We ended up trying out What A Soup on a whim and are glad we stopped by! It was a bit hard to tell…read moreif it was open but once we entered and ordered, everything came very quickly. We started off with our drinks - Thai iced coffee and Thai iced tea, plus the pork belly skewers. The skewers were some of the best we've had in a long time! Flavorful and juicy without being too fatty or greasy, I'd come back again and again just for the skewers alone! We also ordered the beef boat noodle soup - we've only ever had it once before at Thong Smith - and really enjoyed it. We also got the crispy basil pork which tasted great but I think I personally would want to try the minced pork next time. All in all everything was tasty with the pork belly skewers being my favorite!

Came here bc of the amazing reviews online Yelp. But must say, it was a bit of a disappointment in…read moreterms of taste, savory, etc. It markets itself as a Thai Noodle restaurant, with the emphasis seems to be the Thai Boat Noodle . But ironically, the Thai Boat Noodle wasn't even that good! Thai Boat Noodle with a better flavor can be found at RodD by Sitti (restaurant) in Brookline -- and, that place doesn't even specialize in Thai Boat Noodle!

Pai Kin Kao is a small casual restaurant in Cambridge that serves up some authentic Thai dishes…read more First time I stepped in, the restaurant was completely empty and silent. However, shortly after I placed an order, I started hearing one of my favorite sounds in the kitchen come to life. The breath of the wok and the sizzling dance of ingredients dancing within. It sounded like a jet engine firing up and it wasn't muffled as the kitchen literally was right there behind the stainless steel counter where the menu boards are (and not in another room). I love that sound so much as someone in the culinary profession who can tell when and what different ingredients are added to complete the one dish being ordered. As expected, my order didn't take long to arrive in my table. Less than 5 minutes from start to finish...and here I was looking at a beautiful dish steaming hot right in front of me. Did I mention just how amazing it smells? (Fast forward...many visits later...ordering the same few dishes and then some.) They are very consistent. Something that I truly appreciate as that's one of the more important things in the culinary world. Either you're consistently good...or consistently bad. None of the bi-polar quality issues here. They're just consistently good in what they do. For that alone, they are truly deserving of 5 stars and come highly recommended as a small casual authentic Thai eatery.

This restaurant appears to be an extension of a home, which is pretty cool. There's limited seating…read morebut it wasn't crowded when we stopped by for lunch on Sunday. I ordered the Pad See Ew with a medium level of spice and it was pretty solid! I've tried a handful of thai restaurants in boston is this is one of the better ones I've had. Would recommend!

I had a really enjoyable meal at Dumpling House in Cambridge…read more The dumplings were fresh, juicy, and full of flavor. I especially liked how everything tasted homemade and comforting, with a nice balance of texture and seasoning. The menu offers a wide variety of options, so it's easy to try different dishes beyond just dumplings. Everything came out quickly, and the portions were quite satisfying. The atmosphere is casual and lively, which makes it a great spot for a quick meal or a relaxed dinner with friends. Overall, a solid choice in Cambridge if you're craving authentic Chinese dumplings. I would definitely come back again.

A dinner with my Korean friends revealed my current favorite Chinese restaurant in Boston!…read more Soup Steamed Dumplings Pork 小籠包: The dumplings were large, incredibly juicy, and the meat filling was tender and smooth. The seasoning was only slightly sweet, perfectly complementing the freshness of the meat. These were the best Xiaolongbao I've had in the US, although the skin was a bit soggy and unappetizing. Pork & Leeks Dumpling: My friend ordered these, opting for pan-fried dumplings. They were piping hot, incredibly fragrant, and the meat filling was tender. The chive flavor was mild, which is perfect since I don't like chives lol. A touch of vinegar was definitely needed to cut through the richness! Sliced Fish Szechuan Style: Calling them "sliced fish" is a bit of a stretch; "fish fillets" would be more accurate. They were probably made with basa fish, and the fish was incredibly tender, almost melting in your mouth. The broth was fragrant, and the numbing and spicy flavor was authentic, earning high praise from my friend from Sichuan. Lamb with Ginger & Scallions Onion: A perfectly good Beijing dish, but it was prepared with the feel of a Cantonese stir-fry, which suited my Cantonese palate perfectly. The lamb was incredibly tender, with no gamey taste, and stir-fried until the oil was visible but the sauce wasn't thickened. The sweetness of the onions and carrots added to the complex flavor. Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin: Just average, like a typical Shanghai style home-cooked meal. Nothing special to say. General Gao's Tofu 左宗豆腐: My first time trying the famous "General Tso" (I don't know why they call it General Gao) series of American Chinese cuisine. It felt similar to the technique used in Shanghainese "Kung Pao宮保." A slightly sweet and sour flavor with the aroma and mild spiciness of dried chili peppers, the ingredients were deep-fried and coated in a thick sauce. The tofu was overcooked, the edges were hard, and the sauce became a bit watery towards the end. This dish was just okay.

i love hot pot! the all you can eat / buffet situation here is so great. the servers get you going…read morereally quickly. you need to ask for drinks, they will not ask you if you want drinks. i love how warm and cozy happy lamb is on a dreary day.

Delicious AYCE hot pot spot in Central square with delicious food and attentive service. We…read morepreviously had a bad waitlist experience, but have since come back two times without incident. As a party of four, we were seated promptly in a booth and asked for our choice of broth and menu (classic for their standard variety of meats, premium for even more options). We chose the classic menu and the half-and-half broth to have one side with spicy and one side without. Their non-meat ingredients bar was clean and had a great variety of veggies, tofu, and seafood items, and was kept well stocked while we were there. Servers were attentive to refilling our broths and taking additional orders for meat. All four of us left with full bellies and a great experience. What a great dinner/activity to assemble and cook your own plates of delicious food while chatting with your friends or family. Will definitely be back ever again!

