Cafe Mami

Japanese restaurant · Agassiz

Cafe Mami

Japanese restaurant · Agassiz

1

1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140

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Cafe Mami by null
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Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
Cafe Mami by null
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Cafe Mami by null

Highlights

Japanese comfort food: katsu curry, hamburg steak & more  

Featured in Eater
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1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140 Get directions

@cafemamicambridge

$10–20 · Menu

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1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140 Get directions

+1 617 547 9130
@cafemamicambridge

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 8, 2025

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Best Japanese Restaurants in Boston | Eater Boston

"If you’re up for a quick bite and don’t want to wait in line for Yume Ga Arukara, there are two incredible spots for Japanese food in the same building. They have completely different vibes: Cafe Mami offers great value for speedy service and satisfying meals, and Ittoku is the place for catching up with your old pals over a few rounds of thirst-quenching draft beer or whiskey highball. At Ittoku, order the lightly-charred yakitori skewers, thickly layered Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki (savory pancakes), and juicy karaage served with mayo to go with your drinks. Thank us later." - Valerie Li Stack

https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-japanese-restaurants-boston
View Postcard for Cafe Mami

Grace Z

Google
No longer cash only! This tucked away eatery serves delicious curries and chicken cutlets. Feels like a legit Japan-style restaurant where you can get a comfortable, familiar meal, by yourself or with friends and family. Delicious sesame salad and miso soup! The red pickled radishes with the curry were best. Attentive service and dishes are served at just the right pace. Plus enough for two meals!

Hisashi Oguchi

Google
It’s been 20+ years since the last of many many visits to my then favorite restaurant. It was in a mall with Japanese supermarket and shops. Now, the vibe is different and low maybe because Lesley college took over and repel customers and cast dim light inside the building. Food is great and kept up the high quality.

Joyce

Google
The curry with hamburg steak is a classic and the portion sizes are HUGE 🍛. The pork donkatsu with curry is also very good so I recommend both!! The salad and miso soup comes as complimentary appetizers :)

Junsung Park

Google
This restaurant is labeled as a Japanese restaurant, and although it serves Japanese-style cuisine, the flavors are likely to appeal to Koreans as well. Despite having only one server, they manage the work exceptionally well and are very friendly. Personally, I enjoy the pork cutlet curry set, and the Hamburg steak and Yaki don are also delicious. The restaurant is not large and has limited seating, so there may be a wait during lunch or dinner hours. Additionally, the prices are relatively affordable.

Liam J

Google
Pretty good, homestyle Japanese curry and Japanese hamburger meat! I don’t really like hamburger meat tho but the curry is really good!

Sophia Seña

Google
I always get the curry katsu here but I wanted to try something else this time - the Tokyo Hamburg Set with extra cheese and it was DIVINE! Definitely trying the wafu sauce next time 😤

Phuong Zhang

Google
We ordered Chicken Tatsuta set, curry rice, hamburger and gyu don. Tasty and great staff.

Jessica T.

Google
The hamburger and the chicken katsu was so good. I wasn’t expecting the burger to be tender and juicy.
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Scooterboy W.

Yelp
I was swimming in creamy warm curry and the Hamburg steak is hearty, authentic tasting, if there was a curry version of the chocolate river in Willy wonka I would willingly drown in it Did not expect portion to be so reasonably big but it put me in such a trance that I cleared the entire hamburg curry and sides in 20m like it was my last meal. I would actually have this as my last meal and be executed in the curry river
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Malina N.

Yelp
My go to comfort food is Cafe Mami's curry set the curry set comes with a small miso soup and salad and you can add extra meat, egg, cheese, curry, or red/yellow pickles You also have meat choices: breaded chicken, breaded pork, hamburg steak, or chicken tatsuta (fried boneless chicken tenders). The curry itself is made from chicken and beef stock and is so deliciously addicting As for the yaki beef tofu set, thinly sliced beef is sautéed with onions, tofu and sweet boiled carrot and potato on the side I also love the affordability of Cafe Mami. The curry set is $11, +$2 for meat, and +$2/3 for any extra add ons. The Yaki beef tofu set is $14 Highly recommend Cafe Mami for anyone looking to try authentic japanese style curry!
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Mimi C.

