Everybody kept telling me to go to the Grasshopper. I took a friend from out of town and it was really a disappointment. The soup tasted mostly like corn starch. The appetizers were bland and unappetizing. We ordered a dish with tofu and coconut milk--it was all right but nothing memorable. I wanted to like this place because it is vegan but I really did not enjoy the food. read more

This place is a vegan gem! Try the "No Name" dish if you love General Gao's. It's better than the real thing. I really enjoyed my seafood chowfun - I asked for both "squid" and "shrimp" - really pleasing to find faux seafood around. The woman running the restaurant was very very friendly and warm. I can't wait to go back. If you love American Chinese food and some Vietnamese style and fusion dishes and don't eat animals, this is a place to check out. I even implore omnivores to check it out. Bonus points for being next to a vegan ice cream parlor. read more

So the reviews here pretty much break down into two camps: "Fantastic Vegan Food that even meat eaters will enjoy" and "Disgusting shithole with cockroaches crawling on the upholstery". Since I have yet to witness any of these cockroaches myself, I'm gonna go with Camp A on this one. The food is outstanding, and can deceive even the most seasoned carnivore into thinking they're eating the real thing. Try the sweet and sour "chicken", or better yet,share it with someone. It's like a tofu version of a corn dog, and is best when consumed in moderation. read more

I was taken here by a friend who lived in Allston the summer I lived in Boston. He had hyped it up so much as being cheap, delicious, fresh, and most of all vegetarian! (Although it didn't make a difference to me because I'm not) I'll have to say that it did live up to what he made it out to be! The pretty standard veggie and rice dish I got was very tasty, fresh, and full of flavor! The decor inside is simple but nice and clean. A lot of the customers were Allston/Brighton hipsters-ish. I like the place and will definitely try it again when I'm in the area. read more

Delicious! My boyfriend and I came here during lunch and had the eggplant with basil seasonal lunch special and the mixed vegetables with shrimp and a spring roll lunch special. The lunch prices are awesome and the portions are huge. Everything tasted fresh and we were both feeling stuffed and satisfied afterward. My boyfriend said that it was the best eggplant dish he's ever had. The lunch specials also come with the soup of the day (which for that day was a sweet and sour soup) and it was SO good. Just the right amount of tang and spiciness. The service was great - they were extremely nice and attentive. Our waters never went dry. An all around wonderful experience - we will be back! read more

I'll put it very simply: If your looking for an upscale, posh, overpriced, organic, fine dining experience, then Grasshopper isn't for you. If your looking for some tasty, reasonably priced local Vegan, you must go. It's yummy. It's cheap. It's Vegan. read more

I am sorry to review this beloved vegan restaurant so poorly that I have visited so many times and probably will continue to visit, but it is just way too hit and miss to pass the three star mark. Why 3 stars: * My boyfriend at the time got food poisoning from THE FRIED RICE(?). I don't know if it was the starch, the oil, the vegetables, or the combination of them all but there was immediate vomit and it lasted through the evening. *The portion size of the entree is ridiculous, and so is the price. It's 12 dollars for sweet and sour gluten over broccoli, which is decent enough but so large there is no way to finish and it does not keep in the fridge, don't even try to eat it the next day. *OILOILOIL oillll OILLLLL SO MUCH OIL! It's just not necessary. all the oil is frankly, sickening. Why in a different time and place I would give more than 3 stars: *Super friendly service when you dine in. They have quaint pots of green tea for you and they are very good at filling water and paying attention to you in a non-overbearing way. *Some of the options are actually okay. The fake beef/pork/chicken in a noodle dish of some sort is usually safeish, though still 8 dollars expensive. I also have enjoyed the spring rolls with fresh vegetables and tofu. read more

A great place for vegans. Some of the food was good, some not so much. Most of the vegan places in Boston compromise on the taste of the food in an attempt to provide a large variety of vegan dishes. The menu is exhaustive with a lot of options but the end result is not always a satisfying meal. 5 star for efforts 1 star for food taste read more

Best vegan restaurant ever! I come here any time I'm in the Boston area. Unfortunately, I don't live in MA, but if I did I would come here every day. Try the no name special. It's amazing. read more

