So far, we have had the Crazy Noodles (yum), Basil Fried Rice and Pad Thai. All were very tasty and decent portions. We would definitely come back. If you are in the food court, peek into the kitchen through the serving window. It is impressive how high the flames are shooting up around the wok while the chef is cooking. We were not too crazy about their bubble tea - the bubble teas were made from powder, was more ice particles than flavor, etc.
(4)
Eric H.
Solid Korean food, cooked fast for short dollars.
(4)
Laura C.
ChoCho's is a pretty good Korean place stuck in an almost strictly Japanese mall, so of course it's not going to be the highlight of the area and is sort of out of place. It offers good-to-mediocre versions of what restaurants next door specialize in. I got the Korean Chicken Noodle Soup, which was just udon noodles in a chicken broth. It was fine. The broth could have been more flavorful, but it wasn't bad by any means. Spring roll appetizers weren't bad either. The curry puff appetizers were obviously just frozen and were sort of cold inside. My friend got a Kolbi bento box and it was good, but nothing to write home about. Service was fine. Not great, not bad or anything...just fine. It's such a neutral place. I feel like I'm in limbo eating here, but it certainly isn't unpleasant. It's always pretty empty unless every other eatery in the mall is full to capacity. Everyone knows where the tastier, better food is, including me- but it's an OK place to eat. It's a comfortable spot and decent alternative if there's really no space at Mami, Kotobukiya, Tampopo or Sapporo.
(3)
Long N.
Good food, ok service. Go during lunch time for a calm meal.
(3)
Francisca W.
went there a few years ago, out of curiosity and trying out new places. turned out, it's an average place at best. average food, average service. not bad, not memorably good either. well, it's the only korean "cheap eat" place in the alley, so if you're craving korean instead of ramen or other japanese food, then chocho is the choice. just that, i'd usually go to the japanese places over it. :)
(3)
Terry C.
Chocho's is ok. Pro: the "healthy combos" are a great deal. It comes with choice of meat, rice, salad, veggie, dumpling and shumai. Con: -I went on a Friday night and the place was packed. But there was only one server - so the service was a bit slow and I didn't think she was friendly. -2 out of the 5 cups of water we got were dirty. -for some reason, none of their noodle soup comes with chicken, so I had to order a chicken combo rice dinner instead. I probably won'tt be back. The ramen places are better.
(2)
David V.
I can spend $10 here, stuff my face with a variety of delicious foods, and be off without a fuss. Although I love teriyaki chicken, I rarely order it at Japanese restaurants because that's what sushi wimps order, those folks who can't even bring themselves to eat a bland-ass California roll. But here at Cho Cho's, there's no sushi, so I'm free to order my Asian food guilty pleasure, well, without guilt. For $9.99 I get a generous helping of perfectly glazed chicken, a bowl of miso soup, my choice of white or brown rice, some steamed veggies, dumplings and shumai. But perhaps the best part of this whole experience is the salad. Salad, really? That stuff you don't make friends with? Well, this salad is friend-making material - not an afterthought like at many places. A pile of fresh veggies, mostly spinach and greens, covered in this amazing house-made dressing. If I could buy this stuff in bottles at the grocery store, I'd eat salad every day and probably be a few pounds lighter for my effort. I've even been known to come in and order just an entree-sized salad. Yeah, the decor is a total hodge-podge, but the aquarium helps brighten the room where the Jackson Pollock prints fail to do so.
(4)
David Y.
This is a Korean/Thai restaurant in H-Mart at Burlington. Its part of the food court. I ordered a Thai noodle dish (Crazy Noodles) and its was pretty good. They used way too much oil for stri frying but it did taste good and they used a good amount of spice which I like. The cost was $9 which isn't bad considering I requested this with shrimp.
(3)
Lnc T.
Found my new favorite place in H-mart to eat at! The basil fried rice is so good! But then again, I have never gone to a place that basil fried rice wasn't good. The lady that works here is so upbeat and friendly! She even delivers your meal to the table for you! For about $9, it was well worth it! Be careful, its really hot. If you burn your palate, don't say I didn't warn you!
(5)
Kathleen F.
LOVE chochos! Prices are great and I have yet to have a dish that I have not enjoyed. The Bi BIm Bap is amazing and I love the soondubu as well--it is my go to dish when I'm not feeling well and need a really warm hearty soup. You get lots of sides with a lot of the meals and salad which is nice. I also highly recommend their ginseng tea which is only $1. They are also now giving out cards for discounts on future meals which is a nice incentive. This is my favorite restaurant in the Porter exchange by far. I am not giving it 5 stars since they always only have 1 waitress and when it gets really busy service is slow since it's too much for 1 person to handle, but overall a very solid Korean experience!
(4)
Shaina S.
My brother is one of my favorite people to try a new (and sometimes daring) restaurant with and after I dragged him to Japonaise Bakery, it seemed only fitting to try one of the cute little restaurants in the Porter Exchange building. We chose ChoCho's because a) a mesmerizing fish tank, and b) everything the other people were eating looked awesome. I think we made an excellent choice too. His teriyaki chicken was mild but peppery, which was a really nice flavor. The 'meal' managed to be both oversized and adorable and included dumplings, shumai, salad, and veggies. I ordered the Bi Bim Bap and I was quite happy. It made me feel healthily full but not stuffed. I didn't like every one of the 8 vegetables, but I was pleased with the proportions and the flavor of the beef. I especially loved the Korean spicy sauce that came with it. I could dip pretty much anything in that. Service was good and my water glass stayed full. Korean food makes me happy and therefore, so does ChoCho's.
(4)
Candy W.
I ordered a soondobu chigae and asked for mild. I got tasteless instead. The side dishes didn't taste very good either. The only good thing here is that they offer brown rice with no additional charge. Otherwise, I'm so disappointed by this place!
(2)
Amy L.
I tried their okdol bibimbob couple weeks ago. It was awful! all the vegetables weren't fresh and rice was too dry...
(1)
Erica S.
Yum! Chocho's is one of my favorite spots, and within the Porter Exchange circuit it has the most and best options for vegetarians. Plus you get to space out to the crazy looking fish in the HUGE fish tank while you wait... pweetty feeshes! The menu has tons of options, from udon soups to tempura plates to tofu stew. I think their scallion pancakes are the best on the planet-- they have red and green peppers, zucchini, and summer squash in them!! So fried and greasy. So delicious! The udon soups are huge and come in a bunch of varieties, my favorite being the greasy veggie tempura. And speaking of tempura, try a tempura combination box. You'll end up with a ton of tempura (try the shrimp, it's amazing), rice, salad, steamed veggies, dumplings, and soup, all for about $10. Best of all, this is the one spot in Porter Exchange (other than Blue Fin, which I don't even think counts) that really feels like a restaurant. Rather than just plop you down at a cafeteria table in the middle of a hallway, this place has a real ambiance about it that sets it apart. And the food rocks. Basically, just go here when you are not on a diet and want to treat yourself to a grease fest. Sure, they have healthy options on their menu, but who cares?
(4)
Sarah S.
I love cho cho's. To sum it up- affordable, inexpensive tasty authentic korean cuisine. I am obsessed with korean food- this place is awesome. Their hot pot soups/stews are soooo good- I always ask them to make it extra spicy for me, and they definitely come through with that. Love the side salad that they give you- the dressing is great. This place is a bit on the small side, kind of like a little cubicle in the mall, but don't avoid it- this place will satisfy that craving you have for tasty korean cuisine.
(5)
Jason M.
Ahh, ChoCho's. You receive a high four stars from me. Why do you deserve such praise? Mostly because you do your best to have many different types of food, from korean to thai to japanese, and you pull it off rather well. That earns you 3 stars. You get an extra 1.5 stars for being mad inexpensive. Who else other than you, ChoCho's, will give me a bowl of Bibimbap in such great quantities for such a low price? This, my friend, is why I keep bringing visitors from other cities to you. Cause I can be a good host and buy em dinner without spending more than $14 on each guest.
(4)
Wei W.
I've only been to Chocho's once in all my time of going to the Porter Exchange, and frankly, it's nothing to be really impressed by. Their beef dishes are mediocre and the service is average. Although their lunchbox specials are cheap, you're better off grabbing something at the surrounding restaurants, like Cafe Mami or Tampopo.
(2)
Leah I.
Do you want to eat delicious food, in large portions, for teeny tiny amounts of money? Please go to Chocho's. I am relatively new to the area and I am a little intimidated by the restaurants in the Porter exchange/Lesley building (there's so many!) but I was brought to Chocho's by some friends and I have been back a few times. It is ridiculously amazing to me that for $10 I can have a soup and then this giant plate of shrimp tempura with rice, dumplings, salad and veggies (I think it's called a box meal on the mebu?). Never have I eaten so much for so little. The food is yummy - I have had shrimp/veggie tempura, chicken teriyaki, dumplings, and shumai and all have been really tasty. I know it is a Korean place and I am not familiar with Korean food, but everything on the menu looks great and I'm excited to go back and try more!
(4)
Cee C.
Today we ate at Chochos' for lunch during the snow storm. The tom yum soup is very good-- comes with noodles and shrimp. My husband had very tasty and spicy ground pork over rice. This place is great for something to eat quickly. Prices are high, we spent $30 for lunch.
(3)
Mimi W.
I'm with Liz K on this. I have gotten sick from eating here before. It kicks in right about the time when you're walking out of Porter Exchange and you start to feel like your stomach is cramping, only to give way to diarrhea within the hour. Other than that, the presentation is fabulous, and when you order a dinner set, it comes with a great many little side items -- salad, pickled veggies, little dumpling things (although the dumplings taste like they are frozen food). Like another reviewer said, though, their food is bland for korean food. The flavor is a little off, starting from the miso soup they give you that seems to have red bell pepper slices in it. The spicy tofu soup (which is like a Korean art form) didn't taste at all like the other authentic tofu soup places I've been to. Kind of watery and not spicy enough. None of this is worth the ass sputtering.
(2)
Huan z.
You can tell how a restaurant take care of their food by looking how well they take care of their fish tank. Beautiful fish tank! Very well maintained. When they bring your tofu soup, they even tell you to crack the egg into the soup. Most Korean restaurant expect that you already know the procedure. They don't have chicken Udon noodle soup, but they put into my vege soup just for me. Great Service! Two Thumbs up! 4 stars for service and 3 stars for the food and 5 stars for taking care of their fish.
(3)
Ju L.
This Cho Chos is in the HMart food court. Had the Kim Chi Fried Rice and it was wonderful -- definitely 4 stars! Didn't try anything else but can't wait to have Kim Chi Fried Rice again. I've also had Bibimbap at the Cho Chos at Porter Square, Cambridge, and that was so-so (more 3 stars).
(4)
Heidi O.
I take-out from here all the time. Best scallion pancakes, crispy and chewy and tastiest home-cooked-tasting sundubu chigae...also the food comes with a set of veggie jiangpan ala athentic Korean eatery style rarely seen in Boston.
(5)
Brian C.
Seafood pajeon left much to be desired. It lacked flavor (I could only taste squid) and it was a bit undercooked. Beef bulgoki combo meal with miso soup. The meal is served in a bento box. The service was prompt and friendly.
(3)
Jamie A.
Their combination platters are just great, although I would recommend splitting one with a friend if you're not a big eater! The assortment of things you get with the combo is definitely fun-- I enjoyed the little dumplings the most, but also really liked the veggies with a bit of peanut sauce. The spicy chicken I ordered wasn't spicy, and I probably should have ordered Korean food, but I wasn't really in the mood. My boy ordered the chicken teriyaki and it was quite tasty. Since I'm fascinated by things pretty easily, I also enjoyed sitting right next to their amazing aquarium.
(3)
Foodie K.
I really enjoy this little gem in the middle of Porter Exchange. Whenever I am looking for a hot, bubbling, spicy soondubu chigae (soft tofu stew), I always seem to end up here. My favorite is the pork soondubu chigae. Over the past year or so, they have expanded their menu to include non-Korean items, such as udon and pad thai. I've tried them all and they are all pretty tasty. Their specialty, however, are the Korean soondubu chigae's and their yook gae jang's (spicy shredded beef soup). They are salty, spicy, and delightful. Their broth is a beef base, and you can really taste the varying levels of richness in the background of the stews. I've tried so many times to duplicate their chigae at home, but with little success, so I end up coming back again and again. Get to know the owners! They are extremely friendly and helpful and love to see familiar faces.
