The rolls would all be better with traditional sushi rice rather than the brown rice they use, but still, all the fish was very fresh and the maki combinations were great. Servers are extremely attentive and are eagar to remove empty plates. read more

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We ordered the Panang Curry, Beef Satay, and Lo Mein Kapow Basil. Even though we arrived around 9pm, an hour before closing, the service was nice and the food was great! read more

This is my new favorite Thai place in the Boston area! I will definitely eat here every time I visit for work. I got the red curry and scallion pancakes delivered and the food arrived hot, perfectly packaged, and with my customizations/preferences followed exactly as instructed :) read more

Great service every time I've dined in or gotten takeout! Best Thai food in the area! read more

Laughing Monk Cafe - Yellow Curry Pad See Ew - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Still my go to Thai takeout since it is closest in proximity to me. Over the years the quality has gone down and prices have skyrocketed. I'm paying almost $20 for my regular beef pad see yew which is almost double what it was a couple years ago. I understand that over the past few years, every place has gone up in price. However, the food is inconsistent now- I really dislike when it's too saucy like gravy rather than a dry stir-fried as it should be. The portions have also shrunk, they've switched to smaller containers and don't even fill it up. I try not to order from here unless I have to. read more

I just wanted to leave an updated review after having dined in for the first time. I didn't think anything could live up to the amazing to-go omakase experience we had earlier in the year, but I was wrong! I came with my family and wanted my parents to try the omakase (which you have to reserve in advance online), and have the rest of my family order a la carte, and the staff were very accommodating in setting up that reservation for me. The interior of the restaurant is very no-frills and looks pretty casual, but their sushi is anything but. I didn't have the omakase myself but I watched (gawked) as it was brought to the table one course at a time. There were definitely some things that could not have been possible in a to-go format. For example, one dish (which my mom liked the most) was served inside of a vessel filled with smoke, and another dish was one where you grilled wagyu on a hot stone (that one was apparently not that tasty). Our server was very animated in explaining each of the dishes which added to the experience. The dine-in omakase costs more than the take-out by $46, but when you factor in delivery costs and the special experience in person, it makes sense. We ordered one of the party platters to share amongst 4 people. It definitely wasn't enough food to feed 4 people -- I think if 2 people had it they could be full -- but it was incredible. It took a while to come out (I think it might be preferred that you order this in advance? I'm not sure) but was so worth it. I usually don't like eating raw fish outside of the standard salmon/tuna realm but I could and greatly enjoyed eating every piece of fish on this platter. There were both nigiri and sashimi versions of every fish (2 of each) and everything was amazing. I thought that I liked Laughing Monk omakase because of the awesome toppings and sauces, but it turns out that even without any of that, the fish quality is top tier. There is no "fishy" flavor or scent at all because the fish is so fresh. Everything was so good. The raw squid was so fresh and had perfect texture. We also ordered off of the Thai menu and that was also super delicious! The Pad See Ew was hot and fresh, with really tasty vegetables (which I usually don't find particularly captivating) and chewy noodles. Even the way they cut each of the vegetables was perfect for the specific vegetable and for the harmony of the dish. I used to think that I couldn't distinguish sushi quality, but after my experience at Laughing Monk, I'm not sure if I can go anywhere else for sushi. Counting down the days until the next Laughing Monk-worthy special event! read more

Laughing Monk Cafe - Takeout omakase (different sauce for each piece) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Great food and great service!! Always ready to help available for questions- they're on time!

So close to 5 stars -- if only they didn't use brown rice. I've dined in before, and ordered a la carte. The nigiri and other dishes are fantastic. I love how the fish dishes have a unique twist on them. The Thai fusion flavors pair so well!! The take home omakase is an even bigger winner. Gorgeous presentation, with sauces on the side so you can decide how much flavor you want. The fish is high quality and GORGEOUS. Like it's a gorgeous set. read more

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Ordered delivery on this lazy Tuesday and I had to leave a review because I loved my order of pad thai and Thai iced tea. I'm really picky about both and both surpassed my expectations. First off, the packaging is adorable and frustration free! Instead of a lid, they have a clear wrap that was easy to pull off. I also love the little secure packs of crushed peanuts and red pepper flakes. The food was just as good as it looked. The noodles were a little thicker than average and they were cooked perfectly - just a perfect chew!!! I was surprised especially since this was a delivery order which in my experience causes the noodles to get overcooked in the packaging en route, not to mention the delivery driver left the order outside in 30 degree weather. I requested no bean sprouts and was expecting the same portion of noodles without bean sprouts, but to my surprise, the container was packed. The turnip and chive was fresh and fragrant. The Thai iced tea was nicely packaged as well, with a piece of tape over the straw hole. It was a tad too sweet, but still tasty. I will be ordering more, and stopping by in person when I'm around! read more

