Boston Restaurant Talk: street food

Showing posts with label street food. Show all posts

Thursday, April 11, 2024

Bartaco Opens in Boston's Fenway

A new location of a small chain of street food spots has opened in Boston after being in the works for a year.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, bartaco is now open in the Fenway section of the city, moving into a space on Van Ness Street. The new location joins others locally in Fort Point and Brookline, with another one on the way to Hingham as well, and like the other outlets, the new one offers food items with influences ranging from California to Mexico to South America.

The address for the new location of bartaco in the Fenway is 100 Van Ness Street (Suite 106), Boston, MA, 02215. The website for the chain is at https://bartaco.com/

[Earlier Article]
Bartaco Plans to Open in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

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

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.)

Monday, March 25, 2024

All Locations of Grainmaker Have Apparently Closed

A trio of dining spots featuring Southeast Asian street food appear to have shut down permanently.

According to a source, locations of Grainmaker in Boston's Downtown Crossing, Somerville's Davis Square, and Woburn Village are no longer in business, with a check on their website and social media pages indicating that they have all been taken down. The three restaurants were known in part for their focus on gluten-free and dairy-free items, offering such options as poke bowls, dumplings, grain bowls, street tacos, smoothies, and more.

The first location of Grainmaker debuted in Downtown Crossing in 2017, with the Somerville outlet opening in 2019 and the Woburn location opening in 2022.

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

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.)

Thursday, February 01, 2024

bartaco to Open at the Derby Street Shops in Hingham

A growing chain of street food spots with influences ranging from the cuisines of California to Mexico to South America is further expanding into the Greater Boston area, and this one will be its first on the South Shore.

According to a press release, bartaco is planning to open in Hingham, moving into a space at the Derby Street Shops later this year, and a source within the restaurant industry tells us that it will be taking over the former Nomai space. Currently, there are two locations of the chain in the region, with one being in Boston's Fort Point neighborhood and a second being in Brookline's Washington Square; another is also in the works for the Fenway section of Boston, and we have been told that it plans to open soon.

bartaco opened its first location in Port Chester, NY, in 2011 and now has nearly 30 outlets across the country. Its website can be found at https://bartaco.com/

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

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.)

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Bartaco Plans to Open in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

A small chain of street food spots with influences ranging from California to Mexico to South America is planning to open a second location in Boston.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the city's website, bartaco is looking to open in the Fenway, moving into a space on Van Ness Street. The hearing notice indicates that the new location would have a dining area with a bar as well as a patio for the warmer months, and it hopes to acquire a full liquor license. If approved, the new outlet of bartaco would join another in Fort Point along with approximately 20 others that are mostly on the East Coast. (The first bartaco opened in Port Chester, NY, in 2011.)

The address for the proposed new location of bartaco in the Fenway is 100 Van Ness Street (Suite 106), Boston, MA, 02215. The website for the chain can be found at https://bartaco.com/

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

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.)

Friday, October 07, 2022

Prik Nam Pla Is Replacing Kor Tor Mor in Somerville's Davis Square

A Somerville restaurant known for its Thai street food is being replaced by another Thai eatery.

According to a poster within the Davis Square Facebook group page (via information from a licensing commission meeting page), Prik Nam Pla is planning to open in the Kor Tor Mor space in Davis Square, with the notice within the page stating that there would be a change of manager from Jakkrit Daranuwat to Rachanee Daranuwat. A source tells us that Kor Tor Mor has been listed as temporarily closed on Google and the website for the College Avenue spot has been down for at least a month.'

Kor Tor Mor first opened in the latter part of 2017.

The address for Prik Nam Pla (and Kor Tor Mor) is 24 College Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02144. A website for Prik Nam Pla is now up, and it can be found at https://priknampla.net/

[November 11 update: According to a Facebook post from Rachel Blumenthal of Boston Magazine, Prik Nam Pla is now open.]

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

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

NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is currently dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate if you can at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

Thursday, June 09, 2022

P&D Indian Street Food Opens in Quincy's Wollaston Neighborhood

A brand new Indian dining spot has opened in Quincy, and it appears to have taken over part of the space that an adjacent Chinese restaurant once had.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, P&D Indian Street Food is now open in the city's Wollaston neighborhood, with the poster saying that "Great Chow reduced its footprint and it appears this took up the space they gave up." The Instagram page for the eatery shows such Indian fast food/street food items as samosa pav, panipuri, bhelpuri, vada pav, and dabeli.

The address for P&D Indian Street Food in the Wollaston section of Quincy is 17 Beale Street, Quincy, MA, 02170. Its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/pndquincy/

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

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

Friday, February 18, 2022

Grainmaker Opens at Woburn Village

A pair of restaurants that feature Southeast Asian street food have been joined by a third location.

