Junji Fine Japanese Cuisine

This place is terrible. Please don’t think this is representative of «fine Japanese cuisine». The rolls are an absolute mess. The food court sushi at the Northshore Mall shows more finesse.

A real gem on the North Shore! Excellent, authentic and clean food. Favorite was Gyoza, hand made perfection.

Sat at the sushi bar, food comes quick and fresh.
The sushi is just… super fresh! :)

I’ve been searching for YEARS for a good sushi place in Massachusetts. Hailing originally from southern California, it hasn’t been difficult to find a legitimate Japanese sushi bar in Cali. However, when I first moved to Massachusetts, I was greeted by a lot of «Japanese» places that also served Chinese and/​or Korean food. All of these places were owned by Chinese and Korean owners. Not to say the food wasn’t good – the food was good … for being a fusion place. I really missed authentic fresh sushi/​sashimi; I actually ordered uni nigiri when I was living in western Mass, which was a BIG mistake … fishy and slightly off.
I was so happy to read reviews about Junji and I had to give the place a try. Following recommendations from fellow Unilocalers, I opted for the omakase. The omakase was a little more expensive than I anticipated ($ 70-​$ 90), but well worth it! To note, Junji only does omakase when the restaurant isn’t too busy.
My first course was monkfish liver. It doesn’t sound really appetizing, but oh my … ever since that taste of monkfish liver, I’ve been dreaming about it. It’s so good – fresh, creamy, sweet, and tasting of the ocean. I forgot to take a picture of this dish, but this will be added to my list of go-​to dishes along with uni. Simply delicious and delightful!
My second course was marinated and seared baby octopus. This was also very good. The appearance of this dish did frighten my more tame boyfriend and friend, who both decided not to taste this. It’s reminiscent of the jellyfish from Chinese cold platters and also kind of like the japanese seaweed salad – fresh, springy, slightly crunchy, and sweet.
My third course was seabass sashimi. This was also really good – fresh and sweet, with just the right amount of (ponzu, I think?) and a fresh shiso leaf.
The fourth course was an assorted sashimi platter that included: tuna, fatty tuna, salmon, uni, calamari, and two kinds of white fish that I forgot. The sashimi was very fresh and delicious. I’m usually not a fan of salmon sashimi because it’s a little too fishy for me, but the salmon here was very good.
The last course was an assorted sushi platter that I also forgot to take a picture of. There was black cod nigiri, a tuna roll with radish, tamago nigiri, and tuna nigiri. By this time, I was already getting full, but I still managed to finish everything! The black cod nigiri was something I’d never had before and it was really tasty.
Overall, I highly recommend trying the omakase – you’ll be guaranteed with something prepared special by the chef that is tasty and highlights everything good about the establishment. Definitely give the monkfish liver a try. My only regret is that I didn’t compliment the chef before I left – I think next time I’ll sit at the bar.

Excellent food. Junjis and his wife Akiko are always a pleasure to speak with. My boyfriend Tyler and I go here all the time. Junji gets his fish from the same fish market in Japan that Jiro (Jiro dreams of sushi) does. No wonder it’s so good! Their small plates and apps are really delicious too and authentic. This is the only sushi/​Japanese restaurant that I know that’s owned and run by Japanese people. Most restaurants will hire Chinese sushi chefs. Not to say they are not as good but in the US, training for being a sushi chef is just not as thorough as in Japan.
Junji really respects what he does and has sushi down to a science. Try it out! It’s pretty far out — Marblehead, but it’s worth the drive. You won’t find any sushi as good as this in Boston. Even the whole east coast. Including NYC.
They’re a little pricey but so worth it. Can’t stress how much I love this place.
Try the shishamo, agedashi tofu, and omakase. The Takoyaki is good too. But don’t get me wrong, everything is yummy here. You can see some of his work in the photos I posted too.

