Open since early 2019 (but with an older sibling in Waltham), Cuban restaurant Gustazo quickly made a splash in the neighborhood thanks to its bustling ambiance, flavorful small plates, and a cocktail list splashed with rum-based hits.

Shine Square Pub functions as sports bar and neighborhood hang, with a pretty eclectic menu to boot. The bar has rotating specials for food and drinks, with regular selections of craft beer, cocktails, and spirits.

Sugar & Spice has long been a neighborhood standby for good Thai food (not to mention a colorful seasonal patio). Its menu dives deep into several specific regional cuisines of Thailand, including a few versions of khao soi from the north, some Isan-style dishes from the northeast, and more. Don’t miss the guay jub, a rolled-noodle five-spice soup packed with crispy pork belly, and the vegan khao yum, a multicolored rice salad with fried tofu and herbs.

Decades-old Indian mainstay Passage to India moved out of the neighborhood in April 2022, but the family behind the business didn’t keep this spot vacant for long, revamping and relocating their other restaurant, Brookline’s Curry House, to Porter Square as Jo’s Indian Kitchen. At the newly minted Jo’s, you’ll find a mix of snacky staples like pakoras and samosas alongside hearty vegetarian and meat dishes, including six different types of biryani.

A transplant from Allston, where it had quite a following, Ittoku expanded its izakaya menu upon moving to Cambridge, offering skewers, sushi, and much more alongside sake and shochu. The restaurant occupies the largest space inside the Porter Exchange food hall. If you want to make an impromptu food crawl out of the day, head over to Japanese comfort-food favorite Cafe Mami and ramen spot Sapporo Ramen around the corner, in the same food hall.

Chalawan Asian Eatery, which was a finalist for Eater Boston’s 2019 awards, tackles a broad range of Southeast Asian dishes, with numerous standouts. Try the seared scallops and the steamed snapper dumplings, or any number of the flavor-packed entrees. There’s also a full vegetarian menu.

One of Boston’s hottest restaurant openings of 2022, Dear Annie has been making appearances on all kinds of national best-of restaurant lists. It’s for good reason: From the jalapeno-strewn bluefin tuna crudo to the grilled cheese with pickled poblano peppers, the small-yet-mighty menu at this laid-back wine bar isn’t messing around. The crispy, Sicilian-style pizza on Monday nights is worth a special trip.

Baraka — which relocated from a somewhat-hidden location outside of Central Square to Porter Square in 2016 after almost 20 years — serves lovely North African dishes, including Tunisian and Moroccan fare, plus beer, wine, and aperitifs. Try the cherbet, a non-alcoholic rose lemonade, with your meal.

Follow your nose from Forge to Yafa, a Mediterranean-focused bakery that recently opened a few doors down on the same street. Load up on Turkish pistachio-crusted cookies and soft, finger-length palmas rolled in white chocolate and almonds, and just say yes to any samples you’ll likely be offered while you deliberate in front of the pastry case.

Somerville Vietnamese and Thai restaurant Pho ’n Rice has some great soup on the menu. Try the Vietnamese sweet-and-sour soup canh chua: You can dine in at the cozy space, or take your food to go, with the broth packaged separately to avoid sogginess. Delivery’s available, too.

Founder Renee McLeod recently retired, but Petsi Pies is still going strong with classic fruit pies and seasonal offerings of treats like butternut squash and gorgonzola; apple, pear, and cranberry; and chocolate bourbon pecan. Stop by for a slice of savory pie for a nice mid-day lunch, or grab a whole pie to take home and share (or not).

One of the best Chinese restaurants in the area, Zoe’s is a great spot to visit if you’re craving dumplings: Get the spicy Sichuan dumplings with peanuts or try the steamed juicy pork buns. Zoe’s also delves into both Sichuan and Hunan cuisines, with dishes like a dry-fried whole fish in a spicy brown sauce from the former tradition and steamed frog with chile pepper from the latter.

R. F. O’Sullivan & Son is the area’s resident Irish pub. Known for its tall, juicy burgers, it also serves classic bar fare like grilled sandwiches, steak tips, fried fish, and chili nachos. There’s a location in Lynn, too.

Sure, Italian restaurant Giulia has long been one of the most-sought-after tables in town, but the team’s follow-up effort, Moëca, one block over, is becoming a hotspot in its own right. Grab a seat at the upscale seafood restaurant and dive into dishes like oysters, currently topped with a tomato granita, and a green-crab custard served with corn and shiitake mushrooms.