Welcome to the MARA November Newsletter. This month’s edition highlights key industry updates, community news, and upcoming events to help you stay on top of the most important developments in Greater Boston’s restaurant scene. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all Asian restaurant owners and industry professionals for continuously creating delicious food, offering warmth, and connecting cultures throughout our community. We wish you and your loved ones a peaceful, joyful, and meaningful holiday season.

This month, MARA is pleased to welcome Xi Yu to the Board of Directors. Xi is the founder of Yumo FoodTech, focusing on food technology innovation and advancing kitchen automation and standardization. He holds a degree from Brandeis International Business School and previously served as a business lead at an Internet education company. With eight years of experience in digital marketing and campaign operations, he has been an active contributor to the Greater Boston Asian restaurant and entrepreneurship community, with a strong commitment to Asian business development, innovative dining concepts, and cross-cultural engagement.

As a new board member, he will focus on MARA’s brand development and community impact initiatives, bringing fresh energy and perspective to the Asian restaurant 

To support the community during the holiday season, MARA has compiled a list of the restaurants open on Thanksgiving Day 2025 (in submission order):

1 Gourmet House Asian
　115 S Main Street, Haverhill, MA 01835
　(978) 374-1870
　https://gourmethouseasiancuisine.com/

2 Clovers Kitchen Incubator
　218 West Cummings Park, Woburn, MA 01801
　www.cloverskitchens.com

3 Foodzilla Food Mart
　129 MT Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138
　www.foodzillaus.com

4 Ye's Table Methuen
　125 Merrimack Street, Methuen, MA 01844
　978-258-9038
　https://yestablemethuen.com/

5 Lucky Dragon
　339 S Broadway, Rt 28, Salem, NH 0307
　603-898-8888
　https://luckydragonsalemnh.com/

6 Dumpling Cafe
　695 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111
　(617) 338-8859
　https://dumplingcafe.com/

7 Kosher Wok
　423 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446
　+1-617-264-7274
　https://www.thekosherwok.com/

8 Sichuan Gourmet Billerica
　502 Boston Rd, Billerica, MA 01821
　(978) 670-7339
　https://www.sichuangourmetbillerica.com/

9 Fusion Taste Stoneham
　19 Franklin St, Stoneham, MA 02180
　(781) 435-2112
　http://www.fusiontastestoneham.com/

10 Royal Garden
　3 Tremont St, Kingston, MA 02364
　781-585-5506
　http://www.royalgardenmenu.com

11 Oxyear Food Court 
　1 Lilley Ave, Lowell, MA 01850
　(978) 455-4656
　https://eatoxyearfoodcourt.wixsite.com/oxyear

12 Chef Zhang Cuisine & Bar
　1105 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
　617-945-1361

13  Sichuan Palace
　7 Summer Street #17, Chelmsford MA 01824
　978-256-8545
　https://www.Sichuan-Palace.com

14  Sichuan Gourmet Burlington
　91 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, MA 01803
　781-221-6299
　https://sichuangourmetburlington.com

15 Zhi Wei Cafe
　104 South St, Boston, MA 02111
　+1 (857) 277-0937
　https://zhiweicafeboston.com/

Note: These listings were submitted by restaurants between November 18–22.

In November 2025, Michelin officially released the first-ever MICHELIN Guide Boston 2025 under the “Northeast Cities” edition, marking the debut of Greater Boston in the Michelin system.

More than 20 restaurants across Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline were included.

Credit card processing fees continue to rise due to inflation, tip-related cost structures, and banking adjustments. As a result, several family-owned and immigrant-owned restaurants in Boston and surrounding areas remain cash-only to reduce operational costs.

According to state tax data cited by industry reports, overall restaurant revenue in Massachusetts has reached or exceeded 2019 levels. However, independent operators continue to face challenges such as high rent, labor shortages, and supply chain pressures, slowing their recovery relative to large restaurant groups.

 

A brief lapse in federal SNAP funding created disruptions across Massachusetts’ food retail and distribution systems, leading to reduced orders and delayed inventories. While restaurants do not directly participate in SNAP, the ripple effects may influence ingredient availability and pricing.

 

 

 

AACA will be holding a series of free tax workshops throughout December to help everyone prepare for filing their 2025 taxes.

 

December 2, 9, 16

December 3, 10, 17

December 5, 12, 19

 

These workshops will provide important information about new tax laws and rules which taxpayers should understand in order to get their fullest refund.

For your convenience, each workshop will be offered 3 times. Please RSVP to save a seat. We will have Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish, and Haitian Creole interpreters.

Please RSVP:

617-426-9492 or info@aaca-boston.org

 

Date: December 1, 2025
 Location: Boston, MA
 Hosted by MRA, this course includes same-day food safety training and certification required for restaurant operations across Massachusetts.

 

 

 

Show Dates: April 26–27, 2026
 Registration Opens: December 2025
 The region’s largest hospitality and foodservice trade show, covering kitchen equipment, technology, supply chain solutions, beverage systems, and more.

Sources:
 Show website: https://www.newenglandrestaurantbarshow.com
 MRA page: https://themassrest.org/nerbs/

 

Dear restaurant owners and business providers,

MARA is devoted to be the backbone of the Asian restaurant community and maintain a vibrant platform for Asian restaurants and business/service providers alike. We support our members with information on fund-sourcing, policy interpretation, networking opportunities and public advocacy, to name a few. In today's fast changing environment, MARA will be your ally, and you will never have to face challenges alone.

Founded in 2018, Massachusetts Asian Restaurant Association (MARA) is a non-profit corpo­ration registered at Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It formed a partnership with Massachu­setts Restaurant Association (MRA) in 2020. MARA provides Asian restaurant businesses the resources and guidance needed to advance in the industry. MARA is a platform connecting Asian restaurant members with professional service providers as well as relevant governmental entities to enhance the communication collaboration and mutual benefits. Visit ma-ara.org to join or learn more.