Tampopo

I recently decided to try pork katsu curry at as many restaurants as possible in the Boston area to try to find who has the best one. It’s this place. I previously ordered takeout here a few times during the pandemic, and it was consistently good back then and still is now. This is a small family owned business. Don’t expect the fastest service or modern decor. Just come for the incredible, simple yet delicious, home cooked style Japanese meals. You won’t be disappointed.

Love this little Japanese family eatery! The atmosphere is so friendly and feels like being fed yummy food by lovely Japanese family. The Tempura is fresh and delicious! The presentation is also really beautiful and just like shown on the picture! The lady was very nice to give us two bowls of miso soup since I was going to share a combo meal with my kid. This place is a wonderful diner that feeds you yummy food with great attention and care! I will come back and strongly recommend!!

We tried this mom and pop stall for the first time after hearing good things about their food. Service was good. We ordered the steamed shumai, agedashi tofu, pork katsu curry, chicken teriyaki, and tofu curry and were served fairly quickly. The food was well cooked in general, especially the katsu, however, the flavor of the curries were not to our liking. It tasted more oniony and lacked the umami of any curry flavor. The portions were small, especially the steamed shumai. There were only four tiny shumais in the order and a few slices of tofu in the veggie curry. We really wanted to like the food more because of the cute older couple that run this stall but the food was just fine and pricey.

This is a small, home-style Japanese place. The dining experience here is unique. Food is very good.

Good small place for a special cutlet taste. Two old couple working this place and the taste is honestly not bad for the price they charged. We order the curry with fried pork cutlet and shrimp tempura udon which both are good.

I highly recommend this place! The udon place next door is also great but usually has a very long line waiting to be seated. This place offers a good selection of Japanese cuisine including curry, noodles, tempura etc. It also has a very cozy feeling. The staff are very friendly too.

The cutest restaurant in Porter Square! If my math is correct, Tampopo is celebrating 30 years at porter square, so they must be doing something right. I ordered the tempura combo and was very impressed with what I got. The tempura was light and crispy and the rice was perfectly cooked (some very old comments mention mushy rice but I can say that my rice was cooked to perfection). When dining in here, you must realize that it is only being run by 2 people, so you may wait a while to get your food as they fill takeout orders; but the food is well worth the wait!

Goos food at very reasonable prices. The tempura (4/5) is very good and cheap as a side. The chicken cutlet (4/5) is also very tasty as well. The pork cutlets and udon is also great! Service is also very fast.

I lived nearby here during college so this was a favorite spot of mine! My favorite thing to order is the katsu curry udon. There is something so comforting about this dish. Chewy udon underneath a heavenly pile of curry, vegetables (carrot, green beans, broccoli), egg, and warm, crispy pork katsu. If you don't like pork you can order chicken katsu! The old couple that works here is so cute. Whenever I am back in town I always try to come visit them :)

I was excited to try Tampopo because of the many good reviews. Honestly, the food was just all right. The takoyaki was probably the best dish we ordered. There was one piece of octopus in each takoyaki ball. I would rate it a 7/10, compared to other places that serve takoyaki. We also ordered two ramens, one spicy and one regular, as well as a chicken katsu don. I was curious about the ramen because I noticed not many people have reviewed about the ramen, however the ramen does seem to be popular. I definitely understood why I did not see many photo reviews of the ramen because their ramen was beyond mid. I rate the ramen 6.5/10. Nothing special about it. The chicken katsu was also nothing special and quite disappointing. It seems like many reviews made the katsu the best dish to get; I beg to differ. Overall, I would not come back here in the future... though I would most likely come back to try the other food stalls next to Tampopo. Service wise, our waitress was super kind and helpful. They get pretty busy and had a line to the side.

Went a few weeks ago, and it is honestly the closest food I've had to Japanese home cooking I've had in Boston. I've always missed Japanese food since moving up here from back home, but the karaage and croquet and curry were all just like the ones I ate during my childhood. I recommend it over waiting for the udon place next door if you want true, authentic, home style Japanese food. No other place is Boston in my many outings for Japanese food has compared to here, and it's the closest to home I've ever had.

