This place is a very nice place. It's a little bit unconformable ( with a lot of stairs to get to the restaurant ) But beyond that the food is really nice (especially with there delicious dumplings ) This place is really nice and the services is nice , but very hard to get a hold of them when you need some thing because they're running all over the place. Down stairs of the restaurant, there's a nice cafe that also belong to china pearl. The place is very relaxing and cool. i think this place is sort of nice but try to come before or after dim-sum. Because it will be very hard to get a seat during that time1.
(3)
C T.
5 stars for tasty dim sum, 1 star for service = 3 stars overall. The ppl who work there are very rude. Not the sweetest ppl in the world. The bathrooms like all other restaurants in chinatown are disgusting as well. Also not handicapp-friendly. The elevator is in the back of the restuarant and you can only get to it if you go thru the bank around the corner. I know weird right? My family brings my grandma to China Pearl for her b-day every year. It's definately a trek to get her to our table. SIGH...but the dim sum is still tasty
(3)
Michael A.
If you want to be that guy who knows what's up: Char siu bao from China Pearl. $1.25 a pop. Walk in, order them to go. Ho Yuen? lol no yuen.
(5)
Jessica C.
Dim sum brunch is always a treat, but this place was a bit disappointment for a few reasons: The dim sum norms I'm used to were lacking here: shrimp toast, peking duck, soup dumplings, chili oil, shrimp balls. There was an attendant in the poorly maintained bathrooms blocking access to the paper towel dispenser. I wasn't sure what to do with her, and was vaguely uncomfortable with the situation. There's a liquor bar at the front of the restaurant, but no easy way to actually cut through the queue of folks waiting to pay their bills... and when I asked our server for a drink menu, I was brought two identical take out menus. Finally, there was no follow up on whether I wanted to order anything off a menu either way until we were 2/3rds into our meal. Seeing the option of the bar but being unable to actually access it was a frustration I could have done without. Add these annoyances to the difficult parking, language barrier (about half of our servers didn't understand our questions), and $60 price tag for four people, and I'm glad to be able to access dim sum in the Great State of Texas.* *Austin and Houston dim sum experiences only.
(2)
Patrice C.
I live in Boston, but hadn't gone to dim sum in over 10 years and decided to take my 16 year old niece and nephew for fun. I did a lot of research on this site and Yelp, and finally decided on China Pearl. It ended up being an excellent choice. In terms of dim sum, people tend to comment on certain aspects, so I'll write my review using these as a guide: Seating/Waitress Attention: We walked in and saw that it was moderately crowded. As soon as we walked up, we were warmly greeted by the hostess, and then escorted to our seats. Tea and menus were brought to us immediately. I'd say the time from our arrival at the restaurant to being ensconced in our seat was 90 seconds. Food cart number and variety: The first cart came about 1-2 minutes after we sat down. From that point on, they came at a steady clip. There was only one time when there was a lull where I had to wave a cart down. There was a great variety of dim sums, and we only started seeing repeats at the very end of our meal. Food cart lady language/disposition: They were nice, not pushy at all. Yea, their English wasn't the greatest, but we did OK. I hate seafood, and we successfully avoided getting anything fishy. Quality of the food: With the exception of the meatballs (big yuk), everything else was really good. It was fun noshing on little dishes of things that were new to us, yet had a good Chinese food flavor. Cleanliness of restaurant: Very clean. Bathrooms were well kept up with plenty of soap and water (this was a complaint of a lot of people in Yelp reviews). Cost: It came to $18/pp. Not cheap, but worth the quality of the food and the experience. For those visiting Boston, I highly recommend doing dim sum one early afternoon of your stay. Walk through the streets of Chinatown, past the mouthwatering bakeries, stores selling beautiful Chinese lanterns, and boisterous groups playing chess on stone tables. It's another slice of my wonderfully diverse city. tripadvisor.com/ShowUser…
(5)
Katie W.
My friends brought me to this old-school dim sum restaurant in the heart of Chinatown last weekend, and we pigged out to our hearts' content. I've had a lot of dim sum in my lifetime, and I'd say this was pretty average. They had most of the classic dishes, and they were no better nor worse than your standard dim sum restaurant. The main issue was that nothing really stood out, and I don't think I'd go back for any particular dish. The best dish was the black bean spareribs, which were meatier than the ones I've had elsewhere. The best dessert was the pumpkin glutinous rice with bean paste. Everything else was relatively unmemorable. The char siu bao were disappointing in the amount of roast pork filling, and I thought the rice rolls with shrimp needed more shrimp. Each roll only had about one medium-sized shrimp each, which meant it was particularly hard to split them. I waited and waited for the har gow (my favorite), but they never came around. Speaking of waiting, I would have given this place four stars if not for the long wait times between carts. When we first sat down at 11am, we were bombarded by carts. But halfway through our meal, around 11:30, there were no carts at all on our side of the room. We looked around and everyone was just sitting there waiting. This continued for half an hour. I finally got tired of waiting and went to the steam table in the front that I didn't notice before, and just picked the items that I really wanted. Unfortunately, some of these items were cold, particularly the egg tarts, which weren't warm or flaky enough. Sad. In the end, our bill came out to be $17/person, which I thought was fair, given how much we ate. I don't think I'll be in a hurry to come back though, as the places I'm used to in Flushing Chinatown are better.
(3)
Audrey C.
Came here with a girlfriend at around 12pm on a Sunday and we waited for about 30 minutes. Their waiting system is a bit unorganized because the hostess puts you in these segregated lines scattered against the wall while the person at the bar sends you to the wrong scattered line. But even with this the wait wasn't too bad...and the hostess is literally the nicest and calmest woman in the world! The 2 of us were seated at a larger table meant for 6..but hey I didn't mind the extra space. The carts came around quite often with dim sum but there is also a self serve section with most of the fried and baked option to the side so no waiting is necessary! The dishes were all super fresh when gotten from the carts and the self serve section too. Black bean clams: Get this at the self serve section, delish, a good serving of clams with good flavor Ha Gow (shrimp dumplings): Standard and fresh and hot! Chong fun (Shrimp roll): Standard, fresh and hot as well. The skin was perfectly soft and the hot sauce that comes w/ this is delish! Lotus leaf sticky rice: Always my fav dim sum dish, They gave a good amount of meat in these also! Egg tarts: At the self serve section also, nice and flakey. All in all, standard and decent priced dim sum that is hot and fresh with not too long of a wait if you come in at busy hours. Give this place a shot, esp because the service is nice and calm as well, unlike other dim sum places.
(4)
Noemi S.
It's a good place to have lunch on Sunday. We had 7 different dishes and all good. We missed water, but I guess we should have asked (unlike other places where they just bring it before taking note). Tea was good; chopsticks, challenging for some of us (but we managed). And not expensive; will come back.
(4)
Garkie Z.
Came to Boston's Chinatown for the first time and was really hungry for some good ol' Dim Sum! Came here on a few website suggestions and left satisfied but not WOW-ed by any means. Overall the place is pricier than I had anticipated. For the two of us we ordered probably 6 dishes including: Steamy Pork Bun, Shumai, Shrimp Noodle rolls, Fried Shrimp Balls, Custard Buns, and Fried Minced Meat Turnovers overall the total was $28. The actual food was pretty ok- I'm from Colorado and while I'm American born I was raised with many Traditional Chinese Food Recipes and found the Boston Dim Sum lacking in some flavors- The Steamy Pork Buns were almost bland in comparison to others I've tried. The service... Was sub par. It took forever for the actual cart we wanted to get to us. Multiple times we made it a note to tell the servers we'd been waiting on a specific dish to get to our table and still we waited. The push cart ladies didn't seem too happy to be there in the first place let alone appease the customers cravings. I think next time I'm craving Dim Sum I'll try another place in Chinatown before resorting to coming back to China Pearl.
(3)
Sean M.
3.0000001 Stars Oh how the mighty have fallen. CP is is a shadow of it's former self of the late nineties and early oughts. The aggregate of the Tea House/Dim Sum scene in Boston's Chinatown has experienced a severe decline. While venues outside of Chinatown have surged; like Ten-Ichi Dynamic Kitchen and Bar in Framingham (weekends only). That being said it's still worth going here if you have the dim sum jones. Look at the bright side; no taking numbers no lines, at least on weekdays. * best turnip cake (Lo Bak Go) in Chinatown * Ha Goa (Har Gow) & Siu Mai (Shumai) are solid as are the other dumplings. * Cha siu bao! (steamed buns) * Lo mai gai !! (lotus leaf rice) * Cheong Fun (rolled noodles, I prefer shrimp) * Don't tell anyone but I prefer CP over HLM (service and food) * parking 3 lots, including one next store, but it's tough.
(3)
Han V.
The cart system seemed a little unorganized because the same 2 cart ladies kept returning to our table and when they realized we weren't interested in the items on their cart for the 3rd time, they completely ignored us altogether! Because of this we were only able to get 4 items off the cart. They have a buffet looking area where you bring up your sheet and can select from the items that they have out and a person will serve you and mark off on your sheet what you got. Overall, their dim sum (what we were able to get) was decent but not enough so to warrant a wait so definitely go early (we got their a little before 11 on a Saturday and didn't have to wait). Food: 3 Value: 3 Service: 1
(2)
Hurnan V.
I came here on a Saturday for dim sum with a couple of friends, and instead of a long line or a wait, we were seated immediately. The interior is pretty festive, standard of a large venue Chinese restaurant, complete with holiday lights (in the middle of summer!). Anyways, the carts came by frequently and there was a nice variety. I really enjoyed their steamed chashao buns and changfen-- dimsum favorites for all! For a table of 5, we all emerged paying about $15, having filled our tummies, and tasted a wide variety of food. I would recommend coming back, especially if you have a large group, for the delicious, warm food, spaciousness, and generally reasonable prices.
(4)
Winnie W.
I've been to China Pearl about 6 times (one time per year when visiting friends). After yesterday's experience, I will never go back. The dim sum was sub-par --- the food lacked flavor and variety. We (three of us) each asked for water and one pop (hey, I'm from the Midwest). There's nothing more to say about the food. I went to the counter to get my bill tallied up. I asked the woman (manager?) how much each dim sum item costs as some places tack on an extra item to rob you. She snapped at me, "let me finish adding everything up before I tell you." Fine. When she was finished, I asked her what cost $1.50? She said it's .50/ tea. I told her that we didn't drink tea. She didn't believe me and said, "yes, you had tea." I said that we had three glasses of water and one pop. She then said, "it's .50/ glass of water." For TAP WATER?!! She adds, "that's how we do it here, we charge for water." Translation: "that's how we do it here, we steal from our customers by imposing ridiculous charges." I know it's $1.50, but no one deserves to be treated this way. I threw the manager shade and left.
(1)
Janet H.
Not bad.... I've been spoiled by San Francisco dim sum my whole life so this is just okay to me. I was surprised to see how PACKED the place was at noon on a Sunday. Luckily, our friends came here early enough to snag a big table while I came late, whoops! Anyway, be prepared to eat a lot of carbs and fried deliciousness... Side note: don't park at the lot across the street. $25 for 2 hour parking... hmph.
(3)
Anthony W.
Came here yesterday for some dim sum in Boston's Chinatown. The place is huge and was fairly crowded by 11am so be sure to get there early or you are going to wait. We arrived about 1030am and were immediately seated. The place is your typical dim sum place where they push around carts filled with brunch type Chinese food and you order different dishes until you are full. The food was very good but I would have to say a slight notch below that of New York or LA. There is also a buffet line of food you can get towards the door to the kitchen that you can also get if you walk up there. Just be sure to bring your ticket with you so that they can mark it. The place is very affordable and for a group of 5, we stuffed ourselves for about 65 bucks. Be aware that the more people you bring, the greater variety of food you can get so call up your friends for a nice Chinese feast.
(4)
John H.
Lots of people claim that they are one of the top 3 dim sum places in Boston. If that's the case, then it must be #3 or a distant #2 at best. It's no where as good as Hei La Moon. Disorganized and lacks flavor. Skip it and go to Hei La Moon.
(2)
Alice Z.
Been here a few times. Good dim sum, a lot of choices. The tables are all very big and meant for ten people; me and a friend came once very early so we got a huge table all to ourselves.
(5)
Frank L.
China Pearl Tyler Street Boston. 8/1/2015 Oh, how this once popular restaurant on Tyler Street has fallen, in my opinion. We visited the restaurant for a quick lunch at 3 PM, after an afternoon lecture in town. I have always wanted to try this restaurant as it has been around for many years. Upon entering the restaurant ,there is a high stairway leading into the restaurant itself, which will be very off putting for any handicapped person. [-10 points]. I did not notice an elevator, or any other way the entrance could be handicapped accessible. Upon entering the restaurant there is the usual statue of laughing Ho Ti, opposite the register take out order station and a brightly illuminated tree. A hostess seated us quickly and there were very few guests dining at that time. Before our server appeared, three restaurant employees began vacuum cleaning around us making a deafening noise for over 20 minutes. Why it had to be done at that time with other guests dining in the restaurant was very discourteous, and annoying. [ -15 points] Our server came to our table, gave us menus, but did not introduce himself or welcome us and then proceeded to ask us for a drink order. We asked for a little time to look over the menu. Within 5 minutes he would come back twice to ask us for an order. We decided to just order appetizers and water. Our appetizer order arrived first in 15 minutes. Usually the hot and sour soup is served fairly quickly, but arrived much later. A waitress came out with two soup spoons and no soup asking other customers at different tables if they had placed a soup order. Our 5 dumplings were fine as were the two thin vegetable spring rolls and 2 average sized egg rolls. We were almost finished eating our appetizers when our hot and sour soup order arrived 30 minutes after we first placed our order. No explanation or apology was given for such a long delay. [-10] The soup was very spicy and was probably the best item we were served. After finishing our soup, we asked for the check, paid for our meal, and left. Atmosphere---Poor, 20 minutes of loud vacuuming. Food--Average Service- Inattentive. We will not return to this restaurant again.
(2)
Rick M.
China Pearl is still in my book A okay for dim sum if you're hangin out in Boston's Chinatown. We went after 2pm this time and all the delicious snacks came out of the kitchen freshly prepared. I always love a good steamed BBQ pork bun (char siu bao) and these didn't disappoint. We also ordered some steamed shrimp dumplings (har gow) and shrimp rice noodle roll (har cheong fun) with sweet soy sauce. And don't forget the steamed pork dumplings (siu mai). Lastly it wouldn't be dim sum without some egg custard tarts (dan tat) washed down with hot tea!
(4)
Tom E.
An average dim sum parlour. 3 stars is not to say that it's not good - dim sum nearly always is. But compared to the standard of dim sum around the world and even around New England - it's pretty ordinary. The two things that stand out are 1. the weekend bustle - this place gets very busy, which is good for the atmosphere but bad for the lines. 2. almond dofu dessert - a traditional cheap and easy desert not made from tofu as the name suggests but made from seaweed agar powder and boiled water. It's almost exactly the same thing I make in the lab everyday to separate out tiny pieces of DNA from each other. It's tasty as hell too (not the lab version).
(3)
Yuming Z.
First time in Boston, decided to go to dim sum instead of brunch on a Sunday. Tried to go to another dim sum place across the street but it was not open so decided on China Pearly instead. Service: Was seated immediately for 2 despite people at the door waiting. Probably bigger parties for the larger tables. Waitress took our drink order but didn't provide us with the stamp card. Once the cart ladies came around that was quickly fixed. Requests for water and extra hot sauce was fulfilled very quickly. Ambience: Typical Chinese restaurant. Clean but not spotless. Wasn't blown away but wasn't disgusted to be there. Food: Ordered quite a few dishes. Some well done, some not so much. Taste wise it was solid. Conclusion: Didn't blow me away but ordered a lot of food and the bill wasn't too bad. The taste wasn't amazing but typically what you'd expect from a dim sum place. Would visit again but I'm sure there has to be better out there in Boston.
(3)
Rajan G.
So I'm not even close to a Dim Sum expert, but I've tried most of the Dim Sum places in and around Chinatown. I would say this one ranks among the top. Their steamed shrimp/chive dumplings were excellent. I also liked the sticky rice. They have a lot of other items I plan to try on the future, including some tofu curry that a lot of other customers were ordering. Most of the cart ladies smiled, which was refreshingly different from most other places. Being from SF Bay Area, I set the bar pretty low in Boston when it comes to Asian/Indian food. May not be 5stars in CA but easily 4 or 5 here.
(5)
Gui Bin Z.
I took my friend and her brother here upon the reconnection of a friend. It was his first time going to dim sum and i was just visiting Boston so I was a fish out of water, but I trusted my friends recommendation. I'm glad I did, the positives to this dim sum parlor is that we didn't have to share a table which is notorious at chinese establishments. We ordered a few items, mostly different types of dumplings, shumai, pork buns, and the various other little dishes. Overall I enjoyed the experience and thought the food was good. I would say skip the pork buns, they were very mediocre. Be prepare to make aggressive eye contact with the cart ladies until they come to you. They spoke decent English so you'll have a general sense of what you're ordering but don't expect too much. I will definitely come back on my next trip to Boston.
(4)
Vanessa C.
well, everyone should try it at least once! I wish I could review my dim sum here but honestly, I dont know half of what the hell I ate. it was put in front of me & I tried it and thats how it went down. some was good, some was not so good. I dont have much else to compare it to so 3 stars for now. (but at least now I know for sure that I dont like chicken feet.)
(3)
Nancy C.
Went here for a late dim sum with my dad. It was 2 pm so it wasn't too crowded at all, but it also meant that the offerings on the cart were not too extensive nor too fresh. We got a variety of things: beef meatballs, steamed rice noodle with pork inside, tofu skin with pork inside, char su bao (BBQ buns), pumpkin buns with red bean paste filling, sweet milk buns with lotus filing, fried sesame balls, and short ribs. The beef meatballs were eh. They put a lot of gluten/flour in it so the texture was distinctly unmeat-like and the meat itself wasn't very good quality. The steamed rice noodle was decent. I added the spicy paste to it to give it more flavor, but the texture was good. Tofu skin with pork inside was decent. We also got another one with mushrooms which was also decent. I wouldn't order either again though. The BBQ pork buns were decent. They're your standard char su bao. I've never been a huge fan of them but they helped fill me up (I was starving). The pumpkin buns were the best out of the dishes we ordered. They're flat and made with rice flour; it was sweet and satisfying without being overly so. Both my dad and I were big fans. The sweet milk buns were good but very filling due to the heaviness of the lotus seed and the fluffiness of the bun. It was well made though. My dad wasn't a huge fan of these, but I liked them. Fried sesame balls are one of my favorite dim sum dishes. These were decent but not great. I usually like mine to have some give in them, but these were fried to the point of us being unable to pick them up with chopsticks. The short ribs were the only meat dish that actually tasted like meat. Probably because you can't really add any flour to it to cut costs. The meat was decent though the flavoring a little too sweet. Overall, not a bad dim sum place, though I still prefer Windsor. China Pearl doesn't have the selection of dumplings that Windsor has. They have a few steamed ones and "fried" ones, but when the cart for the fried ones came around, they looked greasy and unappetizing so I passed on that. I probably wouldn't come back here; I'd rather try out Hei La Moon or go back to Windsor. Being from LA, my standards for this place weren't too high, which was good because I would have otherwise been greatly disappointed.
(2)
John B.
This is not my favorite dim sum place, compared to the ones I've been to in Chicago, LA and NY. But I would say that this is one of the more "consistent" ones in Boston. Here's why: They are always crowded because they're known for their food availability, fast service and cheap price. Spacious place and the wait is usually really fast. On weekends they're packed here. The buffet line adds diversity to their food and it's always a good extra something to have for dim sum. Fast service, not the most friendly and warming attitude but they get their job done fast and efficiently. I personally really like the shrimp dumplings (Ha Gow), it doesn't taste frozen and almost taste fresh. I always have to get that there. Wish the parking was a bit easier, we always have to park in the garage nearby since finding street parking in Chinatown is almost impossible every time.
(4)
Elaine M.
3.5 stars. China Pearl is a pretty solid dim sum place in Boston's Chinatown. Be forewarned, though, that it gets ridiculously busy the closer it gets to lunchtime during the weekends. And when I say "busy," I mean that there are lines pouring down a flight of stairs, nearly out the front door -- and it is no small restaurant (it consists of two pretty large floors). Any time I have friends or family visiting from out of town who say they want dim sum, I always take them here, and they always end up liking it.
(4)
Jane B.
Came here with co-workers during the busy lunching hour. We were seated immediately. In fact, before we all had plunked our behinds on a chair, the carts began to encircle our table. A cacophony of "You want?" began echoing through my head as we quickly tried to assess what it was that they were hawking. None of us being Dim Sum experts, there was a lot of sampling and "We'll try that". Tea was pipping hot and the shape of the pot made it a bit difficult to pour without getting tea all over the table. It was a bit watery, but drinkable. Points for their speedy and continual service. Price is reasonable - for 5 the bill came to under $55 (and we got quite a lot of food). The restaurant is rather large, which is good for quick seating. There is also a buffet style area where you can go and select items, if you don't want what is passed around on the carts. The fried noodle was tasty, along with a couple other items whose names I couldn't tell you. Overall a good experience. Not amazing, not fantastic, but definitely good. Would go for 3.5 stars if possible, but I'd rather bump them up to 4 than give a 3.
(4)
Jason A.
I dunno why I'm writing this review. Cuz everyone knows it's good. The long lines & dim sum speaks for itself. And the old ladies who CUT IN FRONT OF ME IN LINE already frequent it. Seriously, what is up with the continous edging in, while I'm dutifully waiting my white ass in line??? It just bugs! And my main gripe is that the counter staff doesn't care about these line terrorists! Man! However, if the dim sum here wasn't so gratifying, I would never brave the lack of parking, the running-out-of-stuff-early and the line terrorists. My all-time faves are the Hum Siu Guk (sp? deep fried mochi ball with pork inside), Char Siu Bao (steamed pork bun), Jook (rice porridge) and Steamed Taro Dumplings (with taro and shrimp inside). Mm-mm-mm. Come here and be prepared to exclaim: "Excuse me! I was next!"
(5)
Glen B.
I can't believe how low the ratings are for this place! Yes, the waitresses are rude, yes it might be a bit hectic, yes they barely speak English, but isn't that the point of dim sum? The dim sum here is good. I don't know how it compares to other places in Boston because I've never found a reason to look for another place.
(4)
Ashley J.
This is my favorite dim sum place because of the variety and because of the turnover. They are so busy the food is constantly fresh. I get freaked out by places where I see the cart go around several times and nobody touches anything. My favs.. shrimp dumplings lobster dumplings (they almost never have them anymore) sweet buns sticky rice clams in black bean sauce etc etc Expect the usual. Rude waiters, cart ladies who let you order by pointing, getting a fork if you aren't asian, a big huff if you order a pitcher of water like I always do. The food is cheap, filling, tasty and the experience is fun. I get a little jealous when I am here of the kids who parents take them to do this every weekend. My parents only took me to IHOP....
(4)
Alex Z.
I think China Pearl has a reasonable selection of fresh dim sum, especially my favorites and most of the traditional fare, with a few surprises. They are reasonably priced for dim sum, perhaps a little on the expensive side compared to other cities, but about average for Boston. So, a few notes on dim sum in general that also apply to China Pearl. Dim sum is almost always greasy, almost always overpriced, and generally overcrowded with poor waiter service. Okay, so all of those issues apply to some degree or other to China Pearl, but if you like dim sum I presume you've learned to live with this by now. If you're looking for a light meal, stay away from the meat-containing dishes like shumai and the dumplings, and go for the steamed dishes and rice noodles. All in all, I wouldn't hesitate to go back if I were in the neighborhood. There's a dessert "soup" which is basically coconut juice and tapoica... absolutely delicious and very refreshing after a heavy meal. Try to get there early if you can.
(4)
Paul K.
China Pearl is one of our favorite places to go for Dim Sum. We try to make a stop here whenever we're in Boston. The food is always good and the prices are reasonable. If going on the weekends, try to get there before 11:00 before it gets too hectic.
(3)
Norina N.
it used to be real good couple years ago, but recently I went back for dimsum, my bf and I ordered 4 dishes, all were just plain, it tasted like had been cooked for days, we couldnt help but got up to pay and left to another place.
(2)
Phu M.
This is the only place I go to for Dim Sum. I lived in CA for 3 years and friends there took me to Dim Sum places and none of them compared to China Pearl. I would long for their Shu Mai, Har Gow, sticky rolls and other goodies after a mediocre dim sum experience while in California. On the weekends for brunch, my advice is to go there around 10:30AM before the big rush. Overall, this place has the best Dim Sum in my opinion.
(5)
Marilyn C.
My husband and I have been craving Dim Sum since we moved Ma. We finally made the trip today to Chinatown to get some. Food was ok. Congee was really bland. Pork meatball tasted fishy. I think the worst part was the bill itself. I think both of us had a heart attack when we saw the bill. We've never paid so much for DIM SUM! $52 for the both of us? For sure we will not return to this place.
(2)
Zizzles A.
This is probably the best places for people to get acquainted with dim sum. Between Hei La Moon, Chau Chow City, this place, and Emperor's Garden, I would put China Pearl's dim sum as the best overall. They are the most consistently good in the sense that every dish is well made, even if its competitors have the upper hand in a few individual selections. The deal breaker here is that none of the rice flour wrapped dumplings are mucky and greasy. Chao zhou fen guo (chiu zao fun gaw if you wanna be all cantonese) is sweet solace for me at dim sum because it's one of the rare, rare dishes that isn't loaded with pork or shrimp. There's some veggies, cilantro I think, water chestnut, peanuts and little meat scraps inside. It's great here, while many of the other places have mucky starchy fillings. I believe hei la moon has a good one, but chau chow's is bad, as is emperor's. The rice noodle standby chiong fun is delicious here, comparable to the dim sum houses in Guang Zhou. It's perfectly soft, but not overly greasy. It always has a little bit of glutenous chew. They had this one fried shrimp ball dish with a longan in the middle which I was crazy about has a kid. I've grown out of that phase, but it is pretty tasty and worth a try. Shrimp dumplings, tripe, chicken's feet, beef balls, and steamed spare ribs are all of a high quality, equaling, if not besting its competitors. I've always found the Chicken Feet to be best at China Pearl. The sauce isn't overly sweet, and it has a lot of flavor from the black beans. The Shumai taste good as well, and are not the behemoths that they serve at hei la moon, which is nice. I like being able to eat shumai in one bite. Overall, I'd say Hei La Moon is almost as good, and also a place you can't go wrong with for dim sum, but China Pearl is at a more convenient location and I like it just a little bit more.
(4)
Yumiko F.
Love this place but need to go with 3 or more people so you won't stuff yourself with same thing! It is better to go early time other wise sometimes food gets greasy.. ( maybe not) yum yum dim sum
(4)
Anna T.
I'm not really an expert on dim sum but I know that I can find better in Boston. I came here around lunchtime on a Wednesday with my friend and her parents. The place was pretty packed, mostly with elderly Asian couples craving some cheap grub. I'm a pretty timid gourmand when it comes to Asian cuisine, usually straying away from tripe and chicken feet. Although, I do recommend the pork bun, the egg custard pastry, the dumplings, and the beef and noodles. The China Pearl is an ok place for cheap, humdrum victuals.
(2)
Kendall H.
It might be because my standards are real high from the hand made west coast dumplings, but i thought china pearl was a bit mediocre, and somewhat disappointing. Not spectacular quality, as it is difficult to find good quality asian food at a reasonable price in the northeast in general. Lack luster food quality coupled with ordinary service 3 STARS!
(3)
.amy E.
My Visit To China Pearl, Re-imagined as an 80s Music Video (specifically: Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up") Open to the three of us - me, Rick Astley, Liz - dancing in the mirrored stairwell of China Pearl. Everyone has big hair. The camera pans between us and our scattered reflections as we dance up the stairs. First verse: Astley is dancing and singing into a mic on a small platform stage in the middle of the lower floor. Dim Sum carts swarm around him in a swarm of color. People are ignoring him in favor of their pork shu mai and vegetable dumplings. On "I just wanna tell you...", he serenades Liz and I at a table upstairs. Liz eats her shrimp roll and I sip hot tea, pretending not to notice. Chorus:cut between scenes of Liz and I alternately dancing and doing back bends on the center of a larger table upstairs. Next verse: mysteriously, we are all now wearing sunglasses, even though we are inside. Astley has donned a too-large trenc hcoat. Liz's hair is even bigger. Astley sings, and people are suddenly noticing him. A few look annoyed at the disruption, but for the most part, people are enjoying the performance. Next chorus: We dance behind Astley as he sings. People are clapping, and you can clearly see some patrons singing along. There are numerous shots of Astley using a pair of chopsticks (the color of his trench coat) to snatch up pieces of dim sum as he goes through the crowd, but it would be incongruous to see him eating them; the shot changes each time he brings a piece up to about chin-level. People do not seem to notice, or care. When chorus repeats to the end of the song, a majority of the restaurant slowly stands to dance with us, following Astley as he wanders through the restaurant. As they get up to dance, their hair grows in size and their clothes become smaller, tighter, brighter; a magical 80s transformation. As song ends, everyone applauds as shot fades to black.
(3)
Lynn C.
If i could give this place 0 stars..I would. This place is the WORST place I've ever been to. I came here for Chinese New Year and it was the biggest mistake of my life. The service was beyond terrible. There were about 5 tables in the restaurant and three servers. It was not busy. It took a good 10 minutes for anyone to acknowledge that we were there. I finally had to flag someone down. He was rude. Never smiled once. We had to ask for water, plates, silverware, etc. several times. The food was also gross. The dim sum looked old and slimey. We ordered black bean spare ribs and some shumai. Icky icky. We also ordered a beef and veggie entree and a couple of other things. I know that at some Chinese restaurants, they serve the meat a little more on the rare side....but when this dish came out....the beef was still bloody as in raw. I tried to tell the waiter and all he did was argue with me. My meal ended up being $60 bucks and of course the entire bill was written in Chinese so I couldnt even read what was written. It was the biggest waste of money ever. I left less than 10% because the service was TERRIBLE. I know how to tip (I've waitressed before and am a 20% tipper type) but I couldnt' give him more than that. I will never ever go back there again. Ugh. Im getting mad just thinking about it.
(1)
Bobby F.
I went with a party of twenty for dim sum. Ten minutes after seating us, the brought one order of rolls. Ten minutes later, they brought one more order of rolls. Ten minutes after that, they brought MENUS at DIM SUM! They took over half an hour to begin bringing out our order. Worst. Service. Ever.
(1)
Anna W.
I ain't gonna lie... pretty good dim sum! My family has been going here since they closed Golden Palace across the street (that happened almost 2 decades ago, but I am still mourning its loss). For a loooong time, this was the only place we went for dim sum and other functions (weddings, birthdays, etc.). It has gotten a little pricier over the years, but the food is still of great quality. Dim sum is wonderful. If you go here on a weekend, it will be mobbed, and you will be rushed, so be prepared for that. You may even be forced to share a table with complete strangers. But, it's all a part of the ambiance, I guess. I've also been to many a family function here, and out of all the places in Chinatown we've gone to, this is in the top three. They churn out the food SO fast, and it is always delicious.
(3)
Rob G.
Dim Sum is really the only reason to visit the hot-mess the ensues every weekend. From the horrific parking situation in Chinatown to the interminable waits, it can try your patience. But once seated, the food is really quite good, even if you are not quite sure what you're eating and the waitresses don't speak a word of English. Go for the people watching and plan to make an afternoon of it...Not for picky eaters or those in a rush!
(4)
Sarah C.
Had to introduce to my husband what dim sum was. I haven't been to a lot of restaurants in Boston and heard some good reviews about this place. Though not an expert, I think their dim sum was pretty good. Carts were consistently coming around so there wasn't a worry I wasn't going to see something again. Got the rice soup, chicken feet (good), turnip cake (liked how they were frying it right on the cart), fried crab balls, shrimp dumplings (standard), and pork. I'd come back again.
(4)
Jeffrey L.
Tied with hei la moon for the greatest dim sum in boston. Great spot to have weddings and what not.
(4)
Liz E.
Great dim sum. Everything we got was flavorful and fresh tasting. They have all of the typical dim sim offerings plus a few things I'd never had before. They had clams in some sort of brown sauce that were different and tasty. Great shumai, chinese broccoli, dumplings of all sorts, great pork buns. They were very attentive with the tea. I'll go back for sure.
(4)
Michelle L.
My poor co-worker (who I mistakenly took here for her first dimsum ever) will probably never try it again. We experienced slow service, not enough carts coming around, and lack of variety. In short, I'd recommend trying somewhere else.
(2)
Jarrod C.
My first time coming to China Pearl for dim sum was a great experience. All your usual favorites and plenty of it. The ladies are always coming around with the carts so you never have to flag anyone down. Ate tons and managed to stay at approx $10/pp. Definitely go for the shumai, it is excellent! Will definitely be back.
(4)
Darius K.
I went here for dim sum yesterday with three friends, and my first impression was that I *loved* the atmosphere. When I arrived, I saw that the main dining area on the 2nd floor was decorated in your standard big-restaurant-in-Chinatown decor. Giant gold lions and the like. Yuck. But we got seated on the 3rd floor and I immediately liked the extremely casual cafeteria-like atmosphere of the place. Anyway, the dim sum here was okay but not great. The turnip cakes were way too glutenous and sweet for me. I like them a little less cloying--then I can add hoisin sauce if I want sweet gooeyness. The buns ranged from okay (bland shrimp) to excellent (traditional one with lots of chives in it). None of the baked desserts looked particularly appetizing, although I tried a mango jello-thing and it was really tasty. Finally, if you're vegetarian, you probably don't want to eat here. There are other dim sum places (like Chun Shin Yuan in Newton/Watertown) that have a lot more options for veg-heads.
(3)
Mary M.
The 4 stars is for the dim sum part. Besides not having some items that I love, the dim sum was pretty good. The prices are good too. I've never ate anything here for dinner, but I'm guessing dim sum might be good here but the regular dinner items might not be so good. We had a person in the group who was a vegetarian, and none of us knew that beforehand. Nothing on the carts appealed to her, and everything I love has meat in it, so I didn't even know what to recommend to her. In the end, we ordered her a chow mein with vegetables. The dish we were served was really bad. I thought they would make something like normal seafood chow mein, but minus the seafood and more vegetables (granted I've never had seafood chow mein here but I didn't think any Chinese place would mess that up). Instead, the dish seemed to me that the cook back there didn't know what to do and toss in random things...hehe. There was very little sauce, just lots of oil, and some small bits of vegetables and tofu. Come here for dim sum, but not for dinner.
(4)
Steven N.
Excellent as usual. Enough said.
(5)
PC W.
China Pearl has been my family's dim sum restaurant of choice for as long as it's been here - over a decade probably? 3 generations of Hong Kong Chinese cannot be wrong :) We're not so much of a fan of China Pearl for dinner but dim sum is tops. It's consistently good with many choices. There is also lots of seating and the staff is very quick and efficient. China Pearl still does the old school cart system which I hope never goes away. You can see what you're ordering and continue eating until you get full. I had another good experience here this morning and I continue to go for dim sum here with each trip I make home.
(4)
Zakir B.
I don't care about the dinge. I care about the real Chinese food. When I was in college, Emily Sun took me here late at night for "Chrysanthemum Tea Without Sugar!" and some goodies (the Chrysanthemum Tea tasted like the water in a vase, only hot). The stuff here is real. You can certainly compare China Pearl unfavorably with spots in New York or in San Francisco (hmm, I think longingly of Yank Sing...) but the mushroom dumplings are light, the hot and sour soup is hot, thick, and sour, and the Bok Choi from Planet Ten is fresh fresh fresh. No real reason to spend too much money elsewhere in Boston, IMHO.
(4)
Corey H.
This place was pretty standard. I went here for a late lunch during the week by myself. The place was empty besides me. The service was great and the server was a very nice lady. The food was hot and made fresh but still came out quickly. The taste was average. Nothing special. The price was average as well. I would eat here again if someone wanted to go here or if I was passing by but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back here.
(3)
Kelley T.
I come here for dim sum, I've done the sit-down thing here one night and wasn't impressed. As far as dim sum goes, it's pretty yummy. However be forewarned, it can get super crowded and you might end up waiting a while for a table. Personally I think it's worth the wait. They've got all my favorite dumpling-esque dishes (hacao, shumai, and various bao) as well as some killer clams in black bean sauce and snails in spicy sauce, and amazing turnip cake. And chicken feet for the more traditional chinese.
(3)
Allison B.
I can't attest to the dim sum, but I've been here for their 10-course wedding style dinner for 10 people. if you can wrangle a group of 10, I'd recommend trying it out just for the experience alone! For a flat rate of just a smidge over $200 (total bill came to about $27 pp), you get 10 courses - which I believe vary depending on the day. Our fare included: - Cold plate of appetizers, including beef, duck, chicken, and jellyfish (actually quite delicious!). - Seafood soup - Seasoned prawns - Seafood/Veggie dish (snap peas, broccoli, carrots, shrimp, scallops, squid, etc) - Chinese fried chicken (amazing) - 2 Lobsters - Fried rice - Lo Mein - Some kind of sweet n sour-type pork - A whole fish - Red bean soup (dessert) the experience is amusing (omg, the food just keeps coming!), and some of the standout dishes were truly delicious, but to be honest, i much prefer the dim sum experience, and i hold loyalties to empire garden (though I suppose I'd be willing to try CP for comparison's sake). in other words, i'm just as if not more satisfied paying $10 to stuff myself with dumplings as i am paying $30 to stuff myself with lobster, but I'm glad I got to experience this culinary extravaganza!
(3)
Erik L.
A GREAT dim sum / yam cha place - I think its probably your best bet in Boston. Certain places try to pull off a half-assed dim sum where you either have a small selection, the stuff isn't freshly cooked or something like that, but China Pearl does the real thing. The place is packed at dim sum hours but unless you are with a big group, you won't have to go through a torturous wait. In other words, don't except anything except a good dim sum experience: lots of noise, lots of great food, low prices, and satisfaction! Did I miss anything?
(4)
Tom F.
this was my first Dim Sum experience in Boston, and I walked away thoroughly pleased. The siu mai was just ok, but the ha Cheung fun was delicious! I'd recommend more, but I'll have to ask my girlfriend what everything is called.
(4)
Derrick C.
Been here 4 total times. Once for dinner and 3 times for dim sum and twice, the food has been cold. Upon asking the waiter about it, he basically said that it was dim sum and the carts go around so what can he do about it? WOW are you kidding me? This place is a joke. And yes I'm Chinese and I know what good Dim Sum is supposed to be. This is the only place I've tried in Boston but I sure hope there's gotta be somewhere better than this. Oh yea, and the one time I came for dinner it was horrible too.
(1)
Ken Y.
How the once great have fallen. Went on Thursday night and it was nearly empty. For dessert, we got fortune cookies instead of the usual oranges and pudding. They must be really hurting for business.
(2)
Sara C.
ok.....so boston isnt really known for their version of china town, but i'll give them a star for effort =) yes, its a small neighborhood and my local friend took us here for some dim sum. it was actually quite bustling here considering the other choices in the area. this place is on the 2nd floor...and theres also a 3rd floor. we got there around noon on a saturday and were seated immediately.......in back......waaaay back......which was ok by us since we sat next to a couple of locals who apparently frequents there becuz all the cart ladies and even the owner walked back to their table often so we had no problems calling them over for some food. they do have some unusual dishes i dont see often at other dim sum restaurants, but they pretty much had every other typical dim sum dishes. their egg tart looked like it had been sitting out awhile, their sweet tofu soup came in a small bowl, but still enough to share between 3 people. the fried bean roll wrapped in noodle was kinda bland. the place looks old and needs a little bit of renovation but overall the food and service was descent enough. the price wasnt bad either, 3 of us ate for about $35.
(3)
Jack P.
the best dim sum i have found in massachusetts
(5)
Tom M.
This place is a gigantic assembly line, stuffing hastily thrown together dim sum into throngs of people. Can you tell I'm not much of a fan? The quality of the food is marginal, and it was surprisingly bland. Not totally awful, and there are definitely times when I'm willing to sacrifice some culinary satisfaction to head down there with a group of friends and doing the whole "Dim Sum Experience." Honestly, if you just want tasty Dim Sum without the hassle, I would go to Dim Sum Chef in Allston, or if you absolutely have to pull your chicken feet off of a cart, but want them to be flavorful, then head to Hei La Moon nearby. So yeah, 2 stars for the crazy atmosphere (a good thing depending on your mood), but not much else. I haven't been there for non-Sunday brunch, so maybe they pay a little more attention to the food when they're not making it by the buttload.
(2)
Gen M.
There is something to be said about the laissez faire approach they have to the atmosphere and what they do with the food instead. There are loud conversations, kids running around, older asian couples congregating, and various other attributes of a good chinatown place, and the food is fantastic. You don't know what you're having. You can ask for steamed in the hopes you will indeed get that. You will love what you have - try the mushroom/swordfish steamed creations and you will just have that for the rest of your time there. Everything tastes so good and it comes out to barely $12 per person. Yup, i love it - but I do adore a good dim sum meal.
(5)
Debbie N.
I had a bad experience here at my uncle's wedding a few years ago (imagine: cold fried crab legs) and vowed to never return. Upon a friend's request, I returned last weekend for dim sum. Boy, did I regret not going to China Pearl sooner. After mediocre Boston dim sum experiences at Emperor's Garden, Quincy's China Pearl, and the various Chau Chows, I have resigned myself to thinking that beyond-mediocre Boston dim sum is impossible. However, Chinatown's China Pearl was just that. The carts were quick and constant, the food was less greasy than other Boston dim sum places, and they had a variety of dishes, some of which the other dim sum places do not always have. My only complaint: The steamed shrimp dumplings (har gow?? sp?) never came out on the carts while we were there. Boo.
(4)
tammy w.
While I myself am not a Chinese food guru, I gotta say that the food here is pretty good. I can never remember names or anything like that but I do know there is a lot of dumplings and rice and meat. I go here every now and then to take away those cravings of the orient. Dim sum is the best time to go, usually waiting in line for 5-10 minutes but its well worth it..
(4)
Lisa K.
I've never had dim sum before so I didn't really know what to expect but was excited to try something new. We went for a sort of double date-- I went with my fiance and two friends- I'm curious as to what Laura A. will say about our meal. It wasn't bad but it wasn't AWESOME. The sesame bun thingies with the red bean paste were my favorite. I had a hard time with some of the textures of things- too slimy for us...especially those fried donuts wrapped in something resembling a bodily fluid...gross. The fried tofu looked promising but seemed to be soaking in some kind of meat sauce and part of it was a huge chunk of fat- again, not so appealing- especially for our vegetarian friend. The gelatinous tofu mentioned by a couple of other people here- yeah....so totally gross...it was so liquidy. Everything seemed fried pretty much and was heavy...no veggies to be found really. The sticky pork bun was alright- it reminded me of something that I couldn't put my finger on- maybe a hot dog bun...or maybe a little debbie's donut with pork? The spring rolls were typical and the veggie pocket things were ok. I think for those who are familiar with dim sum and know what to order have more success. I would definitely try it again sometime- but I would be a little more cautious about what to order...stay away from the fried donut with slime!!!
(3)
Alexander M.
very nice dim sum place in Boston's China Town. rich atmosphere, exotic selection.
(4)
David Q.
Being new in Boston, I have only tried Hei La Moon and I wanted to branch out and try new places. Much against my fiancees mentality of sticking with what's good, we finally decided to try this place. Boy were we disappointed. The portions were smaller, and also the food was just not as tasty. A lot of the hot pastry items were cold when it was served and in general no where as good as Hei la moon. I would not recommend this place.
(2)
Sage K.
It makes me sad that I got food poisoning from a dim sum lunch at China Pearl. They are so fun to go to and the food tastes good. But three out of four of us who went were very ill by the evening. The fourth person ended up taking care of me as I couldn't even leave the house to walk 4 blocks to the drug store to pick up medicine. I've never had food poisoning before, but it is awful enough that I will NEVER go back to China Pearl.
(1)
TJ T.
Food is okay. I like it when I end up going here for a big party such as a birthday or a wedding party; the plates are much better. When I go here with just a group of people, it just doesn't feel the same and the service is pretty rude. BUT once again, in big parties it's a blast.
(3)
Joshua P.
I'm in love with China Pearl. This was my first dim sum experience and howdy-doo, it was good. Thank god I went with my Cantonese-speaking friend though, otherwise I would have been in a pickle. The food is amazing, and copious, and the service is crazy (good crazy, but still crazy). Plus we ordered A TON of food and it only came to $10 a person. I'd definitely recommend this place and I hear it's the best dim sum in Boston, so do it up dim sum-ers! p.s. GET the tofu pudding, it's unbelievable, seriously, I had like three bowls of it.
(5)
Jando S.
China Pearl's dim sum has to be one of the best in Boston, with its fresh variety, and plentiful portion style dishes. Sunday and Saturday afternoons may result in some mad house-like atmosphere as people will storm this place as if they're ready to overthrow an emperor resulting in a long congested mess of waiting. The decor is suitable for Chinese banquet hall standards but the big tables everywhere make for awkward experiences as many of them are shared with patrons who were probably waiting with you. Get here before 12 and with a group of 6 or more its unlikely they'll seat strangers with you and most likely a table will be waiting for your group.
(4)
H Y.
Only for Dim Sum and wedding receptions. It's the 'Groundhog Day' nightmare for every Chinese kid growing up in Boston. Eat banquet dinner at China Pearl. Repeat. Otherwise I have never and will never eat dinner here. It's not bad but you are better off heading across the street to Peach Farm for dinner. Dim Sum is better than most in Boston if only for the variety. The self-serve station is good for snails (or escargot for Chinese-French kids) and such. Lots of big tables. Tell the host that you are willing and eager to share a table with those nice old Chinese men reading those funny papers if you want to cut the line. The crowds are tremendous on weekends! Come before 10:30am at least. My family never had to wait (it's nice to know the manager) but frankly I wouldn't wait in line for this stuff. Go to Hei La Moon if you are going to wait.
(3)
Hans M.
I have to say hands down --- China Pearl is THE Yum Cha (not 'yam') place in Boston. For those New Yorkers, yes yes, I know, I know, about the selection, about the place, about blah blah blah...Nobody is gonna drive 4 hours to go to Canal Street just for Yum Cha on a weekend morning. Talk about authentic Yum Cha place? Plz~ I am from the "Land of Yum Cha" so STFU and accept that there is no better substitution in Boston. Now if you happen to go to San Francisco, there is a........
(4)
Julie C.
this is a great alternative for dim sum when Winsor is packed. initially, i wanted to go to Winsor because I dont eat a ton of the choices off the carts offer but being like 1 pm, the place was packed and the wait was going to take a while and i was frikkin hungry, so i went across the street. i used to come here a lot with my parents when i was little, so i knew it was going to be good. a table for 2, and you are handed a card to be seated upstairs. we probably waited like half a minute to be seated and not even 30 seconds had gone by when our first cart showed up! score! sticky fried rice and char sui bao! yum! they came piping hot! soo good. then we had some congee , the tofu dessert dish, some dumplings, and we were stuffed. i wouldnt recommend getting coke with your meal, it was quite flat. stick with the tea. if you want soy sauce, you have to ask for it as they are not on the tables. carts come by quick, and often times they are the same ones over and over, you do have to search for the one you want sometimes and flag them down. they do have a stattion that will make certain dishes for you ask. ( like mussels or "chinese broccoli") i had been craving one of the crab leg balls but by the time those came around, i was stuff. ah well, maybe next time. you can count on it.
(4)
Kitty L.
I was invited to a wedding Banquet at China Pearl Restaurant on a Saturday evening. There were 3 parties being held simultaneously between the 2nd & 3rd floors. The rooms are decorated with old Chinese paintings. The center has a dancing floor + DJ music. The food I would rate it as C. The steak has too much tendon. The shark fin soup was too starchy & has no shark fin taste. The waiter did not offer cutting knife for steak & no lobster fork for lobster even I had requested. The service, I graded as C again
(3)
Jonathan B.
The food came to the table on carts and there was no lag in the flow or variety. This is definitely a family oriented restaurant. The hostess was always available to help us understand what was in the food if we had any questions. We loved it.
(4)
Leif H.
If you have gone for Dim-Sum in Boston's Chinatown you probably went here. This place tends to be the most popular venue as it is easy to find and their dining room isn't hidden away like some of establishments the locals preffer. Their food is good quality with enough of a crowd for it to be turned over fast and frequently. The biggest challenge is getting their early enough or timing your visit so as not to be starving while waiting. You can easily wait 30 minutes for a table if you pick the wrong time to go. And if you are a Congee lover you will be happy to know that they have a cart for that. Unfortunately I have visited several establishments in Boston that did not serve Congee, which was a disappointment.
(3)
Hubert H.
Can't believe I haven't written a review for China Pearl, a stalwart of Sunday dimsum for collegiate folk. The last time I was there was last December. Went in with my buddy at 3pm and it seemed as if almost all the food was gone. All of a sudden, five cart ladies surrounded our table (meant to seat 8 by the way), urging us on on eat everything! They were really aggressive. As for the quality of the food, I've always maintained that the dumplings were generally cold, that the flour wrappers were a bit ... mushy (is that the right word?), etc., etc. Always something just a bit wrong with the dishes. I have to try the noodles and the porridges at some point, so check back in for that review.
(3)
Dana L.
We got here at 10:45 to beat the crowds, and had no problem getting 2 tables upstairs (we had about 20 people). Its pretty standard Dim Sum fare - waiters walk around with trays of dumplings and you pick out what you want. It helps to have someone who speaks Cantonese with you, because the dishes aren't labeled, and you can't usually tell what they are by looking at them. If you don't want anything that you see, you can always order from the regular menu (just ask one of the waiters for a menu). Be forewarned that a lot of the dumplings contain pork. As I don't like to eat pork, and am allergic to shellfish, I only tried a few things, but they were tasty. The tarot root dumplings were excellent, as were the sesame dumplings filled with bean curd. I also got the Chicken with Mushrooms, which was very good. Overall, it came to like $10 per person, and everyone was stuffed.
(4)
Merri L.
This morning, we went to dim sum at China Pearl in Chinatown (Boston). This wasn't my first time there. We actually had tried a few dim sum places, and this is the best one. Dim sum, for those who don't know, is a bunch of little appetizer type foods, and the people come by your table with carts of food, and you choose which ones you want. Dim Sum here lasts until 3, but you need to get there by 1 in order to get a good variety of food. If you go later, you won't get enough. This is really cheap, you can get tons of different foods for about $10 a person. And, you can take a doggie bag if you don't finish. The food here is very good, although the water tasted weird today. Go try it out!
(4)
Ryan K.
This place is just alright. The dim sum is fairly standard but they selection is actually quite good. It gets busy but the wait wasn't too bad when I went. It's a little grimy for my taste but the price of the food dictates how clean it is. Yes, cart ordering is not how I like it but it it much better for the beginning dim sum eater.
(3)
Ashley S.
I wanted to try another place for dim sum (had only been to Windsor Dim Sum, which was great) and chose China Pearl. We walked in and the greeter said dim sum ended at 3pm. I glanced at my watch and was disappointed to see that it was 2:58pm. Carts started coming around and we loaded up during the last call. Overall, it was pretty good! I especially liked the BBQ pork buns (always a fav of mine) and the chicken feet w/ rice. Next time, I'd be sure to get there earlier in the afternoon for more variety (and less panic) with my choices.
(3)
Dennis L.
This place brings back memories whenever I walk up the stairs. It was the first restaurant I remember... My father worked here back when it was only a function hall and I remember sitting at a table, helping him with folding napkins on a sleepy Sunday afternoon, the room lit by paper and wooden lanterns with intricate carvings adorning the large chamber. Now, it's a bit different in its incarnation ever since the 1980's heralded in the age of dim sum spreading around. The place is still called China Pearl, but different in Chinese. The wood is gone, replaced by mirrors and bright lights. I have to wear my sunglasses or eyepatch whenever I am in there as a result. Many familiar faces have worked there and moved on over the years, but it is still a nexus of Chinatown. China Pearl is still a safe bet as a restaurant to take guests who have never tried dim sum before, but I presently find the quality a bit better at Windsor across the street and Hei La Moon. It has diminished a bit and could give itself a facelift in its operations, having barely changing such in twenty years. It's a place I've introduced many a person to dim sum to, and it is definitely a love-hate thing. For dim sum, the optimum time to go there is about 10 AM, when enough time has passed that all the carts are circulating, but not before it starts dying down... as well as the selection. I'm afraid the quality of the ha gao (shrimp dumplings) has diminished a bit over the years. When they first converted, there was a lot more bamboo shoots in comparison to the shrimp. Now, there's barely, if any at all. Chinese cuisine is about complements of flavors, and the delicate bamboo offset that of the shrimp, the stereotypical yin-yang taking place. I wish they would go back to the old recipe... The Siu Mai (pork/shrimp dumplings) are alright, more complementary than the ha gao. At least with dim sum, you can see the dishes as they come around here and just... pick away at whatever looks good that day. What is usually a limited offering is the 'zia leurng', a fried Chinese cruller wrapped in rice noodles that contain cilantro, topped by a sweetened soy sauce. If you see it on top of the cart that has the other rice noodle dishes, grab one before they all go away. They only make a small quantity each day, mostly due to the cilantro wrapping. Ordering off the menu, they do a yin yang fried rice alright. It is a bed of fried rice with egg, and bean sprouts, topped on one side by chicken and onions in a sweetened tomato sauce and shrimp with peas in a white egg drop sauce. If you are curious as to the level of 'Fear Factor' foods there are here, the worst you will find are the tripe (available at the hot food bar), the chicken talons (fong zao), and the thousand year old egg soup (pei dan jook). It's not as frightening as other places in Chinatown where you can find such dishes as ox tongue with coagulated pig's blood. Also, if you want a hint for parking on weekends, if you don't mind dealing with walking half a mile, I park at the street that's normally tour bus parking during weekdays next to the Herald and can readily find parking until about 1 pm. Dishes to try: " Zia Leurng" (rice noodle wrapped around fried cruller), Siu Mai, Yin Yang fried rice
(3)
Krishna L.
We had dinner here tonight. At the beginning of the meal a mouse scampered by my husband's foot (he kept quiet, so as not to ruin the time for the rest of us). At the end of the meal, as we were paying, the rest of us saw a mouse running across the room. We told the woman at the register and asked for a discount. She didn't blink an eye, didn't apologize, and said that they don't give discounts and said the food was not contaminated. How would she know that for certain? If this mice has no fear in scampering across the dining area, in the glare of the lights, with people in the room, how many more are there in the kitchen, when the restaurant closes, when it is dark and with no people???
(1)
Kev H.
This place is alright, I think empire garden has better food, but this place seems to offer more of a bar/restaurant ambiance. I have been to a few weddings here, theres luscious space for dancing on a hardwood floor, if you're planning maybe a wedding or some sort of after party this would be a pretty good spot.
(3)
kathleen c.
my family has been coming here on and off ever since i was a kid, and it's a solid favorite of my extended family. i can see why--their dim sum is predictable and consistent, there's a HUGE booze selection, seating is prompt (even if you sometimes have to share a table with someone else), and sometimes you can get specialty items like lobster dumplings (ohhh yeah). as for the ambience--what can i say? if you were expecting something else from a restaurant in chinatown, i'm sorry to say that you are fairly disillusioned. the tables are chipped and they've done away with the pretense of a table cloth. only God knows when was the last time they vacuumed the carpet. but if you're looking for something decent and consistent, china pearl is the way to go. funnily enough, if you ever noticed how the name of the restaurant in chinese is something fierce and intimidating like "dragon phoenix restaurant" and the english translation is something lame like "china pearl" it makes you wonder...
(4)
C. S.
I only went to this three floored tower of suck because my beloved Peach Farm across the street had a long wait. This place is horrible. Food makes you wish you had chosen to give up chinese food for lent. I must have ordered the vegeterian chicken lo mein because there was no chicken in it. The staff was a surly group of bums it took them twenty five minutes and four requests to get me a coke. They seemed perturbed to have to wait on people and it took another 15 minutes to get a check. I have never been very harsh on service, in fact, I rarely notice issues others point out, but this place was terrible.
(1)
Sun Y.
The dim sum here is yummy-licious... for those of you afraid you wont be able to order because you don't speak the language, rest-assured, there is a foreigners level upstairs. That's where they put me.
(4)
Eater O.
Quality: variable but generally good Cost: $10-15 dollars per person (100-200 pound person... If u weigh more than this... I'm not sure) Atmosphere: Bustling, mixed asian80%/caucasian20% Cleanliness: Not clean (but what do u expect?) Good food, Solid Dim sum. The food can be variable but I eat here for dim sum fixes. It's good for large parties (10 or more even).
(4)
Stephen Y.
Yum...as part of our ongoing experiment in epigenetic modifications of the gweilo "palate" and ongoing training in "chopsticky"... OK the first count but failed miserably the second... probably because dim sums.. by their nature are slippery.... Nevertheless, dim sum was pretty decent but the deserts were just so- so.... Pea- shoots and gai- lan were yummy... Service can be hit- or- miss but no matter.... the dim sum makes up for the deficiency in this department
(4)
Al A.
Awesome dim sum.
(4)
Dan C.
Hands down the best DIm Sum in Boston; just be prepared to ask what everything is if you are faint of heart.
(5)
Steven O.
We tried to get into the Peach Farm tonight but the wait was 90 minutes. So we went across the street to China Pearl, the place was full but we were able to get seated in 5 minutes. The service here leaves a lot to be desired. Either they are understaffed or just clueless. Getting the waiters attention to put our order in, get water refills, plates, rice and 1 of our dishes which came out of the kitchen after we finished evrething else. The food was decent but not as good as you can find elsewhere.
(2)
Dave C.
China pearl was good because i was there with my babe and her friend who lets just say is "too good" for pork!! unbelieveable! (i cant spell) Some of the items were good some not so good but its average dim sum with a giant flight of stairs before i can start eating! food was ok
(3)
Alicia H.
Our first experience with Dim Sum wasn't really that exciting. Today is the chinese new year celebration in Chinatown so maybe it ordinarily wouldn't be so obnoxiously busy, but it was a hot mess today. The food wasn't really that great, some of it was fairly gross - I think our favorite was actually a plate of chinese broccoli that was just tasty. All in all, it wasn't horrible, but I would not go back. *shrug*
(2)
Yosiris P.
I am in love with Dim Sum. China Pearl is the place to go on a weekend morning with family and friends. Get there early, otherwise you will be waiting in the stairs for a looooong time. Food is good. I love their chicken feet, shrimp dumpling, shrimp noodles and tofu. Service is fast, tons of carts going around at all times with lots and lots of food so you will never be dissapointed for your favorite to not be available. Save room for dessert. Have some warm tofu pudding dessert. It is one of the best things i've ever had. It comes with a side of (or they can pour it on for you) ginger-honey syrup. It is the perfect combo. The best way to end a filling meal.
(5)
Gabe L.
So I was about to create a list for dim sum places and realized that I hadn't reviewed any.... and only 2 restaurants in Chinatown. Omg, what a travesty! I've been to China Pearl for dinner, lunch, banquets, dim sum. But normally, I only go here for dim sum and banquets. The summary: 4.5 stars for the dim sum, 3.5 for dinner, 4 for banquets. I think my banquet rating may be biased though, since I've gone to so many there, it's like a tradition. Service is usually good and attentive, food is good, and price is not bad. The dim sum: one of my favorites foodwise, a sentiment obviously shared by many given the crazy rush every weekend. Hint, sundays are busier than saturdays, be there before 11:30 or after 1 to avoid the rush. They stop serving at 2:30 but the selection starts dwindling as well. Speaking cantonese helps, but the dim sum ladies speak enough english to tell you the general ingredients at least. You can order pitchers of water, which makes things easier for you and the waitstaff when you have a large table. If you're a beginner, avoid the cart with the chicken feet. It's full of advanced stuff including tripe. The food up at the buffet is also good, with things like spicy salty shrimp, pig's blood (it's good, really), chow foon, etc. When you do get there, make sure to go up and ask for a number. If you're there at rush hour, you'll be waiting for a while (especially in a large group). It's easier to be seated in a small group but I personally like going en masse and devouring dim sum like hungry savages. Also I advise to tip well - I know there isn't a single waiter/waitress serving you, but there's a number of them, and the service is quick. And they'll appreciate it. Also they've switched their take out containers to styrofoam, so if you're an environmentalist, keep that in mind. Bring your own tupperware or something. Some people say the food at hei la moon is way better, but I think they're about the same. They share the same staff, which I think includes the chefs. Chau Chow City is the other one people mention, but I think the quality of the ingredients is better at China Pearl. The dinner: Not much to say, really. It's your standard Chinese place, the food is pretty good, the waitstaff attentive... it's solid. The banquets: The food is always good, and I don't know what kind of magical pig they use for their appetizers but the char siu is fight-over-the-last-piece good. Sometimes when they serve a big fish, it comes overcooked, which I understand, since it's really hard to cook a large fish completely yet not overcook it. But other than that, the food is invariably very good. And for you people who love mango pudding, there's been times they serve that as part of dessert. Big giant mango puddings in interesting designs for each table. Ours was in the shape of a fish. And the garnishes are often interesting too. Once we had a carrot carved in the shape of a dragon, that looked really cool.
(4)
Natasha S.
This place is an experience. I never ever go to chinatown or the "combat zone".. I ventured down there and ended up going to this place. I am not a big dim sum person.. so when the lady came over asking me if i was interested in "duck feet" i was like "noooo thank you". There traditional menu is pretty good though, we had the chicken lo mein and the snap-pea steak. super yummy. whole meal cost about 23 dollars. Great place for groups.. will most likely come back!
(3)
Tracy H.
I've had take out from the upstairs restaurant twice, and I was more disappointed the second time than the first. I ordered chicken and broccoli and I was disappointed that it wasn't in the brown sauce, but it was decent. The second time, I ordered crispy beef, and it was terrible. More fat than beef and drowning in sauce. Both times, the service was rude and even though no one else was at the pick-up counter, the staff took their sweet time acknowledging my existence. Maybe the in-restaurant experience is better, but I won't be doing take-out from them again.
(2)
lorraine s.
unfortunately i read the yelp reviews after i visited the rest. the place looked dirty, i should have turned around, but we were taking our granddaughter who is a student at northeastern out for a meal. we were visiting and she suggested this place. we are boston natives but have been living near san fran for the last 30+ years. there are a some things that we have a taste for as soon as we get of the airplane at logan. fried clams, and chinese food. the chinese food in cali is good, but it's different than what i grew up with. the food was just okay, and that was a disappointment, this was supposed to satiate me until my next visit to boston. gotta say, i'm happy to return to cali where i will get very fresh food. the worst part of the experience was the very, rude, waiter. he seemed as though he had hatred for his customers. it sort of makes me a little sick thinking he probably spit in everyone's food before he brought it out from the kitchen. all the waiters decided it was time for their dinner. they sat down to eat while we stared at them, thinking they might get the hint that we were ready to pay our check. they ignored us. i told my family i knew how to make them move. i stood up put my coat on, and place my purse on my shoulder. it worked like a charm. he rushed over and left my cc receipt, and he hovered around me waiting to see how much tip i left. i left 10 percent. i usually am a 20 percent tipper. 10 percent was too much by 9 percent. i'm leaving for the airport this morning, sad that so many things in boston have changed. this is just one more thing i have to add to the list.
(1)
Kristine M.
Average dim sum. It's not my favorite in Boston. I'd rather go around the corner to Hei La Moon. It's not really worth the wait!
(3)
Chin C.
Best dimsum in Boston area! I agree with So S. It's hard to find dimsum in Boston so this one is the best here. I love chicken feet, stream bun, shrimp dumbling. I havn't tried other than dimsum here so my rating was based on only dimsum.
(3)
Christine T.
Great place to eat Dim Sum, though if you go after lunch time and before dinner in the middle of the week, your food will be luke warm or cool. While the service is very average (most of the servers walking around don't look like they really want to be bothered - plus their English isn't so hot which makes it difficult to communicate) the food is decent and price reasonable. The decor is strange, though. No windows in the place!
(3)
Robyn L.
I remember this place being fun and pretty good when I was first there -- about six years ago. When I returned this week I was not impressed. Maybe I got a bad batch of dim sum. Part of the problem was that I had to work with a fixed/pre-arranged menu because I went with a large group. I definitely would not have chosen many of the items on that menu. That said, I'll eat pretty much anything once and I'm usually open minded about food. (I tried tripe at my last dim-sum outing. Can't say I enjoyed it, but I tried it!) Everything tasted, sort of, slimey. The dumplings weren't flavorful -- just plain shrimp in a slippery white dumpling shell -- and the mushrooms and bok choy were doused in this heavy sauce that ruined what would have been good veggies. The one thing I really liked was the veggie spring rolls. Then again, those were fried. Really can't mess up anything fried in my book.
(2)
Marcus D.
China Pearl was where the family and I would go after seeing something in the Theatre District - my mother and aunt would laugh at the hookers in their crooked wigs and flimsy outfits navigating their way down the middle of the streets - that was THEN, before the new Ritz appeared. It was also THE place for cold tea when I was in high school, but I'm sure that's changed. I did not know they charged for tea - that may be a deal breaker. They never used to, but Boston is a city of "used to's," don't you think?
(3)
Q S.
Pretty good dim sum. One of my two favorites to go to in Chinatown. A good variety. It is always crowded when I go.
(4)
Lee C.
The best place in Boston for Dim Sum. Period. Rivals the best of Chinatown in NYC which is saying a lot (considering Boston's chinatown is 1/8th the size). Be prepared for a line, for disorganization, weird looking food, and a memorable eating experience.
(5)
Bella and Aleksey R.
Went for the proverbial dim sum here (sometimes you just get that urge for dim sum in Chinatown). It was OK, though we were there with someone who knew the different dishes. I liked stuff with shrimp inside with that nearly transparent white, soft dough all around. The bathroom situation was gross... even more so than you would expect.
(2)
Shawn F.
One great thing about China Pearl is that it has dim sum even on weekdays. The dim sum fare here isn't incredible, but it's not bad, either. Service was efficient when I was there, but my visit was in the early afternoon on a Wednesday so it wasn't exactly crowded. Parking can be tricky. Curbside metered parking lines Tyler Street and the surrounding avenues, but it takes some luck to find an empty spot. There is a pay-to-park lot just steps from the restaurant, but it's more expensive than street parking. I should also note that China Pearl gets top honors for dim sum in the Phantom Gourmet's guide to best restaurants.
(4)
Bridget C.
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE! My two sisters and I took my 5 year old daughter here for her first dim sum experience! SHE LOVED IT!!! We got any and everything that was vegetarian! Dumplings, Chinese greens, turnip cakes, egg rolls, and these things that had some fried stuff wrapped with rice wrappers on the outside! Everything was fabulous! My daughter and I, who occasionally eat meat, tried the taro balls with ground meat inside. DELISH! There was a wonderful woman there who greeted us at the door and came over and checked on us throughout the meal and she was absolutely lovely! So nice really made it a great experience! While my daughter was in the bathroom I was waiting outside the stall for her and she was singing " I LOVE DIM SUM, IT TASTES LIKE CHICKEN FINGERS!" She cracks me up. On our way out of the bathroom I got to meet Todd English! WHOOHOO. What the heck! It was my lucky day!! Bottom line I may try other places for dim sum BUT it will never top this experience. I LOVE YOU CHINA PEARL!!! Can I also say TIP YOUR WAITERS AND WAITRESSES!!! The guy came running to us at the door thanking us and we only tipped him 20% which makes me think folks ain't tippin people! As a previous waitress I can tell you the bulk of your money comes from tips. SO PEEPS PAY UP IF SERVICE IS GOOD!!!!
(5)
Kim N.
I've only been here for Dim Sum and they are always packed. Come with a Cantonese speaking person so that you can get a shorter wait ;) Dim Sum is ok (have had better) and I think this is the only place I've ever gone to for Dim Sum in Boston. Like that they have the black bean clams for Dim Sum, since I love them in general anywhere (a fave dish since I've been a kid). They have this great dish where they wrap banh cuon around chinese doughnuts, LOVE IT! I've never had it anywhere else, so now I am on the lookout for it when I have Dim Sum at home.
(3)
Liz P.
I love Dim Sum and this is the place to go in Boston...it's the place we always go :) and actually, if you ask a random person on the street where to go for Dim Sum, they will tell you China Pearl!
(4)
Susan D.
Perhaps, I went on an off-day, but I did not enjoy myself here. The wait was astronomically futile (1+ hour) though I shortened it by jumping in when the host offered shared table seating where *u guess it* you share a large table with strangers. Happens all the time in NYC. Anyways, the shrimp dumpling tasted old and I was munching on bits of sand. Very unpleasant seeing how those were my favorite and I grabbed three at once. It was over $30 for the two of us, which is generally a tad expensive for dimsum. I haven't gone back in ages and much prefer Empire Garden. I never wait there!
(2)
Mags L.
i'm so glad hei la moon opened up. no more elbowing diminutive asian grandmas to get to some harkow and taro goodness. solid dim sum. 2nd floor (aka 3rd floor) cart service not as bustling, but as long as harkow and doughnut ball lady floats my way, i'm good. it helps that my friend speaks cantonese and gets me what i want. i'm asian. listen to me. i know what i'm talking about.
(4)
Yuko I.
It is reasonably priced and dim sum covers good for a non-Chinese person like me. I love their shumai, but their shrimp related stuff varies day-to-day... still a fan. The service, you cannot expect much, most of them only speak Chinese and you just have to be adventurous. I will come back.
(3)
Kim R.
Pretty good Chinese food. Arrived tipsy, late Friday night and suprisingly noticed that we were the only customers in the restaurant. That said, service was excellent! Food was pretty good (I'd recommend wonton soup, shrimp lo mein, and spring rolls)...quick greasy bites to soothe the slowly approaching hangovers. Appearance was really something else...the hot topic of the evening quickly became 'what kind of party could you host here??' With red and gold embellishments all leading up to some sort of exotic Chinese altar, too many excuses for parties ran through our heads. All in all, pretty decent Chinese food, awesome setting, and service like nowhere else. I say it's a GO!
(4)
Bryanne R.
Whoa chaos. This place was packed when I went with 12 other people. We got a sweet table in the back because one of my friends knew people. The food was OK...I think I just learned Dim Sum isn't my thing. My friends all LOVED the food. The ordering looked like it was a complex process...so I'd recommend going with someone who has Dim Sum experience. The Tapioca was really excellent though.
(3)
Layla P.
So I went here with a big group of people and luckily sat next to a Chinese guy so I could actually ask what things were and know what I was eating - very rare at Dim Sum! My favorite are the balls covered with sesame seeds and filled with red bean - I don't know what they are called I just point when I see them on a cart and say "balls please". All the shrimp items I tried were tasty as well. I did not try the chicken feet or lining of an organ from a cow (he wouldn't tell me what organ) but I was entertained while watching other people eat it. The waitstaff was attentive with the water and hot tea refills and the food never stops.
(4)
Kevin L.
there's a vicious game of pushshove and bingo just to get your seat here on weekends. the food was on par with the decent places i'd been in n california, but nothing too memorable. not enough rotation of carts. and they do this thing where a waiter dressed in a special uniform will offer you a single large dish on a tray, and kinda bow... kinda like high stakes dim sum. some of the nicest bathrooms at a chinese restaurant i've ever been to.
(3)
Zhenyu Y.
This was one of the worst Chinese restaurant I've ever been to. The waiter was not kind and lack of language skills. They kept saying the restaurant downstairs had more food choices, which turned out to be totally untrue. Anyway, they just didn't wanna serve us and made us leave. Won't recommend to anyone.
(1)
Tiffany A.
I came here with a group of friends over the weekend. Two of the group are heading to Hong Kong and Singapore within the next few weeks, so rather than be caught unawares of what Dim Sum actually involves, we all made a brunch date to check it out. Make reservations! We did, and thank God because the wait without seemed to be about 45 minutes. We waited for maybe 10 minutes max, which was surprising considering how packed this place gets on the weekend. As soon as you sit, the carts come rolling! I honestly can't tell you the names of half the things I ate, mostly because if you just eye something, the wait staff just shoves it on your table without naming it or telling you what's in it. It is delicious though, that I CAN tell you. The highlight for me was the chicken dumpling and the fried shrimp balls. There's a small veggie food bar where they have all sorts of things. The little egg custard dumplings are nice and sweet; very dessert-esque. There are several tea options, but be specific when you're seated or you'll end up with regular jasmine tea. Totally worth a repeat visit.
(4)
Angela L.
I had been to the China Pearl years ago, and felt that I had remembered a better experience than the one I recently had about a month ago. One thing that is always great about China Pearl is the restaurant is small enough for dim sum so that there is always plenty of food and you don't have to wait long at all to eat when you first get seated. The food itself was mediocre -- I remember the dumplings and pastries being a lot tastier and flavorful. Perhaps I just caught the restaurant on a bad day, however I'll be hesitant about going back anytime soon.
(3)
Erin G.
i have read a lot about dim sum here, but never tried it. then i found out all my friends were dim summing and i realized the time had come. i'm sure you can come here without a mandarin interpreter. if you are willing to eat any and everything that gets wheeled around to you. i'm a pescetarian and can't risk that kind of russian roulette of dining so i called up dana b who called up ruby, our official dim sum ambassador. a group of us met downtown at 10AM one sunday morning. (including my mom who was all "...chinese, for breakfast?") we got right in and went up to their second floor dining room which was entirely empty. slowly the food carts started making their way around to us. ruby picked and choosed what everyone would eat, letting us know what to try and what we wouldn't like. she kept checking on tofu dishes for me. actually, when she would leave the table to check something out a cart would dive bomb us and the server would point to whatever they had and indicated we wanted it - we all looked around in panic and shooed them away. finally they just stopped doing it. my favorite items were the fried taro root, it was so sweet and creamy on the inside with a nest like fry on the outside. i also enjoyed the deep fried tofu (duh) and these little mushroom/bamboo wrappy things. oohh and the steamed shrimp dumplings. oh! and the coconut pudding and the tofu pudding! okay i liked EVERYTHING. also...$10 each at the end of the day, with food to take home. outrageous.
(4)
Lauren B.
Dim sum was very disappointing. I've had dim sum all over the bay area in California and figured that Chinatown in Boston would have decent food. The dim sum was nothing exceptional but the real problem was the service. We were there over an hour and the same 4 carts went around and around with no change. We ended up only getting 4 dishes that turned out to be $24... seems a bit overpriced for mediocre food with bad service.
(2)
brewgirl b.
Busy, busy location, but worth the wait. Very tasty food and very cheap. Good selection of dim sum, particularly if you dont eat red meat. Lots of fish and shellfish selections. Typical veggies (e.g., asian broccoli). Love the porridge served with pork and the black, preserved egg. And tapioca pudding for dessert. Ahhhh...
(4)
Po L.
I have been coming here for years for DIM SUM. So go already.
(3)
Celeste K.
As a girl who was spoiled by NYC's dim sum I thought I would be a harsh critic, but it was actually a great experience and tasty meal! We went at 11 and got seated right away, but as we were leaving the place was jam packed. However there is tons of seating so I don't think you would have to wait long. There is a good variety and even things I'd never had before. The carts come frequently so your table gets filled quickly with yummy foods.
(4)
Brendon G.
Only been here once, about 8 years ago. It was completely loud and chaotic and tasty -- just like dim sum should be. My wife and i were seated at a table for 10 with three other groups. The couple across from us was an old chinese couple....the man completely ignored his wife, read his chinese newspaper and only grunted at her when she asked if he wanted some bite or more tea. Classic!
(5)
Digital H.
Great Dim Sum, and dinner.. everyone comes here for dim sum, or at least the people i know. It does get really crowded sometimes but if your looking for dim sum in boston, this is the place to go.
(5)
Marcia F.
Dim Sum is always a treat and China Pearl is a good place to get it. Yes, it is crowded and noisy on a Sunday but the wait is worth it and once you are seated the food comes immediately. We had plenty to eat for less than $8 per person. Our only disappointment was that they ran out of the fried dough noodle stuff that we love. Oh well, maybe next time.
(4)
Naomi P.
This is a cheap restaurant in Boston, for standard dim sum food. The perfect Sunday treat. They don't allow you to order from the menu, but instead they go with the classical carts. They do offer a nice alternative, which is that they have a buffet stand on each floor with noodles, chicken, shrimp and vegetables, so you can get food immediately if you are starved. Don't forget to bring your bill with you so that they can mark it for you. I started with dessert. Custard buns, which are one of my favorite dishes. It was a good ratio of custard to bun. The shrimp rice roll was standard. The shrimp was good, but you have to like rice rolls. Some people hate it, and others love it. The chicken shitake bun was tasty and not too filling. I had a bunch of other stuff, mostly steamed dumplings and I don't think that there was a bad one in the bunch. I must say that the turnip cake was horrible. One of my friend's mom used to make us homemade turnip cake all the time, so I am very fond of the dish. I was disappointed at China Pearl. I thought that by frying the cakes table-side that the dish would be amazing, but it was just too mushy. Blech. I loved the shrimp from the buffet table. They were fried with the heads and sprinkled with salt. The fat noodles with beef were also a hit. Another time I'd like to try the clams with black bean sauce that were also in the buffet table.
(3)
Julie C.
Best place for Dim Sum. I always get way too much food, so I can pack it up and eat it the next day. Sometimes I circle for 30 minutes to get a parking spot in C-town, especially on the weekends, but it is worth it to get my Dim Sum fix.
(4)
Tiffany D.
I'd give it 5 stars if it was cleaner. Haha. It's one of the past dimsum's in Boston.. and it's HUGE!!!! I don't like it when I have to share my table with ppl tho (which happens when it's super busy!) But still the best shumai!!! :)
(4)
Lily C.
I've been having dim sum at China Pearl since I was in diapers and they are still my favorite!! Recently there have been a few new places that have popped up such as Hei La Moon (Beach St) and East Manor in Saugus, MA but China Pearl is still the place to go in my oppinion. The wait is usually around 20 minutes and don't go too late on the weekends - you want to go when its semi busy so all your food will be really fresh. It may be a bit dingy now since they've been open for about 30+ years but that's all part of the dim sum experience. You need to appreciate the tacky decor, the little old chinese man screaming numbers out, and the cart ladies that don't speak a lick of english. Okay now down to what to order : The shrimp rolls are a must - always crunchy. yum. Three treasures and only get the tofu, forget the eggplant and green pepper because those are always mushy. Shrimp balls from here are consistently good and my friends from out of town always request to come here for them. My mom really likes the clams from here and you can find them up at the side bar. Finally, finish with some sweetened warm tofu pudding, and forget ordering the mango stuff with the little umbrellas. Remember to actually drink the tea because it helps you cleanse and digest.
(4)
Jared G.
With packed lines trailing out the doors most Saturdays and Sundays, even in the dead of winter, China Pearl is the gold-standard in Boston dim summing. From the savory flavor bursts that are its shrimp dumplings, to the pillowy sweetness of its Cha Shu Bao (sweet pork buns), China Pearl consistently delivers. Along with the traditional fare on the carts and jasmine tea, there's a large selection of delectables at the central buffet. Scallops, bok choy, and chinese broccoli are not to be missed. Also, you can order specialty teas, like Ba Bao Cha (eight treasures tea, which are great if you're looking to try something new). I try to get there before 12, as a general rule of thumb, since tables fill up rapidly until 2.
(4)
Dana B.
This is the only place that I have ever had Dim Sum, but it was very tasty. It came highly recommended by my friend Ruby, a Dim Sum afficianado, and she assisted us in pointing at foods that she thought we would enjoy - and enjoy we would. What is fantastic is that if you're really hungry there is food on your table in less than one minute. It's also huge so there is never a wait for a table. It's great for bringing large groups and does not end up being expensive in the end. You will leave very full and having only spent about $10-$15.
(4)
Melissa C.
I went here on the weekend and this place was PACKED! You had to jab people with elbows just to get your name on the list. Despite that, we were eating in maybe 10 minutes. The staff was busy, but friendly and responsive. They slapped pork in a good 80% of the food, but I still had plenty of options. I enjoyed eating it... but... on the downside... my friend got REALLY sick afterwards. I felt a little bit ill, but my friend (who is a bit more delicate than I) was incapacitated. I'd go back though. You've got carts of food rolling around, a little food poisoning is just a predictable cost of getting to eat this way.
(3)
Seafoodie R.
Best Dim Sum in Boston, with a fully packed house on the weekend expect a wait. Serving Dim Sum till 10PM every night but you have to order it from the menu. try the Shrimp and Pork Shumai, the Shark Fin dumplings (no actual sharkfin in them), the fried shrimp balls, salted shrimp (buffet line) the sticky rice wrapped in a leaf, steamed tripe (which is cow belly) with ginger and scallion and lots of water!!!!!!
(4)
T P.
Come here for dim sum with my BF and friends. Really good selection. Dim sum is brought around in carts & they stamp a card for every dish, you pay the total. Typical chinatown service. Sometimes the customer service is good, other times
(4)
Phil P.
This was the first time trying dim sum and I may never go back. Besides the food tasting like it was soaked in MSG for three days, there was a gigantic cockroach climbing the wall no more than 5 feet from us (ultimately squashed by waitress like it was a normal occurrence). Absolutely disgusting. Should have walked out right there and then.
(1)
Kelly P.
It has been well over three months but the phrase "dim sum" still triggers my mouth to salivate like a Pavlov canine. China Pearl is marked by an unmistakable plastic sign that hangs above the doorway. Upon entering, there are immense stairs, carpeted with elaborate gold leaves with a burgundy background color. It is a monumentally large restaurant with substantial seating. There was no wait on a Saturday morning when we arrived around 11. We were seated immediately and next to the grand kitchen doors. The establishment is bedecked with ornate gold Chinese letters, Chinese paper lanterns that are fixed to the ceiling, and garnished with cherry blossoms. They have an extensive selection of dim sum. All the dishes we tasted were freshly made. One of my favorite items is the Sesame Balls which come in a set of three. They are glutinous rice balls that are filled with a sweet, smooth red bean paste, coated in sesame seeds, and deep fried. There are Crab Balls that are made from imitation crab; the "pink slime" of fish. These are discernible as they are coated in shredded wonton skin, and festooned with a crab claw. These are quite large and are served in a pair. The Taiwanese You Fan, has a literal translation of "oil rice." It is sticky rice that is steamed and fried in a wok with shi-itake mushrooms, pork, and pork fat. It glistens with rich fat and is topped with freshly cut cilantro. The dish is served with a thick, sweet, and slightly spicy chili sauce. Customer service here was attentive and helpful. Some Pro Tips: Sit close by the kitchen. Not only are your dishes guaranteed to be fresh, but the staff will not miss you. Cards are accepted. When you order multiple dishes from the staff pushing cards, be sure to keep count of how many stamps she is applying to your bill. It is easy to lose track if you have an array of dishes already on your table. Also ask whether a dish is small, medium, or large. Prices vary exponentially based on size.
(4)
Phyllis C.
Went here for Dim Sum on a Saturday (yesterday) around 2:30 PM-- alone. I searched for the "right" place to eat lunch in Chinatown tirelessly on Yelp and other sights...ended up more confused than ever. So many bad reviews. Wierd! My experience: No wait--seated immediately--waiter friendly--ladies pushing carts also friendly and willing to explain things to the best of their ability--I was totally comfortable dining alone and even tried the chicken feet...wow! Pretty tasty! Enjoyed 3 other dishes plus the chicken feet, complimentary hot tea and ice water--17 bucks later--about 35 minutes... and a 2 dollar tip... Overall a great experience for me and I will be back! Only complaint was no sauteed greens available in small Dim Sum portions. Chinese food without greens for me is a bummer.
(4)
L F.
Hmm not sure why China Pearl has so many mixed reviews. I think for dim sum they do a decent job. And when the prices are so low, it's hard to really complain. A suggestion is to arrive early. That way you avoid the mid-day dim sum crowds. I have never had a problem getting a table on the weekend. They serve cart style, so you pick your items as they come along. I guess some people are opposed to this type of service, but I like being inspired by what is on the cart. My favorite items are of course the dumplings, the sweet pork filled buns, and the fried crab claw things (not sure what exactly they are called).
(4)
Eric C.
I have been here too many times to count now and I have yet to do a review. There are many places for you to choose from when thinking about dim sum. All of them are really great places but really one tops them all and that is: China Pearl Restaurant (it'd really be silly if I said another restaurant in this review..). Anyways, as an avid fan of dim sum, I've been to a place or two in my lifetime so I have a basis for comparison. When you go to dim sum, you really should have an open mind because some of the best savory foods are the ones you might not think are the most savory. For those of you who are new to the dim sum experience, this place will allow you to experience it to the fullest. Dim sum, or "touch of the heart", is meant to give you a dining experience much like Spanish tapas. You get a small dish of many different foods so that you can taste a little of everything. Some of the classic dim sum plates include: Siu mai (a meat ball kind of) Ha Gao (shrimp dumpling) Fung zao (braised chicken feet literally translated as "Phoenix claws") Cherng fun (how would you translate this into something that people would understand... rice cake?) Pai Guot (braised short ribs) Nai wong bao (dessert: egg yolk bao... delicious!!!) Those are a list of my favorite go to dim sum dishes and in generally a pretty safe list of foods that everyone will enjoy. One thing that I have seen served here that I haven't seen elsewhere is the chicken feet, short rib rice. If you like those two dishes then you've got to try this! Make sure to get the soy sauce to go over it and you'll be happily full after finishing your meal =) Parking is always a problem in Boston in general and in Chinatown especially. My advice is to park in a parking garage, pay the fee because your lunch/brunch/dinner is going to be cheap anyways.
(5)
Alice S.
I must say that this is a pretty decent place. It's one of the more "classic" Chinese restaurants in Chinatown as it's been around for a very long time. It's a decently sized restaurant and it's pretty popular with the crowds but waits usually aren't too bad. Food again is pretty decent, nothing exceptional, but definitely not bad either. It's very, very average.
(3)
Stacy H.
i really appreciated how fast the seating service is here. but if you have a big group, make sure all of your party is there - they won't seat you otherwise. pretty solid dim sum, but very limited vegetarian options.
(3)
Wei Zhong G.
The price was fair for the nine dimsum items that we shared among three people. Around half the items were still available for ordering even though we went at 5 pm. The mango pudding and tofu pudding were pretty legit. I didn't like the durian puffs; they tasted rather artificial. Vegetarians should stay away from this place. Not only was there a paucity of options, when we inquired about the vegetarian options (in Mandarin), the waitress asked us, "Why come to a dimsum place if you're vegetarian?"
(2)
Johnathan B.
I am visiting Boston and I came across Chinatown around lunch time. Me and a friend found this place and decided it looks good and has good reviews -so why not. A waitress showed us to a table, gave us tea, and basically disappeared for the rest of the meal. After waiting for around 15 minutes without anyone coming to serve the table, I called one of the waiters and asked for a menu for me and my friend. He then arrived with one menu, and didn't respond when I asked him for another. After a few minutes time I had to call him up again (since he wouldn't arrive on his own) and ordered some food and drinks. The drinks arrived right away, but the food arrived in a different matter. After around 15 minutes, the dish my friend order arrived, not less than 10 minutes (!!!) later, my dish arrived. At that point, we were both pissed and therefore the food tasted poorly, although it might have actually been good, therefore the two stars. After the horrific service, I decided the waiter does not deserve a tip, as it is suppose to be a way to appreciate the service, and that service sacked. While going down the stairs of the restaurant to leave, the waitress, from the beginning of this journey, came running after me saying "no tip, no tip!". After explaining to her what was wrong, and that they don't deserve a tip, she went to her manager who was standing at the entrance, told her the story, and the manager haven't even looked at us. Worst place on earth, want Chinese food? Find some other place.
(2)
Kim L.
Every time I visit Boston, I make it a point to stop for dim sum in Chinatown. I've been to China Pearl twice now, and have had a good experience both times. I usually stick with dumplings, buns and rice and I have never been disappointed. The pork shumai-style dumplings and steamed pork buns are my favorite! I always leave full & satisfied, and it is usually no more than $10 per person. The tea is also delicious and always hot!
(4)
Fay L.
A classic dim sum restaurant in Chinatown. Used to be much better back in the day, but it now has to compete with other spacious dim sum places and doesn't quite measure up as well anymore. Still good for the classics: chang fen, feng zhao, shumai, buns, etc. I think Hei La Moon has more variety for types of dishes offered.
(3)
May C.
One of my fav restaurants of all times. Very authentic dim sum, cheap price, great varieties even including some food from other parts of China. I love come here early to avoid lines and try a lot of different things with my friends.
(5)
Sarouth R.
The food here is good not bad there are lots of table I love how they have decorated the place my mom and me and sister love this place every year we go there best place ever
(5)
Jenn Z.
Solid dim sum place that offers the typical dishes. Great price and always feels very stuffed afterwards. Also, I like how the food carts usually come by very quickly after you sit down. Brace for a chaotic, noisy market-like setting when coming on a weekend. It can be quite an experience.
(4)
Rob F.
I went to China Pearl today with a lovely Lao family I know and we had Dim Sum. There were five of us. We started out with several plates of spare ribs. They were chopped in small pieces and tasted like they were boiled in some kind of stock. You got a little ginger flavor. They were ok. Lots of little bones. Next, came the chicken feet and the tripe! Uuh. I knew it. I had chicken feet before in dark soy sauce. This time there was nothing to cover up the flavor. They taste like chicken. A little gelatinous, a little squeaky between the teeth, and lots of little toe bones. I had a couple chopsticks of tripe, which wasn't bad. Sesame, ginger, and what I thought was garlic. Better than the honeycomb tripe us Italians cook in tomato sauce. Very mild. Better than expected. We had sticky rice with pork wrapped in some kind of leaf. It was good. At this point, I was noticing the steam table, and got up to check it out. We all decided to go. My date offered to stay behind and watch the coats. She said if I ever came back to never, ever, leave anything at the table. It will be promptly stolen. How nice! I got a couple more dishes. I had fried shrimp, crab balls and taro balls. You've got to watch it when you see anything with "balls" in it at a Chinese restaurant! These were formed in the shape of a ball. Yummy deep fried in a crispy batter. The crab was wrapped in minced shrimp and little curly strips of taro. That was good. The taro ball had little pieces of pork in the middle and was also good. We had a plate of fried octopus. We all thought that it was greasy and we left it on the table. We had a noodle wrapped fried crispy cruller for dessert that I also thought was ok. They had that with a silky tofu they scoop out of a barrel. Neither tasted of much at all. Dessert was definitely a let down. We all spent much of our time munching and slurping and spitting little bones in our plates. P'tooey - clink. P'tooey - clink..... repeat. Have another chicken foot! My first experience in a Dim Sum place was pretty good. I'd have to give credit to my hosts. Left to my own, I'd have eaten dumplings all morning. That's what I thought Dim Sum mostly was! They ordered what they usually do, and I got to experience it. To be fair, nothing really blew my doors off. I didn't order any take out, but I did like the deep fried (of course) things and I got to experiment. I would like to go right back and try some more. Maybe it would be easier to go to the one in Quincy next time. I must mention that when they seated us, I walked past a table that had a big plate with several pieces of lettuce. On each one was a piece of crispy skin. There were more plates, but I had to wonder what they were having. Suckling pig maybe, or Peking duck? It looked good! I pointed at it and went "Ooh, ooh" but my hosts took me by the hand and dragged me to my table. No, today we're eating "spare parts." Lovely!
(3)
Marina N.
I decided to come to this place again. Since last time we kind of went late in the day. This time we arrived at 10 am and it was actually worst. Only three carts moving around with very little to choose from. If you want dim sum and don't want to go into Boston, go to the China Pearl in Woburn!! Now that's dim sum!
(2)
Tiffany J.
I've been going to this place since I was 5-6 years old. Almost 20 years later, it's still going strong. Visited today for the first time in years because we didn't want to wait 30 minutes for Winsor across the street (at 2:30pm on a Saturday, no less!). I've been to Winsor, Empire Garden, and China Pearl in the past few weeks and thought China Pearl was the least impressive of the 3. The steamed shrimp dumplings were great. The xia chang2 fen3 (steamed rice roll with shrimp in soy sauce) was a little soggy and bland. The luo2 buo gao (turnip cake) was tasty (there was actual turnip in it - a real sign of quality) but on the greasy side. For weeks, I had been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to eat Winsor's shrimp-stuffed eggplant, but China Pearl disappointed - when the cart rolled over, the "shrimp" and the eggplant were dunked into hot water for reheating, then plopped onto our plates, an oily, watery mess. The "shrimp" wasn't shrimp - it was fish and shrimp cake - and it wasn't "stuffed" in the eggplant, either. Go to China Pearl for the traditional ambiance and the dim sum "rolling cart experience," which is slowly disappearing from Boston Chinatown dim sum restaurants. But if you want quality dim sum, go across the street to the much smaller Winsor, and be prepared for a long wait.
(3)
Katie Y.
These days, China Pearl is not at its best. About 10 years ago, it was the place where everyone went (the glory days). Nowadays, it's one of the worst places to go to (according to foodie parents). My father (who went with his friends), he said that there were very few people sitting at the tables so there were like 3 carts just circling around the tables. The food took a hit with very few choices.
(1)
Jasmine M.
This has been my "go-to dim sum spot. be sure you sit in the downstairs area because I find that the upstairs area has less variety. The crab claws are LOADED with crab and are really delicious. If you're vegetarian, don't go here.
(4)
Kenny W.
Had dim sum here a week ago and it wasn't the best dim sum I've had in Boston. It was during a weekend and it was relatively busy. They had multiple carts pushing around and a small stand in the middle where you can get up and get some dishes. The tea pot was kind of dirty when they put it on the table. From what I remembered, the pan fried sticky rice was good, the shrimp rice noodle was alright, steam chive dumpling was unimpressive, roast pork buns were alright and egg tart seemed a bit off. The only thing I thought was good was the fried shrimp ball with crab. I liked the ambiance and the numbers of carts that were pushing around. However, I think I'll continue my search around Boston for a good dim sum place.
(3)
Alex P.
Dim Sum breakfast on a Sunday morning Wonderful feast for 2... $20... My new go to place in Boston... Great food... Fried crab... Shrimp dumplings... Tofu rolls... Not to be missed...
(5)
Susan C.
The young lady who's the hostess here during dim sum hour really needs to take a course in customer service because she is extremely rude and has no manners. China Pearl is one of my fav. spots for dim sum, but the service here has me rethinking this place as my go to. I came here for dim sum on a weekend a few weeks ago, and there was a wait for a table. Fine, no big deal, I stood and waited in the line. The hostess then asks patrons in line to move up a bit, so I follow the line along. Apparently I must not have walked up far enough because they next thing I know I am being manhandled by the hostess, who is trying to prod me even closer to the person in front of me (there was probably 6 inches between me and the patron in front of me at the time). The hostess did this to me several times during my wait for a table. I've eaten at numerous restaurants in Chinatown and elsewhere, and never have I encountered a woman so rude. Thinking back, I should have told her to keep her grubby mitts off me.
(2)
Lusi J.
This used to be my favorite place for Dimsum but after my recent visit, I dont think I will be coming back. The chicken feet were dry bland, the meat balls tasted like last nights leftovers, the service could have been better. We had to hunt down a worker to refill our tea every time. The only non-disappointing dish was the chuerng fun.
(2)
Kelsey M.
Great tasting selection of just about anything you can imagine. Biggest frustration is how pushy some of the ladies are that push the food carts.
(4)
Angela C.
(I'm Cantonese and grew up on this food). Dim sum was excellent, great variety. Side of restaurant has already prepared most popular dishes available for pick up (like the black bean clams). Better than Hei La Moon. Surprisingly organized in terms of seating customers and paying. Dedicated waiter/waitress for each section for all miscellaneous items (e.g. sauces, extra plates, tea, etc.) Very busy on weekends, go before noon. Customer base is mix of Asians and non-Asians; always helps to have a Cantonese speaker in your group! But pointing at food always works.
(5)
Susan L.
We weren't expecting great service, but we also weren't expecting to be forgotten after placing our order. After sitting for half an hour, we finally got the waiter's attention in the fairly empty restaurant and his only response was "I see." The martini was watered--highway robbery at $11. The dishes were OK; duck with vegetables and pork pad thai. I would not return here. We had time constraints and the more popular restaurants had waits, so we ended up here on a Saturday night. Oh well--will do better research before returning to Chinatown.
(2)
Vinay F.
Definitely among the top 3 dim sum places I've been to in addition to being very inexpensive. The food that struck me as best were the barbecue pork buns, the fried chive dumplings, and a circular steamed shrimp dumpling I don't remember the name of (shu mai was great as well).
(5)
Lena A.
There is nothing you can say that was not delicious here. Loved everything especially the tofu
(5)
Lin N.
Went here yesterday and felt I had to write a review to warn others. I ate lunch with 2 other people and the bill came to 80 dollars! I have had dim sum in Chinatown before, a few years ago, and figured between 20 and 30 dollars for the 3 of us. 80 dollars was insane and I asked the woman ringing me up if that was correct and she pointed to the stamps and how they were calculated. I hadn't kept track of the stamps when the carts came by but I cannot believe that we ordered 80 dollars worth of food. I will not be coming back here, though the rest of the meal had been as expected base on the other reviews.
(1)
Sarah C.
There was a roach in my tea but when I alerted the waitress she told me it was a piece of leaf! I think I can differentiate from a roach VS leaf. Dim sum is pretty much the same elsewhere in Chinatown but more expensive here.
(1)
Jessica L.
I went for dim sum with a couple of other people. Hostess was nice, but we waited a while for food while the carts continued starting on the other side of the room (maybe because they were bigger parties that kept ordering). When we finally got to eat, the overall food wasn't bad. My favorite was the deep fried chives dumpling which was super fresh and so tasty. I hesitated at first because I've had these at other places and was largely unimpressed, but as it sat before me...I couldn't resist but to try it. SO WORTH IT! Besides that, everything else I tried was alright.
(3)
Jade Y.
The durian cookie is awesome! Super enjoy. Tortoise jelly is good, too. Like the atmosphere. The decoration is very happy and pleasant, with the traditional red color and peach tree. The Chinese character 喜喜means double happiness. It's like someone is marrying here. The Chinese name of the restaurant means dragon and Phoenix, which is a traditional Chinese pair simplifying fortune.
(5)
Christine J.
3.5 stars. good dimsum.
(4)
Betty C.
Long time #1 placeholder for top dim sum or banquet go to restaurant. My whole family had their wedding receptions there. A long time gem in the heart of Boston's Chinatown
(4)
Matthew A.
Dim Sum what's it all about here at the China Pearl. Tons of carts with a nice variety to choose from. Service was eh- kind of lacking-as usual as most places in Chinatown. Hard to get a water glass refilled- how hard can that be? They work FAST here. Even before we all could even sit down the ladies in the carts were at our table desending. One positive- the cart ladies are nice here and know English. They were able to answer questions and explain to us what they were offering. 3 of us had huge amount of dishes for $43. No alcohol.
(3)
Dan G.
Pretty good food. This is the first time I ever got to go to a Chinese restaurant with people from...well, not China, but they were so excited to have us try some dishes that are common where they are from. I am American, so the food prep to me was "normal" but others talked about how greasy some of the items were, some items were even too salty for them, so it seems, Chinese food isn't as greasy or salty as we Americans think it really is! Anyways, the food was great. Everything we had was yummy, especially the coconut shrimp, peking duck and the dried fish fried rice. The wait staff was a little rude, but they did accommodate us as best as possible so I will give them that. We initially had come for dim sum but were just a tad too late, no prob, they suggested dim sum like items. Would I come here again? Yeah, maybe, but only if someone REALLY has the urge to go here.
(3)
Karen M.
I know it's fashionable to diss this warhorse of a restaurant in Chinatown, but I have always had great experiences. First, the atmosphere is very ornate and festive, and I think that helps to make meals here feel like a special occasion, even if you're just going to have a quick lunch. Second, I have never had anything but hot, fresh, dim sum here. I feel like the restaurant is so busy that keeps the turnover high so it keeps coming out fresh. I have never had cold greasy food here. My only criticism is that you do need to ask for exactly what you want and listen carefully to what is being offered. Part of this is because the servers' English is not always the best. So even if you don't know what something's called, make an effort to describe it carefully and then they can bring it to you. Otherwise you may wind up spending a lot of money for items you don't really want or that aren't selling that day so they keep pushing them back around to you. There is a full bar but I've not had good experiences with mixed drinks, I think it's a weak point. If you must drink, have a beer.
(4)
Johnny S.
This place used to be awesome. It was a landmark and the go to place for dim sum. But their food has gone downhill. The place is empty more often than not and people have started going to Hei La Moon for quite some time. Visited China Pearl recently and noticed that every item is at least a medium; this is why it now costs $50 for two or $80 for three people. They have moved towards making up for poor quality food and lack of clientele via overpricing. Great job, I will no longer recommend nor visit this place again.
(1)
Dana H.
This was fantastic!! We (party of 6) got to the restaurant at around 1 on a Sunday and only had to wait 10 minutes and the place was packed. The host was very kind and friendly. Tea and water arrived in a timely manner. The food was delicious and there was quite a variety on the carts coming around. We were very pleased with the service and food--not sure why this place only has 3 stars. It was also inexpensive; we ended up spending about $13 per person and we ordered a lot of food. We definitely would go back again.
(5)
Chris L.
This is a staple (along with like Hei La Moon, Winsor, Imperial Garden, Grand Chau Chau) for Chinatown Dim Sum. I. Dim Sum There's the usual pushing of various carts with all kinds of stuff ranging from dumplings (har gow, shaomai, haam4 seoi2 gok3), rice noodles, vegetables, rice noodle wrapped meat, lo mai gai, mostly steamed buns (some baked on the dessert cart), turnip pancakes, and the regular assortment of Dim Sum regulars. Plus a good variety on desserts (mango pudding, coconut milk cubes, egg tarts, dessert tofu "dou fu fa", etc.) It's probably busiest like weekends from 11-1. But since China Pearl is so large, I think the wait isn't very long. If you arrive before 11 or after 1, you shouldn't have a long wait. - Is it authentic, say compared to Vancouver (Canada), San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Hong Kong or other Cantonese Dim Sum? Pretty close. I'd say it's "good enough". You will get some more esoteric stuff in other cities, but they're probably catering to popular tastes. - Credit cards? Yes. - Service? Wave down one of the waiters. You do have to be a little proactive at times, they're being polite. - things to be wary of: (notice en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Di… ) The spare ribs do have bones. From what I've noticed from my parents, Cantonese people love their bones ... more flavor. They'll give you anything from cold water/ice water, hot water for your tea, dishes from the menu, the tally / total, etc. II. Non-Dim Sum Most people don't go here as often when it's non-Dim Sum hours, but yes, they actually have a mostly-Cantonese and some Mandarin dish menu. It's decent, nothing to rave about. With both Dim Sum and non-Dim Sum, they do have a good assortment of teas. Most popular with my friends tend to be one of: Chrysanthemum, red tea specifically Bo-Lei tea (Cantonese) or Pu-erh tea (Mandarin), or Jasmine tea, although sometimes we go with Oolong or something else. And also you can get the usual pungent yellow mustard and spicy red pepper paste or chili garlic.
(4)
Victoria P.
Came here for dim sum on a Saturday morning - it was delicious! Didn't have to wait for a table and got everything I wanted within the first 5 minutes of sitting down. They're a little stingy on the water, but if you pester them enough then you might get a refill. We had the ha cao (steamed shrimp dumplings), shumai, chinese broccoli, sticky rice, spare ribs, and pork buns. The pork buns were just okay, but the rest was sooooo good! I've been to plenty of dim sum places in New York and the food here is just as good. Everything tastes fresh and they don't skimp on the meat. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Jessica B.
Well, I guess I'm missing something. I went there for dinner. The food was yuck! I had read it was authentic Chinese. Is this really what people it in China? It's all junk food essentially.
(1)
Julia J.
I really liked this place for dim sum. Although their food tastes generic, it still tastes pretty good for occasional brunch.
(5)
Cassandra T.
Came here with a friend on a Sunday after Whale Watching. We had preferred to try Winsor Dim Sum, but there was a wait, and China Pearl offers the cart ordering experience. I had warned my vegetarian comrade that dim sum carts are generally full of pork and shrimp, but he was ready for adventure. The food was generally good quality. I've had better of most of the items, but there were some unique carts, like the tofu (actually tofu), eggplant, and shrimp-filled pepper cart that I really liked. I've had better tripe, but it could have been the luck of the draw. The vegetable items were hard to find. Our first cart supposedly had fried tofu, but it was most certainly pork. Even the turnip cake had pieces of fish in it! It was the fishiest turnip cake I had ever had. Overall, we were able to find two actual tofu items and missed out on the broccoli cart. To the management's credit, when we inquired about the cart with the vegetables, we were told there was none. I would say there were four passable items, with three of them being in some kind of meat/fish flavored sauce, because, well, it's Chinese food. Service was slightly above average from my non-Chinese-speaking perspective.
(3)
David H.
Stopped in w my children 10 and 12 for dim sum lunch on a weekday at 1 pm. Waited about 10 minutes as the place was packed. plenty of families enjoying dim sum while kids on vacation. Waiter was a little slow w the drink order. Brought my pot of tea, but forgot the kids' sodas. Carts came by and the ladies seemed a little more animated than usual. Being Chinese I did not have a problem ordering, but I noticed the ladies explaining the ingredients to non-Asians, which is nice. We had the usual pork/shrimp dumplings, shrimp dumpling, beef balls, egg custard tarts, shrimp/chive dumpling, rice noodle w shrimp, and a platter of beef chowfun. Dim sum was fresh, flavorful and hot. Chowfun was tasty but a little too greasy. Had enough for a good size doggy bag. Nice to see the chinatown area so popular. Another highrise taking over an old building will destroy the neighborhood.
(3)
Doo-yun H.
I love this place!!! My meal was so fulfilling and tasted incredible. We ordered a variety of small foods that were all absolutely delicious and our bill between 6 people came to only $66! The servers came by quite often and were all really nice about explaining things and bringing more food and water. Atmosphere was really cool and our experience was generally excellent!
(5)
Eliza D.
I love this place! The food was all absolutely delicious and also really cheap. The carts came by often, and all the staff were super nice. Definitely would recommend!
(5)
Allie T.
Solid dim sum place with great offerings. Only problem for those of us who don't speak Cantonese-- the servers didn't speak much English and the dumplings are hard to tell apart. Good price though and had a fun time.
(3)
Kimberly Y.
I've been here a few times for banquet style dinners and the food can be either a hit or miss. The service and manager were both good. Restaurant has 2 levels and is very big and roomy. I've not come here for dim sum in over a decade so can't comment on that.
(3)
Tammy W.
We were so excited that China Pearl would CATER a Chinese wedding banquet. We really did not want to make everyone find parking in Chinatown for the reception. They provided the catering for dinner and provided the bar service. The conversations and emails were friendly enough, but they are not in sync with each other. We receive a price from one person, and the next day, we would have a different price. We would set up a tentative meeting for the next time, but it would never happen. It was very difficult to get a hold of them in person. What they quoted us for price during our meetings was not reflected totally on our final bill, so we are still disputing it with them. They added fees that were not talked about and that we thought were unfair due to the service or lack thereof. Service wise, the normal wedding coordinator was not there. She had a prior wedding and so did the manager we talked to. However we knew this all ahead of time and knew that the manager's sister would be at our wedding to coordinate. They did well that day in the kitchen. The food was delicious. However the food was served out of order, they asked if they were cutting the cake, which was already settled at our meetings, and they forgot to serve the cake to one whole table! The bars were set up well. The bar tenders were personable, although the "cute one" went missing for a while. But at the end of the night, they did not dump the trash. Instead, they left FIVE bags of trash for the wedding party to clean up, in our nice clothes! Then, when we finally cleaned up everything, we realized that they threw out the bottom part of the cake tiers that we had to put a deposit on at the bakery, so we lost out on that as well.
(3)
Lina V.
Didn't have to wait for a table on Sat morning. So good!!!
(5)
Jennifer E.
I love Dim Sum and China Pearl does it well. The place is always slammed and thriving with hungry people being fed delicious plates off of steaming carts of deliciousness. My friend is Chinese and although most of the staff appear to speak at least someEnglish, I've found that I'm better off leaving the ordering to him. I've enjoyed most everything I've tried and really the whole Dim Sum atmosphere is just exciting. The food you order is on a price tier system, so your cards on stamped based on how expensive the time with be. The dishes aren't too expensive so you can usually share several dishes and desserts and not end up spending too much. I've found that Dim Sum tends to be more of a brunch concept but I've had it for dinner as well, which is fun too. I've been to the Quincy location as well but I prefer this one, which is right in the heart of Chinatown in Boston.
(4)
A L.
This place definitely has a variety of food and their own food bar and regular bar incase you want something different. Unlike other dim sum places, it's very spacious and there's even a cart that goes around making bubble tea and jelly drinks- ahh-mazinggggg! Maybe it's just me but, everything is a bit bland and watery compared to what I'm used to in New York.
(4)
Swatee G.
So my Asian friend decided me and my other Indian Parsi friend needed the correct, authentic Dim sum experience. We landed here at China Pearl - Thanks to yelp! It was pretty ok. I had a BUNCH of random things, that I could never be able to tell you names of.. no.. not even if you threatened me with a lizard.. i couldn't.. There is absolutely no way I could have come away happy/ unembarrassed had I gone there by myself! The place is so amazingly authentic, that it is hard to converse in anything but Chinese! I would have been eye balled by everyone around me.. yes, even the fat little smushy kids who sat drooling over their noodles and sweets with their parents!! That's how lost I would have felt!! However, I had my awesome friend and her boyfriend to guide me! Which was awesome.. we shared a tonne of dim-sums.. I attempted to create a tower of discarded dim sum boxes as we sat there, waiting for more carts to appear with yummy goodies, but most of my attempts were thwarted by wild eyed scurrying waiters who whipped off the boxes as soon as finished.. Let me assure you, we ate enough to create a tower at least my own height! :p The carts rotated in a timely manner, and there was a certain level of excitement every time a new one rolled by, cuz U never know what they would carry! Lol.. it was like being 5 years old again and at the local fair.. ice cream man.. ting ting ta ting! All in all, it was a great experience - loved the concept of carts, all the food we ate - I cant remember any names.. but the shrimp thingy was awesome.. and oh the chicken filled thingie, and pan fried at the bottom.. was the bomb! :p If you know what I am talking about.. go get it.. if not, get one of your Asian frenz to take you! :p
(4)
Ada K.
Horrible service! We were asked to wait at 4 different spots of the restaurant for about 30 mins. The hostess were very rude and the restaurant doesn't have a waiting system. We sat in a corner and the food trolleys came very slow. If you are assigned to a remote table, no good dim sum come by. Also, the clean trolley with dirty plates/ trash come through every minute. Only tried 4 dim sum and all of them were very oily and greasy!
(1)
Claire N.
Some of the plates were delicious, some less so. A fun experience. The people pushing around the carts of dim sum can't really describe what's in the dumplings so it's a bit of an adventure. Good place to take kids.
(3)
Jency P.
Although I enjoyed my experience there, I personally thought the food was a bit greasy. It was all right but I've experienced better. Carts were pretty good about coming around and the staff was attentive to our needs. If you are going to eat at this place I recommend: Pork ribs, chang fen, and the tofu dessert.
(2)
Camille R.
I knew I should have stayed away from dim sum while living in Boston!! I had an appointment in Chinatown and decided to make a day out of it. I walked by China Pearl 3 or 4 times before I finally walked in... It looked, smelled, and acted like a typical Dim Sum restaurant you'd find in the Bay Area. But it was nothing. I mean NOTHING like the dim sum you'd find in the Bay Area. First, they offer very little vegetarian options; I ordered to tofu - it was stuffed with shrimp. The eggplant was stuffed with shrimp. I only found one fried dumpling with just veggies. That sucked. The Shrimp Stuffed Eggplant was gross. The eggplant was overcooked and the skin inedible. The rest of my dishes were just okay. I didn't hate it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back here.
(3)
Guillermo M.
