In a world where so many Japanese-style items aren't actually made in Japan (and aren't always the best quality), I really respect Maruichi Select for carrying so many genuinely Japanese items. The shop, with all its ceramics, is SO cute. I want everything. It's also just a lovely little cafe: calm, cozy, neat, clean, and surprisingly spacious. Also, the onigiri is the biggest onigiri I've ever had. Maybe I just haven't eaten enough onigiri in my life, but I swear theirs is huge and also one of the most flavorful. I got the spicy chicken karaage onigiri and did not regret it. I also got the matcha latte, which was really good. And I respect that they serve Ogawa Coffee, a Japanese coffee. So based. I wish I lived closer so I could just roll out of bed and work here. Honestly, I wish I could WFH so I could work here. Why can't I just live here while I'm at it? They also have a good selection of ramen, udon, sandos, and, when they aren't short-staffed, kakigori shaved ice. I'm sad about the kakigori. It's summer, goddamnit! They could be making so much money if they had enough staff for it. You really can't go wrong being here. It's a little serene Japanese oasis, and I'm very glad it exists. read more

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Cute little Japanese shop and food spot. Some street parking in the area and a small paid parking lot in the back of the Coolidge center with 4 hour parking. We got here right when they opened so they were still preparing the premium onigiri for the day. Service was very friendly - order at the register and pick up your food when ready. We did order one of each - Chashu & Aji-Tama (Braised Pork & Egg) - this was one of my favorites, flavorful and fresh. Karage - Probably our second favorite - the chicken was tender. Spicy Karage - similar to the regular karage but I wasn't the biggest fan of the spicy mayo Takana (Pickled Mustard Leaf) - this one was surprising but very good and a little spicy. I also ordered their Cherry Blossom Tea and the Hojicha Latte. Both were good teas. I did some shopping here too as they had a variety of snacks, teas and other trinkets. They have a small little refrigerated fresh food section where you can also get onigiri and other foods. Very cute spot and good amount of seating inside. Nice, quiet and calming inside. Would definitely come back. read more

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I got sushi from Maruichi across the street, cashier suggested me to go Maruichi Select to sit down on any table with self serving water, chop sticks and found perfect spot near by entrance and all windows, sushi was too attractive to take any photo and disappeared very quickly But table next to me had mind blowing shrimp dish, biggest one I have ever seen on my whole life !! I asked young French speaking lady if I can take photos !!! Trust me guys ! Recent improvements at both Maruichi place across the street each other would rock your whole world, even Most of Japanese ourselves couldn't do like this. Talked with Kitchen Staffs (sorry my Spanish is ...) cashiers and organizer (Japanese) are just way ahead of tough games in food industry Take look at Ebi katsu dish photos. Appreciating genevieve.t.b of Instagram Thanks for letting me take photos of your greatest lunch time in Maruichi Select ! https://www.instagram.com/genevieve.t.b?igsh=eWRqdHl6dm43Z2No Next time I got order this !!!! read more

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The tea is terrific, and it's fun to see matcha being made using the traditional method. The onigiri are great too, and I'm glad that they're selling them pre-made in the case now, which is much easier. The room is a lovely space, a good place to catch up with a friend over tea. read more

I always enjoy Maruichi Select. I favored the unagi onigiri for its flavor, and had to get the matcha since it's a specialty - it was decent but felt a bit watered down, so I'll try the non-iced variety next time. The onigiri is quite cheap which is always a boon, though the drinks and hot food can feel much more expensive in comparison. Maruichi stands out for the Japanese grocery store across the street and the cafe's authentic feel, with an ambiance informed by areas with low seating and requiring removal of shoes. It's pretty casual with self-service and limited seating, so not ideal for large groups. read more

Maruichi Select - Iced matcha - Tea Rooms Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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It's so close. So, so close. On first sight, jaws will drop - a cute, roomy cafe with match vibes, clean lines, polished wood, an honest-to-god sitting room like some kind of paper screen painting. Could it be that Brookline has finally become interesting? No, no, it's just a cafe. Don't get me wrong - they have some really interesting food and drinks, but everything is just a little...off. They drop the tempura into the udon soup, kind of defeating the purpose, their onigiri has rice + seawood touching in some kind of unholy matrimony and their matcha latte is pretty heavy on the latte. That all said...Japanese cafe brand is a hard thing to screw up. So even with its downsides, it's a pretty cool and interesting spot. read more

