Vegan
Chinese
Delivery
Take-out
Asian
Catering
Previously located at 1 N Beacon. Moved to this address August 2024. Offers an extensive Asian vegan food menu which includes vegetables, noodles, tofu, and mock meat dishes. Has brown rice. Open Mon-Sun 11:00am-9:00pm.
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1 Brighton Ave, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 02134
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Last update on 14 Nov 2025 by ratfingerss
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112 Reviews
First Review by happyherbivore
robpaterson
Points +221
OK Food, A Few Criticisms, Suggestions - Edit
I don't think there's a vegan out there who doesn't appreciate an all vegan restaurant. Having said that, I also think vegans appreciate (perhaps even more than non-vegetarians) presentation and other details.
Read moreLet's start with the good, or even great. The appetizers—at least the ones we tried, the House Special Assorted Appetizers—were excellent. If you aren't a fan of fried food, you won't like these, but if you are, you'll be in heaven.
The next dish we tried was entitled "The No Name," basically fried strips of gluten in a a run-of-the-mill sweet and sour sauce. There were not very many veggies (perhaps four pieces of broccoli), but to it's credit, the dish was quite tasty, as long as you like this type of sauce.
Next we tried the The Grasshopper Supreme. I won't mince words here: this was pretty awful. It was bland, difficult to eat (all of the steamed veggies were not bite-size and in huge chunks) and presented in a hodgepodge, un-appetizing platter. In a word, it was sloppy.
Finally, we tried the Sizzling Platter. This was OK, but again, not that tasty, and frankly, pretty bland.
I'm going to go out on a limb: I think some people who really like the restaurant and give it five stars haven't tried truly exquisite vegan asian cuisine. If you've never had vegan asian food before, this will blow you away. If you've been vegan for over twenty years like I have, this is only so-so.
On a positive note, it's not dirty as some people say, just more like a typical asian restaurant. There service is also good, but I made the mistake of asking the waitress her opinion (she may have even been the owner) and I should have trusted my instinct and ordered for the table instead.
I actually hope the restaurant reads these reviews, and works a little harder on presentation and taste. It would take much to really improve the dishes and make this a knock-out restaurant.
Anyway, perhaps we just ordered a couple dishes that weren't that impressive (or as impressive as they seem on the menu and via their titles), but suffice it to say, we won't return when we're back in the Boston area.
Updated from previous review on Friday November 28, 2014
Pros: Great and quick service, Lots of variety, Large portion sizes
Cons: Sloppy presentation, Bland taste (some dishes)
Guest
Blam
Points +38
Vegan Nest of Yummy - Edit
I was really impressed by the wide diversity of all vegan food and truly delicious combinations. The "bird's" nest made with julienned taro root filled with squid- and shrimp-like pressed root veggies and beef-like seitan in a delicious non-oyster sauce was really phenomenal. The hot and sour soup and chicken-ish with veggie dumplings were remarkable, too, as was the ubiquitous hot tea. The atmosphere and service are appropriate for an affordable, quick-service American-Chinese restaurant. Come for the food, but don't expect fine dining here. The vast, delicious menu are what makes this place attractive.
Read morePros: variety of food, expansive menu, low prices
Cons: no music played in restaurant, restrooms could use some attention
Guest
veganlass
Points +16
The ultimate choice - Edit
If I could give more than 5 stars for this incredible restaurant I would!!What more can you ask for, a totally vegan restaurant with an enormous choice of appetizers and entrees etc. A very friendly staff who is very helpful and the service from the kitchen is super-fast!! Not to mention that I have NEVER had a meal that didn't taste incredible!!! The only somewhat down-side is the lack of sufficient parking, but it is so worth the couple of minutes inconvenience. Needless to say, this is my whole family's favorite restaurant BY FAR and recommend it highly !!!!!
Read morePros: all the food!
Cons: parking
Guest
frozencemetery
Points +28
Probably my favorite restaurant - Edit
Don't try to eat all of it; plan to bring some back with you. Their menu is huge, and all of it is vegan, and all of it is delicious. Highly highly recommend.
Read morePros: vast selection, huge portions, friendly staff
Guest
drng
Points +28
loved it! - Edit
Very friendly staff, extremely authentic Asian food, great selection. Will definitely go back!!!!!!
