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    Cafe Mami

    4.3 (621 reviews)
    Closed 11:45 am - 4:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Cafe Mami Photos

    CAFE MAMI ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Mami

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    Yaki Beef Tofu Set
    Herbert L.

    After visiting Tufts University and getting some Tufts gear, we were hungry. We decided to catch Bus #96 and travel to Cafe Miami situated inside the Porter Exchange building (University Hall) in Porter Square, next to the Red Line. There's a few tables and service was friendly and quick. Your water cups are not left empty for long. Food is delicious and reasonably priced. I recommend it if you're in the area and want a quick taste of Asian cuisine.

    Yu Ya H.

    My go-to comfort food place tucked away in Lesley University food court. I've been coming here for years already ever since college. It is tiny and only has around five/six tables at most so you might have to wait during weekends. Service is fast and you get your orders fairly quickly too. They have a variety on the menu but I've only been getting pork katsu curry with a fried egg every time I come here. Their set dishes come with miso soup and salad. I am happy to say their curry has remained constant for so many years and it still gives me this homey feel. I will also crave for my comfort meal here. -8.2/10

    Menu
    Lizzie Y.

    Cafe Mami, located in Lesley University's food court in Porter Square, is absolutely delicious! This food court is known as the "Porter Exchange" & is located in the ground floor of Lesley's University Hall. Their food court includes a couple mini restaurants that serve Japanese food! Quite a variety here. Cafe Mami serves Japanese comfort food. We decided to pop in recently and it was my first time trying their food. What we ordered: -rockin chicken -crispy shumai -yaki beef tofu set Our meal came with miso soup to start, as well! Everything we ordered tasted phenomenal & prices are fair. Our server was also super kind. Highly recommend if you want to try Japanese comfort food; I would totally come back ;) Parking: There is meter parking on Mass Ave & a parking lot in the back.

    Yaki Beef Tofu Set
    Chris T.

    I've been coming here since college, though i must admit i haven't been for along time since then. On a cold day we stopped by here and originally was trying to get Bagelsaurus but they were sold out so walked over to the Leslie plaza. We decided to try cafe mami (me for the first in along time, and the lady her very first) We decided on the rockin chicken (staff recommended) i used to get the Hamburg set. And the beef tofu set today with shumai app. The shumai was fried perfectly and we both liked that, which i had some sweet soy sauce and hot chili for it, (like Dimsum's haha) but it was good. My rockin chicken is their "spicy" but it's not spicy so don't worry if you're a mild heater like me haha. It was cooked well, thigh meat i believe, pan cooked to perfection, nice and JUICY! Get a soup and side white rice with it. The lady's beef was tender and thin cut, tofu and sauce melted in your mouth it was a good portion with the potatoe. We were full and happy and ready for desert down the street. Will return and happy to see them still thriving.

    Chili Tomato Chicken Set
    Elaine M.

    Hidden gem in an Asian food hall inside Lesley college. I don't know why there was a line for another stall, this place sat me right away and I didn't have to wait long for the food was brought to my seat. Only a few tables but if you're dining solo, you can get a spot at the bar. I ordered by pointing at a picture in the menu. It ended up being a chili tomato chicken with lightly dressed salad, and little potato in tin foil. Meal comes with miso soup and bowl of rice. It was a perfect portion. Probably they prefer cash but take card, since that's all that I had. Server is super attending, kept my water filled and checking up on me.

    Chicken Cutlet Curry Rice Set
    Malina N.

    My go to comfort food is Cafe Mami's curry set the curry set comes with a small miso soup and salad and you can add extra meat, egg, cheese, curry, or red/yellow pickles You also have meat choices: breaded chicken, breaded pork, hamburg steak, or chicken tatsuta (fried boneless chicken tenders). The curry itself is made from chicken and beef stock and is so deliciously addicting As for the yaki beef tofu set, thinly sliced beef is sautéed with onions, tofu and sweet boiled carrot and potato on the side I also love the affordability of Cafe Mami. The curry set is $11, +$2 for meat, and +$2/3 for any extra add ons. The Yaki beef tofu set is $14 Highly recommend Cafe Mami for anyone looking to try authentic japanese style curry!

    Chick Cutlet Curry Rice Set
    Annie G.

    In general it was a decent experience here. I went on a Saturday night at dinner time. The food was great, I ordered the normal chicken curry set. The curry is really rich and flavorful. You can tell from the taste that the curry is made from real meat such as chicken. I could taste chicken bits as well. The set came with miso soup and simple salad, so it felt like a balanced meal. The only thing is that there is only one server who had to run around to seat customers, take orders, serve customers, and clean the table for new people to sit. She was quite busy so I would avoid coming during the peak dinner hours.

    Chicken curry with sunny side up egg and cheese
    Sandra S.