(5)
Crystal S.
It's a little odd that this Korean stand is tucked away in Porter Exchange where you can find a plethora of Japanese food and stores, but if you ever get a chance, you should try some food here! It is a great place to get some bibimbap or kimchi pajon when you're not up for a trip to Koreana (or up for cooking.) Tip: If you eat at Chochos, try their Korean food!!! The only time I've heard complaints is when people order Japanese food at Chochos. When people complain about this, I always ask them why they ordered Japanese food at a Korean food stand when there are awesome Japanese food stands right next door specializing in certain dishes.
(4)
Anna S.
Two words: healthy box. Run, don't walk. Spicy chicken, teriyaki chicken, whatever (I'd avoid the salmon though--it's not much fish). The healthy box is like a bento box w/o sushi, and everything in it is delicious (except maybe the weird half-steamed carrots with peanut sauce). Do it. Its $10 you won't regret spending. Plus, the ladies who own the joint are really nice. And they deliver now, from foodler.com and campus food. Word up!
(4)
Nathan R.
The food is over-priced and the bi bim bap needs a lot of work. Though the staff is friendly...the food is not.
(2)
Milo S.
Great place to get a tasty meal at a reasonable price, service is good and owners are very friendly
(5)
J L.
This is the restaurant I visit the most frequently when I'm in Porter Exchange. For some reason, it is the only Korean restaurant amidst 5 other Japanese restaurants. Their Soon Du Bu is my all time favourite. Those are especially satisfying in the winter. The appetizers that come with certain dishes are also wonderful. This is probably not a good place to get take out though, since their dishes are best eaten on location.
(4)
Julia M.
I love the "healthy combo" meals at Chocho. For something like $8, you get a main dish (before I went pescetarian, I liked the teriyaki chicken and the spicy chicken), brown rice, salad, veggies, soup (I like the miso), and a steamed dumpling and shumai. It's a total feast and really affordable. I haven't really tried their other stuff, but I felt so virtuous ordering the healthy combos that I didn't regret eating out instead of cooking, so that gives Chocho 4 stars in my book!
(4)
Maurice C.
I've been here maybe 3 times or so over the years. I never knew it was considered a Korean restaurant, because the menu seems decidedly pan-Asian to me, with elements of Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Thai cuisine throughout the menu. I usually get one of the healthy combos, which is a pretty good deal. A good, but not belly busting, amount of food that tastes pretty good and is cooked to order. My main problem is that the shumai comes covered in mayonaisse which I always wipe off with a napkin. The salad also comes covered in a mayonaisse based dressing, while I prefer viniagrette-style dressings. If I liked mayonaisse or was indifferent to it, this place would probably get 4 stars, but since I hate mayonaisse I'm going to just give them 3. The Bluefin Japanese restaurant next door is better, but this place isn't bad and it has really great prices.
(3)
Cheryl D.
Only been here once, and the meal was good in general but . . . strange. Is it normal for kim chi pancakes to have bell peppers in them? The impression I got is Asian fusion-y, from looking at their menu, the decor, and the actual meal. If you and your fellow eaters are somewhat adventurous but can't decide between Japanese, Korean, and Thai, this would be a good choice. But not so much if you're missing your Korean mother's cooking. Oh, and our service was good, if kind of distant.
(3)
yoora c.
This place has the best soon dubu chigae (soft tofu stew) I've had in the area. The seafood one seems to be the most flavorful. Order this, and you will get a nice little salad (simply dressed with oil, soy sauce, and pepper), four dishes of banchan (side dishes that the server has always been happy to refill--seems to normally be two kinds of kimchi, roasted&salted seaweed, and marinated fish cake), and most importantly, a raw egg (the other Korean places I've been to have actually omitted this important element!). This egg is to be cracked into the bubbling chigae as the heat is sufficient to cook the egg. Stir the egg a bit, but not too much, please, so that in a few minutes you will be able to spoon up from the depths beautiful baubles of perfectly set, creamy yolk that will rival the herd of silky tofu in textural delightfulness. The seafood soon dubu chigae also contains a mussel, some small scallops, and a headed prawn. I am spooked by the tiny boiled black eyes--the chigae I ate very recently came with two of the prawns so I quickly removed the heads and arranged pieces of lettuce over them (perhaps even spookier to think of dreamless, forever-awake eyes beneath pale green pillowcases?). I can't speak to any of the other dishes. The people who work here are really sweet. It's a low-key kind of place, and that's fine with me because I normally just come here by myself when I'm having a huge craving, ready to sweat.
(4)
Tiffany D.
It's not bad for a quick bite to eat if you're in the mood for Korean.. but personally I'd rather go into Blue Fin to grab something to eat.... I mainly go to Porter Exchange just for good quality and quick/cheap japanese food so I hardly ever eat here unless all the other places are packed...
(3)
christine m.
CHoCHo is a regular lunch place for me. ( I also had a big birthday party there several years back....the iItaians who came didn't know what to do with the chopsticks or the food!) Most often I get the salmon combo without sauce on the fish, all dressings on the side, no added salt, on anything, brown rice, and miso. They do it for me and I love them for it.. I often get a 'jones' for their soon dubu & go for the vegetable version which has big chunks of broccoli cauliflower and carrots. The seafood version always disappoints. They know me there and treat me kindly. A great place. BTW: I used to look at the fish tank but have been there so many times I don't notice it anymore. A bit og gossip: One day I was there for lunch sitting next to a rather famous Cambridge author. I overheard her say whenever she's down in the dumps she Googles herself. Well, I guess that's less expensive than a massage or beer!
(4)
Tina B.
Cho-Cho's ! Located in Porter Sq. Very small place, owners are very friendly. I always order the Chicken Terriyaki Lunch Box Combo And nothing else. Great for a quick bite, parking is $1 for 30mins-1hr. The bubble tea stand is pretty good I am a definite repeat customer!
(4)
Mags L.
kimchi and fried and rice. fried calamari for under $5? wha?!!! mi amigo's bulgogi was good. i've had a pretty good bi bim bap here, but mostly i like for things to be easy. and eating here is easy. food was unremarkable, but i was blown away by the convenience. and for me that pushes a 3 star joint to a 4.
(4)
Gaelle D.
A great little Korean restaurant among the Japanese eateries (and the sushi place Blue Fin) in Porter Exchange, Chocho's is a very pleasant spot for lunch. I would give it five stars if it were a couple dollars cheaper, but that's just me:) Their Korean food is very, very good and plentiful. The lunch boxes are in the Japanese tradition and rather average (remember that it's a Korean place) but you have to try their soon tofu, which seems to be their specialty. It's a spicy tofu stew (spiciness is leveled to order) that comes in several varieties, combining one or several of seafood, beef, kimchi (spicy Korean pickle), etc. Very tasty, and filling! It also comes with a raw egg (!) that you can mix in yourself, and with three or four delicious little side dishes which reminded me of Korean BBQ at Koreana (Prospect St, Cambridge). Another good thing about this place is that they care about offering healthy food. For example you get to choose between white rice and brown rice. I also like the setup of the place, which feels more like a cozy little neighborhood restaurant than like an eatery in a mall (which it actually is).
(4)
J C.
I could eat here everyday... Well, if I had enough cash. Everything is tasty and amazing!!! My favourite is the hot pot!
(5)
Amy W.
Absolutely delicious!!! Bento boxes & soft tofu stew all day!!! I'm totally hooked on the soon du bu stew with the great side dishes. They make their own kim chi. Yum!! Service is prompt and a variety of patrons come and enjoy the terrific Korean food. Haven't tried their non-Korean food yet though.
(5)
Kendra S.
I'm patting myself on the back on this one. Oh yes, I congratulate myself often when it comes to picking the right eatery. I got the child-friendly box checked, check on the affordability, and big checkmark next to the accessible parking. Although the ambience of the Porter Exchange is much like a throwback shopping mail, Chocho's does a good job of making its little corner of the court quite lovely with a fish tank and stylishly mod lighting. The menu is really user-friendly if you've never had Korean food before, but they have a lot of authentic favorites and the veggie mandoo-gook, with a little kimchee thrown in for flavor - is (gasp) nearly as good as my mother-in-law's. I was really pleased with how affordable the lunch menu was. We still received excellent service and large portion sizes (e.g. a mountain of edamame for under $3) and I still felt like we paid regular food court prices. There is parking in the back of the Exchange ($1 for the first hour, not bad) as well as metered parking all around. Sincere kam-sahm-nee-dahs to the good people of Chochos.
(4)
Doris K.
It's not bad for a fast food place tucked away in the Porter Exchange mall. I would stick to their boxed lunch/dinner because they fill you up for a reasonable price. Avoid the hot and sour soup and just choose the miso soup when they ask. I tried the Mixed Soon Duboo soup and was disappointed. It had one shrimp, one calm, and about three pieces of beef in the soup and was mostly tofu. Their Ok Dol Bibimbap was really good and filling though. The flavors aren't really all too authentic and I didn't feel that things were spicy enough but it's fast and cheap. Prices are generally under $10 for an entree.
(3)
Anonymous P.
I think this place is more healthy than good. The miso soup is really weak. The bi bim bap needs more oil. A bit expensive.
(3)
Cynthia S.
I love Chocho's!!! My husband and I started going there about a year ago. Every time we go, we are greeted with the same friendly smiles and great service. I highly recommend the meals on the back of the menu. I tend to order the chicken katsu. It is wonderful! The tray comes with veggies, dumplings, salad, soup, rice, AND the chicken. So good...
(5)
Sandra C.
The only Korean restaurant in the mall. It's very good and they will even make things very mild for you if you're afraid of Korean food for its spiciness. Definitely try their Korean tofu soup. Very flavourful with lots of seafood.
(4)
So S.
Great Korean food for good prices. The bi bim bap is one of the best in town! Great side dishes. This, Buk Kyung li and Suiyashi in chinatown are the best authentic Korean places. Located in porter exchange and the only place there that accepts credit card!.
(4)
Andrew L.
If you're looking for a place to fulfill your Korean Food desire, i would recommend ChoChos. Located in Porter Exchange they're the only Korean place among 6 Japanese restaurants. They make an amazing SoonTofu and their lunch boxes are amazing with an extremely large portion.
(5)
Rally P.
When I first started frequenting the Japanese eateries in Porter Exchange a few years back, I couldn't help but notice that EVERY eatery always had a line up of people waiting for their chance to eat.... that is except the space occupied by a Korean eatery. That place was always empty. I never knew why, but I avoided it. As my wife would say with respect to Chinatown, avoid the restaurants where there are no crowds, the Chinese know. So that's what I did. Then a year or two ago (can't remember exactly), the space underwent a pretty major renovation, cleaning up the space and making it nice and modern. I have no idea if it was the same owners or new owners, but this is when I knew it to become "ChoCho's" and I finally decided to try it. What a pleasant surprise. The food was excellent (for an eatery), the staff was always pleasant, and the prices extremely good. But I always worried about that place because everytime I went, they were never full. However, I've continued to patronize there and I'm happy to report that they are usually busy.
(5)
S K.
Chocho's is a very cute little place in the Porter Exchange. Great prices, and very tasty food (portions are generous but not too much). There is a fair selection of Korean food, but they also offer some Chinese and Japanese dishes, so it's more like a "Greatest Hits" menu than a real Korean restaurant. The Soon Tofu is great. I'm surprised that anyone would call this place "authentic", just because the actual Korean selection is pretty limited (as mentioned, kind of a Greatest Hits selection), but it's definitely recommended for good food, excellent service, and very pleasant (casual) ambience.
(4)
Michelle C.
