My boyfriend and I have been trying to eat less meat so we tried this Restaurant our and wow!! It was delish. This is some of the best food I've had in Allston. 10/10 would recommend. The sweet and sour tofu was amazing. read more

This place did seem rundown when I went, but not over the top -- I didn't see bugs like the other reviewer did. My vegetarian friends actually seemed nervous inviting me, because I luuuuuve meat. But hey, I wanted to hang out with them and I thought it was nice that there are restaurants that cater to vegetarians and vegans. The restaurant gets two stars on that factor alone. I ordered chicken friend rice, with obviously tofu chicken. The chicken was gross - I guess I should have known that it would still have the consistency of tofu and not much taste, but my hopes were too high. The friend rice was gross as well, it just tasted awful. It's really a shame because I think flavorful non-meat meals can be made. I should have just stuck with the veggie stir fry rather than the tofu. read more

I was in Boston for business and the Vegan group I was with suggested The Grasshopper because I simply had to taste "The No Name". I was confused by the name of this signature dish but was up for the challenge. The exterior of the Grasshopper appears like any other run of the mill Asian eatery you can find in a strip mall. Parking was a bit of a challenge because of the bustling city and traffic environment. Once we stepped inside, the Grasshopper was quaint and cozy. We came at an odd time off the day for dinner, around 4pm so the place was pretty empty. "The No Name"is comprised of battered gluten in a sweet and sour sauce served with assorted steamed vegetables and topped with sesame seeds. It arrived in a massive portion and was the perfect comfort food I was looking for. It reminded me of the Chinese food I used to order after a late night of debauchery. Very solid dish. I also ordered the Vegi Chicken Fingers because I didn't believe the advice of the rest of the group that the portions are HUGE. This appetizer was good and tasted even better with some of the sauces that were provided. If I were to be in the Boston area again, I would order carryout from this place again because the food is perfect for a nice comfy night in vegging out. However, if you are looking for an exciting environment, this is going to fall short. My other tip is to split the dishes with a friend or date because it will keep your costs down along with your calorie count! read more

The food isnt bad at all just thought there would be more vegan meat substitutes than tofu based things and some things lacked a bit of flavor, but overall a good experience. The look of the restaurant can use a bit of work feels more like "that old diner near your house" than a restaurant. read more

Grasshopper Restaurant - Spicy steak filet though it was not spicy at all but the sauce was amazing also great prices!!! - Chinese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

Bad reviews of Grasshopper bring a tear to my eye. This has been my favorite Resteraunt in Boston for 5 years now. Everything I have tried there has exceeded any expectation I have had for vegan food. The staff is very friendly. The tea is delicious. I live in Medford now and I still have to make it there for lunch at least once a week. Yum. read more

One of my favorite places to eat. We try and go about once a month. Atmosphere: 3.5 stars. Just fine. Nothing fancy, but no complaints. We eat early, in the 5:30 to 6:30 range so it is never too busy. Odd decor - Patriots clock, fish tank, embroidered wall hangings, tile floor. I don't go there for the ambience. If it was closer/easier to get to for us we'd get take-out a lot. Service: 4.5 stars. Never had a problem and the wait staff are always friendly. We haven't waited too long for anything. The only "complaint" is that food comes out when it is ready, not in a logical order. Quality of Food: 5 stars. The ingredients, seasonings, sauces, meat substitutes, everything are always good. I don't know if I would put the food under the light and healthy category, but given that it is all veggie, it is probably healthier than most chinese food. Price: 5 stars. The prices are very fair - most entrees are under $10 and the appetizers and soups are almost all under $5. We always order a lot and take a bunch of food home. Vegetarian friendliness: 5 stars! It's all vegetarian! Lots of vegan options too. Overall Rating = 4.6 Favorite items - Wonton soup: It's to die for. The broth is savory, clear, and flavorful. I never find vegetarian broth like this, it is usually tomato heavy or cloudy brown/orange. I also enjoy the Seitan beef and broccoli, curry coconut vermicelli noodles with "chicken", and the veggie tofu fried rice. read more

