Boston Restaurant Talk

Friday, August 12, 2022

Kong Dog Opens in Somerville's Davis Square

A growing chain of dining spots that feature corn dogs is in the process of opening its first Boston-area location in the heart of Somerville.

According to a tweet from Cambridge Day, Kong Dog is undergoing a soft opening in Davis Square, with the Elm Street eatery offering Korean corn dogs with such coatings as fried potato, sweet potato, ramen crumbles, fruity rice puffs, Doritos, Cheetos, and more along with bubble tea

Kong Dog first started out in Illinois in 2021.

The address for Korn Dog in Davis Square is 236 Elm Street, Somerville, MA, 02144. The website for the company can be found at https://kongdog.us/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is currently dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate if you can at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

Andalin Kitchen and Bar Opens in Beverly Farms

A brand new Thai restaurant has opened on the North Shore.

According to a source, Andalin Kitchen and Bar is now open in Beverly Farms, moving into a space on West Street that had been home to Dal Mare. The menu for the new dining spot shows such items as crispy chive cakes, gyoza, coconut shrimp, tom yum soup, pad Thai, drunken noodle, mango crispy chicken, roasted duck curry, taro rice, sweet mango with sticky rice, and more.

The address for Andalin Kitchen and Bar in Beverly Farms is 24 West Street, Beverly, MA, 01915. The website for the restaurant is at https://andalinthai.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

ThaiRiffic by the Sea Opens in Former Yan's China Bistro Space in Swampscott

A brand new Thai and Southeast Asian restaurant has opened on the North Shore, taking over the space that had been home to a Chinese spot for more than 15 years.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, ThaiRiffic by the Sea is now open in Swampscott, moving into the former Yan's China Bistro space on Humphrey Street. The website for the new eatery indicates that all food items on the menu are halal other than the duck dishes and that this is actually a second location of the restaurant, with the original being in Marlborough.

Yan's China Bistro closed down a couple of months ago, though its sibling restaurant--Fantasy Island in Salem--remains in operation.

The address for ThaiRiffic by the Sea is 146 Humphrey Street, Swampscott, MA, 01907. Its website can be found at https://thairifficma.com/

[Earlier Article]
Yan's China Bistro in Swampscott Is Closing

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Across the Border Is Opening in Jamaica Plain

The people behind a Tex-Mex food truck are getting ready to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant.

According to an article from the Jamaica Plain News, Across the Border appears to be on the verge of opening in Jamaica Plain, moving into a space on Centre Street in Hyde Square that had been home to Pikalo before it moved down the street. Based on the food truck's offerings, expect to see tacos, burritos, nachos, quesadillas, bowls, and more, including Cheeto burritos, Frito burritos, and Dorito burritos.

Douglas and Shantel Salazar established the Across the Border food truck back in 2018, with the truck offering catering for various events in the Boston area and elsewhere in Massachusetts.

The address for Across the Border's brick-and-mortar dining spot is 378A Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130. The website for the business can be found at http://acrosstheborderfood.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please Support Our Fundraiser

Stepping away from restaurant news for a minute, some of you know that I'm helping raise funds via GoFundMe for a family member who is dealing with a health issue and is currently in a respite room at an assisted living facility as we try to figure out how--and if--he can improve enough to be able to come home again. For at least the time being, he remains in the respite room, and along with the stress of the situation in general, we also have to worry about the weight of the heavy financial burden affecting us. More information can be found at the link below, and please leave a message of support as well.

Thank you very much! -Marc

Fundraiser: Help for Leslie H's Ongoing Health Issue

Thursday, August 11, 2022

Betty Ann's Sandwich Shop in Danvers Looking for New Home

A sub shop on the North Shore that has been in business for a long time is in need of a new home.

According to a source, Betty Ann's Sandwich Shop in Danvers has to leave its space on Hobart Street, with a Salem News article saying that its building is slated for demolition on October 1 as it will be one of a number of downtown addresses being replaced by the Maple Square Mixed Use Development. The post mentions that owner Peter Rakip said in a Facebook town page that "we have been told to turn our keys in and turn over the property to the developers," though the sub shop remains open for now while Rakip looks for a new home.

Betty Ann's first opened its doors back in the early 1950s.

The current address for Betty Ann's Sandwich Shop is 7 Hobart Street, Danvers, MA, 01923. Its website can be found at https://www.bettyannssubs.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]