Golden Temple in Brookline Has Closed

 A Brookline institution has shut its doors after being in operation for a very long time.

According to its social media, Golden Temple is no longer in business, with a Facebook post from the Beacon Street restaurant saying the following:

After 66 incredible years, Golden Temple has officially closed its doors. Since our very first day, your loyalty, warmth, and shared memories have been the true heart of this establishment. It has been our greatest honor and privilege to host your family dinners, milestone celebrations, and everyday moments across generations. While this chapter is coming to a close, the profound gratitude we hold for your decades of unwavering support will remain with us always. Thank you for making us a part of your lives.

Golden Temple was known in part for its Chinese-American fare along with its unique atmosphere which included an high arched ceiling, booths for diners, and a bar scene complete with live DJs and dancing.

 The address for the now-closed Golden Temple was 1651 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA, 02445.

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Chaba Cafe Is Opening in the Former So Kitchen Space in Brookline

A brand new Thai restaurant is getting ready to open in Brookline, and it is replacing another Thai spot that recently closed.

According to an Instagram post from the business, Chaba Cafe is planning to have a grand opening on Cypress Street on June 13, taking over the space where So Kitchen had previously been. The website for the restaurant mentions that it will offer freshly made Thai crepes, desserts, and drinks while its menus also shows such items as curry puffs, wings, potato balls, fried bananas, and Thai donuts.

The address for Chaba Cafe is 224 Cypress Street, Brookline, MA 02445. Its website can be found at https://chabacafe.com/

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Baby Cafe Kitchen in Allston Has Closed

The sole Boston-area location of a California-based group of Hong Kong-style restaurants has shut down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Baby Cafe Kitchen in Allston is no longer in operation, with a check on the website for the business seeming to confirm this, as the Brighton Avenue outlet has been removed from the locations section. The eatery offered such options as Hainan chicken rice, beef stew, wings, salt and pepper squid, pork and egg stone porridge, and seafood udon.

Baby Cafe, which also had a location in Brookline that closed last year and which started out in Oakland, now appears to have only one location left (in Union City, CA).

The address for the now-closed Baby Cafe in Allston was 128 Brighton Avenue, Allston, MA, 02134. The website for the business is at https://www.babycaferestaurants.com/

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Kao Jiu in Brookline Is Closing

An upscale Chinese restaurant in Brookline is going to be closing.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Kao Jiu on Harvard Street is shutting down, with a post within its Instagram page saying the following:

After many wonderful years, Kao Jiu will be closing this summer as our owners have decided to move back to China. We are incredibly grateful for all the love and support from our amazing community. Every visit, every meal, and every memory shared here has meant so much to us. Before we say goodbye, we hope to welcome you a few more times to enjoy your favorite dishes and celebrate the moments we've created together. Thank you for being part of the Kao Jiu family.

Kao Jiu first opened in 2022, taking over the space that had previously been home to Cafe Eilat.

The address for Kao Jiu is 406 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA, 02446. Its website can be found at https://www.kaojiurestaurant.com/

[July 13 update: A Facebook post within the Brookline Townwide Discussion Facebook page indicates that Kao Jiu is now closed.]

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Arwa Yemeni Coffee to Open in Brookline

A small group of Yemeni coffee shops will be opening its first Greater Boston location--and its first in Massachusetts.

According to a press release, Arwa Yemeni Coffee has reached a lease agreement with real estate firm The Hamilton Company to open on Beacon Street in Brookline, with the address indicating that it will move into a space in Coolidge Corner. An earlier Brookline News article mentions that the upcoming coffee shop will offer pastries and other bakery items in addition to coffee, and it plans to be open late on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. No opening date has been given as of yet, so keep checking back for updates.

Arwa Yemeni Coffee, which was founded in 2022, currently has ten locations in Connecticut, Illinois, Texas, and California.

The address for the upcoming Arwa Yemeni Coffee is 1333 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA, 02446. The website for all locations is at https://www.arwacoffee.com/

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Norinori Test Kitchen Opens in Brookline

Approximately a year ago, it was reported that the people behind a sushi spot and a French-Japanese fusion restaurant were planning to open a third eatery, and now we have learned that it is up and running.

