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    Spring Shabu-Shabu

    4.3 (1.1k reviews)
    ModerateHot Pot, Japanese
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Spring Shabu-Shabu Photos

    Business Info

    SPRING SHABU-SHABU ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Spring Shabu-Shabu

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    Two mala broths, beef ribeye, and seafood combo
    Kai M.

    This is my favorite hotpot spot in Boston! For about $24 base price you get your own personalized broth pot and open selection of so many veggies, noodles, tofu, and fish balls. Their sauce bar is amazing, with several pre-mixed house sauces and many other toppings and sauces to create your own. I love the soft serve matcha machine too!! The restaurant is spacious and well-organized, so even though people are getting up and down to refill their plates, it doesn't feel overly cramped. Orders of meat and seafood are a la carte. I often don't even feel the need to order meat, just because the open bar selections are so expansive. This last time I went, I opted for a side of beef ribeye, which cost a little over $5 and was a pretty generous amount that was a nice accompaniment to my veggies and noodles. I love the fresh ingredients, the wide arrange of options, and the personalized broth pots! I always am so thrilled to come here.

    Jin S.

    With the cold weather here in New England I have been on a hot pot binge! Im so happy I found Spring Shabu Shabu. A perfect way to spend date night or out with friends. Spring Shabu is a nicer hot pot spot in the area with lots of seating, multiple sauce stations, variety of meats, seafood, and dumplings and even has a icecream station for dessert! I love their noodle station, so many different options. They had a homemade pumpkin noodle and it was delicious. Service is always quick and friendly. The location has plenty of self parking.

    I LOVE coming to this restaurant. Staff is efficient and the restaurant is very clean. They have a variety of noodles, vegetables and sauces to choose from. I love the tofu options they have. Don't skip out on the ice cream, it's the best in Boston!

    Rachel S.

    My friend really enjoyed the vegetables at this hot pot all you can eat restaurant, so as a vegan, I was looking forward to it! Their variety of veggies (and sauces!) truly was impressive, with a few things I'd never even seen before. Everything I got tasted amazing, and the broth was so good. For only $25, we stuffed ourselves for 90 minutes and walked out quite full and satisfied. There's even ice cream, but it is not vegan and has milk powder in it. Would definitely recommend though, and service was great too!

    Kevin W.

    Tl;dr Just ok, slow service not great if you like to eat a lot of meat. Decent selection of non meat all you can eat options. Came here for dinner and had to wait a while for a table. It can get very busy during dinner time so plan ahead. The service was extra slow. This is definitely not the spot for you if you like to eat a lot of meat; the overall system or portions felt constrained. We were trying to get extra broth added in, and just adding the broth took a good 5 minutes because no one wanted to help. I had the spicy broth. Unfortunately, it was not very flavorful. I prefer broths that stand alone and do not need extra sauce, but this broth was neither spicy nor salty enough. On the positive side, there is a decent amount of all you can eat options if you do not need meat, and the noodle selection was good. Overall, the food was okay, but the extra slow service, especially for basic requests like broth, and the bland broth made the experience just average.

    Kimchi broth and mix-ins
    Dina A.

    This was my first ever hotpot experience, so I had a learning curve in a number of areas. Service: First, this hotpot restaurant is always packed, with folks waiting outside it. Luckily, my friend and I had no more than a 7-10min wait. The sign up process to obtain a reservation for 2 was extremely easy; we logged our names and received a text/phone soon thereafter. After being seated, we met our server and expressed that it was our first hotpot experience. She kindly provided instructions and we commenced our dining experience. Throughout our time at Spring Shabu-Shabu, our server was great about returning to our table periodically to ensure we had enough broth and to tend to drink and napkin refills. Food: The good part. The mix-ins are presented buffet style. As someone who doesn't dine out at very many Asian restaurants, I was both overwhelmed and impressed at the array of unique vegetables (all kinds of mushrooms, different kinds of bok choys, etc.), noodles (gluten free mung bean, spinach noodle, udon noodle, etc.), and meat/fish (pollock fish ball, jalapeño fish cake, squid pork, etc.) mix-in options provided. There are also numerous sauce/oil/toppings options (e.g. soy sauce, ponzu, chili oil, chopped garlic, cilantro, sweet and sour sauce, etc.). All of the buffet items were replenished in a timely manner, which enhanced the experience as a patron since time to dine is limited. I had the kimchi broth, and I selected lamb meat as well as white fish. The lamb was delicious, while the white fish tasted basic. I liked the lamb best because it cooked so quickly. The white fish was fine, but it was nothing to write home about. I maintain that the matcha ice cream was a brilliant addition to this restaurant's offerings! They also offer vanilla -- with the option to pull the 'swirl' lever for a vanilla-matcha fusion, in either cone or cup. My friend and I took ours to go! Ambiance: Speaking of time, during the restaurant's "rush hours," there is a 90-min time limit for patrons! For someone like me, who was trying hotpot for the first time, this felt rather brief. The sheer amount of options and the learning curve that is becoming accustomed to dunking veggies/meats/fish into broth to cook them throughly makes 90-mins feel short! Seating/the ambiance is casual here, which I love. You can show up on a whim with a friend or family wearing jeans, and you'll fit right in. It's a no-frills restaurant. Something to keep in mind is that the restaurant is a bit loud -- it can feel like you're straining your voice to be heard across the table, especially given the close proximity of tables to one another. Overall, I give the restaurant a 4/5. I would highly recommend Spring Shabu-Shabu to folks, especially hotpot first timers!

