Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Happy Lamb Hot Pot

    4.1 (536 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 9:30 PM

    Happy Lamb Hot Pot Photos

    HAPPY LAMB HOT POT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Happy Lamb Hot Pot

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Samantha P.

    Good quality meat, good service, and a good time! This is a decent hot pot place near the Boston area. I recommend going during their "Happy hour" times that is $19.99/pp as its much more worth it for that price. THE UNLIMITED PASSIONFRUIT GREEN TEA IS THE BEST PART! :) We tried all their meats on the menu and it's pretty decent quality, some of the chicken/pork with marinade is a little mushy in hot pot, but overall was good especially their sliced meats. The self serve vegetables/noodles/seafood was actually one of the best parts!! They have so many options- from bok choy to ramen noodles to shrimp to every fish cake ever, it was such a wide range of sides that is enough for practically anyone. They also have fresh rice in a rice cooker and some hot sides like spring rolls and these delicious red bean sesame balls. They're all fresh, and stored in the right temps. I loved having the unlimited soft drinks and passfruit green tea. It was such a great vibe inside and everyone was chatting away. Parking is easier along the side roads, don't waste your time on the main road. Definitely will be back or visiting one of their other locations as well.

    Kevin W.

    Tl;dr Go to spot for all you can eat hotpot. Meat quality is good and the broth is very flavorful. Been here 3 times now. One small downside is that parking in Cambridge can be difficult sometimes, but the food makes it worth the trip. They also often have cheaper deals, like a buy 3 get 1 free during the summer. I always get the split pot with spicy and normal for the best of both worlds. The soup is very flavorful and I find that I do not even need sauce with their broth. The meat quality is good and we always get multiple rounds of the fatty beef. Meat is the only item you have to order through the staff, but there is a decent selection of other all you can eat items that you can just grab yourself. I especially love their fresh noodles. Overall a solid choice for all you can eat. I will definitely be back.

    Jennifer T.

    Quick service and a solid spot to get your hot pot fix. This is my second time at a Happy Lamb and I'm surprised at the selection of seafood and veggies that are at the self serve. I was here with a large group on a Saturday night and they were quite busy. The food selection does get a little messy but they are more of a no frills hot pot.

    Michelle M.

    Enjoyed my experience at Happy Lamb Hot Pot. This style hotpot is very interactive as they bring you the meats and broth, but everything else you go up and grab from the ingredient bar. My boyfriend and I split the half and half broth, one was spicy and one wasn't. Then we got the all you can eat standard meat package--our favorite was the classic beef. After ordering this, we went up to get veggies, noodles, and seafood options. There is also a DIY sauce station where you can customize a sauce. The experience really depends on what you make of it, and after a few rounds and observing others, I got my footing and had a better idea of what to mix and make it tasty! They also have a few appetizers and desserts in addition to the classic hot pot. Overall it was a fun experience and I would come back here. Prices were pretty good too since you can eat as much as you want. Staff was also helpful and came around a lot to check on us.

    April T.

    Free on your birthday if you bring three people! If you're hoping for the best bang for your buck and fuss free hot pot, this is the place to go. You order the meat with the server but everything is set up for you to grab yourself. Don't expect the nicest aesthetic since it's AYCE but it's usually pretty clean.

    Half and half broth with lamb, pork, and beef
    Monica C.

    My personal favorite hot pot experience in Boston in a convenient location. I've come multiple times throughout the year with friends and they offer an amazing all you can eat hot pot experience with good quality ingredients, plenty of protein and all the accompaniments & sauces you could desire and help yourself to throughout the meal. Finish off with their classic soft serve ice cream - nothing super fancy but hits the spot every time.

    Annie B.

    Amazing AYCE hot pot spot. The lunch special on Monday-Friday is amazing and not too crowded and the pineapple sake is really refreshing and delicious. Great service and super fast too. Will definitely be back.

    Hot pot
    Alejandra H.