This place was delicious, authentic and I encountered excellent customer service. We were received by a hostess that spoke perfect English and realized that it was out first time here so she was helpful and explained how it works. It was not my first time eating dim sum in an authentic place but appreciated that she was helpful. We had the mussels, shrimp and pork dumplings and they were all excellent. The tea was really good too and the best of all is that it was not expensive at all. The experience overall was great and I would come back whenever I am craving dumplings. The only thing I didn't like is that they don't have the "soup dumplings", the ones that are very fragile and have soup inside. They are my favorite and I am not sure why they don't carry them anymore.
(4)
Less H.
I was a dim sum virgin until today. We went on a whim and boy am I glad we did. Dim sum kicks ass. I knew the general idea of dim sum, ladies push cart of food around and tell you what it is in Chinese. As a fat lazy American it's confusing and I have no idea what I ordered until I put it in my mouth. If you don't eat stuff like meat it's probably not the best place for you to go. If you ask for vegetarian you probably aren't going to get it. We ate a lot of pork. See if you can get the sweet pork buns- so good. I have been informed that they have a new-ish place in Woburn. Oh I'll be back, and I'll make sure to wear my eating pants.
(4)
John O.
A staple in China Town for great traditional Dim Sum. There is rarely a wait to get in because the place is HUGE, unlike some of the other places around. They also use the push karts rather than a menu which I enjoy. If you are looking for some good steamed dumplings and other savory bites then this is the place to be.
(4)
Linda C.
It's a typical dim sum joint. The place looks fairly clean and there is quite a bit of selection to choose from. The flavor is okay but not great.
(3)
Tiffany V.
We came here for Dim Sum Sunday around 1pm. Their traditional dim sum a la cart is served until 3pm and thereafter, you can order from their menu for dim sum until the place closes. We had a party of 13 (adults and kids) plus 3 babies who needed high chairs so we required two tables next to each other. We were seated within 10 minutes. Not a long wait for a Sunday at all. The place was spacious, bathrooms were clean and were continually cleaned while we were there, and plenty of tables and room. Each table could seat about 8 people. Plenty of carts and only half a minute between each cart to come by our table. Food options were splendid except I did not see beef or pork spare ribs that are available elsewhere. Here's what I remember: Har Gow: The BEST I've ever tasted. Chewy outside with a good yummy shirmp interior Shu Mai: normal, not memorable but my niece really liked it. Crab balls were kind of odd with the weird outer shell. It was too hard to bite into and wasn't as good as back home. Duck leg & chicken feet, were both good. Banh Cuon (white rolls of dough) with peanut and hoisin sauce was different and crispy on the outside. Tasty and slightly sweet. Pork crispy bun very good, crispy, sweet exterior with sticky pork interior. Pineapple buns were delicious! I don't know why we never tried these before. Mung bean, soft, slightly flaky tops, chewy, bready yumminess! Overall, our experience was good. Staff was normal. Food was surprisingly much better than the dim sum fare in Northern Va.
(4)
Jessica S.
I specifically remember writing a review for this place so where did it go? Anyway my friend and I stopped in at a non peak dim sum time. maybe during the week. It was a weird experience. The food we had was ok and at some point they just stopped bringing the carts around. No we are about to finish fyi, nothing. We were just sitting there like...I guess they are done. We left and went somewhere else. The 3 stars is generous for the food but the service was terrible.
(3)
Sidney L.
I recently became reacquainted with China Pearl, my family's restaurant of choice in Chinatown for many years, for both dinner and dim sum. Sadly, it's not the same restaurant that I remember visiting 3+ years ago, as it is in Chinatown, there are numerous better options nearby. - The dim sum here is decent (three stars), though the seafood doesn't taste as fresh. The shrimp har gow and shumai had a mushy, texture-less feeling inside, but otherwise, China Pearl has your full complement of decent dim sum offerings. I really liked the pork buns here, and ordered a couple extra to bring home with me. - Dinner here is abysmal (one star). I should've known when I walked in here and there was only one other table occupied - it felt kind of funny to have a banquet restaurant nearly all to myself. The General's chicken was not as crispy as it should have been, and wasn't even served with broccoli (just a plate of chicken!). The spicy fried calamari was oily and not crispy. And the noodles in the pan fried noodles were undercooked and not crispy. I guess they don't do crispy so well here. Beyond that, the service was surprisingly inattentive considering that there were not many patrons here.
(2)
Linh L.
It's my first day in Boston and I decided to go to China Pearl for dim sum around 11am. It's an average place and nothing really hit the spot. The anticipation to dine at China Pearl was a big disappointment. We had 9 dim sum dishes and not even one stood out.
(1)
Dannie W.
I really don't like the food here. Well, maybe it's good for dim sum and I did not order any. The staff said every dim sum item would have meat including those seafood options... My friend cannot eat meat but can eat seafood, so we can't order anything. So we ordered sweet and sour fish filet. That was so not Chinese. They put a lot of batter and so few fish. I feel like I can only taste the batter and not the fish. And the sauce was lemon sauce, not the typical orange-color sweet and sour sauce. So the dish in general just taste so weird that I can only have a few bites and no more. We also ordered the yu-xiang eggplant. It was under cooked and the sauce did not get soaked into the eggplant at all. We also ordered the clams with black bean sauce. It was not as fresh as the ones served in Jade Garden. In general, the food does not taste good, it's over-priced, and the service is not good. I am not going to this restaurant any more.
(2)
The Throwin S.
I've been coming here regularly for a decade. Overall, it seems to be on the decline. The crowds are much smaller. The food, less fresh. I have always been a fan of their beef tripe at the a la carte table (where you always find snails, clams, and salt+pepper shrimp. On my last 3 visits, the tripe was absolutely terrible. They crowded my bowl with turnip and there were fewer than 3 pieces of tender tripe-- 3 times in a row. Do I have anything good to say? Their sweet tofu cart is delicious and a kid-favorite. The Chinese broccoli is usually fresh enough. The pork buns and fried turnip cakes, which are difficult to mess up, are good enough. It's time to find a new place for dim sum in China town.
(3)
Todd C.
The most expensive and least impressive (taste, variety) dim sum I've ever had. In fairness, I was seated in a part of the restaurant that seemed to only get a small portion of the service/selection afforded the main part of the restaurant.
(2)
Josiah V.
Great food, beautiful place. The tea is light and fresh and the dim sum is 3.95 a dish. Three pork buns have me almost full and the other reviews are right they're sweet and delicious
(5)
Arcadian B.
Went in on a Sunday afternoon and my god this place needs some renovations especially the exterior It's a pretty big place but the service was lousy as most the servers were chatting with each other Food was decent and hot surprisingly
(3)
Ellie W.
Dim Sum. Yum Cha. Whatever you call it, you can really only judge it relative to what's available in the area...No, this is no New York dim sum. Or the kind you can get in Hong Kong. And it sure as heck ain't your momma's dim sum. The food here is ok, and on par with most in Beantown. They've got all your standards--ha gau, shu mai, pork buns--yet I prefer Hei La Moon over China Pearl. And yea, it's a bit dingy--question is, what Chinatown restaurant isn't?--so I won't take points off for that. Whatever doesn't kill you only makes your stomach lining stronger, ya? So if one afternoon, you and 10 friends find yourselves wandering the mean streets of Chinatown after a band of dim sum savvy Chinese ladies ran you over and secured their tables (DIM SUM = aggressive driver mentality needed) at all other restaurants, China Pearl isn't a bad choice.
(3)
Julie T.
I've grown up with China Pearl and it has never really been great to me. With so many different dim sum places to go to within just that one block, why would people come here?! Seems to me that when a place becomes so popular and at such a high demand, the product's quality falls short. A lot. And that's exactly how I feel about China Pearl. Each and every time I come here, it seems like the food has somehow gotten worse. I'll eat there and think to myself that the food couldn't sink any lower and that I'd never eat there again and lo and behold, a year later, I'll sit there with the exact same thoughts running through my mind. Sigh. I suppose one good thing is the fact that there are so many tables there so you'll never sit at the same table more than once. So yay for variety, I guess...
(2)
Tim Y.
Pretty decent food here. The place was packed, and really loud, and there was a queue -- but it didn't take long to be seated. Prices are really, really good. Food is tasty, fresh, and served hot from those awesome carts. I did seem to observe the cart pushers giving preferential treatment to those who understood the language - the carts seemed to whiz by without much explanation as to what they have whereas they go slower, and seemed to spend more time chatting up the customers who understood what they were getting. I've done dim sum before, so it's definitely not just newbie ignorance. There has to be something good if a 3 year old next to you eats chicken feet for the first time right along side you without any protest. I would go back, though I'd be more assertive and maybe not sit at a corner table so as to get better exposure to carts as they go by.
(3)
Greg Y.
omnom dimsum. I recommend standard dimsum fare. Shu mai, ha gao, ha cheurng, (steamed) cha siu bao, ham sui gok (the fried doughy pork 'dumplings' i guess). It's not NYC-chinatown dimsum, but it gets the job done. Also, I'd pass on the egg tarts. They're good but there are much better ones to be had in the bakeries just outside.
(4)
Jeremy F.
China Pearl, you made my Sunday afternoon by providing me with your mobile buffet of unexplainable delights. I lucked the hell out on this one because I was fortunate enough to go with my buddy and his wife, who speaks Chinese. This meant that i could sit back, have little to no interaction and get the best stuff without awkward discussions about "what am i about to put in my mouth?". (there's a "that's what she said" somewhere in there i'm sure) Anyway, i'd say the atmosphere is on par with the standard large-China Town restaurant; Big, gold and Red. The food was good and for my first dim sum experience I was really satisfied. Definitely more of a meal "experience" than anything else. I think in terms of foodie i'd only go 3 stars, but its a very different way to eat things, thereby bumpin this little pearl up to fourzees.
(4)
Dave M.
I have to admit I'm a dimsum snob, as I've had some pretty good stuff in SF. That said, I think China Pearl is a pretty solid place. The place was packed to the gills, but it didn't look like anyone was being rushed out the door, which is a good sign. The selection is copious, and the carts come around very often. While the dimsum offerings seem very tame, however they are very flavorful, and are not greasy. Greasy is a problem I've seen with a lot of dim sum places, and it really sets apart the marginal from the good. Again, totally not greasy. I would have loved to have seen duck offerings, maybe some chicken feet... but frankly, I don't eat feet, so who cares. Solid place, I'll be back, and so far... best dim sum I've had outside of SF. (Beats Portland, OR for second place.)
(4)
Pauline V.
Mice. Yup. And management doesn't even care.
(1)
Casey W.
We showed up late on a Sunday and they still let us in. We didn't get to sample everything, but what we did have was flavorful, filling, and wonderful. Very traditional Dim Sum. Carts, traditional attire for different roles (jacket waiters, shirt waiters, & vest waiters), authentic atmosphere, funny hostess, great atmosphere, very friendly. We can't wait to go back. Its a bit pricey for Dim Sum, but worth it.
(4)
Nikol K.
All those stairs - don't bring the stroller. I like Dim Sum a lot. My favorite place is in San Francisco. In Boston, I usually go to Chau Chow City because I feel like all the restaurants make the same dim sum and the only difference is that my parents know the owners at Chau Chow City so we don't have to wait for a table. I went here one Sunday when Chau Chow City was closed. The food here is the same as all the other Boston Dim Sum places. One dish I got that was really disappointing was a curry noodle - I couldn't eat it because the flavor was rather quite unpleasant (it was sweet and pungent). Nothing here was a standout, so....
(2)
Helen L.
Okay, so I like China Pearl. However, I wasn't WOWed by it. It was just average. First of all, if you don't get there at like 11am on a Saturday or Sunday, the lines are INSANELY long. I mean like an hour wait at least. So I'd recommend getting there at 11am and no later. If you get there at like 1pm, then you get the leftovers and you don't get as much food options on the cart. Second, the staff there really can't tell you what the food is in English. So if you're a first time dim-summer, I'd highly recommend you go with somebody that 1) have been before and know what to order or 2) speaks Cantonese or mandarin. Because when they push around the carts and you ask what the item is, they generally say, "pork" or "beef" or "meat"...something very generic that gives you no description of what it actually is. Once you get the food though, I think it's all quite delicious. But it's just as good as any other dim sum place I've been to. Cost wise, if you go with a group of people, it's will be very cheap. It's all family style so each food option is appetizer size and you get a whole bunch to share with the table. So you probably end up paying $10 per person or so plus tip.
(3)
Aaron C.
Came here for dim sum and left looking for real dim sum Chinese food in boston is coming to a decline. There aren't many, and the ones that are still standing are being overcome by appeal to other ethnicities. Coming from a mostly chinese neighborhood, I was greatly disappointed when I finally got to eat after waiting a good 45 minutes for a seat. The dim sum was not fresh and it wasn't of good quality either. Some of the dim sum you even had to get up and go over to get it yourself; thus freeing up some of the waiters to bus tables and clean. The setting was another story. The interior space of the seating area is so poorly designed. Circulation and seating are such big problems. There are large circular tables that the just seat 3 different parties at making it awkward to converse and eat in front of strangers. They should just take those large tables away and put smaller seating ones to make the atmosphere a bit more friendly. Go to another city for good dim sum please
(2)
Khantha S.
Great dim sum...but too crowded on weekends
(3)
Didi S.
The Dim Sum's not bad, though I generally go to Hei La Moon instead. I would never have eaten dinner here (Gourmet Dumpling House, Taiwan Cafe, even Peach Farm all being much better options nearby) except that we had a huge group for a pre-New Year's dinner and needed some ridiculously huge tables. The menu looks pretty Americanized: they offer crab rangoon, Chop Suey, and other stuff that I consider myself above as a ridiculous person. We ended up ordering the dou miao (bean seedlings?), paigu (small pork ribs), eggplant with funky sauce, jiaoyanyouyu (fried calamari), half a duck, some kind of shrimp, a fried vermicelli, and a soup. The food was better than I expected, although still mediocre. The dou miao, vermicelli and shrimp were particularly disappointing, with the shrimp also tasting a little funny. The duck was probably the best thing we ordered. What was really upsetting though was how horrible the service was. You never expect very good service in Chinatown, but the servers all seemed to be trying to pass off helping us to each other, were inattentive, and rather annoyed to be doing anything for us. No wonder the place was barely a third full on Friday night.
(2)
Jackie C.
This place has definitely gone down hill over the years, but still manages to churn out some decent dim sum. The taste and quality of their food seems to vary day to day though. One day it tastes awesome, while another, I want to spit out the food. I'm not sure if its because there are different chefs when I go in or something else, but there are definitely days when the food is just plain off. I still love how this place still uses dim sum carts to serve food, since it seems like more and more places are getting rid of the carts.. *teary eyed* The service is also pretty good, if you raise your hand for attention, the wait staff is always quick to notice you and help you out.
(3)
Alyssa S.
This is my favorite place to go for dim sum. When I used to live in Chinatown, my family dined here at least once a week. It takes awhile to be seated (esp on weekends), but the dim sum is definitely worth it. It's easier if you speak Chinese or have a friend who does because the servers and hosts are more attentive to you. The shrimp dumplings and spare ribs are my favorites-- as well as the sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves. I would give China Pearl 5 stars, but there IS a long wait and the bathrooms aren't as clean as I'd like them to be... China Pearl Restaurant in Quincy is also good, but not as great as this one in Boston.
(4)
Kristina D.
Like a figure skating judge, I'm giving a lower rating based because I have not yet tried Winsor or Emperor's Garden, and don't want to dole out the 5.0 just yet. For my roommate's surprise brunch, her boyfriend organized an elaborate scheme in which her friends would arrive early and greet her with a carved butternut squash (in place of a friend who could not make it) and new ipod speakers. FYI, dim sum waitresses get perplexed by med students' gourd versions of the Rubin vase. One stared at the squash for a good two minutes, likely wondering if it had come off of one of the carts. We had the: -shumai -vegetarian spring rolls -shrimp noodle thing with soy sauce -broccoli -steamed shrimp dumplings -bbq pork buns (two kinds) -rice -egg custard tarts -sesame balls -tea -taro -shrimp thing that looks like a pom pom Dim sum worked quite well for the large group. They seated us on a giant round table on a platform within direct sight of the door, which maximized our "hide under the table and then pop out making interpretive dance gestures while screaming HAPPY BIRTHDAY" antics. Our group could have benefited from a lazy susan with which to more effiiciently distribute food, or knives with which to subdivide the food. Coming in on Saturday before noon with a reservation also enabled us to evade long lines that seem to occur on Sunday mornings.
(3)
Sandy F.
Very very good dim sum. Lines can get long on weekends so try to get there early. because they get so much business and food sells out quick, you are guaranteed fresh dim sum. food here is far less greasy than most dim sum in chinatown. as of the language barriers, most of the people pushing the carts dont speak english, but the waiters mostly speak english and if you have things you normally order, you can just order from them. also you can order off the regular menu too. the mango pudding, the tofu pudding, the fried shrimp and crab claw, the beef balls and the rice noodles are yummy. also, if you like the puffy white steamed buns, they are very soft and tasty here too.
(5)
Leslie Y.
My mom used to take us to dim sum whenever she was off. We would come here for banquets and other parties. As growing up, this place was owned by Uncle Bill, a very kind and successful businesman in Boston Chinatown. The food choices now are definitely more than ever. I know the current Owners and they are wonderful people. The food, no doubt about it, still very good traditional dim sum.
(4)
C. C.
Decent dim sum, good location. Best sticky rice in Boston, but in my opinion, Hei La Moon is overall the winner in dim sum!
(3)
Wing M.
A bit of background: I grew up in Hong Kong and spent the first ten years of my life eating dim sum every Sunday morning. Sometimes we do Saturday morning too. Sometimes, when school's out, we do dim sum every other day. I'm a bit of a dim sum snob. And I've stopped eating dim sum on the East Coast because, ever since the first time I've been to China Pearl, about ten minutes into any dim sum outing I just sigh and wish that I was at China Pearl instead. Seriously, I cannot think of one dim sum place in New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Baltimore, Chicago or DC that is remotely close to China Pearl in quality and atmosphere. There used to be a small place in NYC that was as good as China Pearl but it has long since changed management and the food went downhill from there. So, basically, China Pearl is the only place I've found in this country that captures the quality and atmosphere of a real Hong Kong dim sum parlor. The food is 100% authentic Cantonese and not "influenced" by other areas of Chinese cuisine like most dim sum places in the US. All the classical dim sum dishes can be found if you go there on a weekend. It doesn't try and do crazy experimental dim sum and sticks with what worked in Hong Kong for the last few decades. It's big (two floors!!!), it's noisy, it's filled with ladies yelling out food names and pushing carts and on weekends all the eight-people tables are filled. Oh, and the food is amazing. Now, that's not everyone's cup of tea, I understand that. Some folks don't want a noisy place and would prefer their dim sum Shanghai flavored, for example. That's great. There are other places for that. But if you want 100% authentic Hong Kong style dim sum China Pearl is the only place I have found in this country that does the job. Note: I'm in Seattle now and am slowly exploring the dim sum places here. So far, not optimistic. Heading down to San Francisco later this summer, so hopefully I'll find something that can rival China Pearl there...
(5)
Michael G.
This is definitely the best dim sum in Chinatown! Unfortunately, this also means that it's always horribly packed, but the wait usually isn't too long. If your idea of a nice meal, though, is quiet in a place with an elegant ambience, this definitely isn't for you. Also, I would recommend taking someone who speaks Chinese or at least knows what's in the food, since it's difficult to understand the broken English.
(4)
Brenden L.
I have mixed feelings on this place. The regular menu is standard Chinatown fare, nothing special as far as that goes. I'm giving this place a high rating because the dim sum is among the best I've had and certainly the best in Boston. If you're gonna go to the place, hop in on a Sunday morning. That's when it shines.
(4)
Amanda M.
If you love dim sum, and live in Boston, give China Pearl a try. Unfortunately I never made it to Hei La Moon to compare, but I'll vouch for China Pearl for a great, authentic dim sum experience. I have always made a point of arriving around 11 am if I go on a Saturday or Sunday; otherwise, the line for a table can be immense. Each time I've arrived, been promptly seated, and had tea on my table in seconds. The carts circulate regularly, carrying a variety of dim sum staples. In case you've never had dim sum before, it involves many little steamer baskets and plates being circulated on carts; each plate or basket contains 2-4 pieces of items like dumplings, sticky rice wrapped in grape leaves, noodle rolls, or other small items. I would say it's the Chinese version of tapas: you order lots of small plates, and share. Being able to point to the items you want make it relatively easy, even if you're new to dim sum, to get a variety of delicious dumplings and rolls. I'd recommend the pork buns, shrimp dumplings, and the fun rolls (which are covered in peanut sauce). What I loved about China Pearl was the fact that the staff was able to figure out, from my descriptions of previous dim sum experiences, what items I liked and wanted brought to my table; our waiter even brought over a couple items himself instead of making me wait until the cart came around. The best part is that you can try a variety of dishes without too big a hit to the wallet. I've always come with a friend, and I don't think the total bill ever topped $25 for a veritable smorgasbord of delicious food. I'd recommend it as a great place for kids with adventurous palates; I started going to dim sum places in Chicago when I was young, and have a soft spot for this type of cuisine thanks to those experiences. Plus, it's fun when you're a kid to point to something on a cart and have instant gratification: no waiting for someone to bring you your order. And let's be honest, that can be pretty nice for those of us who are adults too.
(4)
Brady B.
Definitely the best dim sum I've ever had. I've been here 3 times so far, and many more I'm sure before I'm done. I usually go to Chau Chow City which is also very good for dim sum, but I really think that China Pearl trumps them. They're a bit pricier than Chau Chow...just a bit, but so well worth it. The last time I ate there w/ 3 others we paid $17 each including a good tip. Not too shabby at all considering we ate like pigs and everything was SO delicious. The amazing various dumplings, the rice, the crab claws, the sauces....omg I'm getting firm just thinking about it! That being said, China Pearl's dim sum is a damn good replacement for all of the porn theaters that used to occupy that area minus the shame.
(4)
Jeff C.
Ate here quite a few times. It is close by to my gf's grandmothers house in Chinatown. The place is in a old theater. The style is where workers come by with carts of ready cooked dim sum. I prefer this style compared to the one where you write on a paper and order. This place can get busy during peak times but this place is huge...
(4)
Stephanie W.
At the time I tried this place, I was inexperienced in the art of dim sum. I went in with 6 people on a sunday morning and delighted in food from all the delicious carts. The dumplings were all good (not overly greasy), the turnip cake was still the best I've ever had, and the sesame balls had the perfect rice to filling ratio. The restaurant had white table clothes, attentive staff, fast service/tea refills and the total bill came out to about $10 per person and we were unable to move from our seats afterward. At the time, I thought that was great. But then I moved to San Francisco and it was a whole new world. Restaurants in SF have no ambiance, rude service, delicious food in copious portions, and the price will come out to about $6 per person to stuff yourself on a Sunday morning until you can no longer move. The turnip cake at my regular location is not nearly as good as the one at China Pearl, but their jellyfish and shrimp/chive dumplings are fantastic. Based on the time i went there (3 years ago) I believe China Pearl deserves 4 stars. Now, I'm not sure how well it would fair comparatively, but I'll give it the review I feel it deserves based on when I tried it.
(4)
Amanda L.
After a Brewery tour and a visit to the USS Bataan (FYI, FREAKING AWESOME) we were are famished. It being the boy's special day, he got to pick where he wanted to go. As usual, he had no idea and we argued about it for a good 20 minutes, until we settled on China Pearl, since we wanted some type of Asian, and were really curious to get some Dim Sum. The decor is really nice, but it reminds me of a hotel lobby restaurant. And there is this really unnecessary HUGE step to get to the bathroom. I mean, COME ON, WHY is it there?!!? So, we were too late for the Dim Sum, but the plates were definitely family size, so we ordered the following: - Pork Fried Rice - Beef Lo Mein - Roasted Duck - Curry Chicken - Sweet and Sour Shrimp - Peking Ravioli - Crab Rangoons (2 orders) - Beef w/ Broccoli - Pork with vegetables FYI, there were 7 of us, so we weren't THAT much of pigs. The Ravioli and the fried rice were my favorite, the rice was seriously addicting, I could have had another whole plate. The raviolis were really big and very flavorful. The Beef w/ broccoli was also really delicious. The rest wasn't very memorable. The crab rangoons were nice, but I've definitely had better, they were a bit runny and there was too much cream cheese (and I love cream cheese). My curry chicken was mediocre, and I didn't like the texture or the flavor of the sauce (and it wasn't even spicy, boo). Lo Mein was tasty, but I've had better. The service was non-existent but I've come to deal with that in Chinatown. The food was really cheap, upon reflection, it was about $105.00 before tip which really isn't bad. We even had leftovers. I really want to come back for the Dim Sum but for right now and if I were to come back, it would be for the fried rice and the ravioli's.
(3)
Jennifer J.
Went for dinner. It was good, but not spectacular. Adequate pan fried noodles, which are my favorite. Good Cantonese style Lobster. Disappointing Peking duck.
(3)
Zach B.
It's really good dim sum, and It feels authentic. It's inexpensive. Their shrimp balls, pork buns, & egg plant is yummy. The downside: they give you tiny glasses of water which are seldom refilled, and if you come after 11 on the weekend, you're going to wait forever. The service upstairs isn't nearly as good as the service downstairs.
(4)
Kendra S.
Things can get a little dim-sane around noon on a Sunday, but maybe that's half the fun of Chinatown and subsequently China Pearl. All the Chinatownies trying to hold their own on these crumbled sidewalks. All the tourists trying to figure out why they can't see the Prudential from here to point them in the right direction. All the rest of us locals trying to remember if it was China Pearl that was the place that is upstairs and last updated in 1984? Oh yes, yes that's the place. I'm not an eater of the shellfish nor the pork, so I can't comment on the majority of the dim sum platters, but this is a dandy place to come with a big group. It's cheap and nothing is forced upon you to order that you don't want. Helpful FYI: If you're coming with a stroller, make sure to bring your mule to carry it up for you. It's pretty steep to be hauling the babe and wheels up all by yourself.
(3)
Sara L.
The best place I've been to in the city for dim sum. I haven't been here for anything else, but I come here every few weeks just for that. Staff is very attentive and ready to help you with anything you need. Food comes by all the time and there is a great selection. Prices are also good, you get a ton of food for not much money and you can take home whatever you don't eat. Much love for China Pearl.
(5)
Teri L.
We walked into Chinatown and my kids knew exactly where they were going which proves to me they spend alot of time in this area! I didn't care for the outside of China Pearl as it looked seedy and not very nice. We walked up a long set of stairs and I was surprised at the decor...I mean yeah yeah it was definitely Chinese with the golden dragons on the back wall but it had a touch of elegance with real linen tablecloths and napkins...you don't get alot of that in that part of town. Our waiter...ummmm hmmm waiter is not a word I would use for him...he looked disinterested and "we're wasting his time" attitude...not my idea of someone who wants a good tip. I know, I know..Joey said that's what you get here but ohh PULEASE!! At least FAKE IT!!! But if you can ignore that, then everything else was fine. We didn't do dim sum...too late in the day for that but ordered directly from the menu. Food was very good, tasty in all aspects and lots of it. Everyone in our party enjoyed all the dishes totally. The staff was always there to fill water and to get anything we needed. I would be back for the food, definitely! But the waiter can go bye bye..
(3)
Matt S.
Been here only once, for dim sum. Loved it. Better than the stuff I had in New York, that's for damn sure. Can't wait to go back again.
(4)
Ellie L.
I don't love pork, I hate the consistency of puddings, and my mother instilled a fear of buffet-style food in me. I am not the best candidate for advocating Dim Sum, but hey, the craving for leftover Chinese the morning after drinking strikes even me, and if you feel like making an occasion out of it, try China Pearl. It's THE popular dim sum location and while its touristy, questionably clean, and not always diverse in its options, look, you're hungover and want re-heated rice, so chill and don't be so picky, OK?
(4)
Jamie A.
Yeah. 5 stars. If only I could recount my incredible and completely surreal evening I spent at China Pearl. It involved a ten-course traditional Chinese meal in honor of Parents Day through an invite from one of my friends who's work had a table at the banquet. This magical evening included: --amazing, amazing food. I tried JELLYFISH and had to kiss a chicken head due to some crazy table-mates who were superstitious. --an entire room of people doing the Electric Slide. --karaoke throughout the ENTIRE meal...including Celine Dion, Sinatra, and traditional Chinese opera. --80 year old women dancing with swords. --much singing of "Billie Jean" --takeout containers passed out to the tables between every course. (I LOVED this idea of not wasting perfectly delicious food!) I'll sure be returning for a regular night's dinner, but man o man, my evening at the China Pearl felt like the twilight zone...in the BEST and most MAGNIFICENT way possible. Everyone was so welcoming and explained everything...and it was possibly the kitschiest experience ever...so much glitter and music and dancing. amazing. just amazing.
(5)
Itch S.
The granddaddy or should I say the grandmother of the Chinatown dim sum shops. Wide range of Cantonese tea pastries. Love the Pai Goot. Always love the old school carts being pushed about for you to pick from. I just don't get into the checklist dim sum shops even if their food is often better. Be prepared however lots of grease. Thre is no shortage in preparation here. Kind of helps lube the digestive system - a good thing every now and then.
(3)
Monique N.
There was a wait of course and most of the groups with less than 4 people had to share large tables with strangers. Ahhhhh...feels like home, haha, jping. Dim sum was good overall, just disappointed in the fact there was no sui mai?!? what the? may go to this place again if I cant find a better one in the proximity.
(3)
Brandon W.
This WAS our default dim-sum restaurant when we moved here about 10 years ago. It was not by choice but by desperation because it was the better dim-sum places in Boston (which doesn't say much about the dim-sum scene in Boston). Overall, the dim sum (flavor, texture, etc) was just OK - I guess we were spoiled because we have been exposed to much better in San Francisco, Toronto, Scarborough, Vancouver, etc. I know this sounds strange but some of CP's dim-sum doesn't seem that fresh which was really surprising given the high turnover. A lot of the dishes seemed warmed over. Next, we found that although CP is highly successful (huge crowds and high turnover) it is however in desperate need of renovation. Dudes - don't you guys believe in pouring some of your profits back into your own restaurant? Your carpets are deeply stained and thread-bare, your bathroom has cracked tiles, doors that don't close, faucets that leak (and that is an understatement), etc. From the amount of business you guys do, you must be filthy millionaires - yet your restaurant looks like a dump. Oh by the way, I am Chinese and have eaten in a lot of Chinese restaurants so it is not that I am not used to Chinese bathrooms. We have stopped coming to CP ever since Hei-La Moon opened just outside Chinatown (between Chinatown and South Station Bus Terminal). We like HLM because the restaurant is definitely much cleaner and dim-sum better.
(2)
Nancy L.
I'll pay No, I'll pay. No, no, no we can't do that. I"LL pay. No, I'LL pay. Thus ensues the bill battle over dim sum between over zealous relatives or good friends to show their good will, while the children fidget in their seat and wish they went to McDonald's instead. This a typical scene on a boisterous weekend at any good dim sum place and China Pearl is one of the best dim sum places in Boston. Located on the second floor, it is huge Chinese style restaurant that houses a dog-eat-dog battle over the best dumplings or noodles on most weekends. Very authentic from the food to the wait staff to the decor. 100% real dim sum experience. Dim sum is the equivalent of Spanish tapas, small dishes of delicate Chinese food that is shared among a group of people. Definitely bring at least 3 people with you since most dishes have 4 items. It's a free for all once you arrive: if you arrive early before 10 am you can easily get a seat, after that you get put on a wait list. DON'T be shy to push you way to the podium to make sure your name is there. The elderly Chinese men and women aren't, so shouldn't you. As for the food, you have your staples such as dumplings, buns, and rice noodles but for the more adventurous try the marinated chicken feet, cow tripe/intestines, or pigs blood. Ladies push carts ladened with goodies and shouting out the names in Cantonese but if you don't know Cantonese just stop them and ask them to lift up the lids. Tea is automatically served. Waiters are fast and efficient to sweep off empty plates so that you can populate the table again. A no-frill restaurant that is loud and boisterous but that is the charm of dim summing. People who expect a quiet meal need not come here. I highly recommend China Pearl. Note: as for the kids who wishes for McDonalds, they grow up realizing how silly they are and yearn for their weekly dim sum when they go to college.
(5)
Melissa X.
I always go to China Pearl for high quality, delicious-tasting dim sum. There's so much to choose from and everything is fresh. There's a lot of seafood in dim sum, so be sure to ask the servers for beef or chicken dim sum like shumai if you prefer it. My boyfriend isn't a big seafood fan. Nor is he willing to try some more authentic Chinese food such as chicken feet or pig's blood soup. So when I take him with me to China Pearl we order him stir fried noodles or fried rice. It's great because you can have your dim sum as well as order anything else you'd like that you don't see being carted around. You can also get a really good amount of food for your money. I went with my boyfriend, my mom, my dad, and my brother. The grand total was $50.00. Be careful, though. This place is always packed so try to get there early.
(5)
Marika T.
This review is way overdue. I came here over a year ago but I still remember their ha gaw. I swear they stuff 6-8 whole shrimps in each. I felt so shrimp deprived when I got back to NYC. I can't really recall anything else. The restaurant is HUGE but looks a little run-down from the outside.
(3)
Iska B.
I went to this place because of recommendations through word of mouth that it was the "best place in Boston for dim sum". I've been there a few times now and while it's not perfect I'll probably keep going there. It's pretty fun and definitely not your ordinary brunch. The good: I found the food to be very good. Good quality and a diverse selection. There was enough options to please everyone and we definitely got seconds of our favorites (I love all the buns and dumplings the most, no matter the filling). Can't really go wrong with anything deep fried right? I personally try to ask what things are before going ahead and getting something that turns out to be tripe (which grosses me out but my friend loves). The bad: It's super super crowded on weekends. I've been there on Saturday and Sunday and it's always a wait. If you come with a small crowd you usually end up sharing a table if you want to be seated sooner rather then later. Don't come late either. I believe dim sum ends sometime between 1-2PM but coming at 12:30 is not good. By the time you get seated and settled there aren't as many food carts going around and your options are limited. It sucked actually because I didn't end up getting my favorite thing (dunno what the proper name is but they are lotus seed paste buns). So word to the wise, get out of bed and come early, you will have a better time. The language barrier can also be frustrating, especially if you don't know anything about dim sum. I've found that the servers upstairs knew more English and were more helpful but maybe that was just me. It helps to have a friend that knows more. In all I say it's a good place for dim-sum. Until I try another place I can't say "the best" but it is worth a look.
(4)
Huan z.
One of my friend's favorite restaurant. Just because... he is from Canton. If you like seafood, and meat. This is the place to go. You might also find the way you ordering food is interesting, since they push little cart with food to you and you can pick any food from any cart you want. For me, it's very greasy, and too much protein, I rather eat some food more healthy.
(3)
So S.
Best Dim-Sum Place in MA. I admit that good dim-sum is lacking in Boston, but this is the best you will find. It's nothin compared to SF (Koi Palace!! wow) or NY, but its all we got. The other chinese food here is ok, but mostly for non-Asians and tourists. If you want good chinese food, go to any of the smaller restaurants in Chinatown.
(3)
Angel S.
Go for dim sum and nothing else. I went for dinner once and you must be warned that there is a chinese menu and an american menu... guess what, the food is different for both too. Not so good for Americans.
(3)
Soodee C.
best dim sum in the city. you should shoot for 10-11 am. i find anytime after that very annoying (long lines, people pushing and shoving to get in and out). if I'm not mistaken, i think they serve Chrysanthemum tea . it helps to unclog your heart as you are chowing down on pork buns and fried tofu. try the white lotus bun (it has a yellow dot in the middle). avoid the chicken feet if you're hungover.
(4)
kim c.
i use to always come to china pearl for dim sum but ever since the cook changed the food just hasnt been as good..
(2)
Laura A.
please note: you go UPSTAIRS to go to this place, which is probably blatantly obvious to everyone except me, who sat down in the random chinese restaurant downstairs and wondered where the dim sum was. d'oh. not exactly veg friendly, but i should've expected as much. the dumplings were great though and i really liked the bamboo shoots and mushrooms wrapped in fried tofu skin. a lot of things seemed to needlessly have meat in them..i.e. fried tofu in a puddle of meat juice and potato pancake type things with meat in them. my boyfriend really liked having a fried meal as his first meal of the day (probably because he was a little hungover, and he's also a very adventurous eater) but me not so much. it was definitely interesting though - if i was omni i'd probably go back and try more things, but for now, i'll stick to the vegetarian dim sum place in new york for my next trip. also, none of us really enjoyed the alternately slimy or gristly nature of the food..but my landlord who emigrated from china said he really enjoys dim sum, so it's obviously some cultural difference there. an extra star for the guy at the bar who was doing shots and drinking heineken at noon (not eating, just drinking at china pearl)
(3)
Carol P.
what a great place for some good ol dim sum! the classic boston establishment..anyone who is anyone knows about this dim sum extravaganza! the carts moving around with little dishes on em.. try the squid.. and the shrimp rolls. haacheung.. hahah good ol dim sum
(4)
Kate B.
Beyond grotesque. If this is one of the best in Boston, I'm scared. Oily rubberized chicken "product" and a glass pie plate full of what looked like vomit (turned out to be silken tofu and "vegetables" in some disgusting gelatinous sauce) along with a giant grease laden scallion pancake made for a positively revolting meal. Needless to say we left most of it behind. No more Chinese food for me. Ever.
(1)
Mina I.
Good bet for dim sum.. I have gone here several times for lunch during the week with coworkers. I have never had a long wait here and always have more than enough to eat for really reallly cheap! If you can, go with someone who speaks Chinese - it makes for a much easier dining experience!
(3)
payton c.
It's my grandmother's favorite, which says a lot; I find it a bit heavy on the fried stuff. As usual for dim sum, sit by the kitchen for the freshest stuff, and don't be afraid to try something new - you're only risking a few bucks, after all. Never had anything off the menu, but if you want something in particular just ask for it.
(4)
Terance L.
Decided to try this place for dinner since we weren't going to have time to try the dim sum. Dinner was ok but nothing to brag about. The place was empty when we got there and it was only 8:00pm. It seemed a little odd but we were hungry and wanted to eat before heading back to the hotel. One thing that put a damper on the evening was a mouse that was running around and hiding by the stereo equipment which my wife couldn't get over. For some reason, it kept making a squeaking noise. Anyways, I Hope the dim sum is better which everyone seems to like but that will have to wait until next time to try. But then again, maybe not if mice are running around.
(2)
Byron M.
This restaurant is the oldest, perhaps largest restaurant in Chinatown known for its dim sum and it's ability to host large chinese functions such as wedding banquets. As a dim sum location it is one of the best in chinatown. They offer a variety of dishes and they generally do them well. I particularly like their shrimp dumpling which is called Har Gaw and their "Beef Cheung Foon" which is Beef wrapped in a rice pasta. If you are brave you can try their chicken feet which is actually quite delicious. In the evening this place serves dinner as well as hosts wedding banquets. Their banquet menu is vast and accomodate both tight budgets as well as lavish budgets. Overall., they do very well with large parties compared to other places. I do not recommend this place for smaller gatherings as their are other options in Chinatown that do it better and for lower cost. All in all this is a good place, especially for Dim Sum.
(3)
Ryan T.
China Pearl has the best dim sum I've had in Boston. Situated at the top of a long flight of stairs, the restaurant is pretty large and often packed during dim sum hours. The waits can be from short to pretty long (maybe almost an hour). The food is pretty solid, serving up standard dim sum (ha gao, siu mai, chicken feet, congee, sticky rice) with very fine execution. I would say the food is a bit greasy (like most places in Boston) but delicious at the same time. If you crave dim sum in the Boston area, check it out! Chau Chow pales in comparison.
(4)
Angelo S.
The definition of a large, fun, bustling restaurant you might find in Beijing. If you believe in the old chestnut of looking where the locals go... just be aware that you might need to learn a little Mandarin to fit in this place.
(4)
Kai L.
My friend took me there and told me it has the best dim sum in town. Thank goodness, that was not true! I later discovered Hei La Moon just down the block on Beach street. China Pearl's dim sum was certainly worse than the ones in Hei La Moon, tends to be "supersized" and lacks the tastes (i.e. quantity over quality). I simply don't understand why people would keep going, probably either 1) for sentimental reasons since the restaurant has been around for awhile; 2) does not know about Hei La Moon; 3) cannot tell what good dim sum is. Anyway, I am glad that I did not trust my friend, and investigated myself after I moved here.
(3)
Cynthia S.
My husband and I have been going here for years, after getting a recommendation from a friend who is Chinese. I don't have much experience with Dim Sum in Boston (for I've only been here in the Boston Area), but I can tell you that I highly recommend this place. The food is very tasty and the staff is always very willing to deal with us non-Chinese folk.
(4)
Alex L.
We had a bad experience here and will not be going back. The food was mediocre and service was terrible. We ordered two dishes and they first brought out one of the dishes without any rice and a Coke that we ordered. We were hungry so we started just eating and had to flag down our server to bring us rice. Coke still hadn't arrived yet so we had to point that out too. Our second dish arrived about the time we finished our dinner and weren't hungry anymore. When it arrived, it was lukewarm as if it was sitting out for awhile waiting it to be served. It's a dish that wouldn't have taken a long time to prepare so we don't know why it came out so late. The server never came to ask if we wanted more tea and it took another long time to get a box for our leftover food and bill. We were so unsatisfied with our server that we left no tip, which was the only time we've ever done that. As we were leaving, a waitress called us back and told us that tip was not included. We informed her that the service was bad. We will not be recommending this place to anyone.
(1)
dennis a.
visited china pearl today extra busy because a st. festival was going on!! i dont know who is writing bad reviews about this chinatown icon as i had a very young waiter and he was there for me and gave me great service water extra napkins and clean plates etc. dim sum was as good as it gets i started with baby clams cooked in garlic and blackbean sauce scrumtious as well as the shu mai paigqut fung jau etc. cart girls were friendly and yes the mens room was very clean for such a busy day 100 per cent satisfied!!!!!!!! dennis from boston
(5)
Sandra C.
I generally rotate between a few good restaurants in Chinatown for Dim Sum. China Pearl, Chau Chow City, and Empire Garden. They each have their perks and are better at certain dishes than others. I think most believe that China Pearl is the best for dim sum though.
(5)
Brendan M.
Despite the ongoing Yelp argument about whether China Pearl or Chau Chow City has the best Dim Sum, I admit I can't really tell the difference. Selection, quality, price and decor all seem fairly similar, so just go to whichever one is more convenient for you.
(3)
Tyler C.
crowded and the food tends to be overly greasy. go down beach street and cross the big 4 lane avenue to he lai moon - less of a wait, better food there...
(2)
Lisha L.
Decent food, but the prices are pretty high for what is only average-tasting dim sum.
(3)
Esther L.
Good dim sum, just don't go when lunchtime is almost over, because that means you have almost nothing good to choose from. Typical Chinese fare is offered at dinnertime too, and its pretty good. One downside to this place is that you have to climb a huge flight of stairs to get into the restaurant.
(4)
Andrew B.
A long-standing tradition is to head to this place around 10AM on Sundays before the rush for some great dim sum and quality time with the family. Its best when you have a large group, and at least one connoisseur to take charge and lasso the carts that matter, while dismissing those that don't. It can be hit or miss depending on your tastes, and you're not going to be able to get a bottle of Evian here, but thats not the point. Enjoy the pork buns and shrimp dumplings while waking up with their endless pots of tea, and have fun with the company you brought with you. Finish up with some tapioca or soft tofu soup and something from the desert tray, then head over to Kneeland street for some bubble tea to sip on your way back to your Sunday responsibilities. One of my favorite ways to walk it off is to stroll through the public gardens and up Newbury before taking the T back to school. I always return smiling and satisfied from this place, but mostly because I'm with the right company.
(4)
Kevin W.
I don't know why people keep saying that the Pearl is the best Dim Sum place in Massachusetts. Haven't you guys realized that for the most part the Dim Sum tastes the same. If I were to get Shu Mai from any resturant in Chinatown, you would not know the difference. All the dishes are the same, they all come from the same distributor. Close your eyes next time youre in the Pearl, or any other place. Its the same! Deal with it!
(3)
Jeffrey W.
The China Pearl is definitely one of the best restaurants in Chinatown, and the best for Dim Sum. Don't let the exterior fool you, it's actually pretty big inside... a great place for large parties.
(4)
le c.
this place should be called china hurl. service was almost as bad as the food. the waitress actually peeked into the mens bathroom when i went in - i think to make sure i wasn't getting sick and making a mess. when i complained they didn't speak english but when the bill came suddenly their english was fine. avoid this place at all cost. i can't believe they able to stay open.
(1)
monkey l.
when you are in boston, you either go to china pearl or chau chow city for dim sum. i was in boston for 6 years, and after trying the two out numerous times, we picked china pearl. the wait was shorter, and the variety and consistency better. oddly enough, if you go with more than 4 people, it somehow ALWAYS turns out to be 10 per person. oh, and make sure that they give you little punch cards so that if you spend a certain amount, you get 10 bucks off the next time. one year they even gave us blue christmas lights!
(4)
Roshni R.
one of the best dim sum places in boston...as is easily evidenced by the crowds around brunch-time on weekends! it gets expensive unless you have a large group though...
(4)
Ame k.
the dim-sum there is ok
(3)
Anne W.
Boston is just not a place for good Chinese food. Just the way it is unfortunately. If your expectations are lowered.. you can have an okay time. I haven't been here in a while.. went here for dimsum with some friends. There wasn't really any wait as there are more tables than people now.. and most people gravitate towards Hei La Moon. The food is mediocre.. it's not horrible.. not great.. but that's how Boston is. They have a table for vegetables.. clams, eggplant, etc. You should consider taking a look at that. I thought the waitstaff was better than Hei La Moon.. they clear tables faster.. they come by more often. The price was still cheap at $12 per person.
(3)
Cecily G.
Sunday brunch time: we were seated immediately, they were jammed, plenty of carts, the food was as good as any traditional dim sum - all fresh, nothing new, but all delicious. The staff is polite, despite some reports that non-Chinese were not treated well. The spicy fried soft-shell crab was awesome, we actually got two. Ditto the head on prawns and clams with black bean sauce, and the stuffed shiitake mushrooms. My 4-year-old wanted the 'jello', that would be my only pass, not so sure about that. Everything else was very good. We left STUFFED.
(4)
Sanny K.
I only come here with my boyfriend. Reason being...he speaks chinese, I don't. Lol. I noticed that we are served a lot quicker and they are much nicer to him. Having come here without him before, they were extremely slow and sometimes rude. Now the food...some of it is really good and some can actually get you sick. I advise that you stay away from the eggplant stuffed with shrimp. It did not taste too good and last time we had it, we visited the porcelain gods numerous times in one day. Not a great feeling... However, majority of the food is actually pretty good. We love the dumplings, shumai, Cheung fun, char siu buns, the chicken feet and the steamed pork buns. It's also not too pricy.
(3)
Angel C.
I had my first dim sum experience here, and it was a mind-blowing experience. Never had I had so many little morsels, all delicious, in one meal, brought to me in little carts! And for under $15! That day, some 12 or so years ago, I became a dim sum addict. If you've never had dim sum and are adventurous, try it all, and don't worry about what you're eating. The descriptions don't do the flavors justice. Just try it! That's my dim sum motto. This is one of the better dim sum places in Boston, and the service has actually gotten friendlier through the years.
(4)
Ashley G.
Went here once and it was awful. Ordered a scorpion bowl and there was a fly in it. After that of course the waiter was suddenly nice to me, but before I told him there was a fly in my drink he was really rude. Would never go back there. Not to mention, the food was absolutely horrible! And I hardly ate out of fear of bugs in my food. Don't even know how this place gets 3 stars.
(1)
Julia C.
This used to be one of my two favourite dim sum haunts, along with Hei La Moon. Whenever I wanted dim sum in Chinatown, I'd used have to toss a coin to decide since both were equally good. Not anymore. Last weekend I went back and was less than impressed with the food. We sat down to eat at 12pm; the same carts just kept going by over and over again, and it was extremely slim pickings. Out of desperation, we also made the mistake of picking out a vegetable and pork dumplings, supposedly "VERY DELICIOUS!" according to the cart-pushing lady. This dumpling was the most horrendous piece of food I've ever eaten -- filled with disturbingly crunchy, some kind of gooey liquid, mysterious vegetable particles, and chock full of cilantro. NO. Yuck. The couple other pork dumplings we picked out were also stuffed full of cilantro and pretty unappetizing. Even my dining pal, who adores cilantro, refused to eat more than a bite of those. The har gow and shumai tasted super starchy and gross, like they've been sitting in the steamer for way too long; the glutinous dough on the har gow was disintegrating. The chive and shrimp dumplings and the flat rice noodle rolls, which are pretty standard dim sum fare, were nowhere to be found. Also, we found a strange $7 charge in the "Extras" field on our bill that wasn't drinks, tea, or special plates. I would've asked about it, except the waiters had no interest in helping us once they've added up our check. Psh. Maybe I caught them on an off-day, but knowing that I can get reliable, consistent quality at Hei La Moon, I'd be less likely to coming back to China Pearl over there.
(2)
Vina A.
So for many months I was lamenting about the sad state of Chinese food in Boston (Please send me your recommendations!) and risk offending people when I tell them about my bad experience at the Gourmet Dumpling House. So yesterday some kind friends took us to China Pearl to have some dim sum and really, it was not that bad. I felt at home with the Chinese banquet decor and hot steam carts. The food was nothing outstanding but decent, pretty decent, yup. The Good: Steamed Shrimp glass dumpling - solid. go ahead and order it Sticky Rice - has chicken and mushrooms. pretty tasty Veggies - hard to get this wrong. Soft tofu - slurpy yumminess The Meh to the Bad: Shumai - standard. i'm not a fan so... Pork ribs - standard, nothing great or particularly good about it. Taro thing - why do they serve it cold all the time? not tasty when cold people. not tasty. Turnip cake - not enough turnip, too much flour... not good. Steamed roast pork bun - too sweet. a little sad looking. do not get. Nothing so great but nothing so bad that I spit it out.. but then again, maybe me standards are lowered for chinatown... sorry. hope this is helpful!
(2)
Stephie W.
What a disappointment for weekend brunch. I came here with a group of 9 for dim sum on a Sunday. We were seated immediately (much to the chagrin of a bunch of customers who'd arrived before we did). However, it was next to impossible to flag down the carts, dishes were served cold, and we spent a half hour having run out of water, tea, and food at our table before deciding to leave. At the end, I was hungry for more food...and vengeance. tl;dr: The subpar service here will ruin your appetite. Try Chau Chow City or Empire Garden for dim sum instead.
(1)
Nina N.
Did you know they charged for tea? 50 cent per person for a pot of tea, but you get refills so thank goodness. Just tip the top of the tea pot and a waiter will come and refill your tea pot. Anyways, my favorite tea is chrysanthemum tea and I would ask that sugar be added to it. If you don't ask when you are seated then you will get the cheap tea. Other than the condiments already on the table, soy sauce, red chili paste and hot mustard, you can also ask for tobasco sauce. I prefer the red chili paste though. Here is what I normally eat and recommend. Scary Chicken Feet- Lol. I added the "scary" part because since I was little, I was told that young children should not eat chicken feet otherwise our hands would shake and my father would do a very impressive tremble to ward my siblings and I away from the plate of chicken feet. When I grew older, my father confessed that it was something that adults said to scare the children and so that they can have the chicken feet all to themselves. Lol. China Pearl makes this dish pretty well. If done perfectly, the skin should slide off of the bones, it should be soft and very flavorful. It should be covered in a brown sauce. Don't go for the pale white stuff because that is NOT what I am talking about. Shrimp dumplings (ha cao) and lobster dumplings (no more lobster dumplings on menu): I know some review writers complain that some of the food is very bland, well, some are supposed to be. And that's why there is a dipping sauce. The lobster dumpling is pretty flavorful by itself but you can add a little extra saltiness by dipping them in soy sauce. I love to mix in my soy sauce a little of the chili paste. You know, the red sauce next t o the yellow one. Shu mai- like a pork and shrimp dumpling, goes into the chili paste. I like spicy, you can probably guess that right? This is a must in all dim sum meal. It's just the way I do things. Hmm. Not sure what to call this one. It's a shrimp rice roll. Comes in three rolls with shrimp wrapped inside. I usually ask for extra sauce. This shrimp version of this dish is better than the beef one. The bread roll version with the scallions and cilantros is also very good. I'd eat that too. Tripe with ginger and scallion- this one is really good alone for the first few bites so you know what it is supposed to taste like then I would dip it in the red chili paste. I just love the heat from the ginger in this dish. Chili and salted shrimp- with heads attached! Did you know that shrimps with their heads taste sweeter than ones without their heads attached? You get this from the food bar. Skip the calamari. Snails in black bean or oyster sauce and clams in oyster sauce also from food bar. Go, get up and check it out. Bring your slip. You suck the snail out. Forget the toothpick. You will be there forever. Pork or beef intestine dish, like a stew. You get this from the food bar. When you see it you will know what I am talking about. Do not confuse with the condensed pig blood stew which is also good too. Other dishes that are pretty good include the rice congee. I love the chicken one, but I also love the egg one too. Egg one is a bit unique. You might find it taste a bit rotten. Lol, because it is sort of. Sticky rice dishes, the rice plate with the clear up side down glass bowl on top of the brown sticky friend rice. Fried tofu with shrimp paste is also very yummy comes with the lady with the cart with tofu cooking in this brown liquid sauce. Crispy fried taro something dish (lol) in the fried food cart and also good from there is the shrimp and leek fried dumpling. Hot tofu in sweet ginger syrup is the best desert to end the meal with. It comes with the lady pushing a cart with a small barrel and a pitcher of yellow lyrcorice sauce. She scoops it out and pours the syrup over the tofu for you. I would skip all of the dim sum noodle dishes served here and all of the other fried rice dishes. They are bland and oily. Gross. Now use your condiments wisely. And of course, see my pictures. :)
(4)
Sara V.
We came here for dim sum while in town for our anniversary. We found it on Yelp and since we were staying down the block, decided to give it a try. It did not disappoint! The BBQ pork buns were sweet, savory, fluffy, and divine. The shumai were little pockets of yummy. The carts came fast and furious (thank goodness... we were starving), but regular service left a little to be desired (aka standard for most dim sum places). On top of the carts, they have a buffet of items as well. I'm not sure what was in there.... all I know is my hubs walked back saying "yeah you don't eat that." Two things that rubbed me the wrong way: 1.) The girls PUSHED their items. I know they always do that, but I felt these women went above and beyond. I am trying to eat... not argue why I don't want your steamed dumplings. 2.) We were kicked out of our table! Granted, I'd had the check on the table.... but please don't rush me. We still had food on our plates. They came by with fresh plates, chopsticks, and napkins. I get it. Turn around is off the hizzy on a Sunday morning Dim Sum restaurant, but let me finish my meal darnit. China Pearl gets crowded fast. Thank goodness they have a 2nd floor. I recommend arriving by 10A to have a seat. Otherwise, you'll be waiting awhile. We'll definitely come back, but after we try a few other places in the area. The food is super tasty, don't get me wrong, but I want to try Hei La and Empire Garden!
(4)
Ann K.
Made our annual visit to China Pearl while in town for the NE Restaurant show and we were not disappointed. I was a little worried after reading some recent reviews but it was exactly as I remember from last year. We got lucky that the cart with the baked pork buns was at our table as we were seated so we started off with my personal favorite. We went on to sticky rice that was really good along with a couple type of dumplings and shumai. Carts were moving quickly today so we were in and out in plenty of time for my husband to go setup for the show! Looking forward to next year's visit!
(4)
Abby L.
Ew, this place was gross! We went to a wedding banquet here and it was just awful. The service was horrendous, like they would roll their eyes at us when we dared to ask for water. The food was just disgusting. There wasn't really anything palatable, I would never go back.
(1)
Catherine W.
Went for an early morning dim sum, around 9am. We were seated right away. All the dim sum choices tasted great, including the specialty items in the small side buffet (beef brisket, very good). This place still holds up after all these years.
(4)
David W.
You have to climb up some tight stairs to get to this place. Keep this in mind if you're coming with your grandparents. The dim-sum was so-so. Maybe it's not a thing in Boston, but the people pushing the carts should carry cooking scissors like they do in Cali. We had 10 people sitting to a table and it was such a pain sharing all the food. It was sad cause the adults would be nice and say "it's ok" just to avoid the pain of breaking dim-sum apart with chop sticks. All the kids and seniors ate, I don't they they did....=/
(3)
Bailey Z.
You can always rely on a Chinese restaurant to be open on Thanksgiving day. We came here in the morning with my friend's family to satisfy my dim sum cravings. The food was average at best, but when you live in Vermont, beggars can't be choosers. We had the usual meal filled with shu mai, hao gao, and my obligatory xiao long bao. I was very disappointed by most of their dumpling dishes because the dumpling skin was very mushy and overcooked. It broke apart upon picking them up. The xiao long baos were some of the worst I've had. There was no soup at all, the skin was thick and tough, and the pork stuffing was mushy. The beef noodles were tasteless and the beef was tough to chew. I did enjoy a few things. The fried crab balls were exceptionally good - fried to a golden brown crisp and filled with crab flavor. The Hong Kong pan-fried noodles were also good and tasted much better compared to the beef noodles. I've heard that Boston isn't that great for dim sum so my expectations were low, but thinking of home food made me realize that the Chinese food here leaves much to be desired.
(2)
Tina W.
its suppposed to be 3 star but they have varies of food and some of them are delicious so much so legitly it's gonna be a four star thing. wait, dont read comment, cuz its pretty much confusing
(4)
Stephanie L.
A glass of tea in my hand while I'm waiting for the rest of my group to arrive? Why thanks so much China Pearl! This was my first experience when walking in the door, and set the tone for the whole visit. We had a group of about a dozen, but this was no problem with the large tables in the back of the restaurant. We arrived at 11 am, so the carts were full and rotating around the restaurant filled with food and passing by all tables often. Where we sat was on a platform in the back, and I have to give you a warning about this location. Obviously, the carts can not traverse the step to make it up on the platform. Not a big problem, but what it did mean was that the person sitting closest to the step was responsible for all of our food acquisition. (Normally it is a more democratic process when carts can approach from any side of the table.) Next time, I'll opt for a table on the main floor so the food can approach from all sides. The food itself was fantastic, with the more "adventurous" dishes like tripe and chicken feet, classics ranging from all variety of dumplings to the bbq filled sweet buns, and delicious finishers in a tasty mango pudding. I'm leaving off about 20 of the other plates that came to our table because I honestly have no idea what they are called, but assure you they were all well prepared and yummy! (Veggies, fried things, seafood, a tapioca looking soup, etc.) Tea was refilled regularly, as were waters, and our plates were constantly cleared from and replenished to the tables. We all finished up our 90 minute visit with full bellies and barely a dent in the wallet. (About $15/ person including tip!) I highly recommend going with a large group so you can try a wide variety of dishes, but also saw plenty of tables of 2 or 4, so you can enjoy the experience either way.
(4)
Eric F.
Had a chance to try dinner here for a school function and it was very average. Our party ordered a variety of dishes including shrimp pan-fried noodles, lemon chicken on a sizzling plate, lemon duck on a sizzling plate, kung pao chicken, mu shu beef, clams with black bean sauce, spicy scallops with vegetables, and hong siu ban nam bo (fried fish, braised tofu, meat, and assorted vegetables in a clay pot). Only the kung pao chicken stood out in the slightest and, funny enough, that and the mango pudding dessert were the highlights of the meal...XD Bottom line? If you want good quality Hong Kong cuisine, go elsewhere.
(2)
Ambrose C.
I used to go to this restaurant with my family often for dim sum when I was little. Today, I don't go here as often, because I think the food has declined somewhat in quality, but it's not a bad choice in terms of dim sum. I recently went with a party of approximately 13 people and we each paid about $9 including tax and tip for our bill. Here are some of the dishes that we had ordered: Siu Mai - Loosely means "cook and sell" in Cantonese Chinese. One dish has 4 pieces. I guess it was called that because it was a popular street food and the name stuck. Also known as the "Pork and Shrimp Dumpling". Each dish has four pieces. One of the first dishes that I try to see if the dim sum is good. Ha Gau - Literally means "shrimp dumpling" in Cantonese Chinese. Each dish has four pieces. Another one of the dishes that I try to see if the dim sum is good. Zha Leung Cheung Fun - Zha literally means "to fry". Leung means "two/pair". This consists of Yau Zha Gwai wrapped in a rice noodle roll. Yau Zha Gwai is like a fried dough. Also known as the "Chinese Fried Dough in Rice Noodle". Cha Siu Bau - Loosely means "roasted pork bun". Each dish has three pieces. Dan Taat - Dan means "egg" while Taat is an English loanword for "tart". Also known as the "Egg Tart". Each dish has three pieces. Lo Mai Gai - Loosely means "Glutinous rice chicken". This consists of a large sticky rice ball mixed with chopped up mushrooms, tiny bits of chicken, wrapped up in a moist lotus leaf. One dish has two wrapped packets. This is also known as the "Rice wrapped in a lotus leaf wrap". Lo Bak Go - "Lo Bak" can mean "turnip" or "daikon". "Go" means cake. This consists of fried slices of . Each dish has three large slices. This is also known as the "Turnip Cake". The Siu Mai and the Ha Gau were okay, decent at the best. The Zha Leung Cheung Fun was also okay, decent at the best. I don't think it is good compared to Winsor Dim Sum Cafe's version across the street. The Dan Taat was also okay. The Cha Siu Bau was decent, but it was different. Instead of the traditional white steamed bun, it was in a baked bun. The Lo Mai Gai was decent, but the girl next to me who also ate it thought it was strangely sweet, which is an unusual taste for a Lo Mai Gai. Overall, all the dishes were just okay, and somewhat greasy. I was really hungry at the time, and the dishes did their job in keeping my belly full. I have been here twice for company banquets arranged by the Chinese Professionals Network, and the food was also okay as well, particularly the fried rice and the lo mein noodles. The food overall is okay, nothing really spectacular from what I have eaten so far, dim sum or banquets but will only come back if a majority of my friends or family really want to.
(3)
Melissa C.
Myself and 8 other friends enjoyed a wonderful Dim Sum Sunday brunch here yesterday. The wait: It was a bit crowded at the hostess stand, but we didn't have to wait long since I had reserved a table in advance. My total wait was only about 5 minutes. The place is large, so despite being busy, it wasn't super-loud and hard to have a conversation with my friends. The service: The service was very good. The waitstaff were very pleasant and accommodating. Food presentation: The food is pushed around on carts and presented at table-side. There are premium-dishes available at a salad-bar-like display at one end of the restaurant. The lost-star: I did have to take a star off of my 5-star rating due to the fact that we had to wait until well after our meal began for water to be brought over, and it wasn't until we sought out someone and asked for it. Also, it wasn't refilled for us without prompting. When eating lots of salty Chinese food, lots of water is a necessity. Cost: We seemed to have ordered a lot of food and even got a few premium dishes. But our meal total was very reasonable at only $15 / person including tip.
(4)
Wei W.
This place ranks as a "better" on my Dim Sum list - it doesn't make the "best" ranking because of the watered down tea and occasional lapse in service, but the food isn't so bad that it deserves a "good" or "poor". If I could give 3.5 stars, I would. It definitely helps to speak Cantonese here; otherwise, pointing at something that looks appetizing may not be the wisest of choices. I often take large groups of people who have never had dim sum to China Pearl because of the space, the experience, and the food. With two floors of spaciousness, you can easily fit 30 people at 3 tables. (Making sure they know what they want is another story.) The food, while it isn't the same as dim sum in NYC, is decent compared to other places in Chinatown. I'm a big fan of the shrimp dumplings, seafood dumplings, roast pork buns, clams in black bean sauce, and beef wrapped with flat noodles ("chern fun" for the Chinese). Their dinner banquet options aren't bad either, if you're there for a wedding banquet or New Year's celebration. Don't forget to take the check to the head server for price calculation at the end of your meal. Side note: it's fantastic that the cashier speaks English.
(4)
Big S.
we always come here on xmas for dim sum. they bring food out very quickly and its a fun environment for the holiday. we do always leave satisfied and full and the food is great. all different dumplings, the shrimp are the best. they have good shumai. there could be more greens, but you can get them at the steam table. the language barrier can be an issue at times and occasionally its hard to find something specific. we did wait today for sesame fried balls as the carts coming by without them. overall good place, would try some others as well.
(4)
Skye G.
China Pearl is still my family favorite for Dim Sum. I love the hot bar where I can go up and get a plate of mussels, clams, or snails (yes and yum) in a rich brown bean sauce. They have great Dim Sum and it is always busy so I either go early between 9-10 before the actual kitchen is open for menu items (@11) or later after the rush. If you go too late things are slim. Dim Sim ends around 3 pm. I am not a fan of this place for dinner or meals strictly Dim Sum. It is also better to go, if you can, with a group so you can order an assortment of items and taste a few different things. They stamp your menu ticket when you order and total it up in the end. There are small, medium, and large plates and you get stamped according to the size of the dish. If you are a small party then be prepared to sit at a large table with others you don't know. It is common practice to fit everyone in to eat - if there is a seat - fill it.
(4)
Amanda B.
Came here with two friends on a Sunday for Dim Sum. We got there around 10 so we were able to sit right away. The sticky rice is loaded with goodness. We were all huge fans of the pork bun as well as the donuts which were like sugar coated pop overs. So yummy.
(4)
Nikhil P.
At the end of our meal a mouse skirted past the floor of the table beside us. Told the waiter and he shooed it away. Then it came back. So I shooed it away. Then it ran across the floor a few tables away from us. Then we left. Need I say more? Eat at your own risk.
(1)
John R.
My last two visits for dinner and then Dim Sum were not the China Pearl I used to know. Dinner was acceptable but just average and I ordered fairly standard dishes for this restaurant. The Dim Sum was about 1:30 on a Sunday and that shouldn't not be that late and there were no carts for like almost 20 minutes and when the waiter was putting a dish of spare ribs on the table, he snapped at my brother's wife in Chinese about not putting the bones on the table. I still really like the Quincy location and I am disappointed that this place is no longer the great place I used to know. Lo Mai Gai still good.
(2)
Adam A.
Stopped in for lunch (2 PM) and was the only person in the establishment. Ordered some standard General Gaus to go. C..C- general gaus...fatty chicken, not enough sauce, served w white rice and 2 pieces of broccoli. I have had plenty of General Gaus in CTown and this was definitely the worst. Considering that this place is open later than most others, I think the cuisine is for those who are already hammered. Might give it a try when I'm blackout...I will probably find the food more appetizing.
(2)
Natsuki K.
Woulda given this place 4 if it wasn't for their rude attitude. The waiter was really chill, food was great, dark&stormy was tasty. However, after we paid the check, they wouldn't let us leave because the amount we paid "not enough". We definitely paid the amount plus tax, and each of gave an average of 10-13% tip. I guess they wanted 20? got a bit too greedy..... in short, never going again .
(2)
Jeremy B.
Its maddening. The options within these few city blocks continue to surprise me, after eating my way around here for 15 years. One thing that I always miss about Boston's Chinatown is that a certain level of authenticity and quality seem to be prerequisites for success. In any other shitty New England town, or even the Chinatowns of Manhattan and Montreal, for that matter, many of the "staple" restaurants seem to rest on their stale, gooey, uninspired laurels, from my experiences. Boston--hell no. There is a fierce, yet understated fight--I mean, this is eastern and southern Chinese cuisines we're talking about, not Sichuanese hot pot-- for the best dim sum and the best Xiao long bao. As of right now, China Pearl has become my front runner. I can't, for the life of me, predict how and when all of the variables align for a stellar dim sum. It was Friday, barely noon. Every cart rolled by, every pork morsel fresh, every fried taro thing crispy. The things I call "kaya bao", egg/coconut custard in a steamed bun (but not the kaya bao that use pandan leaf in Malaysia/Singapore), were almost as good as the Nonya versions. The tofu skin stuffed with who-cares-unless-you-are-allergic-to-something stuff was really well executed; tightly wound bundles in a lightly thickened chicken broth. But what surprised me most: these black pepper pan fried dumplings, perfectly seasoned with black pepper, pork and scallions, in a crisp yet moist dumpling, and a ginger/vinegar dipping sauce on the side. Chinatown is oftentimes my own personal utopia. I've spent my life trying to understand it, how and why it survives as a culture both similar to its ancestral land and quite distinct. One shared characteristic: this kind of food is for families, working people , meant to eat together, and to be enjoy; and the standards are of the utmost importance. (When you go into a grocery store in China, watch: the old folks will be inspecting each and every morsel of food that goes into the basket, because compromised ingredients will not be tolerated). And eating this food must be affordable. The folks in Chinatown (unlike those in other, more storied ethnic enclaves) aren't going to subtly try to empty your bank account for subpar crap, or try to wow you with the newest gimmicky chef's foie gras baozi or beef tartar jiaozi, or some other nonsense. "Let's *elevate* cheap, simple, well balanced 'ethnic' food so we can *elevate* our income". Concept dining. Sure, but most Asian dining "concepts", like dim sum and hot pot, are cheaper, tastier, and win, hands down, over the new world imitators.
(4)
Timi C.
Visited on a Saturday afternoon when the wait across the street at Winsor was 30 minutes. I must admit that I've been spoiled with amazing dimsum growing up in Flushing, NY, but China Pearl really gave me something to compare it to. Upon arrival, we were directed upstairs to an unexpectedly huge dining hall. There were carts going around with fresh dishes, a much appreciated detail. We got some pretty standard dishes that were all very fresh and delicious. The one surprise was that the chive dumplings had shrimp in them. I'm mildly allergic to shrimp, but just bewarned that they tend to add shrimp as filler in some dishes when they're low on some other ingredients (ie. chives). The bill came out to about $17 for the two of us, a very reasonable price. I will definitely be back in the future!
(4)
Judy L.
Came here for a club function, so let me say it in the beginning, I don't know how much everything cost because it was on the club's bill. Woohoo! We were seated on the 3rd level of the restaurant, which appeared to be reserved only for large groups like us since the dim sum carts don't go up to the 3rd floor. Instead, they just take all the dishes up, put them in the front, and then we go and grab whichever ones we wanted. It was an interesting system, but it worked! The food overall was pretty good, but me, perhaps being a bit too spoiled with outstanding dim sum places in California, did not find this place worthy of 4 stars, not yet. Dishes I'd recommend: egg tart, fried taro dumpling thing, and shrimp dumpling.
(3)
Laura B.
I'm hesitant to say "I've had better" when this was my first legitimate Sunday brunch dim sum experience ever, but something tells me somewhere's gotta be better than this place. On first glance, I was very excited about this place: the steep staircase/potential death trap, the hall of mirrors, the dozens of people waiting to get in...I anticipated a dim sum fun-house extravaganza. Our group of 12 came out to $11 a head, although I will say we did a pretty solid job of trying every identifiable food. That said, I ate many things I cannot aptly describe, mostly in shapes I would consider "round." Shrimp dumplings were good, and the egg custard dessert-type pastries were standouts. Anything with pork in it was a little shady (even though historically I LOVE char siu bao). What knocks the stars off for me: the mirrors next to our table severely needed a windexing. The service was just generally unfriendly/pleasant, fortunately I was with a large group of friends. I was fine with the weak descriptions of the food, but I feel like Sunday brunches are supposed to be somewhat genial. I don't need to have dim sum slung at me in the same way I would expect a used car to be. Point being, if you're someone who eats out for ambiance in addition to food (and are going out solo or with only your +1), eat elsewhere. If you're hungry, pressed for time, and with a large group, eat at China Pearl. It's definitely an experience.
(3)
Kim K.
Here's the thing about Dim Sum: the places are all sketchy, the service sucks, you barely know what exactly it is that you're eating, and you walk out feeling MSGed, sodium overloaded, and like you need a 5 hour nap. All of that said, at the right place with an great group of friends, Dim Sum is awesome. China Pearl is good, I prefer Chau Chow City I think though. Sesame and pork buns, YES PLEASE. Endpoint: I can take or leave Dim Sum. Mostly leave.
(2)
Ziliang Y.
worst Dim sum ever
(1)
Henry P.
- Quiet - Dark - Dreary - Dingy these are the words that I use to describe China Pearl. The lighting in the dining room was very low and dingy which just gave everything such a gloomy feel. Its like you can really feel sadness in the air I've been here 3
(3)
Sally R.
Went at about 3 on a Friday, so I suppose it makes sense that there were only 5 other people there. Staff was taking advantage of the down time to visibly chat and socialize by the bar, but I don't mind because I recently had the conversation with someone that in a way anything goes in old school Chinese restaurants. Ordered the short ribs, variety of steamed dumplings and shrimp noodles. Everything was pretty good, especially the ribs. I mostly love the atmosphere of dim sum, the agressive, pushy ladies selling the small plates. Its a vibe you get nowhere else. China Pearl basically gets the job done if your craving some dim sum, but there's a spot right across the street that makes their dimsum fresh to order across the street if you want Great.
(3)
Ziyan C.
Not the best dim sum in Chinatown (although Boston doesn't have much to offer in general), but in college we ended up coming here a lot due to cheap prices. The place overall feels cheaply decorated & crowded. Not the nicest atmosphere. The food is decent but tends to be more oily & not the best quality.
(2)
Rachel L.
After a troop up the stairs, we had a short wait for a table of 3. I came here with Davel and with my friend and we came here for dim sum. The food was okay, was just like any typical dim sum place. The egg roll, vegetable dumplings, and the pan fried vegetable thing was a bit weird. It had a sour taste to it, but it might have been because of what was in it. The tripe with beef brisket was really good, and so was the calamari. All the other dim sum was ordinary. Service was quite friendly with the nice dim sum ladies persuading you to get this and that. I probably won't be coming back for a while, but overall - a good experience.
(3)
Thuy L.
China Pearl has redeemed themselves on my 2nd visit. They are bigger, better service, and the dim sum comes out quickly and hot. They serve the same things as Hei La Moon across the street but they have the Chinese broccoli on their carts as well as more authentic items, which I love. They also have the pineapple custard bun on their dessert cart, which Hei La Moon doesn't even serve. This is the best hangover food, greasy and hits the spot.
(4)
Rebecca Y.
I went to give this restaurant a try. The reviews I read didn't really give a good explanation of what happens at this restaurant. They have two options - the dim sum carts or their traditional menu. I had the dim sum carts. What happens is you sit down, they put a card on your table and servers with carts of food walk by. When you pick things they stamp your card. I don't speak the language, so the explanation of the food I was getting was pretty minimal. I know for sure that I had some dim sum, but I wasn't sure what the other things were. All I knew was that I was getting chicken, pork or shrimp. Sometimes I wasn't even sure about the protein. I was not offered anything to drink. There was the tea or water, nothing else. The food that I got was pretty good, but I'm still not sure what it was. The bathrooms were disgusting and very tiny. Two of the toilets were overflowing and the sinks were not clean.
(4)
Susanna Y.
Absolutely horrid. I don't leave reviews, ever. But this is the first time I had such a horrible experience that it brings me to write this, so I made a Yelp account, and wanted to tell everyone, DO NOT EAT HERE, you can eat anywhere else in Chinatown and it will be 1. a better eating experience for you and 2. better service -anywhere- else, even at the Chinatown McDonalds. I would give this NO STARS if I could but alas I can't. I went for a friend's birthday party on a Monday evening around 7p. Lots of seats, fine. The stairwell is small. It is skinny and if you are going with lots of friends be careful it is rather tight. The inside walls are outdated and need a paint job (but wait... did I tell you they were painting the walls WHILE people were inside AND dining? They were). The food was alright. I could get better anywhere else in Chinatown. We had a lot of orders too. Fried chicken is not hard to make. Greasy. The crab rangoon was rather slimy for my taste and the rest of my friends that were there. The beef and broccoli was too salty (the waiter asked, Chinese or American, Chinese-style being with bok choy, I didn't know that qualified as broccoli, and American actually being the version with actual broccoli and beef). The rice took forever to come, it was actually the last thing the waiter came to get. But before I even talked about food, I've already touched upon that, the waiter took forever to take our orders. He began to take 2 people's orders at my table of friends and then proceeded to say, WAIT. And then walked away to take orders from another table! After we had already been waiting for I would say more than 15-20 minutes. When we finally ate, got ALL our orders (they took forever to come), and we handed him money for a check, he proceeded to say: Tip is 15%. And held his hand out. Excuse me? Every restaurant I have went to I have paid tip AFTER I have received the receipt for the bill. Absurd for a waiter to be asking that after we had just handed him the money. He did not smile at all, except when we handed him the money, and frowned when asking for tip. He handed us take out boxes when we wanted to put our leftovers in them, but they are supposed to take the dishes and put the leftovers in for us. He rudely stuck out bags for the boxes at us and thrust a second bag into my friend's face. I always pay tip. No matter what. Because I know waiters don't want to be there and Chinatown underpays them. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the first time I have never wanted to give this waiter A DIME. I recommend Winsor Dim Sum or Jade Garden, ANYWHERE but this place. What you may think it makes up foodwise, will be nothing if it takes FOREVER for you to receive your meal. Will never eat at this place ever again, EVEN if someone PAID for me, I would decline.
(1)
Vina Y.
Came here for dimsum and also for afternoon snacking. Dimsum - choice is pretty limited, I was here on a weekday so maybe they have less out but they didn't have a lot of the dishes I asked for. I always judge dimsum on the har gow and the skin on theirs was too thick and gelatinous. The ham sui gok was not bad though. As for afternoon snacking, I had a meeting/get-together here and ordered some appetizers: crab rangoon, chicken wings, honey pork ribs and some dishes - beef flat noodle (hor fun), and fried rice. Now I know the food choices aren't authentic but it was mostly because the people I was with wanted the more Americanized food. Either way, it was terrible. The crab rangoons were almost all runny cream cheese with very little crab. The wings and ribs were very much overcooked and tough to eat. Fried rice was very oily with very little flavor. Hor fun was the best of them all but that's not saying much.
(2)
John M.
Without a doubt, the best dim sum place in Boston, if not the best Chinese restaurant in the city! Hop inside on a Sunday for dim sum and it is a sight for the eyes and a pleasure for the tastebuds. The sounds of waiters barking orders, the trolleys of steamed dumplings and riceballs clattering up and down the aisles, and the smells are always overpoweringly delightful. The best way to enjoy this is with a group of people, so you can share as many small plates as possible, and pick off your friends food. The best items here are the pork shumai, a fettucinie wrapped pork dumpling with veggies and god-knows-what-else. I'm never sure what it is, but it is just so amazingly good I don't even bother asking. There is another, longer, whiter beef dumpling with soy sauce, which is just as good and not as fatty. A simple shrimp dumpling is nice as well, and they come 3 big ones to an order. As for seafood, the shrimps come heads-on, so you know all the flavor is definately still in that shrimp, ripe for the sucking and the eating. The chicken feet are even really good, filled with that nice chicken flavor right on the bone. The rice dishes are all pretty good, but the best are the ones wrapped in a banana leaf and stemmed, it comes out sticky and full of flavor. For a party of 11, the total price came out to around $20/head, which may sound pricey, but we must've had 30-40 plates of food, and the pricing syestem is so hard to figure out. It's a card that gets stamped when you pick out what you want, which is a big of a pain because the card is in Chinese, but an order is never more than $3 per item, so its a cheap gamble, especially when the freshness and flavor of the food is top notch.
(5)
Mike H.
3rd update. I can't handle this indecisiveness I feel. After going to the Emperor's Garden around the corner and being SO let down it doesn't even deserve a review, I let my friends twist my arm into coming back here. Best decision ever. I was still cautious, picking through my food before eating it, (even soliciting a few weird looks since I was a fully grown Asian man who looked like he was playing with his food,) but everything was SO good. The people were SUPER nice and I got to sit upstairs. (Although the stairs were a b&$%^) I guess my first review stays. 4 Stars. Someone get me a Shrimp Dumpling ASAP.
(4)
Brittni D.
If you like mice with your Chinese food, then this is the place to go! After a so-so meal, we saw mice crawling around the floor in the main room while eating our fortune cookies. So not going back!
(1)
Bob R.
Coming from SF my expectations were quite low. However, upon sitting down and getting my first few dishes, I quickly knew that I would be coming back. I enjoyed the spare ribs the most however the sticky rice and sweet tofu were also quite good. I did not like the ha gao or sieu mai here at all. I did like the atmosphere (typical dim sum) and was glad to see that the carts went by relatively frequently.
(4)
Allison V.
I must note that I have never gone after 2pm and each time was on a weekend. Regardless, the experience is always wonderful. I have never had to wait longer than 20 minutes to be seated. Maybe I am lucky, but I have gone about 5 times and this has always been the case. The carts come around quickly and the food is delicious. I get almost anything with chicken or pork, sometimes shrimp. Everything is great! I honestly have not tried something I haven't liked. The best part about this place is you can pick so much food and the price is not bad. I always average around $10 per person and with the amount and variety of food we get that is absolutely an amazing price. Service is a bit hectic though as carts are all over the place. If you have a particular item in mind you may have to wait a while before it arrives. They give you free green tea. If you ask for water, they give it to you in a tiny cup and refills can take a while. This is also not the place to bring picky eaters or vegetarians. A vegetarian came with me once and there wasn't much for him to eat. He did not enjoy the place as much as us. I love their vanilla bean buns. I sometimes go just to buy an order of these to take home.
I've been to this place twice and I really wish I knew how to speak Chinese. Cause almost the entire time, the staff would push their cart to our table and start speaking Chinese on what the dish is. Unfortunately, all I could ask was to let me see the dish and ask "Chicken? Beef? Shrimp?" How unfortunate. Waiting for a seat was no problem. The place was huge. Two floors, lots of tables. Good for big groups. I'll admit, the dim sum was pretty oily but it was a fast way for one to get full. Not sure what the price of each dish was and what it was based on but I know it wasn't that expensive. Pretty affordable. Again, I highly recommend bringing a Chinese friend along who speaks the language to know exactly what you're eating. There were some times where I had no idea what I was eating...all I care was that it tasted good. However, I know what a chicken feet looks like, and that's one thing I choose not to eat out of personal preferences... If you don't have a Chinese friend, make one! Not only are they good people but can definitely help you order the right food at Chinese restaurants!
(2)
Ben F.
This was my first dim sum experience, so keeping that in mind... it was great. The dim sum way of ordering is great - it's harder to waste food, and with two people in our group of four who love almost all Chinese food, everything was eaten. The food itself, of course, was excellent; it's a tossup whether I liked the sticky rice or the shrimp dumplings more. There wasn't a single food item that I didn't like at all. I have yet to compare this to other dim sum locations in Boston, or elsewhere for that matter, but for now, China Pearl has a strong place as a personal favorite that I can give an unqualified recommendation of.
(5)
Heather G.
Edit for note: If you come in the later-hours, say around 2:00, your options will reduce to the same, sad cart coming around with a woman pushing the same plate of garlic shrimp you saw sitting there an hour ago. Because they want to get rid of their cooked-food at these end-of-dim-sum hours, and because there are far fewer patrons eating at 2:00 pm, the carts just stand and wait until you sit down, then come at you one after another in a row...over and over and over. Roughly every 45 seconds, expect to be interrupted with another cart of the same few choices you had 45 seconds ago. The servers/cart pushers become very pushy at this hour, attempting to unload the last of the food for the day. They've even gone so far to lift lids and begin to place things on your table before you've agreed to purchasing them. If you are eating here in the late-afternoon, be prepared to be a bit more aggressive with saying no, and be prepared to have your options significantly reduced to a few stale choices. 3-stars if you come before noon, 2 starts if you go later in the afternoon
(3)
Neil B.
I live in NYC so I have not been to the China Pearl in a while but based on my previous (many) trips there several years ago, as good as dim sum is in NYC, The Pearl makes it best! The dishes I miss the most: The tofu and shrimp and lo bor kow cooked right on the cart and the lotus leaf nor me gai. I see from recent reviews they may have slipped a bit, but I'll keep my memories of the place as a 5-star until I get back to Boston and experience differently! Do prepare to wait a while unless you know someone and it does help to speak at least a little Chinese!
(5)
Kelly W.
Not the best, but decent. We did have a large group later in the night, but the service was not the best. Our waiter was not very patient, and didn't help much. The food was ok, but I've been to better places in Chinatown. The prices were decent, especially for such a large group of college kids splitting the bill. Didn't have the dim sum though, so that might have been better (since that's what they're mostly reviewed for)
(2)
Shao H.
If you have a big group, it is easy to find a place there. The dim sum and tea there is ok.
(3)
douglas h.
Dim Sum Good whenever I want to switch it up for dim sum
(3)
Miguel L.
When I first visited China Pearl, I did so in a state of disbelief. My Chinese partner had told me it had the best roast duck she had in the East Coast, which is hard to conceive coming from a city like Providence (RI) or Fairfax (VA), where the good food scene is... well, below adequate. $40 is what you pay for a full, sliced duck with its skin and delicious steam buns. It is pricier than in the West Coast, but worthed for this savory, tender heaven of culinary enlightenment. This is the best second duck I have ever had, ranking number one in the East Coast. Bravo. Service is neither rude or polite, just functional. They take your order, they bring the food. No bells, no whistles. Straight to the point, which is good food; without looking after every breadcrumb you spill. Thank goodness. The decor is almost industrial. It is an excellent space for large groups, especially business or weddings. When we went there (twice now) the space was almost empty. Do not miss the geometrical layout with the podium at the end of the room, with a fiery dragon of glowing red eyes. Who cares, really? It is the best roast duck around, period.
(4)
Raj L.
One of the worst restaurants i have ever been. Rats and cockroaches everyehere. Not to mention the rude servers that smelled like cigarette smoke. Don't bother with this one. We left within five minutes of being seated.
(1)
Raymond W.
Great word of mouth reviews and an award winner, but only average dim sum in my opinion. When I was a college student, I always thought China Pearl was suppose to be the best, but after about 4-5 visits I've decided that it lags behind Hei La Moon. The restaurant is chaotic during prime dim sum hours especially with people blocking the entrance/exit stair case and old Asian ladies body checking who are twice their weight (me). The dim sum is fairly standard, sometimes hot sometimes not. servers forget to refill water regularly, and slow to return with condiments. Maybe it's more average for an Asian restaurant than I thought.
(3)
ZZZZ T.
Great Hong Kong style dim sum, replete with somewhat surly waitresses who do better showing the dishes than describing them. One needs to love a restaurant that serves up delicious authentic treats within two minutes of seating you; and then has the decency to keep tantalizing you with cartload and cartloads of the stuff. Show up early and bring an appetite. Most dishes come in under $3 a plate, so a feast isn't going to break the bank...
(4)
Janina T.
2 stars solely for the dim sum (I am a huge dim sum fan). Decent selection although I did miss out on the usual tofu fa (sp?). The service was extremely bland and borderline rude. The waiter servicing our table got kind of snippy with me when I asked for an extra chair. He kept asking how many we were...honestly, does it effing matter how many people we are going to have at the table? We're going to have how ever many chairs are currently at the table +1. i thought I was the only Asian who wasn't great at math. Guess there is more just like me out there. We weren't asked for any drink orders and had to flag one of the dim sum tray pushers for waters all around. Then when we went to pay the check, our server dude thought we were trying to gip him out on tip. No, homie, we're giving you your tip in cash. AKA, non taxed. AKA kiss my ass. If you're looking for GREAT dim sum with better service, walk a few minutes down to Essex st. Chau Chow City is where it's at.
(2)
Boi-Linh T.
Do not highly recommend this place at all. It use be great food from large parties for big function to a small little plate for dim sum with your family. Over the last couple years, the restaurant went down hill. First, the quality of people..not enough staff in the restaurant and no friendly service from any staff. Second, the food quantity is small in portion. Where's the portion i use to have? Third, the atmosphere. This restaurant is in the middle of Chinatown. Do I see the sign and elevator working? How can an elderly person come up to attend a party or just for dim sum. Does the restaurant still need business for local people or are they focusing to new customer like foreigner, new immigrants or western only. Please think before you eat this place.
(1)
Jessica L.
Love this place for dim sum, it reminds me of the high quality, wide variety of dim sum I used to get in San Francisco. Less of a wait here versus other dim sum spots in Chinatown.
(4)
Shawn M.
China Pearl is a hot spot for Sunday Dim Sum. Note that it's Hong Kong Dim Sum. I'd been once before and remember having an ok(if not hungover) experience. Then I came with a party of people of Chinese decent. I could tell they weren't fans right away. It's hard to judge any authentic, if not good, regional cuisine as an outsider as we've been Sodiumized and McDonaldized to the umphteenth degree. I didn't think it was good second go around. My Chinese- American friends didn't either. It's dim sum, in the sense that they bring around food. But I got the idea that there were better opportunities out there.
(2)
Jon L.
China Pearl, thank you for your reliable mediocrity. You're never the first place suggested when we decide on a weekend brunch/dim-sum. But, you're a worthy fill-in when other places have waits too long, or when friends over-invite friends-of-friends. Your over-MSG'd dishes don't suck so much that anyone vetoes your candidacy, and you end up being the dim sum-of-last-resort. Thanks for bailing out our group.
(2)
Kim M.
there wasn't much variety to the dim sum menu and the service was the worst. Our dishes arrived one at a time. I'm chinese-american&I went with a group of my american friends. There was definitely a xenophobic vibe from the servers and we only received better service once I started speaking in Mandarin to them. The food is decent but not worth the way the establishment treated us. Definitely a cheap meal though - a group of 7 of us only had to pitch $5 each to pay for the check.
(3)
lily l.
DO NOT come here for dim sum. It was such a horrible dining experience. Came here Monday afternoon for some dim sum since Windsor House and Gourmet Dumpling House was packed and I will have to say I will never come here again. First off the waitor was extremely rude. We had to ask 3 times for water and eventually my husband just got up and went to their service station to get our own. Dim sum was non existant, there were three carts in which I actually had to personally chase down to get any food (which was NOT good or even hot). Other patrons in the restaurant actually got up and left because they got NO FOOD. When it was time to pay we could not get a waitor to add up or tab and had to go to the front and stood there forever before anyone showed up to allow us to pay for our bill. Thank you....for nothing.
(1)
Kitty C.
2nd best dim sum in Boston, classic venue for Asian weddings. They're much more well rounded than hei la moon in terms of dinner and what not.
(4)
Jimmy H.
I think there is some kind of treaty or non-compete clause among all dim sum joint in Chinatown. None of them are not that all great or spectacular. All that tolerance of mediocre food is all forgiven by incredibly cheap price. And China Pearl is another one. As Tom E wrote, it is average dim sum parlor. Some dishes are better than the others. Like pork bun for example. I think that one is the best I ever tasted in Chinatown. Other dishes I liked were : - Shumai - Sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves. Although you have no idea which cost how much as everything written in all abbreviated Chinese, don't sweat it. Unless you are buying 5 Takeru Kobayashi-es(Japanese hot dog eating champ) dim sum, you won't be paying that much. Otherwise, this is still a good place to get with your friends for Sunday brunch for low price. I recommend it. Just don't expect anything spectacular.
(3)
Jeff C.
Pretty good for Dim Sum on the East Coast pretty authentic as well. The prices are pretty reasonable. Very big place excellent in hosting large parties or weddings. Dinner is very good has everything you would want.
(4)
Kim L.
We met some freinds here later in the afternoon for Dim Sum. This was our first experience and all in all it was very authentic I think. We went with someone who knew what to order and that was very helpful as the staff are not so helpful. I am sad to say that she did go have to go to the cart ladies to ask them to come over and provide us food. What we ate was pretty good. The steamed pork buns are good and we all really like the mei shu ( not sure if I spelled that correctly). The fried shrimp wontons were good and generally everything we got was good. It was coming to the end of the time they serve and it was difficult to get the carts to come to our table. The guys with us would have liked to of had more to eat but there came a point that it just wasn't gonna happen. The food was really hot when it came out for the most part. So much so that would recommend letting it sit a minute or two to cool off. They are stingy on giving you water so if you can get a pitcher at the beginning. We never saw a waiter that I know of. Food good, service lacking lots of luster.
(3)
Talisha M.
A-OK but chinese at 3am...jackpot! I am sure at 3am I would have given this place 5 stars for just being open after drinking and dancing all night. But thank god I can handle my liqour & have a pretty good memory...tried soup, egg rolls, szechuan beef, chicken fried rice, and a few other random items. I'm sure the drunken me would go back b/c it hit the spot for what we wanted, but no pearl in that oyster. You can trick me at 3am, but you can't trick my tastebuds at 3am!
(3)
Chelsea W.
Ah-May-Zing!! I know I give a lot of good reviews...but I think that when a place deserves recognition, I need to recognize. China Pearl is incredible. My boyfriend and I went here a couple of days ago when we were visiting Boston and let me just say that I would go back for this food. We ordered the scallion pancakes (best that either of us has ever had), half a roasted duck (delicious), I ordered the Kung Pao Chicken and he ordered the Beef Fried Rice. Out meal was so delicious. So tasty. So much flavor and not greasy at all. The server was so friendly and sweet. Our bill was surprisingly small!! We didn't finish all of our food so we took it all home and had it the following night as leftovers. Just as good the second time around! Love this place!
(5)
Chip S.
We try to stop in to China Pearl for dim sum every time we're in Boston and have never been disappointed. The food is consistently good - and cheap! I think the service is fine.
(4)
Andy H.
I been a faithful follower of China Pearl for years, but recently service there has been disappointing that made me want to retract my previous good reviews. Today, one of the dish we order was fried, and when we got it, it was very cold. When we called the server over and request for a new one, he and she wanted to simply throw in the fryer to reheated. I cook fry food from time to time, and fried food need to be hot to be delicious, other wise it's going to be mushy, or trap too much oil to be delicious. Long story short, THEY TOOK THE FOOD BACK AND PUT IT DIRECTLY ON THE COUNTER, AND PLAN TO GIVE IT TO OTHER CUSTOMERS. This is very disturbing for a frequency diner, and I think this is a poor business practice. I want to inform other diner of this issue, and dine at your own risk. Thank you.
(1)
Jeff D.
I've only been here for dim sum, and this time around was lucky enough to have a Chinese-speaker with us so we got very good service. Stuck mostly to dumplings, though we got a plate of duck that was good, but very oily (because it was duck.) Also the lotus-leaf wrapped rice was great. Had some chunks of pork inside and was probably my favorite dish. As always, my favorites were the various types of buns stuffed with meat. I love those things. Some blurry pictures Dumplings, pork fried rice (not the rice mentioned above) and duck bostonwolf.smugmug.com/p… Duck and shumai bostonwolf.smugmug.com/p… Rolls with shrimp and celery bostonwolf.smugmug.com/p… Pork buns and some sort of dumpling. My friend loved them but I did not try one bostonwolf.smugmug.com/p…
(3)
Marissa A.
We experienced dim sum at China Pearl at its peak. We decided to go on the weekend they celebrated the Chinese New Year. Yikes. The service was 'meh.' And we did sit at a table with 2 random people. However, it WAS the Chinese New Year. The saving grace of the meal was the fried crab claw ball (aka, the delicious death ball). That was some fried goodness. Otherwise, the dim sum was pretty good, standard choices. Not bad, not bad. But not the best either.
(3)
Kevin L.
1 star for their dim sum. Lacking flavor. Super greasy. Found hair in their tripe dish. China Pearl used to be a decent dim sum restaurant. The iconic China Pearl sign and the mirrors in the entrance. That's what I remembered from my childhood. Don't recall any good memories of their dim sum. Now Hei La Moon is king. I rather wait in line there then eat here again. The decor has been the same for years and China pearl is in need of a feng shui update and new chef.
(1)
Ell C.
This restaurant is nothing exceptional but one of the few dim sum spots in Ctown. It served its purpose while I lived in Boston. The decor leaves little to be desired and could probably use deep carpet cleaning among other things. It is what it is....
(2)
Steven D.
There were quite a few options for dim sum in Boston, but I'm sad to say I regret deciding on this place for dim sum. I went with a few friends and we all agreed that everything tasted pretty bland except for the chicken feet and steam tofu skin roll. Service could have been better because I didn't think it was so busy that we had to wave our hands in the air to get some attention. Next time I'm in Boston I'll have to check out other dim sum places first, but then again, I wasn't impressed with Chinatown overall anyway. I'd choose the trash filled corners of my Philly Chinatown over the graffiti filled streets any day. The best thing I saw was a Nissan GT-R :)
(3)
Jenny N.
China Pearl is my parents' old standby dim sum spot, so I've been coming here since I was a wee child. With all the hustle and bustle, it actually reminds me of the teahouses in Hong Kong. In other words, it is grand compared to the other establishments in Chinatown. On weekends, the lines get so out of control that they have to assign you a number and they announce over the microphone when your number comes up. While they have 2 dining levels, if you are a small party, you may get seated at a large table with other patrons. This is done to accommodate all the diners as quicky as possible--and yes, this is how they do it in Hong Kong too! All in all, dining at China Pearl is as much about the experience and atmosphere as it is about the food. I love selecting different dim sum specialities from the rolling carts (they have all the standard offerings like har gow, siu mai, chicken feet, etc.) and I never get tired of watching the ladies fry up my turnip cake right in front of me. I highly recommend the sweet tofu "pudding" (doufu fa), which is served hot with sweet honey syrup. They also have steam tables on each floor, offering dishes like mussels in black bean sauce. If you want noodles or other more substantial fare, you can order off the regular menu to supplement your dim sum. Tip: It's best to go early--no later than 1:30 p.m. because that's when the dim sum is freshest.
(3)
Julie H.
I've been going to China Pearl for years and it never disappoints. They do a good dim sum, a brisk business and have a good choice of items. This time they made a delicious har gao (shrimp dumping), soft shell crab, shrimp and eggplant, tofu and shrimp, and shrimp and veggie dumplings. Their shrimp crepes were a bit too doughy with not enough shrimp. I miss the days of old when their menu also included lobster dumplings and shrimp stuffed mushrooms. I also wish they had more variety in their dumplings--I love shrimp and cilantro dumplings and a good pan fried vegetable dumpling. But for a good solid dim sum experience, China Pearl is a good bet.
(4)
Iv L.
Unfortunately, this place has gone down in years. Needs a bit of help. Dim sum is so so... dinner is just average like.
(2)
Erik F.
This is a large restaurant in the Boston Chinatown. I had a good dim sum lunch here one Sunday while visiting some friends in the city. Didn't leave me with any MSG hangover, good number of choices, our waiter was brusque but the dim sum cart ladies were generally friendly. I prefer Windsor across the street now, but I have to say you all are pretty well off in Boston in the dim sum department. 4 stars not five cause it was solid but nothing makes it really special.
(4)
Fan L.
This place is big, and sometimes it can get very crowded. That is not a problem, but I do not like it when they sit you and forget about you for 20min.... Ok, so after deciding to stand up and look for a waiter myself, the food there was actually pretty good. I would say 7/10 compared to dim sum I had in Hong Kong. The price is pretty good as well.
(3)
Reese D.
Used to be great! Quality has deteriorated over the years. The service used to be horrendous during its heyday. A lot better now, probably because business is slow. Came here with my mum for weekday lunch when we didn't want to wait in line at the overly crowded Hei La Moon. Its Quincy location is way better.
(2)
Ed Y.
4 star to 1. Ive been eating dim sum every week at China Pearl Quincy for the past several years and decided to give the Pearl in Boston a try. Ive been avoiding the Boston restaurant because of the lack of parking and also many friends said the quality has gone down. I hate to say it but i have to agree. The atmosphere is dark and gloomy, they added flower displays and a long paper dragon to the dining area but still its unpleasant. The dim sum is just terrible. Portions are small, dry like its been left out for a while, and just not tasty like their Quincy branch. I think the best chefs were moved to Quincy and the flagship restaurant has been forgotten. I remember back in the day i would have to wait over an hour to get into the Chinatown China Pearl. Today, we just walked right in, no waiting and sat down immediately. That was a bad sign right away. The waiter did not even ask us what kind of tea we wanted and just gave us whatever. What a disappointing brunch we had. I guess my friends were right, everyone is going to Hei La Moon now, thats where the real good dim sum is. Me, i'll stick with the Quincy branch, a little far but worth it. What a shame!!!
(1)
Ellen C.
So we tried to get into the best rated dim sum restaurant across the street (Winsor Cafe), and the wait was 45 minutes. And wound up at this place, as did, I suppose, many others. DO NOT GO HERE! The food is appallingly bad. Examples: the rice casings for dumplings are worth their weight in lead. The fillings are the worst I've ever had. I cannot think of a single dish I thought was more than remotely palatable. The service is lousy, meaning that the poor waitresses are both harassed, don't know English, and have absorbed the culture of the place which is: gloomy, sour, perfunctory. The sour-faced manager didn't seem to give a hoot about the customers. I brought guests from out of town who will never be in Boston again, and I was beyond embarrassed. If ever there is a next time for me and dim sum, I'll look outside of Chinatown - Cambridge, for instance. The "wisdom" that an ethnic restaurant is good if it has a lot of customers of its ethnicity does not hold here. There were many Asian customers, but the food was still gross.
(1)
Chris M.
I've been here for dim sum and for a formal chinese banquet dinner. The food was excellent both times. For dim sum, they not only had the carts going around, but they also had a food bar where you can get more unique items like scallop and vermicelli with fried garlic in a shell, big bowl of clams, and a big plate of mussels. Everything was delicious. The banquet was a wonderful. The event was for an annual Harry Dow Anniversary dinner in recognition of a Suffolk University Law School graduate who dedicated and started community commitment to public service. They had hor d'oeuvres going around as we mingled before food service started. We enjoyed a seven course meal (or was it nine). There was a lot of food and enough for leftovers too. They had a full bar. The ambience is loud and lively, just as you'd expect of a chinese banquet style evening. I would recommend this place to anyone as their food is great!
(5)
T H.
You know, this is place is really Not that great. Considering though, this is the first dim sum i've had in boston so far. My dim sum experiences are from california; specificially LA area and SF area. 1) Those stairs? What the heck its just weird to have to hike a mountain to get there 2) The noise level is beyond normal dim sum i think 3) Carts- or lack thereof. The place was packed on a sunday brunch and there's only 3 carts going around. this one cart kept circling around with the same food. what is wrong with them? 4) Service- again, or lack thereof. 5) Bathroom- from 100 yards away it looks nasty. so didn't want to go in there. 6) Food- very average. Although the price was decent. Will I return. Maybe if there's nothing else better.
(2)
Jang David K.
the service is so terrible. Of course you go here for their well-known dim sum and I gotta say that it's not that bad. But the workers seemed annoyed and angry when I asked questions about what's in their carts. They stare at you and speak Chinese when we keep telling them that we have no idea what they are talking about because we don't speak Chinese!! Because dim sum can get a bit greasy, I always ask for hot oil to spice up my taste buds. Last time I went, I asked for hot oil and they said they don't have it and never had it.....i was like what??? I came here like 10 times in last 3 years....you had it every time....what the heck?? and the waiter goes, would you like some Tabasco?? you serious?? What Chinese restaurant doesn't have hot oil and what Chinese restaurant carries around Tabasco?? Price is decent, carts are limited and service is whack sauce. China Pearl, eat my 3 star.
(3)
Chaos M.
The food there is the southern China style (Cantonese Style). This is not my favorite Chinese style, but it is still very good. But it seems most food is just dessert like dumplings, etc. I don't know how to order the main course.
(4)
Victoria K.
I visited China Pearl for my first visit to Boston's Chinatown (believe it or not). Everything we tried was delicious, and we could barely finish all our food! I love all the different textures and flavors of the various dumplings, even those that appear to be similar. For example, we enjoyed two different steamed shrimp dumplings. One had a somewhat thicker, chewier dough layer, while the other had a thinner skin and was filled with shrimp and scallions, adding the exact amount of mild onion flavor to set these apart from their friends. Both were great, but just different. I also think they did a great job with my favorite dim sum treat, the char siu bao, or steamed bbq pork buns. These were incredibly fluffy and chewy, with the perfectly sweet pork meat inside. Heaven! The only downside is that the whole shrimps in the rice noodles visibly had their poop chutes intact, which I'm told is completely normal at dim sum restaurants. Eww, but I'm sure we all eat shrimp poop without realizing it right? The whole meal cost about $22 (including tea), an incredible deal for the sheer quantity of delicious food (which we couldn't even finish)! Poop and all :)
(4)
Eric S.
The food is decent and the climb up the stairs makes you want to reward yourself with heart stopping greasy food.
(3)
James Y.
Pricey, poor service, had to order multiple times, and the curry was, in the words of the archetypal Australian describing poor beer, rather like making love in a canoe (****ing close to water). Chow mein was runny and lo mein was greasy.
(2)
joe w.
Tried the 9-course dinner except I skipped a couple of dishes at the beginning and end. Mushroom and bok choy dish tasted great. Beef and jelly fish tasted fine as did the soup. Note vegetarian, vegan or kosher options are nothing to write home about. The taro shell dish and jumbo shrimp/crab hybrid fried finger food looked and tasted distinctive. Other dishes are probably attainable elsewhere. Outside of dim sum hours, plenty of underutilized seating capacity is available on multiple floors. I suspect stairs to a second and third floor are not compatible with servicing an aging population. There is an elevator way in the back but this is not the most accessible restaurant. If you have elderly in your group, I would recommend a first floor restaurant or calling ahead to figure out how to access the elevator. Service could have been a little more attentive for example when I dropped a chopstick to offer a replacement. I ate with a previously positioned fork to continue. Address is convenient but the second floor is not easy for many patrons to get to. Overall dinner was an OK experience for a Chinese restaurant.
(3)
Tater M.
Great dim sum, yes if you don't speak/understand Mandarin, you'll have a bit of trouble. (My advice, just be direct, stop hesitating. Don't be rude.) Like other dim sum restaurants, they serve dim sum in these metal carts they push table to table and the waitress will ask you in cantonese/chinese/broken english "Do you like some____?" And she'll open the baskets and show you the items. You can get extra chili from the table near the kitchen. We went there during Mid-autumn festival (accidentally) and as expected it was SUPER BUSY. We (two people) expected that it'll take a god darn long time to get seated (in a restaurant with big round tables) but it actually took only around 10-14 minutes. Really. Bad thing was that once we got seated, it took a long time to get the waiters to notice us and to get us chopsticks and paper and bowls and tea. But hey, it's Chinatown, they know the food is good enough to cover their service. Dim sum was quite wonderful: fried radish cake AWESOME, chicken feet TASTY and SAVORY, rice and meat wrapped in leaves (zhong zi) YUMMY...etc etc. More on service: it was a tad bit difficult to actually get the food you want, pretend chicken feet, we asked around 3 cart pushing waitresses, one huffy puffy waiter, and another nice cart pushing lady before we got a steaming plate of chicken feet. Pretty cool experience! Definitely a must go for Boston Chinese food.
(4)
David C.
The food was decent, but the service was by far the worst I've experienced at any restaurant for the past several years. Every step of the way, we had to flag down servers from placing the order to paying for the bill. The experience was straight out of a Seinfeld.
(1)
Julie A.
Went to China Pearl this past Sunday for the Dim Sum. It was pretty easy to find and they offer validated parking... My experience was okay. The table had extensions to make it form a circle, but the table top wasn't straight. This kept me from getting really comfortable at the table. Most of the cart pushers (I don't know what they're called), didn't speak english, which would have been ok, if they at least understood what the ingredients were in whatever they had. A couple of the people in our party were vegetarian, and it was quite difficult to find something they could eat. For example, if the woman said the dumpling had all vegetable, there'd be a surprise of meat in there! As far as taste goes, I kinda felt like everything I tried was pretty much the same. ... yeah that's all I have to say about that. China Pearl was good, but it left me thinking that next time I'll be trying a new dim sum place.
(3)
Serena L.
I've lived in the Boston area for about 4 years now and this is the first time I've tried China Pearl for dimsum. I usually go to Hei La Moon but I decided to give this place a try. We came here around 2pm on a weekday so we missed the lunch time crowd. It was rather empty. I'm not sure when their dimsum service ends but there were only about 3-4 carts around. The food was not bad at all and satiated my dimsum craving. I came here with a dimsum virgin so she left it to me to order. It was fun describing to her what everything was and she loved everything we had! I'd definitely be back but as an alternative to Hei La Moon.
(3)
Kevin K.
Wow was I disappointed. I've been eating Dim Sum all my life and this place was somewhat insulting, especially when considering the prices they were charging. Each dim sum plate was at least $3, which is insanely high (if you eaten at great dim sum places in Los Angeles $1.50 - $2). Good: "Lo-Bok-Go" Also known as turnip cake. I asked if they can make the dish extra crispy. Which helped the dished a lot, but the dish was ruined because it had "Hoy-Seen" Sauce all over it. Which is not standard at all for this dish. I had to eat around the area that was not contaminated by the sauce. - 3/5 Stars Sieu Mai - 3/ 5 stars Bad: Service: This place had 2-3 floors of dining area and you would think they'll utilize the dim sum carts efficiently, not a chance. I was seated next to a window, and it took forever for the food to come. The carts were circling around the restaurant like how one would play snake on the old Nokia phone. ~ 1.5 / 5 Stars Pork Ribs: Did not contain any Chinese Black beans, lacked a lot of flavor. ~1.5 / 5 Stars Ha Cherng (Shrimp w. Rice Noodle) - Noodles were overcooked and sticky. ~1.5 / 5 Stars Bean Curd w/ Chicken & Mushroom - 1/5 Stars. How can you stuff a huge piece of dried chicken in this dish? I do not recommend this place.
(2)
Tina K.
So, this was my first dim-sum experience and I did not like it at ALL. The food was terrible. I felt like everything was drenched in oil, and was sitting out in the open for days. Everything was just soaked in oil and I didn't enjoy the food at all. The only dish I thought was decent was the chicken feet, but that was it. I don't suggest going to China Pearl, especially if it's your first dim-sum experience. It will definitely ruin it---sorry.
(1)
Hank C.
Here for a wedding, so I'll just describe the multiple-course meal as served, as I don't know if the entertainment was provided by the restaurant at all. First course: Cold cuts of beef heart, jellyfish, hot BBQ pork, hot fried pork, and hot friend chicken. The pork and chicken fried were crisp and fresh, the jellyfish regular with sesame oil, and the beef heart was delicious with a bit of soy sauce. Best part of the dish: the BBQ pork was juicy, and well marinated. All at the table agreed it was the best part. Second course: Fried crab claw balls. Pretty standard. Third course: Seafood in a bird's nest. The birds nest.. not so much a taste of taro at all, just flour crisply fried. Best part - the inside, where strips of squid, mushrooms, vegetables, shrimp, scallops, and alabone were delicately presented. Excellent taste. Fourth course: Shark fin soup. A little bit shredded, but not bad. Fifth course: Peking chicken with shrimp chips. Tasty, although the white meat was a bit dry. Sixth course: Lobster, broken up and sauteed with green onions. Excellent taste of the sauce, although a tad bit overcooked with the lobster meat. Seventh course: Abalone, round mushroom, sea cucumber and fish stomach. Excellent taste, and nice and thick, but not oily, sauce to top off on top of some sauteed cabbage. Eighth course: Fish in soy sauce, ginger, and scallions. Didn't catch the name (he mentioned it to someone) but was delicious - waiter removed all the meat for us and kept it neatly on the plate in whole pieces for us to devour. My favorite dish of the night. Ninth & tenth dishes - noodles and fried rice, of which I only tasted, not ate out of. I never save room for these dishes, and I was unsurprised at the noodles and the shrimp fried rice (I'm not really a fan of either, but they were better than average). Dessert: Red bean soup with lotus seeds. Excellent sweet to finish the night. Wedding cake - well, you won't get this served, but overall a beautifully arranged and massive dinner. When I get the chance, we'll try some of the other dishes on a non-wedding night! Price is indicative of what I think it would be if you ordered a couple of appetizers and entrees for two people, not for the wedding meal. Second floor is not easily accessible, though.
(4)
Josephine L.
China Pearl is a solid Cantonese dim sum place with all the standard staples like shrimp dumplings and shumai (I don't know how to translate that). As other reviewers have noted, there aren't many options for great dim sum in Boston (zero if I'm comparing Boston to other great, metropolitan cities), but China Pearl is decent especially with the criminally low prices. Best dish is probably the beef tripe.
(4)
Ashley J.
