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.

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 15- or 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 dine-in or 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 and seat openings at the chef’s counter for kaiseki or omakase dinners.

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.

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.

A grande dame of Boston’s sushi scene, chef and restaurateur Ken Oringer’s Uni has been one of the city’s finest spots for fancy bites of fish for over two decades. Many chefs who now run their own sushi counters (including spots on this list) have come through Uni, and it is well-regarded in the industry.

This Back Bay destination has been charming sushi lovers for over a decade, serving up a variety of sushi, sashimi, and special rolls such as the neighborhood homage, the Back Bay: asparagus, cucumber, and avocado with seared tuna and wasabi mayo. It’s an easy lunch choice for those in the area thanks to the variety of sushi combos and bento boxes available.

This relatively new 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. Note: The restaurant is walk-ins only.

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 additional sushi spots in Allston and 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.

Despite the Gossip Girl-esque name, this sushi newcomer in Chestnut Hill should not be overlooked. Like other spots on this list, XOXO specializes in Edomae-style sushi, led by executive chef and Uni alum Kegan Stritchko. The restaurant offers six seatings on Tuesday and Wednesday for a $195, 16-course omakase if you’re looking for a worthy splurge, or eat your way through the a la carte menu of nigiri, sashimi, temaki, and fiery robatayaki choices.