Yelp
Every time I think of Japanese curry or in the area, I think of Cafe Mami. Then, I'd have to come in. It is the best I've ever had (haven't been to Japan yet). The service is quick and friendly. The ambiance is super chill. The shu mai and Hamburg curry are to die for. This is a must visit if you're in the area or a curry fan.
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Heather L.

Yelp
Great food for the price point in a very convenient location! Definitely feels like comfort food, great portions for a dinner if you want to just get some quick food for the night.
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Sandra S.

Yelp
Solid choice for Japanese Curry Cutlet. Dinner wait was about 15 mins on a Wednesday evening 7:00pm. Note that they only have small tables so I would only come if there are 4 or less in your party. It gives cafeteria vibes as it is in Lesley University. They start you off with a small bowl of miso soup and a small salad. The chicken cutlet was crispy and tender on the inside - I prefer it over the pork. I highly suggest adding the cheese and egg - The cheese is hidden under the meat. A little pricey at $22 but it is Boston/Cambridge pricing.
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Min L.

Yelp
The Pork curry katsu at Cafe Mami supported me and my family when I was a graduate student about 20 years ago. My wife and I went back there in twenty years. To our surprise, the tastes were all the same even though chefs and servers were all new. The interior maintained the same at the same building in the Porter Square. The pork curry katsu is a must try, which is served with a bowl of miso soup and salads, and rice. 5+ The Hamburg set with Wafu sauce is great also. 5+ We also like their seaweed salad as well. 5+ Probably one difference I noticed was the amount of salads and patty- they were more than I expected!
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Emily N.

Yelp
My friend and I visited during a busier time, but the wait was manageable. I decided to order the Curry Cutlet once again while my friend opted for the Rockin' Chicken Set. Although the meal was still satisfying, it wasn't as flavorful as my first visit. The Rockin' Chicken Set was basic, without any standout flavors. I was hoping for a bit more spice, but it was still enjoyable. The Curry Cutlet wasn't as crispy as before, and the batter was a bit bland. Despite that, it was still a good dish. Overall, I'd definitely visit again. The staff is super kind and the ambience is positive. Even during peak hours, the service is quick. While the meal wasn't as outstanding as my first visit, I still enjoyed it and appreciated the overall experience.
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Katalina P.

Yelp
I got the original curry set with chicken cutlet. I was going to get the pork but it was sold out. (I went towards the end of the night.) The chicken was still delicious! It was surprisingly very tender. The meal was filling and affordable. The quick service makes everything better :)
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Kimberly N.

Yelp
I've been going to Cafe Mami for years, and it is still consistently good and one of my favorite food spots in Boston. I always get the yaki beef tofu, which comes out piping hot, so be careful. Not sure if they still do unlimited free rice refills, but that was always nice. The portion size is already great for the price even without the refills, though. This set comes with a salad and miso soup as well. The wait can be long sometimes now that word has gotten out about all of the restaurants in this corner and since this place is quite small, but you won't regret eating here!
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Stephon M.

Yelp
This food is simply amazing! All you need here is the chicken tatsuta set! The shrimp shumai app is also where its at. Service is always great and the cooks are super friendly. The ambiance is just no frill delicious food..its a small spot so its harder to get in with larger parties.
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Harp K.

Yelp
Nothing like a reliable restaurant and Cafe Mami is at the top of the list. Tucked away in the Lesley building you'll find a nice little food court of Japanese restaurants. The Chicken Cutlet Curry at Cafe Mami is the best I've had around the area. They serve it hot and fresh, the chicken is always juicy and has a nice crisp exterior. The curry is not too spicy and has bits of meat and aromatics in it. The service is also great, the staff are friendly and food is served fairly quick. There aren't too many tables so you may have to wait if you go at a busy time. There are shared restrooms for the vendors in the area. For the price, quality, and amount of food you get, Cafe Mami is a must visit spot for anyone in the mood for a cozy curry. Not the best spot for vegetarians, the curry base has meat in it and most other dishes are meat based.
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May C.

Yelp
WHAT A GEM I usually only go to this shopping center for udon, but the udon spot was on break when we went so we decided to check out cafe mami which had high reviews. I got the Hamburg steak with cheese and egg and was surprised by how big the portion size was. Everything was delicious and they even offer rice refills.
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Rei M.

