Matcha Loves Boba Soft-Opens in the Former Fish Taco Space in Boston's North End

A new matcha spot is in the process of opening in the North End of Boston, replacing a seafood place that closed earlier this year after less than a year in business.

According to a couple of sources, Matcha Loves Boba has soft-opened on Hanover Street, taking over the former Fish Taco space while being a venture from the Love Art team which was also involved with Fish Taco (they also are involved with such places as Love Art Sushi and Poke by Love Art). The website for Matcha Loves Boba mentions that its grand opening is slated for August 16.

The address for Matcha Loves Boba is 227 Hanover Street, Boston, MA, 02113. Its website can be found at https://www.matchalovesboba.com/

(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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Currentea Opens at Hub Hall in Boston's North Station Area

A new spot that offers cheese-filled corn dogs, bubble tea, and more has come to a Boston food hall.

According to a press release, Currentea is now open at Hub Hall on Causeway Street by North Station and TD Garden, with its website showing a variety of tea and snack options including boba, mozzarella cheese dogs, jumbo fried squid, beef, pork, and lamb skewers, sausage wraps, fried egg rolls, deep-fried cheese wontons, soft serve, and more.

The website for Currentea can be found at https://www.currentea.com/ while its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/currentea.us/

(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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Uptown Gelato & Boba to Open in Winchester

It looks like a gelato and bubble tea spot north of Boston will be expanding to a second space north of the city, though this one will be much closer to Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Uptown Gelato & Boba is planning to open in Winchester, moving into the space on Main Street in the center of town that had previously been home to Cup 89, and before that, Scoopalooza Creamery. Once it opens, the new shop will join another on Main Street in Andover, which had also replaced a location of Cup 89.

The address for the upcoming Uptown Gelato & Boba in Winchester is 527 Main Street, Winchester, MA, 01890. The web page for the business is at https://order.online/store/uptown-gelato-&-boba-andover-28987754/

(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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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Chicha San Chen Opens at Lyrik Back Bay in Boston

Last summer it was reported that a Taiwanese boba chain would be opening a location within a new mixed-use project in Boston, and now we have learned that it is up and running.

According to a source, Chicha San Chen is now open at Lyrik Back Bay (which is located by Newbury Street and Massachusetts Avenue), with a note from the business within Google saying the following:

Step into our cozy tea house and enjoy our award-winning teas, brewed with precision for the perfect balance of flavor. Led by our skilled Tea Masters, we offer everything from relaxed tastings to curated tea experiences. With a focus on quality and tradition, CHICHA San Chen brings an authentic taste of Taiwanese tea culture to Boston.

The address for the new location of Chicha San Chen in the Back Bay is 400 Newbury Street (Suite 300), Boston, MA, 02115. The Instagram page for the Boston location is at https://www.instagram.com/chichasanchen.ma/

[Earlier Article]
Chicha San Chen to Open in Boston's Back Bay

(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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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Sweet Boba in Boston's North End Has Closed

A bubble tea spot in the North End of Boston has shut down.

According to a source, Sweet Boba on Hanover Street is no longer in business, with the place apparently closing sometime over the past week. The boba shop first opened in the summer of 2023, taking over the space that had been home to China House for more than 20 years; other locations appear to remain open in the local area, including stores in East Boston and Salem.

The address for the now-closed location of Sweet Boba in the North End was 331 Hanover Street, Boston, MA, 02113.

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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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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

 

Chicha San Chen to Open in Boston's Back Bay

It looks like a Taiwanese boba chain is expanding to Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Chicha San Chen is planning to open in the city's Back Bay neighborhood, apparently moving into a space on Newbury Street just west of the Massachusetts Avenue intersection. Based on an Instagram page for the upcoming shop, it could be opening sometime this fall and it will be Boston's "flagship" location.

Chicha San Chen was first established in Taiwan in 1998.

The address for the upcoming location of Chicha San Chen in the Back Bay is 400 Newbury Street (Suite 300), Boston, MA, 02115. The website for the chain is at https://www.chichasanchen.com/

(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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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Machi Machi Is Opening in Allston

A Taiwan-based group of boba shops with two locations in the United States is expanding to Boston.

According to a source, a "coming soon" sign for Machi Machi can be seen at 176 Harvard Avenue in Allston, with the logo shown out front indicating that it is part of the Machi Machi chain which has a number of locations around the world, including a couple of outlets in New York City. Based on its other locations, the upcoming outlet in Allston will likely offer such options as milk tea, fruit tea, cheese foam tea, and more.

The main website for Machi Machi, which first started out in 2018, can be found at https://www.machitea.com/ while its U.S. website is at https://machimachi.us/

[October 31 update: According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Machi Machi had its grand opening in Allston on Friday, October 27.]

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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