UNCLE TETSU

Solid cheesecakes and amazing Japanese cheese tarts. First fell in love with Japanese cheesecakes years ago in Osaka. The jiggly ones that went viral everywhere. Uncle Tetsu is from Japan, but like a lot of international brands that end up in the U.S., they’re not mainstream back home. Still, Boston doesn’t get many international dessert chains, so when they opened in Chinatown last year, I was pretty excited. It was packed for months. Back then they only had the OG cheesecake and honey madeleines, but now they’ve added flavored cheese tarts, so I stopped by again to try those. Their OG cheesecake isn’t really my thing. I appreciate that it’s not too sweet, but the texture wasn’t as soft or airy as the ones I’ve had in Japan. Definitely better than a typical American cheesecake, just not something I’d crave on its own. The cheese tarts, though, were fantastic. I tried all the flavors (classic, matcha, and chocolate) and they were all great. The filling basically oozes out the moment you take a bite, which gets messy fast, but the thick, warm, custardy texture was ridiculously satisfying. These I’d come back for.

Take out only. Happy I finally got to try the famous Uncle Tetsu cheesecakes. The matcha flavor actually tasted like matcha and was very fluffy and light. Would have liked to eat it fresh at the store, but there's no seating. Service was friendly, and prices were reasonable.

We needed a quick cheesecake for a celebration and after eating at a diner close by we were able to find this amazing cheesecake shop in Chinatown. Not only is the setup, logo and staff amazing I’ve never had a cheesecake that tastes like this one! It was very light and flavorful not rich and taxing like most places and not overly sweet thankfully. This place is a hidden gem and may have the best cheesecake I’ve ever had, I gotta try it again to find out lol

Best cheese cake in my life. Soft, perfect balance between cheesiness and fluffiness for my taste. Dont expect your heavy and dense cheese tasting cake from cheesecake factory. This is light and airy and ESPECIALLY NOT diabetes sweet. Perfect sweetness. Absolutely love!

To-go only. No seating. Tiny space even for standing. Didn't want cheesecake but wanted to check them out. Got the tart, and the cold tofu that they topped off with some sort brown sugar. The tart's filling was oozy, and the tofu made me think of a very light creme brulee.

This place is a gem gem cheesecake soufflé is amazingly fluffy and delicious. It was soft jiggly and had a nice stamp of the business logo on it. It’s 10/10 but wish they had toppings for it STRAWBERRY? Maybe or other but still a 10 Service was quick and easy. Place is very well kept clean small and a lot going on but it’s authentic authentic. HIDDEN GEM!!!

Loved the Japanese cheesecake which is baked to a perfectly soft, cloud-like texture. I also tried the matcha flavors; definitely something you’ll appreciate only if you’re already a matcha lover.”

I've always wanted to try Japanese cheesecake and has the opportunity to do so here in Boston! It was amazing. Like a fluffy cheesecake. It was a dream. They also have little tarts with a custard filling that is truly heavenly.

Really yum! Tried the Matcha Cheesecake and a madeleine (muffin). Both were fantastic. Matcha cheesecake was plenty big to share amongst 4 people. It was cheesier than I expected (I have had a different jiggly cheesecake in Japan); the matcha flavor was just the right amt. No seating inside.

Classic cheesecake 2/5 - disappointing. It was too eggy, moist and soggy tasting compared to other Japanese cheesecakes I have had. Honey Madeline 2.5/5 - lack of flavor and a bit dry Matcha cheese tart 4/5 - my favorite of all 3, crispy tart and matcha was not too strong.

Having had this several times now, I can confidently say that I still recommend this place!!! I recently ordered this for my colleagues at work, and they loveddddd it!!! Not only was it delicious AGAIN, and brought a lot of cheer to our work day at the hospital. I still haven't been to the physical location, so I can't comment on its ambiance, but the service and quality continue to remain very good!

Definitely worth the hype - it was airy and soft, sweet but not too sweet. The texture was very delicate and you don't have to chew much at all. It was very good but a bit pricey for the size! We got served really quickly. We got the cheesecake as soon as we paid - it seems to be premade but still tasted very fresh!

