I was invited to try this sweet family-owned bakery where fresh mochi is made in-house every single…read moreday -- and you can customize it to your liking Build-your-own mochi: Choose from 7 fillings: taro, purple rice, red bean, fresh strawberry, fresh mango, matcha cheese, or vanilla cheese 6 gelato flavors: chocolate, Oreo, matcha, mango, strawberry, or pistachio 5 coatings: butter biscuit crunch, seaweed & dried pork, soybean powder, Oreo crumble, or rice powder And we HAVE to talk about the giant Fan Tuan -- ham, fried egg, youtiao, pickled mustard and pork floss all perfectly wrapped in chewy purple sticky rice You get the perfect mix of savory, crispy, chewy and sour in every bite. It's HUGE, hearty, and TOO GOOD! I crave it all the time! Summer drinks to try: Cucumber Mint Sparkler -- crisp, refreshing & perfect for a hot day Iced Lychee Milk -- creamy, sweet & bursting with lychee flavor Between the made-fresh-daily mochi, giant Fan Tuan and creative new drinks, Crystal's Bakery is definitely going on my food and dessert favorites list

Confusing looooong menu. The menu isn't very user-friendly, so we went for a recommendation by…read moreanother yelper - get the fresh mochi they said. So we did. Fresh mochi with matcha cream and taro paste, rolled in butter crunch flakes. The order took more than a few minutes to get ready, and it's a little hard to know if your order is ready because there is no visual indicator (a screen displaying order numbers would be so helpful). The staff also wasn't the most careful with the way they were using gloves, they touched their face, the register etc etc. Plus the place is small without any seating so it can get crowded and you don't even know how much time for your order to be ready. But omg the mochi was spectacular. Soft chewy tasty not too sweet. Absolutely smacked it out of the park. A lot of points to improve upon but 5 star mochi.

This spot is super legit. Haven't had a chance to try more but would love to…read more I had: Apps Fried mantou (good) Beef pancake (great) Meal Popcorn chicken rice medium (very good!)

I had no idea that grandma's kitchen was Taiwanese. The last time I had, Taiwanese was a bad…read moreexperience so bad, I wiped my tongue off with a napkin however, today I got the beef broth soup with noodles. It was delicious and I ate every single bit. I didn't try anything else because my tummy a little under the weather today. But what I did try was delicious! I wish they had more dishes that didn't have so much pork in it. The soup was of flavor. The price was $14. I think it's a little overpriced . I think the appropriate price should be $10 maybe $11.

Very kind staff! Boba quality feels consistently good and I like that you can personalize the…read moresweetness level. I've tried multiple flavors and they're all good. Macarons are also fresh tasting!

Great place! Excellent boba tea!…read more Must try: Matcha Milk Tea- smooth and delicious matcha flavor comes through; Mango Fruit Tea- not too sweet and refreshing. I think Jasmine tea was used. Love the fragrant floral notesDidn't taste the mango however but it's still on our favorite list! On the fence: Milk tea with grass jelly- the grass jelly was hard to get out otherwise it's a delicious hot day beverage. We'll try it with regular boba next time.

House of Noodles has become one of my favorite comfort food spots, especially in the winter. There…read moreis something magical about being handed a steaming hot clay pot instead of a plastic takeout container (microplastics, no thanks). It reminds me a little of the old Shine's Fresh Asian in Belmont, except somehow cozier and a little more elevated. If you're looking for a place for a big group, this probably won't work. Most of the seating is bar-style facing a beautiful Chinese-inspired wallpaper. However, if you're eating solo, or with one other person, I think it's one of the best places around. There's something incredibly peaceful about settling in with a hot bowl of noodle soup while the clay pot keeps everything piping hot on a cold, snowy winter's day. The menu has so many different soups and hand-pulled noodles that I keep telling myself I'm going to branch out. In fact, I *thought* I had branched out...until my food arrived and I realized I had accidentally ordered the exact same dish I'd gotten the last time. Apparently my subconscious knows what it's likes. The culprit? The clay pot rice noodle soup with pork, Spam, chives, carrots, napa cabbage, baby bok choy, wood ear mushrooms, quail egg, tomato, green onions, and soy sauce. That is an absurd amount of yummy goodness packed into one bowl, and honestly, I can't even be mad at myself for ordering it twice. Could you get it to go? Sure. I've certainly done it before, but I think this is one of those meals that's meant to be eaten there. The clay pot keeps everything hot, the noodles stay just right, and the whole experience feels comforting in a way that doesn't quite survive a car ride home. I sincerely hope House of Noodles stays in Newton for a very long time. It's the kind of neighborhood restaurant that quietly becomes part of your routine, and I'm really glad it's here.