Be forewarned, Grasshopper can be a pretty hit-or-miss institution. I have had three-star experiences and four-star experiences here, but all told Grasshopper slings some solid Makes-Mary-Happy dishes. I just had to learn which ones. I held a vegan pot-luck recently, and a friend of mine showed up with take-out from Grasshopper. This may have been a bit of a faux-paux, if the two Grasshopper dishes (garlic spinach & a sweet, fried tofu) weren't so damn good, and the price he cited was pretty reasonable. The buffet is a 3 star affair, nothing particularly interesting or stimulating but a good deal none-the-less especially if you have the vegan restriction. The other solid dishes I happily remember are the Kale and Gluten Supreme (enough for two or lunch the next day), the hot and sour soup, & the Grasshopper Supreme (a breathtaking vegetable smorgasbord). I have gotten apps there before, but I honestly can't remember any really standing out... just different variations on "fried." I'll admit I am a little generous in my rating because of their vegan status, but honestly it can be pretty hard to get a big plate of hot, salty, soy'y, sweet, American Chinese in Boston and this place fills that want. read more

This place is great. No not the ambiance -which isn't too bad if you choose a booth. And not the fancy dishes. What is great is the buffet and the vegan meat dishes they make. I eat a plant based diet but I typically abhor fake meat dishes. I like whole natural food that resembles closely its original state:) But they do it pretty well. The problem is I then tend to overeat and then feel queasy. But their variety is tasty and I want to try it all - and with the buffet I do try it all, too often and then get that queasy stomach! Service is helpful - sometimes you have to speak up but they do try hard enough. Some suggestions if you go: 1. Parking can be rough (look at the map). There are a few spots to park and lots of space for the "losa cruisa" to make a stop (old Boston slang for the bus). 2. Get a booth - it will protect you from people trying to squeeze by the tables in the middle and you won't have to share a table if you're not into that kind of stuff. You will need 3-4 people though to get a booth. 3. The Boston Veg Society holds regular brunches here and you can listen to a speaker and get the buffet. This is usually on Sunday I believe so if you like that stuff go, if not avoid. Pricing is good for the buffet. If you pay dish prices, you really can't try all the different dishes economically. And that would be missing out! ***Added bonus - non dairy ice cream specialist Fomu is deliciously a few doors down! read more

It's hard to find a good vegan restaurant and here at grasshopper you'll find good food at decent prices. I did find a fly in my tea, which I'm pretty sure was leftovers from the day before. read more

Absolutely amazing food! My boyfriend loved it and said that's the first time he's had vegan Chinese food that was as good as when he used to eat meat. It's definitely a hole in the wall kind of vibe and that is part of what makes it amazing. The service is on point and I absolutely love this place!!! read more

I was excited to try a new-to-me vegan place in Boston and came ready to eat my weight in lo mein. Unfortunately, Grasshopper didn't quite hit the mark for me. My hot date (okay, my mom) and I tried the cool sesame buckwheat noodles as an appetizer which were 100% nom-worthy but my Kale & Mushroom Delight main dish was over-the-top loaded with fake meat. I understand faux meat is a necessary evil in vegan food but this was, like, 45% fake chicken. My mom got the Chow Foon noodles which were doused in sauce. Pros: huge portions for a reasonable price, TONS of options, can be good for non-vegans/vegetarians because many pan-Asian vegan dished are recognizable Cons: overloaded with mock meat and sauce, no liquor license ;) read more

I love. Grasshopper pretty much rocks my world. It always takes me about 2 hours to order, because I'm not used to having so many menu options as a vegetarian, but once the food comes I'm pretty close to heaven. I usually get a sampler appetizer to share, which is lots of yum. There's enough fried stuff to feed an army of teenage boys, but it's nice to indulge sometimes. Then I like to try the entrees with names that are not at all descriptive of what the food is, like the Happy Family and the No Name. That strategy has never failed me at Grasshopper. Their fake chicken fingers are pretty awesome, too! I must say that I am not a huge fan of their fake pork. The fake beef and chicken, though, are just lovely. The service typically sucks there. Also, the decor isn't wonderful, but I love the photos of animals posted on the walls. They're cute! And you feel good because you aren't eating them! Hurrah! read more