    Our favorite happy lamb in the area! Casual AYCE hotpot perfect for hanging out with friends or family. Usually there is a line at night but you can reserve a spot in line online. Once you get seated the quickly will bring you the broth you chose and will come around to ask if you'd like to order more meat. Different sides and ingredients to add to the hot pot are available with choices like mussels, shrimp paste, tofu, udon, mushrooms. There is an also a sauce station though it doesn't have as many options as other hot pot places I have been too. I also like that in this location they have ice cream cups too! Can't wait to go back

    Trey T.

    Never tried this location before, so we went. Needless to say, Happy Lamb locations always live up to their brand name. We got our usual best of both worlds broths and the usual cuts of meat. I would like to say though that the soup seems to boil slower here than other locations. The meat presentation however is insanely immaculate. Effort was definitely put into displaying the meat. One thing that is different here than other locations in terms of food choice, is that in the hot food area, they had braised pork and steamed red bean buns. I normally don't like red bean filling, but whatever brand they're using, it's really good. It would go so well with milk tea. The space of the restaurant is also a good size. Servers here seem to be more reserved, but that's fine to me. Love Happy Lamb!

    Basic Broth
    Victoria S.

    Great food and great for a relaxing and fun night out with family and/or friends. My friends and I always have a good time at the Happy Lamb and always leave full! The lamb and beef are so good and are unlimited. The additions bar also is good and there is plenty of quail eggs, fish cakes, and greens to go around. Great time!

    delicious hot pot
    Jae Yun H.

    Super yummy! It was a great AYCE experience! Would come back again + one of Boston's best hot pot places on a cold day

    Hotpot

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    23 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Annie B.
    138
    183
    473

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Natalie R.
    113
    40
    12

    9 days ago

    We have been coming here for a long time. Always a great meal here, we are never disappointed.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 days ago

    DELICIOUS. The best hot pot spot I've ever had in Boston! The selections are so amazing, and the service is great.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Happy Lamb H.

    Happy Lamb H.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Jae Yun H.
    151
    25
    18

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ally B.
    4
    121
    145

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Happy Lamb H.

    Happy Lamb H.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gary R.
    5
    106
    75

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 days ago

    great all-you-can-eat system, though as a result, the staff weren't as attentive as they could have been.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Luke Z.
    1
    12
    18

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Happy Lamb H.

    Happy Lamb H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Cheap and rude owners, all they care is money and get you out as soon as they can to fill the sits again Not very fresh food.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Happy Lamb H.

    Happy Lamb H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Happy Lamb H.

    Happy Lamb H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Good foods and atmosphere... would come back. Good service and great place to meet up with friends and families.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 14

    Happy Lamb Hot Pot Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Happy Lamb Hot Pot

    Do they accept 1 party?

    Yes. I have been there alone and had no reservation.

    I've heard that Happy Lamb has all u can eat now, is that true?

    Yes! Comes w/some apps, sauces, meats, sides and beverages

    Is there hotpot buffet?

    No there is no buffet. You order via a menu

    Is there seating for 1?

    Yeah you can go there alone, but hotpot is more for group of people

    Do they have all you can eat?

    Nope, they don't do that anymore!

    Are there different prices for lunch?

    yes,some set menu for lunch

    Is the meat halal?

    unfortunately no..

    Is this place AYCE?

    It is on Wednesdays where they have a smaller menu that is AYCE and other items can still be bought a la carte

    Family of 4 but one is vegetarian. Can we get 2 pots-- one for meat and one for vegetarian so don't mix?

    You can have a divider for one pot or have two pots if there are two hot plates for your table.

