Kowloon Tiki Bar Officially Opens at Revere Beach

Earlier this year it was reported that an iconic restaurant just north of Boston would be expanding to a new location by the water, and now we have learned that it is up and running.

According to its Instagram page and its website, Kowloon Tiki Bar is now officially open at Revere Beach, after partially opening for takeout only early last month. The new spot joins the original Kowloon in Saugus, which will eventually be moving to a smaller location at the Route 1 site as the property is going to be redeveloped.

Kowloon Tiki Bar offers a variety of Asian fare and tropical cocktails while also featuring live entertainment.

The address for Kowloon Tiki Bar is 21 Revere Beach Boulevard, Revere, MA, 02151. Its website can be found at while its https://kowloontiki.com/ Instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/kowloontikirevere/

[Earlier Article]
Kowloon Is Planning to Open at Revere Beach

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Feng Shui in Waltham Has Closed

A location of a local group of Asian restaurants has shut down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Feng Shui in Waltham is no longer in business, with this being confirmed by the restaurant as its website has removed the Trapelo Road outlet while a Facebook post from the business also confirms this, saying of he Waltham location that "We are grateful for the loyalty and support of our customers who have enjoyed our food and services. Our other locations are open for dine-in and takeout."

Feng Shui is known in part for its Chinese fare, sushi, and hibachi items, with locations being found in Brighton, Burlington, Chelmsford, and Tyngsboro.

The address for the now-closed Feng Shui in Waltham was 1019 Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA, 02452. The website for all locations is at https://gofengshui.com/

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Vida Coffee Opens in Cambridge

A brand new coffee shop with Chinese influences has opened in Cambridge.

According to a Bluesky post from @troysch1.bsky.social, Vida Coffee is now open on Broadway, moving into a space a few blocks west of Kendall Square in The Port neighborhood of the city. The new spot offers coffee, sandwiches, baked goods, and pastries, with its menu also including a few bun and bao options.

The address for Vida Coffee is 222 Broadway, Cambridge, MA, 02139. Its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/222vidacoffee/

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Crunch & Boba Opens in West Newton

A new dining spot that focuses on Asian fare has come to the western suburbs of Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Crunch & Boba is now open in West Newton, with the address given indicating that it has moved into the former Shogun space on Washington Street. The menu for the new eatery shows such options as steamed buns, rice bowls, spring rolls, dumplings, sesame shrimp, crispy wings, mochi sticks, sesame balls, milk tea, and more.

The address for Crunch & Boba is 1385 Washington Street, Newton, MA, 02465.

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A South East Kitchen Opens in Framingham

A brand new Asian restaurant has debuted west of Boston.

According to Kiat Cormier who posted on the ChewOnThis Facebook group page, A South East Kitchen has debuted in Framingham and is currently going through a soft opening. An opening menu for the dining spot shows a focus on Thai fare, including such items as spring rolls, chicken satay, Thai eggplant, golden shrimp, massaman curry, basil fried rice, drunken noodle, pad see ew, pad thai, green curry noodle, and gai ka pow, along with Thai iced tea and Thai iced coffee.

The address for A South East Kitchen is 855 Worcester Road (Route 9) Suite 1C, Framingham, MA, 01701. Its Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584544907322

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Yakiniku Plans to Open in Waltham

It looks like a new Asian restaurant will be opening in the western suburbs of Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Yakiniku is looking to open in Waltham, moving into a space on Main Street just east of Prospect Street. A Waltham Times article says that the dining spot will focus on Korean BBQ, with burners in the tables for diners to cook all-you-can-eat meat, and the restaurant will offer ramen and sushi as well. If all goes well, Yakiniku could be opening sometime in May.

The address for the proposed Yakiniku is 863-867 Main Street, Waltham, MA, 02451.

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Soup Zen Hot Pot to Open at the Burlington Mall

An Asian restaurant located north of the border will be expanding to the Greater Boston area, bringing a new location to the northern suburbs.

