Sushi Kappo Toraya

This establishment truly captivated us with its extraordinary offerings. Embracing the essence of authentic Japanese cuisine, every dish exudes genuine flavors. The service provided is not only pleasant but also remarkably friendly. Following the recommendation of a seasoned Japanese food enthusiast, we embarked on a culinary journey, indulging in a variety of delectable items. The sashimi stands out with its unparalleled freshness and delightful taste, a testament to the premium quality of the fish. The hot dishes, particularly the Takobutsu and Kani Cream Korokke, surpassed expectations with their exquisite flavors, making them highly deserving of your palate's attention. In summary, our overall experience surpassed the conventional rating scale, deserving a resounding 6 out of 5 for the exceptional and unforgettable flavors.

Having spent long periods of time in Japan I find this restaurant extremely authentic. If you close your eyes while savoring a piece of sushi it will be like traveling to Japan. It reminded me of this small sushi bar I used to go in Kyoto. The rice is cooked to perfection and the fish is as fresh as it gets. It can get lengthy, especially when you have a full house dining. However it is well worth the wait. Price wise it is extremely fair and honest. Highly recommend this restaurant to all those searching for real Japanese sushi.

The pictures say at all. Best sushi I’ve had in the area. 100% will come back.

Found the new favorite Japanese food spot around Boston! Everything we ordered is on point and tastes great and authentic compared to those I’ve tried around town so far.

Very nice intimate Japanese/sushi restaurant. We started with a few small plates, the soy braised pork belly and salmon with Miso Vinaigrette. Then the braised duck breast (served cold) and some Negihama yellowtail maki and Japanese red snapper Nigiri for the entree. Definitely recommend the duck breast it was cooked perfectly and I loved it with the spicy mustard.

Hands down the best Japanese restaurant in Arlington. Fresh ingredients with original dishes. Big selection of small plates. Not much in the way of atmosphere but they make up for it with the amazing food. Tiny place so get there early or you will have a long wait since no reservations. Never had a dish I did not like so hard to recommend a favorite although the octopus small plate was pretty special. Sushi and sashimi seems to be most popular based on personal observation.

2022 Update: still love it. Really well designed, airy space, great food and presentation. My kids were bummed they no longer had their old favorites, but still enjoyed the food. I loved the pork belly and tofu. Will be back to try other new items on the menu.

So cozy and authentic. This was my second visit, and I was immediately transported back to that time I went to Tokyo and had sushi at a tiny place like Toraya. That flavor! You know what I mean if you love true Japanese food. I haven't heard this much Japanese spoken around me, in Boston. There were three separate parties of Japanese folks talking in Japanese. The waitress spoke Japanese. The sushi chef- I am pretty sure he is Japanese AND went to those old fashion sushi school. I can't think of any sushi place in the greater Boston area that is run by Japanese sushi master- I feel like it's a dying tradition at lease in the US and enjoy it while you can! (Vs. Uni which is also great, but that is almost different kind of cuisine in my book). Note: there is always wait so it is hard if you have little kids. There is no space to bring the stroller inside so plan accordingly. It's worth it.

I lived in Japan for a year, and I haven't found a More authentic sushi restaurant in Boston. I love this place. Single owner who is the sushi chef. Don't expect it to be fast. Don't expect it to be over the top, but do expect it to be authentic and oh so good.

I will wager that this is the best Japanese restaurant in the Boston area. I hate saying this because they will become extremely busy but I cannot keep this to myself. They specialize in Japanese dishes beyond the ordinary sushi, curry, ramen, etc. (nothing wrong with those), but you get to expand your tastes and options in fantastic ways. Don’t hesitate to get any sushi dish but you cannot go wrong in the a la carte dinner menu! What an adventure Toraya is!

The Toraya Temaki Set for 3 or 4 was a great double date activity, fun hands on experience. The quantity of the food was surprisingly enough to fill all 4 of us.

I suggest adding miso soup, shrimp tempura and edamame to the set.

I wish it came with a guide with recommended combinations of fish.

NOTE: the Toraya Temaki Set must be ordered at least a day or two in advance.

I came here a decade ago once with one of my Japanese friends who said this place is most authentic Japanese restaurant. Could not come since then as it’s not conveniently located for me but my recent second visit was even better than the first time. I had sushi and sashimi lunch along with salad, spinach with mushrooms, and seafood and veggie fries. Fresh and good portion. I noticed one thing different here though - no music! I loved how other customers chatted quietly to one another and it was far better than having to speak louder to beat loud music. Will definitely come back whenever I am near Arlington

This is the best Japanese restaurant in the greater Boston area in my opinion. The food is always try and fresh, and I'd never had anything unsatisfying 4 years living in the area. The sashimi is fresh, and the tempura looks very pretty, and taste great. The noodle here is also very tasty. We had their special deep fried baby octopus today. Very good!

Pleasant and polite staff, and the food was fresh and wonderful. Got the chef's pick for sashimi and was not disappointed. Open later then a lot of other places around was a bonus.

This was my first time being here, and it was fantastic. The Omakase Sushi was generous and delicious, so kudos to the sushi chef who prepared it. There were other items on the menu that I did not try, so I can only recommend the sushi. The servers were friendly and hospitable and it was an overall welcoming environment. There really is not much else to say, as I strongly recommend it to try it yourself.

The only thing to note is that it is a small interior and no table reservations are allowed, so if you are planning on coming in with larger than usual party, be aware of this. As they have stated on their website (as of this date): "We are not able to accept table reservations. Thank you for your understanding."

Glad to see Mr. Toraya is back in action and creating delicious sushi dishes again. The menu has changed since they moved and it was my first time visiting the new location.

This is possible one of the most authentic sushi experiences I have had outside Asia. Everything is offered at a reasonable price which was a welcome addition to the normal experience of highly overpriced everything. Rices is cooked and seasoned perfectly along with fresh fish that didn't disappoint. Highly recommended.

They don't take reservations so the wait sometimes can get pretty long.

Toraya is back!!! The new space is so much more open, definitely.different, but the quality hasn't changed. Still some of the best Japanese/sushi you'll find in the area.

When dining at Toraya I immediately felt welcomed as I walked into the small, yet beautifully decorated restaurant. Behind the sushi bar the chef was filleting a full salmon and it was fun to watch! I recommend this to those are in search of affordable and spectacular sushi. You can place your specific order online or you can stroll in take a peek in the cooler/fridge where there are plenty of pre-made rolls (individual or in combos). Another with avocado and tuna and salmon roll plus a set of salmon and tuna nigiri was a great portion. The place is really small (mostly a takeout place) and there is only one sushi chef, so order ahead and pick up.

Amazing! Very authentic and probably one of the greatest sushi I ever had!

Very small, but clean with beautiful wood everywhere. The food was delicious and was presented gorgeously. The service was a little slow because there was only one wait person. She was lovely and did her best, but she had a lot to take care of. It's definitely worth going, but try to get there before they open, or you'll be in for a wait.