My husband works nearby and found this place through his daily commute. He mentioned it a few times and I was dying to try the food. He finally brought some food home for me: 2 pieces fried chicken, collard greens, and sweet potatoes. He also got a piece of cornbread and a coconut bar. I was so hungry that I literally inhaled the food but stopped to savor the flavors. The fried chicken was tender and not over fried. The collard greens were amazing! The pieces of turkey meat gave it a smoky and slightly sweet flavor. I haven't tried the coconut bar since I got full but I don't doubt that it will be delicious! This hidden gem was a great find! read more

Best fried chicken in Boston. I love this place. Check the hours because they are closed some days. Orders take a little while because I think they cook everything to order. They have a couple seats but usually we order pick up and rush home. The reason we go is because it's so good . read more

For some reason, I am craving for fried chicken on this hot summer day. After eyeing this place on yelp for some period, I decided to walk the 5 mins to pick up this supposed really good fried chicken. First of all, this place is TINY! It is meant for take out and take out only. The staffs were very nice. After waiting around for a couple minutes, I happily walked out of the cafe with a box of fried chicken in my hands. The smell was intoxicating and I couldn't wait rip open the box and dig into the greasiness. Imagine my surprise when I opened the box. My chicken was slightly burnt. The inside of the chicken was juicy but the skin is the most important part! It's where the flavors are and the burnt skin just made the whole meal unappetizing. I'm glad that I gave the place a try, but I don't think I'll come back again. read more

Dem people here done put the soul into da' soul of River St. Dis be'in da bestist Northern-Western-Cambridge down-hom'in pork and collard-greens this side of Tex--ass. Cheap ain't da word. Des eats is cheap at TWICE da $$. Bring 2 fiver's. Have enough 2 leave a tip / count on hav'in left overs. Ain't greasy, DON'T YA B NEEDING NO TUMS for da-tummy. Everything prepared fresh as fresh can be. read more

Coast definitely makes my beantown Top 10 list. My Standard Order: -fried chicken sandwich -cornbread -2 sides (mac and cheese, sweet potatoes) -cookie the size of my face Other Items Worthy of Note: -catfish -catfish sandwich -friend chicken -greens -yellow cake with chocolate frosting Coast Cafe is a good eat. Soul food to go. Can't go wrong. Big servings, fair price, great people behind the stoves and counter. This spot earns 5 stars with ease. Just note: street parking only, and seating is limited to three stools at the counter. Make sure to get everything to-go. read more

Crisp fried chicken, tender collard greens, a generous slice of sweet potato pie in a to-go box, ready for a summer's evening by the river. That is what I call life. The people at Coast Cafe are amazingly nice. The only lackluster element is the corn--other sides are very tasty. I feel like I'm back in the South at Coast. Hallelujah! read more

I've only had this place once and I am still dreaming about the fried chicken. I wish this place was more T accessible! This place gets 5 stars for being straightforward. The soul food is delicious, and it is clearly the best fried chicken I've had in the area. It is takeout only, so that means no seating! It doesn't try to pretend it's anything it's not and the food is great! read more

Great little soul food cafe hidden away on the Cambridgeport/Riverside border. Stuff is made fresh to order, wish I could report on more food items than the fried chicken, but it is kind of amazing so I get a little rutted. Their mac and cheese is top notch, the sweet potatoes are practically a dessert, collards are tasty. The catfish is tasty, too, but it is hard to tear myself away from ordering the fresh fried chicken... read more

BEST Fried chicken in Metro Boston Cambridge Somerville. Period. Mac and Cheese is freakin awesome too. So is the cornbread. yolo. read more

Delicious Fried Chicken (authentically Southern tasting, compared to most places up here) & sweet tender BBQ Pork Ribs. Banana Pudding is to-die-for, & Sweet Potato Pie was just right. The sides, though... Meh, maybe we were too full from everything else, but we were unimpressed with the mashed potatoes (tasted instant? Gravy from a mix too?); sweet potatoes seemed way too sugary (the pie was less sweet and appropriate); greens had hard bits of bone; rice & black-eyed peas were okay, though unexpectedly smokey; only the Mac-n-cheese were good enough to warrant re-order. Why the 5-Stars, then? Well, the Fried Chicken and Banana Pudding alone would do it. Extra-credit on the BBQ Pork Ribs and Sweet Potato Pie. read more