    View All 14 Questions

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Hot Pot 5,057 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Fighting Fish Thai Cuisine

    Fighting Fish Thai Cuisine

    4.6
    (39 reviews)
    3.3 mi

    One of the BEST Thai restaurants in Boston. Love that I don't have to drive into the city, there is…read morea spacious parking lot, and the folks inside are always speedy and friendly. The food is spicy, delicious, and flavorful every time. Everything is fantastic and I've yet to taste a dish that I wouldn't get again. Things I've gotten: -Larb - quintessential, can't go wrong. -Thai Saap Pork Ribs Soup: SO GOOD. Sour and spicy (you can adjust the heat). It was perfect during the cold winter. The ribs were very tender and the broth was full of flavor. -Pad Thai - again, can't go wrong. -Wonton Soup - some of the best I've had. The broth was deliciously savory and so much tastier than the bland versions you get from most Chinese places. -Pad See Ew - also fantastic. -Rad Nah - appreciated that they packed the noodles separately so I could assemble the dish fresh. No soggy noodles. -Ka Prow Crispy Pork - by the time I got it home, it wasn't very crispy anymore but it didn't matter because the flavor was fantastic. -Crispy Chicken Basil - same thing, not too crispy but still delicious. Restaurant decor looks comfortable and there are a decent amount of tables inside. I haven't made the effort to eat onsite yet, but looking forward to doing that at some point because I definitely want to try their whole fish. It looks amazing! Can totally understand why some people would be intimidated by the location and look from outside, but looks can be deceiving! Absolutely worth the drive.

    This place used to be the adult store but I think it moved to the back. Decent parking around since…read morea small lot. Its small inside with tables for dine in. 4/5 drunken noodles was spicy and delicious. Arived fresh and hot. This was lunch portion so assuming its smaller sized. Think there was only one cook so things bit slower but fresh cook to order. 4/5 fighting fish roll was decent. Crunchy tofu skin exterior and packed with flavors of pork, crab and shrimp. Juicy and hot inside, good flavor and texture. 3.5 siam fried rice was decent and flavored well but just wasn't distinguishing itself enough. Service was decent, it was one guy doing waiter and cashier. He was back and forth and sometimes waiting inside kitchen. Overall will come again since location has decent parking and reasonable prices and good thai food. I like their specials menu which I assume rotates.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Crispy Chicken Basil
    Crispy Chicken Basil
    They texted me menu

    See all

    They texted me menu
    Too Hot

    Too Hot

    4.1
    (20 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    Two weekend visits to this relatively new subterranean Sichuan eatery in Harvard Square (Eliot…read moreStreet) with a very inviting interior and some VERY spicy dishes. -- Vegetarian Cold Noodle: Firm, peanut buttery, satisfying. Not spicy. Not too saucy, so you can "feel" the noodle, but I would have liked more vegetables. -- Yibin Fiery Noodles: Warm and similarly al dente, these were manageably spicy. Meat crumble, seeds or nuts, scallions, and heat. -- Red and Green Pepper Chicken: Batterless but crisp, tender, and not boneless. Relentlessly spicy from several heat sources and kaleidoscopically delicious. The closest comparison is dry hot chicken that also goes by a few other names, but this was better. Elite, and the best thing I ate in all of 2025, but sadly no longer on the menu. -- Stone Pot Tofu: Billed as Ma Po Tofu sizzling in a stone pot, but no sizzle and no stone pot. Identified as very spicy but minimally spicy and more numbing (more "ma" than "la"). I enjoyed the overall flavor (heavily seasoned) and the saltiness of the fermented black beans. Despite some of the menu discrepancies, this was a really good version for my tastes. Near-elite. -- Green Beans With Eggplant: Strong flavor, not too hot spicewise, but volcanically hot temperaturewise. Decent. -- Chicken and Clams: Black bean flavor, whole peppercorns, spicy but loaded with flavor beyond the spice. A deceptively huge and quite delicious. Elite. -- Beef Spring Rolls: Not my choice. Crisp, beefy, and chili sauce on the side added contrast. Solid, but boring, more typical of an Americanized offering, and a waste of an opportunity given Too Hot's killer menu. -- Pork Belly with Fermented Beans: Superb rendition, not drastically different from twice cooked pork, but much more flavor and giant pieces. Near-elite to Elite. -- Shrimp in Dry Hot Pot: Tons of dry rub spiciness, giant shrimp, chopped vegetables, and crinkle cut potatoes. Near-elite. -- Brussels Sprouts w/Shallots: More subtle flavors here but hardly bland. Fried shallots had sort of an onion ringy presence in miniature. Cooked just right. Outstanding overall experience, with the best dish on the first visit and almost all winners on the second. Kudos to the friendly and helpful service, including a server suggestion to switch an item after noticing we ordered two very similar items. Eager to return often and try even more of the menu.