    noods
    Huy P.

    I LOVE THIS PLACE. This spot gets incredibly busy during dinner hours. Parking can be challenging, as spaces are limited and neighboring businesses strictly enforce no overflow. Be prepared, since you might wait an hour or two if you're unlucky. Inside, the decor is tasteful and inviting. True to its name, "Spring" Shabu Shabu incorporates natural elements, including attractive wood-panel walls, uniquely geometric overhead lighting accented in green, and even artificial grass that cleverly separates some seating rows. Another big plus: it's brightly lit, which my wife particularly appreciates since she often complains about dimly lit restaurants. Two things set this hot pot place apart: every diner gets an individual boiling broth pot, and nearly everything is self-serve buffet-style. There's no need to wait or compete for cooked food. You're fully in control of your meal. The buffet selection is fantastic, featuring multiple types of noodles, mushrooms, fresh veggies, and especially the variety of fish balls. You can even create your own dipping sauces from a wide assortment of available ingredients. For dessert, there's a simple soft-serve ice cream machine dispensing Vanilla, Green Tea, and a mixed option. Honestly, I look forward to this ice cream almost as much as the main buffet--it's very sweet, creamy, and addictive. Tell everyone to come here. It's awesome.

    Clarissa L.

    Come early because this place gets packed. It's a casual hotpot restaurant with an all you can eat buffet section with a big selection of veggies, fishballs and noodles. If you want any meat or seafood that gets ordered separately. We each got an individual hotpot to cook with. I had the pork bone broth which was a little bland but the dipping sauce made up for it. Most of the food was pretty fresh, except maybe a clam. Service was a little slow and lacking, they forgot a drink and didn't automatically refill the broth when it was running low. They also really follow the 90 minute time limit because they are so busy.

    Meats, broths, vegetables, and dumplings
    Samantha C.

    Spring Shabu-Shabu is a Japanese hot pot restaurant, with an amazing assortment of meats, broths, vegetables, sauces, and add-ons. Each person gets their own pot of the broth of their choice (they had a gluten free broth option!), which they then can cook their meat, dumplings, and vegetables in. I chose the kimchi broth, which was the perfect amount of spicy, and then beef top blade and pork dumplings for my meats. While you wait for your broth and meat to arrive at your table, you go over to a buffet to pick out your vegetables, sauces, and add-ons. The restaurant had an a large variety of noodles (including gluten free!), vegetables, sauces, and toppings (kimchi, green onion, etc). Once you are done choosing all your items from the buffet, it was very fun to cook your food in the pot while enjoying good company. Feel free to accompany your meal with their various non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverages, and be sure to end your meal with some green tea soft serve! For the price, Spring Shabu Shabu was definitely worth it due to its variety. The restaurant was also very clean, and the staff were polite! My only tip would be to go on the earlier side (~5PM) because it starts to get very busy past this time; we arrived at 5:30PM as a group of 5, had trouble parking, but only waited about 15 minutes even though we were told it would be 45 minutes.

    Maria B.

    Spring Shabu-Shabu is my go-to hotpot spot in Boston. Every time family or friends come to visit, this is the first place to bring them for a satisfying and memorable meal. The all-you-can-eat buffet features a huge selection of fresh vegetables, noodles, fish cakes, and more--with individualized pots and customizable broths that let everyone craft their perfect hotpot experience. The value is unbeatable: expect to leave completely full and absolutely feeling like you got your money's worth, especially with the wide variety of ingredients that come with the base price and generous meat portions available for a little extra. The matcha soft serve at the end is the perfect sweet finishing touch. Service is consistently quick and attentive, even when it's busy (and yes, it's popular, so sometimes there's a wait but it's always worth it) Whether introducing newcomers to Boston or just craving a hearty meal, Spring Shabu-Shabu never disappoints, great for groups, families, or anyone who wants both delicious food and a fun, interactive dining experience

    Matcha soft serve
    Mehaa S.

