What A Soup in Cambridge Has Closed; EN'YA Robatayaki & Sake Bar Plans to Open in Its Space

An Asian soup spot in Cambridge has closed its doors, though another Asian restaurant appears to be coming to the space.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, What A Soup near Central Square is no longer in business, with an Instagram post from the River Street restaurant from last week saying "What A Soup will officially close on 10/10/26. That means you only have until 10/9 to come enjoy your favorite bowl with us one last time!" (The post--and the page--have since been deleted.) Another poster within the group mentions that EN'YA Robatayaki & Sake Bar is planning to open there, with the Instagram page for the place saying "something's heating up in Cambridge, MA EN'YA Robatayaki & Sake Bar Japanese Izakaya style dining, sake & good vibes. STAY TUNED!!"

What A Soup, which first opened in early 2024, was known for its Thai boat noodles; the dining spot resided in the space where Nu Dò Society had previously been, and before that, River Gods.

The address for the now-closed What A Soup was 125 River Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139.

(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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Spoodles Soup Factory in Belmont Is Closing

A dining spot in the western suburbs that features soup and more is saying farewell.

According to a source, Spoodles Soup Factory in Belmont is in the process of closing down, with a post from owner Jose Rios on the restaurant's Facebook page saying the following:

Having owned and operated various fast-casual establishments across several towns in Massachusetts for approximately 35 years, and having perfected my soup recipes over time, I have now decided to retire. I am grateful to all of our customers, many of whom I have come to know as friends, for welcoming us into your community and making us feel at home as fellow members of the community in Belmont. Retiring from service in this community is a great blessing, and I thank you all for your support and patronage. I will be cleaning the store in the following weeks. Please feel free to stop in if you are in the area.

The Trapelo Street eatery first opened in 2015, offering soups, salads, and sandwiches, along with bread bowls.

The address for Spoodles Soup Factory is 374 Trapelo Road, Belmont, MA, 02478.

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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Pho Express Is Opening in the Former Misono Grill Space at Hong Kong Supermarket/Super 88 Food Court in Allston

It looks like a new place for soup is on its way to a popular Boston food court, and it will replace a longtime eatery that closed last summer.

According to a source (Sarah Wu), Pho Express is planning to open in the old Misono Grill space at the Hong Kong Supermarket/Super 88 Food Court in Allston, with a photo sent to us showing a "coming soon" sign up for the place. A voting agenda page within the City of Boston website mentions that Shun Chen is the manager of record for the spot; it is not known if this is the same Shun Chen who is behind Shun's Kitchen in the South End--and had been behind several other restaurants as well, including Jae's Cafe, which had previously been in the Shun's Kitchen space (as soon as we find out more information, we will post an update here).

Misono Grill had been in the food court for approximately 20 years until closing either in late August or early September of 2020.

[October 20 update: According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Pho Express is now open.]

[Earlier Article]
Misono Grill, Tonkatsu King at Hong Kong Supermarket/Super 88 Food Court in Allston Have Apparently Closed

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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Drew's Stews Is Opening a Retail Store in Reading

A local business that focuses on soups is opening its very own brick-and-mortar shop.

According to a message from local hospitality writer Cheryl Fenton, Drew's Stews is planning to open a retail store in Reading, with a Facebook post from the business saying that "Drew's Stews will have their very own commercial kitchen!" We have been told by Cheryl that the shop will be located on Main Street, though we are still trying to get an exact address for the store.

Drew's Stews currently offers no-contact doorstep delivery to people in Boston and the northwest suburbs, and has been at various farmers market locally as well; some of its offerings include corn chowder, pea soup, lentil soup, tomato veggie rice, beef barley, and chicken stew.

The website for Drew's Stews can be found at https://drewsstews.com/

[July 27 update: Cheryl Fenton tells us that Drew's Stews has opened its retail shop, with its address being 489 Main Street.]

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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Soup Shack Plans to Open in Cambridge's Porter Square Area

It looks like a pair of soup places in Jamaica Plain and Brookline could be joined by a third location in a busy part of Cambridge.