Tampopo is a new go-to spot for me! Operated by a cute old Japanese couple, it felt very authentic, like I was back in Japan! I had just visited Japan during the summer, so coming back in November was reminiscent of the trip. The flavors were light and authentic. The karaage chicken was super moist with a nice crispy outside. They also offered special ingredients straight from Japan that i'd love to try next time! We were one of two tables at the time, but the service was excellent and very attentive. I can't wait to come again!

Tampopo is located in the Lesley University Porter Campus, alongside many other fantastic Japanese restaurants. It is a small place with no frills and a simple menu, giving it that hole-in-the-wall/mom-and-pop vibe. The menu speaks for itself, as everything I've tried here is delicious. I recommend the katsu don, which is cheap and cooked well.

Not a bad place to eat at within the Lesley University building. I got a sweet beef bowl although it's a called something different on the menu. It tasted good, wasn't super expensive, and was delivered quickly. I originally ordered something called the dynamite bowl which they didn't have. The egg and and pickled onions are a must for these bowls so I'm glad they had it. The food didn't blow me out of the water but it hit the spot for a cold day. The place is a bit cramped and there isn't too much seating but it wasn't crowded when I went since most people ate next door at the ramen/udon shop. Staff was nice and they have a lot of options on the menu. Not sure if I'll return but had a good time when I went!

One of our favorite spots in Cambridge. When we lived in the area, we would stop by one a week or so to get takoyaki and pork curry, and it was always fresh and delicious. I have not yet found better takoyaki elsewhere. A very pleasant location inside a mall that contains a variety of excellent small restaurants.

Came here and it was such a cute place! Seats are limited but this would be taken to go as well! Their takoyaki halls were the best I've had thus far. Wow must try! I got their iced tea and it was delicious too! It's not too sweet and not too bitter. Perfection. Their pork curry rice bowl with vegetable was my main dish. It had a great blend of flavors and I would order that again!

I was surprised by how delicious the food was that small stand served. At first glance, sukiyaki beef bowl looked like simple beef and onions layered over rice. That is, until I realized that the rice was coated in the sweet marinade that the beef was cooked in! Each bite had every bit flavor from the beef marinade, accompanied by the savory beef itself as well as the sweet onions. That's what I love about this dish - the rice plays just as critical of a role in providing flavor as the other compliments of the dish. And for it's given price, I would say the portion was fairly generous.

This small cozy stall is run by an elderly couple. We have been there twice while visiting Boston and we love it both times. Food is very consist. My kids love their katsu dons. You have a choice with curry, over egg, or plain all over rice. Super comforting food. They only many veggie options also if you don't like fried meat. I opted for a fried tofu over mixed steamed vegetables. It comes with a brown sauce on the side for dripping if you like. The sukiyaki however was a little dry. I would not get it again as there are better choices food food to pick from.

Amazing Konkatsu! The service is friendly and will order again Was able to call in to submit my order

Delicious! Chicken curry udon for the win and also their even just their plain soba noodles is good! Plus service is exceptional!

More of a home-cooked, super filling, simple flavors type of place. Not the best food ever, but the workers are friendly, the food is affordable, and tastes good.

This place is a wonderful gem that everyone needs to know about! The pork katsu don was absolutely perfect and reminded me of the katsu don that I had at a niche spot in Japan that was tucked in a little alley and had 2 items on the menu. Don't be misled by my photo - the bowl was close to a pho-sized bowl and the pork had to be at least half an inch thick. The pork was one of the juiciest I've ever had, and the way that it combined with the runny egg and the sauce on the rice was too good to be put into words. And every grain of rice was covered in sauce! The pork cutlet was alright but a little on the drier side, especially compared to the katsu don. The fried oyster had a nice flavor but portion size was on the smaller end for the $2 price point. Miso soup had just the right amount of saltiness and the salad was fresh. The hot tea (complimentary) was fragrant and paired well with the savory notes of the main entrees. I'm not usually a fan of tea but this tea was really exceptional. Also, you can pay with a credit card now. Will go out of my way and then some to return to this place again!

I'd say this is the most underrated restaurant in the Lesley University complex. They have to compete with hard hitters like Cafe Mami but I'd say Tampopo holds their own. Run by the sweetest Japanese couple, every bite transported me back to a childhood of home cooked noodle bowls and I'm not even Japanese! In short, give Tampopo a try and warm your stomachs and your hearts with a home cooked feeling meal.

