Zen Asian Fusion to Open in the Former Trinktisch/Craft Beer Cellar Space in Belmont

The people behind a local group of Asian restaurants will be opening a new dining spot in the western suburbs of Boston, and it will move into the space where a beer hall and specialty beer shop had been.

According to a source (via an article from The Belmont Voice),  Zen Asian Fusion is planning to open in Belmont Center, taking over the former Trinktisch/Craft Beer Cellar space on Leonard Street. The article mentions that the upcoming spot will be part of Karma Restaurant Group (which has locations of Karma in Concord, Winchester, Wellesley, Burlington, and Westford), and it will include a sushi bar and offer a "lounge vibe" with cocktails offered, while the lower level of the space will be used as a commissary kitchen for the restaurant group. If all goes as planned, Zen Asian Fusion will open later this year.

Trinktisch and Craft Beer Cellar said farewell to Belmont at the end of 2023.

It appears that the address for Zen Asian Fusion will be 87 Leonard Street, Belmont, MA, 02478.

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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XOXO Sushi Bar Opens in Chestnut Hill

A year and a half ago, it was reported that a new upscale Japanese restaurant was planning to open a few miles west of Boston, and now we have learned that it has debuted.

According to a press release, XOXO Sushi Bar is now open, with the Boylston Street spot being a izakaya (basically a Japanese-style pub) featuring multi-course omakase-style presentations as well as sushi a la carte and robatayaki along with beer, wine, sakes, and cocktails. The restaurant will be open for dinner service and it will also have a late-night menu as well that includes handrolls and hot bites.

The address for XOXO Sushi Bar is 1154 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467. Its website can be found at https://www.xoxosushi.com/

[Earlier Article]
XOXO Sushi Bar Plans to Open in Chestnut Hill

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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XOXO Sushi Bar Plans to Open in Chestnut Hill

A brand new Japanese restaurant is on its way to Chestnut Hill.

According to a post within the jobs section of bostonchefs.com, XOXO Sushi Bar is planning to open this winter, with the spot featuring "top of the line modern Japanese cuisine, fun and innovative creative cocktails, wine, beer & sake mixed with a fantastic experience and atmosphere." The corresponding map for the place shows Misono, a Japanese and Korean restaurant and sushi bar in West Roxbury, so it may have some sort of connection to that space, though if we find any additional updates, including its exact location, we will post an update here.

[December 8 update: A press release indicates that XOXO Sushi Bar plans to open very soon (we were told in the late fall) in a space across from The Street at Chestnut Hill (at 1154 Boylston Street). The press release also says that the kitchen will be led by PABU alum Desmond Chow and that it will feature a rotating chef's choice omakase menu while also serving sushi a la carte and robatayaki cuisine.]

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Kura Sushi Opens at Arsenal Yards in Watertown

A location of a chain of sushi restaurants that has been in the works for more than two years has finally debuted.

According to multiple sources, Kura Sushi is now open at Arsenal Yards in Watertown, with this being its first New England outlet. As mentioned in an earlier article here, the new dining spot has a conveyor belt concept in which sushi items move by each table, allowing diners to choose what they want as the food goes by.

Kura Sushi was first established in Japan in 1977 and now has more than 500 locations in the United States and Asia.

The address for the new Kura Sushi at Arsenal Yards in Watertown is 101 Bond Square, Watertown, MA, 02472. The website for the chain can be found at https://kurasushi.com/

[Earlier Article]
Kura Sushi Plans to Open New location at Arsenal Yards in Watertown

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Taku Sushi Bar Opens in Beverly

A brand new option for sushi has come to the North Shore.

According to an article from the Herald-Citizen and Wicked Local, Taku Sushi Bar is now open in Beverly, moving into the space on Rantoul Street that had been home to Super Chicken. A check on its website indicates that the new dining spot offers a variety of sushi options along with shumai, gyoza, miso soup, tempura, udon, teriyaki, katsu, and more.