Yelp
This place was recommended to me by a Japanese friend, so I had to try it. Absolutely did not disappoint. Came here with my girlfriend and since we share everything, I got to try two dishes (curry set and hamburg set) My friend told me the curry was the most authentic Japanese curry he's had since coming to the Northeast (note: we're currently in Rhode Island), so we had to try it. We chose to add the pork katsu for $2. The curry itself was very nice. Mildly spicy, nice texture, great flavor. The pork katsu was perfectly fried and tender. I felt strongly that we try the hamburg set since that's such a classic dish. The curry was good but this was fantastic. The meat was perfectly cooked, nice seared crust but so tender on the inside. We went with the "Tokyo" sauce, which is a tomato-based sauce My Japanese mother makes a great hamburg and this is the only one I've ever had that is better. The restaurant is located within a Lesley University building (Student Center?) and there's a hallway with multiple restaurants including several Japanese restaurants. Street parking only. Definitely worth the trip up from Rhode Island (to be fair, good Japanese food is hard to find here). Great food, reasonable prices, and large portions. I would 100% get the hamburg again. Curry was great but I'd probably want to try some other dishes too.
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Jessica W.

Yelp
This is the spot for Japanese comfort food! The service is super quick and very attentive. Even thought this place is pretty small with only a couple of tables, I've never had to wait for a seat. Each time that I've been here, I always order the Salmon Veggie Don with teriyaki sauce. It also comes with miso soup. The food is simple and delicious.
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Aakanksha S.

Yelp
Cafe Mami is one of the many small restaurants in the Porter Square plaza, all with very limited seating, or capacity for large parties. We lucked out and were seated immediately. My chicken yakisoba was alright, it felt a little bland to me, but my partner's yaki beef and tofu was amazing! The portion sizes are also quite generous. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back to enjoy some curry or oyakodon.
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Mason Y.

Yelp
Great value meals! The plates come with rice and miso soup or salad and miso soup. I got the beef with tofu plate and my wife got the Hamburg steak with spicy Tokyo sauce. Overall the taste was fine and solid. Nothing to really write home about - we were too full to take advantage of the included extra rice, but I'm sure for college students this is a great deal!
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Brandon T.

Yelp
TLDR: The best Japanese katsu curry I've ever had. This spot in Lesley University's Common Market food hall is definitely a gem and worth making a trip for. I had to try their signature curry and I was not let down at all by the rave reviews. The curry was incredibly deep, rich, smooth, and full of savoriness from the perfect blend of spices. The katsu was perfect. The breading was seasoned, the chicken was moist and tender. It comes with miso soup and a salad tossed in a sesame sauce. The portion size is excellent for the price. My only con here would be that the curry could have used more veggies, but who cares. The waitress was nice and checked up on me during and after the meal. In terms of the ambiance, it can definitely get busy and seats are limited because of the location but I guarantee it is worth any wait. 100% coming back here soon.
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Connie L.

Yelp
Hands down one of the best Japanese restaurants in Cambridge. Whenever you're craving comfort food, Cafe Mami's Curry Set always hits the spot. Their curry is flavorful, the cutlets are fried to perfection, and they serve the most photogenic sunny-side up eggs all between $10-$12! There's always a long line but it's well worth the wait. The waitress is hilarious too, she manages the front of house with pleasant service & a smile.
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Christine L.

Yelp
Cafe Mami is located inside Lesley's student center and has yummy Japanese comfort food! I got the Chicken Katsu Curry and it was delicious. The Chicken is incredibly crispy yet juicy and the curry was really flavorful; sweet yet savory. The meal also came with a miso soup, a small potato, and a salad for ONLY $13.99!! It's such a good deal for the amount of yummy food that you get. They only have a few tables, so I imagine that there is most likely a wait during lunch and dinner hours. However, when we went, we got seated immediately and our order was basically taken right away, which was fantastic. The only downside about the location is that there seem to be tiny flies. This didn't really bother us since the flies didn't come near our food, but was a tad bit annoying. Cafe Mami also is no longer cash only! They take credit cards now, so no worries if you forgot some cash. Overall, I highly recommend this place. The food is amazing and incredibly affordable for the Boston area!
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Helena Q.

Yelp
The pork katsu curry (13$+tax+tip) was very nice! A generous and filling portion of pork, rice, and curry, along with a small side of miso and salad. A good lunch spot in you're in the area!
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David V.

