What a great hole-in-the-wall Japanese food spot in the Shops at Porter food area. We came here for…read morelunch on a weekend, and were seated with no wait. We got the veggie don and the saba miso set to share. Both came with a bowl of miso soup and were filling-but-not-stuffed portion sizes. They both had delicious flavors, which were the perfect balance of sweet and savory, but not too much so. The service was friendly and fast, with our food being made and served fresh very quickly after we placed our orders. I would definitely come back to try more of their menu items!

Cafe Mami is a Japanese comfort food spot that focuses on simple, hearty dishes like curry rice,…read morekatsu, hamburg steak, and donburi-style meals. We walked into a fairly small space tucked away in Porter Square, with more of a functional, casual feel rather than a polished dining room. The seating was tight and the room filled up quickly, making it clear that this was the kind of place people go for a quick, filling meal rather than a long sit-down experience. The standout here is definitely the Japanese curry and katsu combinations. We ordered the pork tonkatsu curry, a go-to for many, and found it came with a thick, crispy cutlet served over rich curry sauce and rice. The curry itself leaned comforting and slightly sweet-savory in a way that felt very classic and approachable. The portions were generous for the price, and the hamburg steak and oyakodon were also solid options if you wanted something different from fried cutlet dishes. The food came out hot and well assembled, and the flavors were consistent with what we were hoping for. Service was fast and handled by a very small staff, so things moved quickly once we ordered. Because of how busy it can get during peak hours and how limited the seating is, there was a bit of a rush feel to the experience. It worked well as a quick lunch or casual dinner, but it was not really a place to linger for long. The seating situation is probably the biggest drawback. It fills up quickly, and the space feels tight, especially when there is a line forming. That said, the turnover is fast enough that you usually do not have to wait too long, even when it looks crowded from outside. Overall, Cafe Mami is a reliable spot for Japanese comfort food in the Porter Square area. The value is strong, the portions are generous, and the curry dishes are consistently satisfying. It is not fancy, but it does exactly what it is meant to do well, which is serve quick, filling, and comforting Japanese meals.

Still five stars! I'm vegan now (I wasn't when I wrote the first review) and their vegan ramen…read more(Spicy Truffled Mushrooms Miso Ramen [Creamy broth]) is THE BEST I HAVE EVER HAD. The broth is a flavor bomb with an adjustable spice level and the mushrooms and other ingredients in the ramen are always super premium.

On a rainy Sunday night, a friend and I decided on ramen. At 7, the establishment looked almost…read morefull, but we snagged a 2-too. I ordered the spicy tonkotsu ramen, loaded ($21). My friend and I also ordered the takoyaki ($9) and bacon-age (forgot the price). The takoyaki and bacon-age, as appetizers, arrived first. The takoyaki had 4 pieces with generous amounts of octopus inside. The batter was fluffy and just a bit gooey inside and hot enough to burn the roof of your mouth (as it should be). It had the customary bonito and sauces. The bacon-age was essentially extra thin pork belly (like the ones you see at Korean BBQ), fried and served with a wasabi dip. This dish proved a bit too oily; the dip could only somewhat ameliorate. The ramen had decent thin noodles with a nice bite. The eggs arrived textbook- jammy yolk and marinade staining the whites. The broth itself, like many tonkotsu broths in America, lacked richness and sufficient flavor. I ordered mine medium spicy. It added flavor, but not much heat.

**November 2025: Saturday Night Visit**…read more My friend and I had been driving all day and were staying at the Hyatt Medford Hotel just down the street. The Medford/Boston area seemed to all have limited parking so we were looking for a dinner option that didn't require us to drive since we were sick of circling around. Matsuba Izakaya was just a 5 minute walk away from the hotel so we we braved the cold for some delicious food. When we arrived at the restaurant we were escorted toward the back of the restaurant which was very warm and inviting. I ordered the mini omakase for $55 and was super impressed with the presentation and variety of seafood. I was presented a box of 9 different seafood offerings: uni, toro, salmon belly, fish liver, raw shrimp & fried shrimp head tempura, scallops. yellowtail, and squid. The uni and toro were fantastic, and I enjoyed everything else except for the salmon belly. For some reason the salmon belly wasn't ultra creamy - maybe it wasn't thawed enough, which is a shame because I love salmon sashimi. Nevertheless, for the presentation and price I was really impressed with the variety. It also came with a miso soup which really warmed me up quickly.

Matsuba Jzakaya is a Japanese restaurant located on 38 Riverside Ave, Medford, Ma. There is plenty…read moreof street parking in this area of Medford. Matsuba is probably one of two Japanese restaurants that is located in Medford. If I had to compare the two, I prefer Matsuba over its rival. Customer service and more importantly, quality of food is better at Matsuba over the neighboring Yoki Japanese Restaurant & Bar. Customer service was top notch when I visited for dinner with my family. The sushi was very fresh. I do regret not trying their yakitori since it is an izakaya. When we visited, we ordered monkfish liver, agadasi tofu, Naruto, katsu curry, broiled yellow tail collar, salmon ikura don, and fried tempura. See my pictures.

