Lots of small Japanese food restaurants. Parking in the back affordable rates. Street parking also plenty. There's , udon Ramen, sushi etc read more

The Shops at Porter - Picture of the buildi - Shopping Centers Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I was looking for a bathroom in here. I was expecting a Porter Potty. Get it. Get it. This is a really happening spot on a Saturday night with masses of fancy Asian eateries in a big Hall that is part of the University. There is so much going on here and lots of people watching and it's pretty fancy with long wait times. But then that's Boston for you isn't it. Trendy places always have the long wait times. read more

See all

I lived in Cambridge for 2 years in the late 90s while doing postdoc (i.e. Post Doctoral Research, a fancy term for unemployed person with a Ph.D. degree, gets paid peanuts, often more poor than students). I can hardly remember any places any more, but I remembers the porter square Japanese food stalls vividly. It's a hard to find underground gem, actually I didn't even know about it for an entire year until a Japanese friend took me there, I was hooked. The stalls serve more genuine Japanese food than fancy restaurants (My Japanese friend, Hamie, loved these stalls but won't eat sushi, he resented that America cheapened sushi to a point you can get grab em at super markets. It was considered an expensive, formal fair in Japan & he had it only a few times growing up). The Una Don ( eel on rice) was the best I've ever had, I can't remember the name of the stall that served it but I intend to go back there one day & find it again. It was a huuuuuuge piece of eel! Only one piece but about 4x5 inches in size, grilled right in front of my eyes, put over a bowl of rice & topped with killer eel sauce & served steaming, the flavors exploded in my mouth & I kept my eyes closed so that I could concentrate all my senses on my tongue... I've been ordering Una don a lot when I get to eat in Japanese restaurants, it's been disappointing most of the time because most places serve it as multi pieces of small sushi size & they often serves it cold, nothing comes close to the giant piece of eel grilled right infront of me in porter square stalls. Writing this makes me missing my Japanese friend Hamie, who has since moved back to Japan, I visited him during my one business trip to Tokyo & we have since lost contact, sad :(. I really want to go back there one day, but I am also afraid of being hugely disappointed. Will it still be as good as I remembered after all these years? Will the stall that served the amazing Eel still be there? read more

Sapporo Ramen...best Japanese soup place around...highly recommended. Competes with the best in Japan...I've done the research

I stayed in Boston MA on September 11th and 12th 2018.When I visited Harvard and MIT, I stopped by the Shops at Porter.I just want to make sure that I am Not a student or professor of Harvard and MIT.I am not smart enough to study there.LOL.I wish I could learn how to make ramen noodles at "some Ramen university", although to become a ramen chef is much harder than graduating Harvard.LOL. I was looking for a Japanese restaurant.I found a little Japan in the Porter area.I tried ramen at Sappro ramen.It was so delicious.I walked around the area.There were a couple of Japanese restaurants around the Porter Square station.Many Japanese students study at schools in the Boston area.It seemed that the Porter area helped these Ryugakusei-International students in Boston.Hope more students come to Boston! read more

The Shops at Porter is definitely a hidden Gem in Boston if there was one. This place has some of the best Japanese food in Boston and most people in the area wouldn't even know it! Tucked in a little corner are a few Japanese restaurants offering sushi, ramen, donbori, curry, moshi etc. Each restaurant may only have 7-10 seats so you'll generally see the long lines during the peak times. I would recommend getting there early to avoid the crowds or get food To Go. ALSO, there's a parking lot right out front so there's no need to fight over parking spots on the main streets. -- Check out my other reviews at http://nextstopdc.blogspot.com/ read more

The Shops at Porter - Japanese corridor - Shopping Centers Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The Porter Exchange is uniquely Cambridge. Located in a 1920s Art Deco-style Sears building, it's the place to visit for steaming udon, donburi or gyoza; cheap sushi; bubble tea; Dice-K paraphernalia; Japanese baked goods; handmade crafts; and random ingredients from the Asian market, Kotobukiya. Half a dozen food stalls line a crowded corridor, where lithe waitresses cart hot tea and tofu dishes at reasonable prices. They post menus with pictures to make comparison shopping easy. In addition to the plethora of mostly Japanese stores, the Exchange also features a first rate jewelry store, a second rate sports supply store, and a third rate bookstore. Also, the Art Institute of Boston has a small gallery tucked into a corner of the Exchange, but I have never visited the space. Unfortunately, Rustic Kitchen relocated to the theater district. Thankfully, the Gap relocated too. read more