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Good food, good service. I've ordered lunch to-go from Laughing Monk twice in the past month during late covid. Both times, I ordered via their website which is so easy that the first time I did it from my phone while in class. I clicked the option for pickup. At the restaurant on Huntington at Brigham Circle, inside the front door, they've created an anteroom. There's a door to the sit-down area and a sliding window labeled for pick-up orders. Both times, I was greeted quickly and enthusiastically by servers. First time, my food was ready almost immediately. Second time, there was a wait and they seem flurried. A guy came in after me and said he'd ordered 30 minutes prior. It must be the lunch rush. Not sure how to get around it in an area thick with medical and academic institutions and the attendant stakeholders. Both times I ordered the same meal: the pork "kapow basil" with basmati rice. It comes with a little spring roll which is perfect for sating hunger while opening the cardboard packaging, which is eco-friendly-er-ish than those black plastic trays. Oh, they also pack it in a paper bag with handles so that walking away with the food is pretty easy. I would like to try the sit-down eat-in version of Laughing Monk. And based on my two lunch visits, would certainly try the sushi. read more

Laughing Monk Cafe - Kapow Basil lunch portion with package $10.25. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Amazing place for fun a good time. Very family friendly, peaceful and clean environment and food was delicious read more

Laughing Monk Cafe - Spider Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Went here for a friend's birthday last April and it is the first and best omakase I have had so far -- they started us off with some yuzu drinks, and it was the first time I had yuzu, possibly sparking an addiction :') Every dish had a unique composition of fish and garnishments, and the waiter explained where each ingredient came from in great detail! My favorite was definitely the final meat course of Wagyu delivered to us with a hot stone, where we cooked it ourselves and got to see the awesome sizzling action. Bit on the expensive side after tip (~$185/person) but if food is something you're willing to spend money on then this should definitely be on your list! read more

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Dropped by for a mango fried rice dish. Yum! Would absolutely eat again!!! Fast and delicious -- what else do ya want?

I tried the omakase here for my birthday. This is the first time I've had omakase, and their 14 course experience was so worth the price. The sushi was delicious and fresh. The sushi combined items that I never would have expected to be on sushi, like salmon and figs, but it worked! The presentation of the courses was very fun, and our server took care to explain every item as they came out. If you're a fan of omakase and good sushi, I would recommend. read more

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Laughing Monk Cafe is located right next to the green line train stop. We tried the thai tea, sushi, green curry and crab rangoons. The thai tea is BOMB!! A must get. The crab rangoons were interesting and the texture of the skin wasn't crispy enough. The filling was comparable to other places. The green curry was huge and could be split between two people. It was a little spicy, but pairs perfectly with rice. The server was super attentive. It was quite busy for a snowy Wednesday night. read more

Laughing Monk Cafe - crab rangoons - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Food = 4.5 Service = 4 Ambience = 3 Food was good, service was fast. They have a large variety in their menu selection. read more

Laughing Monk Cafe - Thai Iced Tea - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I had the pleasure of dining here for Omakase - and it was delicious and completely unexpected. The chef is Thai, and they create a unique Japanese/Thai fusion which is mind-bendingly good. Is it the best Japanese Omakase I've ever had in my entire life? Maybe not. But it is the best Japanese/Thai Omakase I've ever tried. The presentation: Spot on. Oysters served in a wooden treasure box with tiny little flowers adorning each dish. Beautifully criss-cross sliced fatty tuna. Gently placed black caviar on top of salmon belly with a wedge of roasted fig. Little butterflies cut out from a single sheet of seaweed. Gold and Silver flaked uni and yellowtail fish. The flavors: Tons of unique and strong flavors, from roasted corn and squid ink, to creamy uni paired with yellowtail, and black truffles shaved on top of a smooth salmon belly, accompanied by a punch of fruit. Check out my photos and enjoy! read more