    Pretty solid szechuan spot in Harvard Square! I made a reservation to ensure no wait time and at…read morethe time, I had to make it quite early so it seems like a popular spot. Interior felt very modern and sleek - it was a bit small as well so it was a little cramped between tables and walking areas. The menu had a good selection of szechuan fare and we ended up sharing some of their popular dishes. I enjoyed the large fish one which was a good size for a family. Everything tasted authentic, my only qualm was paying for rice - you can't not have rice and it seems ridiculous to pay $3 for one bowl. Overall, a solid restaurant and option for Chinese food in Harvard Square.

    Photos
    Area
    Area
    Chengdu mala chicken
    Chengdu mala chicken
    Too Hot

    See all

    Lucky Tiger

    Lucky Tiger

    4.3
    (22 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    If I could give Lucky Tiger more than five stars I absolutely would…read more From the moment we checked in to the moment we reluctantly checked out hours later this experience was nothing short of amazing. Huge shoutout to Eduardo, the manager, who went above and beyond to make our sisters holiday outing feel special and intentional, and to our server Paulina, who was attentive, warm, and truly wanted everything to be perfect. And it was. Let's talk ambiance first because whew. Chic. Stylish. Aesthetic on aesthetic. Even the walk to the bathroom felt curated. Ladies... the mirror alone deserves a moment. Full body selfie approved. Now the drinks. The mocktail I had was SO good. Balanced, flavorful, refreshing. I like a mocktail that has flavor and layers without being super sweet. The apps thoughhhhhh! They deserve their own paragraph because baby... The crab rangoon was TO DIE FOR. That old school wrap dough situation? I have been hunting for that exact texture and flavor forever. My fave restaurant switched dough and I haven't had a good Rangoon since then until now. It was crispy, nostalgic, and perfect. The fried egg rolls? Delicious. The pickled cucumbers? Bright and refreshing and er literally ate every drop, lol. But the WINNER... those fall off the bone ribs. I might have made a sound when I bit into them. Cooked to perfection. A full blown flavor party in my mouth. The scallion pancakes were the only thing that did not hit for me. The dough was thicker and heavier than I prefer. I love mine light and airy like traditional scallion pancakes. If they leaned that way I would have been obsessed. Our main courses... baybeeee The Dan Dan noodles... I did not even get a bite. I went to ask my sister for a taste and they were GONE. All of them. That says everything. My other sister loved the dumplings and even more that they fried them for her instead of serving them traditionally. And the sauce with those dumplings... Let me tell you about the sauce. I am OBSESSED. I took some home and Eduardo generously gave me more to take. That is top tier service and an at home sauce party, lol. My fried house rice was excellent. The mix of veggies and flavors was perfection. With everything else we ordered I could not even finish it. And then... dessert. Eduardo and Paulina surprised us with a complimentary cheesecake that was so light and decadent, topped with fruit and homemade whipped cream. Next time I am absolutely saving space for that. The customer service was truly top tier. The decor, the food, the staff, the background music. Everything PERFECT. My sisters and I sat for hours. We laughed. We ate. We shared emotions. We were present. That alone tells you how comfortable and welcoming this space is. I would go back today. I cannot wait to bring my husband and some of my fellow foodies. Yelp Elite gang... this place is officially five star approved. GOO!

    Such a fun restaurant to check out in Charlestown! We stopped by on weekday nights and it wasn't…read morebeen too busy. We decided to order some appetizers, which were definitely the stars of the meal! Highly recommend the crab rangoons and scallion pancakes. For entree, I recommend getting a sushi roll. Both the salmon and tuna rolls are delicious! The udon noodles were a let down and just too salty but everything else was amazing! It is a bit pricy for the food you are getting but overall a great dinner experience. Staff is super friendly and food comes out really quick. This spot is also stunning on the inside making it a really fun spot to check out.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    SALMON SUNRISE ROLL
    SALMON SUNRISE ROLL
    Yuzu martini

    See all

    Yuzu martini
    Myers & Chang

    Myers & Chang

    3.9
    (2k reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$$

    Really great environment and super responsive service! Otto recommended the biang biang noodles and…read moreI would recommend now too! Highly likely to return with friends sometime soon.

