Great mom/pop restaurant. Food was excellent, a staple in the community! I got the hamachi kama,…read morewings, and a few rolls. All were very tasty.

This spot has a cool, underground vibe that makes it feel a little hidden and unique. The service…read moreis impressively quick -- you're in and out without much wait. The food is decent, but compared to other sushi restaurants I've tried, there are definitely higher-quality options. The Bruins Fire Maki (pictured below) was visually striking and definitely brought the heat -- something to keep in mind if you're sensitive to spicy food.

Miraku Boston is a ramen-focused Japanese restaurant in Brookline that centers its menu around rich…read morebroths, carefully prepared noodles, and a small selection of appetizers and sides. We walked into a cozy, understated space that often filled up quickly, giving it a lively but still relatively calm dining atmosphere once we were seated. The room was warm and functional, with a layout that kept the focus on the food rather than the décor, and the steady hum of conversation added to the comfortable energy. The main draw here is the ramen itself, especially the broth-forward bowls like shoyu and miso variations. We ordered a few different styles and found the Yaki Shoyu and spicy miso standing out the most, with deep umami flavors and a layered richness that built as we ate. The sesame ramen was also a popular option for its nutty, aromatic profile. When everything was hitting well, the broth was the clear highlight and felt like the reason to come. The noodles were a bit more divisive depending on preference. Some bowls landed perfectly, while others felt more standard or less fresh compared to the broth, which could slightly affect the overall balance of the dish. Because of that, the experience tended to be strongest when we stuck to the core ramen offerings rather than branching out too far into appetizers or rice dishes. Service was generally friendly and efficient, but the restaurant could get busy during peak hours, which might lead to a short wait before seating. Once inside, the pacing of the meal was smooth, and the atmosphere stayed comfortable enough for a relaxed lunch or dinner, even when the dining room was full. The staff moved through the room with ease, and the food came out without much delay. Overall, Miraku Boston is a solid ramen spot in the Brookline area that does best when focusing on its strengths: rich, flavorful broth-based ramen bowls. It is not overly experimental, but when the kitchen is on point, it delivers a satisfying and comforting ramen experience worth returning for.

Came here with some friends as this was their favorite ramen spot and they were having a popup…read morewhere a Japanese chef came here to make some limited bowls of seabream and shellfish white soy sauce ramen. As this was limited pop up, we did wait about 1-1.5 hours to be able to get inside and order the food, but it was a relatively organized experience. We got sat at the bar at the side where the waiters/waitresses entered/exited which was mildly annoying and flagging them to get more water was a little hard as well. I didn't order the limited bowl as that's not usually my choice of flavor for ramen broths but I got to try it. It was very mild and had a nice taste but still wouldn't be my go to order. For myself, I got the spicy miso which was nice and flavorful. My friends also ordered the Takoyaki and the Zangi Fried Chicken which were both good. For dessert we also ordered the Monako Ice Cream and Hojicha Chiffon Cake. The Hojicha Chiffon cake didn't have as much flavor as I would've liked and the ice cream that came with it, kind of just overpowered it, should get hojicha ice cream with this one to taste more hojicha.

Cute little Japanese shop and food spot. Some street parking in the area and a small paid parking…read morelot 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.

I got sushi from Maruichi across the street, cashier suggested me to go Maruichi Select to sit down…read moreon 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 !!!!

This is my second time here and I still love it. Will recommend to reserve a table if you have a…read moreparty of more than 2 as the space is limited. However, I haven't seen people wait too long. I love the options and sushi is very fresh. The ramen is also delicious. The staff is friendly and efficient. The sake selection is great and the price is affordable. I highly recommend to come back to this place if you want an affordable yet quality sushi experience.

