The best Japanese supermarket in Boston! The quality of their salmon is exceptionally high--the…read moreflesh is tender, succulent, and rich. Since it's sold in large, uncut portions, there's nothing quite as satisfying as sinking your teeth into a generous, chunky piece. I've also never seen Arctic surf clams (hokkigai) this large and thick; they aren't the least bit tough or chewy--instead, they're incredibly tender and fresh, practically bursting with juice with every bite. Their red bean daifuku and onigiri are also excellent.

Visited for lunch recently. Was looking for a place and saw a huge line so I investigated. I…read morethought it was more groceries but they have a great menu. Was pretty confused about ordering and seating but you order at the counter (pre packaged and cooked menu options) and find your own seating. It gets really full but works when people don't save seats while in line. Had delicious matcha latte and chirashi. It was fresh and really really good. Also had a great salmon rice triangle. Nobody cleans the tables so grab an extra wipe/napkin. Nice clean atmosphere and friendly staff.

Japonaise is a super cute Asian bakery…read more They have a variety of traditional Asian breads, and you can customize the filling as well.

A great place to check out on Beacon Street! They have incredible bakery items with super cute…read morepastries and cakes! Everything seems to be delicious and is absolutely worth checking out if in the area!

It says OneZo but they also have a MochiNut in the same space…read more After lunch across the street, we were in the mood for dessert and happened to see this place. Some tables were occupied on a late Saturday afternoon but it was not crowded. The staff at the register wasn't the friendliest but it was ok. We got a sesame mochinut to share and also managed to snag an empty table. The donut was nice, not too sweet but perfectly chewy in texture. The ambiance is also quite peaceful so we sat there for a while, chatting, and it was great that no one rushed us.

Stopped by after getting dinner near by and they had a large selection of drinks and mochi donuts.read more

I've come here a few times before and tried multiple items before: HK milk tea, Kashmiri chai,…read morewintermelon oolong, red date ginger tea, hojicha latte, and matcha latte. What brought me here originally is the HK milk tea. It's one of the few drinks on the menu that isn't presweetened. I think it's the best HK milk tea I've had at these modern cafes outside of Hong Kong. Their blend of tea leaves gives it a depth of flavor with a ton of umami and after taste. It's not rough on the tongue or bitter. Despite knowing they batch prepare the tea blends, I can't taste oxidation or overboiling here. I appreciate how they would use a shaker to mix the milk and tea base together when you're ordering it iced. You're not really chasing a gradient effect for HK milk tea, so I'm happy to receive a cup ready to drink. Iced doesn't taste diluted and the tea flavor still comes through despite muted iciness. Since they use whole milk instead of evaporated milk, it won't taste as heavy or harsh on the stomach as OG ones. I don't mind this substitute as the tea flavors are still robust enough to hold up the drink without the thicker dairy. This places deserves a 5* even just for their HK milk tea! Kashmiri Chai also stands out to me. It's the not the typical chai (i.e. Starbucks). It's a beautiful pink coral beige color. It tastes a bit savory and sweet and warm at the same time. All the flavors are subtle yet together make a flavorful drink. I get creamy buttery flavors. Wintermelon oolong and red date ginger tea are both very comforting options if it's cold outside or I feel under the weather. They're a bit sweet for my preference but I don't think I can adjust sweetness. Flavors are strong though. Hojicha latte is an off-menu item that I requested after seeing there was the powder behind the counter. I think they used to offer it but not sure why not anymore. Matcha latte isn't a strength there. I appreciate how they whisk each cup after you order it. It tastes a bit like cereal/grain. I wish it was stronger and more concentrated though. I appreciate how all their hot drinks are boiled on a pot on the stove rather than microwave or stored in a thermos which ends up making the drinks lukewarm. Also shout out to one of the owners from Hong Kong, Andy. He was here during one of my visits and as what other people have mentioned already, he's super friendly. He loves striking up conversations with his customers. He's happy to provide suggestions on restaurants, cafes, and bars around Boston. He travels a lot, so he's not always around, but say hi if you see him. He's also into arts, so the rotating art collection in the café is curated by him. Appreciate how he supports local artists and the community (various collaborations and community events).

