This place is a vegan gem! Try the "No Name" dish if you love General Gao's. It's better than the real thing. I really enjoyed my seafood chowfun - I asked for both "squid" and "shrimp" - really pleasing to find faux seafood around. The woman running the restaurant was very very friendly and warm. I can't wait to go back. If you love American Chinese food and some Vietnamese style and fusion dishes and don't eat animals, this is a place to check out. I even implore omnivores to check it out. Bonus points for being next to a vegan ice cream parlor. read more

Grasshopper is a unique restaurant with a particular palatte pleaser for those vegans dying for a menu without restrictions. While I'm no vegan, the menu satisfies my fair-weather vegetarian stints with its tasty appetizers and large entree portions. Grasshopper Do's: Do order the light appetizer platter with two-three people. Do enjoy the peanutty goodness of the cold buckwheat noodles, Seaweed salad, crispy tofu/veg rolls, and warmly cooked edamame. Grasshopper Don'ts: If you're not a gluten fan, be sure to steer clear of the hotpot special with gluten chunks. It ends up looking like a hotpot full of styrofoam and gravy...It ends up tasting like sponge smothered in ginger gravy....blech...sorry vegans, I can't handle the gluten... :( read more

Food is bland and I worry that it's all been sitting around for days. They put the same gravy on most of their dishes and their meat alternative is rubbery. There aren't very good vegan spots in Boston, but I think all are better than this place. It's so offensive that they would allow people to eat this stuff. I would question my diet if this is the crap I had to eat. Fret not fellow Yelpers, you can travel 3,000 miles away - anywhere in California, really - and find some of the best vegan food there is. A lot of newly converted vegans eat here, so beware of those trust fund hipsters read more

OK, I had heard good things about the Grasshopper so I was excited to try it out finally. First off, it's pretty much your typical, dirty Chinese restaurant. The floor was sticky, the bathroom was disgusting and the waitstaff were using the leftover tea to wipe down the tables...(is that even sanitary?!) Quick peaks of the kitchen through the swinging door were rather alarming with produce scraps strewn all over the floor and the microwave in constant use. The menu is all vegetarian which is great but the prices were high. The "Sweet and Sour Sensation" is sweet and sour batter fried tofu with broccoli and while it tasted good, my overall experience was really tainted by the atmosphere. The wonton soup was pretty bad. The wonton filling was indistinguishable and the broth lacked any real flavor. And they didn't have any dry noodles to speak of for mixing into the soup. The waitstaff were cold and the meal felt rushed. I had high hopes for the Grasshopper but I don't think I'll be dining here again. read more

I came here with a vegetarian, a couple of former vegetarians, and a few omnivores, like myself. Each one of us found something that we liked, and left happy and full. The vegetarian chicken fingers were excellent-- the batter tasted like that of a corndog; the vegetarian chicken, for lack of a better phrase, tasted like chicken. We also got spring rolls and fried dumplings, which were also tasty, and full of flavor. My vegetarian friend insisted that we order a No Name for the table. The menu described the dish as "Battered gluten in a sweet and sour sauce served with assorted steamed vegetables and topped with sesame seeds." My initial reaction was "well that sounds... interesting" Whenever my old college roommate used the word "interesting". what she really meant was "what, are you nuts?" But then... then the plate of sweet and sour crispy deliciousness arrived at our table. We dug in, devoured it... and holy flipping crunk monkey. I. AM. IN. LOVE. Seriously, if you fry it, dunk it in sweet and sour sauce and cover it in sesame seeds, I'll eat it. This was such a great experience, considering how skeptical I was about venturing into an establishment with no meat whatsoever. I'll be back, and I'll be bringing more friends! read more

This is honestly one of the stranger places I've eaten and after my second meal there, I can now say that I pretty thoroughly enjoy it. The first time I went I wasn't sure what to order and was a little disappointed with what I ended up choosing (some shaved gluten-chickeny thing). This time, however, having seen the menu before and knowing a bit more about the food, I ordered something that I really enjoyed. (veggie tempura soup, mmm...) the food here is good (and incredibly good for you, seeing as everything is made of some kind of plant or another), the service is speedy and friendly, and the prices are surprisingly low for the quality of food you get. I would definitely recommend the fried bean cakes as an appetizer (they get better every time I have them). The atmosphere is a little hokey, but it's classy-hokey, so that's ok. Best part: watching the fish in the tank swim, knowing that none of them could ever end up on your plate...here, at least read more