Authentic and delicious northern style chinese food spot in Newton that is worth visiting if you're…read morein the area. Fast casual style where you order on a tablet and the food it brought to your spot on the counter if you're dining in. Seems to be a popular spot for take out even during weekend lunch. Food was prepared fresh and served rather quickly. The pork gyoza was crispy and the wrapper was light, good snack or appetizer option. The hot and sour noodles were decent but not as sour as i expected. Still comforting and filling and I'd order it again as the price is quite fair. They have an extensive menu and I'm curious to try more of their food.

Sent my SO to pick up some bubble tea for me while I was sick…read more Unfortunately my classic milk tea was bad. The tapioca inside was still hard and not cooked all the way. Disappointed that I decided to try out this bubble tea place when I wasnt feeling good and was rewarded with a crappy drink that should be basic/easy to make.

A good place in Waltham to satisfy your bubble tea craving, but nothing special. I ordered from…read moretheir kiosk and got the oolong milk tea with boba during my most recent visit. The boba was soft and chewy, but the milk tea was more on the milky side rather than tea taste. They have a cute cat mural with boba and a few tables if you want to dine in. The service was quick since I came during an afternoon when the store was empty. Overall, I would return if I'm in the area, but wouldn't go out of my way to come here again.

" New Floral Donuts just in time for Mothers Day " My…read morefavorite Donut shop with also a full menu of coffee, teas and boba galore. Has some new flavors yet again " The floral edition ". Just in time for Mother's Day . They sell out quick so come get yours . They also carry a yummy line of soups to explore. The vibe is friendly and welcoming. Hope to see you soon at Pon De Joy. Lots of parking so no worries on parking . P. S : I could not add any more pictures on Yelp they have a limit . To show the floral design(s) of the donuts .

This tiny small store in Newton Centre serves up several variations of what is now my favorite…read moredessert - mochi donuts. As I was never a big fan of (overly) sweet delights, I've never bothered to try them despite hearing about it until recently at an event. I was truly surprised as I didn't just take a bite BUT finished the whole thing in less than a minute (once again, a pretty big feat for someone who doesn't prefer sweet treats). It wasn't overly sweet like normal donuts and the texture is far more delightful and chewy as much as it was moist. The flavors were potent and quite addicting. I know I will now be visiting quite a bit as the price is also really decent for what you get. Wishing you the best for the rest of the year and an even better 2024! Cheers!

Today I had the pleasure of eating at this establishment. It had been recommended to me by so many…read moreand I was in the area so I thought I'd check it out. As soon as you walk in, you are in the battle of the drums between the Kumasi and the Djembe. So loud I couldn't think . I did ask to turn it down a few times, in the middle of my meal the Chef said I could eat outside. On that note I ordered way too much. The fried chicken was delicious !! Not greasy at all. But huge, sorry today I ordered two thighs that were the size of one large breast. A little condiment of shaved coconut and chive was on the side. Any sides were à la carte. I did try the " Cabbage Salad" that had a nice flavor, but was overdressed and is mostly iceberg lettuce, and rice with surprisingly sticky rice , so it was kind of yummy. The chicken came with one sauce I got the curry. It was divine.. & my friend got the chicken bites and some kind of mayo. I was going to leave a five star review because the food was that good however, on the receipt they charged $.92 for the containers and eating utensils. I'm disheartened because if they offered an alternative like a plate and regular silverware, I could see not adding it into their cost. If I refuse to pay for the containers, how would I eat it on that note the chef was nice enough to me to have me try a couple of items that I didn't have to pay for. Which I greatly appreciated and that is why I'm leaving such a nice review. I do recommend eating here, but take it home. Or call for delivery, they have their own AP. PS great smoothie's !!!

