Great Thai at 9 Tastes

If you’ve never had Thai food, you don’t know what you are missing. Thai cuisine is known for its perfect balance of 5 flavors; spicy, sour, sweet, salty and bitter. Some of the best Thai I have had is at a place called “9 Tastes” in Harvard Square, Cambridge. They won best neighborhood takeout in Boston Magazine’s 2007 Best of Boston Awards. It is easy to see why.

“9 Tastes” has a lot of great deals during lunch and dinner. It’s a family owned business and the staff was all especially nice during my visit with my friend.

The best section of the menu is the box specials. You can choose a combination of two entrees or stick with just one. Even better, the portion is generous and they’re only $9.95.

I got a combo box with red curry and pad thai. Both were equally enjoyable and some of the best I have ever had. The curry was a perfect blend of sweetness from the coconut milk and spicy curry. Every entree is served with jasmine rice, salad, soup, and your choice of appetizer. I got the shumai, which are little steamed shrimp dumplings.

We also tried the golden bags as an appetizer which were wonton skins stuffed with chicken, shrimp, and corn.

If you’re in the mood for something different, head over to “9 Tastes Fine Thai Cuisine” in Harvard Square. You won’t be disappointed.

Visit their website for their full menu, prices, and hours.

A Harvard Square Landmark for Burgers?

Today, I went to Mr. Barley’s Burger Cottage for the first time in Harvard Square. The place has been there since 1960 and it is still going strong. We got there around 2 o’clock in the afternoon, planning that it wouldn’t be crowded at such an awkward time, but the place was packed. We had to wait outside in the fairly long line that formed. We got menus outside and ordered before we even got into the door.

Once inside, the place was packed with people, with barely any room to move. We had to share a small table with another party and there wasn’t any extra room to speak of. It was a little too crowded and people were a little too close for comfort for me.

The place is fun and quirky inside, sporting many of the same decorations that it had when it opened, including the original menu. All of the burgers are named after famous people. They are reasonable in price from about $8.50 to $13.00. I got the Barack Obama. It was a juicy burger topped with feta cheese, tomato, red onion, and lettuce. Although the burger was good, I was expecting something better considering all the hype surrounding this restaurant. I was a little bit disappointed, but the prices were pretty cheap and the food was good so there wasn’t too much to complain about. I also tried the “world famous” sweet potato fries, which I didn’t think quite live up to their name. Two of my friends who also got burgers were not very impressed either.
But, on the positive side, a friend of mine got the macaroni and cheese which was very creamy and tasty. They also have frappes with all sorts of mix-ins and flavors which were extremely good.
So, although the place is called a burger cottage and is supposed to be a jewel in the burger business, I found that Mr. Bartley does his best work in a plate of mac and cheese and milkshakes.

Check out their website for their menu and directions! > http://www.mrbartley.com/

Taste of Japan in Cambridge

In an unsuspecting building on Mass Ave in Cambridge, you will find a delicious and one-of-a-kind food court, unlike anything you have seen in any shopping mall. Located very close to the Porter Square T-stop on the Red Line, on Lesley College’s campus, you can get some of the best, cheapest, and most authentic Asian cuisine that the city has to offer. The Porter Exchange is like a tiny Tokyo, where you can buy unique Japanese gifts at the Tokai Gift Shop, do your weekly grocery shopping at the Kotibukiya Market, or buy some sweet buns to take home from the Japonaise Bakery.

But, most people come for the food.

There about a half a dozen hole-in-the-wall spots in this small food court. Each one is just as good as the next. Plan ahead, because the place gets very crowded during lunch hours and dinner, but its definitely worth the wait. The food is mostly Japanese and Korean, but there is something for everyone with so many places and items to choose from.

One of my favorite places to visit is located at the end of the hall, has only 6 tables, but has some of the best food I have ever had. It is called Ittyo and they specialize in rice bowls called “donburi” which just means rice topped with all different kinds of things including meats and tofu. Its impossible to make a wrong choice.

This time, I got the Mackerel Rice Bowl. It came with a large portion of fish on top of a bowl of perfectly cooked steaming white rice. There were a variety of pickled vegetables on top, that you may not exactly know what they are, but you will grow to love. One of my favorites is the yellow picked daikon, which is basically a Japanese radish. There is also some seaweed, greens and lettuce. Not only do you get all your food groups in one meal, but at a price of $6 during lunch time with a soup and salad, it can’t be beat. Ittyo also has many other items including big bowls of noodle soup, teriyaki chicken bowls, and Japanese curry. Every dish is cheap, fresh, and filling. I have never been disappointed.