I LOVE this place. I've been here many times. The food has been great every time. The best dish to order is the No Name. It's absolutely delicious! My second favorite is the Happy Family. Their portions are huge! It's enough food for 3-4 meals! The service is great too! They're really nice. Grasshopper also has a buffet once a month where you can try many different dishes for only $10 (I believe). I've only been to the Sunday buffet once. It was definitely worth it! read more

Pitiful! Bad enough our No Name came out overcooked, rock hard, waaaay to sugared up, and completely inedible in every way, but the folks at Grasshopper refused to take it off our bill. Despite the fact that we returned it virtually untouched, the manager/owner (not sure what his position was. He didn't identify himself) flat out refused to take it off our check stating "It's not a store, you can't return it. If we give you your money back it's not fair to us" At first I thought he was kidding. Who says that? Then the guy got insulting and explained to us how the No Name is a very special crispy dish. Yeah, crispy as a brick. Totally rude, especially since I already told him I had been a customer for well over a decade and never had a No Name come out rock hard or completely crystalized in sugar like that. The guy went on to rant about how it's not fair to return food to the kitchen. Seriously on and on. Then he wanted me to order something else. Finally, he "generously" took half off the horrible mess. Then he continued his rant about how unfair it is if customers return bad food after ordering it. I swear, at this point I was ready to pay him just to stop talking. He. Just. Kept. Going. On. And. On. And. On. Basically, the folks at Grasshopper would rather get a few bucks from me for a completely inedible meal then continue to make money off me for the next several years. That's sad. Yep. Bad move, but what do they care -- like so many college town businesses, they are largely sustained by transient folks, a new batch come to town every year. It's all good for me. Grasshopper is kind of far from me, and other places have outrun Grasshopper in that mock meat junk food kind of way. There are so many great places in the area, I prefer to patronize businesses that respect their customers. And I might just loose that ten pounds after all, now that I won't be picking up lunch specials on a weekly basis and traipsing over to Alston for dinner anymore! read more

It's hard to find a good vegan restaurant and here at grasshopper you'll find good food at decent prices. I did find a fly in my tea, which I'm pretty sure was leftovers from the day before. read more

I wanted to like this place. Despite my less-than-stellar experience I'd be willing to give them another shot. They have such a big menu that I think the quality really depends on what you order. The good news: Their veggie tempura appetizer is cheap and you get SO MUCH tempura! Big slabs of sweet potato, spears of asparagus, broccoli, this was plenty for my roommate and I and I could even see making a meal out of it. The bad news: Unless you like supremely slimy pasta, don't get the "Spicy Sauteed Mixed Vegetable on bed of Buckwheat Pasta". The pasta was like brown slimy angel hair. Like worms. Slimy angel worms. No. Also I asked for it extra spicy but it came not even a little spicy despite that being one of the key words in the title of the meal. The sautéed vegetables were nice and fresh and cooked to perfection though. The service was friendly and quick and the portions were massive but I would not be back for that dish. read more

Absolutely amazing food! My boyfriend loved it and said that's the first time he's had vegan Chinese food that was as good as when he used to eat meat. It's definitely a hole in the wall kind of vibe and that is part of what makes it amazing. The service is on point and I absolutely love this place!!! read more

Nobel grasshopper, Green, vibrant, and delicious: That is the food here. --Haiku review. read more

