Where to Eat in Chinatown

Boston’s Chinatown offers an incredible variety of choices to the discerning diner, any time of the day or night. Whether you are interested in celebrating a special occasion with a 5-course dinner or having a quick lunch at a Cantonese fast-food restaurant, there is a place in Chinatown that will dish up what you want.

The vast number of choices can be overwhelming. To help you out, we have compiled a listing of our favorite places to eat in Chinatown, along with some suggestions for what to order. Enjoy!

A la Carte
For special nights out where only the best will do, be sure to try a favorite full-fledged restaurant offering a vast array of authentic Cantonese dishes. Recommended restaurants are China Pearl on Tyler Street, the Golden Palace across the street from China Pearl, and Chau Chow’s on Beach Street. These places tend to be popular so expect a wait on busy weekend evenings.

For seasoned diners, ordering only the authentic Chinese dishes won’t be a problem. We recommend ordering a "Cold Platter," which is a wonderful appetizer to share, consisting of thin slices of roast duck, octopus, tongue, and jelly fish, all served at room temperature. Other favorites include Lobster Cantonese or Lobster with Ginger and Scallion; Crispy Golden Fried Chicken (batterless); Chinese Broccoli in Oyster Sauce; and Tofu stuffed with Seafood. The thing to do is to order at least one dish from each category (land, air, sea). White rice is the accompaniment of choice for this family-style dining.

Note that authentic Chinese restaurants are not known for their desserts, as they put all their energy and effort into the entrees. A stroll over to the Back Bay or Quincy Market can serve both as a way to work off the meal and to indulge a sweet tooth.

Lunch or Brunch
For a simple meal without breaking the budget, head to a Cantonese fast-food restaurant/deli. Our favorite restaurant for this dining style is Chinatown Cafe on Harrison Avenue, a couple of blocks away from the main streets of Chinatown. The number of police cars double-parked out front is an indication of the consistently high quality of the food -- the officers are not there to resolve any trouble or dispute, but flock to this restaurant for a great meal at a great price.

Recommended dishes include Yang Chow Fried Rice, Singapore (curry) or Har Moon Rice Noodles, and Wanton Noodle Soup with Roast Duck. Don’t forget to pick up some delicious deli items while you’re there, for a treat later. Favorites include Soy Sauce Chicken, BBQ Pork Tenderloin, and Roast Duck. Ask them to chop it up so you wouldn’t need to.

Time for Dim Sum
In our opinion, there is little more pleasurable than sleeping late on a lazy weekend morning and then heading out for a leisurely brunch of the fascinating little dishes called Dim Sum. We especially enjoy going to China Pearl on Tyler Street or Grand China on Washington Street, and have found both places to be great for entertaining out-of-town guests. As the carts quickly roll by, keep your eyes open for some of our favorite dishes, such as Shrimp Dumplings wrapped in steam rice dough, Spicy Spare Rib morsels, and delicate Custard Tarts. Have fun guessing what each little dish is and by all means, be adventurous!

INSIDER TIP: Dim Sum can sometimes be a little pricey, compared to the other dining options that Chinatown offers. There is good news for the budget-conscious, however. Increased competition among Chinatown eateries has led to the introduction of "all-you-can-eat" Dim Sum buffets, with unlimited choices for a fixed price.

Something Sweet
Even visiting the bakery can be an adventure in Chinatown. Chinese bakeries usually come in 2 kinds (although they sometimes mix them): those specializing in buns, and those whose specialty is baking cakes. The former offers a wide variety of buns, which can be steamed or baked, and stuffed with all kinds of delicious fillings, from roast pork to lotus seed paste. Some can be a meal by themselves.

Chinese cakes offer refreshingly different kinds of sweet indulgences. The cakes are light and airy, frosted with whipped cream, and often covered with decorations consisting of mango, kiwi, peaches, strawberries or pineapple. Once they try this kind of less-sweet cakes, people generally declare, "That’s my favorite cake!"

One of our favorite Chinese bun bakeries is Hing Shing Bakery at the corner of Beach and Hudson Streets. May’s Cake House on Harrison Avenue is a great place to order a deliciously different birthday cake.

by Stella Chin

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