The Shops at Porter - Shopping Centers Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

As big as Porter Exchange is - not many peope in Boston seem to be in the 'know' about it. Yet, inside the Porter Exchange, is an awesome world. Within, are a variety of cute Japanese ramen and sushi restaurants. There's even a little Japanese bakery stand in the middle of the front lobby, serving up perfectly crafted cakes and Japanese delights. My favorite is the Japanese convenvience store, where I like to stock up on mochi and other Japanese goodies. It's a really special place - never packed, and has a great vibe about it. Most of the stores in Porter Exchange open later, so don't plan an early lunch here, but please...for your stomach's sake plan a lunch sometime. read more

Don't blink or you'll miss it. Even once you're inside, it doesn't look like much--- until you turn the corner and see the series of small booths and delicious Japanese food options. My favorite is the rice bowl place right across from the fish tank. Great deep fried tofu and it's so ridiculously cheap. Don't go too late, though-- they basically shut down around 9 pm. (And bring cash.) read more

I'm the cheese and Porter Exchange is the macaroni-- I'm all over it. "Obsessed" is probably the best way to describe my relationship with this place. I stop in here seriously almost every day, convinced that I need something... I need to stock up on edamame, udon noodles and Japanese fashion magazines at the Kotobukiya grocery store... I need some Unagi rolls and seaweed salad from the sushi bar... I need a bowl of ramen from Sapporo... I need a green tea mocchi from Ittyo.... I need a bubble tea... I need some random knick knack... gah! I need it all. All the time. Praise Jeebus I live near here! It has multiplied my quality of life by a thousand and has generally made it impossible for me to live anywhere but Porter Square for the duration of my time in Boston. If I ever do move... well, you'll know it's true love. read more

I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to review my home away from home away from home, but her it is. This mostly applies to those Somervillians who are near Porter.... IF you like sushi... IF you like mochi ice cream.... IF you like shiseido make up.... IF you like some hand made bubble tea.... IF you need a hello kitty wallet... IF you need some udon..... IF you need a kimchi pajon..... or a tea cup or origami paper or a calendar or some chocopies or green tea ice cream or even some gym shorts... you've found your home. read more

I was raised in Boston, so I know it well. And I know that there aren't a lot of Japanese people here. Most of them attend Berklee School of Music. The rest? Well, they eat at Porter Exchange. Each eatery there has a specialty, so you know they're doing it right. From tomato pork chops over rice to the sushi bar to the ramen noodle shop, everything is so delectable. The sushi is cheap and really really fresh. Service is quick - obviously, you're just at a little counter, and there are usually tons of people waiting for your seat. I'm nuts about the ice cream mochi they sell at the convenience store. Love it so much that when I lived 3 blocks away, I usually buy an entire package of 6 and eat them with my roommates. Sometimes I'm in the mood for ramen, and if I'm feeling super fat, I'll get the kind with the whole slab of butter melting in the middle of the soup. Mmm. And on the way to the garage, I never forget to stop in the Japanese supermarket, get a yummy cream puff and some lychee Hi-Chews. read more

Absolutely love this place. The small cluster of Japanese restaurants and shops makes this a worthy visit. The area is cozy, clean and modern inside of the Lesley University building. The Sapporo Ramen place is very popular, there is always a long line, but the turnaround time is relatively fast. The Blue Fin sushi restaurant next to it has quality sushi, they offer sashimi/sushi combinations of your choice for an reasonable and fixed price. There is also a bubble tea stand serving both hot and cold bubble tea. The little Japanese shop next to it sells elegant and lovely decoration and utility pieces. There is a little shop that sells homemade mochi (Japanese Ice Cream wrapped in sticky rice cake), this is a MUST TRY (the Chocolate Mint is great), best mochi I have tasted in the US. Ample parking in the private lot right in front of the building, be sure to ask the restaurant/shops you visit for parking validation. It's very cheap (I think $1 for 2 hours with validated parking). Easy access via Route 3. read more

