“"This is not a ramen shop, it is a dream shop." Despite only one menu item - pork ramen (as of 3/24/24, modifications may be accomodated) - I was pleasantly surprised by how good the ramen was. The ramen is has thick chewy noodles with big pieces of pork. The broth is fatty with a few globs of flat floating. Per request, it can be topped with a healthy serving of garlic. The ramen was a tad bit salty, but I managed to finish the broth. The only downside is that it is relatively more expensive than other restaurants ($17 for two pieces of pork, $20 for 5 pieces). The portions are large enough to satisfy your hunger, I promise! At one point, the chef paused plating the food to share his background and inspiration for starting the "Dream shop". I will keep that information confidential for those who wish to visit and hear it from him directly. It inspired me to take the next step in my own life. Enjoy!Things to know:1) Expect to wait in line outside the shop for approx 10-15 mins at best. Seating was accommodated in intervals of 3-5 people when I went. This is indicative of how good the food is, but be prepared during the winter months;2) There is only one menu item (as of my visit on 3/24/24), pork ramen, where you can choose from 2 pieces or 5 pieces of pork (choose the latter) - this takes away from the headache of choosing from a list of items;3) Expect seating to feel a little more intimate - the seats are in rows of 3, with approx 6 chairs per row, facing the chef;4) Expect to be asked if you would like to share a "dream" - this can be something that you wish to accomplish or do within your lifetime, or the year. After your meal, the restaurant will have a moment of silence for you to share your dream with everyone.5) Utensils are self-service - be sure to grab yourself a cup of water, chop sticks, napkins, or whatever you need in the back of the shop after you have placed your order and are seated.“
“This was one of the BEST omakase experiences I have ever had. The attention to detail was extraordinary. I ate at several two and three star Michelin restaurants last summer in France and I was happier with my dining experience at Umami. The quality of ingredients is absolutely stellar and it is truly a treat for all the senses. Go!!“
“I ordered takeout here to try it for the the first time and unfortunately, while walking with the food to a park, broth started spilling onto me through the bag. I opened it to find the deli container was fully cracked on top and I had lost over half the broth. I poured from the bag what I could into the bowl, but everything was greasy and it really dampened the experience. The food itself was phenomenal which is why I'm still giving 4 stars, but I'm really disappointed in losing so much broth due to either cheap or roughly handled deli containers. I have my own deli containers I've been reusing from takeout for months now and have never had one crack like this.“
“Went here for my birthday dinner and loved it! Such a cozy little spot with plenty of options to choose from and an abundance of sake's to pick from! The space is a little small so I would definitely recommend making a reservation ahead of time!“
“Absolutely delightful dining experience at this charming restaurant, expertly managed by a warm and seasoned Japanese couple. The cuisine surpassed expectations with its impeccable balance of flavors, devoid of excessive saltiness. Each dish exuded authenticity, from the tantalizing aroma to the rich, genuine flavors. I am eagerly anticipating my next visit and wholeheartedly recommend this establishment.“
“I recently stumbled into Pagu on a particularly rainy day in Boston (you know, one of those sideway rainstorm days). Covered in mud, I snagged one of the last bar seats available. Opting for my usuals - roasted mushrooms and ramen - I paired them with a glass of wine and a good book, enjoying the restaurant's laid-back atmosphere. To my surprise, Chef/Owner Tracy Chang had hand delivered my dinner! Her radiant smile alone was enough to brighten up an otherwise atrocious day for me. Chang's innovative approach to dining shines through in every dish, prioritizing creativity and kindness - a sentiment echoed by the attentive staff at Pagu. It's no wonder that Pagu remains a cornerstone of Central Square.“
“Best Don Katsu (pork cutlet) place I've ever been in Boston! So warm and crispy, with delicious sauce, hearty portion, and quick serving. Price is budget-friendly (considering that it's Boston) relative to the huge pork cutlet, salad, miso soup, and rice that all comes in one. Great for hungry students who need heartwarming meal. :) The server lady was nice and friendly, and the restaurant is small, but they also have tables outside. Uber eats delivery and lunch specials are available as well, so would definitely recommend to others as well as try it again myself next time.“
