503 Sushi Bar

I’ve been to a lot of hole-in-the-wall sushi bars; 503 Sushi Bar sits two floors up above Liberty Street and smells like downtown commerce and soy. It’s a small, casual Japanese spot with window seats that look out over Salem’s main drag, a perfect perch for people-watching after an afternoon of browsing. Service leans efficient—many guests use a contactless system to order—while the room keeps a cozy, lived-in feel: sticky tabletops, mismatched chairs, and a handful of regulars at the bar. The food swings between honest, wallet-friendly rolls and inconsistent plates that occasionally miss the mark; the Vegas roll has earned local praise, while the mussels and rice can show shortcuts. Locals treat it as a pragmatic downtown anchor where families and shoppers converge; visitors come for affordable sushi with a view rather than a ceremonious omakase. It’s not polished, it isn’t trying to be, and when it’s right the place hums with simple pleasures—cheap, filling, unpretentious Japanese food with a front-row seat to Salem life.