The address for Taku Sushi Bar is 289 Rantoul Street, Beverly, MA, 01915. Its website can be found at https://takubeverly.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Coco Ramen Is Opening in Newton Centre

A new ramen shop is on its way to the western suburbs, and it appears to have a connection to a Thai restaurant next door.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Coco Ramen is planning to open in Newton Centre, with a photo posted showing that it will be opening to the right of Coconut Newton on Beacon Street. An earlier licensing hearing notice within the city's website shows that the manager listed is Fonthip Suntornnut, who is one of the people behind Coconut Newton, while the poster in the group page says that the permit out front mentions something about a sushi bar, though it appears that Coco Ramen will focus at least in part on ramen.

The address for Coco Ramen is 757 Beacon Street, Newton, MA, 02459.

[September 24 update: A poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page says that Coco Ramen has soft-opened, with its menu showing steamed buns, fried oysters, deep-fried chicken, and a variety of ramen dishes (a Facebook post from the place confirms that it has indeed opened).]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Demolition of Building Housing Toraya, Thana Thai in Arlington Put On Hold

Earlier this month, it was reported that a commercial building in Arlington that houses two restaurants was being slated for demolition, but those plans have been shelved as alternatives are being considered for the space.

According to an article from Wicked Local, plans have been put on hold to tear down the structure on Mass. Ave. that has been home to Toraya and Thana Thai and replace it with a mixed-use development. Redevelopment Board Chair Andrew Bunnell said in a meeting last week that "After hearing the outcry over the proposed plans, taking things into consideration, (the property owner) has chosen to ask us for a continuance to both literally and figuratively go back to the drawing board," while hoping that "the applicant can come back with something more appropriate for that location." The post mentions that the board wishes to see more commercial space at the site, as the original plan included only 700 square feet of commercial space while the rest would be for apartment units.

Toraya actually closed on April 30 because it lost its lease, with the sushi spot now looking for a new location: Thana Thai's plans are to work out of a CommonWealth Kitchen space in Cambridge as a takeout business only.

[Earlier Articles]
Thana Thai Kitchen in Arlington Is Apparently Losing Its Home
Toraya Restaurant in Arlington Loses Lease, Closes; Hopes to Open in New Location

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Toraya Restaurant in Arlington Loses Lease, Closes; Hopes to Open in New Location

A longtime favorite for sushi has closed because it is losing its home, though it may be reopening in another space.

According to several sources, including a tweet from @mrboboto, Toraya Restaurant in Arlington has shuttered, with the website for the Mass. Ave dining spot saying that "Our landlord has let us know that they are planning to demolish the building. We didn't want to close the restaurant, but we were notified that our lease would be terminated as of April 30, 2020." The note does say that Toraya plans to open in a new location, though it is not yet known if they have found a spot, nor is it known when the place could reopen.

Toraya first opened in 1999, offering a mix of sushi and Japanese entrees; our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) has featured it as a top under-the-radar spot to check out in Arlington.

The address for the now-closed Toraya was 890 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA, 02476; as soon as we find out where it might be moving to, we will post its new address here.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Kura Sushi Plans to Open New location at Arsenal Yards in Watertown

A chain of conveyor belt sushi restaurants with roots in Japan will be opening its first location in New England within a new complex just west of Boston.

According to a press release, Kura Sushi is planning to open at the Arsenal Yards in Watertown, with the place featuring a revolving selection of sushi items on a conveyor belt that moves by each table, allowing diners to choose what they want as the food goes by. The release says that the restaurant will also allow patrons to order via a touchscreen panel at the tables and have their orders brought to them in that manner as well. If all goes as planned, the new location of Kura Sushi could be opening in the summer of 2021.

Currently, Kura Sushi has more than 400 locations in Asia and the United States, with most of the U.S. locations being in California and Texas.