“Chris is a talented chef and a kind host. He was attentive to our unique tastes and was informative on the decisions for each dish. His description of the dishes and how they paired with sake made the experience memorable. The ingredients felt fresh and special. Absolutely worth a special evening.“
“Great small sushi restaurant right on Mass Ave in Cambridge. Specialty rolls such as Sakana, Rocky Road, and Crimson are really impressive with a variety of flavors and textures. Standard sushi such as salmon avocado also very good. Great service and great sake options as well. Small space but very cute and comfortable for a date night.“
“We’ve been to the Brookline location before and now that we’ve been to the Harvard location we love both! We were running a little late due to parking and they were very accommodating. We had Sprite as our server and he was very helpful, attentive, friendly, and answered any questions we had. We ordered the meat lovers and loved it! We can’t wait to come back with more friends to try the all you can eat!“
“The food was excellent. The ramen tastes really well in comparison with other ramen places. It's a great place to go with kids as they have a kids menu, and kids utensils and they even give a cup for the kids, so thumps up. A thing to consider is that the menu focuses entirely on ramen there aren't any other options besides a few appetizers to select from and the vegetarian options are also very limited.“
“TL;DR: TAKEOUT REVIEW. Everything was so good! Ikura was the starOrdered takeout/delivery on our last night in Boston for our late night snack. We had gone earlier in the day, but their chef's were not doing ala carte orders yet (they had just opened). But the store has a good selection of grab-and-go items from sushi, to drinks, to other merch like soy sauce and snacks.FOOD:~Chef's Sampler (5/5) and Signature Set (5/5): each of these sets came with 5 pieces of nigiri, and they were all so good. Each of them were topped with a unique seasoning/sauce, and they accompanied each of the fish so well!Salmon don (5/5): came with a great assortment of salmon, all of it very fresh (salmon belly was my fave). But the star of this dish to me was the ikura and the cucumbers. SO DELICIOUSGreat quality sushi, great portions, delicious flavors, and affordable prices! Definitely a must visit!“
“Stumbled upon this cozy Thai spot in Cambridge's Central Square! The interior is super intimate and it was empty when we got there but filled up! Definitely gives mom and pop vibes and I liked that it wasn't crazy inside. For food, we ordered papaya salad, tom yum soup, and khao soi. The papaya salad was fresh but the sauce was a little too acidic. The sauce also ended up gathering on the bottom a little too much but was great to cut through the thick noodle soups. The tom yum soup was super flavorful and I loved the broth. Unfortunately the noodles got soggy really quickly but all the fillings made up for it. It came with dumplings, pork, ground pork, egg, and more! The khao soi was very creamy but also full of flavor. I liked the thickness of the egg noodles but my friend was a little unsettled by the richness of color. If you're looking for a quick, local spot for Thai, this is a great place to go!“
“I've been here several times and it never disappoints. It's not cheap, but the sushi is delicious, portions are excellent, and the ambiance is great ... More upscale than many sushi restaurants in the area (on the classy side), but it works for any type of dining: date night, lunch, or even bringing your kids. They also have a huge, big bar where you can eat. Short walk from the Kendall T stop with ample street parking.“
“Authentic Jiro ramen, their signature bowl is indeed a monster. We really enjoyed our dinner but our main critique was that it was hard to get to the noodles in the Jiro because it was buried under all of the bean sprouts etc. The staff and service were on top of things and really took care of everyone on the grand opening. You can tell that their recipes were well thought out and come from Japan so I would recommend trying it but definitely come hungry as the bowls are hefty.“
“A Chinese run Sushi restaurant. Food are tasty but seems like pricy for a little non-authentic Japanese restaurant.We ordered one Eel don one Udon noodle, and one signature role $85! I don’t know how was that happened. The price went up a lot, we have to scan QR code to get the latest price. One thing I noticed, eel don has increased $5 from the printed menu.“
“Absolutely loved it! We had the karami and enmi ramen, and shared the gyoza. We finished every last drop of the ramen and wanted to bathe in the sauce on the gyoza OMG. It was thriving and happening on a Wednesday night, and the waitstaff were lovely and attentive. Will definitely be returning to try more of the menu!“