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I like it, good pad Thia, overall good but this was the side of peanut sauce... I just feel like this isn't enough read more

Laughing Monk Cafe - Peanut sauce - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Solid spot. Quick service, fresh fish, and plenty of menu options. There's something for everyone. My go to order for 2 people is the Bangkok dynamite, cannon, and shrimp tempura. Delicious. Their pineapple fried rice is also delicious. read more

I can't say I've ever had omakase before, but I can say I loved it here! Took my wife for a birthday dinner. On first glance at the restaurant itself it doesn't feel like it would be a refined experience. But the food itself tells a different story. I think there were twelve or so courses, and each was delicious. They really love yuzu here. My favorite bite was a nigiri with both toro and A5 wagyu, and hers was anything with uni in it. Pace of service was fast, we were done and out in about an hour and a half. Overall an amazing experience! read more

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Nice environment! Basil fired rice is very delicious! Will come to Laughing Monk Cafe next time! read more

Laughing Monk Cafe - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Awesome. We were a party of 6 excellent service and each of us loved our hot fresh tasty meals. read more

Laughing Monk Cafe - Pad Thai - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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We made reservations online for the Omaska. It was $300 which broke down to $120 per person with tip and tax. The tables were perfectly space out. They gave us a 2 hour limit which was enough time for the 12 course Omaska. Presentation on everything was amazing. Each course was fresh and delicious in their own way. It was hard to hear the man over his mask so I couldn't get any names. We had uni, tuna belly, scallops, and more. All the Courses were small but packed with favor. You can take there was attention to detail in the ingredients and presentation. Definitely, worth the money was a special event like a birthday. Would definitely come back read more

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I've only been here once, but it was so memorable. They have the best Ka Pow that I've ever had. It's a simple dish but very well executed. I don't normally like to mix cuisines, but their sushi looked very fresh. I can't wait to come back and try more. Service was great, and the interior has a cool, modern vibe. read more

Laughing Monk's unique feat is bringing sushi and Thai food together under one roof! Both cuisines are done well and rank among the high-mid to low-upper tier of what you'll find in Boston. Probably the best deal here is the lunch special, at $10-12 for Thai dishes and $13-15 for sushi combos. Decent portions and served with a veggie spring roll. While the curries are flavorful, they tend to be milder and thinner in consistency than at other places. The red & green curries contain authentic Thai eggplant, but only a few small pieces. Other notes: - Checks can only be split evenly rather than itemized - keep in mind if splitting a bill with friends - Sushi is made with brown rice, which may be less appealing for some Very good option if you're in the Brigham Circle/Longwood area. read more

Laughing Monk Cafe - Red Curry (lunch portion) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Stopped by here for lunch and had a great meal. We ordered two entrees and a Thai iced tea and were treated to a free appetizer roll, which was crispy and slightly spicy. The food came out hot with overall good flavor and good spice level. The shrimp in my drunken noodles was perfectly cooked. Overall, a solid meal. read more

Laughing Monk Cafe - Drunken noodles - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Easily the best restaurant in Brigham Circle. Haven't tried their sushi but they have very solid thai food in a nice ambience. Came here for dinner and got the tofu pad see ew, and my friend got the green curry with chicken. The pad see ew was the perfect taste and texture - I also appreciated that they let me substitute string beans for carrots since I don't like carrots. Taking off a star because rice was not included in the green curry but had to be ordered extra (how are people expected to eat curry without rice???) Also, service was a bit slow (had to wave over the waiter to order and to get the check). Otherwise a solid meal. As someone who lives in Longwood which doesn't have many great food options, I'm thankful Laughing Monk exists! read more

Laughing Monk Cafe - Tofu Pad See Ew (substitute carrots for string beans) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Super excited to try this as I was told the chef at Oya created this box. You could dine in or order it online where they charge a 18% service fee+delivery. It arrived a little early and was packed nicely. Looked just as I imagined it to be. The sauce corresponds to the nigiri at the same position in the box but there were so little sauce in each 1/3 of them I could even get the sauce out. Favorite was the oyster and the hamachi w Uni. The rest were good but it def looks prettier than it tastes. AND we were still hungry afterwards. So If you want to get a good picture go ahead and order, but if you want a good omakase go somewhere else. read more

Laughing Monk Cafe - Omakase to go - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

