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I would say that for a period in my life, my friend and I would come here once or twice a week. Now that I've cut down and am only coming here about twice a month, I still love it. It's pretty apparent that I only order one thing off the menu cuz the waitress knows my order exactly how I like it: Chili Tomato Hamburg Set, extra spicy, extra sauce. A few changes here and there and it always tastes amazing, even if you eat it twice a week. It's cheap and awesome and it's so good that I just don't even know what to say about it. I guess if you gave this place under four stars...shame shame on you.
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love love love!
best katsu ever!
Simply put it, cheap eats that is good. When I were in college, I use to come here all the time because of its simply goodness. On those Thursday nights when I don't feel cooking, cafe mami would pop up like nothing else. Good thing cafe mami pop up because on a college budget, it would hurt my wallet if anything else I would crave came up. My favorite dish is the veggie curry but with the beef. Like many user said before, it small and can get crowded. You wouldn't be surprise if some random people join your table to savor the cafe mami food.
Well worth the wait, and well worth the price. An all-star in my book
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Mmm...Tokyo Hamburger Set and Tatsuta Curry!!! Eating on the cheap at Cafe Mami was one of my weekly experiences when I used to live in the area. Now that I've moved out, I still make it over to Porter Exchange (and Cafe Mami) on occasion.
I always get either the Tatsuta Curry or the Tokyo Hamburger set. Lately, I've been getting the curry more since it's something I've really never found anywhere else. But the same can be said about the Tokyo Hamburger set...hard choices indeed!
There are only two tables and some counterspace available, maybe sitting 12-15 people at the most in the tight little area, but that just adds to the mystique of the small crowded lunchtime food vendor that can both serve great food and turn over tables quickly!
Yum! Craving yoshoku after returning from Japan? This place will help. This little stall not only recreates the experience of busy, lunch-time food counters in Tokyo where you're sitting elbow to elbow with another diner not in your party, but it also very ably recreates a number of Western-inspired foods found throughout Japan.
Most people know katsu and curry (and it's combination) which appears on many Japanese restaurant menus, but few dive into hamburg territory. This cafe serves a flavorful and authentic tasting hamburg that'll put you right back in Tokyo. Served simply with salad, potato, rice and miso soup, the hamburg is not quite a hamburger patty (it has other ingredients usually mixed in for flavor). The texture is smoother, the patty more flavorful and it's usually paired with a sauce (tomato-based being very common - not ketchup!).
Meal sets are very reasonably priced. I would try more than the katsu and the hamburg, but the portions are more than enough to keep me filled so I don't have room for other items ( *sad*). Prices are reasonable for the amount of food. A word of caution - this place is SMALL. Be prepared for a line, though turnover can be quick at times. I would not recommend this place for a big party (i.e., more than 3 or 4).
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This place is really good, especially for Boston.
The food is cheap and delicious. The service is quick, courteous, and accurate. Yeah it's small and cheek-to-jowl, but I kind of enjoy that atmosphere at times. It's something between a sit-down cafe and a streetside vendor, complete with all the bustle 2 feet away from you (although the street here is the inside of a mall). It's also fun to watch the staff work and take care of business.
I haven't tried all the dishes yet, but they have pictures in the menu for all us non-initiates. The green tea milkshake is delicious!
Cafe mami is a MUST whenever I head back to Boston. Delicious homestyle Japanese food is harder to come by in NY...
Dishes I HAVE to get:
Tokyo Style Hamburg Set with Cheese and a Fried Egg served with homemade tomato sauce, rice, potato, and simple side salad: the texture of this beef patty is amazing, extremely tender. I would love to learn how to make this so I don't have to go all the way to Boston to get this...
Ninniku Chicken Set: this garlic lemon chicken served on a sizzling hot plate with carrots and a small potato is HOT (tempurature-wise) which I love and I highly recommend dipping the potato in the garlic-lemon sauce on the hot plate!
Dishes I will get if I am with more than one person:
Any and all Curry dishes!
Items I'll PASS on:
Fried Shrimp Shumai: Nothing special here, almost tastes like lightly fried shrimp paste.
Service:
The hostess tries her best to accommodate everyone despite the long lines and is very very efficient. My meal came out just seconds after i finished my miso soup =)
Food:
Every time I go here I get the chicken or pork katsu with curry. SOOOOO GOOD. Good portion size too.
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What to say about Cafe Mami?
Tiny (seating for about 12 people total)
Fast (due to the size, the waitresses haven't gotten managing lines, tables, and orders down to the wire)
Inexpensive (about $8-$10 for dinner)
DELICIOUS (the hamburg sets are pretty much all I crave every time I hear the words "Cafe Mami")
In essence, this tiny Japanese "restaraunt" is a must stop for anyone looking for good Japanese food in the Cambridge/Boston area. Go to Porter Square and check it out!