Oh, Grasshopper, where do I begin to profess my undying love? The No Name tastes just like I remember Sesame Chicken, The Happy Family is great with asparagus and three different types of protein (seitan, tofu, and wheat gluten, I think) in a chili basil sauce, and the hot and sour soup is perfectly spicy. The best part of this place for me isn't the amazing food, great prices, or ginormous portions (2 days later and I'm still eating leftovers); the best part is definitely the peace of mind it gives a vegan and vegetarian. Never do I have to look for a rogue bit of meat in my meal, ask a million questions about ingredients and still mistakenly eat something with fish sauce, or worry that my food is being cooked on the same surface as animal products. The only way this place could possibly be better is if they delivered. read more

Im being generous with the 4 star review, but the "Light Assorted Appetizer" is the nicest light summer meal you can get for $10. edamame, great seaweed salad, fresh roll, and cold buckwheat noodles - it PERFECT. I have come here with my ex for some sunday night veggie binges. I never did the buffet honestly because it looked very.... deep fried. if I'm going for healthy veggie-type food I want it to taste light & fresh. I have tried some of the hot dishes here & they were just okay. I am really picky about bamboo & unless its really fresh it tastes and smells awful to me. I had that experience here. something was not quite right with the bamboo in our mixed veggies and it ruined the entire dish for me. if you are a vegetarian, you will definitely want to make this one of your staples. if you are an omnivore in search of a cool, light meal then this place is a good value. for anything in between, skip it & head to chinatown. read more

The No Name is the best thing on the menu. The portions here are ridiculous. I don't know if they are making fun of Americans in general for being fat. It's one theory I have. They should really start selling booze here. read more

Depending what you get you might end up getting a plate with a whole lot of grease beneath your food . or all lubed up in it all oily and stuff . This place is ok its kinda like greasy Chinese food for healthy people . This might be a good place to take someone who eats a lot of greasy Food and wants to transition over to healthy food gradually . If this place used less oils and grease and what not and less fried stuff . it would be the greatest . Or maybe things are just getting way too healthy if there is such a thing. High Alkaline type of place ? I need a salad you like salads? fresh produce and raw and what not? I did not see it here YOU GUYS NEED A SALAD BAR . with fresh veggies . Ruin the Local Competition. what Happened . I love all you people you food people . Rock on with 20 billion socks on . read more

This place is truly great and I miss not living next door to it anymore. A few years ago the prices went up a bit (they were pretty crazy low in comparison to other eateries before, but that was partly why I loved it). There food is REALLY good. I have met a lot of people for my first time at that restaurant. It is a good conversation starter especially if the other person is not used to veggie food. Ask them if they like vegetables before going there because, otherwise, that is just mean. As someone else noted in his or her review of the Grasshopper the take out/bring home food lasts for a couple days. I have not done this with every dish but I have tried a lot of food from there. Oh ya, important point, their menu is huge. Open more locations in the Greater Boston area, please! read more

The only reason this review is four stars instead of five is due to the fact that the service can be a little iffy. I am absolutely crazy about Grasshopper's food though! As a vegetarian, fully vegetarian/vegan restaurants that involve greasy comfort foods are few and far between. Luckily I discovered Grasshopper! I was pretty wary about coming here at first, as I used to not eat too many meat substitutes that masquerade as meats, but after so many friends and acquaintances raved about it I decided to give it a try - and oh my god, I'm so glad I did! Their Veggie Chicken Fingers are deep-fried fragments of heaven, especially if you pair em with some peanut sauce. I could honestly just eat those all night, but then I'd have no room for the "no-name", which, despite sounding ridiculously sketchy, is also ridiculously delicious. read more

Everybody kept telling me to go to the Grasshopper. I took a friend from out of town and it was really a disappointment. The soup tasted mostly like corn starch. The appetizers were bland and unappetizing. We ordered a dish with tofu and coconut milk--it was all right but nothing memorable. I wanted to like this place because it is vegan but I really did not enjoy the food. read more

So the reviews here pretty much break down into two camps: "Fantastic Vegan Food that even meat eaters will enjoy" and "Disgusting shithole with cockroaches crawling on the upholstery". Since I have yet to witness any of these cockroaches myself, I'm gonna go with Camp A on this one. The food is outstanding, and can deceive even the most seasoned carnivore into thinking they're eating the real thing. Try the sweet and sour "chicken", or better yet,share it with someone. It's like a tofu version of a corn dog, and is best when consumed in moderation. read more

