Much has changed of late in Union Square, but Ebi thankfully remains. The unpretentious sushi joint serves up some of the freshest fish in town at a third of the price of the high-end downtown spots. Sit at the counter and ask the chefs what’s good that day, pop in for one of the lunch specials, or order takeout. The torched salmon is always a good pick.

Hidden in the back of Shore Leave, a South End tiki bar, this nine-person sushi counter is a serene oasis from the moment you pull up a seat at the bar hewn from Japanese cypress to the first bite of the 14-course tasting menu. No Relation’s rotating menu is always inventive, unpretentious, and unexpectedly filling. If you do find yourself craving more, there’s several add-ons including two different sake pairings.

The format has evolved over the years, but it’s now a 20-course prix fixe of sashimi, nigiri, and cooked dishes, with a worthy beverage pairing available. The menu is chef’s choice, but expect exquisite bites like fried oyster with yuzu kosho aioli and squid ink foam, hamachi nigiri with banana pepper mousse, and foie gras with chocolate-balsamic soy sauce and cocoa-raisin pulp.

This is a slinky yet scrumptious backdrop for all occasions, from a big date to a big deal, thanks to a tight list of pristine sushi (fried shrimp with a pop of tomato aioli, named the Crazy Boston, is a cheeky must) paired with a broad izakaya menu of shared plates dressed up with surprises, like pork belly confit enriched with ramp honey. It’s dark inside, and it’s loud.

Opened in 2024, this Bay Village omakase restaurant was poised and polished right from the start. Chef Sky Zheng, previously head chef at New York’s Michelin-starred Sushi Nakazawa, presides over the sushi bar in this peaceful space decorated with pale wood, bonsai trees, and ceramics. Courses feature beautiful seafood — from live sweet shrimp to Hokkaido uni to fatty tuna topped with caviar — and are made with perfect rice, hand-grated wasabi root, and perfectionist soul.

The focus isn’t limited to sushi — Iwakura specializes in artful, multicourse kaiseki meals — but the sushi omakase are special, offered in several different formats and filled with carefully sourced ingredients such as baby eel and firefly squid. With just eight seats, the bar is as intimate as they come, providing an opportunity to learn more about sushi and Japanese cuisine.

If you’re craving sushi – and mountains of it – head to this all-you-can-eat Brighton spot for lunch. For about $25 per adult, and cheaper for children, eat fresh fish to your heart’s content. The lineup of rolls is predictably solid; for something different, try the Osaka-style pressed sushi – layers of rice, fish, and toppings put together in a mold. The catch (pun intended): Yamato will charge you for wasted food on unlimited meals. Another location, Yamato II, is in the Back Bay.