A number of other restaurants and bars are slated to come to Arsenal Yards, which is located at the site of the old Arsenal Mall in East Watertown. Some spots announced for the complex include The Gallows, Tori Jiro, Pepe's Pizza, Condesa Restaurante Mexicano, Tender Greens, Shake Shack, Pokeworks, and City Works Eatery and Pour House.

The website for Kura Sushi can be found at https://kurasushi.com/

[March 18, 2022 update: According to a source (Sarah Wu), Kura Sushi has its grand opening in Watertown on Monday, March 21.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Update: Sushi Factory and Hi B3ar Ice Cream Roll in Allston Are Closed; Meet Fresh to Replace Sushi Factory

by Marc Hurwitz

[Ed note: This article was updated to reflect the fact that another nearby spot under the same ownership is closed as well--and that a new place is on the way.]

An all-you-can-eat sushi spot is closed at least for now, and it is not known if/when it could reopen.

According to a source (Geoff Wong), Sushi Factory in Allston is locked up and dark with a sign out front indicating that it is closed for renovations, though the Yelp page for the Brighton Avenue spot indicates that this is a permanent closure, while a poster on that page confirms the "closed for renovations" sign out front. There is no indication as to why the restaurant has closed, nor is it known what the future holds for the place, so keep checking back for updates.

Sushi Factory first opened in the fall of 2017, opening in the space where Kirin Teppanyaki & Wok had been, and before that, Redneck's Roast Beef.

The address for Sushi Factory is 140 Brighton Ave, Boston, MA 02134.

[February 19 update: Eater Boston states that Hi B3ar Ice Cream Roll, which is located across the street from Sushi Factory and is under the same ownership, also has a sign out front saying that it is closed for renovations.]

[March 14 update: Our source now tells us that Meet Fresh (a Taiwan-based group of dessert spots) will be moving into the Sushi Factory space, with the website for the business confirming this.]

[March 26 update: Eater Boston mentions that Meet Fresh could be opening in June if all goes well with the renovations being made to the space.]

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Food Items from Asian Restaurants in the Boston Area]

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No Relation Opens Inside Shore Leave in Boston's Ink Block Area

by Marc Hurwitz

A new sushi bar is opening in a particularly hot section of Boston, and it is located within a tiki bar.

According to an article from Eater Boston, No Relation is scheduled to open today within the Shore Leave space in the Ink Block development in the South End, with the nine-seat omakase sushi bar being found by way of a hallway in the back of the tiki spot. The post says that two seatings will take place each night (at 6:00 PM and 8:30 PM) and that the menu will change on a nightly basis, while beer, wine, sake, cocktails, and spirits will be available.

The group behind Bar Mezzana--which is also in the Ink Block--opened Shore Leave in November; Bar Mezzana, which features coastal Italian fare, has been open since June of 2016.

The address for No Relation (and Shore Leave) is 11 William E Mullins Way Boston, MA, 02118. Its website can be found at https://www.norelationboston.com/

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Sakana Sushi Opens in Former Cafe Anthony Space in Cambridge

by Marc Hurwitz

A new sushi spot has come to Cambridge, taking over the space where a cafe had been until being seized several months ago.

According to a poster on the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Sakana Sushi is now open on Mass. Ave. in the former Cafe Anthony space, which is between Harvard Square and Central Square. A Yelp page for the place includes a note from the business saying that it offers "a reinvention of traditional sushi! discover the cozy sushi bar and experience traditional sushi with an intriguing twist." No menu has been posted as of yet, and the restaurant does not appear to have a website, so keep checking back for updates on what exactly will be offered at the place.

Cafe Anthony was shut down in June, with a sign out front indicating that it was seized by the Middlesex Sheriff's Department Enforcement Unit. A Facebook post from the spot stated that it hoped to reopen but it apparently never did.

The address for the new Sakana Sushi (and the former Cafe Anthony) is 983 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139.

