Thank God this place is in Northborough!

Yama Zakura sushi bar and fusion cuisine is located at 369 west main street in northborough, massachusetts. Parking is free and convenient. If you have been there before , Anna knows who you are and what you like and will welcome you with a warm greeting and a remarkable memory for names. Truth be told, there isn't much about Anna that is not remarkable, but her story is for another episode. This entry is just about today's lunch on Friday:

Wasabi Crunch: A generous portion (all portions are generous at YZ) of tuna flash-fried in panko. This is a simple dish that you will be compelled to order when you return. And you will return. No doubt about it. The menu cries out to the adventurous diner, "try me! try me!" You should try everything, but start with the Wasabi Crunch.


Innovation is Anna's middle name: Anna Innovation Ramsey Bouphavichith.

The loyal following Anna has earned are all grateful for the Northborough location. If this kitchen were located in Cambridge or on Newbury Street, there would be lines around the block.
Anna's latest innovation brings her cuisine to Cambridge and to Newbury Street and all over Massachusetts with Yama Zakura Corporate Catering services. You do not have to go to Northborough. Yama Zakura will come to you!

There are two types of sushi lovers; those who have dined at Yama Zakura, and those who need to.

Dynasty Chinese Restaurant and Lounge

Dynasty Chinese Restaurant and Lounge

77 W. Main Street Hopkinton, MA.

Our visit to Dynasty was on a weekday evening shortly after 7:00 PM in early May. Located just off Route 495 on Main Street in Hopkinton, Dynasty Chinese Restaurant and Lounge is in a small strip mall along with a branch bank, liquor store, pizza place and some professional offices. We asked one of the professionals if they had eaten at Dynasty. They said it was good. Parking was convenient and plentiful.

Inside the restaurant, a large buffet sat on the right side of the lobby, unused. To the left was the entry to the dining area and the podium and cash register. Several take-out orders were waiting to be picked up. A good sign. As we read the menu and placed our order we found ourselves to be in-the-way. The waitstaff had to pass from the kitchen to the dining area right through the customers at the register. And they do go through saying, “Excuse me. Careful please.” Dynasty should seriously consider changing this setup.

The dining room looked to have seating available for 80 or so with about 16 seats filled. The lounge was almost full with a local after-work crowd. The menu is standard Chinese fare. We ordered a Pu Pu Platter (it was nice to see the dish offered for one or for two persons.) Shrimp with Lobster Sauce and Beef Fried Rice.

The order was ready in just a few minutes.

The take-out was wrapped up in the usual fashion. There was plenty of duck sauce, and mustard. We think it was duck sauce. It was not unusual or outstanding in flavor, but the color was reminiscent of anti-freeze. The mustard sauce was watery. The Pu Pu Platter included boneless spareribs which were the usual boneless spareribs, except that several were burned black on one side. The chicken fingers were dry. The fried shrimp was good served butterflied. The beef teriyaki was the best appetizer in the platter and the egg roll was crispy and quite good. The crab Rangoon was a soggy disappointment.

Shrimp with Lobster sauce is a favorite of mine, ordered often not just for a favorite but as a benchmark. The Lobster Sauce was a good standard Lobster Sauce. There was plenty of shrimp in the dish,

but the shrimp were soft in the way that shrimp get when frozen too long or cooked for too long. The Beef Fried Rice was unremarkable.

Overall, Dynasty Restaurant and Lounge was standard Chinese food with a few areas in need of improvement.