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Shiro Japanese Restaurant
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
32 reviews for Shiro Japanese Restaurant
Review Highlights
"The sushi is always fresh and carefully prepared."
(in 20 reviews)
"This is the best Japanese food I have ever had."
(in 3 reviews)
"The tempura veggies are perfectly cooked."
(in 8 reviews)
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32 reviews in English
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Review from Roger M.
Boxborough, MA
8/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Who would believe that a great Japanese restaurant would be out here in the rural 495 belt? This really is not the land of great ethnic food.
I love Shiro. The sushi is always fresh and carefully prepared. And, it is like eating in somebody's home. (OK, somebody who knows how to make sushi's home --- which leaves me out.) It is clearly family run.
How does this gem survive out here where there are no other restaurants? I don't know. But, I do know that it has been here for at least 27 years. I know it is at least that old because I took my wife here when we were still dating. It can even be romantic.
I recommend Shiro highly.. -
Review from Matt P.
Chicago, IL
1/4/2012
Service is poor and quality is average. Very over priced too. My pick from the menu would be the bento box
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Review from rita g.
Hudson, MA
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
I guess they must have listened to my favorite local yelped Ran D, cause service was anything but slow. Nice sushi, not the best in the area (Feng and Oishii Too still have that title in my book). Not an extensive menu, but it's well priced, food is good - fried oysters were a bit over cooked, but good. Don't look into the kitchen though - definitely not my moms clean kitchen (doesn't seem cleanliness is on their mind). Good food, relatively "cheap" sushi that isn't mall sushi!
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Review from Tony G.
Needham Heights, MA
12/8/2011
I will give it a 5 star because of a friendly relaxed service, best price for sushi, and the food was good too! . It is not the expensive Japanese restaurant that are common here in Mass, but the food is as good as an expensive restaurant. Their Sashimi/sushi is very fresh! The waitress is very nice. You should try it out. If you don't like it... I am sure it is not because of the food of their service or the price. I will come back again to this place. It is a nice place where you want to eat quick and eat good.
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Review from Ran D.
Bolton, MA
6/29/2011
Like a home cooked meal at your moms house! That is if your moms house was run down, and had strangers all sitting around you real close in the living room, and it took her foooooorever to serve you sushi and the bring you check.
Listed in: My Sh*t list
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Review from Jason K.
West Boylston, MA
6/4/2011
Authentic. Japanese cuisine by a Japanese family, the owner is a woman from Tokyo, japan, her son and daughter sometime work there. The restaurant is in a home off 495 in Berlin, nice setup
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Review from Lauren H.
Springfield, VA
6/28/2011
This place is so neat. I love that it is in someone's home. The feel is casual and intimate. The sushi chef was great and delivers every time. The only downside is the staff. One girl was entirely inadequate as a waitress. Some ladies across from my boyfriend and I had never had sushi before. The waitress couldn't recommend them any dish...at all. It was sad. My boyfriend and I had to intervene after the waitress left to tell them what to order. Just a heads up, if you're looking for dessert, be prepared to get those classic Asian flavor ice creams like red bean, green tea, and lychee :)
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Review from Matty B.
Marlborough, MA
3/1/2010
THIS RESTAURANT STEALS MONEY FROM YOUR CREDIT CARDS!
Watch your credit card statements following dinner here. They will overcharge what you write down for a tip by a dollar. This may seem petty but the thought that this place would steal money from me makes any food they offer taste like sh_t.
Watch you bank statements or this place will steal from you too! -
Review from Jeff B.
Berlin, MA
6/7/2011
Awesome, and unexpected experience, the initial atmosphere takes a few moments to digest.. then.. it becomes what you want it to be for your purposes. Fantastic Sushi.. no had NO problem digesting that.. lol !! Great service, and direct interaction with owner was a nice touch.
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Review from Leilani J.
Boston, MA
6/23/2009
Best Japanese food in MA by far. Actually, now that I think about it, best Japanese food on the East Coast!
I've been coming here since the early '80s and the quality of food has never changed.
Yummy, yummy, yummy food with a very relaxed feel. Very relaxed.
Service here is not the #1 priority, so please be patient as it's really a family owned and local establishment.
My favorite Japanese food by far is Katsu (Tonkatsu (pork) or Chicken Katsu) and they make it SO nicely here. I believe I only had this dish for the first 18 years of my life, only branching out to Sushi and other dishes after college on the west coast.
