Sushi Island

Food is always good and fresh! Ill always be coming back :)))

This place was good! It wasn’t crowded the night we went so the wait staff was hovering over us big time. It was a little too much when they kept staring at us. LOL oh well, will try another time because the food was good! :)

Ate here a few weeks ago with my family and was not that impressed. It was very cold in the restaurant, which made for a chilly dining experience. The staff were very nice and helpful, which was a plus. However, the food and drink were not that impressive. I probably won’t be back given there are much better sushi spots nearby.

Went there for lunch the first time today. Very good — and I saw some fish that I had not typically seen on the sushi menu.
I liked the fact that the sushi had a nice texture — was not super cold like it usually is.
Also, not all sushi restaurants offer brown rice as an option — these guys do.

Love it. Always good. Nice staff and like the entertainment on weekends.

If you watched the movie, «Jiro Dreams of Sushi», you will know what a real, authentic Japanese sushi is like. Well, went in tonight and asked for the omakase meal (not on the menu) prepared by Junji san while sitting at the sushi bar. The sushi were served one at a time at room temperature. It was easily the best sushi experience I’ve had in Massachusetts. The fish were ultra fresh and some of them were even flown from a fish market in Tokyo! Came out to be about $ 70 per person which was very reasonable.
We get to talk to Junji san and was amazed by his 30 years of experience. Had the meal with a sushi connoisseur from Japan and he agreed that it surpasses anything he tried in Boston. If you want Americanized sushi like Red Sox maki or Rainbow Maki, try somewhere else. If you want the true authentic sushi experience, Sushi Island is the best you’re gonna get in Massachusetts.

Great authentic sushi w an actual japanese chef… Rare to find in this area… A hidden gem. Was told about this place from my friend Kyoko originally from Japan… Trusted her recommendation and have been a few times since. Excellent sushi and service. Jazz on most fri and sat nights. Its not oishi in boston or nobu malibu but its authenic sushi and sashimi

I’ve gone back multiple times in the last year and each time has been great! I even got a sushi boat and the sashimi pieces were so delicate, fresh, and incredibly delicious!
And people giving the bad reviews: Please. Stop ordering rolls. Don’t go to Sushi Island expecting spicy mayo loaded rolls (Genki Ya in Brookline and Cambridge does those much much better). Go there for the fresh, authentic Japanese sushi experience that seem to be amiss in the majority of the sushi restaurants in this area. I also have to thank you 1 star’ers for still making this place a hidden gem (although I haven’t gone in a while — so fingers crossed)!

I don’t understand why people choose Sushi Island over the other sushi restaurants that are available in the area. I’m also laughing at the people who drove from far away towns to experience this place. You have my sympathy. Some of the reviewers in this thread need to get around a little more.
I’ve been served so many hack rolls from this place. It’s pricier and they definitely skimp as others have noted. The presentation is simply disappointing and uninspiring. Also, the freshness of the sushi is often questionable.
Overall, your money would be well spent elsewhere. If you still need jazz music, just listen to your iPod while you’re driving to a different sushi establishment that doesn’t serve overpriced hack rolls.

My review was removed by this site; I guess in their wisdom they thought it was fake.
So I’ll keep it short: Great food, great service, great music. Don’t believe the bad reviews.

Incredible sushi!
I drive from Needham to Wakefield often just to have sushi here. Junji, the owner and sushi chef is a master, an artist…
Looking forward to my next meal already.
Always consistent, always fresh, always delicious. Love the piano and the live jazz singing. The wait staff is polite, professional, and always smile.
Junji, you’re the best.

I came here to get take out on a weeknight. The place is actually pretty cute. Nothing out of the ordinary, good for groups, kids, parents and teenagers. so on and so forth.
The prices seemed $ 2 more for item than it really should have been. I had a sweet potato roll, cucumber and avocado roll and vegetable dumplings.
The dumplings were pretty terrible. They broke apart by the time I cam back to my hotel which was 5 minutes away. Something just felt wrong with the way the vegetables were cooked inside the wrap. The cucumber-​avocado was not as creamy as I would have liked it to be, and the sweet potato roll was bland even with the dollop of wasabi I used.
I guess I am a bit spoiled when it comes to sushi, still I expected a little more. Also, the front desk barely spoke any English. I would have got something different had she not given me just that little written menu. When she finally gave me the restaurant menu I felt like they were hovering over me wanting to order quickly. I hate when people do that, but it’s my fault. Since it is my appetite, and my money I should be in control of the way I handle it.

A nice local place, with GREAT lunch specials. The staff is very friendly, and food is delicious.

Awesome sushi. I have eaten here about a hundred times in 12+ years. For the folks who stated that Sake, or some other Chinese restaurant masquerading as a Japanese one had better sushi, you have issues with your taste buds. I ate there once and it was disgusting and I never went back.
Don’t come here if you’re looking for fancy sushi, but if you are looking for quality fish and great service, this is the right place.
My favorite is the Pressed Sushi with Hamachi, Sake and Albacore.

I’m a frequent traveler to the Wakefield area and a friend turned me on to Sushi Island 5+ years ago.
What a gem.
Really, really great and fresh sushi. I am a sucker for their super white tuna and when they have monkfish liver available it is hands down the best I’ve ever had.
The staff always takes good care of me and service is relaxed — I’m not looking for a fast food experience when I go out for Sushi.
Wakefielders, you are a lucky bunch.

