Boston’s New Comfort Food

Comfort Kitchen in Dorchester brings elevated global cuisine to Boston.

By: Ava Spurgeon

Right off the red line in Dorchester is a 1912 street car-station-turned-restaurant named Comfort Kitchen. Comfort Kitchen was opened in January 2023 by Biplaw Rai and Kwasi Kwaa. The restaurant focuses on food from the African Diaspora and aims to show the interconnectedness of different flavors across the globe. With a cafe open until 3 p.m. and dinner running from 5 to 10 p.m., Comfort Kitchen has everything from overnight oats to plantain chips to jerk roasted duck.

The food of Comfort Kitchen is more than just food; it’s meant to tell a story. Inspired by the spice trade and flavors of the African Diaspora, the menu aims to celebrate the cross-cultural flavors that span from Asia to the Americas. With a bright, fresh dining room and a lush outdoor patio, Comfort Kitchen provides a homey and welcoming environment alongside its menu of comfort foods.

Comfort Kitchen began as a series of pop-ups throughout Boston, and these pop-ups were what put them on the map initially. Boston Magazine ranked them as one of Boston’s 50 best restaurants, and Eater Boston named them the best new pop-up. After many delayed brick-and-mortar store openings due to the pandemic, in January 2023, Comfort Kitchen finally opened their restaurant. On September 18th, they made the New York Times list of the top 50 restaurants in the United States, being the only restaurant on the list in the state of Massachusetts.

Comfort Kitchen’s unique and inspired menu has led to its national recognition. The restaurant aims to continue its mission of telling stories through food, providing equity in the restaurant industry, and connecting with the local community.