Boba to Burgers: PAW’s Guide to Princeton’s Newest Restaurants

During your return to Old Nassau for Reunions 2023, check out some of Princeton’s newest restaurants, which offer a variety of cuisines for hungry alumni, families, and friends.

Stop by the Nassau Diner for all-day breakfast, enjoy fresh sushi at MTea Sushi & Dessert, get your daily caffeine fix at illy Coffee, satisfy your sweet tooth at Mochinut, and finish your tour with a tasty ramen dinner at Ani Ramen House.

Nassau Diner
82 Nassau Street

Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, the Nassau Diner offers classic comfort food. One menu highlight: the “International Breakfast” section, where patrons can order a full English breakfast; a Jersey pork roll, egg, and cheese sandwich; a Scandinavian spread featuring smoked salmon; Mexican chilaquiles; and more. With hearty stacks of pancakes for between $11 and $15, as well as an extensive selection of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and sides, the Nassau Diner has offerings for all palates amid nostalgic decor.

Cool off with a strawberry green tea from MTea.

Photo: Courtesy Mtea

MTea Sushi & Dessert
86 Nassau Street

Sushi and boba fans will be delighted by MTea, Princeton’s newest bubble tea shop. Choose from a selection of poke bowls, sushi rolls, and sweet treats, and wash your meal down with a beverage from the lengthy list of fruit teas, milk teas, and freshly brewed oolong. MTea isn’t cheap: A typical cup of boba will set you back around $6.95, while sushi rolls cost between $5 and $16. Still, the great customer service and attractive interior more than make up for the higher prices. In good weather, head outside to enjoy your food on MTea’s spacious back patio.

illy Coffee At Earth’s End
45 Spring Street

Make your way past the Record Exchange and turn right on Spring Street to find illy Coffee, a new Italian coffee bar. The Illy family has been making coffee blends for three generations and boasts Arabica coffee from South America, Central America, Africa, and India. Visit the attached cigar parlor (also owned by At Earth’s End) for an old-fashioned European tasting experience and extensive retail offerings.

Ani Ramen House serves up pork belly bao buns with cabbage, pickled cucumber, and spicy miso-mayo.

Photo: courtesy ani ramen house

Ani Ramen House
140 Nassau Street A

Back on Nassau Street, two restaurants have sprung up at the former location of Qdoba Mexican Eats. At Ani Ramen, the larger of the two, house-made broth accompanies the restaurant’s signature ramen in a variety of flavors. Those not looking for noodles can enjoy the spot’s popular bao buns, donburi rice bowls, and mix of mocktails such as yuzu lemonade and ramune soda. Ani Ramen also offers an innovative way to pay: house accounts. Frequent diners can prepay for their visits, accruing dining credits to offset future meals. All in all, this Japanese noodle house offers authentic dishes in a prime downtown location.

Mochinut
140 Nassau Street B

Next door to Ani Ramen, discover Mochinut, where the taste of mochi — a sweet doughy dessert made primarily of rice flour — meets the classic American donut. Mochinut offers more than a dozen beautifully decorated options, with flavors ranging from matcha to strawberry pebbles to Nutella. Expect to pay about $3 per donut or $30 for a dozen. For those with more adventurous palates, Hot Cheeto-crusted corn dogs are also available.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that the Princeton location of Ani Ramen House does not serve alcoholic drinks.