I’ve read a number of the other reviews about Sushi Island and feel compelled to weigh in. I should preface my review by saying that I am a long time sushi fan, have had the pleasure of trying it around the world, and this is most important, have little patience for a mediocre sushi restaurant: it wastes money, ruins what should be a relaxing meal, and can make you sick! So, I’ve gone to many places once and never returned. I am happy to say that at Sushi Island I am never disappointed.
Wakefield? Well, why not Wakefield? It is as good a place as any to have a quality restaurant. The space is simple but well kept, the sushi bar (my preferred seating location) is spacious and light.
The service has always been excellent for me, even on very busy nights: attentive, polite, and very accomodating. My significant other and I visit often enough that they try and anticipate drinks, appetizers, etc. and I’ve observed that the staff all seem to work to keep track of previous selections and offer that up to start. Newcomers, which we were not so long ago, are treated with respect, patience, and the staff were happy to explain choices and meet special requests.
The sushi chefs are a multi-​ethnic mix led by the Japanese owner/​head chef, Junji. I’m not sure how they communicate sometimes, but they do, it works, and the result is excellent. If you’re eating at the bar you can order traditionally, one selection at a time, or all at once and get a platter with your whole order, so you can manage your time and experience.
Of most importance, of course, is the food. Over the years we’ve tried a lot from the kitchen and it has all been excellent: fresh, tasty, plentiful. There aren’t a lot of Boston-​esque creative concoctions but it’s good, straightforward Japanese fare.
Of greatest importance is the quality and preparation of the fish. I’ve sampled pretty much every type and style of sushi, sashimi, and maki on the menu (and the specials board) and always find it fresh, well-​prepared, and nicely presented. The owner often gets his fish from the great Tsujiki fish market in Tokyo, and when that’s posted definitely try whatever he has.
The maki are also well-​done, though if you’re craving some exotic roll with gold flakes on it or some over the top preparation you probably want to hop in your car and drive into the City. I particularly like the Sushi Island Special and the salmon skin rolls. A little more creativity would be fun sometime, but I have no real complaint with what’s offered.
There’s a nice, if limited, selection of sake and beers on the menu and I definitely recommend one or the other to accompany the meal.
Finally, if oddly, on Friday and Saturday nights there is entertainment, usually some combination of singer and jazz accompanist. For the most part they’re local, usually entertaining, sometimes really good, and every once in a while, well, not so much. In general it’s just fun.
So, bottom line: great fish, great people, nice space, decent prices (never go to a place with «cheap» sushi!!) and a convenient location. Can’t ask for more than that.

We started going to Sushi Island when it was around the corner in a tiny storefront on Princess St. It’s always a little «scary» going to a sushi place for the first time, but everything was so fresh and prepared with such care we’ve been fans ever since.
It’s not as good as Boston’s best, but it’s dependable and not far from our home. And it’s much better than the sushi you find at the large, local chinese/​japanese food emporium.
Give it a try and ask for omikase.

I eat a lot of sushi. I don’t even like calling it sushi because «sushi» means «rice» but you all know what I mean. ;)
Unless I’m going out for a very relaxed, lengthy experience, I tend to order the same things:
1. Sushi Deluxe; (usually comes with miso soup and salad);
2. Spider Maki (soft shell crab tempura maki); and
3. (optionally) Seaweed Salad, or other small appetizer.
So, I was going to walk around the big Wakefield lake and wanted a quick sushi fix. So, I orderered as above with the appetizer being GYOZA, a beef and vegetable dumpling. And here’s what I thought:
1. Sushi Deluxe — everything was ok and fresh and nice, including the Calil maki part that someone else complained about in another review. I found it a decent size. NOTE: This came with a good Miso soup, but there was NO side salad which every other Sushi Delux I’ve ever had included;
2. Spider Maki — This was OK, but it was small. I’m used to a much bigger crab being used, but this was still flavorful and crispy and enjoyable, just not super filling;
3. Gyoza — these beef and vegetable dumplings were very good along with the sweet, gingery sauce that accompanied them. However, they were smaller than I’m used to. I’m used to 1″ high dumplings between a half, to silver dollar size. These were like tiny cocoons. But, again, very tasty, just not very big.
Setting:
Very nice and quiet for the afternoon. The wait staff was pleasant and attentive. The sushi bar looked pleasant and inviting. The bathrooms were clean and I noticed a baby grand piano and a list of musicians who play there on various occasions.
I’ve been to a LOT of Japanese restaurants. I could order, eat and find my way around many of them blindfolded. ;) This was definitely pleasant and, with a few minor modifications can be 4-​stars. I’d give 3.5 if I could.
Enjoy!

I had eaten here a few times several years ago and remember it being really good. When I went recently, I was sorely disappointed. I got my usual unagi and avocado maki and tried their yellowtail and scallion for take out. Something was just… off about the flavors. I had to choke down $ 12 of unpleasant sushi; I just couldn’t bear to toss it, but my taste buds sure paid for it. As a result, I have no intentions of going back.
There are plenty of better sushi restaurants in the area, like Blue Fin (Middleton) and Sake (Saugus). Fuji Sushi (Peabody) has received excellent reviews from Unilocalers, though unfortunately I haven’t had a chance to try them yet.

Sushi Island is good. for a Wakefield restaurant. We stopped in for dinner, figuring we’d give this place a try. Ugh.
The waiter took long (for sushi restaurant standards) to get to our table and take our order. We got the soft shell crab as our appetizer. Normally, we love this dish at other restaurants, but it had a strong, fishy taste when I bit into it. Ugh.
The restaurant had live music – a pianist and singer. It made for pretty good ambiance. Though.
The sushi was hit or miss, depending on which pieces you ordered. The uni (urchin) tasted crummy, while the tamago (sweet egg) was pretty tasty. The inconsistency was annoying. so much so that I found myself quarantining the bad-​tasting pieces to one side of the plate. Ugh.
Finally, it took forever to get our bill. We had to ask for it three times. Ugh.
Three hours later, as I sit here typing this, my dinner is *still* repeating on me. Ugh.
Two stars. UGH!