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.
The Empty Fridge 