[Earlier Article]
Cafe Anthony in Cambridge Has Been Seized by the Sheriff's Department

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Snappy Sushi in Boston's Back Bay Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

A Japanese restaurant and sushi spot in the Back Bay of Boston has shut down.

According to a source, Snappy Sushi on Newbury Street is closed, with a note out front referring customers to Snappy Kitchen in Somerville's Davis Square, while a phone call placed to Snappy Kitchen confirms that Snappy Sushi has indeed shuttered. No specific reason has been given for the restaurant's closure, nor is it known what might be moving into the space, so stay tuned for updates.

Snappy Sushi first opened on Newbury Street approximately 15 years ago, moving to a new space on the same street in 2010; a location of Snappy Sushi had also been in Davis Square, but it also moved and reopened late last year as Snappy Kitchen.

The address for the now-closed Snappy Sushi in the Back Bay was 108 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The Facebook page for Snappy Kitchen in Somerville can be found at https://www.facebook.com/Snappy-Kitchen-1405949796301539/

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Oishii Sushi Bar in Chestnut Hill Is Closing

by Marc Hurwitz

One of the area's biggest names in sushi is going to be closing one of its locations.

According to a source, Oishii Sushi Bar in Chestnut Hill is shutting down, with Henry Santoro of WGBH confirming this for us this morning. The website for the dining spot gives further confirmation, saying that "On Sept. 23rd, After 20 years of operation at the Hammond Street, and with the end of our lease, we will hold our last dinner service at the 612 Hammond Street location. We would like to thank our Chestnut Hill Team who have made a significant contribution to its success over the years." The note goes on to say that many of the workers at the Chestnut Hill eatery will move to their other locations in Boston's South End and Sudbury.

The Chestnut Hill location of Oishii first opened in 1998, offering maki, sushi, and sashimi, along with a variety of appetizers and entrees.

The address for this soon-to-close sushi spot in Chestnut Hill is: Oishii Sushi Bar, 612 Hammond Street, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467. The website for Oishii can be found at http://www.oishiiboston.com/

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Genki Ya Is Opening in Former Diva Space in Somerville's Davis Square

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a local group of Japanese restaurants is expanding to Somerville, opening where an Indian spot had been.

According to a post on the Davis Square Facebook group page, Genki Ya is planning to open in Davis Square in the former Diva Indian Bistro space on Elm Street. Once it opens, the new place--which features sushi and Japanese entrees made using organic ingredients--will join other locations in Boston's Theatre District as well as Brookline, Cambridge, and Dedham.

Diva closed its doors last December after approximately 20 years in business.

The address for the new location of Genki Ya in Davis Square is 246 Elm Street, Somerville, MA, 02144. The website for all locations can be found at http://www.genkiyasushi.com/

[October 29 update: Eater Boston states that Genki Ya is now open in Davis Square.]

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Giardino's Italian Steak House and Sushi Bar Opens in Former Great Chow Space in Abington

by Marc Hurwitz

A new restaurant with a rather eclectic menu has replaced a popular South Shore spot.

According to a source (@HomebrewedDwarf), Giardino's Italian Steak House and Sushi Bar is now open in Abington, taking over the space on Route 18 where Great Chow had been. The menu at the new eatery includes such items as soups, salads, subs and sandwiches, pasta dishes, pizza, risotto, steak and seafood options, and sushi (including all-you-can-eat sushi), and it looks like the place also has a full liquor license.

Great Chow closed down in March after being in business for approximately 10 years, with the restaurant offering mostly Chinese and Japanese fare. (Another location of Great Chow can be found in the Wollaston section of Quincy.)

The address for this new restaurant in Abington is: Giardino's Italian Steak House and Sushi Bar, 497 Bedford Street (Route 18), Abington, MA, 02351. Its website is at https://www.giardinosrestaurant.com/

[Earlier Article]
Great Chow in Abington Has Closed

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Tsukiji Bistro Is Opening in Melrose

by Marc Hurwitz

A new Asian restaurant is opening in the northern suburbs of Boston, and it is moving into the space above a steak and seafood spot.