My friend and I went here for dinner on a Friday night. It wasn't busy at all and we were able to get a table outside. We ordered the veggie gyoza and the pork drunken noodles. The gyoza came to our table about 5 minutes before the noodles, which was unfortunate because they were slightly cold by the time the noodles got there. The food itself was good, but slightly expensive for what you're really getting. read more

Laughing Monk Cafe - Veggie Gyoza - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I've tried a few maki rolls (regular sushi rolls) before, and they were not bad but not amazing. They use brown rice for their sushi, but it didn't make the taste and texture better or worse in my opinion, just different. I came back again to try their nigiri (individually shaped sushi pieces), and we were really impressed! The chef put a lot of attention to the presentation and detail of each piece, and they all turned out to be beautiful. For example, the checkered pattern of the squid was sliced and charred very evenly, so only the small corners curled up. The other nigiri pieces were also beautifully decorated and seasoned. The ingredients were fresh, and the flavors for everything went well. I loved how they cut out patterns on the seaweed for the uni and salmon roe nigiri, the salmon handroll, and the butterfly for the coconut ice cream. The coconut ice cream was also amazing. It's homemade and very rich. We came for lunch, and it was about $150 for 2 people. It's a little pricey, but I think it's worth a try. The restaurant itself is not that nice, and it's not in a great part of town. But the effort put into the ingredients, flavors, and presentation justifies trying this at least once. They have some other cheaper options, like pad thai, maki rolls, spring rolls, and rice dishes, but it's not that special. I would only get that for convenience, but I would go out of my way to try the nigiri and special dishes. It's unique! read more

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Got the tofu pad Thai and it was super good! I come here relatively often as a student at HMS, and they've yet to disappoint! read more

Laughing Monk Cafe - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We visited laughing monk cafe on a Friday night for omakase. We reserved seating at the sushi bar to watch the sushi chefs in action! This is definitely a more casual restaurant offering a mix of experiences including Thai dishes, sushi, and omakase. However, I do recommend making a reservation, especially if you want omakase. First impression: the place was very busy and the staff seems to be very overwhelmed with people waiting for take out and customers dining in. Our omakase started a little late which was acknowledged by our server who brought us edamame to snack on. When the courses started coming we were impressed by the presentation - every dish was beautifully thought out and had its own unique twist. Some courses were innovative such as the "covid" themed dish served in a petri dish. They used fresh ingredients pulling flavors from Thai cuisine. Our meal ended with two Thai themed dessert options which were both fantastic! Overall this was a very unique experience and we really appreciated the chef keeping the menu fresh and creative. The only thing we were unaware of was the use of brown rice in the sushi! This is very unique to the restaurant. While we enjoyed the use of brown rice it sometimes overpowered the fish. However, that is personal preference so don't let it deter you from trying this place! read more

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Much increased prices within six months, and now they charge $2 for a SMALL bowl of *white* rice (not brown rice) that used to come with their curries, which means it now comes to nearly $20 per serving just for regular chicken or tofu curry that isn't necessarily mind blowing. I have never been to a Thai restaurant anywhere in the U.S. or in the world that charges you for rice that accompanies a curry dish. As an Asian person from Southeast Asia as well as a longtime resident who has been a patron of Thai restaurants everywhere I go in the U.S., I shouldn't have to state the obvious: Curry comes WITH rice. What, am I supposed to bring my own rice? The food as well as service is still fine and the ambiance is still good. I get that prices have gone up but to charge for rice with a basic curry dish that is already about $18 is rather unconscionable. My friends and I will be going elsewhere for our work lunches and dinners if they continue to charge for rice. read more

Came here for lunch to try out a new place and I love sushi. I did read about this place using brown rice for sushi which sounds like blasphemy but I was willing to try it. I got the Texas roll special so came with miso soup, spicy tuna, salmon and tuna sashimi. Miso was regular and tasted ok. So as far as sushi with brown rice...that's a strong no haha. I love brown rice but there is a reason people spend years perfecting their sushi rice. The fish did taste fresh. The portion is definitely on smaller side so don't go if starving. The sashimi was particularly great cuts of the fish and tasted great ... Minus the rice part. Staff were friendly and service quick! read more

