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Ramen and Pho Guide – Boston, MA
It’s that time of year again. Once the leaves start falling, we start slurping our noodles.
It seems like Boston keeps getting more and more ramen and pho spots– so we will be here to try them all and let you know which ones are worth your time!
Mecha Noodle Bar (Brookline, Seaport)
We all have those nights when we can’t decide between pho, ramen, or maybe some bao buns. Well, now you don’t have to, because Mecha does it all!
The vibes at Mecha are immaculate. It’s lively and vibrant with a robust Asian-inspired cocktail menu. The spicy miso ramen took the cake for us. The broth here is super rich with a more-than-decent kick to it, with mushrooms adding to the umami heartiness. The Shoyu Paitain is as close as it gets as Japanese chicken soup. For someone just dipping their toes into the world of ramen, the shoyu is the way to go.
On top of that, the bao buns here are also fire. We tried their KFC (Korean fried chicken) bao buns. The super crispiness of the chicken with the doughy sweetness of the bun was a killer combo.
If you are going for a fun date night, or are just trying to stay warm, Mecha is the spot for you.
Pho Hoa (Dorchester)
There is a ton of great pho all over Boston, but if you are looking for the best of the best, look no further than Dorchester and Pho Hoa. For all of your authentic Vietnamese favorites, this is the spot.
There is a variety of great stuff here, including an epic seven course beef meal. But make no mistake, this is the spot for top quality pho.
You don’t stick around for 30 years in the restaurant industry if you aren’t cooking up the authentic stuff. The thinly-sliced beef was the perfect amount of raw, which allowed the hot broth to bring it from pink to just under medium rare.
Wakuwaku (China Town, Cambridge)
Wakuwaku is an innovator with options spanning every corner of the ramen world.
Their wide selection comes complete with both pork and chicken-based broths. Their classic Wakuwaku comes with a side of fried pork chop if you are extra hungry.
Our favorite was the curry ramen. It was super savory, and the noodles were perfectly chewy. When it comes to ramen near downtown, this spot is a must-try.
Pizza Guide – Boston, MA
The Northeast is known for its pizza. New Haven, CT and NYC get all the hype, but Boston can go toe-to-toe with any style of pizza your heart desires.
Ciao! Pizza & Pasta (Chelsea)
Ciao has not only one of our favorite pizzas in Boston, but possibly our favorite pizza ever. They specialize in Neapolitan-style pizzas that they cook up in their wood-fired oven.
We love Neapolitan-style because it’s super light (that means you can face a whole pizza). The dough is light and chewy, with a crispy crunch on the crust. A pizza is only as good as its ingredients, and Ciao takes as much care in those as they do with their dough and sauce.
A couple of our favorites include the sausage as well as the pollo arrosto. The sausage is made with a homemade fennel sausage, which is a step up from the sausage on a typical “meat lovers.” The pollo arrosto has roasted chicken, bacon, and pesto, all of which come together in a flavor tsunami.
If there is one must-try unique pizza here, you have to try the nutella dessert pizza. It has a sweet mascarpone base, and tons of nutella and fruit. This is essentially the pizza version of a crepe and it’s the perfect way to end a meal.
Avenue Kitchen + Bar (Somerville)
If you haven’t had the Detroit-style pizza, then stop reading this article right now and get yourself to Avenue.
Similar to Chicago deep dish, you can debate if Detroit-style pizza is really pizza. But, what is not debatable is that when done right, Detroit-style is one hell of a meal.
What sets Detroit-style apart from your typical pizza is that it’s cooked in a square pan with high sides. This creates caramelized (on the verge of burnt) sides and a light an airy center. Typically, a slice is a few inches thick. Avenue has perfected this style, and has added a few twists along the way.
For first time customers of Detroit-style, their classic cheese is good. But for a unique take, we love the beef barbacoa. This is covered in bruised short rib and an electric cilantro pesto sauce. There is beef jus drizzled on top to add even more meatiness. This pizza has an awesome back-and-forth between rich beef flavors and super fresh citrus from pico de gallo and pesto.
Avenue is more than just a pizza place as they have a robust menu and great draft list.