An email sent by Leah Klein of City Living Boston states that Soup Shack plans to open on White Street, with the exact address seeming to indicate that it would move into a space in the Porter Square Shopping Center. Based on the offerings at its other locations, the new eatery would likely offer ramen, pho, and Thai noodle soup, while a City of Cambridge license commission page shows that the restaurant would be open for lunch and dinner daily with a seating capacity of 16.

The address for this proposed dining spot in Porter Square is: Soup Shack, 9 White Street, Cambridge, MA, 02140. The website for the other two locations can be found at https://soupshacknoodles.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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The Soup Shack Is Replacing Dorado Tacos in Brookline

A popular spot for tacos is shutting down, and a soup place will be opening a second location in its space.

The Brookline TAB/Wicked Local is reporting that Dorado Tacos in Brookline is closing, as the owner has sold the Harvard Street business to the people behind The Soup Shack in Jamaica Plain, with the deal possibly being finalized within the next week. The article says that a Select Board hearing was slated to take place today concerning the transferring of the liquor license, so if the transfer was indeed approved, Dorado could be closing very soon.

Dorado Tacos first opened in Brookline in 2009, offering tacos as well as quesadillas, cemitas (Mexican sandwiches), guacamole, bowls, and more. The Soup Shack opened approximately a year ago on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain, with that dining spot offering such items as Thai noodle soup, ramen, and pho.

The address for Dorado Tacos (and the new Soup Shack) is 401 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA, 02446.

[June 19 update: Boston Magazine states that Dorado Tacos is now closed, having shuttered last Friday.]

[October 4 update: According to a source (Geoff Wong), The Soup Shack has a sign out front that says it plans to open in the former Dorado Tacos space this fall.]

[November 11 update: Boston Magazine says that The Soup Shack is now open in the former Dorado Tacos space in Brookline.]

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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The Soup Shack Is Opening in Jamaica Plain

by Marc Hurwitz

A new place for soup is getting ready to debut in Jamaica Plain, moving into the space where a sushi spot had been.

According to an article in the Jamaica Plain News, the Soup Shack is planning to open on Monday, June 18 on Centre Street in the former Kamado Super Fusion space, with the eatery featuring Thai, Japanese, and Vietnamese soups (including Thai noodle soup, ramen, and pho). This seems to jibe with what we had mentioned in an earlier article, that a noodle shop would be opening in the space, though at the time it looked like its name might be Asian Noodle Soup.

Kamado closed in January after being in business for approximately four years.

The address for this new soup spot in Jamaica Plain is: The Soup Shack, 779 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130.

[Earlier Article]
Kamado Super Fusion in Jamaica Plain Has Closed; Asian Noodle Soup Plans to Open in Space

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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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New England Soup Factory in Brookline Village Is Closing; Building to Be Demolished

A popular location of a dining spot that is known for its soups is getting ready to close, as the building in which it resides is going to be torn down.

Eater Boston is reporting (via a Chowhound poster and a Facebook thread) that New England Soup Factory in Brookline Village is shutting down over the coming weeks, as Children's Hospital is demolishing its Brookline Place building. The Facebook post from the eatery says that "In the next few weeks we will be making arrangements to move full time into our Newton location."

[September 3 update: According to an article in the Brookline TAB, New England Soup Factory has been told that it has to leave its Brookline Village location by October 1, with owner Marjorie Druker saying that she plans to close the shop within the next two weeks.]

[September 18 update: A phone call placed to New England Soup Factory in Brookline indicates that it has officially closed for good. (And as stated before, the Newton shop will remain open.)]

New England Soup Factory first opened in Brookline approximately 20 years ago, with its second location on Needham Street in Newton opening a few years later. In addition to soups, the dining spot also offers salads and sandwiches along with sides and desserts.

