The Neponset Cafe is a small Japanese restaurant in Dorchester that primarily features ramen, despite the restaurant’s name—which comes from its location on Neponset Avenue, right next to Neponset Circle. (Don’t confuse it with a very different Neponset Cafe across the river in Canton. That one is a pizza joint, not a Japanese restaurant.)

Barbara and I had a yummy lunch at Dorchester’s Neponset Cafe yesterday. Barbara had kagoshima ramen, described on the menu as “light flavor, mixed broth made from pork and chicken. Topped with chashu, seasoned egg, scallion, bamboo shoots, bean sprout and fried onion.” I had sakurajima ramen, described as “spicy mixed broth made from pork and chicken paired with garlic and soy sauce. Topped with chashu, seasoned egg, scallion, bamboo shoots, bean sprout and fried garlic.” Warning to non-pork-eaters: chashu is braised pork belly (as delicious as all the other ingredients). Note that the sakurajima is described as spicy; while it might or might not be spicy enough for Sara Moulton, it was perfect for me.

Note also that lunch is served only Friday–Sunday, and that the cafe is closed on Thursdays:

Categories: Dorchester/Boston, Food & Restaurants