The cheesecake was okay. Was let down by the Madeleine too. Given the amazing Chinese bakeries in the vicinity, feel like this (Japanese?) bakery isn't up to the mark. Also quite a bit more expensive to than the other options

My partner and I got a cheesecake and single Madeline - TASTE: 4/5 - the cheesecake was light in sweetness. Didn't really get the honey flavor in the Madeline, was just alright TEXTURE: 5/5 - we microwaved both items, per the packaging instructions, which was a must. The cheesecake was super light, fluffy, and bouncy -- I was actually impressed lol. Wish the Madeline was more moist though PRICE: 4/5 - subtotal was $18 SERVING SIZE: 4/5 - the cheesecake is fairly small, and easy to devour for a small group SERVICE: 4/5 - empty inside when we walked in at 6:30pm on a Friday. Order was packed quickly ATMOSPHERE: 3/5 - most of the small, brightly colored space is dedicated to the open kitchen. No tables or chairs for dine-in TAKEOUT: 4/5 - the packaging is cute, and the cheesecake is actually wrapped in a cheesecloth or similar material PARKING: 4/5 - got a metered street spot near Essex St x Harrison Ave

Every time I've come here, they've been sold out of cheesecake. Perhaps this is because I come later in the day, but I've honestly been here 3-4 times now and they're always out. I've tried their Madeleines and they're decent at least - if you're in the mood for a sweet treat, they're definitely an option. Service has always been focused on efficiency every time I've been, they're not friendly in my experience - they just sort of need folks to go in and out given the space constraints as it's a super small store. I'm interested in their matcha flavors that they've introduced recently, however with my luck, they'll always be out I'm sure!

After dinner in Chinatown, we decided to talk to Uncle Tetsu to get some cheesecake. It was around 9pm, there was a short line. We were told it would take about 30 mins if we want cheesecake. Since we had a show to catch so I decided to get whatever is available. I bought a bag of cheesecake rusk and 4 madeleines. The rusks are airy and creamy when it melt, highly addictive. The Madeleines are moist and not too sweet, just how I like it. This is not a sit-down type of place. It's more for pick up only. The interior is quite small so line can form out the door if there's more than 8 customers. Based on the taste of the rusk and madeleine, I will definitely come back to try more items.

We tried Uncle Tetsu's cheesecake and to be honest, it was a little underwhelming. I really wanted to love this place and start buying their cakes for birthday celebrations, but it was just okay. The presentation is top notch for their speciality cheesecakes. From the nice shopping bag to the box...and once you open it, the cake is wrapped in a nice cloth-like wrapper (not parchment paper or plastic wrap). Then you see the cake with their logo on the middle. The cake looks perfect. We did the jiggle test and it did not jiggle at all. The cake itself is like a pre-mixture of cheesecake and cake...like someone crumbled it all together and then pieced it together to form a cake. It's not layered like typical cheesecakes. This was quite interesting texture wise. A little crumbly but not really. The cake is not very sweet. Usually eating cake makes my coffee taste bland but its the opposite with the Tetsu cake. After several bites, I did feel a film like after taste in my mouth. This was my first time trying their cakes. I hope my experience is a one-off. Or, I'm just too picky or not normal. Give them a try for yourself, please.

Oh my goodness gracious holy Japanese Cheesecake Although, not quite a "cheesecake" in the traditional sense, Uncle Tetsu's Japanese Cheesecake is the softest & airiest little slice of goodness you can find in Bostons Chinatown. Small space and be prepared to wait for a little bit but trust me it's well worth it. Besides, once you're inside you'll be utterly intoxicated over the heavenly smell of that place. So be sure to pay Uncle Tetsu a visit on your next trip in Boston should you find yourself near the Chinatown area. Or in my case, drive all the way down there from Burlington just to grab one of their cheesecakes.