The address for this soon-to-close soup place in Brookline Village is: New England Soup Factory, 2-4 Brookline Place, Brookline, MA, 02445. Its website can be found at http://newenglandsoupfactory.com/

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Soups from Restaurants in the Boston Area and Beyond]

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Souper Salad in Boston's Back Bay Has Closed

A pair of cafes in Boston featuring soups, salads, and sandwiches is now down to just one.

According to a poster on the Chowhound site. Souper Salad on Berkeley Street in the Back Bay is shuttered, with a sign out front saying "After a great run, Souper Salad Boston has closed this location." The sign indicates that its catering business remains in place, and the other location of the eatery--on Brookline Avenue in the Longwood section of the city--remains open.

Souper Salad is part of a local company called Fresh Concepts, which also runs Fresh City, a small group of dining spots located in the region. (Souper Salad is not to be confused with the Texas-based salad buffet chain of the same name.)

The address for this now-closed cafe in the Back Bay was: Souper Salad, 209 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA, 02116. Its website can be found at http://www.soupersaladboston.com/

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Sandwiches from Restaurants in the Boston Area and Elsewhere in New England]

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Zoup! Fresh Soup Company to Open in Natick

Last year, we reported that a small quick-casual restaurant chain featuring soup was closing its only Massachusetts location in downtown Boston. Now we have learned that another location of the eatery will be coming to the area.

According to a press release, Zoup! Fresh Soup Company is planning on opening at the Sherwood Plaza in Natick, with franchisees Mark and Lori Fox hoping to open the dining spot later this year. Once it opens, expect the restaurant to feature 12 rotating options of freshly-made soups that could include split pea, lobster bisque, beef barley, broccoli cheddar, and more, along with salads and sandwiches.

[January 16, 2015 update: A press release sent this week says that Zoup! Fresh Soup Company will open in Natick on January 29, with a pre-opening fundraiser also taking place on January 28 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM that will benefit the Natick Visiting Nurse Association. (Diners receive a bowl of soup, bread and a fountain drink in return for a $5.00 donation, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the organization.)]

A location of the Michigan-based Zoup! chain opened at Center Plaza in Boston's Government Center in late 2010 but it closed in the spring of 2013, citing that "the owner had health issues."

The address for this new soup spot in Natick is: Zoup! Fresh Soup Company, 1300 Worcester Street (Route 9), Natick, MA, 01760. The website for the chain can be found at: http://www.zoup.com/

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Zoup! in Boston's Government Center Has Closed

A Michigan-based group of quick-casual restaurants that feature soup has closed its sole Boston location, though it appears that the company may be looking to open another one in the area at some point.

According to a Twitter post sent yesterday, Zoup! in Government Center has shut its doors, citing the fact that "the owner had health issues." The post does mention that "[they] hope to be back to the area soon!"

In addition to soup, the Zoup! franchises also offer salads and sandwiches along with baked goods and beverages. Locations can be found in a handful of states and in Ontario, with the only remaining New England store being in Glastonbury, CT.

The address for this now-closed eatery in Government Center was: Zoup!, 3 Center Plaza, Boston, MA, 02108. The website for Zoup! can be found at http://www.zoup.com/

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Seinfeld "No Soup For You!" Food Truck Is Coming to the Boston Area, August 3, 2012

Yet another food truck is on its way to the Boston area, though this one will only be here for one day--and the name of the truck may sound very familiar to you.

The Daily Meal is reporting that the Seinfeld "No Soup For You!" Food Truck is hitting the road to visit six cities across the United States, including Boston. The truck, which gets its name from the "Soup Nazi" episode of Seinfeld (and features Soup Nazi actor Larry Thomas for at least part of the tour), will be in Beantown on Friday, August 3, with visits to Albuquerque, Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York before its arrival, and Baltimore after its departure.

The Seinfeld Food Truck will offer several items that have played a role in Seinfeld episodes, including mulligatawny soup, Junior Mints, muffin tops, black and white cookies, Twix, Snapple, and bottled water, according to The Daily Meal.

