Best Japanese Cuisine North of Boston
Eastern Massachusetts is known for its seafood more than its foreign food. Typically, this takes the form of fish and chips, clam chowder and lobster rolls, but Asian cuisine is not lacking. The North Shore has a number of diverse Japanese restaurant serving everything from delicious casual sushi to fine cuisine. It's an exciting option for people who have never tried it before and a relief for those who know and love Japanese fare. No matter where diners are on the North Shore, a Japanese restaurant is not far away.
Misono Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
82 Newbury St.
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 854-5395
www.misonojapanesesteakhouse.com
Americans love to watch Japanese cooks perform over a flat top for some reason. It's one of the ways this ethnic food has been Americanized and Misono is the place to get it that way. People who eat-in can sit around the grill and watch fish, chicken, steak or vegetarian options flame up. There is a huge variety of sushi on the menu, along with some pretty standard items, such as sirloin steak and shrimp. It may not be the most authentic Japanese restaurant on the North Shore, but the prices are fair and the dining fun.
114 Pleasant St.
Marblehead, MA 01945
(781) 631-0805
www.junji.me
For a more refined Japanese experience on the North Shore, head to Junji. Look for a variety of fish, including flounder, monkfish, tuna and squid. The menu also includes plenty of shellfish and even tofu. The dishes are well-planned and include exciting ingredients like monkfish liver. The menu is a little large and overwhelming, but everyone will find something to their liking. Moreover, the prices are very affordable for the level of creativity and authenticity.
Blue Fin Restaurant
260 S. Main St.
Middleton, MA 01949
(978) 750-1411
www.bluefinmiddletonma.com
Blue Fin Restaurant has got presentation down. The sushi is beautiful, as all sushi should be. The menu is populated by delicious items like gyoza, shumai, tataki, donburi, noodle soups and maki in so many styles. Blue Fin is all about the food. There is no fanfare, just good food presented well. There is a lunch menu, a dinner menu and a menu full of sushi, so there is never a shortage of selection, either.
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Maki Sushi Bar & Grill
43 Main St.
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 854-5426
www.makisushibar.net
This award-winning sushi bar has exactly what diners want from a Japanese restaurant. There is plenty of sushi, tasty options like fried calamari and lots of vegetables. A couple of soups and an assortment of desserts, including banana wontons, round out the menu. Whether diners want steak, fish or poultry, there is a variety of ways to have it at Maki. Moreover, diners have a miscellany of sides to choose from, including salads, rice and noodles.
Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse
1487 Main St.
Tewksbury, MA 01876
(978) 863-9889
www.kyototewksbury.com
Kyoto is a quaint steakhouse with a teppenyaki dining area and regular seating as well. The chefs juggle and otherwise put on a show while skillfully cooking meals in front of the diners. This place has a huge menu with appetizers, soups, sushi, salads, fish, meat, vegetarian options, tempura and more. There is even a Chinese menu, so large groups of people with different Asian tastes can dine together and get something they will enjoy. Of course, it is a little much, as the Japanese appetizer menu alone has 18 items.
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Shelly Barclay is a professional freelance writer and amateur author. She writes on a variety of topics from food to mysteries. She loves to share the culture and rich history of her birthplace and home, Boston, with the rest of the world. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
