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    Tampopo

    4.4 (393 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese Curry
    Open 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

    Tampopo Photos

    TAMPOPO ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Tampopo

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    Chicken katsu udon
    Monica L.

    Got chicken katsu curry udon! There was so much food for such a reasonable price! The curry was flavorful, the katsu was very nicely crispy, and the noodles had great texture. It's hard to find a more value meal than this! Service was quick and friendly, very small restaurant in a plaza but it's cozy, clean, and homey!

    Pork katsu Udon, Fried Gyoza Dumplings
    Tiffany C.

    Sweet little restaurant with welcoming and quick service! Every dish we had was so comforting and flavorful - the udon was perfectly Q and all the parts of the curry (carrot, onion, egg, broccoli) all went beautifully together. Great portions and a chill ambiance.

    Tempura
    Julie Y.

    Such a comforting and delicious meal for a rainy day! The shrimp and vegetable tempura was crunchy and cooked to perfection. The curry udon was flavored well and the vegetables/egg paired nicely with the cutlet. Very small seating available, but the patrons moved very quickly in and out. You can even see the cook make your meal behind the counter. Come here for a homey and inviting meal.

    Pork Cutlet Curry
    Erick Y.

    Food was good, although portion was a little small for me. The server is super sweet tho!

    Pork Cutlet Curry, Fried Gyoza Dumplings
    Mila C.

    yummy comfort food for an excellent price! i loved the vegetables in my pork katsu curry. my fav was the fried gyoza dumpling - perfectly crispy! the service is also wonderful and kind.

    Menu
    Joy B.

    My favorite meal during our visit to Boston! My husband and I were regulars here when we lived in Cambridge over 20 years ago. It was such a delight to return for a visit and find Tampopo with the same great food (expanded menu), good service and homey atmosphere. A wonderful place to come for authentic Japanese food!

    Tempura
    Paul Y.

    I love everything about this place, and can confidently say it's the best tempura I've had. The chicken curry with udon noodles were also delicious. This place is family owned and the couple serving are incredibly accommodating and sweet. The ambiance is such that you feel like someone has invited you into their home. Will definitely come here every time I'm in Cambridge/Boston

    Chicken Cutlet Curry
    Amir M.

    Very nice and cozy place, only 3-5 small tables. Food was solid and the lady up front was very nice. She ran after us to give food she forget to put in the bag.

    Takoyaki
    Lizzie Y.

    I was excited to try Tampopo because of the many good reviews. Honestly, the food was just all right. The takoyaki was probably the best dish we ordered. There was one piece of octopus in each takoyaki ball. I would rate it a 7/10, compared to other places that serve takoyaki. We also ordered two ramens, one spicy and one regular, as well as a chicken katsu don. I was curious about the ramen because I noticed not many people have reviewed about the ramen, however the ramen does seem to be popular. I definitely understood why I did not see many photo reviews of the ramen because their ramen was beyond mid. I rate the ramen 6.5/10. Nothing special about it. The chicken katsu was also nothing special and quite disappointing. It seems like many reviews made the katsu the best dish to get; I beg to differ. Overall, I would not come back here in the future... though I would most likely come back to try the other food stalls next to Tampopo. Service wise, our waitress was super kind and helpful. They get pretty busy and had a line to the side.

    Curry and pork katsu udon.
    Cheyenne T.

    Tampopo is a new go-to spot for me! Operated by a cute old Japanese couple, it felt very authentic, like I was back in Japan! I had just visited Japan during the summer, so coming back in November was reminiscent of the trip. The flavors were light and authentic. The karaage chicken was super moist with a nice crispy outside. They also offered special ingredients straight from Japan that i'd love to try next time! We were one of two tables at the time, but the service was excellent and very attentive. I can't wait to come again!

    Soba and Takoyaki
    Jimmy H.

    I'd say this is the most underrated restaurant in the Lesley University complex. They have to compete with hard hitters like Cafe Mami but I'd say Tampopo holds their own. Run by the sweetest Japanese couple, every bite transported me back to a childhood of home cooked noodle bowls and I'm not even Japanese! In short, give Tampopo a try and warm your stomachs and your hearts with a home cooked feeling meal.

    Curry chicken katsu rice
    Jenny G.

    This small cozy stall is run by an elderly couple. We have been there twice while visiting Boston and we love it both times. Food is very consist. My kids love their katsu dons. You have a choice with curry, over egg, or plain all over rice. Super comforting food. They only many veggie options also if you don't like fried meat. I opted for a fried tofu over mixed steamed vegetables. It comes with a brown sauce on the side for dripping if you like. The sukiyaki however was a little dry. I would not get it again as there are better choices food food to pick from.

    Pork Katsu Don
    Allison K.