Yelp
Cafe mani is located inside the Leslie student center. They take credit card just incase you're wondering. The chicken cutlet curry was really good, I would order it again. I would have added more toppings. It came with a miso soup and salad so it's a pretty good deal. I can't wait to come back again.
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Jason L.

Yelp
My go to curry spot in the Boston area! Comes with a good portion size and there are some tables outside you can sit to eat at if you choose. The chicken is very crispy and the curry is not too overpowering. You can't beat the price either. It is not too far of a walk from the train station and if you decide to park in the parking lot you can get your parking validated by telling the cashier when you are paying. *Edit: I came back here again recently and they started serving on actual plates now and stopped giving take out containers! I feel like the portions are now larger when served this way. The food here is still delicious and the chicken katsu is crispy as always. I also added a runny egg on top this time and it made the experience even more enjoyable.
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Matthew H.

Yelp
Billed as 'Japanese comfort food', Cafe Mami is a small, nondescript restaurant, one amongst many tucked away in the food count inside a Lesley University building. There aren't that many seats, and when my friend and I arrived around 12pm on a Sunday, there was around a 15 minute wait for us to get a table. The server was very attentive and helpful though, and even took our orders before we were seated so we could get our food more quickly. I ordered the original curry with pork cutlet set; curry was rich and flavourful and the thick pork cutlet was so yummy - well seasoned, juicy, and tender. The plate also came with miso soup and a side salad: the soup was really yummy - definitely freshly made with fresh/authentic ingredients - and the salad, while not fantastic, served as a good, lighter contrast to the richer flavour profile of the pork and curry. My friend's wafu hamburg set was also fantastic - the ground beef patty also wonderfully seasoned and cooked, and I particularly love both pickled radishes and potatoes, so those were nice touches. Final bill was also a pleasant surprise - it's not many places in the neighbourhood to get such a great meal, with such large portion sizes at such a low price. (NB they are cash only, I think, so do come prepared / there are definitely ATMs in the area). Anyway, overall absolutely fantastic and I cannot wait until the next time I find myself back here :)
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Fiona Z.

Yelp
Looking for some Japanese comfort food like curry or miso mackerel dinner/lunch sets? Look no further. I'm sad Boston doesn't have the equivalent of a Little Tokyo, but this food hall in Porter Square/Lesley University Porter Campus is the next best thing. I find that Japanese comfort food is never too heavy on the stomach, but certainly filling (and it feels like it covers all the food groups). My miso mackerel was good; I loved the sauce. It's strange that the rice wasn't on the plate, but the salad was. Yet for the curry plate, it was the opposite-- rice on plate, salad in bowl. Their menu mentions that they offer free second helpings of rice, but we didn't take advantage of that. Service was great. The woman working was very friendly and the chefs were helpful explaining ingredients to someone who had dietary preferences. I only had a couple things I disliked: 1. I didn't like the salad dressing which tasted like salty soy sauce and slightly bitter sesame oil. Normally I've been to places with creamier sesame dressings or citrus/ginger ones. 2. My boyfriend had left a quarter of his food and didn't get a chance to ask for a box before the hostess piled up the dirty dishes when she came to clear our table. Leftovers are always good.
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Victoria C.

Yelp
Located inside the food court at Lesley University is a small Japanese restaurant serving some of the best curry you can find. With only a few tables, the service is quick and it makes a great place to stop for lunch or dinner. They are cash only and also offer take out if you don't want to wait for a table or have a large party. Most recently, I came for lunch and got the lunch special pork cutlet with miso soup and a salad. It's a very filling and food coma inducing meal. The curry is flavorful and has the perfect consistency to mix well with your rice. The breading on the cutlet is crisp and the pork isn't too dry. A great place to enjoy a quality meal.
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Ann C.

Yelp
Cafe Mami is a consistently solid, quick, delicious option for Japanese home-cooked fare in Porter Square. Their service is always great and the food is always delicious! The katsu curry in particular is SO rich and delicious. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, and they have several veg friendly options too.
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Risa K.