I was trying to find Kotobukiya but they're closed apparently. -_-" I put 1815 Mass Ave in my GPS and it took me to Lesley University. Then I found out it was in their University Hall... There are 6 or 7 tiny Japanese restaurants right next to each other. I went to the Ramen place today. It was really good. Authentic Japanese noodles~ It's about 10 bucks after tax for a bowl. One bowl might not be enough for a starving guy, but it was certainly enough for a girl who has had lunch before. I love that little Japanese corner in there. I am going to try every single restaurant there. My next one on the list is the one in the corner, right next to Bluefin. We were going there but there weren't any seat left so we went to Ramen since I had a craving for noodles anyway. read more

Boston no...Nihonjin Food court / Galleria...wa Ichiban!!! Sushi wa Totemo Oishi Des!! Soba mo Totemo Oishi Des!! Lotte no Choco wa Kawai Ne!! Porter Exchange Banzai !!! read more

This may be the most unique shopping center in Cambridge. It has its own parking lot (I came via T so I'm not sure about rates) and many levels which is home to a Bally Fitness, classes for Lesley and a good number of Japanese restaurants. I really like the cafe style, hidden pathway-ness of the small "restaurants" (which are mostly cash only FYI). It reminds me of little teeny tiny restaurant in Japan where patrons wait for an available table outside. I was looking for karepan (curry bread/curry doughnut) and NO ONE HAD IT. NOT EVEN THE JAPANESE BAKERY! Why? The cashier informed me that the factory that makes the curry bread went out of business so Japonaise Bakery no longer offered it.. WHAT?! Needless to say, I was wicked disappointed.. The bubble tea place, Taipachà (correct me!! I know it's not called that, but I can't remember!!) serves a variety of boba with different takes. I ordered the Taiwanese Green Tea with tapioca- it was subpar. :( Oh, it's located in an incredibly beautiful art-deco building! read more

Chinatown, schminatown....this is a small shopping mall that is an ode to all things Asian. From food (cheap, drool-worthy sushi) to beautiful gifts (have a silk kimono or two) to drink (bubble tea) and groceries (green tea ice cream Hoodsies) A perfect Saturday for me here consists of grabbing some cash to saddle up to the sushi bar (any of the spicy rolls are out of this world!) and then it's off to the gift shop to digest. There's beautiful fountains and china and of course Hello Kitty. Finally, don't be intimidated by the fact that you can't read the packaging on most anything in the grocery store. There's Pockey, chocolate or strawberry dipped cookie stix and a freezer full of exotic ice creams in small to go containers. read more

As I work here, and no one has mentioned it so far, I feel like I should include that in the Porter Exchange Building is also an Art Institute Boston gallery. Or if I'm going to call it by its proper name: The Gallery at The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University in Porter Exchange. But yea. The gallery is relatively new, and seems to be so tucked away in a corner that even people who come through the building regularly miss it. It's a gorgeous space that features work from both local and international artists. Definitely somewhere to check out when you come down for your asian cuisine. Parking in the lot here gets a big ol' thumbs down from me, but on the upside its fairly easy to find metered parking right out at front at all different times of day. Thumbs down to The Gap leaving, too. They were my "going straight out from work - need a new outfit" place! Can't say much about the restaurants as I've yet to eat at any of them. Believe me, when you smell it all day, and go through where the trash is, its a little less appealing, but the hordes of people who are here every day seem to like it! read more

This is like a small (chibi) version of the Japantown in San Francisco. They have a Japanese bakery, with plenty of Japanese restaurants, and one cute Japanese paper/stationary/pottery store inside. For those dying for a clean bathroom they've got public bathrooms tucked away from the restaurants in the corner. The parking lot is in the back of the stores and if you buy anything from the shops inside you can get your parking validated and that's a huge plus!!! read more