Junji is one of our go-​to spots for fresh and authentic sushi. The restaurant is clean and simple, with tables around and a large sushi counter with plenty of seats. We prefer to sit at the sushi bar, as it’s fun to watch the sushi being prepared. The menu contains various traditional Japanese appetizer items including miso soup, gyoza, edamame and tempura. I highly recommend the edamame ($ 4.50), as there is a light coat of sea salt that adds to the flavor of the slightly crispy edamame. My husband enjoys the aka dashi ($ 4), which is a little bit of a richer miso souo– highly suggest trying it. I ordered the Crazy Roll ($ 8), which was shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber, tobiko and spicy mayo. The warm and crispy shrimp surrounded by the other cold ingredients was wonderful tasting! I also ordered the Spicy Tuna Roll ($ 7.50), which was tuna mixed with spicy mayo and scallion. This roll had a slightly spicy flavor, but was not too overbearing. My husband ordered Maguro sashimi ($ 7.50) and Sake sashimi ($ 7), which were 3 large pieces of both the salmon and tuna served with a bed of crispy rice noodles. All of the fish was very fresh tasty and tender. We ordered mochi for dessert, and I would say this was ok, but not the best I’ve had. It was plated nicely with whipped cream. I felt the outside was a little gummier than I had expected, but still yummy. We will be back, as this is one of the best places on the north shore for good quality, fresh sushi.

This place is on the same level if not better than any other Sushi restaurant in all of Massachusetts. You can taste the quality.

I an here now. Gyoza is perfect. Miso soup perfect. Firetail Maki perfect. Need to update Google hours. Almost did not come here for luck as Google said it opens at 5:00. Great lunch spot.

Great food. Terrible, absolutely terrible service/​wait staff.
Agadashi Dofu very good. Fatty tuna also on the money and very reasonably priced.
They must have found their 2 waitresses at the bus stop. Awful.

I am always surprised at his presentation and quality! It’s a once a week kind of place.

So it has been 18 months since our last visit to MA.
After family and friends our number one priority was a return trip to Junji. We were not disappointed… in fact this second go around may have been better than the first.
Again it was three of us and we went ‘omakase’. Everything was exquisite. Words fail to describe the freshness and high quality of the ingredients which were only surpassed by the preparation and execution of masterfully skilled hands. I won’t even bother to tell you what we ate… it doesn’t matter… everything was sublime.
We were served by Savannah, a young woman who obviously takes pride in her job. She was sweet and warm without being cloying. Her knowledge of the food impressive. Savannah exemplified professionalism and we sincerely appreciate the time she spent with us explaining the dishes and their preparation.
Here’s the downside of our visit to Junji… basically we «broke sushi» for ourselves. All our favorite sushi restaurants back home pale in comparison.
Go to Junji… don’t’ wait… Quit reading this review and go now! It’s that good.
To all the fine people at Junji… we thank you for elevating our senses. Your food and service have expanded our consciousness. Until our next visit to MA, we will miss you and sing your praises to everyone we know.

Visiting Junji for sushi is as close as you’ll get to Jiro Ono (Jiro Dreams of Sushi) in New England, perhaps the US. Junji is the real deal, a master at sushi making with something like 40+ years experience. I have had sushi from Junji probably 3 – 400 times over the past couple of decades and a couple dozen times at his Marblehead restaurant and have never had a bad meal.
Authentic Japanese sushi is a rare find in New England. Don’t come here in search of a long list of Americanized sushi rolls (although Junji will gladly make you anything you want). The sushi you will eat here will have have perfectly seasoned rice, great nori and expertly prepared fish and/​or vegetables. Junji takes steps in preparing fish you simply won’t find anywhere else in the area. Try a Sake (Salmon) nigiri and see for yourself. Don’t forget to try the green tea, it is freshly brewed and equally yummy.
Junji’s wife Akiko is usually waitressing solo or alongside with another waitress and they are both super attentive.
If you eat fish, my absolute favorite dish is the Oshizushi 3 fish. It is a pressed sushi made in a box with Sake, Hamachi and Albacore with avocado and comes with miso soup. You can order it with just Sake, Saba or anything you want. If you’re in a nigiri/​sashimi mood and don’t know what you want, sit at the sushi bar and ask Junji what he recommends on that day or you can always choose one of the many menu options where Junji picks for you.
If you are a vegetarian or vegan, Junji makes a delicious shiitake mushroom maki and because his rice is seasoned perfectly, even a vegetarian staple like an avocado maki shines.
Sushi is my favorite food and Junji is my hands down go-​to sushi chef. I have tried endless other Sushi restaurants in Metro Boston and across the country during my travels based on either recommendation or Unilocal reviews and nothing else comes close in overall quality.