The Sipping Room by Breeze is a small, intimate cafe in Boston that feels like a genuine find…read morerather than another coffee shop filling a corner. We walked into a minimalist and calm space with enough personality to make it comfortable for a longer stay, the kind of room where the lighting and the seating encourage you to settle in rather than rush out. The dalgona coffee is one of the standout orders and delivered the creamy, slightly bitter contrast that makes the format work when it is done well. We had it with oat milk, which smoothed out the richness without losing the depth of the coffee underneath. The matcha was another high point, aromatic and grassy in a way that reflects quality sourcing, and notably not overly sweet. The hojicha with hojicha foam was on rotation during our visit, layered and smooth in a way that made it an easy recommendation for anyone who leans toward roasted, nutty flavors. Prices across the menu are genuinely affordable for the quality. The loose leaf teas can be rebrewed multiple times, which added real value to the experience as we settled in for a while. Service was warm and unhurried, with staff who clearly know the drink menu well and are happy to talk through the options without any pressure. For a handcrafted drink in a space that feels like it was built for people who actually care about what they are drinking, The Sipping Room earns a spot on the short list. We would come back for the dalgona coffee and a quiet afternoon with a rebrewed pot of tea.

Very cute tea house with an assortment of drinks and bakery items. The matcha strawberry with boba…read morewas very delicious, albeit a little heavy. I kind of wish they used plastic boba straws instead of paper ones since the paper straw sort of deformed as I was drinking it and easily got bent. Saw a lot of people working on their laptops here and seems like a nice little spot to spend an afternoon. They had a lot of really cute macarons that look homemade! Barista was really helpful and cheerful.

Convenient location but easy to miss. Menu seems pretty diverse and they even have monthly…read morespecials. Little bit of seating inside and a cozy atmosphere makes for good studying, working, or just conversing. Jasmine Milk Tea w/ Boba - boba was fresh and very flavorful! Chew was alright as the pearls were more of a medium size, which I typically don't prefer, but they were well marinated. Tea was pretty faint, at 25% sugar I couldn't quite get any jasmine taste. Wouldn't get this drink again, but maybe on the boba, and would likely try a specialty drink.

Located on busy Beacon Street, Royaltea's one of the few boba shops on this street. Parking is…read moreokay, it's street parking but it's T accessible. Pretty good boba tea shop if you're in the Brookline area. They have a small variety of milk teas and fruit teas, but they're all made with higher quality products. They are on the pricier side, so I don't gravitate on coming here. I usually get a boba milk tea or oolong milk tea with ice cream or their house fruit tea. Really smooth milk teas and I love the additional creaminess whenever I add ice cream. Very easy to order and the service is fast. Nothing amazing but it's not terrible. Just a nice shop to go to if you're not willing to go to Allston/ Chinatown.

Nothing too amazing with this Royaltea, just a solid spot to get some bubble tea! The space was a…read morebit small, but had some seating around if you wanted to get a drink and sit. Service was quick with getting the drink itself which was nice. Flavor was good, bubbles were okay, and price was decent. Overall, solid spot and a good contender for the area.

Tbarr - A Hidden Gem for Winter Specials & Authentic Jianbing in Brookline…read more Location: Tbarr, 1038 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446 Tbarr in Brookline is bringing something fresh and exciting to the area with their winter special drinks and a massive Chinese crepe (Jianbing, 煎饼) that's unlike anything I've had before! Drinks - Fresh & Flavorful Their Strawberry and Golden Pineapple drinks are made with real fresh fruit, making them a refreshing and vibrant treat. The fruit flavors shine through, delivering a natural sweetness without being overly sugary. Perfectly balanced and great for a winter pick-me-up! Chinese Crepe (Jianbing) - A Must-Try! The Jianbing, a traditional Chinese street food, was huge--literally the size of my head! It came packed with egg, sausage, and pork floss, making it a hearty and satisfying meal. The crepe itself was light and crispy on the outside while holding all the savory goodness inside. It had a great mix of textures and flavors, from the soft egg to the slightly crunchy pork floss, and was well-seasoned without being too overpowering. Definitely a solid 8/10 and something I'd come back for! Final Thoughts With its unique offerings and authentic flavors, Tbarr stands out in Brookline's food scene. Whether you're stopping by for a fresh fruit drink or a filling Chinese crepe, this spot is worth a visit. I highly recommend checking them out! Food: 8/10 Drinks: 9/10 Ambiance: 5/10 Affordability: 8/10

I didn't really like the milk tea. Kinda tasted like chocolate Rice Krispies. The boba texture was…read moregood though, nice and bouncy. I love the grapefruit tea, very refreshing. My husband got the Thai lime green tea and that was really good too.