According to an article from MassLive, Norinori Test Kitchen is now open in Brookline, moving into a space on Chestnut Hill Avenue in the Cleveland Circle area by the Brighton line. As mentioned in an earlier article here, the new restaurant offers handrolls and bento boxes, and NoToro Hospitality Group (Matsunori Handroll Bar, Mai) is behind the spot.

The address for Norinori Test Kitchen is 399 Chestnut Hill Avenue, Brookline, MA, 02445. Its website can be found at https://norinori.kitchen/

[Earlier Article]
Norinori Test Kitchen Plans to Open in the Cleveland Circle Area in Brookline

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Orinoco in Brookline Village Is Closing

What was once a trio of Venezuelan restaurants is on the verge of going away completely, as its sole remaining location is closing its doors.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Orinoco in Brookline Village is shutting down, with a Brookline News article mentioning that the people behind the Harvard Street spot (which is currently on its annual winter break) will not be renewing the restaurant's food license, while it also appears that the owner of the building is looking at options for the site that includes the possibility of new housing, though no specific decisions have been made as of yet. Two other locations of Orinoco had also been in Boston's South End and Cambridge's Harvard Square, but they shuttered in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

The address for Orinoco in Brookline Village is 22 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA, 02445.

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TBaar in Brookline Has Closed

A New York-based group of shops featuring bubble tea, smoothies, and juices has closed another one of its Boston-area locations.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, TBaar in Brookline is no longer in operation, with a Facebook post from the Beacon Street business saying the following

After almost 10 years, we're sadly saying goodbye to this space. Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years and to everyone who has visited us. We're truly grateful for this community. Our Quincy location will remain open, so be sure to visit us there for your favorite drinks and snacks.

Another location of TBaar had been in Boston's Chinatown neighborhood, but that one is also closed as well.

The address for the now-closed TBaar in Brookline was 1038 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA, 02446. The website for all locations can be found at https://www.tbaar.com/

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Barcelona Wine Bar Plans to Expand into the Former Ivory Pearl Space in Brookline's Washington Square

A location of a group of tapas restaurants may soon be getting larger.

According to a source along with an article from the Brookline News, Barcelona Wine Bar in the Washington Square section of Brookline is planning to expand into the former Ivory Pearl space next door, with the article saying that the expansion would add 2,700 square feet of space including a new service kitchen and another dining room and bar. The Brookline location of Barcelona was the region's first (opening in 2013), with outlets subsequently opening in Boston's South End and in Cambridge.

Ivory Pearl was a seafood restaurant and cocktail bar that shut down in the spring of 2024 after being in business for four years, with mixologist and restaurateur Ran Duan being behind it.

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FuGaKyu in Brookline Is Closing

A well-known Japanese restaurant in Brookline that has been around for more than 25 years is shutting down.

According to a source, FuGaKyu in Coolidge Corner is closing its doors, with a Facebook post from the Beacon Street dining spot saying the following:

We regret to announce that our owner decided to cease operations due to his personal reasons -- effective November 5, 2025. With deepest gratitude, we thank every patron who has graced our tables and shared countless memories with us over the years. This chapter may close, but it marks the dawn of exciting new journeys ahead for our team and family.

FuGaKyu, which is known in part for its sushi, first debuted in Brookline back in 1998, with other locations opening in Sudbury and MarketStreet Lynnfield (both of which have since closed). 

The address for FuGaKyu in Coolidge Corner is 1280 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA, 02446. Its website can be found at https://fugakyuatbrookline.com/

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Meltwich to Expand to the Local Area, Opening a Location on the Brookline/Boston Line

A Canadian chain that features a variety of cheese-based dishes is expanding to the Boston area, with one in the works for a space right on the Boston/Brookline border.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Meltwich is planning to open on Commonwealth Avenue, with the address indicating that it will move into a space by Packards Corner on the Boston/Brookline line. Based on the menu shown on the website for the business, expect to see poutine, grilled cheese sandwiches, melts, burgers, and more.

