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Two plump meatballs in red sauce sit on a bed of white rice, with a thin, crispy triangle of flatbread on the side. — Afghani meatballs and rice, or koufta challow, at the Helmand in Cambridge.

Where to Eat and Drink in East Cambridge

Thai street food, Uyghur hand-pulled noodles, Portuguese salt cod, and lots more

by Karen Wilber Updated Apr 27, 2023, 12:16pm EDT

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Afghani meatballs and rice, or koufta challow, at the Helmand in Cambridge.

| Karen Wilber/Eater Boston

by Karen Wilber Updated Apr 27, 2023, 12:16pm EDT

East Cambridge — sometimes referred to as Area 1 — is home to many great restaurants and cafes. From cocktails to coffee and tacos to Thai cuisine, East Cambridge has a lot to offer. (In regards to geographic boundaries, for the sake of this map, we’re highlighting restaurants in the area that are east of Inman Square and north of Kendall Square.)

Here are just some of the many great East Cambridge restaurants serving soup dumplings, Portuguese cuisine, liège-style waffles, and lots more.

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Orale Mexican Grill

Great tortas are just one of the many things Orale does well. Make sure to also try the nachos, which are perfectly layered in cheese and topped with refried beans, pico de gallo, crema, jalapenos, guacamole, and a choice of meat.

847 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

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Portugalia Restaurant

This Portuguese restaurant has been open for over 25 years in East Cambridge, and it specializes in salt cod and northern Portuguese food. Eating there feels like you’re dining in someone’s home, in the best way. Order the cod fritters, which have an incredibly unique texture; for even more salt cod, try the bacalhau a ze do pipo, which is baked with a tangy, flavorful tartar sauce and piping hot potato puree.

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723 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

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A strip of baked fish topped with a pale reddish white sauce sits atop mashed potatoes with a side of olives. — Bacalhau a ze do pipo (baked salt cod) from Portugalia Restaurant in East Cambridge.

Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine

Previously Pronto Cafe, Silk Road offers soups, kebabs, hand pulled noodles, Uyghur-style samosas, and more. Uyghur hand-pulled noodles are known to be very soft, and Silk Road’s come packed with plenty of vegetables as well. Stop by for dine-in or takeout.

645 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

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Overhead view of a bowl of long noodles of medium thickness with chopped veggies and meat. — Hand pulled noodles from Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine in East Cambridge.

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Lamplighter CX

Lamplighter’s second taproom is in a huge space that offers two floors of seating, couches, a dog-friendly outdoor area with shuffleboard, and more. They offer locally-sourced cheese and charcuterie boards, as well as the option to bring your own food.

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110 N First St, Cambridge, MA 02141

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Lone Star Taco Bar

Lone Star provides a great late-night option in East Cambridge, open until midnight each night. It also offers all-day brunch — order the tres leches French toast with the breakfast tacos. (You can also never go wrong with an order of queso.)

635 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

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Two shredded beef tacos and a wedge of lime sit on a plate — Shredded beef tacos at Lone Star Taco Bar’s Cambridge location.

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Royal Pastry Shop

Royal Pastry Shop, which opened in 1942, has long been serving Italian and American pastries and other treats in East Cambridge; there’s a Lexington location, too. There are plenty of pastries to catch your eye in the display cases, but also do yourself a favor and get a box of cannoli.

738 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Visit Website

The Lexington

The Lexington, along with two of its sibling restaurants, Cafe Beatrice and Geppetto — is located at the Cambridge Crossing development near the Lechmere MBTA stop. (Big sibling Puritan & Co. is over in Inman Square.) The upper-floor outdoor patio is a great place to watch the trains go by, grab a wonderfully balanced cocktail, and have a warm bowl of ricotta gnocchi with braised short rib and melted leeks.

100 N First St Fl 2, Cambridge, MA 02141

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9Zaab Thai Street Food

9Zaab offers many different Thai dishes, including a number of great soups. In the mood for rice? Try the khao tom Thai rice soup. For an egg noodle soup, order ba mee moo dang, and for rice noodles, try the boat noodle soup.

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569 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

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A pile of seasoned ground beef studded with sliced red peppers and toasted rice sits on a restaurant table with a colorful photo of Thailand in the background. — Beef laab at 9Zaab.

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Elmendorf Baking Supplies & Cafe

Elmendorf sells all kinds of baking supplies, from flour to whisks to cookbooks, and it has a great cafe as well. Stop by for an indulgent breakfast egg sandwich and a latte, which you can enjoy in the colorful outdoor seating setup.