This has been my favorite boba in Boston for the past five years for the low sugar and decaf…read moreoptions, golden boba and fresh fruit. Today they went above and beyond when I accidentally dropped my phone in the trash (!) The employee went to get gloves and fished it out of the bin for me. Then I used a wipe to sanitize it lol. Thank you!!

So glad to find this bubble tea place!…read more The interior is actually pretty spacious with lots of natural light. You can place the order on the kiosk or at the counter. I couldn't tell the caffeine free options, but the staff was able to accommodate caffeine free options. The drink was very good. It does take time to make the drinks. There are some tables and chairs if you want to hang out here. Limited street parking out front. There are metered parking on the side street next to the green line.

Hidden Gem!! Amazing food and great prices, everything was so fresh. My friend also had their green…read morepapaya salad and it was so fresh and so delicious, caught us off guard. Service was great too, server was super nice. Will be back!

Came to Esmai's for an early dinner with my boyfriend and sat on the outdoor rooftop (we made a…read morereservation). The Highlights: Blush Hour cocktail & Shrimp baos: Easily a 10/10! Absolute must-trys. Calamari: Pretty good, but the sauce really made the dish. The Misses: The Pasta (2/10): Neither of us enjoyed this. The sauce was very watery and lacked flavor--it seemed like it relied on meat juices for flavor, but it just didn't work. Smash Burger: Just an average burger. Hard to mess up, but nothing to write home about. Vibe & Service: The rooftop ambience was nice with staff playing music on a speaker. Wait-staff were very attentive! A huge plus was the owner coming out to check on tables and joke around with guests! Note on space: Upstairs indoor seating seems okay for private events (there was a bridal shower happening while we were there), and downstairs has a classic sit-down/bar feel. Verdict: Total came out to $171 (including tip) for 4 drinks, calamari, baos, pasta, and a burger. If we return, we'd definitely stick to drinks, shrimp baos, and hanging out downstairs!

In a world where so many Japanese-style items aren't actually made in Japan (and aren't always the…read morebest quality), I really respect Maruichi Select for carrying so many genuinely Japanese items. The shop, with all its ceramics, is SO cute. I want everything. It's also just a lovely little cafe: calm, cozy, neat, clean, and surprisingly spacious. Also, the onigiri is the biggest onigiri I've ever had. Maybe I just haven't eaten enough onigiri in my life, but I swear theirs is huge and also one of the most flavorful. I got the spicy chicken karaage onigiri and did not regret it. I also got the matcha latte, which was really good. And I respect that they serve Ogawa Coffee, a Japanese coffee. So based. I wish I lived closer so I could just roll out of bed and work here. Honestly, I wish I could WFH so I could work here. Why can't I just live here while I'm at it? They also have a good selection of ramen, udon, sandos, and, when they aren't short-staffed, kakigori shaved ice. I'm sad about the kakigori. It's summer, goddamnit! They could be making so much money if they had enough staff for it. You really can't go wrong being here. It's a little serene Japanese oasis, and I'm very glad it exists.

Don't know if it's because I visited on a weeknight but the food did not impress me. The chirashi…read morebowl was solid- fresh seafood but rice could be a bit better. The matcha latte was fine but a little mild. The onigiri was the biggest disappointment. I ordered a "premium" one from the counter and expected it to be better than the ones on the grab and go fridge section. But no. They grabbed an unwrapped one from the fridge with soggy seaweed. Just confused of why they would do this. This place is a great place to stop by for a quick bite or rest. Would be a good working space but there's no wifi or outlets. Mostly everything is self serve and there's a microwave that you can use to heat up anything you bought.