    One of my fav hotpot places, I always make is a point to stop by here when I'm in the Boston area As a vegetarian spring shabu shabu is a great way to enjoy hotpot. Hotpots are individual and there are many sauce, vegetable, and noodle options to choose from. I will say the first time I came was pre covid and there were multiple tofu options but the last time I went (Dec 2023) the only vegetarian protein option was plain tofu which was a bit disappointing. Despite that, I am always impressed by the sauce and noodle bar - it's definitely filling and fun and love the matcha soft serve for dessert after

    mala broth
    Lilian W.

    This is my favorite hotspot place! There's often a wait on the weekends but weekday dinners are quite open. I've liked the dashi and pork bone broth and my husband enjoys mala. We don't usually order additional meat or seafood because the buffet options are so good. There's a variety of vegetables, mushrooms, noodles, and fish balls. Making the sauce is fun because you can try a mix of different ones. Overall, a very delicious, satisfying dinner!

    Rosanna N.

    Go to hotpot place in Boston. They do buffet style for all items except for meat/seafood. Always super packed but still very tasty and filling

    Green tea soft serve

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    8 months ago

    Really fresh ingredients, and $26 all you can eat is unbeatable. Lots of vegetables so any vegan is happy here.

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    Very busy on the weekends so be prepared to wait, but the AYCE buffet is well worth it!

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    Spring Shabu-Shabu Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Spring Shabu-Shabu

    If I want to go at dinner time, will there still be quite a wait if I get there right at 5?

    lunch time is less crowded very late works too

    Can you open more Spring Shabu-Shabu in Boston?

    helll noo! ;-0~

    Do you serve alcohol?if you don't can we bring our own bottle of wine? Thank you

    Yes, they serve alcohol! Wine, beer, and sake.

    Can they waitlist you over the phone or does it have to be in person?

    In person only. Also, they won't seat until everyone in party is present.

    Where do I make a reservation? Or do I just call to make a reservation?

    Reservations are not accepted any longer. During COVID they were taking them but not any longer.

    Is there hotpot buffet or what?

    So it's a buffet. They will serve you the soup base you want, and then you have to go pick up the food you want to cook in the soup base. ( that's the buffet portion). It is a hot pot place. Everyone gets his or her own small pot. Not the… 

    Is this restaurant open now for dine-in? Thank you!

    It opened on the 29th on July!

    Can someone expain how the "base broths" work? is it 1 prcie for all the boths or do i only get 1 broth for the price? if we have 3 in our party but want to try all the 5 "base broths" can we do that?

    You get 1 for the price and unlimited refill. But everybody will get a mini pot of their own with their own choice of broth! Unless you really want to pay for 3 and try the 3 in your own pot one by one (never heard of anyone doing that but I'm sure… 

    What is the last seating time if we were to come for dinner? Thank you!

    Usually about 1-1.5hours before closing

    Hello! Not familiar with the area...does this place have parking on site? Thank you!

    Hi Chan! We’re located in a shopping center and have ample parking.

    Is the green tea soft serve vegan or does it contain dairy?

    Our ice cream flavors contain dairy. Apologies for any inconvenience. 🌱

    Fatty beef or Pork?

    Yes but extra charge... between $5-7 a plate

    How much time do we need for dinner? Our show starts at 7:30, they don't start dinner on weekdays till 6pm...

    I would say at least 2 hours min

    What are the opening hours for public holidays?

    Holidays when we've been to Spring (such as Labor Day), they've been following a weekend schedule where they are open all afternoon starting at the 11am lunch time.

    When is the best time to go on Sunday for lunch with dinner menu?

    No difference with the menu... it just the waiting, same price the whole day

    So do u pay 16.95 for dinner and then all the meat prices as well?

    The meat are separate charges to the regular price (range $4-$7 a plate). However, the regular offerings are plenty! Many veggies, noodles, fishballs to choose from!

    Do they take reservation?

    Hi Qui! Thank you for your inquiry. The Brighton location takes reservations for parties 10 or more from Monday-Thursday (lunch and dinner by 7:30PM) and Friday lunch only. Please call the restaurant at 617-202-5422 and a Spring representative… 

    I'm curious to hear what other people's favorite dipping sauces and sauce combos are; I like the sweet chili sauce with vinegar, a tiny bit of soy sauce, and scallions, SO good on sweet potatoes and greens, especially bok choy. What's your go to?