I almost never stay to eat, because except for the unearthly pathos plant ( it literally encircles the entire restaurant) the atmosphere is pretty utilitarian. ( DO bring your camera for that plant, though. seriously.) However, I LOVE the appetizers here, and recommend both the cold and hot combinations. I've brought them to potlucks many a time, and occasionally admit that I didn't make them. I'm actually not a huge lover of fake meats, but they do a decent job with the regular veggie dishes and the no MSG policy makes an already pretty healthy meal even better. On the opposite end of things, if you have completely given up on your healthy diet, not to worry! For those in the mood for deep- fried-crunchy-sweet/sour-gravy-ness, order a large "No Name", get a pint of mango ice cream from the bodega down the street for afters, burn your belt and joyfully endulge! read more

Holy Schnikes, this s#*t is good. It's vegan chinese food people! I am not a huge fan of chinese food. The main reason is because I am aware that it is terrible for you. All of that sodium, msg, fried oil.... with every little white box, you're ordering yourself a hearty serving of type 2 diabetes. Knowing this, I choose not to eat it frequenty, if at all. DJ has been talking about Grasshopper for quite some time. Seeing that I am now a resident of Brighton Center, I felt that a jaunt down Cambridge Street to check it out was long overdue. Decor is not much. What you'd expect from a typical chinese restaurant. The menu? Same. But... there is a big difference: everything is vegan/vegetarian. There is no meat on the menu, yet you can order beef with broccoli! It's all soy protein, tofu and seitan! Being a vegetarian, I love this. But it doesn't stop there. The food (which is served with a great dinner tea) is absolutely outstanding. I enjoyed my first meal of chinese noodles without feeling like I had to go to the ER afterwards. Price is just right. A huge shared appetizer sampler of dumplings, pot stickers, and some interesting chinese samosas, a large noodle and lettuce dish with spring rolls (mine!), and a huge "pork" with broccoli dish and brown rice was $26. We recorded it as our cheapest dinner out, ever. Even cheaper than the vegan pizza joint next door. Not that it's bad (it's actually really good), but it's pizza. I'm just sayin'..... Go to Grasshopper. It'll surprise you. read more

Best place in the world, good people just need to open on time, it's never eleven on the dot...

Weak brah. This place is a vegetarian restaurant that serves deep fried fake chicken in some sort of thick batter and calls it chicken fingers. Oh wait, that could apply to regular chinese restaurants in the neighborhood too. The food here is tolerable, especially kind of cool because it's vegetarian but it's not my bag. It's cool to eat a bunch of fake meats but after a while I dream of chasing a chicken around a farm yard and sending it to hell where it belongs. There's no flavor to this food. It's vegetarians saying "oh man, there's seitan here, there's ficken (fake chicken), and tofurkey dumplingz" If you didn't grow up listening to Hardcore and being straight edge (however briefly) you might not find as intense a connection to this place as some. There is in fact a fish tank, but I don't think that's really that big a deal. Someone/something would eat those fish in the wild. At least Grasshopper is raising them in the tank for white teenagers, genxers, and other strange vegans to look at in dismay. Also, I like Satan more than I like Seitan. Does that make me a bad person? read more

I'm giving it a 3 out of 5 for now since I've only been to the Grasshopper twice. Went there for a second since my first visit a few years ago and the service was great and food arrived promptly. Ordered the chicken nuggets and should have read the reviews before hand about them being nothing but fried tofu in about a quarter of an inch of dough batter. They were OK but I guess I was expecting more meat texture protein than dough. My boyfriend enjoyed them but said he got full off of them rather quickly and he was starving. For my meal I ordered the 'The No Name' (battered gluten in sweet and sour sauce with vegetarian) and although it was tasty I guess I had higher expectations of the dish being more soy texture/chewy than crispy. If you like the fried crispy stuff then this is the dish for you. I'm going to try a different dish next time around and on another positive note the Grasshopper portions were generous! read more