    Myers+Chang is a modern Asian-inspired restaurant that blends flavors from across East and…read moreSoutheast Asia into a menu built around small, shareable plates. We walked into a space with an energetic atmosphere, an open kitchen, a lively dining room, and a contemporary design that makes the restaurant feel both casual and polished. The layout encourages ordering several dishes for the table, and the variety across the menu makes it easy to build a meal that feels different with each visit. The small plates are the biggest draw because they let you try a wide range of flavors without committing to a single entrée. The pork belly buns are one of the signature dishes, featuring tender pork inside soft steamed buns with a balance of sweet and savory flavors. The dan dan noodles are another standout with their rich, spicy sauce, while the Brussels sprouts have developed a strong following thanks to their crispy texture and bold seasoning. We also appreciated that many dishes are available as half portions, making it easier to sample more of the menu without ordering too much food. The menu offers a good balance between familiar favorites and more creative dishes, with each plate feeling thoughtfully prepared and packed with flavor. There are also plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, making it easy for groups with different dietary preferences to find something they enjoy. The service matched the pace of the restaurant during our visit. The staff were attentive, dishes came out steadily as they were ready, and the servers were helpful with recommendations for building a meal around multiple small plates. The restaurant stays busy throughout the evening, so making a reservation is a good idea, especially for dinner or larger groups. Myers+Chang is one of the better places in Boston for creative Asian-inspired small plates. The combination of bold flavors, shareable portions, lively atmosphere, and consistently strong service makes it a restaurant that is easy to return to, especially if you enjoy trying a variety of dishes instead of ordering a traditional entrée.

    Photos
    Myers & Chang
    Myers & Chang
    Myers & Chang

    See all

    The Silk

    The Silk

    3.8
    (22 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    Ordered takeout on a rainy day from The Silk and did not regret it. I got the chicken noodles…read more(street style), chicken manchurian, and cauliflower manchurian - fantastic food! I got everything mild with sauces on the side and that was definitely the way to go. The chicken manchurian is quite hot/spicy even at the mild level so I was glad about the mild selection.

    I had really been looking forward to trying this place and was finally able to on Valentines Day…read more The decoration was adorable and I'm pretty sure they were booked out for the evening. There was a great singer, pianist, and sax player to really set the mood. They were super fun, especially when a couple got engaged! To start, I got their ginger martini and while my friend went with a Do-er neat (not a whiskey drinker myself, lol). He tried to order 2 of their beers but they were out of both. My drink came after 15 mins and then we had to remind the waiter about his whiskey. That took another 10. We started with the chicken bao buns and the samosas. Both spectacular! My only complaint is the little size for the samosa size. For our mains we got the short rib and the white butter chicken. The butter chicken could've used a bit more chicken for the price and was frankly a bit tough. The sauce was great. The short rib was flavorful and packed the perfect punch. Dipping the garlic naan in both sauces was my fav part!! Overall an ok experience. I want to give the restaurant grace because it was very packed but service was poor. I think we had 4 different staff members help us total which probably led to lots of miscommunication.

    Photos
    Dining room, featuring a live jazz band
    Dining room, featuring a live jazz band
    Tomato Basil Bisque Soup
    Tomato Basil Bisque Soup
    Turmeric Tandoori Salmon

    See all

    Turmeric Tandoori Salmon
    Black Ruby

    Black Ruby

    4.5
    (114 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Black Ruby completely exceeded my expectations. The idea of Thai-American fusion with craft burgers…read moreand pasta sounded intriguing, but the food was genuinely impressive. Our favorites were the Mussels in Red Curry Rice Wine, Red Curry Bolognese, Massaman Beef Burger, and Mango Sticky Rice. Each packed with flavor and executed beautifully. The Thai Iced Tea was also excellent, while the Thai Ice Espresso Martini just wasn't for me. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the restaurant itself was clean, cozy, and inviting. The only downsides were that they had run out of their sourdough brioche buns, which I was excited to try, and reservations were tough to get as we had to book about a month in advance. Even so, it's easy to see why this place is so popular. I'll definitely be back and hopefully try some of the burgers with those sourdough buns next time.

