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Definitely worth the visit if you like katsu, tempura, Japanese curry and udon. Everything is fried and cooked fresh and you can taste it. Came in with a couple friends and we kept talking about how everything was cooked well. Tampopo is small and tucked in a random hallway in the Leslie University building. Turn left down the hallway after Yume Ga Arukara and Cafe Mami. Come early or expect a wait since they don't have many tables. It can get a bit chaotic with just one staff member running orders but there's to be expected. I need to come back again soon as they are closing in June 2026. As an udon fan I'll miss this place so I'm looking forward to visiting more.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
4 years ago
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Tematama spicy chicken: breaded chicken strips deep fried with with an egg atop sticky rice ans steamed broccoli. Topped with sriracha sauce. Juicy chicken and sweet rice balance the kick of the pepper sauce. A one bowl wonder meal. Order some pickles to start and a lovely, quick, tasty and informal meal you've got! read more
11 years ago
Been here a couple of times and it's a good place to come if you want Japanese food like katsu curry or fried octopus balls. I've never gotten ramen nor do I think they even serve it. Usually there's no line so you can quickly sit down unlike some other stalls in the complex. The prices are pretty decent. The food is great too! The curry is done well and has us coming back every time! read more
I have returned to this place two more times for the katsu curry udon. This dish has definitely become a staple. Also writing an update for the cream croquette. Regular price is $1.75, but you can get one for free by writing them a Yelp review and showing the waitress. The croquette was crispy and flavorful, and I would buy one as a snack in the future. The taste was light and savory, and the exterior added a satisfying crunch. Definitely apply the salty tonkatsu sauce liberally because it really brings out the croquette's flavor. read more
17 years ago
11 years ago
I don't know if I'm just fat, but these portions were seriously lacking (I'm probably just fat.. My sister and girlfriend thought the portions were fine). Regardless, the food was very underwhelming. I got the pork curry udon to try to experiment, but this dish just didn't do it for me. It seemed like they just made a bowl of udon and poured some golden curry in it. The pork was tough, the noodles were overcooked. I finished my girlfriends shrimp and vegetable tempura udon which had no flavor. However. I think my sister enjoyed her katsu don. She also ordered a side dish of dashi tofu (I think that's what it's called), and that was tasty. Service was not great either. My sister was praying for the meal and I think the waitress just had no idea what we were doing. Most usually just drop off the food silently or wait until we are done, but this one came and announced each dish she was dropping off. Maybe she thought we fell asleep and were sleep talking... Even so, let us sleep in peace! Would not recommend this place. read more
11 years ago
I would give this place 2.5 stars. Very small booth amongst several of small sit down shops. My friends and I came here after a long drive and the food was just so so. We started off with octopus balls which came with a spicy mayo and brown sauce. The ball was mushy on the inside and crispy on the outside. I've never had it before but I wasn't a fan of the texture and taste. The sauces were strange. The brown was vinegary. The spicy mayo was not like the typical one found on sushi. More creamy? For my entree, I got the pork tampopo Don on rice with brown sauce. The pork was made well. Crispy outside and tender on the inside. However, over rice, it felt strange to eat. Too dry? Sauce was thick. Oh, I chose the salad to start with and it was just lettuce with some ginger dressing. Nothing fancy. The portions here are great and it is cheap but my entree wasn't that great and service was okay. I had ordered tea and had to ask twice before I received it. The server had no tables at the time. I would give this place another go. They have a huge menu and this cuisine is not something that I am familiar with so I would like to see what else there is to offer. read more
12 years ago
I ordered the pork katsu curry with an over easy egg What I got was bland nasty curry that was cold and gummy. The cutlet was good but as you can see in the photo, the egg was cooked solid. Won't be eating here again. read more
