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Categories: Japanese, Ethnic Food
Neighborhood: Porter SquarePorter (Red)
"They changed their menu and I think it was for the best. Go with the spicy miso ramen. I get it with an egg in it, which is one of their…" read more »
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I love hidden gems, particularly ones that are weird and random. Porter Exchange's little slice of Japanese is a perfect combination of both.
There's something to be said about small, cash-only restaurants that have very short, focused menus. They don't do udon AND ramen AND katsu AND sushi AND don ... they do one thing and they do it well and make it affordable. Bless their souls, I don't need every place I go to have an overview of the entire cuisine, sometimes, I do just want a good unagi don.
The sushi bar sucks, personally.
Also: it's like the only place I can get octopus balls in the city (get yer mind outta the gutter).
I was trying to find Kotobukiya but they're closed apparently. -_-"
I put 1815 Mass Ave in my GPS and it took me to Lesley University. Then I found out it was in their University Hall...
There are 6 or 7 tiny Japanese restaurants right next to each other. I went to the Ramen place today. It was really good. Authentic Japanese noodles~ It's about 10 bucks after tax for a bowl. One bowl might not be enough for a starving guy, but it was certainly enough for a girl who has had lunch before.
I love that little Japanese corner in there. I am going to try every single restaurant there. My next one on the list is the one in the corner, right next to Bluefin. We were going there but there weren't any seat left so we went to Ramen since I had a craving for noodles anyway.
WTF. Boston has officially jumped the shark. Kotobukiya market is closed. This is the ONLY half decent japanese store in boston. I'm going to go cut out my innards with a samuri sword.
Seriously, WTF.
Downgraded to 4 stars because of the loss of the Kotobukiya market.
-----
Between this place and the 88, I've pretty much got all my homestyle Asian meal cravings covered. I rarely travel out to Cambridge since I typically shuttle back and forth between Waltham and Boston but I was really jonesing for some Japanese Curry Rice since Mentei was no longer a convenient stop for me.
There's pay parking behind the building. 1-2 dollars should cover your stay should you decide to make a much longer visit. While all the food stalls feature Japanese food, each restaurant "specializes" in something different, so if you're adventurous, definitely make a few visits and try each spot. Over the next few weeks I'll be checking out a different restaurant every visit and put up a review after the fact.
Damn it, I just dropped by there today and I can't believe Kotobukiya Market closed just earlier this week! Where am i going to find mochi and natto now?
You'll be missed...
I love the little Japanese food stalls and the Japanese grocery mart at Porter Exchange. It's really accessible by the T, right next to the Porter Exchange T station. Parking is usually easily available and free in the adjoining parking lot.
My favorite food stalls are the Japonaise bakery (white chocolate and blueberry scones, finger sandwiches, azuki cream bun), located right outside of the Gap, inside the mall; Cafe Mami (boneless fried chicken, curry, hamburg steak, miso mackerel, spicy beef bowl) and Sapporo Ramen (miso ramen).
The great thing about these food stalls is that the food is really delicious and cheap; if there's a line (usually the case), it moves quite quickly; and if you ask them, they will allow you to order items from other food stalls. I also feel that there is a level of authenticity in the food due to the fact that most of the stall owners/waiters are Japanese.
I was raised in Boston, so I know it well. And I know that there aren't a lot of Japanese people here. Most of them attend Berklee School of Music. The rest? Well, they eat at Porter Exchange.
Each eatery there has a specialty, so you know they're doing it right. From tomato pork chops over rice to the sushi bar to the ramen noodle shop, everything is so delectable.
The sushi is cheap and really really fresh. Service is quick - obviously, you're just at a little counter, and there are usually tons of people waiting for your seat.
I'm nuts about the ice cream mochi they sell at the convenience store. Love it so much that when I lived 3 blocks away, I usually buy an entire package of 6 and eat them with my roommates.
Sometimes I'm in the mood for ramen, and if I'm feeling super fat, I'll get the kind with the whole slab of butter melting in the middle of the soup. Mmm.
And on the way to the garage, I never forget to stop in the Japanese supermarket, get a yummy cream puff and some lychee Hi-Chews.
Went to the sushi bar for dinner last night. Halfway through the meal I was already planning what I'm going to order next time...because I WILL go there again. The miso soup is tasty, and our sushi was made quick and delicious.