Hands down the most underrated place in the Porter Square Exchange (and, having lived near Porter for three years, and as an avid Asian food lover, I've eaten at every restaurant in there). I first ate here after coming to try Sapporo Ramen directly across from it and finding the line to be too long. So instead I grabbed a seat at Chochos, which almost always has open tables, and ended up feeling like I had discovered a hidden gem. By the end of my meal, I was feeling sorry for the chumps who were waiting in line across the hallway. I think the reason it's underrated is that the truth is most of the menu is just average: it's one of those kind of culturally confused restaurants that tries to be Asian fusion and serve something from everywhere. Don't come here for pad Thai or pho. Come here for the Korean food, which is what their actual expertise is. Specifically, come here for the Korean tofu soup (soondubu). It's hot and bubbling and has so much umami and is so satisfying on a cold day. You crack the egg in when it's still hot, and it thickens the soup beautifully-perfect to go with the hot steamed white rice. My personal favorite is the Alaska (salmon) soondubu. Pro tip: I like to take the (very generous amount) of salmon out when I first get it so that it doesn't get overlooked in the hot soup as I eat. I've been hooked on Chochos since the very first time, and tend to come here whenever I'm feeling down or sick. Truly comfort food! P.s. Yes, I've also tried Kaju in Harvard Sq. I think the side dishes that arrive before the entree are better at Kaju, but that their soup is much more bland compared to Chochos.
(4)
Tuli S.
I really love their red curry and beef bibimbap bowl! Highly recommend. I've ordered a few noodle dishes here and the noodles are always overcooked so they are too squishy/sticky. I've also had the graw pao and it was so SO salty. Not edible. So it's hit or miss but they do some stuff perfectly.
(3)
Shirley E.
Sub-par food. Cold miso soup. Uncle Ben's rice. Crappy chop sticks. Horrible Bulgogi. Wait staff kept rushing the guy next to us to leave. Not so bad Ginger shrimp. Never going back....
(2)
Steve Y.
I made the trek here from the airport for Sapporo Ramen. While standing in line, I saw the picture if Nang Myun on the wall here and sat down. The owner was playing a video game on her phone. The place was empty. Sapporo Ramen was packed, yet I couldn't believe all those people across the way were eating salty, fatty, hot noodles in the summer Boston heat when I was enjoying an ice cold, beefy, noodle soup with the fat skimmed completely, leaving a refreshing meal perfect to beat the heat. You eat it with ample amount of vinegar in the soup and spicy mustard to give it a kick. It's cold, chewy, sour goodness.... Korean style. I sat here alone with a subtle smile on my face, feeling like I was the only one who knew a secret that those sweating across the way didn't know. The owner lady told me stories of her kids who live abroad and gave me some extra grub that made me miss my mom. The water used for the ice could use a new filter, but I didn't care. It was worth the bus, train, and walk to get here and I will do it again.
(4)
Andrew T.
Grilled chicken was awful, chicken texture was like plastic. The rest of the food ordered looked great
(1)
Tess C.
Whoa, surprised by Shirley E's review. They have an extensive menu so I can't say 100% that their food is above-par, but I've had nothing but warm miso soup and they make authentic Korean rice from their rice cooker. Chopsticks are just the usual disposable ones you have to crack apart. I guess those are crappy. I had delicious bulgogi! Their galbi is mediocre, though. A million times better than the lard fest that BonChon serves, but you are better off going to HMart and getting their uncooked galbi. Just cook on a skillet at home and enjoy! This place is underrated for sure. And I'm half Korean whose mother raised her on lots of Korean food!
(5)
Martin C.
Tucked in amongst the tiny ramen and sushi spots in Lesley's Porter Square building, ChoCho's is a small oasis of Asian comfort food and friendly service. As you step in, the entire menu appears before your eyes: the walls are covered with pictures of each dish, conveniently labeled to guide you through the mainly Korean-Thai cuisine on offer. The usual territory is covered: Pad Thai, Kimchee, dumplings, soups, rice dishes and the like, but it's hard to stray from Bib Bim Bap served in a hot stone bowl, the rice still sticky and steaming hot at the bottom, underneath beef, root veggies and a egg simmering on top. Service is quick and friendly; they'll drop off a bowl of miso soup before your meal arrives.
(4)
H W.
I love ChoCho's and especially with Kaya gone this is a go-to Korean spot. My favorite item is ok dol salmon tartare bibimbap. Udon soup with tempura is also great. Lunch plates are a good bargain. I have eaten here many, many times and always had friendly service and consistently good food.
(4)
Jolene S.
It was good. I took a tip to try the Soon Tofu (had the pork variety). Would prefer to have a soft boiled egg on top instead of cracking a cold egg open into hot soup...but lots of good sides and very filling. Come hungry and leave satisfied. Very good service for a mall dining spot. Would be hard to choose over Cafe Mami at lunch, but good for a change.
(3)
James C.
Even though this isn't a fancy Korean restaurant, and doesn't have as deep of a menu as many Asian restaurants, this place is remarkable for a couple of reasons: - I'm often dining in Koreatown in LA and NYC, and nobody prepares soondubu (tofu stew) anywhere as well as ChoCho's. Even my Korean mom who can't be beat admitted that she couldn't make soondubu as well as ChoCho's. There's nothing better on a cold day, or when you're simply feeling the need for spice. - For those who aren't into soondubu, the ok dol bimbimbap is great (definitely get it in the stone pot to crisp up the rice on the bottom, and it's good for people like my Irish wife who want to have control over spice levels). - Even though the chicken teriyaki plate isn't really Korean, that plate makes my son very happy (and it's huge). - They serve up a good selection of free banchan (Korean side dishes). - The prices are quite friendly. It's a remarkably affordable splurge. - They treat repeat customers extremely well. My kids just love going there. My only advice for those who don't do Korean food regularly is that if you're wondering how to eat the stuff on the table (e.g., how do you cook the raw egg?), don't be afraid to ask. Even though I no longer live in Boston and can't go anywhere near as much as I'd like, ChoCho's remains my family's favorite restaurant.
(5)
Henry Z.
Food is ok, spicy seafood noodle, seafood pancake. But be aware, a lot of small flies around the corner table! will never come back
(1)
Josh Y.
I actually worked at I Heart Sushi as a waiter for 9 months and I've eaten multiple times at all the restaurants at Lesley Square. I'm going to review all the restaurants eventually. Admittedly, I have tried mostly the Korean food on the menu but I would say the Korean food is delicious and a good deal. But I will say that Korean food is their forte. I believe they should just change to serving mostly Korean food, with a few exceptions. Food Specific Soondubu: The best soondubu I've had in this area, if not one of the best I've ever had. I've been to both Kaju Tofu's (Cambridge and Allston) and also tried Soondubu at the Cambridge BonChon. I will never get soondubu from those other locations and always come to ChoCho's. Kalbi: Tastes very good but even better is the price. For 2 short ribs and rice, most other places charge close to $20 but here it's closer to $10. If you want some good Korean BBQ for cheap, this is defeinitely the place to do it. In conclusion, I would recommend trying the above dishes and other Korean dishes first and then trying other things on the menu. If they narrowed down their menu to where their strengths lie, I would give this place 5 stars.
(4)
Monika S.
I have mixed feelings about this place. First time I went there I loved my dish. I ordered some traditional dish in a stone pot. On my second visit I ordered Pad Thai with beef. The beef was awful - too hard to chew; Pad Thai wasn't so great either. However, their citrus tea with honey was really good. I might try going there again to see if I have a better luck with dishes third time.
(2)
Less H.
I like Korean food a lot. I've had bulgogi at a number of places across the state and this was pretty much the worst I've ever had. Bland, lacking in flavor, and the meat tasted not quite right. The rice was dry and the carrots tasted like they'd spent a few months in the bottom of a wet cooler. The food was not tasty. Service was weird. An older lady sat in the front to greet and seat people, but the place was empty and she was watching videos on a laptop. The waitress was fine but then I wasn't a difficult customer, I knew what I wanted and didn't have questions. My water was warm. My soda was ice cold. Which was the best part of my meal. The menu was mostly Korean with some Americanized Chinese food for good measure. Why? Just do good Korean food. Will I go back here? No. I'd rather marinate and cook my own bulgogi.
(1)
Geena P.
Tried this place for the first time last night with my boyfriend and we LOVED it! We shared a bulgogi bento box for only $9.95! It came with tender, yummy bulgogi, a salad, rice, pickled carrots and radishes, miso soup, and a potato croquette. I think the potato isn't usually part of the box.. they said they ran out of what's usually there instead. We also got orders of steamed pork dumplings and steamed shumai. All of it was delicious! This place is the least busy (nearly empty) out of all the other little Asian restaurants in the mall, but don't think anything of it! The food is awesome and you get it FAST. The best part? You don't have to wait a half hour on a Friday night to get seated like at the other restaurants. As you sit and enjoy your meal, you can also laugh at the pathetic people waiting in line and salivating for food. It's a win/win!
(5)
Andrea E.
This place is great if you're looking for something casual and fast. The food is really good - the bim bim bap was some of the best Korean I've had and the miso definitely outstripped that of other similar restaurants in the area (including Zoe's). The service is amazing. We were served quickly and the miso I mentioned above was given to me on the house because my meal came out only a minute or so after my husband's. The owner and servers are really appreciative of the business and go above and beyond to make diners happy. Will be going back for sure.
(5)
Jessica F.
Nothing fancy, but great food made fresh and fast service. Their bibimbap is filled with great veggies and literally served sizzling hot.
(4)
Alex H.
I think most sane people can agree that Korean food represents the apex of human culinary achievement. So I was happy when I found out about Chochos, an inexpensive Korean place conveniently located in Porter. The first time I went, a year or so ago, I had kimchi jjigae, and I remember it being ok, though not particularly spicy or substantial. But recently I went back with a few friends. We all ordered bibimbap variations (adventurous, I know) and I was really disappointed. My friend found a long hair in his bowl immediately, and I found what looked like an eyelash in mine a minute later. Two out of the three dishes were not even hot enough to merit the term "lukewarm"--they were closer to just being cold. Basically I think I could have made something just as tasty at home, which is saying something given my lack of cooking ability. Anyway, maybe we just came on a bad night, and to be fair the prices are good, but there's probably a reason this place is normally half-empty when all the surrounding restaurants in the building have huge lines.
(2)
Simon L.
Yeah pretty amazing. Atlantic cod, deep fried, not so healthy even though its on the healthy menu absolutely fantastic. Breaded and fried hard, the fish is tender. Served with a soy tartar sauce for dipping, the two nicely sized filets are nearly ideal fish sticks made for use with chopsticks as if they are sushi morsels. A salad of fresh greens, shredded daiakon, a slice of perfectly ripe plum tomatoe and beet strings is doused in an tangerine dressing. The shumai and pork dumplings are exquisitely tasty, pan fried perfectly. Kimchi, while not meant to accompny this meal, is excellent. Start off with a standard bowl of miso.
(4)
Lauren D.
Never order delivery from here. Over 2 hours door to door. Failed to deliver half of the items. Everything arrived cool/lukewarm. Not worth it for the price.
(2)
Phung N.
I love their healthy combo meals. It comes with soup as an appetizer and then the meal comes itself with a salad with this amazing dressing, fried 2 dumplings, carrots n broccoli, and rice. All this for 9.99! You know what else is great? Their crab rangoon. I have no idea what else they put in there besides cream cheese and crab but it tastes so good n crispy that I usually have to buy another one to satisfy my hunger haha I highly reccomend this place for anyone that wants a good meal for a great price
(5)
Sesha P.
This place is exceptional in many ways: the food is perfectly spicy, the service is fast and courteous, and the prices are low, even compared to other Asian restaurant restaurants. What I like best: they bring you water with no ice, without having to ask!
(5)
Ali S.
If you love bulgogi and love fried rice, ask for bulgogi fried rice. It's not on the menu but they will make it for you. It's absolutely delicious. I've hooked a few friends on this dish.
(4)
Vee K.
Unfortunately I got food poisoning from the spicy seafood noodles there this weekend. The oyster was really sandy so that should have clued me in that it was not well cleaned. Those who ate with me ordered other things and were fine.
(1)
Nicholas S.
Choco's: still amazing. I adore this place. The salmon tartare bibimbap in the stone bowl is truly one of the very best dishes in Cambridge. The raw salmon cooks in a few minutes from the heat of the of the stone bowl, so the fish is perfectly cooked: soft and succulent. An amazing bibimbap. I come back for it as often as I can.
(5)
Shuang C.
