Delicious perfect timing really nice and helpful waiters texture is perfect just everything about…read moreit is delicious

I admittedly have high standards, but this is my go-to spot for a comforting bowl of beef noodle…read moresoup + the best spiced chicken nuggets one could ask for! A few staples are the golden chicken nuggets (top with chili crisps for maximal flavor bomb), wood ear mushrooms (delightful texture and chilled flavor), and braised beef noodle soup. Come on a weekday lunch for a $20 steal! Evenings (even on weekdays) have a wait, but scan the QR code to get on the waitlist and stroll Cambridge in the meantime. Ambiance is a little rushed with tight spacing between tables, but it's prompt service and a clean place, with soft music to maximize conversation

Actually a super solid takeout spot. Love their pad see ew, drunken noodles, pad thai, pad kee mao…read more All delicious. Their lunch specials are a good deal. Their meat is ok - I actually like their tofu a bit better. Love the flavorful egg they add to the pad see ew. Flavors are good, noodles are nicely browned.

Pai Kin Kao is a small casual restaurant in Cambridge that serves up some authentic Thai dishes…read more First time I stepped in, the restaurant was completely empty and silent. However, shortly after I placed an order, I started hearing one of my favorite sounds in the kitchen come to life. The breath of the wok and the sizzling dance of ingredients dancing within. It sounded like a jet engine firing up and it wasn't muffled as the kitchen literally was right there behind the stainless steel counter where the menu boards are (and not in another room). I love that sound so much as someone in the culinary profession who can tell when and what different ingredients are added to complete the one dish being ordered. As expected, my order didn't take long to arrive in my table. Less than 5 minutes from start to finish...and here I was looking at a beautiful dish steaming hot right in front of me. Did I mention just how amazing it smells? (Fast forward...many visits later...ordering the same few dishes and then some.) They are very consistent. Something that I truly appreciate as that's one of the more important things in the culinary world. Either you're consistently good...or consistently bad. None of the bi-polar quality issues here. They're just consistently good in what they do. For that alone, they are truly deserving of 5 stars and come highly recommended as a small casual authentic Thai eatery.

I ordered the lunch special chicken and broccoli through DoorDash. It came with this dark brown…read moresoup with mushrooms- wasn't sure what it was so I didn't try it (also 93 degrees so not in a soup mood lol). Even though it was a lunch special, I was actually really happy with the portion size. A normal container of rice and separate container of the entree. The biggest issue was the taste. It was just muted and kind of bland. The sauce also had a really oily, almost slimy consistency. It kept separating, so there was a layer of oil on top and the sauce underneath. A lot of the time, it honestly felt like I was just eating oil instead of sauce. The rice was great tho- really fluffy and soft. Cooked perfectly

A dinner with my Korean friends revealed my current favorite Chinese restaurant in Boston!…read more Soup Steamed Dumplings Pork 小籠包: The dumplings were large, incredibly juicy, and the meat filling was tender and smooth. The seasoning was only slightly sweet, perfectly complementing the freshness of the meat. These were the best Xiaolongbao I've had in the US, although the skin was a bit soggy and unappetizing. Pork & Leeks Dumpling: My friend ordered these, opting for pan-fried dumplings. They were piping hot, incredibly fragrant, and the meat filling was tender. The chive flavor was mild, which is perfect since I don't like chives lol. A touch of vinegar was definitely needed to cut through the richness! Sliced Fish Szechuan Style: Calling them "sliced fish" is a bit of a stretch; "fish fillets" would be more accurate. They were probably made with basa fish, and the fish was incredibly tender, almost melting in your mouth. The broth was fragrant, and the numbing and spicy flavor was authentic, earning high praise from my friend from Sichuan. Lamb with Ginger & Scallions Onion: A perfectly good Beijing dish, but it was prepared with the feel of a Cantonese stir-fry, which suited my Cantonese palate perfectly. The lamb was incredibly tender, with no gamey taste, and stir-fried until the oil was visible but the sauce wasn't thickened. The sweetness of the onions and carrots added to the complex flavor. Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin: Just average, like a typical Shanghai style home-cooked meal. Nothing special to say. General Gao's Tofu 左宗豆腐: My first time trying the famous "General Tso" (I don't know why they call it General Gao) series of American Chinese cuisine. It felt similar to the technique used in Shanghainese "Kung Pao宮保." A slightly sweet and sour flavor with the aroma and mild spiciness of dried chili peppers, the ingredients were deep-fried and coated in a thick sauce. The tofu was overcooked, the edges were hard, and the sauce became a bit watery towards the end. This dish was just okay.