I eat meat. Often. Every day. I eat eggs, drink milk, and consume a huge amount of animal-based foods in general. I love this Vegan restaurant. First off, I'm not sure if she still works there, but there was a waitress who just asked you what you wanted, and would commit your entire party's orders to memory. That doesn't make me think more or less of the restaurant itself, but... I thought it was worth mentioning. The actual service was quite speedy - worth mentioning, AND relevant. If you blindfolded me and gave me two similar dishes, one meat dish, and a non-meat dish from Grasshopper, I probably couldn't tell you the difference. Maybe that just means I'm not a super-taster, but either way, I thought the food tasted great. Furthermore, there is A LOT of food. I could eat a portion, become full, and take the rest home for 2 more meals. And because there's no meat, it's very inexpensive. So let's see - food tastes great, large portions, speedy service, cheap eats, waitress with astounding memory. Sign me up. read more

I visited Grasshopper for the first time today for dinner with my girlfriend. Being originally from California (as well as a vegan), I've missed the plethora of plant-based eateries to be found on the West Coast. Therefore, I was delighted to finally dine at a place near Boston that caters to this special diet. The restaurant itself was clean, organized, and tastefully decorated. We were promptly seated by the friendly hostess (who immediately served us water and authentic, hot tea), and were given a few minutes to look over the menu before our humble, polite, and attentive waiter came to take our orders. Our food took less than fifteen minutes to prepare (we ordered an appetizer and three entrees) and was graciously presented to us by the waitstaff. Everything was delicious, fresh, and well-cooked (greens sautéed perfectly, potatoes not overdone, etc.) I will definitely be back when I get the chance, and recommend vegans and nonvegans alike give this place a try. read more

Grasshopper Restaurant - Sautéed seasonal vegetables. - Chinese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

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As a vegetarian there are not many options for us to go to a restaurant and be able to safely order anything on the menu. A lot of Asian restaurants that appear to have vege-safe options are in fact not because they use fish or oyster sauce in them. Although I can be faulted to not trying EVERYTHING on the menu, all of the dozen or so things I've tried have been great. My standards include the wanton or hot and sour soup, sweet and sour chicken fingers (#77), vegebeef lomein, and the absolute greatest thing on the menu is the "no name" it's battered and fried gluetin heaven. Piled so high I often can't understand how it fit in my belly. Thank heavens it does though! I've only tried the cheesecake off the dessert menu and it was decent but if you've got enough room for dessert you're not eating enough dinner! And the lady there knows the number of what ever you ask for on the menu. She's super nice and sometimes I wish she was my mom. read more

Definitely not the best Chinese option in Allston but it's fine. Came here with a vegetarian friend for lunch last weekend after not being here for at least 5 years. Either my taste has evolved or they've gone downhill. I enjoyed our appetizer of "chicken fingers" it was hot and fried and yummy but my actual meal sort of sucked. It was super bland and I ordered rice and it took them a good 15 minutes after our meals were served to get the rice even though we asked where it was four separate times. Despite constantly not giving us our rice, the server was very nice to us and taking care of the entire restaurant. The restaurant itself could use a good scrub down. Our glasses were dirty so we had to grab some from another table. They left piles of dirty dishes on empty tables instead of taking them back to the kitchen. Would I go back again? Eh maybe in 5 years when I forget how average it was in a neighborhood full of awesome Chinese restaurants.. read more

Grasshopper Restaurant - Veggie chicken fingers. Delicious fried goodness. - Chinese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

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Ordered some kale. They were totally willing to prepare a special order for me (steamed - they also volunteered to separate out the sauce), which I really appreciated! They also recommended that I wrap the kale around my friend's NoName seitan, which also tasted great! I also appreciated their large portion sizes, which are great for a vegan who goes for large-volume low-calorie foods. read more

Grasshopper Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

I love grasshopper. I've lived in a lot of different places with a lot of great restaurants since I started coming here and nothing comes close. Everytime I'm in Boston I make sure I stop in and to be honest, I've driven pretty far out of my way to stop and grab some when I'm not even going through boston. I'm not sure what the no name is, but it's truly addicting. Their "beef" is delicious, and my boyfriend could live off of the mushroom hot pot. Their shakes are great too. I've never ordered anything here that wasn't great. read more