Had their Mixed soondubu and yookgaejang the past 2 times I've been there, the portions were nice and the food tasted decent, but don't expect legit Korean flavors. Treat it as soup from a random part of asia and you'll be fine. They also give you seaweed to confuse you further, but I like it. Tl,dr: Don't expect authentic Korean soup, just cheap filling meal that taste kinda good.
(3)
Alexis C.
This place is pretty bad--maybe a 1.5. It has mainly Korean food, but there's a bunch of other Asian cuisine on the menu. I've only ordered the Korean items, but they've disappointed me every time. I don't know who does the cooking but when I can cook it far better, that's a sign something ain't right. They used to give a couple banchan with your order, but they stopped doing that completely. The service is abysmal. I don't expect Chatty Kathy to be the waitress (actually, my favorite waiters are the supportive but silent type), but would it kill you to stop glaring and at least look neutral when I smile at you repeatedly? Getting a refill on the water is pretty hard, too. Now I just frequent the surrounding food stalls.
(2)
Fujiko D.
Boston's really expensive. So much so that when I find a place that serves food at prices I used to pay for a normal meal, it's considered a bargain. Chocho's is one of those places. $10 for a fresh, delicious, filling Korean meal! That's like, unheard of around these parts. My husband and I ended up choosing this place over the other Asian places in this food area since it takes credit cards and no one else did. The Bi Bim Bap was delicious. All ingredients were fresh and I had the raw salmon. Impressive. I love how there's a hint of sweetness in a good bi bim bap chili sauce. Mmmmm. Fresh veggie and raw fish melody... I've their Udon also, but that's Japanese. It wasn't bad. Especially for $6. Perhaps a tad bit bland, but had tasted pretty Japanese. Ambiance... one step up from a mall food court. The service is fast and the server is always friendly.
(4)
Tanya Y.
Something about going to Porter Square makes you feel like you've stepped out of Cambridge into a completely different city. Everything feels very real and authentic once you step foot into the building. The people making ramen and sushi are actually Japanese and greet you like you were in Japan (Irashiaemase!), rather than the usual Chinese or Hispanic person you'd see else where. There are variety of different stalls with either Japanese of Korean Cuisine; being a Korean Food fanatic, I automatically veered towards ChoCho's. They have lunch combos which are similar to Bento Boxes that you can find at other places. I ordered the Bulgolgi [Korean Marinated Beef] combo, which comes with rice, a side salad, two fried dumplings, a shumai dumpling, and a choice of miso soup or hot and sour soup, all for a grand total of $10.49. Sweet deal! Everything was pungent and delicious. My only downfal is the amount of rice given; I'm a HUGE rice eater and always find that I need a little extra to sop up all of the yummy sauces from the beef. There is parking available at a decent price behind the building. If you stay from 1 min to 1 hour, you only have to pay $1.00. Today I got my meal to go and only had to pay $1.00 -- no complaints here. After your meal you can venture off to the Japonaise Bakery Stall and get some yummy pastries, or the Bubble Tea booth or even walk off your meal and do a little shopping at City Sports. Highly recommended and will definitely come here again :)
(4)
Kelly B.
I've only been once, but everything was perfect. Incredible miso (like, beautiful, complex flavors like a fine wine), and the two entrees we ordered were both spot-on. The tofu fried rice was just fried enough to be tasty but not too oily. The salmon tartare okdol was fantastic; very fresh salmon and really good sauce too. Generally speaking, I was quite impressed.
(5)
Angela A.
A decent alternative when you just can't handle the Sapporo Ramen or Cafe Mami lines. A nice thing is that this place serves Korean dishes like bi bim bap and bulgogi. The service was OK, and our food was generally tasty, if not particularly memorable. Some decent edamame, my tofu bi bim bap was fine. I wouldn't go out of my way to come back here.
(3)
Kobayashi M.
I came in over the weekend and there were only two tables seated. Meanwhile, Sapporo Ramen had a line out the back so I knew it was going to be a mistake to visit this establishment. However, my friend didn't want to wait so I acquiesced to try this deserted place. The food ended up being ok, however, it was the terrible service that I am not happy about. The waitress (Asian lady) was impatient and did a terrible job hiding her annoyance at being asked 2 or 3 questions. I really should have left a much smaller tip. I am tolerant of slow service or mediocre food, but I have 0 tolerance for attitude. 1 star, and never coming back. I've been eating out ALOT lately in all kinds of restaurants, and this is the first time ever I've encountered such terrible service.
(1)
Dani S.
Mostly I've found this place to be enjoyable. There's mostly Korean food, but also some Japanese, Chinese, Thai...it's not outstanding by any means, there's far better out there. But the atmosphere and look of the place is casual, really low key. One of those places that when you go, sit down, you don't really expect fantastic food, - you don't expect crap, either, but one of those places you kind of have an idea of what you will get, and can either be pleasantly surprised, or disappointed, depending how much you were expecting from the place.
(4)
Sara M.
I really wanted some spicy chigae in a hot pot so I could crack an egg in it (I'm sorely missing Cho Dang Tofu back in IL). I searched Yelp and found two contenders but chose this one. Not quite sure if I chose wisely... However, I dragged my husby anyway and we arrive only to encounter a rather slow-moving server. We order a beef/kimchee soon duboo and a pork soon duboo, as well as a kalbi entree to share. I didn't think it should be that bad but it seemed like eating didn't do a thing in terms of putting a dent in the food. We pretty much took the entire kalbi entree home. So my kimchee and beef chigae was hot and filling. It didn't have the same roundness of flavor that I was expecting, although it was spicy enough. Husby actually liked it better since it was tamer but he doesn't really like this stuff anyway. We received four banchan, which included nori. I wasn't really sure what to make of that since I didn't want to put it in my soup. The rice was cooked alright but the kalbi lacked that fatty, juicy meatiness - it was quite dry and overcooked. I left extremely full but a little unsatisfied. The prices were not abnormally high either. I will just have to keep searching for a comparable chiage place but at least I am getting closer.
(3)
susan c.
the worst service i've ever experienced in my life. the waitress cannot deal with the questions (even when done with smile and respect) and shows the annoyance explicitly. she doesn't make eye contact and gets upset when you try to communicate with her. i am never going back to this place.
(1)
Katrina S.
I love going to Porter Exchange - it's a monthly (sometimes more often) tradition. I rotate between all the restaurants, and like Chocho's for their serving size and price. I love the family business vibe too. But they recently change their menu and now the box sets are smaller then before - no more shumai, dumpling and side serving of picked radishes. The food lacked the flavor it used to and the server was not personable, borderline rude. This used to be one of my favorites in the Exchange - but after this visit, I will not eat there again.
(2)
Jess L.
Chocho's "healthy combos" are $9.95 and packed with food: a main dish (salmon, teryiki chicken, chicken katsu, etc.), rice, salad, veggies, soup, shumai, dumplings. Great! The service was a little impersonal but relatively speedy. I feel like this place really put some thought into the decor, versus some of the other venues on this "Asian food" lane. The chicken katsu sauce tasted a bit like BBQ sauce - different than the curry-like sauce that usually comes with katsu. The shumai was surprisingly tasty!
(4)
Joanna C.
You know, I didn't notice the fish tank. Where was it?? I didn't expect Porter Exchange to be the slice of Asian heaven it was. I was tempted to go to the other "Food Stalls" but my dining partner and I decided to stick with the original plan of Korean, and went to Chocho's. The dining area is cute -several handfuls of little tables, and we made it right before the rush so we were able to find seats in no time. The lady behind the counter looked tired/stressed, but she obligingly got us menus, and took our orders. I've been eating "healthy" all week (i.e. salads and other green things), so decided to splurge my diet points on pork katsu. Mmmm... love, absolutely LOVE katsu. My dining companion decided on the bibimbap, and we also got an order of kimchee. You have to order kimchee separately? But why? Why doesn't it come with the ban chan? Oh wait... there is no ban chan. But wait... WHY NOT?? My bento box type meal came with a cute little salad, some gyoza/shumai, steamed veggies with a weird peanut sauce on it, and my pork katsu. Who doesn't love some fried pork cutlet? I loved that I was able to order brown rice with my meal, and it came in a pleasant scoop. Mmm... lets dig into this katsu. Except wait... why doesn't it give? Why do I have to forcibly rip into it with my teeth rather than have it delicately have that *crisp* as I bite into it? And umm... katsu sauce? Where is the katsu sauce?? Dear lord... is that... ketchup? Oh... disappointing. SO disappointing. I appreciated the ginger dressing on my salad, but Korean style would've been with 1000 island. You know it. And the essence of the katsu is the katsu sauce! My katsu was missing its essence. I was saddened. My general meal was... 2 stars. Boo. But I give Chocho's 3 since I love that there's Korean represented in this slice of Japan. And it was an okay meal - nothing terribly wrong. It was just... missing the loving. And I need some loving with my meal.
(3)
Heather K.
When I come here I love to get the Mandu Guk. It is quite delicious~ There is hardly ever a wait, and the service is wonderful. Everything I've ever ordered here was amazing. I was also impressed that they were open on New Year's day while the other shops around it where closed.
(5)
Kyungah C.
I am just finishing up my review I started in December 2011 on this restaurant, and have not gone back there since then. Dec 2011 visit was the first visit for us (and you bet it will be the last visit), and we ordered Dduk bok ki, jajangmyun, seafood soon du boo and the tidbit combo. While the tidbit combo was okay and grilled hot and was the best dish out of four, it was the worst $40 we have ever spent on a meal. If you are looking for some good Korean food, try Color (soon to be Bibim) on Harvard Ave in Allston, or Koreana on Prospect Street in Cambridge. Their price may be higher, but the food is much better.
(2)
Tammy L.
I've been here twice. What I do like about this restaurant is the fish tank. I sat next to it the two times that I went there. The first time I went there, I ordered one of the chicken combo lunch box meals. The meat was pretty good, but the rice was too dry. The salad and its dressing was awesome and it was my favourite, aside from the meat. The second time I went, I tried the Ok Dol Bibim Bap. Again, the rice was dry and there was too much of it. I would prefer it to have more meat and eggs, but I felt like I was just eating a huge bowl of rice that smelled pretty good, but tasted bland.
(3)
Christina M.
Of all the places to eat in the Porter Exchange, this is definitely my favorite. I really enjoy eating Korean food (especially Korean bbq!), and this is a good spot to get a quick, cheap, easy lunch or dinner. The box meals are the best deal, since you get miso soup, rice, 1 shumai, 2 dumplings, salad with ginger dressing (yummy), small side of carrots/broccoli, and a meat of your choice--all for 10 bucks! Plus, the girl who works there is really nice, and if you are a chopstick using spaz like myself, a fork is never far away...hurray. I only wish they still had their amazing fish tank with all of the tropical fish.
(4)
RM S.
I had the seafood soup noodle. The noodles look like they were from Sapporo but slightly overcooked. But otherwise it was fine.
(3)
Shaina P.
Chocho's offers some Japanese dishes and some Pad Thai but I've decided you can't go wrong when you order a legitimate Korean dish. I'm obsessed with dumpling soup with those clear potato noodles lately. The broth is extremely mild, but just so satisfying. I like Koreana's version with rice cakes and beef, but Chocho's offers this soup in a semi-vegetarian way (veggie dumplings in lieu of pork) and there are double the amount of dumplings floating in the oversized bowl. Chocho's is also one of the only places in the Porter Exchange where you can get a FULL cheap meal without having to share you table with slurpy strangers. Tip your waitresses well! They help prep your food, seat you, serve you, and manage to keep a smile on their faces!
(4)
herp d.
Their tempura is great; They give you a different variety of veggies than most places, I think mine had squash, zucchini, broccoli, sweet potato, and onions, as well as big tasty shrimp. Their shumai are very good as well, though a word of warning: They're SUPER hot when they're brought to the table. I learned the hard way, but between the temperature and the time it takes to reach the table, you can tell they're doing it fresh and not heating up some crap from a freezer. My mother and I split their spicy seafood noodle soup. The broth was really flavorful and the noodles were perfectly done, but there wasn't that much seafood, unfortunately. There was an alright amount, but it was a little overcooked and when I'm ordering a mix of seafood, I expect a little more than what they gave. I also didn't think it was that spicy, but my mother's eyes were watering, so I suppose that's a matter of personal taste =P Still, this is a good place, would definitely go again. Fairly cheap, very tasty, good service. All things I look for in a restaurant.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Brandon W.