According to a press release, Grainmaker is now open at Woburn Village, an open-air mixed-use development located just off Route 128 at the site of the old Woburn Mall. The new dining spot, which is completely gluten-free and dairy-free and focuses on reusable packaging in order to avoid packaging waste, offers such options as poke bowls, grain bowls, street tacos, smoothies, and more.

Other locations of Grainmaker can be found in Boston's Downtown Crossing and Somerville's Davis Square.

The address for the new outlet of Grainmaker at Woburn Village is 300 Mishawum Avenue Suite 510, Woburn, MA, 01801. The website for all locations can be found at https://www.eatgrainmaker.com/

[Earlier Article]
Tavern in the Square, Grainmaker, Crumbl Cookies Coming to Woburn Village

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

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

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.)

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Miznon Is Opening in Boston's Seaport District

A small group of restaurants that feature Israeli street food will be expanding to the Boston waterfront.

According to a press release, Miznon is planning to open in the city's Seaport District, with the upcoming dining spot offering such items as whole roasted baby cauliflower, lamb kebabs, a dish called "rotisserie broken chicken," a slow-cooked beef and roots stew, rib eye minute steak, and a "run over potato" (a flattened baked potato), while beer and wine will be available shortly after the opening of the place. If all goes as planned, the new location of Miznon will debut on the waterfront later this year.

Miznon got its start in 2011 when Israeli chef Eyal Shani opened its first location in Tel Aviv; currently, outlets can be found in New York City, Melbourne, Paris, Singapore, and Vienna.

The address for the new location of Miznon in the Seaport District is 107 Seaport Boulevard, Boston, MA, 02210. The website for all locations can be found at https://www.miznonnyc.com/

[April 6, 2022 update: According to a press release, Miznon opens today in the Seaport District.]

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

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

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.)

Friday, September 11, 2020

Esquite Restaurant Is Opening in Revere

A brand new Mexican restaurant is on its way to Revere, and the people behind it also happen to run a nearby food truck business.

According to a source, Esquite Restaurant is opening on Shirley Avenue, with the website for the dining spot saying that a grand opening is planned for September 16. The new restaurant will be featuring street corn along with some other street food items commonly found in Mexico, though we are still waiting to see a detailed menu from the place. The owners of Esquite also run the Eloti food truck on Broadway in Revere, with the truck being known for its street corn options.

The address for Esquite Restaurant is 194 Shirley Avenue, Revere MA, 02151. Its website can be found at https://www.esquiterestaurant.com/

[September 17 update: Esquite Restaurant is now open, and its menu includes such items as street corn, enchiladas, tortas, quesadillas, tostadas, burritos, and more.]

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

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

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.)

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Hen to Open in Former Red House Space in Somerville's Union Square

A new dining spot that will feature a Thai version of chicken and rice is on its way to Somerville, taking over the space where a Chinese restaurant had been.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Hen is planning to open in Union Square in the former Red House space, with a photograph indicating that the eatery will feature khao man gai, which is a style of Hainanese chicken rice typically found as a street-food dish in Thailand. It is not yet known when Hen might open--nor is it known what else might be on its menu--so stay tuned for updates.

Red House, which closed down in June, was known mainly for its Chinese-American fare.

The address for the upcoming Hen is 24 Union Square, Somerville, MA, 02143. Its Instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/hen_boston/

[March 10, 2020 update: Eater Boston states that Hen plans to open in April.]

[Earlier Article]
Red House in Somerville's Union Square Has Closed

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

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

Friday, June 14, 2019

Grainmaker Opens in Somerville's Davis Square

A restaurant in downtown Boston that features Southeast Asian street food has opened a brand new location in Somerville, moving into the space where another dining spot had been until closing a few months ago.

As reported here earlier, Grainmaker is now open in Davis Square, taking over the former Amsterdam Falafelshop space on Elm Street. Its opening has been confirmed in a post within the Davis Square Facebook group, and based on that post (which comes from Ron Newman), it appears that the restaurant may have debuted yesterday.

The original location of Grainmaker opened on Summer Street in Downtown Crossing in the fall of 2017, offering such items as salads, street tacos, banh mi, rice bowls, and smoothies.

The address for Grainmaker is 248 Elm Street, Somerville, MA, 02144. The website for the original location in Boston is at https://www.eatgrainmaker.com/

[Earlier Article]
Grainmaker in Boston Plans to Expand to Amsterdam Falafelshop Space in Somerville's Davis Square

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

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

Friday, April 19, 2019

Night Market in Cambridge's Harvard Square Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

A basement-level Harvard Square restaurant known for its Asian street food has closed for good.

