An excellent find! The menu is SO large you'd think they couldn't handle it, and perhaps they can't…read morebut certainly they nailed both of our orders. One Thai (eggplant) and one from Shaanxi China region (Biang Biang). I ordered the Biang Biang extra spicy but I'm guessing they didn't believe me. It was tasty but regular spice level. It's clear that there were actual Szechuan peppers in it - characteristic tingle effect. Which is nice to see now that the US has decided they're not poison after all. The braised eggplant with Thai basil (hence known as basil eggplant in most Thai restaurants) was creamy in texture and rich in flavor. The meal started with hot and sour soup, which was surprising. The cup was quite large and the soup was absolutely packed with ingredients. Tofu, wood ear mushrooms, lily buds and more. Super satisfying, although I ordered a side of black vinegar to get it a bit more sour. The prices were super reasonable for normal portions but the portions weren't normal - they were HUGE. Half the noodles went home with me as well as half the braised eggplant. Hard to see how they support such huge portions without correspondingly huge prices.

For another weekend lunch, I returned to House of Noodles and Sushi and ordered the spicy cumin…read morelamb biang biang noodles ($14.95) to satisfy a spicy noodle craving. As with before, I received a seat immediately, ordered, and received my meal all within 10 minutes. Today's noodle texture remained bouncy. The dish didn't seem as hot temperature wise,.and the chili oil seemed a bit less fragrant than before. Portion size still seemed decently large.

This Soup Shack location is the best imo. I've been to the one in Brookline and Porter Square which…read moreare closer to me but JP is where I discovered Soup Shack. I hate leaving reviews below 4 stars but it appears that portions have downsized by a lot while prices have increased within the last several years due to economic changes. I'm not sure if this location is still managed by the same owners before the pandemic but I would like to see improvements. This is a good location if you're in the area and need a quick solo lunch or dinner.

Soup Shack is a go-to of mine, especially during these cold winter months. Whether you eat at their…read morecozy space off centre street or get it delivered you are sure to not be disappointed. I've tried both the ramen and pho options which are flavorful and not overpowering. The gyoza and edamame are also both great as starters.

On my last day on the East Coast, I was DYING for some Asian food... and I'm so glad I found Yume…read moreGa Arukara! We arrived a little before 5:30 p.m., and we had to wait a few mins. The restaurant is on the smaller side, so there is limited seating. We were seated at the bar, so we got to see the udon being made, which was fun! The service was quick and attentive. I got the spicy hot niku udon and it was delicious. The udon was chewy and the perfect consistency. The beef was thin and tender. Lastly, the spicy broth really brought it all together. If you're a spice lover, I would recommend this item! 10/10 When we wrapped up, there was a long wait. I recommend coming for an early dinner, but the line also looks like it moves fast because they turn tables so quickly.

Tl;dr Excellent, chewy udon and fantastic flavors, but service staff needs some better training…read more We came on a Wednesday night for two and had no wait, which was a great start. Having been here twice now, getting the spicy cold beef udon and their special tantan udon is definitely the way to go (made the mistake of getting the soup udon the first time). The udon itself goes without saying. It is thick, super chewy, and cooked just to the right softness. The cold beef udon was perfect--the sauce has a great blend of flavors and is portioned correctly. The tantan was an interesting take that is different from typical Chinese tantan flavors, making it unique to their style. The main issue was the service flexibility. I asked for no cilantro on the tantan, and the server said they couldn't accommodate that request because they wanted to serve it the way the chef intended. This was ridiculous considering the cilantro was simply piled right on top rather than blended into a sauce or salsa. In the end, it was just a waste of time having to pick it all out myself. The best part was the table next to us were able to customize their bowl. The noodles and cold beef udon are outstanding, but untrained staff really changed the mood of the night.

Four words: spicy cold niku udon. The signature is also good!…read more I've been a fan of Yume ever since I found out about it when I went to Tufts for college. It was the Asian-American community's go-to spot for dine-in, take-out, or both! This was back when they had their location in the Lesley University food court too - people would be lining up for 30+ minutes to get a coveted seat at one of their humble seats. I look fondly on when they would yell "perfect" whenever I finished my bowl, praising how I slurped every freshly cut udon noodle and devoured every ounce of broth or crispy tempura bit they put in there. The new location is just a few stores down, still in/out of the Lesley University mall area. It has a nice ambiance and feels less cramped. While I miss the "perfect" yelling, the flavor still tastes just as good even if it's gotten an insane amount of hype since then. Would highly recommend ordering takeout if you're in a rush - they do it very efficiently, both at the original Cambridge location and the new Seaport location too. I'm so happy for all of their success!

Yume Ga Arukara came highly recommended by some friends who go to Harvard. This place is extremely…read morepopular. The line wasn't even that long when we arrived, but we still waited nearly an hour to get seated. As we were waiting, more and more people arrived until the line snaked around the entire corridor on the first floor of Lesley University. They specialize in udon, and they do it well! I was worried the whole experience might have been overhyped, but the food is great. They have options for the hot or cold udon, and with it being a hot day, I opted for the Signature Cold Niku Udon with an extra portion of noodles. The udon texture was chewy in the best way and the thinly sliced beef and other toppings were yummy. They have a surprising amount of space and seating inside. That was unexpected because the line was moving slowly and I initially thought that meant that there was limited seating. Service was good; our waitress came by multiple times to check if we needed anything. We did feel extremely rushed though, which I understand that they have a line of people out the door. However, it's still not a pleasant experience and I hope they do get a new place soon that's larger based on their continued popularity. They have some cute merch for the restaurant. I also liked the vibe of the inside, just bustling with energy and people catching up. If you're a solo diner, they have a bar seating area and some workers came out a few times to ask if anyone was dining alone so they could be seated immediately once those spots opened up.