Consistently solid. One of the few places to get certain Shanghainese dishes. Love the tea they…read moreserve before the food arrives. I'll always have a soft spot for this place.

For a quick late lunch, I stopped by Shanghai Fresh on a Thursday afternoon. The place was…read morerelatively empty so I received seating immediately. I ordered the 雪菜肉丝炒年糕 Stir Fried Rice Cake with Pork & Mustard Greens ($17.95). It wasn't too oily, and had extra strong wok hei / 鍋氣. That puts it above the random neighborhood Chinese restaurant's version. That said, the portion size was probably halved. The interior seemed well put together. The bronzed teapot looked a lot better than the beat up stainless steel sort. The complimentary salt and pepper peanuts cemented the details. Personally, I would like a larger portion size, but I think the price point and offering caters to a more modern sensibility.

I came here before, when it opened and I liked, but shortly afterwards somehow ramen balance was…read morefalling in maze. Did not show up for many many years, suddenly I came here for Miso Ramen and bowl made my day. I ordered Regular size but I should have Large size, they have S, R, and L. Had to finish all soup. Kitchen work is super smooth in Zen spirit, soup and noodle was just perfect. Chashuu did not hit my new favorite bell but still good. Although I could use more green onion without upgrading order. Temperature of the soup and noodle done balanced well, I could not ask more. Great chef, staffs and very professional casual business mind, I will be coming back soon for Miso Ramen which I always have been asking at most of my Ramen Way All My LifeThanks !

I tried the tsukemenつけ麺, and was a bit disappointed…read more.. Shoyu Tsukemen: The tsukemen noodles were much larger than the ramen noodles; a small portion had 200 grams of noodles, which were quite thick and chewy. The chashu叉焼 was stewed until tender, but the broth was extremely oily and had a strong porky smell, which was nauseating. Karaage: It was a little overcooked, but fresh and hot, so it was still pretty good. The sauce was a bit spicy, which was interesting. Aji-tama: The taste was neither good nor bad, but I found eggshell in it. After I reported this, the staff first asked if I had cut myself, and then readily gave me a refund, which was nice.

Looking for something different while visiting Boston. This place was withing walking distance of…read moreour lodging so gave it a shot. There was a small line of people waiting when we arrived, but the wait was not very long. The dining area is not huge, but the Staff hustles so it seems to turn over quick. Super friendly hostess/server who was non-stop energy and movement. She made it flow while still being personable. I have never had this type of food, so cannot base it on anything except it was delicious. I followed the instructions and added the rice at the end (nice top off). The Miso soup was good along with the Sushi roll. The Hostess gave us a new drink to try and we all enjoyed it. Definitely a great spot !!!

I've had my fair share of Japanese cuisine, but mazesoba isn't exactly in my usual lane. That's…read morewhat made my visit to Kenzoku Mazesoba in Fenway such a pleasant surprise. My first impression? Bright, modern, and incredibly welcoming. The space has an inviting energy, but what really stood out was the hostess. Since it was my first visit, she took the time to patiently explain the menu and made me feel completely at ease. Her recommendation of the Tan Tan turned out to be absolutely spot on. Loaded with spicy minced pork, minced garlic, onions, chives, sesame sauce, dried chili pepper, and a perfectly poached egg, this bowl was a beautiful marriage of flavor and texture. The savory minced pork stole the show, while the chewy hand-pulled noodles held onto every bit of that rich, nutty, spicy sauce. Just when I thought the experience was over, I learned the best part was still to come. After finishing the noodles, you're encouraged to ask for a bowl of rice and mix it into the remaining sauce. It transforms the leftovers into an entirely new dish, making sure not a single drop of flavor goes to waste. The entire meal felt like an adventure--one I genuinely didn't want to end. I've always considered myself a ramen guy, but this experience reminded me that it's worth stepping outside your comfort zone every now and then. Japanese cuisine really is the gift that keeps on giving, and I'm here for it!

I was pleasantly surprised by my experience here!…read more We got the signature miso ($15) ramen and the red devil ($17) ramen. Since we were here on a weekday we tried the ramen combos (+$2 each) and added a tsukune bun and 2 pieces of chicken karaage. The tsukune bun was delicious! The chicken meatball was so juicy and the bun came with a zesty horseradish/wasabi sauce. The karaage was also quite crispy and tasty, although I wish it came with the same sauce that the tsukune bun had. The ramen was delicious. Although their chashu was lean, it was so tender that it melted in my mouth. The ground pork was also surprisingly delicious! I often find that the ground pork at other ramen spots is forgettable, but the ground pork here was rich, perfectly seasoned, and not too dry. I'm a sucker for soft-boiled eggs and the egg here made my day (I might even order extra egg next time!). I was actually not a fan of the corn fritter. It had a fun texture but I would have preferred loose corn in my ramen. However, a lot of other reviewers seem to love it. The ramen noodles were nicely al dente and both broths I tried were very rich. The red devil is no joke! To me it was more spicy than the classic buldak spicy chicken ramen. While the red devil broth was very spicy, I could still taste the nuttiness from the miso. I look forward to trying their other ramen and dishes.

My BF and I really want to love Muku given its proximity to us and that it's a family-run business,…read morebut we've gone twice and have been disappointed with the flavors. The karaage was awesome, but our ramen broths both times have felt lacking, compared to other ramen spots. The flavors are not deep and sometimes the broth feels bland. The noodles also have the texture of linguine, rather than true ramen noodles. This place isn't bad, but we probably won't be back for a ramen fix, given the other options around.