Read morePros: VEGAN!!, selection, friendliness
Guest
Alliz
Points +51
All Vegan Menu! - Edit
5 stars for food
Read more5 stars for variety and taste of food
3 stars for customer service, as they are seemingly pushy for you to leave once you've finished your food
A great place to share large dishes of food. Definitely choose contrasting flavors to balance your flavor dimensions. Too much of one dish could get intense!
Pros: Delicious food, regardless of choice, Huge choice, Value for $ in food quality
Cons: That stupid fish tank!, Pushy customer service to make you leave
Guest
Babette
Points +2113
Good Asian Food - Edit
I had the no name, which is excellent, but you have to share it because it is huge and you can quickly get sick of the intense flavors. I recommend ordering it along with other dishes with a group of people.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Tuesday December 24, 2013
Pros: Large menu, Affordable, Free tea
Cons: Far from downtown Boston, Tough choice bec. of two nearby shops
Guest
futurefossils
Points +349
Delicious - Edit
I really enjoyed the food at the Grasshopper. I have gone twice and both times I was impressed by the food that they had their. Also, I was happy to see animal rights literature at the front of the restaurant. However, one thing that was off putting was the fish that were kept in an aquarium....a small, gross one at that.
Read morePros: Good food
Cons: not that clean, poor fish :(
Guest
tru_gemini
Points +16
Good food but.... - Edit
The food is good but cleanliness is real issue.
Read moreGuest
martina1988
Points +74
poor fish in the aquarium - Edit
The food was quite good, but it was too much, we couldn't eat everything. The dining area has a dirty aquarium with poor fish inside. That's not vegan to me. The waitress was very friendly and kind. If you eat there you get tea and water for free, that was very nice. And it's inexpensive.
Read morePros: Inexpensive, lovely waitress, tea and water for free
Guest
veganamanda
Points +251
Needs some cleaning up - Edit
The first thing that strikes you about Grasshopper when you sit down is the stains on the tablecloths. Not a good first impression. The menu is large and very hard to narrow down. I've got the no-name twice. Its not AT ALL healthy, but is tasty. The portions are large. I went once to try it out, the second time because I had a Groupon, but I don't think I'll go again. If they can't keep the dining area clean, I worry about the food.
Read morePros: big portions, cheap, all vegan
Cons: decor, dirty tablecloths, hard to get to from t/bad parking
Guest
slithers
Points +709
Amazing selection, not so healthy - Edit
Even though this was my first all-vegan restaurant and my favorite restaurant for years, I feel I can only give it 3 stars. They use lots of oil and MSG and peanuts, gluten and soy are in nearly everything, so you can't eat here with people who have allergies or food sensitivities and it's not so healthy. Also, they have live fish in a glass cage (aka an "aqua-prison") and the owners/workers are vegetarian, not vegan, and they use various imported mock-meats so it's unclear if everything is vetted as strictly vegan. That said, their food is tasty and their portions are huge - if you're on a budget and not worried about items above, this is a good option.
Read morePros: huge portions, friendly staff, amazing vegan selection
Cons: aqua-prison, mock meats & sauces questionable, few "healthy" options
Guest
lmp99
Points +26
Excellent Buffet - Edit
My boyfriend and I usually come to Grasshopper for their monthly (every third Sunday of the month) buffet. Usually the food is the same every time but that's okay because the dishes they choose are great, although sometimes a little inconsistent (the sauce on the no-name doesn't always taste the same). We do go there occasionally on non-buffet days and have never had a bad experience with that.
Read moreHowever, as much as I would like to give 5 stars, I am only giving 4 - this is because the one day a month they have the buffet, they host a Boston vegetarian society meeting and shut down the restaurant for a few hours. So, every time we want to go we have to call the restaurant and ask when they will actually be open - considering they don't shut down the same hours every time. There have been a couple times we showed up expecting to eat and they were either closed or made us do take out since they were closing it down soon. This is VERY annoying when the hours are inconsistent and you are closing down on probably the busiest day for the restaurant. They should really host it on a weekday when it is not as busy.
Pros: great food, excellent buffet
Cons: hours not consistent
Guest
jujutsuka
Points +552
vegan heaven - Edit
The mock meats were so amazing they fooled my meat eating friend. Also the dessert choices are so good it's easy to engage in internal battles with yourself about how much a person should really eat in one sitting. :)
Read morePros: easy to find, portions huge, leftovers
Guest
travegan
Points +88
disappointed - Edit
I had high expectations after hearing about this place. The first sign that something was wrong was when we arrived at lunchtime and found the place empty. When our food arrived it was mediocre and lacked creativity. Relying heavily on faux meat dishes will disappoint those looking for fresh healthly alternatives.