Pizza Days (Allston)
Pizza Days is exactly what we think of when we talk about classic American pizza. Their main style is what we call football pizza. It’s nice and greasy with a medium flop. The true gem here (and why they are in this article) is their Sicilian pizza. This style is cut into squares and is a few inches thick, similar to a Detroit-style.
The difference here is it is not cooked in a pan, so the sides aren’t burnt and caramelized. This pizza is light, airy, and has a touch of sweetness to the dough. When it’s Sunday and the Patriots are on, this is what we are ordering.
You might not be getting the high-end ingredients from the other two spots, but you are getting those familiar flavors from the pizzas you grew up with.
Taco and Burrito Guide Pt. 8 – Boston, MA
It’s been awhile since we’ve added to our taco and burrito guide (check out our other seven editions!). We’ve continued to search all ends of the greater Boston area to find the best Mexican food around. And the spots featured in part 8 might just be some of the best so far!
La Oaxaqueña #2
We are starting off strong with one of our favorite spots we’ve been thus far. La Oaxaqueña is a true hole-in-the-wall. From the front, it looks like any Mexican bodega, but if you make your way into the back, there is a small area to order some of the most authentic tacos. You’ll also find other creations you won’t see at your typical burrito spot in Boston, including hot Cheetos street corn and mangonadas.
A mangonada is essentially a mango smoothie made with mango puree, sorbet, chimo, and fresh mangos. The end result is a super refreshing drink that goes perfectly with the street tacos. These street tacos stay true to tradition, as they are served with diced onions, cilantro, radish, and a lime wedge on two tortillas.
Their al pastor was super juicy and tender with a slight kick to it. It came with an avocado-based verde salsa in which we smothered our tacos. The shredded chicken was also very enjoyable. Finally, we had to try the hot Cheetos street corn. And this was exactly how it sounds. This is corn covered in a mayo-based sauce, then coated in ground up hot Cheetos. This type of food creativity is hard to find elsewhere.
Esquite Mexican Street Food
This may be a burrito and taco guide, but the tortas at Esquite steal the show.
If you’ve never had cochinita before, then their cochinita torta is a MUST try. Cochinita is a style of pulled pork from the Yucatan area of Mexico. It is slow-roasted for maximum flavor, typically with an orange juice, citrus, and achiote-based sauce.
This is essentially the Mexican version of BBQ pulled pork. The bread used for the torta has a toasty crunch, which is needed to contain the sauciness of the cochinita. The topping game on this sandwich is strong with chipotle aioli, avocado, pickled onions, refried beans, and cheese. It all comes together for one extreme sandwich!
Also, we did not forget about the tacos here. So, we tried their grilled chicken variation. These definitely did the job satisfying our taco craving.
El Palmar
You can’t have a taco and burrito guide without a burrito spot!
El Palmar had a surprisingly great burrito. They nailed it on all of the major burrito categories: overall taste, construction, tortilla, and filling. They also got bonus points for grilling the burrito. This small step takes any burrito to the next level.
El Palmar is a no-frills spot. They have three choices for your burrito: chicken, beef, and adobado. The adobado is a Mexican style of pork in a chili marinade. The pork is super tender with a nice kick to it.
Grilling the burrito created a cheesy ring around the outside. Filling-wise, it was generous on the meat and did not go to heavy on rice or beans. The burrito was a perfect harmony of ingredients, creating a symphony of flavors in our mouth.
In addition, we had one of their pupusas, which was nicely charred and served with a classic slaw and dipping sauce.
Fast Casual Lunches – Boston, MA
“Fast casual” is a style of dining that has exploded in recent years. Panera was one of the leaders in the category. But now, there are so many more options including a ton of local Boston spots to get high quality food during the lunch hour.
Pressed Cafe
Pressed might be the only spot you can find a steak bomb panini, shakshuka, and a french breakfast burrito all in the same place. Usually we are weary when one place has too big of a menu. However, Pressed kills it with whatever they are serving, no matter which location. Everytime we’ve had food from here (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) it has been bomb.com.
