Phat Thaiger Is Opening in Malden

The people behind a couple of Thai restaurants just north of Boston will soon be opening a third spot nearby.

According to an article from Boston Magazine, Phat Thaiger is planning to open in Malden, moving into a space on Eastern Avenue near Crying Thaiger on Ferry Street and Thaiger Den on Pleasant Street. The former is a Thai spot that opened in 2017 and the latter is a more upscale Thai restaurant that opened last year, and the new eatery will be a Thai and Japanese izakaya that features such options as pad kee mow with yakisoba noodles, pad thai with udon noodles, Hokkaido scallops with curry custard, yellowtail crudo with ponzu sauce, hot pot with Japanese and Thai influences, and yakitori-style skewers with Thai spices and marinades, while drinks will include martinis, sake, and more.

If all goes as planned, Phat Thaiger will open later this month.

The address for Phat Thaiger is 166 Eastern Avenue, Malden, MA, 02148.

[April 25 update: According to its social media along with a new article from Boston Magazine, Phat Thaiger is now open.]

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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

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Karma Opens in Winchester

A few years ago, it was reported that a local group of Asian restaurants was planning to expand to a new location in the northern suburbs of Boston, and now we have learned that it has finally debuted.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Karma is now up and running in Winchester, opening on Thompson Street in the center of town. The new location--whose plans were first announced in the latter part of 2021--joins others in Andover, Burlington, Concord, and Westford, and it offers pan-Asian fare.

The address for Karma in Winchester Center is 16 Thompson Street, Winchester, MA, 01890. 

[Earlier Article]
Karma Asian Fusion Cuisine Plans to Open in Winchester

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

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Merai Plans to Open in Brookline

The people behind an award-winning Thai restaurant are making plans to open another dining spot.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Mahaniyom in Brookline Village is going to be joined by a nearby restaurant called Merai, which means "alcohol" in Thai and which Mahaniyom co-owner Chompon Boonnak indicates will be "more playful" and with fusion cuisine being at least part of the focus. No address has been given for Merai as of yet, nor has a menu been seen, so stay tuned for updates as they come in. (The dining spot hopes to open in the late fall.)

Mahaniyom, which opened in early 2020, has received high praise over the past couple of years, including from Eater, The Boston Globe, and Boston Magazine.

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

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

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Little Pecan Bistro Opens in Brighton

A new restaurant featuring two different types of cuisine has come to Brighton.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Little Pecan Bistro is now open on Washington Street, with a post from Eater Boston indicating that it debuted earlier this month. The new eatery offers Asian/Latin fusion dishes, with its menu including such items as fried chicken sandwiches, an Asian steak and cheese, short rib tacos, macaroni and cheese, pecan pad Thai, tea, and smoothies, along with a variety of breakfast dishes as well.

The address for Little Pecan Bistro in Brighton is 296 Washington Street, Brighton, MA, 02135. Its website can be found at https://www.littlepecanbistro.com/

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

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

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Belicious Cafe Opens in Braintree

A new dining spot has come to the southern suburbs of Boston, and its menu includes a rather interesting mix of cuisines.

According to a source, Belicious Cafe is now open in South Braintree Square, taking over the space on Washington Street where Braintree House of Pizza had been until moving to a larger space a few storefronts down. Our source tells us that its menu features "very eclectic" Asian fusion including Hong Kong, Macanese, Singaporean, Malaysian, Thai, and Korean influences, and the menu actually includes Italian dishes as well along with Portuguese items, the latter of which may come from the fact that Macau was a Portuguese territory until approximately 20 years ago.

A few items offered at Belicious Cafe include "shake shake" chicken, a curry pork chop with rice, laksa (a spicy noodle soup typically found in Singapore), sizzling spicy tuna with rice, baked Portuguese chicken, mussels risotto with cream sauce, prawns with linguine in pesto sauce, a sizzling double hamburg in black pepper sauce, and a parfait with matcha ice cream.

The address for Belicious Cafe is 958 Washington Street, Braintree, MA, 02184. Its website can be found at http://www.beliciouscafe.com/

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

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

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Machu Chifa Plans to Open in Downtown Boston

A new restaurant that features a type of fusion cuisine not easily found in the Greater Boston area is on its way to the heart of the city.