Read morePros: cheap, vegan, portions
Cons: filthy bathrooms, quality, creativity
Guest
buddhaphilwisdom
Points +32
Good for beginners - Edit
Grasshopper is good for meat eaters or part-time vegans. They sell Coke, Sprite, and other drinks that are not vegan.
Read moreThe food is not healthy and you are guaranteed to feel lousy the next day.
The food is not organic.
That being said, I encourage people to go here as an alternative to a meat equivalent because it IS healthier.
Pros: vegetarian, great/nice people, cheap/buffet
Cons: not all vegan, not organic, no parking
Guest
Herbiv4
Points +2021
Great Variety - Edit
My original goal was to go to Peace o' Pie prior to my flight back home. However, they do not open until after 5 on Mondays. I was greatly surprised to see Grasshopper right next door. The staff is great and they offer a wide variety of items. There is something there for everyone. However, the inside of the restaurant could stand a good cleaning and some renovation. I wouldn't recommend this spot for a date or even a friendly brunch. The food was okay-not the best, but still worth it. I had the (seitan) beef and broccoli lunch special and they let me substitute a spring roll for the soup.
Read morePros: friendly staff, reasonable prices, wide variety
Cons: needs renovation
Guest
unwesen
Points +123
Meh - Edit
Grasshopper is right next to the excellent peace o' pie vegan pizza place. When the latter was closed, we had to eat at Grasshopper instead.
Read moreInitially the menu looks inviting - almost too much choice for us choice-deprived vegans! But when the food arrived, the quality wasn't really convincing. It seems amazing how much you can mess up ingredients that thrown together should by rights be tasty.
In the end, the only good thing to say about the food were the portion sizes - those are enormous! You might well fill up on an "appetizer".
Pros: portion sizes
Cons: flavour, presentation, ambience
Guest
andrea
Points +716
Best Chinese Food in Boston - Edit
I couldn't even count how many times I've eaten here, I can't believe I've never reviewed it. We often come to the Sunday buffet when the Boston Veg Society has speakers. The buffet is always amazing and the absolute best deal around. And it's nice because if you are alone, you can meet a fellow veg at the group tables.
Read moreThe food is just plain great. Yes, the famed No Name is fried gluten, no one said it was healthy, just amazing. The other dishes offer various protein options, and the veggies are always fresh and nice. I take personal umbrage at the reviewer who called it dirty. It is not fancy, by any means, but it is clean. It's a bit tricky from the T, so check your maps. But Go!
Pros: Fresh food, Friendly servers, Good prices
Cons: Lacks atmosphere, the Fish tank
Guest
laurasremedies
Points +58
Grasshopper vegan restaurant - Edit
Whenever we travel to the Boston area, we always eat at Grasshopper. It has an excellent menu, totally vegan, so many choices it feels as if one could eat there every day for a year and not repeat a meal. My favorite is a special with asparagus and eggplant, with "beef" seitans throughout; absolutely delicious! The portions are huge; I always have another meal to take home, the servings are so large. Grasshopper is inexpensive, great for the students nearby, and very willing to make substitutions within the printed menu. It is a wonderful restaurant! We tell everybody about Grasshopper.
Read morePros: excellent vegan food, inexpensive, huge portions
Cons: none!
Guest
bhenrich
Points +98
Excellent Chinese Vegan - Edit
I tried Grasshopper for the first time this week with my daughter and we loved it. The menu was pretty overwhelming with dozens of choices and not very descriptive. After looking at the menu for awhile we surrendered and asked the waitress what was best, and she recommended the no-name and the spicy steak fillet. We ordered both of those and the spring rolls. The spring rolls were average, but everything else was terrific. Portions were huge and neither of us were able to finish it all. The no-name is a great choice for carnivores- it looks and tastes like sweet & sour chicken. The Spicy Steak Fillets are thinly sliced tofu fillets with a black bean sauce over steamed spinach, red bell peppers and onions. It was very good- nice texture and spicy flavor.