Meltwich was first established in 2015 with a location in Toronto, and it currently has a number of locations across Canada and a handful in the United States, but none in New England as of yet.

The address for the upcoming location of Meltwich on the Boston/Brookline border is 1102 Commonwealth Avenue, Brookline, MA, 02446. The website for the chain can be found at https://meltwich.com/us/

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Jumbo Seafood Is Opening in Brookline

It looks like a Chinese restaurant in downtown Boston will be expanding to another space.

According to a poster (Geoff Wong) within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Jumbo Seafood is planning to open in Brookline, with an earlier Select Board page mentioning that the manager listed is Catherence Chan while the address indicates it will be moving into the former Xiang's Hunan restaurant space on Commonwealth Avenue by Boston University and the Boston line. Once it opens, the new location of Jumbo Seafood will join another on Hudson Street in Chinatown; another location of Jumbo had been in Newton Centre but it closed in 2022 around the time that Jumbo returned to its Chinatown space, taking over New Jumbo Seafood.

The address for the new location of Jumbo Seafood in Brookline is 1032 Commonwealth Avenue, Brookline, MA, 02446.

[January 21, 2026 update: According to a source, Jumbo Seafood is now open in Brookline.]

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Arwa Yemeni Coffee to Open in Brookline's Coolidge Corner

A small group of Middle Eastern coffee shops will be expanding locally, with a new Boston-area location on the way.

According to a Brookline News article, Arwa Yemeni Coffee is planning to open in the Coolidge Corner area of Brookline, moving into a space on Beacon Street. The article mentions that the 36-seat spot will offer pastries, baked goods, coffee, and tea, and it will join several locations in Texas and Illinois (the business started out in 2022 in Richardson, TX).

The address for the upcoming Arwa Yemeni Coffee is 1333 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA, 02446. The website for the business is at https://www.arwacoffee.com/

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

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Capricho Colombian Steakhouse Is Opening in the Former La Voile Space in Brookline's Washington Square

A South American restaurant is on its way to Brookline, taking over the space where a location of a pair of French restaurants had been until closing several months ago. 

According to an article from boston.com, Capricho Colombian Steakhouse is getting ready to open in Washington Square, moving into the former La Voile space on Beacon Street. The article mentions that the upcoming dining spot will be a high-end restaurant that features wood-grilled prime cuts of steak and that it plans to have live music as well, and it also looks to open once a liquor license is received.

The Brookline outlet of La Voile, which first opened in 2015, shut down in April, while the location on Newbury Street in Boston's Back Bay remains in operation.

The address for Capricho Colombian Steakhouse is 1627 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA, 02445. Its website is at https://caprichocolombiansteakhouse.com/

[October 14 update: An Instagram post mentions that Capricho Colombian Steakhouse is now open in Brookline.]

[Earlier Article]
La Voile in Brookline's Washington Square Has Closed

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Locations of Dumpling Daughter in Brookline and South Boston Are Closed; Exact Status Unknown

What was once a small group of Chinese restaurants known for their dumplings now appears to be down to just one, as two of their locations are shuttered with no information on whether they might return or not.

According to a source, Dumpling Daughter in Brookline is closed, while a Caught in Southie article also mentions that the South Boston location is no longer in business either. While Caught in Southie says that the South Boston location is officially closed, both outlets are labeled "temporarily closed" in Google searches while the phone number for the Brookline location doesn't seem to be working. The original location in Weston does remain open, and their products continue to be found in markets and food shops both locally and nationally. (Another location of the restaurant had once been in Cambridge's Kendall Square, but that one is no longer in operation.)

The website for Dumpling Daughter can be found at https://www.dumplingdaughter.com/

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Popeyes to Open in Brookline

A chain of chicken spots is going to be opening a location that should be popular with college students.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page (via a Brookline News article), Popeyes is planning to open in Brookline, moving into a space on Commonwealth Avenue by Boston University on the Boston line that had been home to a location of Mission cannabis dispensary. Once it opens, the new outlet will join a number of others in the Greater Boston area, including by Northeastern University in Boston, Roslindale, Roxbury, West Roxbury, Newton, Brockton, Chelmsford, Everett, Lawrence, Lynn, Randolph, Quincy, and Woburn.