Stopped by this place for lunch on a weekday - I haven't been to the Shops at Porter in years, so I was glad to see the little restaurant storefronts are still there! Tampopo serves traditional dons (bowls), curry, and udon - kind of like Japanese comfort food. I've never really seen this kind of food served at typical Japanese restaurants in the area so I was happy to try it out. I got the chicken karaage udon, and my boyfriend had the soboro don. Both were solid and good portion sizes. We also got an order of gyoza and a surprise complimentary orange jello! The gyoza was great - fried, but just enough to be crispy and not deep fried and oily. The karaage was crispy and tender, and the udon was nice and chewy! I also really liked the sauce, which was tangy and just a little spicy. I really appreciate the vegetables they put in to make a more balanced looking meal. Will be back here whenever I am in the area. read more
Ehh, I have high standards for Japanese food, so I was disappointed with Tampopo. As a California native, I think I've been spoiled and blessed with good to excellent Japanese food options. So when I discovered all these Japanese restaurants at the Porter Exchange, I was super excited. At Tampopo, I ordered the karage bowl, which is basically Japanese fried chicken with veggies and rice. I thought the chicken was simply overcooked and dry. The only exciting thing about the chicken was that hint of heat.. the veggies weren't that exciting, but rather bland. Anyway, this place is small just like all the other restaurants in Porter Exchange, so seating is limited. I would probably recommend this place if you are craving Asian food and local, but definitely not a must-try place for foodies. read more
Empty at 12pm unlike the neighbors Cafe Mami and Sapporo Ramen. My friend and I stretched out at a table for two. I got the seafood Tampopo don which had two each of tempura shrimp, fish, and squid, a piece of carrot and broccoli, lettuce and seaweed, and rice with spicy mayo drizzled all around. My friend got a chicken katsu curry. For $9.95 and $8.95 respectively, our bellies were full and our taste buds were happy. To our delight we were treated with two clementine orange jello pieces. It wasn't amazing, but it was good solid food, fast service, and unrushed. They have two set lunch specials for $6.95 and one that's chosen for the day. read more
10 years ago
We visited this dining and it impressed us. At the beginning we felt strange about the location (why it's in a university???). But after visited, we felt like it's a small Japanese food lovers heaven! There are several small restaurants in the hall and even a nice Japanese gift shop! And for this one, we got several different dishes. Even something not on the menu but since my friend inquired, the lady (maybe the owner) from this restaurant offered to us. We ordered different rice bowls and udon. The curry rice is so good! Strongly advised! And it's quite spacey, I guess you can always get a seat. (Don't even think it's not good enough when you see the neighbors are fully occupied but this one is still empty) I tried every restaurant in this location but still think this is the best one! read more
9 years ago
Upon first walking into tampopo, the smells that greet you are overwhelmingly amazing. So in honor of tampopo, I present this haiku: Umami galore-- One crispy cream croquette too curry katsu...score! read more
5 years ago
11 years ago
My roommate and I are so addicted to Japanese cousin. Porter square are known for Little Japanese. Tampopo locates in a University hall in Cambridge. The building houses many other Asian restaurants, but Tampopo is the one we looked for. The miso soup came with the order. I ordered a curry Katsu don with vegetable and egg. My friend had fried shrimp curry with rice. Both dishes are way so good than we have expected. The pork-cut is so thick and tender, covered with sweet and spicy curry, and paired with natural sweet carrots. It is the best savory choice for the cool summer. Plus the service and chef are both so nice. read more
9 years ago
This place has OKAY food and good service. I ordered the Pork Katsu Don. The pork was crispy, but was lacking some flavor and juiciness. It was kind of bland and dry. The rice was rather mushy and had the texture of mashed potatoes! Ewwww!!! The service was good knowing that there was only one waitress and she..........projected her voice a little to much. I respect that she is just trying to be helpful, but getting to the point where you're going to yell is a little toooooo much. Overall, this place is okay. read more
9 years ago
8 years ago
Best place to get a delicious katsu pork don in the Greater Boston Area. I highly recommend this place! read more
