Judy's Bay Japanese Restaurant

I recently visited a izakaya restaurant wanted to share my thoughts. The food was okay, nothing extraordinary, but enjoyable. I tried a few different small plates, Sake was good. I found the overall experience to be decent. The atmosphere was cozy, which is typical for an izakaya setting. It's a good spot if you're looking for a casual place to grab a bite and a drink. A little bit pricey though.

Ordered from here twice. Once dine in and one takeout. The flavors here are outstanding, and all their ingredients are sourced fresh. I especially loved the miso ribs which wasn’t on their in-person menu but was available online! The swordfish and cabbage were also very flavorful and overall delicious. Definitely worth a try!

Went on a date on a Sunday night before holidays. Place was on the empty side, we were the third table to be occupied. The staff were very attentive, they take your coats to a coat closet, which was very nice. We ordered: miso soup, cabbage salad, mapo mushroom tofu, and the lobster pasta. Food came out a bit too fast, not sure if it was because there weren’t many people there, but recommend ordering slowly. Food was tasty but missing that extra umph! Miso: hard to mess up, forgettably good. Cabbage salad: was very fun! Would definitely get again. Mapo Tofu: bigger plate, comes with rice. It was pretty good, just a bit on the blander side. Lobster pasta: it was definitely very flavorful and special. BUT the is it worth $50? Not sure. The pasta is $35 and we added the lobster for $15. Wish we had gotten a bit more lobster for the extra $15. This was definitely my favorite dish and would recommend, just wish it was a tad less expensive! Overall our experience was very good!

Nice little neighborhood spot and the food is fresh and tasty. For the prices they’re charging I wish we had an actual table and not sitting at the counter staring at the wall for my birthday. No acknowledgment or mention for my birthday (noted it in our rsvp) which was a bit disappointing. Again, for the prices they’re charging you have expectations for a certain level of service and attention to detail. Uni hand roll, toro sushi bowl, and whole mackerel were all well done and I recommend trying these items. The toro sashimi, on the other hand, was sliced a bit too thick and lacked in presentation.

Judy’s Bay is one of my favorite restaurant in Cambridge, MA. The food is yummy, the restaurant is cozy and homie, and it really does feel like you are stepping in to Kim & Lukas’ home. They are the owners. You can usually find Kim hosting in the front of the restaurant and Lukas walking out of the restaurant with hot food. The menu is inspired by locally caught seafood, the East Asian cuisine that they grew up eating, and the warm feeling of eating at Grandma’s dinner table (Hence the name, Judy). Here is what I had for dinner and my thoughts about it: Lobster Roe Pasta w/ actually lobster meat - The pasta color is bright orange and always takes me back as a kid because it looks like craft mac and cheese. When you take a bite of it, you realize it’s not. The orange comes from the lobster roe, and it makes the pasta really cravable. You should want to take multiple bites. It doesn’t come with lobster meat so I always add it to reinforce the point that it’s a lobster pasta. It is one of my wife’s favorite dishes here. Blue fin tuna sashimi – They get it fresh and locally, so I always order sashimi when they have it on the menu. When they can’t get it, they won’t serve it. This is for sushi fans. Blue fin tuna temaki – I always order anything blue fin tuna here when they have it on the menu because they get it fresh and locally. When they can’t get it, they won’t serve it. This is for sushi fans. Temaki comes with rice and wrapped with seaweed so you can pick it up with your hands to eat it. Uni Temaki – Their uni taste different and richer. It comes from Portland, Maine, usually. It’s fresh and local. When they can’t get it, they won’t serve it. This is for sushi fans. Temaki comes with rice and is wrapped with seaweed so you can pick it up with your hands to eat it. Grilled mackerel – Because mackerel are so oily, having this fish grilled is perfect. I recommend a side of rice. Mapo Tofu – Their mapo tofu is different than how I usually have it. It’s made vegetarian I think and has mushrooms in it. It’s really tasty, not too spicy, and come with the side of rice. I usually eat a version with meat but really enjoy this one. Pork Shoulder – It’s made with cabbage and stir fried with oil and soy sauce, I think. This dish comes off a balanced meal because it comes with vegetables. Oyster mushroom – Grill oyster mushroom so it’s a bit smokey. It comes with grilled vegetables. It’s one of the best dishes on the menu and having vegetables really balance dinner. Strawberry tapioca is my favorite dessert. I am still asking the owners to make a giant batch for me. Old Fashion Buzz – Whiskey heavy with a hint of coffee. Matcha Fizz – Not as better as you think and the citrus help. Iwai 45 – Very smokey whiskey. It makes me think of Islay Scotches but never realize Japanese whiskey can me this smokey. I like it so it works for me. Ordered it on the rocks. Whiskey highball – If you are craving a highball, this really hit the spot. Not sure what tonic they used but this highball came off very balanced. It’s not that whiskey forward and really refreshing. When available: Sear Scallops – Salty and fatty from the soy sauce butter that it is cooked in. Seared perfectly. It’s one of my favorite things on the menu. Order every single time when I have a chance. Sword fish – It’s cooked in butter and served in a delicious soy sauce-based sauce with scallion oil on top. It reminds me of steam fish from Chinese cuisine but the butter and scallion oil on top makes it tastier. It’s savory, salty, and oniony from the scallion which a meaty sword fish can handle. Because it’s heavy sauce, I recommend having rice with it. Fried rice or a side of rice. Lastly, If possible, I recommend making a reservation for the weekend because it does get popular here. Everyone in the neighborhood walks over for dinner. There is a cute and cozy fireplace spot for a table for 4-6 people. For a special dinner for celebratory occasions, I recommend booking that table. Hope you enjoy the restaurant.

I had a really memorable dinner at Judy’s Bay in Cambridge. They started me off with a complimentary little container of spicy dried peas, which was such a fun and thoughtful touch — a small thing, but it set the tone that this place does things differently. I ordered the Yuzu Pick-me-up mocktail, which turned out to be one of the most unique drinks I’ve ever had. It blends coffee and citrus in a way that sounds unusual but tastes perfectly balanced and refreshing. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a non-alcoholic option that still feels special. The Gomadare Salad was another highlight. It’s a simple dish on the surface — tofu tahini, corn, and beans — but the flavors were layered and satisfying, the kind of dish you can’t really find anywhere else in Cambridge or Boston. It shows how much care they put into even the smaller plates. For my main, I had the Lobster Roe Pasta with added lobster meat. Pasta and lobster is something you can find in many Boston-area restaurants, but what stood out here was the portion size and balance. It was hearty enough to be filling without being overwhelming, and I left completely satisfied. I’m usually the type to order more food, but with the pasta, salad, and mocktail, I was happily full. The service also made the evening special. My server, Kim, was incredibly hospitable — she let me sit and relax while waiting for my rideshare, and when my driver arrived, she kindly opened the front door so I could get out. Overall, Judy’s Bay feels cozy and intimate, and the menu offers creative flavors that go beyond the usual seafood restaurant. From the free spicy peas to the signature pasta and mocktail, everything felt thoughtful and distinctive. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re looking for something a little different but still comforting and satisfying.

An absolute must try for anyone who enjoys Japanese cuisine! Everything here was fantastic- flavorful and delicious. Above all, I appreciated Lukas, the owner, who stops by every table to check in on the meal.

The bean salad and carpaccio were great! Some of the portion sizes were a bit small, but all-in-all, a good experience.