Yum.
Cash-only, so come prepared.
I've been going to this place since High School and I love it.
For those of you from Japan or have lived in Japan and are looking to feel natsukashii then this is the place to go.
Sushi - in my opinion, one of the best I've ever had. The rice has extra vinegar in it which is why I think I find it so good. I've heard others say they found the the Sushi to be low quality but I've never had a problem with it.
Curry - (cafe mami) Taste just like Coco's (Japanese curry chain)
Saporro Ramen - Taste like any Ramen shop you would find in Japan. Great hangover food.
Tanpopo - I've only had the Oyako Don there and it was decent. I didn't like the chicken. My friends had the Tampora and it looked really good. They also have authentic tasting Taco yaki.
Itty - never been but heard it's not very good.
Don't go with more then one other person. It's imposable to find seats.
The Market has the same Onigiri they sell in Convini's in Japan.
Chinatown, schminatown....this is a small shopping mall that is an ode to all things Asian.
From food (cheap, drool-worthy sushi) to beautiful gifts (have a silk kimono or two) to drink (bubble tea) and groceries (green tea ice cream Hoodsies)
A perfect Saturday for me here consists of grabbing some cash to saddle up to the sushi bar (any of the spicy rolls are out of this world!) and then it's off to the gift shop to digest. There's beautiful fountains and china and of course Hello Kitty. Finally, don't be intimidated by the fact that you can't read the packaging on most anything in the grocery store. There's Pockey, chocolate or strawberry dipped cookie stix and a freezer full of exotic ice creams in small to go containers.
When I have some extra cash to blow...I go to the Porter Exchange and spend it all there! You'll probably walk right by it since it says "Lesley University" above the big glass double doors. I did. Many times.
You'll find everything you need here for decorating, gifts, hobbies, and dining utensils/plates...Plus there are places to eat and a little grocery store. Heaven.
I really enjoy Japanese food, and whenever I need a quick fix, Porter Exchange is the place I go. It can be hard to find a seat sometimes at the height of lunch hour, but the wait is so worth it. Whether eating chicken katsu curry at ChoCho's, ramen at Sapporo Ramen, or melon bread at Japonaise Bakery, every meal is sure to please.
Don't blink or you'll miss it. Even once you're inside, it doesn't look like much--- until you turn the corner and see the series of small booths and delicious Japanese food options. My favorite is the rice bowl place right across from the fish tank. Great deep fried tofu and it's so ridiculously cheap.
Don't go too late, though-- they basically shut down around 9 pm.
(And bring cash.)
I'm the cheese and Porter Exchange is the macaroni-- I'm all over it.
"Obsessed" is probably the best way to describe my relationship with this place. I stop in here seriously almost every day, convinced that I need something... I need to stock up on edamame, udon noodles and Japanese fashion magazines at the Kotobukiya grocery store... I need some Unagi rolls and seaweed salad from the sushi bar... I need a bowl of ramen from Sapporo... I need a green tea mocchi from Ittyo.... I need a bubble tea... I need some random knick knack... gah! I need it all. All the time.
Praise Jeebus I live near here! It has multiplied my quality of life by a thousand and has generally made it impossible for me to live anywhere but Porter Square for the duration of my time in Boston. If I ever do move... well, you'll know it's true love.
Boston no...Nihonjin Food court / Galleria...wa Ichiban!!!
Sushi wa Totemo Oishi Des!!
Soba mo Totemo Oishi Des!!
Lotte no Choco wa Kawai Ne!!
Porter Exchange Banzai !!!
I don't know if I ever think of the word "mall" to describe this place, but I suppose that's what it is.
Strange selection of shops, small restaurants and a couple different markets.
Why I go here:
bubble tea
sushi
the market
the Gap never seems to get busy
I drove once...for some reason...and while there is parking specifically for Porter Exchange, it is small, often full and it CAN cost you. I think if you buy something from a store inside the Exchange and you're out within an hour it's free.
Porter Exchange is a fun, odd, idiosyncratic place. Trying to find this "really cheap sushi place" (Kotobukiya) people had reviewed on Yelp, on two separate occasions I gave up, because I had no idea that the address was actually inside the mall.