Excellent food. Wouldn't have expected it as it is also a store selling other products. The seating area is decently sized. I like how there is a section with traditional seating where you remove shoes and sit on the floor. People were doing work there or eating with friends. Hojicha was great read more

Maruichi Select - Matcha and iced hojicha - Tea Rooms Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

A Brookline visit always includes a trip to Maruichi Select. Their seasonal strawberry matcha is a must and excited to see what their other seasonal drinks are as fall rolls around. Their warm food is comforting with easy go-to's such as a chicken katsu entree, tempura, and/or onigiri. They also have a little grocery selection of Japanese imports. read more

Maruichi Select - Tea Rooms Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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Came by twice during my trip to Boston, my friend highly recommended it! I got the large matcha latte and settled here to work for the day, and the ambiance was nice and there were lots of students studying, getting pretty busy throughout the day. The matcha is well priced and large, and I thought it was well balanced and tasty! I always get less sweet drinks and I thought it was perfect. My friend loves the hojicha latte and I agree it was great. I also had some onigiri, which was solid but not too generous on the fillings, which I think is pretty common for onigiri. Came back and tried the seasonal mango matcha latte, also less sweet. The mango puree was perfectly sweet and not too much, balancing the matcha very well. I really enjoyed coming here and looking at their food/drink selection, as well as the coffee/tea leaves they sell. read more

This is THE spot! A little hidden Japanese cafe inside a mini grocery mart. How lovely is it to be able to shop, eat a meal, and relax all in one place! The menu is very expansive with options of onigiri, rice bowls, shaved ice, and hot and cold drinks and more. My partner and I ordered the Gyudon and Chicken Katsu curry. The Gyudon was so flavorful that it was instantly devoured. There was plenty of thinly sliced beef and onions with a perfectly poached egg over rice. And the Chicken Katsu was perfectly fried over curry. I loved that there were stewed chicken pieces in the curry. It was double the protein! Additionally, we ordered the three handroll combo for $10.99 which is a solid deal! I love the hand rolls. Shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, and salmon and avocado were on deck. I came here on a Thursday evening for dinner and arrived around 630PM. Seating is first come first serve. I didn't have a problem finding a table for two. There is plenty of meter parking and even a public parking lot behind the CVS. The area is full of restaurants and shopping to hit up after stopping by Maruichi Select. This is a great spot for a casual date, study session, shopping for Japanese goodies, or grab and go drink! Pro Tip: They sell discounted grab and go meals after 8PM. They are affiliated with the Maruichi Japanese Food and Deli across the street. They also sell discounted sushi at the end of the day. read more

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Stopped by to have a quick bite and study! I will say that they do not have any internet and blocked all the chargers so there are no outlets, so they probably want people to eat here but not study. There is a good amount of tables all over and a section where you have to take off your shoes and eat sitting on the floor. I got the katsudon, which was pretty good for the pricing! A lot of people around me tried a drink from here, so I would try those next time! You pick up your order at a counter and they do have some sauce and toppings that you can use. read more

Maruichi Select - Menu - Tea Rooms Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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Went here on a weekend afternoon and found an extremely long line. I waited in the line and got a strawberry matcha. Other options included hojicha and lunch specials. The line moved quickly...waiting for the drink to be prepared took slightly longer. It was worth the wait! read more

Maruichi Select - Strawberry and normal matcha - Tea Rooms Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

The food was good but salty. The service was fast and efficient but not very friendly. The place is half market and half restaurant with plenty of seating to grab a quick bite! The drinks were good. read more

Maruichi Select - Miso ramen - Tea Rooms Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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My favorite spot in Coolidge Corner! I always come here with my fiancé for a quick bite. I usually get their matcha (a must!), but I noticed they have a new seasonal drink -- the hojichai. It's hojicha with milk (of your choice) and chai syrup. I took one sip and instantly loved it (the chai flavor is really strong). I don't normally get hojicha, but this drink is definitely one I'll be getting again! My fiancé got the Chashu ajitama onigiri (they were out of the spicy Karaage, our favorite). I think it didn't have as much filling as usual though. It has a great study/work vibe, but something to note: it definitely gets busier on weekends with long lines. If you're planning to grab something that's not from the cafe, it's easier to go to their grocery store across the street. read more