Place was nice when I visited ...Everything was fresh & employees very helpful & courteous ..read more

Happy Lamb in Cambridge, Massachusetts would get a 3.5 if i could give it…read more The service was quick and efficient and our server was kind, but seemed very overworked and a bit stressed, maybe they need more people working on a shift. The hotpot was okay! the curry broth gets a 10/10 for me, but the Spicy Broth gets a 4.5/5 for me. there's something about it that didn't settle in my tastebuds well, i'd personally go without, but my other two friends I went with loved it, so take that as you will. The selection of additives, corn, greens, sauces, fish, noodles, etc was clean and well stocked. the fish fresh, as well as all of the meat we ordered for our hotpot. I personally recommend their Mango milk slush if available during your visit, it was very good, 10/10 There was plenty of seating, and the food smelled pretty amazing walking in. Pretty view to the streets outside, well lit, but the women's bathroom was a bit creepy, dark, and not well maintained at the time of my visit . 2/3 stalls were fully out of order and 1/2 sinks was clogged with some sort of liquid? I can say the ONE open stall was clean at least.

Consistently solid. One of the few places to get certain Shanghainese dishes. Love the tea they…read moreserve before the food arrives. I'll always have a soft spot for this place.

For a quick late lunch, I stopped by Shanghai Fresh on a Thursday afternoon. The place was…read morerelatively empty so I received seating immediately. I ordered the 雪菜肉丝炒年糕 Stir Fried Rice Cake with Pork & Mustard Greens ($17.95). It wasn't too oily, and had extra strong wok hei / 鍋氣. That puts it above the random neighborhood Chinese restaurant's version. That said, the portion size was probably halved. The interior seemed well put together. The bronzed teapot looked a lot better than the beat up stainless steel sort. The complimentary salt and pepper peanuts cemented the details. Personally, I would like a larger portion size, but I think the price point and offering caters to a more modern sensibility.

I ordered the black garlic ramen and it was awesome! I loved how rich the broth was! The service…read morewas fantastic. They were quick and very energetic! The ambience was nice too. The price was indeed befitting for the taste.

Food: shoyu ramen, chicken karaage. Used to go to the location in Mitsuwa in San Jose, CA so was…read morenice to see this location. The ramen was satisfactory, but I just thought the karaage was just ok. Service: lightening fast. Ambiance: quite a large, bright space. Parking: difficult street parking. We were lucky enough to get a spot out front then realized it was only a 30 minute spot so we were grateful for the fast service and ate pretty quickly.

Looking for something different while visiting Boston. This place was withing walking distance of…read moreour lodging so gave it a shot. There was a small line of people waiting when we arrived, but the wait was not very long. The dining area is not huge, but the Staff hustles so it seems to turn over quick. Super friendly hostess/server who was non-stop energy and movement. She made it flow while still being personable. I have never had this type of food, so cannot base it on anything except it was delicious. I followed the instructions and added the rice at the end (nice top off). The Miso soup was good along with the Sushi roll. The Hostess gave us a new drink to try and we all enjoyed it. Definitely a great spot !!!

I've had my fair share of Japanese cuisine, but mazesoba isn't exactly in my usual lane. That's…read morewhat made my visit to Kenzoku Mazesoba in Fenway such a pleasant surprise. My first impression? Bright, modern, and incredibly welcoming. The space has an inviting energy, but what really stood out was the hostess. Since it was my first visit, she took the time to patiently explain the menu and made me feel completely at ease. Her recommendation of the Tan Tan turned out to be absolutely spot on. Loaded with spicy minced pork, minced garlic, onions, chives, sesame sauce, dried chili pepper, and a perfectly poached egg, this bowl was a beautiful marriage of flavor and texture. The savory minced pork stole the show, while the chewy hand-pulled noodles held onto every bit of that rich, nutty, spicy sauce. Just when I thought the experience was over, I learned the best part was still to come. After finishing the noodles, you're encouraged to ask for a bowl of rice and mix it into the remaining sauce. It transforms the leftovers into an entirely new dish, making sure not a single drop of flavor goes to waste. The entire meal felt like an adventure--one I genuinely didn't want to end. I've always considered myself a ramen guy, but this experience reminded me that it's worth stepping outside your comfort zone every now and then. Japanese cuisine really is the gift that keeps on giving, and I'm here for it!

My BF and I really want to love Muku given its proximity to us and that it's a family-run business,…read morebut we've gone twice and have been disappointed with the flavors. The karaage was awesome, but our ramen broths both times have felt lacking, compared to other ramen spots. The flavors are not deep and sometimes the broth feels bland. The noodles also have the texture of linguine, rather than true ramen noodles. This place isn't bad, but we probably won't be back for a ramen fix, given the other options around.

Muku is a go-to spot for casual but delicious ramen. It is a small shop in the heart of Central…read moreSquare with a homey vibe. Service is always efficient and friendly. My go-to is the veggie miso ramen. As far as veggie ramens go (and I've had many as a vegetarian), the broth is richer and creamier than most. I love the way it complements the fresh, bouncy noodles. My fiancé loves the extra crispy karaage and the kaedama (extra noodles).

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.

Great service and absolutely delicious food! We had a variety of dumplings are weren't…read moredisappointed. The serving sizes are enough to share (especially the scallion pancakes). All in all so yummy, we'll be back!

Didn't get to eat in person, but got takeout and this place is legit. Will update review when I get…read moreto go but this is for the latter. Only complaint got no rice with the dinner order. Had: Steamed shrimp dumplings (really good) Chicken w/cashews (great and big portion)