594 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Visit Website

Dumpling Xuan

While Dumpling Xuan is fairly new to the East Cambridge food scene, it has a lot to offer, with dumplings being just one of many things the restaurant does well. The menu has well over 100 items from which to choose, including mapo tofu as well as dry pot, which shares similar flavors to traditional hot pot but is prepared stir-fried instead.

465 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Visit Website

Overhead view of two round and three rectangular black plastic takeout containers of Chinese food, including two kinds of dumplings, ma po tofu, oval rice cakes with greens and slivers of pork, and more. — Dumplings, ma po tofu, rice cakes, and more from Dumpling Xuan in East Cambridge.

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Curio Coffee

The coffee is excellent, but the liège waffle will make your day — it’s the only food item on the daytime menu, and it comes hot to order. For those willing to trek away from East Cambridge, keep an eye out on their social media for their forthcoming restaurant in Andover, Garlic Breath Pizza.

441 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

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Overhead view of a liege-style waffle on a white paper bag and a white mug of hot chocolate, both on a wooden table — Curio Coffee hot chocolate and waffle.

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Kantipur Cafe

This no frills Nepalese and Indian restaurant serves up some outstanding momos. For bread lovers, there are multiple options for naan, roti, paratha, and chapati. Order a mango lassi for a sweet accompaniment.

119 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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Also featured in:

2nd Street Cafe

This quaint neighborhood cafe serves up huge sandwiches, with some fun specials like Wednesday meatball subs. Keep in mind the hours are limited to weekdays (6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.), but breakfast options like breakfast burritos and sandwiches are served until the cafe closes.

89 Second St #1, Cambridge, MA 02141

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Vincent's

Vincent’s — sibling to Mamaleh’s and State Park nearby — is a neighborhood standby with a unique menu that changes regularly, and plenty of incredible wine and cocktails to choose from. The focus on making food from scratch and sourcing ingredients from small and local producers shows up in each dish, whether it’s a casual breakfast taco or kolache at brunch or a hearty pork loin and sausage entree at dinner.

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233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave, Cambridge, MA 02141

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A puffy baked pastry with cream cheese and berries in the center, set on a floral white small plate. — A kolache from Vincent’s.

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The Helmand

This traditional Afghani restaurant has been a local go-to for nearly 30 years. The menu is great for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike: try the koufta, otherwise known as Afghani meatballs, or the vegetarian kaddo, baked baby pumpkin with a yogurt garlic sauce.

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143 First St, Cambridge, MA 02142

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Orale Mexican Grill

847 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Great tortas are just one of the many things Orale does well. Make sure to also try the nachos, which are perfectly layered in cheese and topped with refried beans, pico de gallo, crema, jalapenos, guacamole, and a choice of meat.

847 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Visit Website

Portugalia Restaurant

723 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

This Portuguese restaurant has been open for over 25 years in East Cambridge, and it specializes in salt cod and northern Portuguese food. Eating there feels like you’re dining in someone’s home, in the best way. Order the cod fritters, which have an incredibly unique texture; for even more salt cod, try the bacalhau a ze do pipo, which is baked with a tangy, flavorful tartar sauce and piping hot potato puree.

Open in Google Maps

723 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Visit Website

A strip of baked fish topped with a pale reddish white sauce sits atop mashed potatoes with a side of olives. — Bacalhau a ze do pipo (baked salt cod) from Portugalia Restaurant in East Cambridge.

Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine

645 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Previously Pronto Cafe, Silk Road offers soups, kebabs, hand pulled noodles, Uyghur-style samosas, and more. Uyghur hand-pulled noodles are known to be very soft, and Silk Road’s come packed with plenty of vegetables as well. Stop by for dine-in or takeout.

645 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Visit Website

Overhead view of a bowl of long noodles of medium thickness with chopped veggies and meat. — Hand pulled noodles from Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine in East Cambridge.

Lamplighter CX

110 N First St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Lamplighter’s second taproom is in a huge space that offers two floors of seating, couches, a dog-friendly outdoor area with shuffleboard, and more. They offer locally-sourced cheese and charcuterie boards, as well as the option to bring your own food.

Open in Google Maps

110 N First St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Visit Website

Lone Star Taco Bar

635 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Lone Star provides a great late-night option in East Cambridge, open until midnight each night. It also offers all-day brunch — order the tres leches French toast with the breakfast tacos. (You can also never go wrong with an order of queso.)