Any dedicated vegan/vegetarian living in the Northeast knows of Grasshopper. Yearsssss before I moved to Boston, I knew of it. When I came up to visit, about 5 years ago, I had to go. I've been a fan ever since. Before Peter and I moved to the city, I could talk him into coming into the city for a day, but only if I dangled Grasshopper in front of his face. It basically worked every time. Now we live down the street and it's absolutely DANGEROUS. I will get fatter and fatter just thinking of this. The No Name is everyone's favorite. I never really get it, because I know Pete will get it and then I can just pick off his plate. I always get some sort of seitan, beefy-style, because it's good like that. And it's a great deal to add the dinner special or whatever, that comes with soup rice and salad. Also, did you know Grasshopper is BYOB? I didn't. But we called last week and asked if we could bring some beers in and they were like yea yeaaa. So that rules. I didn't see any bottle opening fee or the like on our bill either, so that was good. And they put it in glasses for us! Overall, I have a strong love for you, but please, Grasshopper... can you please start playing some music? It's DEAFENING how quiet it can be in there. And I don't talk about the most polite things, you know? read more

If you're ever at this mess of an intersection and you find yourself starving, park your car (or bike) and head into Grasshopper. The awning says "Asian Vegan" which is what I thought the restaurant was called for a while. Either way, people know what you mean. This restaurant is great for vegan or vegetarian newbies. They serve no animal by-product what-so-ever, but the seitain is prepared to look and taste like actual beef, or chicken, or whatever animal it's supposed to be emulating. I always would get a bowl of edamame and their stir-fried beef style seitain with fresh snow peapod and onion or sauteed with fresh asparagus. So delicious and with good portions too! The vegi-chicken fingers are very popular too. The menu is numbered and sectioned off into seitains, root veggies, soups, tofu, greens, noodles, etc. for customer convenience. Pretty sure all the staff have that menu locked in. Their vegan cheesecake is pretty delish as well. The restaurant itself has pretty dim lighting and more often than not it's pretty packed. They'll serve large groups sometimes after a seminar gets out and you may be forced to wait until the function is over. But it's worth it if you want some yummy, health-ish goodness! Another note is that the staff doesn't hound you constantly. They take your order when you indicate that you're ready, bring your food, and let you chow down. Pretty simple and I like it. I've always left here feeling satisfied. read more

Oh man, Grasshopper is a true gem! Despite living in Allston for a year, and in Boston for a total of 7 years, i *FINALLY* had the pleasure of chomping on delicious grub during the first week in 2015... actually, I think this was my first restaurant of '15, and I am totally cool with that! Located in Union Square, Grasshopper serves delicious yet inexpensive treats. I opted for their tofu stir-fried with ginger and scallion; some things that immediately come to mind include: filled with flavor, generous portion (I had enough for supper and for lunch the next day), and super yummy. Typically, I feel strange about awarding a restaurant five-stars if they have a dull interior. Let the truth be told, Grasshopper's interior is quite dull; think about a 1970's cafeteria type place. But, this was totally off set by our waitress, as she was the nicest woman with such a genuine smile. Some additional points to consider: - The tea that they serve is SO GOOD - the food came out quite promptly Pro tip: - Their root vegetable section is gluten free! read more

All-vegan, Pan-Asian, with a huge menu! I've been going to Grasshopper for years now. It's one of those freeing places where you know you can order anything on the menu without worrying. Prices are fair and the food is filling and interesting. I happen to be a big fan of mock meat, and the menu provides interesting interpretations of many dishes! My favorite items are probably the wonton soup, the spicy curry coconut noodles with veggie pork skin, the Vietnamese pizza, and, ubiquitously, the no name! I've tried some other things that weren't to my liking, necessarily, but with a menu that monolithic, there's bound to be some things that aren't for you! Just try something else. Know that many of these dishes are different from how you might normally get them. Not for better or worse, just a little different. Usually in texture. Think of it as an homage. Some of them are just really interesting and almost avant garde interpretations; I'm looking at you, ginger-scallion lobster! It was so strange and unlobsterly, yet I ate every last bite! Portions are generous, so be prepared for leftovers or just order a small soup! In my experience, it's better to eat in than order delivery. Parking is free and easy just around the corner. Both the 66 and the 57 buses pass right by. read more

Grasshopper Restaurant - Vietnamese style veggie pizza, half consumed. - Chinese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

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I bought a Groupon because I love vegan asian food. I decided to finally redeem it on a particularly cold so I can order for pick-up. When I get there, the waitress tells me I can't use my groupon for pick-up which was a little disappointing. I went home and ate the hot and sour soup that I ordered first and the the veggie chow foon next day. Both items felt like they just had a ton of preservatives and artificial flavoring, so I just threw away the lemongrass seitan untouched. I probably won't go back to this place even to redeem my groupon. read more

Best place in the world, good people just need to open on time, it's never eleven on the dot...

