Social Profile: 
✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out ✔️Delivery
… View more
Mimi’s Chūka Diner serves up comforting, authentic Chūka food at an affordable price in a welcoming environment. Chūka Riyori, is Japanese that translates literally to Chinese cuisine, and refers to cuisine from mainland China that has been influenced and shaped by Japanese palates and cooking styles. Mimi’s takes the distinctive Chūka style and combines it with influences from classic American mid-century diners and luncheonettes. Famous for our handmade Mimi’s gyoza, Sichuan chili wontons, and Chūka-style Mapo Tofu.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 14 Tyler St Suite 102, Somerville, MA 02143
Phone: (617) 996-6062
Website: https://mimischukadiner.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: resy.com
Related Web Results
Mimi’s Chūka Diner – Restaurant, Noodles, Dumplings
Mimi’s Chūka Diner is a full-service restaurant serving a meaningful blend of Japanese-adapted Chinese cuisine with the accents of a classic American diner.
Mimi’s Chūka Diner (@mimischukadiner) · Somerville, MA – Instagram
DINE IN: Tue-Thurs 5-10pm. Friday 5-11pm. Sat 12-11pm. TAKEOUT: Sun & Mon 12-8:30. Tue-Sat 12-CL . By @teddy_jai and @jonawerman …
Book Your Mimi’s Chuka Diner Reservation Now on Resy
Mimi’s Chuka Diner is a cozy owner-operated 36-seat restaurant located between Union and Porter Square in Somerville. We serve “chūka ryōri,” which is a style …
Reviews
Gloria Ha
I’ve been meaning to try Mimi’s for a while after seeing their fun social media posts. I never knew there was this vendor/restaurant area further inside of Aeronaut — it was super packed by the time we finished dinner!
While the menu was very interesting, I felt most of the food was not quite what I wanted taste-wise. My favorite, surprisingly, was the ebi chili — I thought it would be too sweet, but the shrimps were very plump and tender and the seasoning was addictively good. I’d definitely get this again!
I felt that the chicken karaage was a bit under-seasoned, though crispy and juicy. I also felt that the garlic noodles were under-seasoned and rather oily. This is probably just a taste preference, though –my husband said the noodles were salty enough for him.
The chili wontons were nothing special and could’ve used more saucy flavor. The cucumber salad was decent though quite sour. The persimmon beet salad was alright — I would’ve preferred much more persimmon than beet. I also felt that the salads would have paired better with the mains, but they came out first so the balance wasn’t quite there.
Overall this was a fun experience. I’d be interested in trying some of their other recommended items.
… moreWhile the menu was very interesting, I felt most of the food was not quite what I wanted taste-wise. My favorite, surprisingly, was the ebi chili — I thought it would be too sweet, but the shrimps were very plump and tender and the seasoning was addictively good. I’d definitely get this again!
I felt that the chicken karaage was a bit under-seasoned, though crispy and juicy. I also felt that the garlic noodles were under-seasoned and rather oily. This is probably just a taste preference, though –my husband said the noodles were salty enough for him.
The chili wontons were nothing special and could’ve used more saucy flavor. The cucumber salad was decent though quite sour. The persimmon beet salad was alright — I would’ve preferred much more persimmon than beet. I also felt that the salads would have paired better with the mains, but they came out first so the balance wasn’t quite there.
Overall this was a fun experience. I’d be interested in trying some of their other recommended items.
Alex Issokson (Boston Foodie)
Just had a fantastic dinner here w/ B-side!! The chicken karage was my favorite thing on the menu—super crispy and well seasoned and the kewpie mayo with it was the perfect touch. I can’t remember the last time I had tofu either, but the mabo dofu was also tasty. Not too spicy for m me and great with the rice! Don’t sleep on the potato salad either. Trust me on this one!