According to an article from the Daily Times Chronicle, Soup Zen Hot Pot is planning to open at the Burlington Mall, with What Now Boston saying that it will be joining its sole location which resides in Montreal. The website for the business mentions that the restaurant "fuses authentic recipes from Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Thailand, and beyond with contemporary influences," while if all goes as planned, the new location will open sometime this fall.

The website for the Montreal location of Soup Zen Hot Pot is at https://www.soupzenhotpot.com/

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212 Kitchen Opens in Cambridge

A brand new Asian restaurant has come to Cambridge.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, 212 Kitchen is now open in the Riverside neighborhood of the city, moving into a space on Western Avenue. The menu for the new dining spot mentions that it offers "authentic Chinese cuisine," including such items as handmade dumplings, steamed buns, fried pies, noodles and porridge, stone pot noodle soups, fried rice, grilled seafood, and more.

212 Kitchen had been in the works for at least 4 to 5 years until finally opening over the past couple of weeks or so.

The address for 212 Kitchen is 212 Western Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139.

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Tigerbaby Opens at High Street Place in Downtown Boston

A new eatery from an award-winning local chef/restaurateur has come to a food hall in the heart of Boston.

According to a press release, Tigerbaby is now open at High Street Place in the city's Financial District, with the new spot focusing on dishes with Southeast and East Asian influences. Tiffani Faison and Big Heart Hospitality (Sweet Cheeks Q, Fool's Errand, Dive Bar, Tenderoni's, Bubble Bath) are behind the new place, with Faison (who is a James Beard Award-nominated chef and TV personality) saying "Tigerbaby has lived in my brain and heart for quite some time. It's the food I love cooking and crave the most. I'm beyond excited to share it."

Tigerbaby offers such options as tiger tangerine chicken, popcorn dumplings, Thai basil chicken, black pepper beef and broccoli, and mala mushrooms and chicken, along with beer, coffee, and tea.

More information can be found on Tigerbaby (including hours) at https://www.highstreetplace.com/food-and-beverage/tigerbaby/

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Novo Lantern Is Replacing Nan Xiang Express in Boston's South End

The group behind a now-closed location of a Shanghainese soup dumpling restaurant will be opening a new dining spot in its space.

According to a job post within the Glassdoor site, Novo Lantern is planning to replace Nan Xiang Express in the South End of Boston, confirming what a member of the South End Community Board Facebook group page posted. The job post says the following about the upcoming Washington Street eatery:

Ting Management Group Corp — owners of Jiang Nan Boston, Nan Xiang Express Chinatown, and Friendship BBQ Allston — is excited to bring a brand-new concept to the South End: Novo Lantern. Novo Lantern puts a modern, fresh twist on traditional Asian flavors.

An opening date for Novo Lantern has not been given as of yet, nor has a menu been seen for the place, though a sign is now up for the restaurant out front.

The address for Novo Lantern is 1750 Washington Street, Boston, MA, 02118. Its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/novolantern.boston/

[January 14, 2026 update: According to its Instagram page, Novo Lantern is now open, offering such items as house-made soup dumplings, cumin lamb, tuna tartare, and more.]

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ZaZiBar in Boston's Seaport District, Zaz at City Hall Plaza in Downtown Boston Have Closed; Hyde Park Location Remains Open

A couple of locations of a trio of fusion spots in Boston have shut down.

According to an Instagram post, ZaZiBar in the Seaport District and Zaz at City Hall Plaza are no longer in business, with the note saying the following:

Every chapter comes with growth, and this one means a lot to us. As we close our City Hall and ZaZiBar Seaport locations, we just want to take a moment to thank everyone who's supported us over the years. From the City Hall crew who pulled up for lunch every week to the late nights in Seaport filled with music and good vibes, you helped make those spaces special. ZaZ isn't going anywhere. Our Hyde Park restaurant is still home for takeout, catering, and events. ZaZ On Wheels is serving up lunch and late-night eats seven days a week in Seaport. And now, our family has grown with @homebyzazpvd, our new Afro-Caribbean restaurant and lounge in Rhode Island....Thank you for being part of the journey.