You can grab your food to-go or chill out and have a drink at the bar. They have an extensive breakfast burrito menu that is served all day. Our favorite is Spanish style, which is dripping with gooey cheese and filled with fresh veggies. If you are looking for something more exotic, they have shakshuka that is as good as some that we’ve had in Israel. This is definitely a dish that you want to have in person.
Fitting to the name, the paninis at Pressed are no joke. These will have you leaving full and happy.
Tatte
If Pressed is “Panera on steroids” then Tatte is “Starbucks on steroids.” And it certainly feels like there are just as many Tatte locations as Starbucks around Boston these days. Tatte is a great place if you are looking for a high quality breakfast or lunch on-the-go. And they have built an atmosphere where you can do some work while enjoying one of their many fresh pastries.
Tatte has a European vibe. Their sandwiches aren’t going to be over the top, but what they lack in portion size they more than make up for with quality ingredients and flavor. They also have a great shakshuka if you are trying to switch it up from your traditional breakfast. Our two favorite items on the menu are the prosciutto and fig sandwich, and the short rib grilled cheese. These are on two opposite ends of spectrum. One is light while the other is decadent. There is something here for everyone and on every occasion.
Cobblestones
Pressed and Tatte have thrived in the Boston food scene, and have since expanded beyond. Cobblestones, however, is the new kid on the block. And if we had to guess, they will be following in their footsteps.
Cobblestones makes everything in-house. So, whether you are enjoying a moist chocolate cake or trying to stay on the healthier side with a salad, you can rest assured no corners were cut. For us, the real winners are their sandwiches. The bread has that crunchy outside that you can only get from bakery bread. And any meat that is not cooked in-house is sourced from a local father and son meat smoker.
The Colonial is a classic turkey bacon sandwich, but it is elevated to another level of goodness. The bacon is thick cut, and the turkey is not your Boar’s Head deli slice. To cap it off, the pesto aioli adds that little extra something. Cobblestones is a true neighborhood establishment that we could eat at everyday.
Fall Day Trips – Boston, MA
Fall is in full swing now. And so far this year, we’ve become aware of just how many things you can “pumpkin spice.” Today, we’re walking you through some of our favorite fall spots to spend a day outside of Boston.
Echo Hill Orchards & Winery
For a full day trip out of Boston and into in the hills of Western Mass, visit Echo Hill Orchards & Winery. If you are looking for a place to chase the leaves changing colors this is your spot. If you are looking for world-class wine then maybe take a trip to Napa.
The vibes at Echo Hill are a 10/10, A it’s located at the top of a rolling hill, and there is foliage as far as the eye can see. Like any good farm you can take a hayride around the property, or grab a bag to pick-your-own apples.
On top of having wine, they also make their own moonshine which we enjoyed quite a bit. Their apple pie, peach cobbler and blueberry moonshine were liquid desserts.
Tree House: Chalrton
Tree House is slowly but surely taking over Massachusetts. Charlton is their HQ location, but they have also opened locations in Deerfield, Cape Cod, and most recently, they purchased a golf course in Tewksbury. All locations are worth a visit, but in the fall their flagship spot is our go-to for a number of reasons besides (of course) their world-class beer.
This place is the Willy Wonka’s of breweries. There are two bars and over 70 different beers on tap at a time. The brewery is located on a hill and there are tons of outdoor seats on top of it that give you unparalleled views of the changing foliage. There are also miles upon miles of hiking trails all on the property, so you don’t have to feel bad about that dessert stout you have.
Beyond just the beer, they are also a distillery and offer craft cocktails as well as slushy drinks. Burying the lede here is their beer. When it starts to get cool out, something just hits different when drinking an indulgent dessert stout.
With 70 beers on tap there is something here for everyone, although Tree House’s bread-and-butter is hazy IPAs and stouts. They have a core coffee stout which is essentially drinking a thick cold brew. From this base stout they have a number of ever-changing variants, like versions with Oreos, chocolate truffles, and maple syrup. You can also expect over-the-top dessert stouts including one of our favorites “Moment Of Clarity” which tastes like pancakes covered in maple syrup.
