Road Warrior Guide: Sushi in Boston

First up is Minado, a sushi buffet in Natick. Located on Route 9 opposite the Natick Collection mall, Minado is accessible via I-90 (toll) or Route 9. Natick is a little further outside of Boston, however if you love sushi but hate the price, Minado is worth a trip. The major selling point for Minado is of course the unlimited sushi bar. However, the restaurant also features a dessert buffet, hot chinese and japanese style buffet, several styles of soup, and a varied collection of asian salads. During dinner hours, they also add unlimited crab legs and a raw oyster bar.

The decor is simple and can pass for asian modernist. The clientele is heavily asian, which I consider a good sign for a sushi place. The sushi selection and quality is good, but this is a buffet we're talking about. If you're super picky, just realize that there is a trade off in quality to get access to unlimited quantity. That being said, the variety of maki (rolls) and nigiri (hand-pressed) sushi is quite good. The chefs routinely include plenty of selections besides the mandatory California Rolls and Salmon/Tuna sushi. Hand rolls are available by request, although I've never had one. The wasabi is middle of the road -- putting it in line with the rest of the cuisine.

Minado does an excellent job of presenting exotic dishes like jellyfish salad and broiled whole blue fish. If you are too squimish for sushi but enjoy asian foods, you shouldn't go home hungry. Typical soup selections include miso, egg drop, and an udon buffet. There's also a small selection of dim sum and grilled skewers. The dessert side of the bar typically includes jello, an assortment of fresh fruits, and small bite-sized (or chopstick sized) cakes. The dessert items look small to a typical American, but after stuffing yourself full of sushi, crab legs, and oysters, a smidgen of cake is just right.

In short, Minado is a great place to go if you want to pack away some good asian food. You won't be disappointed!

However, if you're less worried about the budget and more interested in quality, Oishii Sushi Bar is the place for you. Also located on Route 9, Oishii is in Chestnut Hill; much closer to Boston proper and a reasonable commute from most of the western suburbs. "Oishii" literally translates from Japanese as "delicious", and Oishii Sushi Bar lives up to its name.

Stepping into Oishii feels like I'm going back to Tokyo. The restaurant has a short sushi bar and a single four-seat table. I'm guessing they can seat 12 in the whole place. Show up early if you want to avoid a wait! The locals who are in the know all have no qualms about waiting in the sometimes very long lines. Make no mistake about it - Oishii is small, crowded, and very popular. But if you want to taste some of the best sushi in the Boston area, do what it takes to end up in a seat at Oishii.

Oishii does an excellent job of presenting fresh, colorful, and uncommon sushi. The quality/quantity trade off here is just the opposite of Minado. There's typically a staff of four sushi chefs behind the bar. If you're sitting there, you can see a non-stop display of them putting together nigiri and maki while you eat. One of my personal favorites is a California Roll made with real crab leg meat, instead of the usual imitation crab meat. The variety at Oishii is excellent, with their sushi menu being more than a page long. Take some time to peruse the menu and find your own favorite.

Happy Dining!