The mac and cheese, cornbread and chicken are good! Cornbread is sweet but not overbearing. Mac and cheese is flavorful. Fried chicken is well seasoned and fried hard the way I like it. Everything's hot and fresh. Yum. read more

The Coast Cafe - Fried chicken breast plate with a double side of mac and cheese - Soul Food Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I came here today for lunch. I had the fried chicken wings, mac & cheese and yams. The yams were delicious. They were sweet and they give you enough to satisfy you. The fried chicken was very crispy and seasoned well. I would order those again. But the mac & cheese was very bland and I could barely taste the cheese. The cornbread was just ok. It was a bit on the bland side as well. I noticed there was a sign on the wall about new ownership. I don't think I will be back anytime soon. read more

Coast Cafe has a reputation for having the best fried chicken in Boston, as given by Best of Boston and Phantom Gourmet. While not the best fried chicken I've ever had, I would certainly agree its the best you can get this far north. Liked: The fried chicken was seasoned perfectly, tender, and amazing The sweet potatoes were deliciously sweet Counter service was friendly Disliked: $10.50 for 2 pieces of chicken + 2 sides perhaps a little steep Lack of options for getting more than 2 pieces of fried chicken Don't be fooled by Coast Cafe's shack-like exterior. Neither is the place of low quality, nor is it as cheap as most take-out only restaurants. It's also not particularly fast, as right on the menu it states that the fried chicken is cooked fresh to order and takes between 10-15 minutes. But good things take time, and the fried chicken is definitely worth both the time and the price. It's cooked perfectly, with great salty, peppery seasoning on the outside, and tender, succulent meat on the inside. The sweet potatoes might be too sweet, but I like it that way. The mac n' cheese and cornbread were also good, though somewhat unremarkable for a Soul Food outlet. I'd probably try the collard greens next time. When the biggest complaint you have for a restaurant is that you wish you had gotten more of its best dish, you know you're onto something good. The bottom line is that if you need a fried chicken or soul food fix, this is your place in Boston. read more

Ahh love it! Coast is the perfect example of simple food with HUGE flavor. I would come for the corn bread alone, but there's no way i would leave without having the divinneeee mac n cheese. I'm a vegetarian, but the smell of the chicken sometimes makes me want to change my ways haha. But the sweet potatoes and fries hold me down (for now). I've lately been encouraging all of my favorite restaurants in town to look into the green restaurant association's certification. I've been to some great restaurants who are certified, and they make it so easy to see just how much they've done to make their restaurants as sustainable as possible. I think it's something that all restaurants should strive to do. read more

I love this place!!! So I have known the owner and his family for some time now but my review is solely based on the food. If you like soul food, this is the place to go. I only order 3 things from this place and I have never been disappointed. I can imagine that everything else is as just as good. 1. Fried Chicken, absolutely delicious. The breading is not overwhelmingly thick and it is seasoned perfectly. The meat is so moist and it is always prepared fresh seeing that it usually takes 20-25 for your dish to be done. For the sides, collard greens and Mac and cheese, it never fails!! 2. Smothered Pork Chops. Ohhhh boyy!! They literally come smothered in gravy filled with onions, peppers and great seasonings. The pork is cooked perfectly, tender and moist. 3. BBQ beef ribs. If you don't want to get messy, do not order this dish. The ribs are huge and drenched in sauce. They are cooked really well and the meat comes right off the bone. This is not a sit down fancy place; it is really small and only has a small ledge sitting 3 if you really want to eat in the place. The food can take a little while to cook because everything is cooked to order; they don't keep their food sitting around in a warm oven. read more

Best soul food in the Boston area, period. Hole in the wall take-out place and I love everything about it. The staff is friendly, funny, knowledgeable and helpful. The assorted sauces on the counter might look like they've been there for months, but they probably go through them in hours with the business this place does. The food - everything I have ordered from here has been perfection. The friend chicken is, of course, amazing. But so is the fish...catfish to be exact, and the sides are heaven on a plate. Sweet potatoes, collard greens (a little more bitter than I like, but I respect the authenticity), mashed potatoes, corn bread, etc etc...they are all amazing. Prices are just right. I never worry about throwing in an extra side or grabbing some dessert if I feel like it. read more

