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Little Big Diner

4.2 (625 reviews)
Closed • 4:30 pm - 9:00 PM
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LITTLE BIG DINER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Outdoor seating
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Little Big Diner

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Joy S.

Oh yes!! Oishi, Oishi!! Yum yum yum. Nice broth, great noodles, perfect ajitama and quick yet courteous service. Satisfaction all around!

Server's station
Mae-Lou Z.

We really enjoyed Little Big Diner! The seating area is small but that's standard for most ramen restaurants. The service was quick and attentive and the server knew what she was talking about any time we had questions. I got the Spicy Tan Tan and it was delicious. The noodles were well cooked and the broth was flavorful. My boyfriend got the Shoyu and he also really enjoyed his meal (and he's picky!). We'd go back again if we get the chance!

Paitan Chicken Ramen
Drashti T.

Came here on a weekday night. Since it's a small place, there was quite a wait for seating. There was a parking nearby for easy parking. I got the chicken ramen and I have to say it was one of my favorite all time. The chicken was juicy and melted on your tongue. The broth was rice and savory. The egg was the perfect level of jammy. I would love to come again.

Spicy Miso Ramen
Norm C.

It's a fun little place. Service was quick and patient. The server gave me a cheers as he dropped off my yuzu highball. What a nice gesture! The soup is flavorful and the noodle was okay. The fried chicken was just addictive or I was really hungry. Highly recommend. There is outdoor seating in the summer and limited seating inside. Typically gets packed by 7pm and a queue to be seated. I recommend going around 5pm.

Angela S.

I was very very skeptical of a Newton Ramen spot lol, however LBD did beat my expectations. We've been twice to LBD, and it is one of the better ramen spots around the city. The noodles are cooked well and the chasiu was always really good - not too fatty and not too lean. The egg is really decent too. The miso ramen is my fave so far, however, i got the shoyu last time and it came with an overwhelmingly amount of pickled ginger? Like why? It didn't add anything to the soup, it just made it worse. The drinks and karaage are really solid as well. Overall, LBD is reasonably priced for pretty decent food and service! It is a small spot, so there will be a wait during busy times.

Shoyu
Meg C.

I wanted to like this place and had high expectations since I enjoy sister restaurants Jinny's Pizzeria and Sycamore and it has great reviews, but this Shoyu ramen was -extremely- salty to me. The broth's saltiness was very sharp and lacked the umami depth that I'd expect from the soy sauce. The toppings were pretty good, I liked the egg and the chashu, which was on the thicker side and not too fatty. The menma was marinated in soy and would probably be alright on its own, but in this case just magnified the saltiness. Noodles were okay, but couldn't save the bowl - I didn't finish it. I eat a lot of ramen around the Boston area and this was a first for me. Service was quick and it is a small cozy spot with ~10 small tables, and parking is pretty easy on the street or the lot across the way. Glad I tried it, but this is not a good ramen spot for me.

Spicy Tan Tan Ramen
Rebecca M.

Little Big Diner is a master class in ramen. Without fail, the noodles have the perfect bite and bounce, the broth is consistently rich and packed with flavor, and the playlist rotation is *always* a vibe. It's a small space with a big following, and for good reason. The tantan ramen is a standout and family favorite--it's a creamy sesame broth with just the right amount of heat. Adding the Heiwa tofu takes it to another level if you're a pescatarian like me! Since they don't take reservations, timing is everything. Arriving when they open (or a little before) is your best bet to avoid the inevitable wait. But even if you have to linger outside for a bit, trust me--it's worth it!

miso ramen (vegetarian)
Christiane M.

so yummy! i got the non spicy miso vegetarian ramen and tbh i wish i got the spicy but it was still great. super cute restaurant but also super small so definitely best to go in small parties. would go back

Nick S.

The atmosphere and service were both excellent. The servers were knowledgeable, bringing the food out promptly and with a friendly attitude. They also made great recommendations for our party. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to my expectations, which were high based on all the rave reviews. I ordered the chef's ultra ramen, and in my opinion, a great ramen should be defined by its broth and ingredients, but this one fell short on both. The noodles were decent, but the rest of the ingredients didn't really complement the ramen. The broth was overly salty yet lacked depth--it just tasted like salt. The highlight of my meal was the Karaage chicken, which had great flavor and was really enjoyable. I probably wouldn't return unless I'm with friends.

Melanie W.