Really, I don't even like going to the Japanese restaurants here in Boston because I know my money could be much better spent on a 45 minute drive out to Berlin for Shiro's. Forget fusion and the fancy sushi places. Go to Shiro's, you'll never go back. -
Review from Dan D.
Northborough, MA
9/5/2009
This is the best Japanese food I have ever had. Fresh, great portions, and amazing FIND. The red bean ice cream for dessert is tops. To start, they give you miso soup and bean sprouts. Hot towels to wipe your hands are an added touch!
I had the bento box for dinner, and the portions were large. The tempura vegetables were expertly prepared, of the perfect texture, and delicious. My family shared sushi and it was the best sushi in metro west - beating even Boston. The staff is authentic and it's simply the Best japanese food you'll fine!
Prices are astonishingly reasonable. For my family of 4 the total came to $58.
Do yourself a favor and visit it today! You will not be disappointed. -
Review from Ruben B.
Hudson, MA
5/27/2009
Tucked in a 3 story house on a hill is the finest seafood joint in the metro west. They do take-out and dine-in, and have all the standard sushi and maki (California roll, Tempura Roll, Tuna Roll). What makes this establishment stand out is their Nobeyaki Udon soup with thick udon noodles + savory kale. The soup broth combined with the complementary veggie tempura that comes with the order is great to squander or split with a close friend.
My personal favorite is the Cherry Blossum roll with a pink wrap and freshly battered shrimp hidden within. Some options off the menu (don't tell anyone) are the Mermaid Roll, which has sweet eel the texture of perfectly ripe banana's and caviar. The philedelphia roll is another non-menu item that marries cream cheese and salmon in a ring of rice.
This hidden treasure is right off exit 26 on 495. -
Review from Arthur L.
Clinton, MA
4/22/2011
Close to home and prices reasonable. Food was fresh and well prepared. I've had better sushi elsewhere. Decor is nothing to rave about. All things considered I'll give it 3.5 stars.
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Review from Paul B.
Marlborough, MA
4/4/2010
Went here for dinner in December 2009.
Passed it by a few times before not realizing it was a restaurant. Didn't realize until we were looking for a nearby sushi spot.
I wanted quality food and didn't care about the look of the outside of the house or the garage or shed. When you enter the restaurant, you are entering the first floor of a house (the first floor is the restaurant). It was comfortable with different rooms set up with tables and chairs. You can read about the family and history in othe reviews as I did. I just know that they have great sushi and the tempura was also excellent. The sushi roll with the grilled salmon (forgot the name of the name of the roll) was excellent. Prices were reasonable and we will be back again soon to indulge in their sushi creations.
I prefer the quality of the sushi at Shiro to any other that I've tasted in the area.
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*Minado (sushi/seafood/grill buffet) in Natick will never get my money again. Terrible! -
Review from Tiff D.
3/17/2009
ok, so the ambiance is odd...little Japaneese family that converted the bottom flr of their house to a restaurant! BUT the sushi is to die for. TRUE authentic Japaneese shusi.
Service is horrible, as most staff dont speak english and they arent the fastest. But if you arnt in a rush and dont ask questions, you can enjoy some good sushi. Other items on the menu are VERY gingery. One personal favorite of mine. Totally not sure of the name..its a steamed salmon dish served with a light broth and a bed of rice. VERY healthy, light, and delicious. -
Review from kea b.
Harvard, MA
12/2/2010
This place gives me the chills. It's a creepy old house on the hill. The service was every slow. The place smell odd. We ordered our dinner. Waited over 45min and our food never came. Plus the place wasn't even busy. I was very disappointed. Definitely not going back. It was that bad we end up waking out and dining at Karma in Westford.
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Review from Jason B.
Worcester, MA
3/21/2011
To keep a sushi restaurant open for so many years this far away from a large population base, you know the food has to be good... And it is. The sushi is as good as I have had anywhere.
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Review from Wayne D.
Shrewsbury, MA
12/12/2010 1 Check-in Here
Trying to figure out how we didn't know about this place sooner. In short, its a SOLID 4. Sashimi - very fresh. Rolls - well done - try the Cherry Blossom. Dumpling apps were well crisped (pork ones were light and yummm). Atmosphere is less commercial and more boutique - separate rooms in a Victorian type home. Service was relaxed, so don't go if you are in a hurry or demand clockwork like service. Its a take-your-time, have-some-wine, talk-and-pine type of place (think small mom-and-pop place in a French village, not a Benny Hanna place.