We went Sunday afternoon there and there was no line. Ordered the honey madeleine, matcha cheese tart, and the cheesecake. The matcha cheese tart is very strong matcha (which some people might not like). It is a cheese tart and not an egg tart, so I definitely tasted more creaminess and cheese. It's quite rich and has a cookie shell. The madeleine was pretty big and has a mild flavor but was tougher than a normal madeleine. The cheesecake is a decent size for 2. It's very fluffy and eggy- you can actually hear the air when you slice it. It's better when you warm it up first 30 seconds in the microwave. Unfortunately it was a little too bland (and we love sweets that are "not too sweet"). We wanted to drop by to try the famous Uncle Tetsu but having tried everything, I don't see a need to come back.

It was absolutely delicious! Light and fluffy is all I can say about this cheesecake! If you would like the traditional heavy dairy one, this isn't the place to be, but I really appreciate light and fluffy cakes. I didn't have a chance to have the Matcha flavor or the egg tarts but next time, I'm going to check it out! Still need down the side as if they're small round cakes.

Decided to try out UNCLE TETSU after seeing several instagram reels about their Japanese Cheesecake. It's a cute little shop with standing room only. The cheesecake was everything I hoped for--fluffy, soft, and perfectly balanced in flavor. It wasn't overly sweet or too eggy. The size was ideal, making it a delightful treat without being overwhelming. The service was quick and excellent. Parking can be a bit tricky, but it was absolutely worth it.

Came on a Saturday afternoon and didn't have to wait in line. The service was quick, the price was definitely reasonable. In terms on ambiance, there isn't much, you just walk in to get your order. There's no seating or anything. It is cool because you can see into the kitchen and see them packaging and making the cheesecakes. We just got the classic cheesecake. My fiancé loved it and has been talking about it since we got it. I personally thought it was a bit too eggy tasting for my taste. It was very light and fluffy though.

I'm the first to admit I'm not a cheesecake guy. This is a little shop down the stairs producing Japanese cheesecake - great to watch them wiggle it out of the pan, nice and warm into the container. Line was a bit of a chaotic thing, the stairs and the angles of the door mean you often get in the way of someone else. They do take credit card. $16 is far cheaper than, say, a Junior's cheesecake of equivalent size. Overall, a tasty dessert shared by the group, and not too expensive. Even after a night in the fridge it was still pretty bouncy texture. It's still not what I like, but everyone else in the party enjoyed it a great deal, so I attribute it to me just not liking cheesecake.

Was excited when Uncle Tetsu opened up finally since I used to get it sometimes during my travel. It is a tiny store in Chinatown - no wheelchair access since they only have stairs to go down to the shop. Still limited menu - only their signature cheesecake, madeleines and the cheese crisps are available. The cheesecake tasted better in my head - I used to love it but somehow when I tried it here again, it fell short of my expectations. It is not too sweet and the texture is fluffy and airy. Madeleines were dry in my opinion. It is okay, but I won't go out of my way for their cheesecake or wait around 15/20 minutes. -6/10

So yummy! Cheesecake is super fluffy and the right amount of sweetness, tastes great the next day too! Would definitely be back!

Uncle Tetsu has arrived in Boston! I enjoy their original cheesecake; I haven't tried their matcha or one flavored ones yet but I'm sure they're yummy, as well. The original cheesecake reminds me of Chinese sponge cake & pound cake. I like it because it's not overwhelming at all & not too sweet. I ate half of it by myself and didn't even realize haha. Love that we now have our very own Uncle Tetsu in Chinatown ;)

This review may not bode well with some, and in short, the cheesecake is overrated. It was wet, soft and barely had any cream cheese flavor. At $16 a cake, that's expensive! Spend your $16 somewhere else for cheesecake. Additionally, the menu is irritatingly limited and the cheese tarts were sold out; that was disappointing. Some redeeming qualities I will mention is; a cake was ready to go right after payment, and the cake was warm when received. Let's be real, for the amount being paid, at minimum, the service better be good.

Creamy, smooth, melt in your mouth goodness. 10/10 would recommend FYI it is small!