Man I love Dim Sum. And I seriously love China Pearl. When we first moved to Boston we were Hei La Moon fans (which our fellow yelpers helped us find), and yes, Hei La Moon is great too. China Pearl has all the delicious food that Hei La Moon has - but I think it might be even better. Plus, the service here is actually friendly and helpful. And the biggest reason this place gets 4 stars? Yesterday we had family in town and after 6 of us barrelled through too many dishes to count, the final tab was $10 a person. Awesome!
(4)
Shawn L.
In a nutshell: The food is great, the service is lacking. China Pearl is actually two different restaurants, downstairs is a small diner, upstairs is a huge Dim Sum hall (the stairs are to the right of the main restaurant). My girlfriend and I went to the Dim Sum hall on one of our first weeks in Boston with all of our friends. It was a standard Dim Sum time, great! We had a bit of a bad vibe when my girlfriend (who is a Beijing native) was told by one of the cart-ladies that her Mandarin pronunciation was so bad that they could not understand her! But we shrugged it off as a one time thing. So, when I had two friends in town and they wanted to grab a bite in Chinatown I suggested we try the downstairs China Pearl diner. The food was also very good (I highly suggest Buddha's Paradise - or maybe it was Buddhists Paradise). We had a great time and then we got the bill. One of my friends payed it with card and we were about to leave when the waiter stops us because my friend forgot to sign the receipt (oops) and to complain that we haven't tipped enough (what!). He says that my friend hasn't even tipped 10%, when 15% is standard. Okay, so maybe my friend made a mistake, less than 10% is a pretty small tip, etc. etc. But that isn't the end of it. After my friend changes his tip, the waiter comes back with a calculator and computes the percentage before telling us that it is okay! Now, I understand that waiting tables can be a tough living and that they depend on tips for a reasonable portion of their income and I always try to give 15-20% for good service. But I have never seen a waiter try to enforce such a tipping policy before, let alone bring over a calculator to approve our tip. So, in the end I would say, 4 star food, 2 star service.
(3)
Doug P.
The food is fine here, don't get me wrong. But I don't think the the buzz about dim sum isn't all its hyped up to be. I think their are a few spots in chinatown that you may find to be a little better
(3)
Danielle F.
Came here on Sunday morning for Chinese New Year. Our group had a blast, though we definitely benefited by making reservations. When we left around 1:30, the line was down the stairs and out the door. Food wise, the turnip cake with hoisin sauce was a nice surprise. The shrimp dumplings were awesome!
(4)
Jo-Anna L.
I was quite pleased with China Pearl. I came here around noon-time on a Saturday. Waited about 5 minutes for a seat, the place was packed. The first plate of dumplings we grabbed were kind of luke warm, but otherwise, tasted fine. Everything after that was perfect temperature. I was a big fan of the steamed buns (but was sad they didn't come by until the end of the meal when we were full). I was very pleased with the variety, there was a lot I wanted to try, but with only two people, you can only eat so much. Judging from other comments left here, I wouldn't come late in the day. Remember that Dim Sum is brunch food, so the time to get the freshest food would be around brunch time on a weekend.
(4)
The Throwin S.
I've been coming here regularly for a decade. Overall, it seems to be on the decline. The crowds are much smaller. The food, less fresh. I have always been a fan of their beef tripe at the a la carte table (where you always find snails, clams, and salt+pepper shrimp. On my last 3 visits, the tripe was absolutely terrible. They crowded my bowl with turnip and there were fewer than 3 pieces of tender tripe-- 3 times in a row. Do I have anything good to say? Their sweet tofu cart is delicious and a kid-favorite. The Chinese broccoli is usually fresh enough. The pork buns and fried turnip cakes, which are difficult to mess up, are good enough. It's time to find a new place for dim sum in China town.
(3)
Todd C.
The most expensive and least impressive (taste, variety) dim sum I've ever had. In fairness, I was seated in a part of the restaurant that seemed to only get a small portion of the service/selection afforded the main part of the restaurant.
(2)
Josiah V.
Great food, beautiful place. The tea is light and fresh and the dim sum is 3.95 a dish. Three pork buns have me almost full and the other reviews are right they're sweet and delicious
(5)
Arcadian B.
Went in on a Sunday afternoon and my god this place needs some renovations especially the exterior It's a pretty big place but the service was lousy as most the servers were chatting with each other Food was decent and hot surprisingly
(3)
Ellie W.
Dim Sum. Yum Cha. Whatever you call it, you can really only judge it relative to what's available in the area...No, this is no New York dim sum. Or the kind you can get in Hong Kong. And it sure as heck ain't your momma's dim sum. The food here is ok, and on par with most in Beantown. They've got all your standards--ha gau, shu mai, pork buns--yet I prefer Hei La Moon over China Pearl. And yea, it's a bit dingy--question is, what Chinatown restaurant isn't?--so I won't take points off for that. Whatever doesn't kill you only makes your stomach lining stronger, ya? So if one afternoon, you and 10 friends find yourselves wandering the mean streets of Chinatown after a band of dim sum savvy Chinese ladies ran you over and secured their tables (DIM SUM = aggressive driver mentality needed) at all other restaurants, China Pearl isn't a bad choice.
(3)
Cecily G.
Sunday brunch time: we were seated immediately, they were jammed, plenty of carts, the food was as good as any traditional dim sum - all fresh, nothing new, but all delicious. The staff is polite, despite some reports that non-Chinese were not treated well. The spicy fried soft-shell crab was awesome, we actually got two. Ditto the head on prawns and clams with black bean sauce, and the stuffed shiitake mushrooms. My 4-year-old wanted the 'jello', that would be my only pass, not so sure about that. Everything else was very good. We left STUFFED.
(4)
Sanny K.
I only come here with my boyfriend. Reason being...he speaks chinese, I don't. Lol. I noticed that we are served a lot quicker and they are much nicer to him. Having come here without him before, they were extremely slow and sometimes rude. Now the food...some of it is really good and some can actually get you sick. I advise that you stay away from the eggplant stuffed with shrimp. It did not taste too good and last time we had it, we visited the porcelain gods numerous times in one day. Not a great feeling... However, majority of the food is actually pretty good. We love the dumplings, shumai, Cheung fun, char siu buns, the chicken feet and the steamed pork buns. It's also not too pricy.
(3)
Julia C.
This used to be one of my two favourite dim sum haunts, along with Hei La Moon. Whenever I wanted dim sum in Chinatown, I'd used have to toss a coin to decide since both were equally good. Not anymore. Last weekend I went back and was less than impressed with the food. We sat down to eat at 12pm; the same carts just kept going by over and over again, and it was extremely slim pickings. Out of desperation, we also made the mistake of picking out a vegetable and pork dumplings, supposedly "VERY DELICIOUS!" according to the cart-pushing lady. This dumpling was the most horrendous piece of food I've ever eaten -- filled with disturbingly crunchy, some kind of gooey liquid, mysterious vegetable particles, and chock full of cilantro. NO. Yuck. The couple other pork dumplings we picked out were also stuffed full of cilantro and pretty unappetizing. Even my dining pal, who adores cilantro, refused to eat more than a bite of those. The har gow and shumai tasted super starchy and gross, like they've been sitting in the steamer for way too long; the glutinous dough on the har gow was disintegrating. The chive and shrimp dumplings and the flat rice noodle rolls, which are pretty standard dim sum fare, were nowhere to be found. Also, we found a strange $7 charge in the "Extras" field on our bill that wasn't drinks, tea, or special plates. I would've asked about it, except the waiters had no interest in helping us once they've added up our check. Psh. Maybe I caught them on an off-day, but knowing that I can get reliable, consistent quality at Hei La Moon, I'd be less likely to coming back to China Pearl over there.
(2)
Vina A.
So for many months I was lamenting about the sad state of Chinese food in Boston (Please send me your recommendations!) and risk offending people when I tell them about my bad experience at the Gourmet Dumpling House. So yesterday some kind friends took us to China Pearl to have some dim sum and really, it was not that bad. I felt at home with the Chinese banquet decor and hot steam carts. The food was nothing outstanding but decent, pretty decent, yup. The Good: Steamed Shrimp glass dumpling - solid. go ahead and order it Sticky Rice - has chicken and mushrooms. pretty tasty Veggies - hard to get this wrong. Soft tofu - slurpy yumminess The Meh to the Bad: Shumai - standard. i'm not a fan so... Pork ribs - standard, nothing great or particularly good about it. Taro thing - why do they serve it cold all the time? not tasty when cold people. not tasty. Turnip cake - not enough turnip, too much flour... not good. Steamed roast pork bun - too sweet. a little sad looking. do not get. Nothing so great but nothing so bad that I spit it out.. but then again, maybe me standards are lowered for chinatown... sorry. hope this is helpful!
(2)
Sara V.
We came here for dim sum while in town for our anniversary. We found it on Yelp and since we were staying down the block, decided to give it a try. It did not disappoint! The BBQ pork buns were sweet, savory, fluffy, and divine. The shumai were little pockets of yummy. The carts came fast and furious (thank goodness... we were starving), but regular service left a little to be desired (aka standard for most dim sum places). On top of the carts, they have a buffet of items as well. I'm not sure what was in there.... all I know is my hubs walked back saying "yeah you don't eat that." Two things that rubbed me the wrong way: 1.) The girls PUSHED their items. I know they always do that, but I felt these women went above and beyond. I am trying to eat... not argue why I don't want your steamed dumplings. 2.) We were kicked out of our table! Granted, I'd had the check on the table.... but please don't rush me. We still had food on our plates. They came by with fresh plates, chopsticks, and napkins. I get it. Turn around is off the hizzy on a Sunday morning Dim Sum restaurant, but let me finish my meal darnit. China Pearl gets crowded fast. Thank goodness they have a 2nd floor. I recommend arriving by 10A to have a seat. Otherwise, you'll be waiting awhile. We'll definitely come back, but after we try a few other places in the area. The food is super tasty, don't get me wrong, but I want to try Hei La and Empire Garden!
(4)
Ann K.
Made our annual visit to China Pearl while in town for the NE Restaurant show and we were not disappointed. I was a little worried after reading some recent reviews but it was exactly as I remember from last year. We got lucky that the cart with the baked pork buns was at our table as we were seated so we started off with my personal favorite. We went on to sticky rice that was really good along with a couple type of dumplings and shumai. Carts were moving quickly today so we were in and out in plenty of time for my husband to go setup for the show! Looking forward to next year's visit!
(4)
Abby L.
Ew, this place was gross! We went to a wedding banquet here and it was just awful. The service was horrendous, like they would roll their eyes at us when we dared to ask for water. The food was just disgusting. There wasn't really anything palatable, I would never go back.
(1)
Catherine W.
Went for an early morning dim sum, around 9am. We were seated right away. All the dim sum choices tasted great, including the specialty items in the small side buffet (beef brisket, very good). This place still holds up after all these years.
(4)
David W.
You have to climb up some tight stairs to get to this place. Keep this in mind if you're coming with your grandparents. The dim-sum was so-so. Maybe it's not a thing in Boston, but the people pushing the carts should carry cooking scissors like they do in Cali. We had 10 people sitting to a table and it was such a pain sharing all the food. It was sad cause the adults would be nice and say "it's ok" just to avoid the pain of breaking dim-sum apart with chop sticks. All the kids and seniors ate, I don't they they did....=/
(3)
Stephie W.
What a disappointment for weekend brunch. I came here with a group of 9 for dim sum on a Sunday. We were seated immediately (much to the chagrin of a bunch of customers who'd arrived before we did). However, it was next to impossible to flag down the carts, dishes were served cold, and we spent a half hour having run out of water, tea, and food at our table before deciding to leave. At the end, I was hungry for more food...and vengeance. tl;dr: The subpar service here will ruin your appetite. Try Chau Chow City or Empire Garden for dim sum instead.
(1)
Nina N.
Did you know they charged for tea? 50 cent per person for a pot of tea, but you get refills so thank goodness. Just tip the top of the tea pot and a waiter will come and refill your tea pot. Anyways, my favorite tea is chrysanthemum tea and I would ask that sugar be added to it. If you don't ask when you are seated then you will get the cheap tea. Other than the condiments already on the table, soy sauce, red chili paste and hot mustard, you can also ask for tobasco sauce. I prefer the red chili paste though. Here is what I normally eat and recommend. Scary Chicken Feet- Lol. I added the "scary" part because since I was little, I was told that young children should not eat chicken feet otherwise our hands would shake and my father would do a very impressive tremble to ward my siblings and I away from the plate of chicken feet. When I grew older, my father confessed that it was something that adults said to scare the children and so that they can have the chicken feet all to themselves. Lol. China Pearl makes this dish pretty well. If done perfectly, the skin should slide off of the bones, it should be soft and very flavorful. It should be covered in a brown sauce. Don't go for the pale white stuff because that is NOT what I am talking about. Shrimp dumplings (ha cao) and lobster dumplings (no more lobster dumplings on menu): I know some review writers complain that some of the food is very bland, well, some are supposed to be. And that's why there is a dipping sauce. The lobster dumpling is pretty flavorful by itself but you can add a little extra saltiness by dipping them in soy sauce. I love to mix in my soy sauce a little of the chili paste. You know, the red sauce next t o the yellow one. Shu mai- like a pork and shrimp dumpling, goes into the chili paste. I like spicy, you can probably guess that right? This is a must in all dim sum meal. It's just the way I do things. Hmm. Not sure what to call this one. It's a shrimp rice roll. Comes in three rolls with shrimp wrapped inside. I usually ask for extra sauce. This shrimp version of this dish is better than the beef one. The bread roll version with the scallions and cilantros is also very good. I'd eat that too. Tripe with ginger and scallion- this one is really good alone for the first few bites so you know what it is supposed to taste like then I would dip it in the red chili paste. I just love the heat from the ginger in this dish. Chili and salted shrimp- with heads attached! Did you know that shrimps with their heads taste sweeter than ones without their heads attached? You get this from the food bar. Skip the calamari. Snails in black bean or oyster sauce and clams in oyster sauce also from food bar. Go, get up and check it out. Bring your slip. You suck the snail out. Forget the toothpick. You will be there forever. Pork or beef intestine dish, like a stew. You get this from the food bar. When you see it you will know what I am talking about. Do not confuse with the condensed pig blood stew which is also good too. Other dishes that are pretty good include the rice congee. I love the chicken one, but I also love the egg one too. Egg one is a bit unique. You might find it taste a bit rotten. Lol, because it is sort of. Sticky rice dishes, the rice plate with the clear up side down glass bowl on top of the brown sticky friend rice. Fried tofu with shrimp paste is also very yummy comes with the lady with the cart with tofu cooking in this brown liquid sauce. Crispy fried taro something dish (lol) in the fried food cart and also good from there is the shrimp and leek fried dumpling. Hot tofu in sweet ginger syrup is the best desert to end the meal with. It comes with the lady pushing a cart with a small barrel and a pitcher of yellow lyrcorice sauce. She scoops it out and pours the syrup over the tofu for you. I would skip all of the dim sum noodle dishes served here and all of the other fried rice dishes. They are bland and oily. Gross. Now use your condiments wisely. And of course, see my pictures. :)
(4)
Bailey Z.
You can always rely on a Chinese restaurant to be open on Thanksgiving day. We came here in the morning with my friend's family to satisfy my dim sum cravings. The food was average at best, but when you live in Vermont, beggars can't be choosers. We had the usual meal filled with shu mai, hao gao, and my obligatory xiao long bao. I was very disappointed by most of their dumpling dishes because the dumpling skin was very mushy and overcooked. It broke apart upon picking them up. The xiao long baos were some of the worst I've had. There was no soup at all, the skin was thick and tough, and the pork stuffing was mushy. The beef noodles were tasteless and the beef was tough to chew. I did enjoy a few things. The fried crab balls were exceptionally good - fried to a golden brown crisp and filled with crab flavor. The Hong Kong pan-fried noodles were also good and tasted much better compared to the beef noodles. I've heard that Boston isn't that great for dim sum so my expectations were low, but thinking of home food made me realize that the Chinese food here leaves much to be desired.
(2)
Tina W.
its suppposed to be 3 star but they have varies of food and some of them are delicious so much so legitly it's gonna be a four star thing. wait, dont read comment, cuz its pretty much confusing
(4)
Stephanie L.
A glass of tea in my hand while I'm waiting for the rest of my group to arrive? Why thanks so much China Pearl! This was my first experience when walking in the door, and set the tone for the whole visit. We had a group of about a dozen, but this was no problem with the large tables in the back of the restaurant. We arrived at 11 am, so the carts were full and rotating around the restaurant filled with food and passing by all tables often. Where we sat was on a platform in the back, and I have to give you a warning about this location. Obviously, the carts can not traverse the step to make it up on the platform. Not a big problem, but what it did mean was that the person sitting closest to the step was responsible for all of our food acquisition. (Normally it is a more democratic process when carts can approach from any side of the table.) Next time, I'll opt for a table on the main floor so the food can approach from all sides. The food itself was fantastic, with the more "adventurous" dishes like tripe and chicken feet, classics ranging from all variety of dumplings to the bbq filled sweet buns, and delicious finishers in a tasty mango pudding. I'm leaving off about 20 of the other plates that came to our table because I honestly have no idea what they are called, but assure you they were all well prepared and yummy! (Veggies, fried things, seafood, a tapioca looking soup, etc.) Tea was refilled regularly, as were waters, and our plates were constantly cleared from and replenished to the tables. We all finished up our 90 minute visit with full bellies and barely a dent in the wallet. (About $15/ person including tip!) I highly recommend going with a large group so you can try a wide variety of dishes, but also saw plenty of tables of 2 or 4, so you can enjoy the experience either way.
(4)
Angel C.
I had my first dim sum experience here, and it was a mind-blowing experience. Never had I had so many little morsels, all delicious, in one meal, brought to me in little carts! And for under $15! That day, some 12 or so years ago, I became a dim sum addict. If you've never had dim sum and are adventurous, try it all, and don't worry about what you're eating. The descriptions don't do the flavors justice. Just try it! That's my dim sum motto. This is one of the better dim sum places in Boston, and the service has actually gotten friendlier through the years.
(4)
Ashley G.
Went here once and it was awful. Ordered a scorpion bowl and there was a fly in it. After that of course the waiter was suddenly nice to me, but before I told him there was a fly in my drink he was really rude. Would never go back there. Not to mention, the food was absolutely horrible! And I hardly ate out of fear of bugs in my food. Don't even know how this place gets 3 stars.
(1)
Eric F.
Had a chance to try dinner here for a school function and it was very average. Our party ordered a variety of dishes including shrimp pan-fried noodles, lemon chicken on a sizzling plate, lemon duck on a sizzling plate, kung pao chicken, mu shu beef, clams with black bean sauce, spicy scallops with vegetables, and hong siu ban nam bo (fried fish, braised tofu, meat, and assorted vegetables in a clay pot). Only the kung pao chicken stood out in the slightest and, funny enough, that and the mango pudding dessert were the highlights of the meal...XD Bottom line? If you want good quality Hong Kong cuisine, go elsewhere.
(2)
Ambrose C.
I used to go to this restaurant with my family often for dim sum when I was little. Today, I don't go here as often, because I think the food has declined somewhat in quality, but it's not a bad choice in terms of dim sum. I recently went with a party of approximately 13 people and we each paid about $9 including tax and tip for our bill. Here are some of the dishes that we had ordered: Siu Mai - Loosely means "cook and sell" in Cantonese Chinese. One dish has 4 pieces. I guess it was called that because it was a popular street food and the name stuck. Also known as the "Pork and Shrimp Dumpling". Each dish has four pieces. One of the first dishes that I try to see if the dim sum is good. Ha Gau - Literally means "shrimp dumpling" in Cantonese Chinese. Each dish has four pieces. Another one of the dishes that I try to see if the dim sum is good. Zha Leung Cheung Fun - Zha literally means "to fry". Leung means "two/pair". This consists of Yau Zha Gwai wrapped in a rice noodle roll. Yau Zha Gwai is like a fried dough. Also known as the "Chinese Fried Dough in Rice Noodle". Cha Siu Bau - Loosely means "roasted pork bun". Each dish has three pieces. Dan Taat - Dan means "egg" while Taat is an English loanword for "tart". Also known as the "Egg Tart". Each dish has three pieces. Lo Mai Gai - Loosely means "Glutinous rice chicken". This consists of a large sticky rice ball mixed with chopped up mushrooms, tiny bits of chicken, wrapped up in a moist lotus leaf. One dish has two wrapped packets. This is also known as the "Rice wrapped in a lotus leaf wrap". Lo Bak Go - "Lo Bak" can mean "turnip" or "daikon". "Go" means cake. This consists of fried slices of . Each dish has three large slices. This is also known as the "Turnip Cake". The Siu Mai and the Ha Gau were okay, decent at the best. The Zha Leung Cheung Fun was also okay, decent at the best. I don't think it is good compared to Winsor Dim Sum Cafe's version across the street. The Dan Taat was also okay. The Cha Siu Bau was decent, but it was different. Instead of the traditional white steamed bun, it was in a baked bun. The Lo Mai Gai was decent, but the girl next to me who also ate it thought it was strangely sweet, which is an unusual taste for a Lo Mai Gai. Overall, all the dishes were just okay, and somewhat greasy. I was really hungry at the time, and the dishes did their job in keeping my belly full. I have been here twice for company banquets arranged by the Chinese Professionals Network, and the food was also okay as well, particularly the fried rice and the lo mein noodles. The food overall is okay, nothing really spectacular from what I have eaten so far, dim sum or banquets but will only come back if a majority of my friends or family really want to.
(3)
Adam A.
Stopped in for lunch (2 PM) and was the only person in the establishment. Ordered some standard General Gaus to go. C..C- general gaus...fatty chicken, not enough sauce, served w white rice and 2 pieces of broccoli. I have had plenty of General Gaus in CTown and this was definitely the worst. Considering that this place is open later than most others, I think the cuisine is for those who are already hammered. Might give it a try when I'm blackout...I will probably find the food more appetizing.
(2)
Melissa C.
Myself and 8 other friends enjoyed a wonderful Dim Sum Sunday brunch here yesterday. The wait: It was a bit crowded at the hostess stand, but we didn't have to wait long since I had reserved a table in advance. My total wait was only about 5 minutes. The place is large, so despite being busy, it wasn't super-loud and hard to have a conversation with my friends. The service: The service was very good. The waitstaff were very pleasant and accommodating. Food presentation: The food is pushed around on carts and presented at table-side. There are premium-dishes available at a salad-bar-like display at one end of the restaurant. The lost-star: I did have to take a star off of my 5-star rating due to the fact that we had to wait until well after our meal began for water to be brought over, and it wasn't until we sought out someone and asked for it. Also, it wasn't refilled for us without prompting. When eating lots of salty Chinese food, lots of water is a necessity. Cost: We seemed to have ordered a lot of food and even got a few premium dishes. But our meal total was very reasonable at only $15 / person including tip.
(4)
Wei W.
This place ranks as a "better" on my Dim Sum list - it doesn't make the "best" ranking because of the watered down tea and occasional lapse in service, but the food isn't so bad that it deserves a "good" or "poor". If I could give 3.5 stars, I would. It definitely helps to speak Cantonese here; otherwise, pointing at something that looks appetizing may not be the wisest of choices. I often take large groups of people who have never had dim sum to China Pearl because of the space, the experience, and the food. With two floors of spaciousness, you can easily fit 30 people at 3 tables. (Making sure they know what they want is another story.) The food, while it isn't the same as dim sum in NYC, is decent compared to other places in Chinatown. I'm a big fan of the shrimp dumplings, seafood dumplings, roast pork buns, clams in black bean sauce, and beef wrapped with flat noodles ("chern fun" for the Chinese). Their dinner banquet options aren't bad either, if you're there for a wedding banquet or New Year's celebration. Don't forget to take the check to the head server for price calculation at the end of your meal. Side note: it's fantastic that the cashier speaks English.
(4)
Big S.
we always come here on xmas for dim sum. they bring food out very quickly and its a fun environment for the holiday. we do always leave satisfied and full and the food is great. all different dumplings, the shrimp are the best. they have good shumai. there could be more greens, but you can get them at the steam table. the language barrier can be an issue at times and occasionally its hard to find something specific. we did wait today for sesame fried balls as the carts coming by without them. overall good place, would try some others as well.
(4)
Skye G.
China Pearl is still my family favorite for Dim Sum. I love the hot bar where I can go up and get a plate of mussels, clams, or snails (yes and yum) in a rich brown bean sauce. They have great Dim Sum and it is always busy so I either go early between 9-10 before the actual kitchen is open for menu items (@11) or later after the rush. If you go too late things are slim. Dim Sim ends around 3 pm. I am not a fan of this place for dinner or meals strictly Dim Sum. It is also better to go, if you can, with a group so you can order an assortment of items and taste a few different things. They stamp your menu ticket when you order and total it up in the end. There are small, medium, and large plates and you get stamped according to the size of the dish. If you are a small party then be prepared to sit at a large table with others you don't know. It is common practice to fit everyone in to eat - if there is a seat - fill it.
(4)
Amanda B.
Came here with two friends on a Sunday for Dim Sum. We got there around 10 so we were able to sit right away. The sticky rice is loaded with goodness. We were all huge fans of the pork bun as well as the donuts which were like sugar coated pop overs. So yummy.
(4)
Nikhil P.
At the end of our meal a mouse skirted past the floor of the table beside us. Told the waiter and he shooed it away. Then it came back. So I shooed it away. Then it ran across the floor a few tables away from us. Then we left. Need I say more? Eat at your own risk.
(1)
John R.
My last two visits for dinner and then Dim Sum were not the China Pearl I used to know. Dinner was acceptable but just average and I ordered fairly standard dishes for this restaurant. The Dim Sum was about 1:30 on a Sunday and that shouldn't not be that late and there were no carts for like almost 20 minutes and when the waiter was putting a dish of spare ribs on the table, he snapped at my brother's wife in Chinese about not putting the bones on the table. I still really like the Quincy location and I am disappointed that this place is no longer the great place I used to know. Lo Mai Gai still good.
(2)
Natsuki K.
Woulda given this place 4 if it wasn't for their rude attitude. The waiter was really chill, food was great, dark&stormy was tasty. However, after we paid the check, they wouldn't let us leave because the amount we paid "not enough". We definitely paid the amount plus tax, and each of gave an average of 10-13% tip. I guess they wanted 20? got a bit too greedy..... in short, never going again .
(2)
Ben F.
This was my first dim sum experience, so keeping that in mind... it was great. The dim sum way of ordering is great - it's harder to waste food, and with two people in our group of four who love almost all Chinese food, everything was eaten. The food itself, of course, was excellent; it's a tossup whether I liked the sticky rice or the shrimp dumplings more. There wasn't a single food item that I didn't like at all. I have yet to compare this to other dim sum locations in Boston, or elsewhere for that matter, but for now, China Pearl has a strong place as a personal favorite that I can give an unqualified recommendation of.
(5)
Jeremy B.
Its maddening. The options within these few city blocks continue to surprise me, after eating my way around here for 15 years. One thing that I always miss about Boston's Chinatown is that a certain level of authenticity and quality seem to be prerequisites for success. In any other shitty New England town, or even the Chinatowns of Manhattan and Montreal, for that matter, many of the "staple" restaurants seem to rest on their stale, gooey, uninspired laurels, from my experiences. Boston--hell no. There is a fierce, yet understated fight--I mean, this is eastern and southern Chinese cuisines we're talking about, not Sichuanese hot pot-- for the best dim sum and the best Xiao long bao. As of right now, China Pearl has become my front runner. I can't, for the life of me, predict how and when all of the variables align for a stellar dim sum. It was Friday, barely noon. Every cart rolled by, every pork morsel fresh, every fried taro thing crispy. The things I call "kaya bao", egg/coconut custard in a steamed bun (but not the kaya bao that use pandan leaf in Malaysia/Singapore), were almost as good as the Nonya versions. The tofu skin stuffed with who-cares-unless-you-are-allergic-to-something stuff was really well executed; tightly wound bundles in a lightly thickened chicken broth. But what surprised me most: these black pepper pan fried dumplings, perfectly seasoned with black pepper, pork and scallions, in a crisp yet moist dumpling, and a ginger/vinegar dipping sauce on the side. Chinatown is oftentimes my own personal utopia. I've spent my life trying to understand it, how and why it survives as a culture both similar to its ancestral land and quite distinct. One shared characteristic: this kind of food is for families, working people , meant to eat together, and to be enjoy; and the standards are of the utmost importance. (When you go into a grocery store in China, watch: the old folks will be inspecting each and every morsel of food that goes into the basket, because compromised ingredients will not be tolerated). And eating this food must be affordable. The folks in Chinatown (unlike those in other, more storied ethnic enclaves) aren't going to subtly try to empty your bank account for subpar crap, or try to wow you with the newest gimmicky chef's foie gras baozi or beef tartar jiaozi, or some other nonsense. "Let's *elevate* cheap, simple, well balanced 'ethnic' food so we can *elevate* our income". Concept dining. Sure, but most Asian dining "concepts", like dim sum and hot pot, are cheaper, tastier, and win, hands down, over the new world imitators.
(4)
Timi C.
Visited on a Saturday afternoon when the wait across the street at Winsor was 30 minutes. I must admit that I've been spoiled with amazing dimsum growing up in Flushing, NY, but China Pearl really gave me something to compare it to. Upon arrival, we were directed upstairs to an unexpectedly huge dining hall. There were carts going around with fresh dishes, a much appreciated detail. We got some pretty standard dishes that were all very fresh and delicious. The one surprise was that the chive dumplings had shrimp in them. I'm mildly allergic to shrimp, but just bewarned that they tend to add shrimp as filler in some dishes when they're low on some other ingredients (ie. chives). The bill came out to about $17 for the two of us, a very reasonable price. I will definitely be back in the future!
(4)
Judy L.
Came here for a club function, so let me say it in the beginning, I don't know how much everything cost because it was on the club's bill. Woohoo! We were seated on the 3rd level of the restaurant, which appeared to be reserved only for large groups like us since the dim sum carts don't go up to the 3rd floor. Instead, they just take all the dishes up, put them in the front, and then we go and grab whichever ones we wanted. It was an interesting system, but it worked! The food overall was pretty good, but me, perhaps being a bit too spoiled with outstanding dim sum places in California, did not find this place worthy of 4 stars, not yet. Dishes I'd recommend: egg tart, fried taro dumpling thing, and shrimp dumpling.
(3)
Laura B.
I'm hesitant to say "I've had better" when this was my first legitimate Sunday brunch dim sum experience ever, but something tells me somewhere's gotta be better than this place. On first glance, I was very excited about this place: the steep staircase/potential death trap, the hall of mirrors, the dozens of people waiting to get in...I anticipated a dim sum fun-house extravaganza. Our group of 12 came out to $11 a head, although I will say we did a pretty solid job of trying every identifiable food. That said, I ate many things I cannot aptly describe, mostly in shapes I would consider "round." Shrimp dumplings were good, and the egg custard dessert-type pastries were standouts. Anything with pork in it was a little shady (even though historically I LOVE char siu bao). What knocks the stars off for me: the mirrors next to our table severely needed a windexing. The service was just generally unfriendly/pleasant, fortunately I was with a large group of friends. I was fine with the weak descriptions of the food, but I feel like Sunday brunches are supposed to be somewhat genial. I don't need to have dim sum slung at me in the same way I would expect a used car to be. Point being, if you're someone who eats out for ambiance in addition to food (and are going out solo or with only your +1), eat elsewhere. If you're hungry, pressed for time, and with a large group, eat at China Pearl. It's definitely an experience.
(3)
Kim K.
Here's the thing about Dim Sum: the places are all sketchy, the service sucks, you barely know what exactly it is that you're eating, and you walk out feeling MSGed, sodium overloaded, and like you need a 5 hour nap. All of that said, at the right place with an great group of friends, Dim Sum is awesome. China Pearl is good, I prefer Chau Chow City I think though. Sesame and pork buns, YES PLEASE. Endpoint: I can take or leave Dim Sum. Mostly leave.
(2)
Ziliang Y.
worst Dim sum ever
(1)
Henry P.
- Quiet - Dark - Dreary - Dingy these are the words that I use to describe China Pearl. The lighting in the dining room was very low and dingy which just gave everything such a gloomy feel. Its like you can really feel sadness in the air I've been here 3
(3)
Sally R.
Went at about 3 on a Friday, so I suppose it makes sense that there were only 5 other people there. Staff was taking advantage of the down time to visibly chat and socialize by the bar, but I don't mind because I recently had the conversation with someone that in a way anything goes in old school Chinese restaurants. Ordered the short ribs, variety of steamed dumplings and shrimp noodles. Everything was pretty good, especially the ribs. I mostly love the atmosphere of dim sum, the agressive, pushy ladies selling the small plates. Its a vibe you get nowhere else. China Pearl basically gets the job done if your craving some dim sum, but there's a spot right across the street that makes their dimsum fresh to order across the street if you want Great.
(3)
Guillermo M.
This place was delicious, authentic and I encountered excellent customer service. We were received by a hostess that spoke perfect English and realized that it was out first time here so she was helpful and explained how it works. It was not my first time eating dim sum in an authentic place but appreciated that she was helpful. We had the mussels, shrimp and pork dumplings and they were all excellent. The tea was really good too and the best of all is that it was not expensive at all. The experience overall was great and I would come back whenever I am craving dumplings. The only thing I didn't like is that they don't have the "soup dumplings", the ones that are very fragile and have soup inside. They are my favorite and I am not sure why they don't carry them anymore.
(4)
Allison V.
I must note that I have never gone after 2pm and each time was on a weekend. Regardless, the experience is always wonderful. I have never had to wait longer than 20 minutes to be seated. Maybe I am lucky, but I have gone about 5 times and this has always been the case. The carts come around quickly and the food is delicious. I get almost anything with chicken or pork, sometimes shrimp. Everything is great! I honestly have not tried something I haven't liked. The best part about this place is you can pick so much food and the price is not bad. I always average around $10 per person and with the amount and variety of food we get that is absolutely an amazing price. Service is a bit hectic though as carts are all over the place. If you have a particular item in mind you may have to wait a while before it arrives. They give you free green tea. If you ask for water, they give it to you in a tiny cup and refills can take a while. This is also not the place to bring picky eaters or vegetarians. A vegetarian came with me once and there wasn't much for him to eat. He did not enjoy the place as much as us. I love their vanilla bean buns. I sometimes go just to buy an order of these to take home.
(4)
Kevin L.
1 star for their dim sum. Lacking flavor. Super greasy. Found hair in their tripe dish. China Pearl used to be a decent dim sum restaurant. The iconic China Pearl sign and the mirrors in the entrance. That's what I remembered from my childhood. Don't recall any good memories of their dim sum. Now Hei La Moon is king. I rather wait in line there then eat here again. The decor has been the same for years and China pearl is in need of a feng shui update and new chef.
I've been to this place twice and I really wish I knew how to speak Chinese. Cause almost the entire time, the staff would push their cart to our table and start speaking Chinese on what the dish is. Unfortunately, all I could ask was to let me see the dish and ask "Chicken? Beef? Shrimp?" How unfortunate. Waiting for a seat was no problem. The place was huge. Two floors, lots of tables. Good for big groups. I'll admit, the dim sum was pretty oily but it was a fast way for one to get full. Not sure what the price of each dish was and what it was based on but I know it wasn't that expensive. Pretty affordable. Again, I highly recommend bringing a Chinese friend along who speaks the language to know exactly what you're eating. There were some times where I had no idea what I was eating...all I care was that it tasted good. However, I know what a chicken feet looks like, and that's one thing I choose not to eat out of personal preferences... If you don't have a Chinese friend, make one! Not only are they good people but can definitely help you order the right food at Chinese restaurants!
(2)
Heather G.
Edit for note: If you come in the later-hours, say around 2:00, your options will reduce to the same, sad cart coming around with a woman pushing the same plate of garlic shrimp you saw sitting there an hour ago. Because they want to get rid of their cooked-food at these end-of-dim-sum hours, and because there are far fewer patrons eating at 2:00 pm, the carts just stand and wait until you sit down, then come at you one after another in a row...over and over and over. Roughly every 45 seconds, expect to be interrupted with another cart of the same few choices you had 45 seconds ago. The servers/cart pushers become very pushy at this hour, attempting to unload the last of the food for the day. They've even gone so far to lift lids and begin to place things on your table before you've agreed to purchasing them. If you are eating here in the late-afternoon, be prepared to be a bit more aggressive with saying no, and be prepared to have your options significantly reduced to a few stale choices. 3-stars if you come before noon, 2 starts if you go later in the afternoon
(3)
Neil B.
I live in NYC so I have not been to the China Pearl in a while but based on my previous (many) trips there several years ago, as good as dim sum is in NYC, The Pearl makes it best! The dishes I miss the most: The tofu and shrimp and lo bor kow cooked right on the cart and the lotus leaf nor me gai. I see from recent reviews they may have slipped a bit, but I'll keep my memories of the place as a 5-star until I get back to Boston and experience differently! Do prepare to wait a while unless you know someone and it does help to speak at least a little Chinese!
(5)
Kelly W.
Not the best, but decent. We did have a large group later in the night, but the service was not the best. Our waiter was not very patient, and didn't help much. The food was ok, but I've been to better places in Chinatown. The prices were decent, especially for such a large group of college kids splitting the bill. Didn't have the dim sum though, so that might have been better (since that's what they're mostly reviewed for)
(2)
Shao H.
If you have a big group, it is easy to find a place there. The dim sum and tea there is ok.
(3)
douglas h.
Dim Sum Good whenever I want to switch it up for dim sum
(3)
Kim M.
there wasn't much variety to the dim sum menu and the service was the worst. Our dishes arrived one at a time. I'm chinese-american&I went with a group of my american friends. There was definitely a xenophobic vibe from the servers and we only received better service once I started speaking in Mandarin to them. The food is decent but not worth the way the establishment treated us. Definitely a cheap meal though - a group of 7 of us only had to pitch $5 each to pay for the check.
(3)
Miguel L.
When I first visited China Pearl, I did so in a state of disbelief. My Chinese partner had told me it had the best roast duck she had in the East Coast, which is hard to conceive coming from a city like Providence (RI) or Fairfax (VA), where the good food scene is... well, below adequate. $40 is what you pay for a full, sliced duck with its skin and delicious steam buns. It is pricier than in the West Coast, but worthed for this savory, tender heaven of culinary enlightenment. This is the best second duck I have ever had, ranking number one in the East Coast. Bravo. Service is neither rude or polite, just functional. They take your order, they bring the food. No bells, no whistles. Straight to the point, which is good food; without looking after every breadcrumb you spill. Thank goodness. The decor is almost industrial. It is an excellent space for large groups, especially business or weddings. When we went there (twice now) the space was almost empty. Do not miss the geometrical layout with the podium at the end of the room, with a fiery dragon of glowing red eyes. Who cares, really? It is the best roast duck around, period.
(4)
Raj L.
One of the worst restaurants i have ever been. Rats and cockroaches everyehere. Not to mention the rude servers that smelled like cigarette smoke. Don't bother with this one. We left within five minutes of being seated.
(1)
Raymond W.
Great word of mouth reviews and an award winner, but only average dim sum in my opinion. When I was a college student, I always thought China Pearl was suppose to be the best, but after about 4-5 visits I've decided that it lags behind Hei La Moon. The restaurant is chaotic during prime dim sum hours especially with people blocking the entrance/exit stair case and old Asian ladies body checking who are twice their weight (me). The dim sum is fairly standard, sometimes hot sometimes not. servers forget to refill water regularly, and slow to return with condiments. Maybe it's more average for an Asian restaurant than I thought.
(3)
ZZZZ T.
Great Hong Kong style dim sum, replete with somewhat surly waitresses who do better showing the dishes than describing them. One needs to love a restaurant that serves up delicious authentic treats within two minutes of seating you; and then has the decency to keep tantalizing you with cartload and cartloads of the stuff. Show up early and bring an appetite. Most dishes come in under $3 a plate, so a feast isn't going to break the bank...
(4)
Talisha M.
A-OK but chinese at 3am...jackpot! I am sure at 3am I would have given this place 5 stars for just being open after drinking and dancing all night. But thank god I can handle my liqour & have a pretty good memory...tried soup, egg rolls, szechuan beef, chicken fried rice, and a few other random items. I'm sure the drunken me would go back b/c it hit the spot for what we wanted, but no pearl in that oyster. You can trick me at 3am, but you can't trick my tastebuds at 3am!
(3)
Janina T.
2 stars solely for the dim sum (I am a huge dim sum fan). Decent selection although I did miss out on the usual tofu fa (sp?). The service was extremely bland and borderline rude. The waiter servicing our table got kind of snippy with me when I asked for an extra chair. He kept asking how many we were...honestly, does it effing matter how many people we are going to have at the table? We're going to have how ever many chairs are currently at the table +1. i thought I was the only Asian who wasn't great at math. Guess there is more just like me out there. We weren't asked for any drink orders and had to flag one of the dim sum tray pushers for waters all around. Then when we went to pay the check, our server dude thought we were trying to gip him out on tip. No, homie, we're giving you your tip in cash. AKA, non taxed. AKA kiss my ass. If you're looking for GREAT dim sum with better service, walk a few minutes down to Essex st. Chau Chow City is where it's at.
(2)
Boi-Linh T.
Do not highly recommend this place at all. It use be great food from large parties for big function to a small little plate for dim sum with your family. Over the last couple years, the restaurant went down hill. First, the quality of people..not enough staff in the restaurant and no friendly service from any staff. Second, the food quantity is small in portion. Where's the portion i use to have? Third, the atmosphere. This restaurant is in the middle of Chinatown. Do I see the sign and elevator working? How can an elderly person come up to attend a party or just for dim sum. Does the restaurant still need business for local people or are they focusing to new customer like foreigner, new immigrants or western only. Please think before you eat this place.
(1)
Jessica L.
Love this place for dim sum, it reminds me of the high quality, wide variety of dim sum I used to get in San Francisco. Less of a wait here versus other dim sum spots in Chinatown.
(4)
Shawn M.
China Pearl is a hot spot for Sunday Dim Sum. Note that it's Hong Kong Dim Sum. I'd been once before and remember having an ok(if not hungover) experience. Then I came with a party of people of Chinese decent. I could tell they weren't fans right away. It's hard to judge any authentic, if not good, regional cuisine as an outsider as we've been Sodiumized and McDonaldized to the umphteenth degree. I didn't think it was good second go around. My Chinese- American friends didn't either. It's dim sum, in the sense that they bring around food. But I got the idea that there were better opportunities out there.
(2)
Bridget C.
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE! My two sisters and I took my 5 year old daughter here for her first dim sum experience! SHE LOVED IT!!! We got any and everything that was vegetarian! Dumplings, Chinese greens, turnip cakes, egg rolls, and these things that had some fried stuff wrapped with rice wrappers on the outside! Everything was fabulous! My daughter and I, who occasionally eat meat, tried the taro balls with ground meat inside. DELISH! There was a wonderful woman there who greeted us at the door and came over and checked on us throughout the meal and she was absolutely lovely! So nice really made it a great experience! While my daughter was in the bathroom I was waiting outside the stall for her and she was singing " I LOVE DIM SUM, IT TASTES LIKE CHICKEN FINGERS!" She cracks me up. On our way out of the bathroom I got to meet Todd English! WHOOHOO. What the heck! It was my lucky day!! Bottom line I may try other places for dim sum BUT it will never top this experience. I LOVE YOU CHINA PEARL!!! Can I also say TIP YOUR WAITERS AND WAITRESSES!!! The guy came running to us at the door thanking us and we only tipped him 20% which makes me think folks ain't tippin people! As a previous waitress I can tell you the bulk of your money comes from tips. SO PEEPS PAY UP IF SERVICE IS GOOD!!!!
(5)
Kim N.
I've only been here for Dim Sum and they are always packed. Come with a Cantonese speaking person so that you can get a shorter wait ;) Dim Sum is ok (have had better) and I think this is the only place I've ever gone to for Dim Sum in Boston. Like that they have the black bean clams for Dim Sum, since I love them in general anywhere (a fave dish since I've been a kid). They have this great dish where they wrap banh cuon around chinese doughnuts, LOVE IT! I've never had it anywhere else, so now I am on the lookout for it when I have Dim Sum at home.
(3)
Liz P.
I love Dim Sum and this is the place to go in Boston...it's the place we always go :) and actually, if you ask a random person on the street where to go for Dim Sum, they will tell you China Pearl!
(4)
Sara C.
ok.....so boston isnt really known for their version of china town, but i'll give them a star for effort =) yes, its a small neighborhood and my local friend took us here for some dim sum. it was actually quite bustling here considering the other choices in the area. this place is on the 2nd floor...and theres also a 3rd floor. we got there around noon on a saturday and were seated immediately.......in back......waaaay back......which was ok by us since we sat next to a couple of locals who apparently frequents there becuz all the cart ladies and even the owner walked back to their table often so we had no problems calling them over for some food. they do have some unusual dishes i dont see often at other dim sum restaurants, but they pretty much had every other typical dim sum dishes. their egg tart looked like it had been sitting out awhile, their sweet tofu soup came in a small bowl, but still enough to share between 3 people. the fried bean roll wrapped in noodle was kinda bland. the place looks old and needs a little bit of renovation but overall the food and service was descent enough. the price wasnt bad either, 3 of us ate for about $35.
(3)
Erin G.
i have read a lot about dim sum here, but never tried it. then i found out all my friends were dim summing and i realized the time had come. i'm sure you can come here without a mandarin interpreter. if you are willing to eat any and everything that gets wheeled around to you. i'm a pescetarian and can't risk that kind of russian roulette of dining so i called up dana b who called up ruby, our official dim sum ambassador. a group of us met downtown at 10AM one sunday morning. (including my mom who was all "...chinese, for breakfast?") we got right in and went up to their second floor dining room which was entirely empty. slowly the food carts started making their way around to us. ruby picked and choosed what everyone would eat, letting us know what to try and what we wouldn't like. she kept checking on tofu dishes for me. actually, when she would leave the table to check something out a cart would dive bomb us and the server would point to whatever they had and indicated we wanted it - we all looked around in panic and shooed them away. finally they just stopped doing it. my favorite items were the fried taro root, it was so sweet and creamy on the inside with a nest like fry on the outside. i also enjoyed the deep fried tofu (duh) and these little mushroom/bamboo wrappy things. oohh and the steamed shrimp dumplings. oh! and the coconut pudding and the tofu pudding! okay i liked EVERYTHING. also...$10 each at the end of the day, with food to take home. outrageous.
(4)
Lauren B.
Dim sum was very disappointing. I've had dim sum all over the bay area in California and figured that Chinatown in Boston would have decent food. The dim sum was nothing exceptional but the real problem was the service. We were there over an hour and the same 4 carts went around and around with no change. We ended up only getting 4 dishes that turned out to be $24... seems a bit overpriced for mediocre food with bad service.
(2)
brewgirl b.
Busy, busy location, but worth the wait. Very tasty food and very cheap. Good selection of dim sum, particularly if you dont eat red meat. Lots of fish and shellfish selections. Typical veggies (e.g., asian broccoli). Love the porridge served with pork and the black, preserved egg. And tapioca pudding for dessert. Ahhhh...
(4)
Po L.
I have been coming here for years for DIM SUM. So go already.
(3)
Celeste K.
As a girl who was spoiled by NYC's dim sum I thought I would be a harsh critic, but it was actually a great experience and tasty meal! We went at 11 and got seated right away, but as we were leaving the place was jam packed. However there is tons of seating so I don't think you would have to wait long. There is a good variety and even things I'd never had before. The carts come frequently so your table gets filled quickly with yummy foods.
(4)
Brendon G.
Only been here once, about 8 years ago. It was completely loud and chaotic and tasty -- just like dim sum should be. My wife and i were seated at a table for 10 with three other groups. The couple across from us was an old chinese couple....the man completely ignored his wife, read his chinese newspaper and only grunted at her when she asked if he wanted some bite or more tea. Classic!
(5)
Digital H.
Great Dim Sum, and dinner.. everyone comes here for dim sum, or at least the people i know. It does get really crowded sometimes but if your looking for dim sum in boston, this is the place to go.
(5)
Marcia F.
Dim Sum is always a treat and China Pearl is a good place to get it. Yes, it is crowded and noisy on a Sunday but the wait is worth it and once you are seated the food comes immediately. We had plenty to eat for less than $8 per person. Our only disappointment was that they ran out of the fried dough noodle stuff that we love. Oh well, maybe next time.
(4)
Naomi P.
This is a cheap restaurant in Boston, for standard dim sum food. The perfect Sunday treat. They don't allow you to order from the menu, but instead they go with the classical carts. They do offer a nice alternative, which is that they have a buffet stand on each floor with noodles, chicken, shrimp and vegetables, so you can get food immediately if you are starved. Don't forget to bring your bill with you so that they can mark it for you. I started with dessert. Custard buns, which are one of my favorite dishes. It was a good ratio of custard to bun. The shrimp rice roll was standard. The shrimp was good, but you have to like rice rolls. Some people hate it, and others love it. The chicken shitake bun was tasty and not too filling. I had a bunch of other stuff, mostly steamed dumplings and I don't think that there was a bad one in the bunch. I must say that the turnip cake was horrible. One of my friend's mom used to make us homemade turnip cake all the time, so I am very fond of the dish. I was disappointed at China Pearl. I thought that by frying the cakes table-side that the dish would be amazing, but it was just too mushy. Blech. I loved the shrimp from the buffet table. They were fried with the heads and sprinkled with salt. The fat noodles with beef were also a hit. Another time I'd like to try the clams with black bean sauce that were also in the buffet table.
(3)
Julie C.
Best place for Dim Sum. I always get way too much food, so I can pack it up and eat it the next day. Sometimes I circle for 30 minutes to get a parking spot in C-town, especially on the weekends, but it is worth it to get my Dim Sum fix.
(4)
Tiffany D.
I'd give it 5 stars if it was cleaner. Haha. It's one of the past dimsum's in Boston.. and it's HUGE!!!! I don't like it when I have to share my table with ppl tho (which happens when it's super busy!) But still the best shumai!!! :)
(4)
Seafoodie R.
Best Dim Sum in Boston, with a fully packed house on the weekend expect a wait. Serving Dim Sum till 10PM every night but you have to order it from the menu. try the Shrimp and Pork Shumai, the Shark Fin dumplings (no actual sharkfin in them), the fried shrimp balls, salted shrimp (buffet line) the sticky rice wrapped in a leaf, steamed tripe (which is cow belly) with ginger and scallion and lots of water!!!!!!
(4)
Lily C.
I've been having dim sum at China Pearl since I was in diapers and they are still my favorite!! Recently there have been a few new places that have popped up such as Hei La Moon (Beach St) and East Manor in Saugus, MA but China Pearl is still the place to go in my oppinion. The wait is usually around 20 minutes and don't go too late on the weekends - you want to go when its semi busy so all your food will be really fresh. It may be a bit dingy now since they've been open for about 30+ years but that's all part of the dim sum experience. You need to appreciate the tacky decor, the little old chinese man screaming numbers out, and the cart ladies that don't speak a lick of english. Okay now down to what to order : The shrimp rolls are a must - always crunchy. yum. Three treasures and only get the tofu, forget the eggplant and green pepper because those are always mushy. Shrimp balls from here are consistently good and my friends from out of town always request to come here for them. My mom really likes the clams from here and you can find them up at the side bar. Finally, finish with some sweetened warm tofu pudding, and forget ordering the mango stuff with the little umbrellas. Remember to actually drink the tea because it helps you cleanse and digest.
(4)
Jared G.
With packed lines trailing out the doors most Saturdays and Sundays, even in the dead of winter, China Pearl is the gold-standard in Boston dim summing. From the savory flavor bursts that are its shrimp dumplings, to the pillowy sweetness of its Cha Shu Bao (sweet pork buns), China Pearl consistently delivers. Along with the traditional fare on the carts and jasmine tea, there's a large selection of delectables at the central buffet. Scallops, bok choy, and chinese broccoli are not to be missed. Also, you can order specialty teas, like Ba Bao Cha (eight treasures tea, which are great if you're looking to try something new). I try to get there before 12, as a general rule of thumb, since tables fill up rapidly until 2.
(4)
Dana B.
This is the only place that I have ever had Dim Sum, but it was very tasty. It came highly recommended by my friend Ruby, a Dim Sum afficianado, and she assisted us in pointing at foods that she thought we would enjoy - and enjoy we would. What is fantastic is that if you're really hungry there is food on your table in less than one minute. It's also huge so there is never a wait for a table. It's great for bringing large groups and does not end up being expensive in the end. You will leave very full and having only spent about $10-$15.
(4)
Melissa C.
I went here on the weekend and this place was PACKED! You had to jab people with elbows just to get your name on the list. Despite that, we were eating in maybe 10 minutes. The staff was busy, but friendly and responsive. They slapped pork in a good 80% of the food, but I still had plenty of options. I enjoyed eating it... but... on the downside... my friend got REALLY sick afterwards. I felt a little bit ill, but my friend (who is a bit more delicate than I) was incapacitated. I'd go back though. You've got carts of food rolling around, a little food poisoning is just a predictable cost of getting to eat this way.
(3)
Iska B.
I went to this place because of recommendations through word of mouth that it was the "best place in Boston for dim sum". I've been there a few times now and while it's not perfect I'll probably keep going there. It's pretty fun and definitely not your ordinary brunch. The good: I found the food to be very good. Good quality and a diverse selection. There was enough options to please everyone and we definitely got seconds of our favorites (I love all the buns and dumplings the most, no matter the filling). Can't really go wrong with anything deep fried right? I personally try to ask what things are before going ahead and getting something that turns out to be tripe (which grosses me out but my friend loves). The bad: It's super super crowded on weekends. I've been there on Saturday and Sunday and it's always a wait. If you come with a small crowd you usually end up sharing a table if you want to be seated sooner rather then later. Don't come late either. I believe dim sum ends sometime between 1-2PM but coming at 12:30 is not good. By the time you get seated and settled there aren't as many food carts going around and your options are limited. It sucked actually because I didn't end up getting my favorite thing (dunno what the proper name is but they are lotus seed paste buns). So word to the wise, get out of bed and come early, you will have a better time. The language barrier can also be frustrating, especially if you don't know anything about dim sum. I've found that the servers upstairs knew more English and were more helpful but maybe that was just me. It helps to have a friend that knows more. In all I say it's a good place for dim-sum. Until I try another place I can't say "the best" but it is worth a look.
(4)
Huan z.
One of my friend's favorite restaurant. Just because... he is from Canton. If you like seafood, and meat. This is the place to go. You might also find the way you ordering food is interesting, since they push little cart with food to you and you can pick any food from any cart you want. For me, it's very greasy, and too much protein, I rather eat some food more healthy.
(3)
So S.
Best Dim-Sum Place in MA. I admit that good dim-sum is lacking in Boston, but this is the best you will find. It's nothin compared to SF (Koi Palace!! wow) or NY, but its all we got. The other chinese food here is ok, but mostly for non-Asians and tourists. If you want good chinese food, go to any of the smaller restaurants in Chinatown.
(3)
Terance L.
Decided to try this place for dinner since we weren't going to have time to try the dim sum. Dinner was ok but nothing to brag about. The place was empty when we got there and it was only 8:00pm. It seemed a little odd but we were hungry and wanted to eat before heading back to the hotel. One thing that put a damper on the evening was a mouse that was running around and hiding by the stereo equipment which my wife couldn't get over. For some reason, it kept making a squeaking noise. Anyways, I Hope the dim sum is better which everyone seems to like but that will have to wait until next time to try. But then again, maybe not if mice are running around.
(2)
Angel S.
Go for dim sum and nothing else. I went for dinner once and you must be warned that there is a chinese menu and an american menu... guess what, the food is different for both too. Not so good for Americans.
(3)
Laura A.
please note: you go UPSTAIRS to go to this place, which is probably blatantly obvious to everyone except me, who sat down in the random chinese restaurant downstairs and wondered where the dim sum was. d'oh. not exactly veg friendly, but i should've expected as much. the dumplings were great though and i really liked the bamboo shoots and mushrooms wrapped in fried tofu skin. a lot of things seemed to needlessly have meat in them..i.e. fried tofu in a puddle of meat juice and potato pancake type things with meat in them. my boyfriend really liked having a fried meal as his first meal of the day (probably because he was a little hungover, and he's also a very adventurous eater) but me not so much. it was definitely interesting though - if i was omni i'd probably go back and try more things, but for now, i'll stick to the vegetarian dim sum place in new york for my next trip. also, none of us really enjoyed the alternately slimy or gristly nature of the food..but my landlord who emigrated from china said he really enjoys dim sum, so it's obviously some cultural difference there. an extra star for the guy at the bar who was doing shots and drinking heineken at noon (not eating, just drinking at china pearl)
(3)
Carol P.
what a great place for some good ol dim sum! the classic boston establishment..anyone who is anyone knows about this dim sum extravaganza! the carts moving around with little dishes on em.. try the squid.. and the shrimp rolls. haacheung.. hahah good ol dim sum
(4)
Kate B.
Beyond grotesque. If this is one of the best in Boston, I'm scared. Oily rubberized chicken "product" and a glass pie plate full of what looked like vomit (turned out to be silken tofu and "vegetables" in some disgusting gelatinous sauce) along with a giant grease laden scallion pancake made for a positively revolting meal. Needless to say we left most of it behind. No more Chinese food for me. Ever.
(1)
Mina I.
Good bet for dim sum.. I have gone here several times for lunch during the week with coworkers. I have never had a long wait here and always have more than enough to eat for really reallly cheap! If you can, go with someone who speaks Chinese - it makes for a much easier dining experience!
(3)
payton c.
It's my grandmother's favorite, which says a lot; I find it a bit heavy on the fried stuff. As usual for dim sum, sit by the kitchen for the freshest stuff, and don't be afraid to try something new - you're only risking a few bucks, after all. Never had anything off the menu, but if you want something in particular just ask for it.
(4)
Soodee C.
best dim sum in the city. you should shoot for 10-11 am. i find anytime after that very annoying (long lines, people pushing and shoving to get in and out). if I'm not mistaken, i think they serve Chrysanthemum tea . it helps to unclog your heart as you are chowing down on pork buns and fried tofu. try the white lotus bun (it has a yellow dot in the middle). avoid the chicken feet if you're hungover.
(4)
kim c.
i use to always come to china pearl for dim sum but ever since the cook changed the food just hasnt been as good..
(2)
Byron M.
This restaurant is the oldest, perhaps largest restaurant in Chinatown known for its dim sum and it's ability to host large chinese functions such as wedding banquets. As a dim sum location it is one of the best in chinatown. They offer a variety of dishes and they generally do them well. I particularly like their shrimp dumpling which is called Har Gaw and their "Beef Cheung Foon" which is Beef wrapped in a rice pasta. If you are brave you can try their chicken feet which is actually quite delicious. In the evening this place serves dinner as well as hosts wedding banquets. Their banquet menu is vast and accomodate both tight budgets as well as lavish budgets. Overall., they do very well with large parties compared to other places. I do not recommend this place for smaller gatherings as their are other options in Chinatown that do it better and for lower cost. All in all this is a good place, especially for Dim Sum.
(3)
Ryan T.
China Pearl has the best dim sum I've had in Boston. Situated at the top of a long flight of stairs, the restaurant is pretty large and often packed during dim sum hours. The waits can be from short to pretty long (maybe almost an hour). The food is pretty solid, serving up standard dim sum (ha gao, siu mai, chicken feet, congee, sticky rice) with very fine execution. I would say the food is a bit greasy (like most places in Boston) but delicious at the same time. If you crave dim sum in the Boston area, check it out! Chau Chow pales in comparison.
(4)
Angelo S.
The definition of a large, fun, bustling restaurant you might find in Beijing. If you believe in the old chestnut of looking where the locals go... just be aware that you might need to learn a little Mandarin to fit in this place.
(4)
Kai L.
My friend took me there and told me it has the best dim sum in town. Thank goodness, that was not true! I later discovered Hei La Moon just down the block on Beach street. China Pearl's dim sum was certainly worse than the ones in Hei La Moon, tends to be "supersized" and lacks the tastes (i.e. quantity over quality). I simply don't understand why people would keep going, probably either 1) for sentimental reasons since the restaurant has been around for awhile; 2) does not know about Hei La Moon; 3) cannot tell what good dim sum is. Anyway, I am glad that I did not trust my friend, and investigated myself after I moved here.
(3)
Cynthia S.
My husband and I have been going here for years, after getting a recommendation from a friend who is Chinese. I don't have much experience with Dim Sum in Boston (for I've only been here in the Boston Area), but I can tell you that I highly recommend this place. The food is very tasty and the staff is always very willing to deal with us non-Chinese folk.
(4)
Alex L.
We had a bad experience here and will not be going back. The food was mediocre and service was terrible. We ordered two dishes and they first brought out one of the dishes without any rice and a Coke that we ordered. We were hungry so we started just eating and had to flag down our server to bring us rice. Coke still hadn't arrived yet so we had to point that out too. Our second dish arrived about the time we finished our dinner and weren't hungry anymore. When it arrived, it was lukewarm as if it was sitting out for awhile waiting it to be served. It's a dish that wouldn't have taken a long time to prepare so we don't know why it came out so late. The server never came to ask if we wanted more tea and it took another long time to get a box for our leftover food and bill. We were so unsatisfied with our server that we left no tip, which was the only time we've ever done that. As we were leaving, a waitress called us back and told us that tip was not included. We informed her that the service was bad. We will not be recommending this place to anyone.
(1)
dennis a.
visited china pearl today extra busy because a st. festival was going on!! i dont know who is writing bad reviews about this chinatown icon as i had a very young waiter and he was there for me and gave me great service water extra napkins and clean plates etc. dim sum was as good as it gets i started with baby clams cooked in garlic and blackbean sauce scrumtious as well as the shu mai paigqut fung jau etc. cart girls were friendly and yes the mens room was very clean for such a busy day 100 per cent satisfied!!!!!!!! dennis from boston
(5)
Sandra C.
I generally rotate between a few good restaurants in Chinatown for Dim Sum. China Pearl, Chau Chow City, and Empire Garden. They each have their perks and are better at certain dishes than others. I think most believe that China Pearl is the best for dim sum though.
(5)
Brendan M.
Despite the ongoing Yelp argument about whether China Pearl or Chau Chow City has the best Dim Sum, I admit I can't really tell the difference. Selection, quality, price and decor all seem fairly similar, so just go to whichever one is more convenient for you.
(3)
Tyler C.
crowded and the food tends to be overly greasy. go down beach street and cross the big 4 lane avenue to he lai moon - less of a wait, better food there...
(2)
Lisha L.
Decent food, but the prices are pretty high for what is only average-tasting dim sum.
(3)
Esther L.
Good dim sum, just don't go when lunchtime is almost over, because that means you have almost nothing good to choose from. Typical Chinese fare is offered at dinnertime too, and its pretty good. One downside to this place is that you have to climb a huge flight of stairs to get into the restaurant.
(4)
Ellie L.
I don't love pork, I hate the consistency of puddings, and my mother instilled a fear of buffet-style food in me. I am not the best candidate for advocating Dim Sum, but hey, the craving for leftover Chinese the morning after drinking strikes even me, and if you feel like making an occasion out of it, try China Pearl. It's THE popular dim sum location and while its touristy, questionably clean, and not always diverse in its options, look, you're hungover and want re-heated rice, so chill and don't be so picky, OK?
(4)
Michael G.
This is definitely the best dim sum in Chinatown! Unfortunately, this also means that it's always horribly packed, but the wait usually isn't too long. If your idea of a nice meal, though, is quiet in a place with an elegant ambience, this definitely isn't for you. Also, I would recommend taking someone who speaks Chinese or at least knows what's in the food, since it's difficult to understand the broken English.
(4)
Brenden L.
I have mixed feelings on this place. The regular menu is standard Chinatown fare, nothing special as far as that goes. I'm giving this place a high rating because the dim sum is among the best I've had and certainly the best in Boston. If you're gonna go to the place, hop in on a Sunday morning. That's when it shines.
(4)
Andrew B.
A long-standing tradition is to head to this place around 10AM on Sundays before the rush for some great dim sum and quality time with the family. Its best when you have a large group, and at least one connoisseur to take charge and lasso the carts that matter, while dismissing those that don't. It can be hit or miss depending on your tastes, and you're not going to be able to get a bottle of Evian here, but thats not the point. Enjoy the pork buns and shrimp dumplings while waking up with their endless pots of tea, and have fun with the company you brought with you. Finish up with some tapioca or soft tofu soup and something from the desert tray, then head over to Kneeland street for some bubble tea to sip on your way back to your Sunday responsibilities. One of my favorite ways to walk it off is to stroll through the public gardens and up Newbury before taking the T back to school. I always return smiling and satisfied from this place, but mostly because I'm with the right company.
(4)
Kevin W.
I don't know why people keep saying that the Pearl is the best Dim Sum place in Massachusetts. Haven't you guys realized that for the most part the Dim Sum tastes the same. If I were to get Shu Mai from any resturant in Chinatown, you would not know the difference. All the dishes are the same, they all come from the same distributor. Close your eyes next time youre in the Pearl, or any other place. Its the same! Deal with it!
(3)
Jeffrey W.
The China Pearl is definitely one of the best restaurants in Chinatown, and the best for Dim Sum. Don't let the exterior fool you, it's actually pretty big inside... a great place for large parties.
(4)
le c.
this place should be called china hurl. service was almost as bad as the food. the waitress actually peeked into the mens bathroom when i went in - i think to make sure i wasn't getting sick and making a mess. when i complained they didn't speak english but when the bill came suddenly their english was fine. avoid this place at all cost. i can't believe they able to stay open.
(1)
monkey l.
when you are in boston, you either go to china pearl or chau chow city for dim sum. i was in boston for 6 years, and after trying the two out numerous times, we picked china pearl. the wait was shorter, and the variety and consistency better. oddly enough, if you go with more than 4 people, it somehow ALWAYS turns out to be 10 per person. oh, and make sure that they give you little punch cards so that if you spend a certain amount, you get 10 bucks off the next time. one year they even gave us blue christmas lights!
(4)
Roshni R.
one of the best dim sum places in boston...as is easily evidenced by the crowds around brunch-time on weekends! it gets expensive unless you have a large group though...
(4)
Ame k.
the dim-sum there is ok
(3)
Susan D.
Perhaps, I went on an off-day, but I did not enjoy myself here. The wait was astronomically futile (1+ hour) though I shortened it by jumping in when the host offered shared table seating where *u guess it* you share a large table with strangers. Happens all the time in NYC. Anyways, the shrimp dumpling tasted old and I was munching on bits of sand. Very unpleasant seeing how those were my favorite and I grabbed three at once. It was over $30 for the two of us, which is generally a tad expensive for dimsum. I haven't gone back in ages and much prefer Empire Garden. I never wait there!
(2)
Mags L.
i'm so glad hei la moon opened up. no more elbowing diminutive asian grandmas to get to some harkow and taro goodness. solid dim sum. 2nd floor (aka 3rd floor) cart service not as bustling, but as long as harkow and doughnut ball lady floats my way, i'm good. it helps that my friend speaks cantonese and gets me what i want. i'm asian. listen to me. i know what i'm talking about.
(4)
Yuko I.
It is reasonably priced and dim sum covers good for a non-Chinese person like me. I love their shumai, but their shrimp related stuff varies day-to-day... still a fan. The service, you cannot expect much, most of them only speak Chinese and you just have to be adventurous. I will come back.
(3)
Kim R.
Pretty good Chinese food. Arrived tipsy, late Friday night and suprisingly noticed that we were the only customers in the restaurant. That said, service was excellent! Food was pretty good (I'd recommend wonton soup, shrimp lo mein, and spring rolls)...quick greasy bites to soothe the slowly approaching hangovers. Appearance was really something else...the hot topic of the evening quickly became 'what kind of party could you host here??' With red and gold embellishments all leading up to some sort of exotic Chinese altar, too many excuses for parties ran through our heads. All in all, pretty decent Chinese food, awesome setting, and service like nowhere else. I say it's a GO!
(4)
Bryanne R.
Whoa chaos. This place was packed when I went with 12 other people. We got a sweet table in the back because one of my friends knew people. The food was OK...I think I just learned Dim Sum isn't my thing. My friends all LOVED the food. The ordering looked like it was a complex process...so I'd recommend going with someone who has Dim Sum experience. The Tapioca was really excellent though.
(3)
Layla P.
So I went here with a big group of people and luckily sat next to a Chinese guy so I could actually ask what things were and know what I was eating - very rare at Dim Sum! My favorite are the balls covered with sesame seeds and filled with red bean - I don't know what they are called I just point when I see them on a cart and say "balls please". All the shrimp items I tried were tasty as well. I did not try the chicken feet or lining of an organ from a cow (he wouldn't tell me what organ) but I was entertained while watching other people eat it. The waitstaff was attentive with the water and hot tea refills and the food never stops.
(4)
Kevin L.
there's a vicious game of pushshove and bingo just to get your seat here on weekends. the food was on par with the decent places i'd been in n california, but nothing too memorable. not enough rotation of carts. and they do this thing where a waiter dressed in a special uniform will offer you a single large dish on a tray, and kinda bow... kinda like high stakes dim sum. some of the nicest bathrooms at a chinese restaurant i've ever been to.
(3)
Zhenyu Y.
This was one of the worst Chinese restaurant I've ever been to. The waiter was not kind and lack of language skills. They kept saying the restaurant downstairs had more food choices, which turned out to be totally untrue. Anyway, they just didn't wanna serve us and made us leave. Won't recommend to anyone.
(1)
Tiffany A.
I came here with a group of friends over the weekend. Two of the group are heading to Hong Kong and Singapore within the next few weeks, so rather than be caught unawares of what Dim Sum actually involves, we all made a brunch date to check it out. Make reservations! We did, and thank God because the wait without seemed to be about 45 minutes. We waited for maybe 10 minutes max, which was surprising considering how packed this place gets on the weekend. As soon as you sit, the carts come rolling! I honestly can't tell you the names of half the things I ate, mostly because if you just eye something, the wait staff just shoves it on your table without naming it or telling you what's in it. It is delicious though, that I CAN tell you. The highlight for me was the chicken dumpling and the fried shrimp balls. There's a small veggie food bar where they have all sorts of things. The little egg custard dumplings are nice and sweet; very dessert-esque. There are several tea options, but be specific when you're seated or you'll end up with regular jasmine tea. Totally worth a repeat visit.
(4)
Angela L.
I had been to the China Pearl years ago, and felt that I had remembered a better experience than the one I recently had about a month ago. One thing that is always great about China Pearl is the restaurant is small enough for dim sum so that there is always plenty of food and you don't have to wait long at all to eat when you first get seated. The food itself was mediocre -- I remember the dumplings and pastries being a lot tastier and flavorful. Perhaps I just caught the restaurant on a bad day, however I'll be hesitant about going back anytime soon.
(3)
Matthew A.
Dim Sum what's it all about here at the China Pearl. Tons of carts with a nice variety to choose from. Service was eh- kind of lacking-as usual as most places in Chinatown. Hard to get a water glass refilled- how hard can that be? They work FAST here. Even before we all could even sit down the ladies in the carts were at our table desending. One positive- the cart ladies are nice here and know English. They were able to answer questions and explain to us what they were offering. 3 of us had huge amount of dishes for $43. No alcohol.
(3)
Dan G.
Pretty good food. This is the first time I ever got to go to a Chinese restaurant with people from...well, not China, but they were so excited to have us try some dishes that are common where they are from. I am American, so the food prep to me was "normal" but others talked about how greasy some of the items were, some items were even too salty for them, so it seems, Chinese food isn't as greasy or salty as we Americans think it really is! Anyways, the food was great. Everything we had was yummy, especially the coconut shrimp, peking duck and the dried fish fried rice. The wait staff was a little rude, but they did accommodate us as best as possible so I will give them that. We initially had come for dim sum but were just a tad too late, no prob, they suggested dim sum like items. Would I come here again? Yeah, maybe, but only if someone REALLY has the urge to go here.
(3)
Victoria P.
Came here for dim sum on a Saturday morning - it was delicious! Didn't have to wait for a table and got everything I wanted within the first 5 minutes of sitting down. They're a little stingy on the water, but if you pester them enough then you might get a refill. We had the ha cao (steamed shrimp dumplings), shumai, chinese broccoli, sticky rice, spare ribs, and pork buns. The pork buns were just okay, but the rest was sooooo good! I've been to plenty of dim sum places in New York and the food here is just as good. Everything tastes fresh and they don't skimp on the meat. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Jessica B.
Well, I guess I'm missing something. I went there for dinner. The food was yuck! I had read it was authentic Chinese. Is this really what people it in China? It's all junk food essentially.
(1)
Doo-yun H.
I love this place!!! My meal was so fulfilling and tasted incredible. We ordered a variety of small foods that were all absolutely delicious and our bill between 6 people came to only $66! The servers came by quite often and were all really nice about explaining things and bringing more food and water. Atmosphere was really cool and our experience was generally excellent!
(5)
Eliza D.
I love this place! The food was all absolutely delicious and also really cheap. The carts came by often, and all the staff were super nice. Definitely would recommend!
(5)
Michael A.
If you want to be that guy who knows what's up: Char siu bao from China Pearl. $1.25 a pop. Walk in, order them to go. Ho Yuen? lol no yuen.
(5)
Jessica C.
Dim sum brunch is always a treat, but this place was a bit disappointment for a few reasons: The dim sum norms I'm used to were lacking here: shrimp toast, peking duck, soup dumplings, chili oil, shrimp balls. There was an attendant in the poorly maintained bathrooms blocking access to the paper towel dispenser. I wasn't sure what to do with her, and was vaguely uncomfortable with the situation. There's a liquor bar at the front of the restaurant, but no easy way to actually cut through the queue of folks waiting to pay their bills... and when I asked our server for a drink menu, I was brought two identical take out menus. Finally, there was no follow up on whether I wanted to order anything off a menu either way until we were 2/3rds into our meal. Seeing the option of the bar but being unable to actually access it was a frustration I could have done without. Add these annoyances to the difficult parking, language barrier (about half of our servers didn't understand our questions), and $60 price tag for four people, and I'm glad to be able to access dim sum in the Great State of Texas.* *Austin and Houston dim sum experiences only.
(2)
Patrice C.
I live in Boston, but hadn't gone to dim sum in over 10 years and decided to take my 16 year old niece and nephew for fun. I did a lot of research on this site and Yelp, and finally decided on China Pearl. It ended up being an excellent choice. In terms of dim sum, people tend to comment on certain aspects, so I'll write my review using these as a guide: Seating/Waitress Attention: We walked in and saw that it was moderately crowded. As soon as we walked up, we were warmly greeted by the hostess, and then escorted to our seats. Tea and menus were brought to us immediately. I'd say the time from our arrival at the restaurant to being ensconced in our seat was 90 seconds. Food cart number and variety: The first cart came about 1-2 minutes after we sat down. From that point on, they came at a steady clip. There was only one time when there was a lull where I had to wave a cart down. There was a great variety of dim sums, and we only started seeing repeats at the very end of our meal. Food cart lady language/disposition: They were nice, not pushy at all. Yea, their English wasn't the greatest, but we did OK. I hate seafood, and we successfully avoided getting anything fishy. Quality of the food: With the exception of the meatballs (big yuk), everything else was really good. It was fun noshing on little dishes of things that were new to us, yet had a good Chinese food flavor. Cleanliness of restaurant: Very clean. Bathrooms were well kept up with plenty of soap and water (this was a complaint of a lot of people in Yelp reviews). Cost: It came to $18/pp. Not cheap, but worth the quality of the food and the experience. For those visiting Boston, I highly recommend doing dim sum one early afternoon of your stay. Walk through the streets of Chinatown, past the mouthwatering bakeries, stores selling beautiful Chinese lanterns, and boisterous groups playing chess on stone tables. It's another slice of my wonderfully diverse city. tripadvisor.com/ShowUser…
(5)
Jessica L.
I went for dim sum with a couple of other people. Hostess was nice, but we waited a while for food while the carts continued starting on the other side of the room (maybe because they were bigger parties that kept ordering). When we finally got to eat, the overall food wasn't bad. My favorite was the deep fried chives dumpling which was super fresh and so tasty. I hesitated at first because I've had these at other places and was largely unimpressed, but as it sat before me...I couldn't resist but to try it. SO WORTH IT! Besides that, everything else I tried was alright.
(3)
Jade Y.
The durian cookie is awesome! Super enjoy. Tortoise jelly is good, too. Like the atmosphere. The decoration is very happy and pleasant, with the traditional red color and peach tree. The Chinese character 喜喜means double happiness. It's like someone is marrying here. The Chinese name of the restaurant means dragon and Phoenix, which is a traditional Chinese pair simplifying fortune.
(5)
Christine J.
3.5 stars. good dimsum.
(4)
Betty C.
Long time #1 placeholder for top dim sum or banquet go to restaurant. My whole family had their wedding receptions there. A long time gem in the heart of Boston's Chinatown
(4)
Katie W.
My friends brought me to this old-school dim sum restaurant in the heart of Chinatown last weekend, and we pigged out to our hearts' content. I've had a lot of dim sum in my lifetime, and I'd say this was pretty average. They had most of the classic dishes, and they were no better nor worse than your standard dim sum restaurant. The main issue was that nothing really stood out, and I don't think I'd go back for any particular dish. The best dish was the black bean spareribs, which were meatier than the ones I've had elsewhere. The best dessert was the pumpkin glutinous rice with bean paste. Everything else was relatively unmemorable. The char siu bao were disappointing in the amount of roast pork filling, and I thought the rice rolls with shrimp needed more shrimp. Each roll only had about one medium-sized shrimp each, which meant it was particularly hard to split them. I waited and waited for the har gow (my favorite), but they never came around. Speaking of waiting, I would have given this place four stars if not for the long wait times between carts. When we first sat down at 11am, we were bombarded by carts. But halfway through our meal, around 11:30, there were no carts at all on our side of the room. We looked around and everyone was just sitting there waiting. This continued for half an hour. I finally got tired of waiting and went to the steam table in the front that I didn't notice before, and just picked the items that I really wanted. Unfortunately, some of these items were cold, particularly the egg tarts, which weren't warm or flaky enough. Sad. In the end, our bill came out to be $17/person, which I thought was fair, given how much we ate. I don't think I'll be in a hurry to come back though, as the places I'm used to in Flushing Chinatown are better.
(3)
Audrey C.
Came here with a girlfriend at around 12pm on a Sunday and we waited for about 30 minutes. Their waiting system is a bit unorganized because the hostess puts you in these segregated lines scattered against the wall while the person at the bar sends you to the wrong scattered line. But even with this the wait wasn't too bad...and the hostess is literally the nicest and calmest woman in the world! The 2 of us were seated at a larger table meant for 6..but hey I didn't mind the extra space. The carts came around quite often with dim sum but there is also a self serve section with most of the fried and baked option to the side so no waiting is necessary! The dishes were all super fresh when gotten from the carts and the self serve section too. Black bean clams: Get this at the self serve section, delish, a good serving of clams with good flavor Ha Gow (shrimp dumplings): Standard and fresh and hot! Chong fun (Shrimp roll): Standard, fresh and hot as well. The skin was perfectly soft and the hot sauce that comes w/ this is delish! Lotus leaf sticky rice: Always my fav dim sum dish, They gave a good amount of meat in these also! Egg tarts: At the self serve section also, nice and flakey. All in all, standard and decent priced dim sum that is hot and fresh with not too long of a wait if you come in at busy hours. Give this place a shot, esp because the service is nice and calm as well, unlike other dim sum places.
(4)
Noemi S.
It's a good place to have lunch on Sunday. We had 7 different dishes and all good. We missed water, but I guess we should have asked (unlike other places where they just bring it before taking note). Tea was good; chopsticks, challenging for some of us (but we managed). And not expensive; will come back.
(4)
Garkie Z.
Came to Boston's Chinatown for the first time and was really hungry for some good ol' Dim Sum! Came here on a few website suggestions and left satisfied but not WOW-ed by any means. Overall the place is pricier than I had anticipated. For the two of us we ordered probably 6 dishes including: Steamy Pork Bun, Shumai, Shrimp Noodle rolls, Fried Shrimp Balls, Custard Buns, and Fried Minced Meat Turnovers overall the total was $28. The actual food was pretty ok- I'm from Colorado and while I'm American born I was raised with many Traditional Chinese Food Recipes and found the Boston Dim Sum lacking in some flavors- The Steamy Pork Buns were almost bland in comparison to others I've tried. The service... Was sub par. It took forever for the actual cart we wanted to get to us. Multiple times we made it a note to tell the servers we'd been waiting on a specific dish to get to our table and still we waited. The push cart ladies didn't seem too happy to be there in the first place let alone appease the customers cravings. I think next time I'm craving Dim Sum I'll try another place in Chinatown before resorting to coming back to China Pearl.
(3)
Sean M.
3.0000001 Stars Oh how the mighty have fallen. CP is is a shadow of it's former self of the late nineties and early oughts. The aggregate of the Tea House/Dim Sum scene in Boston's Chinatown has experienced a severe decline. While venues outside of Chinatown have surged; like Ten-Ichi Dynamic Kitchen and Bar in Framingham (weekends only). That being said it's still worth going here if you have the dim sum jones. Look at the bright side; no taking numbers no lines, at least on weekdays. * best turnip cake (Lo Bak Go) in Chinatown * Ha Goa (Har Gow) & Siu Mai (Shumai) are solid as are the other dumplings. * Cha siu bao! (steamed buns) * Lo mai gai !! (lotus leaf rice) * Cheong Fun (rolled noodles, I prefer shrimp) * Don't tell anyone but I prefer CP over HLM (service and food) * parking 3 lots, including one next store, but it's tough.
(3)
Han V.
The cart system seemed a little unorganized because the same 2 cart ladies kept returning to our table and when they realized we weren't interested in the items on their cart for the 3rd time, they completely ignored us altogether! Because of this we were only able to get 4 items off the cart. They have a buffet looking area where you bring up your sheet and can select from the items that they have out and a person will serve you and mark off on your sheet what you got. Overall, their dim sum (what we were able to get) was decent but not enough so to warrant a wait so definitely go early (we got their a little before 11 on a Saturday and didn't have to wait). Food: 3 Value: 3 Service: 1
(2)
Hurnan V.
I came here on a Saturday for dim sum with a couple of friends, and instead of a long line or a wait, we were seated immediately. The interior is pretty festive, standard of a large venue Chinese restaurant, complete with holiday lights (in the middle of summer!). Anyways, the carts came by frequently and there was a nice variety. I really enjoyed their steamed chashao buns and changfen-- dimsum favorites for all! For a table of 5, we all emerged paying about $15, having filled our tummies, and tasted a wide variety of food. I would recommend coming back, especially if you have a large group, for the delicious, warm food, spaciousness, and generally reasonable prices.
(4)
Winnie W.
I've been to China Pearl about 6 times (one time per year when visiting friends). After yesterday's experience, I will never go back. The dim sum was sub-par --- the food lacked flavor and variety. We (three of us) each asked for water and one pop (hey, I'm from the Midwest). There's nothing more to say about the food. I went to the counter to get my bill tallied up. I asked the woman (manager?) how much each dim sum item costs as some places tack on an extra item to rob you. She snapped at me, "let me finish adding everything up before I tell you." Fine. When she was finished, I asked her what cost $1.50? She said it's .50/ tea. I told her that we didn't drink tea. She didn't believe me and said, "yes, you had tea." I said that we had three glasses of water and one pop. She then said, "it's .50/ glass of water." For TAP WATER?!! She adds, "that's how we do it here, we charge for water." Translation: "that's how we do it here, we steal from our customers by imposing ridiculous charges." I know it's $1.50, but no one deserves to be treated this way. I threw the manager shade and left.
(1)
Janet H.
Not bad.... I've been spoiled by San Francisco dim sum my whole life so this is just okay to me. I was surprised to see how PACKED the place was at noon on a Sunday. Luckily, our friends came here early enough to snag a big table while I came late, whoops! Anyway, be prepared to eat a lot of carbs and fried deliciousness... Side note: don't park at the lot across the street. $25 for 2 hour parking... hmph.
(3)
Anthony W.
Came here yesterday for some dim sum in Boston's Chinatown. The place is huge and was fairly crowded by 11am so be sure to get there early or you are going to wait. We arrived about 1030am and were immediately seated. The place is your typical dim sum place where they push around carts filled with brunch type Chinese food and you order different dishes until you are full. The food was very good but I would have to say a slight notch below that of New York or LA. There is also a buffet line of food you can get towards the door to the kitchen that you can also get if you walk up there. Just be sure to bring your ticket with you so that they can mark it. The place is very affordable and for a group of 5, we stuffed ourselves for about 65 bucks. Be aware that the more people you bring, the greater variety of food you can get so call up your friends for a nice Chinese feast.
(4)
John H.
Lots of people claim that they are one of the top 3 dim sum places in Boston. If that's the case, then it must be #3 or a distant #2 at best. It's no where as good as Hei La Moon. Disorganized and lacks flavor. Skip it and go to Hei La Moon.
(2)
Alice Z.
Been here a few times. Good dim sum, a lot of choices. The tables are all very big and meant for ten people; me and a friend came once very early so we got a huge table all to ourselves.
(5)
Frank L.
China Pearl Tyler Street Boston. 8/1/2015 Oh, how this once popular restaurant on Tyler Street has fallen, in my opinion. We visited the restaurant for a quick lunch at 3 PM, after an afternoon lecture in town. I have always wanted to try this restaurant as it has been around for many years. Upon entering the restaurant ,there is a high stairway leading into the restaurant itself, which will be very off putting for any handicapped person. [-10 points]. I did not notice an elevator, or any other way the entrance could be handicapped accessible. Upon entering the restaurant there is the usual statue of laughing Ho Ti, opposite the register take out order station and a brightly illuminated tree. A hostess seated us quickly and there were very few guests dining at that time. Before our server appeared, three restaurant employees began vacuum cleaning around us making a deafening noise for over 20 minutes. Why it had to be done at that time with other guests dining in the restaurant was very discourteous, and annoying. [ -15 points] Our server came to our table, gave us menus, but did not introduce himself or welcome us and then proceeded to ask us for a drink order. We asked for a little time to look over the menu. Within 5 minutes he would come back twice to ask us for an order. We decided to just order appetizers and water. Our appetizer order arrived first in 15 minutes. Usually the hot and sour soup is served fairly quickly, but arrived much later. A waitress came out with two soup spoons and no soup asking other customers at different tables if they had placed a soup order. Our 5 dumplings were fine as were the two thin vegetable spring rolls and 2 average sized egg rolls. We were almost finished eating our appetizers when our hot and sour soup order arrived 30 minutes after we first placed our order. No explanation or apology was given for such a long delay. [-10] The soup was very spicy and was probably the best item we were served. After finishing our soup, we asked for the check, paid for our meal, and left. Atmosphere---Poor, 20 minutes of loud vacuuming. Food--Average Service- Inattentive. We will not return to this restaurant again.
(2)
Rick M.
China Pearl is still in my book A okay for dim sum if you're hangin out in Boston's Chinatown. We went after 2pm this time and all the delicious snacks came out of the kitchen freshly prepared. I always love a good steamed BBQ pork bun (char siu bao) and these didn't disappoint. We also ordered some steamed shrimp dumplings (har gow) and shrimp rice noodle roll (har cheong fun) with sweet soy sauce. And don't forget the steamed pork dumplings (siu mai). Lastly it wouldn't be dim sum without some egg custard tarts (dan tat) washed down with hot tea!
(4)
Phil P.
This was the first time trying dim sum and I may never go back. Besides the food tasting like it was soaked in MSG for three days, there was a gigantic cockroach climbing the wall no more than 5 feet from us (ultimately squashed by waitress like it was a normal occurrence). Absolutely disgusting. Should have walked out right there and then.
(1)
Yuming Z.
First time in Boston, decided to go to dim sum instead of brunch on a Sunday. Tried to go to another dim sum place across the street but it was not open so decided on China Pearly instead. Service: Was seated immediately for 2 despite people at the door waiting. Probably bigger parties for the larger tables. Waitress took our drink order but didn't provide us with the stamp card. Once the cart ladies came around that was quickly fixed. Requests for water and extra hot sauce was fulfilled very quickly. Ambience: Typical Chinese restaurant. Clean but not spotless. Wasn't blown away but wasn't disgusted to be there. Food: Ordered quite a few dishes. Some well done, some not so much. Taste wise it was solid. Conclusion: Didn't blow me away but ordered a lot of food and the bill wasn't too bad. The taste wasn't amazing but typically what you'd expect from a dim sum place. Would visit again but I'm sure there has to be better out there in Boston.
(3)
Rajan G.
So I'm not even close to a Dim Sum expert, but I've tried most of the Dim Sum places in and around Chinatown. I would say this one ranks among the top. Their steamed shrimp/chive dumplings were excellent. I also liked the sticky rice. They have a lot of other items I plan to try on the future, including some tofu curry that a lot of other customers were ordering. Most of the cart ladies smiled, which was refreshingly different from most other places. Being from SF Bay Area, I set the bar pretty low in Boston when it comes to Asian/Indian food. May not be 5stars in CA but easily 4 or 5 here.
(5)
Gui Bin Z.
I took my friend and her brother here upon the reconnection of a friend. It was his first time going to dim sum and i was just visiting Boston so I was a fish out of water, but I trusted my friends recommendation. I'm glad I did, the positives to this dim sum parlor is that we didn't have to share a table which is notorious at chinese establishments. We ordered a few items, mostly different types of dumplings, shumai, pork buns, and the various other little dishes. Overall I enjoyed the experience and thought the food was good. I would say skip the pork buns, they were very mediocre. Be prepare to make aggressive eye contact with the cart ladies until they come to you. They spoke decent English so you'll have a general sense of what you're ordering but don't expect too much. I will definitely come back on my next trip to Boston.
(4)
T P.
Come here for dim sum with my BF and friends. Really good selection. Dim sum is brought around in carts & they stamp a card for every dish, you pay the total. Typical chinatown service. Sometimes the customer service is good, other times
(4)
Sarah C.
There was a roach in my tea but when I alerted the waitress she told me it was a piece of leaf! I think I can differentiate from a roach VS leaf. Dim sum is pretty much the same elsewhere in Chinatown but more expensive here.
(1)
Nancy C.
Went here for a late dim sum with my dad. It was 2 pm so it wasn't too crowded at all, but it also meant that the offerings on the cart were not too extensive nor too fresh. We got a variety of things: beef meatballs, steamed rice noodle with pork inside, tofu skin with pork inside, char su bao (BBQ buns), pumpkin buns with red bean paste filling, sweet milk buns with lotus filing, fried sesame balls, and short ribs. The beef meatballs were eh. They put a lot of gluten/flour in it so the texture was distinctly unmeat-like and the meat itself wasn't very good quality. The steamed rice noodle was decent. I added the spicy paste to it to give it more flavor, but the texture was good. Tofu skin with pork inside was decent. We also got another one with mushrooms which was also decent. I wouldn't order either again though. The BBQ pork buns were decent. They're your standard char su bao. I've never been a huge fan of them but they helped fill me up (I was starving). The pumpkin buns were the best out of the dishes we ordered. They're flat and made with rice flour; it was sweet and satisfying without being overly so. Both my dad and I were big fans. The sweet milk buns were good but very filling due to the heaviness of the lotus seed and the fluffiness of the bun. It was well made though. My dad wasn't a huge fan of these, but I liked them. Fried sesame balls are one of my favorite dim sum dishes. These were decent but not great. I usually like mine to have some give in them, but these were fried to the point of us being unable to pick them up with chopsticks. The short ribs were the only meat dish that actually tasted like meat. Probably because you can't really add any flour to it to cut costs. The meat was decent though the flavoring a little too sweet. Overall, not a bad dim sum place, though I still prefer Windsor. China Pearl doesn't have the selection of dumplings that Windsor has. They have a few steamed ones and "fried" ones, but when the cart for the fried ones came around, they looked greasy and unappetizing so I passed on that. I probably wouldn't come back here; I'd rather try out Hei La Moon or go back to Windsor. Being from LA, my standards for this place weren't too high, which was good because I would have otherwise been greatly disappointed.
(2)
John B.
This is not my favorite dim sum place, compared to the ones I've been to in Chicago, LA and NY. But I would say that this is one of the more "consistent" ones in Boston. Here's why: They are always crowded because they're known for their food availability, fast service and cheap price. Spacious place and the wait is usually really fast. On weekends they're packed here. The buffet line adds diversity to their food and it's always a good extra something to have for dim sum. Fast service, not the most friendly and warming attitude but they get their job done fast and efficiently. I personally really like the shrimp dumplings (Ha Gow), it doesn't taste frozen and almost taste fresh. I always have to get that there. Wish the parking was a bit easier, we always have to park in the garage nearby since finding street parking in Chinatown is almost impossible every time.
(4)
Kelly P.
It has been well over three months but the phrase "dim sum" still triggers my mouth to salivate like a Pavlov canine. China Pearl is marked by an unmistakable plastic sign that hangs above the doorway. Upon entering, there are immense stairs, carpeted with elaborate gold leaves with a burgundy background color. It is a monumentally large restaurant with substantial seating. There was no wait on a Saturday morning when we arrived around 11. We were seated immediately and next to the grand kitchen doors. The establishment is bedecked with ornate gold Chinese letters, Chinese paper lanterns that are fixed to the ceiling, and garnished with cherry blossoms. They have an extensive selection of dim sum. All the dishes we tasted were freshly made. One of my favorite items is the Sesame Balls which come in a set of three. They are glutinous rice balls that are filled with a sweet, smooth red bean paste, coated in sesame seeds, and deep fried. There are Crab Balls that are made from imitation crab; the "pink slime" of fish. These are discernible as they are coated in shredded wonton skin, and festooned with a crab claw. These are quite large and are served in a pair. The Taiwanese You Fan, has a literal translation of "oil rice." It is sticky rice that is steamed and fried in a wok with shi-itake mushrooms, pork, and pork fat. It glistens with rich fat and is topped with freshly cut cilantro. The dish is served with a thick, sweet, and slightly spicy chili sauce. Customer service here was attentive and helpful. Some Pro Tips: Sit close by the kitchen. Not only are your dishes guaranteed to be fresh, but the staff will not miss you. Cards are accepted. When you order multiple dishes from the staff pushing cards, be sure to keep count of how many stamps she is applying to your bill. It is easy to lose track if you have an array of dishes already on your table. Also ask whether a dish is small, medium, or large. Prices vary exponentially based on size.
(4)
Phyllis C.
Went here for Dim Sum on a Saturday (yesterday) around 2:30 PM-- alone. I searched for the "right" place to eat lunch in Chinatown tirelessly on Yelp and other sights...ended up more confused than ever. So many bad reviews. Wierd! My experience: No wait--seated immediately--waiter friendly--ladies pushing carts also friendly and willing to explain things to the best of their ability--I was totally comfortable dining alone and even tried the chicken feet...wow! Pretty tasty! Enjoyed 3 other dishes plus the chicken feet, complimentary hot tea and ice water--17 bucks later--about 35 minutes... and a 2 dollar tip... Overall a great experience for me and I will be back! Only complaint was no sauteed greens available in small Dim Sum portions. Chinese food without greens for me is a bummer.
(4)
L F.
Hmm not sure why China Pearl has so many mixed reviews. I think for dim sum they do a decent job. And when the prices are so low, it's hard to really complain. A suggestion is to arrive early. That way you avoid the mid-day dim sum crowds. I have never had a problem getting a table on the weekend. They serve cart style, so you pick your items as they come along. I guess some people are opposed to this type of service, but I like being inspired by what is on the cart. My favorite items are of course the dumplings, the sweet pork filled buns, and the fried crab claw things (not sure what exactly they are called).
(4)
Eric C.
I have been here too many times to count now and I have yet to do a review. There are many places for you to choose from when thinking about dim sum. All of them are really great places but really one tops them all and that is: China Pearl Restaurant (it'd really be silly if I said another restaurant in this review..). Anyways, as an avid fan of dim sum, I've been to a place or two in my lifetime so I have a basis for comparison. When you go to dim sum, you really should have an open mind because some of the best savory foods are the ones you might not think are the most savory. For those of you who are new to the dim sum experience, this place will allow you to experience it to the fullest. Dim sum, or "touch of the heart", is meant to give you a dining experience much like Spanish tapas. You get a small dish of many different foods so that you can taste a little of everything. Some of the classic dim sum plates include: Siu mai (a meat ball kind of) Ha Gao (shrimp dumpling) Fung zao (braised chicken feet literally translated as "Phoenix claws") Cherng fun (how would you translate this into something that people would understand... rice cake?) Pai Guot (braised short ribs) Nai wong bao (dessert: egg yolk bao... delicious!!!) Those are a list of my favorite go to dim sum dishes and in generally a pretty safe list of foods that everyone will enjoy. One thing that I have seen served here that I haven't seen elsewhere is the chicken feet, short rib rice. If you like those two dishes then you've got to try this! Make sure to get the soy sauce to go over it and you'll be happily full after finishing your meal =) Parking is always a problem in Boston in general and in Chinatown especially. My advice is to park in a parking garage, pay the fee because your lunch/brunch/dinner is going to be cheap anyways.
(5)
Alice S.
I must say that this is a pretty decent place. It's one of the more "classic" Chinese restaurants in Chinatown as it's been around for a very long time. It's a decently sized restaurant and it's pretty popular with the crowds but waits usually aren't too bad. Food again is pretty decent, nothing exceptional, but definitely not bad either. It's very, very average.
(3)
Stacy H.
i really appreciated how fast the seating service is here. but if you have a big group, make sure all of your party is there - they won't seat you otherwise. pretty solid dim sum, but very limited vegetarian options.
(3)
Jenn Z.
Solid dim sum place that offers the typical dishes. Great price and always feels very stuffed afterwards. Also, I like how the food carts usually come by very quickly after you sit down. Brace for a chaotic, noisy market-like setting when coming on a weekend. It can be quite an experience.
(4)
Lin N.
Went here yesterday and felt I had to write a review to warn others. I ate lunch with 2 other people and the bill came to 80 dollars! I have had dim sum in Chinatown before, a few years ago, and figured between 20 and 30 dollars for the 3 of us. 80 dollars was insane and I asked the woman ringing me up if that was correct and she pointed to the stamps and how they were calculated. I hadn't kept track of the stamps when the carts came by but I cannot believe that we ordered 80 dollars worth of food. I will not be coming back here, though the rest of the meal had been as expected base on the other reviews.
(1)
Johnathan B.
I am visiting Boston and I came across Chinatown around lunch time. Me and a friend found this place and decided it looks good and has good reviews -so why not. A waitress showed us to a table, gave us tea, and basically disappeared for the rest of the meal. After waiting for around 15 minutes without anyone coming to serve the table, I called one of the waiters and asked for a menu for me and my friend. He then arrived with one menu, and didn't respond when I asked him for another. After a few minutes time I had to call him up again (since he wouldn't arrive on his own) and ordered some food and drinks. The drinks arrived right away, but the food arrived in a different matter. After around 15 minutes, the dish my friend order arrived, not less than 10 minutes (!!!) later, my dish arrived. At that point, we were both pissed and therefore the food tasted poorly, although it might have actually been good, therefore the two stars. After the horrific service, I decided the waiter does not deserve a tip, as it is suppose to be a way to appreciate the service, and that service sacked. While going down the stairs of the restaurant to leave, the waitress, from the beginning of this journey, came running after me saying "no tip, no tip!". After explaining to her what was wrong, and that they don't deserve a tip, she went to her manager who was standing at the entrance, told her the story, and the manager haven't even looked at us. Worst place on earth, want Chinese food? Find some other place.
(2)
Kim L.
Every time I visit Boston, I make it a point to stop for dim sum in Chinatown. I've been to China Pearl twice now, and have had a good experience both times. I usually stick with dumplings, buns and rice and I have never been disappointed. The pork shumai-style dumplings and steamed pork buns are my favorite! I always leave full & satisfied, and it is usually no more than $10 per person. The tea is also delicious and always hot!
(4)
Wei Zhong G.
The price was fair for the nine dimsum items that we shared among three people. Around half the items were still available for ordering even though we went at 5 pm. The mango pudding and tofu pudding were pretty legit. I didn't like the durian puffs; they tasted rather artificial. Vegetarians should stay away from this place. Not only was there a paucity of options, when we inquired about the vegetarian options (in Mandarin), the waitress asked us, "Why come to a dimsum place if you're vegetarian?"
(2)
Fay L.
A classic dim sum restaurant in Chinatown. Used to be much better back in the day, but it now has to compete with other spacious dim sum places and doesn't quite measure up as well anymore. Still good for the classics: chang fen, feng zhao, shumai, buns, etc. I think Hei La Moon has more variety for types of dishes offered.
(3)
May C.
One of my fav restaurants of all times. Very authentic dim sum, cheap price, great varieties even including some food from other parts of China. I love come here early to avoid lines and try a lot of different things with my friends.
(5)
Sarouth R.
The food here is good not bad there are lots of table I love how they have decorated the place my mom and me and sister love this place every year we go there best place ever
(5)
Rob F.
I went to China Pearl today with a lovely Lao family I know and we had Dim Sum. There were five of us. We started out with several plates of spare ribs. They were chopped in small pieces and tasted like they were boiled in some kind of stock. You got a little ginger flavor. They were ok. Lots of little bones. Next, came the chicken feet and the tripe! Uuh. I knew it. I had chicken feet before in dark soy sauce. This time there was nothing to cover up the flavor. They taste like chicken. A little gelatinous, a little squeaky between the teeth, and lots of little toe bones. I had a couple chopsticks of tripe, which wasn't bad. Sesame, ginger, and what I thought was garlic. Better than the honeycomb tripe us Italians cook in tomato sauce. Very mild. Better than expected. We had sticky rice with pork wrapped in some kind of leaf. It was good. At this point, I was noticing the steam table, and got up to check it out. We all decided to go. My date offered to stay behind and watch the coats. She said if I ever came back to never, ever, leave anything at the table. It will be promptly stolen. How nice! I got a couple more dishes. I had fried shrimp, crab balls and taro balls. You've got to watch it when you see anything with "balls" in it at a Chinese restaurant! These were formed in the shape of a ball. Yummy deep fried in a crispy batter. The crab was wrapped in minced shrimp and little curly strips of taro. That was good. The taro ball had little pieces of pork in the middle and was also good. We had a plate of fried octopus. We all thought that it was greasy and we left it on the table. We had a noodle wrapped fried crispy cruller for dessert that I also thought was ok. They had that with a silky tofu they scoop out of a barrel. Neither tasted of much at all. Dessert was definitely a let down. We all spent much of our time munching and slurping and spitting little bones in our plates. P'tooey - clink. P'tooey - clink..... repeat. Have another chicken foot! My first experience in a Dim Sum place was pretty good. I'd have to give credit to my hosts. Left to my own, I'd have eaten dumplings all morning. That's what I thought Dim Sum mostly was! They ordered what they usually do, and I got to experience it. To be fair, nothing really blew my doors off. I didn't order any take out, but I did like the deep fried (of course) things and I got to experiment. I would like to go right back and try some more. Maybe it would be easier to go to the one in Quincy next time. I must mention that when they seated us, I walked past a table that had a big plate with several pieces of lettuce. On each one was a piece of crispy skin. There were more plates, but I had to wonder what they were having. Suckling pig maybe, or Peking duck? It looked good! I pointed at it and went "Ooh, ooh" but my hosts took me by the hand and dragged me to my table. No, today we're eating "spare parts." Lovely!
(3)
Marina N.
I decided to come to this place again. Since last time we kind of went late in the day. This time we arrived at 10 am and it was actually worst. Only three carts moving around with very little to choose from. If you want dim sum and don't want to go into Boston, go to the China Pearl in Woburn!! Now that's dim sum!
(2)
Tiffany J.
I've been going to this place since I was 5-6 years old. Almost 20 years later, it's still going strong. Visited today for the first time in years because we didn't want to wait 30 minutes for Winsor across the street (at 2:30pm on a Saturday, no less!). I've been to Winsor, Empire Garden, and China Pearl in the past few weeks and thought China Pearl was the least impressive of the 3. The steamed shrimp dumplings were great. The xia chang2 fen3 (steamed rice roll with shrimp in soy sauce) was a little soggy and bland. The luo2 buo gao (turnip cake) was tasty (there was actual turnip in it - a real sign of quality) but on the greasy side. For weeks, I had been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to eat Winsor's shrimp-stuffed eggplant, but China Pearl disappointed - when the cart rolled over, the "shrimp" and the eggplant were dunked into hot water for reheating, then plopped onto our plates, an oily, watery mess. The "shrimp" wasn't shrimp - it was fish and shrimp cake - and it wasn't "stuffed" in the eggplant, either. Go to China Pearl for the traditional ambiance and the dim sum "rolling cart experience," which is slowly disappearing from Boston Chinatown dim sum restaurants. But if you want quality dim sum, go across the street to the much smaller Winsor, and be prepared for a long wait.
(3)
Katie Y.
These days, China Pearl is not at its best. About 10 years ago, it was the place where everyone went (the glory days). Nowadays, it's one of the worst places to go to (according to foodie parents). My father (who went with his friends), he said that there were very few people sitting at the tables so there were like 3 carts just circling around the tables. The food took a hit with very few choices.
(1)
Jasmine M.
This has been my "go-to dim sum spot. be sure you sit in the downstairs area because I find that the upstairs area has less variety. The crab claws are LOADED with crab and are really delicious. If you're vegetarian, don't go here.
(4)
Kenny W.
Had dim sum here a week ago and it wasn't the best dim sum I've had in Boston. It was during a weekend and it was relatively busy. They had multiple carts pushing around and a small stand in the middle where you can get up and get some dishes. The tea pot was kind of dirty when they put it on the table. From what I remembered, the pan fried sticky rice was good, the shrimp rice noodle was alright, steam chive dumpling was unimpressive, roast pork buns were alright and egg tart seemed a bit off. The only thing I thought was good was the fried shrimp ball with crab. I liked the ambiance and the numbers of carts that were pushing around. However, I think I'll continue my search around Boston for a good dim sum place.
(3)
Alex P.
Dim Sum breakfast on a Sunday morning Wonderful feast for 2... $20... My new go to place in Boston... Great food... Fried crab... Shrimp dumplings... Tofu rolls... Not to be missed...
(5)
Susan C.
The young lady who's the hostess here during dim sum hour really needs to take a course in customer service because she is extremely rude and has no manners. China Pearl is one of my fav. spots for dim sum, but the service here has me rethinking this place as my go to. I came here for dim sum on a weekend a few weeks ago, and there was a wait for a table. Fine, no big deal, I stood and waited in the line. The hostess then asks patrons in line to move up a bit, so I follow the line along. Apparently I must not have walked up far enough because they next thing I know I am being manhandled by the hostess, who is trying to prod me even closer to the person in front of me (there was probably 6 inches between me and the patron in front of me at the time). The hostess did this to me several times during my wait for a table. I've eaten at numerous restaurants in Chinatown and elsewhere, and never have I encountered a woman so rude. Thinking back, I should have told her to keep her grubby mitts off me.
(2)
Lusi J.
This used to be my favorite place for Dimsum but after my recent visit, I dont think I will be coming back. The chicken feet were dry bland, the meat balls tasted like last nights leftovers, the service could have been better. We had to hunt down a worker to refill our tea every time. The only non-disappointing dish was the chuerng fun.
(2)
Kelsey M.
Great tasting selection of just about anything you can imagine. Biggest frustration is how pushy some of the ladies are that push the food carts.
(4)
Angela C.
(I'm Cantonese and grew up on this food). Dim sum was excellent, great variety. Side of restaurant has already prepared most popular dishes available for pick up (like the black bean clams). Better than Hei La Moon. Surprisingly organized in terms of seating customers and paying. Dedicated waiter/waitress for each section for all miscellaneous items (e.g. sauces, extra plates, tea, etc.) Very busy on weekends, go before noon. Customer base is mix of Asians and non-Asians; always helps to have a Cantonese speaker in your group! But pointing at food always works.
(5)
Susan L.
We weren't expecting great service, but we also weren't expecting to be forgotten after placing our order. After sitting for half an hour, we finally got the waiter's attention in the fairly empty restaurant and his only response was "I see." The martini was watered--highway robbery at $11. The dishes were OK; duck with vegetables and pork pad thai. I would not return here. We had time constraints and the more popular restaurants had waits, so we ended up here on a Saturday night. Oh well--will do better research before returning to Chinatown.
(2)
Vinay F.
Definitely among the top 3 dim sum places I've been to in addition to being very inexpensive. The food that struck me as best were the barbecue pork buns, the fried chive dumplings, and a circular steamed shrimp dumpling I don't remember the name of (shu mai was great as well).
(5)
Lena A.
There is nothing you can say that was not delicious here. Loved everything especially the tofu
(5)
Karen M.
I know it's fashionable to diss this warhorse of a restaurant in Chinatown, but I have always had great experiences. First, the atmosphere is very ornate and festive, and I think that helps to make meals here feel like a special occasion, even if you're just going to have a quick lunch. Second, I have never had anything but hot, fresh, dim sum here. I feel like the restaurant is so busy that keeps the turnover high so it keeps coming out fresh. I have never had cold greasy food here. My only criticism is that you do need to ask for exactly what you want and listen carefully to what is being offered. Part of this is because the servers' English is not always the best. So even if you don't know what something's called, make an effort to describe it carefully and then they can bring it to you. Otherwise you may wind up spending a lot of money for items you don't really want or that aren't selling that day so they keep pushing them back around to you. There is a full bar but I've not had good experiences with mixed drinks, I think it's a weak point. If you must drink, have a beer.
(4)
Chris L.
This is a staple (along with like Hei La Moon, Winsor, Imperial Garden, Grand Chau Chau) for Chinatown Dim Sum. I. Dim Sum There's the usual pushing of various carts with all kinds of stuff ranging from dumplings (har gow, shaomai, haam4 seoi2 gok3), rice noodles, vegetables, rice noodle wrapped meat, lo mai gai, mostly steamed buns (some baked on the dessert cart), turnip pancakes, and the regular assortment of Dim Sum regulars. Plus a good variety on desserts (mango pudding, coconut milk cubes, egg tarts, dessert tofu "dou fu fa", etc.) It's probably busiest like weekends from 11-1. But since China Pearl is so large, I think the wait isn't very long. If you arrive before 11 or after 1, you shouldn't have a long wait. - Is it authentic, say compared to Vancouver (Canada), San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Hong Kong or other Cantonese Dim Sum? Pretty close. I'd say it's "good enough". You will get some more esoteric stuff in other cities, but they're probably catering to popular tastes. - Credit cards? Yes. - Service? Wave down one of the waiters. You do have to be a little proactive at times, they're being polite. - things to be wary of: (notice en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Di… ) The spare ribs do have bones. From what I've noticed from my parents, Cantonese people love their bones ... more flavor. They'll give you anything from cold water/ice water, hot water for your tea, dishes from the menu, the tally / total, etc. II. Non-Dim Sum Most people don't go here as often when it's non-Dim Sum hours, but yes, they actually have a mostly-Cantonese and some Mandarin dish menu. It's decent, nothing to rave about. With both Dim Sum and non-Dim Sum, they do have a good assortment of teas. Most popular with my friends tend to be one of: Chrysanthemum, red tea specifically Bo-Lei tea (Cantonese) or Pu-erh tea (Mandarin), or Jasmine tea, although sometimes we go with Oolong or something else. And also you can get the usual pungent yellow mustard and spicy red pepper paste or chili garlic.
(4)
Cassandra T.
Came here with a friend on a Sunday after Whale Watching. We had preferred to try Winsor Dim Sum, but there was a wait, and China Pearl offers the cart ordering experience. I had warned my vegetarian comrade that dim sum carts are generally full of pork and shrimp, but he was ready for adventure. The food was generally good quality. I've had better of most of the items, but there were some unique carts, like the tofu (actually tofu), eggplant, and shrimp-filled pepper cart that I really liked. I've had better tripe, but it could have been the luck of the draw. The vegetable items were hard to find. Our first cart supposedly had fried tofu, but it was most certainly pork. Even the turnip cake had pieces of fish in it! It was the fishiest turnip cake I had ever had. Overall, we were able to find two actual tofu items and missed out on the broccoli cart. To the management's credit, when we inquired about the cart with the vegetables, we were told there was none. I would say there were four passable items, with three of them being in some kind of meat/fish flavored sauce, because, well, it's Chinese food. Service was slightly above average from my non-Chinese-speaking perspective.
(3)
David H.
