Klarity

Whenever I’m asked about my favorite pastime, my answer is always the same: exploring new restaurants. And yes, I absolutely consider this a hobby, just as much as gardening, photography, or anything of that sort. There’s nothing I enjoy more than discovering a new spot and immediately sitting down to write a review. I am a big fan of the app, Beli. You can rank places you eat at against each other on it, helping create a master list of everywhere you have been. I just started using it recently, and I love it. It has completely changed the way I track my food adventures. Through doing this, I have found a multitude of restaurants in the Boston area that I adore, and even more that I cannot wait to try. Here is what I have to say about my top five.

5. MIDA, East Boston

Starting with number five, I have MIDA at a 9.7 on Beli. My boyfriend and I went here for our anniversary and it was absolutely perfect. I don’t typically say that when speaking on Italian food because I have found it to be pretty similar across the board, but MIDA was far from average.

We started our meal with the freshly baked focaccia, which was light and airy while still delivering a salty and herb flavor. Following that deliciousness was the arancini and meatballs. These were both bathed in the homemade marinara sauce, which exploded with flavor in your mouth. The arancini, with its crispy outer layer and warm, molten cheesy center, was delectable and by far my favorite appetizer. Then came the entrées. I ordered the gnocchi cacio e pepe, and wow, it was phenomenal. Pillowy in texture and layered with a perfect balace of sharp, peppery bite and creamy richness, it exceeded expectations.

To top off this spread, we got the vanilla gelato for dessert. It was the perfect way to end the meal. The vanilla flavor was absolutely amazing and left me feeling refreshed even after having eaten so much. Truly the ideal way to end the meal.

4. Lolita Back Bay

Moving onto number four, I put Lolita Back Bay at a 9.8. I celebrated my nineteenth birthday here with my family, and I must say, it was the perfect choice. The ambiance was stood out from anywhere else I have been. The dim lighting, dark leather furniture, and skulls created a bold, unforgettable vibe.

To start, we ordered the street corn (shaved off of the cob) as well as the cornbread. The corn was cheesy and sweet, while the cornbread, topped with a creamy white sauce, struck a perfect balance of savory and sweet. The standout appetizer, though, was the pork nachitos, which were crispy, flavorful, and easily the best of the three. For our main courses, we got the steak tacos and steak quesadilla. These were both equally as delicious, and I really enjoyed how the quesadillas came with the birria soup to dip in.

To end the night, our waitress surprised me with a churro and a small candle, which was such a sweet gesture, and the churro itself was delicious. At the very end, they brought a large cotton candy to the table for everyone to share and it was the perfect way to end the meal.

3. Dolphin Bay, Allston

Next is Dolphin Bay in Allston, which I have at a 9.9 on Beli. I will say, this was easily the spiciest meal I’ve ever had. The woman working there was incredibly kind, continuously refilling my water, offering us free milk tea, and just made the experience feel so welcoming. The service here was great and the food came out extremely fast. On top of that, the food was absolutely delectable.

The first thing we ordered was the beef stuffed pancake, which was pretty good. I’m not the biggest fan of hoisin sauce (I know, its crazy), which there was a lot of in this. Other than that, I really enjoyed the texture of the beef itself and the flavor of the scallion pancakes. Next came the popcorn chicken, perfectly fried, loaded with heat, and addictive despite the spice level. Finally, we got an order of the spicy wonton noodles. The wontons were plump, tender, and bursting with flavor. I could have easily eaten three plates of them on my own. As we left, the woman who was very kind to me and brought me water thanked us for coming and asked that we come back soon. I really loved it here and cannot wait to go back.

2. Thonglor, Brighton

Almost tied for number one, Thonglor. For a while, this was actually my top ranked restaurant in the Boston area. To start, we got an order of the massaman curry. I really enjoyed the rich, mildly sweet flavor, though the portion size was definitely a lot smaller than I would have liked. Next came the pad see ew. It comforting and delicious, consistent with the ones I’ve had elsewhere. Then, by far the best part of the mean, the crispy duck curry. This was my first time having this dish anywhere, so I wasn’t completely sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was absolutely lovely. The duck was perfectly cooked, and the crispy texture combined with the rich, bold flavor of the curry made for the perfect dish. I could happily sit for hours and eat a bottomless bowl of this. If you go to Thonglor, this is the dish to order, it’s a must-try! To finish, we shared the mango sticky rice. It was a warm, sweet, and fruity finale that balanced the meal perfectly. It may have been my second favorite part of the night, though I’ll admit I’m biased, because I absolutely love mango sticky rice.

1. Mahaniyom, Brookline

Saving the best for last, my highest ranked on Beli at a 10.0, is Mahaniyom. To start, just take a moment to appreciate the plating of these dishes. They are so aesthetically pleasing to look at, just adding to the masterpieces that they are.

Again, we started with the massaman curry. Now, while the portion size was equal to that of Thonglor, there was no competition between the two. Mahaniyom’s was exceptional. The deeply nutty and savory flavor paired beautifully with the warm, flakey roti. The bowl was basically wiped clean by the time the meal was finished. Next came the bbq & crispy pork over rice. I am not usually drawn pork belly, but the contrast between the crackly exterior and tender center was definitely not something to discount. Then came the pad thai, which honestly surprised me. It’s not typically my go-to dish, but one bite changed that, the flavor just exploded across my tongue. It was exactly what you would want pad thai to taste like. The peanut flavor was just divine, lingering deliciously, and I had no issue eating this entire plate.

Just when I thought the food couldn’t get any better, the beef panang arrived. It was exquisite, maybe one of the best bites of food I have ever had. The beef was incredibly tender soaking up the rich, nutty curry with its subtle spicy kick. I only wish that this dish was bigger because I could have ordered it again and again. Each entrée was just heavenly and I am just counting down the days until I go back.

For those of you familiar with the area, I know some might disagree with how highly I’ve ranked certain spots, but keep in mind that I’m still at the beginning of my Boston food journey. These are simply the best I have discovered so far. I am sure as I continue to move through my list, my current standing with switch around quite a bit. I am excited for what my future expeditions will bring me, and I would love suggestions from those who have any!

For everyone else, I hope this list inspires you to check out some of these incredible restaurants. Each of them have brought me so much joy while exploring Boston’s food scene, and I hope they do the same for you!