Yelp
Ive been going to cafe mami since i was a kid and it never disappoints. On this visit, i got the chili tokyo hamburg steak with cheese and the saba miso (a new dish for me) and the agedashi tofu. The agedashi tofu is a great appetizer dish! Its savory and light! Ive tried different sauces for the hamburg steak but i like the chili tokyo the best. It has a subtle spiciness that builds up. The steak itself is super tender and for those not familiar, it has a more meatloaf texture. I highly recommend adding cheese. I felt adventurous this day and tried a new dish called miso saba. A grilled mackerel smothered with sweet miso sauce with a hint of citrus. The mackerel was a little fishy but still delicious. I really enjoyed the sauce! Also, highly recommend the tatsuya chicken!
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George H.

Yelp
Just to let you know upfront, seating is quite limited and difficult if you're coming with a group larger than 4-5 people. That said, the food was good and representative of tastes of Japan, although not outstanding. For example, the curry was typical of Japanese curry, but honestly, I can make better curry at home using store-bought curry packets or curry blocks. I had the Hamburger set with Tokyo sauce, which again was good but not outstanding. Probably a good first start for most who wish to experience true Japanese food, but just know that it can be a lot better.
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Ethan M.

Yelp
This small shop serves incredible food of generous portions at extremely reasonable prices! The owner was also extremely kind and welcoming. The yaki beef and tofu set was absolutely delicious. The tofu was soft and delicate, and the thinly sliced beef was pleasantly chewy. The sweet marinade really wrapped everything together. Hearing everything sizzle on the hot plate really tempted my appetite. The chili tokyo Hamburg steak was also extremely good! The Hamburg steak was wonderfully savory and beefy, and the tomato sauce acted as a great balance to the fattiness of the steak. Overall, Cafe Mami is a great place that deserves more recognition for serving authentic Japanese food at affordable prices.

Lila A.

Yelp
efficient, affordable, and the food meets your expectations every time. I've tried a couple of dishes, but my all time favorite dish from here is the saba miso set.
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Regina L.

Yelp
Comfort food to the max!! Loved their pork cutlet curry, the pork was incredibly juicy and came with a pretty decent portion. The curry itself was delicious as well and had veggies and bits of beef (?) inside. The overall price was very reasonable and was about $15 including tip. This restaurant is located inside a shopping mall connected to a local college. It took me a while to find it but it's the first restaurant in the food court. Definitely check out this place when you can, especially if you're craving a winter comfort meal!
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Tanty V.

Yelp
Small restaurant in a shopping mall. Delicious! We came around 3:30 so there wasn't a line. The table was rather small. Only 10 people can dine-in at a time. Service was quick and the food was really good! I would definitely recommend.
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Kathy N.

Yelp
True comfort food Would recommend the curry set with cheese and egg. The miso soup was a bit salty but everything was quality and delicious!
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Margot B.

Yelp
Great place for lunch during the week! Fast and great service. Food is bomb too! Had eve chicken tatasu!
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Shirlane C.

Yelp
Cafe Mami is a no frills restaurant/cafe tucked away in a nondescript hallway within Lesley University. There is a parking lot available in the back of the building but I would recommend taking the T since the red line is just a few minutes away. They only have a few tables so be prepared to wait if you are visiting during peak times. I highly recommend the pork katsu with classic curry. It comes with a healthy serving of rice and is plenty of food for one person. The rice was cooked perfectly and the curry was full of flavor. The katsu didn't feel oily and was super tender.
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Jenny Z.

Yelp
I have been eyeing this place for soooo long and wow, did not disappoint. We got the pork cutlet curry rice set with sunny side up egg and the pork cutlet was so crisp on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside (not stiff like at many other places!!) It was breaded and fried just the perfect amount. The curry sauce was also extremely savory and delicious, albeit a little salty just on its own. I think having a bit everything in every bite though (egg, rice, pork, sauce) made the meal overall very hearty and satisfying and sort of evened out the saltiness of the sauce. Since the curry set is a bit on the more heavier side though, the salad and soup acted as perfect sides to balance it out. They also take credit card now and also have limited seats!
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Lil' S.

Yelp
Bad service + Salty food! Seriously we had the worst dining experience - the waitress was rude, loud and rushed with our so called service! Will never return and not to mention the over seasoned food - way too salty!
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Jen C.