I was taken here by a friend who lived in Allston the summer I lived in Boston. He had hyped it up so much as being cheap, delicious, fresh, and most of all vegetarian! (Although it didn't make a difference to me because I'm not) I'll have to say that it did live up to what he made it out to be! The pretty standard veggie and rice dish I got was very tasty, fresh, and full of flavor! The decor inside is simple but nice and clean. A lot of the customers were Allston/Brighton hipsters-ish. I like the place and will definitely try it again when I'm in the area. read more

Delicious! My boyfriend and I came here during lunch and had the eggplant with basil seasonal lunch special and the mixed vegetables with shrimp and a spring roll lunch special. The lunch prices are awesome and the portions are huge. Everything tasted fresh and we were both feeling stuffed and satisfied afterward. My boyfriend said that it was the best eggplant dish he's ever had. The lunch specials also come with the soup of the day (which for that day was a sweet and sour soup) and it was SO good. Just the right amount of tang and spiciness. The service was great - they were extremely nice and attentive. Our waters never went dry. An all around wonderful experience - we will be back! read more

I'll put it very simply: If your looking for an upscale, posh, overpriced, organic, fine dining experience, then Grasshopper isn't for you. If your looking for some tasty, reasonably priced local Vegan, you must go. It's yummy. It's cheap. It's Vegan. read more

I am sorry to review this beloved vegan restaurant so poorly that I have visited so many times and probably will continue to visit, but it is just way too hit and miss to pass the three star mark. Why 3 stars: * My boyfriend at the time got food poisoning from THE FRIED RICE(?). I don't know if it was the starch, the oil, the vegetables, or the combination of them all but there was immediate vomit and it lasted through the evening. *The portion size of the entree is ridiculous, and so is the price. It's 12 dollars for sweet and sour gluten over broccoli, which is decent enough but so large there is no way to finish and it does not keep in the fridge, don't even try to eat it the next day. *OILOILOIL oillll OILLLLL SO MUCH OIL! It's just not necessary. all the oil is frankly, sickening. Why in a different time and place I would give more than 3 stars: *Super friendly service when you dine in. They have quaint pots of green tea for you and they are very good at filling water and paying attention to you in a non-overbearing way. *Some of the options are actually okay. The fake beef/pork/chicken in a noodle dish of some sort is usually safeish, though still 8 dollars expensive. I also have enjoyed the spring rolls with fresh vegetables and tofu. read more

A great place for vegans. Some of the food was good, some not so much. Most of the vegan places in Boston compromise on the taste of the food in an attempt to provide a large variety of vegan dishes. The menu is exhaustive with a lot of options but the end result is not always a satisfying meal. 5 star for efforts 1 star for food taste read more

Be forewarned, Grasshopper can be a pretty hit-or-miss institution. I have had three-star experiences and four-star experiences here, but all told Grasshopper slings some solid Makes-Mary-Happy dishes. I just had to learn which ones. I held a vegan pot-luck recently, and a friend of mine showed up with take-out from Grasshopper. This may have been a bit of a faux-paux, if the two Grasshopper dishes (garlic spinach & a sweet, fried tofu) weren't so damn good, and the price he cited was pretty reasonable. The buffet is a 3 star affair, nothing particularly interesting or stimulating but a good deal none-the-less especially if you have the vegan restriction. The other solid dishes I happily remember are the Kale and Gluten Supreme (enough for two or lunch the next day), the hot and sour soup, & the Grasshopper Supreme (a breathtaking vegetable smorgasbord). I have gotten apps there before, but I honestly can't remember any really standing out... just different variations on "fried." I'll admit I am a little generous in my rating because of their vegan status, but honestly it can be pretty hard to get a big plate of hot, salty, soy'y, sweet, American Chinese in Boston and this place fills that want. read more

Absolutely love this place! Aside from being 100% vegan, it is also delicious . The service is great as well! The fact that they make substitute proteins is an amazing touch. Their boba tea is great, too! Definitely one of my favorite chinese restaurants by far! read more

