At this lowkey sushi establishment, chef and owner Shinji Muraki has helmed the kitchen since 1999 at its first location in Arlington, which amassed a local cult following. Fast forward to 2023, and Kyoto-born chef Muraki is still behind the counter making sushi but the shop has moved into a brighter, more airy spot on Mass. Ave with added seating. The place offers a good selection of dishes, some giving away Mr. Muraki’s Kansai roots, such as the broiled fish marinated in saikyo miso, which originated in Kyoto. But be sure to leave room to sample a few sushi a la carte, each carefully prepared by chef Muraki himself.

Only open since late 2019, Umami Omakase is a fairly new addition to the Boston area’s high-end omakase scene, but the young spot has been wowing diners since day one. Uni alum Gary Lei is at the helm, and plenty of luxury ingredients come out to play, from wagyu to foie gras. Umami is currently offering only 18-course omakase meals for dine-in customers, no a la carte options. A la carte items are available for takeout, though, which you must preorder at least a day ahead of time.

Chef Youji Iwakura’s outstanding downtown Boston Japanese restaurant Kamakura has sadly closed, but fans can still experience his sushi skills via takeout at Foundation Kitchen, a shared culinary workspace in Charlestown. Keep an eye on the schedule and plan ahead for modern sushi and chirashi takeout boxes.

Momi Nonmi opened in late 2017 as a cozy little izakaya in Inman Square with just a few sashimi options among items like grilled meat skewers, rice balls, and hints of Hawaiian cuisine, not to mention an enviable sake list. Over the course of the pandemic, though, the restaurant has doubled down on sushi, offering extensive omakase meals — currently available for dine-in as well as takeout, which you need to preorder at least 24 hours in advance — and some a la carte sashimi, too.

Ask any chef in town: Many will say that Cafe Sushi — open for the better part of four decades — is the best not-so-hidden gem around. In pre-COVID times, the reason to go was the epic omakase, a seemingly endless parade of dishes that alternated between traditional and unusual. During the pandemic, Cafe Sushi pivoted to only doing takeout and delivery, which is how they’re serving up the sushi now, including a variety of chef’s choice samplers, bento boxes, and maki.

Over a decade old, this tiny Allston staple, helmed by a couple of Oishii alums, remains a crowd-pleaser, featuring lovely dishes that push the bounds of tradition (as well as some more classic options). There are some hot dishes from the kitchen, too, for those in the mood for something other than sushi.

The ultimate in special-occasion sushi, O Ya will take your wallet, politely squeeze hundreds of dollars out of it, and hand it back to you, along with hours and hours of gorgeous, high-end dishes. Pay attention to the restaurant’s sophisticated sake program as well.

Hailing from New York City, the flagship brand of the restaurant group Blue Ribbon Restaurants takes over the space that previously housed beloved cocktail bar the Hawthorne. The well-executed menu features sushi a la carte, maki rolls, or chef’s choice platters. If you aren’t feeling seafood, the restaurant also offers wagyu and vegetable rolls.

This newly opened restaurant serves temaki-style sushi, which typically consists of rice and a piece of sashimi or other toppings wrapped in nori and served as a handroll. The handroll options are plentiful, from crab legs to A5-grade wagyu from co-owner Kevin Liu’s farm in Miyazaki, a prefecture known for its highly coveted breed of wagyu.

This Brigham Circle spot has quietly gained a following for its impressive omakase in particular, which can be ordered for takeout and delivery. There’s plenty of sushi on the regular menu as well, and it’s all made with brown rice. (Laughing Monk has a second sushi spot in Wellesley.)

Open since mid-2017, Chiharu is owned by Mei Pan, of Allston’s now-defunct May’s Cafe, and Qun Li, an alum of Haru and Mix-It. At this Brookline restaurant, the duo is serving up plenty of sushi alongside ramen and more, all the while maintaining stellar ratings across all corners of the internet. Chiharu is the ideal solution when one part of the group is in the mood for sushi and others are looking for noodle-filled soups.