I really enjoyed my visit to Gen sou en! I think it's relatively popular place to hangout and go on…read moredates, etc. they don't have wi fi so I guess it's not really a study spot. I had their 10 dollar signature curry. It was a lot of food for the price. Complete with shredded chicken and served with plenty of rice! I loved it! The hojicha latte was very strong and tasted amazing. It wasn't sweetened much, so I guess you can really taste the hojicha! I think it was very skillfully made. Also tried one of their onigiri. You get the onigiri at the cashier when you order. Not sure what happened but the first person I talked to didn't give me one when I ordered. I had to go back and talk to them to get one. The braised pork and egg is quite good and almost tastes like fish roe as it's so rich and tasty. The interior is spacious. But can feel a little cramped or difficult to get around it.

I wanted to love this place, but it's a mismatch for the vibe I was seeking…read more I was looking for zen, and given my view of the grocery store from my seat, a view of the prep kitchen in the other direction, the beat of the hip pop music playing unexpectedly loudly, and the lines, I'm thinking it's more of an urban, 20-something vibe. I probably would have loved it in my 20s. They do have a room with tatami mats & exposed brick with the vibes I was hoping for, but a woman is talking and gesticulating animatedly in there, and at another table there's a toddler, whereas the tables on the floor are ironically much quieter. Maybe I'll check out that room next time? I get the establishment isn't responsible for patrons' volume or meltdowns. They have signs asking you not to stay more than 90 minutes...which I find fascinating, as the ambiance doesn't lend itself towards lingering. Nonetheless, 4 stars because I really enjoyed my first iced Houjicha Latte. In the future, I'll take my drink orders to go.

Hands down my fav Japanese market in Boston!! Feels like you're transported back to Japan, with all…read morethe good vibes and good food. There's so many options when it comes to food, hot food or quick food! My favorite are the hand-rolls, ranges from $4-$8, and the strawberry matcha latte, perfect flavor and sweetness. The onigiris in the fridge are fantastic, as low as $2 and is amazing to eat later, but there are fresh made ones for about $4 each. They also have the infamous egg sandos, for quick grabs! I need to try the curry katsu next time because I see so many people ordering those. Sometimes they have food demonstrations from Japan and they are always so nice! It's fun in here, but finding a seat could be difficult during lunch hour, but people tend to come and go, so it's worth the wait.

Wonderful food, service, and vibes! We came here on a Saturday afternoon and the place was packed…read more I got the grab-and-go chirashi bowl, which was extremely fresh, flavorful, and the perfect portion for lunch. I also got the iced plum tea and it was refreshing with a kick of cinnamon and tart fruit flavors, but not too sweet. One of the better iced teas I've had. The line to order was long but moved quickly, and there is one seating area with typical tables and chairs as well as one where you remove your shoes and sit on the floor. The drinks took a while to come out, simply because there were so many orders, but overall was a great and delicious experience!

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!

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

Came here right at opening on a Friday morning and the place was empty except for us which made…read moresense. The ambiance felt clean and quiet. The worker was quick and efficient with making the drink - I opted for something you usually don't see on the menu and it didn't disappoint. It didn't knock me out of the park or anything, but the drink was refreshing enough and hit the spot. Thanks, OneZo!

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.

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.

Cute place to grab a bubble tea or snack; the location is particularly convenient as it's right…read moreacross the street from the T and I like ducking in here after a yoga class at the Corepower nearby. They have a good selection of bubble tea, matcha, and coffee, as well as some pastries and desserts. I ordered the lychee jasmine fruit tea and it was staggeringly sweet. For a lot of bubble tea places, you can customize the sugar level to 0-100% and I would've preferred having a choice here. I didn't see an iPad ordering option. As it was, my drink was also 80% ice for almost $6 - definitely not a treat I can get all the time. Quite a bit of seating inside. We came on a slow Sunday afternoon and the place was a ghost town with our pick of the tables. Only one girl working and making all the drinks; she wasn't super friendly, oh well.

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.

ordered the cheese mango slush，I think they have used the freshest mangoes of the season and paired…read morewith a refreshing green tea base. I eat real mango pulp! love it

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.

I must be one of the few people to come here and not order a drink at all. I had heard that their…read moresnacks were good, so I stopped by for a quick bite to eat before heading to the park nearby. I ordered the Luxury Crepe A (Green Bean Dough, Egg, Crisper, Lettuce, Sausage) for $8.95 and it was great - I'd definitely stop by here again for another next time I'm nearby! It also only took a few minutes to make, so it's definitely something you can quickly grab while you're walking around the area. Luxury Crepe A ($8.95) - Although $8.95 feels a little high for the ingredients in this, it was actually quite good. The "crisper" is a large sheet of fried wonton and gave a great crunch that didn't get soggy over time. The green bean dough tasted like a normal crepe, but the egg and green onion added a nice flavor. There was a hoisin sauce as well which added a sweet/savory flavor, and the "sausage" is actually a hotdog, so I was a little disappointed that it wasn't a Chinese sausage. Still though, the portion size was pretty good and I was very content with the volume of food in this order. It isn't the perfect 5/5, but it's a solid 4/5 for a delicious bite to eat under $10. I'll definitely be getting this again!

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.

Came here with a friend in the afternoon, got roasted oolong tea with boba (no milk). Tea flavor…read morewas pretty strong, boba was perfectly chewy. $7.76 (post-tax) for a large, their fruit teas are really expensive. Inside was modern, has a few tables to sit and chat, decent place to hang out.

Ate here Friday night, just beating the rush. Nice table with an open window to the street. Great…read morefood we shared included the Bahn Mi, Shrimp Bao, garlic steak tips and Vietnamese egg rolls. Our server was super! Would definitely be back when in the area!

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!