I was excited to try a new-to-me vegan place in Boston and came ready to eat my weight in lo mein. Unfortunately, Grasshopper didn't quite hit the mark for me. My hot date (okay, my mom) and I tried the cool sesame buckwheat noodles as an appetizer which were 100% nom-worthy but my Kale & Mushroom Delight main dish was over-the-top loaded with fake meat. I understand faux meat is a necessary evil in vegan food but this was, like, 45% fake chicken. My mom got the Chow Foon noodles which were doused in sauce. Pros: huge portions for a reasonable price, TONS of options, can be good for non-vegans/vegetarians because many pan-Asian vegan dished are recognizable Cons: overloaded with mock meat and sauce, no liquor license ;) read more

Delicious and a good price! BBQ veggie pork, the no name, and "chicken" fingers are some of my favorites. Staff were friendly as well. Worth the hour drive from where I live! Will be returning again! read more

I love. Grasshopper pretty much rocks my world. It always takes me about 2 hours to order, because I'm not used to having so many menu options as a vegetarian, but once the food comes I'm pretty close to heaven. I usually get a sampler appetizer to share, which is lots of yum. There's enough fried stuff to feed an army of teenage boys, but it's nice to indulge sometimes. Then I like to try the entrees with names that are not at all descriptive of what the food is, like the Happy Family and the No Name. That strategy has never failed me at Grasshopper. Their fake chicken fingers are pretty awesome, too! I must say that I am not a huge fan of their fake pork. The fake beef and chicken, though, are just lovely. The service typically sucks there. Also, the decor isn't wonderful, but I love the photos of animals posted on the walls. They're cute! And you feel good because you aren't eating them! Hurrah! read more

I almost never stay to eat, because except for the unearthly pathos plant ( it literally encircles the entire restaurant) the atmosphere is pretty utilitarian. ( DO bring your camera for that plant, though. seriously.) However, I LOVE the appetizers here, and recommend both the cold and hot combinations. I've brought them to potlucks many a time, and occasionally admit that I didn't make them. I'm actually not a huge lover of fake meats, but they do a decent job with the regular veggie dishes and the no MSG policy makes an already pretty healthy meal even better. On the opposite end of things, if you have completely given up on your healthy diet, not to worry! For those in the mood for deep- fried-crunchy-sweet/sour-gravy-ness, order a large "No Name", get a pint of mango ice cream from the bodega down the street for afters, burn your belt and joyfully endulge! read more

Holy Schnikes, this s#*t is good. It's vegan chinese food people! I am not a huge fan of chinese food. The main reason is because I am aware that it is terrible for you. All of that sodium, msg, fried oil.... with every little white box, you're ordering yourself a hearty serving of type 2 diabetes. Knowing this, I choose not to eat it frequenty, if at all. DJ has been talking about Grasshopper for quite some time. Seeing that I am now a resident of Brighton Center, I felt that a jaunt down Cambridge Street to check it out was long overdue. Decor is not much. What you'd expect from a typical chinese restaurant. The menu? Same. But... there is a big difference: everything is vegan/vegetarian. There is no meat on the menu, yet you can order beef with broccoli! It's all soy protein, tofu and seitan! Being a vegetarian, I love this. But it doesn't stop there. The food (which is served with a great dinner tea) is absolutely outstanding. I enjoyed my first meal of chinese noodles without feeling like I had to go to the ER afterwards. Price is just right. A huge shared appetizer sampler of dumplings, pot stickers, and some interesting chinese samosas, a large noodle and lettuce dish with spring rolls (mine!), and a huge "pork" with broccoli dish and brown rice was $26. We recorded it as our cheapest dinner out, ever. Even cheaper than the vegan pizza joint next door. Not that it's bad (it's actually really good), but it's pizza. I'm just sayin'..... Go to Grasshopper. It'll surprise you. read more