Walked in on a weekday - offerings of cheesecake, their concept of Madeline's and some biscuits. Overall, I was disappointed. The $3+ Madeline was the most disappointing, it wasn't in any concept what a Madeline is which is fine, but the taste was exceptionally ordinary and dry. The cheesecake was extremely fluffy, the fluffiest of fluffy, but truly lacked any true flavor. It was almost biting into air. The same can be said for the little biscuit packets- considering the price I would not return

Smells great when you come in. I've had something similar in New York . Glad it's an option here in Boston! As of right now, they only have original cheesecake. Which was a bummer... I really wanted to try the matcha. Next time, definitely! It's so soft and moist. This can be eaten warm or cold! My personal opinion, it's definitely worth the $16 ($14 plus tax ).

Honey Madeline 3/5 Signature Cheesecake 4/5 Came within the first couple of days opening and the lines are long! The store is tiny with no seating space and barely any standing space if the lines get long. They ran out of the cheesy tarts so I'll definitely be going back to try those. Honey Madeline isn't that sweet and the crust is slightly bitter with the burnt taste. Personally I prefer the French style Madelines. This one is soft and doughy, not like a French Madeline where the texture is thick and buttery and crumbles. This is a Japanese cheesecake and not a typical American style, so I wasn't expecting a thick cream cheesy cake. Instead, hot out of the oven, the cheesecake is super soft, fluffy and moist. When you cut a fresh slice, the cheesecake jiggles. We had to wait approximately 16 minutes for it to come out though because the placed was packed. Not a lot of parking and recommend having someone to go with you to go out and pick it up while you drive around. The bakery inside looks very cute and lots of bold red colors. They also denied taking your order if they suspect that their next batch may come out wrong.

Finally a bakery with good cakes. I find the pastries in the cafes around Boston much too sweet. The cheesecake is not that sweet and it melts in your mouth. I actually prefer refrigerated cheesecake (next day cheesecake) over piping hot/out of the oven. I didn't think I'd like the honey Madeline's much because it looks like a regular muffin but I actually enjoyed it. I'd get it again for a quick breakfast pick me up. The packaging for the rusk is so cute!! Place is small -- gotta grab and go.

Uncle Tetsu has made its way to Chinatown in Boston! Known for their Japanese Cheesecakes, Uncle Tetsu offers wonderful not too sweet treats. Although I didn't go in-person to get their cheesecake, their storefront is definitely small so would definitely suggest grabbing it to go. They're currently in their soft opening stage! I was gifted their original Japanese Cheesecake and it was so soft and fluffy! Not too sweet or heavy which is wonderful. I think it would pair great with some fruit and whipped cream or coffee to drink. The packaging is also so cute, the little uncle tetsu logo is adorable! The cheesecake comes in a box and isn't pre-cut yet so you cut it yourself. Overall I'd love to try their other cheesecake flavors once their grand opening occurs! I think their cheesecake is a great treat that isn't too sweet.

It's finally here! Boston gets an Uncle Tetsu. LOCATION: Tucked away and down some stairs, the shop is super tiny and can probably fit no more than 7-8 at a time. There is one cashier but a large glass window where you get to see the employees pack the cheesecakes. MENU: It's currently under a soft opening phase now so limited items are the original cheesecakes, honey madeleines. It looks like they will have cheese tarts later! CHEESECAKE: The original is SO light and fluffy. Absolutely delicious and not too sweet. I can honestly eat the whole thing myself. Can't wait to come back and try the other flavors. WAIT: I went when someone had just bought the last of the batch and the next wait time was going to be 20 mins. It wasn't too bad of a wait but there was a long line.