I was in that area, driving from one point to another. I wanted to pick up something really quick…read moreon the way. I decided to order Spam Musubi (rice and spam), a Byte (mini fried chicken), and tapioca tea! My girl went into the store and had the food ready within 3 minutes, which is really awesome as we were in a hurry. However, we were really disappointed by what was inside that bag, as none of them were as good as we expected. 1) Spam Musubi's rice was lost in texture itself. It tasted like old rice. Yet spam was well not bad. We ate all of them. 2) bytes( mini fried chicken) they were overcooked. I attach the picture of it. So hard to chew and meat was nothing there. And I requested mayo but it was not there. But spicy sauce was with them instead in the box. The kids were complaining it was too spicy for mayo. 3) boba tea, I ordered with boba with extra fee. But it was not there just milk tea with brown suger. Later my girl who went to there to pick up, told me the server continued to speak to her even though my girl told to write down as she was deaf. Can't lipreading. Quite disappointed with the service and food.

I love HeyTea! Still my favorite location to go to in MA…read more I've experienced the least amount of problems here, compared to the other two (Newbury St. & Natick). PLUS, they close later than both. I have this bad habit of going here almost every time I have a meal in the area LOL. The addiction is real! I love that they keep adding new drinks to their menu... keeps it interesting. My favorite is still the Mango Coconut Boom but I'm a fan of most of their new drinks, like the Golden Oolong Yuzu & their King Jasmine Guava! I tried the Pistachio Cloud Jasmine Coconut, as well, and it's super similar to one of my favorites from MollyTea. I prefer the one from MollyTea more w/ champaca tea. Since their opening here, I have tried almost all of the drinks & their mango coconut boom is STILL superior! Highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys mango. It is pretty much their version of mango pomelo sago (they have a version with pomelo but I like it without). SO GOOD! ***Pro tip: order ahead of time via HeyTea app. This is a lifesaver, since the wait time is pretty atrocious most days still. Usually takes ~20 min to be ready.

LOVEDDDD THIS! so refreshing and perfect for pistachio lovers…read more there's typically a ~20min wait for this location but it goes by fast honestly. i recommend ordering ahead on their app to avoid a long wait

Came on a Friday evening…read more Got a osmanthus honey tea and a lavender milk tea. Both were unimpressive: the lavender milk tea tasted too watered down. To make matters worse, they didn't have any black tapioca! The employees offered the weekend only dragon fruit tapioca. The dragon fruit tapioca was surprisingly decent. Especially compared to Gongcha, which also offers dragon fruit flavored tapioca. I was still disappointed by the lack of regular black tapioca when it wasn't even close to closing time. The interior is crowded. And there was only one stool to sit on for customers while they wait. But there's plenty of places to sit outside.

Very cute boba shop with a friendly staff. I opted to get a classic brown sugar milk tea that comes…read morewith boba. The boba was definitely fresh as it was still warm at the bottom of my cup (I got the cold version). The boba was cooked perfectly, which was great. The milk tea was also not too sweet.

Great little spot for Vietnamese food! The banh mi here was…read moredelicious. Bun bo hue was tasty. Can't wait to come back and try out more dishes Service was quick and super friendly.

why so much noodle for the pho? I could hardly taste the…read morewhole dish. re broth. More flavor/complexity is needed. less sodium. The chicken in the spring rolls was chewy as hell/hard to swallow. Price point was okay . tho supporting family business is the preference, sad to say.. I will need to return to Soup Shack.