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 by the acclaimed Sam Treadway of Backbar in Somerville. Gustazo was a finalist for Eater Boston’s 2019 awards.

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

A classic sports bar open for over half a century, Newtowne Grille is known for its New York-style pizza and beer pitchers — and very cheap combo deals for the two. While the Porter restaurant is a reliably good takeout option (go in the door on the far right), it’s fun to dine in as well. There’s also a second location in Billerica.

Be prepared to wait in line for this hot ramen spot. Also be prepared to stand up and state your dreams for the crowd if you finish your full bowl — Yume Wo Katare founder Tsuyoshi Nishioka wants to make everyone’s dreams come true. The simple menu features “Jiro-style” ramen, with a heavy emphasis on pork and garlic. There’s a counterpart in Japan, too.

Yume Wo Katare’s udon-filled sibling, Yume Ga Arukara, is just as worthy of a visit (and the inevitable wait, as it also attracts long lines). It’s right down the street, inside the Porter Exchange building on Massachusetts Avenue.

A newer addition to the neighborhood, Colette opened in early 2019 on the ground floor of the Porter Square Hotel. A sibling to the South End’s popular Frenchie, Colette serves a range of French dishes and has a major weekend brunch that lasts nearly the whole day.

One of several locations in the Boston area, Cambridge’s Shaking Crab is the place to go for spicy Cajun seafood. Get ready to get messy — you’ll be given a bib and gloves for a little help — but tuck into some crab, shrimp, lobster, and more.

Located inside Porter Exchange, Sapporo Ramen ranks among the region’s top options for ramen, with 10 recipes made with yellow noodles and slow-cooked broth. The small restaurant can get crowded at peak times.

A recent 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 sochu. The restaurant sits inside the Porter Exchange food hall in the largest space.

A widely popular breakfast destination in Porter Square, Bagelsaurus serves bagels with cream cheese and other spreads, bagel sandwiches, and coffee, with occasional specials. There’s likely to be a line, so be prepared to wait.

A newcomer to the square, replacing Pho House, Chalawan Asian Eatery 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, plus a few Thai beers and a nice selection of wine. Chalawan was a finalist for Eater Boston’s 2019 awards.

This cozy spot in Porter has a subterranean bar with a nice selection of craft beer, wine, and spirits. For food, find an array of new American dishes that includes flatbreads, bison Bolognese, short rib Reubens, salads, and more. It’s open until 2 a.m. every night, with the full menu available until 1:30 a.m. The Abbey also has a Brookline counterpart.

Bread is the name of the game at Forge Baking Company, sibling business to Forge Ice Cream (next door), Diesel, and Bloc Cafe. The cafe serves coffee and tea beverages as well as sandwiches, pastries, and more treats. Look out for seasonal galettes, or just get a bread plate with jams and butters. Try to save room for some of the irresistible ice cream next door.

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.

Back in action after a hiatus and better than ever, Manoa Poke Shop currently only operates Saturdays and Sundays, running pop-ups and offering catering services on the side. Yes, the poke itself is excellent, but go for the mochiko fried chicken as well.

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 delves into both Sichuan and Hunan cuisine, with dishes like a dry-fried whole fish in a spicy brown sauce (Sichuan) and steamed frog with chile pepper (Hunan).

Honeycomb Creamery is the place to go if you’re craving ice cream in Porter and also want to try some funky flavors — or perhaps a choco taco. Ice cream flavors range from sweet potato and maple mallow to apple cider doughnut with caramel, honey lavender, and cold brew coffee chip, and there are vegan varieties available as well.

It’d be simple to say “go to Giulia and eat all the pasta,” but that wouldn’t be enough to explain the care taken in the menu here. Made fresh daily, the pasta dishes show off seasonal ingredients, and the menu also features sfizi and antipasti that go well with the pastas. Pair dinner with a recommended wine or cocktail and enjoy the cozy atmosphere. Note: Book far in advance; this is one of the trickiest reservations in the area.

Casual Cambridge Common has a big central bar that doles out a rotating lineup of exceptional craft beers. It has some hearty and comforting dishes (like mac and cheese, a long list of burgers and sandwiches, and classic tater tots) and a filling brunch menu. Be sure to check out the music venue downstairs, Lizard Lounge.

Reborn in place of Shepard, from part of the same team, Luce reflects a bend toward Italian dishes made with New England ingredients. A food menu of starters, pizzas, and pastas made in-house complements a wine list emphasizing European wines. It comes from the same family that runs Hi-Rise nearby.