Weak brah. This place is a vegetarian restaurant that serves deep fried fake chicken in some sort of thick batter and calls it chicken fingers. Oh wait, that could apply to regular chinese restaurants in the neighborhood too. The food here is tolerable, especially kind of cool because it's vegetarian but it's not my bag. It's cool to eat a bunch of fake meats but after a while I dream of chasing a chicken around a farm yard and sending it to hell where it belongs. There's no flavor to this food. It's vegetarians saying "oh man, there's seitan here, there's ficken (fake chicken), and tofurkey dumplingz" If you didn't grow up listening to Hardcore and being straight edge (however briefly) you might not find as intense a connection to this place as some. There is in fact a fish tank, but I don't think that's really that big a deal. Someone/something would eat those fish in the wild. At least Grasshopper is raising them in the tank for white teenagers, genxers, and other strange vegans to look at in dismay. Also, I like Satan more than I like Seitan. Does that make me a bad person? read more

I'm giving it a 3 out of 5 for now since I've only been to the Grasshopper twice. Went there for a second since my first visit a few years ago and the service was great and food arrived promptly. Ordered the chicken nuggets and should have read the reviews before hand about them being nothing but fried tofu in about a quarter of an inch of dough batter. They were OK but I guess I was expecting more meat texture protein than dough. My boyfriend enjoyed them but said he got full off of them rather quickly and he was starving. For my meal I ordered the 'The No Name' (battered gluten in sweet and sour sauce with vegetarian) and although it was tasty I guess I had higher expectations of the dish being more soy texture/chewy than crispy. If you like the fried crispy stuff then this is the dish for you. I'm going to try a different dish next time around and on another positive note the Grasshopper portions were generous! read more

I eat meat. Often. Every day. I eat eggs, drink milk, and consume a huge amount of animal-based foods in general. I love this Vegan restaurant. First off, I'm not sure if she still works there, but there was a waitress who just asked you what you wanted, and would commit your entire party's orders to memory. That doesn't make me think more or less of the restaurant itself, but... I thought it was worth mentioning. The actual service was quite speedy - worth mentioning, AND relevant. If you blindfolded me and gave me two similar dishes, one meat dish, and a non-meat dish from Grasshopper, I probably couldn't tell you the difference. Maybe that just means I'm not a super-taster, but either way, I thought the food tasted great. Furthermore, there is A LOT of food. I could eat a portion, become full, and take the rest home for 2 more meals. And because there's no meat, it's very inexpensive. So let's see - food tastes great, large portions, speedy service, cheap eats, waitress with astounding memory. Sign me up. read more

I visited Grasshopper for the first time today for dinner with my girlfriend. Being originally from California (as well as a vegan), I've missed the plethora of plant-based eateries to be found on the West Coast. Therefore, I was delighted to finally dine at a place near Boston that caters to this special diet. The restaurant itself was clean, organized, and tastefully decorated. We were promptly seated by the friendly hostess (who immediately served us water and authentic, hot tea), and were given a few minutes to look over the menu before our humble, polite, and attentive waiter came to take our orders. Our food took less than fifteen minutes to prepare (we ordered an appetizer and three entrees) and was graciously presented to us by the waitstaff. Everything was delicious, fresh, and well-cooked (greens sautéed perfectly, potatoes not overdone, etc.) I will definitely be back when I get the chance, and recommend vegans and nonvegans alike give this place a try. read more

Grasshopper Restaurant - Sautéed seasonal vegetables. - Chinese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

See all

Vegan Chinese food like whattttt. My friends who live here are huge foodies and love to eat meat but when they mentioned this place they told me it was good enough to make you want to become vegan. Although the green wall color is off putting, the food makes up for everything. read more

Grasshopper Restaurant - This is one of the appetizer samplers. - Chinese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

As a vegetarian there are not many options for us to go to a restaurant and be able to safely order anything on the menu. A lot of Asian restaurants that appear to have vege-safe options are in fact not because they use fish or oyster sauce in them. Although I can be faulted to not trying EVERYTHING on the menu, all of the dozen or so things I've tried have been great. My standards include the wanton or hot and sour soup, sweet and sour chicken fingers (#77), vegebeef lomein, and the absolute greatest thing on the menu is the "no name" it's battered and fried gluetin heaven. Piled so high I often can't understand how it fit in my belly. Thank heavens it does though! I've only tried the cheesecake off the dessert menu and it was decent but if you've got enough room for dessert you're not eating enough dinner! And the lady there knows the number of what ever you ask for on the menu. She's super nice and sometimes I wish she was my mom. read more