True to how many stars Tampopo already has, it was very good. The other restaurant we were going to go to was completely busy bu luckily Tampopo was able to seat us. It's relatively cheap, dinner for two with appetizers came up to 25$ each with tip. I had the karaage chicken and it came out nice and hot with a great amount of crush. I'm glad that they asked whether I wanted spicy or mild because I'm not good with spicy food. Our server was friendly, in true Japanese fashion she only came by to refill waters, take orders, and bring the check. Efficient, cheap, delicious. What more could I want? Dessert? Well they have that too but I was just too full. read more
16 years ago
Met up with my close friends for a casual dinner at Porter Exchange and settled on Tampopo. We started off with the Octopus Balls, crispy-style, and they were tasty (be careful not to burn your mouth -- they come piping hot!). I got the Croquette Curry with corn and beef croquettes over rice and a side salad. The salad greens were mediocre but the dressing was great. The dish itself was a bit small-sized, but filled me up as the croquettes are fried and the curry is heavy. Others got the Fried Seafood and the Udon, both of which also seemed to go over as just okay. For dessert we got two green tea and two mango mochi ice creams (standard tasty fare, although one of the green tea seemed to have undercooked mochi - totally not Tampopo's fault, of course!). The woman who is hostess/waitress is so amazingly nice! She was very helpful to us in accomodating a friend who arrived a bit later around the (small) table we had managed to snag. To make up for forgetting parts of our order (a miso soup that was provided upon request and fried oysters we didn't even end up wanting because we were too full), she gave us a complimentary mandarin orange jello dessert and free cups of hot green tea as we sat chatting after our meal! The prices are nice -- it is not quite a $ but $$ seems inaccurate as well...CASH ONLY! read more
Stopped by for a quick bite, and was pleasantly surprised! I got the chicken kara-age - super juicy with a unique and delicious sauce. Food came quickly, and the lady server is super cute and friendly. The menu says the kara-age is spicy, but I didn't think so at all. My girlfriend got the chicken katsu curry, which wasn't as good but still tasty. She complained that the outer breading wasn't crispy though since it was submerged in curry sauce. Still, it's worth checking this place out. Tasty, inexpensive food is always good in my book! read more
7 years ago
This is probably my favorite sit-in restaurant in the city of Boston. Please try the Tampopo bowl. It's an amazing deal and very inexpensive. Not only that, the rice is perfect and the chicken melts in your mouth. You'll be thinking about it in your sleep. read more
4 years ago
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8 years ago
Ordered the Pork Katsu Curry Udon - it was my first time trying curry udon with a mixture of miso soup and curry gravy. It was good. read more
9 years ago
4 years ago
A cozy hole-in-the-wall hidden in a Lesley University building among other Japanese and Korean restaurants, my friend and I first found this place while searching for katsu curry in the Cambridge area and have since not looked back. I've gone here regularly for a year now and my only wish is that I could go more often. Run by a sweet elderly Japanese couple, this place has the most delicious, authentic, and affordable Japanese food I've ever had. My favorites are the pork cutlet curry, shrimp and vegetable tempura, spicy chicken karaage, and miso soup - I literally order the same things every time. The pork is perfectly crispy and juicy, the rice has the perfect texture - soft and fluffy but not mushy, sticky enough to pick up with chopsticks but not too sticky - and the curry is so flavorful and just amazing. The dipping sauce for the tempura is so good and the shrimp and vegetables are always perfectly crispy and tender. Not only all that, but the service is quick and all food is cooked to order! Don't miss the onigiri when they have them either. Please check this place out if you're craving the comforting taste of a delicious home cooked meal! read more
Location: it's in a mini food court Price: very reasonable, got the lunch special for $6.95 before tax Food: the special for the day was a chicken cutlet coated in Panko bread crumbs with Katsu sauce. The chicken was crisp and fresh. The lunch special comes with either miso soup or salad. I chose miso soup. Service was friendly and attentive. Will be back before I leave Boston. read more
9 years ago
Hidden gem at the corner of a mall next to a couple of Japanese eateries. Was very satisfying especially on a gloomy rainy day. We had the chicken cutlet curry rice, sukiyaki beef don with egg and tempura soba. All met our expectation since we eat Japanese food back in Asia daily and this wasn't crappy. Price was reasonable and the waitress was very helpful and honest. I respect that as she gave her true opinion on the dishes we asked for. read more
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