Aside from, as people have mentioned, a sort of random smattering of chain stores including City Sports, the Gap, and Lesley University's Barnes & Noble, Porter Exchange is an Asian (chiefly Japanese) mall, with a row of half-restaurant/half-food court of Asian restaurants a Shsheido booth smack in the middle of the atrium, and an all-purpose Japanese mart and video store, amongst other things.
Great for Japanese items and food, and people watching. Naturally, very T accessible.
I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to review my home away from home away from home, but her it is.
This mostly applies to those Somervillians who are near Porter....
IF you like sushi...
IF you like mochi ice cream....
IF you like shiseido make up....
IF you like some hand made bubble tea....
IF you need a hello kitty wallet...
IF you need some udon.....
IF you need a kimchi pajon.....
or a tea cup or origami paper or a calendar or some chocopies or green tea ice cream or even some gym shorts...
you've found your home.
As I work here, and no one has mentioned it so far, I feel like I should include that in the Porter Exchange Building is also an Art Institute Boston gallery. Or if I'm going to call it by its proper name: The Gallery at The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University in Porter Exchange. But yea.
The gallery is relatively new, and seems to be so tucked away in a corner that even people who come through the building regularly miss it. It's a gorgeous space that features work from both local and international artists. Definitely somewhere to check out when you come down for your asian cuisine.
Parking in the lot here gets a big ol' thumbs down from me, but on the upside its fairly easy to find metered parking right out at front at all different times of day. Thumbs down to The Gap leaving, too. They were my "going straight out from work - need a new outfit" place!
Can't say much about the restaurants as I've yet to eat at any of them. Believe me, when you smell it all day, and go through where the trash is, its a little less appealing, but the hordes of people who are here every day seem to like it!
The Porter Exchange Mall is like having a miniature slice of Japan in Porter Square. There is a cute, tightly packed row of Japanese store-front restaurants, two sushi bars, a bakery, a supermarket, and a store with Japanese home furnishings. I recommend the Melon Pan at the Japonaise bakery.
You will also find the Gap, City Sports, and the Lesley University bookstore inside, which means you can always get slick urban/athletic wear to replace any outfits you spill ramen on.
The Porter Exchange is uniquely Cambridge. Located in a 1920s Art Deco-style Sears building, it's the place to visit for steaming udon, donburi or gyoza; cheap sushi; bubble tea; Dice-K paraphernalia; Japanese baked goods; handmade crafts; and random ingredients from the Asian market, Kotobukiya. Half a dozen food stalls line a crowded corridor, where lithe waitresses cart hot tea and tofu dishes at reasonable prices. They post menus with pictures to make comparison shopping easy.
In addition to the plethora of mostly Japanese stores, the Exchange also features a first rate jewelry store, a second rate sports supply store, and a third rate bookstore. Also, the Art Institute of Boston has a small gallery tucked into a corner of the Exchange, but I have never visited the space. Unfortunately, Rustic Kitchen relocated to the theater district. Thankfully, the Gap relocated too.
Love the Japanese food-stall vibe, along with the Japanese grocery store. Located in the back of the first floor, it's no frills but unique, with small crowds jumbled together over tasty and well-portioned cheap meals. Love the noodle soup bowls. Great for quick eats.
Sure....I come here for bubble tea and melon pan at the free standing Japonaise bakery, I love to eat the sushi at Itty's. I love to get groceries at Kotobukiya. I like to browse the crafts at Tokai.....
Yet I sneak away....and while everyone else is indulging in their favorite Asian food and drink, I am overstimulating myself with my favorite Asian makeup line......Shiseido!
I love the store here-you get just the right amount of attention.
The girls are great and they give a ton of samples. The lighting is much better than department stores or Sephora. It IS small, but I don't care.
Steps from the Porter T Stop.........Short walk to Harvard Square.
I don't quite know how to look at this: do I review it based on how much I enjoy it, or on the cuisine? I mean, it's basically japanese fast food, but on the other hand it's really pretty good japanese fast food. I'm not sure whether to give it three or four stars on this basis, so I'll err on the side of generosity.
It's fun going into Porter Exchange and picking out one of the little stall-style restaurants to eat at. I particularly prefer Ittyo, which is in the back opposite the ice cream place. In addition to their great soups, I like their curries. Their fried shumai are also delicious, delightful little blobs of shrimp paste deep fried in a tissue-thin noodle wrapper. Mmmmmm.