I've been going to this place since High School and I love it. For those of you from Japan or have lived in Japan and are looking to feel natsukashii then this is the place to go. Sushi - in my opinion, one of the best I've ever had. The rice has extra vinegar in it which is why I think I find it so good. I've heard others say they found the the Sushi to be low quality but I've never had a problem with it. Curry - (cafe mami) Taste just like Coco's (Japanese curry chain) Saporro Ramen - Taste like any Ramen shop you would find in Japan. Great hangover food. Tanpopo - I've only had the Oyako Don there and it was decent. I didn't like the chicken. My friends had the Tampora and it looked really good. They also have authentic tasting Taco yaki. Itty - never been but heard it's not very good. Don't go with more then one other person. It's imposable to find seats. The Market has the same Onigiri they sell in Convini's in Japan. read more

While at the Shops at Porter, I went to Soporro Ramen and Japonaise Bakery At Soporro, we had the pork bun, sweet and sour ramen and the vegetarian ramen. The pork was delicious, and both ramen, although very different, were tasty. I loved the vegetarian ramen as it had smoky cabbage, bok choy and tofu in it with a great brown broth. I left very, very full... But in need of caffeine! So we stopped at Japonaise for a coffee and an adzuki pastry...both delicious, and a little bit messy. Overall, a great place to wander and get some yummy Japanese food. read more

See my video review of this location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDH4NB97cpU&t=2s The Shops at Porter - Basically a food court with a handful of asian restaurants. Around 8 restaurants most of which are Japanese. The local favorite Sapporo Ramen is also located here. My wife and I take a seat at the always cozy Chocho's. We just pop in for some crispy scallion pancakes. I used to come to these shops with my college friends and it's a rush of nostalgia every time I return. read more

This is the only "Japan Town" in New England, and it is terrific. Only sad thing recently is that the Japanese grocery store Kotobukiya was closed down by the landlord, Lesley University, looking for space to expand its bookstore. The good news? Lots of people have spoken out about this, and there are talks underway to bring a Japanese grocery store back. If you love this place, consider joining the "Friends of the Porter Exchange Japan Town" Group Facebook group (shortcut to it is www.porterjapantown.org). read more

Porter Exchange is a fun, odd, idiosyncratic place. Trying to find this "really cheap sushi place" (Kotobukiya) people had reviewed on Yelp, on two separate occasions I gave up, because I had no idea that the address was actually inside the mall. Aside from, as people have mentioned, a sort of random smattering of chain stores including City Sports, the Gap, and Lesley University's Barnes & Noble, Porter Exchange is an Asian (chiefly Japanese) mall, with a row of half-restaurant/half-food court of Asian restaurants a Shsheido booth smack in the middle of the atrium, and an all-purpose Japanese mart and video store, amongst other things. Great for Japanese items and food, and people watching. Naturally, very T accessible. read more

This is one of my favorite spots in the area. I mainly stop here to eat, and the Japanese and Korean food stalls are all pretty much great. Cafe Mami is my favorite, and I also like Chocho's for Bulgogi if the wait is too crazy at the other places. It's similar in feel to the Super 88 food court, but much cozier. There's also a coffee shop (Bourbon) with free wifi and a nice Dark Mocha beverage. They have nice restrooms, too. The bathrooms in the mall are a bit out of the way and not as clean. There's a City Sports if you're into exercising, and a Bank of America ATM, which is handy since a lot of the restaurants are cash only. The place is easily accessed by the red line, and if you're driving, they have an attached paid parking lot. Bring your ticket inside, and get it validated at any of the shops or restaurants in the building. I usually pay one or two bucks. read more

The Porter Exchange Mall is like having a miniature slice of Japan in Porter Square. There is a cute, tightly packed row of Japanese store-front restaurants, two sushi bars, a bakery, a supermarket, and a store with Japanese home furnishings. I recommend the Melon Pan at the Japonaise bakery. You will also find the Gap, City Sports, and the Lesley University bookstore inside, which means you can always get slick urban/athletic wear to replace any outfits you spill ramen on. read more

