As a born and raised Bostonian and a lover of food, I feel called to create a full day of my favorite Boston eats. My perfect day of food starts off close to my house, meanders around the whole city, and ends up back in my neighborhood. We often think about going out in Wellesley or eating at chain restaurants but there are plenty of unique places in Boston where you can try something new and go a little outside of your comfort zone!
Breakfast: City Feed and Supply 672 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
For breakfast, I like to start slow, staying in my neighborhood, Jamaica Plain. My favorite breakfast that is perfect for an on-the-go meal. I recommend the B2 from City Feed and Supply (Center Street Location) for $8.99. This is a fried egg, cheddar cheese, a vegetarian sausage, on a toasted Iggy’s English muffin. This is my favorite breakfast for many reasons, it’s undeniable deliciousness, but also the emotional connection I have to it. City Feed and Supply is run by my family friends and downstairs neighbors Dave and Kristine. For all my life they have been my second home base, and by extension, City Feed has been too. The bustling atmosphere in the mornings and the smell of coffee brewing bring me an immediate sense of calm. The Number 3, is a delicious start to the day because it fills you up and warms your heart.
Lunch: Phở 2000 198 Adams St, Dorchester
I would recommend a late lunch after the filling breakfast at City Feed and Supply especially because the food at Phở 2000 is a deliciously hearty meal. At Phở 2000, you MUST get the Phở gà. Phở gà, a Vietnamese chicken noodle soup (my favorite dish here, and possibly of all time), is a comforting, nostalgia-filled, brothy soup for only $8.50. The soup’s base is a fragrant broth with many spices, such as star anise, ginger, and even cinnamon. This unique blend creates a perfect harmony of savory and almost sweet flavors. However, the broth is not the only delectable part of this meal. Pho 2000 complements the broth with perfectly cooked tender chicken and silky rice noodles, creating a comforting texture. To lighten this already almost perfect soup, fresh cilantro, green onions, and basil add a pop of color and add some bite. I would recommend adding a squeeze of lime and a bit of chili sauce (if you like to add some heat) to elevate this perfect soup. Although Phở gà is a standard dish in Vietnamese restaurants across Boston and the world, this restaurant is special to me. This is the restaurant that I would go to with my family and my best friend’s family whenever we had a swim meet. For some reason, the faint smell of chlorine combined with a brothy soup makes me feel right at home. To experience this wonderful restaurant, you do not need to smell like a swimming pool, and can just be craving a flavorful, satisfying experience that feels like a warm hug in every bite.
Snack: Saus Boston 33 Union St, Government Center
For a snack after a yummy lunch of Vietnamese food, take the train to the government center and stop by Saus Boston. For $10 you can buy a bag of fries and a sample of every one of their sauces. These fries are gluten-free, making it an accessible place for all who crave fries that are crispy on the outside and piping hot on the inside. Of the sauces, my favorites were honey mustard or garlic aioli. But to be honest, these sauces are not labeled, so it can be a fun game to try and guess which one is which. I’ve gone to Saus a few times, and each time I feel like I went on a crispy, fried, adventure!
Dinner: Taiwan Cafe 34 Oxford St, Chinatown
The fries from Saus may tide you over for a while, but just writing about the soup dumplings at Taiwan Cafe makes me hungry. Immediately as you walk into the Taiwan Cafe, you seem to be transported into a fantastical world of food. Throughout the restaurant, families and friends are engaged in lively conversation and the turning features on each table, to help share food, seem to never stop moving. I have been coming to Taiwan Cafe for quite some time, it is the favorite restaurant of my childhood (and current) best friend Maya. Multiple times a year I get a text that just says “Taiwan cafe?” and a proposed time, and my response is always “YESSS”. The agreed-upon favorite dish by everyone who I’ve been to Taiwan Cafe with has been the soup dumplings. These perfectly sized bites of deliciousness arrive in a bamboo steamer and there are six in each of the three compartments for only $12.39. I would advise you to keep your eyes on the steamer because as soon as your eyes glance elsewhere those yummy dumplings are gone. With pork, chives, and broth, these dumplings bring comfort and a sense of community, making them the perfect sharing dish between old friends or one to share and make new memories!
Dessert: JP Licks 659 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
Although it may seem cliche to choose JP Licks at my favorite dessert restaurant in Boston, I assure you that there are more than the obvious ice cream choices. Every time I go (which is quite often), I get the same thing: a small Yogurt X, tart frozen Greek yogurt, with gummy bears in a cup which is $7.49. It is a perfect combo of tart frozen yogurt and sugary-sweet gummy bears that is genuinely the best dessert you could have! I have converted a couple of my friends to the loving Yogurt X. When asked about my regular order of Yogurt X with gummy bears, Mila Pantelides Sola ‘27 says “Oh, I think 10 out of 10. Totally. Solid order” and after reminiscing about her own ice cream, she added “I was really jealous of your Yogurt X!” If you think it sounds weird I urge you to try it, it may not be your thing, but you’ll never know until you try.
I cannot control what you choose to eat, but I strongly believe that trying out new restaurants and dishes helps us grow our minds and our palettes. Even if the Phở gà or the Yogurt X with gummy bears aren’t your thing, maybe as you peruse the menu you find a new favorite dish, which then you will share with your friends and family!
Indresh Chandel