Additional details on the event (including an exact location) should be posted soon. For more information, please go to the "Soup for Boston" Facebook page below.

https://www.facebook.com/SoupForBoston

[July 30 update: According to the Soup for Boston Facebook page, the Seinfeld Food Truck will be at Winthrop Park in Cambridge's Harvard Square from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM on August 3, and Dewey Square on Boston's Rose Kennedy Greenway from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM.]


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Pizzapalooza in Newton Has Closed; New England Soup Factory to Expand into Their Space

A restaurant in Newton that featured Sicilian-style and "palooza-style" pizza has closed, and a popular soup spot is going to be expanding into the vacated space.

The Newton Patch is reporting that Pizzapalooza on Needham Street is now shuttered, and that the adjacent New England Soup Factory will be taking over the space, allowing them to enlarge their restaurant. (The article mentions that Pizzapalooza, which had shut down their Hingham location last summer, closed their remaining location in Newton last month.) The expanded space will allow the New England Soup Factory to install a rotisserie oven, so expect marinated chicken to be added to the menu once the expansion is completed, according to the Patch. It appears that other items will be added as well, including "fresh and funky" dishes along with meals that have a home-cooked feel.

[December 31 update: A note sent to us from the restaurant indicates that New England Soup Factory has opened the rotisserie in the new space in Newton, which is connected to their original space. Offerings include an all-natural apple brined chicken that comes from a family farm in Pennsylvania and is marinated for 24 hours before spitting it on the rotisserie.]

The New England Soup Factory, which has been on Needham Street for 15 years, also has a location on Brookline Place in Brookline Village.

The address of the former Pizzapalooza space that the New England Soup Factory is expanding into is 244 Needham Street, Newton, MA, 02464.

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Souper Bowl IV to Be Held at the Haley House Bakery Cafe in Roxbury on February 12, 2012

A soup-based event returns to a non-profit restaurant in the Dudley Square section of Roxbury this weekend.

According to Brown Paper Tickets and Eater Boston, Souper Bowl IV will be held this Sunday (February 12) starting at 2:00 PM at the Haley House Bakery Cafe on Dade Street. The event, which is a fundraiser for the Haley House Soup Kitchen, will feature area chefs making an array of soups using locally-sourced ingredients. Last year, some of the soups offered included garlic potato, chicken and cilantro, roasted winter squash, and clam and monkfish stew. Guests of the event will receive a handcrafted ceramic bowl made by MassArt students who are participating in the Clay for Change program (which helps raise money for those in need of food), then they will be able to go from station to station to sample the soups. Admission will occur at 15-minute intervals, with tickets costing $30 each.

The Haley House Bakery Cafe is located at the corner of Dade Street and Washington Street on the eastern edge of Dudley Square. Their website can be found at http://www.haleyhouse.org/bakery_cafe

For more information on Souper Bowl IV, please go to the Brown Paper Tickets and Eater Boston links below.

[Brown Paper Tickets]
Souper Bowl IV

[Eater Boston]
The Souper Bowl, a Lousy Year for Ice Fishing

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Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Opening in Boston's Government Center

It looks like a small quick-casual restaurant chain that features soup will soon be opening a location in downtown Boston.

According to the EveryBlock Boston site, Zoup! Fresh Soup Company has been issued a business license for a restaurant at Center Plaza in the Government Center section of the city, making this its first location in Massachusetts--and only the second in New England, with the other being in Glastonbury, CT. Michigan-based Zoup! features a number of freshly-made soups at each of their restaurants, including such options as broccoli cheddar, corn and crab chowder, Italian wedding, butternut squash, beef barley, split pea, and chicken chili. Salads and sandwiches are also offered at Zoup!

Currently, locations of Zoup! can be found in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

The address for this new soup-based dining spot in Government Center is: Zoup! Fresh Soup Company, 3 Center Plaza, Boston, MA, 02108. The website for the chain can be found at: http://www.zoup.com/

[December 15 update: The new Zoup! in Boston is now open.]

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