Delicious food & delightful ambiance! The Lobster ravioli &…read moreveal parm are to die for. The Tiramisu is a wonderful desert to end your meal with.

This place has run its course. Twenty years ago it was a gem of Roslindale Sq…read more It's dirty and grimy the rugs are matted down the curtains are old and faded and the windows are dirty. The servers were fine trying to make ends meet by working at the sister restaurant across the street. Sitting behind the maître d' he was giving his political views loud enough we all could hear him. Even when he stepped away he came right back to it. Expressing views that really don't reflect the values of the community. Food, just because it's a large portion doesn't necessarily make it good.

Really exciting place focused on Northwest Chinese cuisine…read more The signature dish, the hand-pulled beef noodle soup, had a fairly light, but subtle, flavor. The noodles themselves I wish were chewier (got the 'flat' but probably should have gone for 'extra wide'), and perhaps it'd been nice to have some different textures inside the soup (e.g. something crunchy). The scallions in the soup were also too wide, and needed to be sliced more thinly. The beef pancake was quite decent, though the edges didn't have enough beef and the middles had too much beef. The beef was tender, though I might have liked it more flaky. The sauce inside the pancake was somewhat unevenly applied, and a bit too sweet. I wonder if a dipping sauce (maybe a vinegar?) would have helped. The blueberry with mashed yams was fascinating. It was listed under appetizers, and wondered why the dish came out last. But the dish was a bit sweet (naturally!) and so it actually worked as a light modest dessert! The wait staff was spot on after all in putting out the dish last. The stir-fried cabbage dish was beautiful! It was appropriately crunch, yet using good wok hey. The salt level was a bit high, but the spice level was good. Their spice ratings were a bit timid to what I encounter in Szechuan restaurants (the 'regular' level seemed to be more 'mild-regular'). The stir-fried cumin potato was delicious; nicely flavored, nicely charred. Some bits were a bit oily but the cook on the potato was really neat. Will revisit!!!

Lan Feast is solid - I ordered the Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Beef Noodles with regular noodle thickness…read moreand I have no huge complaints about the taste. The noodles were springy and cooked perfectly, though I probably would like the thick noodles better next time (they have thin, regular, thick, wide, and extra wide sizes). I ordered the non-spicy version, but it can also be ordered as mild, regular, or extra hot. With the non-spicy version, the broth was still very flavorful and meaty. You're able to add cilantro and leeks if you'd like as well, and the soup comes with some sliced thin radish in it. When the bowl arrived, the radish was a little undercooked, but by the end of the meal they had cooked decently in the hot broth. Now while I don't think I could have handled the mild version, I was happy that the tables came equipped with chili oil and vinegar, which I added to a plate and dipped my noodles in for a slight kick. I think this was perfect - since ordering a spicier version would have been too much, but the ability to add my own helped me regulate the strength and added a lot of great flavor to the noodles. The price for a bowl was $16, and that's what makes this a 4 star instead of a 5. Altogether, I was still hungry after finishing the bowl - I would have liked if there were a little more noodles or maybe some veggies included for that price. The meat was also a bit scarce, and it was a little dry as well. Still, the broth and the side of chili oil made it very tasty!

The chicken karaage had an exceptionally light and crispy batter and was moist inside. I probably…read morewould have liked a little more crunchy sear on the bottom of the gyoza to give a textural contrast but it was otherwise good also. Currently they are just offering takeout (dine-in service supposedly resumes after remodeling is completed on May 1.)

Doragon is excellent! If you're lucky enough to come when they're not too busy it's a great…read moreexperience--otherwise expect to wait for everything. Their kitchen is tiny and can't sustain the amount of patrons. The cuisine is delicious and the ingredients are super fresh. Their ramen is outstanding, with various types of noodles and broths to choose from. The wings are also fantastic, but unfortunately they don't have any sides I can eat so I can't get them as a main course. I wish they added more vegetable or salad or brown rice to their menu. It would deserve 5 stars if there were more sides, more non-spicy, and more non-fried options on the menu.

Everything about this restaurant is amazing. I have come back time and time again for both the…read moredelicious food (with options in different price ranges, all of which are delicious and big) and the wonderful, warm service. The staff is so kind and friendly and the space is beautiful! The food also always comes fast and the quality is consistently top-notch. The Soboro Don rice bowl is the best I've ever had, and I've been to Japan and have tried plenty!! I love this place and am sad to be leaving the area.

An amazing option for mazesoba - think Japanese ramen and replace the broth with a slurpable sauce…read more Kenzoku has dominated the mazesoba scene in Boston for years and rightfully so - it is really delicious. Quick service, casual, and affordably priced! Shoyu and mentaiko were both excellent and well-balanced - you've got the sweet, the salty, the sour, and not to mention a variety of textures from the fresh, crisp vegetables to the silky noodles. Adding some of their chili powder and vinegar elevated the dishes even more. Would love to go back one day to try yuzu shio or tan tan mazesoba.

This is a legitimate ramen place. Decent selections of ramen. They have two options that I have not…read morefound anywhere else in the Boston area: abura soba (油そば) and Kitakata ramen. There are also rice bowls on the menu which look good and I cannot wait to try. We went to the place on a Friday evening and the service was fast. The ambiance is casual and not pretentious. It will become our go-to ramen place!

Awesome new addition to Needham center!…read more The food was really tasty on a cold New England day; the soup was fantastic. The waitress Fenny was very nice and answered all my questions thoroughly. I'm certainly coming back to try more food on the menu.