Comfortable neighborhood Japanese izakaya for noodle bowls, sushi rolls, yakitori & small plates.
daeuni
The cold sansai soba with veggies and tofu skin was really good and light. The portion was just right, not too much and not too little. 9/10.
I don’t usually eat or like sushi (anything raw) but the cruspy tuna mango rolls were pretty good. Didn’t even taste like raw fish and the mango gave it a nice touch of sweetness. 9/10.
The atmosphere is so nice, great for a date night or birthday dinner. Very clean and modern with great service. The food comes out quickly too.
… moreJea Kim
Solid option for soba and rice bowls near Davis Square.
A bunch of good udon and ramen places in the area, but not a lot of places that offer decent soba. To me, soba is that perfect low-commitment meal, something I can slurp down even when I don’t have much of an appetite. So I stopped by a couple of times to test out their noodles along with a few rice bowls.
The kitchen here goes very easy on the seasoning. I tried both the cold and warm soba without any extras, and honestly, they felt a little naked. Since soba is such a simple dish, it all comes down to the chew of the noodle and the depth of the broth. Here, the broth just lacked that necessary edge. Ironically, I ended up enjoying the sides much more than the mains. Dishes like the scallop hokkaiyaki, miso cod, and potato croquette were all really good.
Probably not my favorite Japanese meal in the neighborhood, but still a solid option to keep in the rotation.
… moreMichael Kit
Soba noodle bowls were large portions. Sushi was decent, better than whole foods or wegmans sushi but comparable to a typical sushi takeout joint run by chinese owners. The meat on the bento rice dishes were small for the price, just lots of rice in a fancy bowl. The skewers here were really tasty, better quality than ittoku in porter square.
… moreParinda K.
The food was delicious and arrived very quickly! I would definitely come back for the fried ika, cold ramen (without uni), lobster wrap, and enoki beef skewers. However, I found the dragon ball a bit too mayo-heavy; it would be better if there were some crackers or something to balance out the creaminess. Additionally, the tempura could have been more flavorful. Overall, the food was yummy, and I really appreciated the complimentary birthday cake.
The service from all the waitresses was nice and friendly, except for one of the waiters, my 1st impression, who seated us. He was unfriendly when I asked to be moved to a larger table, as I planned to order a lot. It was only 5 PM and the restaurant wasn’t fully seated tho.
… morePack Katisomsakul
Sugidama Soba & Izakaya welcomes you with a warm, inviting atmosphere—tasteful decor, friendly staff, and a genuine sense of hospitality. Though their specialty is clearly soba, I found the noodles didn’t quite live up to the hype.
On the upside, the seared squid was outstanding—easily the highlight of the meal and one of my favorite dishes ever. The rest of the menu offered solid, if unremarkable, fare that paired nicely with the cozy surroundings. Service was polite but a bit uneven, which kept the experience from being flawless.
All told, Sugidama Soba & Izakaya delivers a pleasant dining experience with standout seafood and a welcoming vibe. I’d happily return and would rate it 4 out of 5 stars.
… moreJay B
The food here is delicious, fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The small plates had that perfect balance of comfort and creativity. However, the service left much to be desired. Our check was dropped on the table before we even took a bite of our dessert, which made us feel like we were being rushed out. It took away from an otherwise great dining experience. I’d still come back for the food, but I hope the staff can offer a more relaxed and thoughtful approach to service next time.
… moreKevin Chen
Got the Tenzura (Cold soba and tempura). It was fine and presentation was great but flavor was lacking. Staff were nice. Pricey though, $23 for the Tenzura.
… moreBetty Yu
Torch Toro roll is really good! Agedashi tofu is so flavorful. Most of the signature rolls are really great too! Service is amazing, servers are really attentive. Ambiance is calm and peaceful.
We had 10 people- 8 adults and 2 small children. They were super accommodating. Will definitely come back to visit often!
… moreFetine Lahlou Kitane
Went with my friends to celebrate my birthday . Did not disappoint, great food and atmosphere. Good value for the taste, pricy but cheaper compared to the other high end sushi out there. Would highly recommend for anyone who likes sushi. The atmosphere was really good on a Saturday night, no too much noise. The sushi was refined and high quality ingredients. We ordered the sushi boat, the variety was good and not too crazy. The appetizers made this stand out, great for groups and sharing. Left full with my wallet fuller.
… moreGordon O’Connell
My wife and I visited Sugidama Soba & Izakaya at the recommendation of a friend who is from Kyoto. We loved the food. Sugidama is definitely on par with dining experiences we’ve had in Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Osaka, and Tokyo. The service was impeccable The atmosphere was bright and vibrant. When I made the reservation I mentioned that it was our anniversary, and at the end of the meal, they brought out a wonderful dessert: cake, ice cream, with two spoons. A romantic touch! Do yourself a favor, and visit Sugidama with your friends and family as soon as you can!
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