They serve authentic Japanese foods - the chef is Japanese. The menu is something very common in Japan - like Katsu curry, kimpira, onigiri, etc. if you want to experience true Japanese "greasy spoon" place in Boston, this is the place for you. The resultant reminds me of one of restaurants in Shinjuku station. They have fantastic selection for carry out too. Do you miss bento in Konbini (convenience store) in Japan? They have them!!

It is not a noodle shop! Rather, a little old couple run a donkatsu curry place with a big heart.

Cute little spot with great food! Ordered Tampopo to go over the phone before getting there. The food was packaged tightly. We ordered the pork katsudon, chicken curry with cheese which came with either soup or salad so we got one of each. The salad was fresh, but the sauce was not as flavorful as other places. The miso soup was great! Both entrees were really good. The curry was a bit on the sweet side. The karage had a sweet and tangy sauce on the bottom which was unique. Overall, a great experience!

Lately I've been working near here on Thursday nights, and I'm hooked on the tempura set. Tasty and a good price. I also like their sweet tea.

Really enjoyed my meal at Tampopo! I stopped by around 2pm on a weekday and wanted to treat myself to lunch. It was a cold day so I ordered the chicken katsu curry, hoping it would warm me up and it did! For $12 (including tip!) I got a huge bowl of curry, rice, and a chicken cutlet, as well as a small salad. The curry was delicious, and the chicken was moist and flavorful. It was a large portion but not too large for me to finish. The salad was nothing exciting, and next time I'd probably get the soup instead, but that's my fault for thinking I should eat vegetables. There are only two small tables so definitely not a place for groups, but if you want some delicious, quick and inexpensive Japanese food, it's definitely a great choice in Porter Square.

Tampopo hits every chord right for a foodie. Incredible food, great prices, and best of all its a hidden gem thats tucked in a corner of a University Building. Came here on a Saturday lunch at 12pm to eat at their outdoor dining setup. Each entree comes about ~$8-$12 tax and tip not incl. Very affordable for students since its quite convenient from Tufts university! AMBIANCE: Tampopo is hidden in a buidling that is owned by Lesley university. After meandering through the building, you see a alleyway where there are about 6-7 mom and pop shops that sell various Japanese food and fare - sushi, udon, soba, donburi, onigiri. This is an incredible hidden gem to impress someone your knowledge of the Cambridge food scene! For covid, they're only takeout but they do have two tables outside behind the building in the parking lot. The outdoor seating does tend to get loud, but considering the pros about this place and how good of a find this place is, I'm not too concerned about that. PROS: Very very authentic! Tampopo recreates the izakaya/small japanese shop experience. I ordered a Pork katsu don which was so delicious and flavorful. The katsu was big and crispy, and the runny/scrambled egg was slightly briny and sweet. Exactly how I liked it. Each entree comes with a miso soup or a salad. Miso soup was pretty standard and packed with umami flavors. No complaints right there. The menu consists of various tempuras, don buri, bento boxes, udons, and sobas. The grandma and grandfather who run this shop is so nice! They also make some incredible onigiris for $2.50. I had a cod roe onigiri and it instantly reminded me of the onigiris I had in Japan. OVERALL: I am so glad to have found this spot. I look forward to bringing more people here!

Is a very unassuming place when you first walk in, but the service and food are both A+ here. This restaurant only has two employees running it but they always provide service & food with a smile. You can really taste the love they put into every dish and despite being a fried dish it wasn't overly oily. You'll never get tired of their katsu curry and perfectly chewy udon noodles, sooo filling and addicting. Also the onigiris are really great, they don't skimp on the filling and each bite is a perfect savory bite. Would love to come back soon because once you try the food once you can't get enough.

One of the few places that was open back in the summer on a weekday. The host was so sweet and kind. Katsu curry chicken was very fresh, hot and delicious. Good flavor and definitely goes well with rice. Came with salad and miso soup. Fast service as well.

I was in Porter Square and looking for a lunch place. I found this on yelp and tried it out. I ordered tempura combo: squid, shrimp, egg plant, white fish tempura comes with salad and rice. The dressing for the salad was super good. Tempura was very good, too. I wouldn't say fancy, but definitely authentic. It remind me of the home-style taste of Japan. As a Japanese, I cook Japanese food at home all the time, but not tempura, because it mess up my kitchen, so it was a great opportunity to have it here.