Stopped by Coast Cafe on my way to get a Lobster Roll at Alive & Kickin' Lobster (only two blocks away). We decided to get one lobster roll from there and try the soul food at Coast Cafe. It was delicious! Definitely prepared to order, the food was tasty and fresh. We got a plate of ribs and a chicken thigh with collard greens and mac and cheese. Ribs were good: moist and tender, but could have used a kick. (We added Tabasco and that was great). Collard greens were prepared with turkey meat and were on point. Mac and Cheese was great ass well. The fried chicken was just made - incredibly crispy (they pan fry it I think, not drop it in a deep fryer). It had nice flavor, a lot of black pepper. Overall, would recommend the ribs over the chicken but it was all good! Thanks Coast Cafe! read more

I love that this place is within walking distance of my apartment. I can call in an order, slowly saunter by, and pick up my delicious fried chicken. Ask for their house hot sauce. It's unique and delicious. I don't even like collard greens, but at Coast Cafe it's one of my favorite sides. Portions for the plates are huge. You have been warned. read more

Upon entering this establishment you'll immediately notice the limited seating. Between the two tables and the bar seating, the place can fit about seven people between those dining in and/or those waiting to pick up. Onto the reason I go there, the food. I order the fried chicken wings combo with a side of Mac and a side of mashed. I am little surprised to be told "it'll take 15 minutes" considering the only other patron has already been fed. My order is ready. I start with a bite of mac, delish...now the mashed potatoes, also satisfying...tearing off a piece of meat from the bone, I taste the juicy chicken and instantly feel the freshness of the poultry, hence the wait. Along with the corn bread, each bite stimulates my senses. Like Schwartzenegger say, "I'll be back." read more

Went here before a concert at the hardcore stadium, it was by far the best chicken and waffles I've ever had. The fried chicken was cooked to perfection, nice and light crispy skin, moist tender meat on the inside. The waffle was great, not the best, but it perfectly complimented the chicken. The Jamaican Jerk Cheese and Chicken Patty was phenomenal. Filled to the brim with cheese and this spicy chicken. Go here, please. For your own good. read more

The Coast Cafe - Soul Food Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

There is nothing wrong with this place. NOTHING. Fried chicken is amazing! Black eyed peas, mac and cheese, and collard greens are phenomenal. I love the place so much I had them cater a holiday party at work last month. I ordered food for 35 people, about 25 people showed up, and we didn't have leftovers! The staff is really friendly as well. read more

I visited considering the rave reviews. I was highly disappointed for one the rice and black eye peas were burnt you could taste it, the fried chicken had a weird aftertaste, and the ribs were tender but lack sauce. Only the collard greens and macaroni and peas were decent. I will not go back I could've stayed in Boston and get better soul food than here I wasted my time visiting the restaurant! read more

I made a trip all the way from fenway just for this place. Gotta say, it was worth it. I got to try the fried chicken thigh, and fingers. Both were really good. The chicken is fried to order, and it was perfectly done. mac-n-cheese and candied yams are the way to go with the sides. The mashed potatoes were also of notable mention. But deifnitely the mac-n-cheese. Southern comfort food that was very well done. $ means under $10, but many things cost more than that. Even the cheap things were like $8 to $9.50, so the '$' is kinda misleading. Either way, yummy. read more

I love Boston and things that are delicious. Unfortunately, these two are mutually exclusive. Like why is it that San Francisco is delicious but full of people that act like retards while Boston has nothing in the way of culinary delights? I guess the universe is trying to keep me on a diet or something. Coast Cafe was a huge let down after the glowing yelp reviews. I'm a sides person myself and I've made better mac and cheese at home and had better collard greens from a can. Ya heard me. The chicken is pretty good- but really, it's not much better than Popeyes. Plus Popeyes has that spicy chicken which is mmmm. Meh is the perfect word to describe this place and sorry I'm not paying 10 bucks for just meh. read more

