Little Donkey

Ken Oringer doesn't do boring. The James Beard Award-winning chef has built a career on bold flavors and technical precision, and Little Donkey showcases both. Since 2016, this Central Square spot has been redefining what global tapas can be—Korean-Italian mashups, Turkish-Mexican fusions, and combinations that sound impossible until you taste them.

The menu changes constantly, but the philosophy remains: take the best techniques and ingredients from any cuisine, combine them thoughtfully, and create something new. One night you might find ramen cacio e pepe (it works, trust us). Another visit brings Istanbul-style meat ravioli. The raw bar anchors the menu with pristine seafood preparations that prove restraint can be as powerful as innovation.

The space matches the energy of the food. An open kitchen lets you watch the choreography of line cooks during service. The bar program takes cocktails as seriously as the food. And the noise level tells you everything—this is a restaurant where people are having fun, where conversation flows as freely as the drinks, where dinner becomes an event.

For Cambridge's food-obsessed community, Little Donkey represents the cutting edge without pretension. Yes, Chef Oringer has awards and accolades, but the restaurant feels welcoming rather than intimidating. Come hungry, order adventurously, and let the kitchen take you places you didn't expect to go.