Holy cow. Can't stop calling this place anything other than Pikachu. First time getting ramen also…read morefirst time leaving a review. This place rocks 10/10. Got spicy miso soup w the egg

So friendly, fresh tasty noodles, great prices…read more Out of the way, but glad I happened across it...I'll be back often

This small Japanese husband-and-wife business, which has been running for 34 years, is closing down…read morethis June due to retirement, so I rushed over for a meal. Pork Cutlet Curry: The restaurant specializes in fried foods, with the pork cutlet being their absolute signature dish. Although the cutlets were on the thinner, leaner side, each one was fried to order, resulting in a crispy exterior and tender, juicy interior, fragrant but not greasy. The breadcrumbs were especially fluffy and light, bursting with flavor on the palate, which was incredibly satisfying. The curry was authentic Japanese curry--rich, mild, and slightly spicy with a distinct fruity aroma, perfectly suited to my taste. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask for a runny egg for the $2 additional egg; otherwise, it would have been even better. And at only $15 a serving, including a salad/miso soup, it's incredibly good value for money, perfect for lunch. Fried Oysters: Also crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the oysters were fresh and juicy. The lemon juice and salad dressing were refreshing. I felt they were even more delicious than the pork cutlet. The place is located in Lesley University's Main Hall and has only four tables, so you may have to wait.

This was such a cute mom-and-pop shop run by a husband-and-wife team who were both incredibly kind…read moreand welcoming. The restaurant is located inside a shopping center and has only a small amount of seating, giving it a cozy, homey feel. We ordered the shrimp tempura udon, pork cutlet curry, and a side of vegetable tempura. My favorite part was the tempura. The batter was incredibly light and crispy without feeling greasy. The udon broth was comforting and well-made, though its flavor was fairly simple. Overall, the meal reminded me of a home-cooked dinner, making it a cozy spot if you're looking for comforting Japanese food.

I had the boa buns and the yakisoba noodles and both was phenomenal .. very clean kitchen. Awesome…read morestaff 10 out of 10 definitely will be returning.

Absolutely love this place!! The staff is the best and so friendly, the food smacks. Love the sushi…read morepizza, gyoza, the Japanese curry, poke bowls, yakisoba, all the ramens. We always try new things on the menu and are rarely disappointed. Can't recommend this place enough

This place is in the same building as H Mart! I've been to this H Mart location multiple times, but…read morethis was my first time trying one of the restaurants inside. I came here after work with some friends looking for a quick meal, and the menu looked really satisfying, so I went for it. I got the pork katsu curry in a medium, which was a good amount of food for $14. It took about five minutes for my food to be ready, and it was definitely worth the wait. The curry had a subtle spiciness that made it flavorful, and it came with cabbage on the side. The katsu itself was cooked perfectly, and I loved how it paired with the curry. The employees were kind and answered all of my questions. As for seating, it's set up like a food hall, so there's plenty of space. I was with four other people, and we had no trouble finding a table together. If you're ever in Central Square and looking for a quick meal, consider stopping by here (and maybe doing some shopping at H Mart afterward)!

Came to Go Go Curry right after arriving in Cambridge since I wanted to do some grocery shopping at…read moreHMart. The service was good and the person taking my order was patient while I determined which bowl looked the yummiest. It's a fast-casual spot so you pay when you order and they'll call out your order number when it's ready. There is a small open area for seating that is shared with the other small eateries inside HMart. I ordered the chicken Home Run combo meal and it was everything you would expect. The chicken and the egg were a little drier than I would have liked, but taste was still decent. For a place with "curry" in the name, I would've liked more curry. The sausage and tempura shrimp were good quality and my favorite parts of the whole dish. There's lots of people coming and going as it is a supermarket, but if you're just looking for a quick stop meal before/after your grocery shopping, Go Go Curry is an okay choice.

This charming little restaurant a few steps down from the sidewalk is a lovely addition to the…read morerestaurant choices in the neighborhood. The decor is bright and cheerful and the room (and restrooms) sparkling clean. The service is quick, gracious and calm. And the food is delicious! I don't care to eat meat, so it was wonderful to have several selections of vegan and pescatarian dishes to choose from. My husband and I enjoyed the soups we chose and want to come back to try the cold noodle dishes.

Nice and casual Japanese addition to Boston's Chinatown with a really charming, cute, and clean…read moreinterior. Kind staff and quick service. It's tightly packed but spaced well enough, given the small space. Mainly soba and udon with both hot and cold options. Compared to other udon spots in the area (Yume, Futago), I think the noodle texture here stands out to me. They're slightly dinner but they're cooked slightly al dente, which I appreciated. I would say they are similar to Korean kalguksu noodles, which are hand-pulled and hand-cut noodles also often served in a soup format. I got the sukiyaki, which had a great sweet and soy sauce-forward broth, a poached egg, and topped with julienned scallions. I thought it was solid but not outstanding, knock my socks off!

Plearn Park is just excellent. The food is fresh, inventive and genuine Thai. We love it here and…read moreget takeout once per week. Chou Chou Rice is amazing with extra broccoli, Pad Thai is the bomb with an extra egg! They treated us to the egg rolls and we now will order them every week. Pure perfection!

We were greeted warmly last evening at this Small family restaurant... no liquor license and not…read moresure if it allows BYOB which would have been grand. We had a couple of apps.. I don't recommend the steamed dumplings but the mini egg/veg rolls were great. I had the Penang curry with chicken over perfectly prepared rice and it was fantastic. Wonderful flavors, just the right heat and the chicken was absolutely perfectly cooked and wonderfully tender.. I Highly recommend the restaurant and will try other dishes when we return soon!

The food is so fresh and a taste I've never had before the sauce is amazing and makes the plate…read moreunique. They call your number when your order is ready to eat. You get to make your own Ambience which is such a great thing, because you can create your dining experience. I just LOVE this eatery!

Very mediocre ramen. Lack of flavor and soggy noodles. It was extremely hot which I love and it did…read morecome out very fast. I think it's fine in a pinch for cafeteria style food, but I probably won't be returning.