I love the little Japanese food stalls and the Japanese grocery mart at Porter Exchange. It's really accessible by the T, right next to the Porter Exchange T station. Parking is usually easily available and free in the adjoining parking lot. My favorite food stalls are the Japonaise bakery (white chocolate and blueberry scones, finger sandwiches, azuki cream bun), located right outside of the Gap, inside the mall; Cafe Mami (boneless fried chicken, curry, hamburg steak, miso mackerel, spicy beef bowl) and Sapporo Ramen (miso ramen). The great thing about these food stalls is that the food is really delicious and cheap; if there's a line (usually the case), it moves quite quickly; and if you ask them, they will allow you to order items from other food stalls. I also feel that there is a level of authenticity in the food due to the fact that most of the stall owners/waiters are Japanese. read more

All of the restaurants on this little mall are decent, solid places that serve decent, solid food for a reasonable price with reasonable service. Nothing fancy, but then fancy is not always necessary. read more

Sure....I come here for bubble tea and melon pan at the free standing Japonaise bakery, I love to eat the sushi at Itty's. I love to get groceries at Kotobukiya. I like to browse the crafts at Tokai..... Yet I sneak away....and while everyone else is indulging in their favorite Asian food and drink, I am overstimulating myself with my favorite Asian makeup line......Shiseido! I love the store here-you get just the right amount of attention. The girls are great and they give a ton of samples. The lighting is much better than department stores or Sephora. It IS small, but I don't care. Steps from the Porter T Stop.........Short walk to Harvard Square. read more

I don't quite know how to look at this: do I review it based on how much I enjoy it, or on the cuisine? I mean, it's basically japanese fast food, but on the other hand it's really pretty good japanese fast food. I'm not sure whether to give it three or four stars on this basis, so I'll err on the side of generosity. It's fun going into Porter Exchange and picking out one of the little stall-style restaurants to eat at. I particularly prefer Ittyo, which is in the back opposite the ice cream place. In addition to their great soups, I like their curries. Their fried shumai are also delicious, delightful little blobs of shrimp paste deep fried in a tissue-thin noodle wrapper. Mmmmmm. The ice cream place also has quite decent red bean ice cream, one of my favorites. (Strangely, it's usually either blue or purple despite the name. Purple in this case.) I'm told their green tea ice cream is also very good, and the one time I was in a mood for strawberry, they hit the spot as well. Ignorant americans like me may wish to try ordering a "mochi" ice cream - it's sort of a little blob of ice cream which has been somehow made such that you can pick it up with your hand and bite into it like a roll, and it doesn't feel sticky. Odd, but amusing, and cheap too. read more

I agree with Jenny in the fact that It can be HARD to find this place if you didn't know where it is (I had the address and it still took me 30 minutes to find it). They should, I don't know, put a sign in the front! There's a Lesley College on the second floor so I passed this place thinking that it was a college. I'm just rating the overall shopping center and it's fairly average. Don't expect any piano playing like in Nordstrom. Inside is the small Kotobukiya (the only authentic Japanese market near Boston), Japanese food court (the actual gem of the place, with Cafe Mami (Yum!), Sapporo Ramen, and Tampopo being my regulars), Japonaise bakery (branch of the Brookline store; I found it to be less fresh than the actual store since them ship them here), and a boba tea place NOT run by Japanese. read more

Being cash for sushi, all others I believe take cards. The shops at Porter are convenient as all Japanese, Tai, and related foods are in the same area with even a little bakery. Ive always visited during the dinner rush or later and there is always seating at one spot or another. Overall I've dined at almost all of the establishments including the coffee shop which is great for meeting with groups compared to Starbucks as its less noisy. ChoCho's (next to suchi place) or something like that is GREAT they have a variety of specials, accommodate well with food allergies, and have great waitstaff which are prompt yet polite. read more

Yes yes yes!!!! So many little shops to choose to eat at (kind of reminds me of a little tiny block of Asia) I love the bubble tea and the pastry shop! It's like the mini Asian mall (haha) And I always have to buy something from the Japanese grocery store there...!!! read more