According to an article in Boston Magazine, Night Market on Winthrop Street is no longer in operation, having shuttered at the end of business hours last night. An Instagram post from the place says that "We're saddened to be closing our doors....We are so incredibly grateful to everyone who has been a part of our story - our restaurant staff, our occasional visitors, and all of our wonderful regulars over the years. THANK YOU ALL" No specific reason seems to be given for the closure of Night Market, nor is it known what might go into the space, so keep checking back for updates.

Night Market first opened in late 2014 in the former Tamarind Bay space, offering a variety of Asian dishes along with such drink options as sake cocktails and sake slushies.

The address for the now-closed Night Market was 75 Winthrop Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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

Friday, March 29, 2019

Grainmaker in Boston Plans to Expand to Amsterdam Falafelshop Space in Somerville's Davis Square

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a Southeast Asian street food spot in the heart of downtown Boston may be expanding to Somerville, taking over the space where another dining spot will be until this weekend when it shuts its doors.

According to a post from Ron Newman on the Davis Square Facebook group page, Grainmaker is looking to open in the Amsterdam Falafelshop space in Davis Square, with a notice in the window of the Elm Street storefront indicating that it is seeking a license to operate there. Based on the menu at its original location on Summer Street in Downtown Crossing (which opened in the fall of 2017), the new eatery could be offering such items as salads, rice bowls, street tacos, banh mi, and smoothies, depending on the season.

Amsterdam Falafelshop, which closes down tomorrow, first opened its doors in 2012.

The address for the proposed Grainmaker (and Amsterdam Falafelshop) is 248 Elm Street, Somerville, MA, 02144. The website for the original Grainmaker in Boston can be found at https://www.eatgrainmaker.com/

[April 2 update: Eater Boston states that Grainmaker could be opening in the former Amsterdam Falafelshop space as early as June.]

[June 12 update: Boston Magazine states that the new Grainmaker in Somerville plans to open on Friday, June 14.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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

Wednesday, February 07, 2018

Dakzen Is Opening in Somerville's Davis Square

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like another Asian street food spot is on its way to Somerville's Davis Square.

Eater Boston is reporting that Dakzen is planning to open somewhere in the neighborhood this summer, moving into the space where another restaurant currently resides (an exact location has not been given as of yet). The article says that the proposed eatery will focus on Thai noodle soups and noodles dishes, including "boat noodles," which includes pork blood mixed into the broth, tom yum noodles, and a curry noodle plate called khao soi.

A couple of months ago, another Thai street food spot called Kor Tor Mor opened on College Avenue where Golden Light had once been.

The Instagram page for Dakzen can be found at https://www.instagram.com/dakzens/

[February 9 update: The Tables section of The Boston Globe states that Dakzen will be a self-serve eatery offering noodle soups as well as stir-fried noodles with a variety of broths, sauces, and toppings. The post indicates that the restaurant is expected to open sometime this summer and that an exact address will be given soon.]

[June 15 update: Eater Boston states that Dakzen is now open.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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

Friday, December 22, 2017

Saus Is Opening a Vegetarian Outlet at Bow Market in Somerville

by Marc Hurwitz

A quirky eatery in downtown Boston that is known in part for its Belgian-style street food is expanding to a new development in Somerville, and this location will focus on non-meat options.

According to an article from Boston Magazine, Saus on Union Street near Faneuil Hall is planning to open within Bow Market in Union Square, with the new outlet taking a corner space and an adjacent bay, making it one of the largest retail spaces in the building. The post says that owners Renee Eliah and Chin Kuo are making this a vegetarian version of the original, in part because of the lack of prep area but also because, as Eliah says, "As plant-based eating has gained more prominence in our general dining culture… it felt like the right time to experiment with a meat-free version of Saus."

The new location of Saus will join a number of other businesses at Bow Market, including Jaju Pierogi, Maca Macaronerie, Hooked Fish Shop, The Comedy Studio (which is moving from Cambridge's Harvard Square), and Remnant Brewing. Bow Market--which is located between Bow Street and Somerville Avenue--is expected to be completed by the spring of 2018. [Ed note--now open.]

[December 4, 2018 update: Eater Boston states that Saus will have its grand opening at Bow Market on Saturday, December 8, though it is currently going through what appears to be a soft opening with limited hours and a limited menu.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Kor Tor Mor Is Opening in Somerville's Davis Square

It looks like an Asian street food spot is getting ready to open in one of the busiest sections of Somerville.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Kor Tor Mor is opening "any day now" in Davis Square, taking over the space on College Avenus where Golden Light used to be. The post indicates that the new eatery will offer Bangkok street food, with its signature item being a chicken, gravy, and rice dish called khao na kai. EB also says that the person behind Kor Tor Mor--Jakkarin Daranuwat--apparently runs Pandan Leaf in East Cambridge and Tom Yum Koong in Medford as well.

