Cambridge Street, Allston

[TownSpa]

Looking for recommendations on any of the restaurants on Cambridge Street in Allston, around the N. Beacon/Brighton intersection. Grain and Salt looks great from the outside - how's the food and service? What other restaurants in this area are excellent? Not looking for one particular cuisine or price range. Thanks!

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Grain and Salt
431 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134

[TownSpa]

We ended up going to Yoma and really enjoyed it. Thanks for all the recommendations. Will definitely check out some of the other places in this area. Oh, we also ducked into Model Cafe for a quick drink on the way home (Deep Ellum was packed). That place is a trip - cash only and a very strong scent of dive bar...Do bands play there?

[Joanie]

Bands have played at the Model but not in a while (that I know of at least). It was a cooler dive before they removed the booths.

[MABMAQ]

dont' forget Alfredos (behind the Dominos plaza on cambridge st.)- it may be small but the food is great !

[Allstonian]

Isn't Alfredo's on Brighton Avenue next to the fire station? I've never been in - can you actually sit and eat there or is it takeaway only?

[MABMAQ]

2 small tables inside - best to go during off hours if you want to sit in. everythings homemade even the mozzarella !

[StriperGuy]

In an area that has a decent amount of Brazilian Cafe Brazil is mostly mediocre and Grain and Salt is VERY hit or miss. Sometimes good, others downright bad.

With all of the excellent food in the area I NEVER go to either.

Try:

Carlos
Jo Jo Taipei (nicer decor then grain and salt too)
Blue Asia
Privus (for the chicken)
Several of the Korean places for various dishes
Yoma (truly amazing Burmese)
Padaria Brasil (good Brazilian Salgadinhos)
Yi Soon Bakery
Shanghai Gate
S&I (very good thai)
Everest (decent Nepali)
Cafe Belo

I would eat at any of these BEFORE Grain and Salt and Cafe Brasil.

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Shanghai Gate
204 Harvard Ave, Allston, MA 02134

Grain and Salt
431 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134

Cafe Brazil
421 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134

JoJo Tai Pei Restaurant
103 Brighton Ave, Boston, MA 02134

Yi Soon Bakery
112 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA

Blue Asia Cafe
113 Brighton Ave, Boston, MA 02134

[babka eater]

Which Korean restaurants do you all prefer in Allston? What dishes make them special? There is a recent Korean BBQ thread but I am more curious about non-BBQ Korean cuisine.

Thanks for the reminder about Blue Asia. I remember the strong recommendations provided a couple of months ago.

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Blue Asia Cafe
113 Brighton Ave, Boston, MA 02134

[StriperGuy]

None of the Korean places are great at everything. Bu Kyung II does some great noodles with black beans and pork, and deep fried pork or chicken. One of the places on Harvard (Color???) does good spicey soups, etc. The Korean Garden place has a big broad all around menu that is decent.

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Korean Garden
122 Harvard Ave, Allston, MA 02134

[another_adam]

I've really liked Myung Dong First Ave (Harvard north of Brighton) for "drinking" type foods like dubu kimchi (tofu with kimchi), but also for soups like al tang (roe stew) or jogae tang (clam stew). They also have haejangguk ("hangover soup"), which I've been meaning to get while the weather's still coolish! They do have things like bibimbap, too, and it's OK, but it's the last page of the menu (and also the soups/stews) that I'd really recommend them for.

Korea Garden is also solid for bibimbap, and once the weather gets hot, I'll be heading there for naengmyeon. I used to be a fan of both Color and Hanmaru, but lately I've found them disappointing (and I've never been a fan of Bukkyung)

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Hanmaru Restaurant
168 Harvard Ave, Allston, MA 02134

[StriperGuy]

It was Myung Dong I was thinking of for the spicey soups, thanks.

[mmocpi]

If the ambiance means something to you, then Grain and Salt has it in spades over Yoma. Probably the most gorgeously decorated restaurant in the area. I also really like Grain and Salt's food (and have never had a complaint with the waiters as well). Cafe Brazil is also a place I would recommend and, again on ambiance, they've got lovely live guitar music on weekend nights.

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Grain and Salt
431 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134

Cafe Brazil
421 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134

[babka eater]

I have never been to Grain and Salt but I can strongly recommend Yoma, a Burmese restaurant at the intersection of N. Beacon and Brighton. Two of my favorite dishs are the tea leaf salad and the pan fried tofu with coconut cream with pumpkin and shallots.

Within a short walk, there is a wide range of great ethnic restaurants. Do a search for Allston and you will get useful results such as S&I Thai, JoJo Taipai, Shanghai Gate, Carlos Cucina, and more.

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Shanghai Gate
204 Harvard Ave, Allston, MA 02134

Grain and Salt
431 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134

S&I To Go
168A Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134

[Allstonian]

Barmy and I have only been to Grain & Salt once, quite some time ago - it was very good, but we can't really speak to the current quality of the place. I'll strongly second babka eater's recommendation of YoMa, however. It's the only Burmese restaurant in Boston and is excellent.

Deep Ellum, also in Union Square a few doors from YoMa, is quite a good pub, if pubby food suits you.

A few doors down from Grain & Salt on Cambridge Street is Cafe Brazil, which is quite decent as well.

As mentioned above, there are tons of other good eats very near by; these are just the ones that adhere specifically to your requested location.

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Cafe Brazil
421 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134

Deep Ellum Bar
477 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134

[lkmuller]

I like Cafe Brazil and Yoma much better than Grain and Salt. They are all totally different though...

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Grain and Salt
431 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134

Cafe Brazil
421 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134

[C. Hamster]

The last time I ate at Cafe Brazil, it sort of sucked. It was at lunch and we wouldnt even think of taking home the leftovers.

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Cafe Brazil
421 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134

[mmocpi]

I have also noticed on occasion that the lunch is lacking. I think their dinner is still great.

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

Yeah, I don't know if the lunch and dinner chefs are different or what, but the one time I had lunch at Cafe Brazil, I didn't care for it at all, but it's one of my favorite dinner places in the neighborhood.

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Cafe Brazil
421 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134

[C. Hamster]

Good to know. I havent been there for dinner in a few years but recall it being much, much better than the recent lunch we had.