This place is so quiet.. Hiding with some good Japanese food... After eating at Sapporo.. (which you can find it on my reviews).. we decided to share a sushi.. we ordered it from I love sushi... the sushi was simple and yet tasted really good.. My friend and I sat at the side of the table to watch them making the sushi.. Slicing the avocado into thin slices... really require some techniques... rapping the sushi rice outside of the seaweed is not that easy either... looking and admiring at him... our sushi was served in 5 minutes... Mmm... avocado and eel... simple right?? but yet it tasted really good.. and well designed.. there are so many restaurant that once you grab the sushi.. the rice just fall apart... but here at I love sushi... they made it so well... I wouldn't fall for this place.. but it's a pretty good place to get cheap food if you are in Cambridge/Boston... read more

I love going to Tampopo and getting a tasty bento box or tempura bowl. The bubble tea place isn't the best in the world (I much preferred the one in the Eatery in Chinatown or Boston Tea Stop in Harvard). The Japonaise Bakery is great, as is the Korean "healthy" restaurant I can't remember the name of. If you're feeling a little more spendy, you can always hit up Bluefin for some decent sushi/japanese food. read more

I really REALLY enjoy sushi, fish in general whether raw, cooked, smoked, or whatevered. If I can only have one kind of food to eat for dinner for the rest of my life, it would be, undoubtedly and without hesitation, SEAFOOD! I went to this little sushi bar because I was absolutely CRAVING sushi, I mean, hadn't-had-it-in-a-month-style, you know? I also needed to eat cheap!! (going back to grad school an' all...) As a lot of other Yelpers have mentioned, the portions are very small. In the spicy tuna and spicy yellowtail rolls, I couldn't actually taste the fish. The nigiri pieces were pretty small too (I had eel, salmon, tuna, and Ikura). I should mention, in all fairness, that my eyes are always bigger than my stomach and I did end up being reasonably satisfied after waiting 15 minutes (though my bf had to walk two steps next door after our meal to order some yummy Japanese comfort food which was inhaled 45 seconds later; he's also 6'5). I didn't get sick, the food tasted fine enough to satisfy my craving (at least for the moment), and service was quick and respectful. The fish itself was relatively fresh, when judging by color, texture, taste, and general appearance. Overall, not fantastic, but considering the whole kaboodle, it shouldn't get less than a 3. So, I give it a 3.5! I just realized this instant that you can't give 0.5's sooooooo I'll rate it a 3, but again state that it should be more accurately a 3.5! read more

I really like to go to Porter Exchange. There are many place to do in small building. You have choices of restaurant to choose. Most of them are Japanese food. I like to go there and have lunch. I love Eel with rice and sushi there is good too. You can also shop at Japanese grocery at the entrance. They have small gift shop that you can find Hello kitty, Asain decorated stuff...ect. The most that I like it's a small booth in the middle of the hall. they sell cake, sweet, bread, tart... They are the BEST. read more

Damn it, I just dropped by there today and I can't believe Kotobukiya Market closed just earlier this week! Where am i going to find mochi and natto now? You'll be missed... read more

Downgraded to 4 stars because of the loss of the Kotobukiya market. ----- Between this place and the 88, I've pretty much got all my homestyle Asian meal cravings covered. I rarely travel out to Cambridge since I typically shuttle back and forth between Waltham and Boston but I was really jonesing for some Japanese Curry Rice since Mentei was no longer a convenient stop for me. There's pay parking behind the building. 1-2 dollars should cover your stay should you decide to make a much longer visit. While all the food stalls feature Japanese food, each restaurant "specializes" in something different, so if you're adventurous, definitely make a few visits and try each spot. Over the next few weeks I'll be checking out a different restaurant every visit and put up a review after the fact. read more

The best place for Japanese comfort food in Boston. You've got your hamburg place, sushi, donburi, noodles, and even a Korean place. Tampopo is my personal favorite of the little eateries there. Not only this, but they have a nice little Japanese grocery, bakery, bubble tea, touristy shop, upscale restaurant, and a makeup line. (They even have a decent American sports bar as well). The Porter Exchange even has parking for a very reasonable price! When compared to other malls, this place may be small and a bit run down, but it is truly the best place to be if you're looking for your Japanese fix. read more