    Garic, chili pepper, scallions, cilantro, Japanese soy sauce, vinegar, sweet chili sauce, sesame oil and shallot sauce

    Do they have peanut sauce?

    They do!

    Do they offer gift cards?

    Hi Marie! Gift cards are available for purchase at each restaurant location.

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    Maguro

    Maguro

    4.3
    (394 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Free WiFi

    First time here and it was great! We did the AYCE all-you-can-eat on a Monday (they only do it…read moreMonday and Tuesdays) - got there around 7:30p and even though it was very full, we got seated quickly with a table for 3. It's $50 for the regular AYCE or $80 for the Premium AYCE. We opted for the former, and it was plenty great. We have done lots of AYCE sushi and I will say this is the BEST of them - I think it's because it's the same grade sushi as they would normally do Ala carte on other nights. The $50 menu had plenty of sashimi and regular nigiri (sushi with rice) options and some Thai too. We had mostly the sashimi Salmon, Tuna, Yellowtail, Octopus, a few rolls, some edamame, gyoza, shumai. My favorites were the salmon, as the cuts were large, thick and amazing silky, and the gyoza, as it was perfectly crispy. The Pad Thai was bit way too sweet for my taste - a skip for me next time. The decor is very nice - reminded me of a dive Tokyo bar. Service was quick and very attentive. We will be back!

    Have been hearing about their Mon & Tue AYCE, so went on to try it a month or so ago. With what…read moreseems to be a recent price increase, now $50++ allows access to a good variety of sushi/sashimi, on top of apps, ramen, poke bowls, and cooked rice/noodle dishes. Whereas $80++ offers diners a set of amount of uni, plus unlimited amount of everything else, wagyu included. Sounds like a good deal, especially when one can eat a lot. Even as we are no longer Team Eat Till You Burst, we went for the premium, mainly for the nicer cuts such as toro and wagyu, and because uni!! Jumping in shortly after 5pm, we were promptly seated, marked a bunch of stuff on paper, and soon after submission, we got food brought to our table. It was a decent meal overall, so why 3 stars? Let's recap. Menu variety is fantastic, though of course we didn't get "one of everything", coz that's simply impossible. While the premium did cover a lot of grounds, it would have been nice if they also included anago (sea eel) which is currently only available on the a la cart menu, and maybe even offer couple lesser-known items such as monk fish liver app, sea grapes, off-the-beaten-path fish cuts, what have you. Would be happy even if we only get an allotment of those like we do with the uni. Now, service - great overall. Servers circulated around and were alert of customers' needs. Approached at appropriate times to take our order sheets, refill water, provide new order sheets, and ask if we wanted more food. So kudos on that. Their denotation of serving "regular portion" of cooked food had us hesitant in ordering, since we didn't want to be wasteful (or use our limited stomach space for dishes we can easily get elsewhere). But from other tables' orders as well as the one noodle dish that we ended up getting, it seems that the portion size was what I would like to see at AYCE places -- about 50-60% of regular Asian dish size, where 3-4 people can each have a couple bites "just to try". However, to think if that is what they call "regular portion", then it is definitely "Brookline pricing" on a la carte, which I would not recommend one to do such things on these items. Food is fantastic in general; we got a variety of stuff, and everything was really of top quality and taste. The meal would have been a "highly recommended" if they didn't serve the uni that we got. Out of the 12 pcs of uni sushi, all of them were... while not "foul" to a point where one cannot safely consume, they were definitely more sub-par than "ok but not great". Colors aside (which I understand there can be a range depending on origins and such), the uni was a "splat" of yellow stuff on rice, without distinct shape of the flesh. On top of the fishy smell (I'm talking about slightly ammonia-ish), the presentation and taste-texture upon them hitting our tongues... really left the ENTIRE room to be desired. In retrospect, we should have sent them back even if they weren't going to replace them. But instead, we stupidly forced ourselves to shove them all down in cowardly silence, then ordered another round of wagyu just to make us feel a little better about it. Yes, we weren't smart as customers. But if the restaurant is going to charge $100++ per person (after tax and tip), someone from the kitchen should have known better than pushing this thing out for customers to deal with. In their defense, yes, the uni itself was still "edible" in a sense that it didn't make us sick, but I'd maintain that better judgment should have been made. Once the shell was cracked open and you see this pale-gray yellow mush, it should have been decided that it is better repurposed, than be served straight to your customers as your star/featured product. As seen in other diners' experiences, it could just have been a one-off mishap, so I'm not knocking them entirely. But I do hope the restaurant would improve on their QC accordingly. It was such a disappointing low point in an otherwise wonderful meal.