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Simple. Fast. Delicious.
As others have mentioned, the space is small, the food delicious and the staff friendly. It's a great casual place to grab some yummy Japanese food when the craving hits. I heart donburi!
ORLY GOT ME ADDICTED TO CHICKEN YAKI DON
Girl, didn't steer me wrong.
They only take cash, and for some reason I suck at ordering there....I just say.."What she's having".....Sure, my hair frizzes up while waiting in the walkway and it is crowded and I feel like I am invading people's personal boxes of space. I just don't care. Perfect, after workout food. Now, I just have to remember to workout
See you Friday.
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I spent the first few months of college missing home-cooked Japanese food. Not sushi or teriyaki or other typical things that Japanese restaurants have, but the subtler things, like yakizakana (broiled fish) and hiyayakko (cold tofu). Then I found Cafe Mami, and I was happy.
My friend got curry, and it was pretty good too. I liked my fish better, though. We sat at the tiny bar on the side of the kitchen, so we got to watch them make everything. I was impressed at how they utilize their minimal space, but their iced green tea machine probably doesn't make as much money as the bar space that it takes up.
Most definitely don't come here with a group (if you want to be seated quickly, that is), and most definitely do come here looking for authentic Japanese meals.
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I've only gotten the various hamburg sets... and can't get enough! The flavors are amazing and I'll even put up with the tiny space, sharing intimate tables with strangers and having enough cash on hand. The food is just so good.
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I love the Teriyaki Hamburg set so much I can't bring myself to order anything else.. The waitresses are always so sweet and wonderful and the cooks behind the counter are always super friendly! The wait is no big deal- if you can't handle it you can always jump over to Tampopo or Ittyo, but if it's Hamburg you want, stick with Mami! Don't forget to try the green tea shake- my gf loves it!
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Always packed, but that's how you know they're good. I love their Teriyaki Hamburg Set. I'm craving for it right now. Their homeade tomato sauce is wonderful and the rice is soft. Yay for free rice refills! I also love their Chicken Teriyaki Set and their green tea milkshake.
Sometimes I wish they would just move to somewhere bigger...
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I love you Cafe Mami! LOVE. The line is always ridiculous but there is a reason. The food is yummy and affordable and amazing.
On Saturdays I have a particularly hard workout day and once i'm done with my afternoon session, i haul ass to Mami and get there right when they open. I get chicken yaki don over salad instead of rice. Add some sriracha and it's so delicious.
I walk home sipping my miso and then devour my Japanese goodness. I usually end up drinking the sauce, which I probably shouldn't admit.
For $7.50 there are few more perfect meals in the world.
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I had a damn good meal tonight at Cafe Mami. I had the fried pork cutlet on white rice with red pickled cabbage and a ladle full of japanese curry. It was very filling and flavorful. The curry was INTENSE in flavor, but not too spicy. Sriracha on the table for those who like it hotter.
It was a tender pork cutlet. Nice crunchy breading, even under the sauce. OMG OMG so good. Me wanty more. Too bad this place is so busy and not more convenient to me. But I will def come back.
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I'd just like to point out, that you are more likely to win the lottery than get a seat at Cafe Mami.
That being said, Cafe Mami is my new favorite at the Porter Sq Exchange. I first heard of Cafe Mami through Phantom Gourmet (When I could still stand it). It was their burger episode, and they mentioned how Cafe Mami had "Steak Sets" which were similar to a burger except without the bun, and about 1000x better.
Holy crap, I have never agreed with the Phantom more. I got the Terriaki Steak Set. You have the option of adding melted cheese, a fried egg, or both for $1.00 or $2.00. Yes PLEASE. Ok, so I only got the fried egg, that's healthy....right?? I'm just going to say yes for the sake of my wellbeing. Um, it was AMAZING. Your mouth is going to have an orgasm with all the flavors and textures that are going on. FYI, dunk all your rice into the juicy goodness that's left over. Yum.
I haven't tried anything else, but they have about 6 different Steak Sets, and needless to say, I'm excited to go back.
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I love Erin H's review, because she brings up the non-food things that make Cafe Mami the quintessential Japanese restaurant. It's tiny, the seating is very crowded and you'd better bring cash or it's no go.
While I like the hamburger sets, I almost always end up getting katsu-kari with a pork cutlet. The cutlet is always juicy and while I tend to like my curries a bit more rich and spicy than they do it here, it's very good and they always serve fukuzinzuke (the red daikon pickles) with their curry.