Yelp
I've heard all about this place and I've been DYING to give it a try! Let me tell you - this place is bomb! I ordered the hamburg curry rice plate, which also comes with miso soup and a salad. The soup was quite salty, but became increasing yummy after eating the curry! The salad was quite good - this may seem weird, but I kind of liked adding some of the salad to the curry (don't judge me lol). The Hamburg steak was super soft and delicious - it soaked up the curry and everything was super flavorful! Everything was so good that I wolfed the entire plate down! Cafe Mami has exceeded my expectations, and I will definitely be back!
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Dickson L.

Yelp
Super cozy little spot serving very typical Japanese comfort cuisine. The portions are pretty big and very resonantly well priced. Food comes out quick and our server was very attentive. Definitely a lunch spot but do come hungry. I ordered the pork cutlet curry and it was delish. Very Japanese and had that 'homemade' sort of flair to it. Amazing to mix with the heaping amount of fresh rice they include. Comes with salad and miso soup. tldr; came hungry, left very full and satisfied. Good Japanese comfort food.
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Alyssa C.

Yelp
I will be coming here any time I am craving Japanese curry from now on... an entire meal including miso soup and salad for only $12?! AND delicious?? Can't ask for more!
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Eugene W.

Yelp
Wow, the Lesley University food court is popping off with Japanese food. This place is really good! I got the chicken tatsuta spicy and my girlfriend got the normal chicken tasuta. The spicy version wasn't all that spicy, so I think the normal version is better since it comes with kewpie mayo. The chicken is nicely sauteed on the outside for a crisp exterior and a tender interior. It's really flavorful and you get a decent amount of food! It comes with miso soup and rice. It also comes with a small boiled potato, which will make sure you are full. For $12, it's a decent deal.
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Karen I.

Yelp
Came here with friends on a Sunday. The server was super bubbly and kind! We enjoyed the food here and they have Japanese food that you can't really find in the Boston area. I really enjoyed the wafu hamburger set :) super delicious!
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Christina H.

Yelp
You want flawlessly cooked Japanese katsu curry in a no-frills setting? Then you now know where to go! Cafe Mami is located inside a building that has some shops, other small restaurants, and I think a college as well? There are only a handful of small tables inside, but we luckily didn't have to wait to be seated. My friend and I split the tofu appetizer (simple, light, cooling) and a curry set, which comes with miso soup, salad, rice, and your choice of chicken or pork cutlet. We went for the pork, since our waitress said that's the crowd favorite, and boy were we in for a treat! The meat was breaded perfectly on the outside yet somehow managed to be tender and juicy on the inside (which is often not the case with katsu, which is easy to overcook and make dry). The curry was SO beyond flavorful and authentic! And the whole set was only about $11...such a great deal for a truly excellent meal. Don't sleep on this place - you will not be disappointed!
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A B.

Yelp
Don't get me wrong, I'll absolutely be coming back! The food I ordered was beyond delicious (especially that salad!). In all honesty, I regret not trying more of the items on the menu / customizing my meal more. Their curry is the PERFECT size for a singular person, and insanely affordable. The only issue I had (as seen in picture-- those little flecks on the mural!) were that tons of little black flies swarmed my table and landed on nearly every item of food I got.
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Prova U.

Yelp
This place is ridiculously good. The food is divine. No matter what you order, you can't go wrong. My favorite dish to order is probably the original chicken cutlet. They start you off with a flavorful miso soup and then, very quickly, you get a bowl of rice, your main dish, half a baked potato, and a side salad. The bowl of rice comes with one free refill of rice (which we are too full to get but it's nice to have the option). They could easily charge for that second bowl, but they don't, which I love. It shows the generosity of this place, tons of food for a great value. Their weekday lunch prices are bizarre - $8 for a full plate of food that comes with soup *and* (not or) salad. Amazing. I don't think you can get value like that elsewhere, especially for how good the food is. The kitchen is very small, and it's open for all to see. The kitchen staff are very efficient, and the small menu makes it possible to keep up with the high demand. When we were last there, it was a 20 min wait, and the kitchen was constantly churning out dishes for patrons, as well as delivery orders and takeout orders. It's not a fine dining establishment, nor does it pretend to be one. It's a casual, small, and clean joint that will offer you a delicious plate of food served to you by a friendly & efficient but hurried waitress who is solely responsible for seating customers, maintaining the line, taking orders, bringing food out, refilling your waters, checking periodically if you needed anything, bringing you your check, bussing the tables, etc. (If you can't tell, I was very impressed by everything she was able to juggle since it was so busy). My only suggested improvement would be to make it more obvious how to queue up for a spot when all the tables are taken. We accidentally lined up for the ramen restaurant next door and there was no line for Cafe Mami. We ended up also accidentally forming a line for Cafe Mami which grew to be very long, but I'm not sure if the spot we picked was the "correct" one. In the future, a sign or something indicating where to line up would be useful. A tip on how to find this place because it wasn't immediately clear... the address that Google shows you will bring you to a locked door to Lesley University's classes or dorms. You want to use the doors to one of the "Shops at Porter" mall entrances, and there's a cluster of eating establishments Oh, also, this place is cash only!
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Kelly L.