The address for the upcoming location of Popeyes in Brookline is 1024B Commonwealth Avenue, Brookline, MA, 02446. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.popeyes.com/

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Big Fun Clay Pot Is Opening in the Former Baby Cafe Space in Brookline

It looks like a new Chinese restaurant featuring food items found in Southern China and Hong Kong will be coming to Brookline, taking over the space where a location of another dining spot featuring Southern Chinese and Hong Kong food had been.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Big Fun Clay Pot is looking to open on Beacon Street, moving into the former Baby Cafe space just west of the Boston line. A Brookline News article mentions that the proposed eatery will be under the same ownership as Big Fun Cafe in the Wollaston section of Quincy and it will feature claypot rice options.

Another location of Baby Cafe remains open in Allston.

The address for the new location of Big Fun Clay Pot is 1006 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA, 02446.

[September 12 update: A poster within the Facebook group page mentions that Big Fun Clay Pot is now open in Brookline]

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Update: Brookline Lunch Team to Reopen the Busy Bee in Brookline

[Ed note: This article was updated on July 11 to reflect the fact that the new owners are planning to keep the Busy Bee name.]

A Cambridge diner is expanding to Brookline, taking over the space that had been home to another diner for a very long time.

According to Patrick Maguire, who posted within the the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Brookline Lunch is planning to take over the Busy Bee space on Beacon Street in the former Busy Bee Restaurant & Diner space, with a note out front saying the following:

Known for its cozy atmosphere and delicious, freshly prepared dishes, Brookline Lunch is bringing its unique charm and classic favorites to a new location. Whether you're craving hearty breakfast fare, satisfying lunch plates, or just a great cup of coffee, we can't wait to welcome you in and share our signature favorites with the community.

A new post from Patrick Maguire indicates that the new owners now plan to bring back the Busy Bee name, with a note out front saying that "After thoughtful conservations with our neighbors and listening to the voices of the Brookline community, we've decided to change our original plan to name the restaurant Brookline Lunch. Thanks to the wonderful Christakis family, we're excited to announce that we'll be opening under the original name: The Busy Bee."]

Brookline Lunch, which can be found on Brookline Street in Cambridge's Central Square, dates back to 1937, while the Busy Bee had been in operation from 1967 until last September when it shuttered.

The address for the the Busy Bee is 1046 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA, 02446.

[Earlier Article]
Busy Bee Restaurant & Diner in Brookline Has Closed

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Bar Lunette Opens in Brookline's Coolidge Corner

A new cocktail bar has come to Brookline, and it has a connection to an adjacent bistro known for its crepes.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Bar Lunette is now open in Coolidge Corner, moving into the former Coolidge Corner Opticians space on Harvard Street, and it is next door to the Paris Creperie whose team is behind the new spot. Eater mentions that Bar Lunette focuses on drinks made with French spirits while also bringing drink options over from the shuttered Seaport District location of the Paris Creperie, which featured cordial-based cocktails.

In addition to drinks, Bar Lunette also has wine and beer along with such food options as French onion soup, deviled eggs, tater tots with melted cheese, omelets, and sandwiches.

The address for Bar Lunette is 278A Harvard Street, Brookline, MA, 02446. Its website can be found at https://www.barlunette.com/

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La Voile in Brookline's Washington Square Has Closed

A local pair of French restaurants is back down to just one.

A message sent by Leah Klein of City Living Boston mentions that La Voile in the Washington Square section of Brookline is no longer in business, with a Facebook post from the business indicating that it shuttered over the weekend. (The note does say that the location on Newbury Street in Boston's Back Bay remains in operation.) The Brookline outlet of La Voile first opened in 2015, offering such items as foie gras, French onion soup, escargots, seared Dover sole, lamb shank, bourguignon, and creme brulee.

The address for the now-closed La Voile in Brookline was 1627 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA, 02445. The website for the business is at https://www.lavoilerestaurants.com/

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