Less than an hour from Boston, we can’t think of a better way to spend a fall afternoon. If you are really feeling it you could even go to both Echo Hill and Tree House in one trip!
Lookout Farm
If you are looking for the ideal day date spot that isn’t too far from Boston, but still feels like a total escape, look no further than Lookout Farm.
Over the years, Lookout Farm has expanded beyond just a pick-your-own fruit farm. There is now a full, year-round taproom that features all of their own beers and ciders, a killer brunch, a BBQ pit, and a huge field in order to enjoy all of the above with beautiful views of rolling hills.
If you aren’t looking to pick a bag full of apples that will eventually just sit on your countertop, you can still enjoy the walking paths around the property, as they provide many great photo-ops.
Cookies – Boston, MA
We are sugar addicts here, and there are some fixes that can only be met by a quality bakery cookie. Today, we are going to give you three of our favorite spots to grab cookies we just can’t seem to replicate at home.
Clear Flour Bakery
Clear Flour is number one on our list because of its versatility. They always have banging cookies, but they also have a full bakery. Here, you can get a homemade baguette or a rich creamy cheesecake. Typically, they always have a classic chocolate chip cookie in the lineup as well as a few rotating flavors. Their cookies are what we call a “hybrid.” They are not super thin and crispy, and they are not over-the-top fluffy either. Clear Flour cookies fall right in the middle, and they give you the best of the both worlds.
If you are looking to pick up the goods on a weekend morning– beware. Although this is a small hole-in-the-wall, all of the locals know about this spot, so you can expect a long line.
Levain Bakery
Levain is our cookie spot when we feel like treating ourselves. Is it crazy to pay $5 for a cookie? Yup. Do we ever regret getting these? Not at all.
Levain is cranking out cookies all day, which means it’s more than likely yours will still be warm and gooey. The cookies here are thick and gooey filled with plenty of chocolate chips. Chocolate chip is their staple and they always have a few rotating options. During our visit they had Rocky Road, which had a chocolate base cookie filled with warm, gooey marshmallow.
Levain is as close as it gets to our last spot “Feed The Cheeks,” which is by far one of our favorite cookies of all time.
Feed The Cheeks
We’ve saved the best for last. Feed The Cheeks, which started as a delivery-only cookie service around Boston and Providence, now has a full-time storefront. Unfortunately for us Boston locals, it’s in Providence. Still, Feed the Cheeks is worth the drive for true cookie lovers.
Their cookies are that extra thick and gooey kind. We are talking like 2 to 3 inch thickness for these. A lot of times we have cookies that we can easily replicate at home. But in this case, we have tried and have failed on multiple occasions. Their core flavors are chocolate chip, chocolate peanut butter chip, and birthday cake. We’ve also had a cookies and cream, which was cookie inception! There were Oreos crushed up inside of another cookie, resulting in a ridiculously sweet and creamy creation.
If you are making the trip down then you might as well get a box and try them all!
Tourist Traps – Boston, MA
We’ve read and watched our fair share of Boston tourist guides. Most of them recommend overpriced, mediocre food that most locals would not be caught dead eating. In this article, we are going to give you an honest review of three of Boston’s biggest tourist traps. We’ll let you know if they worth your time and money.
Boston Chowda Co.
We will start this one by saying: just completely avoid any food in Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. It’s going to be way overpriced and very average at best.
New England is known for clam chowder, so every tourist who comes to town wants to try a bowl. Just like lobster rolls, there are two main styles of clam chowder. One style is thick and creamy, while the other is thinner and more broth-like. Both are good, and it’s really up to your preference. But 99% of the time, if you get chowder in Boston, it’s going to be thick and creamy.
Bringing this back to Boston Chowda Co. These guys take thick and creamy to the next level. Their chowder is straight sludge. This stuff is beyond thick. However, there’s a major ingredient that is very sparse in their clam chowder… the clams. In our ideal chowder we want to get a few clams in every bite. But the chowder here does not deliver. If you are visiting Boston, you have to try chowder. But this is not the spot.
Regina Pizzeria
The Northeast is known for its pizza. New York and Connecticut get most of the shine, but Boston has a strong pizza scene as well.