The address for this new Thai restaurant in Davis Square is: Kor Tor Mor, 24 College Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02144.

[December 18 update: Eater Boston states that Kor Tor Mor debuts tomorrow (Tuesday, December 18) and that it will be open for lunch and dinner.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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

Friday, August 04, 2017

Grainmaker Is Opening in Downtown Boston; More Locations Could Be on the Way

A new dining spot that focuses on Southeast Asian street food is coming to the heart of downtown Boston--and this could be the first of a number of locations in the area.

Eater Boston is reporting that Grainmaker is planning to open on Summer Street in the city's Financial District, with the place offering such items as salads, customizable warm rice bowls, banh mi, and smoothies, and that all food items will be dairy-free while most will also be gluten-free. The article says that the person behind the upcoming eatery--Chris Freeman--hopes to open 10 locations in the Greater Boston area over the next three or four years, and that the first location could debut in downtown Boston by the end of September or early October if all goes as planned.

The address for this upcoming restaurant in the Financial District is: Grainmaker, 91 Summer Street, Boston, MA, 02110. The website can be found at https://www.eatgrainmaker.com/

[September 29 update: A new post from Eater Boston says that Grainmaker opens in Boston on Monday, October 2.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Roadworthy Opens in Dedham

A new restaurant has come to a suburb of Boston, and it looks to be a brick-and-mortar spot that offers the types of street-food dishes you might find at food trucks.

According to a source, Roadworthy is now open in Dedham, with an earlier Facebook post from the place saying that it features "Flaky, funky, and far out foods....Inspired by wacky food truck operators." A Patch article mentions that the 18-seat eatery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM and that the menu on the restaurant's website includes such items as biscuits, fried dough, Sicilian-style breakfast pizza, macaroni with beef, Italian beef sandwiches, porchetta sandwiches, schnitzel, corn puppies, fried ravioli, and more.

The address for this new restaurant in Dedham is: Roadworthy, 125 Washington Street, Dedham, MA, 02026. Its website can be found at https://www.roadworthyfoods.com/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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

Monday, June 12, 2017

Seven Star Street Bistro in Roslindale Is Closing Indefinitely

An Asian street food spot that has been a favorite among locals and restaurant industry folks alike is shutting down.

According to a Facebook post from the place, Seven Star Street Bistro in Roslindale is closing "indefinitely," with the note saying that "We are hoping to have a couple weekends of service for Seven Star and Rozzie Ramen [two popups within the restaurant]. So we can wish our faithfuls a personal goodbye, and get them a last fix of Seven Star....I can walk away knowing I left it all on the cutting board. Excited for our next adventure, continuing my personal adventure, and continuing to make great food! Thank you from the bottom of my heart because you all granted this once in a lifetime opportunity!" It is not yet known what chef/owner Christopher Lin has planned next, nor is it known what might happen to the Seven Star space, so stay tuned.

Seven Star Street Bistro first opened in 2011, offering inventive takes on Chinese food and other Asian fare in a casual atmosphere. The eatery--combined with the Seven Star and Rozzie Ramen popups--has received much praise over the years, including boston.com listing it among the "best of the new" in 2011. The place is also known as the first restaurant in Boston to get a BYOB license, according to Universal Hub.

The address for Seven Star Street Bistro is 153 Belgrade Avenue, Roslindale, MA, 02131.

[June 28 update: A message sent from Christopher Lin indicates that Seven Star Street Bistro has officially closed, though the place is planning on being open for two or three weekends later this summer in order to say a final farewell to its customers.]

Thanks to a poster on the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page for initially bringing this to our attention.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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

Friday, September 09, 2016

Owners of Bambolina in Salem to Open Kokeshi (Asian-Influenced Street Food Spot)

The people behind a North Shore restaurant that features wood-fired pizza, Italian dishes, and shareable plates will be opening a new dining spot nearby, and this one will have a very different concept.

According to an article in OctoCog, Tim Haigh and Larry Leibowitz of Bambolina in Salem are looking to open Kokeshi within walking distance of Bambolina, with the new restaurant on Lafayette Street being an "Asian-inspired street food" place that has communal seating and offers a variety of noodle dishes (including ramen) as well as local beers, cocktails, and sake. If all goes as planned, Kokeshi plans to open sometime this winter.

Haigh and Leibowitz opened Bambolina on Derby Street in June of 2015, taking over the former gift shop space at the Salem Wax Museum and Haunted Neighborhood.

The address for this new Asian eatery in Salem is: Kokeshi, 41 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA, 01970.

Thanks to a couple of sources for bringing this to our attention.

[March 15, 2017 update: Eater Boston states that Kokeshi is now open, and that it features such items as Osaka street corn, Colonel Sanders' Ramen, and octopus hot dogs.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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