So far, we have had the Crazy Noodles (yum), Basil Fried Rice and Pad Thai. All were very tasty and decent portions. We would definitely come back. If you are in the food court, peek into the kitchen through the serving window. It is impressive how high the flames are shooting up around the wok while the chef is cooking. We were not too crazy about their bubble tea - the bubble teas were made from powder, was more ice particles than flavor, etc.
(4)Eric H.
Solid Korean food, cooked fast for short dollars.
(4)Laura C.
ChoCho's is a pretty good Korean place stuck in an almost strictly Japanese mall, so of course it's not going to be the highlight of the area and is sort of out of place. It offers good-to-mediocre versions of what restaurants next door specialize in. I got the Korean Chicken Noodle Soup, which was just udon noodles in a chicken broth. It was fine. The broth could have been more flavorful, but it wasn't bad by any means. Spring roll appetizers weren't bad either. The curry puff appetizers were obviously just frozen and were sort of cold inside. My friend got a Kolbi bento box and it was good, but nothing to write home about. Service was fine. Not great, not bad or anything...just fine. It's such a neutral place. I feel like I'm in limbo eating here, but it certainly isn't unpleasant. It's always pretty empty unless every other eatery in the mall is full to capacity. Everyone knows where the tastier, better food is, including me- but it's an OK place to eat. It's a comfortable spot and decent alternative if there's really no space at Mami, Kotobukiya, Tampopo or Sapporo.
(3)Long N.
Good food, ok service. Go during lunch time for a calm meal.
(3)Francisca W.
went there a few years ago, out of curiosity and trying out new places. turned out, it's an average place at best. average food, average service. not bad, not memorably good either. well, it's the only korean "cheap eat" place in the alley, so if you're craving korean instead of ramen or other japanese food, then chocho is the choice. just that, i'd usually go to the japanese places over it. :)
(3)Terry C.
Chocho's is ok. Pro: the "healthy combos" are a great deal. It comes with choice of meat, rice, salad, veggie, dumpling and shumai. Con: -I went on a Friday night and the place was packed. But there was only one server - so the service was a bit slow and I didn't think she was friendly. -2 out of the 5 cups of water we got were dirty. -for some reason, none of their noodle soup comes with chicken, so I had to order a chicken combo rice dinner instead. I probably won'tt be back. The ramen places are better.
(2)David V.
I can spend $10 here, stuff my face with a variety of delicious foods, and be off without a fuss. Although I love teriyaki chicken, I rarely order it at Japanese restaurants because that's what sushi wimps order, those folks who can't even bring themselves to eat a bland-ass California roll. But here at Cho Cho's, there's no sushi, so I'm free to order my Asian food guilty pleasure, well, without guilt. For $9.99 I get a generous helping of perfectly glazed chicken, a bowl of miso soup, my choice of white or brown rice, some steamed veggies, dumplings and shumai. But perhaps the best part of this whole experience is the salad. Salad, really? That stuff you don't make friends with? Well, this salad is friend-making material - not an afterthought like at many places. A pile of fresh veggies, mostly spinach and greens, covered in this amazing house-made dressing. If I could buy this stuff in bottles at the grocery store, I'd eat salad every day and probably be a few pounds lighter for my effort. I've even been known to come in and order just an entree-sized salad. Yeah, the decor is a total hodge-podge, but the aquarium helps brighten the room where the Jackson Pollock prints fail to do so.
(4)David Y.
This is a Korean/Thai restaurant in H-Mart at Burlington. Its part of the food court. I ordered a Thai noodle dish (Crazy Noodles) and its was pretty good. They used way too much oil for stri frying but it did taste good and they used a good amount of spice which I like. The cost was $9 which isn't bad considering I requested this with shrimp.
(3)Lnc T.
Found my new favorite place in H-mart to eat at! The basil fried rice is so good! But then again, I have never gone to a place that basil fried rice wasn't good. The lady that works here is so upbeat and friendly! She even delivers your meal to the table for you! For about $9, it was well worth it! Be careful, its really hot. If you burn your palate, don't say I didn't warn you!
(5)Kathleen F.
LOVE chochos! Prices are great and I have yet to have a dish that I have not enjoyed. The Bi BIm Bap is amazing and I love the soondubu as well--it is my go to dish when I'm not feeling well and need a really warm hearty soup. You get lots of sides with a lot of the meals and salad which is nice. I also highly recommend their ginseng tea which is only $1. They are also now giving out cards for discounts on future meals which is a nice incentive. This is my favorite restaurant in the Porter exchange by far. I am not giving it 5 stars since they always only have 1 waitress and when it gets really busy service is slow since it's too much for 1 person to handle, but overall a very solid Korean experience!
(4)Shaina S.
My brother is one of my favorite people to try a new (and sometimes daring) restaurant with and after I dragged him to Japonaise Bakery, it seemed only fitting to try one of the cute little restaurants in the Porter Exchange building. We chose ChoCho's because a) a mesmerizing fish tank, and b) everything the other people were eating looked awesome. I think we made an excellent choice too. His teriyaki chicken was mild but peppery, which was a really nice flavor. The 'meal' managed to be both oversized and adorable and included dumplings, shumai, salad, and veggies. I ordered the Bi Bim Bap and I was quite happy. It made me feel healthily full but not stuffed. I didn't like every one of the 8 vegetables, but I was pleased with the proportions and the flavor of the beef. I especially loved the Korean spicy sauce that came with it. I could dip pretty much anything in that. Service was good and my water glass stayed full. Korean food makes me happy and therefore, so does ChoCho's.
(4)Candy W.
I ordered a soondobu chigae and asked for mild. I got tasteless instead. The side dishes didn't taste very good either. The only good thing here is that they offer brown rice with no additional charge. Otherwise, I'm so disappointed by this place!
(2)Amy L.
I tried their okdol bibimbob couple weeks ago. It was awful! all the vegetables weren't fresh and rice was too dry...
(1)Erica S.
Yum! Chocho's is one of my favorite spots, and within the Porter Exchange circuit it has the most and best options for vegetarians. Plus you get to space out to the crazy looking fish in the HUGE fish tank while you wait... pweetty feeshes! The menu has tons of options, from udon soups to tempura plates to tofu stew. I think their scallion pancakes are the best on the planet-- they have red and green peppers, zucchini, and summer squash in them!! So fried and greasy. So delicious! The udon soups are huge and come in a bunch of varieties, my favorite being the greasy veggie tempura. And speaking of tempura, try a tempura combination box. You'll end up with a ton of tempura (try the shrimp, it's amazing), rice, salad, steamed veggies, dumplings, and soup, all for about $10. Best of all, this is the one spot in Porter Exchange (other than Blue Fin, which I don't even think counts) that really feels like a restaurant. Rather than just plop you down at a cafeteria table in the middle of a hallway, this place has a real ambiance about it that sets it apart. And the food rocks. Basically, just go here when you are not on a diet and want to treat yourself to a grease fest. Sure, they have healthy options on their menu, but who cares?
(4)Sarah S.
I love cho cho's. To sum it up- affordable, inexpensive tasty authentic korean cuisine. I am obsessed with korean food- this place is awesome. Their hot pot soups/stews are soooo good- I always ask them to make it extra spicy for me, and they definitely come through with that. Love the side salad that they give you- the dressing is great. This place is a bit on the small side, kind of like a little cubicle in the mall, but don't avoid it- this place will satisfy that craving you have for tasty korean cuisine.
(5)Jason M.
Ahh, ChoCho's. You receive a high four stars from me. Why do you deserve such praise? Mostly because you do your best to have many different types of food, from korean to thai to japanese, and you pull it off rather well. That earns you 3 stars. You get an extra 1.5 stars for being mad inexpensive. Who else other than you, ChoCho's, will give me a bowl of Bibimbap in such great quantities for such a low price? This, my friend, is why I keep bringing visitors from other cities to you. Cause I can be a good host and buy em dinner without spending more than $14 on each guest.
(4)Wei W.
I've only been to Chocho's once in all my time of going to the Porter Exchange, and frankly, it's nothing to be really impressed by. Their beef dishes are mediocre and the service is average. Although their lunchbox specials are cheap, you're better off grabbing something at the surrounding restaurants, like Cafe Mami or Tampopo.
(2)Leah I.
Do you want to eat delicious food, in large portions, for teeny tiny amounts of money? Please go to Chocho's. I am relatively new to the area and I am a little intimidated by the restaurants in the Porter exchange/Lesley building (there's so many!) but I was brought to Chocho's by some friends and I have been back a few times. It is ridiculously amazing to me that for $10 I can have a soup and then this giant plate of shrimp tempura with rice, dumplings, salad and veggies (I think it's called a box meal on the mebu?). Never have I eaten so much for so little. The food is yummy - I have had shrimp/veggie tempura, chicken teriyaki, dumplings, and shumai and all have been really tasty. I know it is a Korean place and I am not familiar with Korean food, but everything on the menu looks great and I'm excited to go back and try more!
(4)Cee C.
Today we ate at Chochos' for lunch during the snow storm. The tom yum soup is very good-- comes with noodles and shrimp. My husband had very tasty and spicy ground pork over rice. This place is great for something to eat quickly. Prices are high, we spent $30 for lunch.
(3)Mimi W.
I'm with Liz K on this. I have gotten sick from eating here before. It kicks in right about the time when you're walking out of Porter Exchange and you start to feel like your stomach is cramping, only to give way to diarrhea within the hour. Other than that, the presentation is fabulous, and when you order a dinner set, it comes with a great many little side items -- salad, pickled veggies, little dumpling things (although the dumplings taste like they are frozen food). Like another reviewer said, though, their food is bland for korean food. The flavor is a little off, starting from the miso soup they give you that seems to have red bell pepper slices in it. The spicy tofu soup (which is like a Korean art form) didn't taste at all like the other authentic tofu soup places I've been to. Kind of watery and not spicy enough. None of this is worth the ass sputtering.
(2)Huan z.
You can tell how a restaurant take care of their food by looking how well they take care of their fish tank. Beautiful fish tank! Very well maintained. When they bring your tofu soup, they even tell you to crack the egg into the soup. Most Korean restaurant expect that you already know the procedure. They don't have chicken Udon noodle soup, but they put into my vege soup just for me. Great Service! Two Thumbs up! 4 stars for service and 3 stars for the food and 5 stars for taking care of their fish.
(3)Ju L.
This Cho Chos is in the HMart food court. Had the Kim Chi Fried Rice and it was wonderful -- definitely 4 stars! Didn't try anything else but can't wait to have Kim Chi Fried Rice again. I've also had Bibimbap at the Cho Chos at Porter Square, Cambridge, and that was so-so (more 3 stars).
(4)Heidi O.
I take-out from here all the time. Best scallion pancakes, crispy and chewy and tastiest home-cooked-tasting sundubu chigae...also the food comes with a set of veggie jiangpan ala athentic Korean eatery style rarely seen in Boston.
(5)Brian C.
Seafood pajeon left much to be desired. It lacked flavor (I could only taste squid) and it was a bit undercooked. Beef bulgoki combo meal with miso soup. The meal is served in a bento box. The service was prompt and friendly.
(3)Jamie A.
Their combination platters are just great, although I would recommend splitting one with a friend if you're not a big eater! The assortment of things you get with the combo is definitely fun-- I enjoyed the little dumplings the most, but also really liked the veggies with a bit of peanut sauce. The spicy chicken I ordered wasn't spicy, and I probably should have ordered Korean food, but I wasn't really in the mood. My boy ordered the chicken teriyaki and it was quite tasty. Since I'm fascinated by things pretty easily, I also enjoyed sitting right next to their amazing aquarium.
(3)Foodie K.
I really enjoy this little gem in the middle of Porter Exchange. Whenever I am looking for a hot, bubbling, spicy soondubu chigae (soft tofu stew), I always seem to end up here. My favorite is the pork soondubu chigae. Over the past year or so, they have expanded their menu to include non-Korean items, such as udon and pad thai. I've tried them all and they are all pretty tasty. Their specialty, however, are the Korean soondubu chigae's and their yook gae jang's (spicy shredded beef soup). They are salty, spicy, and delightful. Their broth is a beef base, and you can really taste the varying levels of richness in the background of the stews. I've tried so many times to duplicate their chigae at home, but with little success, so I end up coming back again and again. Get to know the owners! They are extremely friendly and helpful and love to see familiar faces.
