Jerry Tsai's Boston Recommmendations: Restaurants

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Boston Recommendations:
Restaurants

I do not rate these restaurants; I consider them all to be very good.

Instead, I simply list the name of, the relative expense of (where each $ equals about $7.50 per person), the nearest subway stop to, and a comment about each restaurant.

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Asian

Vietnamese: Pho Pasteur $$ Chinatown (Orange Line)
Boylston (Green Line)
Downtown Crossing (Red Line) A visible success, with many other locations in Boston, Pho Pasteur is a popular favorite.

Hu Tieu Nam Vang $ Chinatown (Orange Line)
Boylston (Green Line)
Downtown Crossing (Red Line) While its service and cleanliness could be improved, this restaurant just around the corner from Pho Pasteur has comparable food and usually no line in which to wait.
Thai: Rod Dee 2 $ Fenway (Green D-Line) One of a chain, this Fenway location is better than the other two, Rod Dee near Coolidge Corner and Rod Thai in Chinatown.

Brown Sugar Café $$ Fenway (Green D-Line) A sterling example of the high quality of Thai food in Boston; its second location on Commonwealth Avenue is almost just as good.
Malaysian: Penang $$ Chinatown (Orange Line)
Boylston (Green Line)
Downtown Crossing (Red Line) A successful national chain, the location in Chinatown is far better than the one in Harvard Square.
Japanese: Minado $$$ Natick, MA (no subway stop nearby) A Japanese seafood buffet restaurant--pricey, but worth it.; Fugakyu $$$ Coolidge Corner (Green C-Line) Easily the best Japanese restaurant in Boston in ambience and authenticity
Indian: Rangoli $$ Harvard St. (Allston) (Green B-Line) For well-prepared Indian food, leave Central Square and the Back Bay and go to Allston to Rangoli, which serves both Northern and Southern Indian cuisine.

Diva Indian Bistro $ Porter Square (Red Line) Distinguishes itself by having the best Indian lunch buffet.
Chinese: Grand Chau Chow $$ Chinatown (Orange Line)
Boylston (Green Line)
Downtown Crossing (Red Line) The Chinese restaurants in Chinatown are almost interchangeable when compared on presentation and service; this one is the best of a surprisingly mediocre lot.

Chung Shin Yuan $$ Newton (no subway stop) This restaurant’s weekend brunch is a local, Asian insider secret that I may regret revealing.

Chinatown Seafood $$ Coolidge Corner (Green C-Line) Possibly the best Cantonese-style Chinese restaurant in Boston

China Pearl $$ Chinatown (Orange Line)
Boylston (Green Line)
Downtown Crossing (Red Line) This well-known 'all dim sum all the time' factory is especially crowded on weekends.
Cambodian/French: Elephant Walk $$$ St. Mary's St. (Green C-Line)
Fenway (Green D-Line) A well-reviewed fusion restaurant

Non-Asian

Roman

Campo de Fiori

Harvard Square (Red Line)

Where to go when you don't want just everyday pizza

Mexican

El Pelón

Fenway (Green D-Line)

The only Mexican place worth going to in Boston-- ignore the Americanized restaurants of The Border Cafe and The Cactus Club, the terrible ingredients of Burrito Max, and the schlock of Anna's.

Greek

Mezé

$$$

Community College (Orange Line)

Mezé, according to the restaurant, for Greeks is the equivalent of tapas for Spaniards. While somewhat pricey, the restaurant will not break your wallet and serves very tasty food.

Chilean

Chacarero

Downtown Crossing (Red & Orange Lines)
Park Street (Green Line)

Only serves one particular sandwich, but one that you may never find anywhere else

American

Hi-Rise Bread Company

Harvard Square (Red Line)

Huge sandwiches on freshly-baked bread

Pho Pasteur	$$	Chinatown (Orange Line) Boylston (Green Line) Downtown Crossing (Red Line)	A visible success, with many other locations in Boston, Pho Pasteur is a popular favorite.
Hu Tieu Nam Vang	$	Chinatown (Orange Line) Boylston (Green Line) Downtown Crossing (Red Line)	While its service and cleanliness could be improved, this restaurant just around the corner from Pho Pasteur has comparable food and usually no line in which to wait.

Rod Dee 2	$	Fenway (Green D-Line)	One of a chain, this Fenway location is better than the other two, Rod Dee near Coolidge Corner and Rod Thai in Chinatown.
Brown Sugar Café	$$	Fenway (Green D-Line)	A sterling example of the high quality of Thai food in Boston; its second location on Commonwealth Avenue is almost just as good.

Rangoli	$$	Harvard St. (Allston) (Green B-Line)	For well-prepared Indian food, leave Central Square and the Back Bay and go to Allston to Rangoli, which serves both Northern and Southern Indian cuisine.
Diva Indian Bistro	$	Porter Square (Red Line)	Distinguishes itself by having the best Indian lunch buffet.

Grand Chau Chow	$$	Chinatown (Orange Line) Boylston (Green Line) Downtown Crossing (Red Line)	The Chinese restaurants in Chinatown are almost interchangeable when compared on presentation and service; this one is the best of a surprisingly mediocre lot.
Chung Shin Yuan	$$	Newton (no subway stop)	This restaurant’s weekend brunch is a local, Asian insider secret that I may regret revealing.
Chinatown Seafood	$$	Coolidge Corner (Green C-Line)	Possibly the best Cantonese-style Chinese restaurant in Boston
China Pearl	$$	Chinatown (Orange Line) Boylston (Green Line) Downtown Crossing (Red Line)	This well-known 'all dim sum all the time' factory is especially crowded on weekends.