According to a source (Sarah Wu), Machu Chifa is opening in downtown Boston, with the Court Street eatery being a fast-casual restaurant that focuses on chifa, and in particular, Cantonese-Peruvian style fried rice bowls that can be ordered with steak, pork, shrimp, or chicken, based on information from a web page for the place. It is not known when the new restaurant might open, though it appears that it may be either on the verge of opening or already open; we have reached out to the spot and will post an update as soon as we find out more.

Currently, chifa--which includes a number of dishes with Chinese and Peruvian influences in addition to fried rice--can only be found at a few Boston-area restaurants, including Ruka in downtown Boston and Celeste in Somerville's Union Square.

The address for Machu Chifa is 55 Court Street, Boston, MA, 02203. Its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/machuchifa/ while its web page is at https://yinm65.wixsite.com/machu-chifa/

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

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

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Zwu's Asian Cuisine Opens in Peabody

by Marc Hurwitz

A new Asian fusion restaurant has come to the North Shore.

According to a message from @CappyinBoston, Zwu's Asian Cuisine is now open in Peabody, taking over the space on Central Street where Mike and Lill's Black Sheep Pub & Grill had been. The Facebook page and website for the dining spot indicates that it features Chinese and Japanese fare, including fusion dishes with influences from both countries, with the menu showing such options as noodle dishes and fried rice, raw bar items, teppanyaki, sushi, Polynesian dishes, and more.

The address for this new restaurant in Peabody it: Zwu's Asian Cuisine, 5 Central Street, Peabody, MA, 01960. Its website can be found at https://www.zwusrestaurant.com/

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Food Items from Asian Restaurants in the Boston Area]

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Van Shabu & Bar in Dorchester Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

A restaurant featuring hot pot, sushi, ramen, and more has shut its doors.

According to an article from Universal Hub, Van Shabu & Bar in Dorchester's Savin Hill area is no longer in business, with the website for the Dorchester Avenue eatery saying "Our family has taken on a new business venture in the Simon Malls - we are now the Noodle Station in the South Shore Plaza in Braintree!" The note goes on to say that the owners will also be opening a location of Noodle Station at the Burlington Mall in November.

Van Shabu & Bar first opened approximately eight years ago, offering Asian fusion fare along with cocktails.

The address for this now-closed restaurant in Savin Hill was: Van Shabu & Bar, 1156 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA, 02125.

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Food Items from Asian Restaurants in the Boston Area]

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Cheng Du in Stoughton Is Closing; New Owners to Open Ming Du in Space

A suburban restaurant that has been featured on our sister site as an under-the-radar place to go to for Chinese and Asian fusion fare is closing, and a new dining spot is moving into the space.

According to a Facebook post from the place, Cheng Du in Stoughton is shutting down for good today, with the note thanking customers and referring people to their other two restaurants in Mansfield and Westborough. The post says that Ming Du, a new restaurant under different ownership, will open in the Washington Street space tomorrow.

Cheng Du, which has been in Stoughton for more than 20 years, has been reviewed on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site, with a link to the review being below:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/ChengDu.html

The address for Cheng Du (and the upcoming Ming Du) is 657 Washington Street, Stoughton, MA, 02072.

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Food Items from Asian Restaurants in the Boston Area]

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Oye's Restaurant and Bar Soft-Opens in Former Donatello's Space in Saugus

A dining spot in Reading has finally expanded into the space on Route 1 where an iconic restaurant had once been.

According to a source, Oye's Restaurant and Bar appeared to be open in Saugus yesterday with balloons out front and cars in the parking lot, and a phone call placed to the Reading location indicated that today is Day 2 of a soft opening for the new eatery. The dining spot, which takes over the space where Donatello's was, had a rocky ride on its way to opening up, as it was first announced that Oye's was planning to open back in the summer of 2015, but as of the fall of 2016 it had still not opened, prompting town selectmen to take action, requiring the place to give a written project status update while having town departments monitor progress as well.

Oye's offers a mix of Chinese and Japanese options along with Polynesian dishes and other Asian fare.