(5)Crystal S.
It's a little odd that this Korean stand is tucked away in Porter Exchange where you can find a plethora of Japanese food and stores, but if you ever get a chance, you should try some food here! It is a great place to get some bibimbap or kimchi pajon when you're not up for a trip to Koreana (or up for cooking.) Tip: If you eat at Chochos, try their Korean food!!! The only time I've heard complaints is when people order Japanese food at Chochos. When people complain about this, I always ask them why they ordered Japanese food at a Korean food stand when there are awesome Japanese food stands right next door specializing in certain dishes.
(4)Anna S.
Two words: healthy box. Run, don't walk. Spicy chicken, teriyaki chicken, whatever (I'd avoid the salmon though--it's not much fish). The healthy box is like a bento box w/o sushi, and everything in it is delicious (except maybe the weird half-steamed carrots with peanut sauce). Do it. Its $10 you won't regret spending. Plus, the ladies who own the joint are really nice. And they deliver now, from foodler.com and campus food. Word up!
(4)Nathan R.
The food is over-priced and the bi bim bap needs a lot of work. Though the staff is friendly...the food is not.
(2)Milo S.
Great place to get a tasty meal at a reasonable price, service is good and owners are very friendly
(5)J L.
This is the restaurant I visit the most frequently when I'm in Porter Exchange. For some reason, it is the only Korean restaurant amidst 5 other Japanese restaurants. Their Soon Du Bu is my all time favourite. Those are especially satisfying in the winter. The appetizers that come with certain dishes are also wonderful. This is probably not a good place to get take out though, since their dishes are best eaten on location.
(4)Julia M.
I love the "healthy combo" meals at Chocho. For something like $8, you get a main dish (before I went pescetarian, I liked the teriyaki chicken and the spicy chicken), brown rice, salad, veggies, soup (I like the miso), and a steamed dumpling and shumai. It's a total feast and really affordable. I haven't really tried their other stuff, but I felt so virtuous ordering the healthy combos that I didn't regret eating out instead of cooking, so that gives Chocho 4 stars in my book!
(4)Maurice C.
I've been here maybe 3 times or so over the years. I never knew it was considered a Korean restaurant, because the menu seems decidedly pan-Asian to me, with elements of Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Thai cuisine throughout the menu. I usually get one of the healthy combos, which is a pretty good deal. A good, but not belly busting, amount of food that tastes pretty good and is cooked to order. My main problem is that the shumai comes covered in mayonaisse which I always wipe off with a napkin. The salad also comes covered in a mayonaisse based dressing, while I prefer viniagrette-style dressings. If I liked mayonaisse or was indifferent to it, this place would probably get 4 stars, but since I hate mayonaisse I'm going to just give them 3. The Bluefin Japanese restaurant next door is better, but this place isn't bad and it has really great prices.
(3)Cheryl D.
Only been here once, and the meal was good in general but . . . strange. Is it normal for kim chi pancakes to have bell peppers in them? The impression I got is Asian fusion-y, from looking at their menu, the decor, and the actual meal. If you and your fellow eaters are somewhat adventurous but can't decide between Japanese, Korean, and Thai, this would be a good choice. But not so much if you're missing your Korean mother's cooking. Oh, and our service was good, if kind of distant.
(3)yoora c.
This place has the best soon dubu chigae (soft tofu stew) I've had in the area. The seafood one seems to be the most flavorful. Order this, and you will get a nice little salad (simply dressed with oil, soy sauce, and pepper), four dishes of banchan (side dishes that the server has always been happy to refill--seems to normally be two kinds of kimchi, roasted&salted seaweed, and marinated fish cake), and most importantly, a raw egg (the other Korean places I've been to have actually omitted this important element!). This egg is to be cracked into the bubbling chigae as the heat is sufficient to cook the egg. Stir the egg a bit, but not too much, please, so that in a few minutes you will be able to spoon up from the depths beautiful baubles of perfectly set, creamy yolk that will rival the herd of silky tofu in textural delightfulness. The seafood soon dubu chigae also contains a mussel, some small scallops, and a headed prawn. I am spooked by the tiny boiled black eyes--the chigae I ate very recently came with two of the prawns so I quickly removed the heads and arranged pieces of lettuce over them (perhaps even spookier to think of dreamless, forever-awake eyes beneath pale green pillowcases?). I can't speak to any of the other dishes. The people who work here are really sweet. It's a low-key kind of place, and that's fine with me because I normally just come here by myself when I'm having a huge craving, ready to sweat.
(4)Tiffany D.
It's not bad for a quick bite to eat if you're in the mood for Korean.. but personally I'd rather go into Blue Fin to grab something to eat.... I mainly go to Porter Exchange just for good quality and quick/cheap japanese food so I hardly ever eat here unless all the other places are packed...
(3)christine m.
CHoCHo is a regular lunch place for me. ( I also had a big birthday party there several years back....the iItaians who came didn't know what to do with the chopsticks or the food!) Most often I get the salmon combo without sauce on the fish, all dressings on the side, no added salt, on anything, brown rice, and miso. They do it for me and I love them for it.. I often get a 'jones' for their soon dubu & go for the vegetable version which has big chunks of broccoli cauliflower and carrots. The seafood version always disappoints. They know me there and treat me kindly. A great place. BTW: I used to look at the fish tank but have been there so many times I don't notice it anymore. A bit og gossip: One day I was there for lunch sitting next to a rather famous Cambridge author. I overheard her say whenever she's down in the dumps she Googles herself. Well, I guess that's less expensive than a massage or beer!
(4)Tina B.
Cho-Cho's ! Located in Porter Sq. Very small place, owners are very friendly. I always order the Chicken Terriyaki Lunch Box Combo And nothing else. Great for a quick bite, parking is $1 for 30mins-1hr. The bubble tea stand is pretty good I am a definite repeat customer!
(4)Mags L.
kimchi and fried and rice. fried calamari for under $5? wha?!!! mi amigo's bulgogi was good. i've had a pretty good bi bim bap here, but mostly i like for things to be easy. and eating here is easy. food was unremarkable, but i was blown away by the convenience. and for me that pushes a 3 star joint to a 4.
(4)Gaelle D.
A great little Korean restaurant among the Japanese eateries (and the sushi place Blue Fin) in Porter Exchange, Chocho's is a very pleasant spot for lunch. I would give it five stars if it were a couple dollars cheaper, but that's just me:) Their Korean food is very, very good and plentiful. The lunch boxes are in the Japanese tradition and rather average (remember that it's a Korean place) but you have to try their soon tofu, which seems to be their specialty. It's a spicy tofu stew (spiciness is leveled to order) that comes in several varieties, combining one or several of seafood, beef, kimchi (spicy Korean pickle), etc. Very tasty, and filling! It also comes with a raw egg (!) that you can mix in yourself, and with three or four delicious little side dishes which reminded me of Korean BBQ at Koreana (Prospect St, Cambridge). Another good thing about this place is that they care about offering healthy food. For example you get to choose between white rice and brown rice. I also like the setup of the place, which feels more like a cozy little neighborhood restaurant than like an eatery in a mall (which it actually is).
(4)J C.
I could eat here everyday... Well, if I had enough cash. Everything is tasty and amazing!!! My favourite is the hot pot!
(5)Amy W.
Absolutely delicious!!! Bento boxes & soft tofu stew all day!!! I'm totally hooked on the soon du bu stew with the great side dishes. They make their own kim chi. Yum!! Service is prompt and a variety of patrons come and enjoy the terrific Korean food. Haven't tried their non-Korean food yet though.
(5)Kendra S.
I'm patting myself on the back on this one. Oh yes, I congratulate myself often when it comes to picking the right eatery. I got the child-friendly box checked, check on the affordability, and big checkmark next to the accessible parking. Although the ambience of the Porter Exchange is much like a throwback shopping mail, Chocho's does a good job of making its little corner of the court quite lovely with a fish tank and stylishly mod lighting. The menu is really user-friendly if you've never had Korean food before, but they have a lot of authentic favorites and the veggie mandoo-gook, with a little kimchee thrown in for flavor - is (gasp) nearly as good as my mother-in-law's. I was really pleased with how affordable the lunch menu was. We still received excellent service and large portion sizes (e.g. a mountain of edamame for under $3) and I still felt like we paid regular food court prices. There is parking in the back of the Exchange ($1 for the first hour, not bad) as well as metered parking all around. Sincere kam-sahm-nee-dahs to the good people of Chochos.
(4)Doris K.
It's not bad for a fast food place tucked away in the Porter Exchange mall. I would stick to their boxed lunch/dinner because they fill you up for a reasonable price. Avoid the hot and sour soup and just choose the miso soup when they ask. I tried the Mixed Soon Duboo soup and was disappointed. It had one shrimp, one calm, and about three pieces of beef in the soup and was mostly tofu. Their Ok Dol Bibimbap was really good and filling though. The flavors aren't really all too authentic and I didn't feel that things were spicy enough but it's fast and cheap. Prices are generally under $10 for an entree.
(3)Anonymous P.
I think this place is more healthy than good. The miso soup is really weak. The bi bim bap needs more oil. A bit expensive.
(3)Cynthia S.
I love Chocho's!!! My husband and I started going there about a year ago. Every time we go, we are greeted with the same friendly smiles and great service. I highly recommend the meals on the back of the menu. I tend to order the chicken katsu. It is wonderful! The tray comes with veggies, dumplings, salad, soup, rice, AND the chicken. So good...
(5)Sandra C.
The only Korean restaurant in the mall. It's very good and they will even make things very mild for you if you're afraid of Korean food for its spiciness. Definitely try their Korean tofu soup. Very flavourful with lots of seafood.
(4)So S.
Great Korean food for good prices. The bi bim bap is one of the best in town! Great side dishes. This, Buk Kyung li and Suiyashi in chinatown are the best authentic Korean places. Located in porter exchange and the only place there that accepts credit card!.
(4)Andrew L.
If you're looking for a place to fulfill your Korean Food desire, i would recommend ChoChos. Located in Porter Exchange they're the only Korean place among 6 Japanese restaurants. They make an amazing SoonTofu and their lunch boxes are amazing with an extremely large portion.
(5)Rally P.
When I first started frequenting the Japanese eateries in Porter Exchange a few years back, I couldn't help but notice that EVERY eatery always had a line up of people waiting for their chance to eat.... that is except the space occupied by a Korean eatery. That place was always empty. I never knew why, but I avoided it. As my wife would say with respect to Chinatown, avoid the restaurants where there are no crowds, the Chinese know. So that's what I did. Then a year or two ago (can't remember exactly), the space underwent a pretty major renovation, cleaning up the space and making it nice and modern. I have no idea if it was the same owners or new owners, but this is when I knew it to become "ChoCho's" and I finally decided to try it. What a pleasant surprise. The food was excellent (for an eatery), the staff was always pleasant, and the prices extremely good. But I always worried about that place because everytime I went, they were never full. However, I've continued to patronize there and I'm happy to report that they are usually busy.
(5)S K.
Chocho's is a very cute little place in the Porter Exchange. Great prices, and very tasty food (portions are generous but not too much). There is a fair selection of Korean food, but they also offer some Chinese and Japanese dishes, so it's more like a "Greatest Hits" menu than a real Korean restaurant. The Soon Tofu is great. I'm surprised that anyone would call this place "authentic", just because the actual Korean selection is pretty limited (as mentioned, kind of a Greatest Hits selection), but it's definitely recommended for good food, excellent service, and very pleasant (casual) ambience.
(4)Michelle C.