    Solid choice for Japanese Curry Cutlet. Dinner wait was about 15 mins on a Wednesday evening 7:00pm. Note that they only have small tables so I would only come if there are 4 or less in your party. It gives cafeteria vibes as it is in Lesley University. They start you off with a small bowl of miso soup and a small salad. The chicken cutlet was crispy and tender on the inside - I prefer it over the pork. I highly suggest adding the cheese and egg - The cheese is hidden under the meat. A little pricey at $22 but it is Boston/Cambridge pricing.

    Wafu Hamburg Set
    Min L.

    The Pork curry katsu at Cafe Mami supported me and my family when I was a graduate student about 20 years ago. My wife and I went back there in twenty years. To our surprise, the tastes were all the same even though chefs and servers were all new. The interior maintained the same at the same building in the Porter Square. The pork curry katsu is a must try, which is served with a bowl of miso soup and salads, and rice. 5+ The Hamburg set with Wafu sauce is great also. 5+ We also like their seaweed salad as well. 5+ Probably one difference I noticed was the amount of salads and patty- they were more than I expected!

    Spicy beef and tofu set

    The spicy beef and tofu set was incredibly delicious and brought back childhood memories. Every component was amazing - I wish I could have brought it home! (My limitation, not theirs, they offered a box.) Price extremely reasonable even in 2025. Great service, very attentive. Really positive dining experience.

    Yaki Don
    Heather L.

    Great food for the price point in a very convenient location! Definitely feels like comfort food, great portions for a dinner if you want to just get some quick food for the night.

    Chicken Tatsuta Set
    Stephon M.

    This food is simply amazing! All you need here is the chicken tatsuta set! The shrimp shumai app is also where its at. Service is always great and the cooks are super friendly. The ambiance is just no frill delicious food..its a small spot so its harder to get in with larger parties.

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    3 years ago

    Theres no Japanese restaurant in Boston that can match this place. The curries here the exact taste as what you order in Japan.

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    Page 3 of 16

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    Tampopo - Pork Cutlet Curry

    Tampopo

    4.4(393 reviews)
    0.0 miPorter Square
    $$

    This small Japanese husband-and-wife business, which has been running for 34 years, is closing down…read morethis June due to retirement, so I rushed over for a meal. Pork Cutlet Curry: The restaurant specializes in fried foods, with the pork cutlet being their absolute signature dish. Although the cutlets were on the thinner, leaner side, each one was fried to order, resulting in a crispy exterior and tender, juicy interior, fragrant but not greasy. The breadcrumbs were especially fluffy and light, bursting with flavor on the palate, which was incredibly satisfying. The curry was authentic Japanese curry--rich, mild, and slightly spicy with a distinct fruity aroma, perfectly suited to my taste. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask for a runny egg for the $2 additional egg; otherwise, it would have been even better. And at only $15 a serving, including a salad/miso soup, it's incredibly good value for money, perfect for lunch. Fried Oysters: Also crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the oysters were fresh and juicy. The lemon juice and salad dressing were refreshing. I felt they were even more delicious than the pork cutlet. The place is located in Lesley University's Main Hall and has only four tables, so you may have to wait.

    delicious katsu curry udon. Small shop with 3-4 tables for 2-3 people each. I came saturday around…read more5:50pm and thankfully beat a rush of people. They are generally fast with service but there can be a wait. You may share a table if you are solo-dining, but super fun experience to just chat with a stranger! Very sad to hear they will be closing shop in the coming months. Such an authentic and heartwarming mom & pop establishment.

    Photos
    Tampopo - Seating area. Small place but delicious food.  Hidden in the hallway of a building, definitely worth it.  Pork Tampopo Don

    Seating area. Small place but delicious food. Hidden in the hallway of a building, definitely worth it. Pork Tampopo Don

    Tampopo
    Tampopo - Chicken Tampopo Don

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    Chicken Tampopo Don

    Futago Udon

    Futago Udon

    4.4(587 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

    Futago Udon

    Futago Udon - Fried chicken appetizer

    Fried chicken appetizer

    Futago Udon - Creamy uni udon

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    Creamy uni udon

    Soup Shack - Brookline - Black Tonkotsu

    Soup Shack - Brookline

    4.5(244 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    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.

    The food is so good, sometimes can be a bit salty. I would go not during dinner because the place…read moreis small. The people that works there are super nice

    Photos
    Soup Shack - Brookline
    Soup Shack - Brookline - Red Ramen

    Red Ramen

    Soup Shack - Brookline - Spicy miso ramen

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    Somenya - Soba restaurant - Cold spicy beef soba

    Somenya - Soba restaurant

    4.4(194 reviews)
    3.9 miChinatown
    $$

    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
    Somenya - Soba restaurant - Interior

    Interior

    Somenya - Soba restaurant - Spicy snow crab meat hot soba

    Spicy snow crab meat hot soba

    Somenya - Soba restaurant - Japanese Takoyaki

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    Japanese Takoyaki

    Cafe Mami - japacurry - Updated June 2026

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