The original location of Zaz first opened in Hyde Park in 2011, offering Caribbean, Latin, and Asian fusion cuisine. Its website can be found at https://www.zazrestaurant.com/

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Yin Ji Chang Fen Opens in North Quincy

A chain of Chinese restaurants that dates back approximately 70 years has expanded to a space just south of Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Yin Ji Chang Fen is now open in North Quincy, moving into a space on Billings Road. The poster mentions that  Ji Chang Fen is a restaurant chain from Guangzhou that serves traditional Cantonese dishes and rice rolls, while its website says that it was founded in the 1950s and it features "the traditional Rice Roll, well-known in the province of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao."

Based on their website, it appears that three locations of Yin Ji Chang Fen can be found in New York City, but this is apparently the first to open in New England.

The address for Yin Ji Chang Fen is 60a Billings Road, Quincy, MA, 02171. The website for the U.S. locations of the chain is at https://www.yinji-usa.com/

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Zhu Restaurant Plans to Open in the Former Lir Space in Boston's Back Bay

It looks like an Asian restaurant could be opening in the Back Bay of Boston, moving into the space where an Irish pub had been.

According to an article from The Boston Sun, Zhu restaurant is looking to open on Boylston Street in the former Lir space, with the post saying that the proposed dining spot would have 7,000 square feet of space and include the ground and first floors of the building along with the basement. No other information has been given on the restaurant other than the fact that it is not seeking any kind of liquor license at this point in time; as soon as more information comes out, we will post an update here.

Lir closed in 2020 after being in business for 17 years.

The address for the proposed Zhu restaurant would be 903-905 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02115.

Thanks to Adam Gaffin of Universal Hub for initially bringing this to our attention.

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Sumen Is Opening in the Former Rangla Punjab Space in Arlington Center

A new Asian restaurant is on its way to the northwest suburbs of Boston, taking over the space where an Indian dining spot--and several other restaurants--had been.

According to a source, Sumen is planning to open in Arlington Center, moving into the space that had previously been home to Rangla Punjab, and before that, Singh Saab, Punjabi Tadka, Midami, Kayuga, and Asiana Grille. The social media for the upcoming restaurant indicates that it will offer ramen, sushi, and donburi, and while an exact opening date has not been given as of yet, it appears that the place will be opening soon.

The address for Sumen is 444 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA, 02474. Its Instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/sumenarlington/

[October 10 update: According to an Instagram post from the place, Sumen soft-opened today.]

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Noodle & Doodles Ramen Is Opening in Needham

A new Asian restaurant will soon be opening in the western suburbs of Boston.

According to a Bluesky post from @jeremyk.bsky.social‬, Noodle & Doodles Ramen is coming soon to Needham, opening on Great Plain Avenue in the center of town. An article from the Needham Observer mentioned the plans approximately a year ago, saying at the time that Ray Zheng of Wen's Yunnan Noodles & Ramen in Boston was behind the spot and would "bring a more American ramen fusion with the traditional Japanese style."

The address for Noodle & Doodles Ramen is 998 Great Plain Avenue, Needham, MA, 02492.

[July 25 update: According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page (via a new Needham Observer article), Noodle & Doodles Ramen is slated to soft-open today.]

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Flavor Boom Plans to Open in Cambridge's Kendall Square

It looks like a trio of dining spots that offer Asian and Mediterranean dishes will be joined by a fourth location.

According to a Bluesky post from @troysch1.bsky.social, Flavor Boom is planning to open in the Kendall Square section of Cambridge, taking over the space on Broadway that has been home to Kendall Kitchen. A licensing committee hearing page confirms this, saying that the upcoming restaurant would have seating for 36 and apparently being open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Once it opens, the new spot will join others in downtown Boston, Jamaica Plain, and Watertown, and based on those locations, the new outlet could see such options as black pepper pork, tamarind chicken, eggplant zaalouk, and sofrito stew.