Hands down the most underrated place in the Porter Square Exchange (and, having lived near Porter for three years, and as an avid Asian food lover, I've eaten at every restaurant in there). I first ate here after coming to try Sapporo Ramen directly across from it and finding the line to be too long. So instead I grabbed a seat at Chochos, which almost always has open tables, and ended up feeling like I had discovered a hidden gem. By the end of my meal, I was feeling sorry for the chumps who were waiting in line across the hallway. I think the reason it's underrated is that the truth is most of the menu is just average: it's one of those kind of culturally confused restaurants that tries to be Asian fusion and serve something from everywhere. Don't come here for pad Thai or pho. Come here for the Korean food, which is what their actual expertise is. Specifically, come here for the Korean tofu soup (soondubu). It's hot and bubbling and has so much umami and is so satisfying on a cold day. You crack the egg in when it's still hot, and it thickens the soup beautifully-perfect to go with the hot steamed white rice. My personal favorite is the Alaska (salmon) soondubu. Pro tip: I like to take the (very generous amount) of salmon out when I first get it so that it doesn't get overlooked in the hot soup as I eat. I've been hooked on Chochos since the very first time, and tend to come here whenever I'm feeling down or sick. Truly comfort food! P.s. Yes, I've also tried Kaju in Harvard Sq. I think the side dishes that arrive before the entree are better at Kaju, but that their soup is much more bland compared to Chochos.
(4)Tuli S.
I really love their red curry and beef bibimbap bowl! Highly recommend. I've ordered a few noodle dishes here and the noodles are always overcooked so they are too squishy/sticky. I've also had the graw pao and it was so SO salty. Not edible. So it's hit or miss but they do some stuff perfectly.
(3)Shirley E.
Sub-par food. Cold miso soup. Uncle Ben's rice. Crappy chop sticks. Horrible Bulgogi. Wait staff kept rushing the guy next to us to leave. Not so bad Ginger shrimp. Never going back....
(2)Steve Y.
I made the trek here from the airport for Sapporo Ramen. While standing in line, I saw the picture if Nang Myun on the wall here and sat down. The owner was playing a video game on her phone. The place was empty. Sapporo Ramen was packed, yet I couldn't believe all those people across the way were eating salty, fatty, hot noodles in the summer Boston heat when I was enjoying an ice cold, beefy, noodle soup with the fat skimmed completely, leaving a refreshing meal perfect to beat the heat. You eat it with ample amount of vinegar in the soup and spicy mustard to give it a kick. It's cold, chewy, sour goodness.... Korean style. I sat here alone with a subtle smile on my face, feeling like I was the only one who knew a secret that those sweating across the way didn't know. The owner lady told me stories of her kids who live abroad and gave me some extra grub that made me miss my mom. The water used for the ice could use a new filter, but I didn't care. It was worth the bus, train, and walk to get here and I will do it again.
(4)Andrew T.
Grilled chicken was awful, chicken texture was like plastic. The rest of the food ordered looked great
(1)Tess C.
Whoa, surprised by Shirley E's review. They have an extensive menu so I can't say 100% that their food is above-par, but I've had nothing but warm miso soup and they make authentic Korean rice from their rice cooker. Chopsticks are just the usual disposable ones you have to crack apart. I guess those are crappy. I had delicious bulgogi! Their galbi is mediocre, though. A million times better than the lard fest that BonChon serves, but you are better off going to HMart and getting their uncooked galbi. Just cook on a skillet at home and enjoy! This place is underrated for sure. And I'm half Korean whose mother raised her on lots of Korean food!
(5)Martin C.
Tucked in amongst the tiny ramen and sushi spots in Lesley's Porter Square building, ChoCho's is a small oasis of Asian comfort food and friendly service. As you step in, the entire menu appears before your eyes: the walls are covered with pictures of each dish, conveniently labeled to guide you through the mainly Korean-Thai cuisine on offer. The usual territory is covered: Pad Thai, Kimchee, dumplings, soups, rice dishes and the like, but it's hard to stray from Bib Bim Bap served in a hot stone bowl, the rice still sticky and steaming hot at the bottom, underneath beef, root veggies and a egg simmering on top. Service is quick and friendly; they'll drop off a bowl of miso soup before your meal arrives.
(4)H W.
I love ChoCho's and especially with Kaya gone this is a go-to Korean spot. My favorite item is ok dol salmon tartare bibimbap. Udon soup with tempura is also great. Lunch plates are a good bargain. I have eaten here many, many times and always had friendly service and consistently good food.
(4)Jolene S.
It was good. I took a tip to try the Soon Tofu (had the pork variety). Would prefer to have a soft boiled egg on top instead of cracking a cold egg open into hot soup...but lots of good sides and very filling. Come hungry and leave satisfied. Very good service for a mall dining spot. Would be hard to choose over Cafe Mami at lunch, but good for a change.
(3)James C.
Even though this isn't a fancy Korean restaurant, and doesn't have as deep of a menu as many Asian restaurants, this place is remarkable for a couple of reasons: - I'm often dining in Koreatown in LA and NYC, and nobody prepares soondubu (tofu stew) anywhere as well as ChoCho's. Even my Korean mom who can't be beat admitted that she couldn't make soondubu as well as ChoCho's. There's nothing better on a cold day, or when you're simply feeling the need for spice. - For those who aren't into soondubu, the ok dol bimbimbap is great (definitely get it in the stone pot to crisp up the rice on the bottom, and it's good for people like my Irish wife who want to have control over spice levels). - Even though the chicken teriyaki plate isn't really Korean, that plate makes my son very happy (and it's huge). - They serve up a good selection of free banchan (Korean side dishes). - The prices are quite friendly. It's a remarkably affordable splurge. - They treat repeat customers extremely well. My kids just love going there. My only advice for those who don't do Korean food regularly is that if you're wondering how to eat the stuff on the table (e.g., how do you cook the raw egg?), don't be afraid to ask. Even though I no longer live in Boston and can't go anywhere near as much as I'd like, ChoCho's remains my family's favorite restaurant.
(5)Henry Z.
Food is ok, spicy seafood noodle, seafood pancake. But be aware, a lot of small flies around the corner table! will never come back
(1)Josh Y.
I actually worked at I Heart Sushi as a waiter for 9 months and I've eaten multiple times at all the restaurants at Lesley Square. I'm going to review all the restaurants eventually. Admittedly, I have tried mostly the Korean food on the menu but I would say the Korean food is delicious and a good deal. But I will say that Korean food is their forte. I believe they should just change to serving mostly Korean food, with a few exceptions. Food Specific Soondubu: The best soondubu I've had in this area, if not one of the best I've ever had. I've been to both Kaju Tofu's (Cambridge and Allston) and also tried Soondubu at the Cambridge BonChon. I will never get soondubu from those other locations and always come to ChoCho's. Kalbi: Tastes very good but even better is the price. For 2 short ribs and rice, most other places charge close to $20 but here it's closer to $10. If you want some good Korean BBQ for cheap, this is defeinitely the place to do it. In conclusion, I would recommend trying the above dishes and other Korean dishes first and then trying other things on the menu. If they narrowed down their menu to where their strengths lie, I would give this place 5 stars.
(4)Monika S.
I have mixed feelings about this place. First time I went there I loved my dish. I ordered some traditional dish in a stone pot. On my second visit I ordered Pad Thai with beef. The beef was awful - too hard to chew; Pad Thai wasn't so great either. However, their citrus tea with honey was really good. I might try going there again to see if I have a better luck with dishes third time.
(2)Less H.
I like Korean food a lot. I've had bulgogi at a number of places across the state and this was pretty much the worst I've ever had. Bland, lacking in flavor, and the meat tasted not quite right. The rice was dry and the carrots tasted like they'd spent a few months in the bottom of a wet cooler. The food was not tasty. Service was weird. An older lady sat in the front to greet and seat people, but the place was empty and she was watching videos on a laptop. The waitress was fine but then I wasn't a difficult customer, I knew what I wanted and didn't have questions. My water was warm. My soda was ice cold. Which was the best part of my meal. The menu was mostly Korean with some Americanized Chinese food for good measure. Why? Just do good Korean food. Will I go back here? No. I'd rather marinate and cook my own bulgogi.
(1)Geena P.
Tried this place for the first time last night with my boyfriend and we LOVED it! We shared a bulgogi bento box for only $9.95! It came with tender, yummy bulgogi, a salad, rice, pickled carrots and radishes, miso soup, and a potato croquette. I think the potato isn't usually part of the box.. they said they ran out of what's usually there instead. We also got orders of steamed pork dumplings and steamed shumai. All of it was delicious! This place is the least busy (nearly empty) out of all the other little Asian restaurants in the mall, but don't think anything of it! The food is awesome and you get it FAST. The best part? You don't have to wait a half hour on a Friday night to get seated like at the other restaurants. As you sit and enjoy your meal, you can also laugh at the pathetic people waiting in line and salivating for food. It's a win/win!
(5)Andrea E.
This place is great if you're looking for something casual and fast. The food is really good - the bim bim bap was some of the best Korean I've had and the miso definitely outstripped that of other similar restaurants in the area (including Zoe's). The service is amazing. We were served quickly and the miso I mentioned above was given to me on the house because my meal came out only a minute or so after my husband's. The owner and servers are really appreciative of the business and go above and beyond to make diners happy. Will be going back for sure.
(5)Jessica F.
Nothing fancy, but great food made fresh and fast service. Their bibimbap is filled with great veggies and literally served sizzling hot.
(4)Alex H.
I think most sane people can agree that Korean food represents the apex of human culinary achievement. So I was happy when I found out about Chochos, an inexpensive Korean place conveniently located in Porter. The first time I went, a year or so ago, I had kimchi jjigae, and I remember it being ok, though not particularly spicy or substantial. But recently I went back with a few friends. We all ordered bibimbap variations (adventurous, I know) and I was really disappointed. My friend found a long hair in his bowl immediately, and I found what looked like an eyelash in mine a minute later. Two out of the three dishes were not even hot enough to merit the term "lukewarm"--they were closer to just being cold. Basically I think I could have made something just as tasty at home, which is saying something given my lack of cooking ability. Anyway, maybe we just came on a bad night, and to be fair the prices are good, but there's probably a reason this place is normally half-empty when all the surrounding restaurants in the building have huge lines.
(2)Simon L.
Yeah pretty amazing. Atlantic cod, deep fried, not so healthy even though its on the healthy menu absolutely fantastic. Breaded and fried hard, the fish is tender. Served with a soy tartar sauce for dipping, the two nicely sized filets are nearly ideal fish sticks made for use with chopsticks as if they are sushi morsels. A salad of fresh greens, shredded daiakon, a slice of perfectly ripe plum tomatoe and beet strings is doused in an tangerine dressing. The shumai and pork dumplings are exquisitely tasty, pan fried perfectly. Kimchi, while not meant to accompny this meal, is excellent. Start off with a standard bowl of miso.
(4)Lauren D.
Never order delivery from here. Over 2 hours door to door. Failed to deliver half of the items. Everything arrived cool/lukewarm. Not worth it for the price.
(2)Phung N.
I love their healthy combo meals. It comes with soup as an appetizer and then the meal comes itself with a salad with this amazing dressing, fried 2 dumplings, carrots n broccoli, and rice. All this for 9.99! You know what else is great? Their crab rangoon. I have no idea what else they put in there besides cream cheese and crab but it tastes so good n crispy that I usually have to buy another one to satisfy my hunger haha I highly reccomend this place for anyone that wants a good meal for a great price
(5)Sesha P.
This place is exceptional in many ways: the food is perfectly spicy, the service is fast and courteous, and the prices are low, even compared to other Asian restaurant restaurants. What I like best: they bring you water with no ice, without having to ask!
(5)Ali S.
If you love bulgogi and love fried rice, ask for bulgogi fried rice. It's not on the menu but they will make it for you. It's absolutely delicious. I've hooked a few friends on this dish.
(4)Vee K.
Unfortunately I got food poisoning from the spicy seafood noodles there this weekend. The oyster was really sandy so that should have clued me in that it was not well cleaned. Those who ate with me ordered other things and were fine.
(1)Nicholas S.
Choco's: still amazing. I adore this place. The salmon tartare bibimbap in the stone bowl is truly one of the very best dishes in Cambridge. The raw salmon cooks in a few minutes from the heat of the of the stone bowl, so the fish is perfectly cooked: soft and succulent. An amazing bibimbap. I come back for it as often as I can.
(5)Shuang C.
Had their Mixed soondubu and yookgaejang the past 2 times I've been there, the portions were nice and the food tasted decent, but don't expect legit Korean flavors. Treat it as soup from a random part of asia and you'll be fine. They also give you seaweed to confuse you further, but I like it. Tl,dr: Don't expect authentic Korean soup, just cheap filling meal that taste kinda good.