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I went to Maruichi with one of my friends who lives in Coolidge Corner who highly recommended it, and I could not have been more pleasantly surprised! Maruichi is more of a quick service style location with really affordable and delicious options. They had plenty of seating, and we sat in a room that had floor seating. The food was really great. I had the spicy tuna hand roll which was only $4 but came packed with tuna, veggies, and flavor, and was quite a decent size! I also had the Kimichi Gyudon, which had meat that was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I can't wait to come back here and try more on their menu! My friends all had really great things to say about their Udon as well. read more

Maruichi Select - Gyuudon and tuna hand roll - Tea Rooms Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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So good! Little pricey but worth it I'd say :) very nice seating area; perfect for working or catching up with friends.

Starting off the year with an absolute STELLAR review, here in Brookline! This place excelled in all categories, and I couldn't recommend this place more. Our table had the Curry w/ Tonkatsu, as well as the Tonkatsu Teishoku. The curry was delicious and flavorful, then pork cutlet was crispy and so extremely tasty. I also had a matcha latte, and it was strong and delicious as well. I brought home a mini chirashi (for just $12!!!) filled with different cuts of sushi along a bed of rice. For that price, it was absolutely amazing. All of the food was just 10/10 across the board. The checkout is seamless and the staff are so so sweet. Alongside the cafe, there is a front part where you can shop for some miniscule things, such as chopsticks, tea sets, mini Japanese snacks, etc. It's so cute and a really great experience to bring friends to, as you can bring them to the Maruichi Japanese Market across the street facing the cafe as well. Such a great time here!!! read more

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Been here a few times now and it's always a pleasant experience. Ambiance is super nice - feels clean and classic Japanese due to the decor and wooden fixtures. Love the room in the back where you take your shoes off to sit as well. Menu has a good selection of entrees, drinks, and to-go meal options. A bit expensive, but the quality is always solid. Service is also pretty quick and efficient. I never have had to wait more than a few minutes to checkout or get a drink. Solid spot to grab some quick food or sit and enjoy a meal. I come often and probably will continue to do so! read more

I LOVED my first visit to Maruichi! The person who took my order at the register was exceptionally warm, friendly, and helped me decide what to order as it was my first time visiting. I didn't have to wait too long for my food to come out. My chicken katsu don was delicious! The meat was exceptionally tender. I loved that I got plenty of rice in my bowl. The vibes inside were great. Not too loud to have a chill conversation with some friends. Lots of Boston students studying inside at tables, so it was a little tricky to get a table on a snowy Sunday. I would definitely come back to eat, work remotely for a bit, or check out the non-food items they sell! read more

Maruichi Select - Chicken Katsu Don - Tea Rooms Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Very cute place with a selection of ready to eat bento boxes and onigiri. I got an iced matcha latte, cold udon, and a mayo tuna onigiri. The onigiri filling was skimpy and too much rice. The udon was refreshing, but lacking substance. Matcha was really good, it comes unsweetened and you can sweeten yourself. read more

Maruichi Select - cold udon - Tea Rooms Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

I won't come back and won't recommend this place to anyone for food. I ordered a tendon and tonkatsu set menu and both of them horrible. Tendon came out without any sauce. You dont eat tempura rice bowl without any sauce. When I asked for sauce they game me this icy cold sauce and asked me to dip my fried food. Really? Also, I dont know why, but good section staffs did not speak English. Hey, I came from Cali, and I have no issue with people with close to zero English. But employees here either have some other issues or pretend not to understand me at all. Disappointed. Donkatsu set? I chewed a big chunk of salt literally. Probably some unusual mistake, but enough. All fried food were wet and salad on the side were covered by mayonnaise. Not salad dressing. Boston has so many fantastic places to go. read more

