Karma, Concord

When La Provence, the wonderful French bakery and cafe, closed down I was devastated. As the space sat empty, I grew more discouraged. Concord was sadly lacking in decent places to eat. But then I heard a new sushi place was going in. I like sushi. This might be ok.

Karma opened in 2017, and I was there with my wife and newborn son within the first week. Kelly and I had been going to Karma in Westford for several years, but the Concord location was very different. It is beautifully designed, a look that they used when they opened a fourth location in Burlington and when they remodeled the Westford one. (The missing location, in case you are wondering, is in Andover. we went there one and never went back again. It’s probably better these days.)

The real reason I go back to Karma over and over, and the reason that I like the Concord location better than any of the others, is the people. Honestly, it isn’t because it is so close to me, it is because of the people who run it and the people who work there. The family who owns it, Megan, Harvey, and their children, are wonderful hosts and make you feel welcomed and cared for. Steve, the longtime bartender who used to serve us in Westford is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. John and Thai are also great bartenders and you will never have a bad time eating at the bar. Last but not least, Amanda, our favorite waitress who took care of us that first day in 2017, is like a member of the family. For me it is a really special place.

Of course the food is wonderful too. They have excellent sushi, as well as many other very good pan-Asian dishes. And a visit would not be complete without their signature mai tai. But be warned, it is much stronger than it tastes!

My favorite dishes, ones that I go back to over and over again are:
pan-fried pork gyoza
tuna taco – not a taco it’s spicy tuna on fried wontons
spicy tuna tempura with volcano – a sushi roll with baked scallop
saba nigiri – best with the shallot vinaigrette
salt and pepper chicken wings
spicy lobster bomb – be brave and eat the lime

Here is a gallery of their sushi followed by other dishes I have eaten at Karma. I couldn’t find a picture of the tuna taco, so I’ll have to go soon and get one for you. I will continue to update as I go, which I do a couple of times a month.

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