I have such fond memories of this place when I lived in Boston. We'd always get the No Name dish, tofu orange chicken. Always a real treat. Highly recommended. This place makes me think that I could be a vegetarian and not be sad. read more

If I wasn't so poor, I would eat at Grasshopper every week... no, every day. The first time I ate there, I had to admit that I wasn't thrilled with my dish and spent most of the time lusting after everyone else's. But then, I discovered the No-Name and my life changed thereafter. All through college I ate at a fantastic Chinese restaurant that did a mock sesame chicken made out of gluten. I love, love LOVED it, but now I know that it doesn't even start to compare. Grasshopper's No-Name is crsipy, sticky, yummy and just plan amazing in a way I haven't experienced since being a meat eater. I also recently sampled their appetizers at the Allston Street Fair and I have to say, pretty darn tasty. It warms my heart that there are places like Grasshopper. read more

I am not a vegan. I'm not a big fan of Chinese food. But lo and behold I came here with my vegan friends. They LOVE this place. I grew up in a crunchy granola town so I know that vegetarian and vegan mean more than just salad and morning star microwaveable food. I felt like everything here was moderately priced and I didn't even miss meat during my meal. The staff here is very friendly and was helpful when answering my questions re: seitan and gluten. This is a place where you can take your non vegetarian friends and fool them into thinking its meat. I know I was... read more

Last night was maybe the millionth time I've eaten here. I had the good old standby dishes I always eat: Vegetable tempura and No Name. I usually get veggie beef fried rice too, but I would have killed myself if I ate all that. Everything here tastes good. They give you enough for four portions with every dish. And it's fast. The lunch specials are killer and cheap. Grasshopper is a vegan standard. read more

This is a staple for any vegetarian living in Boston. Everything on the menu is veggie or vegan. The fried wonton appetizer is good, and the sweet & sour tofu sensation with broccoli is amazing. I have never had anything that I didnt like. The clientele is a mix of hipsters and elderly granola types. Its a great place for a date or to meet a group of friends. Even my non-veggie friends I take here are surprised how much they enjoy Grasshopper. read more

Visited Grasshopper for their monthly buffet (every 3rd Sunday of the month) and was left speechless. As a self proclaimed carnivore I was skeptical about liking this place but wanted to give it a try after reading so many wonderful reviews. They offer a selection of what I believe are some of their most popular dishes including their No Name dish. For most of the meal I could not believe it was vegan. The meal was filling offered variety and was only 10 dollars for all you can eat, an absolute bargain. The atmosphere is casual with no frills. Grasshopper has completely change my view on vegetarian/vegan food and will be coming back next month for their next buffet. read more

Grasshopper Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

Damn these servers can memorize a 3 course order for a party of five with drinks and never even pull out a pen. Try gettin that type of service from Meghan at TGI fridays . The No Name and the sauteed spinach are to die for. The neighborhood is preposterous. read more

Somethings you should know about Grasshopper: - Largest portions ever - Strangest decor, specifically the table lamps and color use - TONS of options that even satisfy those people that refuse to try vegan restaurants. With that said, I highly recommend the "No Name." It's like sweet and sour chicken ...but better. And seriously, this thing is HUGE. Easily dominated by 2-3 people. I've never been dissatisfied with the food here (keep in mind this is like a better chinese food...with vietnamese and other asian options). And the food always comes out SO FAST! So if you're in a rush, and starving. Hit 'em up! Also, I usually find free parking across from KFC.... read more