    I have to admit, given all the hype, I was expecting a bit more from Black Ruby. My friends and I…read morecame on a Thursday night with a reservation, and the restaurant was packed. Now, I suspect this might due in part because of the hype + location + thai/american fusion flavor, but even with a reservation we still ended up waiting about 30 minutes to be seated. Unfortunately, the service throughout dinner wasn't much better. Between the three of us, we ordered the scallion fries (which, for anyone wondering, aren't actually fries tossed in scallion oil or dressing), the fried calamari, the red curry Bolognese, the green curry pasta with steak, and, of course, the much-hyped Massaman burger. The fried calamari was probably the weakest dish. It had a fishier taste than I expected, and the breading was fairly greasy and tended to fall off. The scallion fries were good, though not especially memorable. Of the entrées, we preferred the green curry pasta over the red curry Bolognese, though both became a little heavy after a while. The Massaman burger was solid, but not quite the standout I was hoping for. Across the dishes, our biggest takeaway was that the curry sauces all leaned fairly rich and salty without much contrast. A little acidity or citrus would have gone a long way in brightening the flavors. Overall, Black Ruby was good, just not quite as memorable as I expected. Nothing we ordered really wowed us, but it's still a perfectly solid spot if you're in the area. I'd be open to coming back, though I'd probably try some different items if we were ever around Harvard Square.

    Photos
    Unwind
    Unwind
    Thai Spicy Calamari
    Thai Spicy Calamari
    Red Curry Bolognese

    See all

    Red Curry Bolognese
    JiangNan - Boston

    JiangNan - Boston

    4.4
    (349 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    TLDR: Potentially…read moreone of my favorite Chinese restaurants in all of Massachusetts! Beautiful interior, centrally located, and delicious, high-quality food. Will definitely find a reason to come back here soon. ------ FOOD: 1. [MUST TRY] STIR-FRIED CABBAGE W/ PORK BELLY (5/5) Presentation was phenomenal (in a clay pot with its own burner underneath to keep it hot). The portion was much larger than expected, and most importantly, it tasted incredible. Generous amounts of pork in this, and the sauce was authentic and addicting. 2. SCALLION CHICKEN (5/5) Another great choice. This was a huge portion with lots of tender chicken, and the scallion was present without being overpowering. 3. CRISPY BEEF WITH FRIED DOUGH STICKS (5/5) I was expecting Chinese you tiao but these were actually the small, ultra crispy manhua twists! Paired with the beef, this was a large and unique dish that I loved. The crispiness of the mahua made this a textural delight to eat. 4. MANGO SAGO DESSERT (5/5) Big portion, wonderful assortment of toppings including grapefruit, mango, sago, and popping balls over a creamy dessert soup base. 5. PEKING DUCK (4/5) I think I'm a tough critic since I just came back from Beijing and had so much Peking duck there. We ordered the half portion here and it had a generous amount of meat for not being the full portion. There were an assortment of accompaniments, including pineapple (new to me) and sugar (like the Beijing style) which were welcome additions. The wrappers were steamed well and didn't curl up on the edges. Overall this was a solid Peking duck, but the meat wasn't as standout as I was hoping. 6. STEAMED PORK SOUP DUMPLING (4/5) Solid soup dumplings. Not the best I've ever had, but definitely hit the spot. 7. SAUTEED PEA SPROUTS (4/5) Another solid classic. 8. PORK MEATBALL IN CRAB MEAT SAUCE (4/5) This was the most unique thing we ordered. I've never had a shi zi tou meatball with crab meat sauce before. The meatball itself was large (maybe size of a tennis ball), tender, and fatty, as it should be. It was then drowned in a generous lake of traditional crab meat sauce. If you're not a fan of crab meat then this might be a bit too fishy for you, but honestly it all combined surprisingly well and I grew to like this dish more and more with each bite. I wasn't the biggest fan to start, but by the end I wouldn't have minded getting another one! ------ AMBIANCE / ENVIRONMENT: * The interior has the classic Asian style of decor, but you can tell it was recently built / renovated because everything felt new and fresh. * The ambiance also felt more new-school luxurious vs. the typical Asian establishments that are more no-frills with as many tables packed in as possible * You're still somewhat close to the tables around you, but it's not overwhelming during lunch time and we still felt like we had enough space regardless * There's a bar area at the front of the restaurant and then a large, spacious dining room in the back * This is a great place for a date or a meaningful family gathering * Right outside is Boston Common, making this restaurant very well-located for lunch before or after a nice day in the park. While there's lots of parking around the park, a spot itself can be hard to come by, so your best bet might be to use the nearby parking garage instead ------ SERVICE: * Overall the service was great and quick. They did forget our tea, but when we asked for it later they apologized profusely and were quick to bring it out for us * This place fills up quickly so be sure to come early if you don't have a reservation or if you're a big enough group, make a reservation for your desired dining time