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Review from Marc O.
Hudson, MA
1/19/2011
Wow, some people are passionate about this place...best sushi on the East Coast??? No....it's not the best for 10 miles around but it's good for Hudson. If you think this place is the best, visit Yama Zakura in Northboro and then make your comparison.
It takes a brave soul to turn a blind eye to the building but I've been going here for years and it's safe, clean and good. We mostly do sushi but the other meals look very good and the people eating them always seem happy.
We get take out and the wasabi roll is the staple. Completely veggie and very good. It's got a fried interior (tempura) with several veggies including sweet potato and asparagus.
TRY IT! -
Review from Rosemary R.
Shrewsbury, MA
12/12/2010
This lovely place was a find! My love and I ventured out on a date here and absolutely loved it! We expected it to be dark and dingy and to our surprise...it was lovely and super clean. The food was amazing! Our waitress was cute, confident and perfectly attentive. The service was slow but perfectly so. We had a chance to talk and digest between our appetizer and meal. I loved that they gave you a complimentary dessert at the end. You feel like you are at home. The only thing you need is a perfect date like mine:) Enjoy!
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Review from Byron M.
Framingham, MA
12/27/2009
This restaurant is a hidden gem. In fact, it is easy to drive by the place and not realize that there is a restaurant there. It looks like a house, because it is a house that has been converted to a restaurant. Situated in an old victorian home, Shiro is an excellent place to eat. It is family run and it shows, actually, I believe that they live upstairs from the restaurant. Good menu and great home styled cooking. For those who eat sushi, this is the place. Fresh and Good. And, did I mention that this place is reasonable. I am not surprised by the comments that people have made stating that its the Best Japanese Food in MA by far. You'll have to try for yourself, but you won't have to spend a lot of money to do so.
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Review from Alex K.
Worcester, MA
8/28/2010 6 photos
This place is probably the most authentic in Massachusetts. Chef Nori is a REAL Japanese who has moved to the U.S. and worked here for ~30 years.
The foods are mostly traditional Japanese styled. You can find the common sushi/sashimi and cooked Japanese delicacies here, as well as the unusual traditional foods like clay pot rice bowl with fish and "Nato" (fermented, stinky, sticky beans) here. They have really good Saba (Mackerel), Uni (sea urchin) and An Kimo (monk fish liver). The grilled squids are also quite exotic.
If you're not a fan of the fishy/exotic stuff, then go for the tasty rolls like Special Salmon Maki (salmon lightly torched over rice and seaweed rolls) or Special Tobiko Maki (flying fish roes rolls in 3 flavors). Or even the salads, which are very well-made.
The fish quality here is usually between A and A-. Quantity is medium. But the price is very fair. It's not easy to find this good quality with the price they offer. The sake rice wines here are very good too. They have a nice list of different premium junmai ginjo sake wines and shochu.
Don't expect much of an ambiance. This is more like a family restaurant where you just enjoy a free and relaxing environment. In fact, you can have a taste of what Japanese residential houses are like... -
Review from mary c.
Stow, MA
11/13/2009
This is my favorite sushi in the entire world. Delicious!
Extremely cute, intimate and relaxed atmosphere (it's inside of a three story house!). The prices are fair/typical for sushi but great for the quality of sushi that you receive.
I believe that they usually open later in the day. Also, it's not open on Mondays!
Fresh, delicious Japanese food. I even like sitting at the sushi bar. Oh, and I crave their food more than any other food ever. -
Review from Bloss P.
Arlington, MA
1/20/2010
Based on all the reviews, wanted to try it out when we were in the area....it was closed (closed till the 23rd of Jan I think)..we had decided not to go in based on how it looked on the outside..it was really really run down..windows were broken...looked like trash piled up near some of the windows..the sign painted on the front was almost washed out....im sorry I really don't think I would like to eat anything from their kitchen
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Review from Haley T.
6/18/2008
This place is a bit weird, as far appearances. Its actually part of a house, and I must have driven past it a thousand times before I realized it was a restaurant. That aside, its a great place to get good, very reasonably priced Japanese food. The service is slow, the atmosphere is average, but the food is consistently good. Large selection of sushi.
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Review from C C.
Clinton, MA
3/29/2011
Fantastic! The Nabeyaki udon is out of sight with a great tempura batter. The vegetable maki (avocado, asparagus & sweet potato with wasabi mayo) is also excellent. Very reasonably priced. Closed on Mondays, I think.