    Photos
    Two favorites ..
    Two favorites ..
    Variety is good ..
    Variety is good ..
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    Combos ..
    Miraku Boston

    Miraku Boston

    4.4
    (70 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    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.

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    Bar seating
    Bar seating
    Matcha cheesecake
    Matcha cheesecake
    Hojicha ice cream

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    Hojicha ice cream
    Maruichi Select

    Maruichi Select

    4.2
    (83 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    In a world where so many Japanese-style items aren't actually made in Japan (and aren't always the…read morebest 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.

    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.

    Photos
    Drinks menu
    Drinks menu
    Premium Chirashi Bowl
    Premium Chirashi Bowl
    Mango Matcha latte

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    Mango Matcha latte
    Chiharu

    Chiharu

    4.7
    (206 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    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!

    Photos
    Service kiosk area
    Service kiosk area
    Chiharu house roll
    Chiharu house roll
    Tan tan ramen

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    Tan tan ramen
    Yume Ga Arukara

    Yume Ga Arukara

    4.6
    (859 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    Came here on a Friday at 5:30PM whilst visiting Boston with my friend. We did not have to wait and…read moregot seated right away. I ordered the Hot Niku Udon since AC's been killing me. My friend ordered the Spicy Cold Niku Udon that I did not taste since I don't handle spicy well. Honestly the udon did not take a while to come but the servers kept checking in on us, telling that our udon was coming out soon and apologizing for the wait. They made sure our water cups were never empty; I don't think my water went below 50%. The Hot Niku Udon was honestly one of the best udon's I'd ever have. There was as lot of beef. Noodles were soft. Soup was warm. Lots of scallions. I loved the addition of the crispy tempura batter. I want to come back.

    I came here for a solo dinner recently and it was a great spot! As it's a pretty popular spot,…read morethere was a line when I came. However, the hostess takes your order while you are in line so (1) the line moves quickly and (2) you get your order pretty quickly once seated. The interior is spacious and they have both tables and bar seating. Their menu is pretty straightforward: just a bunch of udon (but there's hot and cold options!). I got their famous spicy cold niku udon with an onsen egg and it was delicious. The portions were big, noodles were perfectly chewy, and the broth/sauce was great. Onsen egg was also cooked to perfection. I can definitely see the hype of this spot and would love to come back.

    Photos
    Interior seating
    Interior seating
    Spicy Hot Niku Udon
    Spicy Hot Niku Udon
    Spicy Cold Niku Udon (to go)

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    Spicy Cold Niku Udon (to go)
    Gen Sou En

    Gen Sou En

    4.1
    (13 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Gen Sou En
    Matcha latte and beef rice bowl.

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    Matcha latte and beef rice bowl.
    Kyuramen - Brookline

    Kyuramen - Brookline

    4.3
    (317 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    Inside of the restaurant
    Inside of the restaurant
    Takoyaki Octopus Balls (6Pcs)
    Takoyaki Octopus Balls (6Pcs)
    Takoyaki Octopus Balls (6Pcs)

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    Takoyaki Octopus Balls (6Pcs)
    Akami

    Akami

    4.2
    (37 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    Akami Omakase is such a great addition to the omakase scene around Boston. It's the first omakase…read morein the area that I've seen come in under $100, and it absolutely did not disappoint. Even with the lower price point compared to many other omakase spots nearby, the quality and freshness of the fish never felt like it was lacking. Every course tasted thoughtfully prepared and well balanced, and you could really tell care was put into the ingredients. What really makes the experience stand out though is Chef Jam. He keeps the atmosphere fun and engaging while still delivering a great omakase experience. It doesn't feel stiff or overly formal like some sushi counters can -- just great sushi and good energy. If you've been wanting to try omakase but were hesitant because of the price tags around Boston, this is the perfect place to start. Great value, fresh fish, and a really enjoyable experience.

    Had a chance to dine here for dinner with a girlfriend. Reservation is a must otherwise you might…read morenot get a seat. It's a small restaurant with bar seating and 4 tables. Everyone is seated facing the sushi chefs. We were served 15 courses, one extra course for July 4th celebration. Normally it's $99 for 14 courses. I was impressed by some of the flavors of the dishes at the beginning. The nigiri's served the second half felt repetitive (similar fish and tastes). It's definitely a good dining experience. Dining time was from 6:45pm to 8:30pm. They have 2-3 dining times a night. Definitely a good place to try omakase!

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Uni hand roll special
    Uni hand roll special
    10 - Scallop (Hokkaido hotate)

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    10 - Scallop (Hokkaido hotate)

    Spring Shabu-Shabu - hotpot - Updated August 2026

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