I do wish they offered a curry udon set, I might suggest that to them next time I am there.
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This is our never-fail place when we lived in Boston. Even now that we're in California, I still dream of this place and I haven't found a replacement yet.
Fried Chicken marinated in ginger, Fried Shumai, Spicy Beef bowl and Oyako Don --- yummm, I also love their sweet carrot side which I have tried to replicate without success.
Also have to mention how fun it is to sit at the bar area just because you can see japanese efficiencies at it's best. From the really fast compact dish washer to the prepared meats ready to be cooked.
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I have been coming to Cafe Mami for about 5 years now and have never been let down. Everyone that I have ever taken here has left feeling as enthusiastic about the place as I was after eating here the first time. My favorite selections on the menu are: Yaki Don, Seaweed Salad, BBQ Hamburger Set and their Chicken Katsu are all wonderful. The staff is always very friendly and will work hard to accommodate you and your party. The only drawbacks are that they are located in a tiny storefront so you may be seated at a joint table with people you don't know and they also don't accept credit cards (only reason for 4/5 stars).
All in all, Cafe Mami is one of my favorite restaurants in the Boston area and I highly recommend that anyone in search of hearty Japanese fare check it out!
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About 4 bites into my meal here was when I, the Emperor, looked down on the new clothes I'd been given and suddenly realised that it had all gone wrong. Was this some kind of joke? What was I doing here? Why had a waited in line to be seated next to a slush machine for this food? Was I back in '97 on my student budget with no culinary clue?
I was! I was eating a small jacket potato with a burger drowned in ketchup and a fried egg on top. My partner was having breaded chicken cutlet with English mustard and brown (HP) sauce. It was uncanny - this is exactly the cheap mess I used to cook up myself from the Tesco's Value frozen range back in the gastronomic wasteland that was my late-nineties life in England. They didn't even forget the soggy token side-salad. I was even drinking a can of coke!
And yet all these people in line, and all these glowing reviews from trusted friends espousing the wonders of Japanese canteen cuisine. It's strange - the miso was great but apart from that I obviously don't get it, or maybe I ordered the wrong things. But then I also for once want to support that little part of my brain that shouts out every time I try some new ethnic cuisine - "It's probably all a con - they're all laughing in the kitchen - they're joking about you back in their home country!"
I may come back and see if they have any of my other staples from 1997 - battered fish sticks in a white bread sandwich, baked beans served in a mug with a frankfurter to stir it with, pot noodle with squeeze cheese...
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I spent many lunch hours in line just to get a taste of their lunch specials....basically everything is spectacular... and now that I don't work in the city, I miss the place... Heck I would even order extra for dinner.. Great place in Porter Sq, and although the lines can be ridiculous, it is for a reason.....so check it out when you get a chance... you'll be surprised at its Japanese goodness.. tiny place, with huge flavor..
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I have bad luck when it comes to wanting to try this place. The only one time that I saw it not packed with a line was when I went to Porter Sq. to try octopus balls from Tampopo (haha) anyways. I didn't eat THERE (I got takeout - which is why I didn't get the hamburg plate that I've heard good things about) so I got the spicy beef bowl (the other thing that I've heard about from there) and it was phenomenal. It wasn't spicy tho :( I like how it comes with a little cup of free miso soup hehe just wish there was more seaweed and tofu in it. I also didn't get to try their green tea milkshakes (waa!) but there's always a next time... This place is TINY you have to go during a non-rush hour to get a seat. And it's horrible for groups larger than 2 or 3 cuz you probably can't really sit together.
Also, (looking at the survey below as I write this) who said this place was good for breakfast???
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I've never been to Cafe Mami without having to wait for a seat. But of course, that's expected at most of the restaurants at the Porter Exchange. I'm a big fan of their Tokyo hamburg sets and wafu hamburg sets; love the homemade sauces and choice of egg and cheese on top of the hamburg with hand-tossed salad. The portions are perfect and their green tea milkshakes are delectable.
Perfect lunch place for the weekends (and weekdays, if you're in the area - they're not open Tuesdays, though). Always affordable and delicious.
This is an institution among students in Boston....well at least among my circle of friends.
I think I ate here almost once every week over my four years in Boston. Somehow I can't get sick of their food. My favorites are the boneless fried chicken, fried chicken curry, miso-marinated mackerel, hamburg steak on rice and spicy beef bowl. All super duper yummy.
You can always request for an extra fried egg or cheese to be added to anything. I love those extras with my curry (sounds weird with cheese but it's really yummy).