My friend and I came here for an early dinner when they had just opened. We ordered Hawaiian-style burgers, karrage fried chicken, okonomiyaki-style tater tots, and chef's ultra reman to share. Their appetizer portions are enormous that we have leftovers to take home. The service was a little slow, and by the time we finished our meal, the place was packed, and there were people waiting outside. The place was worth a try but nothing really special unless you are around the area.

Kara-age Fried Chicken
Joy G.

I had bookmarked this place after finding out it was owned by the same people behind Sycamore and Jinny's. Definitely didn't disappoint, though next time I'll be sure to try the ramen or some of the other rice bowls. There are a lot of Asian influences on the menu: Japanese, Thai, Korean, which usually makes me side-eye a place for trying to cover too much ground, though I thought LBD hit the right notes, taste-wise, for the most part. We started off with the chicken kara-age and the papaya salad. The chicken was fried expertly, with a nice coat of seasoning, but eat this first thing as soon as it lands on the table. Our awesome waiter provided us with some of the "as the cooks eat it" sauce on the side, so we could try that too (I preferred the one that came smeared on the bowl). Papaya salad packed a lot of crunch and heat, a must-order on these balmy summer evenings. My husband and friend ordered the chef's ultra ramen, I went with the rice bowl plus huawei tofu. In retrospect, I should have just gotten the ramen or the tuna poke bowl. The rice bowl, despite the toppings of pickled cucumber, carrots, cilantro, and the gojuchang sauce, did not have much flavor. Maybe it's just my terrible spice tolerance because after a while, my tongue was on fire. Portions are generous, we were all stuffed afterwards. Plenty of seating, both indoor and outdoor. There's a parking lot across the street with free parking after 6pm.

Haley C.

Love it here! It's very small, so be prepared to wait. Especially when the outside seating is closed. The food is worth the wait!

Kara-age Fried Chicken
Cal L.

This place is. something. special. I wasn't even going to eat here but I walked past it, saw the menu, and was greeted quickly and promptly! I'll start with the service. Dylan took my name down because it was an extremely busy night for them, a Tuesday. 15 minute wait. He was courteous and soft spoken and I'm glad he was my server too! I ordered the shoyu ramen, fried chicken, and a side of the BBQ corn. The ramen was probably 15% less salty than it should have been, but upon some reflection, maybe that's a good thing. I only finished 70% of it. The corn and the fried chicken were both BOMB. Well marinated, well cooked. I am thinking I will definitely be back. Thanks Dylan and team for such a great meal.

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8 months ago

This is as good as it gets for Ramen in the Boston area. The ingredients are the best quality and service is great.

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Little Big Diner Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Little Big Diner

When will you start serving lunch again?

Do they do take out?

No they don't

What is the noise level? Can one have a relaxed conversation with a friend?

Since there is limited seating, and no room for big parties, you'll find the noise level to be low to moderate. However, close proximity of tables means your conversation can be easily overheard.

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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Charming, wonderful. I've been the many times. Great food and staff. You really feel like you're…read morein ireland.

You know how in some restaurants you see the customers and they put salt on their food before they…read moreeven taste it? I think the chef is one of those people, because I had the muscles today and it was so salt forward. I mean it was dangerously full salt, but I was so hungry that I ate it anyway and then I told the waitress I said I should not even complain because I ate the dish however they should watch out for the salt. She said it's one of the most popular dishes and people like it that way . The restaurant decided to be gracious enough and swap that off of my order and let me get something else instead, but I was already full, so I took home a salad. Hours later, I figured it would be nice to have something refreshing after all that salt. I'm eating the salad and something crunchy and it's not the normal crunch. So I decide to like look into the lettuce and I see dirt. Especially now with everything going on around lettuce I am beyond shocked. I tried to call the restaurant granted it was dinner time but no answer so I called the sister company in another city and they said they would have the manager reach out to me which never happened . What surprised me as well as the manager from the sister location said he finds this surprising because the lettuce comes in triple washed, and they wash it themselves. All I could say to that is maybe open up the lettuce leaves and rinse them or open your eyes. So I'm putting it out there, I would like my money back, but since you can't answer the phone or own up to any responsibility, I'm leaving this message for you because I get a lot of hits on my reviews and I'm gonna tell people do not eat at this place unless your taste buds are completely dead and you just need salt and dirt survive. PS the ambience is so dark. It's decorated nicely, but they definitely need more light can barely read the menu.. Update, Stewart the owner wouldn't take my call, but they did issue a refund .

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Little Big Diner - ramen - Updated October 2026

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