    This place is a wonderful gem that everyone needs to know about! The pork katsu don was absolutely perfect and reminded me of the katsu don that I had at a niche spot in Japan that was tucked in a little alley and had 2 items on the menu. Don't be misled by my photo - the bowl was close to a pho-sized bowl and the pork had to be at least half an inch thick. The pork was one of the juiciest I've ever had, and the way that it combined with the runny egg and the sauce on the rice was too good to be put into words. And every grain of rice was covered in sauce! The pork cutlet was alright but a little on the drier side, especially compared to the katsu don. The fried oyster had a nice flavor but portion size was on the smaller end for the $2 price point. Miso soup had just the right amount of saltiness and the salad was fresh. The hot tea (complimentary) was fragrant and paired well with the savory notes of the main entrees. I'm not usually a fan of tea but this tea was really exceptional. Also, you can pay with a credit card now. Will go out of my way and then some to return to this place again!

    Takoyaki

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    Enjoyed the most authentic Japanese home cooked meal. Had croquette, miso soup and some tonkatsu. Will be back again.

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    Futago Udon

    Futago Udon

    4.4
    (586 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    Came here twice in the past few months and waited ~10 minutes each time. Drove both times and was…read moreable to find street parking on neighboring streets although I'm sure it's even easier if you just take the T. Staff was friendly and attentive and the restaurant is open and inviting although the space between tables can sometimes be quite tight. I ordered the sukiyaki udon and the agedashi tofu as an appetizer. Both were delicious and the portion is large for the udon. The broth tasted great and they don't skimp on the toppings either. Definitely a hearty meal. My friends have also enjoyed their curry udon and the mille crepe dessert. Would come back again.

    Came by for dinner the other day and it was a mediocre experience. Futago Udon appears to be a…read moreChinese-owned udon shop as the menu was exclusively in English. Dining was available indoors exclusively and some staff wore disposable masks. There is a communal dining table inside the restaurant for solo diners. Opted for the sukiyaki beef udon and it was ok. The restaurant claims that the udon is homemade...I've had much better versions in Japan. Portions were gigantic, including both the noodles and the beef. The entree came with an egg, some cabbage, along with some mushrooms. The broth itself didn't seem too authentic. It felt Americanized. The restaurant was playing Top 20 hit music, maybe since they're close to BU? ~$30/head after tax and gratuity for dinner.

    Photos
    Futago Udon
    Futago Udon
    Fried chicken appetizer
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    Soup Shack - Brookline

    Soup Shack - Brookline

    4.5
    (245 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    Great ramen, delicious apps, clean restaurant and friendly staff.. will definitely be back!read more

    Went to Soup Shack with some friends because I was craving ramen and this place did not disappoint…read more Everything was so flavorful, fresh and comforting. Such a good spot for a cozy filling meal. STEAMED CHICKEN GYOZA Soft tender and packed with a juicy chicken filling. The wrapper had the perfect bite and dipping it in the ginger sauce made it even better. A great starter. FRIED PORK GYOZA Crispy outside juicy inside and so flavorful. The pork filling was seasoned well and the crunch made each bite so satisfying. These were gone instantly. DAC BIET A rich beef broth loaded with rare steak brisket tripe tendon and meatballs. So much flavor and such a generous portion. Comforting, savory and the kind of bowl that warms you instantly. MI WONTON Light clean and comforting. The wontons were stuffed generously and the broth was flavorful without feeling heavy. A great balance to the richer bowls we ordered. SPICY MISO BEEF STEW This was incredible. Spicy miso broth with tender slow cooked beef and all the toppings. The spice level actually enhanced the flavor instead of overpowering it. Deep savory and so satisfying. TAN TAN MEN One of my favorites. Spicy creamy broth with ground pork bok choy and bean sprouts layered over chewy noodles. Rich bold and full of flavor in every bite. We also added marinated soft boiled eggs to our ramen and they were perfect. Soft jammy and full of flavor. Highly recommend adding one to any bowl. Overall Soup Shack really hit my craving. Everything tasted fresh portions were generous and the spicy bowls had so much depth. Loved this visit and will definitely be back.

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    Red Ramen
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    Somenya - Soba restaurant

    Somenya - Soba restaurant

    4.4
    (194 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    I was really impressed with my experience here. I stopped by on a weekday evening where there was…read morebasically no wait at all. We started with a salmon yamakake ($13) which had a very fresh, delicate flavor. The grated yam adds a super gooey texture which might not be for everyone. Both of us went for hot udon dishes and tried the beef sukiyaki ($20) and roast duck ($25). I loved how the broth in each dish was unique, super savory, yet light at the same time. I was initially a little bit annoyed at the price point for these dishes, but after seeing just how much protein each udon came with, I felt that the price was very fair. The udon was bouncy, chewy, and a decent portion size. I ended up having to take some leftovers home. Of the noodle soups I've had in Boston over the past year, I think the broth at Somenya has been my favorite! I can't wait to come here again to warm up with their broth on a cold winter day.

    I've been here a couple times. The soba noodles were refreshing and the broth has been umami. Had…read morethe tofu here as well. The service was pretty typical, so the wait staff were friendly and attentive. Ambiance and decor was pretty cool too. The pricing is pretty typical of Chinatown Boston restaurants. 8/10: food gets the job done. Effort was shown to the dishes but nothing was extremely mind blowing. Definitely worth a try.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Spicy snow crab meat hot soba
    Spicy snow crab meat hot soba
    Japanese Takoyaki

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    Japanese Takoyaki

    Tampopo - japacurry - Updated June 2026

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