kinzan Sake (Salmon sashimi, truffle oil, chives, sesame seeds, Yuzu Wasabi, truffle, caviar and gold flakes) sounds a bit over the top and is very pricey, but it is honestly the best food (of any genre) I have ever eaten.

    (5)

  • George A.

    All I have to say is WOW!!!! Oishii has just about the greatest sushi in the Boston area and is probably better than most of the sushi bars in Tokyo. In fact I went to Oishii's with my Japanese friend (born and raised in Tokyo), who was in Boston on vacation in July, and he said that the sushi at Oishii was some of the best that he's had anywhere. The only drawback is that the meal was really expensive ($80 for LUNCH!!) but it was quite good so that made up for the cost.

    (5)

  • Pete W.

    It's a very good... some nights they are really on the ball, other times, its been dreadful*. Their specials are always worth a try; their non-sushi dishes are overlooked by most who go there, and it's a true mistake, the flavors are perfect and a far better quality consistency than the sushi. ::worth trying:: -baby hamachi sashimi -wild fugu (it's rare that they have it, but when they do, it's a treat) -beef teriyaki ::other:: - while they don't take reservations, you are able to call ahead and have your name put on the list (all those who have waited outside know of the list). -don't be afraid to keep on ordering after each course. -a bowl of rice is always good to have along with your meal -they charge for extra ginger *i've been there 20 times in the past 14 months --edit-- Just had another lunch there... the quality was out of this world! I don't believe I've ever had O-Toro prepared so perfectly- in the US or Japan. ::other advice:: -there are times when a fatty cut like O-Toro has just too much fatty tissue (sorta like a like fat back), and you'll end up chewing and chewing- the whole experience is shot- I've found that many chefs will be very prompt to fix a mistake like this- I suggest that one takes the leap and tell the chef, they'll understand. :::update:::: the portions are getting smaller and smaller.

    (3)

  • Tony O.

    Oishi is the best sushi around, period. Thank you Jackie and Ting-san!

    (5)

  • H Y.

    Not the best sushi I have ever had but it is good. Maybe I missed something here but it didn't knock my socks off. That place in Vienna though, that made me weep. Yummy but I wouldn't wait in line for this.

    (3)

  • Lemuel L.

    Excellent. The best, yet small, so call in for take out. I've been to Japan several times and this is Japan in Boston.

    (5)

  • Micaela L.

    Oishii is an excellent if tiny sushi bar right off Rt. 9 in Chestnut Hill. There's one table and seating at a long bar, so many opt to take out instead. The specials are very creative and the ingredients are always very fresh -- you won't be disappointed! It's my favorite Japanese food in Boston, hands down.

    (5)

  • So S.

    Yes, I finally went and I have to agree with fellow Yelpers! Wow, such an extensive menu for a really tiny place!! Really great sushi complimented by really great presentation. Also, love love love their chilean sea bass! Kobe Beef Sushi is orgasmic!! YUM!! Although it is small you really to meet some nice pppl there who love the sushi as much as you do. A bit pricey but worth it!! BEST SUSHI ever!

    (5)

  • Erin G.

    4 stars purely for the sushi. the sushi is amazing. i never tasted a difference in 'raw fish' until i had the sushi here. it was beautiful. i think everyone owes it to themselves to try it at least once. if we could break this down and i could give stars for ambience this would get a flat out zero. oishii has maybe 17 seats, absolutely no waiting space, no parking and very slow service. i can excuse the slow service to the fact that during the 40 minutes i waited (a short blessing, people who arrived 5 minutes after me had to wait 90 MINUTES!!) at least a dozen people came in picking up to-go orders, some of them huge platters. you would think the waiting to get a seat would be the worst part but it isn't. it's waiting at the table to get served while hundreds of handrolls and maki walk out the door in the arms of very happy people. oishii is wonderful, that's not debatable. i would not recommend eating there.

    (4)

  • George K.

    The ratings don't lie, this is the BEST sushi in Boston.

    (5)

  • Lala L.

    Excellent sushi. Love the specialty maki such as Joe's Kazaa and Jeffrey maki. Another fave is the spicy salmon salad in a cucumber handroll. I don't like to tell alot of pple about this place, because it is crowded as it is already. good luck waiting in line!

    (5)

  • Grace C.

    the best in boston for creative sushi. the fish is fresh, and the prices are modest, for sushi that is. best to go in pairs, or you might not get seated for a lonnnng time.

    (5)

  • Rico B.

    Pro: -The best sushi I ever tasted in the US. Con: - Wait time is like 45 minutes to an hour. (Try come during lunch time for faster service) - Finding parking is a hassle - A bit expensive, but well worthed.

    (5)

  • Mamoon H.

    Best sushi I've had...better than Nobu and all places I've tried in Japan. Only downside, place is small (15 seats or so).

    (5)

  • Rebecca Y.

    This is the highest rated Zagat restuarant in Boston for a reason. Out of this world sushi. Don't bother with the restaurant (you won't get a table) so plan on the take out and enjoy. Mmmmmmm.

    (5)

  • Paul Z.

    Best sushi I've ever had. Period.

    (5)

  • Valerie A.

    Everyone I know that has been to this restaurant raves about it but I'm starting to believe that it's because they haven't been to New York. I've been there a couple of times and I absolutely love sushi but theirs just doesn't do it for me. I've heard that their chef comes from Nobu but their sushi just doesn't compare to Nobu's. Plus, there is always a wait because the place is tiny and takeout takes a good hour too. I'm not the type to wait for mediocre food. Try Takeshima for sushi in that area.

    (3)

  • Ebrahim B.

    The sushi is great but the place is really cramped. Only about 15 people can be there at a time and they don't take reservations which can be a downside. The sushi though really is the best in boston

    (4)

  • Dan M.

    Best sushi. Stinks for me that I am allergic to fish, but still the vegetable sushi was incredible - nice people, good crowd. Certainly, one of the best places in nation.

    (5)

  • Scott B.

    my second favorite sushi place in massachusetts - little pricey but you will definately get some new and exciting maki rolls you havent seen anywhere else

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue

Specialities

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

Oishii Sushi Bar

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