WELL WORTH THE TRIP FROM ATLANTA!!! Had the fried chicken sandwich. It's made fresh and it's a real chicken breast. The mac and cheese was heaven in my mouth. Flavor was on point!! My only suggestion would be bring the restaurant to Atlanta. read more

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You really have to try this place! I've seen the reviews and hype, but haven't had a chance to go. It's mostly out of my way, and difficult when you don't live or go to the city to often. So as much as I've told myself to go, I never did. However, this past weekend I was in the city for a bit of adventure and just being out... when it hit me that I should pick up some Coast Café treats before heading home. So, when leaving the city, I stopped by to see what my options were, and take them home for my own enjoyment! Together my girl and I ordered the pork rib plate with whole kernel corn, black eye peas, and corn bread... plus a fried chicken plate with mashed sweet potatoes?, something else (LOL), and cornbread. We also got an extra bit of Nilla pudding to go along with the after treat snack. (We already had chipyard cookies in the car!) As previous people have said, this is definitely a stop-and-go location. So if you're not like me with a spurt of the moment idea, try to call ahead so you can pick-up and keep moving. Only three seats inside this cozy location, so if you come at the right time you might be able to stay and eat. Ours was to go... A short trip later we're home with these delicious smelling plates of food in front of us, and ready to eat. One... two... three hundred bites later and I'm in pure heaven. The ribs were tasty, well seasoned, SUPER tender, and just the right amount of BBQ sauce. Plenty of meat, which fell off the bone! They were amazing! Before totally filling up, I tried a bite or two of the fried chicken as well... very tender and tasty, not a super crunchy outside, but well seasoned. Very good, delicious even, but being from the south I can say it's not the best I've ever had... though a VERY close 2nd place!! All the sides were good too. It was nice to see the Blackeye peas were just like home, and not from a can. Thick and tasty, well made and seasoned. The corn wasn't anything to rave about, but it was tasty, not too much butter, and good! Cornbread was a bit more like I grew up on, in that it wasn't very sweet. It's meant more as a scoop and eat with your food - not a stand alone side. Good none the less! I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for some delicious soul/southern food. It definitely brings it all to the table, and leaves you wanting more - or even a trip to the small towns of Georgia, Mississippi, etc for a meal with friends and family. Stop by when you get a chance to try the delicious options, I'm sure no matter what you pick you can't go wrong! :) read more

Dropped by Coast Cafe with a buddy who reccomended their good and inexpensive food. Here is what I tried: Fried Pork Chop - lightly spiced and salted. Good but I would never search it out Fried Chicken Box - A solid box of fried chicken, very crispy Fried Sweet Plantain - Can't go wrong here, if you like fried plantains these were pretty standard Corn Bread - they were mini corn muffins Bananna Pudding - it was just ok, it could be because I'm not a big fan of this type of dessert, bananna pudding filled with ripe banannas and cookies This place gets 4 stars because of its solid food with great prices, all that was under $20. My friend and I were so full we didn't care that they forgot to put the sweet potatos in our bag even though we paid for them. read more

Every single thing on the menu is amazing. The collards are perfection, the fried chicken is so yummy and crispy, and the sweet potatoes are to die for. Make sure you order a bottle of hot sauce for later too, they make their own! read more

I'd like to give 4.5 stars but I'll round up. Everything tasted like my great-grandmother made it. The chicken, greens, & corn bread were divine. Except the sweet potatoes. Or maybe they were yams, it's been a couple weeks. Either way, I didn't really care for the cinnamon crunch or consistency of them. They weren't bad, they just weren't my favorite. read more

They take forever to process the order and there is no line or waiting list to know when ur order will be done

I'm going to kind of parrot Jenne K's review, since we went together. This definitely is a review in progress, as I want to go again and try more things. I had the fried chicken sandwich with fries. She's right, the fries were kind of on the mushy, soggy side, but we did wait a while to eat them, so next time we'll have to eat faster. BUT, I had regular fries while another in our group had the seasoned ones. Definitely go for the seasoned ones. The regular fries are just kind of boring. The kind that you cannot eat without ketchup or some kind of condiment because they have no flavor of their own. I liked my chicken sandwich. Cooked pretty perfectly. And I'm not too hard on new people behind the counter as Jenne is. It did take us a while to order, let alone get our food, but hey, we've all been new to work somewhere. As far as other food goes, the sweet potato cake was very good, and I'd never had anything like that. I'd like to try some of the sides, and that was my one complaint, but it isn't necessarily on the part of Coast: I picture southern soul food as a big feast of a meal, but we were there for a quick lunch, so we didn't go all out in sides and other things. Next time: dinner. read more