The address for the new Oye's on Route 1 is 44 Broadway, Saugus, MA, 01906. The website for the original location in Reading can be found at http://oyesrestaurant.com/

[Earlier Articles]
Oye's Restaurant and Bar to Move into Donatello's Space on Route 1 in Saugus
Oye's Still Not Open in Former Donatello's Space in Saugus, Prompting Selectmen into Action

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Food Items from Asian Restaurants in the Boston Area]

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Jade Monkey in Brighton's Cleveland Circle Has Closed

A short-lived Asian fusion spot in Brighton has shut its doors.

According to a source, Jade Monkey in Cleveland Circle is no longer in business, with a Facebook post from the place confirming this, saying that "It is with great sadness that we have to inform you that Jade Monkey will be closing for business. From the entire Jade Monkey Team, we thank you for your support. It was truly a pleasure to serve all of you!" No reason has been given for its closure, nor is it known what might be going into the space, so stay tuned.

Jade Monkey replaced Sa Pa in February of 2016, with the owners of Sa Pa also being behind Jade Monkey; the restaurant featured Asian fusion fare including crab rangoon, lettuce wraps, paella rice, banh mi, tuna poke, ramen, and ginger scallion noodles.

The address for this now-closed Asian restaurant in Cleveland Circle was: Jade Monkey, 1952 Beacon Street, Brighton, MA, 02135.

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Food Items from Asian Restaurants in the Boston Area]

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Sweet Caroline's in Boston's Fenway Is Becoming Jyuba

A restaurant and bar near Fenway Park is in the process of being replaced by an Asian fusion spot.

According to a source, the people behind Sweet Caroline's on Boylston Street are petitioning to change the name of the place to Jyuba, with a hearing on the matter taking place on May 10. A Yelp page for the dining spot seems to indicate that Jyuba may already be open while a website for Jyuba is now up and running, though the website shows references to Sweet Caroline's as well.

Sweet Caroline's first opened in the fall of 2011, initially being run by the people behind Battery Park Bar & Lounge in Boston's Financial District before being taken over by the owners of Slate Bar & Grill (also in the Financial District). The place shut down in the fall of 2014 before reopening as Sweet Caroline's Modern Pizza + Bar in the spring of 2015, then it changed its name to Sweet Caroline's Modern Kitchen + Bar at some point.

The address for Sweet Caroline's/Jyuba is 1260 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for Jyuba can be found at http://www.jyuba.com/

[May 23 update: According to a tweet from @kciccolini, the sign for Sweet Caroline's was being taken down this morning and a new sign--presumably for Jyuba--is being put up.]

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

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Lam's in Newtonville Is Closing

A Pan-Asian restaurant in one of Newton's busiest neighborhoods is going to be closing.

The Newton TAB is reporting that Lam's in Newtonville is planning to shut its doors for good this Saturday (December 15) after being in business for 12 years. The article mentions that a rent increase is apparently the reason behind the closure, with a co-owner of the eatery saying that business has been steady, but the higher rent would be "more than he could absorb."

Lam's has focused mainly on Thai cuisine over the years, though it also offers dishes from other parts of Asia, including Chinese, Vietnamese, and Cambodian fare.

The address for this soon-to-close dining spot in Newtonville is: Lam's, 825 Washington Street, Newton, MA, 02460.

Thanks to @brandnewwatch for bringing this to our attention.


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East Asia in Somerville Has Closed; DooWee and Rice Replacing It

An Asian restaurant in the Powderhouse Square section of Somerville has closed its doors, with another Asian eatery planning to move into the space.

According to a poster on the Chowhound site (via Davis Square LiveJournal), East Asia on Broadway is now shuttered, with a sign stating that DooWee & Rice will be taking over the spot. The two posts mention that the new restaurant will feature such items as gourmet modern rice plates, Chinese "burgers," and Vietnamese salads. The website for DooWee & Rice also implies that this will be an Asian fusion spot, though no menu has been posted yet.

[August 30 update: Eater Boston reports that DooWee & Rice is looking to open the weekend of September 8.]

[September 10 update: According to their website, DooWee & Rice soft-opened over the weekend. Eater Boston follows up on this by reporting that the restaurant is now closed for the time being but will officially open on Wednesday, September 12, with their grand opening being on Saturday, September 15.]

[September 12 update: Eater Boston states that DooWee & Rice officially opened at noon today.]