First time back at Tampopo in years; I've been wanting to come back, but I just never really made an effort to go all the way to Porter to try them again. I had a large gap in my schedule, so I wanted to stop by Tampopo for lunch since I had a lot of spare time to commute by train in my itinerary today. Anyways, it's a pretty small restaurant. They have 3 tables, so three groups can sit at a time. It is focused on noodle bowls and donburi, so in all fairness, turnover is probably really fast. The service was nice- I got a Calpico, Karaage, Vegetable Tempura Soba, and 1 Cream and 1 Corn Croquette. Canned drinks are $2.50, Croquettes are $2.50 each, Karaage is $5.50/4 pieces, and my Soba was $11.50. Tax is already included, so I just paid an even $24.50 at the end of my meal, before tip. The Karaage was nice- it was well marinated and very flavorful. It was fried really well and came out crispy and still moist on the inside. It tastes really sweet here- sweeter than other Karaage that I've had- and came with a drizzled soy sauce on it that gave it a nice salty savoriness that balanced out the sweetness. Again, this Karaage was sweeter than usual- it reminded me of gentle notes of cinnamon and sugar- but it was also saltier due to a soy sauce drizzle. One of the more unique Karaage that I've had and I would order it again. As a bonus, they gave me a 5th piece instead of the 4 pieces advertised! Maybe it was because they thought 4 pieces was too little for $5.50? Anyways, just know that one order comes with about 5 pieces. The soba was not good. They never made any claims about house made noodles, so I wasn't expecting amazing soba or anything, but the noodles that I got were on the blander side of soba and they seemingly were over cooked. They weren't incredibly mushy, but between the flavor and the texture of the noodles, I would never get them again here. Surprisingly, they also put the vegetable tempura right into the same bowl. Years ago, I got Vegetable Tempura Udon and I believe that they served the vegetables on a separate plate so they wouldn't get soggy. I don't know why they decided to change it up now and put them in the same bowl, but while my first few pieces were really crunchy and crisp, it didn't take long for the rest of the tempura to turn soggy and limp. I think that the vegetables are seasonal so your bowl may vary with what you have(?, unconfirmed). The broth was meh; I didn't care for the bowl at all besides the tempura. The croquettes were nothing to write home about. The corn croquette was really dry and not flavorful at all. I don't recommend it. The cream croquette did have flavor and it did have a nice mouthfeel due to the creaminess, but it wasn't amazing. Overall, my take away is, come here for the Karaage, I don't recommend the soba and I don't care too much for the croquettes. The vegetable tempura is nice, so if you do get them with noodles, ask for them on the side or just get it a la carte!

Good no frills place for affordable Japanese comfort food. The food is slightly on the blander side, but good value and portion size. Teriyaki Donburi: Good portion size and flavor (although could use a tad bit more sauce)- again won't blow you away but it tastes exactly how teriyaki chicken should taste. Takoyaki (Octopus balls): Good flavor and portions, but the breading:octopus ratio was higher than I would have preferred. Croquette: Blander than I would have liked. I've had both Tampopo and the similar Cafe Mami right across the hall and will confidently say I prefer Cafe Mani. That being said, if you prefer food with less strong flavor, this may be the place for you.

Pretty crowded when I visit but not really sure what's the hype ! The pork cutlet is ok but could be better. Quantity is pretty small too. Curry sauce feels like something I can buy from Asian grocery store. Don't think I will come back anytime soon.

Yumm definitely reminds me of comfort food in Japan. There are only two small tables available for dine in, which is a stark contrast to Sapporo next door with an abundance of seating, but tampopo has better food imo. Although ramen is not on the menu, the menu options are plentiful and quite delicious. I ordered the pork cutlet curry ($12) with the additional egg +vegetables ($1.5) and the teriyaki chicken donburi ($11.5). My only complaint is that the pork cutlet was a bit dry, although I did appreciate the separate packaging for take out so it didnt get soggy. Teriyaki chicken was expected; chicken was tender. Surprised that I havent tried food from here sooner. Will be back to try other menu items!

I did end up coming back for some takeout curry! Tasted great even after a long drive home first, hit the spot. Good proportions of katsu, rice, and curry. Pick up details: no curbside, have to go into the food court to pickup. Payment is by venmo (I believe they previously were cash-only).