The North End is known for its deep Italian roots, and boasts some of the best Italian food in the city. It is also home to Regina, which has been a Boston staple since 1926. To this day, you can expect to wait in line at the O.G. spot, no matter what time it is.
So, should you wait in line for this Boston classic? If you asked us, we would say no.
In our opinion, there are plenty of places that are much better. That being said, Regina Pizzeria is not a complete tourist trap. You can get solid, middle-of-the-road pizza here. It won’t change your life, but it always will leave you saying, “yeah, that was alright”.
The Barking Crab
The vibe check at The Barking Crab is a 10 out of 10, but the food here is a 1 out of 10.
Located right by the Boston Tea Party boat, this red and yellow tent is hard to miss. Right on the water at the start of the Seaport, this location can’t be beat. There are beautiful city views, nautical decorations, and smells of salt water.
If you are looking to stop by for a drink, we would highly recommend that. But whatever you do, DO NOT get the food here. The lobster rolls are easily the worst we’ve ever had. The McDonald’s in New England had lobster rolls for a limited time, and those were probably better than the ones on offer here. A good lobster roll has chunks of claw, knuckle, and tail meat. This one has almost none of that.
Your eyes might light up when they bring the roll to the table, but that’s because they only put lobster on the top of the roll. The middle of the roll is completely empty! The lobster here is not sweet and buttery. Instead, it is bland and frozen tasting. The clam chowder here is not much better. It’s better than Boston Chowda Co. but not by much.
When it comes to tourist traps, the Barking Crab takes the cake.
Sushi Guide Pt. 2 – Boston, MA
There is no shortage of great sushi around Boston. Sushi is versatile. It can be a quick bite on-the-go, a hole-in-the-wall hang out, or a fancy date night. In this guide, we are going to touch upon all three levels.
Fugakyu
This is hands-down one of the coolest decorated restaurants we have been to. From the outside, Fugakyu doesn’t look like much. But when you walk in, you are transported to a starry night in Japan. From floor to ceiling there is bamboo, stone, and classic Japanese architecture. The ceiling is a creamy indigo with swirling galaxies and shining stars.
The only thing that tops the look of the place is the quality of their fish. The presentation is exquisite. We had salmon from the springs of Mt. Fuji. This came on a plate with dry ice pouring out from under the fish. The salmon was melt in your mouth delicious. Here, even the basics are prepared with care and filled with only top quality fish. You would be hard pressed to find an overall better sushi experience.
Fish Market
Fish Market is your hole-in-the-wall local sushi spot which you can visit time and time again for good rolls. When one of the few tables inside are open, we love to stop by and have sake with our sushi.
Their truffle and chili oil on top of the flying dragon maki takes this roll to the next level. The dynamic flavors make the raw shrimp on the top of this roll come alive. Fish Market offers cheap but quality hand rolls. The spicy tuna and spicy salmon rolls are both under $6, which is a value that can’t be beat anywhere else.
Momento
If Fugakyu is at the high end of the sushi scale, and Fish Market is your local spot to grab a quick roll, then Momento falls right in between. This is the perfect spot for a casual date night, or a place to grab sushi with some friends.
Memento has a very clean, modern look to it. All white, with large windows from floor to ceiling, the vibes here are great. On top of a robust sushi menu, they also have a full bar with a cocktail menu full of creative Japanese-inspired drinks. The lychee martini here is a fresh take on a classic. Also, the salmon and tuna avocado rolls are packed with fat pieces of sushi meat. Lastly, the 399 roll is covered in slices of tuna and salmon and filled with a spicy mayo crab mix which brings a subtle kick.
Food Truck Guide – Boston, MA
Summer is food truck season in Boston. From pop-up food truck parks around the city, to food trucks at pretty much every brewery, there is no shortage of spots to grab a bite.
The Dining Car
The Dining Car is taking all of the American classics and kicking them up a notch.
Two classics that they knock out of the park are the Mama’s meatballs and the buttermilk fried chicken tenders. The meatballs are a blend of ground beef and pork, which means that there are no dry balls here! The buns are toasted to be able to handle all of the homemade marinara in which they douse the sandwich. The cheese is then broiled to melty perfection so you can get that picture perfect cheese pull.