Service is always quick and they've gotten their operations here down to an art. It's tiny but you can fit a group of 5 or so if you don't mind waiting a little. The lines get long during peak lunch/dinner hours but I say it's totally worth the wait. You can place your order while in line so that your dish will be ready when you're table is ready. It's located right beside the Porter Exchange T-stop and there's also a parking lot that's free.
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The lively hustle and bustle of this place reminds me of Osaka, Japan! I've been to Porter Exchange many times now for my authentic Japanese fixes after moving to Boston and this places always seems to be the busiest out of all the eateries there. There is a counter for up to three people, as well as three tables for groups. And the open kitchen is a welcoming sight to watch during eating and all the Japanese talk between the chiefs and waitresses made me miss Japan all over again! Be prepared to wait to dine in but they have menus displayed outside and are ready to take your order before you are seated. I also noticed many orders for the go!
As for me, I enjoyed a nice dine-in experience and had the curry pork cutlet tonkatsu ($8.50) and it was oishii (delicious)! The katsu was very comparable to what I had in Kyoto and not greasy at all, while there was plenty of rice to keep you full. Miso and salad with Japanese dressing came before it and that was very enjoyable as well! I missed out on the green tea milk shake but will have to try it next time ($3.50). Cash only please and they're closed on Tues (thanks Yi-Hwa H.).
Sorry Ittyo, but Cafe Mami will be my food geisha from now on!
"Gochisoosama," says the wise Lin san.
11/11 Update:
Came back today to try their Tokyo Hamburg Set. It has miso soup, salad with Japanese dressing, small potato, rice, and meatloaf like hamburg with Japanese tomato sauce that not too tangy and a bit sweet. Not bad at all!
To the pretty Japanese waitress: pass me your number next time I get the check?
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This place is SO GOOD. It's the ber-ZOMB!
Very small, you have to wait and then share a table. "Real food, real cheap." (Maybe it is Yelp reincarnated as a restaurant.) And a super vibe.
We are both miso enthusiasts and we found the miso to be delectable.
My gf was not that into her dish, but admitted that it was because she just didn't really know what it was going to be (and neither did I). She totally gives it "gobishi" (or whatever 5 stars is) and we can't wait to go back.
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Everyone's life needs more places like Cafe Mami. Big food and short prices. Hamburg w/ fried egg and cheese! Curry rice! Wafuu chicken cutlet with a lovely little pile of grated daikon and a cute mini potato! Green tea frappe type beverage! Oishii desu!
Er. Maybe I'm spoiled, but this place was just okay. Service was nice, food was decent, atmosphere was so so.
I had the veggie donburi, which was what I expected. I liked it, but it was nothing special. They only had one server who was rushing around, barely keeping things together. She seemed a bit frazzled, but I guess 2 people would have been overkill? Dunno.
The prices were okay, though.
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This is another instance where I am willing to overlook less than stellar service because the food is just that good. They have a weird way of seating people, where they need to fill one of the two small tables before they'll seat anyone at the second one. This was a little annoying to me and my friends when we went tonight, but we shook it off. I'm glad we did. I ordered the same dish I had the last time I went---yaki don, thin slices of spicy marinated beef over rice--and it was just as good as I remembered. I will probably never ever eat anything else on the menu, it's just that good. And so perfectly paired with the sweet smoothness of a green tea milkshake.
My friend Carrie, who is a vegetarian, had the veggie teriyaki don w/tofu and was very happy with it. My friend Mary had the Oyako Don (chicken and egg over rice) and liked it, but said she would probably order the Yaki Don next time. Yes, IT IS JUST THAT GOOD! See my photo of the dish for a visual clue to the deliciousness of the yaki don!
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CURRY!
The curry is great here. This place is very authentic and similar restaurants in Japan. They only take cash and it can be a tad on the high side. The line for this place is similar to the DMV, but that's apart of the Cafe Mami experience. The service is good.
I've been coming here for a long time now. You should give it a shot. Gambade!
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When I feel nostalgic for Asia I go to Cafe Mami. I dig the counter and communal tables and in-and-out manner of eating during a busy day. Most importantly, the food rocks! If you know what's up, you'll order a green tea milkshake, all gritty with matcha, CURRY (which comes with miso and rice, which they weigh, just like the spots in Nihon) or a yaki don. You know when you crave something and nothing else can quell it? Something about that particular combination of tastes, maybe the experience? Uh huh. Hankerings for this place strike me at the oddest of times, walking in the rain, chatting with a friend, typing on the keyboard... like right now and I just had lunch. And the Latino guys in the kitchen (Mexican?) speak Japanese, how novel is that?
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We have going to this place on weekends now for 10 year and I always wondered if this an authentic corner eatery that you would find on the streets of Tokyo.