Good but probably a bit overhyped imo. I came on a Saturday early afternoon and waited in total maybe around 15 to 20 minutes, including lining up and waiting for the cheesecake. Every time I've walked by, there seems to be a line tbh. They do get through it relatively quickly, but the bottleneck is actually making the cheesecakes. You can see a horde of workers in the back mixing and baking the cheesecakes fresh, so that's fun. The actual cheesecakes are pretty good, definitely not too sweet (and honestly may not be sweet enough for those with a stronger sweet tooth). However, to me, they had a pretty strong egg flavor. These are definitely a hybrid of spongecake and cheesecake, which I expected, but I think I would personally prefer more of a tarte cheesecake flavor. I also got a bag of each type of rusk (madeleine and cheesecake); these were surprise hits! I actually liked them more than the cheesecakes themselves haha.

The wait for this cheesecake is insane. The shop is very small and the wait is 45+ minutes with no space to wait and no way of contacting you when it's ready. They did provide a coupon for 15% of OneZo so we were able to kill time by grabbing a bubble tea. I came back after 45 minutes but when I asked the cashier if my number was called yet, she just scoffed at me and said "no." I waited another 10 minutes after that for my number to be called. The cake itself is delicious. Really delicate and fluffy texture. The flavor is eggy and almost custard like in flavor. I really enjoyed it but wasn't a fan of the customer service.

Came after dinner for a dessert and got the Madeline and rusk and oh my gosh, I highly recommend the rusk. It is sweet and crunchy, basically they take the crusty part of the cheesecake and resell it. I would come back just for the rusk.

I was able to get a taste of their original flavor cheesecake from a friend that brought some back! Now for me, i usually prefer asian sponge cake for bdays (like the light and fluffy/ not too sweet style with fresh fruits). Tetsu's cheesecake reminds me of a sponge cake hybrid. Its light, fluffy with a bit more weight to it then straight sponge. It's not overly sweet and has a nice light flavor and smooth consistency. Could eat this up and not feel heavy!

It was good, nothing special tbh but pretty good. The service was alright. I feel like it would be better if there were more flavor available than just one.

Did you know you can order their cheesecake hot or cold? While the fresh hot cheesecake has the most unique texture of airy, soft, jiggly, and not to sweet I've ever had, the cold cheesecake is just as tasty! If you order yours hot, just stick the cheesecake into the fridge for at least 2 hours and you will have a cheesecake that still has bounce but has a more dense and closer to cheesecake texture I also had their honey madelines which were good but didn't have as much of a honey flavor as I expected.

Cheese tarts, ok. Honey madelines are the best thing they sell. Nice texture and not overly sweet. Great with coffee or tea. The cheesecake is very light and not too sweet. Think of an angel food cake crossed with a cheesecake. Prices are a bit steep but worth a try once.

Almost missed the spot but decided to check it out after seeing it on TikTok. I used to make these at home and it is definitely a strenuous activity, so I think the price is pretty worth it. Each cheesecake is good for 2 people if you're going hard on it, but no judgement if you eat the whole thing in one sitting by yourself. For some reason, I expected some seatings but the store is tiny and definitely not for sitting down. The cake will stay pretty fresh for 40+ minutes.

These are not it. The cheesecake is to soggy and very thin . You can barely taste the flavor. Overhype and over price. The ones in NYC is better

I went during the opening weeks and the lines were still long. Waited about 20min? At the time they were only selling original cheesecakes and madeleines. I got the fresh batch and it was delicious. Very soft. Taste was not too sweet either just right. I will definitely return back to try the ube, chocolate, and tiramisu flavor.

The space inside is small, but it's cool that you can see everyone baking and making the mixture. I got 2 cheesecakes, unfortunately I think they only had the original flavor right now. Even though there were several orders, the wait time was only 5 minutes! Everyone was in and out so fast. Got home and was so excited to try it. First thing I noticed was that they packaged the cheesecake in a mesh kind of cloth. That kept the cheesecake from deflating and oh my God it was so good. So worth the hype! I'm a cheesecake hater but the cheese taste is so subtle here that I frogging love it! If you hate normal cheesecakes, you'll love this one. The texture is so soft, so fluffy, and it melts in your mouth! Worth the wait, worth the cramped space, and most definitely worth $14 per cake!