Great choice for affordable, easy, and delicious Ramen in the Shops selection. The woman (who I assume is the sweet "elderly" owner based on other reviews) who served me was so kind and wonderful. I got the hot and sour ramen, which was pretty delicious, although I wish the broth/noodles had a bit more flavor to them. Next time I'll have to try their signature ramen. Will definitely get their food again!

A small place, when we went it seems like a mom-and-pop shop with a couple serving and cooking everything. There were only 3 tables- might need to wait if it's busy. We ordered takoyaki, pork cutlet combo, and pork cutlet curry udon. The takoyaki was only ok. Each of them have a small piece of octopus in there. We really enjoyed the pork cutlet though! Nicely fried, crispy, and good portion. There weren't much veggies but the carrot was nice- sweet and soft.

This place was so cute and cozy! I got the chicken teriyaki and the karaage which tasted like home. They offered free tea with purchase which was great for the cold night. I've been there before and also love their onigiri.

Their seaweed salad was perfect and not overly sweet, the tappenyaki was perfect. Their karage chicken was perfectly crisp, not greasy or over breaded, and their salad dressing is homemade and amazing. I cannot say enough good things about this place. The owners are so sweet and very kind. So clean too! I will be back!!

OK OK love the croquettes ( the corn ones we're better than the cream) love the sauces. The fish Tampopo was very nicely fried but as an overall dish kind of left something to be desired. There was too much rice on the bottom of the dish and the ratios just did not work despite the very tasty spicy mayo sauce and seaweed salad. The highlight of the entire meal was the Japanese curry. If you are not familiar with Japanese curry I highly recommend you tryEither their risotto which is fascinating, or the udon noodle hurry. Looking forward to hopefully ordering again and trying the macaron which is has a very interesting traditional Japanese preparation.

Super Authentic, cheap, good portion, fast service . Cash only but there's a Bank of America ATM in the same building right beside the shop. I ordered the croquette curry ( one creamy, one beef croquette), my boyfriend got the pork Katsu don and we shared some Takoyaki ( fried octopus balls). Whatever sauce they put on the balls tasted AMAZING. Definitely recommend coming here to get some simple authentic japanese food!

I came here for the first time tonight, hoping for a good dinner. I have already been to Cafe Mami and Sapporo Ramen, and was debating between coming here and Cho Cho's. I'm glad I picked this place! They have a really extensive menu, and I saw that the shrimp tempura udon was super popular. I got the katsu don instead, and I really loved it. I came here by myself and the hostess seated me fairly quickly. I looked at the menu beforehand and already knew what I wanted. My meal came out after five minutes and the egg was amazing. Slightly sweet, with a ton of green onion and it was super fluffy. The pork katsu was also good! I have had the world's best katsu so nothing will ever compare to that, but I really liked this. It's not perfect but it's definitely comfort food. It was slightly crunchy and I didn't find it dry. This was only $11 and the couple who owns this place is SO nice. They are very kind; it's worth coming here just to give them a visit and have a nice warm bowl of rice or noodles, honestly. Next time I'm here, I'll get the udon with tempura because it looks so good.

I love Tampopo. Their hot delicious croquettes and curry on a bed of rice hit the spot for me every time I stopped by for a meal. The place is a little small, but unlike some of their other neighboring restaurants, I never had a hard time finding a spot to sit at all. I ended up ordering different types of croquettes (you can choose from corn, veggie, etc) to go with curry rice every time...but my favorite so far had been the cream croquette with a little bit of curry...so soft, foodie dreamy...and just yum! Just thinking about it makes my mouth watered already! The service from any staff was always quick and kind. The prices are right, too...with many meals under $10...very affordable + yum quality even for students. P.S. this establishment is cash only! But if you don't have cash, there's a BoA ATM on the same floor, inside the building!

So cute. Tempera and onigiri is fantastic. Service is lovely. Try asking for spicy mayo (which usually comes out with takoyaki) when you pick up some onigiri. They taste great together.

Really enjoyed my shrimp and veggie tempura rice bowl-see pic. Feels like good home cooked food

Support local businesses!! Tampopo has great udon. I got the shrimp, fish, and squid tempura udon, and a miso soup (which is only $1!). The udon was great ! The broth had soy sauce flavors and the tempura was little too salty, but I liked it. The lady at the counter was so so nice and sweet. Will def be back one day.