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Review from trish s.
Middlesex, MA
2/18/2011
The food and service is five stars. Some of the best in new England. I love the homey feel in the house. Feels cozy. Small town suburban sushi that tastes great. Not your typical sushi rest.
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Review from Chris L.
Nahant, MA
3/5/2009
Ok - so the place looks a bit shady. Like Norman Bates home on the hill shady. However, this only masks what has to be one of the best sushi restaurants I've ever been to. Hyperbole? Not a chance. I lived in Boston's Chinatown for several years. Sure Ginza is great.... Fugaku in Brookline is great too. The best I've ever had? No, that was a small place in Santa Cruz, CA. But Shiro is pretty darn close. If you're ever out in central mass with a hankering for fresh fish, drop by and pull up a chair at the sushi bar. Say hi to Nori, the chef in residence for nearly 30 years. Amazing.
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Review from Michael D.
Boston, MA
2/10/2009
The location is rather hidden, the restaurant being on the first floor of a very old colonial house. The building itself isn't run-down, but just generally "rustic", the interior has a traditional clean Japanese feel to it. They have a full bar, a full sushi bar, and full multi-room dining room so plenty of room and whatever environment you want. Their menu while covering all the points of traditional Japanese food is at the same time very streamlined, and well organized with a good mix of dishes that are within reason. They have a small but good sake and Japanese beer selection. All the food is usually of large portions, properly cooked, fresh, and they have the best sushi i've had in the Boston area. Very well priced, less expensive then almost any other Japanese restaurant i've been to on the east coast. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who enjoys any facet of Japanese food or culture! I would suggest calling ahead of time to verify if they're open, or if the sushi chef is present as the family who runs it and the chef take vacations back to Japan from time to time.
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Review from B R.
Marlborough, MA
3/11/2009
The food and price are good. Too bad the building and furniture are so plain and shabby. Service is usually medium-slow. Maybe this is how they keep prices down. Good selection of sushi, maki, tempura, teriyaki, etc. They've been in business for years. Nice to have good ethnic food in the area since there aren't many choices. Make reservations if during Fri/Sat eve or a group.
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Review from Anne C.
Westborough, MA
10/6/2009 1 photo
Yes indeed... Yelp got the 5 star caption right... "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" Shiro could quite possibly be the best Sushi I've had in Mass. There is no reason to drive to the Natick/Boston area for overpriced sushi...( unless you're the type that needs a fancy Asian themed dining room to enjoy your food.) This place is owned by an incredibly kind and helpful Japanese family. The grandmother is usually our server, and she is a sweetheart. Do not let the appearance of Shiro scare you away. I admit that it took me a year to finally go, mostly because the place looks like a haunted house from the road. You'll feel a little uncomfortable walking into what seems like someone's front foyer. It is an old victorian house, and you can definitely tell you're in an old victorian home the whole time. The space is small, and you'll be eating in one of 4 rooms on the first floor. Once you let go of the fact that you're basically eating in what should be the "living room" you can start to enjoy the good stuff. To start, your server will bring you a hot washcloth for your hands. Why? Who knows... just take the washcloth. The menu is not huge, but there is something for everyone on there. The tempura veggies are perfectly cooked. The nabiyakeudon noodle soup is freaking fantastic. The rainbow roll is my favorite, but ALL the sushi gets a 10. The hot sake is perfect with dinner. Even the miso soup in the beginning is perfect. The best part; the prices are reasonable. You can afford to go here. Oh and it's right off 495.... pretty convenient location considering it's in Berlin.
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Review from Peter F.
Ayer, MA
7/17/2010
This restaurant is must if your any where nearby the Boston/Worcester area and like great sushi. The service was friendly and knowledgable. The sushi was amazing, I have eaten at everything from five star sushi places in Boston to little sushi places in Northampton, that being said Shiro's fish was the freshest and best prepared I've had in New England. We ate sashimi and a few special maki rolls, including the orchid maki which was delicious with tempura squid, asparagus and avocado wrapped in soy. The edamame was also excellent as was the miso soup. There were wonderful little touches like free ice cream included with any entree and the choice of regular or low-sodium soy sauce also brought Shiro above most. There choices of beer and sake is also excellent with choices of many fine sakes. The icing on the cake was the prices. For two people having a salad, soup, edamame, sashimi dinner and two special maki rolls with sake was less than $60.