Definitely not the best Chinese option in Allston but it's fine. Came here with a vegetarian friend for lunch last weekend after not being here for at least 5 years. Either my taste has evolved or they've gone downhill. I enjoyed our appetizer of "chicken fingers" it was hot and fried and yummy but my actual meal sort of sucked. It was super bland and I ordered rice and it took them a good 15 minutes after our meals were served to get the rice even though we asked where it was four separate times. Despite constantly not giving us our rice, the server was very nice to us and taking care of the entire restaurant. The restaurant itself could use a good scrub down. Our glasses were dirty so we had to grab some from another table. They left piles of dirty dishes on empty tables instead of taking them back to the kitchen. Would I go back again? Eh maybe in 5 years when I forget how average it was in a neighborhood full of awesome Chinese restaurants.. read more

Grasshopper Restaurant - Veggie chicken fingers. Delicious fried goodness. - Chinese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

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A VEGAN CHINESE RESTAURANT. Sounds crazy but tastes so right. Tried their infamous "no-name" dish which is basically a non-meat sesame chicken and very yummy. It's crazy how it's not meat and it's so good. Their coconut rice noodles came with assorted veggies and imitation shrimp. Looked just like shrimp BUT WASN'T. Our waitress was attentive and no problems. Only downfall was how HOT the place was. There was probably only a fan when it was about 90 degrees out. read more

Grasshopper Restaurant - Infamous "no-name" dish! Sorta like sesame chicken but without the real meat - Chinese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

Grasshopper proves that vegetarian food doesn't have to be healthy, fresh or good. How's the food at Grasshopper? Well, I'd say it's the nastiest crap that I've ever put in my mouth. The hot and sour soup looks like grey dog vomit and is inedible. It was so bad that, in fact, we sent it back, which is the first time I've ever done that in a restaurant. The waiter then insisted that we order something of equal value off the menu. This continued punishment reminds of the time that I found a hair in my burrito and they shop offered to give me another one. Instead, the soup should come with a free colon blow. The main ingredient in many of the items is GLUTEN, a fact which is proudly displayed in names of the dishes. Apparently, no one got the memo that gluten is most likely unfit for human consumption. Speaking of which, Grasshopper might be worth a try you really enjoy ingesting large quantities of MSG. Oh, and the bathroom was filthier than a . . . . I could go on but why bother. Just don't eat there, okay? read more

Ordered some kale. They were totally willing to prepare a special order for me (steamed - they also volunteered to separate out the sauce), which I really appreciated! They also recommended that I wrap the kale around my friend's NoName seitan, which also tasted great! I also appreciated their large portion sizes, which are great for a vegan who goes for large-volume low-calorie foods. read more

Grasshopper Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

Grasshopper, Grasshopper, Grasshopper...If I had a million dollars, I'd eat here every day! The food: What a paradise for a junk-food loving vegan like me. Comfort food is the name of the game. The "Veggie Chicken Fingers" are enough to keep me going back - I'd seriously eat them everyday if I could. The noodle plates are a bit on the pricey side for a college student, but the portions are hefty enough to somewhat make up for it. I wouldn't get any of the $8.00 noodle plates again, as they are mostly vermicelli with very little vegi-meat. Instead, go for one of the pricier, $10.00 plates if you want more bang for your buck. Plate #52, The House Vermicelli Noodles, is a surefire win, and comes with a great variety of vegi-meats. The service: The staff is nice and my food is always ready for me when I go in to pick it up (I live about 7-10 minutes away). I've never actually eaten there but I'm not sure I'd really want to. Why? I saw a woman openly breast-feeding her child at one of the tables when I went in to pick up an order once. I know a vegan atmosphere promotes super-openmindedness in matters such as these, but that is not something I want to be around when I'm eating. Take it to the bathroom or at least to a not-so-conspicuous corner of the restaurant, please. read more

Creative presentation and generous portions. This is a good place to take a mixed group of vegetarians and omnivores - the vegetarians can finally order anything on the menu, and the food is good enough that the omnivores won't miss much. I've even taken a vocal carnivore here, and though he protested thoroughly, by the time we left he was full and happy. The appetizer sampler is very good, as is the No-Name. I'm not a big fan of the mock shrimp. The waitstaff are very friendly and will offer suggestions if you're unsure of what to order. read more