Kendall Kitchen has another location at Riverside Center on Grove Street in Newton.

The address for the upcoming location of Flavor Boom in Kendall Square is 201 Broadway, Cambridge, MA, 02139. The website for all locations is at https://www.flavorboom.com/

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Chef Zhang Cuisine & Bar Plans to Open in the Former Cilantro Space in Cambridge

A new Asian dining spot appears to be on its way to Cambridge, and it will be replacing a Chinese restaurant that had been around for approximately 10 years.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Chef Zhang Cuisine & Bar is planning to open on Mass. Ave between Harvard Square and Central Square, taking over the space where Cilantro had been. Very little is known about the upcoming place other than a license commission hearing page on the city's website saying that it plans to have seating for 60 and would be open for lunch and dinner daily, and that it hopes to acquire a wine, malt, and distilled spirits license. (The manager listed is Jinou Zhang.) It appears that Chef Zhang Cuisine & Bar will be a Chinese restaurant but this has yet to be confirmed.

Cilantro first opened in late 2014, moving into a space that had been home to several other businesses, including restaurants such as Zoe's and Dolphin.

The address for the upcoming Chef Zhang Cuisine & Bar is 1105B Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138.

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Henfolks Opens in Allston

The people behind a couple of Asian chicken and rice places have turned one of them into a new cocktail bar.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Henfolks is now open in Allston, moving into the Fiya Hen space on Commonwealth Avenue just east of Packards Corner (the Instagram page says that the new spot offers both cocktails and chicken). In addition to Henfolks, the team behind the place also runs a location of Hen in Somerville's Union Square. 

The address for Henfolks is 1024 Commonwealth Avenue, Allston, MA, 02215. The Instagram page for Henfolks is at https://www.instagram.com/henfolks/ while the Instagram page for Hen is at https://www.instagram.com/hen_boston/

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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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Sora Sushi & Seafood Buffet Is Opening in the Former Minado Restaurant Space in Natick

Several months ago, it was reported that a popular buffet spot west of Boston has shut down, and now we have learned that a new buffet place is moving in.

According to Kiat Cormier who posted on the ChewOnThis Facebook group page, Sora Sushi & Seafood is looking to open in Natick, taking over the former Minado Restaurant space on Route 9. A What Now Boston article mentions that the new eatery hopes to open around the end of February and in addition to sushi and seafood dishes, it will also offer such options as Chinese entrees, Korean barbecue items, and desserts.

Minado closed in September of 2024 after being in business for 21 years.

The address for Sora Sushi & Seafood is 1282 Worcester Street (Route 9), Natick, MA, 01760.

[April 21 update: According to a source (Gary Goldblatt) and an Instagram post from the place, Sora Sushi & Seafood is now open.]

[Earlier Article]
Minado Restaurant in Natick Has Closed

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

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Ena's Bar and Lounge Opens in the Former Maggy's Lounge Space in Quincy

A new dining and drinking spot has come to Quincy, and it replaces a restaurant and bar that closed at the beginning of the pandemic.

According to a source, Ena's Bar and Lounge is now open on Washington Street in Quincy Point, taking over the space where Maggy's Lounge had been. The website for the new place says that it is "a culinary gem specializing in authentic Vietnamese and global cuisine" while also mentioning that it is "a place to socialize and enjoy a variety of drinks and entertainment." The menu for Ena's includes such items as wings, oysters, egg rolls, grilled squid, shrimp papaya salad, sea conch salad, garlic fried rice and roti quail, glazed salmon, and shaking beef with vegetables.

Maggy's Lounge first opened in 2013, taking over the space where My House had once been.

The address for Ena's Bar and Lounge is 609 Washington Street, Quincy, MA, 02169. Its website can be found at https://enaslounge.com/

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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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