635 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Visit Website

Two shredded beef tacos and a wedge of lime sit on a plate — Shredded beef tacos at Lone Star Taco Bar’s Cambridge location.

Royal Pastry Shop

738 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Royal Pastry Shop, which opened in 1942, has long been serving Italian and American pastries and other treats in East Cambridge; there’s a Lexington location, too. There are plenty of pastries to catch your eye in the display cases, but also do yourself a favor and get a box of cannoli.

738 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Visit Website

The Lexington

100 N First St Fl 2, Cambridge, MA 02141

The Lexington, along with two of its sibling restaurants, Cafe Beatrice and Geppetto — is located at the Cambridge Crossing development near the Lechmere MBTA stop. (Big sibling Puritan & Co. is over in Inman Square.) The upper-floor outdoor patio is a great place to watch the trains go by, grab a wonderfully balanced cocktail, and have a warm bowl of ricotta gnocchi with braised short rib and melted leeks.

100 N First St Fl 2, Cambridge, MA 02141

Visit Website

9Zaab Thai Street Food

569 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

9Zaab offers many different Thai dishes, including a number of great soups. In the mood for rice? Try the khao tom Thai rice soup. For an egg noodle soup, order ba mee moo dang, and for rice noodles, try the boat noodle soup.

Open in Google Maps

569 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Visit Website

A pile of seasoned ground beef studded with sliced red peppers and toasted rice sits on a restaurant table with a colorful photo of Thailand in the background. — Beef laab at 9Zaab.

Elmendorf Baking Supplies & Cafe

594 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Elmendorf sells all kinds of baking supplies, from flour to whisks to cookbooks, and it has a great cafe as well. Stop by for an indulgent breakfast egg sandwich and a latte, which you can enjoy in the colorful outdoor seating setup.

594 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Visit Website

Dumpling Xuan

465 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

While Dumpling Xuan is fairly new to the East Cambridge food scene, it has a lot to offer, with dumplings being just one of many things the restaurant does well. The menu has well over 100 items from which to choose, including mapo tofu as well as dry pot, which shares similar flavors to traditional hot pot but is prepared stir-fried instead.

465 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Visit Website

Overhead view of two round and three rectangular black plastic takeout containers of Chinese food, including two kinds of dumplings, ma po tofu, oval rice cakes with greens and slivers of pork, and more. — Dumplings, ma po tofu, rice cakes, and more from Dumpling Xuan in East Cambridge.

Curio Coffee

441 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

The coffee is excellent, but the liège waffle will make your day — it’s the only food item on the daytime menu, and it comes hot to order. For those willing to trek away from East Cambridge, keep an eye out on their social media for their forthcoming restaurant in Andover, Garlic Breath Pizza.

441 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Visit Website

Overhead view of a liege-style waffle on a white paper bag and a white mug of hot chocolate, both on a wooden table — Curio Coffee hot chocolate and waffle.

Kantipur Cafe

119 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

This no frills Nepalese and Indian restaurant serves up some outstanding momos. For bread lovers, there are multiple options for naan, roti, paratha, and chapati. Order a mango lassi for a sweet accompaniment.

119 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Visit Website

2nd Street Cafe

89 Second St #1, Cambridge, MA 02141

This quaint neighborhood cafe serves up huge sandwiches, with some fun specials like Wednesday meatball subs. Keep in mind the hours are limited to weekdays (6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.), but breakfast options like breakfast burritos and sandwiches are served until the cafe closes.

89 Second St #1, Cambridge, MA 02141

Visit Website

Vincent's

233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave, Cambridge, MA 02141

Vincent’s — sibling to Mamaleh’s and State Park nearby — is a neighborhood standby with a unique menu that changes regularly, and plenty of incredible wine and cocktails to choose from. The focus on making food from scratch and sourcing ingredients from small and local producers shows up in each dish, whether it’s a casual breakfast taco or kolache at brunch or a hearty pork loin and sausage entree at dinner.

Open in Google Maps

233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave, Cambridge, MA 02141

Visit Website

A puffy baked pastry with cream cheese and berries in the center, set on a floral white small plate. — A kolache from Vincent’s.

The Helmand

143 First St, Cambridge, MA 02142

This traditional Afghani restaurant has been a local go-to for nearly 30 years. The menu is great for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike: try the koufta, otherwise known as Afghani meatballs, or the vegetarian kaddo, baked baby pumpkin with a yogurt garlic sauce.

Open in Google Maps

143 First St, Cambridge, MA 02142

Visit Website

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