The food is modest if you're a meat eater, but definitely more exciting for the veggies/vegans. The menu selection is diverse. Try to go during off peak hours. Friday and Saturday nights the service is overwhelmed and their ability to handle their own popularity causes the service to suffer. Many props for attempting an all-vegan restaurant. Quite the rarity. I suppose if they had more competition they'd actually improve on the service. read more

I don't even live in Boston, and I haven't been here in a while, but after traveling the world and moving to Europe and back again and eating my way through New York and Chicago, this still remains my favorite restaurant in the universe. I just can't wait to go back and eat here again! I think the trick to this place is, have as many of the appetizers as you can fit in your belly. Eat the whole warm appetizer platter as a meal! It is so delicious. I loved many of their main dishes too, but the appetizer platters were always my favorite. read more

I give Grasshopper the award for fastest/cheapest/largest portion of takeout food in Boston! When I am starving and don't feel like cooking, I call Grasshopper. I live in Kenmore Square and by the time I get my act together and drive out to Allston my food is ready! Its usually less than 10/15 minutes for a TON of food! SWEET! If you don't live close enough to walk, bring someone with you or be quick, because its hard to find parking in that area, so you have to double park the car. BUT they can process your order and have you out the door in a minute or less! When you are picking up, make sure you repeat your order, or try and convince them to take your name when ordering, because usually they don't and since everyone ordered No Name it can get confusing. Although, so far every time they have literally read my mind and handed me the correct bag. I get the Fresh Rolls with Tofu, the No Name, and the Tofu Eggplant Surprise (the surprise is some sort of fake meat) and of course brown ride. When you do takeout they give you a strange side of cooked veggies I never eat, but I always think I will. I love it because the portions are so big, I can keep it in the fridge and snack on it for the next few days. Should you decide to eat in, the atmosphere can totally vary but the booths are nice and the pictures of cute animals on the wall are very fitting :) read more

Dear God. How I have missed this spot for so long, I'm not sure, but last night, I finally tried this place ... and wow! It was great! The portions are ENORMOUS and tasty. The No Name, which I found because of recommendations here, was pure heaven. The fried rice was good and the curry noodles were perfectly spicy and tangy. I will definitely be back, and maybe next time I'll know not to order quite so much ... or maybe I'll just enjoy the leftovers the next night like I just did today! UPDATE: My meat eating mom wanted to make out with the No Name, pretty much. Yes, it IS that good. read more

So I kept hearing about this "No-Name" over and over again, but I admit, I was a little apprehensive about trying something that couldn't be titled. Well, there finally came the day when I had heard enough and I had to give in and order it. What came back was a huge plate of awesome. And you know what? I really couldn't name it either. It tasted kind of like chicken, kind of like tofu, but frankly I didn't really stop to think. The service was great. I'm always a little nervous about ordering from people with an accent, but our server was attentive, gracious, and repeated our order back to us to make sure everything was all right. Our tea pot was always full. Five stars until I can find something to complain about. read more

Been here twice now... once with a vegan, and once with a carnivore like myself. I tried different dishes each time, and really liked both of them for different reasons. The lunch specials give you tons of food, and are not expensive at all for what you get! If you're nervous about going here because you're not a vegan and "fake meat" makes you get nervous... try the No Name... you'll love it, guaranteed. read more

My boyfriend and I have been trying to eat less meat so we tried this Restaurant our and wow!! It was delish. This is some of the best food I've had in Allston. 10/10 would recommend. The sweet and sour tofu was amazing. read more

Visited Grasshopper for their monthly buffet (every 3rd Sunday of the month) and was left speechless. As a self proclaimed carnivore I was skeptical about liking this place but wanted to give it a try after reading so many wonderful reviews. They offer a selection of what I believe are some of their most popular dishes including their No Name dish. For most of the meal I could not believe it was vegan. The meal was filling offered variety and was only 10 dollars for all you can eat, an absolute bargain. The atmosphere is casual with no frills. Grasshopper has completely change my view on vegetarian/vegan food and will be coming back next month for their next buffet. read more

Grasshopper Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

I've never liked Vegan food. I eat all sorts of meats poultry and fish, but I never even considered a vegan diet. This restaurant prepares vegan Chinese food, and it is very tasty. (wait... did I just say that?) I figure any vegan restaurant that can appeal to a meat lover like myself deserves 5 stars. So there it is. I've been a couple of times and while I've never been disappointed, I suggest trying the "no name". read more