Yelp
They take credit card now! Yay. Definitely a product over the pandemic and definitely beats handling cash that comes from god knows where. Super crazy that this and some other amazing asian restaurants are tucked away in this small alley inside a strip mall like area. Was recommended by local friends and I went to get takeout for the train back to philly. Got the tonkatsu curry set and wow the value you get for the price and the meticulousness of packing. It comes with a small salad and miso soup. The curry is super rich and flavorful. And despite eating it later I loved the tonkatsu although no longer crisp hours later. I can only imagine how it would have tasted if I ate it right away. Can I move to Boston yet lol
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Jimmy H.

Yelp
Indisputably the best curry place in Boston. The flavors of the curry are incredible but the place where the dish really shines in is the meat. The fry on the meat is nothing short of a miracle! The meat is tender juicy and thick but the batter is light and gives it a clean very non greasy taste. I could eat here every single day!
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Sharon H.

Yelp
Best bang for your buck deal in Boston! I was super impressed by the portion sizes and overall taste of the curry here. It's very authentic and savory and so filling. I ordered the fried pork cutlet curry set and my friend ordered the hamburger curry set. It came with heaping portions of rice, and a huge slab of cutlet. There was so much curry that came with this, and could probably feed two people but way too delicious / I had to eat this all! For around $11, this we an absolute steal! The hamburger curry was interesting - it was a hamburger patty covered in curry but it was surprisingly really good and paired well with the spices in the curry! Each set comes with a side salad and miso soup and was such a nice complement to our curry dishes. The service was FANTASTIC. Our waters were filled quickly, our food came out within 15 minutes, and we left very satisfied! Cafe mami is tucked in the corner of Lesley university, surrounded by so many other Asian stalls but would definitely recommend this place if you're feeling something savory! They also have Donburi bowls and other types of curry that I would love to try out when I'm back. The hype is real YALL!
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Sakurako K.

Yelp
Comfort, homemade Japanese food. Finally found it in Boston! Located in Cambridge, inside a shopping mall (which a majority is apparently rented out by Lesley College), hoards a small indoor alleyway of Japanese eateries- -and from the amount of people milling around on a Sunday afternoon, must all be quite tasty. My husband and I were dead set on getting Katsu curry today so we beelined to Cafe Mami and was promptly seated in their small space. It's cozy, no-frills, but the food will bring you back to being fed by your Japanese mom, even if you technically don't even have one! I ended up ordering the Hamburg Set, with my husband getting the Katsu Curry and both were extremely solid! The hamburg was tender, I got it Wafu style which had daikon oroshi on top which, (although I've never had it like this before), worked quite well. The katsu was tender, with a nice crispy outside. It was (in all the best ways of this description) like a katsu curry that you could get at a train station in Japan. It absolutely brought me back to some small cafes I have dined in Japan. By no means is it the best hamburg or the best katsu curry out there but for the price, and the level of comfort and homemade goodness that fills you, this place will be a new weekly go-to!

Maya H.

Yelp
I have been here three times and the first time I ordered the yaki beef tofu set. It came with a potato and a bowl of rice. The dish was pretty good and definitely filling. The second and third times I ordered the chicken cutlet curry set which came with miso soup and a salad. The dressing on the salad is so good and the chicken cutlet is extremely crispy. The curry itself is alright and lacks vegetables. I honestly like my dad's curry better (which is made from curry cubes) because it has more vegetables and is thicker. Overall the food is pretty good but wouldn't say it's the most "comforting".