… moreKaLe E
We got catering to go and everything was delicious! The items were:
1) Garlic noodles
2) Fried tofu with peppers and onions
3) Fried chicken
4) Smashing cucumbers
5) Edamame
6) White rice
LOVED the garlic noodles! I literally had seconds of everything (but no rice as I didn’t want to fill up on it). I definitely want to visit the diner for their fried chicken and garlic noodles! Loved the edamame had a little spice to it.
Boxes of my leftovers from the event.
… more1) Garlic noodles
2) Fried tofu with peppers and onions
3) Fried chicken
4) Smashing cucumbers
5) Edamame
6) White rice
LOVED the garlic noodles! I literally had seconds of everything (but no rice as I didn’t want to fill up on it). I definitely want to visit the diner for their fried chicken and garlic noodles! Loved the edamame had a little spice to it.
Boxes of my leftovers from the event.
Zahi Kakish
Phenomenal food and ambiance! Really gave a unique diner feel. Cocktails are reasonably priced and taste great! Owner constantly checks on the patrons and cafes about what comes out.
… morePhum Auacherdkul
We really appreciate the food here and definitely will come back to try more on the menu. We had 2 kinds of dumplings which made in house and it is definitely one of the best dumpling I had in Boston area. I wish they have pan-fried version of gyoza though which will boost the flavor and texture. We also ordered ebi chilli and subuta. We love flavor which I dont think you can find in the area. They are really delicate with their dish. Their cocktail is also really good though. I would encourage people to come here and explore all the flavor. It’s a fun experience!!
… moreMarin Gardner
The service was great and the diner aesthetic was cute but unfortunately we just weren’t a fan of our entrees. The beet salad we got as a starter was delicious, so we had high hopes. But the mabo dofu was way too syrupy and sweet. We couldn’t eat very much of it because of the sweetness level. We also got the chicken karaage, and the chicken itself was cooked pretty well, but I was hoping there would be a bit more to the sauce than just mayo. It just wasn’t very flavorful. We ate about half of that dish too, and got the rest boxed up, but unfortunately they didn’t box up the rest of the mayo sauce (there was at least a half cup left) or the cabbage that comes with the chicken – so they just sent us home with dry chicken. We didn’t realize until we got home. We were really happy with the prices though, and grateful that we didn’t spend that much on these dishes.
… moreJeff Pineda Jr
This place is fantastic, the food is amazing. The pork and cabbage gyoza are so dang good, crispy and delicious with a bit of a spicy kick. The location is built into the back of a brewery and isn’t huge, it feels cozy and unpretentious. Staff was super nice. Will be back next time I’m in the area!
… moreNakul Kadaba
Wonderful diner within Aeronaut brewery in Somerville! Had a great time coming with friends here to get Chinese food in a style reminiscent of street food.
We were able to reserve a table in advance, but know that wait times are typically 10-30 minutes. A lot of the ambiance is due to the brewery, but they have a separate space to call their own. Drinks were good, and the food was terrific. Make sure to get the dumplings, and the chicken dishes (especially the chicken karaage).
Service can be a bit hectic depending on the peak hours, but it’s worth the wait. The team is very friendly and happy to accommodate as much as they can. Price is appropriate for the area it’s in. Overall, would recommend and look forward to coming back!
… moreWe were able to reserve a table in advance, but know that wait times are typically 10-30 minutes. A lot of the ambiance is due to the brewery, but they have a separate space to call their own. Drinks were good, and the food was terrific. Make sure to get the dumplings, and the chicken dishes (especially the chicken karaage).
Service can be a bit hectic depending on the peak hours, but it’s worth the wait. The team is very friendly and happy to accommodate as much as they can. Price is appropriate for the area it’s in. Overall, would recommend and look forward to coming back!
Jea Kim
Pandemic-era bento pop-up turned into a brick-and-mortar diner.
