-- Boston's Hidden Restaurants --

The Similans

145 First Street, Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 491-6999 Find location!

Photo of The Similans, Cambridge, MA Looking for a Thai restaurant with style and class? The Similans in East Cambridge may be your place. This attractive, friendly restaurant just over the river from Boston is a great option for lovers of Asian food, and although it has many upscale touches, the meals at the Similans are surprisingly affordable. This is one Thai restaurant Boston diners should definitely seek out.

The Similans is housed in the same building as the wonderful Helmand, maybe 100 yards from the Cambridgeside Galleria. The building itself is an intriguing old place that perhaps was a factory in a previous life. The high ceilings, rich decor, and soothing music give The Similans a special aura that one does not usually find at Thai restaurants. Indeed, the atmosphere is nearly as classy as Helmand, which is surely saying a lot.

The dinner menu at The Similans is extensive, and filled with authentic Thai entrees such as Striped Bass with hot chilis, diced mango with chicken and yellow curry, and sliced pork in garlic oil. Two dishes at The Similans that are particularly good are the jungle curry (careful with this red-hot dish!) and the chicken with pine nuts in a mild ginger sauce. Also, you may want to start off with the delectable steamed chive dumplings, which could be a meal in itself for someone looking for a lighter meal.

As of this writing, no one seems to know about The Similans...yet. However, being that the owners of Boston's terrific Brown Sugar Cafe are also the owners of this restaurant, it is likely that The Similans will soon be equally popular. Indeed, it looks like Cambridge has yet another winner; in a city filled with great restaurants, this stylish little Thai place truly stands out.