Located right at the entrance to Boston’s young, bustling Seaport District (also known as Boston’s Innovation District), Mai is bringing a unique perspective to the modern Izakaya* movement, blending the Japanese tradition of simplicity with the complexity of French culinary technique.

We opened Mai because we were tired of the lack of innovation in the Boston Asian restaurant scene.

As a group of Asian American restauranteurs, we wanted to open a restaurant that reflected our taste for unique, interesting Asian cuisine that simultaneously pushes boundaries of what Asian food can be and respects its roots.

Through our food menu, curated craft sake list, and Japanese-inspired sake cocktails, Mai attempts to tell the stories of our team’s dozens of trips to Japan and bring some of our favorite culinary experiences back to Boston’s hottest neighborhood.

*An izakaya (居酒屋) is a casual Japanese bar or pub that serves small plates of food and a variety of alcoholic beverages, similar to a Spanish tapas bar or American/British Pub. They are popular spots for after-work meals, drinking, socializing, often frequented by locals and tourists alike.