If you want REAL homestyle soul food- this is THE spot. It's not a dine in place- more of a take out- but you're going here for the food- trust me- not the ambiance. I don't think there is another place in Cambridge/Boston that can touch it. If I find someplace, I'll let you know... I was REALLY craving some of my daddy's homecookin' and this place satisfied! I had actually just had dinner at Tupleo which was cool (definitely worth checking out) but it just didn't complete me...so I eased on down to Coast. I was just going to get some collard greens- then when I saw the mac n cheese- I was like "Hold UP- wait a minute- let me get a side of that" and then when I saw the Banana Pudding with fresh bananas and Nilla Wafers- I was all in...I just started ordering stuff to eat for the next day- after all I had just eaten dinner at the other spot so I was still kinda full... Man, when I got that food home I was just going to taste a little of each and save it for tomorrow so I wouldn't feel like a gluttonous pig---yea right! I killed that food- all of it! It was SO freakin good- I'm talkin Tasty Delicious- don't even need to add seasonings... I did throw some of their special hotsauce on those greens though---woo woo! I can't believe how fresh everything was! I can't wait to go back!...Even if it's just to talk to the super cool guy at the counter ;) read more

Let me start off by explaining that I generally avoid fried foods. Not only are they often unhealthy but they also tend to put me in a coma afterward as all the gross grease buildup clogs my arteries and slows my blood flow. I've gotta say though, Coast has some daaaamn fine fried chicken. Not only was it DELICIOUS but it was actually really low in oil and the meat was quite tender. My girlfriend and I both had the fried boneless chicken breast sandwich. I had the plate which came with two sides. My choices? Tasty seasoned fries and some heavenly candied yams. It was hands down some of the finest fried chicken I've ever had. They also make all their own deserts and the banana pudding - made with real bananas and decorated with a wafer cookie crumble topping - was the perfect cadence to our dinner. But watch out cause this food is FILLING. I could only finish half my sandwich before having to take a break to digest. But, unlike most other fried foods which really upset my stomach, Coast's fried chicken brought my tummy nothing but happiness. The only word of advice I offer is don't bother eating here. This is definitely a to-go establishment as the eat-in accommodations consist of a small counter top with three stools (The ordering area/eating area is maybe 10-15 square feet at best and some of that space is consumed by the large drink cooler). Now, you may be wondering, if this place is so amazing, why not a five star rating? I gave it four stars because I called in an order to-go and was quoted 20-25 minutes - a longer than preferable waiting time in my opinion but hey, I was willing to wait that long for some great food. I got there 25 minutes after I placed the order and proceeded to wait around for another 12 minutes. When I showed up it almost seemed like they hadn't even started my order. Now if they'd told me it was going to be 37 minutes until it would be ready when I called then that would be fine. But don't quote your customers a time you can't stick to when food is involved. An appetite is not one to be reasoned with and were it not for the fantastic food my rating would definitely be more critical. But hey, good things come to those who wait and there was definitely a lot of soul put into this comfort food. Next time, however, I will place my order far in advance of when I expect to actually eat and will press them for a more accurate turn-around time. read more

Fried Chicken; delicious. Yet what makes this place stand out from the many other quick take out places is the convenience and accessibility of patties. I was genuinely surprised not to see more reviews mentioning their palatal appeal. Coast makes them from scratch, and when you order a chicken and cheese patty, rarely one leaves you fulfilled. Cue up one of the many hot sauces that they make available, and you can find yourself in one of the greater delicacies that you can find in Boston for $2. Crispy, moist, and hearty, these patties are unlike any of the others found around Boston or in Jamaica. As we moved out my house mate purchased a special order of two dozen in the efforts to determine the best way to freeze and reproduce their initial quality and appeal; yes, they're that good. read more

