Ethiopian, Thai, or Scandinavian: Try Something New this Weekend

Looks like the forecast for the next few days is rain, but that doesn’t mean your weekend has to be uneventful. Since you can’t go apple picking like everybody else I follow on Instagram did last weekend, take it as an opportunity to venture out to a new neighborhood for dinner, try a new restaurant, or even experience a new cuisine. We’ve got some recommendations for great Ethiopian food, dumplings, Thai Street food, a Copenhagen-inspired cafe, and more.

Dumpling Daughter
Looking for a new dumpling spot? Check out the recently opened Dumpling Daughter in Kendall Square. This is owner Nadia Liu Spellman’s second Dumpling Daughter location. The original shop is in Weston, but you can get all of the favorites at the new Cambridge location — pan seared dumplings, steamed buns, braised pork belly Taiwanese style buns, and so much more.

Vester
While you’re in Kendall Square, check out Vester, a Copenhagen-inspired cafe serving breakfast and lunch in their beautiful space. Vester and Dumpling Daughter are not only right next to each other, but also owned by sisters Nicole Liu and Nadia Liu Spellman respectively. How about croissants for breakfast and dumplings for lunch? It can be done quite easily at Vester and Dumpling Daughter.

Ciao! Pizza & Pasta!
This pizza and pasta shop in Chelsea is a true gem. It has won awards including the best pizza in Boston by Boston Magazine, and it has achieved and maintained a perfect 5-star rating on Yelp, something very few restaurants can do, especially shops that have been open for a few years. Ciao! Pizza & Pasta is more than worth a drive to Chelsea.

Lucy Ethiopian Cafe
Have you tried Ethiopian food before? If not, you’re really missing out, and if you live near Boston, you don’t have a good excuse, as the city has more than a few great Ethiopian restaurants. One of them is Lucy Ethiopian Cafe near Symphony Hall. Check them out and be prepared to eat with your hands, using Injera (a flat, sourdough bread served at Ethiopian restaurants) to scoop up your food.

DAKZEN
If Thai Street food sounds good to you, then give DAKZEN a try. This Davis Square spot has been a hit since it opened a few months ago. While their pad Thai is excellent, give something new a try like their Khao Soi, a curry dish from Northern Thailand or the Yen Ta Fo, a sweet and tangy noodle soup from Bangkok.