Stopped in w my children 10 and 12 for dim sum lunch on a weekday at 1 pm. Waited about 10 minutes as the place was packed. plenty of families enjoying dim sum while kids on vacation. Waiter was a little slow w the drink order. Brought my pot of tea, but forgot the kids' sodas. Carts came by and the ladies seemed a little more animated than usual. Being Chinese I did not have a problem ordering, but I noticed the ladies explaining the ingredients to non-Asians, which is nice. We had the usual pork/shrimp dumplings, shrimp dumpling, beef balls, egg custard tarts, shrimp/chive dumpling, rice noodle w shrimp, and a platter of beef chowfun. Dim sum was fresh, flavorful and hot. Chowfun was tasty but a little too greasy. Had enough for a good size doggy bag. Nice to see the chinatown area so popular. Another highrise taking over an old building will destroy the neighborhood.
(3)
Johnny S.
This place used to be awesome. It was a landmark and the go to place for dim sum. But their food has gone downhill. The place is empty more often than not and people have started going to Hei La Moon for quite some time. Visited China Pearl recently and noticed that every item is at least a medium; this is why it now costs $50 for two or $80 for three people. They have moved towards making up for poor quality food and lack of clientele via overpricing. Great job, I will no longer recommend nor visit this place again.
(1)
Dana H.
This was fantastic!! We (party of 6) got to the restaurant at around 1 on a Sunday and only had to wait 10 minutes and the place was packed. The host was very kind and friendly. Tea and water arrived in a timely manner. The food was delicious and there was quite a variety on the carts coming around. We were very pleased with the service and food--not sure why this place only has 3 stars. It was also inexpensive; we ended up spending about $13 per person and we ordered a lot of food. We definitely would go back again.
(5)
Tammy W.
We were so excited that China Pearl would CATER a Chinese wedding banquet. We really did not want to make everyone find parking in Chinatown for the reception. They provided the catering for dinner and provided the bar service. The conversations and emails were friendly enough, but they are not in sync with each other. We receive a price from one person, and the next day, we would have a different price. We would set up a tentative meeting for the next time, but it would never happen. It was very difficult to get a hold of them in person. What they quoted us for price during our meetings was not reflected totally on our final bill, so we are still disputing it with them. They added fees that were not talked about and that we thought were unfair due to the service or lack thereof. Service wise, the normal wedding coordinator was not there. She had a prior wedding and so did the manager we talked to. However we knew this all ahead of time and knew that the manager's sister would be at our wedding to coordinate. They did well that day in the kitchen. The food was delicious. However the food was served out of order, they asked if they were cutting the cake, which was already settled at our meetings, and they forgot to serve the cake to one whole table! The bars were set up well. The bar tenders were personable, although the "cute one" went missing for a while. But at the end of the night, they did not dump the trash. Instead, they left FIVE bags of trash for the wedding party to clean up, in our nice clothes! Then, when we finally cleaned up everything, we realized that they threw out the bottom part of the cake tiers that we had to put a deposit on at the bakery, so we lost out on that as well.
(3)
Lina V.
Didn't have to wait for a table on Sat morning. So good!!!
(5)
Jennifer E.
I love Dim Sum and China Pearl does it well. The place is always slammed and thriving with hungry people being fed delicious plates off of steaming carts of deliciousness. My friend is Chinese and although most of the staff appear to speak at least someEnglish, I've found that I'm better off leaving the ordering to him. I've enjoyed most everything I've tried and really the whole Dim Sum atmosphere is just exciting. The food you order is on a price tier system, so your cards on stamped based on how expensive the time with be. The dishes aren't too expensive so you can usually share several dishes and desserts and not end up spending too much. I've found that Dim Sum tends to be more of a brunch concept but I've had it for dinner as well, which is fun too. I've been to the Quincy location as well but I prefer this one, which is right in the heart of Chinatown in Boston.
(4)
A L.
This place definitely has a variety of food and their own food bar and regular bar incase you want something different. Unlike other dim sum places, it's very spacious and there's even a cart that goes around making bubble tea and jelly drinks- ahh-mazinggggg! Maybe it's just me but, everything is a bit bland and watery compared to what I'm used to in New York.
(4)
Allie T.
Solid dim sum place with great offerings. Only problem for those of us who don't speak Cantonese-- the servers didn't speak much English and the dumplings are hard to tell apart. Good price though and had a fun time.
(3)
Kimberly Y.
I've been here a few times for banquet style dinners and the food can be either a hit or miss. The service and manager were both good. Restaurant has 2 levels and is very big and roomy. I've not come here for dim sum in over a decade so can't comment on that.
(3)
Swatee G.
So my Asian friend decided me and my other Indian Parsi friend needed the correct, authentic Dim sum experience. We landed here at China Pearl - Thanks to yelp! It was pretty ok. I had a BUNCH of random things, that I could never be able to tell you names of.. no.. not even if you threatened me with a lizard.. i couldn't.. There is absolutely no way I could have come away happy/ unembarrassed had I gone there by myself! The place is so amazingly authentic, that it is hard to converse in anything but Chinese! I would have been eye balled by everyone around me.. yes, even the fat little smushy kids who sat drooling over their noodles and sweets with their parents!! That's how lost I would have felt!! However, I had my awesome friend and her boyfriend to guide me! Which was awesome.. we shared a tonne of dim-sums.. I attempted to create a tower of discarded dim sum boxes as we sat there, waiting for more carts to appear with yummy goodies, but most of my attempts were thwarted by wild eyed scurrying waiters who whipped off the boxes as soon as finished.. Let me assure you, we ate enough to create a tower at least my own height! :p The carts rotated in a timely manner, and there was a certain level of excitement every time a new one rolled by, cuz U never know what they would carry! Lol.. it was like being 5 years old again and at the local fair.. ice cream man.. ting ting ta ting! All in all, it was a great experience - loved the concept of carts, all the food we ate - I cant remember any names.. but the shrimp thingy was awesome.. and oh the chicken filled thingie, and pan fried at the bottom.. was the bomb! :p If you know what I am talking about.. go get it.. if not, get one of your Asian frenz to take you! :p
(4)
Ada K.
Horrible service! We were asked to wait at 4 different spots of the restaurant for about 30 mins. The hostess were very rude and the restaurant doesn't have a waiting system. We sat in a corner and the food trolleys came very slow. If you are assigned to a remote table, no good dim sum come by. Also, the clean trolley with dirty plates/ trash come through every minute. Only tried 4 dim sum and all of them were very oily and greasy!
(1)
Claire N.
Some of the plates were delicious, some less so. A fun experience. The people pushing around the carts of dim sum can't really describe what's in the dumplings so it's a bit of an adventure. Good place to take kids.
(3)
Jency P.
Although I enjoyed my experience there, I personally thought the food was a bit greasy. It was all right but I've experienced better. Carts were pretty good about coming around and the staff was attentive to our needs. If you are going to eat at this place I recommend: Pork ribs, chang fen, and the tofu dessert.
(2)
Camille R.
I knew I should have stayed away from dim sum while living in Boston!! I had an appointment in Chinatown and decided to make a day out of it. I walked by China Pearl 3 or 4 times before I finally walked in... It looked, smelled, and acted like a typical Dim Sum restaurant you'd find in the Bay Area. But it was nothing. I mean NOTHING like the dim sum you'd find in the Bay Area. First, they offer very little vegetarian options; I ordered to tofu - it was stuffed with shrimp. The eggplant was stuffed with shrimp. I only found one fried dumpling with just veggies. That sucked. The Shrimp Stuffed Eggplant was gross. The eggplant was overcooked and the skin inedible. The rest of my dishes were just okay. I didn't hate it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back here.
(3)
Less H.
I was a dim sum virgin until today. We went on a whim and boy am I glad we did. Dim sum kicks ass. I knew the general idea of dim sum, ladies push cart of food around and tell you what it is in Chinese. As a fat lazy American it's confusing and I have no idea what I ordered until I put it in my mouth. If you don't eat stuff like meat it's probably not the best place for you to go. If you ask for vegetarian you probably aren't going to get it. We ate a lot of pork. See if you can get the sweet pork buns- so good. I have been informed that they have a new-ish place in Woburn. Oh I'll be back, and I'll make sure to wear my eating pants.
(4)
John O.
A staple in China Town for great traditional Dim Sum. There is rarely a wait to get in because the place is HUGE, unlike some of the other places around. They also use the push karts rather than a menu which I enjoy. If you are looking for some good steamed dumplings and other savory bites then this is the place to be.
(4)
Linda C.
It's a typical dim sum joint. The place looks fairly clean and there is quite a bit of selection to choose from. The flavor is okay but not great.
(3)
Julia J.
I really liked this place for dim sum. Although their food tastes generic, it still tastes pretty good for occasional brunch.
(5)
Anne W.
Boston is just not a place for good Chinese food. Just the way it is unfortunately. If your expectations are lowered.. you can have an okay time. I haven't been here in a while.. went here for dimsum with some friends. There wasn't really any wait as there are more tables than people now.. and most people gravitate towards Hei La Moon. The food is mediocre.. it's not horrible.. not great.. but that's how Boston is. They have a table for vegetables.. clams, eggplant, etc. You should consider taking a look at that. I thought the waitstaff was better than Hei La Moon.. they clear tables faster.. they come by more often. The price was still cheap at $12 per person.
(3)
Tiffany V.
We came here for Dim Sum Sunday around 1pm. Their traditional dim sum a la cart is served until 3pm and thereafter, you can order from their menu for dim sum until the place closes. We had a party of 13 (adults and kids) plus 3 babies who needed high chairs so we required two tables next to each other. We were seated within 10 minutes. Not a long wait for a Sunday at all. The place was spacious, bathrooms were clean and were continually cleaned while we were there, and plenty of tables and room. Each table could seat about 8 people. Plenty of carts and only half a minute between each cart to come by our table. Food options were splendid except I did not see beef or pork spare ribs that are available elsewhere. Here's what I remember: Har Gow: The BEST I've ever tasted. Chewy outside with a good yummy shirmp interior Shu Mai: normal, not memorable but my niece really liked it. Crab balls were kind of odd with the weird outer shell. It was too hard to bite into and wasn't as good as back home. Duck leg & chicken feet, were both good. Banh Cuon (white rolls of dough) with peanut and hoisin sauce was different and crispy on the outside. Tasty and slightly sweet. Pork crispy bun very good, crispy, sweet exterior with sticky pork interior. Pineapple buns were delicious! I don't know why we never tried these before. Mung bean, soft, slightly flaky tops, chewy, bready yumminess! Overall, our experience was good. Staff was normal. Food was surprisingly much better than the dim sum fare in Northern Va.
(4)
Jessica S.
I specifically remember writing a review for this place so where did it go? Anyway my friend and I stopped in at a non peak dim sum time. maybe during the week. It was a weird experience. The food we had was ok and at some point they just stopped bringing the carts around. No we are about to finish fyi, nothing. We were just sitting there like...I guess they are done. We left and went somewhere else. The 3 stars is generous for the food but the service was terrible.
(3)
Sidney L.
I recently became reacquainted with China Pearl, my family's restaurant of choice in Chinatown for many years, for both dinner and dim sum. Sadly, it's not the same restaurant that I remember visiting 3+ years ago, as it is in Chinatown, there are numerous better options nearby. - The dim sum here is decent (three stars), though the seafood doesn't taste as fresh. The shrimp har gow and shumai had a mushy, texture-less feeling inside, but otherwise, China Pearl has your full complement of decent dim sum offerings. I really liked the pork buns here, and ordered a couple extra to bring home with me. - Dinner here is abysmal (one star). I should've known when I walked in here and there was only one other table occupied - it felt kind of funny to have a banquet restaurant nearly all to myself. The General's chicken was not as crispy as it should have been, and wasn't even served with broccoli (just a plate of chicken!). The spicy fried calamari was oily and not crispy. And the noodles in the pan fried noodles were undercooked and not crispy. I guess they don't do crispy so well here. Beyond that, the service was surprisingly inattentive considering that there were not many patrons here.
(2)
Linh L.
It's my first day in Boston and I decided to go to China Pearl for dim sum around 11am. It's an average place and nothing really hit the spot. The anticipation to dine at China Pearl was a big disappointment. We had 9 dim sum dishes and not even one stood out.
(1)
Dannie W.
I really don't like the food here. Well, maybe it's good for dim sum and I did not order any. The staff said every dim sum item would have meat including those seafood options... My friend cannot eat meat but can eat seafood, so we can't order anything. So we ordered sweet and sour fish filet. That was so not Chinese. They put a lot of batter and so few fish. I feel like I can only taste the batter and not the fish. And the sauce was lemon sauce, not the typical orange-color sweet and sour sauce. So the dish in general just taste so weird that I can only have a few bites and no more. We also ordered the yu-xiang eggplant. It was under cooked and the sauce did not get soaked into the eggplant at all. We also ordered the clams with black bean sauce. It was not as fresh as the ones served in Jade Garden. In general, the food does not taste good, it's over-priced, and the service is not good. I am not going to this restaurant any more.
(2)
Jon L.
China Pearl, thank you for your reliable mediocrity. You're never the first place suggested when we decide on a weekend brunch/dim-sum. But, you're a worthy fill-in when other places have waits too long, or when friends over-invite friends-of-friends. Your over-MSG'd dishes don't suck so much that anyone vetoes your candidacy, and you end up being the dim sum-of-last-resort. Thanks for bailing out our group.
(2)
lily l.
DO NOT come here for dim sum. It was such a horrible dining experience. Came here Monday afternoon for some dim sum since Windsor House and Gourmet Dumpling House was packed and I will have to say I will never come here again. First off the waitor was extremely rude. We had to ask 3 times for water and eventually my husband just got up and went to their service station to get our own. Dim sum was non existant, there were three carts in which I actually had to personally chase down to get any food (which was NOT good or even hot). Other patrons in the restaurant actually got up and left because they got NO FOOD. When it was time to pay we could not get a waitor to add up or tab and had to go to the front and stood there forever before anyone showed up to allow us to pay for our bill. Thank you....for nothing.
(1)
Kitty C.
2nd best dim sum in Boston, classic venue for Asian weddings. They're much more well rounded than hei la moon in terms of dinner and what not.
(4)
Jimmy H.
I think there is some kind of treaty or non-compete clause among all dim sum joint in Chinatown. None of them are not that all great or spectacular. All that tolerance of mediocre food is all forgiven by incredibly cheap price. And China Pearl is another one. As Tom E wrote, it is average dim sum parlor. Some dishes are better than the others. Like pork bun for example. I think that one is the best I ever tasted in Chinatown. Other dishes I liked were : - Shumai - Sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves. Although you have no idea which cost how much as everything written in all abbreviated Chinese, don't sweat it. Unless you are buying 5 Takeru Kobayashi-es(Japanese hot dog eating champ) dim sum, you won't be paying that much. Otherwise, this is still a good place to get with your friends for Sunday brunch for low price. I recommend it. Just don't expect anything spectacular.
(3)
Kim L.
We met some freinds here later in the afternoon for Dim Sum. This was our first experience and all in all it was very authentic I think. We went with someone who knew what to order and that was very helpful as the staff are not so helpful. I am sad to say that she did go have to go to the cart ladies to ask them to come over and provide us food. What we ate was pretty good. The steamed pork buns are good and we all really like the mei shu ( not sure if I spelled that correctly). The fried shrimp wontons were good and generally everything we got was good. It was coming to the end of the time they serve and it was difficult to get the carts to come to our table. The guys with us would have liked to of had more to eat but there came a point that it just wasn't gonna happen. The food was really hot when it came out for the most part. So much so that would recommend letting it sit a minute or two to cool off. They are stingy on giving you water so if you can get a pitcher at the beginning. We never saw a waiter that I know of. Food good, service lacking lots of luster.
(3)
Chelsea W.
Ah-May-Zing!! I know I give a lot of good reviews...but I think that when a place deserves recognition, I need to recognize. China Pearl is incredible. My boyfriend and I went here a couple of days ago when we were visiting Boston and let me just say that I would go back for this food. We ordered the scallion pancakes (best that either of us has ever had), half a roasted duck (delicious), I ordered the Kung Pao Chicken and he ordered the Beef Fried Rice. Out meal was so delicious. So tasty. So much flavor and not greasy at all. The server was so friendly and sweet. Our bill was surprisingly small!! We didn't finish all of our food so we took it all home and had it the following night as leftovers. Just as good the second time around! Love this place!
(5)
Chip S.
We try to stop in to China Pearl for dim sum every time we're in Boston and have never been disappointed. The food is consistently good - and cheap! I think the service is fine.
(4)
Andy H.
I been a faithful follower of China Pearl for years, but recently service there has been disappointing that made me want to retract my previous good reviews. Today, one of the dish we order was fried, and when we got it, it was very cold. When we called the server over and request for a new one, he and she wanted to simply throw in the fryer to reheated. I cook fry food from time to time, and fried food need to be hot to be delicious, other wise it's going to be mushy, or trap too much oil to be delicious. Long story short, THEY TOOK THE FOOD BACK AND PUT IT DIRECTLY ON THE COUNTER, AND PLAN TO GIVE IT TO OTHER CUSTOMERS. This is very disturbing for a frequency diner, and I think this is a poor business practice. I want to inform other diner of this issue, and dine at your own risk. Thank you.
(1)
Jeff C.
Pretty good for Dim Sum on the East Coast pretty authentic as well. The prices are pretty reasonable. Very big place excellent in hosting large parties or weddings. Dinner is very good has everything you would want.
(4)
Jeff D.
I've only been here for dim sum, and this time around was lucky enough to have a Chinese-speaker with us so we got very good service. Stuck mostly to dumplings, though we got a plate of duck that was good, but very oily (because it was duck.) Also the lotus-leaf wrapped rice was great. Had some chunks of pork inside and was probably my favorite dish. As always, my favorites were the various types of buns stuffed with meat. I love those things. Some blurry pictures Dumplings, pork fried rice (not the rice mentioned above) and duck bostonwolf.smugmug.com/p… Duck and shumai bostonwolf.smugmug.com/p… Rolls with shrimp and celery bostonwolf.smugmug.com/p… Pork buns and some sort of dumpling. My friend loved them but I did not try one bostonwolf.smugmug.com/p…
(3)
Marissa A.
We experienced dim sum at China Pearl at its peak. We decided to go on the weekend they celebrated the Chinese New Year. Yikes. The service was 'meh.' And we did sit at a table with 2 random people. However, it WAS the Chinese New Year. The saving grace of the meal was the fried crab claw ball (aka, the delicious death ball). That was some fried goodness. Otherwise, the dim sum was pretty good, standard choices. Not bad, not bad. But not the best either.
(3)
Ell C.
This restaurant is nothing exceptional but one of the few dim sum spots in Ctown. It served its purpose while I lived in Boston. The decor leaves little to be desired and could probably use deep carpet cleaning among other things. It is what it is....
(2)
Steven D.
There were quite a few options for dim sum in Boston, but I'm sad to say I regret deciding on this place for dim sum. I went with a few friends and we all agreed that everything tasted pretty bland except for the chicken feet and steam tofu skin roll. Service could have been better because I didn't think it was so busy that we had to wave our hands in the air to get some attention. Next time I'm in Boston I'll have to check out other dim sum places first, but then again, I wasn't impressed with Chinatown overall anyway. I'd choose the trash filled corners of my Philly Chinatown over the graffiti filled streets any day. The best thing I saw was a Nissan GT-R :)
(3)
Jenny N.
China Pearl is my parents' old standby dim sum spot, so I've been coming here since I was a wee child. With all the hustle and bustle, it actually reminds me of the teahouses in Hong Kong. In other words, it is grand compared to the other establishments in Chinatown. On weekends, the lines get so out of control that they have to assign you a number and they announce over the microphone when your number comes up. While they have 2 dining levels, if you are a small party, you may get seated at a large table with other patrons. This is done to accommodate all the diners as quicky as possible--and yes, this is how they do it in Hong Kong too! All in all, dining at China Pearl is as much about the experience and atmosphere as it is about the food. I love selecting different dim sum specialities from the rolling carts (they have all the standard offerings like har gow, siu mai, chicken feet, etc.) and I never get tired of watching the ladies fry up my turnip cake right in front of me. I highly recommend the sweet tofu "pudding" (doufu fa), which is served hot with sweet honey syrup. They also have steam tables on each floor, offering dishes like mussels in black bean sauce. If you want noodles or other more substantial fare, you can order off the regular menu to supplement your dim sum. Tip: It's best to go early--no later than 1:30 p.m. because that's when the dim sum is freshest.
(3)
Julie H.
I've been going to China Pearl for years and it never disappoints. They do a good dim sum, a brisk business and have a good choice of items. This time they made a delicious har gao (shrimp dumping), soft shell crab, shrimp and eggplant, tofu and shrimp, and shrimp and veggie dumplings. Their shrimp crepes were a bit too doughy with not enough shrimp. I miss the days of old when their menu also included lobster dumplings and shrimp stuffed mushrooms. I also wish they had more variety in their dumplings--I love shrimp and cilantro dumplings and a good pan fried vegetable dumpling. But for a good solid dim sum experience, China Pearl is a good bet.
(4)
Iv L.
Unfortunately, this place has gone down in years. Needs a bit of help. Dim sum is so so... dinner is just average like.
(2)
Erik F.
This is a large restaurant in the Boston Chinatown. I had a good dim sum lunch here one Sunday while visiting some friends in the city. Didn't leave me with any MSG hangover, good number of choices, our waiter was brusque but the dim sum cart ladies were generally friendly. I prefer Windsor across the street now, but I have to say you all are pretty well off in Boston in the dim sum department. 4 stars not five cause it was solid but nothing makes it really special.
(4)
Fan L.
This place is big, and sometimes it can get very crowded. That is not a problem, but I do not like it when they sit you and forget about you for 20min.... Ok, so after deciding to stand up and look for a waiter myself, the food there was actually pretty good. I would say 7/10 compared to dim sum I had in Hong Kong. The price is pretty good as well.
(3)
Reese D.
Used to be great! Quality has deteriorated over the years. The service used to be horrendous during its heyday. A lot better now, probably because business is slow. Came here with my mum for weekday lunch when we didn't want to wait in line at the overly crowded Hei La Moon. Its Quincy location is way better.
(2)
Ed Y.
4 star to 1. Ive been eating dim sum every week at China Pearl Quincy for the past several years and decided to give the Pearl in Boston a try. Ive been avoiding the Boston restaurant because of the lack of parking and also many friends said the quality has gone down. I hate to say it but i have to agree. The atmosphere is dark and gloomy, they added flower displays and a long paper dragon to the dining area but still its unpleasant. The dim sum is just terrible. Portions are small, dry like its been left out for a while, and just not tasty like their Quincy branch. I think the best chefs were moved to Quincy and the flagship restaurant has been forgotten. I remember back in the day i would have to wait over an hour to get into the Chinatown China Pearl. Today, we just walked right in, no waiting and sat down immediately. That was a bad sign right away. The waiter did not even ask us what kind of tea we wanted and just gave us whatever. What a disappointing brunch we had. I guess my friends were right, everyone is going to Hei La Moon now, thats where the real good dim sum is. Me, i'll stick with the Quincy branch, a little far but worth it. What a shame!!!
(1)
Ellen C.
So we tried to get into the best rated dim sum restaurant across the street (Winsor Cafe), and the wait was 45 minutes. And wound up at this place, as did, I suppose, many others. DO NOT GO HERE! The food is appallingly bad. Examples: the rice casings for dumplings are worth their weight in lead. The fillings are the worst I've ever had. I cannot think of a single dish I thought was more than remotely palatable. The service is lousy, meaning that the poor waitresses are both harassed, don't know English, and have absorbed the culture of the place which is: gloomy, sour, perfunctory. The sour-faced manager didn't seem to give a hoot about the customers. I brought guests from out of town who will never be in Boston again, and I was beyond embarrassed. If ever there is a next time for me and dim sum, I'll look outside of Chinatown - Cambridge, for instance. The "wisdom" that an ethnic restaurant is good if it has a lot of customers of its ethnicity does not hold here. There were many Asian customers, but the food was still gross.
(1)
Chris M.
I've been here for dim sum and for a formal chinese banquet dinner. The food was excellent both times. For dim sum, they not only had the carts going around, but they also had a food bar where you can get more unique items like scallop and vermicelli with fried garlic in a shell, big bowl of clams, and a big plate of mussels. Everything was delicious. The banquet was a wonderful. The event was for an annual Harry Dow Anniversary dinner in recognition of a Suffolk University Law School graduate who dedicated and started community commitment to public service. They had hor d'oeuvres going around as we mingled before food service started. We enjoyed a seven course meal (or was it nine). There was a lot of food and enough for leftovers too. They had a full bar. The ambience is loud and lively, just as you'd expect of a chinese banquet style evening. I would recommend this place to anyone as their food is great!
(5)
T H.
You know, this is place is really Not that great. Considering though, this is the first dim sum i've had in boston so far. My dim sum experiences are from california; specificially LA area and SF area. 1) Those stairs? What the heck its just weird to have to hike a mountain to get there 2) The noise level is beyond normal dim sum i think 3) Carts- or lack thereof. The place was packed on a sunday brunch and there's only 3 carts going around. this one cart kept circling around with the same food. what is wrong with them? 4) Service- again, or lack thereof. 5) Bathroom- from 100 yards away it looks nasty. so didn't want to go in there. 6) Food- very average. Although the price was decent. Will I return. Maybe if there's nothing else better.
(2)
Jang David K.
the service is so terrible. Of course you go here for their well-known dim sum and I gotta say that it's not that bad. But the workers seemed annoyed and angry when I asked questions about what's in their carts. They stare at you and speak Chinese when we keep telling them that we have no idea what they are talking about because we don't speak Chinese!! Because dim sum can get a bit greasy, I always ask for hot oil to spice up my taste buds. Last time I went, I asked for hot oil and they said they don't have it and never had it.....i was like what??? I came here like 10 times in last 3 years....you had it every time....what the heck?? and the waiter goes, would you like some Tabasco?? you serious?? What Chinese restaurant doesn't have hot oil and what Chinese restaurant carries around Tabasco?? Price is decent, carts are limited and service is whack sauce. China Pearl, eat my 3 star.
(3)
Chaos M.
The food there is the southern China style (Cantonese Style). This is not my favorite Chinese style, but it is still very good. But it seems most food is just dessert like dumplings, etc. I don't know how to order the main course.
(4)
Victoria K.
I visited China Pearl for my first visit to Boston's Chinatown (believe it or not). Everything we tried was delicious, and we could barely finish all our food! I love all the different textures and flavors of the various dumplings, even those that appear to be similar. For example, we enjoyed two different steamed shrimp dumplings. One had a somewhat thicker, chewier dough layer, while the other had a thinner skin and was filled with shrimp and scallions, adding the exact amount of mild onion flavor to set these apart from their friends. Both were great, but just different. I also think they did a great job with my favorite dim sum treat, the char siu bao, or steamed bbq pork buns. These were incredibly fluffy and chewy, with the perfectly sweet pork meat inside. Heaven! The only downside is that the whole shrimps in the rice noodles visibly had their poop chutes intact, which I'm told is completely normal at dim sum restaurants. Eww, but I'm sure we all eat shrimp poop without realizing it right? The whole meal cost about $22 (including tea), an incredible deal for the sheer quantity of delicious food (which we couldn't even finish)! Poop and all :)
(4)
Eric S.
The food is decent and the climb up the stairs makes you want to reward yourself with heart stopping greasy food.
(3)
James Y.
Pricey, poor service, had to order multiple times, and the curry was, in the words of the archetypal Australian describing poor beer, rather like making love in a canoe (****ing close to water). Chow mein was runny and lo mein was greasy.
(2)
joe w.
Tried the 9-course dinner except I skipped a couple of dishes at the beginning and end. Mushroom and bok choy dish tasted great. Beef and jelly fish tasted fine as did the soup. Note vegetarian, vegan or kosher options are nothing to write home about. The taro shell dish and jumbo shrimp/crab hybrid fried finger food looked and tasted distinctive. Other dishes are probably attainable elsewhere. Outside of dim sum hours, plenty of underutilized seating capacity is available on multiple floors. I suspect stairs to a second and third floor are not compatible with servicing an aging population. There is an elevator way in the back but this is not the most accessible restaurant. If you have elderly in your group, I would recommend a first floor restaurant or calling ahead to figure out how to access the elevator. Service could have been a little more attentive for example when I dropped a chopstick to offer a replacement. I ate with a previously positioned fork to continue. Address is convenient but the second floor is not easy for many patrons to get to. Overall dinner was an OK experience for a Chinese restaurant.
(3)
Thuy L.
China Pearl has redeemed themselves on my 2nd visit. They are bigger, better service, and the dim sum comes out quickly and hot. They serve the same things as Hei La Moon across the street but they have the Chinese broccoli on their carts as well as more authentic items, which I love. They also have the pineapple custard bun on their dessert cart, which Hei La Moon doesn't even serve. This is the best hangover food, greasy and hits the spot.
(4)
Tater M.
Great dim sum, yes if you don't speak/understand Mandarin, you'll have a bit of trouble. (My advice, just be direct, stop hesitating. Don't be rude.) Like other dim sum restaurants, they serve dim sum in these metal carts they push table to table and the waitress will ask you in cantonese/chinese/broken english "Do you like some____?" And she'll open the baskets and show you the items. You can get extra chili from the table near the kitchen. We went there during Mid-autumn festival (accidentally) and as expected it was SUPER BUSY. We (two people) expected that it'll take a god darn long time to get seated (in a restaurant with big round tables) but it actually took only around 10-14 minutes. Really. Bad thing was that once we got seated, it took a long time to get the waiters to notice us and to get us chopsticks and paper and bowls and tea. But hey, it's Chinatown, they know the food is good enough to cover their service. Dim sum was quite wonderful: fried radish cake AWESOME, chicken feet TASTY and SAVORY, rice and meat wrapped in leaves (zhong zi) YUMMY...etc etc. More on service: it was a tad bit difficult to actually get the food you want, pretend chicken feet, we asked around 3 cart pushing waitresses, one huffy puffy waiter, and another nice cart pushing lady before we got a steaming plate of chicken feet. Pretty cool experience! Definitely a must go for Boston Chinese food.
(4)
Ziyan C.
Not the best dim sum in Chinatown (although Boston doesn't have much to offer in general), but in college we ended up coming here a lot due to cheap prices. The place overall feels cheaply decorated & crowded. Not the nicest atmosphere. The food is decent but tends to be more oily & not the best quality.
(2)
Rachel L.
After a troop up the stairs, we had a short wait for a table of 3. I came here with Davel and with my friend and we came here for dim sum. The food was okay, was just like any typical dim sum place. The egg roll, vegetable dumplings, and the pan fried vegetable thing was a bit weird. It had a sour taste to it, but it might have been because of what was in it. The tripe with beef brisket was really good, and so was the calamari. All the other dim sum was ordinary. Service was quite friendly with the nice dim sum ladies persuading you to get this and that. I probably won't be coming back for a while, but overall - a good experience.
(3)
Bob R.
Coming from SF my expectations were quite low. However, upon sitting down and getting my first few dishes, I quickly knew that I would be coming back. I enjoyed the spare ribs the most however the sticky rice and sweet tofu were also quite good. I did not like the ha gao or sieu mai here at all. I did like the atmosphere (typical dim sum) and was glad to see that the carts went by relatively frequently.
(4)
Danielle F.
Came here on Sunday morning for Chinese New Year. Our group had a blast, though we definitely benefited by making reservations. When we left around 1:30, the line was down the stairs and out the door. Food wise, the turnip cake with hoisin sauce was a nice surprise. The shrimp dumplings were awesome!
(4)
Susanna Y.
Absolutely horrid. I don't leave reviews, ever. But this is the first time I had such a horrible experience that it brings me to write this, so I made a Yelp account, and wanted to tell everyone, DO NOT EAT HERE, you can eat anywhere else in Chinatown and it will be 1. a better eating experience for you and 2. better service -anywhere- else, even at the Chinatown McDonalds. I would give this NO STARS if I could but alas I can't. I went for a friend's birthday party on a Monday evening around 7p. Lots of seats, fine. The stairwell is small. It is skinny and if you are going with lots of friends be careful it is rather tight. The inside walls are outdated and need a paint job (but wait... did I tell you they were painting the walls WHILE people were inside AND dining? They were). The food was alright. I could get better anywhere else in Chinatown. We had a lot of orders too. Fried chicken is not hard to make. Greasy. The crab rangoon was rather slimy for my taste and the rest of my friends that were there. The beef and broccoli was too salty (the waiter asked, Chinese or American, Chinese-style being with bok choy, I didn't know that qualified as broccoli, and American actually being the version with actual broccoli and beef). The rice took forever to come, it was actually the last thing the waiter came to get. But before I even talked about food, I've already touched upon that, the waiter took forever to take our orders. He began to take 2 people's orders at my table of friends and then proceeded to say, WAIT. And then walked away to take orders from another table! After we had already been waiting for I would say more than 15-20 minutes. When we finally ate, got ALL our orders (they took forever to come), and we handed him money for a check, he proceeded to say: Tip is 15%. And held his hand out. Excuse me? Every restaurant I have went to I have paid tip AFTER I have received the receipt for the bill. Absurd for a waiter to be asking that after we had just handed him the money. He did not smile at all, except when we handed him the money, and frowned when asking for tip. He handed us take out boxes when we wanted to put our leftovers in them, but they are supposed to take the dishes and put the leftovers in for us. He rudely stuck out bags for the boxes at us and thrust a second bag into my friend's face. I always pay tip. No matter what. Because I know waiters don't want to be there and Chinatown underpays them. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the first time I have never wanted to give this waiter A DIME. I recommend Winsor Dim Sum or Jade Garden, ANYWHERE but this place. What you may think it makes up foodwise, will be nothing if it takes FOREVER for you to receive your meal. Will never eat at this place ever again, EVEN if someone PAID for me, I would decline.
(1)
Vina Y.
Came here for dimsum and also for afternoon snacking. Dimsum - choice is pretty limited, I was here on a weekday so maybe they have less out but they didn't have a lot of the dishes I asked for. I always judge dimsum on the har gow and the skin on theirs was too thick and gelatinous. The ham sui gok was not bad though. As for afternoon snacking, I had a meeting/get-together here and ordered some appetizers: crab rangoon, chicken wings, honey pork ribs and some dishes - beef flat noodle (hor fun), and fried rice. Now I know the food choices aren't authentic but it was mostly because the people I was with wanted the more Americanized food. Either way, it was terrible. The crab rangoons were almost all runny cream cheese with very little crab. The wings and ribs were very much overcooked and tough to eat. Fried rice was very oily with very little flavor. Hor fun was the best of them all but that's not saying much.
(2)
Rebecca Y.
I went to give this restaurant a try. The reviews I read didn't really give a good explanation of what happens at this restaurant. They have two options - the dim sum carts or their traditional menu. I had the dim sum carts. What happens is you sit down, they put a card on your table and servers with carts of food walk by. When you pick things they stamp your card. I don't speak the language, so the explanation of the food I was getting was pretty minimal. I know for sure that I had some dim sum, but I wasn't sure what the other things were. All I knew was that I was getting chicken, pork or shrimp. Sometimes I wasn't even sure about the protein. I was not offered anything to drink. There was the tea or water, nothing else. The food that I got was pretty good, but I'm still not sure what it was. The bathrooms were disgusting and very tiny. Two of the toilets were overflowing and the sinks were not clean.
(4)
John M.
Without a doubt, the best dim sum place in Boston, if not the best Chinese restaurant in the city! Hop inside on a Sunday for dim sum and it is a sight for the eyes and a pleasure for the tastebuds. The sounds of waiters barking orders, the trolleys of steamed dumplings and riceballs clattering up and down the aisles, and the smells are always overpoweringly delightful. The best way to enjoy this is with a group of people, so you can share as many small plates as possible, and pick off your friends food. The best items here are the pork shumai, a fettucinie wrapped pork dumpling with veggies and god-knows-what-else. I'm never sure what it is, but it is just so amazingly good I don't even bother asking. There is another, longer, whiter beef dumpling with soy sauce, which is just as good and not as fatty. A simple shrimp dumpling is nice as well, and they come 3 big ones to an order. As for seafood, the shrimps come heads-on, so you know all the flavor is definately still in that shrimp, ripe for the sucking and the eating. The chicken feet are even really good, filled with that nice chicken flavor right on the bone. The rice dishes are all pretty good, but the best are the ones wrapped in a banana leaf and stemmed, it comes out sticky and full of flavor. For a party of 11, the total price came out to around $20/head, which may sound pricey, but we must've had 30-40 plates of food, and the pricing syestem is so hard to figure out. It's a card that gets stamped when you pick out what you want, which is a big of a pain because the card is in Chinese, but an order is never more than $3 per item, so its a cheap gamble, especially when the freshness and flavor of the food is top notch.
(5)
Mike H.
3rd update. I can't handle this indecisiveness I feel. After going to the Emperor's Garden around the corner and being SO let down it doesn't even deserve a review, I let my friends twist my arm into coming back here. Best decision ever. I was still cautious, picking through my food before eating it, (even soliciting a few weird looks since I was a fully grown Asian man who looked like he was playing with his food,) but everything was SO good. The people were SUPER nice and I got to sit upstairs. (Although the stairs were a b&$%^) I guess my first review stays. 4 Stars. Someone get me a Shrimp Dumpling ASAP.
(4)
Brittni D.
If you like mice with your Chinese food, then this is the place to go! After a so-so meal, we saw mice crawling around the floor in the main room while eating our fortune cookies. So not going back!
(1)
Jo-Anna L.
I was quite pleased with China Pearl. I came here around noon-time on a Saturday. Waited about 5 minutes for a seat, the place was packed. The first plate of dumplings we grabbed were kind of luke warm, but otherwise, tasted fine. Everything after that was perfect temperature. I was a big fan of the steamed buns (but was sad they didn't come by until the end of the meal when we were full). I was very pleased with the variety, there was a lot I wanted to try, but with only two people, you can only eat so much. Judging from other comments left here, I wouldn't come late in the day. Remember that Dim Sum is brunch food, so the time to get the freshest food would be around brunch time on a weekend.
(4)
Julie T.
I've grown up with China Pearl and it has never really been great to me. With so many different dim sum places to go to within just that one block, why would people come here?! Seems to me that when a place becomes so popular and at such a high demand, the product's quality falls short. A lot. And that's exactly how I feel about China Pearl. Each and every time I come here, it seems like the food has somehow gotten worse. I'll eat there and think to myself that the food couldn't sink any lower and that I'd never eat there again and lo and behold, a year later, I'll sit there with the exact same thoughts running through my mind. Sigh. I suppose one good thing is the fact that there are so many tables there so you'll never sit at the same table more than once. So yay for variety, I guess...
(2)
Tim Y.
Pretty decent food here. The place was packed, and really loud, and there was a queue -- but it didn't take long to be seated. Prices are really, really good. Food is tasty, fresh, and served hot from those awesome carts. I did seem to observe the cart pushers giving preferential treatment to those who understood the language - the carts seemed to whiz by without much explanation as to what they have whereas they go slower, and seemed to spend more time chatting up the customers who understood what they were getting. I've done dim sum before, so it's definitely not just newbie ignorance. There has to be something good if a 3 year old next to you eats chicken feet for the first time right along side you without any protest. I would go back, though I'd be more assertive and maybe not sit at a corner table so as to get better exposure to carts as they go by.
(3)
Greg Y.
omnom dimsum. I recommend standard dimsum fare. Shu mai, ha gao, ha cheurng, (steamed) cha siu bao, ham sui gok (the fried doughy pork 'dumplings' i guess). It's not NYC-chinatown dimsum, but it gets the job done. Also, I'd pass on the egg tarts. They're good but there are much better ones to be had in the bakeries just outside.
(4)
Jeremy F.
China Pearl, you made my Sunday afternoon by providing me with your mobile buffet of unexplainable delights. I lucked the hell out on this one because I was fortunate enough to go with my buddy and his wife, who speaks Chinese. This meant that i could sit back, have little to no interaction and get the best stuff without awkward discussions about "what am i about to put in my mouth?". (there's a "that's what she said" somewhere in there i'm sure) Anyway, i'd say the atmosphere is on par with the standard large-China Town restaurant; Big, gold and Red. The food was good and for my first dim sum experience I was really satisfied. Definitely more of a meal "experience" than anything else. I think in terms of foodie i'd only go 3 stars, but its a very different way to eat things, thereby bumpin this little pearl up to fourzees.
(4)
Dave M.
I have to admit I'm a dimsum snob, as I've had some pretty good stuff in SF. That said, I think China Pearl is a pretty solid place. The place was packed to the gills, but it didn't look like anyone was being rushed out the door, which is a good sign. The selection is copious, and the carts come around very often. While the dimsum offerings seem very tame, however they are very flavorful, and are not greasy. Greasy is a problem I've seen with a lot of dim sum places, and it really sets apart the marginal from the good. Again, totally not greasy. I would have loved to have seen duck offerings, maybe some chicken feet... but frankly, I don't eat feet, so who cares. Solid place, I'll be back, and so far... best dim sum I've had outside of SF. (Beats Portland, OR for second place.)
(4)
Pauline V.
Mice. Yup. And management doesn't even care.
(1)
Casey W.
We showed up late on a Sunday and they still let us in. We didn't get to sample everything, but what we did have was flavorful, filling, and wonderful. Very traditional Dim Sum. Carts, traditional attire for different roles (jacket waiters, shirt waiters, & vest waiters), authentic atmosphere, funny hostess, great atmosphere, very friendly. We can't wait to go back. Its a bit pricey for Dim Sum, but worth it.
(4)
Nikol K.
All those stairs - don't bring the stroller. I like Dim Sum a lot. My favorite place is in San Francisco. In Boston, I usually go to Chau Chow City because I feel like all the restaurants make the same dim sum and the only difference is that my parents know the owners at Chau Chow City so we don't have to wait for a table. I went here one Sunday when Chau Chow City was closed. The food here is the same as all the other Boston Dim Sum places. One dish I got that was really disappointing was a curry noodle - I couldn't eat it because the flavor was rather quite unpleasant (it was sweet and pungent). Nothing here was a standout, so....
(2)
Helen L.
Okay, so I like China Pearl. However, I wasn't WOWed by it. It was just average. First of all, if you don't get there at like 11am on a Saturday or Sunday, the lines are INSANELY long. I mean like an hour wait at least. So I'd recommend getting there at 11am and no later. If you get there at like 1pm, then you get the leftovers and you don't get as much food options on the cart. Second, the staff there really can't tell you what the food is in English. So if you're a first time dim-summer, I'd highly recommend you go with somebody that 1) have been before and know what to order or 2) speaks Cantonese or mandarin. Because when they push around the carts and you ask what the item is, they generally say, "pork" or "beef" or "meat"...something very generic that gives you no description of what it actually is. Once you get the food though, I think it's all quite delicious. But it's just as good as any other dim sum place I've been to. Cost wise, if you go with a group of people, it's will be very cheap. It's all family style so each food option is appetizer size and you get a whole bunch to share with the table. So you probably end up paying $10 per person or so plus tip.
(3)
David C.
The food was decent, but the service was by far the worst I've experienced at any restaurant for the past several years. Every step of the way, we had to flag down servers from placing the order to paying for the bill. The experience was straight out of a Seinfeld.
(1)
Aaron C.
Came here for dim sum and left looking for real dim sum Chinese food in boston is coming to a decline. There aren't many, and the ones that are still standing are being overcome by appeal to other ethnicities. Coming from a mostly chinese neighborhood, I was greatly disappointed when I finally got to eat after waiting a good 45 minutes for a seat. The dim sum was not fresh and it wasn't of good quality either. Some of the dim sum you even had to get up and go over to get it yourself; thus freeing up some of the waiters to bus tables and clean. The setting was another story. The interior space of the seating area is so poorly designed. Circulation and seating are such big problems. There are large circular tables that the just seat 3 different parties at making it awkward to converse and eat in front of strangers. They should just take those large tables away and put smaller seating ones to make the atmosphere a bit more friendly. Go to another city for good dim sum please
(2)
Khantha S.
Great dim sum...but too crowded on weekends
(3)
Elaine M.
3.5 stars. China Pearl is a pretty solid dim sum place in Boston's Chinatown. Be forewarned, though, that it gets ridiculously busy the closer it gets to lunchtime during the weekends. And when I say "busy," I mean that there are lines pouring down a flight of stairs, nearly out the front door -- and it is no small restaurant (it consists of two pretty large floors). Any time I have friends or family visiting from out of town who say they want dim sum, I always take them here, and they always end up liking it.
(4)
Didi S.
The Dim Sum's not bad, though I generally go to Hei La Moon instead. I would never have eaten dinner here (Gourmet Dumpling House, Taiwan Cafe, even Peach Farm all being much better options nearby) except that we had a huge group for a pre-New Year's dinner and needed some ridiculously huge tables. The menu looks pretty Americanized: they offer crab rangoon, Chop Suey, and other stuff that I consider myself above as a ridiculous person. We ended up ordering the dou miao (bean seedlings?), paigu (small pork ribs), eggplant with funky sauce, jiaoyanyouyu (fried calamari), half a duck, some kind of shrimp, a fried vermicelli, and a soup. The food was better than I expected, although still mediocre. The dou miao, vermicelli and shrimp were particularly disappointing, with the shrimp also tasting a little funny. The duck was probably the best thing we ordered. What was really upsetting though was how horrible the service was. You never expect very good service in Chinatown, but the servers all seemed to be trying to pass off helping us to each other, were inattentive, and rather annoyed to be doing anything for us. No wonder the place was barely a third full on Friday night.
(2)
Jackie C.
This place has definitely gone down hill over the years, but still manages to churn out some decent dim sum. The taste and quality of their food seems to vary day to day though. One day it tastes awesome, while another, I want to spit out the food. I'm not sure if its because there are different chefs when I go in or something else, but there are definitely days when the food is just plain off. I still love how this place still uses dim sum carts to serve food, since it seems like more and more places are getting rid of the carts.. *teary eyed* The service is also pretty good, if you raise your hand for attention, the wait staff is always quick to notice you and help you out.
(3)
Alyssa S.
This is my favorite place to go for dim sum. When I used to live in Chinatown, my family dined here at least once a week. It takes awhile to be seated (esp on weekends), but the dim sum is definitely worth it. It's easier if you speak Chinese or have a friend who does because the servers and hosts are more attentive to you. The shrimp dumplings and spare ribs are my favorites-- as well as the sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves. I would give China Pearl 5 stars, but there IS a long wait and the bathrooms aren't as clean as I'd like them to be... China Pearl Restaurant in Quincy is also good, but not as great as this one in Boston.
(4)
Yumiko F.
Love this place but need to go with 3 or more people so you won't stuff yourself with same thing! It is better to go early time other wise sometimes food gets greasy.. ( maybe not) yum yum dim sum
(4)
Anna T.
I'm not really an expert on dim sum but I know that I can find better in Boston. I came here around lunchtime on a Wednesday with my friend and her parents. The place was pretty packed, mostly with elderly Asian couples craving some cheap grub. I'm a pretty timid gourmand when it comes to Asian cuisine, usually straying away from tripe and chicken feet. Although, I do recommend the pork bun, the egg custard pastry, the dumplings, and the beef and noodles. The China Pearl is an ok place for cheap, humdrum victuals.
(2)
Kristina D.
Like a figure skating judge, I'm giving a lower rating based because I have not yet tried Winsor or Emperor's Garden, and don't want to dole out the 5.0 just yet. For my roommate's surprise brunch, her boyfriend organized an elaborate scheme in which her friends would arrive early and greet her with a carved butternut squash (in place of a friend who could not make it) and new ipod speakers. FYI, dim sum waitresses get perplexed by med students' gourd versions of the Rubin vase. One stared at the squash for a good two minutes, likely wondering if it had come off of one of the carts. We had the: -shumai -vegetarian spring rolls -shrimp noodle thing with soy sauce -broccoli -steamed shrimp dumplings -bbq pork buns (two kinds) -rice -egg custard tarts -sesame balls -tea -taro -shrimp thing that looks like a pom pom Dim sum worked quite well for the large group. They seated us on a giant round table on a platform within direct sight of the door, which maximized our "hide under the table and then pop out making interpretive dance gestures while screaming HAPPY BIRTHDAY" antics. Our group could have benefited from a lazy susan with which to more effiiciently distribute food, or knives with which to subdivide the food. Coming in on Saturday before noon with a reservation also enabled us to evade long lines that seem to occur on Sunday mornings.
(3)
Sandy F.
Very very good dim sum. Lines can get long on weekends so try to get there early. because they get so much business and food sells out quick, you are guaranteed fresh dim sum. food here is far less greasy than most dim sum in chinatown. as of the language barriers, most of the people pushing the carts dont speak english, but the waiters mostly speak english and if you have things you normally order, you can just order from them. also you can order off the regular menu too. the mango pudding, the tofu pudding, the fried shrimp and crab claw, the beef balls and the rice noodles are yummy. also, if you like the puffy white steamed buns, they are very soft and tasty here too.
(5)
Leslie Y.
My mom used to take us to dim sum whenever she was off. We would come here for banquets and other parties. As growing up, this place was owned by Uncle Bill, a very kind and successful businesman in Boston Chinatown. The food choices now are definitely more than ever. I know the current Owners and they are wonderful people. The food, no doubt about it, still very good traditional dim sum.
(4)
C. C.
Decent dim sum, good location. Best sticky rice in Boston, but in my opinion, Hei La Moon is overall the winner in dim sum!
(3)
Norina N.
it used to be real good couple years ago, but recently I went back for dimsum, my bf and I ordered 4 dishes, all were just plain, it tasted like had been cooked for days, we couldnt help but got up to pay and left to another place.
(2)
Wing M.
A bit of background: I grew up in Hong Kong and spent the first ten years of my life eating dim sum every Sunday morning. Sometimes we do Saturday morning too. Sometimes, when school's out, we do dim sum every other day. I'm a bit of a dim sum snob. And I've stopped eating dim sum on the East Coast because, ever since the first time I've been to China Pearl, about ten minutes into any dim sum outing I just sigh and wish that I was at China Pearl instead. Seriously, I cannot think of one dim sum place in New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Baltimore, Chicago or DC that is remotely close to China Pearl in quality and atmosphere. There used to be a small place in NYC that was as good as China Pearl but it has long since changed management and the food went downhill from there. So, basically, China Pearl is the only place I've found in this country that captures the quality and atmosphere of a real Hong Kong dim sum parlor. The food is 100% authentic Cantonese and not "influenced" by other areas of Chinese cuisine like most dim sum places in the US. All the classical dim sum dishes can be found if you go there on a weekend. It doesn't try and do crazy experimental dim sum and sticks with what worked in Hong Kong for the last few decades. It's big (two floors!!!), it's noisy, it's filled with ladies yelling out food names and pushing carts and on weekends all the eight-people tables are filled. Oh, and the food is amazing. Now, that's not everyone's cup of tea, I understand that. Some folks don't want a noisy place and would prefer their dim sum Shanghai flavored, for example. That's great. There are other places for that. But if you want 100% authentic Hong Kong style dim sum China Pearl is the only place I have found in this country that does the job. Note: I'm in Seattle now and am slowly exploring the dim sum places here. So far, not optimistic. Heading down to San Francisco later this summer, so hopefully I'll find something that can rival China Pearl there...
(5)
C T.
5 stars for tasty dim sum, 1 star for service = 3 stars overall. The ppl who work there are very rude. Not the sweetest ppl in the world. The bathrooms like all other restaurants in chinatown are disgusting as well. Also not handicapp-friendly. The elevator is in the back of the restuarant and you can only get to it if you go thru the bank around the corner. I know weird right? My family brings my grandma to China Pearl for her b-day every year. It's definately a trek to get her to our table. SIGH...but the dim sum is still tasty
(3)
Tom E.
An average dim sum parlour. 3 stars is not to say that it's not good - dim sum nearly always is. But compared to the standard of dim sum around the world and even around New England - it's pretty ordinary. The two things that stand out are 1. the weekend bustle - this place gets very busy, which is good for the atmosphere but bad for the lines. 2. almond dofu dessert - a traditional cheap and easy desert not made from tofu as the name suggests but made from seaweed agar powder and boiled water. It's almost exactly the same thing I make in the lab everyday to separate out tiny pieces of DNA from each other. It's tasty as hell too (not the lab version).
(3)
Amanda M.
If you love dim sum, and live in Boston, give China Pearl a try. Unfortunately I never made it to Hei La Moon to compare, but I'll vouch for China Pearl for a great, authentic dim sum experience. I have always made a point of arriving around 11 am if I go on a Saturday or Sunday; otherwise, the line for a table can be immense. Each time I've arrived, been promptly seated, and had tea on my table in seconds. The carts circulate regularly, carrying a variety of dim sum staples. In case you've never had dim sum before, it involves many little steamer baskets and plates being circulated on carts; each plate or basket contains 2-4 pieces of items like dumplings, sticky rice wrapped in grape leaves, noodle rolls, or other small items. I would say it's the Chinese version of tapas: you order lots of small plates, and share. Being able to point to the items you want make it relatively easy, even if you're new to dim sum, to get a variety of delicious dumplings and rolls. I'd recommend the pork buns, shrimp dumplings, and the fun rolls (which are covered in peanut sauce). What I loved about China Pearl was the fact that the staff was able to figure out, from my descriptions of previous dim sum experiences, what items I liked and wanted brought to my table; our waiter even brought over a couple items himself instead of making me wait until the cart came around. The best part is that you can try a variety of dishes without too big a hit to the wallet. I've always come with a friend, and I don't think the total bill ever topped $25 for a veritable smorgasbord of delicious food. I'd recommend it as a great place for kids with adventurous palates; I started going to dim sum places in Chicago when I was young, and have a soft spot for this type of cuisine thanks to those experiences. Plus, it's fun when you're a kid to point to something on a cart and have instant gratification: no waiting for someone to bring you your order. And let's be honest, that can be pretty nice for those of us who are adults too.
(4)
Brady B.
Definitely the best dim sum I've ever had. I've been here 3 times so far, and many more I'm sure before I'm done. I usually go to Chau Chow City which is also very good for dim sum, but I really think that China Pearl trumps them. They're a bit pricier than Chau Chow...just a bit, but so well worth it. The last time I ate there w/ 3 others we paid $17 each including a good tip. Not too shabby at all considering we ate like pigs and everything was SO delicious. The amazing various dumplings, the rice, the crab claws, the sauces....omg I'm getting firm just thinking about it! That being said, China Pearl's dim sum is a damn good replacement for all of the porn theaters that used to occupy that area minus the shame.
(4)
Jeff C.
Ate here quite a few times. It is close by to my gf's grandmothers house in Chinatown. The place is in a old theater. The style is where workers come by with carts of ready cooked dim sum. I prefer this style compared to the one where you write on a paper and order. This place can get busy during peak times but this place is huge...
(4)
Stephanie W.
At the time I tried this place, I was inexperienced in the art of dim sum. I went in with 6 people on a sunday morning and delighted in food from all the delicious carts. The dumplings were all good (not overly greasy), the turnip cake was still the best I've ever had, and the sesame balls had the perfect rice to filling ratio. The restaurant had white table clothes, attentive staff, fast service/tea refills and the total bill came out to about $10 per person and we were unable to move from our seats afterward. At the time, I thought that was great. But then I moved to San Francisco and it was a whole new world. Restaurants in SF have no ambiance, rude service, delicious food in copious portions, and the price will come out to about $6 per person to stuff yourself on a Sunday morning until you can no longer move. The turnip cake at my regular location is not nearly as good as the one at China Pearl, but their jellyfish and shrimp/chive dumplings are fantastic. Based on the time i went there (3 years ago) I believe China Pearl deserves 4 stars. Now, I'm not sure how well it would fair comparatively, but I'll give it the review I feel it deserves based on when I tried it.
(4)
Amanda L.
After a Brewery tour and a visit to the USS Bataan (FYI, FREAKING AWESOME) we were are famished. It being the boy's special day, he got to pick where he wanted to go. As usual, he had no idea and we argued about it for a good 20 minutes, until we settled on China Pearl, since we wanted some type of Asian, and were really curious to get some Dim Sum. The decor is really nice, but it reminds me of a hotel lobby restaurant. And there is this really unnecessary HUGE step to get to the bathroom. I mean, COME ON, WHY is it there?!!? So, we were too late for the Dim Sum, but the plates were definitely family size, so we ordered the following: - Pork Fried Rice - Beef Lo Mein - Roasted Duck - Curry Chicken - Sweet and Sour Shrimp - Peking Ravioli - Crab Rangoons (2 orders) - Beef w/ Broccoli - Pork with vegetables FYI, there were 7 of us, so we weren't THAT much of pigs. The Ravioli and the fried rice were my favorite, the rice was seriously addicting, I could have had another whole plate. The raviolis were really big and very flavorful. The Beef w/ broccoli was also really delicious. The rest wasn't very memorable. The crab rangoons were nice, but I've definitely had better, they were a bit runny and there was too much cream cheese (and I love cream cheese). My curry chicken was mediocre, and I didn't like the texture or the flavor of the sauce (and it wasn't even spicy, boo). Lo Mein was tasty, but I've had better. The service was non-existent but I've come to deal with that in Chinatown. The food was really cheap, upon reflection, it was about $105.00 before tip which really isn't bad. We even had leftovers. I really want to come back for the Dim Sum but for right now and if I were to come back, it would be for the fried rice and the ravioli's.
(3)
Jennifer J.
Went for dinner. It was good, but not spectacular. Adequate pan fried noodles, which are my favorite. Good Cantonese style Lobster. Disappointing Peking duck.
(3)
Zach B.
It's really good dim sum, and It feels authentic. It's inexpensive. Their shrimp balls, pork buns, & egg plant is yummy. The downside: they give you tiny glasses of water which are seldom refilled, and if you come after 11 on the weekend, you're going to wait forever. The service upstairs isn't nearly as good as the service downstairs.
(4)
Kendra S.
Things can get a little dim-sane around noon on a Sunday, but maybe that's half the fun of Chinatown and subsequently China Pearl. All the Chinatownies trying to hold their own on these crumbled sidewalks. All the tourists trying to figure out why they can't see the Prudential from here to point them in the right direction. All the rest of us locals trying to remember if it was China Pearl that was the place that is upstairs and last updated in 1984? Oh yes, yes that's the place. I'm not an eater of the shellfish nor the pork, so I can't comment on the majority of the dim sum platters, but this is a dandy place to come with a big group. It's cheap and nothing is forced upon you to order that you don't want. Helpful FYI: If you're coming with a stroller, make sure to bring your mule to carry it up for you. It's pretty steep to be hauling the babe and wheels up all by yourself.
(3)
Sara L.
The best place I've been to in the city for dim sum. I haven't been here for anything else, but I come here every few weeks just for that. Staff is very attentive and ready to help you with anything you need. Food comes by all the time and there is a great selection. Prices are also good, you get a ton of food for not much money and you can take home whatever you don't eat. Much love for China Pearl.
(5)
Teri L.
We walked into Chinatown and my kids knew exactly where they were going which proves to me they spend alot of time in this area! I didn't care for the outside of China Pearl as it looked seedy and not very nice. We walked up a long set of stairs and I was surprised at the decor...I mean yeah yeah it was definitely Chinese with the golden dragons on the back wall but it had a touch of elegance with real linen tablecloths and napkins...you don't get alot of that in that part of town. Our waiter...ummmm hmmm waiter is not a word I would use for him...he looked disinterested and "we're wasting his time" attitude...not my idea of someone who wants a good tip. I know, I know..Joey said that's what you get here but ohh PULEASE!! At least FAKE IT!!! But if you can ignore that, then everything else was fine. We didn't do dim sum...too late in the day for that but ordered directly from the menu. Food was very good, tasty in all aspects and lots of it. Everyone in our party enjoyed all the dishes totally. The staff was always there to fill water and to get anything we needed. I would be back for the food, definitely! But the waiter can go bye bye..
(3)
Matt S.
Been here only once, for dim sum. Loved it. Better than the stuff I had in New York, that's for damn sure. Can't wait to go back again.
(4)
Kendall H.
It might be because my standards are real high from the hand made west coast dumplings, but i thought china pearl was a bit mediocre, and somewhat disappointing. Not spectacular quality, as it is difficult to find good quality asian food at a reasonable price in the northeast in general. Lack luster food quality coupled with ordinary service 3 STARS!
(3)
Jamie A.
Yeah. 5 stars. If only I could recount my incredible and completely surreal evening I spent at China Pearl. It involved a ten-course traditional Chinese meal in honor of Parents Day through an invite from one of my friends who's work had a table at the banquet. This magical evening included: --amazing, amazing food. I tried JELLYFISH and had to kiss a chicken head due to some crazy table-mates who were superstitious. --an entire room of people doing the Electric Slide. --karaoke throughout the ENTIRE meal...including Celine Dion, Sinatra, and traditional Chinese opera. --80 year old women dancing with swords. --much singing of "Billie Jean" --takeout containers passed out to the tables between every course. (I LOVED this idea of not wasting perfectly delicious food!) I'll sure be returning for a regular night's dinner, but man o man, my evening at the China Pearl felt like the twilight zone...in the BEST and most MAGNIFICENT way possible. Everyone was so welcoming and explained everything...and it was possibly the kitschiest experience ever...so much glitter and music and dancing. amazing. just amazing.
(5)
Itch S.
The granddaddy or should I say the grandmother of the Chinatown dim sum shops. Wide range of Cantonese tea pastries. Love the Pai Goot. Always love the old school carts being pushed about for you to pick from. I just don't get into the checklist dim sum shops even if their food is often better. Be prepared however lots of grease. Thre is no shortage in preparation here. Kind of helps lube the digestive system - a good thing every now and then.
(3)
Monique N.
There was a wait of course and most of the groups with less than 4 people had to share large tables with strangers. Ahhhhh...feels like home, haha, jping. Dim sum was good overall, just disappointed in the fact there was no sui mai?!? what the? may go to this place again if I cant find a better one in the proximity.
(3)
Brandon W.
This WAS our default dim-sum restaurant when we moved here about 10 years ago. It was not by choice but by desperation because it was the better dim-sum places in Boston (which doesn't say much about the dim-sum scene in Boston). Overall, the dim sum (flavor, texture, etc) was just OK - I guess we were spoiled because we have been exposed to much better in San Francisco, Toronto, Scarborough, Vancouver, etc. I know this sounds strange but some of CP's dim-sum doesn't seem that fresh which was really surprising given the high turnover. A lot of the dishes seemed warmed over. Next, we found that although CP is highly successful (huge crowds and high turnover) it is however in desperate need of renovation. Dudes - don't you guys believe in pouring some of your profits back into your own restaurant? Your carpets are deeply stained and thread-bare, your bathroom has cracked tiles, doors that don't close, faucets that leak (and that is an understatement), etc. From the amount of business you guys do, you must be filthy millionaires - yet your restaurant looks like a dump. Oh by the way, I am Chinese and have eaten in a lot of Chinese restaurants so it is not that I am not used to Chinese bathrooms. We have stopped coming to CP ever since Hei-La Moon opened just outside Chinatown (between Chinatown and South Station Bus Terminal). We like HLM because the restaurant is definitely much cleaner and dim-sum better.
(2)
Nancy L.
I'll pay No, I'll pay. No, no, no we can't do that. I"LL pay. No, I'LL pay. Thus ensues the bill battle over dim sum between over zealous relatives or good friends to show their good will, while the children fidget in their seat and wish they went to McDonald's instead. This a typical scene on a boisterous weekend at any good dim sum place and China Pearl is one of the best dim sum places in Boston. Located on the second floor, it is huge Chinese style restaurant that houses a dog-eat-dog battle over the best dumplings or noodles on most weekends. Very authentic from the food to the wait staff to the decor. 100% real dim sum experience. Dim sum is the equivalent of Spanish tapas, small dishes of delicate Chinese food that is shared among a group of people. Definitely bring at least 3 people with you since most dishes have 4 items. It's a free for all once you arrive: if you arrive early before 10 am you can easily get a seat, after that you get put on a wait list. DON'T be shy to push you way to the podium to make sure your name is there. The elderly Chinese men and women aren't, so shouldn't you. As for the food, you have your staples such as dumplings, buns, and rice noodles but for the more adventurous try the marinated chicken feet, cow tripe/intestines, or pigs blood. Ladies push carts ladened with goodies and shouting out the names in Cantonese but if you don't know Cantonese just stop them and ask them to lift up the lids. Tea is automatically served. Waiters are fast and efficient to sweep off empty plates so that you can populate the table again. A no-frill restaurant that is loud and boisterous but that is the charm of dim summing. People who expect a quiet meal need not come here. I highly recommend China Pearl. Note: as for the kids who wishes for McDonalds, they grow up realizing how silly they are and yearn for their weekly dim sum when they go to college.
(5)
Melissa X.
I always go to China Pearl for high quality, delicious-tasting dim sum. There's so much to choose from and everything is fresh. There's a lot of seafood in dim sum, so be sure to ask the servers for beef or chicken dim sum like shumai if you prefer it. My boyfriend isn't a big seafood fan. Nor is he willing to try some more authentic Chinese food such as chicken feet or pig's blood soup. So when I take him with me to China Pearl we order him stir fried noodles or fried rice. It's great because you can have your dim sum as well as order anything else you'd like that you don't see being carted around. You can also get a really good amount of food for your money. I went with my boyfriend, my mom, my dad, and my brother. The grand total was $50.00. Be careful, though. This place is always packed so try to get there early.
(5)
Marika T.
This review is way overdue. I came here over a year ago but I still remember their ha gaw. I swear they stuff 6-8 whole shrimps in each. I felt so shrimp deprived when I got back to NYC. I can't really recall anything else. The restaurant is HUGE but looks a little run-down from the outside.
(3)
Julie A.
Went to China Pearl this past Sunday for the Dim Sum. It was pretty easy to find and they offer validated parking... My experience was okay. The table had extensions to make it form a circle, but the table top wasn't straight. This kept me from getting really comfortable at the table. Most of the cart pushers (I don't know what they're called), didn't speak english, which would have been ok, if they at least understood what the ingredients were in whatever they had. A couple of the people in our party were vegetarian, and it was quite difficult to find something they could eat. For example, if the woman said the dumpling had all vegetable, there'd be a surprise of meat in there! As far as taste goes, I kinda felt like everything I tried was pretty much the same. ... yeah that's all I have to say about that. China Pearl was good, but it left me thinking that next time I'll be trying a new dim sum place.
(3)
Serena L.
I've lived in the Boston area for about 4 years now and this is the first time I've tried China Pearl for dimsum. I usually go to Hei La Moon but I decided to give this place a try. We came here around 2pm on a weekday so we missed the lunch time crowd. It was rather empty. I'm not sure when their dimsum service ends but there were only about 3-4 carts around. The food was not bad at all and satiated my dimsum craving. I came here with a dimsum virgin so she left it to me to order. It was fun describing to her what everything was and she loved everything we had! I'd definitely be back but as an alternative to Hei La Moon.
(3)
Kevin K.
Wow was I disappointed. I've been eating Dim Sum all my life and this place was somewhat insulting, especially when considering the prices they were charging. Each dim sum plate was at least $3, which is insanely high (if you eaten at great dim sum places in Los Angeles $1.50 - $2). Good: "Lo-Bok-Go" Also known as turnip cake. I asked if they can make the dish extra crispy. Which helped the dished a lot, but the dish was ruined because it had "Hoy-Seen" Sauce all over it. Which is not standard at all for this dish. I had to eat around the area that was not contaminated by the sauce. - 3/5 Stars Sieu Mai - 3/ 5 stars Bad: Service: This place had 2-3 floors of dining area and you would think they'll utilize the dim sum carts efficiently, not a chance. I was seated next to a window, and it took forever for the food to come. The carts were circling around the restaurant like how one would play snake on the old Nokia phone. ~ 1.5 / 5 Stars Pork Ribs: Did not contain any Chinese Black beans, lacked a lot of flavor. ~1.5 / 5 Stars Ha Cherng (Shrimp w. Rice Noodle) - Noodles were overcooked and sticky. ~1.5 / 5 Stars Bean Curd w/ Chicken & Mushroom - 1/5 Stars. How can you stuff a huge piece of dried chicken in this dish? I do not recommend this place.
(2)
Tina K.
So, this was my first dim-sum experience and I did not like it at ALL. The food was terrible. I felt like everything was drenched in oil, and was sitting out in the open for days. Everything was just soaked in oil and I didn't enjoy the food at all. The only dish I thought was decent was the chicken feet, but that was it. I don't suggest going to China Pearl, especially if it's your first dim-sum experience. It will definitely ruin it---sorry.
(1)
Hank C.
Here for a wedding, so I'll just describe the multiple-course meal as served, as I don't know if the entertainment was provided by the restaurant at all. First course: Cold cuts of beef heart, jellyfish, hot BBQ pork, hot fried pork, and hot friend chicken. The pork and chicken fried were crisp and fresh, the jellyfish regular with sesame oil, and the beef heart was delicious with a bit of soy sauce. Best part of the dish: the BBQ pork was juicy, and well marinated. All at the table agreed it was the best part. Second course: Fried crab claw balls. Pretty standard. Third course: Seafood in a bird's nest. The birds nest.. not so much a taste of taro at all, just flour crisply fried. Best part - the inside, where strips of squid, mushrooms, vegetables, shrimp, scallops, and alabone were delicately presented. Excellent taste. Fourth course: Shark fin soup. A little bit shredded, but not bad. Fifth course: Peking chicken with shrimp chips. Tasty, although the white meat was a bit dry. Sixth course: Lobster, broken up and sauteed with green onions. Excellent taste of the sauce, although a tad bit overcooked with the lobster meat. Seventh course: Abalone, round mushroom, sea cucumber and fish stomach. Excellent taste, and nice and thick, but not oily, sauce to top off on top of some sauteed cabbage. Eighth course: Fish in soy sauce, ginger, and scallions. Didn't catch the name (he mentioned it to someone) but was delicious - waiter removed all the meat for us and kept it neatly on the plate in whole pieces for us to devour. My favorite dish of the night. Ninth & tenth dishes - noodles and fried rice, of which I only tasted, not ate out of. I never save room for these dishes, and I was unsurprised at the noodles and the shrimp fried rice (I'm not really a fan of either, but they were better than average). Dessert: Red bean soup with lotus seeds. Excellent sweet to finish the night. Wedding cake - well, you won't get this served, but overall a beautifully arranged and massive dinner. When I get the chance, we'll try some of the other dishes on a non-wedding night! Price is indicative of what I think it would be if you ordered a couple of appetizers and entrees for two people, not for the wedding meal. Second floor is not easily accessible, though.
(4)
Josephine L.
China Pearl is a solid Cantonese dim sum place with all the standard staples like shrimp dumplings and shumai (I don't know how to translate that). As other reviewers have noted, there aren't many options for great dim sum in Boston (zero if I'm comparing Boston to other great, metropolitan cities), but China Pearl is decent especially with the criminally low prices. Best dish is probably the beef tripe.
(4)
Ashley J.
Man I love Dim Sum. And I seriously love China Pearl. When we first moved to Boston we were Hei La Moon fans (which our fellow yelpers helped us find), and yes, Hei La Moon is great too. China Pearl has all the delicious food that Hei La Moon has - but I think it might be even better. Plus, the service here is actually friendly and helpful. And the biggest reason this place gets 4 stars? Yesterday we had family in town and after 6 of us barrelled through too many dishes to count, the final tab was $10 a person. Awesome!
(4)
Shawn L.
In a nutshell: The food is great, the service is lacking. China Pearl is actually two different restaurants, downstairs is a small diner, upstairs is a huge Dim Sum hall (the stairs are to the right of the main restaurant). My girlfriend and I went to the Dim Sum hall on one of our first weeks in Boston with all of our friends. It was a standard Dim Sum time, great! We had a bit of a bad vibe when my girlfriend (who is a Beijing native) was told by one of the cart-ladies that her Mandarin pronunciation was so bad that they could not understand her! But we shrugged it off as a one time thing. So, when I had two friends in town and they wanted to grab a bite in Chinatown I suggested we try the downstairs China Pearl diner. The food was also very good (I highly suggest Buddha's Paradise - or maybe it was Buddhists Paradise). We had a great time and then we got the bill. One of my friends payed it with card and we were about to leave when the waiter stops us because my friend forgot to sign the receipt (oops) and to complain that we haven't tipped enough (what!). He says that my friend hasn't even tipped 10%, when 15% is standard. Okay, so maybe my friend made a mistake, less than 10% is a pretty small tip, etc. etc. But that isn't the end of it. After my friend changes his tip, the waiter comes back with a calculator and computes the percentage before telling us that it is okay! Now, I understand that waiting tables can be a tough living and that they depend on tips for a reasonable portion of their income and I always try to give 15-20% for good service. But I have never seen a waiter try to enforce such a tipping policy before, let alone bring over a calculator to approve our tip. So, in the end I would say, 4 star food, 2 star service.
(3)
Doug P.
The food is fine here, don't get me wrong. But I don't think the the buzz about dim sum isn't all its hyped up to be. I think their are a few spots in chinatown that you may find to be a little better
(3)
Vanessa C.
well, everyone should try it at least once! I wish I could review my dim sum here but honestly, I dont know half of what the hell I ate. it was put in front of me & I tried it and thats how it went down. some was good, some was not so good. I dont have much else to compare it to so 3 stars for now. (but at least now I know for sure that I dont like chicken feet.)
(3)
Victoria H.
This place is a very nice place. It's a little bit unconformable ( with a lot of stairs to get to the restaurant ) But beyond that the food is really nice (especially with there delicious dumplings ) This place is really nice and the services is nice , but very hard to get a hold of them when you need some thing because they're running all over the place. Down stairs of the restaurant, there's a nice cafe that also belong to china pearl. The place is very relaxing and cool. i think this place is sort of nice but try to come before or after dim-sum. Because it will be very hard to get a seat during that time1.
(3)
Jane B.
Came here with co-workers during the busy lunching hour. We were seated immediately. In fact, before we all had plunked our behinds on a chair, the carts began to encircle our table. A cacophony of "You want?" began echoing through my head as we quickly tried to assess what it was that they were hawking. None of us being Dim Sum experts, there was a lot of sampling and "We'll try that". Tea was pipping hot and the shape of the pot made it a bit difficult to pour without getting tea all over the table. It was a bit watery, but drinkable. Points for their speedy and continual service. Price is reasonable - for 5 the bill came to under $55 (and we got quite a lot of food). The restaurant is rather large, which is good for quick seating. There is also a buffet style area where you can go and select items, if you don't want what is passed around on the carts. The fried noodle was tasty, along with a couple other items whose names I couldn't tell you. Overall a good experience. Not amazing, not fantastic, but definitely good. Would go for 3.5 stars if possible, but I'd rather bump them up to 4 than give a 3.
(4)
Jason A.
I dunno why I'm writing this review. Cuz everyone knows it's good. The long lines & dim sum speaks for itself. And the old ladies who CUT IN FRONT OF ME IN LINE already frequent it. Seriously, what is up with the continous edging in, while I'm dutifully waiting my white ass in line??? It just bugs! And my main gripe is that the counter staff doesn't care about these line terrorists! Man! However, if the dim sum here wasn't so gratifying, I would never brave the lack of parking, the running-out-of-stuff-early and the line terrorists. My all-time faves are the Hum Siu Guk (sp? deep fried mochi ball with pork inside), Char Siu Bao (steamed pork bun), Jook (rice porridge) and Steamed Taro Dumplings (with taro and shrimp inside). Mm-mm-mm. Come here and be prepared to exclaim: "Excuse me! I was next!"
(5)
Glen B.
I can't believe how low the ratings are for this place! Yes, the waitresses are rude, yes it might be a bit hectic, yes they barely speak English, but isn't that the point of dim sum? The dim sum here is good. I don't know how it compares to other places in Boston because I've never found a reason to look for another place.
(4)
Ashley J.
This is my favorite dim sum place because of the variety and because of the turnover. They are so busy the food is constantly fresh. I get freaked out by places where I see the cart go around several times and nobody touches anything. My favs.. shrimp dumplings lobster dumplings (they almost never have them anymore) sweet buns sticky rice clams in black bean sauce etc etc Expect the usual. Rude waiters, cart ladies who let you order by pointing, getting a fork if you aren't asian, a big huff if you order a pitcher of water like I always do. The food is cheap, filling, tasty and the experience is fun. I get a little jealous when I am here of the kids who parents take them to do this every weekend. My parents only took me to IHOP....
(4)
Alex Z.
I think China Pearl has a reasonable selection of fresh dim sum, especially my favorites and most of the traditional fare, with a few surprises. They are reasonably priced for dim sum, perhaps a little on the expensive side compared to other cities, but about average for Boston. So, a few notes on dim sum in general that also apply to China Pearl. Dim sum is almost always greasy, almost always overpriced, and generally overcrowded with poor waiter service. Okay, so all of those issues apply to some degree or other to China Pearl, but if you like dim sum I presume you've learned to live with this by now. If you're looking for a light meal, stay away from the meat-containing dishes like shumai and the dumplings, and go for the steamed dishes and rice noodles. All in all, I wouldn't hesitate to go back if I were in the neighborhood. There's a dessert "soup" which is basically coconut juice and tapoica... absolutely delicious and very refreshing after a heavy meal. Try to get there early if you can.
(4)
Paul K.
China Pearl is one of our favorite places to go for Dim Sum. We try to make a stop here whenever we're in Boston. The food is always good and the prices are reasonable. If going on the weekends, try to get there before 11:00 before it gets too hectic.
(3)
Zizzles A.
This is probably the best places for people to get acquainted with dim sum. Between Hei La Moon, Chau Chow City, this place, and Emperor's Garden, I would put China Pearl's dim sum as the best overall. They are the most consistently good in the sense that every dish is well made, even if its competitors have the upper hand in a few individual selections. The deal breaker here is that none of the rice flour wrapped dumplings are mucky and greasy. Chao zhou fen guo (chiu zao fun gaw if you wanna be all cantonese) is sweet solace for me at dim sum because it's one of the rare, rare dishes that isn't loaded with pork or shrimp. There's some veggies, cilantro I think, water chestnut, peanuts and little meat scraps inside. It's great here, while many of the other places have mucky starchy fillings. I believe hei la moon has a good one, but chau chow's is bad, as is emperor's. The rice noodle standby chiong fun is delicious here, comparable to the dim sum houses in Guang Zhou. It's perfectly soft, but not overly greasy. It always has a little bit of glutenous chew. They had this one fried shrimp ball dish with a longan in the middle which I was crazy about has a kid. I've grown out of that phase, but it is pretty tasty and worth a try. Shrimp dumplings, tripe, chicken's feet, beef balls, and steamed spare ribs are all of a high quality, equaling, if not besting its competitors. I've always found the Chicken Feet to be best at China Pearl. The sauce isn't overly sweet, and it has a lot of flavor from the black beans. The Shumai taste good as well, and are not the behemoths that they serve at hei la moon, which is nice. I like being able to eat shumai in one bite. Overall, I'd say Hei La Moon is almost as good, and also a place you can't go wrong with for dim sum, but China Pearl is at a more convenient location and I like it just a little bit more.
(4)
.amy E.
My Visit To China Pearl, Re-imagined as an 80s Music Video (specifically: Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up") Open to the three of us - me, Rick Astley, Liz - dancing in the mirrored stairwell of China Pearl. Everyone has big hair. The camera pans between us and our scattered reflections as we dance up the stairs. First verse: Astley is dancing and singing into a mic on a small platform stage in the middle of the lower floor. Dim Sum carts swarm around him in a swarm of color. People are ignoring him in favor of their pork shu mai and vegetable dumplings. On "I just wanna tell you...", he serenades Liz and I at a table upstairs. Liz eats her shrimp roll and I sip hot tea, pretending not to notice. Chorus:cut between scenes of Liz and I alternately dancing and doing back bends on the center of a larger table upstairs. Next verse: mysteriously, we are all now wearing sunglasses, even though we are inside. Astley has donned a too-large trenc hcoat. Liz's hair is even bigger. Astley sings, and people are suddenly noticing him. A few look annoyed at the disruption, but for the most part, people are enjoying the performance. Next chorus: We dance behind Astley as he sings. People are clapping, and you can clearly see some patrons singing along. There are numerous shots of Astley using a pair of chopsticks (the color of his trench coat) to snatch up pieces of dim sum as he goes through the crowd, but it would be incongruous to see him eating them; the shot changes each time he brings a piece up to about chin-level. People do not seem to notice, or care. When chorus repeats to the end of the song, a majority of the restaurant slowly stands to dance with us, following Astley as he wanders through the restaurant. As they get up to dance, their hair grows in size and their clothes become smaller, tighter, brighter; a magical 80s transformation. As song ends, everyone applauds as shot fades to black.
(3)
Lynn C.
If i could give this place 0 stars..I would. This place is the WORST place I've ever been to. I came here for Chinese New Year and it was the biggest mistake of my life. The service was beyond terrible. There were about 5 tables in the restaurant and three servers. It was not busy. It took a good 10 minutes for anyone to acknowledge that we were there. I finally had to flag someone down. He was rude. Never smiled once. We had to ask for water, plates, silverware, etc. several times. The food was also gross. The dim sum looked old and slimey. We ordered black bean spare ribs and some shumai. Icky icky. We also ordered a beef and veggie entree and a couple of other things. I know that at some Chinese restaurants, they serve the meat a little more on the rare side....but when this dish came out....the beef was still bloody as in raw. I tried to tell the waiter and all he did was argue with me. My meal ended up being $60 bucks and of course the entire bill was written in Chinese so I couldnt even read what was written. It was the biggest waste of money ever. I left less than 10% because the service was TERRIBLE. I know how to tip (I've waitressed before and am a 20% tipper type) but I couldnt' give him more than that. I will never ever go back there again. Ugh. Im getting mad just thinking about it.
(1)
Bobby F.
I went with a party of twenty for dim sum. Ten minutes after seating us, the brought one order of rolls. Ten minutes later, they brought one more order of rolls. Ten minutes after that, they brought MENUS at DIM SUM! They took over half an hour to begin bringing out our order. Worst. Service. Ever.
(1)
Anna W.
I ain't gonna lie... pretty good dim sum! My family has been going here since they closed Golden Palace across the street (that happened almost 2 decades ago, but I am still mourning its loss). For a loooong time, this was the only place we went for dim sum and other functions (weddings, birthdays, etc.). It has gotten a little pricier over the years, but the food is still of great quality. Dim sum is wonderful. If you go here on a weekend, it will be mobbed, and you will be rushed, so be prepared for that. You may even be forced to share a table with complete strangers. But, it's all a part of the ambiance, I guess. I've also been to many a family function here, and out of all the places in Chinatown we've gone to, this is in the top three. They churn out the food SO fast, and it is always delicious.
(3)
Rob G.
Dim Sum is really the only reason to visit the hot-mess the ensues every weekend. From the horrific parking situation in Chinatown to the interminable waits, it can try your patience. But once seated, the food is really quite good, even if you are not quite sure what you're eating and the waitresses don't speak a word of English. Go for the people watching and plan to make an afternoon of it...Not for picky eaters or those in a rush!
(4)
Sarah C.
Had to introduce to my husband what dim sum was. I haven't been to a lot of restaurants in Boston and heard some good reviews about this place. Though not an expert, I think their dim sum was pretty good. Carts were consistently coming around so there wasn't a worry I wasn't going to see something again. Got the rice soup, chicken feet (good), turnip cake (liked how they were frying it right on the cart), fried crab balls, shrimp dumplings (standard), and pork. I'd come back again.
(4)
Jeffrey L.
Tied with hei la moon for the greatest dim sum in boston. Great spot to have weddings and what not.
(4)
Liz E.
Great dim sum. Everything we got was flavorful and fresh tasting. They have all of the typical dim sim offerings plus a few things I'd never had before. They had clams in some sort of brown sauce that were different and tasty. Great shumai, chinese broccoli, dumplings of all sorts, great pork buns. They were very attentive with the tea. I'll go back for sure.
(4)
Michelle L.
My poor co-worker (who I mistakenly took here for her first dimsum ever) will probably never try it again. We experienced slow service, not enough carts coming around, and lack of variety. In short, I'd recommend trying somewhere else.
(2)
Jarrod C.
My first time coming to China Pearl for dim sum was a great experience. All your usual favorites and plenty of it. The ladies are always coming around with the carts so you never have to flag anyone down. Ate tons and managed to stay at approx $10/pp. Definitely go for the shumai, it is excellent! Will definitely be back.
(4)
Darius K.
I went here for dim sum yesterday with three friends, and my first impression was that I *loved* the atmosphere. When I arrived, I saw that the main dining area on the 2nd floor was decorated in your standard big-restaurant-in-Chinatown decor. Giant gold lions and the like. Yuck. But we got seated on the 3rd floor and I immediately liked the extremely casual cafeteria-like atmosphere of the place. Anyway, the dim sum here was okay but not great. The turnip cakes were way too glutenous and sweet for me. I like them a little less cloying--then I can add hoisin sauce if I want sweet gooeyness. The buns ranged from okay (bland shrimp) to excellent (traditional one with lots of chives in it). None of the baked desserts looked particularly appetizing, although I tried a mango jello-thing and it was really tasty. Finally, if you're vegetarian, you probably don't want to eat here. There are other dim sum places (like Chun Shin Yuan in Newton/Watertown) that have a lot more options for veg-heads.
(3)
Mary M.
The 4 stars is for the dim sum part. Besides not having some items that I love, the dim sum was pretty good. The prices are good too. I've never ate anything here for dinner, but I'm guessing dim sum might be good here but the regular dinner items might not be so good. We had a person in the group who was a vegetarian, and none of us knew that beforehand. Nothing on the carts appealed to her, and everything I love has meat in it, so I didn't even know what to recommend to her. In the end, we ordered her a chow mein with vegetables. The dish we were served was really bad. I thought they would make something like normal seafood chow mein, but minus the seafood and more vegetables (granted I've never had seafood chow mein here but I didn't think any Chinese place would mess that up). Instead, the dish seemed to me that the cook back there didn't know what to do and toss in random things...hehe. There was very little sauce, just lots of oil, and some small bits of vegetables and tofu. Come here for dim sum, but not for dinner.
(4)
Steven N.
Excellent as usual. Enough said.
(5)
PC W.
China Pearl has been my family's dim sum restaurant of choice for as long as it's been here - over a decade probably? 3 generations of Hong Kong Chinese cannot be wrong :) We're not so much of a fan of China Pearl for dinner but dim sum is tops. It's consistently good with many choices. There is also lots of seating and the staff is very quick and efficient. China Pearl still does the old school cart system which I hope never goes away. You can see what you're ordering and continue eating until you get full. I had another good experience here this morning and I continue to go for dim sum here with each trip I make home.
(4)
Zakir B.
I don't care about the dinge. I care about the real Chinese food. When I was in college, Emily Sun took me here late at night for "Chrysanthemum Tea Without Sugar!" and some goodies (the Chrysanthemum Tea tasted like the water in a vase, only hot). The stuff here is real. You can certainly compare China Pearl unfavorably with spots in New York or in San Francisco (hmm, I think longingly of Yank Sing...) but the mushroom dumplings are light, the hot and sour soup is hot, thick, and sour, and the Bok Choi from Planet Ten is fresh fresh fresh. No real reason to spend too much money elsewhere in Boston, IMHO.
(4)
Phu M.
This is the only place I go to for Dim Sum. I lived in CA for 3 years and friends there took me to Dim Sum places and none of them compared to China Pearl. I would long for their Shu Mai, Har Gow, sticky rolls and other goodies after a mediocre dim sum experience while in California. On the weekends for brunch, my advice is to go there around 10:30AM before the big rush. Overall, this place has the best Dim Sum in my opinion.
(5)
Marilyn C.
My husband and I have been craving Dim Sum since we moved Ma. We finally made the trip today to Chinatown to get some. Food was ok. Congee was really bland. Pork meatball tasted fishy. I think the worst part was the bill itself. I think both of us had a heart attack when we saw the bill. We've never paid so much for DIM SUM! $52 for the both of us? For sure we will not return to this place.
(2)
Corey H.
This place was pretty standard. I went here for a late lunch during the week by myself. The place was empty besides me. The service was great and the server was a very nice lady. The food was hot and made fresh but still came out quickly. The taste was average. Nothing special. The price was average as well. I would eat here again if someone wanted to go here or if I was passing by but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back here.
(3)
Kelley T.
I come here for dim sum, I've done the sit-down thing here one night and wasn't impressed. As far as dim sum goes, it's pretty yummy. However be forewarned, it can get super crowded and you might end up waiting a while for a table. Personally I think it's worth the wait. They've got all my favorite dumpling-esque dishes (hacao, shumai, and various bao) as well as some killer clams in black bean sauce and snails in spicy sauce, and amazing turnip cake. And chicken feet for the more traditional chinese.
(3)
Allison B.
I can't attest to the dim sum, but I've been here for their 10-course wedding style dinner for 10 people. if you can wrangle a group of 10, I'd recommend trying it out just for the experience alone! For a flat rate of just a smidge over $200 (total bill came to about $27 pp), you get 10 courses - which I believe vary depending on the day. Our fare included: - Cold plate of appetizers, including beef, duck, chicken, and jellyfish (actually quite delicious!). - Seafood soup - Seasoned prawns - Seafood/Veggie dish (snap peas, broccoli, carrots, shrimp, scallops, squid, etc) - Chinese fried chicken (amazing) - 2 Lobsters - Fried rice - Lo Mein - Some kind of sweet n sour-type pork - A whole fish - Red bean soup (dessert) the experience is amusing (omg, the food just keeps coming!), and some of the standout dishes were truly delicious, but to be honest, i much prefer the dim sum experience, and i hold loyalties to empire garden (though I suppose I'd be willing to try CP for comparison's sake). in other words, i'm just as if not more satisfied paying $10 to stuff myself with dumplings as i am paying $30 to stuff myself with lobster, but I'm glad I got to experience this culinary extravaganza!
(3)
Erik L.
A GREAT dim sum / yam cha place - I think its probably your best bet in Boston. Certain places try to pull off a half-assed dim sum where you either have a small selection, the stuff isn't freshly cooked or something like that, but China Pearl does the real thing. The place is packed at dim sum hours but unless you are with a big group, you won't have to go through a torturous wait. In other words, don't except anything except a good dim sum experience: lots of noise, lots of great food, low prices, and satisfaction! Did I miss anything?
(4)
Tom F.
this was my first Dim Sum experience in Boston, and I walked away thoroughly pleased. The siu mai was just ok, but the ha Cheung fun was delicious! I'd recommend more, but I'll have to ask my girlfriend what everything is called.
(4)
Derrick C.
Been here 4 total times. Once for dinner and 3 times for dim sum and twice, the food has been cold. Upon asking the waiter about it, he basically said that it was dim sum and the carts go around so what can he do about it? WOW are you kidding me? This place is a joke. And yes I'm Chinese and I know what good Dim Sum is supposed to be. This is the only place I've tried in Boston but I sure hope there's gotta be somewhere better than this. Oh yea, and the one time I came for dinner it was horrible too.
(1)
Ken Y.
How the once great have fallen. Went on Thursday night and it was nearly empty. For dessert, we got fortune cookies instead of the usual oranges and pudding. They must be really hurting for business.
(2)
Jack P.
the best dim sum i have found in massachusetts
(5)
Tom M.
This place is a gigantic assembly line, stuffing hastily thrown together dim sum into throngs of people. Can you tell I'm not much of a fan? The quality of the food is marginal, and it was surprisingly bland. Not totally awful, and there are definitely times when I'm willing to sacrifice some culinary satisfaction to head down there with a group of friends and doing the whole "Dim Sum Experience." Honestly, if you just want tasty Dim Sum without the hassle, I would go to Dim Sum Chef in Allston, or if you absolutely have to pull your chicken feet off of a cart, but want them to be flavorful, then head to Hei La Moon nearby. So yeah, 2 stars for the crazy atmosphere (a good thing depending on your mood), but not much else. I haven't been there for non-Sunday brunch, so maybe they pay a little more attention to the food when they're not making it by the buttload.
(2)
Gen M.
There is something to be said about the laissez faire approach they have to the atmosphere and what they do with the food instead. There are loud conversations, kids running around, older asian couples congregating, and various other attributes of a good chinatown place, and the food is fantastic. You don't know what you're having. You can ask for steamed in the hopes you will indeed get that. You will love what you have - try the mushroom/swordfish steamed creations and you will just have that for the rest of your time there. Everything tastes so good and it comes out to barely $12 per person. Yup, i love it - but I do adore a good dim sum meal.
(5)
Debbie N.
I had a bad experience here at my uncle's wedding a few years ago (imagine: cold fried crab legs) and vowed to never return. Upon a friend's request, I returned last weekend for dim sum. Boy, did I regret not going to China Pearl sooner. After mediocre Boston dim sum experiences at Emperor's Garden, Quincy's China Pearl, and the various Chau Chows, I have resigned myself to thinking that beyond-mediocre Boston dim sum is impossible. However, Chinatown's China Pearl was just that. The carts were quick and constant, the food was less greasy than other Boston dim sum places, and they had a variety of dishes, some of which the other dim sum places do not always have. My only complaint: The steamed shrimp dumplings (har gow?? sp?) never came out on the carts while we were there. Boo.
(4)
tammy w.
While I myself am not a Chinese food guru, I gotta say that the food here is pretty good. I can never remember names or anything like that but I do know there is a lot of dumplings and rice and meat. I go here every now and then to take away those cravings of the orient. Dim sum is the best time to go, usually waiting in line for 5-10 minutes but its well worth it..
(4)
Lisa K.
I've never had dim sum before so I didn't really know what to expect but was excited to try something new. We went for a sort of double date-- I went with my fiance and two friends- I'm curious as to what Laura A. will say about our meal. It wasn't bad but it wasn't AWESOME. The sesame bun thingies with the red bean paste were my favorite. I had a hard time with some of the textures of things- too slimy for us...especially those fried donuts wrapped in something resembling a bodily fluid...gross. The fried tofu looked promising but seemed to be soaking in some kind of meat sauce and part of it was a huge chunk of fat- again, not so appealing- especially for our vegetarian friend. The gelatinous tofu mentioned by a couple of other people here- yeah....so totally gross...it was so liquidy. Everything seemed fried pretty much and was heavy...no veggies to be found really. The sticky pork bun was alright- it reminded me of something that I couldn't put my finger on- maybe a hot dog bun...or maybe a little debbie's donut with pork? The spring rolls were typical and the veggie pocket things were ok. I think for those who are familiar with dim sum and know what to order have more success. I would definitely try it again sometime- but I would be a little more cautious about what to order...stay away from the fried donut with slime!!!
(3)
Alexander M.
very nice dim sum place in Boston's China Town. rich atmosphere, exotic selection.
(4)
David Q.
Being new in Boston, I have only tried Hei La Moon and I wanted to branch out and try new places. Much against my fiancees mentality of sticking with what's good, we finally decided to try this place. Boy were we disappointed. The portions were smaller, and also the food was just not as tasty. A lot of the hot pastry items were cold when it was served and in general no where as good as Hei la moon. I would not recommend this place.
(2)
Sage K.
It makes me sad that I got food poisoning from a dim sum lunch at China Pearl. They are so fun to go to and the food tastes good. But three out of four of us who went were very ill by the evening. The fourth person ended up taking care of me as I couldn't even leave the house to walk 4 blocks to the drug store to pick up medicine. I've never had food poisoning before, but it is awful enough that I will NEVER go back to China Pearl.
(1)
TJ T.
Food is okay. I like it when I end up going here for a big party such as a birthday or a wedding party; the plates are much better. When I go here with just a group of people, it just doesn't feel the same and the service is pretty rude. BUT once again, in big parties it's a blast.
(3)
Joshua P.
I'm in love with China Pearl. This was my first dim sum experience and howdy-doo, it was good. Thank god I went with my Cantonese-speaking friend though, otherwise I would have been in a pickle. The food is amazing, and copious, and the service is crazy (good crazy, but still crazy). Plus we ordered A TON of food and it only came to $10 a person. I'd definitely recommend this place and I hear it's the best dim sum in Boston, so do it up dim sum-ers! p.s. GET the tofu pudding, it's unbelievable, seriously, I had like three bowls of it.
(5)
Jando S.
China Pearl's dim sum has to be one of the best in Boston, with its fresh variety, and plentiful portion style dishes. Sunday and Saturday afternoons may result in some mad house-like atmosphere as people will storm this place as if they're ready to overthrow an emperor resulting in a long congested mess of waiting. The decor is suitable for Chinese banquet hall standards but the big tables everywhere make for awkward experiences as many of them are shared with patrons who were probably waiting with you. Get here before 12 and with a group of 6 or more its unlikely they'll seat strangers with you and most likely a table will be waiting for your group.
(4)
H Y.
Only for Dim Sum and wedding receptions. It's the 'Groundhog Day' nightmare for every Chinese kid growing up in Boston. Eat banquet dinner at China Pearl. Repeat. Otherwise I have never and will never eat dinner here. It's not bad but you are better off heading across the street to Peach Farm for dinner. Dim Sum is better than most in Boston if only for the variety. The self-serve station is good for snails (or escargot for Chinese-French kids) and such. Lots of big tables. Tell the host that you are willing and eager to share a table with those nice old Chinese men reading those funny papers if you want to cut the line. The crowds are tremendous on weekends! Come before 10:30am at least. My family never had to wait (it's nice to know the manager) but frankly I wouldn't wait in line for this stuff. Go to Hei La Moon if you are going to wait.
(3)
Hans M.
I have to say hands down --- China Pearl is THE Yum Cha (not 'yam') place in Boston. For those New Yorkers, yes yes, I know, I know, about the selection, about the place, about blah blah blah...Nobody is gonna drive 4 hours to go to Canal Street just for Yum Cha on a weekend morning. Talk about authentic Yum Cha place? Plz~ I am from the "Land of Yum Cha" so STFU and accept that there is no better substitution in Boston. Now if you happen to go to San Francisco, there is a........
(4)
Julie C.
this is a great alternative for dim sum when Winsor is packed. initially, i wanted to go to Winsor because I dont eat a ton of the choices off the carts offer but being like 1 pm, the place was packed and the wait was going to take a while and i was frikkin hungry, so i went across the street. i used to come here a lot with my parents when i was little, so i knew it was going to be good. a table for 2, and you are handed a card to be seated upstairs. we probably waited like half a minute to be seated and not even 30 seconds had gone by when our first cart showed up! score! sticky fried rice and char sui bao! yum! they came piping hot! soo good. then we had some congee , the tofu dessert dish, some dumplings, and we were stuffed. i wouldnt recommend getting coke with your meal, it was quite flat. stick with the tea. if you want soy sauce, you have to ask for it as they are not on the tables. carts come by quick, and often times they are the same ones over and over, you do have to search for the one you want sometimes and flag them down. they do have a stattion that will make certain dishes for you ask. ( like mussels or "chinese broccoli") i had been craving one of the crab leg balls but by the time those came around, i was stuff. ah well, maybe next time. you can count on it.
(4)
Kitty L.
I was invited to a wedding Banquet at China Pearl Restaurant on a Saturday evening. There were 3 parties being held simultaneously between the 2nd & 3rd floors. The rooms are decorated with old Chinese paintings. The center has a dancing floor + DJ music. The food I would rate it as C. The steak has too much tendon. The shark fin soup was too starchy & has no shark fin taste. The waiter did not offer cutting knife for steak & no lobster fork for lobster even I had requested. The service, I graded as C again
(3)
Jonathan B.
The food came to the table on carts and there was no lag in the flow or variety. This is definitely a family oriented restaurant. The hostess was always available to help us understand what was in the food if we had any questions. We loved it.
(4)
Leif H.
If you have gone for Dim-Sum in Boston's Chinatown you probably went here. This place tends to be the most popular venue as it is easy to find and their dining room isn't hidden away like some of establishments the locals preffer. Their food is good quality with enough of a crowd for it to be turned over fast and frequently. The biggest challenge is getting their early enough or timing your visit so as not to be starving while waiting. You can easily wait 30 minutes for a table if you pick the wrong time to go. And if you are a Congee lover you will be happy to know that they have a cart for that. Unfortunately I have visited several establishments in Boston that did not serve Congee, which was a disappointment.
(3)
Hubert H.
Can't believe I haven't written a review for China Pearl, a stalwart of Sunday dimsum for collegiate folk. The last time I was there was last December. Went in with my buddy at 3pm and it seemed as if almost all the food was gone. All of a sudden, five cart ladies surrounded our table (meant to seat 8 by the way), urging us on on eat everything! They were really aggressive. As for the quality of the food, I've always maintained that the dumplings were generally cold, that the flour wrappers were a bit ... mushy (is that the right word?), etc., etc. Always something just a bit wrong with the dishes. I have to try the noodles and the porridges at some point, so check back in for that review.
(3)
Dana L.
We got here at 10:45 to beat the crowds, and had no problem getting 2 tables upstairs (we had about 20 people). Its pretty standard Dim Sum fare - waiters walk around with trays of dumplings and you pick out what you want. It helps to have someone who speaks Cantonese with you, because the dishes aren't labeled, and you can't usually tell what they are by looking at them. If you don't want anything that you see, you can always order from the regular menu (just ask one of the waiters for a menu). Be forewarned that a lot of the dumplings contain pork. As I don't like to eat pork, and am allergic to shellfish, I only tried a few things, but they were tasty. The tarot root dumplings were excellent, as were the sesame dumplings filled with bean curd. I also got the Chicken with Mushrooms, which was very good. Overall, it came to like $10 per person, and everyone was stuffed.
(4)
Merri L.
This morning, we went to dim sum at China Pearl in Chinatown (Boston). This wasn't my first time there. We actually had tried a few dim sum places, and this is the best one. Dim sum, for those who don't know, is a bunch of little appetizer type foods, and the people come by your table with carts of food, and you choose which ones you want. Dim Sum here lasts until 3, but you need to get there by 1 in order to get a good variety of food. If you go later, you won't get enough. This is really cheap, you can get tons of different foods for about $10 a person. And, you can take a doggie bag if you don't finish. The food here is very good, although the water tasted weird today. Go try it out!
(4)
Ryan K.
This place is just alright. The dim sum is fairly standard but they selection is actually quite good. It gets busy but the wait wasn't too bad when I went. It's a little grimy for my taste but the price of the food dictates how clean it is. Yes, cart ordering is not how I like it but it it much better for the beginning dim sum eater.
(3)
Ashley S.
I wanted to try another place for dim sum (had only been to Windsor Dim Sum, which was great) and chose China Pearl. We walked in and the greeter said dim sum ended at 3pm. I glanced at my watch and was disappointed to see that it was 2:58pm. Carts started coming around and we loaded up during the last call. Overall, it was pretty good! I especially liked the BBQ pork buns (always a fav of mine) and the chicken feet w/ rice. Next time, I'd be sure to get there earlier in the afternoon for more variety (and less panic) with my choices.
(3)
Dennis L.
This place brings back memories whenever I walk up the stairs. It was the first restaurant I remember... My father worked here back when it was only a function hall and I remember sitting at a table, helping him with folding napkins on a sleepy Sunday afternoon, the room lit by paper and wooden lanterns with intricate carvings adorning the large chamber. Now, it's a bit different in its incarnation ever since the 1980's heralded in the age of dim sum spreading around. The place is still called China Pearl, but different in Chinese. The wood is gone, replaced by mirrors and bright lights. I have to wear my sunglasses or eyepatch whenever I am in there as a result. Many familiar faces have worked there and moved on over the years, but it is still a nexus of Chinatown. China Pearl is still a safe bet as a restaurant to take guests who have never tried dim sum before, but I presently find the quality a bit better at Windsor across the street and Hei La Moon. It has diminished a bit and could give itself a facelift in its operations, having barely changing such in twenty years. It's a place I've introduced many a person to dim sum to, and it is definitely a love-hate thing. For dim sum, the optimum time to go there is about 10 AM, when enough time has passed that all the carts are circulating, but not before it starts dying down... as well as the selection. I'm afraid the quality of the ha gao (shrimp dumplings) has diminished a bit over the years. When they first converted, there was a lot more bamboo shoots in comparison to the shrimp. Now, there's barely, if any at all. Chinese cuisine is about complements of flavors, and the delicate bamboo offset that of the shrimp, the stereotypical yin-yang taking place. I wish they would go back to the old recipe... The Siu Mai (pork/shrimp dumplings) are alright, more complementary than the ha gao. At least with dim sum, you can see the dishes as they come around here and just... pick away at whatever looks good that day. What is usually a limited offering is the 'zia leurng', a fried Chinese cruller wrapped in rice noodles that contain cilantro, topped by a sweetened soy sauce. If you see it on top of the cart that has the other rice noodle dishes, grab one before they all go away. They only make a small quantity each day, mostly due to the cilantro wrapping. Ordering off the menu, they do a yin yang fried rice alright. It is a bed of fried rice with egg, and bean sprouts, topped on one side by chicken and onions in a sweetened tomato sauce and shrimp with peas in a white egg drop sauce. If you are curious as to the level of 'Fear Factor' foods there are here, the worst you will find are the tripe (available at the hot food bar), the chicken talons (fong zao), and the thousand year old egg soup (pei dan jook). It's not as frightening as other places in Chinatown where you can find such dishes as ox tongue with coagulated pig's blood. Also, if you want a hint for parking on weekends, if you don't mind dealing with walking half a mile, I park at the street that's normally tour bus parking during weekdays next to the Herald and can readily find parking until about 1 pm. Dishes to try: " Zia Leurng" (rice noodle wrapped around fried cruller), Siu Mai, Yin Yang fried rice
(3)
Krishna L.
We had dinner here tonight. At the beginning of the meal a mouse scampered by my husband's foot (he kept quiet, so as not to ruin the time for the rest of us). At the end of the meal, as we were paying, the rest of us saw a mouse running across the room. We told the woman at the register and asked for a discount. She didn't blink an eye, didn't apologize, and said that they don't give discounts and said the food was not contaminated. How would she know that for certain? If this mice has no fear in scampering across the dining area, in the glare of the lights, with people in the room, how many more are there in the kitchen, when the restaurant closes, when it is dark and with no people???
(1)
Kev H.
This place is alright, I think empire garden has better food, but this place seems to offer more of a bar/restaurant ambiance. I have been to a few weddings here, theres luscious space for dancing on a hardwood floor, if you're planning maybe a wedding or some sort of after party this would be a pretty good spot.
(3)
kathleen c.
my family has been coming here on and off ever since i was a kid, and it's a solid favorite of my extended family. i can see why--their dim sum is predictable and consistent, there's a HUGE booze selection, seating is prompt (even if you sometimes have to share a table with someone else), and sometimes you can get specialty items like lobster dumplings (ohhh yeah). as for the ambience--what can i say? if you were expecting something else from a restaurant in chinatown, i'm sorry to say that you are fairly disillusioned. the tables are chipped and they've done away with the pretense of a table cloth. only God knows when was the last time they vacuumed the carpet. but if you're looking for something decent and consistent, china pearl is the way to go. funnily enough, if you ever noticed how the name of the restaurant in chinese is something fierce and intimidating like "dragon phoenix restaurant" and the english translation is something lame like "china pearl" it makes you wonder...
(4)
C. S.
I only went to this three floored tower of suck because my beloved Peach Farm across the street had a long wait. This place is horrible. Food makes you wish you had chosen to give up chinese food for lent. I must have ordered the vegeterian chicken lo mein because there was no chicken in it. The staff was a surly group of bums it took them twenty five minutes and four requests to get me a coke. They seemed perturbed to have to wait on people and it took another 15 minutes to get a check. I have never been very harsh on service, in fact, I rarely notice issues others point out, but this place was terrible.
(1)
Sun Y.
The dim sum here is yummy-licious... for those of you afraid you wont be able to order because you don't speak the language, rest-assured, there is a foreigners level upstairs. That's where they put me.
(4)
Eater O.
Quality: variable but generally good Cost: $10-15 dollars per person (100-200 pound person... If u weigh more than this... I'm not sure) Atmosphere: Bustling, mixed asian80%/caucasian20% Cleanliness: Not clean (but what do u expect?) Good food, Solid Dim sum. The food can be variable but I eat here for dim sum fixes. It's good for large parties (10 or more even).
(4)
Stephen Y.
Yum...as part of our ongoing experiment in epigenetic modifications of the gweilo "palate" and ongoing training in "chopsticky"... OK the first count but failed miserably the second... probably because dim sums.. by their nature are slippery.... Nevertheless, dim sum was pretty decent but the deserts were just so- so.... Pea- shoots and gai- lan were yummy... Service can be hit- or- miss but no matter.... the dim sum makes up for the deficiency in this department
(4)
Al A.
Awesome dim sum.
(4)
Dan C.
Hands down the best DIm Sum in Boston; just be prepared to ask what everything is if you are faint of heart.
(5)
Steven O.
We tried to get into the Peach Farm tonight but the wait was 90 minutes. So we went across the street to China Pearl, the place was full but we were able to get seated in 5 minutes. The service here leaves a lot to be desired. Either they are understaffed or just clueless. Getting the waiters attention to put our order in, get water refills, plates, rice and 1 of our dishes which came out of the kitchen after we finished evrething else. The food was decent but not as good as you can find elsewhere.
(2)
Dave C.
China pearl was good because i was there with my babe and her friend who lets just say is "too good" for pork!! unbelieveable! (i cant spell) Some of the items were good some not so good but its average dim sum with a giant flight of stairs before i can start eating! food was ok
(3)
Alicia H.
Our first experience with Dim Sum wasn't really that exciting. Today is the chinese new year celebration in Chinatown so maybe it ordinarily wouldn't be so obnoxiously busy, but it was a hot mess today. The food wasn't really that great, some of it was fairly gross - I think our favorite was actually a plate of chinese broccoli that was just tasty. All in all, it wasn't horrible, but I would not go back. *shrug*
(2)
Yosiris P.
I am in love with Dim Sum. China Pearl is the place to go on a weekend morning with family and friends. Get there early, otherwise you will be waiting in the stairs for a looooong time. Food is good. I love their chicken feet, shrimp dumpling, shrimp noodles and tofu. Service is fast, tons of carts going around at all times with lots and lots of food so you will never be dissapointed for your favorite to not be available. Save room for dessert. Have some warm tofu pudding dessert. It is one of the best things i've ever had. It comes with a side of (or they can pour it on for you) ginger-honey syrup. It is the perfect combo. The best way to end a filling meal.
(5)
Gabe L.
So I was about to create a list for dim sum places and realized that I hadn't reviewed any.... and only 2 restaurants in Chinatown. Omg, what a travesty! I've been to China Pearl for dinner, lunch, banquets, dim sum. But normally, I only go here for dim sum and banquets. The summary: 4.5 stars for the dim sum, 3.5 for dinner, 4 for banquets. I think my banquet rating may be biased though, since I've gone to so many there, it's like a tradition. Service is usually good and attentive, food is good, and price is not bad. The dim sum: one of my favorites foodwise, a sentiment obviously shared by many given the crazy rush every weekend. Hint, sundays are busier than saturdays, be there before 11:30 or after 1 to avoid the rush. They stop serving at 2:30 but the selection starts dwindling as well. Speaking cantonese helps, but the dim sum ladies speak enough english to tell you the general ingredients at least. You can order pitchers of water, which makes things easier for you and the waitstaff when you have a large table. If you're a beginner, avoid the cart with the chicken feet. It's full of advanced stuff including tripe. The food up at the buffet is also good, with things like spicy salty shrimp, pig's blood (it's good, really), chow foon, etc. When you do get there, make sure to go up and ask for a number. If you're there at rush hour, you'll be waiting for a while (especially in a large group). It's easier to be seated in a small group but I personally like going en masse and devouring dim sum like hungry savages. Also I advise to tip well - I know there isn't a single waiter/waitress serving you, but there's a number of them, and the service is quick. And they'll appreciate it. Also they've switched their take out containers to styrofoam, so if you're an environmentalist, keep that in mind. Bring your own tupperware or something. Some people say the food at hei la moon is way better, but I think they're about the same. They share the same staff, which I think includes the chefs. Chau Chow City is the other one people mention, but I think the quality of the ingredients is better at China Pearl. The dinner: Not much to say, really. It's your standard Chinese place, the food is pretty good, the waitstaff attentive... it's solid. The banquets: The food is always good, and I don't know what kind of magical pig they use for their appetizers but the char siu is fight-over-the-last-piece good. Sometimes when they serve a big fish, it comes overcooked, which I understand, since it's really hard to cook a large fish completely yet not overcook it. But other than that, the food is invariably very good. And for you people who love mango pudding, there's been times they serve that as part of dessert. Big giant mango puddings in interesting designs for each table. Ours was in the shape of a fish. And the garnishes are often interesting too. Once we had a carrot carved in the shape of a dragon, that looked really cool.