The ice cream place also has quite decent red bean ice cream, one of my favorites. (Strangely, it's usually either blue or purple despite the name. Purple in this case.) I'm told their green tea ice cream is also very good, and the one time I was in a mood for strawberry, they hit the spot as well. Ignorant americans like me may wish to try ordering a "mochi" ice cream - it's sort of a little blob of ice cream which has been somehow made such that you can pick it up with your hand and bite into it like a roll, and it doesn't feel sticky. Odd, but amusing, and cheap too.
I agree with Jenny in the fact that It can be HARD to find this place if you didn't know where it is (I had the address and it still took me 30 minutes to find it). They should, I don't know, put a sign in the front! There's a Lesley College on the second floor so I passed this place thinking that it was a college.
I'm just rating the overall shopping center and it's fairly average. Don't expect any piano playing like in Nordstrom. Inside is the small Kotobukiya (the only authentic Japanese market near Boston), Japanese food court (the actual gem of the place, with Cafe Mami (Yum!), Sapporo Ramen, and Tampopo being my regulars), Japonaise bakery (branch of the Brookline store; I found it to be less fresh than the actual store since them ship them here), and a boba tea place NOT run by Japanese.
The Porter Exchange is a mall in a mixed use building in Porter Square owned by Lesley University. It is best known for its large collection of Japanese shops including everything from Blue Fin sushi, Kotobukiya market, a sushi bar, a bakery, a bubble tea place, a ramen shop, and several other small restaurants serving all styles of Japanese cuisine.
It also has a Gap, a City Sports, a jewelry shop and various university offices in it.
Read about all the shops here: http://www.kotobukiyam...
I love going to Tampopo and getting a tasty bento box or tempura bowl. The bubble tea place isn't the best in the world (I much preferred the one in the Eatery in Chinatown or Boston Tea Stop in Harvard).
The Japonaise Bakery is great, as is the Korean "healthy" restaurant I can't remember the name of.
If you're feeling a little more spendy, you can always hit up Bluefin for some decent sushi/japanese food.
I really like to go to Porter Exchange. There are many place to do in small building. You have choices of restaurant to choose. Most of them are Japanese food. I like to go there and have lunch. I love Eel with rice and sushi there is good too.
You can also shop at Japanese grocery at the entrance. They have small gift shop that you can find Hello kitty, Asain decorated stuff...ect.
The most that I like it's a small booth in the middle of the hall. they sell cake, sweet, bread, tart... They are the BEST.
Porter is alright. I'd give it 3.5ish stars if I could. I've been there twice, once eating at Tanpopo and the other time at Sapporo Ramen. Tanpopo was almost two years ago, and Sapporo Ramen was just last week. That being said, my opinion still hasn't changed.
Having lived in Japan, I'd like to think I know my Japanese food pretty well, at least when it comes to offerings in the states. The food isn't stellar, but it's pretty decent.
Although I don't remember everything I ate at Tanpopo, I do remember a friend and I split a takoyaki which was not memorable but decently tasty. No katsuobushi, no mayonnaise, and the sauce wasn't of the normal brown variety but an orangy-peach color, with some some sprinkles of pickled gari on the side. Another had a tonkatsu-type cutlet which came with some fresh veggies, a side salad, miso soup, and rice. She too thought it was nothing spectacular but tasty all the same.
Sapporo Ramen wasn't that great, which is sad because I absolutely love fresh ramen. I had miso ramen, and the soup itself was pretty bland. I tried my friend's shoyu soup and thought the same. Ramen comes in large portions that are a little short on the noodles, but come with chashuu (sliced pork) and bean sprouts. Prices were okay, and the lady miscalculated our total, but we were so intimidated by her that we decided against contesting it. Taste-wise, Ken's Ramen is better and comes with more toppings, although the could be hotter.
For me, it's a trek to get out to Porter, but if you live nearby, then it's probably much more worth it. It's affordable, clean, and has a decent variety. Very crowded on the weekends. And of course, it's chock-full of Japanese folks, which is always a good sign.
Yes yes yes!!!!
