Boston | Who can resist a seafood rice with your own ingredients?

🍣 Sakanaya: Boston’s Hidden Japanese Seafood Gem—Worth the Trip to Newton Been eyeing Sakanaya for ages, but never made it to Newton… until today. Regret waiting so long. This tiny Japanese market is a seafood lover’s dream—and the adjacent Little L bakery (a Japanese spot with limited hours, sadly closed Sundays) only adds to the allure. 🐟 How It Works Walk in, and the setup’s simple: Grab pre-made sushi, or pick fresh seafood from the cold case and have them prep it—sashimi style, or turned into a chirashi bowl for $1 extra. Vinegar, ginger, wasabi? $0.10 each. No fussy rules, just pure flexibility. The fish selection? Impressive. All sizes, cuts, and fat levels—you pick exactly what you want. Prices are reasonable, on par with Maruichi. Beyond fish, there’s octopus, sweet shrimp, uni, fish roe… whatever your chirashi bowl dreams are made of, they’ve got it. Fancy a luxe spread? Go for it. Keeping it simple? That works too. 🍚 My Bowl: $27 Well Spent I built mine with: Salmon ($10): Buttery, melt-in-your-mouth—my forever favorite. Salmon toro (fatty belly, $6): Silky, rich, so tender it practically dissolves. Yellowtail ($5): Crisp, slightly fatty—like the “crunchy counterpart” to toro. Squid ($6): Chewy, refreshing, with that satisfying bite I love. Add rice and condiments, and the total? Just over $27. Steal. Pro tip: Go with friends—split a few bowls to try more varieties. ✨ The Little Touches After paying, the chef preps your order with care: precise cuts, and even a cute salmon flower garnish for my bowl. 🥰 There’s a small table out front, so I dug in right away—freshness overload. Every bite tasted like it was plucked from the ocean that morning. Bonus: It’s steps from Zhong Xing Yuan , and if you time it right, Little L bakery’s pastries make the perfect dessert. 📍 Sakanaya 232 California St, Newton, MA 02458 This spot’s so good, I’m already planning a return trip. #BostonSeafood #ChirashiHeaven #HiddenGems