(4)
Natasha S.
This place is an experience. I never ever go to chinatown or the "combat zone".. I ventured down there and ended up going to this place. I am not a big dim sum person.. so when the lady came over asking me if i was interested in "duck feet" i was like "noooo thank you". There traditional menu is pretty good though, we had the chicken lo mein and the snap-pea steak. super yummy. whole meal cost about 23 dollars. Great place for groups.. will most likely come back!
(3)
Tracy H.
I've had take out from the upstairs restaurant twice, and I was more disappointed the second time than the first. I ordered chicken and broccoli and I was disappointed that it wasn't in the brown sauce, but it was decent. The second time, I ordered crispy beef, and it was terrible. More fat than beef and drowning in sauce. Both times, the service was rude and even though no one else was at the pick-up counter, the staff took their sweet time acknowledging my existence. Maybe the in-restaurant experience is better, but I won't be doing take-out from them again.
(2)
lorraine s.
unfortunately i read the yelp reviews after i visited the rest. the place looked dirty, i should have turned around, but we were taking our granddaughter who is a student at northeastern out for a meal. we were visiting and she suggested this place. we are boston natives but have been living near san fran for the last 30+ years. there are a some things that we have a taste for as soon as we get of the airplane at logan. fried clams, and chinese food. the chinese food in cali is good, but it's different than what i grew up with. the food was just okay, and that was a disappointment, this was supposed to satiate me until my next visit to boston. gotta say, i'm happy to return to cali where i will get very fresh food. the worst part of the experience was the very, rude, waiter. he seemed as though he had hatred for his customers. it sort of makes me a little sick thinking he probably spit in everyone's food before he brought it out from the kitchen. all the waiters decided it was time for their dinner. they sat down to eat while we stared at them, thinking they might get the hint that we were ready to pay our check. they ignored us. i told my family i knew how to make them move. i stood up put my coat on, and place my purse on my shoulder. it worked like a charm. he rushed over and left my cc receipt, and he hovered around me waiting to see how much tip i left. i left 10 percent. i usually am a 20 percent tipper. 10 percent was too much by 9 percent. i'm leaving for the airport this morning, sad that so many things in boston have changed. this is just one more thing i have to add to the list.
(1)
Kristine M.
Average dim sum. It's not my favorite in Boston. I'd rather go around the corner to Hei La Moon. It's not really worth the wait!
(3)
Chin C.
Best dimsum in Boston area! I agree with So S. It's hard to find dimsum in Boston so this one is the best here. I love chicken feet, stream bun, shrimp dumbling. I havn't tried other than dimsum here so my rating was based on only dimsum.
(3)
Christine T.
Great place to eat Dim Sum, though if you go after lunch time and before dinner in the middle of the week, your food will be luke warm or cool. While the service is very average (most of the servers walking around don't look like they really want to be bothered - plus their English isn't so hot which makes it difficult to communicate) the food is decent and price reasonable. The decor is strange, though. No windows in the place!
(3)
Robyn L.
I remember this place being fun and pretty good when I was first there -- about six years ago. When I returned this week I was not impressed. Maybe I got a bad batch of dim sum. Part of the problem was that I had to work with a fixed/pre-arranged menu because I went with a large group. I definitely would not have chosen many of the items on that menu. That said, I'll eat pretty much anything once and I'm usually open minded about food. (I tried tripe at my last dim-sum outing. Can't say I enjoyed it, but I tried it!) Everything tasted, sort of, slimey. The dumplings weren't flavorful -- just plain shrimp in a slippery white dumpling shell -- and the mushrooms and bok choy were doused in this heavy sauce that ruined what would have been good veggies. The one thing I really liked was the veggie spring rolls. Then again, those were fried. Really can't mess up anything fried in my book.
(2)
Marcus D.
China Pearl was where the family and I would go after seeing something in the Theatre District - my mother and aunt would laugh at the hookers in their crooked wigs and flimsy outfits navigating their way down the middle of the streets - that was THEN, before the new Ritz appeared. It was also THE place for cold tea when I was in high school, but I'm sure that's changed. I did not know they charged for tea - that may be a deal breaker. They never used to, but Boston is a city of "used to's," don't you think?
(3)
Q S.
Pretty good dim sum. One of my two favorites to go to in Chinatown. A good variety. It is always crowded when I go.
(4)
Lee C.
The best place in Boston for Dim Sum. Period. Rivals the best of Chinatown in NYC which is saying a lot (considering Boston's chinatown is 1/8th the size). Be prepared for a line, for disorganization, weird looking food, and a memorable eating experience.
(5)
Bella and Aleksey R.
Went for the proverbial dim sum here (sometimes you just get that urge for dim sum in Chinatown). It was OK, though we were there with someone who knew the different dishes. I liked stuff with shrimp inside with that nearly transparent white, soft dough all around. The bathroom situation was gross... even more so than you would expect.
(2)
Shawn F.
One great thing about China Pearl is that it has dim sum even on weekdays. The dim sum fare here isn't incredible, but it's not bad, either. Service was efficient when I was there, but my visit was in the early afternoon on a Wednesday so it wasn't exactly crowded. Parking can be tricky. Curbside metered parking lines Tyler Street and the surrounding avenues, but it takes some luck to find an empty spot. There is a pay-to-park lot just steps from the restaurant, but it's more expensive than street parking. I should also note that China Pearl gets top honors for dim sum in the Phantom Gourmet's guide to best restaurants.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Victoria H.
This place is a very nice place. It's a little bit unconformable ( with a lot of stairs to get to the restaurant ) But beyond that the food is really nice (especially with there delicious dumplings ) This place is really nice and the services is nice , but very hard to get a hold of them when you need some thing because they're running all over the place. Down stairs of the restaurant, there's a nice cafe that also belong to china pearl. The place is very relaxing and cool. i think this place is sort of nice but try to come before or after dim-sum. Because it will be very hard to get a seat during that time1.
(3)C T.
5 stars for tasty dim sum, 1 star for service = 3 stars overall. The ppl who work there are very rude. Not the sweetest ppl in the world. The bathrooms like all other restaurants in chinatown are disgusting as well. Also not handicapp-friendly. The elevator is in the back of the restuarant and you can only get to it if you go thru the bank around the corner. I know weird right? My family brings my grandma to China Pearl for her b-day every year. It's definately a trek to get her to our table. SIGH...but the dim sum is still tasty
(3)Michael A.
If you want to be that guy who knows what's up: Char siu bao from China Pearl. $1.25 a pop. Walk in, order them to go. Ho Yuen? lol no yuen.
(5)Jessica C.
Dim sum brunch is always a treat, but this place was a bit disappointment for a few reasons: The dim sum norms I'm used to were lacking here: shrimp toast, peking duck, soup dumplings, chili oil, shrimp balls. There was an attendant in the poorly maintained bathrooms blocking access to the paper towel dispenser. I wasn't sure what to do with her, and was vaguely uncomfortable with the situation. There's a liquor bar at the front of the restaurant, but no easy way to actually cut through the queue of folks waiting to pay their bills... and when I asked our server for a drink menu, I was brought two identical take out menus. Finally, there was no follow up on whether I wanted to order anything off a menu either way until we were 2/3rds into our meal. Seeing the option of the bar but being unable to actually access it was a frustration I could have done without. Add these annoyances to the difficult parking, language barrier (about half of our servers didn't understand our questions), and $60 price tag for four people, and I'm glad to be able to access dim sum in the Great State of Texas.* *Austin and Houston dim sum experiences only.
(2)Patrice C.
I live in Boston, but hadn't gone to dim sum in over 10 years and decided to take my 16 year old niece and nephew for fun. I did a lot of research on this site and Yelp, and finally decided on China Pearl. It ended up being an excellent choice. In terms of dim sum, people tend to comment on certain aspects, so I'll write my review using these as a guide: Seating/Waitress Attention: We walked in and saw that it was moderately crowded. As soon as we walked up, we were warmly greeted by the hostess, and then escorted to our seats. Tea and menus were brought to us immediately. I'd say the time from our arrival at the restaurant to being ensconced in our seat was 90 seconds. Food cart number and variety: The first cart came about 1-2 minutes after we sat down. From that point on, they came at a steady clip. There was only one time when there was a lull where I had to wave a cart down. There was a great variety of dim sums, and we only started seeing repeats at the very end of our meal. Food cart lady language/disposition: They were nice, not pushy at all. Yea, their English wasn't the greatest, but we did OK. I hate seafood, and we successfully avoided getting anything fishy. Quality of the food: With the exception of the meatballs (big yuk), everything else was really good. It was fun noshing on little dishes of things that were new to us, yet had a good Chinese food flavor. Cleanliness of restaurant: Very clean. Bathrooms were well kept up with plenty of soap and water (this was a complaint of a lot of people in Yelp reviews). Cost: It came to $18/pp. Not cheap, but worth the quality of the food and the experience. For those visiting Boston, I highly recommend doing dim sum one early afternoon of your stay. Walk through the streets of Chinatown, past the mouthwatering bakeries, stores selling beautiful Chinese lanterns, and boisterous groups playing chess on stone tables. It's another slice of my wonderfully diverse city. tripadvisor.com/ShowUser…
(5)Katie W.
My friends brought me to this old-school dim sum restaurant in the heart of Chinatown last weekend, and we pigged out to our hearts' content. I've had a lot of dim sum in my lifetime, and I'd say this was pretty average. They had most of the classic dishes, and they were no better nor worse than your standard dim sum restaurant. The main issue was that nothing really stood out, and I don't think I'd go back for any particular dish. The best dish was the black bean spareribs, which were meatier than the ones I've had elsewhere. The best dessert was the pumpkin glutinous rice with bean paste. Everything else was relatively unmemorable. The char siu bao were disappointing in the amount of roast pork filling, and I thought the rice rolls with shrimp needed more shrimp. Each roll only had about one medium-sized shrimp each, which meant it was particularly hard to split them. I waited and waited for the har gow (my favorite), but they never came around. Speaking of waiting, I would have given this place four stars if not for the long wait times between carts. When we first sat down at 11am, we were bombarded by carts. But halfway through our meal, around 11:30, there were no carts at all on our side of the room. We looked around and everyone was just sitting there waiting. This continued for half an hour. I finally got tired of waiting and went to the steam table in the front that I didn't notice before, and just picked the items that I really wanted. Unfortunately, some of these items were cold, particularly the egg tarts, which weren't warm or flaky enough. Sad. In the end, our bill came out to be $17/person, which I thought was fair, given how much we ate. I don't think I'll be in a hurry to come back though, as the places I'm used to in Flushing Chinatown are better.
(3)Audrey C.
Came here with a girlfriend at around 12pm on a Sunday and we waited for about 30 minutes. Their waiting system is a bit unorganized because the hostess puts you in these segregated lines scattered against the wall while the person at the bar sends you to the wrong scattered line. But even with this the wait wasn't too bad...and the hostess is literally the nicest and calmest woman in the world! The 2 of us were seated at a larger table meant for 6..but hey I didn't mind the extra space. The carts came around quite often with dim sum but there is also a self serve section with most of the fried and baked option to the side so no waiting is necessary! The dishes were all super fresh when gotten from the carts and the self serve section too. Black bean clams: Get this at the self serve section, delish, a good serving of clams with good flavor Ha Gow (shrimp dumplings): Standard and fresh and hot! Chong fun (Shrimp roll): Standard, fresh and hot as well. The skin was perfectly soft and the hot sauce that comes w/ this is delish! Lotus leaf sticky rice: Always my fav dim sum dish, They gave a good amount of meat in these also! Egg tarts: At the self serve section also, nice and flakey. All in all, standard and decent priced dim sum that is hot and fresh with not too long of a wait if you come in at busy hours. Give this place a shot, esp because the service is nice and calm as well, unlike other dim sum places.
(4)Noemi S.
It's a good place to have lunch on Sunday. We had 7 different dishes and all good. We missed water, but I guess we should have asked (unlike other places where they just bring it before taking note). Tea was good; chopsticks, challenging for some of us (but we managed). And not expensive; will come back.
(4)Garkie Z.
Came to Boston's Chinatown for the first time and was really hungry for some good ol' Dim Sum! Came here on a few website suggestions and left satisfied but not WOW-ed by any means. Overall the place is pricier than I had anticipated. For the two of us we ordered probably 6 dishes including: Steamy Pork Bun, Shumai, Shrimp Noodle rolls, Fried Shrimp Balls, Custard Buns, and Fried Minced Meat Turnovers overall the total was $28. The actual food was pretty ok- I'm from Colorado and while I'm American born I was raised with many Traditional Chinese Food Recipes and found the Boston Dim Sum lacking in some flavors- The Steamy Pork Buns were almost bland in comparison to others I've tried. The service... Was sub par. It took forever for the actual cart we wanted to get to us. Multiple times we made it a note to tell the servers we'd been waiting on a specific dish to get to our table and still we waited. The push cart ladies didn't seem too happy to be there in the first place let alone appease the customers cravings. I think next time I'm craving Dim Sum I'll try another place in Chinatown before resorting to coming back to China Pearl.
(3)Sean M.
3.0000001 Stars Oh how the mighty have fallen. CP is is a shadow of it's former self of the late nineties and early oughts. The aggregate of the Tea House/Dim Sum scene in Boston's Chinatown has experienced a severe decline. While venues outside of Chinatown have surged; like Ten-Ichi Dynamic Kitchen and Bar in Framingham (weekends only). That being said it's still worth going here if you have the dim sum jones. Look at the bright side; no taking numbers no lines, at least on weekdays. * best turnip cake (Lo Bak Go) in Chinatown * Ha Goa (Har Gow) & Siu Mai (Shumai) are solid as are the other dumplings. * Cha siu bao! (steamed buns) * Lo mai gai !! (lotus leaf rice) * Cheong Fun (rolled noodles, I prefer shrimp) * Don't tell anyone but I prefer CP over HLM (service and food) * parking 3 lots, including one next store, but it's tough.
(3)Han V.
The cart system seemed a little unorganized because the same 2 cart ladies kept returning to our table and when they realized we weren't interested in the items on their cart for the 3rd time, they completely ignored us altogether! Because of this we were only able to get 4 items off the cart. They have a buffet looking area where you bring up your sheet and can select from the items that they have out and a person will serve you and mark off on your sheet what you got. Overall, their dim sum (what we were able to get) was decent but not enough so to warrant a wait so definitely go early (we got their a little before 11 on a Saturday and didn't have to wait). Food: 3 Value: 3 Service: 1
(2)Hurnan V.
I came here on a Saturday for dim sum with a couple of friends, and instead of a long line or a wait, we were seated immediately. The interior is pretty festive, standard of a large venue Chinese restaurant, complete with holiday lights (in the middle of summer!). Anyways, the carts came by frequently and there was a nice variety. I really enjoyed their steamed chashao buns and changfen-- dimsum favorites for all! For a table of 5, we all emerged paying about $15, having filled our tummies, and tasted a wide variety of food. I would recommend coming back, especially if you have a large group, for the delicious, warm food, spaciousness, and generally reasonable prices.
(4)Winnie W.
I've been to China Pearl about 6 times (one time per year when visiting friends). After yesterday's experience, I will never go back. The dim sum was sub-par --- the food lacked flavor and variety. We (three of us) each asked for water and one pop (hey, I'm from the Midwest). There's nothing more to say about the food. I went to the counter to get my bill tallied up. I asked the woman (manager?) how much each dim sum item costs as some places tack on an extra item to rob you. She snapped at me, "let me finish adding everything up before I tell you." Fine. When she was finished, I asked her what cost $1.50? She said it's .50/ tea. I told her that we didn't drink tea. She didn't believe me and said, "yes, you had tea." I said that we had three glasses of water and one pop. She then said, "it's .50/ glass of water." For TAP WATER?!! She adds, "that's how we do it here, we charge for water." Translation: "that's how we do it here, we steal from our customers by imposing ridiculous charges." I know it's $1.50, but no one deserves to be treated this way. I threw the manager shade and left.
(1)Janet H.
Not bad.... I've been spoiled by San Francisco dim sum my whole life so this is just okay to me. I was surprised to see how PACKED the place was at noon on a Sunday. Luckily, our friends came here early enough to snag a big table while I came late, whoops! Anyway, be prepared to eat a lot of carbs and fried deliciousness... Side note: don't park at the lot across the street. $25 for 2 hour parking... hmph.
(3)Anthony W.
Came here yesterday for some dim sum in Boston's Chinatown. The place is huge and was fairly crowded by 11am so be sure to get there early or you are going to wait. We arrived about 1030am and were immediately seated. The place is your typical dim sum place where they push around carts filled with brunch type Chinese food and you order different dishes until you are full. The food was very good but I would have to say a slight notch below that of New York or LA. There is also a buffet line of food you can get towards the door to the kitchen that you can also get if you walk up there. Just be sure to bring your ticket with you so that they can mark it. The place is very affordable and for a group of 5, we stuffed ourselves for about 65 bucks. Be aware that the more people you bring, the greater variety of food you can get so call up your friends for a nice Chinese feast.
(4)John H.
Lots of people claim that they are one of the top 3 dim sum places in Boston. If that's the case, then it must be #3 or a distant #2 at best. It's no where as good as Hei La Moon. Disorganized and lacks flavor. Skip it and go to Hei La Moon.
(2)Alice Z.
Been here a few times. Good dim sum, a lot of choices. The tables are all very big and meant for ten people; me and a friend came once very early so we got a huge table all to ourselves.
(5)Frank L.
China Pearl Tyler Street Boston. 8/1/2015 Oh, how this once popular restaurant on Tyler Street has fallen, in my opinion. We visited the restaurant for a quick lunch at 3 PM, after an afternoon lecture in town. I have always wanted to try this restaurant as it has been around for many years. Upon entering the restaurant ,there is a high stairway leading into the restaurant itself, which will be very off putting for any handicapped person. [-10 points]. I did not notice an elevator, or any other way the entrance could be handicapped accessible. Upon entering the restaurant there is the usual statue of laughing Ho Ti, opposite the register take out order station and a brightly illuminated tree. A hostess seated us quickly and there were very few guests dining at that time. Before our server appeared, three restaurant employees began vacuum cleaning around us making a deafening noise for over 20 minutes. Why it had to be done at that time with other guests dining in the restaurant was very discourteous, and annoying. [ -15 points] Our server came to our table, gave us menus, but did not introduce himself or welcome us and then proceeded to ask us for a drink order. We asked for a little time to look over the menu. Within 5 minutes he would come back twice to ask us for an order. We decided to just order appetizers and water. Our appetizer order arrived first in 15 minutes. Usually the hot and sour soup is served fairly quickly, but arrived much later. A waitress came out with two soup spoons and no soup asking other customers at different tables if they had placed a soup order. Our 5 dumplings were fine as were the two thin vegetable spring rolls and 2 average sized egg rolls. We were almost finished eating our appetizers when our hot and sour soup order arrived 30 minutes after we first placed our order. No explanation or apology was given for such a long delay. [-10] The soup was very spicy and was probably the best item we were served. After finishing our soup, we asked for the check, paid for our meal, and left. Atmosphere---Poor, 20 minutes of loud vacuuming. Food--Average Service- Inattentive. We will not return to this restaurant again.
(2)Rick M.
China Pearl is still in my book A okay for dim sum if you're hangin out in Boston's Chinatown. We went after 2pm this time and all the delicious snacks came out of the kitchen freshly prepared. I always love a good steamed BBQ pork bun (char siu bao) and these didn't disappoint. We also ordered some steamed shrimp dumplings (har gow) and shrimp rice noodle roll (har cheong fun) with sweet soy sauce. And don't forget the steamed pork dumplings (siu mai). Lastly it wouldn't be dim sum without some egg custard tarts (dan tat) washed down with hot tea!
(4)Tom E.
An average dim sum parlour. 3 stars is not to say that it's not good - dim sum nearly always is. But compared to the standard of dim sum around the world and even around New England - it's pretty ordinary. The two things that stand out are 1. the weekend bustle - this place gets very busy, which is good for the atmosphere but bad for the lines. 2. almond dofu dessert - a traditional cheap and easy desert not made from tofu as the name suggests but made from seaweed agar powder and boiled water. It's almost exactly the same thing I make in the lab everyday to separate out tiny pieces of DNA from each other. It's tasty as hell too (not the lab version).
(3)Yuming Z.
First time in Boston, decided to go to dim sum instead of brunch on a Sunday. Tried to go to another dim sum place across the street but it was not open so decided on China Pearly instead. Service: Was seated immediately for 2 despite people at the door waiting. Probably bigger parties for the larger tables. Waitress took our drink order but didn't provide us with the stamp card. Once the cart ladies came around that was quickly fixed. Requests for water and extra hot sauce was fulfilled very quickly. Ambience: Typical Chinese restaurant. Clean but not spotless. Wasn't blown away but wasn't disgusted to be there. Food: Ordered quite a few dishes. Some well done, some not so much. Taste wise it was solid. Conclusion: Didn't blow me away but ordered a lot of food and the bill wasn't too bad. The taste wasn't amazing but typically what you'd expect from a dim sum place. Would visit again but I'm sure there has to be better out there in Boston.
(3)Rajan G.
So I'm not even close to a Dim Sum expert, but I've tried most of the Dim Sum places in and around Chinatown. I would say this one ranks among the top. Their steamed shrimp/chive dumplings were excellent. I also liked the sticky rice. They have a lot of other items I plan to try on the future, including some tofu curry that a lot of other customers were ordering. Most of the cart ladies smiled, which was refreshingly different from most other places. Being from SF Bay Area, I set the bar pretty low in Boston when it comes to Asian/Indian food. May not be 5stars in CA but easily 4 or 5 here.
(5)Gui Bin Z.
I took my friend and her brother here upon the reconnection of a friend. It was his first time going to dim sum and i was just visiting Boston so I was a fish out of water, but I trusted my friends recommendation. I'm glad I did, the positives to this dim sum parlor is that we didn't have to share a table which is notorious at chinese establishments. We ordered a few items, mostly different types of dumplings, shumai, pork buns, and the various other little dishes. Overall I enjoyed the experience and thought the food was good. I would say skip the pork buns, they were very mediocre. Be prepare to make aggressive eye contact with the cart ladies until they come to you. They spoke decent English so you'll have a general sense of what you're ordering but don't expect too much. I will definitely come back on my next trip to Boston.
(4)Vanessa C.
well, everyone should try it at least once! I wish I could review my dim sum here but honestly, I dont know half of what the hell I ate. it was put in front of me & I tried it and thats how it went down. some was good, some was not so good. I dont have much else to compare it to so 3 stars for now. (but at least now I know for sure that I dont like chicken feet.)
(3)Nancy C.
Went here for a late dim sum with my dad. It was 2 pm so it wasn't too crowded at all, but it also meant that the offerings on the cart were not too extensive nor too fresh. We got a variety of things: beef meatballs, steamed rice noodle with pork inside, tofu skin with pork inside, char su bao (BBQ buns), pumpkin buns with red bean paste filling, sweet milk buns with lotus filing, fried sesame balls, and short ribs. The beef meatballs were eh. They put a lot of gluten/flour in it so the texture was distinctly unmeat-like and the meat itself wasn't very good quality. The steamed rice noodle was decent. I added the spicy paste to it to give it more flavor, but the texture was good. Tofu skin with pork inside was decent. We also got another one with mushrooms which was also decent. I wouldn't order either again though. The BBQ pork buns were decent. They're your standard char su bao. I've never been a huge fan of them but they helped fill me up (I was starving). The pumpkin buns were the best out of the dishes we ordered. They're flat and made with rice flour; it was sweet and satisfying without being overly so. Both my dad and I were big fans. The sweet milk buns were good but very filling due to the heaviness of the lotus seed and the fluffiness of the bun. It was well made though. My dad wasn't a huge fan of these, but I liked them. Fried sesame balls are one of my favorite dim sum dishes. These were decent but not great. I usually like mine to have some give in them, but these were fried to the point of us being unable to pick them up with chopsticks. The short ribs were the only meat dish that actually tasted like meat. Probably because you can't really add any flour to it to cut costs. The meat was decent though the flavoring a little too sweet. Overall, not a bad dim sum place, though I still prefer Windsor. China Pearl doesn't have the selection of dumplings that Windsor has. They have a few steamed ones and "fried" ones, but when the cart for the fried ones came around, they looked greasy and unappetizing so I passed on that. I probably wouldn't come back here; I'd rather try out Hei La Moon or go back to Windsor. Being from LA, my standards for this place weren't too high, which was good because I would have otherwise been greatly disappointed.
(2)John B.
This is not my favorite dim sum place, compared to the ones I've been to in Chicago, LA and NY. But I would say that this is one of the more "consistent" ones in Boston. Here's why: They are always crowded because they're known for their food availability, fast service and cheap price. Spacious place and the wait is usually really fast. On weekends they're packed here. The buffet line adds diversity to their food and it's always a good extra something to have for dim sum. Fast service, not the most friendly and warming attitude but they get their job done fast and efficiently. I personally really like the shrimp dumplings (Ha Gow), it doesn't taste frozen and almost taste fresh. I always have to get that there. Wish the parking was a bit easier, we always have to park in the garage nearby since finding street parking in Chinatown is almost impossible every time.
(4)Elaine M.
3.5 stars. China Pearl is a pretty solid dim sum place in Boston's Chinatown. Be forewarned, though, that it gets ridiculously busy the closer it gets to lunchtime during the weekends. And when I say "busy," I mean that there are lines pouring down a flight of stairs, nearly out the front door -- and it is no small restaurant (it consists of two pretty large floors). Any time I have friends or family visiting from out of town who say they want dim sum, I always take them here, and they always end up liking it.
(4)Jane B.
Came here with co-workers during the busy lunching hour. We were seated immediately. In fact, before we all had plunked our behinds on a chair, the carts began to encircle our table. A cacophony of "You want?" began echoing through my head as we quickly tried to assess what it was that they were hawking. None of us being Dim Sum experts, there was a lot of sampling and "We'll try that". Tea was pipping hot and the shape of the pot made it a bit difficult to pour without getting tea all over the table. It was a bit watery, but drinkable. Points for their speedy and continual service. Price is reasonable - for 5 the bill came to under $55 (and we got quite a lot of food). The restaurant is rather large, which is good for quick seating. There is also a buffet style area where you can go and select items, if you don't want what is passed around on the carts. The fried noodle was tasty, along with a couple other items whose names I couldn't tell you. Overall a good experience. Not amazing, not fantastic, but definitely good. Would go for 3.5 stars if possible, but I'd rather bump them up to 4 than give a 3.
(4)Jason A.
I dunno why I'm writing this review. Cuz everyone knows it's good. The long lines & dim sum speaks for itself. And the old ladies who CUT IN FRONT OF ME IN LINE already frequent it. Seriously, what is up with the continous edging in, while I'm dutifully waiting my white ass in line??? It just bugs! And my main gripe is that the counter staff doesn't care about these line terrorists! Man! However, if the dim sum here wasn't so gratifying, I would never brave the lack of parking, the running-out-of-stuff-early and the line terrorists. My all-time faves are the Hum Siu Guk (sp? deep fried mochi ball with pork inside), Char Siu Bao (steamed pork bun), Jook (rice porridge) and Steamed Taro Dumplings (with taro and shrimp inside). Mm-mm-mm. Come here and be prepared to exclaim: "Excuse me! I was next!"
(5)Glen B.
I can't believe how low the ratings are for this place! Yes, the waitresses are rude, yes it might be a bit hectic, yes they barely speak English, but isn't that the point of dim sum? The dim sum here is good. I don't know how it compares to other places in Boston because I've never found a reason to look for another place.
(4)Ashley J.
This is my favorite dim sum place because of the variety and because of the turnover. They are so busy the food is constantly fresh. I get freaked out by places where I see the cart go around several times and nobody touches anything. My favs.. shrimp dumplings lobster dumplings (they almost never have them anymore) sweet buns sticky rice clams in black bean sauce etc etc Expect the usual. Rude waiters, cart ladies who let you order by pointing, getting a fork if you aren't asian, a big huff if you order a pitcher of water like I always do. The food is cheap, filling, tasty and the experience is fun. I get a little jealous when I am here of the kids who parents take them to do this every weekend. My parents only took me to IHOP....
(4)Alex Z.
I think China Pearl has a reasonable selection of fresh dim sum, especially my favorites and most of the traditional fare, with a few surprises. They are reasonably priced for dim sum, perhaps a little on the expensive side compared to other cities, but about average for Boston. So, a few notes on dim sum in general that also apply to China Pearl. Dim sum is almost always greasy, almost always overpriced, and generally overcrowded with poor waiter service. Okay, so all of those issues apply to some degree or other to China Pearl, but if you like dim sum I presume you've learned to live with this by now. If you're looking for a light meal, stay away from the meat-containing dishes like shumai and the dumplings, and go for the steamed dishes and rice noodles. All in all, I wouldn't hesitate to go back if I were in the neighborhood. There's a dessert "soup" which is basically coconut juice and tapoica... absolutely delicious and very refreshing after a heavy meal. Try to get there early if you can.
(4)Paul K.
China Pearl is one of our favorite places to go for Dim Sum. We try to make a stop here whenever we're in Boston. The food is always good and the prices are reasonable. If going on the weekends, try to get there before 11:00 before it gets too hectic.
(3)Norina N.
it used to be real good couple years ago, but recently I went back for dimsum, my bf and I ordered 4 dishes, all were just plain, it tasted like had been cooked for days, we couldnt help but got up to pay and left to another place.
(2)Phu M.
This is the only place I go to for Dim Sum. I lived in CA for 3 years and friends there took me to Dim Sum places and none of them compared to China Pearl. I would long for their Shu Mai, Har Gow, sticky rolls and other goodies after a mediocre dim sum experience while in California. On the weekends for brunch, my advice is to go there around 10:30AM before the big rush. Overall, this place has the best Dim Sum in my opinion.
(5)Marilyn C.
My husband and I have been craving Dim Sum since we moved Ma. We finally made the trip today to Chinatown to get some. Food was ok. Congee was really bland. Pork meatball tasted fishy. I think the worst part was the bill itself. I think both of us had a heart attack when we saw the bill. We've never paid so much for DIM SUM! $52 for the both of us? For sure we will not return to this place.
(2)Zizzles A.
This is probably the best places for people to get acquainted with dim sum. Between Hei La Moon, Chau Chow City, this place, and Emperor's Garden, I would put China Pearl's dim sum as the best overall. They are the most consistently good in the sense that every dish is well made, even if its competitors have the upper hand in a few individual selections. The deal breaker here is that none of the rice flour wrapped dumplings are mucky and greasy. Chao zhou fen guo (chiu zao fun gaw if you wanna be all cantonese) is sweet solace for me at dim sum because it's one of the rare, rare dishes that isn't loaded with pork or shrimp. There's some veggies, cilantro I think, water chestnut, peanuts and little meat scraps inside. It's great here, while many of the other places have mucky starchy fillings. I believe hei la moon has a good one, but chau chow's is bad, as is emperor's. The rice noodle standby chiong fun is delicious here, comparable to the dim sum houses in Guang Zhou. It's perfectly soft, but not overly greasy. It always has a little bit of glutenous chew. They had this one fried shrimp ball dish with a longan in the middle which I was crazy about has a kid. I've grown out of that phase, but it is pretty tasty and worth a try. Shrimp dumplings, tripe, chicken's feet, beef balls, and steamed spare ribs are all of a high quality, equaling, if not besting its competitors. I've always found the Chicken Feet to be best at China Pearl. The sauce isn't overly sweet, and it has a lot of flavor from the black beans. The Shumai taste good as well, and are not the behemoths that they serve at hei la moon, which is nice. I like being able to eat shumai in one bite. Overall, I'd say Hei La Moon is almost as good, and also a place you can't go wrong with for dim sum, but China Pearl is at a more convenient location and I like it just a little bit more.
(4)Yumiko F.
Love this place but need to go with 3 or more people so you won't stuff yourself with same thing! It is better to go early time other wise sometimes food gets greasy.. ( maybe not) yum yum dim sum
(4)Anna T.
I'm not really an expert on dim sum but I know that I can find better in Boston. I came here around lunchtime on a Wednesday with my friend and her parents. The place was pretty packed, mostly with elderly Asian couples craving some cheap grub. I'm a pretty timid gourmand when it comes to Asian cuisine, usually straying away from tripe and chicken feet. Although, I do recommend the pork bun, the egg custard pastry, the dumplings, and the beef and noodles. The China Pearl is an ok place for cheap, humdrum victuals.
(2)Kendall H.
It might be because my standards are real high from the hand made west coast dumplings, but i thought china pearl was a bit mediocre, and somewhat disappointing. Not spectacular quality, as it is difficult to find good quality asian food at a reasonable price in the northeast in general. Lack luster food quality coupled with ordinary service 3 STARS!
(3).amy E.
My Visit To China Pearl, Re-imagined as an 80s Music Video (specifically: Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up") Open to the three of us - me, Rick Astley, Liz - dancing in the mirrored stairwell of China Pearl. Everyone has big hair. The camera pans between us and our scattered reflections as we dance up the stairs. First verse: Astley is dancing and singing into a mic on a small platform stage in the middle of the lower floor. Dim Sum carts swarm around him in a swarm of color. People are ignoring him in favor of their pork shu mai and vegetable dumplings. On "I just wanna tell you...", he serenades Liz and I at a table upstairs. Liz eats her shrimp roll and I sip hot tea, pretending not to notice. Chorus:cut between scenes of Liz and I alternately dancing and doing back bends on the center of a larger table upstairs. Next verse: mysteriously, we are all now wearing sunglasses, even though we are inside. Astley has donned a too-large trenc hcoat. Liz's hair is even bigger. Astley sings, and people are suddenly noticing him. A few look annoyed at the disruption, but for the most part, people are enjoying the performance. Next chorus: We dance behind Astley as he sings. People are clapping, and you can clearly see some patrons singing along. There are numerous shots of Astley using a pair of chopsticks (the color of his trench coat) to snatch up pieces of dim sum as he goes through the crowd, but it would be incongruous to see him eating them; the shot changes each time he brings a piece up to about chin-level. People do not seem to notice, or care. When chorus repeats to the end of the song, a majority of the restaurant slowly stands to dance with us, following Astley as he wanders through the restaurant. As they get up to dance, their hair grows in size and their clothes become smaller, tighter, brighter; a magical 80s transformation. As song ends, everyone applauds as shot fades to black.
(3)Lynn C.
If i could give this place 0 stars..I would. This place is the WORST place I've ever been to. I came here for Chinese New Year and it was the biggest mistake of my life. The service was beyond terrible. There were about 5 tables in the restaurant and three servers. It was not busy. It took a good 10 minutes for anyone to acknowledge that we were there. I finally had to flag someone down. He was rude. Never smiled once. We had to ask for water, plates, silverware, etc. several times. The food was also gross. The dim sum looked old and slimey. We ordered black bean spare ribs and some shumai. Icky icky. We also ordered a beef and veggie entree and a couple of other things. I know that at some Chinese restaurants, they serve the meat a little more on the rare side....but when this dish came out....the beef was still bloody as in raw. I tried to tell the waiter and all he did was argue with me. My meal ended up being $60 bucks and of course the entire bill was written in Chinese so I couldnt even read what was written. It was the biggest waste of money ever. I left less than 10% because the service was TERRIBLE. I know how to tip (I've waitressed before and am a 20% tipper type) but I couldnt' give him more than that. I will never ever go back there again. Ugh. Im getting mad just thinking about it.
(1)Bobby F.
I went with a party of twenty for dim sum. Ten minutes after seating us, the brought one order of rolls. Ten minutes later, they brought one more order of rolls. Ten minutes after that, they brought MENUS at DIM SUM! They took over half an hour to begin bringing out our order. Worst. Service. Ever.
(1)Anna W.
I ain't gonna lie... pretty good dim sum! My family has been going here since they closed Golden Palace across the street (that happened almost 2 decades ago, but I am still mourning its loss). For a loooong time, this was the only place we went for dim sum and other functions (weddings, birthdays, etc.). It has gotten a little pricier over the years, but the food is still of great quality. Dim sum is wonderful. If you go here on a weekend, it will be mobbed, and you will be rushed, so be prepared for that. You may even be forced to share a table with complete strangers. But, it's all a part of the ambiance, I guess. I've also been to many a family function here, and out of all the places in Chinatown we've gone to, this is in the top three. They churn out the food SO fast, and it is always delicious.
(3)Rob G.
Dim Sum is really the only reason to visit the hot-mess the ensues every weekend. From the horrific parking situation in Chinatown to the interminable waits, it can try your patience. But once seated, the food is really quite good, even if you are not quite sure what you're eating and the waitresses don't speak a word of English. Go for the people watching and plan to make an afternoon of it...Not for picky eaters or those in a rush!
(4)Sarah C.
Had to introduce to my husband what dim sum was. I haven't been to a lot of restaurants in Boston and heard some good reviews about this place. Though not an expert, I think their dim sum was pretty good. Carts were consistently coming around so there wasn't a worry I wasn't going to see something again. Got the rice soup, chicken feet (good), turnip cake (liked how they were frying it right on the cart), fried crab balls, shrimp dumplings (standard), and pork. I'd come back again.
(4)Jeffrey L.
Tied with hei la moon for the greatest dim sum in boston. Great spot to have weddings and what not.
(4)Liz E.
Great dim sum. Everything we got was flavorful and fresh tasting. They have all of the typical dim sim offerings plus a few things I'd never had before. They had clams in some sort of brown sauce that were different and tasty. Great shumai, chinese broccoli, dumplings of all sorts, great pork buns. They were very attentive with the tea. I'll go back for sure.
(4)Michelle L.
My poor co-worker (who I mistakenly took here for her first dimsum ever) will probably never try it again. We experienced slow service, not enough carts coming around, and lack of variety. In short, I'd recommend trying somewhere else.
(2)Jarrod C.
My first time coming to China Pearl for dim sum was a great experience. All your usual favorites and plenty of it. The ladies are always coming around with the carts so you never have to flag anyone down. Ate tons and managed to stay at approx $10/pp. Definitely go for the shumai, it is excellent! Will definitely be back.
(4)Darius K.
I went here for dim sum yesterday with three friends, and my first impression was that I *loved* the atmosphere. When I arrived, I saw that the main dining area on the 2nd floor was decorated in your standard big-restaurant-in-Chinatown decor. Giant gold lions and the like. Yuck. But we got seated on the 3rd floor and I immediately liked the extremely casual cafeteria-like atmosphere of the place. Anyway, the dim sum here was okay but not great. The turnip cakes were way too glutenous and sweet for me. I like them a little less cloying--then I can add hoisin sauce if I want sweet gooeyness. The buns ranged from okay (bland shrimp) to excellent (traditional one with lots of chives in it). None of the baked desserts looked particularly appetizing, although I tried a mango jello-thing and it was really tasty. Finally, if you're vegetarian, you probably don't want to eat here. There are other dim sum places (like Chun Shin Yuan in Newton/Watertown) that have a lot more options for veg-heads.
(3)Mary M.
The 4 stars is for the dim sum part. Besides not having some items that I love, the dim sum was pretty good. The prices are good too. I've never ate anything here for dinner, but I'm guessing dim sum might be good here but the regular dinner items might not be so good. We had a person in the group who was a vegetarian, and none of us knew that beforehand. Nothing on the carts appealed to her, and everything I love has meat in it, so I didn't even know what to recommend to her. In the end, we ordered her a chow mein with vegetables. The dish we were served was really bad. I thought they would make something like normal seafood chow mein, but minus the seafood and more vegetables (granted I've never had seafood chow mein here but I didn't think any Chinese place would mess that up). Instead, the dish seemed to me that the cook back there didn't know what to do and toss in random things...hehe. There was very little sauce, just lots of oil, and some small bits of vegetables and tofu. Come here for dim sum, but not for dinner.
(4)Steven N.
Excellent as usual. Enough said.
(5)PC W.
China Pearl has been my family's dim sum restaurant of choice for as long as it's been here - over a decade probably? 3 generations of Hong Kong Chinese cannot be wrong :) We're not so much of a fan of China Pearl for dinner but dim sum is tops. It's consistently good with many choices. There is also lots of seating and the staff is very quick and efficient. China Pearl still does the old school cart system which I hope never goes away. You can see what you're ordering and continue eating until you get full. I had another good experience here this morning and I continue to go for dim sum here with each trip I make home.
(4)Zakir B.
I don't care about the dinge. I care about the real Chinese food. When I was in college, Emily Sun took me here late at night for "Chrysanthemum Tea Without Sugar!" and some goodies (the Chrysanthemum Tea tasted like the water in a vase, only hot). The stuff here is real. You can certainly compare China Pearl unfavorably with spots in New York or in San Francisco (hmm, I think longingly of Yank Sing...) but the mushroom dumplings are light, the hot and sour soup is hot, thick, and sour, and the Bok Choi from Planet Ten is fresh fresh fresh. No real reason to spend too much money elsewhere in Boston, IMHO.
(4)Corey H.
This place was pretty standard. I went here for a late lunch during the week by myself. The place was empty besides me. The service was great and the server was a very nice lady. The food was hot and made fresh but still came out quickly. The taste was average. Nothing special. The price was average as well. I would eat here again if someone wanted to go here or if I was passing by but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back here.
(3)Kelley T.
I come here for dim sum, I've done the sit-down thing here one night and wasn't impressed. As far as dim sum goes, it's pretty yummy. However be forewarned, it can get super crowded and you might end up waiting a while for a table. Personally I think it's worth the wait. They've got all my favorite dumpling-esque dishes (hacao, shumai, and various bao) as well as some killer clams in black bean sauce and snails in spicy sauce, and amazing turnip cake. And chicken feet for the more traditional chinese.
(3)Allison B.
I can't attest to the dim sum, but I've been here for their 10-course wedding style dinner for 10 people. if you can wrangle a group of 10, I'd recommend trying it out just for the experience alone! For a flat rate of just a smidge over $200 (total bill came to about $27 pp), you get 10 courses - which I believe vary depending on the day. Our fare included: - Cold plate of appetizers, including beef, duck, chicken, and jellyfish (actually quite delicious!). - Seafood soup - Seasoned prawns - Seafood/Veggie dish (snap peas, broccoli, carrots, shrimp, scallops, squid, etc) - Chinese fried chicken (amazing) - 2 Lobsters - Fried rice - Lo Mein - Some kind of sweet n sour-type pork - A whole fish - Red bean soup (dessert) the experience is amusing (omg, the food just keeps coming!), and some of the standout dishes were truly delicious, but to be honest, i much prefer the dim sum experience, and i hold loyalties to empire garden (though I suppose I'd be willing to try CP for comparison's sake). in other words, i'm just as if not more satisfied paying $10 to stuff myself with dumplings as i am paying $30 to stuff myself with lobster, but I'm glad I got to experience this culinary extravaganza!
(3)Erik L.
A GREAT dim sum / yam cha place - I think its probably your best bet in Boston. Certain places try to pull off a half-assed dim sum where you either have a small selection, the stuff isn't freshly cooked or something like that, but China Pearl does the real thing. The place is packed at dim sum hours but unless you are with a big group, you won't have to go through a torturous wait. In other words, don't except anything except a good dim sum experience: lots of noise, lots of great food, low prices, and satisfaction! Did I miss anything?
(4)Tom F.
this was my first Dim Sum experience in Boston, and I walked away thoroughly pleased. The siu mai was just ok, but the ha Cheung fun was delicious! I'd recommend more, but I'll have to ask my girlfriend what everything is called.
(4)Derrick C.
Been here 4 total times. Once for dinner and 3 times for dim sum and twice, the food has been cold. Upon asking the waiter about it, he basically said that it was dim sum and the carts go around so what can he do about it? WOW are you kidding me? This place is a joke. And yes I'm Chinese and I know what good Dim Sum is supposed to be. This is the only place I've tried in Boston but I sure hope there's gotta be somewhere better than this. Oh yea, and the one time I came for dinner it was horrible too.
(1)Ken Y.
How the once great have fallen. Went on Thursday night and it was nearly empty. For dessert, we got fortune cookies instead of the usual oranges and pudding. They must be really hurting for business.
(2)Sara C.
ok.....so boston isnt really known for their version of china town, but i'll give them a star for effort =) yes, its a small neighborhood and my local friend took us here for some dim sum. it was actually quite bustling here considering the other choices in the area. this place is on the 2nd floor...and theres also a 3rd floor. we got there around noon on a saturday and were seated immediately.......in back......waaaay back......which was ok by us since we sat next to a couple of locals who apparently frequents there becuz all the cart ladies and even the owner walked back to their table often so we had no problems calling them over for some food. they do have some unusual dishes i dont see often at other dim sum restaurants, but they pretty much had every other typical dim sum dishes. their egg tart looked like it had been sitting out awhile, their sweet tofu soup came in a small bowl, but still enough to share between 3 people. the fried bean roll wrapped in noodle was kinda bland. the place looks old and needs a little bit of renovation but overall the food and service was descent enough. the price wasnt bad either, 3 of us ate for about $35.
(3)Jack P.
the best dim sum i have found in massachusetts
(5)Tom M.
This place is a gigantic assembly line, stuffing hastily thrown together dim sum into throngs of people. Can you tell I'm not much of a fan? The quality of the food is marginal, and it was surprisingly bland. Not totally awful, and there are definitely times when I'm willing to sacrifice some culinary satisfaction to head down there with a group of friends and doing the whole "Dim Sum Experience." Honestly, if you just want tasty Dim Sum without the hassle, I would go to Dim Sum Chef in Allston, or if you absolutely have to pull your chicken feet off of a cart, but want them to be flavorful, then head to Hei La Moon nearby. So yeah, 2 stars for the crazy atmosphere (a good thing depending on your mood), but not much else. I haven't been there for non-Sunday brunch, so maybe they pay a little more attention to the food when they're not making it by the buttload.
(2)Gen M.
There is something to be said about the laissez faire approach they have to the atmosphere and what they do with the food instead. There are loud conversations, kids running around, older asian couples congregating, and various other attributes of a good chinatown place, and the food is fantastic. You don't know what you're having. You can ask for steamed in the hopes you will indeed get that. You will love what you have - try the mushroom/swordfish steamed creations and you will just have that for the rest of your time there. Everything tastes so good and it comes out to barely $12 per person. Yup, i love it - but I do adore a good dim sum meal.
(5)Debbie N.
I had a bad experience here at my uncle's wedding a few years ago (imagine: cold fried crab legs) and vowed to never return. Upon a friend's request, I returned last weekend for dim sum. Boy, did I regret not going to China Pearl sooner. After mediocre Boston dim sum experiences at Emperor's Garden, Quincy's China Pearl, and the various Chau Chows, I have resigned myself to thinking that beyond-mediocre Boston dim sum is impossible. However, Chinatown's China Pearl was just that. The carts were quick and constant, the food was less greasy than other Boston dim sum places, and they had a variety of dishes, some of which the other dim sum places do not always have. My only complaint: The steamed shrimp dumplings (har gow?? sp?) never came out on the carts while we were there. Boo.
(4)tammy w.
While I myself am not a Chinese food guru, I gotta say that the food here is pretty good. I can never remember names or anything like that but I do know there is a lot of dumplings and rice and meat. I go here every now and then to take away those cravings of the orient. Dim sum is the best time to go, usually waiting in line for 5-10 minutes but its well worth it..
(4)Lisa K.
I've never had dim sum before so I didn't really know what to expect but was excited to try something new. We went for a sort of double date-- I went with my fiance and two friends- I'm curious as to what Laura A. will say about our meal. It wasn't bad but it wasn't AWESOME. The sesame bun thingies with the red bean paste were my favorite. I had a hard time with some of the textures of things- too slimy for us...especially those fried donuts wrapped in something resembling a bodily fluid...gross. The fried tofu looked promising but seemed to be soaking in some kind of meat sauce and part of it was a huge chunk of fat- again, not so appealing- especially for our vegetarian friend. The gelatinous tofu mentioned by a couple of other people here- yeah....so totally gross...it was so liquidy. Everything seemed fried pretty much and was heavy...no veggies to be found really. The sticky pork bun was alright- it reminded me of something that I couldn't put my finger on- maybe a hot dog bun...or maybe a little debbie's donut with pork? The spring rolls were typical and the veggie pocket things were ok. I think for those who are familiar with dim sum and know what to order have more success. I would definitely try it again sometime- but I would be a little more cautious about what to order...stay away from the fried donut with slime!!!
(3)Alexander M.
very nice dim sum place in Boston's China Town. rich atmosphere, exotic selection.
(4)David Q.
Being new in Boston, I have only tried Hei La Moon and I wanted to branch out and try new places. Much against my fiancees mentality of sticking with what's good, we finally decided to try this place. Boy were we disappointed. The portions were smaller, and also the food was just not as tasty. A lot of the hot pastry items were cold when it was served and in general no where as good as Hei la moon. I would not recommend this place.
(2)Sage K.
It makes me sad that I got food poisoning from a dim sum lunch at China Pearl. They are so fun to go to and the food tastes good. But three out of four of us who went were very ill by the evening. The fourth person ended up taking care of me as I couldn't even leave the house to walk 4 blocks to the drug store to pick up medicine. I've never had food poisoning before, but it is awful enough that I will NEVER go back to China Pearl.
(1)TJ T.
Food is okay. I like it when I end up going here for a big party such as a birthday or a wedding party; the plates are much better. When I go here with just a group of people, it just doesn't feel the same and the service is pretty rude. BUT once again, in big parties it's a blast.
(3)Joshua P.
I'm in love with China Pearl. This was my first dim sum experience and howdy-doo, it was good. Thank god I went with my Cantonese-speaking friend though, otherwise I would have been in a pickle. The food is amazing, and copious, and the service is crazy (good crazy, but still crazy). Plus we ordered A TON of food and it only came to $10 a person. I'd definitely recommend this place and I hear it's the best dim sum in Boston, so do it up dim sum-ers! p.s. GET the tofu pudding, it's unbelievable, seriously, I had like three bowls of it.
(5)Jando S.
China Pearl's dim sum has to be one of the best in Boston, with its fresh variety, and plentiful portion style dishes. Sunday and Saturday afternoons may result in some mad house-like atmosphere as people will storm this place as if they're ready to overthrow an emperor resulting in a long congested mess of waiting. The decor is suitable for Chinese banquet hall standards but the big tables everywhere make for awkward experiences as many of them are shared with patrons who were probably waiting with you. Get here before 12 and with a group of 6 or more its unlikely they'll seat strangers with you and most likely a table will be waiting for your group.
(4)H Y.
Only for Dim Sum and wedding receptions. It's the 'Groundhog Day' nightmare for every Chinese kid growing up in Boston. Eat banquet dinner at China Pearl. Repeat. Otherwise I have never and will never eat dinner here. It's not bad but you are better off heading across the street to Peach Farm for dinner. Dim Sum is better than most in Boston if only for the variety. The self-serve station is good for snails (or escargot for Chinese-French kids) and such. Lots of big tables. Tell the host that you are willing and eager to share a table with those nice old Chinese men reading those funny papers if you want to cut the line. The crowds are tremendous on weekends! Come before 10:30am at least. My family never had to wait (it's nice to know the manager) but frankly I wouldn't wait in line for this stuff. Go to Hei La Moon if you are going to wait.
(3)Hans M.
I have to say hands down --- China Pearl is THE Yum Cha (not 'yam') place in Boston. For those New Yorkers, yes yes, I know, I know, about the selection, about the place, about blah blah blah...Nobody is gonna drive 4 hours to go to Canal Street just for Yum Cha on a weekend morning. Talk about authentic Yum Cha place? Plz~ I am from the "Land of Yum Cha" so STFU and accept that there is no better substitution in Boston. Now if you happen to go to San Francisco, there is a........
(4)Julie C.
this is a great alternative for dim sum when Winsor is packed. initially, i wanted to go to Winsor because I dont eat a ton of the choices off the carts offer but being like 1 pm, the place was packed and the wait was going to take a while and i was frikkin hungry, so i went across the street. i used to come here a lot with my parents when i was little, so i knew it was going to be good. a table for 2, and you are handed a card to be seated upstairs. we probably waited like half a minute to be seated and not even 30 seconds had gone by when our first cart showed up! score! sticky fried rice and char sui bao! yum! they came piping hot! soo good. then we had some congee , the tofu dessert dish, some dumplings, and we were stuffed. i wouldnt recommend getting coke with your meal, it was quite flat. stick with the tea. if you want soy sauce, you have to ask for it as they are not on the tables. carts come by quick, and often times they are the same ones over and over, you do have to search for the one you want sometimes and flag them down. they do have a stattion that will make certain dishes for you ask. ( like mussels or "chinese broccoli") i had been craving one of the crab leg balls but by the time those came around, i was stuff. ah well, maybe next time. you can count on it.
(4)Kitty L.
I was invited to a wedding Banquet at China Pearl Restaurant on a Saturday evening. There were 3 parties being held simultaneously between the 2nd & 3rd floors. The rooms are decorated with old Chinese paintings. The center has a dancing floor + DJ music. The food I would rate it as C. The steak has too much tendon. The shark fin soup was too starchy & has no shark fin taste. The waiter did not offer cutting knife for steak & no lobster fork for lobster even I had requested. The service, I graded as C again
(3)Jonathan B.
The food came to the table on carts and there was no lag in the flow or variety. This is definitely a family oriented restaurant. The hostess was always available to help us understand what was in the food if we had any questions. We loved it.
(4)Leif H.
If you have gone for Dim-Sum in Boston's Chinatown you probably went here. This place tends to be the most popular venue as it is easy to find and their dining room isn't hidden away like some of establishments the locals preffer. Their food is good quality with enough of a crowd for it to be turned over fast and frequently. The biggest challenge is getting their early enough or timing your visit so as not to be starving while waiting. You can easily wait 30 minutes for a table if you pick the wrong time to go. And if you are a Congee lover you will be happy to know that they have a cart for that. Unfortunately I have visited several establishments in Boston that did not serve Congee, which was a disappointment.
(3)Hubert H.
Can't believe I haven't written a review for China Pearl, a stalwart of Sunday dimsum for collegiate folk. The last time I was there was last December. Went in with my buddy at 3pm and it seemed as if almost all the food was gone. All of a sudden, five cart ladies surrounded our table (meant to seat 8 by the way), urging us on on eat everything! They were really aggressive. As for the quality of the food, I've always maintained that the dumplings were generally cold, that the flour wrappers were a bit ... mushy (is that the right word?), etc., etc. Always something just a bit wrong with the dishes. I have to try the noodles and the porridges at some point, so check back in for that review.
(3)Dana L.
We got here at 10:45 to beat the crowds, and had no problem getting 2 tables upstairs (we had about 20 people). Its pretty standard Dim Sum fare - waiters walk around with trays of dumplings and you pick out what you want. It helps to have someone who speaks Cantonese with you, because the dishes aren't labeled, and you can't usually tell what they are by looking at them. If you don't want anything that you see, you can always order from the regular menu (just ask one of the waiters for a menu). Be forewarned that a lot of the dumplings contain pork. As I don't like to eat pork, and am allergic to shellfish, I only tried a few things, but they were tasty. The tarot root dumplings were excellent, as were the sesame dumplings filled with bean curd. I also got the Chicken with Mushrooms, which was very good. Overall, it came to like $10 per person, and everyone was stuffed.
(4)Merri L.
This morning, we went to dim sum at China Pearl in Chinatown (Boston). This wasn't my first time there. We actually had tried a few dim sum places, and this is the best one. Dim sum, for those who don't know, is a bunch of little appetizer type foods, and the people come by your table with carts of food, and you choose which ones you want. Dim Sum here lasts until 3, but you need to get there by 1 in order to get a good variety of food. If you go later, you won't get enough. This is really cheap, you can get tons of different foods for about $10 a person. And, you can take a doggie bag if you don't finish. The food here is very good, although the water tasted weird today. Go try it out!
(4)Ryan K.
This place is just alright. The dim sum is fairly standard but they selection is actually quite good. It gets busy but the wait wasn't too bad when I went. It's a little grimy for my taste but the price of the food dictates how clean it is. Yes, cart ordering is not how I like it but it it much better for the beginning dim sum eater.
(3)Ashley S.
I wanted to try another place for dim sum (had only been to Windsor Dim Sum, which was great) and chose China Pearl. We walked in and the greeter said dim sum ended at 3pm. I glanced at my watch and was disappointed to see that it was 2:58pm. Carts started coming around and we loaded up during the last call. Overall, it was pretty good! I especially liked the BBQ pork buns (always a fav of mine) and the chicken feet w/ rice. Next time, I'd be sure to get there earlier in the afternoon for more variety (and less panic) with my choices.
(3)Dennis L.
This place brings back memories whenever I walk up the stairs. It was the first restaurant I remember... My father worked here back when it was only a function hall and I remember sitting at a table, helping him with folding napkins on a sleepy Sunday afternoon, the room lit by paper and wooden lanterns with intricate carvings adorning the large chamber. Now, it's a bit different in its incarnation ever since the 1980's heralded in the age of dim sum spreading around. The place is still called China Pearl, but different in Chinese. The wood is gone, replaced by mirrors and bright lights. I have to wear my sunglasses or eyepatch whenever I am in there as a result. Many familiar faces have worked there and moved on over the years, but it is still a nexus of Chinatown. China Pearl is still a safe bet as a restaurant to take guests who have never tried dim sum before, but I presently find the quality a bit better at Windsor across the street and Hei La Moon. It has diminished a bit and could give itself a facelift in its operations, having barely changing such in twenty years. It's a place I've introduced many a person to dim sum to, and it is definitely a love-hate thing. For dim sum, the optimum time to go there is about 10 AM, when enough time has passed that all the carts are circulating, but not before it starts dying down... as well as the selection. I'm afraid the quality of the ha gao (shrimp dumplings) has diminished a bit over the years. When they first converted, there was a lot more bamboo shoots in comparison to the shrimp. Now, there's barely, if any at all. Chinese cuisine is about complements of flavors, and the delicate bamboo offset that of the shrimp, the stereotypical yin-yang taking place. I wish they would go back to the old recipe... The Siu Mai (pork/shrimp dumplings) are alright, more complementary than the ha gao. At least with dim sum, you can see the dishes as they come around here and just... pick away at whatever looks good that day. What is usually a limited offering is the 'zia leurng', a fried Chinese cruller wrapped in rice noodles that contain cilantro, topped by a sweetened soy sauce. If you see it on top of the cart that has the other rice noodle dishes, grab one before they all go away. They only make a small quantity each day, mostly due to the cilantro wrapping. Ordering off the menu, they do a yin yang fried rice alright. It is a bed of fried rice with egg, and bean sprouts, topped on one side by chicken and onions in a sweetened tomato sauce and shrimp with peas in a white egg drop sauce. If you are curious as to the level of 'Fear Factor' foods there are here, the worst you will find are the tripe (available at the hot food bar), the chicken talons (fong zao), and the thousand year old egg soup (pei dan jook). It's not as frightening as other places in Chinatown where you can find such dishes as ox tongue with coagulated pig's blood. Also, if you want a hint for parking on weekends, if you don't mind dealing with walking half a mile, I park at the street that's normally tour bus parking during weekdays next to the Herald and can readily find parking until about 1 pm. Dishes to try: " Zia Leurng" (rice noodle wrapped around fried cruller), Siu Mai, Yin Yang fried rice
(3)Krishna L.
We had dinner here tonight. At the beginning of the meal a mouse scampered by my husband's foot (he kept quiet, so as not to ruin the time for the rest of us). At the end of the meal, as we were paying, the rest of us saw a mouse running across the room. We told the woman at the register and asked for a discount. She didn't blink an eye, didn't apologize, and said that they don't give discounts and said the food was not contaminated. How would she know that for certain? If this mice has no fear in scampering across the dining area, in the glare of the lights, with people in the room, how many more are there in the kitchen, when the restaurant closes, when it is dark and with no people???
(1)Kev H.
This place is alright, I think empire garden has better food, but this place seems to offer more of a bar/restaurant ambiance. I have been to a few weddings here, theres luscious space for dancing on a hardwood floor, if you're planning maybe a wedding or some sort of after party this would be a pretty good spot.
(3)kathleen c.
my family has been coming here on and off ever since i was a kid, and it's a solid favorite of my extended family. i can see why--their dim sum is predictable and consistent, there's a HUGE booze selection, seating is prompt (even if you sometimes have to share a table with someone else), and sometimes you can get specialty items like lobster dumplings (ohhh yeah). as for the ambience--what can i say? if you were expecting something else from a restaurant in chinatown, i'm sorry to say that you are fairly disillusioned. the tables are chipped and they've done away with the pretense of a table cloth. only God knows when was the last time they vacuumed the carpet. but if you're looking for something decent and consistent, china pearl is the way to go. funnily enough, if you ever noticed how the name of the restaurant in chinese is something fierce and intimidating like "dragon phoenix restaurant" and the english translation is something lame like "china pearl" it makes you wonder...
(4)C. S.
I only went to this three floored tower of suck because my beloved Peach Farm across the street had a long wait. This place is horrible. Food makes you wish you had chosen to give up chinese food for lent. I must have ordered the vegeterian chicken lo mein because there was no chicken in it. The staff was a surly group of bums it took them twenty five minutes and four requests to get me a coke. They seemed perturbed to have to wait on people and it took another 15 minutes to get a check. I have never been very harsh on service, in fact, I rarely notice issues others point out, but this place was terrible.
(1)Sun Y.
The dim sum here is yummy-licious... for those of you afraid you wont be able to order because you don't speak the language, rest-assured, there is a foreigners level upstairs. That's where they put me.
(4)Eater O.
Quality: variable but generally good Cost: $10-15 dollars per person (100-200 pound person... If u weigh more than this... I'm not sure) Atmosphere: Bustling, mixed asian80%/caucasian20% Cleanliness: Not clean (but what do u expect?) Good food, Solid Dim sum. The food can be variable but I eat here for dim sum fixes. It's good for large parties (10 or more even).
(4)Stephen Y.
Yum...as part of our ongoing experiment in epigenetic modifications of the gweilo "palate" and ongoing training in "chopsticky"... OK the first count but failed miserably the second... probably because dim sums.. by their nature are slippery.... Nevertheless, dim sum was pretty decent but the deserts were just so- so.... Pea- shoots and gai- lan were yummy... Service can be hit- or- miss but no matter.... the dim sum makes up for the deficiency in this department
(4)Al A.
Awesome dim sum.
(4)Dan C.
Hands down the best DIm Sum in Boston; just be prepared to ask what everything is if you are faint of heart.
(5)Steven O.
We tried to get into the Peach Farm tonight but the wait was 90 minutes. So we went across the street to China Pearl, the place was full but we were able to get seated in 5 minutes. The service here leaves a lot to be desired. Either they are understaffed or just clueless. Getting the waiters attention to put our order in, get water refills, plates, rice and 1 of our dishes which came out of the kitchen after we finished evrething else. The food was decent but not as good as you can find elsewhere.
(2)Dave C.
China pearl was good because i was there with my babe and her friend who lets just say is "too good" for pork!! unbelieveable! (i cant spell) Some of the items were good some not so good but its average dim sum with a giant flight of stairs before i can start eating! food was ok
(3)Alicia H.
Our first experience with Dim Sum wasn't really that exciting. Today is the chinese new year celebration in Chinatown so maybe it ordinarily wouldn't be so obnoxiously busy, but it was a hot mess today. The food wasn't really that great, some of it was fairly gross - I think our favorite was actually a plate of chinese broccoli that was just tasty. All in all, it wasn't horrible, but I would not go back. *shrug*
(2)Yosiris P.
I am in love with Dim Sum. China Pearl is the place to go on a weekend morning with family and friends. Get there early, otherwise you will be waiting in the stairs for a looooong time. Food is good. I love their chicken feet, shrimp dumpling, shrimp noodles and tofu. Service is fast, tons of carts going around at all times with lots and lots of food so you will never be dissapointed for your favorite to not be available. Save room for dessert. Have some warm tofu pudding dessert. It is one of the best things i've ever had. It comes with a side of (or they can pour it on for you) ginger-honey syrup. It is the perfect combo. The best way to end a filling meal.
(5)Gabe L.
So I was about to create a list for dim sum places and realized that I hadn't reviewed any.... and only 2 restaurants in Chinatown. Omg, what a travesty! I've been to China Pearl for dinner, lunch, banquets, dim sum. But normally, I only go here for dim sum and banquets. The summary: 4.5 stars for the dim sum, 3.5 for dinner, 4 for banquets. I think my banquet rating may be biased though, since I've gone to so many there, it's like a tradition. Service is usually good and attentive, food is good, and price is not bad. The dim sum: one of my favorites foodwise, a sentiment obviously shared by many given the crazy rush every weekend. Hint, sundays are busier than saturdays, be there before 11:30 or after 1 to avoid the rush. They stop serving at 2:30 but the selection starts dwindling as well. Speaking cantonese helps, but the dim sum ladies speak enough english to tell you the general ingredients at least. You can order pitchers of water, which makes things easier for you and the waitstaff when you have a large table. If you're a beginner, avoid the cart with the chicken feet. It's full of advanced stuff including tripe. The food up at the buffet is also good, with things like spicy salty shrimp, pig's blood (it's good, really), chow foon, etc. When you do get there, make sure to go up and ask for a number. If you're there at rush hour, you'll be waiting for a while (especially in a large group). It's easier to be seated in a small group but I personally like going en masse and devouring dim sum like hungry savages. Also I advise to tip well - I know there isn't a single waiter/waitress serving you, but there's a number of them, and the service is quick. And they'll appreciate it. Also they've switched their take out containers to styrofoam, so if you're an environmentalist, keep that in mind. Bring your own tupperware or something. Some people say the food at hei la moon is way better, but I think they're about the same. They share the same staff, which I think includes the chefs. Chau Chow City is the other one people mention, but I think the quality of the ingredients is better at China Pearl. The dinner: Not much to say, really. It's your standard Chinese place, the food is pretty good, the waitstaff attentive... it's solid. The banquets: The food is always good, and I don't know what kind of magical pig they use for their appetizers but the char siu is fight-over-the-last-piece good. Sometimes when they serve a big fish, it comes overcooked, which I understand, since it's really hard to cook a large fish completely yet not overcook it. But other than that, the food is invariably very good. And for you people who love mango pudding, there's been times they serve that as part of dessert. Big giant mango puddings in interesting designs for each table. Ours was in the shape of a fish. And the garnishes are often interesting too. Once we had a carrot carved in the shape of a dragon, that looked really cool.
(4)Natasha S.
This place is an experience. I never ever go to chinatown or the "combat zone".. I ventured down there and ended up going to this place. I am not a big dim sum person.. so when the lady came over asking me if i was interested in "duck feet" i was like "noooo thank you". There traditional menu is pretty good though, we had the chicken lo mein and the snap-pea steak. super yummy. whole meal cost about 23 dollars. Great place for groups.. will most likely come back!
(3)Tracy H.
I've had take out from the upstairs restaurant twice, and I was more disappointed the second time than the first. I ordered chicken and broccoli and I was disappointed that it wasn't in the brown sauce, but it was decent. The second time, I ordered crispy beef, and it was terrible. More fat than beef and drowning in sauce. Both times, the service was rude and even though no one else was at the pick-up counter, the staff took their sweet time acknowledging my existence. Maybe the in-restaurant experience is better, but I won't be doing take-out from them again.
(2)lorraine s.
unfortunately i read the yelp reviews after i visited the rest. the place looked dirty, i should have turned around, but we were taking our granddaughter who is a student at northeastern out for a meal. we were visiting and she suggested this place. we are boston natives but have been living near san fran for the last 30+ years. there are a some things that we have a taste for as soon as we get of the airplane at logan. fried clams, and chinese food. the chinese food in cali is good, but it's different than what i grew up with. the food was just okay, and that was a disappointment, this was supposed to satiate me until my next visit to boston. gotta say, i'm happy to return to cali where i will get very fresh food. the worst part of the experience was the very, rude, waiter. he seemed as though he had hatred for his customers. it sort of makes me a little sick thinking he probably spit in everyone's food before he brought it out from the kitchen. all the waiters decided it was time for their dinner. they sat down to eat while we stared at them, thinking they might get the hint that we were ready to pay our check. they ignored us. i told my family i knew how to make them move. i stood up put my coat on, and place my purse on my shoulder. it worked like a charm. he rushed over and left my cc receipt, and he hovered around me waiting to see how much tip i left. i left 10 percent. i usually am a 20 percent tipper. 10 percent was too much by 9 percent. i'm leaving for the airport this morning, sad that so many things in boston have changed. this is just one more thing i have to add to the list.
(1)Kristine M.
Average dim sum. It's not my favorite in Boston. I'd rather go around the corner to Hei La Moon. It's not really worth the wait!
(3)Chin C.
Best dimsum in Boston area! I agree with So S. It's hard to find dimsum in Boston so this one is the best here. I love chicken feet, stream bun, shrimp dumbling. I havn't tried other than dimsum here so my rating was based on only dimsum.
(3)Christine T.
Great place to eat Dim Sum, though if you go after lunch time and before dinner in the middle of the week, your food will be luke warm or cool. While the service is very average (most of the servers walking around don't look like they really want to be bothered - plus their English isn't so hot which makes it difficult to communicate) the food is decent and price reasonable. The decor is strange, though. No windows in the place!
(3)Robyn L.
I remember this place being fun and pretty good when I was first there -- about six years ago. When I returned this week I was not impressed. Maybe I got a bad batch of dim sum. Part of the problem was that I had to work with a fixed/pre-arranged menu because I went with a large group. I definitely would not have chosen many of the items on that menu. That said, I'll eat pretty much anything once and I'm usually open minded about food. (I tried tripe at my last dim-sum outing. Can't say I enjoyed it, but I tried it!) Everything tasted, sort of, slimey. The dumplings weren't flavorful -- just plain shrimp in a slippery white dumpling shell -- and the mushrooms and bok choy were doused in this heavy sauce that ruined what would have been good veggies. The one thing I really liked was the veggie spring rolls. Then again, those were fried. Really can't mess up anything fried in my book.
(2)Marcus D.
China Pearl was where the family and I would go after seeing something in the Theatre District - my mother and aunt would laugh at the hookers in their crooked wigs and flimsy outfits navigating their way down the middle of the streets - that was THEN, before the new Ritz appeared. It was also THE place for cold tea when I was in high school, but I'm sure that's changed. I did not know they charged for tea - that may be a deal breaker. They never used to, but Boston is a city of "used to's," don't you think?
(3)Q S.
Pretty good dim sum. One of my two favorites to go to in Chinatown. A good variety. It is always crowded when I go.
(4)Lee C.
The best place in Boston for Dim Sum. Period. Rivals the best of Chinatown in NYC which is saying a lot (considering Boston's chinatown is 1/8th the size). Be prepared for a line, for disorganization, weird looking food, and a memorable eating experience.
(5)Bella and Aleksey R.
Went for the proverbial dim sum here (sometimes you just get that urge for dim sum in Chinatown). It was OK, though we were there with someone who knew the different dishes. I liked stuff with shrimp inside with that nearly transparent white, soft dough all around. The bathroom situation was gross... even more so than you would expect.
(2)Shawn F.
One great thing about China Pearl is that it has dim sum even on weekdays. The dim sum fare here isn't incredible, but it's not bad, either. Service was efficient when I was there, but my visit was in the early afternoon on a Wednesday so it wasn't exactly crowded. Parking can be tricky. Curbside metered parking lines Tyler Street and the surrounding avenues, but it takes some luck to find an empty spot. There is a pay-to-park lot just steps from the restaurant, but it's more expensive than street parking. I should also note that China Pearl gets top honors for dim sum in the Phantom Gourmet's guide to best restaurants.
(4)Bridget C.
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE! My two sisters and I took my 5 year old daughter here for her first dim sum experience! SHE LOVED IT!!! We got any and everything that was vegetarian! Dumplings, Chinese greens, turnip cakes, egg rolls, and these things that had some fried stuff wrapped with rice wrappers on the outside! Everything was fabulous! My daughter and I, who occasionally eat meat, tried the taro balls with ground meat inside. DELISH! There was a wonderful woman there who greeted us at the door and came over and checked on us throughout the meal and she was absolutely lovely! So nice really made it a great experience! While my daughter was in the bathroom I was waiting outside the stall for her and she was singing " I LOVE DIM SUM, IT TASTES LIKE CHICKEN FINGERS!" She cracks me up. On our way out of the bathroom I got to meet Todd English! WHOOHOO. What the heck! It was my lucky day!! Bottom line I may try other places for dim sum BUT it will never top this experience. I LOVE YOU CHINA PEARL!!! Can I also say TIP YOUR WAITERS AND WAITRESSES!!! The guy came running to us at the door thanking us and we only tipped him 20% which makes me think folks ain't tippin people! As a previous waitress I can tell you the bulk of your money comes from tips. SO PEEPS PAY UP IF SERVICE IS GOOD!!!!
(5)Kim N.
I've only been here for Dim Sum and they are always packed. Come with a Cantonese speaking person so that you can get a shorter wait ;) Dim Sum is ok (have had better) and I think this is the only place I've ever gone to for Dim Sum in Boston. Like that they have the black bean clams for Dim Sum, since I love them in general anywhere (a fave dish since I've been a kid). They have this great dish where they wrap banh cuon around chinese doughnuts, LOVE IT! I've never had it anywhere else, so now I am on the lookout for it when I have Dim Sum at home.
(3)Liz P.
I love Dim Sum and this is the place to go in Boston...it's the place we always go :) and actually, if you ask a random person on the street where to go for Dim Sum, they will tell you China Pearl!
(4)Susan D.
Perhaps, I went on an off-day, but I did not enjoy myself here. The wait was astronomically futile (1+ hour) though I shortened it by jumping in when the host offered shared table seating where *u guess it* you share a large table with strangers. Happens all the time in NYC. Anyways, the shrimp dumpling tasted old and I was munching on bits of sand. Very unpleasant seeing how those were my favorite and I grabbed three at once. It was over $30 for the two of us, which is generally a tad expensive for dimsum. I haven't gone back in ages and much prefer Empire Garden. I never wait there!
(2)Mags L.
i'm so glad hei la moon opened up. no more elbowing diminutive asian grandmas to get to some harkow and taro goodness. solid dim sum. 2nd floor (aka 3rd floor) cart service not as bustling, but as long as harkow and doughnut ball lady floats my way, i'm good. it helps that my friend speaks cantonese and gets me what i want. i'm asian. listen to me. i know what i'm talking about.
(4)Yuko I.
It is reasonably priced and dim sum covers good for a non-Chinese person like me. I love their shumai, but their shrimp related stuff varies day-to-day... still a fan. The service, you cannot expect much, most of them only speak Chinese and you just have to be adventurous. I will come back.
(3)Kim R.
Pretty good Chinese food. Arrived tipsy, late Friday night and suprisingly noticed that we were the only customers in the restaurant. That said, service was excellent! Food was pretty good (I'd recommend wonton soup, shrimp lo mein, and spring rolls)...quick greasy bites to soothe the slowly approaching hangovers. Appearance was really something else...the hot topic of the evening quickly became 'what kind of party could you host here??' With red and gold embellishments all leading up to some sort of exotic Chinese altar, too many excuses for parties ran through our heads. All in all, pretty decent Chinese food, awesome setting, and service like nowhere else. I say it's a GO!
(4)Bryanne R.
Whoa chaos. This place was packed when I went with 12 other people. We got a sweet table in the back because one of my friends knew people. The food was OK...I think I just learned Dim Sum isn't my thing. My friends all LOVED the food. The ordering looked like it was a complex process...so I'd recommend going with someone who has Dim Sum experience. The Tapioca was really excellent though.
(3)Layla P.
So I went here with a big group of people and luckily sat next to a Chinese guy so I could actually ask what things were and know what I was eating - very rare at Dim Sum! My favorite are the balls covered with sesame seeds and filled with red bean - I don't know what they are called I just point when I see them on a cart and say "balls please". All the shrimp items I tried were tasty as well. I did not try the chicken feet or lining of an organ from a cow (he wouldn't tell me what organ) but I was entertained while watching other people eat it. The waitstaff was attentive with the water and hot tea refills and the food never stops.
(4)Kevin L.
there's a vicious game of pushshove and bingo just to get your seat here on weekends. the food was on par with the decent places i'd been in n california, but nothing too memorable. not enough rotation of carts. and they do this thing where a waiter dressed in a special uniform will offer you a single large dish on a tray, and kinda bow... kinda like high stakes dim sum. some of the nicest bathrooms at a chinese restaurant i've ever been to.
(3)Zhenyu Y.
This was one of the worst Chinese restaurant I've ever been to. The waiter was not kind and lack of language skills. They kept saying the restaurant downstairs had more food choices, which turned out to be totally untrue. Anyway, they just didn't wanna serve us and made us leave. Won't recommend to anyone.
(1)Tiffany A.
I came here with a group of friends over the weekend. Two of the group are heading to Hong Kong and Singapore within the next few weeks, so rather than be caught unawares of what Dim Sum actually involves, we all made a brunch date to check it out. Make reservations! We did, and thank God because the wait without seemed to be about 45 minutes. We waited for maybe 10 minutes max, which was surprising considering how packed this place gets on the weekend. As soon as you sit, the carts come rolling! I honestly can't tell you the names of half the things I ate, mostly because if you just eye something, the wait staff just shoves it on your table without naming it or telling you what's in it. It is delicious though, that I CAN tell you. The highlight for me was the chicken dumpling and the fried shrimp balls. There's a small veggie food bar where they have all sorts of things. The little egg custard dumplings are nice and sweet; very dessert-esque. There are several tea options, but be specific when you're seated or you'll end up with regular jasmine tea. Totally worth a repeat visit.
(4)Angela L.
I had been to the China Pearl years ago, and felt that I had remembered a better experience than the one I recently had about a month ago. One thing that is always great about China Pearl is the restaurant is small enough for dim sum so that there is always plenty of food and you don't have to wait long at all to eat when you first get seated. The food itself was mediocre -- I remember the dumplings and pastries being a lot tastier and flavorful. Perhaps I just caught the restaurant on a bad day, however I'll be hesitant about going back anytime soon.
(3)Erin G.
i have read a lot about dim sum here, but never tried it. then i found out all my friends were dim summing and i realized the time had come. i'm sure you can come here without a mandarin interpreter. if you are willing to eat any and everything that gets wheeled around to you. i'm a pescetarian and can't risk that kind of russian roulette of dining so i called up dana b who called up ruby, our official dim sum ambassador. a group of us met downtown at 10AM one sunday morning. (including my mom who was all "...chinese, for breakfast?") we got right in and went up to their second floor dining room which was entirely empty. slowly the food carts started making their way around to us. ruby picked and choosed what everyone would eat, letting us know what to try and what we wouldn't like. she kept checking on tofu dishes for me. actually, when she would leave the table to check something out a cart would dive bomb us and the server would point to whatever they had and indicated we wanted it - we all looked around in panic and shooed them away. finally they just stopped doing it. my favorite items were the fried taro root, it was so sweet and creamy on the inside with a nest like fry on the outside. i also enjoyed the deep fried tofu (duh) and these little mushroom/bamboo wrappy things. oohh and the steamed shrimp dumplings. oh! and the coconut pudding and the tofu pudding! okay i liked EVERYTHING. also...$10 each at the end of the day, with food to take home. outrageous.
(4)Lauren B.
Dim sum was very disappointing. I've had dim sum all over the bay area in California and figured that Chinatown in Boston would have decent food. The dim sum was nothing exceptional but the real problem was the service. We were there over an hour and the same 4 carts went around and around with no change. We ended up only getting 4 dishes that turned out to be $24... seems a bit overpriced for mediocre food with bad service.
(2)brewgirl b.
Busy, busy location, but worth the wait. Very tasty food and very cheap. Good selection of dim sum, particularly if you dont eat red meat. Lots of fish and shellfish selections. Typical veggies (e.g., asian broccoli). Love the porridge served with pork and the black, preserved egg. And tapioca pudding for dessert. Ahhhh...
(4)Po L.
I have been coming here for years for DIM SUM. So go already.
(3)Celeste K.
As a girl who was spoiled by NYC's dim sum I thought I would be a harsh critic, but it was actually a great experience and tasty meal! We went at 11 and got seated right away, but as we were leaving the place was jam packed. However there is tons of seating so I don't think you would have to wait long. There is a good variety and even things I'd never had before. The carts come frequently so your table gets filled quickly with yummy foods.
(4)Brendon G.
Only been here once, about 8 years ago. It was completely loud and chaotic and tasty -- just like dim sum should be. My wife and i were seated at a table for 10 with three other groups. The couple across from us was an old chinese couple....the man completely ignored his wife, read his chinese newspaper and only grunted at her when she asked if he wanted some bite or more tea. Classic!
(5)Digital H.
Great Dim Sum, and dinner.. everyone comes here for dim sum, or at least the people i know. It does get really crowded sometimes but if your looking for dim sum in boston, this is the place to go.
(5)Marcia F.
Dim Sum is always a treat and China Pearl is a good place to get it. Yes, it is crowded and noisy on a Sunday but the wait is worth it and once you are seated the food comes immediately. We had plenty to eat for less than $8 per person. Our only disappointment was that they ran out of the fried dough noodle stuff that we love. Oh well, maybe next time.
(4)Naomi P.
This is a cheap restaurant in Boston, for standard dim sum food. The perfect Sunday treat. They don't allow you to order from the menu, but instead they go with the classical carts. They do offer a nice alternative, which is that they have a buffet stand on each floor with noodles, chicken, shrimp and vegetables, so you can get food immediately if you are starved. Don't forget to bring your bill with you so that they can mark it for you. I started with dessert. Custard buns, which are one of my favorite dishes. It was a good ratio of custard to bun. The shrimp rice roll was standard. The shrimp was good, but you have to like rice rolls. Some people hate it, and others love it. The chicken shitake bun was tasty and not too filling. I had a bunch of other stuff, mostly steamed dumplings and I don't think that there was a bad one in the bunch. I must say that the turnip cake was horrible. One of my friend's mom used to make us homemade turnip cake all the time, so I am very fond of the dish. I was disappointed at China Pearl. I thought that by frying the cakes table-side that the dish would be amazing, but it was just too mushy. Blech. I loved the shrimp from the buffet table. They were fried with the heads and sprinkled with salt. The fat noodles with beef were also a hit. Another time I'd like to try the clams with black bean sauce that were also in the buffet table.
(3)Julie C.
Best place for Dim Sum. I always get way too much food, so I can pack it up and eat it the next day. Sometimes I circle for 30 minutes to get a parking spot in C-town, especially on the weekends, but it is worth it to get my Dim Sum fix.
(4)Tiffany D.
I'd give it 5 stars if it was cleaner. Haha. It's one of the past dimsum's in Boston.. and it's HUGE!!!! I don't like it when I have to share my table with ppl tho (which happens when it's super busy!) But still the best shumai!!! :)
(4)Lily C.
I've been having dim sum at China Pearl since I was in diapers and they are still my favorite!! Recently there have been a few new places that have popped up such as Hei La Moon (Beach St) and East Manor in Saugus, MA but China Pearl is still the place to go in my oppinion. The wait is usually around 20 minutes and don't go too late on the weekends - you want to go when its semi busy so all your food will be really fresh. It may be a bit dingy now since they've been open for about 30+ years but that's all part of the dim sum experience. You need to appreciate the tacky decor, the little old chinese man screaming numbers out, and the cart ladies that don't speak a lick of english. Okay now down to what to order : The shrimp rolls are a must - always crunchy. yum. Three treasures and only get the tofu, forget the eggplant and green pepper because those are always mushy. Shrimp balls from here are consistently good and my friends from out of town always request to come here for them. My mom really likes the clams from here and you can find them up at the side bar. Finally, finish with some sweetened warm tofu pudding, and forget ordering the mango stuff with the little umbrellas. Remember to actually drink the tea because it helps you cleanse and digest.
(4)Jared G.
With packed lines trailing out the doors most Saturdays and Sundays, even in the dead of winter, China Pearl is the gold-standard in Boston dim summing. From the savory flavor bursts that are its shrimp dumplings, to the pillowy sweetness of its Cha Shu Bao (sweet pork buns), China Pearl consistently delivers. Along with the traditional fare on the carts and jasmine tea, there's a large selection of delectables at the central buffet. Scallops, bok choy, and chinese broccoli are not to be missed. Also, you can order specialty teas, like Ba Bao Cha (eight treasures tea, which are great if you're looking to try something new). I try to get there before 12, as a general rule of thumb, since tables fill up rapidly until 2.
(4)Dana B.
This is the only place that I have ever had Dim Sum, but it was very tasty. It came highly recommended by my friend Ruby, a Dim Sum afficianado, and she assisted us in pointing at foods that she thought we would enjoy - and enjoy we would. What is fantastic is that if you're really hungry there is food on your table in less than one minute. It's also huge so there is never a wait for a table. It's great for bringing large groups and does not end up being expensive in the end. You will leave very full and having only spent about $10-$15.
(4)Melissa C.
I went here on the weekend and this place was PACKED! You had to jab people with elbows just to get your name on the list. Despite that, we were eating in maybe 10 minutes. The staff was busy, but friendly and responsive. They slapped pork in a good 80% of the food, but I still had plenty of options. I enjoyed eating it... but... on the downside... my friend got REALLY sick afterwards. I felt a little bit ill, but my friend (who is a bit more delicate than I) was incapacitated. I'd go back though. You've got carts of food rolling around, a little food poisoning is just a predictable cost of getting to eat this way.
(3)Seafoodie R.
Best Dim Sum in Boston, with a fully packed house on the weekend expect a wait. Serving Dim Sum till 10PM every night but you have to order it from the menu. try the Shrimp and Pork Shumai, the Shark Fin dumplings (no actual sharkfin in them), the fried shrimp balls, salted shrimp (buffet line) the sticky rice wrapped in a leaf, steamed tripe (which is cow belly) with ginger and scallion and lots of water!!!!!!
(4)T P.
Come here for dim sum with my BF and friends. Really good selection. Dim sum is brought around in carts & they stamp a card for every dish, you pay the total. Typical chinatown service. Sometimes the customer service is good, other times
(4)Phil P.
This was the first time trying dim sum and I may never go back. Besides the food tasting like it was soaked in MSG for three days, there was a gigantic cockroach climbing the wall no more than 5 feet from us (ultimately squashed by waitress like it was a normal occurrence). Absolutely disgusting. Should have walked out right there and then.
(1)Kelly P.
It has been well over three months but the phrase "dim sum" still triggers my mouth to salivate like a Pavlov canine. China Pearl is marked by an unmistakable plastic sign that hangs above the doorway. Upon entering, there are immense stairs, carpeted with elaborate gold leaves with a burgundy background color. It is a monumentally large restaurant with substantial seating. There was no wait on a Saturday morning when we arrived around 11. We were seated immediately and next to the grand kitchen doors. The establishment is bedecked with ornate gold Chinese letters, Chinese paper lanterns that are fixed to the ceiling, and garnished with cherry blossoms. They have an extensive selection of dim sum. All the dishes we tasted were freshly made. One of my favorite items is the Sesame Balls which come in a set of three. They are glutinous rice balls that are filled with a sweet, smooth red bean paste, coated in sesame seeds, and deep fried. There are Crab Balls that are made from imitation crab; the "pink slime" of fish. These are discernible as they are coated in shredded wonton skin, and festooned with a crab claw. These are quite large and are served in a pair. The Taiwanese You Fan, has a literal translation of "oil rice." It is sticky rice that is steamed and fried in a wok with shi-itake mushrooms, pork, and pork fat. It glistens with rich fat and is topped with freshly cut cilantro. The dish is served with a thick, sweet, and slightly spicy chili sauce. Customer service here was attentive and helpful. Some Pro Tips: Sit close by the kitchen. Not only are your dishes guaranteed to be fresh, but the staff will not miss you. Cards are accepted. When you order multiple dishes from the staff pushing cards, be sure to keep count of how many stamps she is applying to your bill. It is easy to lose track if you have an array of dishes already on your table. Also ask whether a dish is small, medium, or large. Prices vary exponentially based on size.
(4)Phyllis C.
Went here for Dim Sum on a Saturday (yesterday) around 2:30 PM-- alone. I searched for the "right" place to eat lunch in Chinatown tirelessly on Yelp and other sights...ended up more confused than ever. So many bad reviews. Wierd! My experience: No wait--seated immediately--waiter friendly--ladies pushing carts also friendly and willing to explain things to the best of their ability--I was totally comfortable dining alone and even tried the chicken feet...wow! Pretty tasty! Enjoyed 3 other dishes plus the chicken feet, complimentary hot tea and ice water--17 bucks later--about 35 minutes... and a 2 dollar tip... Overall a great experience for me and I will be back! Only complaint was no sauteed greens available in small Dim Sum portions. Chinese food without greens for me is a bummer.
(4)L F.
Hmm not sure why China Pearl has so many mixed reviews. I think for dim sum they do a decent job. And when the prices are so low, it's hard to really complain. A suggestion is to arrive early. That way you avoid the mid-day dim sum crowds. I have never had a problem getting a table on the weekend. They serve cart style, so you pick your items as they come along. I guess some people are opposed to this type of service, but I like being inspired by what is on the cart. My favorite items are of course the dumplings, the sweet pork filled buns, and the fried crab claw things (not sure what exactly they are called).
(4)Eric C.
I have been here too many times to count now and I have yet to do a review. There are many places for you to choose from when thinking about dim sum. All of them are really great places but really one tops them all and that is: China Pearl Restaurant (it'd really be silly if I said another restaurant in this review..). Anyways, as an avid fan of dim sum, I've been to a place or two in my lifetime so I have a basis for comparison. When you go to dim sum, you really should have an open mind because some of the best savory foods are the ones you might not think are the most savory. For those of you who are new to the dim sum experience, this place will allow you to experience it to the fullest. Dim sum, or "touch of the heart", is meant to give you a dining experience much like Spanish tapas. You get a small dish of many different foods so that you can taste a little of everything. Some of the classic dim sum plates include: Siu mai (a meat ball kind of) Ha Gao (shrimp dumpling) Fung zao (braised chicken feet literally translated as "Phoenix claws") Cherng fun (how would you translate this into something that people would understand... rice cake?) Pai Guot (braised short ribs) Nai wong bao (dessert: egg yolk bao... delicious!!!) Those are a list of my favorite go to dim sum dishes and in generally a pretty safe list of foods that everyone will enjoy. One thing that I have seen served here that I haven't seen elsewhere is the chicken feet, short rib rice. If you like those two dishes then you've got to try this! Make sure to get the soy sauce to go over it and you'll be happily full after finishing your meal =) Parking is always a problem in Boston in general and in Chinatown especially. My advice is to park in a parking garage, pay the fee because your lunch/brunch/dinner is going to be cheap anyways.
(5)Alice S.
I must say that this is a pretty decent place. It's one of the more "classic" Chinese restaurants in Chinatown as it's been around for a very long time. It's a decently sized restaurant and it's pretty popular with the crowds but waits usually aren't too bad. Food again is pretty decent, nothing exceptional, but definitely not bad either. It's very, very average.
(3)Stacy H.
i really appreciated how fast the seating service is here. but if you have a big group, make sure all of your party is there - they won't seat you otherwise. pretty solid dim sum, but very limited vegetarian options.
(3)Wei Zhong G.
The price was fair for the nine dimsum items that we shared among three people. Around half the items were still available for ordering even though we went at 5 pm. The mango pudding and tofu pudding were pretty legit. I didn't like the durian puffs; they tasted rather artificial. Vegetarians should stay away from this place. Not only was there a paucity of options, when we inquired about the vegetarian options (in Mandarin), the waitress asked us, "Why come to a dimsum place if you're vegetarian?"
(2)Johnathan B.
I am visiting Boston and I came across Chinatown around lunch time. Me and a friend found this place and decided it looks good and has good reviews -so why not. A waitress showed us to a table, gave us tea, and basically disappeared for the rest of the meal. After waiting for around 15 minutes without anyone coming to serve the table, I called one of the waiters and asked for a menu for me and my friend. He then arrived with one menu, and didn't respond when I asked him for another. After a few minutes time I had to call him up again (since he wouldn't arrive on his own) and ordered some food and drinks. The drinks arrived right away, but the food arrived in a different matter. After around 15 minutes, the dish my friend order arrived, not less than 10 minutes (!!!) later, my dish arrived. At that point, we were both pissed and therefore the food tasted poorly, although it might have actually been good, therefore the two stars. After the horrific service, I decided the waiter does not deserve a tip, as it is suppose to be a way to appreciate the service, and that service sacked. While going down the stairs of the restaurant to leave, the waitress, from the beginning of this journey, came running after me saying "no tip, no tip!". After explaining to her what was wrong, and that they don't deserve a tip, she went to her manager who was standing at the entrance, told her the story, and the manager haven't even looked at us. Worst place on earth, want Chinese food? Find some other place.
(2)Kim L.
Every time I visit Boston, I make it a point to stop for dim sum in Chinatown. I've been to China Pearl twice now, and have had a good experience both times. I usually stick with dumplings, buns and rice and I have never been disappointed. The pork shumai-style dumplings and steamed pork buns are my favorite! I always leave full & satisfied, and it is usually no more than $10 per person. The tea is also delicious and always hot!
(4)Fay L.
A classic dim sum restaurant in Chinatown. Used to be much better back in the day, but it now has to compete with other spacious dim sum places and doesn't quite measure up as well anymore. Still good for the classics: chang fen, feng zhao, shumai, buns, etc. I think Hei La Moon has more variety for types of dishes offered.
(3)May C.
One of my fav restaurants of all times. Very authentic dim sum, cheap price, great varieties even including some food from other parts of China. I love come here early to avoid lines and try a lot of different things with my friends.
(5)Sarouth R.
The food here is good not bad there are lots of table I love how they have decorated the place my mom and me and sister love this place every year we go there best place ever
(5)Jenn Z.
Solid dim sum place that offers the typical dishes. Great price and always feels very stuffed afterwards. Also, I like how the food carts usually come by very quickly after you sit down. Brace for a chaotic, noisy market-like setting when coming on a weekend. It can be quite an experience.
(4)Rob F.
I went to China Pearl today with a lovely Lao family I know and we had Dim Sum. There were five of us. We started out with several plates of spare ribs. They were chopped in small pieces and tasted like they were boiled in some kind of stock. You got a little ginger flavor. They were ok. Lots of little bones. Next, came the chicken feet and the tripe! Uuh. I knew it. I had chicken feet before in dark soy sauce. This time there was nothing to cover up the flavor. They taste like chicken. A little gelatinous, a little squeaky between the teeth, and lots of little toe bones. I had a couple chopsticks of tripe, which wasn't bad. Sesame, ginger, and what I thought was garlic. Better than the honeycomb tripe us Italians cook in tomato sauce. Very mild. Better than expected. We had sticky rice with pork wrapped in some kind of leaf. It was good. At this point, I was noticing the steam table, and got up to check it out. We all decided to go. My date offered to stay behind and watch the coats. She said if I ever came back to never, ever, leave anything at the table. It will be promptly stolen. How nice! I got a couple more dishes. I had fried shrimp, crab balls and taro balls. You've got to watch it when you see anything with "balls" in it at a Chinese restaurant! These were formed in the shape of a ball. Yummy deep fried in a crispy batter. The crab was wrapped in minced shrimp and little curly strips of taro. That was good. The taro ball had little pieces of pork in the middle and was also good. We had a plate of fried octopus. We all thought that it was greasy and we left it on the table. We had a noodle wrapped fried crispy cruller for dessert that I also thought was ok. They had that with a silky tofu they scoop out of a barrel. Neither tasted of much at all. Dessert was definitely a let down. We all spent much of our time munching and slurping and spitting little bones in our plates. P'tooey - clink. P'tooey - clink..... repeat. Have another chicken foot! My first experience in a Dim Sum place was pretty good. I'd have to give credit to my hosts. Left to my own, I'd have eaten dumplings all morning. That's what I thought Dim Sum mostly was! They ordered what they usually do, and I got to experience it. To be fair, nothing really blew my doors off. I didn't order any take out, but I did like the deep fried (of course) things and I got to experiment. I would like to go right back and try some more. Maybe it would be easier to go to the one in Quincy next time. I must mention that when they seated us, I walked past a table that had a big plate with several pieces of lettuce. On each one was a piece of crispy skin. There were more plates, but I had to wonder what they were having. Suckling pig maybe, or Peking duck? It looked good! I pointed at it and went "Ooh, ooh" but my hosts took me by the hand and dragged me to my table. No, today we're eating "spare parts." Lovely!
(3)Marina N.
I decided to come to this place again. Since last time we kind of went late in the day. This time we arrived at 10 am and it was actually worst. Only three carts moving around with very little to choose from. If you want dim sum and don't want to go into Boston, go to the China Pearl in Woburn!! Now that's dim sum!
(2)Tiffany J.
I've been going to this place since I was 5-6 years old. Almost 20 years later, it's still going strong. Visited today for the first time in years because we didn't want to wait 30 minutes for Winsor across the street (at 2:30pm on a Saturday, no less!). I've been to Winsor, Empire Garden, and China Pearl in the past few weeks and thought China Pearl was the least impressive of the 3. The steamed shrimp dumplings were great. The xia chang2 fen3 (steamed rice roll with shrimp in soy sauce) was a little soggy and bland. The luo2 buo gao (turnip cake) was tasty (there was actual turnip in it - a real sign of quality) but on the greasy side. For weeks, I had been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to eat Winsor's shrimp-stuffed eggplant, but China Pearl disappointed - when the cart rolled over, the "shrimp" and the eggplant were dunked into hot water for reheating, then plopped onto our plates, an oily, watery mess. The "shrimp" wasn't shrimp - it was fish and shrimp cake - and it wasn't "stuffed" in the eggplant, either. Go to China Pearl for the traditional ambiance and the dim sum "rolling cart experience," which is slowly disappearing from Boston Chinatown dim sum restaurants. But if you want quality dim sum, go across the street to the much smaller Winsor, and be prepared for a long wait.
(3)Katie Y.
These days, China Pearl is not at its best. About 10 years ago, it was the place where everyone went (the glory days). Nowadays, it's one of the worst places to go to (according to foodie parents). My father (who went with his friends), he said that there were very few people sitting at the tables so there were like 3 carts just circling around the tables. The food took a hit with very few choices.
(1)Jasmine M.
This has been my "go-to dim sum spot. be sure you sit in the downstairs area because I find that the upstairs area has less variety. The crab claws are LOADED with crab and are really delicious. If you're vegetarian, don't go here.
(4)Kenny W.
Had dim sum here a week ago and it wasn't the best dim sum I've had in Boston. It was during a weekend and it was relatively busy. They had multiple carts pushing around and a small stand in the middle where you can get up and get some dishes. The tea pot was kind of dirty when they put it on the table. From what I remembered, the pan fried sticky rice was good, the shrimp rice noodle was alright, steam chive dumpling was unimpressive, roast pork buns were alright and egg tart seemed a bit off. The only thing I thought was good was the fried shrimp ball with crab. I liked the ambiance and the numbers of carts that were pushing around. However, I think I'll continue my search around Boston for a good dim sum place.
(3)Alex P.
Dim Sum breakfast on a Sunday morning Wonderful feast for 2... $20... My new go to place in Boston... Great food... Fried crab... Shrimp dumplings... Tofu rolls... Not to be missed...
(5)Susan C.
The young lady who's the hostess here during dim sum hour really needs to take a course in customer service because she is extremely rude and has no manners. China Pearl is one of my fav. spots for dim sum, but the service here has me rethinking this place as my go to. I came here for dim sum on a weekend a few weeks ago, and there was a wait for a table. Fine, no big deal, I stood and waited in the line. The hostess then asks patrons in line to move up a bit, so I follow the line along. Apparently I must not have walked up far enough because they next thing I know I am being manhandled by the hostess, who is trying to prod me even closer to the person in front of me (there was probably 6 inches between me and the patron in front of me at the time). The hostess did this to me several times during my wait for a table. I've eaten at numerous restaurants in Chinatown and elsewhere, and never have I encountered a woman so rude. Thinking back, I should have told her to keep her grubby mitts off me.
(2)Lusi J.
This used to be my favorite place for Dimsum but after my recent visit, I dont think I will be coming back. The chicken feet were dry bland, the meat balls tasted like last nights leftovers, the service could have been better. We had to hunt down a worker to refill our tea every time. The only non-disappointing dish was the chuerng fun.
(2)Kelsey M.
Great tasting selection of just about anything you can imagine. Biggest frustration is how pushy some of the ladies are that push the food carts.
(4)Angela C.
(I'm Cantonese and grew up on this food). Dim sum was excellent, great variety. Side of restaurant has already prepared most popular dishes available for pick up (like the black bean clams). Better than Hei La Moon. Surprisingly organized in terms of seating customers and paying. Dedicated waiter/waitress for each section for all miscellaneous items (e.g. sauces, extra plates, tea, etc.) Very busy on weekends, go before noon. Customer base is mix of Asians and non-Asians; always helps to have a Cantonese speaker in your group! But pointing at food always works.
(5)Susan L.
We weren't expecting great service, but we also weren't expecting to be forgotten after placing our order. After sitting for half an hour, we finally got the waiter's attention in the fairly empty restaurant and his only response was "I see." The martini was watered--highway robbery at $11. The dishes were OK; duck with vegetables and pork pad thai. I would not return here. We had time constraints and the more popular restaurants had waits, so we ended up here on a Saturday night. Oh well--will do better research before returning to Chinatown.
(2)Vinay F.
Definitely among the top 3 dim sum places I've been to in addition to being very inexpensive. The food that struck me as best were the barbecue pork buns, the fried chive dumplings, and a circular steamed shrimp dumpling I don't remember the name of (shu mai was great as well).
(5)Lena A.
There is nothing you can say that was not delicious here. Loved everything especially the tofu
(5)Lin N.
Went here yesterday and felt I had to write a review to warn others. I ate lunch with 2 other people and the bill came to 80 dollars! I have had dim sum in Chinatown before, a few years ago, and figured between 20 and 30 dollars for the 3 of us. 80 dollars was insane and I asked the woman ringing me up if that was correct and she pointed to the stamps and how they were calculated. I hadn't kept track of the stamps when the carts came by but I cannot believe that we ordered 80 dollars worth of food. I will not be coming back here, though the rest of the meal had been as expected base on the other reviews.
(1)Sarah C.
There was a roach in my tea but when I alerted the waitress she told me it was a piece of leaf! I think I can differentiate from a roach VS leaf. Dim sum is pretty much the same elsewhere in Chinatown but more expensive here.
(1)Jessica L.
I went for dim sum with a couple of other people. Hostess was nice, but we waited a while for food while the carts continued starting on the other side of the room (maybe because they were bigger parties that kept ordering). When we finally got to eat, the overall food wasn't bad. My favorite was the deep fried chives dumpling which was super fresh and so tasty. I hesitated at first because I've had these at other places and was largely unimpressed, but as it sat before me...I couldn't resist but to try it. SO WORTH IT! Besides that, everything else I tried was alright.
(3)Jade Y.
The durian cookie is awesome! Super enjoy. Tortoise jelly is good, too. Like the atmosphere. The decoration is very happy and pleasant, with the traditional red color and peach tree. The Chinese character 喜喜means double happiness. It's like someone is marrying here. The Chinese name of the restaurant means dragon and Phoenix, which is a traditional Chinese pair simplifying fortune.
(5)Christine J.
3.5 stars. good dimsum.
(4)Betty C.
Long time #1 placeholder for top dim sum or banquet go to restaurant. My whole family had their wedding receptions there. A long time gem in the heart of Boston's Chinatown
(4)Matthew A.
Dim Sum what's it all about here at the China Pearl. Tons of carts with a nice variety to choose from. Service was eh- kind of lacking-as usual as most places in Chinatown. Hard to get a water glass refilled- how hard can that be? They work FAST here. Even before we all could even sit down the ladies in the carts were at our table desending. One positive- the cart ladies are nice here and know English. They were able to answer questions and explain to us what they were offering. 3 of us had huge amount of dishes for $43. No alcohol.
(3)Dan G.
Pretty good food. This is the first time I ever got to go to a Chinese restaurant with people from...well, not China, but they were so excited to have us try some dishes that are common where they are from. I am American, so the food prep to me was "normal" but others talked about how greasy some of the items were, some items were even too salty for them, so it seems, Chinese food isn't as greasy or salty as we Americans think it really is! Anyways, the food was great. Everything we had was yummy, especially the coconut shrimp, peking duck and the dried fish fried rice. The wait staff was a little rude, but they did accommodate us as best as possible so I will give them that. We initially had come for dim sum but were just a tad too late, no prob, they suggested dim sum like items. Would I come here again? Yeah, maybe, but only if someone REALLY has the urge to go here.
(3)Karen M.
I know it's fashionable to diss this warhorse of a restaurant in Chinatown, but I have always had great experiences. First, the atmosphere is very ornate and festive, and I think that helps to make meals here feel like a special occasion, even if you're just going to have a quick lunch. Second, I have never had anything but hot, fresh, dim sum here. I feel like the restaurant is so busy that keeps the turnover high so it keeps coming out fresh. I have never had cold greasy food here. My only criticism is that you do need to ask for exactly what you want and listen carefully to what is being offered. Part of this is because the servers' English is not always the best. So even if you don't know what something's called, make an effort to describe it carefully and then they can bring it to you. Otherwise you may wind up spending a lot of money for items you don't really want or that aren't selling that day so they keep pushing them back around to you. There is a full bar but I've not had good experiences with mixed drinks, I think it's a weak point. If you must drink, have a beer.
(4)Johnny S.
This place used to be awesome. It was a landmark and the go to place for dim sum. But their food has gone downhill. The place is empty more often than not and people have started going to Hei La Moon for quite some time. Visited China Pearl recently and noticed that every item is at least a medium; this is why it now costs $50 for two or $80 for three people. They have moved towards making up for poor quality food and lack of clientele via overpricing. Great job, I will no longer recommend nor visit this place again.
(1)Dana H.
This was fantastic!! We (party of 6) got to the restaurant at around 1 on a Sunday and only had to wait 10 minutes and the place was packed. The host was very kind and friendly. Tea and water arrived in a timely manner. The food was delicious and there was quite a variety on the carts coming around. We were very pleased with the service and food--not sure why this place only has 3 stars. It was also inexpensive; we ended up spending about $13 per person and we ordered a lot of food. We definitely would go back again.
(5)Chris L.
This is a staple (along with like Hei La Moon, Winsor, Imperial Garden, Grand Chau Chau) for Chinatown Dim Sum. I. Dim Sum There's the usual pushing of various carts with all kinds of stuff ranging from dumplings (har gow, shaomai, haam4 seoi2 gok3), rice noodles, vegetables, rice noodle wrapped meat, lo mai gai, mostly steamed buns (some baked on the dessert cart), turnip pancakes, and the regular assortment of Dim Sum regulars. Plus a good variety on desserts (mango pudding, coconut milk cubes, egg tarts, dessert tofu "dou fu fa", etc.) It's probably busiest like weekends from 11-1. But since China Pearl is so large, I think the wait isn't very long. If you arrive before 11 or after 1, you shouldn't have a long wait. - Is it authentic, say compared to Vancouver (Canada), San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Hong Kong or other Cantonese Dim Sum? Pretty close. I'd say it's "good enough". You will get some more esoteric stuff in other cities, but they're probably catering to popular tastes. - Credit cards? Yes. - Service? Wave down one of the waiters. You do have to be a little proactive at times, they're being polite. - things to be wary of: (notice en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Di… ) The spare ribs do have bones. From what I've noticed from my parents, Cantonese people love their bones ... more flavor. They'll give you anything from cold water/ice water, hot water for your tea, dishes from the menu, the tally / total, etc. II. Non-Dim Sum Most people don't go here as often when it's non-Dim Sum hours, but yes, they actually have a mostly-Cantonese and some Mandarin dish menu. It's decent, nothing to rave about. With both Dim Sum and non-Dim Sum, they do have a good assortment of teas. Most popular with my friends tend to be one of: Chrysanthemum, red tea specifically Bo-Lei tea (Cantonese) or Pu-erh tea (Mandarin), or Jasmine tea, although sometimes we go with Oolong or something else. And also you can get the usual pungent yellow mustard and spicy red pepper paste or chili garlic.
(4)Victoria P.
Came here for dim sum on a Saturday morning - it was delicious! Didn't have to wait for a table and got everything I wanted within the first 5 minutes of sitting down. They're a little stingy on the water, but if you pester them enough then you might get a refill. We had the ha cao (steamed shrimp dumplings), shumai, chinese broccoli, sticky rice, spare ribs, and pork buns. The pork buns were just okay, but the rest was sooooo good! I've been to plenty of dim sum places in New York and the food here is just as good. Everything tastes fresh and they don't skimp on the meat. Will definitely be back.
(4)Jessica B.
Well, I guess I'm missing something. I went there for dinner. The food was yuck! I had read it was authentic Chinese. Is this really what people it in China? It's all junk food essentially.
(1)Julia J.
I really liked this place for dim sum. Although their food tastes generic, it still tastes pretty good for occasional brunch.
(5)Cassandra T.
Came here with a friend on a Sunday after Whale Watching. We had preferred to try Winsor Dim Sum, but there was a wait, and China Pearl offers the cart ordering experience. I had warned my vegetarian comrade that dim sum carts are generally full of pork and shrimp, but he was ready for adventure. The food was generally good quality. I've had better of most of the items, but there were some unique carts, like the tofu (actually tofu), eggplant, and shrimp-filled pepper cart that I really liked. I've had better tripe, but it could have been the luck of the draw. The vegetable items were hard to find. Our first cart supposedly had fried tofu, but it was most certainly pork. Even the turnip cake had pieces of fish in it! It was the fishiest turnip cake I had ever had. Overall, we were able to find two actual tofu items and missed out on the broccoli cart. To the management's credit, when we inquired about the cart with the vegetables, we were told there was none. I would say there were four passable items, with three of them being in some kind of meat/fish flavored sauce, because, well, it's Chinese food. Service was slightly above average from my non-Chinese-speaking perspective.
(3)David H.
Stopped in w my children 10 and 12 for dim sum lunch on a weekday at 1 pm. Waited about 10 minutes as the place was packed. plenty of families enjoying dim sum while kids on vacation. Waiter was a little slow w the drink order. Brought my pot of tea, but forgot the kids' sodas. Carts came by and the ladies seemed a little more animated than usual. Being Chinese I did not have a problem ordering, but I noticed the ladies explaining the ingredients to non-Asians, which is nice. We had the usual pork/shrimp dumplings, shrimp dumpling, beef balls, egg custard tarts, shrimp/chive dumpling, rice noodle w shrimp, and a platter of beef chowfun. Dim sum was fresh, flavorful and hot. Chowfun was tasty but a little too greasy. Had enough for a good size doggy bag. Nice to see the chinatown area so popular. Another highrise taking over an old building will destroy the neighborhood.
(3)Doo-yun H.
I love this place!!! My meal was so fulfilling and tasted incredible. We ordered a variety of small foods that were all absolutely delicious and our bill between 6 people came to only $66! The servers came by quite often and were all really nice about explaining things and bringing more food and water. Atmosphere was really cool and our experience was generally excellent!
(5)Eliza D.
I love this place! The food was all absolutely delicious and also really cheap. The carts came by often, and all the staff were super nice. Definitely would recommend!
(5)Allie T.
Solid dim sum place with great offerings. Only problem for those of us who don't speak Cantonese-- the servers didn't speak much English and the dumplings are hard to tell apart. Good price though and had a fun time.
(3)Kimberly Y.
I've been here a few times for banquet style dinners and the food can be either a hit or miss. The service and manager were both good. Restaurant has 2 levels and is very big and roomy. I've not come here for dim sum in over a decade so can't comment on that.
(3)Tammy W.