The food is modest if you're a meat eater, but definitely more exciting for the veggies/vegans. The menu selection is diverse. Try to go during off peak hours. Friday and Saturday nights the service is overwhelmed and their ability to handle their own popularity causes the service to suffer. Many props for attempting an all-vegan restaurant. Quite the rarity. I suppose if they had more competition they'd actually improve on the service. read more

I don't even live in Boston, and I haven't been here in a while, but after traveling the world and moving to Europe and back again and eating my way through New York and Chicago, this still remains my favorite restaurant in the universe. I just can't wait to go back and eat here again! I think the trick to this place is, have as many of the appetizers as you can fit in your belly. Eat the whole warm appetizer platter as a meal! It is so delicious. I loved many of their main dishes too, but the appetizer platters were always my favorite. read more

I give Grasshopper the award for fastest/cheapest/largest portion of takeout food in Boston! When I am starving and don't feel like cooking, I call Grasshopper. I live in Kenmore Square and by the time I get my act together and drive out to Allston my food is ready! Its usually less than 10/15 minutes for a TON of food! SWEET! If you don't live close enough to walk, bring someone with you or be quick, because its hard to find parking in that area, so you have to double park the car. BUT they can process your order and have you out the door in a minute or less! When you are picking up, make sure you repeat your order, or try and convince them to take your name when ordering, because usually they don't and since everyone ordered No Name it can get confusing. Although, so far every time they have literally read my mind and handed me the correct bag. I get the Fresh Rolls with Tofu, the No Name, and the Tofu Eggplant Surprise (the surprise is some sort of fake meat) and of course brown ride. When you do takeout they give you a strange side of cooked veggies I never eat, but I always think I will. I love it because the portions are so big, I can keep it in the fridge and snack on it for the next few days. Should you decide to eat in, the atmosphere can totally vary but the booths are nice and the pictures of cute animals on the wall are very fitting :) read more

Dear God. How I have missed this spot for so long, I'm not sure, but last night, I finally tried this place ... and wow! It was great! The portions are ENORMOUS and tasty. The No Name, which I found because of recommendations here, was pure heaven. The fried rice was good and the curry noodles were perfectly spicy and tangy. I will definitely be back, and maybe next time I'll know not to order quite so much ... or maybe I'll just enjoy the leftovers the next night like I just did today! UPDATE: My meat eating mom wanted to make out with the No Name, pretty much. Yes, it IS that good. read more

So I kept hearing about this "No-Name" over and over again, but I admit, I was a little apprehensive about trying something that couldn't be titled. Well, there finally came the day when I had heard enough and I had to give in and order it. What came back was a huge plate of awesome. And you know what? I really couldn't name it either. It tasted kind of like chicken, kind of like tofu, but frankly I didn't really stop to think. The service was great. I'm always a little nervous about ordering from people with an accent, but our server was attentive, gracious, and repeated our order back to us to make sure everything was all right. Our tea pot was always full. Five stars until I can find something to complain about. read more

Been here twice now... once with a vegan, and once with a carnivore like myself. I tried different dishes each time, and really liked both of them for different reasons. The lunch specials give you tons of food, and are not expensive at all for what you get! If you're nervous about going here because you're not a vegan and "fake meat" makes you get nervous... try the No Name... you'll love it, guaranteed. read more

I've never liked Vegan food. I eat all sorts of meats poultry and fish, but I never even considered a vegan diet. This restaurant prepares vegan Chinese food, and it is very tasty. (wait... did I just say that?) I figure any vegan restaurant that can appeal to a meat lover like myself deserves 5 stars. So there it is. I've been a couple of times and while I've never been disappointed, I suggest trying the "no name". read more

I really want to like this place. really. I do. but I have felt pretty ill after eating there on multiple occasions so I do not go often and have not been in maybe a year. I don't know what it is, maybe something they use in their food that other vegan/vegetarian places I have gone to have not used? I do not find their food as consistently pleasing as I do at places like Buddha's but some of their things are pretty good and I like the fact that they do a lunch buffet. There's just no getting around the fact that NY kicks Boston's ass when it comes to vegan/vegetarian eateries. update: yelper allix was kind enough to let me in on the secret behind what has made me ill numerous times.... MSG. next stop at grasshopper i will ask for my meal minus this ingredient. read more