Great place for sushi. They shipped a lot of fish directly from Japan which is awesome. Definitely the best place on the north shore. My wife is Japanese and has a lot of experience with sushi in Japan, she really love it here which is saying a lot.
We like to do Omakase (entrust to chef) and Junji always serve the most fresh and in season fish

Go with the chefs choice and split it with a friend. Sit at the bar. Have some sake. Talk to the older gentleman behind the bar — he’s quite interesting and very good at what he does. The sushi is phenomenal here. Bravo!
I hear they have very intimate live music now and then but haven’t checked it out yet.

Great sushi, wine wist, service and their miso soup was perfect. Looking forward to making it back again.

Incredibly food. Great service, creative fare. Must go! Ask for the Jim Trick roll…

Junji recently moved his sushi restaurant to Marblehead after many years closer to Boston, and Marblehead is very lucky for it! Junji is a very serious Japanese chef (rare in the U.S. sushi world where Korean and Chinese chefs dominate.) and he may appear grumpy but the truth is that he wants you to have the very best sushi possible. He has many unusual daily specials that he brings in from Japan. I happen to LOVE his ankimo (monkfish liver) with Ponzu (citrus and soy sauce) that tastes like foie gras of the sea– creamy. mild, distinctive. It is, alas, only available in certain seasons. He also makes an excellent ‘Yamakake’, fresh tuna and mountain yam, with quail egg, which is hard to find in other Japanese restnts. Also noteworthy is his mackerel with ginger, tobiko and scallion– very refreshing.
Junji is at heart a very traditional Japanese sushi chef who believes that sushi should be served the simple traditional way, not all dressed up with dressings and sauces that mask the delicate flavor of the fresh fish. He offers some of the more youth-​popular makis, but only because he feels pressured to offer some of these.
Put yourselves in Junji’s capable hands and you can have a really ‘WOW!!’ sushi experience!

This is my first time eating here. It’s a nice cosy minimalistic space. Clean and modern. Friendly staff. I ordered Hamachi nigiri as usual (it’s a good gauge for freshness and taste). It was delicious and very buttery. I also tried the Unagi nigiri and Spicy Salmon Avocado Maki. All were very good.
Overall my dining experience was more than satisfactory. I’ll be back.

Junji is hands-​down the best sushi restaurant on the north shore, and one of the best in the state. My fiancé and I have been here at least six times and have never been disappointed. Sit at the sushi bar if you’re feeling sociable: Chef/​Owner Junji, is always behind the bar and wonderfully friendly.
The sushi and maki are all excellent and they have a great variety: Madai, Shima Aji, Hotate (scallops), Seared Black Cod, Ika Shiso, in addition to all the usuals. Hot food is excellent, especially the Hamachi Kama Shioyaki — a broiled Hamachi collar with sea salt, but my current favorite on the menu is Wakasa no Izumi — thinly sliced raw white fish with yuzu dressing, it’s served in a martini glass and is completely addicting.

Where do I start?
Word of warning– I’m a huge restaurant snob, having been in the biz for years, I have high expectations which are thwarted most notably by poor service, thoughtless ambiance and disappointing food. Rarely do I give a restaurant 5 stars, Junji however is a place a frequent at least once and sometimes twice a week when I need my yummy sushi fix and ego filled.
Perhaps it’s because I’m a local and like I said, i practically live at the place, but the servers greet me with a hot cup of tea and my fave cold bottle of sake which I can never remember the name of, but they do. Chef Junji and the boys behind the line always welcome us with a smile and by name offering explanation of the daily fish specials, and making suggestions based on what I like. It’s like having a Japanese sushi chef uncle in town– seriously, everyone in the place prides themselves on making their patrons happy and full.
Sitting at the sushi bar will give you the best vantage point of sushi making art form, while chatting with chef (if it’s not too slammed) and learning about Japanese culture and food. The ambience is minimal but super relaxing and zen-​like. Bottom line: junji has spoiled me and I won’t go anywhere else locally for sushi.
But please don’t tell too many people about this place unless they are foodies, junji should be frequented by those who will appreciate the little gem that it is… Just sayin