We were so excited that China Pearl would CATER a Chinese wedding banquet. We really did not want to make everyone find parking in Chinatown for the reception. They provided the catering for dinner and provided the bar service. The conversations and emails were friendly enough, but they are not in sync with each other. We receive a price from one person, and the next day, we would have a different price. We would set up a tentative meeting for the next time, but it would never happen. It was very difficult to get a hold of them in person. What they quoted us for price during our meetings was not reflected totally on our final bill, so we are still disputing it with them. They added fees that were not talked about and that we thought were unfair due to the service or lack thereof. Service wise, the normal wedding coordinator was not there. She had a prior wedding and so did the manager we talked to. However we knew this all ahead of time and knew that the manager's sister would be at our wedding to coordinate. They did well that day in the kitchen. The food was delicious. However the food was served out of order, they asked if they were cutting the cake, which was already settled at our meetings, and they forgot to serve the cake to one whole table! The bars were set up well. The bar tenders were personable, although the "cute one" went missing for a while. But at the end of the night, they did not dump the trash. Instead, they left FIVE bags of trash for the wedding party to clean up, in our nice clothes! Then, when we finally cleaned up everything, we realized that they threw out the bottom part of the cake tiers that we had to put a deposit on at the bakery, so we lost out on that as well.
(3)Lina V.
Didn't have to wait for a table on Sat morning. So good!!!
(5)Jennifer E.
I love Dim Sum and China Pearl does it well. The place is always slammed and thriving with hungry people being fed delicious plates off of steaming carts of deliciousness. My friend is Chinese and although most of the staff appear to speak at least someEnglish, I've found that I'm better off leaving the ordering to him. I've enjoyed most everything I've tried and really the whole Dim Sum atmosphere is just exciting. The food you order is on a price tier system, so your cards on stamped based on how expensive the time with be. The dishes aren't too expensive so you can usually share several dishes and desserts and not end up spending too much. I've found that Dim Sum tends to be more of a brunch concept but I've had it for dinner as well, which is fun too. I've been to the Quincy location as well but I prefer this one, which is right in the heart of Chinatown in Boston.
(4)A L.
This place definitely has a variety of food and their own food bar and regular bar incase you want something different. Unlike other dim sum places, it's very spacious and there's even a cart that goes around making bubble tea and jelly drinks- ahh-mazinggggg! Maybe it's just me but, everything is a bit bland and watery compared to what I'm used to in New York.
(4)Swatee G.
So my Asian friend decided me and my other Indian Parsi friend needed the correct, authentic Dim sum experience. We landed here at China Pearl - Thanks to yelp! It was pretty ok. I had a BUNCH of random things, that I could never be able to tell you names of.. no.. not even if you threatened me with a lizard.. i couldn't.. There is absolutely no way I could have come away happy/ unembarrassed had I gone there by myself! The place is so amazingly authentic, that it is hard to converse in anything but Chinese! I would have been eye balled by everyone around me.. yes, even the fat little smushy kids who sat drooling over their noodles and sweets with their parents!! That's how lost I would have felt!! However, I had my awesome friend and her boyfriend to guide me! Which was awesome.. we shared a tonne of dim-sums.. I attempted to create a tower of discarded dim sum boxes as we sat there, waiting for more carts to appear with yummy goodies, but most of my attempts were thwarted by wild eyed scurrying waiters who whipped off the boxes as soon as finished.. Let me assure you, we ate enough to create a tower at least my own height! :p The carts rotated in a timely manner, and there was a certain level of excitement every time a new one rolled by, cuz U never know what they would carry! Lol.. it was like being 5 years old again and at the local fair.. ice cream man.. ting ting ta ting! All in all, it was a great experience - loved the concept of carts, all the food we ate - I cant remember any names.. but the shrimp thingy was awesome.. and oh the chicken filled thingie, and pan fried at the bottom.. was the bomb! :p If you know what I am talking about.. go get it.. if not, get one of your Asian frenz to take you! :p
(4)Ada K.
Horrible service! We were asked to wait at 4 different spots of the restaurant for about 30 mins. The hostess were very rude and the restaurant doesn't have a waiting system. We sat in a corner and the food trolleys came very slow. If you are assigned to a remote table, no good dim sum come by. Also, the clean trolley with dirty plates/ trash come through every minute. Only tried 4 dim sum and all of them were very oily and greasy!
(1)Claire N.
Some of the plates were delicious, some less so. A fun experience. The people pushing around the carts of dim sum can't really describe what's in the dumplings so it's a bit of an adventure. Good place to take kids.
(3)Jency P.
Although I enjoyed my experience there, I personally thought the food was a bit greasy. It was all right but I've experienced better. Carts were pretty good about coming around and the staff was attentive to our needs. If you are going to eat at this place I recommend: Pork ribs, chang fen, and the tofu dessert.
(2)Camille R.
I knew I should have stayed away from dim sum while living in Boston!! I had an appointment in Chinatown and decided to make a day out of it. I walked by China Pearl 3 or 4 times before I finally walked in... It looked, smelled, and acted like a typical Dim Sum restaurant you'd find in the Bay Area. But it was nothing. I mean NOTHING like the dim sum you'd find in the Bay Area. First, they offer very little vegetarian options; I ordered to tofu - it was stuffed with shrimp. The eggplant was stuffed with shrimp. I only found one fried dumpling with just veggies. That sucked. The Shrimp Stuffed Eggplant was gross. The eggplant was overcooked and the skin inedible. The rest of my dishes were just okay. I didn't hate it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back here.
(3)Guillermo M.
This place was delicious, authentic and I encountered excellent customer service. We were received by a hostess that spoke perfect English and realized that it was out first time here so she was helpful and explained how it works. It was not my first time eating dim sum in an authentic place but appreciated that she was helpful. We had the mussels, shrimp and pork dumplings and they were all excellent. The tea was really good too and the best of all is that it was not expensive at all. The experience overall was great and I would come back whenever I am craving dumplings. The only thing I didn't like is that they don't have the "soup dumplings", the ones that are very fragile and have soup inside. They are my favorite and I am not sure why they don't carry them anymore.
(4)Less H.
I was a dim sum virgin until today. We went on a whim and boy am I glad we did. Dim sum kicks ass. I knew the general idea of dim sum, ladies push cart of food around and tell you what it is in Chinese. As a fat lazy American it's confusing and I have no idea what I ordered until I put it in my mouth. If you don't eat stuff like meat it's probably not the best place for you to go. If you ask for vegetarian you probably aren't going to get it. We ate a lot of pork. See if you can get the sweet pork buns- so good. I have been informed that they have a new-ish place in Woburn. Oh I'll be back, and I'll make sure to wear my eating pants.
(4)John O.
A staple in China Town for great traditional Dim Sum. There is rarely a wait to get in because the place is HUGE, unlike some of the other places around. They also use the push karts rather than a menu which I enjoy. If you are looking for some good steamed dumplings and other savory bites then this is the place to be.
(4)Linda C.
It's a typical dim sum joint. The place looks fairly clean and there is quite a bit of selection to choose from. The flavor is okay but not great.
(3)Tiffany V.
We came here for Dim Sum Sunday around 1pm. Their traditional dim sum a la cart is served until 3pm and thereafter, you can order from their menu for dim sum until the place closes. We had a party of 13 (adults and kids) plus 3 babies who needed high chairs so we required two tables next to each other. We were seated within 10 minutes. Not a long wait for a Sunday at all. The place was spacious, bathrooms were clean and were continually cleaned while we were there, and plenty of tables and room. Each table could seat about 8 people. Plenty of carts and only half a minute between each cart to come by our table. Food options were splendid except I did not see beef or pork spare ribs that are available elsewhere. Here's what I remember: Har Gow: The BEST I've ever tasted. Chewy outside with a good yummy shirmp interior Shu Mai: normal, not memorable but my niece really liked it. Crab balls were kind of odd with the weird outer shell. It was too hard to bite into and wasn't as good as back home. Duck leg & chicken feet, were both good. Banh Cuon (white rolls of dough) with peanut and hoisin sauce was different and crispy on the outside. Tasty and slightly sweet. Pork crispy bun very good, crispy, sweet exterior with sticky pork interior. Pineapple buns were delicious! I don't know why we never tried these before. Mung bean, soft, slightly flaky tops, chewy, bready yumminess! Overall, our experience was good. Staff was normal. Food was surprisingly much better than the dim sum fare in Northern Va.
(4)Jessica S.
I specifically remember writing a review for this place so where did it go? Anyway my friend and I stopped in at a non peak dim sum time. maybe during the week. It was a weird experience. The food we had was ok and at some point they just stopped bringing the carts around. No we are about to finish fyi, nothing. We were just sitting there like...I guess they are done. We left and went somewhere else. The 3 stars is generous for the food but the service was terrible.
(3)Sidney L.
I recently became reacquainted with China Pearl, my family's restaurant of choice in Chinatown for many years, for both dinner and dim sum. Sadly, it's not the same restaurant that I remember visiting 3+ years ago, as it is in Chinatown, there are numerous better options nearby. - The dim sum here is decent (three stars), though the seafood doesn't taste as fresh. The shrimp har gow and shumai had a mushy, texture-less feeling inside, but otherwise, China Pearl has your full complement of decent dim sum offerings. I really liked the pork buns here, and ordered a couple extra to bring home with me. - Dinner here is abysmal (one star). I should've known when I walked in here and there was only one other table occupied - it felt kind of funny to have a banquet restaurant nearly all to myself. The General's chicken was not as crispy as it should have been, and wasn't even served with broccoli (just a plate of chicken!). The spicy fried calamari was oily and not crispy. And the noodles in the pan fried noodles were undercooked and not crispy. I guess they don't do crispy so well here. Beyond that, the service was surprisingly inattentive considering that there were not many patrons here.
(2)Linh L.
It's my first day in Boston and I decided to go to China Pearl for dim sum around 11am. It's an average place and nothing really hit the spot. The anticipation to dine at China Pearl was a big disappointment. We had 9 dim sum dishes and not even one stood out.
(1)Dannie W.
I really don't like the food here. Well, maybe it's good for dim sum and I did not order any. The staff said every dim sum item would have meat including those seafood options... My friend cannot eat meat but can eat seafood, so we can't order anything. So we ordered sweet and sour fish filet. That was so not Chinese. They put a lot of batter and so few fish. I feel like I can only taste the batter and not the fish. And the sauce was lemon sauce, not the typical orange-color sweet and sour sauce. So the dish in general just taste so weird that I can only have a few bites and no more. We also ordered the yu-xiang eggplant. It was under cooked and the sauce did not get soaked into the eggplant at all. We also ordered the clams with black bean sauce. It was not as fresh as the ones served in Jade Garden. In general, the food does not taste good, it's over-priced, and the service is not good. I am not going to this restaurant any more.
(2)The Throwin S.
I've been coming here regularly for a decade. Overall, it seems to be on the decline. The crowds are much smaller. The food, less fresh. I have always been a fan of their beef tripe at the a la carte table (where you always find snails, clams, and salt+pepper shrimp. On my last 3 visits, the tripe was absolutely terrible. They crowded my bowl with turnip and there were fewer than 3 pieces of tender tripe-- 3 times in a row. Do I have anything good to say? Their sweet tofu cart is delicious and a kid-favorite. The Chinese broccoli is usually fresh enough. The pork buns and fried turnip cakes, which are difficult to mess up, are good enough. It's time to find a new place for dim sum in China town.
(3)Todd C.
The most expensive and least impressive (taste, variety) dim sum I've ever had. In fairness, I was seated in a part of the restaurant that seemed to only get a small portion of the service/selection afforded the main part of the restaurant.
(2)Josiah V.
Great food, beautiful place. The tea is light and fresh and the dim sum is 3.95 a dish. Three pork buns have me almost full and the other reviews are right they're sweet and delicious
(5)Arcadian B.
Went in on a Sunday afternoon and my god this place needs some renovations especially the exterior It's a pretty big place but the service was lousy as most the servers were chatting with each other Food was decent and hot surprisingly
(3)Ellie W.
Dim Sum. Yum Cha. Whatever you call it, you can really only judge it relative to what's available in the area...No, this is no New York dim sum. Or the kind you can get in Hong Kong. And it sure as heck ain't your momma's dim sum. The food here is ok, and on par with most in Beantown. They've got all your standards--ha gau, shu mai, pork buns--yet I prefer Hei La Moon over China Pearl. And yea, it's a bit dingy--question is, what Chinatown restaurant isn't?--so I won't take points off for that. Whatever doesn't kill you only makes your stomach lining stronger, ya? So if one afternoon, you and 10 friends find yourselves wandering the mean streets of Chinatown after a band of dim sum savvy Chinese ladies ran you over and secured their tables (DIM SUM = aggressive driver mentality needed) at all other restaurants, China Pearl isn't a bad choice.
(3)Julie T.
I've grown up with China Pearl and it has never really been great to me. With so many different dim sum places to go to within just that one block, why would people come here?! Seems to me that when a place becomes so popular and at such a high demand, the product's quality falls short. A lot. And that's exactly how I feel about China Pearl. Each and every time I come here, it seems like the food has somehow gotten worse. I'll eat there and think to myself that the food couldn't sink any lower and that I'd never eat there again and lo and behold, a year later, I'll sit there with the exact same thoughts running through my mind. Sigh. I suppose one good thing is the fact that there are so many tables there so you'll never sit at the same table more than once. So yay for variety, I guess...
(2)Tim Y.
Pretty decent food here. The place was packed, and really loud, and there was a queue -- but it didn't take long to be seated. Prices are really, really good. Food is tasty, fresh, and served hot from those awesome carts. I did seem to observe the cart pushers giving preferential treatment to those who understood the language - the carts seemed to whiz by without much explanation as to what they have whereas they go slower, and seemed to spend more time chatting up the customers who understood what they were getting. I've done dim sum before, so it's definitely not just newbie ignorance. There has to be something good if a 3 year old next to you eats chicken feet for the first time right along side you without any protest. I would go back, though I'd be more assertive and maybe not sit at a corner table so as to get better exposure to carts as they go by.
(3)Greg Y.
omnom dimsum. I recommend standard dimsum fare. Shu mai, ha gao, ha cheurng, (steamed) cha siu bao, ham sui gok (the fried doughy pork 'dumplings' i guess). It's not NYC-chinatown dimsum, but it gets the job done. Also, I'd pass on the egg tarts. They're good but there are much better ones to be had in the bakeries just outside.
(4)Jeremy F.
China Pearl, you made my Sunday afternoon by providing me with your mobile buffet of unexplainable delights. I lucked the hell out on this one because I was fortunate enough to go with my buddy and his wife, who speaks Chinese. This meant that i could sit back, have little to no interaction and get the best stuff without awkward discussions about "what am i about to put in my mouth?". (there's a "that's what she said" somewhere in there i'm sure) Anyway, i'd say the atmosphere is on par with the standard large-China Town restaurant; Big, gold and Red. The food was good and for my first dim sum experience I was really satisfied. Definitely more of a meal "experience" than anything else. I think in terms of foodie i'd only go 3 stars, but its a very different way to eat things, thereby bumpin this little pearl up to fourzees.
(4)Dave M.
I have to admit I'm a dimsum snob, as I've had some pretty good stuff in SF. That said, I think China Pearl is a pretty solid place. The place was packed to the gills, but it didn't look like anyone was being rushed out the door, which is a good sign. The selection is copious, and the carts come around very often. While the dimsum offerings seem very tame, however they are very flavorful, and are not greasy. Greasy is a problem I've seen with a lot of dim sum places, and it really sets apart the marginal from the good. Again, totally not greasy. I would have loved to have seen duck offerings, maybe some chicken feet... but frankly, I don't eat feet, so who cares. Solid place, I'll be back, and so far... best dim sum I've had outside of SF. (Beats Portland, OR for second place.)
(4)Pauline V.
Mice. Yup. And management doesn't even care.
(1)Casey W.
We showed up late on a Sunday and they still let us in. We didn't get to sample everything, but what we did have was flavorful, filling, and wonderful. Very traditional Dim Sum. Carts, traditional attire for different roles (jacket waiters, shirt waiters, & vest waiters), authentic atmosphere, funny hostess, great atmosphere, very friendly. We can't wait to go back. Its a bit pricey for Dim Sum, but worth it.
(4)Nikol K.
All those stairs - don't bring the stroller. I like Dim Sum a lot. My favorite place is in San Francisco. In Boston, I usually go to Chau Chow City because I feel like all the restaurants make the same dim sum and the only difference is that my parents know the owners at Chau Chow City so we don't have to wait for a table. I went here one Sunday when Chau Chow City was closed. The food here is the same as all the other Boston Dim Sum places. One dish I got that was really disappointing was a curry noodle - I couldn't eat it because the flavor was rather quite unpleasant (it was sweet and pungent). Nothing here was a standout, so....
(2)Helen L.
Okay, so I like China Pearl. However, I wasn't WOWed by it. It was just average. First of all, if you don't get there at like 11am on a Saturday or Sunday, the lines are INSANELY long. I mean like an hour wait at least. So I'd recommend getting there at 11am and no later. If you get there at like 1pm, then you get the leftovers and you don't get as much food options on the cart. Second, the staff there really can't tell you what the food is in English. So if you're a first time dim-summer, I'd highly recommend you go with somebody that 1) have been before and know what to order or 2) speaks Cantonese or mandarin. Because when they push around the carts and you ask what the item is, they generally say, "pork" or "beef" or "meat"...something very generic that gives you no description of what it actually is. Once you get the food though, I think it's all quite delicious. But it's just as good as any other dim sum place I've been to. Cost wise, if you go with a group of people, it's will be very cheap. It's all family style so each food option is appetizer size and you get a whole bunch to share with the table. So you probably end up paying $10 per person or so plus tip.
(3)Aaron C.
Came here for dim sum and left looking for real dim sum Chinese food in boston is coming to a decline. There aren't many, and the ones that are still standing are being overcome by appeal to other ethnicities. Coming from a mostly chinese neighborhood, I was greatly disappointed when I finally got to eat after waiting a good 45 minutes for a seat. The dim sum was not fresh and it wasn't of good quality either. Some of the dim sum you even had to get up and go over to get it yourself; thus freeing up some of the waiters to bus tables and clean. The setting was another story. The interior space of the seating area is so poorly designed. Circulation and seating are such big problems. There are large circular tables that the just seat 3 different parties at making it awkward to converse and eat in front of strangers. They should just take those large tables away and put smaller seating ones to make the atmosphere a bit more friendly. Go to another city for good dim sum please
(2)Khantha S.
Great dim sum...but too crowded on weekends
(3)Didi S.
The Dim Sum's not bad, though I generally go to Hei La Moon instead. I would never have eaten dinner here (Gourmet Dumpling House, Taiwan Cafe, even Peach Farm all being much better options nearby) except that we had a huge group for a pre-New Year's dinner and needed some ridiculously huge tables. The menu looks pretty Americanized: they offer crab rangoon, Chop Suey, and other stuff that I consider myself above as a ridiculous person. We ended up ordering the dou miao (bean seedlings?), paigu (small pork ribs), eggplant with funky sauce, jiaoyanyouyu (fried calamari), half a duck, some kind of shrimp, a fried vermicelli, and a soup. The food was better than I expected, although still mediocre. The dou miao, vermicelli and shrimp were particularly disappointing, with the shrimp also tasting a little funny. The duck was probably the best thing we ordered. What was really upsetting though was how horrible the service was. You never expect very good service in Chinatown, but the servers all seemed to be trying to pass off helping us to each other, were inattentive, and rather annoyed to be doing anything for us. No wonder the place was barely a third full on Friday night.
(2)Jackie C.
This place has definitely gone down hill over the years, but still manages to churn out some decent dim sum. The taste and quality of their food seems to vary day to day though. One day it tastes awesome, while another, I want to spit out the food. I'm not sure if its because there are different chefs when I go in or something else, but there are definitely days when the food is just plain off. I still love how this place still uses dim sum carts to serve food, since it seems like more and more places are getting rid of the carts.. *teary eyed* The service is also pretty good, if you raise your hand for attention, the wait staff is always quick to notice you and help you out.
(3)Alyssa S.
This is my favorite place to go for dim sum. When I used to live in Chinatown, my family dined here at least once a week. It takes awhile to be seated (esp on weekends), but the dim sum is definitely worth it. It's easier if you speak Chinese or have a friend who does because the servers and hosts are more attentive to you. The shrimp dumplings and spare ribs are my favorites-- as well as the sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves. I would give China Pearl 5 stars, but there IS a long wait and the bathrooms aren't as clean as I'd like them to be... China Pearl Restaurant in Quincy is also good, but not as great as this one in Boston.
(4)Kristina D.
Like a figure skating judge, I'm giving a lower rating based because I have not yet tried Winsor or Emperor's Garden, and don't want to dole out the 5.0 just yet. For my roommate's surprise brunch, her boyfriend organized an elaborate scheme in which her friends would arrive early and greet her with a carved butternut squash (in place of a friend who could not make it) and new ipod speakers. FYI, dim sum waitresses get perplexed by med students' gourd versions of the Rubin vase. One stared at the squash for a good two minutes, likely wondering if it had come off of one of the carts. We had the: -shumai -vegetarian spring rolls -shrimp noodle thing with soy sauce -broccoli -steamed shrimp dumplings -bbq pork buns (two kinds) -rice -egg custard tarts -sesame balls -tea -taro -shrimp thing that looks like a pom pom Dim sum worked quite well for the large group. They seated us on a giant round table on a platform within direct sight of the door, which maximized our "hide under the table and then pop out making interpretive dance gestures while screaming HAPPY BIRTHDAY" antics. Our group could have benefited from a lazy susan with which to more effiiciently distribute food, or knives with which to subdivide the food. Coming in on Saturday before noon with a reservation also enabled us to evade long lines that seem to occur on Sunday mornings.
(3)Sandy F.
Very very good dim sum. Lines can get long on weekends so try to get there early. because they get so much business and food sells out quick, you are guaranteed fresh dim sum. food here is far less greasy than most dim sum in chinatown. as of the language barriers, most of the people pushing the carts dont speak english, but the waiters mostly speak english and if you have things you normally order, you can just order from them. also you can order off the regular menu too. the mango pudding, the tofu pudding, the fried shrimp and crab claw, the beef balls and the rice noodles are yummy. also, if you like the puffy white steamed buns, they are very soft and tasty here too.
(5)Leslie Y.
My mom used to take us to dim sum whenever she was off. We would come here for banquets and other parties. As growing up, this place was owned by Uncle Bill, a very kind and successful businesman in Boston Chinatown. The food choices now are definitely more than ever. I know the current Owners and they are wonderful people. The food, no doubt about it, still very good traditional dim sum.
(4)C. C.
Decent dim sum, good location. Best sticky rice in Boston, but in my opinion, Hei La Moon is overall the winner in dim sum!
(3)Wing M.
A bit of background: I grew up in Hong Kong and spent the first ten years of my life eating dim sum every Sunday morning. Sometimes we do Saturday morning too. Sometimes, when school's out, we do dim sum every other day. I'm a bit of a dim sum snob. And I've stopped eating dim sum on the East Coast because, ever since the first time I've been to China Pearl, about ten minutes into any dim sum outing I just sigh and wish that I was at China Pearl instead. Seriously, I cannot think of one dim sum place in New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Baltimore, Chicago or DC that is remotely close to China Pearl in quality and atmosphere. There used to be a small place in NYC that was as good as China Pearl but it has long since changed management and the food went downhill from there. So, basically, China Pearl is the only place I've found in this country that captures the quality and atmosphere of a real Hong Kong dim sum parlor. The food is 100% authentic Cantonese and not "influenced" by other areas of Chinese cuisine like most dim sum places in the US. All the classical dim sum dishes can be found if you go there on a weekend. It doesn't try and do crazy experimental dim sum and sticks with what worked in Hong Kong for the last few decades. It's big (two floors!!!), it's noisy, it's filled with ladies yelling out food names and pushing carts and on weekends all the eight-people tables are filled. Oh, and the food is amazing. Now, that's not everyone's cup of tea, I understand that. Some folks don't want a noisy place and would prefer their dim sum Shanghai flavored, for example. That's great. There are other places for that. But if you want 100% authentic Hong Kong style dim sum China Pearl is the only place I have found in this country that does the job. Note: I'm in Seattle now and am slowly exploring the dim sum places here. So far, not optimistic. Heading down to San Francisco later this summer, so hopefully I'll find something that can rival China Pearl there...
(5)Michael G.
This is definitely the best dim sum in Chinatown! Unfortunately, this also means that it's always horribly packed, but the wait usually isn't too long. If your idea of a nice meal, though, is quiet in a place with an elegant ambience, this definitely isn't for you. Also, I would recommend taking someone who speaks Chinese or at least knows what's in the food, since it's difficult to understand the broken English.
(4)Brenden L.
I have mixed feelings on this place. The regular menu is standard Chinatown fare, nothing special as far as that goes. I'm giving this place a high rating because the dim sum is among the best I've had and certainly the best in Boston. If you're gonna go to the place, hop in on a Sunday morning. That's when it shines.
(4)Amanda M.
If you love dim sum, and live in Boston, give China Pearl a try. Unfortunately I never made it to Hei La Moon to compare, but I'll vouch for China Pearl for a great, authentic dim sum experience. I have always made a point of arriving around 11 am if I go on a Saturday or Sunday; otherwise, the line for a table can be immense. Each time I've arrived, been promptly seated, and had tea on my table in seconds. The carts circulate regularly, carrying a variety of dim sum staples. In case you've never had dim sum before, it involves many little steamer baskets and plates being circulated on carts; each plate or basket contains 2-4 pieces of items like dumplings, sticky rice wrapped in grape leaves, noodle rolls, or other small items. I would say it's the Chinese version of tapas: you order lots of small plates, and share. Being able to point to the items you want make it relatively easy, even if you're new to dim sum, to get a variety of delicious dumplings and rolls. I'd recommend the pork buns, shrimp dumplings, and the fun rolls (which are covered in peanut sauce). What I loved about China Pearl was the fact that the staff was able to figure out, from my descriptions of previous dim sum experiences, what items I liked and wanted brought to my table; our waiter even brought over a couple items himself instead of making me wait until the cart came around. The best part is that you can try a variety of dishes without too big a hit to the wallet. I've always come with a friend, and I don't think the total bill ever topped $25 for a veritable smorgasbord of delicious food. I'd recommend it as a great place for kids with adventurous palates; I started going to dim sum places in Chicago when I was young, and have a soft spot for this type of cuisine thanks to those experiences. Plus, it's fun when you're a kid to point to something on a cart and have instant gratification: no waiting for someone to bring you your order. And let's be honest, that can be pretty nice for those of us who are adults too.
(4)Brady B.
Definitely the best dim sum I've ever had. I've been here 3 times so far, and many more I'm sure before I'm done. I usually go to Chau Chow City which is also very good for dim sum, but I really think that China Pearl trumps them. They're a bit pricier than Chau Chow...just a bit, but so well worth it. The last time I ate there w/ 3 others we paid $17 each including a good tip. Not too shabby at all considering we ate like pigs and everything was SO delicious. The amazing various dumplings, the rice, the crab claws, the sauces....omg I'm getting firm just thinking about it! That being said, China Pearl's dim sum is a damn good replacement for all of the porn theaters that used to occupy that area minus the shame.
(4)Jeff C.
Ate here quite a few times. It is close by to my gf's grandmothers house in Chinatown. The place is in a old theater. The style is where workers come by with carts of ready cooked dim sum. I prefer this style compared to the one where you write on a paper and order. This place can get busy during peak times but this place is huge...
(4)Stephanie W.
At the time I tried this place, I was inexperienced in the art of dim sum. I went in with 6 people on a sunday morning and delighted in food from all the delicious carts. The dumplings were all good (not overly greasy), the turnip cake was still the best I've ever had, and the sesame balls had the perfect rice to filling ratio. The restaurant had white table clothes, attentive staff, fast service/tea refills and the total bill came out to about $10 per person and we were unable to move from our seats afterward. At the time, I thought that was great. But then I moved to San Francisco and it was a whole new world. Restaurants in SF have no ambiance, rude service, delicious food in copious portions, and the price will come out to about $6 per person to stuff yourself on a Sunday morning until you can no longer move. The turnip cake at my regular location is not nearly as good as the one at China Pearl, but their jellyfish and shrimp/chive dumplings are fantastic. Based on the time i went there (3 years ago) I believe China Pearl deserves 4 stars. Now, I'm not sure how well it would fair comparatively, but I'll give it the review I feel it deserves based on when I tried it.
(4)Amanda L.
After a Brewery tour and a visit to the USS Bataan (FYI, FREAKING AWESOME) we were are famished. It being the boy's special day, he got to pick where he wanted to go. As usual, he had no idea and we argued about it for a good 20 minutes, until we settled on China Pearl, since we wanted some type of Asian, and were really curious to get some Dim Sum. The decor is really nice, but it reminds me of a hotel lobby restaurant. And there is this really unnecessary HUGE step to get to the bathroom. I mean, COME ON, WHY is it there?!!? So, we were too late for the Dim Sum, but the plates were definitely family size, so we ordered the following: - Pork Fried Rice - Beef Lo Mein - Roasted Duck - Curry Chicken - Sweet and Sour Shrimp - Peking Ravioli - Crab Rangoons (2 orders) - Beef w/ Broccoli - Pork with vegetables FYI, there were 7 of us, so we weren't THAT much of pigs. The Ravioli and the fried rice were my favorite, the rice was seriously addicting, I could have had another whole plate. The raviolis were really big and very flavorful. The Beef w/ broccoli was also really delicious. The rest wasn't very memorable. The crab rangoons were nice, but I've definitely had better, they were a bit runny and there was too much cream cheese (and I love cream cheese). My curry chicken was mediocre, and I didn't like the texture or the flavor of the sauce (and it wasn't even spicy, boo). Lo Mein was tasty, but I've had better. The service was non-existent but I've come to deal with that in Chinatown. The food was really cheap, upon reflection, it was about $105.00 before tip which really isn't bad. We even had leftovers. I really want to come back for the Dim Sum but for right now and if I were to come back, it would be for the fried rice and the ravioli's.
(3)Jennifer J.
Went for dinner. It was good, but not spectacular. Adequate pan fried noodles, which are my favorite. Good Cantonese style Lobster. Disappointing Peking duck.
(3)Zach B.
It's really good dim sum, and It feels authentic. It's inexpensive. Their shrimp balls, pork buns, & egg plant is yummy. The downside: they give you tiny glasses of water which are seldom refilled, and if you come after 11 on the weekend, you're going to wait forever. The service upstairs isn't nearly as good as the service downstairs.
(4)Kendra S.
Things can get a little dim-sane around noon on a Sunday, but maybe that's half the fun of Chinatown and subsequently China Pearl. All the Chinatownies trying to hold their own on these crumbled sidewalks. All the tourists trying to figure out why they can't see the Prudential from here to point them in the right direction. All the rest of us locals trying to remember if it was China Pearl that was the place that is upstairs and last updated in 1984? Oh yes, yes that's the place. I'm not an eater of the shellfish nor the pork, so I can't comment on the majority of the dim sum platters, but this is a dandy place to come with a big group. It's cheap and nothing is forced upon you to order that you don't want. Helpful FYI: If you're coming with a stroller, make sure to bring your mule to carry it up for you. It's pretty steep to be hauling the babe and wheels up all by yourself.
(3)Sara L.
The best place I've been to in the city for dim sum. I haven't been here for anything else, but I come here every few weeks just for that. Staff is very attentive and ready to help you with anything you need. Food comes by all the time and there is a great selection. Prices are also good, you get a ton of food for not much money and you can take home whatever you don't eat. Much love for China Pearl.
(5)Teri L.
We walked into Chinatown and my kids knew exactly where they were going which proves to me they spend alot of time in this area! I didn't care for the outside of China Pearl as it looked seedy and not very nice. We walked up a long set of stairs and I was surprised at the decor...I mean yeah yeah it was definitely Chinese with the golden dragons on the back wall but it had a touch of elegance with real linen tablecloths and napkins...you don't get alot of that in that part of town. Our waiter...ummmm hmmm waiter is not a word I would use for him...he looked disinterested and "we're wasting his time" attitude...not my idea of someone who wants a good tip. I know, I know..Joey said that's what you get here but ohh PULEASE!! At least FAKE IT!!! But if you can ignore that, then everything else was fine. We didn't do dim sum...too late in the day for that but ordered directly from the menu. Food was very good, tasty in all aspects and lots of it. Everyone in our party enjoyed all the dishes totally. The staff was always there to fill water and to get anything we needed. I would be back for the food, definitely! But the waiter can go bye bye..
(3)Matt S.
Been here only once, for dim sum. Loved it. Better than the stuff I had in New York, that's for damn sure. Can't wait to go back again.
(4)Ellie L.
I don't love pork, I hate the consistency of puddings, and my mother instilled a fear of buffet-style food in me. I am not the best candidate for advocating Dim Sum, but hey, the craving for leftover Chinese the morning after drinking strikes even me, and if you feel like making an occasion out of it, try China Pearl. It's THE popular dim sum location and while its touristy, questionably clean, and not always diverse in its options, look, you're hungover and want re-heated rice, so chill and don't be so picky, OK?
(4)Jamie A.
Yeah. 5 stars. If only I could recount my incredible and completely surreal evening I spent at China Pearl. It involved a ten-course traditional Chinese meal in honor of Parents Day through an invite from one of my friends who's work had a table at the banquet. This magical evening included: --amazing, amazing food. I tried JELLYFISH and had to kiss a chicken head due to some crazy table-mates who were superstitious. --an entire room of people doing the Electric Slide. --karaoke throughout the ENTIRE meal...including Celine Dion, Sinatra, and traditional Chinese opera. --80 year old women dancing with swords. --much singing of "Billie Jean" --takeout containers passed out to the tables between every course. (I LOVED this idea of not wasting perfectly delicious food!) I'll sure be returning for a regular night's dinner, but man o man, my evening at the China Pearl felt like the twilight zone...in the BEST and most MAGNIFICENT way possible. Everyone was so welcoming and explained everything...and it was possibly the kitschiest experience ever...so much glitter and music and dancing. amazing. just amazing.
(5)Itch S.
The granddaddy or should I say the grandmother of the Chinatown dim sum shops. Wide range of Cantonese tea pastries. Love the Pai Goot. Always love the old school carts being pushed about for you to pick from. I just don't get into the checklist dim sum shops even if their food is often better. Be prepared however lots of grease. Thre is no shortage in preparation here. Kind of helps lube the digestive system - a good thing every now and then.
(3)Monique N.
There was a wait of course and most of the groups with less than 4 people had to share large tables with strangers. Ahhhhh...feels like home, haha, jping. Dim sum was good overall, just disappointed in the fact there was no sui mai?!? what the? may go to this place again if I cant find a better one in the proximity.
(3)Brandon W.
This WAS our default dim-sum restaurant when we moved here about 10 years ago. It was not by choice but by desperation because it was the better dim-sum places in Boston (which doesn't say much about the dim-sum scene in Boston). Overall, the dim sum (flavor, texture, etc) was just OK - I guess we were spoiled because we have been exposed to much better in San Francisco, Toronto, Scarborough, Vancouver, etc. I know this sounds strange but some of CP's dim-sum doesn't seem that fresh which was really surprising given the high turnover. A lot of the dishes seemed warmed over. Next, we found that although CP is highly successful (huge crowds and high turnover) it is however in desperate need of renovation. Dudes - don't you guys believe in pouring some of your profits back into your own restaurant? Your carpets are deeply stained and thread-bare, your bathroom has cracked tiles, doors that don't close, faucets that leak (and that is an understatement), etc. From the amount of business you guys do, you must be filthy millionaires - yet your restaurant looks like a dump. Oh by the way, I am Chinese and have eaten in a lot of Chinese restaurants so it is not that I am not used to Chinese bathrooms. We have stopped coming to CP ever since Hei-La Moon opened just outside Chinatown (between Chinatown and South Station Bus Terminal). We like HLM because the restaurant is definitely much cleaner and dim-sum better.
(2)Nancy L.
I'll pay No, I'll pay. No, no, no we can't do that. I"LL pay. No, I'LL pay. Thus ensues the bill battle over dim sum between over zealous relatives or good friends to show their good will, while the children fidget in their seat and wish they went to McDonald's instead. This a typical scene on a boisterous weekend at any good dim sum place and China Pearl is one of the best dim sum places in Boston. Located on the second floor, it is huge Chinese style restaurant that houses a dog-eat-dog battle over the best dumplings or noodles on most weekends. Very authentic from the food to the wait staff to the decor. 100% real dim sum experience. Dim sum is the equivalent of Spanish tapas, small dishes of delicate Chinese food that is shared among a group of people. Definitely bring at least 3 people with you since most dishes have 4 items. It's a free for all once you arrive: if you arrive early before 10 am you can easily get a seat, after that you get put on a wait list. DON'T be shy to push you way to the podium to make sure your name is there. The elderly Chinese men and women aren't, so shouldn't you. As for the food, you have your staples such as dumplings, buns, and rice noodles but for the more adventurous try the marinated chicken feet, cow tripe/intestines, or pigs blood. Ladies push carts ladened with goodies and shouting out the names in Cantonese but if you don't know Cantonese just stop them and ask them to lift up the lids. Tea is automatically served. Waiters are fast and efficient to sweep off empty plates so that you can populate the table again. A no-frill restaurant that is loud and boisterous but that is the charm of dim summing. People who expect a quiet meal need not come here. I highly recommend China Pearl. Note: as for the kids who wishes for McDonalds, they grow up realizing how silly they are and yearn for their weekly dim sum when they go to college.
(5)Melissa X.
I always go to China Pearl for high quality, delicious-tasting dim sum. There's so much to choose from and everything is fresh. There's a lot of seafood in dim sum, so be sure to ask the servers for beef or chicken dim sum like shumai if you prefer it. My boyfriend isn't a big seafood fan. Nor is he willing to try some more authentic Chinese food such as chicken feet or pig's blood soup. So when I take him with me to China Pearl we order him stir fried noodles or fried rice. It's great because you can have your dim sum as well as order anything else you'd like that you don't see being carted around. You can also get a really good amount of food for your money. I went with my boyfriend, my mom, my dad, and my brother. The grand total was $50.00. Be careful, though. This place is always packed so try to get there early.
(5)Marika T.
This review is way overdue. I came here over a year ago but I still remember their ha gaw. I swear they stuff 6-8 whole shrimps in each. I felt so shrimp deprived when I got back to NYC. I can't really recall anything else. The restaurant is HUGE but looks a little run-down from the outside.
(3)Iska B.
I went to this place because of recommendations through word of mouth that it was the "best place in Boston for dim sum". I've been there a few times now and while it's not perfect I'll probably keep going there. It's pretty fun and definitely not your ordinary brunch. The good: I found the food to be very good. Good quality and a diverse selection. There was enough options to please everyone and we definitely got seconds of our favorites (I love all the buns and dumplings the most, no matter the filling). Can't really go wrong with anything deep fried right? I personally try to ask what things are before going ahead and getting something that turns out to be tripe (which grosses me out but my friend loves). The bad: It's super super crowded on weekends. I've been there on Saturday and Sunday and it's always a wait. If you come with a small crowd you usually end up sharing a table if you want to be seated sooner rather then later. Don't come late either. I believe dim sum ends sometime between 1-2PM but coming at 12:30 is not good. By the time you get seated and settled there aren't as many food carts going around and your options are limited. It sucked actually because I didn't end up getting my favorite thing (dunno what the proper name is but they are lotus seed paste buns). So word to the wise, get out of bed and come early, you will have a better time. The language barrier can also be frustrating, especially if you don't know anything about dim sum. I've found that the servers upstairs knew more English and were more helpful but maybe that was just me. It helps to have a friend that knows more. In all I say it's a good place for dim-sum. Until I try another place I can't say "the best" but it is worth a look.
(4)Huan z.
One of my friend's favorite restaurant. Just because... he is from Canton. If you like seafood, and meat. This is the place to go. You might also find the way you ordering food is interesting, since they push little cart with food to you and you can pick any food from any cart you want. For me, it's very greasy, and too much protein, I rather eat some food more healthy.
(3)So S.
Best Dim-Sum Place in MA. I admit that good dim-sum is lacking in Boston, but this is the best you will find. It's nothin compared to SF (Koi Palace!! wow) or NY, but its all we got. The other chinese food here is ok, but mostly for non-Asians and tourists. If you want good chinese food, go to any of the smaller restaurants in Chinatown.
(3)Angel S.
Go for dim sum and nothing else. I went for dinner once and you must be warned that there is a chinese menu and an american menu... guess what, the food is different for both too. Not so good for Americans.
(3)Soodee C.
best dim sum in the city. you should shoot for 10-11 am. i find anytime after that very annoying (long lines, people pushing and shoving to get in and out). if I'm not mistaken, i think they serve Chrysanthemum tea . it helps to unclog your heart as you are chowing down on pork buns and fried tofu. try the white lotus bun (it has a yellow dot in the middle). avoid the chicken feet if you're hungover.
(4)kim c.
i use to always come to china pearl for dim sum but ever since the cook changed the food just hasnt been as good..
(2)Laura A.
please note: you go UPSTAIRS to go to this place, which is probably blatantly obvious to everyone except me, who sat down in the random chinese restaurant downstairs and wondered where the dim sum was. d'oh. not exactly veg friendly, but i should've expected as much. the dumplings were great though and i really liked the bamboo shoots and mushrooms wrapped in fried tofu skin. a lot of things seemed to needlessly have meat in them..i.e. fried tofu in a puddle of meat juice and potato pancake type things with meat in them. my boyfriend really liked having a fried meal as his first meal of the day (probably because he was a little hungover, and he's also a very adventurous eater) but me not so much. it was definitely interesting though - if i was omni i'd probably go back and try more things, but for now, i'll stick to the vegetarian dim sum place in new york for my next trip. also, none of us really enjoyed the alternately slimy or gristly nature of the food..but my landlord who emigrated from china said he really enjoys dim sum, so it's obviously some cultural difference there. an extra star for the guy at the bar who was doing shots and drinking heineken at noon (not eating, just drinking at china pearl)
(3)Carol P.
what a great place for some good ol dim sum! the classic boston establishment..anyone who is anyone knows about this dim sum extravaganza! the carts moving around with little dishes on em.. try the squid.. and the shrimp rolls. haacheung.. hahah good ol dim sum
(4)Kate B.
Beyond grotesque. If this is one of the best in Boston, I'm scared. Oily rubberized chicken "product" and a glass pie plate full of what looked like vomit (turned out to be silken tofu and "vegetables" in some disgusting gelatinous sauce) along with a giant grease laden scallion pancake made for a positively revolting meal. Needless to say we left most of it behind. No more Chinese food for me. Ever.
(1)Mina I.
Good bet for dim sum.. I have gone here several times for lunch during the week with coworkers. I have never had a long wait here and always have more than enough to eat for really reallly cheap! If you can, go with someone who speaks Chinese - it makes for a much easier dining experience!
(3)payton c.
It's my grandmother's favorite, which says a lot; I find it a bit heavy on the fried stuff. As usual for dim sum, sit by the kitchen for the freshest stuff, and don't be afraid to try something new - you're only risking a few bucks, after all. Never had anything off the menu, but if you want something in particular just ask for it.
(4)Terance L.
Decided to try this place for dinner since we weren't going to have time to try the dim sum. Dinner was ok but nothing to brag about. The place was empty when we got there and it was only 8:00pm. It seemed a little odd but we were hungry and wanted to eat before heading back to the hotel. One thing that put a damper on the evening was a mouse that was running around and hiding by the stereo equipment which my wife couldn't get over. For some reason, it kept making a squeaking noise. Anyways, I Hope the dim sum is better which everyone seems to like but that will have to wait until next time to try. But then again, maybe not if mice are running around.
(2)Byron M.
This restaurant is the oldest, perhaps largest restaurant in Chinatown known for its dim sum and it's ability to host large chinese functions such as wedding banquets. As a dim sum location it is one of the best in chinatown. They offer a variety of dishes and they generally do them well. I particularly like their shrimp dumpling which is called Har Gaw and their "Beef Cheung Foon" which is Beef wrapped in a rice pasta. If you are brave you can try their chicken feet which is actually quite delicious. In the evening this place serves dinner as well as hosts wedding banquets. Their banquet menu is vast and accomodate both tight budgets as well as lavish budgets. Overall., they do very well with large parties compared to other places. I do not recommend this place for smaller gatherings as their are other options in Chinatown that do it better and for lower cost. All in all this is a good place, especially for Dim Sum.
(3)Ryan T.
China Pearl has the best dim sum I've had in Boston. Situated at the top of a long flight of stairs, the restaurant is pretty large and often packed during dim sum hours. The waits can be from short to pretty long (maybe almost an hour). The food is pretty solid, serving up standard dim sum (ha gao, siu mai, chicken feet, congee, sticky rice) with very fine execution. I would say the food is a bit greasy (like most places in Boston) but delicious at the same time. If you crave dim sum in the Boston area, check it out! Chau Chow pales in comparison.
(4)Angelo S.
The definition of a large, fun, bustling restaurant you might find in Beijing. If you believe in the old chestnut of looking where the locals go... just be aware that you might need to learn a little Mandarin to fit in this place.
(4)Kai L.
My friend took me there and told me it has the best dim sum in town. Thank goodness, that was not true! I later discovered Hei La Moon just down the block on Beach street. China Pearl's dim sum was certainly worse than the ones in Hei La Moon, tends to be "supersized" and lacks the tastes (i.e. quantity over quality). I simply don't understand why people would keep going, probably either 1) for sentimental reasons since the restaurant has been around for awhile; 2) does not know about Hei La Moon; 3) cannot tell what good dim sum is. Anyway, I am glad that I did not trust my friend, and investigated myself after I moved here.
(3)Cynthia S.
My husband and I have been going here for years, after getting a recommendation from a friend who is Chinese. I don't have much experience with Dim Sum in Boston (for I've only been here in the Boston Area), but I can tell you that I highly recommend this place. The food is very tasty and the staff is always very willing to deal with us non-Chinese folk.
(4)Alex L.
We had a bad experience here and will not be going back. The food was mediocre and service was terrible. We ordered two dishes and they first brought out one of the dishes without any rice and a Coke that we ordered. We were hungry so we started just eating and had to flag down our server to bring us rice. Coke still hadn't arrived yet so we had to point that out too. Our second dish arrived about the time we finished our dinner and weren't hungry anymore. When it arrived, it was lukewarm as if it was sitting out for awhile waiting it to be served. It's a dish that wouldn't have taken a long time to prepare so we don't know why it came out so late. The server never came to ask if we wanted more tea and it took another long time to get a box for our leftover food and bill. We were so unsatisfied with our server that we left no tip, which was the only time we've ever done that. As we were leaving, a waitress called us back and told us that tip was not included. We informed her that the service was bad. We will not be recommending this place to anyone.
(1)dennis a.
visited china pearl today extra busy because a st. festival was going on!! i dont know who is writing bad reviews about this chinatown icon as i had a very young waiter and he was there for me and gave me great service water extra napkins and clean plates etc. dim sum was as good as it gets i started with baby clams cooked in garlic and blackbean sauce scrumtious as well as the shu mai paigqut fung jau etc. cart girls were friendly and yes the mens room was very clean for such a busy day 100 per cent satisfied!!!!!!!! dennis from boston
(5)Sandra C.
I generally rotate between a few good restaurants in Chinatown for Dim Sum. China Pearl, Chau Chow City, and Empire Garden. They each have their perks and are better at certain dishes than others. I think most believe that China Pearl is the best for dim sum though.
(5)Brendan M.
Despite the ongoing Yelp argument about whether China Pearl or Chau Chow City has the best Dim Sum, I admit I can't really tell the difference. Selection, quality, price and decor all seem fairly similar, so just go to whichever one is more convenient for you.
(3)Tyler C.
crowded and the food tends to be overly greasy. go down beach street and cross the big 4 lane avenue to he lai moon - less of a wait, better food there...
(2)Lisha L.
Decent food, but the prices are pretty high for what is only average-tasting dim sum.
(3)Esther L.
Good dim sum, just don't go when lunchtime is almost over, because that means you have almost nothing good to choose from. Typical Chinese fare is offered at dinnertime too, and its pretty good. One downside to this place is that you have to climb a huge flight of stairs to get into the restaurant.
(4)Andrew B.
A long-standing tradition is to head to this place around 10AM on Sundays before the rush for some great dim sum and quality time with the family. Its best when you have a large group, and at least one connoisseur to take charge and lasso the carts that matter, while dismissing those that don't. It can be hit or miss depending on your tastes, and you're not going to be able to get a bottle of Evian here, but thats not the point. Enjoy the pork buns and shrimp dumplings while waking up with their endless pots of tea, and have fun with the company you brought with you. Finish up with some tapioca or soft tofu soup and something from the desert tray, then head over to Kneeland street for some bubble tea to sip on your way back to your Sunday responsibilities. One of my favorite ways to walk it off is to stroll through the public gardens and up Newbury before taking the T back to school. I always return smiling and satisfied from this place, but mostly because I'm with the right company.
(4)Kevin W.
I don't know why people keep saying that the Pearl is the best Dim Sum place in Massachusetts. Haven't you guys realized that for the most part the Dim Sum tastes the same. If I were to get Shu Mai from any resturant in Chinatown, you would not know the difference. All the dishes are the same, they all come from the same distributor. Close your eyes next time youre in the Pearl, or any other place. Its the same! Deal with it!
(3)Jeffrey W.
The China Pearl is definitely one of the best restaurants in Chinatown, and the best for Dim Sum. Don't let the exterior fool you, it's actually pretty big inside... a great place for large parties.
(4)le c.
this place should be called china hurl. service was almost as bad as the food. the waitress actually peeked into the mens bathroom when i went in - i think to make sure i wasn't getting sick and making a mess. when i complained they didn't speak english but when the bill came suddenly their english was fine. avoid this place at all cost. i can't believe they able to stay open.
(1)monkey l.
when you are in boston, you either go to china pearl or chau chow city for dim sum. i was in boston for 6 years, and after trying the two out numerous times, we picked china pearl. the wait was shorter, and the variety and consistency better. oddly enough, if you go with more than 4 people, it somehow ALWAYS turns out to be 10 per person. oh, and make sure that they give you little punch cards so that if you spend a certain amount, you get 10 bucks off the next time. one year they even gave us blue christmas lights!
(4)Roshni R.
one of the best dim sum places in boston...as is easily evidenced by the crowds around brunch-time on weekends! it gets expensive unless you have a large group though...
(4)Ame k.
the dim-sum there is ok
(3)Anne W.
Boston is just not a place for good Chinese food. Just the way it is unfortunately. If your expectations are lowered.. you can have an okay time. I haven't been here in a while.. went here for dimsum with some friends. There wasn't really any wait as there are more tables than people now.. and most people gravitate towards Hei La Moon. The food is mediocre.. it's not horrible.. not great.. but that's how Boston is. They have a table for vegetables.. clams, eggplant, etc. You should consider taking a look at that. I thought the waitstaff was better than Hei La Moon.. they clear tables faster.. they come by more often. The price was still cheap at $12 per person.
(3)Cecily G.
Sunday brunch time: we were seated immediately, they were jammed, plenty of carts, the food was as good as any traditional dim sum - all fresh, nothing new, but all delicious. The staff is polite, despite some reports that non-Chinese were not treated well. The spicy fried soft-shell crab was awesome, we actually got two. Ditto the head on prawns and clams with black bean sauce, and the stuffed shiitake mushrooms. My 4-year-old wanted the 'jello', that would be my only pass, not so sure about that. Everything else was very good. We left STUFFED.
(4)Sanny K.
I only come here with my boyfriend. Reason being...he speaks chinese, I don't. Lol. I noticed that we are served a lot quicker and they are much nicer to him. Having come here without him before, they were extremely slow and sometimes rude. Now the food...some of it is really good and some can actually get you sick. I advise that you stay away from the eggplant stuffed with shrimp. It did not taste too good and last time we had it, we visited the porcelain gods numerous times in one day. Not a great feeling... However, majority of the food is actually pretty good. We love the dumplings, shumai, Cheung fun, char siu buns, the chicken feet and the steamed pork buns. It's also not too pricy.
(3)Angel C.
I had my first dim sum experience here, and it was a mind-blowing experience. Never had I had so many little morsels, all delicious, in one meal, brought to me in little carts! And for under $15! That day, some 12 or so years ago, I became a dim sum addict. If you've never had dim sum and are adventurous, try it all, and don't worry about what you're eating. The descriptions don't do the flavors justice. Just try it! That's my dim sum motto. This is one of the better dim sum places in Boston, and the service has actually gotten friendlier through the years.
(4)Ashley G.
Went here once and it was awful. Ordered a scorpion bowl and there was a fly in it. After that of course the waiter was suddenly nice to me, but before I told him there was a fly in my drink he was really rude. Would never go back there. Not to mention, the food was absolutely horrible! And I hardly ate out of fear of bugs in my food. Don't even know how this place gets 3 stars.
(1)Julia C.
This used to be one of my two favourite dim sum haunts, along with Hei La Moon. Whenever I wanted dim sum in Chinatown, I'd used have to toss a coin to decide since both were equally good. Not anymore. Last weekend I went back and was less than impressed with the food. We sat down to eat at 12pm; the same carts just kept going by over and over again, and it was extremely slim pickings. Out of desperation, we also made the mistake of picking out a vegetable and pork dumplings, supposedly "VERY DELICIOUS!" according to the cart-pushing lady. This dumpling was the most horrendous piece of food I've ever eaten -- filled with disturbingly crunchy, some kind of gooey liquid, mysterious vegetable particles, and chock full of cilantro. NO. Yuck. The couple other pork dumplings we picked out were also stuffed full of cilantro and pretty unappetizing. Even my dining pal, who adores cilantro, refused to eat more than a bite of those. The har gow and shumai tasted super starchy and gross, like they've been sitting in the steamer for way too long; the glutinous dough on the har gow was disintegrating. The chive and shrimp dumplings and the flat rice noodle rolls, which are pretty standard dim sum fare, were nowhere to be found. Also, we found a strange $7 charge in the "Extras" field on our bill that wasn't drinks, tea, or special plates. I would've asked about it, except the waiters had no interest in helping us once they've added up our check. Psh. Maybe I caught them on an off-day, but knowing that I can get reliable, consistent quality at Hei La Moon, I'd be less likely to coming back to China Pearl over there.
(2)Vina A.
So for many months I was lamenting about the sad state of Chinese food in Boston (Please send me your recommendations!) and risk offending people when I tell them about my bad experience at the Gourmet Dumpling House. So yesterday some kind friends took us to China Pearl to have some dim sum and really, it was not that bad. I felt at home with the Chinese banquet decor and hot steam carts. The food was nothing outstanding but decent, pretty decent, yup. The Good: Steamed Shrimp glass dumpling - solid. go ahead and order it Sticky Rice - has chicken and mushrooms. pretty tasty Veggies - hard to get this wrong. Soft tofu - slurpy yumminess The Meh to the Bad: Shumai - standard. i'm not a fan so... Pork ribs - standard, nothing great or particularly good about it. Taro thing - why do they serve it cold all the time? not tasty when cold people. not tasty. Turnip cake - not enough turnip, too much flour... not good. Steamed roast pork bun - too sweet. a little sad looking. do not get. Nothing so great but nothing so bad that I spit it out.. but then again, maybe me standards are lowered for chinatown... sorry. hope this is helpful!
(2)Stephie W.
What a disappointment for weekend brunch. I came here with a group of 9 for dim sum on a Sunday. We were seated immediately (much to the chagrin of a bunch of customers who'd arrived before we did). However, it was next to impossible to flag down the carts, dishes were served cold, and we spent a half hour having run out of water, tea, and food at our table before deciding to leave. At the end, I was hungry for more food...and vengeance. tl;dr: The subpar service here will ruin your appetite. Try Chau Chow City or Empire Garden for dim sum instead.
(1)Nina N.
Did you know they charged for tea? 50 cent per person for a pot of tea, but you get refills so thank goodness. Just tip the top of the tea pot and a waiter will come and refill your tea pot. Anyways, my favorite tea is chrysanthemum tea and I would ask that sugar be added to it. If you don't ask when you are seated then you will get the cheap tea. Other than the condiments already on the table, soy sauce, red chili paste and hot mustard, you can also ask for tobasco sauce. I prefer the red chili paste though. Here is what I normally eat and recommend. Scary Chicken Feet- Lol. I added the "scary" part because since I was little, I was told that young children should not eat chicken feet otherwise our hands would shake and my father would do a very impressive tremble to ward my siblings and I away from the plate of chicken feet. When I grew older, my father confessed that it was something that adults said to scare the children and so that they can have the chicken feet all to themselves. Lol. China Pearl makes this dish pretty well. If done perfectly, the skin should slide off of the bones, it should be soft and very flavorful. It should be covered in a brown sauce. Don't go for the pale white stuff because that is NOT what I am talking about. Shrimp dumplings (ha cao) and lobster dumplings (no more lobster dumplings on menu): I know some review writers complain that some of the food is very bland, well, some are supposed to be. And that's why there is a dipping sauce. The lobster dumpling is pretty flavorful by itself but you can add a little extra saltiness by dipping them in soy sauce. I love to mix in my soy sauce a little of the chili paste. You know, the red sauce next t o the yellow one. Shu mai- like a pork and shrimp dumpling, goes into the chili paste. I like spicy, you can probably guess that right? This is a must in all dim sum meal. It's just the way I do things. Hmm. Not sure what to call this one. It's a shrimp rice roll. Comes in three rolls with shrimp wrapped inside. I usually ask for extra sauce. This shrimp version of this dish is better than the beef one. The bread roll version with the scallions and cilantros is also very good. I'd eat that too. Tripe with ginger and scallion- this one is really good alone for the first few bites so you know what it is supposed to taste like then I would dip it in the red chili paste. I just love the heat from the ginger in this dish. Chili and salted shrimp- with heads attached! Did you know that shrimps with their heads taste sweeter than ones without their heads attached? You get this from the food bar. Skip the calamari. Snails in black bean or oyster sauce and clams in oyster sauce also from food bar. Go, get up and check it out. Bring your slip. You suck the snail out. Forget the toothpick. You will be there forever. Pork or beef intestine dish, like a stew. You get this from the food bar. When you see it you will know what I am talking about. Do not confuse with the condensed pig blood stew which is also good too. Other dishes that are pretty good include the rice congee. I love the chicken one, but I also love the egg one too. Egg one is a bit unique. You might find it taste a bit rotten. Lol, because it is sort of. Sticky rice dishes, the rice plate with the clear up side down glass bowl on top of the brown sticky friend rice. Fried tofu with shrimp paste is also very yummy comes with the lady with the cart with tofu cooking in this brown liquid sauce. Crispy fried taro something dish (lol) in the fried food cart and also good from there is the shrimp and leek fried dumpling. Hot tofu in sweet ginger syrup is the best desert to end the meal with. It comes with the lady pushing a cart with a small barrel and a pitcher of yellow lyrcorice sauce. She scoops it out and pours the syrup over the tofu for you. I would skip all of the dim sum noodle dishes served here and all of the other fried rice dishes. They are bland and oily. Gross. Now use your condiments wisely. And of course, see my pictures. :)
(4)Sara V.
We came here for dim sum while in town for our anniversary. We found it on Yelp and since we were staying down the block, decided to give it a try. It did not disappoint! The BBQ pork buns were sweet, savory, fluffy, and divine. The shumai were little pockets of yummy. The carts came fast and furious (thank goodness... we were starving), but regular service left a little to be desired (aka standard for most dim sum places). On top of the carts, they have a buffet of items as well. I'm not sure what was in there.... all I know is my hubs walked back saying "yeah you don't eat that." Two things that rubbed me the wrong way: 1.) The girls PUSHED their items. I know they always do that, but I felt these women went above and beyond. I am trying to eat... not argue why I don't want your steamed dumplings. 2.) We were kicked out of our table! Granted, I'd had the check on the table.... but please don't rush me. We still had food on our plates. They came by with fresh plates, chopsticks, and napkins. I get it. Turn around is off the hizzy on a Sunday morning Dim Sum restaurant, but let me finish my meal darnit. China Pearl gets crowded fast. Thank goodness they have a 2nd floor. I recommend arriving by 10A to have a seat. Otherwise, you'll be waiting awhile. We'll definitely come back, but after we try a few other places in the area. The food is super tasty, don't get me wrong, but I want to try Hei La and Empire Garden!
(4)Ann K.
Made our annual visit to China Pearl while in town for the NE Restaurant show and we were not disappointed. I was a little worried after reading some recent reviews but it was exactly as I remember from last year. We got lucky that the cart with the baked pork buns was at our table as we were seated so we started off with my personal favorite. We went on to sticky rice that was really good along with a couple type of dumplings and shumai. Carts were moving quickly today so we were in and out in plenty of time for my husband to go setup for the show! Looking forward to next year's visit!
(4)Abby L.
Ew, this place was gross! We went to a wedding banquet here and it was just awful. The service was horrendous, like they would roll their eyes at us when we dared to ask for water. The food was just disgusting. There wasn't really anything palatable, I would never go back.
(1)Catherine W.
Went for an early morning dim sum, around 9am. We were seated right away. All the dim sum choices tasted great, including the specialty items in the small side buffet (beef brisket, very good). This place still holds up after all these years.
(4)David W.
You have to climb up some tight stairs to get to this place. Keep this in mind if you're coming with your grandparents. The dim-sum was so-so. Maybe it's not a thing in Boston, but the people pushing the carts should carry cooking scissors like they do in Cali. We had 10 people sitting to a table and it was such a pain sharing all the food. It was sad cause the adults would be nice and say "it's ok" just to avoid the pain of breaking dim-sum apart with chop sticks. All the kids and seniors ate, I don't they they did....=/
(3)Bailey Z.
You can always rely on a Chinese restaurant to be open on Thanksgiving day. We came here in the morning with my friend's family to satisfy my dim sum cravings. The food was average at best, but when you live in Vermont, beggars can't be choosers. We had the usual meal filled with shu mai, hao gao, and my obligatory xiao long bao. I was very disappointed by most of their dumpling dishes because the dumpling skin was very mushy and overcooked. It broke apart upon picking them up. The xiao long baos were some of the worst I've had. There was no soup at all, the skin was thick and tough, and the pork stuffing was mushy. The beef noodles were tasteless and the beef was tough to chew. I did enjoy a few things. The fried crab balls were exceptionally good - fried to a golden brown crisp and filled with crab flavor. The Hong Kong pan-fried noodles were also good and tasted much better compared to the beef noodles. I've heard that Boston isn't that great for dim sum so my expectations were low, but thinking of home food made me realize that the Chinese food here leaves much to be desired.
(2)Tina W.
its suppposed to be 3 star but they have varies of food and some of them are delicious so much so legitly it's gonna be a four star thing. wait, dont read comment, cuz its pretty much confusing
(4)Stephanie L.
A glass of tea in my hand while I'm waiting for the rest of my group to arrive? Why thanks so much China Pearl! This was my first experience when walking in the door, and set the tone for the whole visit. We had a group of about a dozen, but this was no problem with the large tables in the back of the restaurant. We arrived at 11 am, so the carts were full and rotating around the restaurant filled with food and passing by all tables often. Where we sat was on a platform in the back, and I have to give you a warning about this location. Obviously, the carts can not traverse the step to make it up on the platform. Not a big problem, but what it did mean was that the person sitting closest to the step was responsible for all of our food acquisition. (Normally it is a more democratic process when carts can approach from any side of the table.) Next time, I'll opt for a table on the main floor so the food can approach from all sides. The food itself was fantastic, with the more "adventurous" dishes like tripe and chicken feet, classics ranging from all variety of dumplings to the bbq filled sweet buns, and delicious finishers in a tasty mango pudding. I'm leaving off about 20 of the other plates that came to our table because I honestly have no idea what they are called, but assure you they were all well prepared and yummy! (Veggies, fried things, seafood, a tapioca looking soup, etc.) Tea was refilled regularly, as were waters, and our plates were constantly cleared from and replenished to the tables. We all finished up our 90 minute visit with full bellies and barely a dent in the wallet. (About $15/ person including tip!) I highly recommend going with a large group so you can try a wide variety of dishes, but also saw plenty of tables of 2 or 4, so you can enjoy the experience either way.
(4)Eric F.
Had a chance to try dinner here for a school function and it was very average. Our party ordered a variety of dishes including shrimp pan-fried noodles, lemon chicken on a sizzling plate, lemon duck on a sizzling plate, kung pao chicken, mu shu beef, clams with black bean sauce, spicy scallops with vegetables, and hong siu ban nam bo (fried fish, braised tofu, meat, and assorted vegetables in a clay pot). Only the kung pao chicken stood out in the slightest and, funny enough, that and the mango pudding dessert were the highlights of the meal...XD Bottom line? If you want good quality Hong Kong cuisine, go elsewhere.
(2)Ambrose C.
I used to go to this restaurant with my family often for dim sum when I was little. Today, I don't go here as often, because I think the food has declined somewhat in quality, but it's not a bad choice in terms of dim sum. I recently went with a party of approximately 13 people and we each paid about $9 including tax and tip for our bill. Here are some of the dishes that we had ordered: Siu Mai - Loosely means "cook and sell" in Cantonese Chinese. One dish has 4 pieces. I guess it was called that because it was a popular street food and the name stuck. Also known as the "Pork and Shrimp Dumpling". Each dish has four pieces. One of the first dishes that I try to see if the dim sum is good. Ha Gau - Literally means "shrimp dumpling" in Cantonese Chinese. Each dish has four pieces. Another one of the dishes that I try to see if the dim sum is good. Zha Leung Cheung Fun - Zha literally means "to fry". Leung means "two/pair". This consists of Yau Zha Gwai wrapped in a rice noodle roll. Yau Zha Gwai is like a fried dough. Also known as the "Chinese Fried Dough in Rice Noodle". Cha Siu Bau - Loosely means "roasted pork bun". Each dish has three pieces. Dan Taat - Dan means "egg" while Taat is an English loanword for "tart". Also known as the "Egg Tart". Each dish has three pieces. Lo Mai Gai - Loosely means "Glutinous rice chicken". This consists of a large sticky rice ball mixed with chopped up mushrooms, tiny bits of chicken, wrapped up in a moist lotus leaf. One dish has two wrapped packets. This is also known as the "Rice wrapped in a lotus leaf wrap". Lo Bak Go - "Lo Bak" can mean "turnip" or "daikon". "Go" means cake. This consists of fried slices of . Each dish has three large slices. This is also known as the "Turnip Cake". The Siu Mai and the Ha Gau were okay, decent at the best. The Zha Leung Cheung Fun was also okay, decent at the best. I don't think it is good compared to Winsor Dim Sum Cafe's version across the street. The Dan Taat was also okay. The Cha Siu Bau was decent, but it was different. Instead of the traditional white steamed bun, it was in a baked bun. The Lo Mai Gai was decent, but the girl next to me who also ate it thought it was strangely sweet, which is an unusual taste for a Lo Mai Gai. Overall, all the dishes were just okay, and somewhat greasy. I was really hungry at the time, and the dishes did their job in keeping my belly full. I have been here twice for company banquets arranged by the Chinese Professionals Network, and the food was also okay as well, particularly the fried rice and the lo mein noodles. The food overall is okay, nothing really spectacular from what I have eaten so far, dim sum or banquets but will only come back if a majority of my friends or family really want to.
(3)Melissa C.
Myself and 8 other friends enjoyed a wonderful Dim Sum Sunday brunch here yesterday. The wait: It was a bit crowded at the hostess stand, but we didn't have to wait long since I had reserved a table in advance. My total wait was only about 5 minutes. The place is large, so despite being busy, it wasn't super-loud and hard to have a conversation with my friends. The service: The service was very good. The waitstaff were very pleasant and accommodating. Food presentation: The food is pushed around on carts and presented at table-side. There are premium-dishes available at a salad-bar-like display at one end of the restaurant. The lost-star: I did have to take a star off of my 5-star rating due to the fact that we had to wait until well after our meal began for water to be brought over, and it wasn't until we sought out someone and asked for it. Also, it wasn't refilled for us without prompting. When eating lots of salty Chinese food, lots of water is a necessity. Cost: We seemed to have ordered a lot of food and even got a few premium dishes. But our meal total was very reasonable at only $15 / person including tip.
(4)Wei W.
This place ranks as a "better" on my Dim Sum list - it doesn't make the "best" ranking because of the watered down tea and occasional lapse in service, but the food isn't so bad that it deserves a "good" or "poor". If I could give 3.5 stars, I would. It definitely helps to speak Cantonese here; otherwise, pointing at something that looks appetizing may not be the wisest of choices. I often take large groups of people who have never had dim sum to China Pearl because of the space, the experience, and the food. With two floors of spaciousness, you can easily fit 30 people at 3 tables. (Making sure they know what they want is another story.) The food, while it isn't the same as dim sum in NYC, is decent compared to other places in Chinatown. I'm a big fan of the shrimp dumplings, seafood dumplings, roast pork buns, clams in black bean sauce, and beef wrapped with flat noodles ("chern fun" for the Chinese). Their dinner banquet options aren't bad either, if you're there for a wedding banquet or New Year's celebration. Don't forget to take the check to the head server for price calculation at the end of your meal. Side note: it's fantastic that the cashier speaks English.
(4)Big S.
we always come here on xmas for dim sum. they bring food out very quickly and its a fun environment for the holiday. we do always leave satisfied and full and the food is great. all different dumplings, the shrimp are the best. they have good shumai. there could be more greens, but you can get them at the steam table. the language barrier can be an issue at times and occasionally its hard to find something specific. we did wait today for sesame fried balls as the carts coming by without them. overall good place, would try some others as well.
(4)Skye G.
China Pearl is still my family favorite for Dim Sum. I love the hot bar where I can go up and get a plate of mussels, clams, or snails (yes and yum) in a rich brown bean sauce. They have great Dim Sum and it is always busy so I either go early between 9-10 before the actual kitchen is open for menu items (@11) or later after the rush. If you go too late things are slim. Dim Sim ends around 3 pm. I am not a fan of this place for dinner or meals strictly Dim Sum. It is also better to go, if you can, with a group so you can order an assortment of items and taste a few different things. They stamp your menu ticket when you order and total it up in the end. There are small, medium, and large plates and you get stamped according to the size of the dish. If you are a small party then be prepared to sit at a large table with others you don't know. It is common practice to fit everyone in to eat - if there is a seat - fill it.
(4)Amanda B.
Came here with two friends on a Sunday for Dim Sum. We got there around 10 so we were able to sit right away. The sticky rice is loaded with goodness. We were all huge fans of the pork bun as well as the donuts which were like sugar coated pop overs. So yummy.
(4)Nikhil P.
At the end of our meal a mouse skirted past the floor of the table beside us. Told the waiter and he shooed it away. Then it came back. So I shooed it away. Then it ran across the floor a few tables away from us. Then we left. Need I say more? Eat at your own risk.
(1)John R.
My last two visits for dinner and then Dim Sum were not the China Pearl I used to know. Dinner was acceptable but just average and I ordered fairly standard dishes for this restaurant. The Dim Sum was about 1:30 on a Sunday and that shouldn't not be that late and there were no carts for like almost 20 minutes and when the waiter was putting a dish of spare ribs on the table, he snapped at my brother's wife in Chinese about not putting the bones on the table. I still really like the Quincy location and I am disappointed that this place is no longer the great place I used to know. Lo Mai Gai still good.
(2)Adam A.
Stopped in for lunch (2 PM) and was the only person in the establishment. Ordered some standard General Gaus to go. C..C- general gaus...fatty chicken, not enough sauce, served w white rice and 2 pieces of broccoli. I have had plenty of General Gaus in CTown and this was definitely the worst. Considering that this place is open later than most others, I think the cuisine is for those who are already hammered. Might give it a try when I'm blackout...I will probably find the food more appetizing.
(2)Natsuki K.
Woulda given this place 4 if it wasn't for their rude attitude. The waiter was really chill, food was great, dark&stormy was tasty. However, after we paid the check, they wouldn't let us leave because the amount we paid "not enough". We definitely paid the amount plus tax, and each of gave an average of 10-13% tip. I guess they wanted 20? got a bit too greedy..... in short, never going again .
(2)Jeremy B.
Its maddening. The options within these few city blocks continue to surprise me, after eating my way around here for 15 years. One thing that I always miss about Boston's Chinatown is that a certain level of authenticity and quality seem to be prerequisites for success. In any other shitty New England town, or even the Chinatowns of Manhattan and Montreal, for that matter, many of the "staple" restaurants seem to rest on their stale, gooey, uninspired laurels, from my experiences. Boston--hell no. There is a fierce, yet understated fight--I mean, this is eastern and southern Chinese cuisines we're talking about, not Sichuanese hot pot-- for the best dim sum and the best Xiao long bao. As of right now, China Pearl has become my front runner. I can't, for the life of me, predict how and when all of the variables align for a stellar dim sum. It was Friday, barely noon. Every cart rolled by, every pork morsel fresh, every fried taro thing crispy. The things I call "kaya bao", egg/coconut custard in a steamed bun (but not the kaya bao that use pandan leaf in Malaysia/Singapore), were almost as good as the Nonya versions. The tofu skin stuffed with who-cares-unless-you-are-allergic-to-something stuff was really well executed; tightly wound bundles in a lightly thickened chicken broth. But what surprised me most: these black pepper pan fried dumplings, perfectly seasoned with black pepper, pork and scallions, in a crisp yet moist dumpling, and a ginger/vinegar dipping sauce on the side. Chinatown is oftentimes my own personal utopia. I've spent my life trying to understand it, how and why it survives as a culture both similar to its ancestral land and quite distinct. One shared characteristic: this kind of food is for families, working people , meant to eat together, and to be enjoy; and the standards are of the utmost importance. (When you go into a grocery store in China, watch: the old folks will be inspecting each and every morsel of food that goes into the basket, because compromised ingredients will not be tolerated). And eating this food must be affordable. The folks in Chinatown (unlike those in other, more storied ethnic enclaves) aren't going to subtly try to empty your bank account for subpar crap, or try to wow you with the newest gimmicky chef's foie gras baozi or beef tartar jiaozi, or some other nonsense. "Let's *elevate* cheap, simple, well balanced 'ethnic' food so we can *elevate* our income". Concept dining. Sure, but most Asian dining "concepts", like dim sum and hot pot, are cheaper, tastier, and win, hands down, over the new world imitators.
(4)Timi C.
Visited on a Saturday afternoon when the wait across the street at Winsor was 30 minutes. I must admit that I've been spoiled with amazing dimsum growing up in Flushing, NY, but China Pearl really gave me something to compare it to. Upon arrival, we were directed upstairs to an unexpectedly huge dining hall. There were carts going around with fresh dishes, a much appreciated detail. We got some pretty standard dishes that were all very fresh and delicious. The one surprise was that the chive dumplings had shrimp in them. I'm mildly allergic to shrimp, but just bewarned that they tend to add shrimp as filler in some dishes when they're low on some other ingredients (ie. chives). The bill came out to about $17 for the two of us, a very reasonable price. I will definitely be back in the future!
(4)Judy L.
Came here for a club function, so let me say it in the beginning, I don't know how much everything cost because it was on the club's bill. Woohoo! We were seated on the 3rd level of the restaurant, which appeared to be reserved only for large groups like us since the dim sum carts don't go up to the 3rd floor. Instead, they just take all the dishes up, put them in the front, and then we go and grab whichever ones we wanted. It was an interesting system, but it worked! The food overall was pretty good, but me, perhaps being a bit too spoiled with outstanding dim sum places in California, did not find this place worthy of 4 stars, not yet. Dishes I'd recommend: egg tart, fried taro dumpling thing, and shrimp dumpling.
(3)Laura B.
I'm hesitant to say "I've had better" when this was my first legitimate Sunday brunch dim sum experience ever, but something tells me somewhere's gotta be better than this place. On first glance, I was very excited about this place: the steep staircase/potential death trap, the hall of mirrors, the dozens of people waiting to get in...I anticipated a dim sum fun-house extravaganza. Our group of 12 came out to $11 a head, although I will say we did a pretty solid job of trying every identifiable food. That said, I ate many things I cannot aptly describe, mostly in shapes I would consider "round." Shrimp dumplings were good, and the egg custard dessert-type pastries were standouts. Anything with pork in it was a little shady (even though historically I LOVE char siu bao). What knocks the stars off for me: the mirrors next to our table severely needed a windexing. The service was just generally unfriendly/pleasant, fortunately I was with a large group of friends. I was fine with the weak descriptions of the food, but I feel like Sunday brunches are supposed to be somewhat genial. I don't need to have dim sum slung at me in the same way I would expect a used car to be. Point being, if you're someone who eats out for ambiance in addition to food (and are going out solo or with only your +1), eat elsewhere. If you're hungry, pressed for time, and with a large group, eat at China Pearl. It's definitely an experience.
(3)Kim K.
Here's the thing about Dim Sum: the places are all sketchy, the service sucks, you barely know what exactly it is that you're eating, and you walk out feeling MSGed, sodium overloaded, and like you need a 5 hour nap. All of that said, at the right place with an great group of friends, Dim Sum is awesome. China Pearl is good, I prefer Chau Chow City I think though. Sesame and pork buns, YES PLEASE. Endpoint: I can take or leave Dim Sum. Mostly leave.
(2)Ziliang Y.
worst Dim sum ever
(1)Henry P.
- Quiet - Dark - Dreary - Dingy these are the words that I use to describe China Pearl. The lighting in the dining room was very low and dingy which just gave everything such a gloomy feel. Its like you can really feel sadness in the air I've been here 3
(3)Sally R.
Went at about 3 on a Friday, so I suppose it makes sense that there were only 5 other people there. Staff was taking advantage of the down time to visibly chat and socialize by the bar, but I don't mind because I recently had the conversation with someone that in a way anything goes in old school Chinese restaurants. Ordered the short ribs, variety of steamed dumplings and shrimp noodles. Everything was pretty good, especially the ribs. I mostly love the atmosphere of dim sum, the agressive, pushy ladies selling the small plates. Its a vibe you get nowhere else. China Pearl basically gets the job done if your craving some dim sum, but there's a spot right across the street that makes their dimsum fresh to order across the street if you want Great.
(3)Ziyan C.
Not the best dim sum in Chinatown (although Boston doesn't have much to offer in general), but in college we ended up coming here a lot due to cheap prices. The place overall feels cheaply decorated & crowded. Not the nicest atmosphere. The food is decent but tends to be more oily & not the best quality.
(2)Rachel L.
After a troop up the stairs, we had a short wait for a table of 3. I came here with Davel and with my friend and we came here for dim sum. The food was okay, was just like any typical dim sum place. The egg roll, vegetable dumplings, and the pan fried vegetable thing was a bit weird. It had a sour taste to it, but it might have been because of what was in it. The tripe with beef brisket was really good, and so was the calamari. All the other dim sum was ordinary. Service was quite friendly with the nice dim sum ladies persuading you to get this and that. I probably won't be coming back for a while, but overall - a good experience.
(3)Thuy L.
China Pearl has redeemed themselves on my 2nd visit. They are bigger, better service, and the dim sum comes out quickly and hot. They serve the same things as Hei La Moon across the street but they have the Chinese broccoli on their carts as well as more authentic items, which I love. They also have the pineapple custard bun on their dessert cart, which Hei La Moon doesn't even serve. This is the best hangover food, greasy and hits the spot.
(4)Rebecca Y.
I went to give this restaurant a try. The reviews I read didn't really give a good explanation of what happens at this restaurant. They have two options - the dim sum carts or their traditional menu. I had the dim sum carts. What happens is you sit down, they put a card on your table and servers with carts of food walk by. When you pick things they stamp your card. I don't speak the language, so the explanation of the food I was getting was pretty minimal. I know for sure that I had some dim sum, but I wasn't sure what the other things were. All I knew was that I was getting chicken, pork or shrimp. Sometimes I wasn't even sure about the protein. I was not offered anything to drink. There was the tea or water, nothing else. The food that I got was pretty good, but I'm still not sure what it was. The bathrooms were disgusting and very tiny. Two of the toilets were overflowing and the sinks were not clean.
(4)Susanna Y.
Absolutely horrid. I don't leave reviews, ever. But this is the first time I had such a horrible experience that it brings me to write this, so I made a Yelp account, and wanted to tell everyone, DO NOT EAT HERE, you can eat anywhere else in Chinatown and it will be 1. a better eating experience for you and 2. better service -anywhere- else, even at the Chinatown McDonalds. I would give this NO STARS if I could but alas I can't. I went for a friend's birthday party on a Monday evening around 7p. Lots of seats, fine. The stairwell is small. It is skinny and if you are going with lots of friends be careful it is rather tight. The inside walls are outdated and need a paint job (but wait... did I tell you they were painting the walls WHILE people were inside AND dining? They were). The food was alright. I could get better anywhere else in Chinatown. We had a lot of orders too. Fried chicken is not hard to make. Greasy. The crab rangoon was rather slimy for my taste and the rest of my friends that were there. The beef and broccoli was too salty (the waiter asked, Chinese or American, Chinese-style being with bok choy, I didn't know that qualified as broccoli, and American actually being the version with actual broccoli and beef). The rice took forever to come, it was actually the last thing the waiter came to get. But before I even talked about food, I've already touched upon that, the waiter took forever to take our orders. He began to take 2 people's orders at my table of friends and then proceeded to say, WAIT. And then walked away to take orders from another table! After we had already been waiting for I would say more than 15-20 minutes. When we finally ate, got ALL our orders (they took forever to come), and we handed him money for a check, he proceeded to say: Tip is 15%. And held his hand out. Excuse me? Every restaurant I have went to I have paid tip AFTER I have received the receipt for the bill. Absurd for a waiter to be asking that after we had just handed him the money. He did not smile at all, except when we handed him the money, and frowned when asking for tip. He handed us take out boxes when we wanted to put our leftovers in them, but they are supposed to take the dishes and put the leftovers in for us. He rudely stuck out bags for the boxes at us and thrust a second bag into my friend's face. I always pay tip. No matter what. Because I know waiters don't want to be there and Chinatown underpays them. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the first time I have never wanted to give this waiter A DIME. I recommend Winsor Dim Sum or Jade Garden, ANYWHERE but this place. What you may think it makes up foodwise, will be nothing if it takes FOREVER for you to receive your meal. Will never eat at this place ever again, EVEN if someone PAID for me, I would decline.
(1)Vina Y.
Came here for dimsum and also for afternoon snacking. Dimsum - choice is pretty limited, I was here on a weekday so maybe they have less out but they didn't have a lot of the dishes I asked for. I always judge dimsum on the har gow and the skin on theirs was too thick and gelatinous. The ham sui gok was not bad though. As for afternoon snacking, I had a meeting/get-together here and ordered some appetizers: crab rangoon, chicken wings, honey pork ribs and some dishes - beef flat noodle (hor fun), and fried rice. Now I know the food choices aren't authentic but it was mostly because the people I was with wanted the more Americanized food. Either way, it was terrible. The crab rangoons were almost all runny cream cheese with very little crab. The wings and ribs were very much overcooked and tough to eat. Fried rice was very oily with very little flavor. Hor fun was the best of them all but that's not saying much.
(2)John M.
Without a doubt, the best dim sum place in Boston, if not the best Chinese restaurant in the city! Hop inside on a Sunday for dim sum and it is a sight for the eyes and a pleasure for the tastebuds. The sounds of waiters barking orders, the trolleys of steamed dumplings and riceballs clattering up and down the aisles, and the smells are always overpoweringly delightful. The best way to enjoy this is with a group of people, so you can share as many small plates as possible, and pick off your friends food. The best items here are the pork shumai, a fettucinie wrapped pork dumpling with veggies and god-knows-what-else. I'm never sure what it is, but it is just so amazingly good I don't even bother asking. There is another, longer, whiter beef dumpling with soy sauce, which is just as good and not as fatty. A simple shrimp dumpling is nice as well, and they come 3 big ones to an order. As for seafood, the shrimps come heads-on, so you know all the flavor is definately still in that shrimp, ripe for the sucking and the eating. The chicken feet are even really good, filled with that nice chicken flavor right on the bone. The rice dishes are all pretty good, but the best are the ones wrapped in a banana leaf and stemmed, it comes out sticky and full of flavor. For a party of 11, the total price came out to around $20/head, which may sound pricey, but we must've had 30-40 plates of food, and the pricing syestem is so hard to figure out. It's a card that gets stamped when you pick out what you want, which is a big of a pain because the card is in Chinese, but an order is never more than $3 per item, so its a cheap gamble, especially when the freshness and flavor of the food is top notch.
(5)Mike H.
3rd update. I can't handle this indecisiveness I feel. After going to the Emperor's Garden around the corner and being SO let down it doesn't even deserve a review, I let my friends twist my arm into coming back here. Best decision ever. I was still cautious, picking through my food before eating it, (even soliciting a few weird looks since I was a fully grown Asian man who looked like he was playing with his food,) but everything was SO good. The people were SUPER nice and I got to sit upstairs. (Although the stairs were a b&$%^) I guess my first review stays. 4 Stars. Someone get me a Shrimp Dumpling ASAP.
(4)Brittni D.
If you like mice with your Chinese food, then this is the place to go! After a so-so meal, we saw mice crawling around the floor in the main room while eating our fortune cookies. So not going back!
(1)Bob R.
Coming from SF my expectations were quite low. However, upon sitting down and getting my first few dishes, I quickly knew that I would be coming back. I enjoyed the spare ribs the most however the sticky rice and sweet tofu were also quite good. I did not like the ha gao or sieu mai here at all. I did like the atmosphere (typical dim sum) and was glad to see that the carts went by relatively frequently.
(4)Allison V.
I must note that I have never gone after 2pm and each time was on a weekend. Regardless, the experience is always wonderful. I have never had to wait longer than 20 minutes to be seated. Maybe I am lucky, but I have gone about 5 times and this has always been the case. The carts come around quickly and the food is delicious. I get almost anything with chicken or pork, sometimes shrimp. Everything is great! I honestly have not tried something I haven't liked. The best part about this place is you can pick so much food and the price is not bad. I always average around $10 per person and with the amount and variety of food we get that is absolutely an amazing price. Service is a bit hectic though as carts are all over the place. If you have a particular item in mind you may have to wait a while before it arrives. They give you free green tea. If you ask for water, they give it to you in a tiny cup and refills can take a while. This is also not the place to bring picky eaters or vegetarians. A vegetarian came with me once and there wasn't much for him to eat. He did not enjoy the place as much as us. I love their vanilla bean buns. I sometimes go just to buy an order of these to take home.
(4)Karl B.
I was wandering Chinatown with my fiancé and we needed food. We had not tried many places there before, so we went with the one about which my fiancé had read a bit. Chine Pearl had received good reviews and I wanted to try dim sum. We must have arrived at an odd time. No other customers were present at the time and people were running around in preparation for an event. That wasn't much of a bother, though. Upon being seated, our waiter asked if I wanted any alcohol. I did not, but nothing else was offered and the menus showed nothing. I stayed with the bland tea that was provided. Upon looking at the menu, it was nothing but the usual food that you could find at any local, cheap Chinese restaurant. It was just more expensive. There was no sign of dim sum anywhere. The waiter would disappear for long periods and didn't especially listen. We waited a while for our food, although the kitchen might have been busy with preparing for the event. To my surprise, the food was downright massive. It was far more food than we could eat. I wouldn't have minded if not for the fact that the food had no taste whatsoever. My chicken egg foo young was essentially a heavy thing with a brown, soupy goop. My fiancé had something involving duck, but he couldn't finish it. We weren't impressed. The biggest issue was when another set of people came and they were immediately asked if they wanted dim sum by the same waiter that we had. And then another couple appeared and they were asked if they wanted dim sum. As the only white people there, it immediately felt that we were not offered simply because of our skin colour. After filling ourselves with bland fare, we just wanted to leave. The waiter simply disappeared. We sat forever, glancing about in the hopes of spotting him. Eventually I saw him on his cell phone. Eventually he came over and asked us if we wanted to take any home with us, but he didn't even wait for our response before walking away. So much for trying dim sum.
(1)Susan K.
I've been to this place twice and I really wish I knew how to speak Chinese. Cause almost the entire time, the staff would push their cart to our table and start speaking Chinese on what the dish is. Unfortunately, all I could ask was to let me see the dish and ask "Chicken? Beef? Shrimp?" How unfortunate. Waiting for a seat was no problem. The place was huge. Two floors, lots of tables. Good for big groups. I'll admit, the dim sum was pretty oily but it was a fast way for one to get full. Not sure what the price of each dish was and what it was based on but I know it wasn't that expensive. Pretty affordable. Again, I highly recommend bringing a Chinese friend along who speaks the language to know exactly what you're eating. There were some times where I had no idea what I was eating...all I care was that it tasted good. However, I know what a chicken feet looks like, and that's one thing I choose not to eat out of personal preferences... If you don't have a Chinese friend, make one! Not only are they good people but can definitely help you order the right food at Chinese restaurants!
(2)Ben F.
This was my first dim sum experience, so keeping that in mind... it was great. The dim sum way of ordering is great - it's harder to waste food, and with two people in our group of four who love almost all Chinese food, everything was eaten. The food itself, of course, was excellent; it's a tossup whether I liked the sticky rice or the shrimp dumplings more. There wasn't a single food item that I didn't like at all. I have yet to compare this to other dim sum locations in Boston, or elsewhere for that matter, but for now, China Pearl has a strong place as a personal favorite that I can give an unqualified recommendation of.
(5)Heather G.
Edit for note: If you come in the later-hours, say around 2:00, your options will reduce to the same, sad cart coming around with a woman pushing the same plate of garlic shrimp you saw sitting there an hour ago. Because they want to get rid of their cooked-food at these end-of-dim-sum hours, and because there are far fewer patrons eating at 2:00 pm, the carts just stand and wait until you sit down, then come at you one after another in a row...over and over and over. Roughly every 45 seconds, expect to be interrupted with another cart of the same few choices you had 45 seconds ago. The servers/cart pushers become very pushy at this hour, attempting to unload the last of the food for the day. They've even gone so far to lift lids and begin to place things on your table before you've agreed to purchasing them. If you are eating here in the late-afternoon, be prepared to be a bit more aggressive with saying no, and be prepared to have your options significantly reduced to a few stale choices. 3-stars if you come before noon, 2 starts if you go later in the afternoon
(3)Neil B.
I live in NYC so I have not been to the China Pearl in a while but based on my previous (many) trips there several years ago, as good as dim sum is in NYC, The Pearl makes it best! The dishes I miss the most: The tofu and shrimp and lo bor kow cooked right on the cart and the lotus leaf nor me gai. I see from recent reviews they may have slipped a bit, but I'll keep my memories of the place as a 5-star until I get back to Boston and experience differently! Do prepare to wait a while unless you know someone and it does help to speak at least a little Chinese!
(5)Kelly W.
Not the best, but decent. We did have a large group later in the night, but the service was not the best. Our waiter was not very patient, and didn't help much. The food was ok, but I've been to better places in Chinatown. The prices were decent, especially for such a large group of college kids splitting the bill. Didn't have the dim sum though, so that might have been better (since that's what they're mostly reviewed for)
(2)Shao H.
If you have a big group, it is easy to find a place there. The dim sum and tea there is ok.
(3)douglas h.
Dim Sum Good whenever I want to switch it up for dim sum
(3)Miguel L.
When I first visited China Pearl, I did so in a state of disbelief. My Chinese partner had told me it had the best roast duck she had in the East Coast, which is hard to conceive coming from a city like Providence (RI) or Fairfax (VA), where the good food scene is... well, below adequate. $40 is what you pay for a full, sliced duck with its skin and delicious steam buns. It is pricier than in the West Coast, but worthed for this savory, tender heaven of culinary enlightenment. This is the best second duck I have ever had, ranking number one in the East Coast. Bravo. Service is neither rude or polite, just functional. They take your order, they bring the food. No bells, no whistles. Straight to the point, which is good food; without looking after every breadcrumb you spill. Thank goodness. The decor is almost industrial. It is an excellent space for large groups, especially business or weddings. When we went there (twice now) the space was almost empty. Do not miss the geometrical layout with the podium at the end of the room, with a fiery dragon of glowing red eyes. Who cares, really? It is the best roast duck around, period.
(4)Raj L.
One of the worst restaurants i have ever been. Rats and cockroaches everyehere. Not to mention the rude servers that smelled like cigarette smoke. Don't bother with this one. We left within five minutes of being seated.
(1)Raymond W.
Great word of mouth reviews and an award winner, but only average dim sum in my opinion. When I was a college student, I always thought China Pearl was suppose to be the best, but after about 4-5 visits I've decided that it lags behind Hei La Moon. The restaurant is chaotic during prime dim sum hours especially with people blocking the entrance/exit stair case and old Asian ladies body checking who are twice their weight (me). The dim sum is fairly standard, sometimes hot sometimes not. servers forget to refill water regularly, and slow to return with condiments. Maybe it's more average for an Asian restaurant than I thought.
(3)ZZZZ T.
Great Hong Kong style dim sum, replete with somewhat surly waitresses who do better showing the dishes than describing them. One needs to love a restaurant that serves up delicious authentic treats within two minutes of seating you; and then has the decency to keep tantalizing you with cartload and cartloads of the stuff. Show up early and bring an appetite. Most dishes come in under $3 a plate, so a feast isn't going to break the bank...
(4)Janina T.
2 stars solely for the dim sum (I am a huge dim sum fan). Decent selection although I did miss out on the usual tofu fa (sp?). The service was extremely bland and borderline rude. The waiter servicing our table got kind of snippy with me when I asked for an extra chair. He kept asking how many we were...honestly, does it effing matter how many people we are going to have at the table? We're going to have how ever many chairs are currently at the table +1. i thought I was the only Asian who wasn't great at math. Guess there is more just like me out there. We weren't asked for any drink orders and had to flag one of the dim sum tray pushers for waters all around. Then when we went to pay the check, our server dude thought we were trying to gip him out on tip. No, homie, we're giving you your tip in cash. AKA, non taxed. AKA kiss my ass. If you're looking for GREAT dim sum with better service, walk a few minutes down to Essex st. Chau Chow City is where it's at.
(2)Boi-Linh T.
Do not highly recommend this place at all. It use be great food from large parties for big function to a small little plate for dim sum with your family. Over the last couple years, the restaurant went down hill. First, the quality of people..not enough staff in the restaurant and no friendly service from any staff. Second, the food quantity is small in portion. Where's the portion i use to have? Third, the atmosphere. This restaurant is in the middle of Chinatown. Do I see the sign and elevator working? How can an elderly person come up to attend a party or just for dim sum. Does the restaurant still need business for local people or are they focusing to new customer like foreigner, new immigrants or western only. Please think before you eat this place.
(1)Jessica L.
Love this place for dim sum, it reminds me of the high quality, wide variety of dim sum I used to get in San Francisco. Less of a wait here versus other dim sum spots in Chinatown.
(4)Shawn M.
China Pearl is a hot spot for Sunday Dim Sum. Note that it's Hong Kong Dim Sum. I'd been once before and remember having an ok(if not hungover) experience. Then I came with a party of people of Chinese decent. I could tell they weren't fans right away. It's hard to judge any authentic, if not good, regional cuisine as an outsider as we've been Sodiumized and McDonaldized to the umphteenth degree. I didn't think it was good second go around. My Chinese- American friends didn't either. It's dim sum, in the sense that they bring around food. But I got the idea that there were better opportunities out there.
(2)Jon L.
China Pearl, thank you for your reliable mediocrity. You're never the first place suggested when we decide on a weekend brunch/dim-sum. But, you're a worthy fill-in when other places have waits too long, or when friends over-invite friends-of-friends. Your over-MSG'd dishes don't suck so much that anyone vetoes your candidacy, and you end up being the dim sum-of-last-resort. Thanks for bailing out our group.
(2)Kim M.
there wasn't much variety to the dim sum menu and the service was the worst. Our dishes arrived one at a time. I'm chinese-american&I went with a group of my american friends. There was definitely a xenophobic vibe from the servers and we only received better service once I started speaking in Mandarin to them. The food is decent but not worth the way the establishment treated us. Definitely a cheap meal though - a group of 7 of us only had to pitch $5 each to pay for the check.
(3)lily l.
DO NOT come here for dim sum. It was such a horrible dining experience. Came here Monday afternoon for some dim sum since Windsor House and Gourmet Dumpling House was packed and I will have to say I will never come here again. First off the waitor was extremely rude. We had to ask 3 times for water and eventually my husband just got up and went to their service station to get our own. Dim sum was non existant, there were three carts in which I actually had to personally chase down to get any food (which was NOT good or even hot). Other patrons in the restaurant actually got up and left because they got NO FOOD. When it was time to pay we could not get a waitor to add up or tab and had to go to the front and stood there forever before anyone showed up to allow us to pay for our bill. Thank you....for nothing.
(1)Kitty C.
2nd best dim sum in Boston, classic venue for Asian weddings. They're much more well rounded than hei la moon in terms of dinner and what not.
(4)Jimmy H.
I think there is some kind of treaty or non-compete clause among all dim sum joint in Chinatown. None of them are not that all great or spectacular. All that tolerance of mediocre food is all forgiven by incredibly cheap price. And China Pearl is another one. As Tom E wrote, it is average dim sum parlor. Some dishes are better than the others. Like pork bun for example. I think that one is the best I ever tasted in Chinatown. Other dishes I liked were : - Shumai - Sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves. Although you have no idea which cost how much as everything written in all abbreviated Chinese, don't sweat it. Unless you are buying 5 Takeru Kobayashi-es(Japanese hot dog eating champ) dim sum, you won't be paying that much. Otherwise, this is still a good place to get with your friends for Sunday brunch for low price. I recommend it. Just don't expect anything spectacular.
(3)Jeff C.
Pretty good for Dim Sum on the East Coast pretty authentic as well. The prices are pretty reasonable. Very big place excellent in hosting large parties or weddings. Dinner is very good has everything you would want.
(4)Kim L.
We met some freinds here later in the afternoon for Dim Sum. This was our first experience and all in all it was very authentic I think. We went with someone who knew what to order and that was very helpful as the staff are not so helpful. I am sad to say that she did go have to go to the cart ladies to ask them to come over and provide us food. What we ate was pretty good. The steamed pork buns are good and we all really like the mei shu ( not sure if I spelled that correctly). The fried shrimp wontons were good and generally everything we got was good. It was coming to the end of the time they serve and it was difficult to get the carts to come to our table. The guys with us would have liked to of had more to eat but there came a point that it just wasn't gonna happen. The food was really hot when it came out for the most part. So much so that would recommend letting it sit a minute or two to cool off. They are stingy on giving you water so if you can get a pitcher at the beginning. We never saw a waiter that I know of. Food good, service lacking lots of luster.
(3)Talisha M.
A-OK but chinese at 3am...jackpot! I am sure at 3am I would have given this place 5 stars for just being open after drinking and dancing all night. But thank god I can handle my liqour & have a pretty good memory...tried soup, egg rolls, szechuan beef, chicken fried rice, and a few other random items. I'm sure the drunken me would go back b/c it hit the spot for what we wanted, but no pearl in that oyster. You can trick me at 3am, but you can't trick my tastebuds at 3am!
(3)Chelsea W.
Ah-May-Zing!! I know I give a lot of good reviews...but I think that when a place deserves recognition, I need to recognize. China Pearl is incredible. My boyfriend and I went here a couple of days ago when we were visiting Boston and let me just say that I would go back for this food. We ordered the scallion pancakes (best that either of us has ever had), half a roasted duck (delicious), I ordered the Kung Pao Chicken and he ordered the Beef Fried Rice. Out meal was so delicious. So tasty. So much flavor and not greasy at all. The server was so friendly and sweet. Our bill was surprisingly small!! We didn't finish all of our food so we took it all home and had it the following night as leftovers. Just as good the second time around! Love this place!
(5)Chip S.
We try to stop in to China Pearl for dim sum every time we're in Boston and have never been disappointed. The food is consistently good - and cheap! I think the service is fine.
(4)Andy H.
I been a faithful follower of China Pearl for years, but recently service there has been disappointing that made me want to retract my previous good reviews. Today, one of the dish we order was fried, and when we got it, it was very cold. When we called the server over and request for a new one, he and she wanted to simply throw in the fryer to reheated. I cook fry food from time to time, and fried food need to be hot to be delicious, other wise it's going to be mushy, or trap too much oil to be delicious. Long story short, THEY TOOK THE FOOD BACK AND PUT IT DIRECTLY ON THE COUNTER, AND PLAN TO GIVE IT TO OTHER CUSTOMERS. This is very disturbing for a frequency diner, and I think this is a poor business practice. I want to inform other diner of this issue, and dine at your own risk. Thank you.
(1)Jeff D.
I've only been here for dim sum, and this time around was lucky enough to have a Chinese-speaker with us so we got very good service. Stuck mostly to dumplings, though we got a plate of duck that was good, but very oily (because it was duck.) Also the lotus-leaf wrapped rice was great. Had some chunks of pork inside and was probably my favorite dish. As always, my favorites were the various types of buns stuffed with meat. I love those things. Some blurry pictures Dumplings, pork fried rice (not the rice mentioned above) and duck bostonwolf.smugmug.com/p… Duck and shumai bostonwolf.smugmug.com/p… Rolls with shrimp and celery bostonwolf.smugmug.com/p… Pork buns and some sort of dumpling. My friend loved them but I did not try one bostonwolf.smugmug.com/p…
(3)Marissa A.
We experienced dim sum at China Pearl at its peak. We decided to go on the weekend they celebrated the Chinese New Year. Yikes. The service was 'meh.' And we did sit at a table with 2 random people. However, it WAS the Chinese New Year. The saving grace of the meal was the fried crab claw ball (aka, the delicious death ball). That was some fried goodness. Otherwise, the dim sum was pretty good, standard choices. Not bad, not bad. But not the best either.
(3)Kevin L.
1 star for their dim sum. Lacking flavor. Super greasy. Found hair in their tripe dish. China Pearl used to be a decent dim sum restaurant. The iconic China Pearl sign and the mirrors in the entrance. That's what I remembered from my childhood. Don't recall any good memories of their dim sum. Now Hei La Moon is king. I rather wait in line there then eat here again. The decor has been the same for years and China pearl is in need of a feng shui update and new chef.
(1)Ell C.
This restaurant is nothing exceptional but one of the few dim sum spots in Ctown. It served its purpose while I lived in Boston. The decor leaves little to be desired and could probably use deep carpet cleaning among other things. It is what it is....
(2)Steven D.
There were quite a few options for dim sum in Boston, but I'm sad to say I regret deciding on this place for dim sum. I went with a few friends and we all agreed that everything tasted pretty bland except for the chicken feet and steam tofu skin roll. Service could have been better because I didn't think it was so busy that we had to wave our hands in the air to get some attention. Next time I'm in Boston I'll have to check out other dim sum places first, but then again, I wasn't impressed with Chinatown overall anyway. I'd choose the trash filled corners of my Philly Chinatown over the graffiti filled streets any day. The best thing I saw was a Nissan GT-R :)
(3)Jenny N.
China Pearl is my parents' old standby dim sum spot, so I've been coming here since I was a wee child. With all the hustle and bustle, it actually reminds me of the teahouses in Hong Kong. In other words, it is grand compared to the other establishments in Chinatown. On weekends, the lines get so out of control that they have to assign you a number and they announce over the microphone when your number comes up. While they have 2 dining levels, if you are a small party, you may get seated at a large table with other patrons. This is done to accommodate all the diners as quicky as possible--and yes, this is how they do it in Hong Kong too! All in all, dining at China Pearl is as much about the experience and atmosphere as it is about the food. I love selecting different dim sum specialities from the rolling carts (they have all the standard offerings like har gow, siu mai, chicken feet, etc.) and I never get tired of watching the ladies fry up my turnip cake right in front of me. I highly recommend the sweet tofu "pudding" (doufu fa), which is served hot with sweet honey syrup. They also have steam tables on each floor, offering dishes like mussels in black bean sauce. If you want noodles or other more substantial fare, you can order off the regular menu to supplement your dim sum. Tip: It's best to go early--no later than 1:30 p.m. because that's when the dim sum is freshest.
(3)Julie H.
I've been going to China Pearl for years and it never disappoints. They do a good dim sum, a brisk business and have a good choice of items. This time they made a delicious har gao (shrimp dumping), soft shell crab, shrimp and eggplant, tofu and shrimp, and shrimp and veggie dumplings. Their shrimp crepes were a bit too doughy with not enough shrimp. I miss the days of old when their menu also included lobster dumplings and shrimp stuffed mushrooms. I also wish they had more variety in their dumplings--I love shrimp and cilantro dumplings and a good pan fried vegetable dumpling. But for a good solid dim sum experience, China Pearl is a good bet.
(4)Iv L.
Unfortunately, this place has gone down in years. Needs a bit of help. Dim sum is so so... dinner is just average like.
(2)Erik F.
This is a large restaurant in the Boston Chinatown. I had a good dim sum lunch here one Sunday while visiting some friends in the city. Didn't leave me with any MSG hangover, good number of choices, our waiter was brusque but the dim sum cart ladies were generally friendly. I prefer Windsor across the street now, but I have to say you all are pretty well off in Boston in the dim sum department. 4 stars not five cause it was solid but nothing makes it really special.
(4)Fan L.
This place is big, and sometimes it can get very crowded. That is not a problem, but I do not like it when they sit you and forget about you for 20min.... Ok, so after deciding to stand up and look for a waiter myself, the food there was actually pretty good. I would say 7/10 compared to dim sum I had in Hong Kong. The price is pretty good as well.
(3)Reese D.
Used to be great! Quality has deteriorated over the years. The service used to be horrendous during its heyday. A lot better now, probably because business is slow. Came here with my mum for weekday lunch when we didn't want to wait in line at the overly crowded Hei La Moon. Its Quincy location is way better.
(2)Ed Y.
4 star to 1. Ive been eating dim sum every week at China Pearl Quincy for the past several years and decided to give the Pearl in Boston a try. Ive been avoiding the Boston restaurant because of the lack of parking and also many friends said the quality has gone down. I hate to say it but i have to agree. The atmosphere is dark and gloomy, they added flower displays and a long paper dragon to the dining area but still its unpleasant. The dim sum is just terrible. Portions are small, dry like its been left out for a while, and just not tasty like their Quincy branch. I think the best chefs were moved to Quincy and the flagship restaurant has been forgotten. I remember back in the day i would have to wait over an hour to get into the Chinatown China Pearl. Today, we just walked right in, no waiting and sat down immediately. That was a bad sign right away. The waiter did not even ask us what kind of tea we wanted and just gave us whatever. What a disappointing brunch we had. I guess my friends were right, everyone is going to Hei La Moon now, thats where the real good dim sum is. Me, i'll stick with the Quincy branch, a little far but worth it. What a shame!!!
(1)Ellen C.
So we tried to get into the best rated dim sum restaurant across the street (Winsor Cafe), and the wait was 45 minutes. And wound up at this place, as did, I suppose, many others. DO NOT GO HERE! The food is appallingly bad. Examples: the rice casings for dumplings are worth their weight in lead. The fillings are the worst I've ever had. I cannot think of a single dish I thought was more than remotely palatable. The service is lousy, meaning that the poor waitresses are both harassed, don't know English, and have absorbed the culture of the place which is: gloomy, sour, perfunctory. The sour-faced manager didn't seem to give a hoot about the customers. I brought guests from out of town who will never be in Boston again, and I was beyond embarrassed. If ever there is a next time for me and dim sum, I'll look outside of Chinatown - Cambridge, for instance. The "wisdom" that an ethnic restaurant is good if it has a lot of customers of its ethnicity does not hold here. There were many Asian customers, but the food was still gross.
(1)Chris M.
I've been here for dim sum and for a formal chinese banquet dinner. The food was excellent both times. For dim sum, they not only had the carts going around, but they also had a food bar where you can get more unique items like scallop and vermicelli with fried garlic in a shell, big bowl of clams, and a big plate of mussels. Everything was delicious. The banquet was a wonderful. The event was for an annual Harry Dow Anniversary dinner in recognition of a Suffolk University Law School graduate who dedicated and started community commitment to public service. They had hor d'oeuvres going around as we mingled before food service started. We enjoyed a seven course meal (or was it nine). There was a lot of food and enough for leftovers too. They had a full bar. The ambience is loud and lively, just as you'd expect of a chinese banquet style evening. I would recommend this place to anyone as their food is great!
(5)T H.
You know, this is place is really Not that great. Considering though, this is the first dim sum i've had in boston so far. My dim sum experiences are from california; specificially LA area and SF area. 1) Those stairs? What the heck its just weird to have to hike a mountain to get there 2) The noise level is beyond normal dim sum i think 3) Carts- or lack thereof. The place was packed on a sunday brunch and there's only 3 carts going around. this one cart kept circling around with the same food. what is wrong with them? 4) Service- again, or lack thereof. 5) Bathroom- from 100 yards away it looks nasty. so didn't want to go in there. 6) Food- very average. Although the price was decent. Will I return. Maybe if there's nothing else better.
(2)Jang David K.
the service is so terrible. Of course you go here for their well-known dim sum and I gotta say that it's not that bad. But the workers seemed annoyed and angry when I asked questions about what's in their carts. They stare at you and speak Chinese when we keep telling them that we have no idea what they are talking about because we don't speak Chinese!! Because dim sum can get a bit greasy, I always ask for hot oil to spice up my taste buds. Last time I went, I asked for hot oil and they said they don't have it and never had it.....i was like what??? I came here like 10 times in last 3 years....you had it every time....what the heck?? and the waiter goes, would you like some Tabasco?? you serious?? What Chinese restaurant doesn't have hot oil and what Chinese restaurant carries around Tabasco?? Price is decent, carts are limited and service is whack sauce. China Pearl, eat my 3 star.
(3)Chaos M.
The food there is the southern China style (Cantonese Style). This is not my favorite Chinese style, but it is still very good. But it seems most food is just dessert like dumplings, etc. I don't know how to order the main course.
(4)Victoria K.
I visited China Pearl for my first visit to Boston's Chinatown (believe it or not). Everything we tried was delicious, and we could barely finish all our food! I love all the different textures and flavors of the various dumplings, even those that appear to be similar. For example, we enjoyed two different steamed shrimp dumplings. One had a somewhat thicker, chewier dough layer, while the other had a thinner skin and was filled with shrimp and scallions, adding the exact amount of mild onion flavor to set these apart from their friends. Both were great, but just different. I also think they did a great job with my favorite dim sum treat, the char siu bao, or steamed bbq pork buns. These were incredibly fluffy and chewy, with the perfectly sweet pork meat inside. Heaven! The only downside is that the whole shrimps in the rice noodles visibly had their poop chutes intact, which I'm told is completely normal at dim sum restaurants. Eww, but I'm sure we all eat shrimp poop without realizing it right? The whole meal cost about $22 (including tea), an incredible deal for the sheer quantity of delicious food (which we couldn't even finish)! Poop and all :)
(4)Eric S.
The food is decent and the climb up the stairs makes you want to reward yourself with heart stopping greasy food.
(3)James Y.
Pricey, poor service, had to order multiple times, and the curry was, in the words of the archetypal Australian describing poor beer, rather like making love in a canoe (****ing close to water). Chow mein was runny and lo mein was greasy.
(2)joe w.
Tried the 9-course dinner except I skipped a couple of dishes at the beginning and end. Mushroom and bok choy dish tasted great. Beef and jelly fish tasted fine as did the soup. Note vegetarian, vegan or kosher options are nothing to write home about. The taro shell dish and jumbo shrimp/crab hybrid fried finger food looked and tasted distinctive. Other dishes are probably attainable elsewhere. Outside of dim sum hours, plenty of underutilized seating capacity is available on multiple floors. I suspect stairs to a second and third floor are not compatible with servicing an aging population. There is an elevator way in the back but this is not the most accessible restaurant. If you have elderly in your group, I would recommend a first floor restaurant or calling ahead to figure out how to access the elevator. Service could have been a little more attentive for example when I dropped a chopstick to offer a replacement. I ate with a previously positioned fork to continue. Address is convenient but the second floor is not easy for many patrons to get to. Overall dinner was an OK experience for a Chinese restaurant.
(3)Tater M.
Great dim sum, yes if you don't speak/understand Mandarin, you'll have a bit of trouble. (My advice, just be direct, stop hesitating. Don't be rude.) Like other dim sum restaurants, they serve dim sum in these metal carts they push table to table and the waitress will ask you in cantonese/chinese/broken english "Do you like some____?" And she'll open the baskets and show you the items. You can get extra chili from the table near the kitchen. We went there during Mid-autumn festival (accidentally) and as expected it was SUPER BUSY. We (two people) expected that it'll take a god darn long time to get seated (in a restaurant with big round tables) but it actually took only around 10-14 minutes. Really. Bad thing was that once we got seated, it took a long time to get the waiters to notice us and to get us chopsticks and paper and bowls and tea. But hey, it's Chinatown, they know the food is good enough to cover their service. Dim sum was quite wonderful: fried radish cake AWESOME, chicken feet TASTY and SAVORY, rice and meat wrapped in leaves (zhong zi) YUMMY...etc etc. More on service: it was a tad bit difficult to actually get the food you want, pretend chicken feet, we asked around 3 cart pushing waitresses, one huffy puffy waiter, and another nice cart pushing lady before we got a steaming plate of chicken feet. Pretty cool experience! Definitely a must go for Boston Chinese food.