My friend stopped by to get their cheesecake since he had yet to have the opportunity to try it when traveling to Japan. He is slightly disappointed since they have limited items, but at least he got the cheesecake. He got me the cheesecake, too, since I did not wait for it during the last visit since I came during my lunch break. The cheesecake is not bouncy but fluffy and soft with added cream cheese flavor. I can't compare it to the Japanese cheesecake that is sold in Asian bakeries in Boston because Uncle Tetsu cheesecake tastes so much better.

From my visit, I know that the store is small, no place for dine in. You should only order cheesecake here, I have ordered everything on the menu and only the cheesecake stands out. It is very soft/fluffy inside, you should definitely try it while it still hot! I don't know if the quality still hold when serve cold.

Dessert was a little strange, sort of just tasted like warm sweet egg inside of a pastry. If it wasn't fresh and warm, not sure it would have been very memorable. There are so many amazing and inexpensive bakeries in Chinatown that I'm not sure this one is worth returning to. It was cute to try it once.

I was craving Japanese cheesecake for so long and this definitely fulfilled my need. It was very fluffy, melting in your mouth. It was sweet but not overpowering. They had quick and friendly service as they already had the cheesecake ready.

I haven't had Uncle Tetsu in over 5 years, so I've been keeping an eye out for this location. To my surprise, today was actually their first soft opening day. They didn't have many menu items available -- just the original cheesecake ($14.95) and honey madeleine ($3.95). We got one of each to go and I could tell that everything was fresh because it was still warm to the touch. The cheesecake is everything I remember it to be -- warm, fluffy, light, and not too sweet or heavy. I also think $15 is a very fair and reasonable price for what you get. This kind of cheesecake is also quite hard to recreate at home so I would definitely choose to come here rather than attempt and fail as I have in the past. It seems like they're also running a promotion where you can get a cute free Uncle Tetsu magnet with a purchase. I had a great experience here and I'll definitely be back. The cheesecake is definitely special and something that's hard to find anywhere else in Boston. The madeleine was also fluffy and light with a crisp exterior. I'm really excited to try their other flavors once they have them!

Stop in after lunch nearby at Dynasty I wanted a cheese cake slice... looked good Japanese cheese cake but no slices or small ones ??? Only one for 16 bucks... Need single serving ones if want more business Tried a mandolin cupcake instead for 4 bucks... Ok, fresh, bland taste... needed more flavor it maybe I am not well versed in The Japanese version

Fluffy, sweet and fun! These aren't the cheesecakes that you're used to but it's nice to have a taste of Japan in Boston

Came in on a monday night and it was completely empty! I couldn't stand waiting in line so I waited for a weekday to go. The place is pretty small. You could order from the counter or on a big screen. Service is just okay, they didn't greet me or say anything but that's not a crazy big deal for me. $16 (including tax) for one whole cake is pretty worth it to me. I don't like traditional cheesecake since it's very sweet and dense, but this blew my mind. It's perfectly light and fluffy, not too sweet like every asian mom says when they like a dessert. Next time, I have to get more than 1 since it doesn't last 2 hours in my house lol.

LOVED IT. REMINDED ME OF THE CHEESECAKES I WOULD GET IN JAPAN ALL THE TIME. If you are looking for New York Style Heavy Cheesecake, this is not it. This is a Japanese style cheesecake which is literally the opposite that. Japanese cheesecakes are light, fluffy and bouncy and not nearly as sweet as the New York Style. Its amazing how many unfounded bad reviews this place is getting because of reviewers ignorance on what a Japanese cheesecake is. If you want a heavy, sugary, dense cheesecake, go somewhere else. This place is great, and I am so glad that there is one in Boston.

The cheesecake is light and delicious! I wish there was another store with better parking.

I feel so happy when I heard uncle Tetsu open in Boston. Their cheesecake is very soft, delightful and delicious.

Absolutely obsessed. So grateful to have one of these in Boston now. Love everything from the cheesecakes to the tarts. I'll be stopping by whenever I'm around Chinatown!