Maruichi Select - Tendon sauce. Ha! - Tea Rooms Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Wonderful place to grab lunch or find a unique gift for a food lover. They have so many different Japanese dish offerings whether you're the mood for ramen or Katsu. Lots of fresh sushi and seafood offerings too. The prices are decent for the quality of food and there is plenty of seating in a relaxed environment. I got one of their premium onigiri with egg and pork and it was simply devine. I'd pass on the donuts though - for some reason they were cold like they were just refrigerated and a bit dry. I did think their matcha latte was excellent though. They also offered standard espresso and coffee drinks. There was also nice selection of teas and cookies for gifting and select dry goods. Note the main grocery store has now moved across the street so be aware of the two locations. read more

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Great spot for sushi, chicken katsu, or even just a coffee. Highly recommended in this area

I came here because of its reputation. I waited in an incredibly long line. After finally getting to the front, I discovered they'd made a mistake--I clearly ordered a matcha latte, but they made a Hojicha latte. They promised a remake, and I waited even longer to receive it. When it arrived, it had absolutely no milk flavor. It tasted like matcha mixed with water, not even as good as the matcha I make at home with milk. Utterly disappointed. I was planning to sit here and read a book before leaving, but I didn't want to stay a moment longer. Zero out of five. I'll never come back. read more

Maruichi Select - Tea Rooms Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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My FAVORITE spot in Boston!! Amazing selection of Japanese food, quick, delicious, and also combined with a cute selection of authentic Japanese goods and tea!! read more

Solid spot. Love the tatami seating available. I've tried the majority of the menu by now and I have to say the chirashi choices are my go-tos. read more

Love the vibes in here! You study in here, meet up with friends, or even just come in and grab a might or buy snacks. I got the matcha and my friend got hojicha. They were busy but quickly got all the orders done in a timely manner. I also got an onigiri which I ate so quick and didn't get a picture of. Will definitely come back here to try more of their food selection. read more

Maruichi Select - Matcha - Tea Rooms Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

this japanese-inspired café was a fun place to walk around and shop in a market-type setting, and they also offer hot foods. i tried chicken onigiri and a strawberry mocha. i'll be honest, a drawback of the place is that it's very hard to find seats. the layout is cute for studying or catching up with friends, but it can be difficult to find a spot to sit. also, the service was pretty good. i got my order in about 5 to 10 minutes, and it was enjoyable, though standard. read more

Maruichi Select - Spicy onigiri - Tea Rooms Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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Good food, but what's the point when it's impossible to get a seat? The free seating arrangement with no time limits encourages students--or anybody cheap--to buy just a drink, get a seat, and occupy it forever chatting with friends or using their laptop as in an internet café. Even those who sit down to have a meal linger on for as long as they please, making it impossible for other customers to be seated. How does Maruichi even survive with this failed business model? read more

Wonderful Japanese cafe. It's right across the street from their grocery store (Maruichi Japanese Food & Deli). They have a mix of hot foods (such as curry and ramen) and pre-prepared foods (such as mille crepe cake slices and chirsashi). I got a cappuccino, chirashi bowl and an eel onigiri. Service was quick and friendly. Everything was reasonably priced and packaged well. Portions also met my expectations. There was plenty of seating inside. They have an assortment of Japanese goods as well (tea sets, tea, desserts, etc). read more

We came here for their matcha specials, and it was quite possibly the best matcha I've ever had! The white peach matcha really sold me, and I find myself craving it often. Although their line can get long at times, it is constantly moving and the staff are always working diligently to help customers. I also love their selection of food items, especially the large onigiris! After eating, it's nice to browse their store and look at all the teas and teaware they have, which makes gift buying easy. Overall, I love coming here and would recommend others to take a look inside if they're in Coolidge! read more

As far as I'm concerned, this is the only authentic and worthwhile Japanese establishment in all of Boston. The owners are Japanese and you can tell they truly take great care and pride in the food. The matcha is the best quality I've had in the US. I frequently stop here or their grocery store across the street for the onigiri which is reasonably priced at $2-4 each depending on the different fillings. The miso soup is herbal and not too salty. I cannot recommend this place enough -- it's definitely my favorite and most frequented place in Coolidge Corner. read more

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Popped in hour plus long line for their Japanese matcha popup collab. Worth the wait, good quality matcha with strawberry is what we opted for and grabbed a couple red bean pastries. Nice cap to a lunch date. read more

