Cafe Mami

Within The Shops at Porter in Cambridge, there is a courtyard of several small Japanese restaurants. Cafe Mami has two large tables and a few seats at the counter. There may be a wait so come early and bring cash.

Cafe Mami serves classic Japanese cuisine including curry and hamburg steak. The dishes are made to order and the taste shows. The curry and steak both come with miso soup and salad. The veggie curry blends a very generous portion of either chicken, pork, beef, or tofu (chose pork) with a plethora of vegetables including broccoli, carrots, and cabbage. The curry is strict to form and is thick and creamy prepared with chicken and beef broth with the ideal level of spice and served with white rice. Also the option to add fried egg and/or cheese for a little extra.

Hamburger steak sets are unique and hearty. The Wafu hamburg set combines a hearty ground beef steak with a flavorful ginger/ponzu sauce and a shredded ginger "compote." The hamburg is served with a small red potato and rice. Can add fried egg and/or cheese to the hamburg sets. Recommend the fried egg with this juicy and tender steak. Combine the hamburg, egg, and ginger compote for the perfect bite. The chili tomato hamburg set, complete with two plump tomatoes atop the steak, is sweet and slightly spicy in a thick chili tomato sauce. Think bolognese meets sriracha. Want the best of curry and hamburger steak? Combine for the hamburg curry.

The donburi are also great deals with a lot of flavor in a small bowl and a side of miso soup. The salmon veggie yaki don is cooked to proper tenderness and is served over rice and vegetables with a spicy sauce.