(3)Alexis C.
This place is pretty bad--maybe a 1.5. It has mainly Korean food, but there's a bunch of other Asian cuisine on the menu. I've only ordered the Korean items, but they've disappointed me every time. I don't know who does the cooking but when I can cook it far better, that's a sign something ain't right. They used to give a couple banchan with your order, but they stopped doing that completely. The service is abysmal. I don't expect Chatty Kathy to be the waitress (actually, my favorite waiters are the supportive but silent type), but would it kill you to stop glaring and at least look neutral when I smile at you repeatedly? Getting a refill on the water is pretty hard, too. Now I just frequent the surrounding food stalls.
(2)Fujiko D.
Boston's really expensive. So much so that when I find a place that serves food at prices I used to pay for a normal meal, it's considered a bargain. Chocho's is one of those places. $10 for a fresh, delicious, filling Korean meal! That's like, unheard of around these parts. My husband and I ended up choosing this place over the other Asian places in this food area since it takes credit cards and no one else did. The Bi Bim Bap was delicious. All ingredients were fresh and I had the raw salmon. Impressive. I love how there's a hint of sweetness in a good bi bim bap chili sauce. Mmmmm. Fresh veggie and raw fish melody... I've their Udon also, but that's Japanese. It wasn't bad. Especially for $6. Perhaps a tad bit bland, but had tasted pretty Japanese. Ambiance... one step up from a mall food court. The service is fast and the server is always friendly.
(4)Tanya Y.
Something about going to Porter Square makes you feel like you've stepped out of Cambridge into a completely different city. Everything feels very real and authentic once you step foot into the building. The people making ramen and sushi are actually Japanese and greet you like you were in Japan (Irashiaemase!), rather than the usual Chinese or Hispanic person you'd see else where. There are variety of different stalls with either Japanese of Korean Cuisine; being a Korean Food fanatic, I automatically veered towards ChoCho's. They have lunch combos which are similar to Bento Boxes that you can find at other places. I ordered the Bulgolgi [Korean Marinated Beef] combo, which comes with rice, a side salad, two fried dumplings, a shumai dumpling, and a choice of miso soup or hot and sour soup, all for a grand total of $10.49. Sweet deal! Everything was pungent and delicious. My only downfal is the amount of rice given; I'm a HUGE rice eater and always find that I need a little extra to sop up all of the yummy sauces from the beef. There is parking available at a decent price behind the building. If you stay from 1 min to 1 hour, you only have to pay $1.00. Today I got my meal to go and only had to pay $1.00 -- no complaints here. After your meal you can venture off to the Japonaise Bakery Stall and get some yummy pastries, or the Bubble Tea booth or even walk off your meal and do a little shopping at City Sports. Highly recommended and will definitely come here again :)
(4)Kelly B.
I've only been once, but everything was perfect. Incredible miso (like, beautiful, complex flavors like a fine wine), and the two entrees we ordered were both spot-on. The tofu fried rice was just fried enough to be tasty but not too oily. The salmon tartare okdol was fantastic; very fresh salmon and really good sauce too. Generally speaking, I was quite impressed.
(5)Angela A.
A decent alternative when you just can't handle the Sapporo Ramen or Cafe Mami lines. A nice thing is that this place serves Korean dishes like bi bim bap and bulgogi. The service was OK, and our food was generally tasty, if not particularly memorable. Some decent edamame, my tofu bi bim bap was fine. I wouldn't go out of my way to come back here.
(3)Kobayashi M.
I came in over the weekend and there were only two tables seated. Meanwhile, Sapporo Ramen had a line out the back so I knew it was going to be a mistake to visit this establishment. However, my friend didn't want to wait so I acquiesced to try this deserted place. The food ended up being ok, however, it was the terrible service that I am not happy about. The waitress (Asian lady) was impatient and did a terrible job hiding her annoyance at being asked 2 or 3 questions. I really should have left a much smaller tip. I am tolerant of slow service or mediocre food, but I have 0 tolerance for attitude. 1 star, and never coming back. I've been eating out ALOT lately in all kinds of restaurants, and this is the first time ever I've encountered such terrible service.
(1)Dani S.
Mostly I've found this place to be enjoyable. There's mostly Korean food, but also some Japanese, Chinese, Thai...it's not outstanding by any means, there's far better out there. But the atmosphere and look of the place is casual, really low key. One of those places that when you go, sit down, you don't really expect fantastic food, - you don't expect crap, either, but one of those places you kind of have an idea of what you will get, and can either be pleasantly surprised, or disappointed, depending how much you were expecting from the place.
(4)Sara M.
I really wanted some spicy chigae in a hot pot so I could crack an egg in it (I'm sorely missing Cho Dang Tofu back in IL). I searched Yelp and found two contenders but chose this one. Not quite sure if I chose wisely... However, I dragged my husby anyway and we arrive only to encounter a rather slow-moving server. We order a beef/kimchee soon duboo and a pork soon duboo, as well as a kalbi entree to share. I didn't think it should be that bad but it seemed like eating didn't do a thing in terms of putting a dent in the food. We pretty much took the entire kalbi entree home. So my kimchee and beef chigae was hot and filling. It didn't have the same roundness of flavor that I was expecting, although it was spicy enough. Husby actually liked it better since it was tamer but he doesn't really like this stuff anyway. We received four banchan, which included nori. I wasn't really sure what to make of that since I didn't want to put it in my soup. The rice was cooked alright but the kalbi lacked that fatty, juicy meatiness - it was quite dry and overcooked. I left extremely full but a little unsatisfied. The prices were not abnormally high either. I will just have to keep searching for a comparable chiage place but at least I am getting closer.
(3)susan c.
the worst service i've ever experienced in my life. the waitress cannot deal with the questions (even when done with smile and respect) and shows the annoyance explicitly. she doesn't make eye contact and gets upset when you try to communicate with her. i am never going back to this place.
(1)Katrina S.
I love going to Porter Exchange - it's a monthly (sometimes more often) tradition. I rotate between all the restaurants, and like Chocho's for their serving size and price. I love the family business vibe too. But they recently change their menu and now the box sets are smaller then before - no more shumai, dumpling and side serving of picked radishes. The food lacked the flavor it used to and the server was not personable, borderline rude. This used to be one of my favorites in the Exchange - but after this visit, I will not eat there again.
(2)Jess L.
Chocho's "healthy combos" are $9.95 and packed with food: a main dish (salmon, teryiki chicken, chicken katsu, etc.), rice, salad, veggies, soup, shumai, dumplings. Great! The service was a little impersonal but relatively speedy. I feel like this place really put some thought into the decor, versus some of the other venues on this "Asian food" lane. The chicken katsu sauce tasted a bit like BBQ sauce - different than the curry-like sauce that usually comes with katsu. The shumai was surprisingly tasty!
(4)Joanna C.
You know, I didn't notice the fish tank. Where was it?? I didn't expect Porter Exchange to be the slice of Asian heaven it was. I was tempted to go to the other "Food Stalls" but my dining partner and I decided to stick with the original plan of Korean, and went to Chocho's. The dining area is cute -several handfuls of little tables, and we made it right before the rush so we were able to find seats in no time. The lady behind the counter looked tired/stressed, but she obligingly got us menus, and took our orders. I've been eating "healthy" all week (i.e. salads and other green things), so decided to splurge my diet points on pork katsu. Mmmm... love, absolutely LOVE katsu. My dining companion decided on the bibimbap, and we also got an order of kimchee. You have to order kimchee separately? But why? Why doesn't it come with the ban chan? Oh wait... there is no ban chan. But wait... WHY NOT?? My bento box type meal came with a cute little salad, some gyoza/shumai, steamed veggies with a weird peanut sauce on it, and my pork katsu. Who doesn't love some fried pork cutlet? I loved that I was able to order brown rice with my meal, and it came in a pleasant scoop. Mmm... lets dig into this katsu. Except wait... why doesn't it give? Why do I have to forcibly rip into it with my teeth rather than have it delicately have that *crisp* as I bite into it? And umm... katsu sauce? Where is the katsu sauce?? Dear lord... is that... ketchup? Oh... disappointing. SO disappointing. I appreciated the ginger dressing on my salad, but Korean style would've been with 1000 island. You know it. And the essence of the katsu is the katsu sauce! My katsu was missing its essence. I was saddened. My general meal was... 2 stars. Boo. But I give Chocho's 3 since I love that there's Korean represented in this slice of Japan. And it was an okay meal - nothing terribly wrong. It was just... missing the loving. And I need some loving with my meal.
(3)Heather K.
When I come here I love to get the Mandu Guk. It is quite delicious~ There is hardly ever a wait, and the service is wonderful. Everything I've ever ordered here was amazing. I was also impressed that they were open on New Year's day while the other shops around it where closed.
(5)Kyungah C.
I am just finishing up my review I started in December 2011 on this restaurant, and have not gone back there since then. Dec 2011 visit was the first visit for us (and you bet it will be the last visit), and we ordered Dduk bok ki, jajangmyun, seafood soon du boo and the tidbit combo. While the tidbit combo was okay and grilled hot and was the best dish out of four, it was the worst $40 we have ever spent on a meal. If you are looking for some good Korean food, try Color (soon to be Bibim) on Harvard Ave in Allston, or Koreana on Prospect Street in Cambridge. Their price may be higher, but the food is much better.
(2)Tammy L.
I've been here twice. What I do like about this restaurant is the fish tank. I sat next to it the two times that I went there. The first time I went there, I ordered one of the chicken combo lunch box meals. The meat was pretty good, but the rice was too dry. The salad and its dressing was awesome and it was my favourite, aside from the meat. The second time I went, I tried the Ok Dol Bibim Bap. Again, the rice was dry and there was too much of it. I would prefer it to have more meat and eggs, but I felt like I was just eating a huge bowl of rice that smelled pretty good, but tasted bland.
(3)Christina M.
Of all the places to eat in the Porter Exchange, this is definitely my favorite. I really enjoy eating Korean food (especially Korean bbq!), and this is a good spot to get a quick, cheap, easy lunch or dinner. The box meals are the best deal, since you get miso soup, rice, 1 shumai, 2 dumplings, salad with ginger dressing (yummy), small side of carrots/broccoli, and a meat of your choice--all for 10 bucks! Plus, the girl who works there is really nice, and if you are a chopstick using spaz like myself, a fork is never far away...hurray. I only wish they still had their amazing fish tank with all of the tropical fish.
(4)RM S.
I had the seafood soup noodle. The noodles look like they were from Sapporo but slightly overcooked. But otherwise it was fine.
(3)Shaina P.
Chocho's offers some Japanese dishes and some Pad Thai but I've decided you can't go wrong when you order a legitimate Korean dish. I'm obsessed with dumpling soup with those clear potato noodles lately. The broth is extremely mild, but just so satisfying. I like Koreana's version with rice cakes and beef, but Chocho's offers this soup in a semi-vegetarian way (veggie dumplings in lieu of pork) and there are double the amount of dumplings floating in the oversized bowl. Chocho's is also one of the only places in the Porter Exchange where you can get a FULL cheap meal without having to share you table with slurpy strangers. Tip your waitresses well! They help prep your food, seat you, serve you, and manage to keep a smile on their faces!
(4)herp d.
Their tempura is great; They give you a different variety of veggies than most places, I think mine had squash, zucchini, broccoli, sweet potato, and onions, as well as big tasty shrimp. Their shumai are very good as well, though a word of warning: They're SUPER hot when they're brought to the table. I learned the hard way, but between the temperature and the time it takes to reach the table, you can tell they're doing it fresh and not heating up some crap from a freezer. My mother and I split their spicy seafood noodle soup. The broth was really flavorful and the noodles were perfectly done, but there wasn't that much seafood, unfortunately. There was an alright amount, but it was a little overcooked and when I'm ordering a mix of seafood, I expect a little more than what they gave. I also didn't think it was that spicy, but my mother's eyes were watering, so I suppose that's a matter of personal taste =P Still, this is a good place, would definitely go again. Fairly cheap, very tasty, good service. All things I look for in a restaurant.
(4)