I really want to like this place. really. I do. but I have felt pretty ill after eating there on multiple occasions so I do not go often and have not been in maybe a year. I don't know what it is, maybe something they use in their food that other vegan/vegetarian places I have gone to have not used? I do not find their food as consistently pleasing as I do at places like Buddha's but some of their things are pretty good and I like the fact that they do a lunch buffet. There's just no getting around the fact that NY kicks Boston's ass when it comes to vegan/vegetarian eateries. update: yelper allix was kind enough to let me in on the secret behind what has made me ill numerous times.... MSG. next stop at grasshopper i will ask for my meal minus this ingredient. read more

I first had Grasshopper as a 13 year old vegetarian and ever since then I've been hooked. Years later (not to mention a foray back into carnivorous behavior) I still love this place! My favorite dish is the "No Name". Tastes just like sesame chicken: crunchy, great flavor over freshly steamed brocolli. YUM! I also love their dumplings, vermacelli, and rice dishes. Grasshopper can be a bit oil heavy (don't expect that vegan food means no calories!) but it is delicious. This place is definitely quirky, and will be fun for anyone who is eco friendly or hard core veggie. The decor always cracks me up as well...There are pictures of random wildlife everywhere; it seems like they're meant to thank you for not eating them or something? haha Friendly staff are always helpful and accommodating. Don't forget to pick up some MEAT IS MURDER pamphlets on your way out ;--) Great place! read more

Vegan or not, this place is a solid option. Really diverse and large menu, which I love. Huge portions (you're defintely getting two meals out of this - especially if you get an appetizer or soup). Interior is nothing to write home about but the staff is "authentic" and nice enough. What's not to love? Well, the food seems pretty unhealthy for Vegan/vegetarian fare. If you don't care about that - great! It seems about the same level of freshness/healthiness as your typical Asian-American restaurant. Food is covered in a lot of (what I'm assuming is bad for you) sauce. read more

I AM TORN! 4 stars or 3 stars? I loved Grasshopper, mostly for its Sunday buffet. I'm a total hippy wanna be, and love getting together with all my vegan fat-kid friends, sitting down at a big strip of tables and getting our eat on. Once stuffed, we'd look up from our plates and chit chat with vegans throughout Boston. The Alston, Somerville, and Boston proper vegans all getting along in harmony. LOVE! Hopefully they still have the All-You-Can-Eat-Buffet ever third Sunday. Ooh, I can still feel the rage I'd get when I'd show up on the Second or fourth Sunday thinking it was Buffet Day. I'd eat there anyways, usually ordering the No-Name, but dropping $20 for dinner and dessert at that time was a lot of money and Buffet Day was $10 for all I could eat (which is an absurd amount). I'll settle on four because its one of like two good vegan places in Boston, come on East Coast, get your shit together! read more

There are lots of skeezy little Asian restaurants for meat eaters. Grasshopper is a skeezy little Asian restaurant for vegans. Maybe my expectations were too high. I have been hearing about grasshopper from vegans and vegetarians off and on for years and I thought it was some kind of vegetable Mecca. It's not. It's a skeezy little Asian restaurant that only serves vegan food. Walking in I was surprised at how run down the place seemed. The paint on the trim was, shall we say, 'antiqued' and the carpet was worn. We had the appetizer sampler and if I had to rate the place just on the appetizers it would get one star. They all tasted super starchy. My hot and sour soup was definitely extra starchy; it was so thick it behaved almost like pudding. The entrees were huge and tasted good but lacked any imagination. If I planned on going back I would plan on ordering one of the house specials. Now I will account for my star rating. [Starting at one.] +1 for serving fake meat. +1 for the super fresh broccoli. -1 for making me sick afterward. Bottom line, if you're in Allston and want some fake meat Grasshopper can help you out. However, if you aren't in Allston and you're ready to travel to get some fake meat don't travel to Allston, travel to Chinatown where you'll find actual Asian people eating in the Asian fake meat restaurants. -Edited for math.- read more