So many little shops to choose to eat at (kind of reminds me of a little tiny block of Asia) I love the bubble tea and the pastry shop! It's like the mini Asian mall (haha) And I always have to buy something from the Japanese grocery store there...!!!
I had a hard time spotting this place (the entrance is non-descript), but did appreciate this tiny bit of Asian-ness, an older indoor multi-level, mini-mall with casual, cheap Korean and Japanese food stalls, a Japanese grocery store, and the Japonaise bakery kiosk (Japonaise). I like how the stalls are so close together and communal tables are the norm. Plus they have plenty of noodle soup - my favorite! It's not that big and isn't a must see but it's a nice little spot.
Be careful not to walk right past it, as Nicole M. says, it says "Lesley University" above the doors. This place has all things Japanese, from a grocery store, to a bakery, to like 3 noodle stands. IT IS AWESOME.
As big as Porter Exchange is - not many peope in Boston seem to be in the 'know' about it. Yet, inside the Porter Exchange, is an awesome world. Within, are a variety of cute Japanese ramen and sushi restaurants. There's even a little Japanese bakery stand in the middle of the front lobby, serving up perfectly crafted cakes and Japanese delights. My favorite is the Japanese convenvience store, where I like to stock up on mochi and other Japanese goodies. It's a really special place - never packed, and has a great vibe about it.
Most of the stores in Porter Exchange open later, so don't plan an early lunch here, but please...for your stomach's sake plan a lunch sometime.
I walk through Porter Exchange panic-stricken under my shopping poker face, thinking to myself "please don't go out of business, just hold on...hold on..."
Some of the businesses have really cute, interesting things but not too much traffic and it makes me nervous that they'll go under especially since the Gap has closed. The businesses here can stand to adopt some strategies which would make them more customer-friendly like adjusting their hours and somehow making the place seem like it's not about to keel over and die....aside from the bustling restaurants.
Otherwise, love the place despite the neurotic panic attacks and weird hours.
11/18/2007 edit:
One more star, simply for Itty's - a cute lil home-cooked food Japanese cafe! YUM~
A nondescript mall in Porter Square - we nearly walked right by it!
But once inside, we were surprised with our find. We sampled the Sapporo Ramen and went to Kotobukiya - the japanese grocery store. A small and relatively empty mall - probably only worth going for the food because really there was nothing else.
The best place for Japanese comfort food in Boston. You've got your hamburg place, sushi, donburi, noodles, and even a Korean place. Tampopo is my personal favorite of the little eateries there. Not only this, but they have a nice little Japanese grocery, bakery, bubble tea, touristy shop, upscale restaurant, and a makeup line. (They even have a decent American sports bar as well). The Porter Exchange even has parking for a very reasonable price!
When compared to other malls, this place may be small and a bit run down, but it is truly the best place to be if you're looking for your Japanese fix.
Porter Exchange is one of the many things that surprised me about Porter Square after I moved here. This is a great spot to either get a bite from one of the many excellent and cheap Asian food stalls or to get a Saporro and sushi from Blue Fin. Next you can grab something from the bakery, get a bubble tea or stock up on Japanese candy and cigarettes from the supermarket. Unexpectedly cool spot that reminds me a bit of Japantown in San Francisco.
I like the concept of Porter Exchange. Different Japanese food stands with variety. I hate though, that it opens around 12pm and that there are ppl already waiting. In particualr Cafe Mami. Love them but hate the wait. Also hate that they dont do free parking in the pk lot anymore. :(
Its like a secret stash spot in Porter Sq! If you're looking for Japanese food this is place without a doubt! Every spot in here has its own look and feel and is definitely worth the price. If I had to choose a favorite spot in here I don't think I could do it! And after you finish your meal you can shoot over to the other end and swing by the little market and buy some candy for the way home! Don't sleep
Woohooo for all the great stuff in the Porter Exchange. No one knows it's there, but once you discover it, you can't ignore it. So many neat shops and restaurants, all very affordable (for food at any rate). Great sushi, ramen, anything you like! Bubble tea, Japanese groceries, and a random Barnes and Nobles. But I don't think people come here for the B&N...just a hunch.
Neighborhood: Porter Square
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Porter Square
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Porter Square
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Porter Square
Category: Flowers & Gifts
Neighborhood: Porter Square
Category: Shopping Centers
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