    Xiao Long Bao (5/10): Not worth ordering. To their credit, at least there was soup inside. The…read morefilling was not very flavorful, though. I had this with my Shanghainese relatives and they thought it was so bad Fish Slices w/ Pickled Mustard Greens (6.5/10): This tasted fine. The fish itself was not memorable. The spice level was ok, but could've been spicier. Crab Roe over Rice (7/10): Pretty tasty, but more of a side dish. Peking Duck (7/10): Honestly, I never order Peking duck unless I'm with my relatives. It tasted good to me, but pretty comparable to other Peking ducks I've had in the US. I think this is their #1 specialty dish or something, so knowing that, it doesn't really live up to the hype. tl;dr Too expensive for the quality of food you get.

    Photos
    Main dining area
    Main dining area
    Stir fry spicy beef
    Stir fry spicy beef
    Steamed Pork & Crab Meat $10.95 Soup Dumplings (4) 蟹粉小笼包

    See all

    Steamed Pork & Crab Meat $10.95 Soup Dumplings (4) 蟹粉小笼包
    Cicada Coffee Bar

    Cicada Coffee Bar

    4.4
    (255 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Delicious coffee, super cute space, and refreshing food…read more It's a bus yourself restaurant with an unassuming outdoor space in the back for additional seating. They generally require you to order before sitting given the small space so keep that in mind when you arrive. Service is friendly and very quick. Their food is delicious and refreshing, however I'd say the star of the show is their coffee. I really enjoyed the Saigon latte especially paired with the DELICIOUS pastry. Definitely want to come back to try their dinner menu!

    Came here on a sunday evening around 7:45 PM without a reservation, and were quickly seated at the…read morebar. The restaurant had a really great ambiance, and I enjoyed being able to watch the chefs prepare the food. We ordered the ginger cabbage salad, the coconut eggplant, and the duck noodles. I would have loved to have tried their sushi grade salmon, but they were unfortunately sold out for the night. So I would recommend arriving earlier if you would like to try it. My favorite dish was the duck noodles. I liked the freshness of the basil in the pesto, and the tenderness and juiciness of the duck. The coconut eggplant was a close second favorite. The coconut flavor was delicious, and I liked the nuts on top for crunch. I also found the ginger cabbage salad to be yummy, but not as much as a standout as the other two dishes. Overall, I really enjoyed this spot for dinner. I liked how fresh everything was, and how the dishes felt very light and healthy. It's definitely a bit on the pricier side, but I found it to be very worth it. I definitely come back and try their lattes and other dishes.

    Photos
    Coffee bar
    Coffee bar
    Mushroom spring rolls
    Mushroom spring rolls
    Decor

    See all

    Decor

    Happy Lamb Hot Pot - hotpot - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...