Tampopo is my favorite Japanese restaurant hands down. I've tried a good amount of items from their menu and it's all so delicious. My favorite item is the tampopo don, followed by their curry. And you cannot forget to order one (or several) of their korokke (croquette). My favorite is the curry. The service has always been great and the food is prepped rather quickly. Please note that the photos I've attached are from when they were doing sit down service. They are doing take out and outdoor seating . They now onigiri, like everything else it's amazing

This place is run by the sweetest and cutest couple. The portion size is great for the cost and you're sure to be treated like family.

Stopped by Tampopo after a long drive back from Maine and we were craving Japanese food. It was the 4th of July during lunchtime and we walked into Porter Square shops, which were completely empty and closed besides Tampopo. We waited a bit for a table for four and then ordered food quickly. They have a pretty wide array of Japanese foods on the menu, mostly rice bowls, noodles, and comfort food. Everything was pretty reasonably priced, less than $10 per dish. Food: - Agedashi Tofu: Love agedashi tofu and I think it is a good starter to split. It's just simple fried tofu in a bonito stock and usually has green onions and bonito on top. - Curry Tonkatsu: Pork cutlet curry rice bowl, pretty decent size and comes with miso soup. I devoured it pretty quickly because I was so hungry. Pork was not as tender as I would have liked it to be, but everything was pretty yum. Overall, nice no frills little Japanese food shop in the Porter Square with a lot of comfort foods to offer. One of the cheapest meals I had in Boston and was very satisfying!

Hmmm, when I read the other reviews I think maybe I should have ordered something else? The shrimp tempura was very soggy and did not seem fresh, and the rice was a little bland for my shrimp tempura donburi. The owners however were very nice.

Decent priced Japanese food tucked away in the Porter Square Shops (go through a main set of doors that says Lesley University and find one main hall of small Asian restaurants). It's a very small space so I wouldn't recommend going with a group larger than 3 people. If you're craving, katsu, udon, basically any Japanese food, you can get a decent meal here for under $10. They have weekday specials for about $7 or a "lucky dish" on weekends for $7 as well. I got the udon with sauce instead of soup, but I have a feeling the soup would have been a better option. Agedashi tofu was great, and so was the katsu chicken rice bowl with curry. Not over the top food, but great option if you're missing Japanese food and don't want to spend a lot. And cash only!

Amazing place! I was worried that I had made the wrong choice because it's surrounded by like 5 other Japanese restaurants all of which have fancier decor. The menu was intimidating even for someone like me who eats a lot of Japanese food because there were a lot of unfamiliar dishes that most restaurants don't offer. Fortunately there were pictures (poorly photographed) on the wall of the different items to help me decide. The owners were extremely nice and helpful. They appear to be sole proprietors: a sweet elderly couple. My food came out fast and it was heavenly. Beyond my wildest dreams. Bursting with flavor. That's all that really matters. The portion wasn't huge but then again I was paying less than half of what you usually are paying these days, so I'm not complaining. In conclusion, don't let the dingy decor and menu scare you off, this place is one of a kind.

I just got back from Japan and have been unable to find legit Japanese udon soup here in Boston (not for lack of trying!). Thank goodness for Tampopo who made my Tokyo dreams come true with some seriously good and simple udon & tempura. Nothing fancy, and absolutely perfect.

Tampopo (meaning dandelion in Japanese) is a nice, cozy authentic mom & pop restaurant on the first floor of Porter Exchange / Lesley University - University Hall in the Porter Square neighborhood. The Fried Oysters and Fried Mackerel were delicious. They also serve Japanese comfort food such as Curry, Donburi, and Tempura. I recommend dining here rather than waiting on the long lines for the other food stands nearby. Remember to bring cash, as it's cash only here.

I've written reviews in the past and six years later, the quality of the food still has not gone down one bit as the master chef is still working hard. They took a break during these recent lockdown times but now they're back in business. While they have not updated their web site, I'd like to write this to let people know that they're open (except on Mondays). Give this place a try if you haven't! And if you have, show your support by dropping by.

Simple, rustic, quick and easy. A very hearty, mildly spicy bowl of curry noodle soup was very refreshing on a rainy day, as well as the vegetable tempura and pork cutlet. Done simply, very crispy and served piping hot. Heads up! Cash only.