According to a message from The Passionate Foodie, Tsukiji Bistro is in the middle of a soft opening in Melrose, with the restaurant being on the second floor of the Main Street building that houses Stearns & Hill's Bistro. The new eatery offers a mix of dishes with influences from Japan, Korea, Thailand, China, and Hawaii, and it includes such options as sushi, raw bar items, gyoza, shumai, fried chicken, salt and pepper shrimp, lo mein, hot pot, and rice bowls, along with beer, wine, sake, and Asian-inspired cocktails.

It appears that there is a connection between Tsukiji Bistro and Stearns & Hill's Bistro, as the new spot shows a logo for Stearns & Hill's Bistro on its website along with another restaurant--Fusilli's Cucina in Reading. (In addition, the space that Tsukiji Bistro resides in used to be a bar for Stearns & Hill's Bistro.)

The address for this new Asian restaurant in Melrose is: Tsukiji Bistro, 505 Main St, Melrose, MA, 02176. Its website can be found at http://tsukijibistro.com/

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Haru Sushi at the Prudential Center in Boston's Back Bay Has Closed

An upscale sushi bar in the Back Bay of Boston is no longer in business.

Universal Hub is reporting (via a Twitter post from @MattSoleyn) that Haru Sushi at the Prudential Center has shut down, with another tweet indicating that it apparently closed for good late last week or over the weekend. Based on the locations page within its website, it looks like all six of its locations in Manhattan remain in operation.

Haru, which first opened at the Pru a bit less than 10 years ago, was known for its variety of sushi options along with such items as dumplings, teriyaki, tempura, katsu, udon and soba dishes, and filet mignon.

The website for the New York locations of Haru can be found at  http://www.harusushi.com/

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Sushi Factory Is Replacing Kirin Teppanyaki & Wok in Allston

A short-lived Allston restaurant that featured a mix of Chinese and Japanese dishes has closed, and a new Asian spot is moving in.

According to a source, Kirin Teppanyaki & Wok on Brighton Avenue is no longer in business, with a new place called Sushi Factory planning to open in the space. A check on a licensing board page within the City of Boston website confirms this, and the listing shows the name of the manager for Sushi Factory being Ying Huang, who is apparently the same person who runs the Hi B3ar Ice Cream Roll shop across the street. (As soon as we confirm that it is the same person, we will post an update here.)

Kirin Teppanyaki & Wok first opened last September, replacing Redneck's Roast Beef which had been in the space for more than a decade.

The address for the new Sushi Factory is 140 Brighton Ave, Boston, MA 02134.

[November 16 update: Eater Boston states that Sushi Factory is now open, and that Ying Huang of Hi B3ar Ice Cream Roll shop is indeed behind the place. EB also indicates that this is an all-you-can-eat sushi spot but with a caveat, saying that "while an eater can eat as much as she or he would like, she or he must do so in a span of two hours or less....and one may be subject to a $1 up-charge for every piece of sushi one does not eat."]

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Miyuki Sushi Opens in Brighton

A brand new Japanese restaurant has come to Brighton, taking over the space where a pizzeria had been.

Eater Boston is reporting that Miyuki Sushi is now open on Washington Street, with the address indicating that it has moved into the storefront where The Proper Slice was from 2011 until last year, when it shut down and the space went on the market. (Another location of The Proper Slice had briefly been on Newbury Street in Boston's Back Bay in 2013.) According to EB, Miyuki offers sushi and sashimi along with items such as tempura, gyoza, teriyaki, katsu, and it also has bento box combos as well.

It appears that Miyuki Sushi opened around the end of last month, according to the article.

The address for this new Japanese restaurant in Brighton is: Miyuki Sushi, 547 Washington Street, Brighton, MA, 02135.

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