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Cozy, inviting cafe to get Japanese comfort foods and great deals on chirashi! I've had a lot of their menu through delivery, and the food holds up well in transport. I love getting the black curry with tonkatsu - the curry is soul-warming, and the tonkatsu is thin and crispy. I was recently in the area and jumped at the chance to check out the cafe in-person. The front of the shop has a well-curated selection of quality Japanese goods to buy, from teas to unique snacks. The back half is the ordering counter and seating area, which was filled with students studying and people meeting up with friends. It was quite packed even during an off-meal time! The chirashi bowls here are a steal for the high quality fish that you get. They have them premade in the refrigerated section near the ordering counter, and they bring out freshly made bowls intermittently throughout the day - lucky for me, I was there during a fresh drop and was able to grab a new bowl. I also ordered a pair of spicy karaage onigiri for the road - the spicy is from spicy mayo, so not particularly spicy if you don't like heat, but it adds a nice flavor. The rice was warm still which was a nice surprise! The staff at the counter were super friendly. I've yet to try their drinks, so I'll have to check that out next time I'm in Coolidge Corner. Maruichi always has me coming back for more! read more

Clean shop. Food is average. Polite staff. - Premium Chirashi: Fresh. Only 3 kinds of fish. B+ - Oyakodon: They use chicken breast instead of chicken thigh. The meat was dry and tough. There's not much flavor. The portion is good size. B- I'd try the katsudon/curry next time. read more

Finally got to go to Maruichi and I must say... PHENOMENAL! The matcha is so vibrant and amazing, and the food surprises you. given its appearance as a small cafe/store. I got a 3pc plate of handrolls which were all so fresh. It's a big and inviting room, perfect for doing work and everyone at the establishment -- whether customer or employee-- is so respectful. read more

Maruichi Select - Tea Rooms Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

This has become one of my go-to comfort spots since it's the perfect place to hang out, chat, study, or get a good meal. Be warned that seating is self-serve so it can be hard to get a spot on the weekends during meal times. I always get a matcha latte with oatmilk. I love that the staff takes the time to make each one fresh and how concentrated the matcha is. If I'm hungry, I will get their chicken katsu curry. I have had numerous katsu curries, but this is one of my favorites. The chicken is breaded perfectly and not too oily. The curry tastes more homemade than just regular curry cubes and has bits of shredded chicken. If I want a snack, then I get one of their onigiris - these are perfect for walking to-go. read more

Maruichi Select - Katsu curry - Tea Rooms Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Best Japanese food delivery in Boston I've ever had!! - speed: pretty slow. When the food arrived, the fried chicken was already not crispy but you could still tell the flavor is very nice - beef don: amazing! Nothing to complain. Well balanced flavor and good portion for the price - pickles: must order! Authentic Japanese pickle assortment - kids' curry: ordered purely as a side to taste it - very sophisticated curry flavor I'm very impressed by this delivery food for flavor and portion/value for price! read more

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Take this with a grain of salt as this review solely reflects the onigiris, both premium and the ones located in the refrigerated section. The pickled plum, spicy tuna mayo, and takana were all 90% rice. The premium takana onigiri already had the rice wrapped so it was room temperature with soggy seaweed and barely any of the pickled mustard greens. The pickled plum had two tiny plums with cool rice; there was perhaps only two bites that contained pickled plum. The tuna mayo seemed to have more scallions than tuna. In all options, there was an overwhelming amount of rice. While this review reflects a very small part of the menu, it was enough that I probably wouldn't get food here again given all the other options in the area. read more

After several days of just coffee, we all decided we needed a matcha break, so I decided on Maruichi. The interior was so cute and cozy. They even have a nook if you want more privacy. It reminded me of a tatami room (you'd have to take off your shoes if you would like to step in). I didn't expect them to have such a wide selection of Japanese items, prepared food, or even the extensive dine-in menu either. Very impressive. The staff were also so warm and friendly, showing up with great attitude. The premium onigiris look too good to pass on, and it did not disappoint. Highly recommend the chashu and aji tama one. I would skip on the refrigerated onigiris though. I also got the iced matcha latte with whole milk, and it was pretty good. Although, it did taste a bit grainy. Probably needed a little more whisk time. To be fair, we showed up right when they opened so maybe that was why. read more

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