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End of an era as Porter's Tampopo closes down

Mike Deehan

People sit at tables inside the Porter Exchange food court in Cambridge, Mass., with several restaurant counters visible in the background. — Diners eat at the Porter Exchange food court in Cambridge. Photo: Ted Fitzgerald/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images.

After 34 years anchoring the Porter Square food court, Tampopo is officially winding down operations at the end of this month.

Why it matters: Longtime patrons are flocking to the tiny eatery for a final taste of its signature katsu don, creating lines out the door during its final weeks.

Chef-owner Yasumasa Ito opened the iconic donburi and noodle bodega in 1992 and helped shape Cambridge's "Little Tokyo" hub of Japanese restaurants.

State of play: After more than 30 years serving affordable Japanese comfort food to the Lesley crowd, Ito decided it was time to close the shop on his own terms to travel and spend time with family.

The closure marks the end of an era for locals who cherished its unique, intimate atmosphere.

What they're saying: "Tampopo is the only spot in Boston that made me feel like I was in Japan," social media creator The Fake Food Show said of the shop, which the host called one of his favorite restaurants in the world.

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End of an era as Porter's Tampopo closes down

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