Read morePros: Great location on bus 57 route, HUGE variety , Great flavor
Cons: Variety was overwhelming, Menu descriptions very vague
Guest
Cascadian
Points +245
Tasty food, Large Portions & Reasonable prices! - Edit
I ate at Grasshopper twice while visiting Boston and I wish it was here so I could eat there often! The food was not only all vegan and tasty but they also have one of the most extensive & varied menu's that I've seen. It is also just a few steps away from the Peace O' Pie vegan pizzeria which is also great!
Read morePros: All Vegan!, Tasty & Varied meals, Reasonable prices
Cons: Not in Portland so I can eat there often, Can be a tad hard to find, Not many desserts
Guest
Ken Liao
Points +33
good food and all vegan! - Edit
The food is relatively fast and the portions are large enough to share. On their menu, I tried the kale and mushroom, the nest, and some of my friend's no-name, all of which were yum. Kale and mushroom is some savory mushrooms on a large bed of steamed kale and is nice and healthy and good. The nest is taro strips that have been woven into a bird's nest shaped bowl and fried, and filled with various vegetables. If you haven't tried it before, you should, because it's interesting. It's not the first time I've had bird's nest at a Chinese restaurant, but Grasshopper's is pretty good. The no-name is basically General Tso's chicken, without the chicken. That's was really good too.
Read morePros: big portions, yummy, healthy
Guest
The Vegan Review
Points +48
Dining seule - Edit
Well, this was my first venture to a restaurant on my own and I picked the right place! I was enthralled with the prospect of the restaurant serving only vegan food. No more worrying about potential animal byproducts sneaking in!
Read moreI was seated immediately and my food arrived shortly after I order it. I got The Grasshopper Supreme, well worth the $13. It was a HUGE plate LOADED with veggies in a delicious sauce; no idea what kind it was though. I then ordered a slice of vegan cheesecake with blueberry compote. Well, that was less satisfactory than my meal had been. The number one dessert I loved pre-Vegan was cheesecake and, unfortunately, this didn't meet my high cheesecake standards. The compote was also a little too thick (too much added sugar?).
Overall, I had a great experience. Loved the atmosphere and, for the most part, the food. Would definitely go back again.
Guest
feorag
Points +567
Good value buffet, occasionally - Edit
It took me three years and a number of attempts before I managed to find Grasshopper last year. If you are taking the T from the centre of town, you need to take the Green B line to Allston Street, and go right, heading to the end of Allston Street. You then turn left and the restaurant is on the right, past the fire station.
Read moreThis year, I visited twice. Once for lunch with my partner, and once on my own for the monthly Sunday buffet.
The lunch menu was good value, though the sauces were a little too thin.
The Sunday buffet usually only happens once a month, and is excellent value. The choice of entrees is not that varied, but there are two soups and a good number of appetizers. There are three entrees, but two of them are pretty much the same thing. The buffet can get quite busy and attracts a wildly diverse crowd. If you are on your own, you will end up sharing a table.
The food is okay, but not significantly different than My Thai Vegan Cafe. My partner notes that Grasshopper's Chinese hot and sour soup is nowhere near as good as that at My Thai. The difficulty of getting to Grasshopper is also a minus point.
Pros: good value lunch and buffet
Cons: hard to find, off the T, not that special
Guest
cambvegan
Points +28
Not as good as its reputation - Edit
Grasshopper is frequently cited as the best vegan/vegetarian food in the Boston area. I'm sure for people who've never had vegan Chinese or Thai before, it's amazing. For those of us who have, however, it's just average. My Thai in Brookline is much, much better, and My Thai also beats Grasshopper in the vegan dessert department, hands down.
Read moreThat said, if you are vegan, your choices are limited around here, and Grasshopper is a fine choice. The service is good, the menu is extensive, and it's just by TJ Scallywaggles, a vegan pizza joint (see Boston listings), which is convenient. It's just that Grasshopper is not as great as people say it is.
Pros: 100% Vegan, Extensive menu, some Thai, Good service
Cons: Average vegan Chinese food, Too greasy sometimes, Hard to park, hard to get to by T
Guest
aradiapixie
Points +44
LOVE IT - Edit
The Grasshopper is awesome, everything is great. That is the first time I have seen vegan seafood like that. The No Name is fantastic. This is the first 100% restaurant I ever went to and it was amazing to be able to order ANYTHING ON THE MENU for the first time as a vegan.
Read morePros: GREAT food, nice people, good location
Guest
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