Too Hot — Restaurant in Cambridge

TooHot is a new Chinese restaurant in Harvard Square that has a lot of potential, but unfortunately the service left much to be desired.

The restaurant itself is tucked away at the garden level in bustling Harvard Square, and while it has that “hole-in-the-wall” feel, the décor does a great job of making the subterranean space feel cozy and inviting. The menu is enormous—almost overwhelming—with so many options to choose from. My party of 4 ordered a variety of dishes: spicy grilled chili conch, fiery charred chili and silken tofu beef, Yunnan ham with mixed mushroom, egg fried rice, and baked lotus root strips with salted egg yolk. The food was excellent—fragrant, flavorful, and served hot. The mixed mushroom dish in particular stood out, and the portion sizes were generous enough for sharing. Despite the name “TooHot,” the spice level was balanced so that the flavors really came through. Prices were also quite reasonable.

The downside was the service. When I arrived (with a 6 PM reservation), no one greeted us initially. When a hostess finally came, she told us they weren’t ready for me despite my booking, and also noted they wouldn’t seat us until the full party was present. Once we sat down, the hostess immediately told us—in Chinese—that we only had 1 hour and 15 minutes to eat because it was a busy night, which made the meal feel rushed. I also couldn’t help but notice that the demeanor toward me, as an Asian diner, was very different compared to how staff interacted when my white friends arrived. That disparity and interaction left a bad impression. On top of that, the staff pressed us at the end of the meal to leave a positive Google Review, which felt pushy.

Overall, the food and ambiance were strong, but the service and attitude from staff really detracted from what could have been a wonderful dining experience. Hopefully as they settle in, the service side improves—because the kitchen is...

As soon as I heard that the owners of Noah's Kitchen were opening a place in Harvard Square, I rushed on over. They're in soft opening mode right now, and prioritizing reservations (via phone call). Luckily, we were able to get a table for 3 on Saturday around 6pm without a reservation. The restaurant is on the basement level and is elegantly decorated. The menu is extensive, and it was hard to decide what to get! It helped that our waiter also works at Noah's Kitchen, and told us which dishes were the same as at Noah's Kitchen, and which dishes were unique to Too Hot.

We got the Yunnan spicy chicken at our waiter's recommendation, and it was delicious! The chicken is tender and intensely flavored with savory and spicy flavors, and I loved the whole garlic pieces. The chicken has bones, and the bone marrow sopped up the flavoring, which was really good too! I would definitely get this again. It was quite a large dish.

We also got the cumin beef with potato at our waiter's recommendation, and it was another standout. The beef slices were thick and tender, and the crinkle cut potato strips were really thoroughly flavored. I'd get this again as well!

We tried the fried squid with tangy pickled peppers. I didn't like this one as much -- while the pickled peppers and ginger were great, the squid was nothing notable. We also got the three stages mushroom with rice crackers, which was nothing special either -- just some mushrooms in a tomato sauce.

Overall, this is an excellent addition to the Harvard Square food scene -- we'll definitely be back to try more...

Absolutely loved my dining experience at Too Hot! I tried their chef’s tasting menu and was thoroughly impressed. The portions were generous, and every dish was packed with authentic Sichuan flavor — bold, spicy, and incredibly satisfying. It’s rare to find a place that captures the true taste of Sichuan so well outside of China. The service was also excellent; staff were attentive, friendly, and made sure everything was perfect throughout the meal. The ambiance is modern yet cozy, striking a great balance between casual and stylish. I especially appreciated the thoughtful presentation and pacing of the courses. The restaurant’s location is also very convenient, making it a perfect spot for both casual dinners and special occasions. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Sichuan cuisine or trying it for the first time, Too Hot delivers a fantastic culinary experience. I’ll definitely be back soon — this might just be the best Sichuan food in Boston. Highly...