Decided to try Coast Cafe this weekend. First, be prepared to wait. We put in our order and given a 10 minute estimate which ended up much closer to 20. The food was decent. I could have had a big order of the cabbage and collard greens and been very happy. Unfortunately the BBQ chicken that accompanied these great sides was dry, over cooked and under seasoned. My boyfriend had fried chicken with mac and cheese. The chicken looked really over cooked (the batter was quite burned in paces) but the chicken itself was really moist. Too bad he was in it for the breading. Mac was average at best. Corn muffins (not bread) were really dry and not served with any butter. Liked the place in concept and might try it again, but there are a few other places ahead of it for my next chicken craving. read more

Want a delicious plate of fried chicken, Mac & cheese, and collard greens? For a good price? Coast Cafe! Want a place to sit? Probably go somewhere else. They may have some al fresco dining in the summer, but it's a tiny place with just a couple of stools inside. But so tasty. We also tried the fish cakes, which were kind of like scallion pancakes, and very good. read more

It was my son's 12th birthday, and we asked him what he wanted. He picked fried chicken. It came down to Poppa B's in Mattapan,or Coast Cafe. Coast Cafe was closer, to Arlington, so it was our choice. My son,and myself, picked the chicken dinner, which came with two pieces of chicken, and two sides. He choose two breasts, and I picked a breast and a thigh. My wife and son, said the chicken was a little dry, but the batter for my, son and myself, more than made up for this. The chicken did not seem dry to me. The batter, had a really good taste. When I woke up this morning, I wanted another piece of fried chicken. My son's and my sides were also good. He picked mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese. He like both, even though he did not finish, his potatoes. He made the comment, they has something in them, that did not make them taste plain. My sides were black eye peas, and collard greens. My wife loved my sides. The collard greens, were good. My wife picked a broiled haddock dinner, and liked it. Her sides, were candied yams/sweet potatoes, and they were really, sweet. She also picked lima beans and rice, which was ok.. The lady who took my order was really nice, and was happy to hear, of the high ratings on yelp, that I told her about. Looking forward to going back, and eating the fried chicken again, and possibly trying the beef ribs. read more

Great fried chicken! Went for a lunch date with some friends and the space had just enough seats to fit 7 people exactly. More of a pickup and go place but nice if it's just you and a friend. I got the fried chicken sandwich and while it took 15 min to come out it was well worth the wait. Tender crispy and fresh and done to perfection. Definitely will be visiting again. I want to try the corn bread and Mac and cheese next! read more

The Coast Cafe - Fried chicken sandwich. Mmmh - Soul Food Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I used to go to mrs jones in lower mills, Dorchester before they closed. That was some great soul food. Ever since then, I've been looking and looking for a new place and while the coast cafe is no mrs jones, it comes close. I work in Allston and before work, I really wanted some soul food. I yelped and coast cafe came up. The reviews were great so I came by to try it out. Their beef patties are delicious. Their fried chicken is good but not great. Catfish was juicy and well seasoned and their fried pork chop was tender and delicious. I liked their Mac and cheese and collard greens. Their yams were disappointing. It was like a mashed yams instead of chunks and it had too much spice in it, I think. To be honest, my favorite thing about the meal was their corn bread. I would marry that cornbread. It's like a yellow cake cornbread hybrid that just melts in your mouth and all you wanna do is put a ring on it. Thanks Beyoncé. Anyways, I'll be back to try some more offerings on the menu or I'll get a tray of cornbread to go. read more

What is with the raves for this place? Maybe it's because the crowd here in PRC is so out of touch that they don't know mediocre fried chicken when they taste it, but every visit here has been a letdown. Portions are small, and prices are high -- both of which would be forgivable if the food were outstanding. But it's not. I kept trying it, hoping that maybe I had just had "a bad batch," but I have reached the conclusion that Coast Cafe is simply not very good, and the Yelpers who are singing its praises are delusional. The food is adequate, so if you're hungry and in the area, or simply want to see what all the fuss is about, the Coast Cafe will feed you. But lower your expectations prior to arrival. read more