(4)David C.
The food was decent, but the service was by far the worst I've experienced at any restaurant for the past several years. Every step of the way, we had to flag down servers from placing the order to paying for the bill. The experience was straight out of a Seinfeld.
(1)Julie A.
Went to China Pearl this past Sunday for the Dim Sum. It was pretty easy to find and they offer validated parking... My experience was okay. The table had extensions to make it form a circle, but the table top wasn't straight. This kept me from getting really comfortable at the table. Most of the cart pushers (I don't know what they're called), didn't speak english, which would have been ok, if they at least understood what the ingredients were in whatever they had. A couple of the people in our party were vegetarian, and it was quite difficult to find something they could eat. For example, if the woman said the dumpling had all vegetable, there'd be a surprise of meat in there! As far as taste goes, I kinda felt like everything I tried was pretty much the same. ... yeah that's all I have to say about that. China Pearl was good, but it left me thinking that next time I'll be trying a new dim sum place.
(3)Serena L.
I've lived in the Boston area for about 4 years now and this is the first time I've tried China Pearl for dimsum. I usually go to Hei La Moon but I decided to give this place a try. We came here around 2pm on a weekday so we missed the lunch time crowd. It was rather empty. I'm not sure when their dimsum service ends but there were only about 3-4 carts around. The food was not bad at all and satiated my dimsum craving. I came here with a dimsum virgin so she left it to me to order. It was fun describing to her what everything was and she loved everything we had! I'd definitely be back but as an alternative to Hei La Moon.
(3)Kevin K.
Wow was I disappointed. I've been eating Dim Sum all my life and this place was somewhat insulting, especially when considering the prices they were charging. Each dim sum plate was at least $3, which is insanely high (if you eaten at great dim sum places in Los Angeles $1.50 - $2). Good: "Lo-Bok-Go" Also known as turnip cake. I asked if they can make the dish extra crispy. Which helped the dished a lot, but the dish was ruined because it had "Hoy-Seen" Sauce all over it. Which is not standard at all for this dish. I had to eat around the area that was not contaminated by the sauce. - 3/5 Stars Sieu Mai - 3/ 5 stars Bad: Service: This place had 2-3 floors of dining area and you would think they'll utilize the dim sum carts efficiently, not a chance. I was seated next to a window, and it took forever for the food to come. The carts were circling around the restaurant like how one would play snake on the old Nokia phone. ~ 1.5 / 5 Stars Pork Ribs: Did not contain any Chinese Black beans, lacked a lot of flavor. ~1.5 / 5 Stars Ha Cherng (Shrimp w. Rice Noodle) - Noodles were overcooked and sticky. ~1.5 / 5 Stars Bean Curd w/ Chicken & Mushroom - 1/5 Stars. How can you stuff a huge piece of dried chicken in this dish? I do not recommend this place.
(2)Tina K.
So, this was my first dim-sum experience and I did not like it at ALL. The food was terrible. I felt like everything was drenched in oil, and was sitting out in the open for days. Everything was just soaked in oil and I didn't enjoy the food at all. The only dish I thought was decent was the chicken feet, but that was it. I don't suggest going to China Pearl, especially if it's your first dim-sum experience. It will definitely ruin it---sorry.
(1)Hank C.
Here for a wedding, so I'll just describe the multiple-course meal as served, as I don't know if the entertainment was provided by the restaurant at all. First course: Cold cuts of beef heart, jellyfish, hot BBQ pork, hot fried pork, and hot friend chicken. The pork and chicken fried were crisp and fresh, the jellyfish regular with sesame oil, and the beef heart was delicious with a bit of soy sauce. Best part of the dish: the BBQ pork was juicy, and well marinated. All at the table agreed it was the best part. Second course: Fried crab claw balls. Pretty standard. Third course: Seafood in a bird's nest. The birds nest.. not so much a taste of taro at all, just flour crisply fried. Best part - the inside, where strips of squid, mushrooms, vegetables, shrimp, scallops, and alabone were delicately presented. Excellent taste. Fourth course: Shark fin soup. A little bit shredded, but not bad. Fifth course: Peking chicken with shrimp chips. Tasty, although the white meat was a bit dry. Sixth course: Lobster, broken up and sauteed with green onions. Excellent taste of the sauce, although a tad bit overcooked with the lobster meat. Seventh course: Abalone, round mushroom, sea cucumber and fish stomach. Excellent taste, and nice and thick, but not oily, sauce to top off on top of some sauteed cabbage. Eighth course: Fish in soy sauce, ginger, and scallions. Didn't catch the name (he mentioned it to someone) but was delicious - waiter removed all the meat for us and kept it neatly on the plate in whole pieces for us to devour. My favorite dish of the night. Ninth & tenth dishes - noodles and fried rice, of which I only tasted, not ate out of. I never save room for these dishes, and I was unsurprised at the noodles and the shrimp fried rice (I'm not really a fan of either, but they were better than average). Dessert: Red bean soup with lotus seeds. Excellent sweet to finish the night. Wedding cake - well, you won't get this served, but overall a beautifully arranged and massive dinner. When I get the chance, we'll try some of the other dishes on a non-wedding night! Price is indicative of what I think it would be if you ordered a couple of appetizers and entrees for two people, not for the wedding meal. Second floor is not easily accessible, though.
(4)Josephine L.
China Pearl is a solid Cantonese dim sum place with all the standard staples like shrimp dumplings and shumai (I don't know how to translate that). As other reviewers have noted, there aren't many options for great dim sum in Boston (zero if I'm comparing Boston to other great, metropolitan cities), but China Pearl is decent especially with the criminally low prices. Best dish is probably the beef tripe.
(4)Ashley J.
Man I love Dim Sum. And I seriously love China Pearl. When we first moved to Boston we were Hei La Moon fans (which our fellow yelpers helped us find), and yes, Hei La Moon is great too. China Pearl has all the delicious food that Hei La Moon has - but I think it might be even better. Plus, the service here is actually friendly and helpful. And the biggest reason this place gets 4 stars? Yesterday we had family in town and after 6 of us barrelled through too many dishes to count, the final tab was $10 a person. Awesome!
(4)Shawn L.
In a nutshell: The food is great, the service is lacking. China Pearl is actually two different restaurants, downstairs is a small diner, upstairs is a huge Dim Sum hall (the stairs are to the right of the main restaurant). My girlfriend and I went to the Dim Sum hall on one of our first weeks in Boston with all of our friends. It was a standard Dim Sum time, great! We had a bit of a bad vibe when my girlfriend (who is a Beijing native) was told by one of the cart-ladies that her Mandarin pronunciation was so bad that they could not understand her! But we shrugged it off as a one time thing. So, when I had two friends in town and they wanted to grab a bite in Chinatown I suggested we try the downstairs China Pearl diner. The food was also very good (I highly suggest Buddha's Paradise - or maybe it was Buddhists Paradise). We had a great time and then we got the bill. One of my friends payed it with card and we were about to leave when the waiter stops us because my friend forgot to sign the receipt (oops) and to complain that we haven't tipped enough (what!). He says that my friend hasn't even tipped 10%, when 15% is standard. Okay, so maybe my friend made a mistake, less than 10% is a pretty small tip, etc. etc. But that isn't the end of it. After my friend changes his tip, the waiter comes back with a calculator and computes the percentage before telling us that it is okay! Now, I understand that waiting tables can be a tough living and that they depend on tips for a reasonable portion of their income and I always try to give 15-20% for good service. But I have never seen a waiter try to enforce such a tipping policy before, let alone bring over a calculator to approve our tip. So, in the end I would say, 4 star food, 2 star service.
(3)Doug P.
The food is fine here, don't get me wrong. But I don't think the the buzz about dim sum isn't all its hyped up to be. I think their are a few spots in chinatown that you may find to be a little better
(3)Danielle F.
Came here on Sunday morning for Chinese New Year. Our group had a blast, though we definitely benefited by making reservations. When we left around 1:30, the line was down the stairs and out the door. Food wise, the turnip cake with hoisin sauce was a nice surprise. The shrimp dumplings were awesome!
(4)Jo-Anna L.
I was quite pleased with China Pearl. I came here around noon-time on a Saturday. Waited about 5 minutes for a seat, the place was packed. The first plate of dumplings we grabbed were kind of luke warm, but otherwise, tasted fine. Everything after that was perfect temperature. I was a big fan of the steamed buns (but was sad they didn't come by until the end of the meal when we were full). I was very pleased with the variety, there was a lot I wanted to try, but with only two people, you can only eat so much. Judging from other comments left here, I wouldn't come late in the day. Remember that Dim Sum is brunch food, so the time to get the freshest food would be around brunch time on a weekend.
(4)The Throwin S.
I've been coming here regularly for a decade. Overall, it seems to be on the decline. The crowds are much smaller. The food, less fresh. I have always been a fan of their beef tripe at the a la carte table (where you always find snails, clams, and salt+pepper shrimp. On my last 3 visits, the tripe was absolutely terrible. They crowded my bowl with turnip and there were fewer than 3 pieces of tender tripe-- 3 times in a row. Do I have anything good to say? Their sweet tofu cart is delicious and a kid-favorite. The Chinese broccoli is usually fresh enough. The pork buns and fried turnip cakes, which are difficult to mess up, are good enough. It's time to find a new place for dim sum in China town.
(3)Todd C.
The most expensive and least impressive (taste, variety) dim sum I've ever had. In fairness, I was seated in a part of the restaurant that seemed to only get a small portion of the service/selection afforded the main part of the restaurant.
(2)Josiah V.
Great food, beautiful place. The tea is light and fresh and the dim sum is 3.95 a dish. Three pork buns have me almost full and the other reviews are right they're sweet and delicious
(5)Arcadian B.
Went in on a Sunday afternoon and my god this place needs some renovations especially the exterior It's a pretty big place but the service was lousy as most the servers were chatting with each other Food was decent and hot surprisingly
(3)Ellie W.
Dim Sum. Yum Cha. Whatever you call it, you can really only judge it relative to what's available in the area...No, this is no New York dim sum. Or the kind you can get in Hong Kong. And it sure as heck ain't your momma's dim sum. The food here is ok, and on par with most in Beantown. They've got all your standards--ha gau, shu mai, pork buns--yet I prefer Hei La Moon over China Pearl. And yea, it's a bit dingy--question is, what Chinatown restaurant isn't?--so I won't take points off for that. Whatever doesn't kill you only makes your stomach lining stronger, ya? So if one afternoon, you and 10 friends find yourselves wandering the mean streets of Chinatown after a band of dim sum savvy Chinese ladies ran you over and secured their tables (DIM SUM = aggressive driver mentality needed) at all other restaurants, China Pearl isn't a bad choice.
(3)Cecily G.
Sunday brunch time: we were seated immediately, they were jammed, plenty of carts, the food was as good as any traditional dim sum - all fresh, nothing new, but all delicious. The staff is polite, despite some reports that non-Chinese were not treated well. The spicy fried soft-shell crab was awesome, we actually got two. Ditto the head on prawns and clams with black bean sauce, and the stuffed shiitake mushrooms. My 4-year-old wanted the 'jello', that would be my only pass, not so sure about that. Everything else was very good. We left STUFFED.
(4)Sanny K.
I only come here with my boyfriend. Reason being...he speaks chinese, I don't. Lol. I noticed that we are served a lot quicker and they are much nicer to him. Having come here without him before, they were extremely slow and sometimes rude. Now the food...some of it is really good and some can actually get you sick. I advise that you stay away from the eggplant stuffed with shrimp. It did not taste too good and last time we had it, we visited the porcelain gods numerous times in one day. Not a great feeling... However, majority of the food is actually pretty good. We love the dumplings, shumai, Cheung fun, char siu buns, the chicken feet and the steamed pork buns. It's also not too pricy.
(3)Julia C.
This used to be one of my two favourite dim sum haunts, along with Hei La Moon. Whenever I wanted dim sum in Chinatown, I'd used have to toss a coin to decide since both were equally good. Not anymore. Last weekend I went back and was less than impressed with the food. We sat down to eat at 12pm; the same carts just kept going by over and over again, and it was extremely slim pickings. Out of desperation, we also made the mistake of picking out a vegetable and pork dumplings, supposedly "VERY DELICIOUS!" according to the cart-pushing lady. This dumpling was the most horrendous piece of food I've ever eaten -- filled with disturbingly crunchy, some kind of gooey liquid, mysterious vegetable particles, and chock full of cilantro. NO. Yuck. The couple other pork dumplings we picked out were also stuffed full of cilantro and pretty unappetizing. Even my dining pal, who adores cilantro, refused to eat more than a bite of those. The har gow and shumai tasted super starchy and gross, like they've been sitting in the steamer for way too long; the glutinous dough on the har gow was disintegrating. The chive and shrimp dumplings and the flat rice noodle rolls, which are pretty standard dim sum fare, were nowhere to be found. Also, we found a strange $7 charge in the "Extras" field on our bill that wasn't drinks, tea, or special plates. I would've asked about it, except the waiters had no interest in helping us once they've added up our check. Psh. Maybe I caught them on an off-day, but knowing that I can get reliable, consistent quality at Hei La Moon, I'd be less likely to coming back to China Pearl over there.
(2)Vina A.
So for many months I was lamenting about the sad state of Chinese food in Boston (Please send me your recommendations!) and risk offending people when I tell them about my bad experience at the Gourmet Dumpling House. So yesterday some kind friends took us to China Pearl to have some dim sum and really, it was not that bad. I felt at home with the Chinese banquet decor and hot steam carts. The food was nothing outstanding but decent, pretty decent, yup. The Good: Steamed Shrimp glass dumpling - solid. go ahead and order it Sticky Rice - has chicken and mushrooms. pretty tasty Veggies - hard to get this wrong. Soft tofu - slurpy yumminess The Meh to the Bad: Shumai - standard. i'm not a fan so... Pork ribs - standard, nothing great or particularly good about it. Taro thing - why do they serve it cold all the time? not tasty when cold people. not tasty. Turnip cake - not enough turnip, too much flour... not good. Steamed roast pork bun - too sweet. a little sad looking. do not get. Nothing so great but nothing so bad that I spit it out.. but then again, maybe me standards are lowered for chinatown... sorry. hope this is helpful!
(2)Sara V.
We came here for dim sum while in town for our anniversary. We found it on Yelp and since we were staying down the block, decided to give it a try. It did not disappoint! The BBQ pork buns were sweet, savory, fluffy, and divine. The shumai were little pockets of yummy. The carts came fast and furious (thank goodness... we were starving), but regular service left a little to be desired (aka standard for most dim sum places). On top of the carts, they have a buffet of items as well. I'm not sure what was in there.... all I know is my hubs walked back saying "yeah you don't eat that." Two things that rubbed me the wrong way: 1.) The girls PUSHED their items. I know they always do that, but I felt these women went above and beyond. I am trying to eat... not argue why I don't want your steamed dumplings. 2.) We were kicked out of our table! Granted, I'd had the check on the table.... but please don't rush me. We still had food on our plates. They came by with fresh plates, chopsticks, and napkins. I get it. Turn around is off the hizzy on a Sunday morning Dim Sum restaurant, but let me finish my meal darnit. China Pearl gets crowded fast. Thank goodness they have a 2nd floor. I recommend arriving by 10A to have a seat. Otherwise, you'll be waiting awhile. We'll definitely come back, but after we try a few other places in the area. The food is super tasty, don't get me wrong, but I want to try Hei La and Empire Garden!
(4)Ann K.
Made our annual visit to China Pearl while in town for the NE Restaurant show and we were not disappointed. I was a little worried after reading some recent reviews but it was exactly as I remember from last year. We got lucky that the cart with the baked pork buns was at our table as we were seated so we started off with my personal favorite. We went on to sticky rice that was really good along with a couple type of dumplings and shumai. Carts were moving quickly today so we were in and out in plenty of time for my husband to go setup for the show! Looking forward to next year's visit!
(4)Abby L.
Ew, this place was gross! We went to a wedding banquet here and it was just awful. The service was horrendous, like they would roll their eyes at us when we dared to ask for water. The food was just disgusting. There wasn't really anything palatable, I would never go back.
(1)Catherine W.
Went for an early morning dim sum, around 9am. We were seated right away. All the dim sum choices tasted great, including the specialty items in the small side buffet (beef brisket, very good). This place still holds up after all these years.
(4)David W.
You have to climb up some tight stairs to get to this place. Keep this in mind if you're coming with your grandparents. The dim-sum was so-so. Maybe it's not a thing in Boston, but the people pushing the carts should carry cooking scissors like they do in Cali. We had 10 people sitting to a table and it was such a pain sharing all the food. It was sad cause the adults would be nice and say "it's ok" just to avoid the pain of breaking dim-sum apart with chop sticks. All the kids and seniors ate, I don't they they did....=/
(3)Stephie W.
What a disappointment for weekend brunch. I came here with a group of 9 for dim sum on a Sunday. We were seated immediately (much to the chagrin of a bunch of customers who'd arrived before we did). However, it was next to impossible to flag down the carts, dishes were served cold, and we spent a half hour having run out of water, tea, and food at our table before deciding to leave. At the end, I was hungry for more food...and vengeance. tl;dr: The subpar service here will ruin your appetite. Try Chau Chow City or Empire Garden for dim sum instead.
(1)Nina N.
Did you know they charged for tea? 50 cent per person for a pot of tea, but you get refills so thank goodness. Just tip the top of the tea pot and a waiter will come and refill your tea pot. Anyways, my favorite tea is chrysanthemum tea and I would ask that sugar be added to it. If you don't ask when you are seated then you will get the cheap tea. Other than the condiments already on the table, soy sauce, red chili paste and hot mustard, you can also ask for tobasco sauce. I prefer the red chili paste though. Here is what I normally eat and recommend. Scary Chicken Feet- Lol. I added the "scary" part because since I was little, I was told that young children should not eat chicken feet otherwise our hands would shake and my father would do a very impressive tremble to ward my siblings and I away from the plate of chicken feet. When I grew older, my father confessed that it was something that adults said to scare the children and so that they can have the chicken feet all to themselves. Lol. China Pearl makes this dish pretty well. If done perfectly, the skin should slide off of the bones, it should be soft and very flavorful. It should be covered in a brown sauce. Don't go for the pale white stuff because that is NOT what I am talking about. Shrimp dumplings (ha cao) and lobster dumplings (no more lobster dumplings on menu): I know some review writers complain that some of the food is very bland, well, some are supposed to be. And that's why there is a dipping sauce. The lobster dumpling is pretty flavorful by itself but you can add a little extra saltiness by dipping them in soy sauce. I love to mix in my soy sauce a little of the chili paste. You know, the red sauce next t o the yellow one. Shu mai- like a pork and shrimp dumpling, goes into the chili paste. I like spicy, you can probably guess that right? This is a must in all dim sum meal. It's just the way I do things. Hmm. Not sure what to call this one. It's a shrimp rice roll. Comes in three rolls with shrimp wrapped inside. I usually ask for extra sauce. This shrimp version of this dish is better than the beef one. The bread roll version with the scallions and cilantros is also very good. I'd eat that too. Tripe with ginger and scallion- this one is really good alone for the first few bites so you know what it is supposed to taste like then I would dip it in the red chili paste. I just love the heat from the ginger in this dish. Chili and salted shrimp- with heads attached! Did you know that shrimps with their heads taste sweeter than ones without their heads attached? You get this from the food bar. Skip the calamari. Snails in black bean or oyster sauce and clams in oyster sauce also from food bar. Go, get up and check it out. Bring your slip. You suck the snail out. Forget the toothpick. You will be there forever. Pork or beef intestine dish, like a stew. You get this from the food bar. When you see it you will know what I am talking about. Do not confuse with the condensed pig blood stew which is also good too. Other dishes that are pretty good include the rice congee. I love the chicken one, but I also love the egg one too. Egg one is a bit unique. You might find it taste a bit rotten. Lol, because it is sort of. Sticky rice dishes, the rice plate with the clear up side down glass bowl on top of the brown sticky friend rice. Fried tofu with shrimp paste is also very yummy comes with the lady with the cart with tofu cooking in this brown liquid sauce. Crispy fried taro something dish (lol) in the fried food cart and also good from there is the shrimp and leek fried dumpling. Hot tofu in sweet ginger syrup is the best desert to end the meal with. It comes with the lady pushing a cart with a small barrel and a pitcher of yellow lyrcorice sauce. She scoops it out and pours the syrup over the tofu for you. I would skip all of the dim sum noodle dishes served here and all of the other fried rice dishes. They are bland and oily. Gross. Now use your condiments wisely. And of course, see my pictures. :)
(4)Bailey Z.
You can always rely on a Chinese restaurant to be open on Thanksgiving day. We came here in the morning with my friend's family to satisfy my dim sum cravings. The food was average at best, but when you live in Vermont, beggars can't be choosers. We had the usual meal filled with shu mai, hao gao, and my obligatory xiao long bao. I was very disappointed by most of their dumpling dishes because the dumpling skin was very mushy and overcooked. It broke apart upon picking them up. The xiao long baos were some of the worst I've had. There was no soup at all, the skin was thick and tough, and the pork stuffing was mushy. The beef noodles were tasteless and the beef was tough to chew. I did enjoy a few things. The fried crab balls were exceptionally good - fried to a golden brown crisp and filled with crab flavor. The Hong Kong pan-fried noodles were also good and tasted much better compared to the beef noodles. I've heard that Boston isn't that great for dim sum so my expectations were low, but thinking of home food made me realize that the Chinese food here leaves much to be desired.
(2)Tina W.
its suppposed to be 3 star but they have varies of food and some of them are delicious so much so legitly it's gonna be a four star thing. wait, dont read comment, cuz its pretty much confusing
(4)Stephanie L.
A glass of tea in my hand while I'm waiting for the rest of my group to arrive? Why thanks so much China Pearl! This was my first experience when walking in the door, and set the tone for the whole visit. We had a group of about a dozen, but this was no problem with the large tables in the back of the restaurant. We arrived at 11 am, so the carts were full and rotating around the restaurant filled with food and passing by all tables often. Where we sat was on a platform in the back, and I have to give you a warning about this location. Obviously, the carts can not traverse the step to make it up on the platform. Not a big problem, but what it did mean was that the person sitting closest to the step was responsible for all of our food acquisition. (Normally it is a more democratic process when carts can approach from any side of the table.) Next time, I'll opt for a table on the main floor so the food can approach from all sides. The food itself was fantastic, with the more "adventurous" dishes like tripe and chicken feet, classics ranging from all variety of dumplings to the bbq filled sweet buns, and delicious finishers in a tasty mango pudding. I'm leaving off about 20 of the other plates that came to our table because I honestly have no idea what they are called, but assure you they were all well prepared and yummy! (Veggies, fried things, seafood, a tapioca looking soup, etc.) Tea was refilled regularly, as were waters, and our plates were constantly cleared from and replenished to the tables. We all finished up our 90 minute visit with full bellies and barely a dent in the wallet. (About $15/ person including tip!) I highly recommend going with a large group so you can try a wide variety of dishes, but also saw plenty of tables of 2 or 4, so you can enjoy the experience either way.
(4)Angel C.
I had my first dim sum experience here, and it was a mind-blowing experience. Never had I had so many little morsels, all delicious, in one meal, brought to me in little carts! And for under $15! That day, some 12 or so years ago, I became a dim sum addict. If you've never had dim sum and are adventurous, try it all, and don't worry about what you're eating. The descriptions don't do the flavors justice. Just try it! That's my dim sum motto. This is one of the better dim sum places in Boston, and the service has actually gotten friendlier through the years.
(4)Ashley G.
Went here once and it was awful. Ordered a scorpion bowl and there was a fly in it. After that of course the waiter was suddenly nice to me, but before I told him there was a fly in my drink he was really rude. Would never go back there. Not to mention, the food was absolutely horrible! And I hardly ate out of fear of bugs in my food. Don't even know how this place gets 3 stars.
(1)Eric F.
Had a chance to try dinner here for a school function and it was very average. Our party ordered a variety of dishes including shrimp pan-fried noodles, lemon chicken on a sizzling plate, lemon duck on a sizzling plate, kung pao chicken, mu shu beef, clams with black bean sauce, spicy scallops with vegetables, and hong siu ban nam bo (fried fish, braised tofu, meat, and assorted vegetables in a clay pot). Only the kung pao chicken stood out in the slightest and, funny enough, that and the mango pudding dessert were the highlights of the meal...XD Bottom line? If you want good quality Hong Kong cuisine, go elsewhere.
(2)Ambrose C.
I used to go to this restaurant with my family often for dim sum when I was little. Today, I don't go here as often, because I think the food has declined somewhat in quality, but it's not a bad choice in terms of dim sum. I recently went with a party of approximately 13 people and we each paid about $9 including tax and tip for our bill. Here are some of the dishes that we had ordered: Siu Mai - Loosely means "cook and sell" in Cantonese Chinese. One dish has 4 pieces. I guess it was called that because it was a popular street food and the name stuck. Also known as the "Pork and Shrimp Dumpling". Each dish has four pieces. One of the first dishes that I try to see if the dim sum is good. Ha Gau - Literally means "shrimp dumpling" in Cantonese Chinese. Each dish has four pieces. Another one of the dishes that I try to see if the dim sum is good. Zha Leung Cheung Fun - Zha literally means "to fry". Leung means "two/pair". This consists of Yau Zha Gwai wrapped in a rice noodle roll. Yau Zha Gwai is like a fried dough. Also known as the "Chinese Fried Dough in Rice Noodle". Cha Siu Bau - Loosely means "roasted pork bun". Each dish has three pieces. Dan Taat - Dan means "egg" while Taat is an English loanword for "tart". Also known as the "Egg Tart". Each dish has three pieces. Lo Mai Gai - Loosely means "Glutinous rice chicken". This consists of a large sticky rice ball mixed with chopped up mushrooms, tiny bits of chicken, wrapped up in a moist lotus leaf. One dish has two wrapped packets. This is also known as the "Rice wrapped in a lotus leaf wrap". Lo Bak Go - "Lo Bak" can mean "turnip" or "daikon". "Go" means cake. This consists of fried slices of . Each dish has three large slices. This is also known as the "Turnip Cake". The Siu Mai and the Ha Gau were okay, decent at the best. The Zha Leung Cheung Fun was also okay, decent at the best. I don't think it is good compared to Winsor Dim Sum Cafe's version across the street. The Dan Taat was also okay. The Cha Siu Bau was decent, but it was different. Instead of the traditional white steamed bun, it was in a baked bun. The Lo Mai Gai was decent, but the girl next to me who also ate it thought it was strangely sweet, which is an unusual taste for a Lo Mai Gai. Overall, all the dishes were just okay, and somewhat greasy. I was really hungry at the time, and the dishes did their job in keeping my belly full. I have been here twice for company banquets arranged by the Chinese Professionals Network, and the food was also okay as well, particularly the fried rice and the lo mein noodles. The food overall is okay, nothing really spectacular from what I have eaten so far, dim sum or banquets but will only come back if a majority of my friends or family really want to.
(3)Adam A.
Stopped in for lunch (2 PM) and was the only person in the establishment. Ordered some standard General Gaus to go. C..C- general gaus...fatty chicken, not enough sauce, served w white rice and 2 pieces of broccoli. I have had plenty of General Gaus in CTown and this was definitely the worst. Considering that this place is open later than most others, I think the cuisine is for those who are already hammered. Might give it a try when I'm blackout...I will probably find the food more appetizing.
(2)Melissa C.
Myself and 8 other friends enjoyed a wonderful Dim Sum Sunday brunch here yesterday. The wait: It was a bit crowded at the hostess stand, but we didn't have to wait long since I had reserved a table in advance. My total wait was only about 5 minutes. The place is large, so despite being busy, it wasn't super-loud and hard to have a conversation with my friends. The service: The service was very good. The waitstaff were very pleasant and accommodating. Food presentation: The food is pushed around on carts and presented at table-side. There are premium-dishes available at a salad-bar-like display at one end of the restaurant. The lost-star: I did have to take a star off of my 5-star rating due to the fact that we had to wait until well after our meal began for water to be brought over, and it wasn't until we sought out someone and asked for it. Also, it wasn't refilled for us without prompting. When eating lots of salty Chinese food, lots of water is a necessity. Cost: We seemed to have ordered a lot of food and even got a few premium dishes. But our meal total was very reasonable at only $15 / person including tip.
(4)Wei W.
This place ranks as a "better" on my Dim Sum list - it doesn't make the "best" ranking because of the watered down tea and occasional lapse in service, but the food isn't so bad that it deserves a "good" or "poor". If I could give 3.5 stars, I would. It definitely helps to speak Cantonese here; otherwise, pointing at something that looks appetizing may not be the wisest of choices. I often take large groups of people who have never had dim sum to China Pearl because of the space, the experience, and the food. With two floors of spaciousness, you can easily fit 30 people at 3 tables. (Making sure they know what they want is another story.) The food, while it isn't the same as dim sum in NYC, is decent compared to other places in Chinatown. I'm a big fan of the shrimp dumplings, seafood dumplings, roast pork buns, clams in black bean sauce, and beef wrapped with flat noodles ("chern fun" for the Chinese). Their dinner banquet options aren't bad either, if you're there for a wedding banquet or New Year's celebration. Don't forget to take the check to the head server for price calculation at the end of your meal. Side note: it's fantastic that the cashier speaks English.
(4)Big S.
we always come here on xmas for dim sum. they bring food out very quickly and its a fun environment for the holiday. we do always leave satisfied and full and the food is great. all different dumplings, the shrimp are the best. they have good shumai. there could be more greens, but you can get them at the steam table. the language barrier can be an issue at times and occasionally its hard to find something specific. we did wait today for sesame fried balls as the carts coming by without them. overall good place, would try some others as well.
(4)Skye G.
China Pearl is still my family favorite for Dim Sum. I love the hot bar where I can go up and get a plate of mussels, clams, or snails (yes and yum) in a rich brown bean sauce. They have great Dim Sum and it is always busy so I either go early between 9-10 before the actual kitchen is open for menu items (@11) or later after the rush. If you go too late things are slim. Dim Sim ends around 3 pm. I am not a fan of this place for dinner or meals strictly Dim Sum. It is also better to go, if you can, with a group so you can order an assortment of items and taste a few different things. They stamp your menu ticket when you order and total it up in the end. There are small, medium, and large plates and you get stamped according to the size of the dish. If you are a small party then be prepared to sit at a large table with others you don't know. It is common practice to fit everyone in to eat - if there is a seat - fill it.
(4)Amanda B.
Came here with two friends on a Sunday for Dim Sum. We got there around 10 so we were able to sit right away. The sticky rice is loaded with goodness. We were all huge fans of the pork bun as well as the donuts which were like sugar coated pop overs. So yummy.
(4)Nikhil P.
At the end of our meal a mouse skirted past the floor of the table beside us. Told the waiter and he shooed it away. Then it came back. So I shooed it away. Then it ran across the floor a few tables away from us. Then we left. Need I say more? Eat at your own risk.
(1)John R.
My last two visits for dinner and then Dim Sum were not the China Pearl I used to know. Dinner was acceptable but just average and I ordered fairly standard dishes for this restaurant. The Dim Sum was about 1:30 on a Sunday and that shouldn't not be that late and there were no carts for like almost 20 minutes and when the waiter was putting a dish of spare ribs on the table, he snapped at my brother's wife in Chinese about not putting the bones on the table. I still really like the Quincy location and I am disappointed that this place is no longer the great place I used to know. Lo Mai Gai still good.
(2)Natsuki K.
Woulda given this place 4 if it wasn't for their rude attitude. The waiter was really chill, food was great, dark&stormy was tasty. However, after we paid the check, they wouldn't let us leave because the amount we paid "not enough". We definitely paid the amount plus tax, and each of gave an average of 10-13% tip. I guess they wanted 20? got a bit too greedy..... in short, never going again .
(2)Ben F.
This was my first dim sum experience, so keeping that in mind... it was great. The dim sum way of ordering is great - it's harder to waste food, and with two people in our group of four who love almost all Chinese food, everything was eaten. The food itself, of course, was excellent; it's a tossup whether I liked the sticky rice or the shrimp dumplings more. There wasn't a single food item that I didn't like at all. I have yet to compare this to other dim sum locations in Boston, or elsewhere for that matter, but for now, China Pearl has a strong place as a personal favorite that I can give an unqualified recommendation of.
(5)Jeremy B.
Its maddening. The options within these few city blocks continue to surprise me, after eating my way around here for 15 years. One thing that I always miss about Boston's Chinatown is that a certain level of authenticity and quality seem to be prerequisites for success. In any other shitty New England town, or even the Chinatowns of Manhattan and Montreal, for that matter, many of the "staple" restaurants seem to rest on their stale, gooey, uninspired laurels, from my experiences. Boston--hell no. There is a fierce, yet understated fight--I mean, this is eastern and southern Chinese cuisines we're talking about, not Sichuanese hot pot-- for the best dim sum and the best Xiao long bao. As of right now, China Pearl has become my front runner. I can't, for the life of me, predict how and when all of the variables align for a stellar dim sum. It was Friday, barely noon. Every cart rolled by, every pork morsel fresh, every fried taro thing crispy. The things I call "kaya bao", egg/coconut custard in a steamed bun (but not the kaya bao that use pandan leaf in Malaysia/Singapore), were almost as good as the Nonya versions. The tofu skin stuffed with who-cares-unless-you-are-allergic-to-something stuff was really well executed; tightly wound bundles in a lightly thickened chicken broth. But what surprised me most: these black pepper pan fried dumplings, perfectly seasoned with black pepper, pork and scallions, in a crisp yet moist dumpling, and a ginger/vinegar dipping sauce on the side. Chinatown is oftentimes my own personal utopia. I've spent my life trying to understand it, how and why it survives as a culture both similar to its ancestral land and quite distinct. One shared characteristic: this kind of food is for families, working people , meant to eat together, and to be enjoy; and the standards are of the utmost importance. (When you go into a grocery store in China, watch: the old folks will be inspecting each and every morsel of food that goes into the basket, because compromised ingredients will not be tolerated). And eating this food must be affordable. The folks in Chinatown (unlike those in other, more storied ethnic enclaves) aren't going to subtly try to empty your bank account for subpar crap, or try to wow you with the newest gimmicky chef's foie gras baozi or beef tartar jiaozi, or some other nonsense. "Let's *elevate* cheap, simple, well balanced 'ethnic' food so we can *elevate* our income". Concept dining. Sure, but most Asian dining "concepts", like dim sum and hot pot, are cheaper, tastier, and win, hands down, over the new world imitators.
(4)Timi C.
Visited on a Saturday afternoon when the wait across the street at Winsor was 30 minutes. I must admit that I've been spoiled with amazing dimsum growing up in Flushing, NY, but China Pearl really gave me something to compare it to. Upon arrival, we were directed upstairs to an unexpectedly huge dining hall. There were carts going around with fresh dishes, a much appreciated detail. We got some pretty standard dishes that were all very fresh and delicious. The one surprise was that the chive dumplings had shrimp in them. I'm mildly allergic to shrimp, but just bewarned that they tend to add shrimp as filler in some dishes when they're low on some other ingredients (ie. chives). The bill came out to about $17 for the two of us, a very reasonable price. I will definitely be back in the future!
(4)Judy L.
Came here for a club function, so let me say it in the beginning, I don't know how much everything cost because it was on the club's bill. Woohoo! We were seated on the 3rd level of the restaurant, which appeared to be reserved only for large groups like us since the dim sum carts don't go up to the 3rd floor. Instead, they just take all the dishes up, put them in the front, and then we go and grab whichever ones we wanted. It was an interesting system, but it worked! The food overall was pretty good, but me, perhaps being a bit too spoiled with outstanding dim sum places in California, did not find this place worthy of 4 stars, not yet. Dishes I'd recommend: egg tart, fried taro dumpling thing, and shrimp dumpling.
(3)Laura B.
I'm hesitant to say "I've had better" when this was my first legitimate Sunday brunch dim sum experience ever, but something tells me somewhere's gotta be better than this place. On first glance, I was very excited about this place: the steep staircase/potential death trap, the hall of mirrors, the dozens of people waiting to get in...I anticipated a dim sum fun-house extravaganza. Our group of 12 came out to $11 a head, although I will say we did a pretty solid job of trying every identifiable food. That said, I ate many things I cannot aptly describe, mostly in shapes I would consider "round." Shrimp dumplings were good, and the egg custard dessert-type pastries were standouts. Anything with pork in it was a little shady (even though historically I LOVE char siu bao). What knocks the stars off for me: the mirrors next to our table severely needed a windexing. The service was just generally unfriendly/pleasant, fortunately I was with a large group of friends. I was fine with the weak descriptions of the food, but I feel like Sunday brunches are supposed to be somewhat genial. I don't need to have dim sum slung at me in the same way I would expect a used car to be. Point being, if you're someone who eats out for ambiance in addition to food (and are going out solo or with only your +1), eat elsewhere. If you're hungry, pressed for time, and with a large group, eat at China Pearl. It's definitely an experience.
(3)Kim K.
Here's the thing about Dim Sum: the places are all sketchy, the service sucks, you barely know what exactly it is that you're eating, and you walk out feeling MSGed, sodium overloaded, and like you need a 5 hour nap. All of that said, at the right place with an great group of friends, Dim Sum is awesome. China Pearl is good, I prefer Chau Chow City I think though. Sesame and pork buns, YES PLEASE. Endpoint: I can take or leave Dim Sum. Mostly leave.
(2)Ziliang Y.
worst Dim sum ever
(1)Henry P.
- Quiet - Dark - Dreary - Dingy these are the words that I use to describe China Pearl. The lighting in the dining room was very low and dingy which just gave everything such a gloomy feel. Its like you can really feel sadness in the air I've been here 3
(3)Sally R.
Went at about 3 on a Friday, so I suppose it makes sense that there were only 5 other people there. Staff was taking advantage of the down time to visibly chat and socialize by the bar, but I don't mind because I recently had the conversation with someone that in a way anything goes in old school Chinese restaurants. Ordered the short ribs, variety of steamed dumplings and shrimp noodles. Everything was pretty good, especially the ribs. I mostly love the atmosphere of dim sum, the agressive, pushy ladies selling the small plates. Its a vibe you get nowhere else. China Pearl basically gets the job done if your craving some dim sum, but there's a spot right across the street that makes their dimsum fresh to order across the street if you want Great.
(3)Guillermo M.
This place was delicious, authentic and I encountered excellent customer service. We were received by a hostess that spoke perfect English and realized that it was out first time here so she was helpful and explained how it works. It was not my first time eating dim sum in an authentic place but appreciated that she was helpful. We had the mussels, shrimp and pork dumplings and they were all excellent. The tea was really good too and the best of all is that it was not expensive at all. The experience overall was great and I would come back whenever I am craving dumplings. The only thing I didn't like is that they don't have the "soup dumplings", the ones that are very fragile and have soup inside. They are my favorite and I am not sure why they don't carry them anymore.
(4)Allison V.
I must note that I have never gone after 2pm and each time was on a weekend. Regardless, the experience is always wonderful. I have never had to wait longer than 20 minutes to be seated. Maybe I am lucky, but I have gone about 5 times and this has always been the case. The carts come around quickly and the food is delicious. I get almost anything with chicken or pork, sometimes shrimp. Everything is great! I honestly have not tried something I haven't liked. The best part about this place is you can pick so much food and the price is not bad. I always average around $10 per person and with the amount and variety of food we get that is absolutely an amazing price. Service is a bit hectic though as carts are all over the place. If you have a particular item in mind you may have to wait a while before it arrives. They give you free green tea. If you ask for water, they give it to you in a tiny cup and refills can take a while. This is also not the place to bring picky eaters or vegetarians. A vegetarian came with me once and there wasn't much for him to eat. He did not enjoy the place as much as us. I love their vanilla bean buns. I sometimes go just to buy an order of these to take home.
(4)Kevin L.
1 star for their dim sum. Lacking flavor. Super greasy. Found hair in their tripe dish. China Pearl used to be a decent dim sum restaurant. The iconic China Pearl sign and the mirrors in the entrance. That's what I remembered from my childhood. Don't recall any good memories of their dim sum. Now Hei La Moon is king. I rather wait in line there then eat here again. The decor has been the same for years and China pearl is in need of a feng shui update and new chef.
(1)Karl B.
I was wandering Chinatown with my fiancé and we needed food. We had not tried many places there before, so we went with the one about which my fiancé had read a bit. Chine Pearl had received good reviews and I wanted to try dim sum. We must have arrived at an odd time. No other customers were present at the time and people were running around in preparation for an event. That wasn't much of a bother, though. Upon being seated, our waiter asked if I wanted any alcohol. I did not, but nothing else was offered and the menus showed nothing. I stayed with the bland tea that was provided. Upon looking at the menu, it was nothing but the usual food that you could find at any local, cheap Chinese restaurant. It was just more expensive. There was no sign of dim sum anywhere. The waiter would disappear for long periods and didn't especially listen. We waited a while for our food, although the kitchen might have been busy with preparing for the event. To my surprise, the food was downright massive. It was far more food than we could eat. I wouldn't have minded if not for the fact that the food had no taste whatsoever. My chicken egg foo young was essentially a heavy thing with a brown, soupy goop. My fiancé had something involving duck, but he couldn't finish it. We weren't impressed. The biggest issue was when another set of people came and they were immediately asked if they wanted dim sum by the same waiter that we had. And then another couple appeared and they were asked if they wanted dim sum. As the only white people there, it immediately felt that we were not offered simply because of our skin colour. After filling ourselves with bland fare, we just wanted to leave. The waiter simply disappeared. We sat forever, glancing about in the hopes of spotting him. Eventually I saw him on his cell phone. Eventually he came over and asked us if we wanted to take any home with us, but he didn't even wait for our response before walking away. So much for trying dim sum.
(1)Susan K.
I've been to this place twice and I really wish I knew how to speak Chinese. Cause almost the entire time, the staff would push their cart to our table and start speaking Chinese on what the dish is. Unfortunately, all I could ask was to let me see the dish and ask "Chicken? Beef? Shrimp?" How unfortunate. Waiting for a seat was no problem. The place was huge. Two floors, lots of tables. Good for big groups. I'll admit, the dim sum was pretty oily but it was a fast way for one to get full. Not sure what the price of each dish was and what it was based on but I know it wasn't that expensive. Pretty affordable. Again, I highly recommend bringing a Chinese friend along who speaks the language to know exactly what you're eating. There were some times where I had no idea what I was eating...all I care was that it tasted good. However, I know what a chicken feet looks like, and that's one thing I choose not to eat out of personal preferences... If you don't have a Chinese friend, make one! Not only are they good people but can definitely help you order the right food at Chinese restaurants!
(2)Heather G.
Edit for note: If you come in the later-hours, say around 2:00, your options will reduce to the same, sad cart coming around with a woman pushing the same plate of garlic shrimp you saw sitting there an hour ago. Because they want to get rid of their cooked-food at these end-of-dim-sum hours, and because there are far fewer patrons eating at 2:00 pm, the carts just stand and wait until you sit down, then come at you one after another in a row...over and over and over. Roughly every 45 seconds, expect to be interrupted with another cart of the same few choices you had 45 seconds ago. The servers/cart pushers become very pushy at this hour, attempting to unload the last of the food for the day. They've even gone so far to lift lids and begin to place things on your table before you've agreed to purchasing them. If you are eating here in the late-afternoon, be prepared to be a bit more aggressive with saying no, and be prepared to have your options significantly reduced to a few stale choices. 3-stars if you come before noon, 2 starts if you go later in the afternoon
(3)Neil B.
I live in NYC so I have not been to the China Pearl in a while but based on my previous (many) trips there several years ago, as good as dim sum is in NYC, The Pearl makes it best! The dishes I miss the most: The tofu and shrimp and lo bor kow cooked right on the cart and the lotus leaf nor me gai. I see from recent reviews they may have slipped a bit, but I'll keep my memories of the place as a 5-star until I get back to Boston and experience differently! Do prepare to wait a while unless you know someone and it does help to speak at least a little Chinese!
(5)Kelly W.
Not the best, but decent. We did have a large group later in the night, but the service was not the best. Our waiter was not very patient, and didn't help much. The food was ok, but I've been to better places in Chinatown. The prices were decent, especially for such a large group of college kids splitting the bill. Didn't have the dim sum though, so that might have been better (since that's what they're mostly reviewed for)
(2)Shao H.
If you have a big group, it is easy to find a place there. The dim sum and tea there is ok.
(3)douglas h.
Dim Sum Good whenever I want to switch it up for dim sum
(3)Kim M.
there wasn't much variety to the dim sum menu and the service was the worst. Our dishes arrived one at a time. I'm chinese-american&I went with a group of my american friends. There was definitely a xenophobic vibe from the servers and we only received better service once I started speaking in Mandarin to them. The food is decent but not worth the way the establishment treated us. Definitely a cheap meal though - a group of 7 of us only had to pitch $5 each to pay for the check.
(3)Miguel L.
When I first visited China Pearl, I did so in a state of disbelief. My Chinese partner had told me it had the best roast duck she had in the East Coast, which is hard to conceive coming from a city like Providence (RI) or Fairfax (VA), where the good food scene is... well, below adequate. $40 is what you pay for a full, sliced duck with its skin and delicious steam buns. It is pricier than in the West Coast, but worthed for this savory, tender heaven of culinary enlightenment. This is the best second duck I have ever had, ranking number one in the East Coast. Bravo. Service is neither rude or polite, just functional. They take your order, they bring the food. No bells, no whistles. Straight to the point, which is good food; without looking after every breadcrumb you spill. Thank goodness. The decor is almost industrial. It is an excellent space for large groups, especially business or weddings. When we went there (twice now) the space was almost empty. Do not miss the geometrical layout with the podium at the end of the room, with a fiery dragon of glowing red eyes. Who cares, really? It is the best roast duck around, period.
(4)Raj L.
One of the worst restaurants i have ever been. Rats and cockroaches everyehere. Not to mention the rude servers that smelled like cigarette smoke. Don't bother with this one. We left within five minutes of being seated.
(1)Raymond W.
Great word of mouth reviews and an award winner, but only average dim sum in my opinion. When I was a college student, I always thought China Pearl was suppose to be the best, but after about 4-5 visits I've decided that it lags behind Hei La Moon. The restaurant is chaotic during prime dim sum hours especially with people blocking the entrance/exit stair case and old Asian ladies body checking who are twice their weight (me). The dim sum is fairly standard, sometimes hot sometimes not. servers forget to refill water regularly, and slow to return with condiments. Maybe it's more average for an Asian restaurant than I thought.
(3)ZZZZ T.
Great Hong Kong style dim sum, replete with somewhat surly waitresses who do better showing the dishes than describing them. One needs to love a restaurant that serves up delicious authentic treats within two minutes of seating you; and then has the decency to keep tantalizing you with cartload and cartloads of the stuff. Show up early and bring an appetite. Most dishes come in under $3 a plate, so a feast isn't going to break the bank...
(4)Talisha M.
A-OK but chinese at 3am...jackpot! I am sure at 3am I would have given this place 5 stars for just being open after drinking and dancing all night. But thank god I can handle my liqour & have a pretty good memory...tried soup, egg rolls, szechuan beef, chicken fried rice, and a few other random items. I'm sure the drunken me would go back b/c it hit the spot for what we wanted, but no pearl in that oyster. You can trick me at 3am, but you can't trick my tastebuds at 3am!
(3)Janina T.
2 stars solely for the dim sum (I am a huge dim sum fan). Decent selection although I did miss out on the usual tofu fa (sp?). The service was extremely bland and borderline rude. The waiter servicing our table got kind of snippy with me when I asked for an extra chair. He kept asking how many we were...honestly, does it effing matter how many people we are going to have at the table? We're going to have how ever many chairs are currently at the table +1. i thought I was the only Asian who wasn't great at math. Guess there is more just like me out there. We weren't asked for any drink orders and had to flag one of the dim sum tray pushers for waters all around. Then when we went to pay the check, our server dude thought we were trying to gip him out on tip. No, homie, we're giving you your tip in cash. AKA, non taxed. AKA kiss my ass. If you're looking for GREAT dim sum with better service, walk a few minutes down to Essex st. Chau Chow City is where it's at.
(2)Boi-Linh T.
Do not highly recommend this place at all. It use be great food from large parties for big function to a small little plate for dim sum with your family. Over the last couple years, the restaurant went down hill. First, the quality of people..not enough staff in the restaurant and no friendly service from any staff. Second, the food quantity is small in portion. Where's the portion i use to have? Third, the atmosphere. This restaurant is in the middle of Chinatown. Do I see the sign and elevator working? How can an elderly person come up to attend a party or just for dim sum. Does the restaurant still need business for local people or are they focusing to new customer like foreigner, new immigrants or western only. Please think before you eat this place.
(1)Jessica L.
Love this place for dim sum, it reminds me of the high quality, wide variety of dim sum I used to get in San Francisco. Less of a wait here versus other dim sum spots in Chinatown.
(4)Shawn M.
China Pearl is a hot spot for Sunday Dim Sum. Note that it's Hong Kong Dim Sum. I'd been once before and remember having an ok(if not hungover) experience. Then I came with a party of people of Chinese decent. I could tell they weren't fans right away. It's hard to judge any authentic, if not good, regional cuisine as an outsider as we've been Sodiumized and McDonaldized to the umphteenth degree. I didn't think it was good second go around. My Chinese- American friends didn't either. It's dim sum, in the sense that they bring around food. But I got the idea that there were better opportunities out there.
(2)Bridget C.
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE! My two sisters and I took my 5 year old daughter here for her first dim sum experience! SHE LOVED IT!!! We got any and everything that was vegetarian! Dumplings, Chinese greens, turnip cakes, egg rolls, and these things that had some fried stuff wrapped with rice wrappers on the outside! Everything was fabulous! My daughter and I, who occasionally eat meat, tried the taro balls with ground meat inside. DELISH! There was a wonderful woman there who greeted us at the door and came over and checked on us throughout the meal and she was absolutely lovely! So nice really made it a great experience! While my daughter was in the bathroom I was waiting outside the stall for her and she was singing " I LOVE DIM SUM, IT TASTES LIKE CHICKEN FINGERS!" She cracks me up. On our way out of the bathroom I got to meet Todd English! WHOOHOO. What the heck! It was my lucky day!! Bottom line I may try other places for dim sum BUT it will never top this experience. I LOVE YOU CHINA PEARL!!! Can I also say TIP YOUR WAITERS AND WAITRESSES!!! The guy came running to us at the door thanking us and we only tipped him 20% which makes me think folks ain't tippin people! As a previous waitress I can tell you the bulk of your money comes from tips. SO PEEPS PAY UP IF SERVICE IS GOOD!!!!
(5)Kim N.
I've only been here for Dim Sum and they are always packed. Come with a Cantonese speaking person so that you can get a shorter wait ;) Dim Sum is ok (have had better) and I think this is the only place I've ever gone to for Dim Sum in Boston. Like that they have the black bean clams for Dim Sum, since I love them in general anywhere (a fave dish since I've been a kid). They have this great dish where they wrap banh cuon around chinese doughnuts, LOVE IT! I've never had it anywhere else, so now I am on the lookout for it when I have Dim Sum at home.
(3)Liz P.
I love Dim Sum and this is the place to go in Boston...it's the place we always go :) and actually, if you ask a random person on the street where to go for Dim Sum, they will tell you China Pearl!
(4)Sara C.
ok.....so boston isnt really known for their version of china town, but i'll give them a star for effort =) yes, its a small neighborhood and my local friend took us here for some dim sum. it was actually quite bustling here considering the other choices in the area. this place is on the 2nd floor...and theres also a 3rd floor. we got there around noon on a saturday and were seated immediately.......in back......waaaay back......which was ok by us since we sat next to a couple of locals who apparently frequents there becuz all the cart ladies and even the owner walked back to their table often so we had no problems calling them over for some food. they do have some unusual dishes i dont see often at other dim sum restaurants, but they pretty much had every other typical dim sum dishes. their egg tart looked like it had been sitting out awhile, their sweet tofu soup came in a small bowl, but still enough to share between 3 people. the fried bean roll wrapped in noodle was kinda bland. the place looks old and needs a little bit of renovation but overall the food and service was descent enough. the price wasnt bad either, 3 of us ate for about $35.
(3)Erin G.
i have read a lot about dim sum here, but never tried it. then i found out all my friends were dim summing and i realized the time had come. i'm sure you can come here without a mandarin interpreter. if you are willing to eat any and everything that gets wheeled around to you. i'm a pescetarian and can't risk that kind of russian roulette of dining so i called up dana b who called up ruby, our official dim sum ambassador. a group of us met downtown at 10AM one sunday morning. (including my mom who was all "...chinese, for breakfast?") we got right in and went up to their second floor dining room which was entirely empty. slowly the food carts started making their way around to us. ruby picked and choosed what everyone would eat, letting us know what to try and what we wouldn't like. she kept checking on tofu dishes for me. actually, when she would leave the table to check something out a cart would dive bomb us and the server would point to whatever they had and indicated we wanted it - we all looked around in panic and shooed them away. finally they just stopped doing it. my favorite items were the fried taro root, it was so sweet and creamy on the inside with a nest like fry on the outside. i also enjoyed the deep fried tofu (duh) and these little mushroom/bamboo wrappy things. oohh and the steamed shrimp dumplings. oh! and the coconut pudding and the tofu pudding! okay i liked EVERYTHING. also...$10 each at the end of the day, with food to take home. outrageous.
(4)Lauren B.
Dim sum was very disappointing. I've had dim sum all over the bay area in California and figured that Chinatown in Boston would have decent food. The dim sum was nothing exceptional but the real problem was the service. We were there over an hour and the same 4 carts went around and around with no change. We ended up only getting 4 dishes that turned out to be $24... seems a bit overpriced for mediocre food with bad service.
(2)brewgirl b.
Busy, busy location, but worth the wait. Very tasty food and very cheap. Good selection of dim sum, particularly if you dont eat red meat. Lots of fish and shellfish selections. Typical veggies (e.g., asian broccoli). Love the porridge served with pork and the black, preserved egg. And tapioca pudding for dessert. Ahhhh...
(4)Po L.
I have been coming here for years for DIM SUM. So go already.
(3)Celeste K.
As a girl who was spoiled by NYC's dim sum I thought I would be a harsh critic, but it was actually a great experience and tasty meal! We went at 11 and got seated right away, but as we were leaving the place was jam packed. However there is tons of seating so I don't think you would have to wait long. There is a good variety and even things I'd never had before. The carts come frequently so your table gets filled quickly with yummy foods.
(4)Brendon G.
Only been here once, about 8 years ago. It was completely loud and chaotic and tasty -- just like dim sum should be. My wife and i were seated at a table for 10 with three other groups. The couple across from us was an old chinese couple....the man completely ignored his wife, read his chinese newspaper and only grunted at her when she asked if he wanted some bite or more tea. Classic!
(5)Digital H.
Great Dim Sum, and dinner.. everyone comes here for dim sum, or at least the people i know. It does get really crowded sometimes but if your looking for dim sum in boston, this is the place to go.
(5)Marcia F.
Dim Sum is always a treat and China Pearl is a good place to get it. Yes, it is crowded and noisy on a Sunday but the wait is worth it and once you are seated the food comes immediately. We had plenty to eat for less than $8 per person. Our only disappointment was that they ran out of the fried dough noodle stuff that we love. Oh well, maybe next time.
(4)Naomi P.
This is a cheap restaurant in Boston, for standard dim sum food. The perfect Sunday treat. They don't allow you to order from the menu, but instead they go with the classical carts. They do offer a nice alternative, which is that they have a buffet stand on each floor with noodles, chicken, shrimp and vegetables, so you can get food immediately if you are starved. Don't forget to bring your bill with you so that they can mark it for you. I started with dessert. Custard buns, which are one of my favorite dishes. It was a good ratio of custard to bun. The shrimp rice roll was standard. The shrimp was good, but you have to like rice rolls. Some people hate it, and others love it. The chicken shitake bun was tasty and not too filling. I had a bunch of other stuff, mostly steamed dumplings and I don't think that there was a bad one in the bunch. I must say that the turnip cake was horrible. One of my friend's mom used to make us homemade turnip cake all the time, so I am very fond of the dish. I was disappointed at China Pearl. I thought that by frying the cakes table-side that the dish would be amazing, but it was just too mushy. Blech. I loved the shrimp from the buffet table. They were fried with the heads and sprinkled with salt. The fat noodles with beef were also a hit. Another time I'd like to try the clams with black bean sauce that were also in the buffet table.
(3)Julie C.
Best place for Dim Sum. I always get way too much food, so I can pack it up and eat it the next day. Sometimes I circle for 30 minutes to get a parking spot in C-town, especially on the weekends, but it is worth it to get my Dim Sum fix.
(4)Tiffany D.
I'd give it 5 stars if it was cleaner. Haha. It's one of the past dimsum's in Boston.. and it's HUGE!!!! I don't like it when I have to share my table with ppl tho (which happens when it's super busy!) But still the best shumai!!! :)
(4)Seafoodie R.
Best Dim Sum in Boston, with a fully packed house on the weekend expect a wait. Serving Dim Sum till 10PM every night but you have to order it from the menu. try the Shrimp and Pork Shumai, the Shark Fin dumplings (no actual sharkfin in them), the fried shrimp balls, salted shrimp (buffet line) the sticky rice wrapped in a leaf, steamed tripe (which is cow belly) with ginger and scallion and lots of water!!!!!!
(4)Lily C.
I've been having dim sum at China Pearl since I was in diapers and they are still my favorite!! Recently there have been a few new places that have popped up such as Hei La Moon (Beach St) and East Manor in Saugus, MA but China Pearl is still the place to go in my oppinion. The wait is usually around 20 minutes and don't go too late on the weekends - you want to go when its semi busy so all your food will be really fresh. It may be a bit dingy now since they've been open for about 30+ years but that's all part of the dim sum experience. You need to appreciate the tacky decor, the little old chinese man screaming numbers out, and the cart ladies that don't speak a lick of english. Okay now down to what to order : The shrimp rolls are a must - always crunchy. yum. Three treasures and only get the tofu, forget the eggplant and green pepper because those are always mushy. Shrimp balls from here are consistently good and my friends from out of town always request to come here for them. My mom really likes the clams from here and you can find them up at the side bar. Finally, finish with some sweetened warm tofu pudding, and forget ordering the mango stuff with the little umbrellas. Remember to actually drink the tea because it helps you cleanse and digest.
(4)Jared G.
With packed lines trailing out the doors most Saturdays and Sundays, even in the dead of winter, China Pearl is the gold-standard in Boston dim summing. From the savory flavor bursts that are its shrimp dumplings, to the pillowy sweetness of its Cha Shu Bao (sweet pork buns), China Pearl consistently delivers. Along with the traditional fare on the carts and jasmine tea, there's a large selection of delectables at the central buffet. Scallops, bok choy, and chinese broccoli are not to be missed. Also, you can order specialty teas, like Ba Bao Cha (eight treasures tea, which are great if you're looking to try something new). I try to get there before 12, as a general rule of thumb, since tables fill up rapidly until 2.
(4)Dana B.
This is the only place that I have ever had Dim Sum, but it was very tasty. It came highly recommended by my friend Ruby, a Dim Sum afficianado, and she assisted us in pointing at foods that she thought we would enjoy - and enjoy we would. What is fantastic is that if you're really hungry there is food on your table in less than one minute. It's also huge so there is never a wait for a table. It's great for bringing large groups and does not end up being expensive in the end. You will leave very full and having only spent about $10-$15.
(4)Melissa C.
I went here on the weekend and this place was PACKED! You had to jab people with elbows just to get your name on the list. Despite that, we were eating in maybe 10 minutes. The staff was busy, but friendly and responsive. They slapped pork in a good 80% of the food, but I still had plenty of options. I enjoyed eating it... but... on the downside... my friend got REALLY sick afterwards. I felt a little bit ill, but my friend (who is a bit more delicate than I) was incapacitated. I'd go back though. You've got carts of food rolling around, a little food poisoning is just a predictable cost of getting to eat this way.
(3)Iska B.
I went to this place because of recommendations through word of mouth that it was the "best place in Boston for dim sum". I've been there a few times now and while it's not perfect I'll probably keep going there. It's pretty fun and definitely not your ordinary brunch. The good: I found the food to be very good. Good quality and a diverse selection. There was enough options to please everyone and we definitely got seconds of our favorites (I love all the buns and dumplings the most, no matter the filling). Can't really go wrong with anything deep fried right? I personally try to ask what things are before going ahead and getting something that turns out to be tripe (which grosses me out but my friend loves). The bad: It's super super crowded on weekends. I've been there on Saturday and Sunday and it's always a wait. If you come with a small crowd you usually end up sharing a table if you want to be seated sooner rather then later. Don't come late either. I believe dim sum ends sometime between 1-2PM but coming at 12:30 is not good. By the time you get seated and settled there aren't as many food carts going around and your options are limited. It sucked actually because I didn't end up getting my favorite thing (dunno what the proper name is but they are lotus seed paste buns). So word to the wise, get out of bed and come early, you will have a better time. The language barrier can also be frustrating, especially if you don't know anything about dim sum. I've found that the servers upstairs knew more English and were more helpful but maybe that was just me. It helps to have a friend that knows more. In all I say it's a good place for dim-sum. Until I try another place I can't say "the best" but it is worth a look.
(4)Huan z.
One of my friend's favorite restaurant. Just because... he is from Canton. If you like seafood, and meat. This is the place to go. You might also find the way you ordering food is interesting, since they push little cart with food to you and you can pick any food from any cart you want. For me, it's very greasy, and too much protein, I rather eat some food more healthy.
(3)So S.
Best Dim-Sum Place in MA. I admit that good dim-sum is lacking in Boston, but this is the best you will find. It's nothin compared to SF (Koi Palace!! wow) or NY, but its all we got. The other chinese food here is ok, but mostly for non-Asians and tourists. If you want good chinese food, go to any of the smaller restaurants in Chinatown.
(3)Terance L.
Decided to try this place for dinner since we weren't going to have time to try the dim sum. Dinner was ok but nothing to brag about. The place was empty when we got there and it was only 8:00pm. It seemed a little odd but we were hungry and wanted to eat before heading back to the hotel. One thing that put a damper on the evening was a mouse that was running around and hiding by the stereo equipment which my wife couldn't get over. For some reason, it kept making a squeaking noise. Anyways, I Hope the dim sum is better which everyone seems to like but that will have to wait until next time to try. But then again, maybe not if mice are running around.
(2)Angel S.
Go for dim sum and nothing else. I went for dinner once and you must be warned that there is a chinese menu and an american menu... guess what, the food is different for both too. Not so good for Americans.
(3)Laura A.
please note: you go UPSTAIRS to go to this place, which is probably blatantly obvious to everyone except me, who sat down in the random chinese restaurant downstairs and wondered where the dim sum was. d'oh. not exactly veg friendly, but i should've expected as much. the dumplings were great though and i really liked the bamboo shoots and mushrooms wrapped in fried tofu skin. a lot of things seemed to needlessly have meat in them..i.e. fried tofu in a puddle of meat juice and potato pancake type things with meat in them. my boyfriend really liked having a fried meal as his first meal of the day (probably because he was a little hungover, and he's also a very adventurous eater) but me not so much. it was definitely interesting though - if i was omni i'd probably go back and try more things, but for now, i'll stick to the vegetarian dim sum place in new york for my next trip. also, none of us really enjoyed the alternately slimy or gristly nature of the food..but my landlord who emigrated from china said he really enjoys dim sum, so it's obviously some cultural difference there. an extra star for the guy at the bar who was doing shots and drinking heineken at noon (not eating, just drinking at china pearl)
(3)Carol P.
what a great place for some good ol dim sum! the classic boston establishment..anyone who is anyone knows about this dim sum extravaganza! the carts moving around with little dishes on em.. try the squid.. and the shrimp rolls. haacheung.. hahah good ol dim sum
(4)Kate B.
Beyond grotesque. If this is one of the best in Boston, I'm scared. Oily rubberized chicken "product" and a glass pie plate full of what looked like vomit (turned out to be silken tofu and "vegetables" in some disgusting gelatinous sauce) along with a giant grease laden scallion pancake made for a positively revolting meal. Needless to say we left most of it behind. No more Chinese food for me. Ever.
(1)Mina I.
Good bet for dim sum.. I have gone here several times for lunch during the week with coworkers. I have never had a long wait here and always have more than enough to eat for really reallly cheap! If you can, go with someone who speaks Chinese - it makes for a much easier dining experience!
(3)payton c.
It's my grandmother's favorite, which says a lot; I find it a bit heavy on the fried stuff. As usual for dim sum, sit by the kitchen for the freshest stuff, and don't be afraid to try something new - you're only risking a few bucks, after all. Never had anything off the menu, but if you want something in particular just ask for it.
(4)Soodee C.
best dim sum in the city. you should shoot for 10-11 am. i find anytime after that very annoying (long lines, people pushing and shoving to get in and out). if I'm not mistaken, i think they serve Chrysanthemum tea . it helps to unclog your heart as you are chowing down on pork buns and fried tofu. try the white lotus bun (it has a yellow dot in the middle). avoid the chicken feet if you're hungover.
(4)kim c.
i use to always come to china pearl for dim sum but ever since the cook changed the food just hasnt been as good..
(2)Byron M.
This restaurant is the oldest, perhaps largest restaurant in Chinatown known for its dim sum and it's ability to host large chinese functions such as wedding banquets. As a dim sum location it is one of the best in chinatown. They offer a variety of dishes and they generally do them well. I particularly like their shrimp dumpling which is called Har Gaw and their "Beef Cheung Foon" which is Beef wrapped in a rice pasta. If you are brave you can try their chicken feet which is actually quite delicious. In the evening this place serves dinner as well as hosts wedding banquets. Their banquet menu is vast and accomodate both tight budgets as well as lavish budgets. Overall., they do very well with large parties compared to other places. I do not recommend this place for smaller gatherings as their are other options in Chinatown that do it better and for lower cost. All in all this is a good place, especially for Dim Sum.
(3)Ryan T.
China Pearl has the best dim sum I've had in Boston. Situated at the top of a long flight of stairs, the restaurant is pretty large and often packed during dim sum hours. The waits can be from short to pretty long (maybe almost an hour). The food is pretty solid, serving up standard dim sum (ha gao, siu mai, chicken feet, congee, sticky rice) with very fine execution. I would say the food is a bit greasy (like most places in Boston) but delicious at the same time. If you crave dim sum in the Boston area, check it out! Chau Chow pales in comparison.
(4)Angelo S.
The definition of a large, fun, bustling restaurant you might find in Beijing. If you believe in the old chestnut of looking where the locals go... just be aware that you might need to learn a little Mandarin to fit in this place.
(4)Kai L.
My friend took me there and told me it has the best dim sum in town. Thank goodness, that was not true! I later discovered Hei La Moon just down the block on Beach street. China Pearl's dim sum was certainly worse than the ones in Hei La Moon, tends to be "supersized" and lacks the tastes (i.e. quantity over quality). I simply don't understand why people would keep going, probably either 1) for sentimental reasons since the restaurant has been around for awhile; 2) does not know about Hei La Moon; 3) cannot tell what good dim sum is. Anyway, I am glad that I did not trust my friend, and investigated myself after I moved here.
(3)Cynthia S.
My husband and I have been going here for years, after getting a recommendation from a friend who is Chinese. I don't have much experience with Dim Sum in Boston (for I've only been here in the Boston Area), but I can tell you that I highly recommend this place. The food is very tasty and the staff is always very willing to deal with us non-Chinese folk.
(4)Alex L.
We had a bad experience here and will not be going back. The food was mediocre and service was terrible. We ordered two dishes and they first brought out one of the dishes without any rice and a Coke that we ordered. We were hungry so we started just eating and had to flag down our server to bring us rice. Coke still hadn't arrived yet so we had to point that out too. Our second dish arrived about the time we finished our dinner and weren't hungry anymore. When it arrived, it was lukewarm as if it was sitting out for awhile waiting it to be served. It's a dish that wouldn't have taken a long time to prepare so we don't know why it came out so late. The server never came to ask if we wanted more tea and it took another long time to get a box for our leftover food and bill. We were so unsatisfied with our server that we left no tip, which was the only time we've ever done that. As we were leaving, a waitress called us back and told us that tip was not included. We informed her that the service was bad. We will not be recommending this place to anyone.
(1)dennis a.
visited china pearl today extra busy because a st. festival was going on!! i dont know who is writing bad reviews about this chinatown icon as i had a very young waiter and he was there for me and gave me great service water extra napkins and clean plates etc. dim sum was as good as it gets i started with baby clams cooked in garlic and blackbean sauce scrumtious as well as the shu mai paigqut fung jau etc. cart girls were friendly and yes the mens room was very clean for such a busy day 100 per cent satisfied!!!!!!!! dennis from boston
(5)Sandra C.
I generally rotate between a few good restaurants in Chinatown for Dim Sum. China Pearl, Chau Chow City, and Empire Garden. They each have their perks and are better at certain dishes than others. I think most believe that China Pearl is the best for dim sum though.
(5)Brendan M.
Despite the ongoing Yelp argument about whether China Pearl or Chau Chow City has the best Dim Sum, I admit I can't really tell the difference. Selection, quality, price and decor all seem fairly similar, so just go to whichever one is more convenient for you.
(3)Tyler C.
crowded and the food tends to be overly greasy. go down beach street and cross the big 4 lane avenue to he lai moon - less of a wait, better food there...
(2)Lisha L.
Decent food, but the prices are pretty high for what is only average-tasting dim sum.
(3)Esther L.
Good dim sum, just don't go when lunchtime is almost over, because that means you have almost nothing good to choose from. Typical Chinese fare is offered at dinnertime too, and its pretty good. One downside to this place is that you have to climb a huge flight of stairs to get into the restaurant.
(4)Ellie L.
I don't love pork, I hate the consistency of puddings, and my mother instilled a fear of buffet-style food in me. I am not the best candidate for advocating Dim Sum, but hey, the craving for leftover Chinese the morning after drinking strikes even me, and if you feel like making an occasion out of it, try China Pearl. It's THE popular dim sum location and while its touristy, questionably clean, and not always diverse in its options, look, you're hungover and want re-heated rice, so chill and don't be so picky, OK?
(4)Michael G.
This is definitely the best dim sum in Chinatown! Unfortunately, this also means that it's always horribly packed, but the wait usually isn't too long. If your idea of a nice meal, though, is quiet in a place with an elegant ambience, this definitely isn't for you. Also, I would recommend taking someone who speaks Chinese or at least knows what's in the food, since it's difficult to understand the broken English.
(4)Brenden L.
I have mixed feelings on this place. The regular menu is standard Chinatown fare, nothing special as far as that goes. I'm giving this place a high rating because the dim sum is among the best I've had and certainly the best in Boston. If you're gonna go to the place, hop in on a Sunday morning. That's when it shines.
(4)Andrew B.
A long-standing tradition is to head to this place around 10AM on Sundays before the rush for some great dim sum and quality time with the family. Its best when you have a large group, and at least one connoisseur to take charge and lasso the carts that matter, while dismissing those that don't. It can be hit or miss depending on your tastes, and you're not going to be able to get a bottle of Evian here, but thats not the point. Enjoy the pork buns and shrimp dumplings while waking up with their endless pots of tea, and have fun with the company you brought with you. Finish up with some tapioca or soft tofu soup and something from the desert tray, then head over to Kneeland street for some bubble tea to sip on your way back to your Sunday responsibilities. One of my favorite ways to walk it off is to stroll through the public gardens and up Newbury before taking the T back to school. I always return smiling and satisfied from this place, but mostly because I'm with the right company.
(4)Kevin W.
I don't know why people keep saying that the Pearl is the best Dim Sum place in Massachusetts. Haven't you guys realized that for the most part the Dim Sum tastes the same. If I were to get Shu Mai from any resturant in Chinatown, you would not know the difference. All the dishes are the same, they all come from the same distributor. Close your eyes next time youre in the Pearl, or any other place. Its the same! Deal with it!
(3)Jeffrey W.
The China Pearl is definitely one of the best restaurants in Chinatown, and the best for Dim Sum. Don't let the exterior fool you, it's actually pretty big inside... a great place for large parties.
(4)le c.
this place should be called china hurl. service was almost as bad as the food. the waitress actually peeked into the mens bathroom when i went in - i think to make sure i wasn't getting sick and making a mess. when i complained they didn't speak english but when the bill came suddenly their english was fine. avoid this place at all cost. i can't believe they able to stay open.
(1)monkey l.
when you are in boston, you either go to china pearl or chau chow city for dim sum. i was in boston for 6 years, and after trying the two out numerous times, we picked china pearl. the wait was shorter, and the variety and consistency better. oddly enough, if you go with more than 4 people, it somehow ALWAYS turns out to be 10 per person. oh, and make sure that they give you little punch cards so that if you spend a certain amount, you get 10 bucks off the next time. one year they even gave us blue christmas lights!
(4)Roshni R.
one of the best dim sum places in boston...as is easily evidenced by the crowds around brunch-time on weekends! it gets expensive unless you have a large group though...
(4)Ame k.
the dim-sum there is ok
(3)Susan D.
Perhaps, I went on an off-day, but I did not enjoy myself here. The wait was astronomically futile (1+ hour) though I shortened it by jumping in when the host offered shared table seating where *u guess it* you share a large table with strangers. Happens all the time in NYC. Anyways, the shrimp dumpling tasted old and I was munching on bits of sand. Very unpleasant seeing how those were my favorite and I grabbed three at once. It was over $30 for the two of us, which is generally a tad expensive for dimsum. I haven't gone back in ages and much prefer Empire Garden. I never wait there!
(2)Mags L.
i'm so glad hei la moon opened up. no more elbowing diminutive asian grandmas to get to some harkow and taro goodness. solid dim sum. 2nd floor (aka 3rd floor) cart service not as bustling, but as long as harkow and doughnut ball lady floats my way, i'm good. it helps that my friend speaks cantonese and gets me what i want. i'm asian. listen to me. i know what i'm talking about.
(4)Yuko I.
It is reasonably priced and dim sum covers good for a non-Chinese person like me. I love their shumai, but their shrimp related stuff varies day-to-day... still a fan. The service, you cannot expect much, most of them only speak Chinese and you just have to be adventurous. I will come back.
(3)Kim R.
Pretty good Chinese food. Arrived tipsy, late Friday night and suprisingly noticed that we were the only customers in the restaurant. That said, service was excellent! Food was pretty good (I'd recommend wonton soup, shrimp lo mein, and spring rolls)...quick greasy bites to soothe the slowly approaching hangovers. Appearance was really something else...the hot topic of the evening quickly became 'what kind of party could you host here??' With red and gold embellishments all leading up to some sort of exotic Chinese altar, too many excuses for parties ran through our heads. All in all, pretty decent Chinese food, awesome setting, and service like nowhere else. I say it's a GO!
(4)Bryanne R.
Whoa chaos. This place was packed when I went with 12 other people. We got a sweet table in the back because one of my friends knew people. The food was OK...I think I just learned Dim Sum isn't my thing. My friends all LOVED the food. The ordering looked like it was a complex process...so I'd recommend going with someone who has Dim Sum experience. The Tapioca was really excellent though.
(3)Layla P.
So I went here with a big group of people and luckily sat next to a Chinese guy so I could actually ask what things were and know what I was eating - very rare at Dim Sum! My favorite are the balls covered with sesame seeds and filled with red bean - I don't know what they are called I just point when I see them on a cart and say "balls please". All the shrimp items I tried were tasty as well. I did not try the chicken feet or lining of an organ from a cow (he wouldn't tell me what organ) but I was entertained while watching other people eat it. The waitstaff was attentive with the water and hot tea refills and the food never stops.
(4)Kevin L.
there's a vicious game of pushshove and bingo just to get your seat here on weekends. the food was on par with the decent places i'd been in n california, but nothing too memorable. not enough rotation of carts. and they do this thing where a waiter dressed in a special uniform will offer you a single large dish on a tray, and kinda bow... kinda like high stakes dim sum. some of the nicest bathrooms at a chinese restaurant i've ever been to.
(3)Zhenyu Y.
This was one of the worst Chinese restaurant I've ever been to. The waiter was not kind and lack of language skills. They kept saying the restaurant downstairs had more food choices, which turned out to be totally untrue. Anyway, they just didn't wanna serve us and made us leave. Won't recommend to anyone.
(1)Tiffany A.
I came here with a group of friends over the weekend. Two of the group are heading to Hong Kong and Singapore within the next few weeks, so rather than be caught unawares of what Dim Sum actually involves, we all made a brunch date to check it out. Make reservations! We did, and thank God because the wait without seemed to be about 45 minutes. We waited for maybe 10 minutes max, which was surprising considering how packed this place gets on the weekend. As soon as you sit, the carts come rolling! I honestly can't tell you the names of half the things I ate, mostly because if you just eye something, the wait staff just shoves it on your table without naming it or telling you what's in it. It is delicious though, that I CAN tell you. The highlight for me was the chicken dumpling and the fried shrimp balls. There's a small veggie food bar where they have all sorts of things. The little egg custard dumplings are nice and sweet; very dessert-esque. There are several tea options, but be specific when you're seated or you'll end up with regular jasmine tea. Totally worth a repeat visit.
(4)Angela L.
I had been to the China Pearl years ago, and felt that I had remembered a better experience than the one I recently had about a month ago. One thing that is always great about China Pearl is the restaurant is small enough for dim sum so that there is always plenty of food and you don't have to wait long at all to eat when you first get seated. The food itself was mediocre -- I remember the dumplings and pastries being a lot tastier and flavorful. Perhaps I just caught the restaurant on a bad day, however I'll be hesitant about going back anytime soon.
(3)Matthew A.
Dim Sum what's it all about here at the China Pearl. Tons of carts with a nice variety to choose from. Service was eh- kind of lacking-as usual as most places in Chinatown. Hard to get a water glass refilled- how hard can that be? They work FAST here. Even before we all could even sit down the ladies in the carts were at our table desending. One positive- the cart ladies are nice here and know English. They were able to answer questions and explain to us what they were offering. 3 of us had huge amount of dishes for $43. No alcohol.
(3)Dan G.
Pretty good food. This is the first time I ever got to go to a Chinese restaurant with people from...well, not China, but they were so excited to have us try some dishes that are common where they are from. I am American, so the food prep to me was "normal" but others talked about how greasy some of the items were, some items were even too salty for them, so it seems, Chinese food isn't as greasy or salty as we Americans think it really is! Anyways, the food was great. Everything we had was yummy, especially the coconut shrimp, peking duck and the dried fish fried rice. The wait staff was a little rude, but they did accommodate us as best as possible so I will give them that. We initially had come for dim sum but were just a tad too late, no prob, they suggested dim sum like items. Would I come here again? Yeah, maybe, but only if someone REALLY has the urge to go here.
(3)Victoria P.
Came here for dim sum on a Saturday morning - it was delicious! Didn't have to wait for a table and got everything I wanted within the first 5 minutes of sitting down. They're a little stingy on the water, but if you pester them enough then you might get a refill. We had the ha cao (steamed shrimp dumplings), shumai, chinese broccoli, sticky rice, spare ribs, and pork buns. The pork buns were just okay, but the rest was sooooo good! I've been to plenty of dim sum places in New York and the food here is just as good. Everything tastes fresh and they don't skimp on the meat. Will definitely be back.
(4)Jessica B.
Well, I guess I'm missing something. I went there for dinner. The food was yuck! I had read it was authentic Chinese. Is this really what people it in China? It's all junk food essentially.
(1)Doo-yun H.
I love this place!!! My meal was so fulfilling and tasted incredible. We ordered a variety of small foods that were all absolutely delicious and our bill between 6 people came to only $66! The servers came by quite often and were all really nice about explaining things and bringing more food and water. Atmosphere was really cool and our experience was generally excellent!
(5)Eliza D.
I love this place! The food was all absolutely delicious and also really cheap. The carts came by often, and all the staff were super nice. Definitely would recommend!
(5)Michael A.
If you want to be that guy who knows what's up: Char siu bao from China Pearl. $1.25 a pop. Walk in, order them to go. Ho Yuen? lol no yuen.
(5)Jessica C.
Dim sum brunch is always a treat, but this place was a bit disappointment for a few reasons: The dim sum norms I'm used to were lacking here: shrimp toast, peking duck, soup dumplings, chili oil, shrimp balls. There was an attendant in the poorly maintained bathrooms blocking access to the paper towel dispenser. I wasn't sure what to do with her, and was vaguely uncomfortable with the situation. There's a liquor bar at the front of the restaurant, but no easy way to actually cut through the queue of folks waiting to pay their bills... and when I asked our server for a drink menu, I was brought two identical take out menus. Finally, there was no follow up on whether I wanted to order anything off a menu either way until we were 2/3rds into our meal. Seeing the option of the bar but being unable to actually access it was a frustration I could have done without. Add these annoyances to the difficult parking, language barrier (about half of our servers didn't understand our questions), and $60 price tag for four people, and I'm glad to be able to access dim sum in the Great State of Texas.* *Austin and Houston dim sum experiences only.
(2)Patrice C.
I live in Boston, but hadn't gone to dim sum in over 10 years and decided to take my 16 year old niece and nephew for fun. I did a lot of research on this site and Yelp, and finally decided on China Pearl. It ended up being an excellent choice. In terms of dim sum, people tend to comment on certain aspects, so I'll write my review using these as a guide: Seating/Waitress Attention: We walked in and saw that it was moderately crowded. As soon as we walked up, we were warmly greeted by the hostess, and then escorted to our seats. Tea and menus were brought to us immediately. I'd say the time from our arrival at the restaurant to being ensconced in our seat was 90 seconds. Food cart number and variety: The first cart came about 1-2 minutes after we sat down. From that point on, they came at a steady clip. There was only one time when there was a lull where I had to wave a cart down. There was a great variety of dim sums, and we only started seeing repeats at the very end of our meal. Food cart lady language/disposition: They were nice, not pushy at all. Yea, their English wasn't the greatest, but we did OK. I hate seafood, and we successfully avoided getting anything fishy. Quality of the food: With the exception of the meatballs (big yuk), everything else was really good. It was fun noshing on little dishes of things that were new to us, yet had a good Chinese food flavor. Cleanliness of restaurant: Very clean. Bathrooms were well kept up with plenty of soap and water (this was a complaint of a lot of people in Yelp reviews). Cost: It came to $18/pp. Not cheap, but worth the quality of the food and the experience. For those visiting Boston, I highly recommend doing dim sum one early afternoon of your stay. Walk through the streets of Chinatown, past the mouthwatering bakeries, stores selling beautiful Chinese lanterns, and boisterous groups playing chess on stone tables. It's another slice of my wonderfully diverse city. tripadvisor.com/ShowUser…
(5)Jessica L.
I went for dim sum with a couple of other people. Hostess was nice, but we waited a while for food while the carts continued starting on the other side of the room (maybe because they were bigger parties that kept ordering). When we finally got to eat, the overall food wasn't bad. My favorite was the deep fried chives dumpling which was super fresh and so tasty. I hesitated at first because I've had these at other places and was largely unimpressed, but as it sat before me...I couldn't resist but to try it. SO WORTH IT! Besides that, everything else I tried was alright.
(3)Jade Y.
The durian cookie is awesome! Super enjoy. Tortoise jelly is good, too. Like the atmosphere. The decoration is very happy and pleasant, with the traditional red color and peach tree. The Chinese character 喜喜means double happiness. It's like someone is marrying here. The Chinese name of the restaurant means dragon and Phoenix, which is a traditional Chinese pair simplifying fortune.
(5)Christine J.
3.5 stars. good dimsum.
(4)Betty C.
Long time #1 placeholder for top dim sum or banquet go to restaurant. My whole family had their wedding receptions there. A long time gem in the heart of Boston's Chinatown
(4)Katie W.
My friends brought me to this old-school dim sum restaurant in the heart of Chinatown last weekend, and we pigged out to our hearts' content. I've had a lot of dim sum in my lifetime, and I'd say this was pretty average. They had most of the classic dishes, and they were no better nor worse than your standard dim sum restaurant. The main issue was that nothing really stood out, and I don't think I'd go back for any particular dish. The best dish was the black bean spareribs, which were meatier than the ones I've had elsewhere. The best dessert was the pumpkin glutinous rice with bean paste. Everything else was relatively unmemorable. The char siu bao were disappointing in the amount of roast pork filling, and I thought the rice rolls with shrimp needed more shrimp. Each roll only had about one medium-sized shrimp each, which meant it was particularly hard to split them. I waited and waited for the har gow (my favorite), but they never came around. Speaking of waiting, I would have given this place four stars if not for the long wait times between carts. When we first sat down at 11am, we were bombarded by carts. But halfway through our meal, around 11:30, there were no carts at all on our side of the room. We looked around and everyone was just sitting there waiting. This continued for half an hour. I finally got tired of waiting and went to the steam table in the front that I didn't notice before, and just picked the items that I really wanted. Unfortunately, some of these items were cold, particularly the egg tarts, which weren't warm or flaky enough. Sad. In the end, our bill came out to be $17/person, which I thought was fair, given how much we ate. I don't think I'll be in a hurry to come back though, as the places I'm used to in Flushing Chinatown are better.
(3)Audrey C.
Came here with a girlfriend at around 12pm on a Sunday and we waited for about 30 minutes. Their waiting system is a bit unorganized because the hostess puts you in these segregated lines scattered against the wall while the person at the bar sends you to the wrong scattered line. But even with this the wait wasn't too bad...and the hostess is literally the nicest and calmest woman in the world! The 2 of us were seated at a larger table meant for 6..but hey I didn't mind the extra space. The carts came around quite often with dim sum but there is also a self serve section with most of the fried and baked option to the side so no waiting is necessary! The dishes were all super fresh when gotten from the carts and the self serve section too. Black bean clams: Get this at the self serve section, delish, a good serving of clams with good flavor Ha Gow (shrimp dumplings): Standard and fresh and hot! Chong fun (Shrimp roll): Standard, fresh and hot as well. The skin was perfectly soft and the hot sauce that comes w/ this is delish! Lotus leaf sticky rice: Always my fav dim sum dish, They gave a good amount of meat in these also! Egg tarts: At the self serve section also, nice and flakey. All in all, standard and decent priced dim sum that is hot and fresh with not too long of a wait if you come in at busy hours. Give this place a shot, esp because the service is nice and calm as well, unlike other dim sum places.
(4)Noemi S.
It's a good place to have lunch on Sunday. We had 7 different dishes and all good. We missed water, but I guess we should have asked (unlike other places where they just bring it before taking note). Tea was good; chopsticks, challenging for some of us (but we managed). And not expensive; will come back.
(4)Garkie Z.
Came to Boston's Chinatown for the first time and was really hungry for some good ol' Dim Sum! Came here on a few website suggestions and left satisfied but not WOW-ed by any means. Overall the place is pricier than I had anticipated. For the two of us we ordered probably 6 dishes including: Steamy Pork Bun, Shumai, Shrimp Noodle rolls, Fried Shrimp Balls, Custard Buns, and Fried Minced Meat Turnovers overall the total was $28. The actual food was pretty ok- I'm from Colorado and while I'm American born I was raised with many Traditional Chinese Food Recipes and found the Boston Dim Sum lacking in some flavors- The Steamy Pork Buns were almost bland in comparison to others I've tried. The service... Was sub par. It took forever for the actual cart we wanted to get to us. Multiple times we made it a note to tell the servers we'd been waiting on a specific dish to get to our table and still we waited. The push cart ladies didn't seem too happy to be there in the first place let alone appease the customers cravings. I think next time I'm craving Dim Sum I'll try another place in Chinatown before resorting to coming back to China Pearl.
(3)Sean M.
3.0000001 Stars Oh how the mighty have fallen. CP is is a shadow of it's former self of the late nineties and early oughts. The aggregate of the Tea House/Dim Sum scene in Boston's Chinatown has experienced a severe decline. While venues outside of Chinatown have surged; like Ten-Ichi Dynamic Kitchen and Bar in Framingham (weekends only). That being said it's still worth going here if you have the dim sum jones. Look at the bright side; no taking numbers no lines, at least on weekdays. * best turnip cake (Lo Bak Go) in Chinatown * Ha Goa (Har Gow) & Siu Mai (Shumai) are solid as are the other dumplings. * Cha siu bao! (steamed buns) * Lo mai gai !! (lotus leaf rice) * Cheong Fun (rolled noodles, I prefer shrimp) * Don't tell anyone but I prefer CP over HLM (service and food) * parking 3 lots, including one next store, but it's tough.
(3)Han V.
The cart system seemed a little unorganized because the same 2 cart ladies kept returning to our table and when they realized we weren't interested in the items on their cart for the 3rd time, they completely ignored us altogether! Because of this we were only able to get 4 items off the cart. They have a buffet looking area where you bring up your sheet and can select from the items that they have out and a person will serve you and mark off on your sheet what you got. Overall, their dim sum (what we were able to get) was decent but not enough so to warrant a wait so definitely go early (we got their a little before 11 on a Saturday and didn't have to wait). Food: 3 Value: 3 Service: 1
(2)Hurnan V.
I came here on a Saturday for dim sum with a couple of friends, and instead of a long line or a wait, we were seated immediately. The interior is pretty festive, standard of a large venue Chinese restaurant, complete with holiday lights (in the middle of summer!). Anyways, the carts came by frequently and there was a nice variety. I really enjoyed their steamed chashao buns and changfen-- dimsum favorites for all! For a table of 5, we all emerged paying about $15, having filled our tummies, and tasted a wide variety of food. I would recommend coming back, especially if you have a large group, for the delicious, warm food, spaciousness, and generally reasonable prices.
(4)Winnie W.
I've been to China Pearl about 6 times (one time per year when visiting friends). After yesterday's experience, I will never go back. The dim sum was sub-par --- the food lacked flavor and variety. We (three of us) each asked for water and one pop (hey, I'm from the Midwest). There's nothing more to say about the food. I went to the counter to get my bill tallied up. I asked the woman (manager?) how much each dim sum item costs as some places tack on an extra item to rob you. She snapped at me, "let me finish adding everything up before I tell you." Fine. When she was finished, I asked her what cost $1.50? She said it's .50/ tea. I told her that we didn't drink tea. She didn't believe me and said, "yes, you had tea." I said that we had three glasses of water and one pop. She then said, "it's .50/ glass of water." For TAP WATER?!! She adds, "that's how we do it here, we charge for water." Translation: "that's how we do it here, we steal from our customers by imposing ridiculous charges." I know it's $1.50, but no one deserves to be treated this way. I threw the manager shade and left.
(1)Janet H.
Not bad.... I've been spoiled by San Francisco dim sum my whole life so this is just okay to me. I was surprised to see how PACKED the place was at noon on a Sunday. Luckily, our friends came here early enough to snag a big table while I came late, whoops! Anyway, be prepared to eat a lot of carbs and fried deliciousness... Side note: don't park at the lot across the street. $25 for 2 hour parking... hmph.
(3)Anthony W.
Came here yesterday for some dim sum in Boston's Chinatown. The place is huge and was fairly crowded by 11am so be sure to get there early or you are going to wait. We arrived about 1030am and were immediately seated. The place is your typical dim sum place where they push around carts filled with brunch type Chinese food and you order different dishes until you are full. The food was very good but I would have to say a slight notch below that of New York or LA. There is also a buffet line of food you can get towards the door to the kitchen that you can also get if you walk up there. Just be sure to bring your ticket with you so that they can mark it. The place is very affordable and for a group of 5, we stuffed ourselves for about 65 bucks. Be aware that the more people you bring, the greater variety of food you can get so call up your friends for a nice Chinese feast.
(4)John H.
Lots of people claim that they are one of the top 3 dim sum places in Boston. If that's the case, then it must be #3 or a distant #2 at best. It's no where as good as Hei La Moon. Disorganized and lacks flavor. Skip it and go to Hei La Moon.
(2)Alice Z.
Been here a few times. Good dim sum, a lot of choices. The tables are all very big and meant for ten people; me and a friend came once very early so we got a huge table all to ourselves.
(5)Frank L.
China Pearl Tyler Street Boston. 8/1/2015 Oh, how this once popular restaurant on Tyler Street has fallen, in my opinion. We visited the restaurant for a quick lunch at 3 PM, after an afternoon lecture in town. I have always wanted to try this restaurant as it has been around for many years. Upon entering the restaurant ,there is a high stairway leading into the restaurant itself, which will be very off putting for any handicapped person. [-10 points]. I did not notice an elevator, or any other way the entrance could be handicapped accessible. Upon entering the restaurant there is the usual statue of laughing Ho Ti, opposite the register take out order station and a brightly illuminated tree. A hostess seated us quickly and there were very few guests dining at that time. Before our server appeared, three restaurant employees began vacuum cleaning around us making a deafening noise for over 20 minutes. Why it had to be done at that time with other guests dining in the restaurant was very discourteous, and annoying. [ -15 points] Our server came to our table, gave us menus, but did not introduce himself or welcome us and then proceeded to ask us for a drink order. We asked for a little time to look over the menu. Within 5 minutes he would come back twice to ask us for an order. We decided to just order appetizers and water. Our appetizer order arrived first in 15 minutes. Usually the hot and sour soup is served fairly quickly, but arrived much later. A waitress came out with two soup spoons and no soup asking other customers at different tables if they had placed a soup order. Our 5 dumplings were fine as were the two thin vegetable spring rolls and 2 average sized egg rolls. We were almost finished eating our appetizers when our hot and sour soup order arrived 30 minutes after we first placed our order. No explanation or apology was given for such a long delay. [-10] The soup was very spicy and was probably the best item we were served. After finishing our soup, we asked for the check, paid for our meal, and left. Atmosphere---Poor, 20 minutes of loud vacuuming. Food--Average Service- Inattentive. We will not return to this restaurant again.
(2)Rick M.
China Pearl is still in my book A okay for dim sum if you're hangin out in Boston's Chinatown. We went after 2pm this time and all the delicious snacks came out of the kitchen freshly prepared. I always love a good steamed BBQ pork bun (char siu bao) and these didn't disappoint. We also ordered some steamed shrimp dumplings (har gow) and shrimp rice noodle roll (har cheong fun) with sweet soy sauce. And don't forget the steamed pork dumplings (siu mai). Lastly it wouldn't be dim sum without some egg custard tarts (dan tat) washed down with hot tea!
(4)Phil P.
This was the first time trying dim sum and I may never go back. Besides the food tasting like it was soaked in MSG for three days, there was a gigantic cockroach climbing the wall no more than 5 feet from us (ultimately squashed by waitress like it was a normal occurrence). Absolutely disgusting. Should have walked out right there and then.
(1)Yuming Z.
First time in Boston, decided to go to dim sum instead of brunch on a Sunday. Tried to go to another dim sum place across the street but it was not open so decided on China Pearly instead. Service: Was seated immediately for 2 despite people at the door waiting. Probably bigger parties for the larger tables. Waitress took our drink order but didn't provide us with the stamp card. Once the cart ladies came around that was quickly fixed. Requests for water and extra hot sauce was fulfilled very quickly. Ambience: Typical Chinese restaurant. Clean but not spotless. Wasn't blown away but wasn't disgusted to be there. Food: Ordered quite a few dishes. Some well done, some not so much. Taste wise it was solid. Conclusion: Didn't blow me away but ordered a lot of food and the bill wasn't too bad. The taste wasn't amazing but typically what you'd expect from a dim sum place. Would visit again but I'm sure there has to be better out there in Boston.
(3)Rajan G.
So I'm not even close to a Dim Sum expert, but I've tried most of the Dim Sum places in and around Chinatown. I would say this one ranks among the top. Their steamed shrimp/chive dumplings were excellent. I also liked the sticky rice. They have a lot of other items I plan to try on the future, including some tofu curry that a lot of other customers were ordering. Most of the cart ladies smiled, which was refreshingly different from most other places. Being from SF Bay Area, I set the bar pretty low in Boston when it comes to Asian/Indian food. May not be 5stars in CA but easily 4 or 5 here.
(5)Gui Bin Z.
I took my friend and her brother here upon the reconnection of a friend. It was his first time going to dim sum and i was just visiting Boston so I was a fish out of water, but I trusted my friends recommendation. I'm glad I did, the positives to this dim sum parlor is that we didn't have to share a table which is notorious at chinese establishments. We ordered a few items, mostly different types of dumplings, shumai, pork buns, and the various other little dishes. Overall I enjoyed the experience and thought the food was good. I would say skip the pork buns, they were very mediocre. Be prepare to make aggressive eye contact with the cart ladies until they come to you. They spoke decent English so you'll have a general sense of what you're ordering but don't expect too much. I will definitely come back on my next trip to Boston.
(4)T P.
Come here for dim sum with my BF and friends. Really good selection. Dim sum is brought around in carts & they stamp a card for every dish, you pay the total. Typical chinatown service. Sometimes the customer service is good, other times
(4)Sarah C.
There was a roach in my tea but when I alerted the waitress she told me it was a piece of leaf! I think I can differentiate from a roach VS leaf. Dim sum is pretty much the same elsewhere in Chinatown but more expensive here.
(1)Nancy C.
Went here for a late dim sum with my dad. It was 2 pm so it wasn't too crowded at all, but it also meant that the offerings on the cart were not too extensive nor too fresh. We got a variety of things: beef meatballs, steamed rice noodle with pork inside, tofu skin with pork inside, char su bao (BBQ buns), pumpkin buns with red bean paste filling, sweet milk buns with lotus filing, fried sesame balls, and short ribs. The beef meatballs were eh. They put a lot of gluten/flour in it so the texture was distinctly unmeat-like and the meat itself wasn't very good quality. The steamed rice noodle was decent. I added the spicy paste to it to give it more flavor, but the texture was good. Tofu skin with pork inside was decent. We also got another one with mushrooms which was also decent. I wouldn't order either again though. The BBQ pork buns were decent. They're your standard char su bao. I've never been a huge fan of them but they helped fill me up (I was starving). The pumpkin buns were the best out of the dishes we ordered. They're flat and made with rice flour; it was sweet and satisfying without being overly so. Both my dad and I were big fans. The sweet milk buns were good but very filling due to the heaviness of the lotus seed and the fluffiness of the bun. It was well made though. My dad wasn't a huge fan of these, but I liked them. Fried sesame balls are one of my favorite dim sum dishes. These were decent but not great. I usually like mine to have some give in them, but these were fried to the point of us being unable to pick them up with chopsticks. The short ribs were the only meat dish that actually tasted like meat. Probably because you can't really add any flour to it to cut costs. The meat was decent though the flavoring a little too sweet. Overall, not a bad dim sum place, though I still prefer Windsor. China Pearl doesn't have the selection of dumplings that Windsor has. They have a few steamed ones and "fried" ones, but when the cart for the fried ones came around, they looked greasy and unappetizing so I passed on that. I probably wouldn't come back here; I'd rather try out Hei La Moon or go back to Windsor. Being from LA, my standards for this place weren't too high, which was good because I would have otherwise been greatly disappointed.
(2)John B.
This is not my favorite dim sum place, compared to the ones I've been to in Chicago, LA and NY. But I would say that this is one of the more "consistent" ones in Boston. Here's why: They are always crowded because they're known for their food availability, fast service and cheap price. Spacious place and the wait is usually really fast. On weekends they're packed here. The buffet line adds diversity to their food and it's always a good extra something to have for dim sum. Fast service, not the most friendly and warming attitude but they get their job done fast and efficiently. I personally really like the shrimp dumplings (Ha Gow), it doesn't taste frozen and almost taste fresh. I always have to get that there. Wish the parking was a bit easier, we always have to park in the garage nearby since finding street parking in Chinatown is almost impossible every time.
(4)Kelly P.
It has been well over three months but the phrase "dim sum" still triggers my mouth to salivate like a Pavlov canine. China Pearl is marked by an unmistakable plastic sign that hangs above the doorway. Upon entering, there are immense stairs, carpeted with elaborate gold leaves with a burgundy background color. It is a monumentally large restaurant with substantial seating. There was no wait on a Saturday morning when we arrived around 11. We were seated immediately and next to the grand kitchen doors. The establishment is bedecked with ornate gold Chinese letters, Chinese paper lanterns that are fixed to the ceiling, and garnished with cherry blossoms. They have an extensive selection of dim sum. All the dishes we tasted were freshly made. One of my favorite items is the Sesame Balls which come in a set of three. They are glutinous rice balls that are filled with a sweet, smooth red bean paste, coated in sesame seeds, and deep fried. There are Crab Balls that are made from imitation crab; the "pink slime" of fish. These are discernible as they are coated in shredded wonton skin, and festooned with a crab claw. These are quite large and are served in a pair. The Taiwanese You Fan, has a literal translation of "oil rice." It is sticky rice that is steamed and fried in a wok with shi-itake mushrooms, pork, and pork fat. It glistens with rich fat and is topped with freshly cut cilantro. The dish is served with a thick, sweet, and slightly spicy chili sauce. Customer service here was attentive and helpful. Some Pro Tips: Sit close by the kitchen. Not only are your dishes guaranteed to be fresh, but the staff will not miss you. Cards are accepted. When you order multiple dishes from the staff pushing cards, be sure to keep count of how many stamps she is applying to your bill. It is easy to lose track if you have an array of dishes already on your table. Also ask whether a dish is small, medium, or large. Prices vary exponentially based on size.
(4)Phyllis C.
Went here for Dim Sum on a Saturday (yesterday) around 2:30 PM-- alone. I searched for the "right" place to eat lunch in Chinatown tirelessly on Yelp and other sights...ended up more confused than ever. So many bad reviews. Wierd! My experience: No wait--seated immediately--waiter friendly--ladies pushing carts also friendly and willing to explain things to the best of their ability--I was totally comfortable dining alone and even tried the chicken feet...wow! Pretty tasty! Enjoyed 3 other dishes plus the chicken feet, complimentary hot tea and ice water--17 bucks later--about 35 minutes... and a 2 dollar tip... Overall a great experience for me and I will be back! Only complaint was no sauteed greens available in small Dim Sum portions. Chinese food without greens for me is a bummer.
(4)L F.
Hmm not sure why China Pearl has so many mixed reviews. I think for dim sum they do a decent job. And when the prices are so low, it's hard to really complain. A suggestion is to arrive early. That way you avoid the mid-day dim sum crowds. I have never had a problem getting a table on the weekend. They serve cart style, so you pick your items as they come along. I guess some people are opposed to this type of service, but I like being inspired by what is on the cart. My favorite items are of course the dumplings, the sweet pork filled buns, and the fried crab claw things (not sure what exactly they are called).
(4)Eric C.
I have been here too many times to count now and I have yet to do a review. There are many places for you to choose from when thinking about dim sum. All of them are really great places but really one tops them all and that is: China Pearl Restaurant (it'd really be silly if I said another restaurant in this review..). Anyways, as an avid fan of dim sum, I've been to a place or two in my lifetime so I have a basis for comparison. When you go to dim sum, you really should have an open mind because some of the best savory foods are the ones you might not think are the most savory. For those of you who are new to the dim sum experience, this place will allow you to experience it to the fullest. Dim sum, or "touch of the heart", is meant to give you a dining experience much like Spanish tapas. You get a small dish of many different foods so that you can taste a little of everything. Some of the classic dim sum plates include: Siu mai (a meat ball kind of) Ha Gao (shrimp dumpling) Fung zao (braised chicken feet literally translated as "Phoenix claws") Cherng fun (how would you translate this into something that people would understand... rice cake?) Pai Guot (braised short ribs) Nai wong bao (dessert: egg yolk bao... delicious!!!) Those are a list of my favorite go to dim sum dishes and in generally a pretty safe list of foods that everyone will enjoy. One thing that I have seen served here that I haven't seen elsewhere is the chicken feet, short rib rice. If you like those two dishes then you've got to try this! Make sure to get the soy sauce to go over it and you'll be happily full after finishing your meal =) Parking is always a problem in Boston in general and in Chinatown especially. My advice is to park in a parking garage, pay the fee because your lunch/brunch/dinner is going to be cheap anyways.
(5)Alice S.
I must say that this is a pretty decent place. It's one of the more "classic" Chinese restaurants in Chinatown as it's been around for a very long time. It's a decently sized restaurant and it's pretty popular with the crowds but waits usually aren't too bad. Food again is pretty decent, nothing exceptional, but definitely not bad either. It's very, very average.
(3)Stacy H.
i really appreciated how fast the seating service is here. but if you have a big group, make sure all of your party is there - they won't seat you otherwise. pretty solid dim sum, but very limited vegetarian options.
(3)Jenn Z.
Solid dim sum place that offers the typical dishes. Great price and always feels very stuffed afterwards. Also, I like how the food carts usually come by very quickly after you sit down. Brace for a chaotic, noisy market-like setting when coming on a weekend. It can be quite an experience.
(4)Lin N.
Went here yesterday and felt I had to write a review to warn others. I ate lunch with 2 other people and the bill came to 80 dollars! I have had dim sum in Chinatown before, a few years ago, and figured between 20 and 30 dollars for the 3 of us. 80 dollars was insane and I asked the woman ringing me up if that was correct and she pointed to the stamps and how they were calculated. I hadn't kept track of the stamps when the carts came by but I cannot believe that we ordered 80 dollars worth of food. I will not be coming back here, though the rest of the meal had been as expected base on the other reviews.
(1)Johnathan B.
I am visiting Boston and I came across Chinatown around lunch time. Me and a friend found this place and decided it looks good and has good reviews -so why not. A waitress showed us to a table, gave us tea, and basically disappeared for the rest of the meal. After waiting for around 15 minutes without anyone coming to serve the table, I called one of the waiters and asked for a menu for me and my friend. He then arrived with one menu, and didn't respond when I asked him for another. After a few minutes time I had to call him up again (since he wouldn't arrive on his own) and ordered some food and drinks. The drinks arrived right away, but the food arrived in a different matter. After around 15 minutes, the dish my friend order arrived, not less than 10 minutes (!!!) later, my dish arrived. At that point, we were both pissed and therefore the food tasted poorly, although it might have actually been good, therefore the two stars. After the horrific service, I decided the waiter does not deserve a tip, as it is suppose to be a way to appreciate the service, and that service sacked. While going down the stairs of the restaurant to leave, the waitress, from the beginning of this journey, came running after me saying "no tip, no tip!". After explaining to her what was wrong, and that they don't deserve a tip, she went to her manager who was standing at the entrance, told her the story, and the manager haven't even looked at us. Worst place on earth, want Chinese food? Find some other place.
(2)Kim L.
Every time I visit Boston, I make it a point to stop for dim sum in Chinatown. I've been to China Pearl twice now, and have had a good experience both times. I usually stick with dumplings, buns and rice and I have never been disappointed. The pork shumai-style dumplings and steamed pork buns are my favorite! I always leave full & satisfied, and it is usually no more than $10 per person. The tea is also delicious and always hot!
(4)Wei Zhong G.
The price was fair for the nine dimsum items that we shared among three people. Around half the items were still available for ordering even though we went at 5 pm. The mango pudding and tofu pudding were pretty legit. I didn't like the durian puffs; they tasted rather artificial. Vegetarians should stay away from this place. Not only was there a paucity of options, when we inquired about the vegetarian options (in Mandarin), the waitress asked us, "Why come to a dimsum place if you're vegetarian?"
(2)Fay L.
A classic dim sum restaurant in Chinatown. Used to be much better back in the day, but it now has to compete with other spacious dim sum places and doesn't quite measure up as well anymore. Still good for the classics: chang fen, feng zhao, shumai, buns, etc. I think Hei La Moon has more variety for types of dishes offered.
(3)May C.
One of my fav restaurants of all times. Very authentic dim sum, cheap price, great varieties even including some food from other parts of China. I love come here early to avoid lines and try a lot of different things with my friends.
(5)Sarouth R.
The food here is good not bad there are lots of table I love how they have decorated the place my mom and me and sister love this place every year we go there best place ever
(5)Rob F.
I went to China Pearl today with a lovely Lao family I know and we had Dim Sum. There were five of us. We started out with several plates of spare ribs. They were chopped in small pieces and tasted like they were boiled in some kind of stock. You got a little ginger flavor. They were ok. Lots of little bones. Next, came the chicken feet and the tripe! Uuh. I knew it. I had chicken feet before in dark soy sauce. This time there was nothing to cover up the flavor. They taste like chicken. A little gelatinous, a little squeaky between the teeth, and lots of little toe bones. I had a couple chopsticks of tripe, which wasn't bad. Sesame, ginger, and what I thought was garlic. Better than the honeycomb tripe us Italians cook in tomato sauce. Very mild. Better than expected. We had sticky rice with pork wrapped in some kind of leaf. It was good. At this point, I was noticing the steam table, and got up to check it out. We all decided to go. My date offered to stay behind and watch the coats. She said if I ever came back to never, ever, leave anything at the table. It will be promptly stolen. How nice! I got a couple more dishes. I had fried shrimp, crab balls and taro balls. You've got to watch it when you see anything with "balls" in it at a Chinese restaurant! These were formed in the shape of a ball. Yummy deep fried in a crispy batter. The crab was wrapped in minced shrimp and little curly strips of taro. That was good. The taro ball had little pieces of pork in the middle and was also good. We had a plate of fried octopus. We all thought that it was greasy and we left it on the table. We had a noodle wrapped fried crispy cruller for dessert that I also thought was ok. They had that with a silky tofu they scoop out of a barrel. Neither tasted of much at all. Dessert was definitely a let down. We all spent much of our time munching and slurping and spitting little bones in our plates. P'tooey - clink. P'tooey - clink..... repeat. Have another chicken foot! My first experience in a Dim Sum place was pretty good. I'd have to give credit to my hosts. Left to my own, I'd have eaten dumplings all morning. That's what I thought Dim Sum mostly was! They ordered what they usually do, and I got to experience it. To be fair, nothing really blew my doors off. I didn't order any take out, but I did like the deep fried (of course) things and I got to experiment. I would like to go right back and try some more. Maybe it would be easier to go to the one in Quincy next time. I must mention that when they seated us, I walked past a table that had a big plate with several pieces of lettuce. On each one was a piece of crispy skin. There were more plates, but I had to wonder what they were having. Suckling pig maybe, or Peking duck? It looked good! I pointed at it and went "Ooh, ooh" but my hosts took me by the hand and dragged me to my table. No, today we're eating "spare parts." Lovely!
(3)Marina N.
I decided to come to this place again. Since last time we kind of went late in the day. This time we arrived at 10 am and it was actually worst. Only three carts moving around with very little to choose from. If you want dim sum and don't want to go into Boston, go to the China Pearl in Woburn!! Now that's dim sum!
(2)Tiffany J.
I've been going to this place since I was 5-6 years old. Almost 20 years later, it's still going strong. Visited today for the first time in years because we didn't want to wait 30 minutes for Winsor across the street (at 2:30pm on a Saturday, no less!). I've been to Winsor, Empire Garden, and China Pearl in the past few weeks and thought China Pearl was the least impressive of the 3. The steamed shrimp dumplings were great. The xia chang2 fen3 (steamed rice roll with shrimp in soy sauce) was a little soggy and bland. The luo2 buo gao (turnip cake) was tasty (there was actual turnip in it - a real sign of quality) but on the greasy side. For weeks, I had been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to eat Winsor's shrimp-stuffed eggplant, but China Pearl disappointed - when the cart rolled over, the "shrimp" and the eggplant were dunked into hot water for reheating, then plopped onto our plates, an oily, watery mess. The "shrimp" wasn't shrimp - it was fish and shrimp cake - and it wasn't "stuffed" in the eggplant, either. Go to China Pearl for the traditional ambiance and the dim sum "rolling cart experience," which is slowly disappearing from Boston Chinatown dim sum restaurants. But if you want quality dim sum, go across the street to the much smaller Winsor, and be prepared for a long wait.
(3)Katie Y.
These days, China Pearl is not at its best. About 10 years ago, it was the place where everyone went (the glory days). Nowadays, it's one of the worst places to go to (according to foodie parents). My father (who went with his friends), he said that there were very few people sitting at the tables so there were like 3 carts just circling around the tables. The food took a hit with very few choices.