Since a number of my son's classmates were Japanese over the years, I had the opportunity to ask their parents (these parents, who are all recent arrivals, are usually here for 1-3 years sent either by their Company or here doing medical research). I am please to report this place is the real deal.
I can never pass on the spicy beef and rice.
Cafe Mami is quite simply spectacular. Just thinking about it makes my eyes turn into gigantic hearts and if I have just eaten there you will know because my mouth will keep moving nonstop about the virtues of this petite little establishment.
It is good to know that you are going to be getting real Japanese food if you go here. That means that you are going to be getting a lot of options that have very base flavors. You aren't going to get any super spicy thai dishes or odd asian fusion options.
Also you are going to have a line. What ever your schedule is I would tack a half and hour, at least, before you plan to sit down.
When you do sit down everything is flawless. if you are prepared you can even order your meal while you are waiting for your seat.
With my meal I was started with a miso that was perhaps the best that I have ever had. next was a small little salad with just the right amount of dressing. Then I was KOed by the supreme curry pork. A perfect cutlet of pork prepared immaculately with plenty of amazing curry sauce. The sauce was utterly ideal with just enough spice without being hot and flavor that almost couldn't fit in your mouth.
To add to their ideal food the staff keeps up every inch of the way. Each dish is perfectly timed and they are very friendly.
I wouldn't recommend Mami everyday because the waiting might be enough to give you a heart attack. I would say that if you are feeling patient it is more than wort the wait.
"You rock Cafe Mami" (pounds fist against heart and points finger towards Cafe Mami)
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Cafe Mami is interesting Japanese food. Interesting in the sense that you've probably never seen any of the food on the menu advertised as Japanese. From "Hamburg Steak sets" to Japanese curry, the creations at this bistro have a unique sense of character.
If you're going to Cafe Mami for dinner, expect to pay around $10-12. The portions are not exactly the biggest, but will satisfy. Do expect to wait in line if you want to be seated (there are only 2 tables, and 3 seats at a "bar"), and don't bring parties of more than 5 or 6 because you won't be seated together.
Each "set" of food comes with an entree, miso soup, and as much rice as you can eat. The soup is done nicely here; it tastes really fresh, although some might say it's a little salty. Each entree also comes with a salad of lettuce, carrots, and japanese dressing, as well as a small roasted potato.
The food here is definitely interesting, but my main gripe is that for $8.50, there's not enough food on the plate. Try a teriyaki hamburg steak set if you're going for the first time, or if you're into something spicier, try a curry dish or one of the chef's specials on the back of the menu. The green tea milkshake is really good as well; a 16-ounce cup of it will run you $3.50.
Overall, Cafe Mami combines traditional Japanese flavors with bold, innovative creations to form new and interesting fare. Definitely try it at least once!
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Inexpensive, fast, friendly and efficient staff, and oh-so-yummy food - what's not to love? The food here is absolutely fantastic, and the prices are unbeatable for the quality. Plus, they have the best spicy beef Donburi I've had in Boston yet. I really, realy love the food here! And the service is great, always sweet and friendly.
To top it all off, Cafe Mami is close to so many other great places - Blue Fin restaurant (although if you're eating at Cafe Mami I doubt you'll have space in your tummy for both), and Kotobukiya mini-mart. (I love Porter Exchange in general, it's like a trip down memory lane and I can find so many things I love from my childhood).
The only downside is that you will very often have to wait for a table at Cafe Mami given its extremely limited seating, especially if you go during peak hours, but it moves so quickly that you probably won't be waiting too long anyway. And even if it is cash-only, there's a Bank of America ATM in the mall, a 1-min walk away so it's easily resolved. If you park in the Porter Exchange lot in the back, don't forget to get it validated by the security guard on the way out - and their hourly rates are really low compared to most parking places in Boston.
Forgot to say - they are closed on Tuesdays.
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This place gets my vote whenever I'm in the mood for good, simple Japanese food. There is usually a wait when you go near dinner time hours, but if its not too long (over 20 minutes,) then its worth the wait. The spicy tofu salad is always a good starter. I always get the Saba in miso gravy, and its always delicious. Its a cheap date, because 2 people can dine for less than $30.00. Works for me.
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I miss Cafe Mami so much! This was the place for me to go with friends when I was in Boston for college. Even now, I make sure to have a meal there when I visit Boston.
Curry dishes, hamburg set, donburi, you name it and they are all good!
Being away from Japan, this is my number 1 place to get "youshoku" - Western style Japanese food - in U.S.
Good food good prices! Just have to be careful you don't go looking for you yaki don fix during that 2 hour period between lunch and dinner they close for (3-5 I think).
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