Interesting concept. Asian diner is still a rarity in the Northeast (usually a NY/LA trend),and since Somerville doesn’t have a lot of good options for Asian food, this seemed like a perfect addition. One of the co-founders has Chinese-Japanese roots, and the menu was a mix of Chinese and Japanese comfort classics.
We visited for dinner on a Tuesday evening and found the space almost empty. It’s a bit tucked away, and while Aeronaut Brewing next door was busy, this place didn’t seem like the obvious companion spot for a casual beer bite. Still, the food was well-executed and comforting (Though I would have probably loved it more if this came in a casual bento box).
Our favorites were the Subuta and the Garlic Noodles. In the former, we expected the usual heavy, glossy glaze on the pork, but this version came lightly coated. It looked dry at first glance, but the pork was cooked perfectly. Lean, but not tough or stringy. Surprisingly enjoyable with a more restrained touch.
Garlic noodles was the most recommended item on the menu, and it was great. Lo mein-style noodles often struggle with blandness due to their thickness, but not here. The triple garlic sauce and garlic confit delivered an assertive, well-balanced punch, and the sprinkle of (what I assume was) black garlic powder added a warm, toasty aroma that rounded out its flavors. Not a must, but possibly the best in the area.
The other two dishes—Ebi Chili and Chicken Karaage—were both solid. With a huge bowl of steamed white rice on the table, all these entrées just worked together nicely. Nothing mind-blowing, but no complaints.
Only miss was the Sichuan-style chili wontons. My friend insisted on trying these, but they were underwhelming. Overcooked filling, bland sauce, and zero heat. Felt like a watered-down version of the real thing.
… moreInteresting concept. Asian diner is still a rarity in the Northeast (usually a NY/LA trend),and since Somerville doesn’t have a lot of good options for Asian food, this seemed like a perfect addition. One of the co-founders has Chinese-Japanese roots, and the menu was a mix of Chinese and Japanese comfort classics.
We visited for dinner on a Tuesday evening and found the space almost empty. It’s a bit tucked away, and while Aeronaut Brewing next door was busy, this place didn’t seem like the obvious companion spot for a casual beer bite. Still, the food was well-executed and comforting (Though I would have probably loved it more if this came in a casual bento box).
Our favorites were the Subuta and the Garlic Noodles. In the former, we expected the usual heavy, glossy glaze on the pork, but this version came lightly coated. It looked dry at first glance, but the pork was cooked perfectly. Lean, but not tough or stringy. Surprisingly enjoyable with a more restrained touch.
Garlic noodles was the most recommended item on the menu, and it was great. Lo mein-style noodles often struggle with blandness due to their thickness, but not here. The triple garlic sauce and garlic confit delivered an assertive, well-balanced punch, and the sprinkle of (what I assume was) black garlic powder added a warm, toasty aroma that rounded out its flavors. Not a must, but possibly the best in the area.
The other two dishes—Ebi Chili and Chicken Karaage—were both solid. With a huge bowl of steamed white rice on the table, all these entrées just worked together nicely. Nothing mind-blowing, but no complaints.
Only miss was the Sichuan-style chili wontons. My friend insisted on trying these, but they were underwhelming. Overcooked filling, bland sauce, and zero heat. Felt like a watered-down version of the real thing.
Chenzhe Cao
Mimi’s Chuka Diner is a unique and delicious establishment, tucked away inside Aeronaut. I may be biased, but I’ve followed Mimi’s Chuka and its owner Ted since they initially started as a frozen gyoza delivery service during the pandemic. I am very happy to see them growing over the years, now with its own space. Of course, you have to try their original pork gyoza, but their other dishes are also worth exploring. The matzah ball and wonton soup is great for sharing (or just as an appetizer for one). I love the mabo tofu and ebi chili dishes, with a big side of white rice. The rotating drinks menu also is excellent and worth a try, blending Asian flavors like lychee, jasmine tea, shiso with spirits. Overall, I highly recommend visiting Mimi’s Chuka Diner inside the Aeronaut.
… more