I love grasshopper. I've lived in a lot of different places with a lot of great restaurants since I started coming here and nothing comes close. Everytime I'm in Boston I make sure I stop in and to be honest, I've driven pretty far out of my way to stop and grab some when I'm not even going through boston. I'm not sure what the no name is, but it's truly addicting. Their "beef" is delicious, and my boyfriend could live off of the mushroom hot pot. Their shakes are great too. I've never ordered anything here that wasn't great. read more

Always a solid choice. After 3 years of going here, I know what to order and I suggest you do as well! It's not the healthiest but it sure is fun, indulgent and addictive. I suggest the following: Watercress soup, No Name, Kale with Black Mushrooms, House Vermicelli, Assorted Hot Appetizers, Vermicelli Rolls, Chicken Fingers, Hot and Sour Soup, Any of the Specials, and if you are feeling sassy, get the Hot Pots of mushrooms or seitans. The Lobster is CRAZY but I like it. Recently, I've been into the lomein and shrimp. Woah don't forget lunch specials! for 8 bucks you get a ton of food! It's the best. Get in before 3. Service is always friendly and consistent. I love talking to the staff. They have to deal with a lot of annoying people. Atmosphere is strange but has become classically quirky to me. So far I haven't had any terrible experiences. Has a lot of haters, but I bet there are more lovers. Be prepared to get the Chinese Food Itis if you opt for the oilier items. Love. read more

It doesn't matter if youre a herbivore, carnivore, omnivore- whatever! Just not a cannibal.....you will all enjoy Grasshopper Restaurant. Promise. This place is a vegan Asian restaurant offering up options like "beef' and broccoli and sesame "chicken" that are just so amazingly good. One of my favorite things about Grasshoppers it that they do a $9 buffet dinner on the third Sunday of every month. If you stay late until they close they will give you little takeout boxes and let you bring all the leftover food from the buffet home with you! read more

Excellent! I have heard really good things about this place and as a newly converted vegetarian I figured it was time to go. All of the food offerings at Grasshopper are either vegan or vegetarian. Their vegan menu is quite impressive...I imagine it's a bit difficult getting super creative with vegan dishes but Grasshopper pulls it off. I was introduced to a meat substitute called "seitan." My meal included mixed mushrooms, scallions, and seitan over rice with a delicious black bean sauce. Definitely a creative and tasty meal. The seitan was supposed to mimic chicken and while I can say the taste was not exactly chicken-like (it was still good), the texture was perfect! I won't miss meat too much if I can start adding seitan to some of my meals. Recommended if you want to try something new! read more

I am not hip enough for Grasshopper. Seriously. I mean, I have a piercing, but only one. And the last time I went to punk shows was when 7 Year Bitch was still together. Anyway. Grasshopper is pretty good. It's all vegan, which I like. It's a little greasier than I would like, so it often doesn't sit well a few hours later. But it's delicious, so I keep coming back for more. My spouse says their fake BBQ pork is better than the real thing. I like their "beef" with broccoli and their "No Name" dish. Delicious. read more

No-Name. There, I got it out of the way early. It's a vegan restaurant and it isn't super healthy. If you get a headache after eating their food it isn't because of MSG it's because your body is trying to tell you that you need to toughen up. If you get a tummy ache after eating it's just awesomeness trying to force it's way out of your body. I've been going for years and never got sick from the food or had the slightest inclination that they don't care about food safety. read more

I'm not vegetarian (anymore), but I still come back here for eats. Vegan Asian cuisine in Allston Rock City, of course. The beef seitan is phenomenal. Some of their dishes are a little heavy on the sauces, but overall, good stuff. The veggie tempura appetizer is a MUST HAVE. read more

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With more than 260 reviews, and my pal Janssen's review of our meal, I'm not sure what I can add besides I was both dissapointed and wanted to come back after my first try of Grasshopper. The appetizer tray was extremely bland, and in my experience, all-vegetarian food isn't and shouldn't be bland. It was as if they'd taken the cue from a slab of tofu. My black bean seitan was weakly flavored and I was really hoping for a back-of-the-tongue kick that was missing. But his No-Name, a glorious plate of deep-fried foux chicken was delish. I definitely started eating off his plate. So go, but start with seasoned Yelpers' recommendations of great dishes. read more