Laughing Monk Cafe - Texas lunch special - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This was an easy 5 star rating. I would give 6 stars if allowed. PROS: The food was superb in taste and presentation. The sushi was excellent and so artistically done. As you can see from the photos, they take great care in decorating it. The sushi, I can't say enough, was among the best I've ever had. It was so good. The sangria was fruity and served with a generous pour. Dessert was a work of art, like the other dishes. CONS: Street parking. Small interior. OVERALL: You absolutely must try this place! I loved everything here. read more

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Great Thai food, got the Jungle Curry which was flavorful and yummy. Friendly waiters and staff. Perfect brunch place right off the Green Line, I think they have lunch deals as well on the weekdays. The interior is cute and nicely decorated! read more

Some of the best Thai food I've ever eaten. Since My favorite place in San Diego (my hometown) closed several years ago I've been on the hunt for something as good all across the country and have had no luck, until NOW! Curry is incredible, flavor is perfect. I love that they include not just the traditional potato/onion in the yellow curry but also add pineapple, which bring an amazing savory sweetness to the dish. The perfect amount of customizable Spiciness. My husband is all about their Pad Thai. He can't talk while he's eating it because he's too involved in the dish. The takeout containers are also weirdly perfect? I don't even want to transfer it to a regular plate or bowl because I love eating it out of the container they come in. It's beautiful and the perfect size for holding. We order in constantly, and are excited about trying in person next! read more

Heard so many great things about LMC and I was ecstatic that we finally made it after multiple failed attempts. Per our usual routine, we opted for the bar seats so we could snoop periodically at the sushi chefs as they were creating beautiful pieces of edible art. I adore the intimate ambiance and the mix of Thai and Japanese options here. Why be held down with just one or the other, right? We decided to try mostly sushi this go around but tied it down with an order of the tuna spring rolls and the Jumbo Shrimp Pad Thai for something more substantial. If you're a pad thai fan, order it here! I know never to use Italian adjectives like 'al dente' to describe Asian noodles but that's all I got ha ha. It has the perfect balance of chewy and bouncy texture that was just perrrrfect. For sushi, we went with their version of the Rainbow roll which was made with brown rice. Note: All their maki rolls are made with brown rice. The presentation was beautiful and topped off with a quail egg and a seaweed butterfly. Tasty but this was not where it shined for us. It was the next few nigiri courses that really blew us away. So unique and with all different taste combinations. We have salty, sweet, crunchy, smooth; I tell you, it was an amusement ride for your taste buds. We loved the mesquite flavored torched hamachi nigiri and the shima aji nigiri smelled just as wonderful as it tasted with the sweetened aroma of caramelized onion bits. Their signature Dragon Seeds nigiri was heavenly; Salmon served slightly seared with golden berry, quail egg topper and edible silver flakes. As our sweet ending, we shared some melt-in-your-mouth tuna, hamachi belly, and kinmedai sashimi. We enjoyed it so much that we inquired about their Omakase and for the curious, it's currently $99/pp for a 10-piece. You'd have to call ahead to plan but if it's anything like their sashimi and nigiri, it will be well worth it. We've already penciled them in for next month for their Omakase round. Brother, it's a date! read more

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A steady stream of takeout customers while I enjoyed my terrific dinner this evening, the staff of Laughing Monk worked quite hard! It is a very nicely decorated restaurant with dark wood tables, exposed brick walls and actual linen napkins. This would be a very nice date night. I ordered the Dragon Seed to start. A very nice single piece of roasted salmon that was out of this world delicious. A great appetizer, ready for the main course. A pair of maki rolls, one with tempura shrimp and the other with eel. Both were very well assembled, very fresh, extremely delicious. Nicely presented, as is the case with sushi. At the end (even though I'd have preferred it at the beginning), the Moo Ping was fantastic. Thai-style barbecue pork belly served with a very spicy sauce. Really good and I would suggest that you ask for that to arrive first. Great service, excellent food, I'm a fan of Laughing Monk! read more

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I've heard a lot about this place and never had the chance to try it. Originally me and the wife was going to get some fast food to go and bring it home to eat. Laughing Monk was right across the street so we decided to dine here. I must say, probably one of the best pad Thai I ever had. The flavor was perfect. You can smell it once it's placed on the table. Add some crush red peppers to it to add some heat . The Bangkok Dynamite roll was ok. Fresh but not my cup of tea. I'm really basic . I like my snow mountain or volcano roll. Dragon seed was a good experience. Really refreshing. I recommend trying it. Overall, everything was really good. Good experience for our first time here. Will come back to try other dishes! read more