East Asia was a Chinese and Thai eatery that our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) has featured. A review of the restaurant can be found below:

www.hiddenboston.com/EastAsia.html

The address for the now-closed East Asia (and new DooWee & Rice) is 868 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02144. The website for DooWee & Rice is at http://www.dooweeandrice.com/


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Shrine on the Boston Waterfront Will Be Called Empire Instead

It looks like the group behind several restaurants and nightclubs in the Boston area and Connecticut has decided to give one of their restaurants a new name--before it has even opened.

Based on the restaurant's website, Big Night Entertainment's upcoming Asian spot on the Boston waterfront is going to be called Empire. It had been reported earlier that the Fan Pier dining spot was going to be called Shrine (which is the same name as a restaurant of theirs at the Foxwoods casino in Connecticut), with the name being mentioned by several sources, including major newspapers in the Boston area.

Their website mentions that Empire is still planning to open sometime this summer.

[April 18 update: The Boston Herald is reporting that Empire is looking to open in June.]

The address for this upcoming Asian restaurant on the Boston waterfront is: Empire Asian Restaurant and Lounge, One Marina Park Drive, Boston, MA, 02210. Their website will be at http://bostonempire.com/

[Earlier Article]
Shrine (a New Asian Restaurant) to Open Along the Boston Waterfront

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Kayuga II in Arlington Is Becoming Midami Asian Cuisine

An Asian fusion restaurant in Arlington Center is apparently in the process of a name change, though it looks like the dining spot itself will remain mostly the same.

A check on Kayuga II on Mass. Ave. last night showed that the Kayuga sign is still up, but menus for Midami Asian Cuisine have been put in a bin by the front door. The menu for Midami appears to be pretty much the same as that of Kayuga II's menu, and the interior remains as is for now.

Kayuga II had taken over the former Asiana Grille spot in the spring of 2008, featuring a mix of Thai, Korean, and Japanese, fare, including sushi. The original Kayuga is located on Commonwealth Avenue at the Brookline/Boston line (by the BU campus).

The address for Kayuga II/Midami Asian Cuisine is 444 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA 02474. The phone number is (781) 648-7878.

Thanks to a poster on the Chowhound site for initially bringing this to our attention.

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Karma in Weymouth Closes

An Asian dining spot in Weymouth that was open for only two months has closed its doors.

A couple of our followers on Facebook and Twitter mentioned yesterday that Karma in Weymouth had shut down, and an email sent to us from the restaurant has confirmed that the eatery, which featured hot pot, sushi, and Asian fusion fare, is no longer in business. According to the email note, the restaurant was sold to another local entrepreneur who will be opening a new dining spot late in the summer.

Karma had opened in early April, taking over the space on Route 18 where Littlenecks Bar and Grill had been for a brief time. One of the owners of Littlenecks had also been behind Karma. A location of the Mexican restaurant chain Acapulcos had been in the spot before Littlenecks.

The address for the now-closed Karma was 1073 Main Street, Weymouth, MA, 02190.

[June 2 update: According to their Facebook page, Karma is going to reopen in Dorchester sometime over the next few months.]

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Brother's Crawfish Opens in Dorchester

A restaurant featuring a mix of Cajun, Creole, and Asian cuisines has opened in the Fields Corner section of Dorchester.

Brother's Crawfish, which is located on Adams Street, focuses mainly on Viet-Cajun fusion, including several crawfish options as well as a number of fried seafood dishes (calamari, Cajun shrimp, scallops, clam bellies, fish fillet). The menu also features spam and eggs on rice, steak tips, smoked sausage, kielbasa, and Cajun fries.

Options for the crawfish dishes at Brother's Crawfish include hot Cajun style with Louisiana spice, Cajun flavor with dipping sauce, and crawfish sauteed in butter, garlic, onions, and scallions. Crawfish prices are $9.95 per pound (the other dishes are all under $10).

Hours for Brother's Crawfish are 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Tuesday through Friday, and 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. The address is: Brother's Crawfish, 272 Adams Street, Dorchester, MA, 02122. The phone number is (617) 265-1100. And the website can be found at: http://www.brotherscrawfish.com/

For more information on Brother's Crawfish, please go to the Boston Globe link below.

Here come the Asian Cajuns

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