I feel like Chiharu is a bit of a hidden gem! Despite its unassuming exterior, I was pleasantly…read moresurprised with how nice my food was. We came on a weeknight and easily snagged seats. The hostess was very kind and accommodating. I have high suspicions this place is owned by Chinese people based on some clues, such as Chinese style noodles on the ramen menu and steamed pork buns as an appetizer. We got the beef noodle soup which was excellent (albeit not expected in a Japanese restaurant!). It was actually a little spicy. Came with lots of beef and a flavorful and rich broth. We got two of the special rolls, Kiss of Fire and (I think) Torched Yellowtail, which were both tasty. No complaints there! For our appetizer we got sashimi salad, composed of strips of several kinds of raw fish (salmon, tuna, white tuna, yellowtail) and some surimi and avocado on top of a bed of greens. There was a ponzu like sauce on the side. Although fresh and not bad tasting, I think this was a bit plain. Overall though, the prices and vibes were good and I'd come back!

This is a go to for us in Brookline with great service, a variety of food and a casual environment…read more It feels like a local Izakaya that I have been to in Japan. You can get a variety of items from Yakitori (grilled meats on a skewer over a hibachi), Kushiyaki (the same with veggies), different types of sushi, tempura and classic hot dishes. You are quickly met at the door and seated and the restaurant. While it's a little bit dated, it is a pub and it is comfortable. The service is super attentive and always prompt. When you seated at the table, you immediately get water and a delicious cabbage salad gratis. You can get a picture of beer for $25 and a great selection of Sake and other cocktails. The food prices are very reasonable for the quality and value that you get. The food is always super tasty with the yakitori served hot. The sushi is fresh and delicious. The grilled salmon with vegetables is wonderful with a nice accompanying savory sauce.

This cute local sushi restaurant is a family favorite. Since we discovered it, we have gone at…read moreleast twice a month. The food is fabulous, the service is quick, and the prices are reasonable for the quality of the seafood. We love Omori!!!

My Boston native friends recommended us try the OG spicy cold udon spot and I'm so happy I did!…read more - Spicy Hot Niku, (4.5/5): the soup! Omigosh sooo flavorful and umami. It had a nice deep savory chicken broth flavor and the spicy balanced it well. noodles were slightly cooked past my desired doneness but hard to avoid especially bc the soup was piping hot - Spicy Cold Niku, (5/5): love this!! Especially the udon doneness. Soooo extremely chewy and flavorful and great for a hot summers day. I recommend getting the egg so your noodles get coated spices and creamy yolk I heard they're opening up a location in NYC so definitely looking forward to that :^)

The Spicy Cold Niku Udon at Yume is such comfort food. If you love flavorful udon with a perfectly…read morebouncy chew, look no further. Their udon is simply perfect! Also, the spicy chili oil isn't overly hot, but does have a satisfying kick to it. Even folks with low spice tolerance can enjoy it. The prices have slowly risen throughout the years (now, it's about $17 a bowl) but the quality & portion sizes have remained consistently good. The Porter Square location is their original location and definitely tastes way better than the Seaport location. Yume Ga Arukara, keep doing what you are doing!

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.

Awesome ambience! Bright and clean, great use of space with booths that are almost completely…read moreenclosed with a little curtain even so you can easily converse. There's a button on the wall when you're ready to order. We came for lunch after enjoying the Isabella Gardner museum, and didn't have a reservation but they had no problem seating us right away at about 1 p.m. today. We ordered the honeycomb appetizer plate, several spicy Sapporo miso ramens, a chicken shoyu, a beef shoyu ramen, and a Korean kimchi ramen. Our server was helpful and conscientious, making sure my brother's request for non-dairy was complied with, while still giving him options/alternatives. We're still not sure why the trend of adding butter to ramen broth became popular (although I do like butter). The Sapporo miso ramen was savory but didn't really taste like miso, it tasted like smoky chili. My kimchi ramen was wonderful, exactly what I expected. The chicken and beef shoyu ramen had delicious mellow broth, so they added the sauerkraut pepper provided on the table (plus shichimi and cayenne pepper) to taste. Overall, super satisfying!

Was a decent place with nice ambience; I do wish that the flavor profile on the spicy ramen was…read moremore nuanced; the pork was tender, but perhaps not as plentiful as one might hope, and might have wanted a bit more on the accoutrements as well, esp. the corn. Bamboo shoots might have been nice as well. The agedashi tofu was nicely presented, with a large stash of fish flakes on top of each of four pieces of tofu. The batter was a bit tight / thick for my liking, but the sauce was delicious.