If The Dining Car just wanted to focus on their buttermilk fried chicken then they could win the fried chicken sandwich wars. Their tenders are ridiculously crispy and crunchy. There is something about that buttermilk dressing that just hits different. And their homemade honey mustard dipping sauce is the chef’s kiss on top.
Daddy’s Bonetown Burgers
What’s a better combination than PB&J? Beer and a burger! Bonetown is slinging gourmet smash burgers at all of the best breweries around the Boston area.
They are the perfect of example of less is more. There are usually 4 rotating burgers that you can order, and even with a limited menu, it’s hard to choose which one. No matter which one you get, you can expect your burger cooked to a juicy medium rare and dripping with cheese. The topping game at Bonetown is strong. We didn’t know we needed bourbon bacon jam on a burger, but now we want that delicious spread on anything and everything. It features chunks of buttery, salty bacon that was the ideal marriage for the sweet bourbon jam base.
The Chicken And Rice Guys
If you’re wondering what to expect here, it’s all in the name.
These guys keep it simple, which has worked for them, as they now have an army of food trucks and multiple brick and mortar locations.
The chicken here is moist and packed with flavor. They also have a lamb and beef (mixed together) gyro which has a more gamey taste. The sauces bring it all together, and they have a wide variety. Our two favorites are the minty cilantro jalapeno (for a nice kick) and the creamy garlic (for a more savory vibe).
This spot is a go-to for us when it comes to reliable comfort food that hits the spot every time.
Ice Cream Guide – Boston, MA
Summer heat in Boston is no joke– and one of the best ways to cool down is with ice cream! Today we are going to share with you three very different (and very delicious) spots for some of the best ice cream in town.
Honeycomb Creamery
If you’re with a group and can’t decide between soft serve or hard ice cream, then Honeycomb has you covered. If you’re looking for the classic flavors then this may not be your spot.
Honeycomb is constantly pushing the limits with their creative, seasonal flavors. Don’t expect to find chocolate and vanilla in their soft serve machine. What you will find, however, is strawberry and lemon, which you can then twist together in a flavor-packed strawberry lemonade fusion. Their hard ice cream is also constantly rotating, but whatever they do have in the store will be top quality. It has that extra-creamy, extra-gooey texture that you just can’t find in a grocery store pint.
The milk chocolate stracciatella has a rich chocolate taste, almost like eating brownie batter. If you are feeling extra adventurous they also have flavors like basil goat cheese and ginger rhubarb. It’s always an adventure when dropping by.
Lizzy’s Homemade Ice Cream
When it comes to top quality ice cream and shakes, Lizzy’s is hard to beat. A Waltham institution since 1995, this place has stood the test of time. They’ve also recently opened up a small hole-in-the-wall location in Harvard Square.
Their ice cream is super creamy and rich. The cookies and cream here is loaded with tons of delicious Oreo cookie. Their ice cream is on the verge of gelato, almost elastic in texture (and we mean that in the best way possible).
The frappes here are extra thicc, so good luck trying to suck it out of a straw. You are going to need a spoon to get it out of the cup.
With a wide variety of flavors, from all your traditional classics, to fun creations like the “Charles River Crunch,” there is something here for everyone.
Far Out Ice Cream
If Lizzy’s is on the “classic” end of the ice cream spectrum, then the New Zealand-style ice cream at Far Out is on the complete other side.
So, what exactly is New Zealand-style ice cream?
Well, it’s a glorious fusion of hard ice cream, soft serve, and fresh fruit. First, you start by choosing a base of chocolate or vanilla ice cream, then you choose the fruit you want (we chose the kookaberry, a combo of strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry). After selecting the fruit, Far Out will then combine the fruit and ice cream base into their special machine, and out pops the final product. The end result looks like your classic soft serve cone, but it is much creamier, with a thicker consistency, and bursting with fruitiness. You can then top it off with toasted coconut or other toppings.
We also highly suggest getting a waffle cone, which they make daily in-house.