(1)Jasmine M.
This has been my "go-to dim sum spot. be sure you sit in the downstairs area because I find that the upstairs area has less variety. The crab claws are LOADED with crab and are really delicious. If you're vegetarian, don't go here.
(4)Kenny W.
Had dim sum here a week ago and it wasn't the best dim sum I've had in Boston. It was during a weekend and it was relatively busy. They had multiple carts pushing around and a small stand in the middle where you can get up and get some dishes. The tea pot was kind of dirty when they put it on the table. From what I remembered, the pan fried sticky rice was good, the shrimp rice noodle was alright, steam chive dumpling was unimpressive, roast pork buns were alright and egg tart seemed a bit off. The only thing I thought was good was the fried shrimp ball with crab. I liked the ambiance and the numbers of carts that were pushing around. However, I think I'll continue my search around Boston for a good dim sum place.
(3)Alex P.
Dim Sum breakfast on a Sunday morning Wonderful feast for 2... $20... My new go to place in Boston... Great food... Fried crab... Shrimp dumplings... Tofu rolls... Not to be missed...
(5)Susan C.
The young lady who's the hostess here during dim sum hour really needs to take a course in customer service because she is extremely rude and has no manners. China Pearl is one of my fav. spots for dim sum, but the service here has me rethinking this place as my go to. I came here for dim sum on a weekend a few weeks ago, and there was a wait for a table. Fine, no big deal, I stood and waited in the line. The hostess then asks patrons in line to move up a bit, so I follow the line along. Apparently I must not have walked up far enough because they next thing I know I am being manhandled by the hostess, who is trying to prod me even closer to the person in front of me (there was probably 6 inches between me and the patron in front of me at the time). The hostess did this to me several times during my wait for a table. I've eaten at numerous restaurants in Chinatown and elsewhere, and never have I encountered a woman so rude. Thinking back, I should have told her to keep her grubby mitts off me.
(2)Lusi J.
This used to be my favorite place for Dimsum but after my recent visit, I dont think I will be coming back. The chicken feet were dry bland, the meat balls tasted like last nights leftovers, the service could have been better. We had to hunt down a worker to refill our tea every time. The only non-disappointing dish was the chuerng fun.
(2)Kelsey M.
Great tasting selection of just about anything you can imagine. Biggest frustration is how pushy some of the ladies are that push the food carts.
(4)Angela C.
(I'm Cantonese and grew up on this food). Dim sum was excellent, great variety. Side of restaurant has already prepared most popular dishes available for pick up (like the black bean clams). Better than Hei La Moon. Surprisingly organized in terms of seating customers and paying. Dedicated waiter/waitress for each section for all miscellaneous items (e.g. sauces, extra plates, tea, etc.) Very busy on weekends, go before noon. Customer base is mix of Asians and non-Asians; always helps to have a Cantonese speaker in your group! But pointing at food always works.
(5)Susan L.
We weren't expecting great service, but we also weren't expecting to be forgotten after placing our order. After sitting for half an hour, we finally got the waiter's attention in the fairly empty restaurant and his only response was "I see." The martini was watered--highway robbery at $11. The dishes were OK; duck with vegetables and pork pad thai. I would not return here. We had time constraints and the more popular restaurants had waits, so we ended up here on a Saturday night. Oh well--will do better research before returning to Chinatown.
(2)Vinay F.
Definitely among the top 3 dim sum places I've been to in addition to being very inexpensive. The food that struck me as best were the barbecue pork buns, the fried chive dumplings, and a circular steamed shrimp dumpling I don't remember the name of (shu mai was great as well).
(5)Lena A.
There is nothing you can say that was not delicious here. Loved everything especially the tofu
(5)Karen M.
I know it's fashionable to diss this warhorse of a restaurant in Chinatown, but I have always had great experiences. First, the atmosphere is very ornate and festive, and I think that helps to make meals here feel like a special occasion, even if you're just going to have a quick lunch. Second, I have never had anything but hot, fresh, dim sum here. I feel like the restaurant is so busy that keeps the turnover high so it keeps coming out fresh. I have never had cold greasy food here. My only criticism is that you do need to ask for exactly what you want and listen carefully to what is being offered. Part of this is because the servers' English is not always the best. So even if you don't know what something's called, make an effort to describe it carefully and then they can bring it to you. Otherwise you may wind up spending a lot of money for items you don't really want or that aren't selling that day so they keep pushing them back around to you. There is a full bar but I've not had good experiences with mixed drinks, I think it's a weak point. If you must drink, have a beer.
(4)Chris L.
This is a staple (along with like Hei La Moon, Winsor, Imperial Garden, Grand Chau Chau) for Chinatown Dim Sum. I. Dim Sum There's the usual pushing of various carts with all kinds of stuff ranging from dumplings (har gow, shaomai, haam4 seoi2 gok3), rice noodles, vegetables, rice noodle wrapped meat, lo mai gai, mostly steamed buns (some baked on the dessert cart), turnip pancakes, and the regular assortment of Dim Sum regulars. Plus a good variety on desserts (mango pudding, coconut milk cubes, egg tarts, dessert tofu "dou fu fa", etc.) It's probably busiest like weekends from 11-1. But since China Pearl is so large, I think the wait isn't very long. If you arrive before 11 or after 1, you shouldn't have a long wait. - Is it authentic, say compared to Vancouver (Canada), San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Hong Kong or other Cantonese Dim Sum? Pretty close. I'd say it's "good enough". You will get some more esoteric stuff in other cities, but they're probably catering to popular tastes. - Credit cards? Yes. - Service? Wave down one of the waiters. You do have to be a little proactive at times, they're being polite. - things to be wary of: (notice en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Di… ) The spare ribs do have bones. From what I've noticed from my parents, Cantonese people love their bones ... more flavor. They'll give you anything from cold water/ice water, hot water for your tea, dishes from the menu, the tally / total, etc. II. Non-Dim Sum Most people don't go here as often when it's non-Dim Sum hours, but yes, they actually have a mostly-Cantonese and some Mandarin dish menu. It's decent, nothing to rave about. With both Dim Sum and non-Dim Sum, they do have a good assortment of teas. Most popular with my friends tend to be one of: Chrysanthemum, red tea specifically Bo-Lei tea (Cantonese) or Pu-erh tea (Mandarin), or Jasmine tea, although sometimes we go with Oolong or something else. And also you can get the usual pungent yellow mustard and spicy red pepper paste or chili garlic.
(4)Cassandra T.
Came here with a friend on a Sunday after Whale Watching. We had preferred to try Winsor Dim Sum, but there was a wait, and China Pearl offers the cart ordering experience. I had warned my vegetarian comrade that dim sum carts are generally full of pork and shrimp, but he was ready for adventure. The food was generally good quality. I've had better of most of the items, but there were some unique carts, like the tofu (actually tofu), eggplant, and shrimp-filled pepper cart that I really liked. I've had better tripe, but it could have been the luck of the draw. The vegetable items were hard to find. Our first cart supposedly had fried tofu, but it was most certainly pork. Even the turnip cake had pieces of fish in it! It was the fishiest turnip cake I had ever had. Overall, we were able to find two actual tofu items and missed out on the broccoli cart. To the management's credit, when we inquired about the cart with the vegetables, we were told there was none. I would say there were four passable items, with three of them being in some kind of meat/fish flavored sauce, because, well, it's Chinese food. Service was slightly above average from my non-Chinese-speaking perspective.
(3)David H.
Stopped in w my children 10 and 12 for dim sum lunch on a weekday at 1 pm. Waited about 10 minutes as the place was packed. plenty of families enjoying dim sum while kids on vacation. Waiter was a little slow w the drink order. Brought my pot of tea, but forgot the kids' sodas. Carts came by and the ladies seemed a little more animated than usual. Being Chinese I did not have a problem ordering, but I noticed the ladies explaining the ingredients to non-Asians, which is nice. We had the usual pork/shrimp dumplings, shrimp dumpling, beef balls, egg custard tarts, shrimp/chive dumpling, rice noodle w shrimp, and a platter of beef chowfun. Dim sum was fresh, flavorful and hot. Chowfun was tasty but a little too greasy. Had enough for a good size doggy bag. Nice to see the chinatown area so popular. Another highrise taking over an old building will destroy the neighborhood.
(3)Johnny S.
This place used to be awesome. It was a landmark and the go to place for dim sum. But their food has gone downhill. The place is empty more often than not and people have started going to Hei La Moon for quite some time. Visited China Pearl recently and noticed that every item is at least a medium; this is why it now costs $50 for two or $80 for three people. They have moved towards making up for poor quality food and lack of clientele via overpricing. Great job, I will no longer recommend nor visit this place again.
(1)Dana H.
This was fantastic!! We (party of 6) got to the restaurant at around 1 on a Sunday and only had to wait 10 minutes and the place was packed. The host was very kind and friendly. Tea and water arrived in a timely manner. The food was delicious and there was quite a variety on the carts coming around. We were very pleased with the service and food--not sure why this place only has 3 stars. It was also inexpensive; we ended up spending about $13 per person and we ordered a lot of food. We definitely would go back again.
(5)Tammy W.
We were so excited that China Pearl would CATER a Chinese wedding banquet. We really did not want to make everyone find parking in Chinatown for the reception. They provided the catering for dinner and provided the bar service. The conversations and emails were friendly enough, but they are not in sync with each other. We receive a price from one person, and the next day, we would have a different price. We would set up a tentative meeting for the next time, but it would never happen. It was very difficult to get a hold of them in person. What they quoted us for price during our meetings was not reflected totally on our final bill, so we are still disputing it with them. They added fees that were not talked about and that we thought were unfair due to the service or lack thereof. Service wise, the normal wedding coordinator was not there. She had a prior wedding and so did the manager we talked to. However we knew this all ahead of time and knew that the manager's sister would be at our wedding to coordinate. They did well that day in the kitchen. The food was delicious. However the food was served out of order, they asked if they were cutting the cake, which was already settled at our meetings, and they forgot to serve the cake to one whole table! The bars were set up well. The bar tenders were personable, although the "cute one" went missing for a while. But at the end of the night, they did not dump the trash. Instead, they left FIVE bags of trash for the wedding party to clean up, in our nice clothes! Then, when we finally cleaned up everything, we realized that they threw out the bottom part of the cake tiers that we had to put a deposit on at the bakery, so we lost out on that as well.
(3)Lina V.
Didn't have to wait for a table on Sat morning. So good!!!
(5)Jennifer E.
I love Dim Sum and China Pearl does it well. The place is always slammed and thriving with hungry people being fed delicious plates off of steaming carts of deliciousness. My friend is Chinese and although most of the staff appear to speak at least someEnglish, I've found that I'm better off leaving the ordering to him. I've enjoyed most everything I've tried and really the whole Dim Sum atmosphere is just exciting. The food you order is on a price tier system, so your cards on stamped based on how expensive the time with be. The dishes aren't too expensive so you can usually share several dishes and desserts and not end up spending too much. I've found that Dim Sum tends to be more of a brunch concept but I've had it for dinner as well, which is fun too. I've been to the Quincy location as well but I prefer this one, which is right in the heart of Chinatown in Boston.
(4)A L.
This place definitely has a variety of food and their own food bar and regular bar incase you want something different. Unlike other dim sum places, it's very spacious and there's even a cart that goes around making bubble tea and jelly drinks- ahh-mazinggggg! Maybe it's just me but, everything is a bit bland and watery compared to what I'm used to in New York.
(4)Allie T.
Solid dim sum place with great offerings. Only problem for those of us who don't speak Cantonese-- the servers didn't speak much English and the dumplings are hard to tell apart. Good price though and had a fun time.
(3)Kimberly Y.
I've been here a few times for banquet style dinners and the food can be either a hit or miss. The service and manager were both good. Restaurant has 2 levels and is very big and roomy. I've not come here for dim sum in over a decade so can't comment on that.
(3)Swatee G.
So my Asian friend decided me and my other Indian Parsi friend needed the correct, authentic Dim sum experience. We landed here at China Pearl - Thanks to yelp! It was pretty ok. I had a BUNCH of random things, that I could never be able to tell you names of.. no.. not even if you threatened me with a lizard.. i couldn't.. There is absolutely no way I could have come away happy/ unembarrassed had I gone there by myself! The place is so amazingly authentic, that it is hard to converse in anything but Chinese! I would have been eye balled by everyone around me.. yes, even the fat little smushy kids who sat drooling over their noodles and sweets with their parents!! That's how lost I would have felt!! However, I had my awesome friend and her boyfriend to guide me! Which was awesome.. we shared a tonne of dim-sums.. I attempted to create a tower of discarded dim sum boxes as we sat there, waiting for more carts to appear with yummy goodies, but most of my attempts were thwarted by wild eyed scurrying waiters who whipped off the boxes as soon as finished.. Let me assure you, we ate enough to create a tower at least my own height! :p The carts rotated in a timely manner, and there was a certain level of excitement every time a new one rolled by, cuz U never know what they would carry! Lol.. it was like being 5 years old again and at the local fair.. ice cream man.. ting ting ta ting! All in all, it was a great experience - loved the concept of carts, all the food we ate - I cant remember any names.. but the shrimp thingy was awesome.. and oh the chicken filled thingie, and pan fried at the bottom.. was the bomb! :p If you know what I am talking about.. go get it.. if not, get one of your Asian frenz to take you! :p
(4)Ada K.
Horrible service! We were asked to wait at 4 different spots of the restaurant for about 30 mins. The hostess were very rude and the restaurant doesn't have a waiting system. We sat in a corner and the food trolleys came very slow. If you are assigned to a remote table, no good dim sum come by. Also, the clean trolley with dirty plates/ trash come through every minute. Only tried 4 dim sum and all of them were very oily and greasy!
(1)Claire N.
Some of the plates were delicious, some less so. A fun experience. The people pushing around the carts of dim sum can't really describe what's in the dumplings so it's a bit of an adventure. Good place to take kids.
(3)Jency P.
Although I enjoyed my experience there, I personally thought the food was a bit greasy. It was all right but I've experienced better. Carts were pretty good about coming around and the staff was attentive to our needs. If you are going to eat at this place I recommend: Pork ribs, chang fen, and the tofu dessert.
(2)Camille R.
I knew I should have stayed away from dim sum while living in Boston!! I had an appointment in Chinatown and decided to make a day out of it. I walked by China Pearl 3 or 4 times before I finally walked in... It looked, smelled, and acted like a typical Dim Sum restaurant you'd find in the Bay Area. But it was nothing. I mean NOTHING like the dim sum you'd find in the Bay Area. First, they offer very little vegetarian options; I ordered to tofu - it was stuffed with shrimp. The eggplant was stuffed with shrimp. I only found one fried dumpling with just veggies. That sucked. The Shrimp Stuffed Eggplant was gross. The eggplant was overcooked and the skin inedible. The rest of my dishes were just okay. I didn't hate it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back here.
(3)Less H.
I was a dim sum virgin until today. We went on a whim and boy am I glad we did. Dim sum kicks ass. I knew the general idea of dim sum, ladies push cart of food around and tell you what it is in Chinese. As a fat lazy American it's confusing and I have no idea what I ordered until I put it in my mouth. If you don't eat stuff like meat it's probably not the best place for you to go. If you ask for vegetarian you probably aren't going to get it. We ate a lot of pork. See if you can get the sweet pork buns- so good. I have been informed that they have a new-ish place in Woburn. Oh I'll be back, and I'll make sure to wear my eating pants.
(4)John O.
A staple in China Town for great traditional Dim Sum. There is rarely a wait to get in because the place is HUGE, unlike some of the other places around. They also use the push karts rather than a menu which I enjoy. If you are looking for some good steamed dumplings and other savory bites then this is the place to be.
(4)Linda C.
It's a typical dim sum joint. The place looks fairly clean and there is quite a bit of selection to choose from. The flavor is okay but not great.
(3)Julia J.
I really liked this place for dim sum. Although their food tastes generic, it still tastes pretty good for occasional brunch.
(5)Anne W.
Boston is just not a place for good Chinese food. Just the way it is unfortunately. If your expectations are lowered.. you can have an okay time. I haven't been here in a while.. went here for dimsum with some friends. There wasn't really any wait as there are more tables than people now.. and most people gravitate towards Hei La Moon. The food is mediocre.. it's not horrible.. not great.. but that's how Boston is. They have a table for vegetables.. clams, eggplant, etc. You should consider taking a look at that. I thought the waitstaff was better than Hei La Moon.. they clear tables faster.. they come by more often. The price was still cheap at $12 per person.
(3)Tiffany V.
We came here for Dim Sum Sunday around 1pm. Their traditional dim sum a la cart is served until 3pm and thereafter, you can order from their menu for dim sum until the place closes. We had a party of 13 (adults and kids) plus 3 babies who needed high chairs so we required two tables next to each other. We were seated within 10 minutes. Not a long wait for a Sunday at all. The place was spacious, bathrooms were clean and were continually cleaned while we were there, and plenty of tables and room. Each table could seat about 8 people. Plenty of carts and only half a minute between each cart to come by our table. Food options were splendid except I did not see beef or pork spare ribs that are available elsewhere. Here's what I remember: Har Gow: The BEST I've ever tasted. Chewy outside with a good yummy shirmp interior Shu Mai: normal, not memorable but my niece really liked it. Crab balls were kind of odd with the weird outer shell. It was too hard to bite into and wasn't as good as back home. Duck leg & chicken feet, were both good. Banh Cuon (white rolls of dough) with peanut and hoisin sauce was different and crispy on the outside. Tasty and slightly sweet. Pork crispy bun very good, crispy, sweet exterior with sticky pork interior. Pineapple buns were delicious! I don't know why we never tried these before. Mung bean, soft, slightly flaky tops, chewy, bready yumminess! Overall, our experience was good. Staff was normal. Food was surprisingly much better than the dim sum fare in Northern Va.
(4)Jessica S.
I specifically remember writing a review for this place so where did it go? Anyway my friend and I stopped in at a non peak dim sum time. maybe during the week. It was a weird experience. The food we had was ok and at some point they just stopped bringing the carts around. No we are about to finish fyi, nothing. We were just sitting there like...I guess they are done. We left and went somewhere else. The 3 stars is generous for the food but the service was terrible.
(3)Sidney L.
I recently became reacquainted with China Pearl, my family's restaurant of choice in Chinatown for many years, for both dinner and dim sum. Sadly, it's not the same restaurant that I remember visiting 3+ years ago, as it is in Chinatown, there are numerous better options nearby. - The dim sum here is decent (three stars), though the seafood doesn't taste as fresh. The shrimp har gow and shumai had a mushy, texture-less feeling inside, but otherwise, China Pearl has your full complement of decent dim sum offerings. I really liked the pork buns here, and ordered a couple extra to bring home with me. - Dinner here is abysmal (one star). I should've known when I walked in here and there was only one other table occupied - it felt kind of funny to have a banquet restaurant nearly all to myself. The General's chicken was not as crispy as it should have been, and wasn't even served with broccoli (just a plate of chicken!). The spicy fried calamari was oily and not crispy. And the noodles in the pan fried noodles were undercooked and not crispy. I guess they don't do crispy so well here. Beyond that, the service was surprisingly inattentive considering that there were not many patrons here.
(2)Linh L.
It's my first day in Boston and I decided to go to China Pearl for dim sum around 11am. It's an average place and nothing really hit the spot. The anticipation to dine at China Pearl was a big disappointment. We had 9 dim sum dishes and not even one stood out.
(1)Dannie W.
I really don't like the food here. Well, maybe it's good for dim sum and I did not order any. The staff said every dim sum item would have meat including those seafood options... My friend cannot eat meat but can eat seafood, so we can't order anything. So we ordered sweet and sour fish filet. That was so not Chinese. They put a lot of batter and so few fish. I feel like I can only taste the batter and not the fish. And the sauce was lemon sauce, not the typical orange-color sweet and sour sauce. So the dish in general just taste so weird that I can only have a few bites and no more. We also ordered the yu-xiang eggplant. It was under cooked and the sauce did not get soaked into the eggplant at all. We also ordered the clams with black bean sauce. It was not as fresh as the ones served in Jade Garden. In general, the food does not taste good, it's over-priced, and the service is not good. I am not going to this restaurant any more.
(2)Jon L.
China Pearl, thank you for your reliable mediocrity. You're never the first place suggested when we decide on a weekend brunch/dim-sum. But, you're a worthy fill-in when other places have waits too long, or when friends over-invite friends-of-friends. Your over-MSG'd dishes don't suck so much that anyone vetoes your candidacy, and you end up being the dim sum-of-last-resort. Thanks for bailing out our group.
(2)lily l.
DO NOT come here for dim sum. It was such a horrible dining experience. Came here Monday afternoon for some dim sum since Windsor House and Gourmet Dumpling House was packed and I will have to say I will never come here again. First off the waitor was extremely rude. We had to ask 3 times for water and eventually my husband just got up and went to their service station to get our own. Dim sum was non existant, there were three carts in which I actually had to personally chase down to get any food (which was NOT good or even hot). Other patrons in the restaurant actually got up and left because they got NO FOOD. When it was time to pay we could not get a waitor to add up or tab and had to go to the front and stood there forever before anyone showed up to allow us to pay for our bill. Thank you....for nothing.
(1)Kitty C.
2nd best dim sum in Boston, classic venue for Asian weddings. They're much more well rounded than hei la moon in terms of dinner and what not.
(4)Jimmy H.
I think there is some kind of treaty or non-compete clause among all dim sum joint in Chinatown. None of them are not that all great or spectacular. All that tolerance of mediocre food is all forgiven by incredibly cheap price. And China Pearl is another one. As Tom E wrote, it is average dim sum parlor. Some dishes are better than the others. Like pork bun for example. I think that one is the best I ever tasted in Chinatown. Other dishes I liked were : - Shumai - Sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves. Although you have no idea which cost how much as everything written in all abbreviated Chinese, don't sweat it. Unless you are buying 5 Takeru Kobayashi-es(Japanese hot dog eating champ) dim sum, you won't be paying that much. Otherwise, this is still a good place to get with your friends for Sunday brunch for low price. I recommend it. Just don't expect anything spectacular.
(3)Kim L.
We met some freinds here later in the afternoon for Dim Sum. This was our first experience and all in all it was very authentic I think. We went with someone who knew what to order and that was very helpful as the staff are not so helpful. I am sad to say that she did go have to go to the cart ladies to ask them to come over and provide us food. What we ate was pretty good. The steamed pork buns are good and we all really like the mei shu ( not sure if I spelled that correctly). The fried shrimp wontons were good and generally everything we got was good. It was coming to the end of the time they serve and it was difficult to get the carts to come to our table. The guys with us would have liked to of had more to eat but there came a point that it just wasn't gonna happen. The food was really hot when it came out for the most part. So much so that would recommend letting it sit a minute or two to cool off. They are stingy on giving you water so if you can get a pitcher at the beginning. We never saw a waiter that I know of. Food good, service lacking lots of luster.
(3)Chelsea W.
Ah-May-Zing!! I know I give a lot of good reviews...but I think that when a place deserves recognition, I need to recognize. China Pearl is incredible. My boyfriend and I went here a couple of days ago when we were visiting Boston and let me just say that I would go back for this food. We ordered the scallion pancakes (best that either of us has ever had), half a roasted duck (delicious), I ordered the Kung Pao Chicken and he ordered the Beef Fried Rice. Out meal was so delicious. So tasty. So much flavor and not greasy at all. The server was so friendly and sweet. Our bill was surprisingly small!! We didn't finish all of our food so we took it all home and had it the following night as leftovers. Just as good the second time around! Love this place!
(5)Chip S.
We try to stop in to China Pearl for dim sum every time we're in Boston and have never been disappointed. The food is consistently good - and cheap! I think the service is fine.
(4)Andy H.
I been a faithful follower of China Pearl for years, but recently service there has been disappointing that made me want to retract my previous good reviews. Today, one of the dish we order was fried, and when we got it, it was very cold. When we called the server over and request for a new one, he and she wanted to simply throw in the fryer to reheated. I cook fry food from time to time, and fried food need to be hot to be delicious, other wise it's going to be mushy, or trap too much oil to be delicious. Long story short, THEY TOOK THE FOOD BACK AND PUT IT DIRECTLY ON THE COUNTER, AND PLAN TO GIVE IT TO OTHER CUSTOMERS. This is very disturbing for a frequency diner, and I think this is a poor business practice. I want to inform other diner of this issue, and dine at your own risk. Thank you.
(1)Jeff C.
Pretty good for Dim Sum on the East Coast pretty authentic as well. The prices are pretty reasonable. Very big place excellent in hosting large parties or weddings. Dinner is very good has everything you would want.
(4)Jeff D.
I've only been here for dim sum, and this time around was lucky enough to have a Chinese-speaker with us so we got very good service. Stuck mostly to dumplings, though we got a plate of duck that was good, but very oily (because it was duck.) Also the lotus-leaf wrapped rice was great. Had some chunks of pork inside and was probably my favorite dish. As always, my favorites were the various types of buns stuffed with meat. I love those things. Some blurry pictures Dumplings, pork fried rice (not the rice mentioned above) and duck bostonwolf.smugmug.com/p… Duck and shumai bostonwolf.smugmug.com/p… Rolls with shrimp and celery bostonwolf.smugmug.com/p… Pork buns and some sort of dumpling. My friend loved them but I did not try one bostonwolf.smugmug.com/p…
(3)Marissa A.
We experienced dim sum at China Pearl at its peak. We decided to go on the weekend they celebrated the Chinese New Year. Yikes. The service was 'meh.' And we did sit at a table with 2 random people. However, it WAS the Chinese New Year. The saving grace of the meal was the fried crab claw ball (aka, the delicious death ball). That was some fried goodness. Otherwise, the dim sum was pretty good, standard choices. Not bad, not bad. But not the best either.
(3)Ell C.
This restaurant is nothing exceptional but one of the few dim sum spots in Ctown. It served its purpose while I lived in Boston. The decor leaves little to be desired and could probably use deep carpet cleaning among other things. It is what it is....
(2)Steven D.
There were quite a few options for dim sum in Boston, but I'm sad to say I regret deciding on this place for dim sum. I went with a few friends and we all agreed that everything tasted pretty bland except for the chicken feet and steam tofu skin roll. Service could have been better because I didn't think it was so busy that we had to wave our hands in the air to get some attention. Next time I'm in Boston I'll have to check out other dim sum places first, but then again, I wasn't impressed with Chinatown overall anyway. I'd choose the trash filled corners of my Philly Chinatown over the graffiti filled streets any day. The best thing I saw was a Nissan GT-R :)
(3)Jenny N.
China Pearl is my parents' old standby dim sum spot, so I've been coming here since I was a wee child. With all the hustle and bustle, it actually reminds me of the teahouses in Hong Kong. In other words, it is grand compared to the other establishments in Chinatown. On weekends, the lines get so out of control that they have to assign you a number and they announce over the microphone when your number comes up. While they have 2 dining levels, if you are a small party, you may get seated at a large table with other patrons. This is done to accommodate all the diners as quicky as possible--and yes, this is how they do it in Hong Kong too! All in all, dining at China Pearl is as much about the experience and atmosphere as it is about the food. I love selecting different dim sum specialities from the rolling carts (they have all the standard offerings like har gow, siu mai, chicken feet, etc.) and I never get tired of watching the ladies fry up my turnip cake right in front of me. I highly recommend the sweet tofu "pudding" (doufu fa), which is served hot with sweet honey syrup. They also have steam tables on each floor, offering dishes like mussels in black bean sauce. If you want noodles or other more substantial fare, you can order off the regular menu to supplement your dim sum. Tip: It's best to go early--no later than 1:30 p.m. because that's when the dim sum is freshest.
(3)Julie H.
I've been going to China Pearl for years and it never disappoints. They do a good dim sum, a brisk business and have a good choice of items. This time they made a delicious har gao (shrimp dumping), soft shell crab, shrimp and eggplant, tofu and shrimp, and shrimp and veggie dumplings. Their shrimp crepes were a bit too doughy with not enough shrimp. I miss the days of old when their menu also included lobster dumplings and shrimp stuffed mushrooms. I also wish they had more variety in their dumplings--I love shrimp and cilantro dumplings and a good pan fried vegetable dumpling. But for a good solid dim sum experience, China Pearl is a good bet.
(4)Iv L.
Unfortunately, this place has gone down in years. Needs a bit of help. Dim sum is so so... dinner is just average like.
(2)Erik F.
This is a large restaurant in the Boston Chinatown. I had a good dim sum lunch here one Sunday while visiting some friends in the city. Didn't leave me with any MSG hangover, good number of choices, our waiter was brusque but the dim sum cart ladies were generally friendly. I prefer Windsor across the street now, but I have to say you all are pretty well off in Boston in the dim sum department. 4 stars not five cause it was solid but nothing makes it really special.
(4)Fan L.
This place is big, and sometimes it can get very crowded. That is not a problem, but I do not like it when they sit you and forget about you for 20min.... Ok, so after deciding to stand up and look for a waiter myself, the food there was actually pretty good. I would say 7/10 compared to dim sum I had in Hong Kong. The price is pretty good as well.
(3)Reese D.
Used to be great! Quality has deteriorated over the years. The service used to be horrendous during its heyday. A lot better now, probably because business is slow. Came here with my mum for weekday lunch when we didn't want to wait in line at the overly crowded Hei La Moon. Its Quincy location is way better.
(2)Ed Y.
4 star to 1. Ive been eating dim sum every week at China Pearl Quincy for the past several years and decided to give the Pearl in Boston a try. Ive been avoiding the Boston restaurant because of the lack of parking and also many friends said the quality has gone down. I hate to say it but i have to agree. The atmosphere is dark and gloomy, they added flower displays and a long paper dragon to the dining area but still its unpleasant. The dim sum is just terrible. Portions are small, dry like its been left out for a while, and just not tasty like their Quincy branch. I think the best chefs were moved to Quincy and the flagship restaurant has been forgotten. I remember back in the day i would have to wait over an hour to get into the Chinatown China Pearl. Today, we just walked right in, no waiting and sat down immediately. That was a bad sign right away. The waiter did not even ask us what kind of tea we wanted and just gave us whatever. What a disappointing brunch we had. I guess my friends were right, everyone is going to Hei La Moon now, thats where the real good dim sum is. Me, i'll stick with the Quincy branch, a little far but worth it. What a shame!!!
(1)Ellen C.
So we tried to get into the best rated dim sum restaurant across the street (Winsor Cafe), and the wait was 45 minutes. And wound up at this place, as did, I suppose, many others. DO NOT GO HERE! The food is appallingly bad. Examples: the rice casings for dumplings are worth their weight in lead. The fillings are the worst I've ever had. I cannot think of a single dish I thought was more than remotely palatable. The service is lousy, meaning that the poor waitresses are both harassed, don't know English, and have absorbed the culture of the place which is: gloomy, sour, perfunctory. The sour-faced manager didn't seem to give a hoot about the customers. I brought guests from out of town who will never be in Boston again, and I was beyond embarrassed. If ever there is a next time for me and dim sum, I'll look outside of Chinatown - Cambridge, for instance. The "wisdom" that an ethnic restaurant is good if it has a lot of customers of its ethnicity does not hold here. There were many Asian customers, but the food was still gross.
(1)Chris M.
I've been here for dim sum and for a formal chinese banquet dinner. The food was excellent both times. For dim sum, they not only had the carts going around, but they also had a food bar where you can get more unique items like scallop and vermicelli with fried garlic in a shell, big bowl of clams, and a big plate of mussels. Everything was delicious. The banquet was a wonderful. The event was for an annual Harry Dow Anniversary dinner in recognition of a Suffolk University Law School graduate who dedicated and started community commitment to public service. They had hor d'oeuvres going around as we mingled before food service started. We enjoyed a seven course meal (or was it nine). There was a lot of food and enough for leftovers too. They had a full bar. The ambience is loud and lively, just as you'd expect of a chinese banquet style evening. I would recommend this place to anyone as their food is great!
(5)T H.
You know, this is place is really Not that great. Considering though, this is the first dim sum i've had in boston so far. My dim sum experiences are from california; specificially LA area and SF area. 1) Those stairs? What the heck its just weird to have to hike a mountain to get there 2) The noise level is beyond normal dim sum i think 3) Carts- or lack thereof. The place was packed on a sunday brunch and there's only 3 carts going around. this one cart kept circling around with the same food. what is wrong with them? 4) Service- again, or lack thereof. 5) Bathroom- from 100 yards away it looks nasty. so didn't want to go in there. 6) Food- very average. Although the price was decent. Will I return. Maybe if there's nothing else better.
(2)Jang David K.
the service is so terrible. Of course you go here for their well-known dim sum and I gotta say that it's not that bad. But the workers seemed annoyed and angry when I asked questions about what's in their carts. They stare at you and speak Chinese when we keep telling them that we have no idea what they are talking about because we don't speak Chinese!! Because dim sum can get a bit greasy, I always ask for hot oil to spice up my taste buds. Last time I went, I asked for hot oil and they said they don't have it and never had it.....i was like what??? I came here like 10 times in last 3 years....you had it every time....what the heck?? and the waiter goes, would you like some Tabasco?? you serious?? What Chinese restaurant doesn't have hot oil and what Chinese restaurant carries around Tabasco?? Price is decent, carts are limited and service is whack sauce. China Pearl, eat my 3 star.
(3)Chaos M.
The food there is the southern China style (Cantonese Style). This is not my favorite Chinese style, but it is still very good. But it seems most food is just dessert like dumplings, etc. I don't know how to order the main course.
(4)Victoria K.
I visited China Pearl for my first visit to Boston's Chinatown (believe it or not). Everything we tried was delicious, and we could barely finish all our food! I love all the different textures and flavors of the various dumplings, even those that appear to be similar. For example, we enjoyed two different steamed shrimp dumplings. One had a somewhat thicker, chewier dough layer, while the other had a thinner skin and was filled with shrimp and scallions, adding the exact amount of mild onion flavor to set these apart from their friends. Both were great, but just different. I also think they did a great job with my favorite dim sum treat, the char siu bao, or steamed bbq pork buns. These were incredibly fluffy and chewy, with the perfectly sweet pork meat inside. Heaven! The only downside is that the whole shrimps in the rice noodles visibly had their poop chutes intact, which I'm told is completely normal at dim sum restaurants. Eww, but I'm sure we all eat shrimp poop without realizing it right? The whole meal cost about $22 (including tea), an incredible deal for the sheer quantity of delicious food (which we couldn't even finish)! Poop and all :)
(4)Eric S.
The food is decent and the climb up the stairs makes you want to reward yourself with heart stopping greasy food.
(3)James Y.
Pricey, poor service, had to order multiple times, and the curry was, in the words of the archetypal Australian describing poor beer, rather like making love in a canoe (****ing close to water). Chow mein was runny and lo mein was greasy.
(2)joe w.
Tried the 9-course dinner except I skipped a couple of dishes at the beginning and end. Mushroom and bok choy dish tasted great. Beef and jelly fish tasted fine as did the soup. Note vegetarian, vegan or kosher options are nothing to write home about. The taro shell dish and jumbo shrimp/crab hybrid fried finger food looked and tasted distinctive. Other dishes are probably attainable elsewhere. Outside of dim sum hours, plenty of underutilized seating capacity is available on multiple floors. I suspect stairs to a second and third floor are not compatible with servicing an aging population. There is an elevator way in the back but this is not the most accessible restaurant. If you have elderly in your group, I would recommend a first floor restaurant or calling ahead to figure out how to access the elevator. Service could have been a little more attentive for example when I dropped a chopstick to offer a replacement. I ate with a previously positioned fork to continue. Address is convenient but the second floor is not easy for many patrons to get to. Overall dinner was an OK experience for a Chinese restaurant.
(3)Thuy L.
China Pearl has redeemed themselves on my 2nd visit. They are bigger, better service, and the dim sum comes out quickly and hot. They serve the same things as Hei La Moon across the street but they have the Chinese broccoli on their carts as well as more authentic items, which I love. They also have the pineapple custard bun on their dessert cart, which Hei La Moon doesn't even serve. This is the best hangover food, greasy and hits the spot.
(4)Tater M.
Great dim sum, yes if you don't speak/understand Mandarin, you'll have a bit of trouble. (My advice, just be direct, stop hesitating. Don't be rude.) Like other dim sum restaurants, they serve dim sum in these metal carts they push table to table and the waitress will ask you in cantonese/chinese/broken english "Do you like some____?" And she'll open the baskets and show you the items. You can get extra chili from the table near the kitchen. We went there during Mid-autumn festival (accidentally) and as expected it was SUPER BUSY. We (two people) expected that it'll take a god darn long time to get seated (in a restaurant with big round tables) but it actually took only around 10-14 minutes. Really. Bad thing was that once we got seated, it took a long time to get the waiters to notice us and to get us chopsticks and paper and bowls and tea. But hey, it's Chinatown, they know the food is good enough to cover their service. Dim sum was quite wonderful: fried radish cake AWESOME, chicken feet TASTY and SAVORY, rice and meat wrapped in leaves (zhong zi) YUMMY...etc etc. More on service: it was a tad bit difficult to actually get the food you want, pretend chicken feet, we asked around 3 cart pushing waitresses, one huffy puffy waiter, and another nice cart pushing lady before we got a steaming plate of chicken feet. Pretty cool experience! Definitely a must go for Boston Chinese food.
(4)Ziyan C.
Not the best dim sum in Chinatown (although Boston doesn't have much to offer in general), but in college we ended up coming here a lot due to cheap prices. The place overall feels cheaply decorated & crowded. Not the nicest atmosphere. The food is decent but tends to be more oily & not the best quality.
(2)Rachel L.
After a troop up the stairs, we had a short wait for a table of 3. I came here with Davel and with my friend and we came here for dim sum. The food was okay, was just like any typical dim sum place. The egg roll, vegetable dumplings, and the pan fried vegetable thing was a bit weird. It had a sour taste to it, but it might have been because of what was in it. The tripe with beef brisket was really good, and so was the calamari. All the other dim sum was ordinary. Service was quite friendly with the nice dim sum ladies persuading you to get this and that. I probably won't be coming back for a while, but overall - a good experience.
(3)Bob R.
Coming from SF my expectations were quite low. However, upon sitting down and getting my first few dishes, I quickly knew that I would be coming back. I enjoyed the spare ribs the most however the sticky rice and sweet tofu were also quite good. I did not like the ha gao or sieu mai here at all. I did like the atmosphere (typical dim sum) and was glad to see that the carts went by relatively frequently.
(4)Danielle F.
Came here on Sunday morning for Chinese New Year. Our group had a blast, though we definitely benefited by making reservations. When we left around 1:30, the line was down the stairs and out the door. Food wise, the turnip cake with hoisin sauce was a nice surprise. The shrimp dumplings were awesome!
(4)Susanna Y.
Absolutely horrid. I don't leave reviews, ever. But this is the first time I had such a horrible experience that it brings me to write this, so I made a Yelp account, and wanted to tell everyone, DO NOT EAT HERE, you can eat anywhere else in Chinatown and it will be 1. a better eating experience for you and 2. better service -anywhere- else, even at the Chinatown McDonalds. I would give this NO STARS if I could but alas I can't. I went for a friend's birthday party on a Monday evening around 7p. Lots of seats, fine. The stairwell is small. It is skinny and if you are going with lots of friends be careful it is rather tight. The inside walls are outdated and need a paint job (but wait... did I tell you they were painting the walls WHILE people were inside AND dining? They were). The food was alright. I could get better anywhere else in Chinatown. We had a lot of orders too. Fried chicken is not hard to make. Greasy. The crab rangoon was rather slimy for my taste and the rest of my friends that were there. The beef and broccoli was too salty (the waiter asked, Chinese or American, Chinese-style being with bok choy, I didn't know that qualified as broccoli, and American actually being the version with actual broccoli and beef). The rice took forever to come, it was actually the last thing the waiter came to get. But before I even talked about food, I've already touched upon that, the waiter took forever to take our orders. He began to take 2 people's orders at my table of friends and then proceeded to say, WAIT. And then walked away to take orders from another table! After we had already been waiting for I would say more than 15-20 minutes. When we finally ate, got ALL our orders (they took forever to come), and we handed him money for a check, he proceeded to say: Tip is 15%. And held his hand out. Excuse me? Every restaurant I have went to I have paid tip AFTER I have received the receipt for the bill. Absurd for a waiter to be asking that after we had just handed him the money. He did not smile at all, except when we handed him the money, and frowned when asking for tip. He handed us take out boxes when we wanted to put our leftovers in them, but they are supposed to take the dishes and put the leftovers in for us. He rudely stuck out bags for the boxes at us and thrust a second bag into my friend's face. I always pay tip. No matter what. Because I know waiters don't want to be there and Chinatown underpays them. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the first time I have never wanted to give this waiter A DIME. I recommend Winsor Dim Sum or Jade Garden, ANYWHERE but this place. What you may think it makes up foodwise, will be nothing if it takes FOREVER for you to receive your meal. Will never eat at this place ever again, EVEN if someone PAID for me, I would decline.
(1)Vina Y.
Came here for dimsum and also for afternoon snacking. Dimsum - choice is pretty limited, I was here on a weekday so maybe they have less out but they didn't have a lot of the dishes I asked for. I always judge dimsum on the har gow and the skin on theirs was too thick and gelatinous. The ham sui gok was not bad though. As for afternoon snacking, I had a meeting/get-together here and ordered some appetizers: crab rangoon, chicken wings, honey pork ribs and some dishes - beef flat noodle (hor fun), and fried rice. Now I know the food choices aren't authentic but it was mostly because the people I was with wanted the more Americanized food. Either way, it was terrible. The crab rangoons were almost all runny cream cheese with very little crab. The wings and ribs were very much overcooked and tough to eat. Fried rice was very oily with very little flavor. Hor fun was the best of them all but that's not saying much.
(2)Rebecca Y.
I went to give this restaurant a try. The reviews I read didn't really give a good explanation of what happens at this restaurant. They have two options - the dim sum carts or their traditional menu. I had the dim sum carts. What happens is you sit down, they put a card on your table and servers with carts of food walk by. When you pick things they stamp your card. I don't speak the language, so the explanation of the food I was getting was pretty minimal. I know for sure that I had some dim sum, but I wasn't sure what the other things were. All I knew was that I was getting chicken, pork or shrimp. Sometimes I wasn't even sure about the protein. I was not offered anything to drink. There was the tea or water, nothing else. The food that I got was pretty good, but I'm still not sure what it was. The bathrooms were disgusting and very tiny. Two of the toilets were overflowing and the sinks were not clean.
(4)John M.
Without a doubt, the best dim sum place in Boston, if not the best Chinese restaurant in the city! Hop inside on a Sunday for dim sum and it is a sight for the eyes and a pleasure for the tastebuds. The sounds of waiters barking orders, the trolleys of steamed dumplings and riceballs clattering up and down the aisles, and the smells are always overpoweringly delightful. The best way to enjoy this is with a group of people, so you can share as many small plates as possible, and pick off your friends food. The best items here are the pork shumai, a fettucinie wrapped pork dumpling with veggies and god-knows-what-else. I'm never sure what it is, but it is just so amazingly good I don't even bother asking. There is another, longer, whiter beef dumpling with soy sauce, which is just as good and not as fatty. A simple shrimp dumpling is nice as well, and they come 3 big ones to an order. As for seafood, the shrimps come heads-on, so you know all the flavor is definately still in that shrimp, ripe for the sucking and the eating. The chicken feet are even really good, filled with that nice chicken flavor right on the bone. The rice dishes are all pretty good, but the best are the ones wrapped in a banana leaf and stemmed, it comes out sticky and full of flavor. For a party of 11, the total price came out to around $20/head, which may sound pricey, but we must've had 30-40 plates of food, and the pricing syestem is so hard to figure out. It's a card that gets stamped when you pick out what you want, which is a big of a pain because the card is in Chinese, but an order is never more than $3 per item, so its a cheap gamble, especially when the freshness and flavor of the food is top notch.
(5)Mike H.
3rd update. I can't handle this indecisiveness I feel. After going to the Emperor's Garden around the corner and being SO let down it doesn't even deserve a review, I let my friends twist my arm into coming back here. Best decision ever. I was still cautious, picking through my food before eating it, (even soliciting a few weird looks since I was a fully grown Asian man who looked like he was playing with his food,) but everything was SO good. The people were SUPER nice and I got to sit upstairs. (Although the stairs were a b&$%^) I guess my first review stays. 4 Stars. Someone get me a Shrimp Dumpling ASAP.
(4)Brittni D.
If you like mice with your Chinese food, then this is the place to go! After a so-so meal, we saw mice crawling around the floor in the main room while eating our fortune cookies. So not going back!
(1)Jo-Anna L.
I was quite pleased with China Pearl. I came here around noon-time on a Saturday. Waited about 5 minutes for a seat, the place was packed. The first plate of dumplings we grabbed were kind of luke warm, but otherwise, tasted fine. Everything after that was perfect temperature. I was a big fan of the steamed buns (but was sad they didn't come by until the end of the meal when we were full). I was very pleased with the variety, there was a lot I wanted to try, but with only two people, you can only eat so much. Judging from other comments left here, I wouldn't come late in the day. Remember that Dim Sum is brunch food, so the time to get the freshest food would be around brunch time on a weekend.
(4)Julie T.
I've grown up with China Pearl and it has never really been great to me. With so many different dim sum places to go to within just that one block, why would people come here?! Seems to me that when a place becomes so popular and at such a high demand, the product's quality falls short. A lot. And that's exactly how I feel about China Pearl. Each and every time I come here, it seems like the food has somehow gotten worse. I'll eat there and think to myself that the food couldn't sink any lower and that I'd never eat there again and lo and behold, a year later, I'll sit there with the exact same thoughts running through my mind. Sigh. I suppose one good thing is the fact that there are so many tables there so you'll never sit at the same table more than once. So yay for variety, I guess...
(2)Tim Y.
Pretty decent food here. The place was packed, and really loud, and there was a queue -- but it didn't take long to be seated. Prices are really, really good. Food is tasty, fresh, and served hot from those awesome carts. I did seem to observe the cart pushers giving preferential treatment to those who understood the language - the carts seemed to whiz by without much explanation as to what they have whereas they go slower, and seemed to spend more time chatting up the customers who understood what they were getting. I've done dim sum before, so it's definitely not just newbie ignorance. There has to be something good if a 3 year old next to you eats chicken feet for the first time right along side you without any protest. I would go back, though I'd be more assertive and maybe not sit at a corner table so as to get better exposure to carts as they go by.
(3)Greg Y.
omnom dimsum. I recommend standard dimsum fare. Shu mai, ha gao, ha cheurng, (steamed) cha siu bao, ham sui gok (the fried doughy pork 'dumplings' i guess). It's not NYC-chinatown dimsum, but it gets the job done. Also, I'd pass on the egg tarts. They're good but there are much better ones to be had in the bakeries just outside.
(4)Jeremy F.
China Pearl, you made my Sunday afternoon by providing me with your mobile buffet of unexplainable delights. I lucked the hell out on this one because I was fortunate enough to go with my buddy and his wife, who speaks Chinese. This meant that i could sit back, have little to no interaction and get the best stuff without awkward discussions about "what am i about to put in my mouth?". (there's a "that's what she said" somewhere in there i'm sure) Anyway, i'd say the atmosphere is on par with the standard large-China Town restaurant; Big, gold and Red. The food was good and for my first dim sum experience I was really satisfied. Definitely more of a meal "experience" than anything else. I think in terms of foodie i'd only go 3 stars, but its a very different way to eat things, thereby bumpin this little pearl up to fourzees.
(4)Dave M.
I have to admit I'm a dimsum snob, as I've had some pretty good stuff in SF. That said, I think China Pearl is a pretty solid place. The place was packed to the gills, but it didn't look like anyone was being rushed out the door, which is a good sign. The selection is copious, and the carts come around very often. While the dimsum offerings seem very tame, however they are very flavorful, and are not greasy. Greasy is a problem I've seen with a lot of dim sum places, and it really sets apart the marginal from the good. Again, totally not greasy. I would have loved to have seen duck offerings, maybe some chicken feet... but frankly, I don't eat feet, so who cares. Solid place, I'll be back, and so far... best dim sum I've had outside of SF. (Beats Portland, OR for second place.)
(4)Pauline V.
Mice. Yup. And management doesn't even care.
(1)Casey W.
We showed up late on a Sunday and they still let us in. We didn't get to sample everything, but what we did have was flavorful, filling, and wonderful. Very traditional Dim Sum. Carts, traditional attire for different roles (jacket waiters, shirt waiters, & vest waiters), authentic atmosphere, funny hostess, great atmosphere, very friendly. We can't wait to go back. Its a bit pricey for Dim Sum, but worth it.
(4)Nikol K.
All those stairs - don't bring the stroller. I like Dim Sum a lot. My favorite place is in San Francisco. In Boston, I usually go to Chau Chow City because I feel like all the restaurants make the same dim sum and the only difference is that my parents know the owners at Chau Chow City so we don't have to wait for a table. I went here one Sunday when Chau Chow City was closed. The food here is the same as all the other Boston Dim Sum places. One dish I got that was really disappointing was a curry noodle - I couldn't eat it because the flavor was rather quite unpleasant (it was sweet and pungent). Nothing here was a standout, so....
(2)Helen L.
Okay, so I like China Pearl. However, I wasn't WOWed by it. It was just average. First of all, if you don't get there at like 11am on a Saturday or Sunday, the lines are INSANELY long. I mean like an hour wait at least. So I'd recommend getting there at 11am and no later. If you get there at like 1pm, then you get the leftovers and you don't get as much food options on the cart. Second, the staff there really can't tell you what the food is in English. So if you're a first time dim-summer, I'd highly recommend you go with somebody that 1) have been before and know what to order or 2) speaks Cantonese or mandarin. Because when they push around the carts and you ask what the item is, they generally say, "pork" or "beef" or "meat"...something very generic that gives you no description of what it actually is. Once you get the food though, I think it's all quite delicious. But it's just as good as any other dim sum place I've been to. Cost wise, if you go with a group of people, it's will be very cheap. It's all family style so each food option is appetizer size and you get a whole bunch to share with the table. So you probably end up paying $10 per person or so plus tip.
(3)David C.
The food was decent, but the service was by far the worst I've experienced at any restaurant for the past several years. Every step of the way, we had to flag down servers from placing the order to paying for the bill. The experience was straight out of a Seinfeld.
(1)Aaron C.
Came here for dim sum and left looking for real dim sum Chinese food in boston is coming to a decline. There aren't many, and the ones that are still standing are being overcome by appeal to other ethnicities. Coming from a mostly chinese neighborhood, I was greatly disappointed when I finally got to eat after waiting a good 45 minutes for a seat. The dim sum was not fresh and it wasn't of good quality either. Some of the dim sum you even had to get up and go over to get it yourself; thus freeing up some of the waiters to bus tables and clean. The setting was another story. The interior space of the seating area is so poorly designed. Circulation and seating are such big problems. There are large circular tables that the just seat 3 different parties at making it awkward to converse and eat in front of strangers. They should just take those large tables away and put smaller seating ones to make the atmosphere a bit more friendly. Go to another city for good dim sum please
(2)Khantha S.
Great dim sum...but too crowded on weekends
(3)Elaine M.
3.5 stars. China Pearl is a pretty solid dim sum place in Boston's Chinatown. Be forewarned, though, that it gets ridiculously busy the closer it gets to lunchtime during the weekends. And when I say "busy," I mean that there are lines pouring down a flight of stairs, nearly out the front door -- and it is no small restaurant (it consists of two pretty large floors). Any time I have friends or family visiting from out of town who say they want dim sum, I always take them here, and they always end up liking it.
(4)Didi S.
The Dim Sum's not bad, though I generally go to Hei La Moon instead. I would never have eaten dinner here (Gourmet Dumpling House, Taiwan Cafe, even Peach Farm all being much better options nearby) except that we had a huge group for a pre-New Year's dinner and needed some ridiculously huge tables. The menu looks pretty Americanized: they offer crab rangoon, Chop Suey, and other stuff that I consider myself above as a ridiculous person. We ended up ordering the dou miao (bean seedlings?), paigu (small pork ribs), eggplant with funky sauce, jiaoyanyouyu (fried calamari), half a duck, some kind of shrimp, a fried vermicelli, and a soup. The food was better than I expected, although still mediocre. The dou miao, vermicelli and shrimp were particularly disappointing, with the shrimp also tasting a little funny. The duck was probably the best thing we ordered. What was really upsetting though was how horrible the service was. You never expect very good service in Chinatown, but the servers all seemed to be trying to pass off helping us to each other, were inattentive, and rather annoyed to be doing anything for us. No wonder the place was barely a third full on Friday night.
(2)Jackie C.
This place has definitely gone down hill over the years, but still manages to churn out some decent dim sum. The taste and quality of their food seems to vary day to day though. One day it tastes awesome, while another, I want to spit out the food. I'm not sure if its because there are different chefs when I go in or something else, but there are definitely days when the food is just plain off. I still love how this place still uses dim sum carts to serve food, since it seems like more and more places are getting rid of the carts.. *teary eyed* The service is also pretty good, if you raise your hand for attention, the wait staff is always quick to notice you and help you out.
(3)Alyssa S.
This is my favorite place to go for dim sum. When I used to live in Chinatown, my family dined here at least once a week. It takes awhile to be seated (esp on weekends), but the dim sum is definitely worth it. It's easier if you speak Chinese or have a friend who does because the servers and hosts are more attentive to you. The shrimp dumplings and spare ribs are my favorites-- as well as the sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves. I would give China Pearl 5 stars, but there IS a long wait and the bathrooms aren't as clean as I'd like them to be... China Pearl Restaurant in Quincy is also good, but not as great as this one in Boston.
(4)Yumiko F.
Love this place but need to go with 3 or more people so you won't stuff yourself with same thing! It is better to go early time other wise sometimes food gets greasy.. ( maybe not) yum yum dim sum
(4)Anna T.
I'm not really an expert on dim sum but I know that I can find better in Boston. I came here around lunchtime on a Wednesday with my friend and her parents. The place was pretty packed, mostly with elderly Asian couples craving some cheap grub. I'm a pretty timid gourmand when it comes to Asian cuisine, usually straying away from tripe and chicken feet. Although, I do recommend the pork bun, the egg custard pastry, the dumplings, and the beef and noodles. The China Pearl is an ok place for cheap, humdrum victuals.
(2)Kristina D.
Like a figure skating judge, I'm giving a lower rating based because I have not yet tried Winsor or Emperor's Garden, and don't want to dole out the 5.0 just yet. For my roommate's surprise brunch, her boyfriend organized an elaborate scheme in which her friends would arrive early and greet her with a carved butternut squash (in place of a friend who could not make it) and new ipod speakers. FYI, dim sum waitresses get perplexed by med students' gourd versions of the Rubin vase. One stared at the squash for a good two minutes, likely wondering if it had come off of one of the carts. We had the: -shumai -vegetarian spring rolls -shrimp noodle thing with soy sauce -broccoli -steamed shrimp dumplings -bbq pork buns (two kinds) -rice -egg custard tarts -sesame balls -tea -taro -shrimp thing that looks like a pom pom Dim sum worked quite well for the large group. They seated us on a giant round table on a platform within direct sight of the door, which maximized our "hide under the table and then pop out making interpretive dance gestures while screaming HAPPY BIRTHDAY" antics. Our group could have benefited from a lazy susan with which to more effiiciently distribute food, or knives with which to subdivide the food. Coming in on Saturday before noon with a reservation also enabled us to evade long lines that seem to occur on Sunday mornings.
(3)Sandy F.
Very very good dim sum. Lines can get long on weekends so try to get there early. because they get so much business and food sells out quick, you are guaranteed fresh dim sum. food here is far less greasy than most dim sum in chinatown. as of the language barriers, most of the people pushing the carts dont speak english, but the waiters mostly speak english and if you have things you normally order, you can just order from them. also you can order off the regular menu too. the mango pudding, the tofu pudding, the fried shrimp and crab claw, the beef balls and the rice noodles are yummy. also, if you like the puffy white steamed buns, they are very soft and tasty here too.
(5)Leslie Y.
My mom used to take us to dim sum whenever she was off. We would come here for banquets and other parties. As growing up, this place was owned by Uncle Bill, a very kind and successful businesman in Boston Chinatown. The food choices now are definitely more than ever. I know the current Owners and they are wonderful people. The food, no doubt about it, still very good traditional dim sum.
(4)C. C.
Decent dim sum, good location. Best sticky rice in Boston, but in my opinion, Hei La Moon is overall the winner in dim sum!
(3)Norina N.
it used to be real good couple years ago, but recently I went back for dimsum, my bf and I ordered 4 dishes, all were just plain, it tasted like had been cooked for days, we couldnt help but got up to pay and left to another place.
(2)Wing M.
A bit of background: I grew up in Hong Kong and spent the first ten years of my life eating dim sum every Sunday morning. Sometimes we do Saturday morning too. Sometimes, when school's out, we do dim sum every other day. I'm a bit of a dim sum snob. And I've stopped eating dim sum on the East Coast because, ever since the first time I've been to China Pearl, about ten minutes into any dim sum outing I just sigh and wish that I was at China Pearl instead. Seriously, I cannot think of one dim sum place in New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Baltimore, Chicago or DC that is remotely close to China Pearl in quality and atmosphere. There used to be a small place in NYC that was as good as China Pearl but it has long since changed management and the food went downhill from there. So, basically, China Pearl is the only place I've found in this country that captures the quality and atmosphere of a real Hong Kong dim sum parlor. The food is 100% authentic Cantonese and not "influenced" by other areas of Chinese cuisine like most dim sum places in the US. All the classical dim sum dishes can be found if you go there on a weekend. It doesn't try and do crazy experimental dim sum and sticks with what worked in Hong Kong for the last few decades. It's big (two floors!!!), it's noisy, it's filled with ladies yelling out food names and pushing carts and on weekends all the eight-people tables are filled. Oh, and the food is amazing. Now, that's not everyone's cup of tea, I understand that. Some folks don't want a noisy place and would prefer their dim sum Shanghai flavored, for example. That's great. There are other places for that. But if you want 100% authentic Hong Kong style dim sum China Pearl is the only place I have found in this country that does the job. Note: I'm in Seattle now and am slowly exploring the dim sum places here. So far, not optimistic. Heading down to San Francisco later this summer, so hopefully I'll find something that can rival China Pearl there...
(5)C T.
5 stars for tasty dim sum, 1 star for service = 3 stars overall. The ppl who work there are very rude. Not the sweetest ppl in the world. The bathrooms like all other restaurants in chinatown are disgusting as well. Also not handicapp-friendly. The elevator is in the back of the restuarant and you can only get to it if you go thru the bank around the corner. I know weird right? My family brings my grandma to China Pearl for her b-day every year. It's definately a trek to get her to our table. SIGH...but the dim sum is still tasty
(3)Tom E.
An average dim sum parlour. 3 stars is not to say that it's not good - dim sum nearly always is. But compared to the standard of dim sum around the world and even around New England - it's pretty ordinary. The two things that stand out are 1. the weekend bustle - this place gets very busy, which is good for the atmosphere but bad for the lines. 2. almond dofu dessert - a traditional cheap and easy desert not made from tofu as the name suggests but made from seaweed agar powder and boiled water. It's almost exactly the same thing I make in the lab everyday to separate out tiny pieces of DNA from each other. It's tasty as hell too (not the lab version).
(3)Amanda M.
If you love dim sum, and live in Boston, give China Pearl a try. Unfortunately I never made it to Hei La Moon to compare, but I'll vouch for China Pearl for a great, authentic dim sum experience. I have always made a point of arriving around 11 am if I go on a Saturday or Sunday; otherwise, the line for a table can be immense. Each time I've arrived, been promptly seated, and had tea on my table in seconds. The carts circulate regularly, carrying a variety of dim sum staples. In case you've never had dim sum before, it involves many little steamer baskets and plates being circulated on carts; each plate or basket contains 2-4 pieces of items like dumplings, sticky rice wrapped in grape leaves, noodle rolls, or other small items. I would say it's the Chinese version of tapas: you order lots of small plates, and share. Being able to point to the items you want make it relatively easy, even if you're new to dim sum, to get a variety of delicious dumplings and rolls. I'd recommend the pork buns, shrimp dumplings, and the fun rolls (which are covered in peanut sauce). What I loved about China Pearl was the fact that the staff was able to figure out, from my descriptions of previous dim sum experiences, what items I liked and wanted brought to my table; our waiter even brought over a couple items himself instead of making me wait until the cart came around. The best part is that you can try a variety of dishes without too big a hit to the wallet. I've always come with a friend, and I don't think the total bill ever topped $25 for a veritable smorgasbord of delicious food. I'd recommend it as a great place for kids with adventurous palates; I started going to dim sum places in Chicago when I was young, and have a soft spot for this type of cuisine thanks to those experiences. Plus, it's fun when you're a kid to point to something on a cart and have instant gratification: no waiting for someone to bring you your order. And let's be honest, that can be pretty nice for those of us who are adults too.
(4)Brady B.
Definitely the best dim sum I've ever had. I've been here 3 times so far, and many more I'm sure before I'm done. I usually go to Chau Chow City which is also very good for dim sum, but I really think that China Pearl trumps them. They're a bit pricier than Chau Chow...just a bit, but so well worth it. The last time I ate there w/ 3 others we paid $17 each including a good tip. Not too shabby at all considering we ate like pigs and everything was SO delicious. The amazing various dumplings, the rice, the crab claws, the sauces....omg I'm getting firm just thinking about it! That being said, China Pearl's dim sum is a damn good replacement for all of the porn theaters that used to occupy that area minus the shame.
(4)Jeff C.
Ate here quite a few times. It is close by to my gf's grandmothers house in Chinatown. The place is in a old theater. The style is where workers come by with carts of ready cooked dim sum. I prefer this style compared to the one where you write on a paper and order. This place can get busy during peak times but this place is huge...
(4)Stephanie W.
At the time I tried this place, I was inexperienced in the art of dim sum. I went in with 6 people on a sunday morning and delighted in food from all the delicious carts. The dumplings were all good (not overly greasy), the turnip cake was still the best I've ever had, and the sesame balls had the perfect rice to filling ratio. The restaurant had white table clothes, attentive staff, fast service/tea refills and the total bill came out to about $10 per person and we were unable to move from our seats afterward. At the time, I thought that was great. But then I moved to San Francisco and it was a whole new world. Restaurants in SF have no ambiance, rude service, delicious food in copious portions, and the price will come out to about $6 per person to stuff yourself on a Sunday morning until you can no longer move. The turnip cake at my regular location is not nearly as good as the one at China Pearl, but their jellyfish and shrimp/chive dumplings are fantastic. Based on the time i went there (3 years ago) I believe China Pearl deserves 4 stars. Now, I'm not sure how well it would fair comparatively, but I'll give it the review I feel it deserves based on when I tried it.
(4)Amanda L.
After a Brewery tour and a visit to the USS Bataan (FYI, FREAKING AWESOME) we were are famished. It being the boy's special day, he got to pick where he wanted to go. As usual, he had no idea and we argued about it for a good 20 minutes, until we settled on China Pearl, since we wanted some type of Asian, and were really curious to get some Dim Sum. The decor is really nice, but it reminds me of a hotel lobby restaurant. And there is this really unnecessary HUGE step to get to the bathroom. I mean, COME ON, WHY is it there?!!? So, we were too late for the Dim Sum, but the plates were definitely family size, so we ordered the following: - Pork Fried Rice - Beef Lo Mein - Roasted Duck - Curry Chicken - Sweet and Sour Shrimp - Peking Ravioli - Crab Rangoons (2 orders) - Beef w/ Broccoli - Pork with vegetables FYI, there were 7 of us, so we weren't THAT much of pigs. The Ravioli and the fried rice were my favorite, the rice was seriously addicting, I could have had another whole plate. The raviolis were really big and very flavorful. The Beef w/ broccoli was also really delicious. The rest wasn't very memorable. The crab rangoons were nice, but I've definitely had better, they were a bit runny and there was too much cream cheese (and I love cream cheese). My curry chicken was mediocre, and I didn't like the texture or the flavor of the sauce (and it wasn't even spicy, boo). Lo Mein was tasty, but I've had better. The service was non-existent but I've come to deal with that in Chinatown. The food was really cheap, upon reflection, it was about $105.00 before tip which really isn't bad. We even had leftovers. I really want to come back for the Dim Sum but for right now and if I were to come back, it would be for the fried rice and the ravioli's.
(3)Jennifer J.
Went for dinner. It was good, but not spectacular. Adequate pan fried noodles, which are my favorite. Good Cantonese style Lobster. Disappointing Peking duck.
(3)Zach B.
It's really good dim sum, and It feels authentic. It's inexpensive. Their shrimp balls, pork buns, & egg plant is yummy. The downside: they give you tiny glasses of water which are seldom refilled, and if you come after 11 on the weekend, you're going to wait forever. The service upstairs isn't nearly as good as the service downstairs.
(4)Kendra S.
Things can get a little dim-sane around noon on a Sunday, but maybe that's half the fun of Chinatown and subsequently China Pearl. All the Chinatownies trying to hold their own on these crumbled sidewalks. All the tourists trying to figure out why they can't see the Prudential from here to point them in the right direction. All the rest of us locals trying to remember if it was China Pearl that was the place that is upstairs and last updated in 1984? Oh yes, yes that's the place. I'm not an eater of the shellfish nor the pork, so I can't comment on the majority of the dim sum platters, but this is a dandy place to come with a big group. It's cheap and nothing is forced upon you to order that you don't want. Helpful FYI: If you're coming with a stroller, make sure to bring your mule to carry it up for you. It's pretty steep to be hauling the babe and wheels up all by yourself.
(3)Sara L.
The best place I've been to in the city for dim sum. I haven't been here for anything else, but I come here every few weeks just for that. Staff is very attentive and ready to help you with anything you need. Food comes by all the time and there is a great selection. Prices are also good, you get a ton of food for not much money and you can take home whatever you don't eat. Much love for China Pearl.
(5)Teri L.
We walked into Chinatown and my kids knew exactly where they were going which proves to me they spend alot of time in this area! I didn't care for the outside of China Pearl as it looked seedy and not very nice. We walked up a long set of stairs and I was surprised at the decor...I mean yeah yeah it was definitely Chinese with the golden dragons on the back wall but it had a touch of elegance with real linen tablecloths and napkins...you don't get alot of that in that part of town. Our waiter...ummmm hmmm waiter is not a word I would use for him...he looked disinterested and "we're wasting his time" attitude...not my idea of someone who wants a good tip. I know, I know..Joey said that's what you get here but ohh PULEASE!! At least FAKE IT!!! But if you can ignore that, then everything else was fine. We didn't do dim sum...too late in the day for that but ordered directly from the menu. Food was very good, tasty in all aspects and lots of it. Everyone in our party enjoyed all the dishes totally. The staff was always there to fill water and to get anything we needed. I would be back for the food, definitely! But the waiter can go bye bye..
(3)Matt S.
Been here only once, for dim sum. Loved it. Better than the stuff I had in New York, that's for damn sure. Can't wait to go back again.
(4)Kendall H.
It might be because my standards are real high from the hand made west coast dumplings, but i thought china pearl was a bit mediocre, and somewhat disappointing. Not spectacular quality, as it is difficult to find good quality asian food at a reasonable price in the northeast in general. Lack luster food quality coupled with ordinary service 3 STARS!
(3)Jamie A.
Yeah. 5 stars. If only I could recount my incredible and completely surreal evening I spent at China Pearl. It involved a ten-course traditional Chinese meal in honor of Parents Day through an invite from one of my friends who's work had a table at the banquet. This magical evening included: --amazing, amazing food. I tried JELLYFISH and had to kiss a chicken head due to some crazy table-mates who were superstitious. --an entire room of people doing the Electric Slide. --karaoke throughout the ENTIRE meal...including Celine Dion, Sinatra, and traditional Chinese opera. --80 year old women dancing with swords. --much singing of "Billie Jean" --takeout containers passed out to the tables between every course. (I LOVED this idea of not wasting perfectly delicious food!) I'll sure be returning for a regular night's dinner, but man o man, my evening at the China Pearl felt like the twilight zone...in the BEST and most MAGNIFICENT way possible. Everyone was so welcoming and explained everything...and it was possibly the kitschiest experience ever...so much glitter and music and dancing. amazing. just amazing.
(5)Itch S.
The granddaddy or should I say the grandmother of the Chinatown dim sum shops. Wide range of Cantonese tea pastries. Love the Pai Goot. Always love the old school carts being pushed about for you to pick from. I just don't get into the checklist dim sum shops even if their food is often better. Be prepared however lots of grease. Thre is no shortage in preparation here. Kind of helps lube the digestive system - a good thing every now and then.
(3)Monique N.
There was a wait of course and most of the groups with less than 4 people had to share large tables with strangers. Ahhhhh...feels like home, haha, jping. Dim sum was good overall, just disappointed in the fact there was no sui mai?!? what the? may go to this place again if I cant find a better one in the proximity.
(3)Brandon W.
This WAS our default dim-sum restaurant when we moved here about 10 years ago. It was not by choice but by desperation because it was the better dim-sum places in Boston (which doesn't say much about the dim-sum scene in Boston). Overall, the dim sum (flavor, texture, etc) was just OK - I guess we were spoiled because we have been exposed to much better in San Francisco, Toronto, Scarborough, Vancouver, etc. I know this sounds strange but some of CP's dim-sum doesn't seem that fresh which was really surprising given the high turnover. A lot of the dishes seemed warmed over. Next, we found that although CP is highly successful (huge crowds and high turnover) it is however in desperate need of renovation. Dudes - don't you guys believe in pouring some of your profits back into your own restaurant? Your carpets are deeply stained and thread-bare, your bathroom has cracked tiles, doors that don't close, faucets that leak (and that is an understatement), etc. From the amount of business you guys do, you must be filthy millionaires - yet your restaurant looks like a dump. Oh by the way, I am Chinese and have eaten in a lot of Chinese restaurants so it is not that I am not used to Chinese bathrooms. We have stopped coming to CP ever since Hei-La Moon opened just outside Chinatown (between Chinatown and South Station Bus Terminal). We like HLM because the restaurant is definitely much cleaner and dim-sum better.
(2)Nancy L.
I'll pay No, I'll pay. No, no, no we can't do that. I"LL pay. No, I'LL pay. Thus ensues the bill battle over dim sum between over zealous relatives or good friends to show their good will, while the children fidget in their seat and wish they went to McDonald's instead. This a typical scene on a boisterous weekend at any good dim sum place and China Pearl is one of the best dim sum places in Boston. Located on the second floor, it is huge Chinese style restaurant that houses a dog-eat-dog battle over the best dumplings or noodles on most weekends. Very authentic from the food to the wait staff to the decor. 100% real dim sum experience. Dim sum is the equivalent of Spanish tapas, small dishes of delicate Chinese food that is shared among a group of people. Definitely bring at least 3 people with you since most dishes have 4 items. It's a free for all once you arrive: if you arrive early before 10 am you can easily get a seat, after that you get put on a wait list. DON'T be shy to push you way to the podium to make sure your name is there. The elderly Chinese men and women aren't, so shouldn't you. As for the food, you have your staples such as dumplings, buns, and rice noodles but for the more adventurous try the marinated chicken feet, cow tripe/intestines, or pigs blood. Ladies push carts ladened with goodies and shouting out the names in Cantonese but if you don't know Cantonese just stop them and ask them to lift up the lids. Tea is automatically served. Waiters are fast and efficient to sweep off empty plates so that you can populate the table again. A no-frill restaurant that is loud and boisterous but that is the charm of dim summing. People who expect a quiet meal need not come here. I highly recommend China Pearl. Note: as for the kids who wishes for McDonalds, they grow up realizing how silly they are and yearn for their weekly dim sum when they go to college.
(5)Melissa X.
I always go to China Pearl for high quality, delicious-tasting dim sum. There's so much to choose from and everything is fresh. There's a lot of seafood in dim sum, so be sure to ask the servers for beef or chicken dim sum like shumai if you prefer it. My boyfriend isn't a big seafood fan. Nor is he willing to try some more authentic Chinese food such as chicken feet or pig's blood soup. So when I take him with me to China Pearl we order him stir fried noodles or fried rice. It's great because you can have your dim sum as well as order anything else you'd like that you don't see being carted around. You can also get a really good amount of food for your money. I went with my boyfriend, my mom, my dad, and my brother. The grand total was $50.00. Be careful, though. This place is always packed so try to get there early.
(5)Marika T.
This review is way overdue. I came here over a year ago but I still remember their ha gaw. I swear they stuff 6-8 whole shrimps in each. I felt so shrimp deprived when I got back to NYC. I can't really recall anything else. The restaurant is HUGE but looks a little run-down from the outside.
(3)Julie A.
Went to China Pearl this past Sunday for the Dim Sum. It was pretty easy to find and they offer validated parking... My experience was okay. The table had extensions to make it form a circle, but the table top wasn't straight. This kept me from getting really comfortable at the table. Most of the cart pushers (I don't know what they're called), didn't speak english, which would have been ok, if they at least understood what the ingredients were in whatever they had. A couple of the people in our party were vegetarian, and it was quite difficult to find something they could eat. For example, if the woman said the dumpling had all vegetable, there'd be a surprise of meat in there! As far as taste goes, I kinda felt like everything I tried was pretty much the same. ... yeah that's all I have to say about that. China Pearl was good, but it left me thinking that next time I'll be trying a new dim sum place.
(3)Serena L.
I've lived in the Boston area for about 4 years now and this is the first time I've tried China Pearl for dimsum. I usually go to Hei La Moon but I decided to give this place a try. We came here around 2pm on a weekday so we missed the lunch time crowd. It was rather empty. I'm not sure when their dimsum service ends but there were only about 3-4 carts around. The food was not bad at all and satiated my dimsum craving. I came here with a dimsum virgin so she left it to me to order. It was fun describing to her what everything was and she loved everything we had! I'd definitely be back but as an alternative to Hei La Moon.
(3)Kevin K.
Wow was I disappointed. I've been eating Dim Sum all my life and this place was somewhat insulting, especially when considering the prices they were charging. Each dim sum plate was at least $3, which is insanely high (if you eaten at great dim sum places in Los Angeles $1.50 - $2). Good: "Lo-Bok-Go" Also known as turnip cake. I asked if they can make the dish extra crispy. Which helped the dished a lot, but the dish was ruined because it had "Hoy-Seen" Sauce all over it. Which is not standard at all for this dish. I had to eat around the area that was not contaminated by the sauce. - 3/5 Stars Sieu Mai - 3/ 5 stars Bad: Service: This place had 2-3 floors of dining area and you would think they'll utilize the dim sum carts efficiently, not a chance. I was seated next to a window, and it took forever for the food to come. The carts were circling around the restaurant like how one would play snake on the old Nokia phone. ~ 1.5 / 5 Stars Pork Ribs: Did not contain any Chinese Black beans, lacked a lot of flavor. ~1.5 / 5 Stars Ha Cherng (Shrimp w. Rice Noodle) - Noodles were overcooked and sticky. ~1.5 / 5 Stars Bean Curd w/ Chicken & Mushroom - 1/5 Stars. How can you stuff a huge piece of dried chicken in this dish? I do not recommend this place.
(2)Tina K.
So, this was my first dim-sum experience and I did not like it at ALL. The food was terrible. I felt like everything was drenched in oil, and was sitting out in the open for days. Everything was just soaked in oil and I didn't enjoy the food at all. The only dish I thought was decent was the chicken feet, but that was it. I don't suggest going to China Pearl, especially if it's your first dim-sum experience. It will definitely ruin it---sorry.
(1)Hank C.
Here for a wedding, so I'll just describe the multiple-course meal as served, as I don't know if the entertainment was provided by the restaurant at all. First course: Cold cuts of beef heart, jellyfish, hot BBQ pork, hot fried pork, and hot friend chicken. The pork and chicken fried were crisp and fresh, the jellyfish regular with sesame oil, and the beef heart was delicious with a bit of soy sauce. Best part of the dish: the BBQ pork was juicy, and well marinated. All at the table agreed it was the best part. Second course: Fried crab claw balls. Pretty standard. Third course: Seafood in a bird's nest. The birds nest.. not so much a taste of taro at all, just flour crisply fried. Best part - the inside, where strips of squid, mushrooms, vegetables, shrimp, scallops, and alabone were delicately presented. Excellent taste. Fourth course: Shark fin soup. A little bit shredded, but not bad. Fifth course: Peking chicken with shrimp chips. Tasty, although the white meat was a bit dry. Sixth course: Lobster, broken up and sauteed with green onions. Excellent taste of the sauce, although a tad bit overcooked with the lobster meat. Seventh course: Abalone, round mushroom, sea cucumber and fish stomach. Excellent taste, and nice and thick, but not oily, sauce to top off on top of some sauteed cabbage. Eighth course: Fish in soy sauce, ginger, and scallions. Didn't catch the name (he mentioned it to someone) but was delicious - waiter removed all the meat for us and kept it neatly on the plate in whole pieces for us to devour. My favorite dish of the night. Ninth & tenth dishes - noodles and fried rice, of which I only tasted, not ate out of. I never save room for these dishes, and I was unsurprised at the noodles and the shrimp fried rice (I'm not really a fan of either, but they were better than average). Dessert: Red bean soup with lotus seeds. Excellent sweet to finish the night. Wedding cake - well, you won't get this served, but overall a beautifully arranged and massive dinner. When I get the chance, we'll try some of the other dishes on a non-wedding night! Price is indicative of what I think it would be if you ordered a couple of appetizers and entrees for two people, not for the wedding meal. Second floor is not easily accessible, though.
(4)Josephine L.
China Pearl is a solid Cantonese dim sum place with all the standard staples like shrimp dumplings and shumai (I don't know how to translate that). As other reviewers have noted, there aren't many options for great dim sum in Boston (zero if I'm comparing Boston to other great, metropolitan cities), but China Pearl is decent especially with the criminally low prices. Best dish is probably the beef tripe.
(4)Ashley J.
Man I love Dim Sum. And I seriously love China Pearl. When we first moved to Boston we were Hei La Moon fans (which our fellow yelpers helped us find), and yes, Hei La Moon is great too. China Pearl has all the delicious food that Hei La Moon has - but I think it might be even better. Plus, the service here is actually friendly and helpful. And the biggest reason this place gets 4 stars? Yesterday we had family in town and after 6 of us barrelled through too many dishes to count, the final tab was $10 a person. Awesome!
(4)Shawn L.
In a nutshell: The food is great, the service is lacking. China Pearl is actually two different restaurants, downstairs is a small diner, upstairs is a huge Dim Sum hall (the stairs are to the right of the main restaurant). My girlfriend and I went to the Dim Sum hall on one of our first weeks in Boston with all of our friends. It was a standard Dim Sum time, great! We had a bit of a bad vibe when my girlfriend (who is a Beijing native) was told by one of the cart-ladies that her Mandarin pronunciation was so bad that they could not understand her! But we shrugged it off as a one time thing. So, when I had two friends in town and they wanted to grab a bite in Chinatown I suggested we try the downstairs China Pearl diner. The food was also very good (I highly suggest Buddha's Paradise - or maybe it was Buddhists Paradise). We had a great time and then we got the bill. One of my friends payed it with card and we were about to leave when the waiter stops us because my friend forgot to sign the receipt (oops) and to complain that we haven't tipped enough (what!). He says that my friend hasn't even tipped 10%, when 15% is standard. Okay, so maybe my friend made a mistake, less than 10% is a pretty small tip, etc. etc. But that isn't the end of it. After my friend changes his tip, the waiter comes back with a calculator and computes the percentage before telling us that it is okay! Now, I understand that waiting tables can be a tough living and that they depend on tips for a reasonable portion of their income and I always try to give 15-20% for good service. But I have never seen a waiter try to enforce such a tipping policy before, let alone bring over a calculator to approve our tip. So, in the end I would say, 4 star food, 2 star service.
(3)Doug P.
The food is fine here, don't get me wrong. But I don't think the the buzz about dim sum isn't all its hyped up to be. I think their are a few spots in chinatown that you may find to be a little better
(3)Vanessa C.
well, everyone should try it at least once! I wish I could review my dim sum here but honestly, I dont know half of what the hell I ate. it was put in front of me & I tried it and thats how it went down. some was good, some was not so good. I dont have much else to compare it to so 3 stars for now. (but at least now I know for sure that I dont like chicken feet.)
(3)Victoria H.
This place is a very nice place. It's a little bit unconformable ( with a lot of stairs to get to the restaurant ) But beyond that the food is really nice (especially with there delicious dumplings ) This place is really nice and the services is nice , but very hard to get a hold of them when you need some thing because they're running all over the place. Down stairs of the restaurant, there's a nice cafe that also belong to china pearl. The place is very relaxing and cool. i think this place is sort of nice but try to come before or after dim-sum. Because it will be very hard to get a seat during that time1.
(3)Jane B.
Came here with co-workers during the busy lunching hour. We were seated immediately. In fact, before we all had plunked our behinds on a chair, the carts began to encircle our table. A cacophony of "You want?" began echoing through my head as we quickly tried to assess what it was that they were hawking. None of us being Dim Sum experts, there was a lot of sampling and "We'll try that". Tea was pipping hot and the shape of the pot made it a bit difficult to pour without getting tea all over the table. It was a bit watery, but drinkable. Points for their speedy and continual service. Price is reasonable - for 5 the bill came to under $55 (and we got quite a lot of food). The restaurant is rather large, which is good for quick seating. There is also a buffet style area where you can go and select items, if you don't want what is passed around on the carts. The fried noodle was tasty, along with a couple other items whose names I couldn't tell you. Overall a good experience. Not amazing, not fantastic, but definitely good. Would go for 3.5 stars if possible, but I'd rather bump them up to 4 than give a 3.
(4)Jason A.
I dunno why I'm writing this review. Cuz everyone knows it's good. The long lines & dim sum speaks for itself. And the old ladies who CUT IN FRONT OF ME IN LINE already frequent it. Seriously, what is up with the continous edging in, while I'm dutifully waiting my white ass in line??? It just bugs! And my main gripe is that the counter staff doesn't care about these line terrorists! Man! However, if the dim sum here wasn't so gratifying, I would never brave the lack of parking, the running-out-of-stuff-early and the line terrorists. My all-time faves are the Hum Siu Guk (sp? deep fried mochi ball with pork inside), Char Siu Bao (steamed pork bun), Jook (rice porridge) and Steamed Taro Dumplings (with taro and shrimp inside). Mm-mm-mm. Come here and be prepared to exclaim: "Excuse me! I was next!"
(5)Glen B.
I can't believe how low the ratings are for this place! Yes, the waitresses are rude, yes it might be a bit hectic, yes they barely speak English, but isn't that the point of dim sum? The dim sum here is good. I don't know how it compares to other places in Boston because I've never found a reason to look for another place.
(4)Ashley J.
This is my favorite dim sum place because of the variety and because of the turnover. They are so busy the food is constantly fresh. I get freaked out by places where I see the cart go around several times and nobody touches anything. My favs.. shrimp dumplings lobster dumplings (they almost never have them anymore) sweet buns sticky rice clams in black bean sauce etc etc Expect the usual. Rude waiters, cart ladies who let you order by pointing, getting a fork if you aren't asian, a big huff if you order a pitcher of water like I always do. The food is cheap, filling, tasty and the experience is fun. I get a little jealous when I am here of the kids who parents take them to do this every weekend. My parents only took me to IHOP....
(4)Alex Z.
I think China Pearl has a reasonable selection of fresh dim sum, especially my favorites and most of the traditional fare, with a few surprises. They are reasonably priced for dim sum, perhaps a little on the expensive side compared to other cities, but about average for Boston. So, a few notes on dim sum in general that also apply to China Pearl. Dim sum is almost always greasy, almost always overpriced, and generally overcrowded with poor waiter service. Okay, so all of those issues apply to some degree or other to China Pearl, but if you like dim sum I presume you've learned to live with this by now. If you're looking for a light meal, stay away from the meat-containing dishes like shumai and the dumplings, and go for the steamed dishes and rice noodles. All in all, I wouldn't hesitate to go back if I were in the neighborhood. There's a dessert "soup" which is basically coconut juice and tapoica... absolutely delicious and very refreshing after a heavy meal. Try to get there early if you can.
(4)Paul K.
China Pearl is one of our favorite places to go for Dim Sum. We try to make a stop here whenever we're in Boston. The food is always good and the prices are reasonable. If going on the weekends, try to get there before 11:00 before it gets too hectic.
(3)Zizzles A.
This is probably the best places for people to get acquainted with dim sum. Between Hei La Moon, Chau Chow City, this place, and Emperor's Garden, I would put China Pearl's dim sum as the best overall. They are the most consistently good in the sense that every dish is well made, even if its competitors have the upper hand in a few individual selections. The deal breaker here is that none of the rice flour wrapped dumplings are mucky and greasy. Chao zhou fen guo (chiu zao fun gaw if you wanna be all cantonese) is sweet solace for me at dim sum because it's one of the rare, rare dishes that isn't loaded with pork or shrimp. There's some veggies, cilantro I think, water chestnut, peanuts and little meat scraps inside. It's great here, while many of the other places have mucky starchy fillings. I believe hei la moon has a good one, but chau chow's is bad, as is emperor's. The rice noodle standby chiong fun is delicious here, comparable to the dim sum houses in Guang Zhou. It's perfectly soft, but not overly greasy. It always has a little bit of glutenous chew. They had this one fried shrimp ball dish with a longan in the middle which I was crazy about has a kid. I've grown out of that phase, but it is pretty tasty and worth a try. Shrimp dumplings, tripe, chicken's feet, beef balls, and steamed spare ribs are all of a high quality, equaling, if not besting its competitors. I've always found the Chicken Feet to be best at China Pearl. The sauce isn't overly sweet, and it has a lot of flavor from the black beans. The Shumai taste good as well, and are not the behemoths that they serve at hei la moon, which is nice. I like being able to eat shumai in one bite. Overall, I'd say Hei La Moon is almost as good, and also a place you can't go wrong with for dim sum, but China Pearl is at a more convenient location and I like it just a little bit more.
(4).amy E.
My Visit To China Pearl, Re-imagined as an 80s Music Video (specifically: Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up") Open to the three of us - me, Rick Astley, Liz - dancing in the mirrored stairwell of China Pearl. Everyone has big hair. The camera pans between us and our scattered reflections as we dance up the stairs. First verse: Astley is dancing and singing into a mic on a small platform stage in the middle of the lower floor. Dim Sum carts swarm around him in a swarm of color. People are ignoring him in favor of their pork shu mai and vegetable dumplings. On "I just wanna tell you...", he serenades Liz and I at a table upstairs. Liz eats her shrimp roll and I sip hot tea, pretending not to notice. Chorus:cut between scenes of Liz and I alternately dancing and doing back bends on the center of a larger table upstairs. Next verse: mysteriously, we are all now wearing sunglasses, even though we are inside. Astley has donned a too-large trenc hcoat. Liz's hair is even bigger. Astley sings, and people are suddenly noticing him. A few look annoyed at the disruption, but for the most part, people are enjoying the performance. Next chorus: We dance behind Astley as he sings. People are clapping, and you can clearly see some patrons singing along. There are numerous shots of Astley using a pair of chopsticks (the color of his trench coat) to snatch up pieces of dim sum as he goes through the crowd, but it would be incongruous to see him eating them; the shot changes each time he brings a piece up to about chin-level. People do not seem to notice, or care. When chorus repeats to the end of the song, a majority of the restaurant slowly stands to dance with us, following Astley as he wanders through the restaurant. As they get up to dance, their hair grows in size and their clothes become smaller, tighter, brighter; a magical 80s transformation. As song ends, everyone applauds as shot fades to black.
(3)Lynn C.
If i could give this place 0 stars..I would. This place is the WORST place I've ever been to. I came here for Chinese New Year and it was the biggest mistake of my life. The service was beyond terrible. There were about 5 tables in the restaurant and three servers. It was not busy. It took a good 10 minutes for anyone to acknowledge that we were there. I finally had to flag someone down. He was rude. Never smiled once. We had to ask for water, plates, silverware, etc. several times. The food was also gross. The dim sum looked old and slimey. We ordered black bean spare ribs and some shumai. Icky icky. We also ordered a beef and veggie entree and a couple of other things. I know that at some Chinese restaurants, they serve the meat a little more on the rare side....but when this dish came out....the beef was still bloody as in raw. I tried to tell the waiter and all he did was argue with me. My meal ended up being $60 bucks and of course the entire bill was written in Chinese so I couldnt even read what was written. It was the biggest waste of money ever. I left less than 10% because the service was TERRIBLE. I know how to tip (I've waitressed before and am a 20% tipper type) but I couldnt' give him more than that. I will never ever go back there again. Ugh. Im getting mad just thinking about it.
(1)Bobby F.
I went with a party of twenty for dim sum. Ten minutes after seating us, the brought one order of rolls. Ten minutes later, they brought one more order of rolls. Ten minutes after that, they brought MENUS at DIM SUM! They took over half an hour to begin bringing out our order. Worst. Service. Ever.
(1)Anna W.
I ain't gonna lie... pretty good dim sum! My family has been going here since they closed Golden Palace across the street (that happened almost 2 decades ago, but I am still mourning its loss). For a loooong time, this was the only place we went for dim sum and other functions (weddings, birthdays, etc.). It has gotten a little pricier over the years, but the food is still of great quality. Dim sum is wonderful. If you go here on a weekend, it will be mobbed, and you will be rushed, so be prepared for that. You may even be forced to share a table with complete strangers. But, it's all a part of the ambiance, I guess. I've also been to many a family function here, and out of all the places in Chinatown we've gone to, this is in the top three. They churn out the food SO fast, and it is always delicious.
(3)Rob G.
Dim Sum is really the only reason to visit the hot-mess the ensues every weekend. From the horrific parking situation in Chinatown to the interminable waits, it can try your patience. But once seated, the food is really quite good, even if you are not quite sure what you're eating and the waitresses don't speak a word of English. Go for the people watching and plan to make an afternoon of it...Not for picky eaters or those in a rush!
(4)Sarah C.
Had to introduce to my husband what dim sum was. I haven't been to a lot of restaurants in Boston and heard some good reviews about this place. Though not an expert, I think their dim sum was pretty good. Carts were consistently coming around so there wasn't a worry I wasn't going to see something again. Got the rice soup, chicken feet (good), turnip cake (liked how they were frying it right on the cart), fried crab balls, shrimp dumplings (standard), and pork. I'd come back again.
(4)Jeffrey L.
Tied with hei la moon for the greatest dim sum in boston. Great spot to have weddings and what not.
(4)Liz E.
Great dim sum. Everything we got was flavorful and fresh tasting. They have all of the typical dim sim offerings plus a few things I'd never had before. They had clams in some sort of brown sauce that were different and tasty. Great shumai, chinese broccoli, dumplings of all sorts, great pork buns. They were very attentive with the tea. I'll go back for sure.
(4)Michelle L.
My poor co-worker (who I mistakenly took here for her first dimsum ever) will probably never try it again. We experienced slow service, not enough carts coming around, and lack of variety. In short, I'd recommend trying somewhere else.
(2)Jarrod C.
My first time coming to China Pearl for dim sum was a great experience. All your usual favorites and plenty of it. The ladies are always coming around with the carts so you never have to flag anyone down. Ate tons and managed to stay at approx $10/pp. Definitely go for the shumai, it is excellent! Will definitely be back.
(4)Darius K.
I went here for dim sum yesterday with three friends, and my first impression was that I *loved* the atmosphere. When I arrived, I saw that the main dining area on the 2nd floor was decorated in your standard big-restaurant-in-Chinatown decor. Giant gold lions and the like. Yuck. But we got seated on the 3rd floor and I immediately liked the extremely casual cafeteria-like atmosphere of the place. Anyway, the dim sum here was okay but not great. The turnip cakes were way too glutenous and sweet for me. I like them a little less cloying--then I can add hoisin sauce if I want sweet gooeyness. The buns ranged from okay (bland shrimp) to excellent (traditional one with lots of chives in it). None of the baked desserts looked particularly appetizing, although I tried a mango jello-thing and it was really tasty. Finally, if you're vegetarian, you probably don't want to eat here. There are other dim sum places (like Chun Shin Yuan in Newton/Watertown) that have a lot more options for veg-heads.
(3)Mary M.
The 4 stars is for the dim sum part. Besides not having some items that I love, the dim sum was pretty good. The prices are good too. I've never ate anything here for dinner, but I'm guessing dim sum might be good here but the regular dinner items might not be so good. We had a person in the group who was a vegetarian, and none of us knew that beforehand. Nothing on the carts appealed to her, and everything I love has meat in it, so I didn't even know what to recommend to her. In the end, we ordered her a chow mein with vegetables. The dish we were served was really bad. I thought they would make something like normal seafood chow mein, but minus the seafood and more vegetables (granted I've never had seafood chow mein here but I didn't think any Chinese place would mess that up). Instead, the dish seemed to me that the cook back there didn't know what to do and toss in random things...hehe. There was very little sauce, just lots of oil, and some small bits of vegetables and tofu. Come here for dim sum, but not for dinner.
(4)Steven N.
Excellent as usual. Enough said.
(5)PC W.
China Pearl has been my family's dim sum restaurant of choice for as long as it's been here - over a decade probably? 3 generations of Hong Kong Chinese cannot be wrong :) We're not so much of a fan of China Pearl for dinner but dim sum is tops. It's consistently good with many choices. There is also lots of seating and the staff is very quick and efficient. China Pearl still does the old school cart system which I hope never goes away. You can see what you're ordering and continue eating until you get full. I had another good experience here this morning and I continue to go for dim sum here with each trip I make home.
(4)Zakir B.
I don't care about the dinge. I care about the real Chinese food. When I was in college, Emily Sun took me here late at night for "Chrysanthemum Tea Without Sugar!" and some goodies (the Chrysanthemum Tea tasted like the water in a vase, only hot). The stuff here is real. You can certainly compare China Pearl unfavorably with spots in New York or in San Francisco (hmm, I think longingly of Yank Sing...) but the mushroom dumplings are light, the hot and sour soup is hot, thick, and sour, and the Bok Choi from Planet Ten is fresh fresh fresh. No real reason to spend too much money elsewhere in Boston, IMHO.
(4)Phu M.
This is the only place I go to for Dim Sum. I lived in CA for 3 years and friends there took me to Dim Sum places and none of them compared to China Pearl. I would long for their Shu Mai, Har Gow, sticky rolls and other goodies after a mediocre dim sum experience while in California. On the weekends for brunch, my advice is to go there around 10:30AM before the big rush. Overall, this place has the best Dim Sum in my opinion.
(5)Marilyn C.
My husband and I have been craving Dim Sum since we moved Ma. We finally made the trip today to Chinatown to get some. Food was ok. Congee was really bland. Pork meatball tasted fishy. I think the worst part was the bill itself. I think both of us had a heart attack when we saw the bill. We've never paid so much for DIM SUM! $52 for the both of us? For sure we will not return to this place.
(2)Corey H.
This place was pretty standard. I went here for a late lunch during the week by myself. The place was empty besides me. The service was great and the server was a very nice lady. The food was hot and made fresh but still came out quickly. The taste was average. Nothing special. The price was average as well. I would eat here again if someone wanted to go here or if I was passing by but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back here.
(3)Kelley T.
I come here for dim sum, I've done the sit-down thing here one night and wasn't impressed. As far as dim sum goes, it's pretty yummy. However be forewarned, it can get super crowded and you might end up waiting a while for a table. Personally I think it's worth the wait. They've got all my favorite dumpling-esque dishes (hacao, shumai, and various bao) as well as some killer clams in black bean sauce and snails in spicy sauce, and amazing turnip cake. And chicken feet for the more traditional chinese.
(3)Allison B.
I can't attest to the dim sum, but I've been here for their 10-course wedding style dinner for 10 people. if you can wrangle a group of 10, I'd recommend trying it out just for the experience alone! For a flat rate of just a smidge over $200 (total bill came to about $27 pp), you get 10 courses - which I believe vary depending on the day. Our fare included: - Cold plate of appetizers, including beef, duck, chicken, and jellyfish (actually quite delicious!). - Seafood soup - Seasoned prawns - Seafood/Veggie dish (snap peas, broccoli, carrots, shrimp, scallops, squid, etc) - Chinese fried chicken (amazing) - 2 Lobsters - Fried rice - Lo Mein - Some kind of sweet n sour-type pork - A whole fish - Red bean soup (dessert) the experience is amusing (omg, the food just keeps coming!), and some of the standout dishes were truly delicious, but to be honest, i much prefer the dim sum experience, and i hold loyalties to empire garden (though I suppose I'd be willing to try CP for comparison's sake). in other words, i'm just as if not more satisfied paying $10 to stuff myself with dumplings as i am paying $30 to stuff myself with lobster, but I'm glad I got to experience this culinary extravaganza!
(3)Erik L.
A GREAT dim sum / yam cha place - I think its probably your best bet in Boston. Certain places try to pull off a half-assed dim sum where you either have a small selection, the stuff isn't freshly cooked or something like that, but China Pearl does the real thing. The place is packed at dim sum hours but unless you are with a big group, you won't have to go through a torturous wait. In other words, don't except anything except a good dim sum experience: lots of noise, lots of great food, low prices, and satisfaction! Did I miss anything?
(4)Tom F.
this was my first Dim Sum experience in Boston, and I walked away thoroughly pleased. The siu mai was just ok, but the ha Cheung fun was delicious! I'd recommend more, but I'll have to ask my girlfriend what everything is called.
(4)Derrick C.
Been here 4 total times. Once for dinner and 3 times for dim sum and twice, the food has been cold. Upon asking the waiter about it, he basically said that it was dim sum and the carts go around so what can he do about it? WOW are you kidding me? This place is a joke. And yes I'm Chinese and I know what good Dim Sum is supposed to be. This is the only place I've tried in Boston but I sure hope there's gotta be somewhere better than this. Oh yea, and the one time I came for dinner it was horrible too.
(1)Ken Y.
How the once great have fallen. Went on Thursday night and it was nearly empty. For dessert, we got fortune cookies instead of the usual oranges and pudding. They must be really hurting for business.
(2)Jack P.
the best dim sum i have found in massachusetts
(5)Tom M.
This place is a gigantic assembly line, stuffing hastily thrown together dim sum into throngs of people. Can you tell I'm not much of a fan? The quality of the food is marginal, and it was surprisingly bland. Not totally awful, and there are definitely times when I'm willing to sacrifice some culinary satisfaction to head down there with a group of friends and doing the whole "Dim Sum Experience." Honestly, if you just want tasty Dim Sum without the hassle, I would go to Dim Sum Chef in Allston, or if you absolutely have to pull your chicken feet off of a cart, but want them to be flavorful, then head to Hei La Moon nearby. So yeah, 2 stars for the crazy atmosphere (a good thing depending on your mood), but not much else. I haven't been there for non-Sunday brunch, so maybe they pay a little more attention to the food when they're not making it by the buttload.
(2)Gen M.
There is something to be said about the laissez faire approach they have to the atmosphere and what they do with the food instead. There are loud conversations, kids running around, older asian couples congregating, and various other attributes of a good chinatown place, and the food is fantastic. You don't know what you're having. You can ask for steamed in the hopes you will indeed get that. You will love what you have - try the mushroom/swordfish steamed creations and you will just have that for the rest of your time there. Everything tastes so good and it comes out to barely $12 per person. Yup, i love it - but I do adore a good dim sum meal.
(5)Debbie N.
I had a bad experience here at my uncle's wedding a few years ago (imagine: cold fried crab legs) and vowed to never return. Upon a friend's request, I returned last weekend for dim sum. Boy, did I regret not going to China Pearl sooner. After mediocre Boston dim sum experiences at Emperor's Garden, Quincy's China Pearl, and the various Chau Chows, I have resigned myself to thinking that beyond-mediocre Boston dim sum is impossible. However, Chinatown's China Pearl was just that. The carts were quick and constant, the food was less greasy than other Boston dim sum places, and they had a variety of dishes, some of which the other dim sum places do not always have. My only complaint: The steamed shrimp dumplings (har gow?? sp?) never came out on the carts while we were there. Boo.
(4)tammy w.
While I myself am not a Chinese food guru, I gotta say that the food here is pretty good. I can never remember names or anything like that but I do know there is a lot of dumplings and rice and meat. I go here every now and then to take away those cravings of the orient. Dim sum is the best time to go, usually waiting in line for 5-10 minutes but its well worth it..
(4)Lisa K.
I've never had dim sum before so I didn't really know what to expect but was excited to try something new. We went for a sort of double date-- I went with my fiance and two friends- I'm curious as to what Laura A. will say about our meal. It wasn't bad but it wasn't AWESOME. The sesame bun thingies with the red bean paste were my favorite. I had a hard time with some of the textures of things- too slimy for us...especially those fried donuts wrapped in something resembling a bodily fluid...gross. The fried tofu looked promising but seemed to be soaking in some kind of meat sauce and part of it was a huge chunk of fat- again, not so appealing- especially for our vegetarian friend. The gelatinous tofu mentioned by a couple of other people here- yeah....so totally gross...it was so liquidy. Everything seemed fried pretty much and was heavy...no veggies to be found really. The sticky pork bun was alright- it reminded me of something that I couldn't put my finger on- maybe a hot dog bun...or maybe a little debbie's donut with pork? The spring rolls were typical and the veggie pocket things were ok. I think for those who are familiar with dim sum and know what to order have more success. I would definitely try it again sometime- but I would be a little more cautious about what to order...stay away from the fried donut with slime!!!
(3)Alexander M.
very nice dim sum place in Boston's China Town. rich atmosphere, exotic selection.
(4)David Q.
Being new in Boston, I have only tried Hei La Moon and I wanted to branch out and try new places. Much against my fiancees mentality of sticking with what's good, we finally decided to try this place. Boy were we disappointed. The portions were smaller, and also the food was just not as tasty. A lot of the hot pastry items were cold when it was served and in general no where as good as Hei la moon. I would not recommend this place.
(2)Sage K.
It makes me sad that I got food poisoning from a dim sum lunch at China Pearl. They are so fun to go to and the food tastes good. But three out of four of us who went were very ill by the evening. The fourth person ended up taking care of me as I couldn't even leave the house to walk 4 blocks to the drug store to pick up medicine. I've never had food poisoning before, but it is awful enough that I will NEVER go back to China Pearl.
(1)TJ T.
Food is okay. I like it when I end up going here for a big party such as a birthday or a wedding party; the plates are much better. When I go here with just a group of people, it just doesn't feel the same and the service is pretty rude. BUT once again, in big parties it's a blast.
(3)Joshua P.
I'm in love with China Pearl. This was my first dim sum experience and howdy-doo, it was good. Thank god I went with my Cantonese-speaking friend though, otherwise I would have been in a pickle. The food is amazing, and copious, and the service is crazy (good crazy, but still crazy). Plus we ordered A TON of food and it only came to $10 a person. I'd definitely recommend this place and I hear it's the best dim sum in Boston, so do it up dim sum-ers! p.s. GET the tofu pudding, it's unbelievable, seriously, I had like three bowls of it.
(5)Jando S.
China Pearl's dim sum has to be one of the best in Boston, with its fresh variety, and plentiful portion style dishes. Sunday and Saturday afternoons may result in some mad house-like atmosphere as people will storm this place as if they're ready to overthrow an emperor resulting in a long congested mess of waiting. The decor is suitable for Chinese banquet hall standards but the big tables everywhere make for awkward experiences as many of them are shared with patrons who were probably waiting with you. Get here before 12 and with a group of 6 or more its unlikely they'll seat strangers with you and most likely a table will be waiting for your group.
(4)H Y.
Only for Dim Sum and wedding receptions. It's the 'Groundhog Day' nightmare for every Chinese kid growing up in Boston. Eat banquet dinner at China Pearl. Repeat. Otherwise I have never and will never eat dinner here. It's not bad but you are better off heading across the street to Peach Farm for dinner. Dim Sum is better than most in Boston if only for the variety. The self-serve station is good for snails (or escargot for Chinese-French kids) and such. Lots of big tables. Tell the host that you are willing and eager to share a table with those nice old Chinese men reading those funny papers if you want to cut the line. The crowds are tremendous on weekends! Come before 10:30am at least. My family never had to wait (it's nice to know the manager) but frankly I wouldn't wait in line for this stuff. Go to Hei La Moon if you are going to wait.
(3)Hans M.
I have to say hands down --- China Pearl is THE Yum Cha (not 'yam') place in Boston. For those New Yorkers, yes yes, I know, I know, about the selection, about the place, about blah blah blah...Nobody is gonna drive 4 hours to go to Canal Street just for Yum Cha on a weekend morning. Talk about authentic Yum Cha place? Plz~ I am from the "Land of Yum Cha" so STFU and accept that there is no better substitution in Boston. Now if you happen to go to San Francisco, there is a........
(4)Julie C.
this is a great alternative for dim sum when Winsor is packed. initially, i wanted to go to Winsor because I dont eat a ton of the choices off the carts offer but being like 1 pm, the place was packed and the wait was going to take a while and i was frikkin hungry, so i went across the street. i used to come here a lot with my parents when i was little, so i knew it was going to be good. a table for 2, and you are handed a card to be seated upstairs. we probably waited like half a minute to be seated and not even 30 seconds had gone by when our first cart showed up! score! sticky fried rice and char sui bao! yum! they came piping hot! soo good. then we had some congee , the tofu dessert dish, some dumplings, and we were stuffed. i wouldnt recommend getting coke with your meal, it was quite flat. stick with the tea. if you want soy sauce, you have to ask for it as they are not on the tables. carts come by quick, and often times they are the same ones over and over, you do have to search for the one you want sometimes and flag them down. they do have a stattion that will make certain dishes for you ask. ( like mussels or "chinese broccoli") i had been craving one of the crab leg balls but by the time those came around, i was stuff. ah well, maybe next time. you can count on it.
(4)Kitty L.
I was invited to a wedding Banquet at China Pearl Restaurant on a Saturday evening. There were 3 parties being held simultaneously between the 2nd & 3rd floors. The rooms are decorated with old Chinese paintings. The center has a dancing floor + DJ music. The food I would rate it as C. The steak has too much tendon. The shark fin soup was too starchy & has no shark fin taste. The waiter did not offer cutting knife for steak & no lobster fork for lobster even I had requested. The service, I graded as C again
(3)Jonathan B.
The food came to the table on carts and there was no lag in the flow or variety. This is definitely a family oriented restaurant. The hostess was always available to help us understand what was in the food if we had any questions. We loved it.
(4)Leif H.
If you have gone for Dim-Sum in Boston's Chinatown you probably went here. This place tends to be the most popular venue as it is easy to find and their dining room isn't hidden away like some of establishments the locals preffer. Their food is good quality with enough of a crowd for it to be turned over fast and frequently. The biggest challenge is getting their early enough or timing your visit so as not to be starving while waiting. You can easily wait 30 minutes for a table if you pick the wrong time to go. And if you are a Congee lover you will be happy to know that they have a cart for that. Unfortunately I have visited several establishments in Boston that did not serve Congee, which was a disappointment.
(3)Hubert H.
Can't believe I haven't written a review for China Pearl, a stalwart of Sunday dimsum for collegiate folk. The last time I was there was last December. Went in with my buddy at 3pm and it seemed as if almost all the food was gone. All of a sudden, five cart ladies surrounded our table (meant to seat 8 by the way), urging us on on eat everything! They were really aggressive. As for the quality of the food, I've always maintained that the dumplings were generally cold, that the flour wrappers were a bit ... mushy (is that the right word?), etc., etc. Always something just a bit wrong with the dishes. I have to try the noodles and the porridges at some point, so check back in for that review.
(3)Dana L.
We got here at 10:45 to beat the crowds, and had no problem getting 2 tables upstairs (we had about 20 people). Its pretty standard Dim Sum fare - waiters walk around with trays of dumplings and you pick out what you want. It helps to have someone who speaks Cantonese with you, because the dishes aren't labeled, and you can't usually tell what they are by looking at them. If you don't want anything that you see, you can always order from the regular menu (just ask one of the waiters for a menu). Be forewarned that a lot of the dumplings contain pork. As I don't like to eat pork, and am allergic to shellfish, I only tried a few things, but they were tasty. The tarot root dumplings were excellent, as were the sesame dumplings filled with bean curd. I also got the Chicken with Mushrooms, which was very good. Overall, it came to like $10 per person, and everyone was stuffed.
(4)Merri L.
This morning, we went to dim sum at China Pearl in Chinatown (Boston). This wasn't my first time there. We actually had tried a few dim sum places, and this is the best one. Dim sum, for those who don't know, is a bunch of little appetizer type foods, and the people come by your table with carts of food, and you choose which ones you want. Dim Sum here lasts until 3, but you need to get there by 1 in order to get a good variety of food. If you go later, you won't get enough. This is really cheap, you can get tons of different foods for about $10 a person. And, you can take a doggie bag if you don't finish. The food here is very good, although the water tasted weird today. Go try it out!
(4)Ryan K.
This place is just alright. The dim sum is fairly standard but they selection is actually quite good. It gets busy but the wait wasn't too bad when I went. It's a little grimy for my taste but the price of the food dictates how clean it is. Yes, cart ordering is not how I like it but it it much better for the beginning dim sum eater.
(3)Ashley S.
I wanted to try another place for dim sum (had only been to Windsor Dim Sum, which was great) and chose China Pearl. We walked in and the greeter said dim sum ended at 3pm. I glanced at my watch and was disappointed to see that it was 2:58pm. Carts started coming around and we loaded up during the last call. Overall, it was pretty good! I especially liked the BBQ pork buns (always a fav of mine) and the chicken feet w/ rice. Next time, I'd be sure to get there earlier in the afternoon for more variety (and less panic) with my choices.
(3)Dennis L.
This place brings back memories whenever I walk up the stairs. It was the first restaurant I remember... My father worked here back when it was only a function hall and I remember sitting at a table, helping him with folding napkins on a sleepy Sunday afternoon, the room lit by paper and wooden lanterns with intricate carvings adorning the large chamber. Now, it's a bit different in its incarnation ever since the 1980's heralded in the age of dim sum spreading around. The place is still called China Pearl, but different in Chinese. The wood is gone, replaced by mirrors and bright lights. I have to wear my sunglasses or eyepatch whenever I am in there as a result. Many familiar faces have worked there and moved on over the years, but it is still a nexus of Chinatown. China Pearl is still a safe bet as a restaurant to take guests who have never tried dim sum before, but I presently find the quality a bit better at Windsor across the street and Hei La Moon. It has diminished a bit and could give itself a facelift in its operations, having barely changing such in twenty years. It's a place I've introduced many a person to dim sum to, and it is definitely a love-hate thing. For dim sum, the optimum time to go there is about 10 AM, when enough time has passed that all the carts are circulating, but not before it starts dying down... as well as the selection. I'm afraid the quality of the ha gao (shrimp dumplings) has diminished a bit over the years. When they first converted, there was a lot more bamboo shoots in comparison to the shrimp. Now, there's barely, if any at all. Chinese cuisine is about complements of flavors, and the delicate bamboo offset that of the shrimp, the stereotypical yin-yang taking place. I wish they would go back to the old recipe... The Siu Mai (pork/shrimp dumplings) are alright, more complementary than the ha gao. At least with dim sum, you can see the dishes as they come around here and just... pick away at whatever looks good that day. What is usually a limited offering is the 'zia leurng', a fried Chinese cruller wrapped in rice noodles that contain cilantro, topped by a sweetened soy sauce. If you see it on top of the cart that has the other rice noodle dishes, grab one before they all go away. They only make a small quantity each day, mostly due to the cilantro wrapping. Ordering off the menu, they do a yin yang fried rice alright. It is a bed of fried rice with egg, and bean sprouts, topped on one side by chicken and onions in a sweetened tomato sauce and shrimp with peas in a white egg drop sauce. If you are curious as to the level of 'Fear Factor' foods there are here, the worst you will find are the tripe (available at the hot food bar), the chicken talons (fong zao), and the thousand year old egg soup (pei dan jook). It's not as frightening as other places in Chinatown where you can find such dishes as ox tongue with coagulated pig's blood. Also, if you want a hint for parking on weekends, if you don't mind dealing with walking half a mile, I park at the street that's normally tour bus parking during weekdays next to the Herald and can readily find parking until about 1 pm. Dishes to try: " Zia Leurng" (rice noodle wrapped around fried cruller), Siu Mai, Yin Yang fried rice
(3)Krishna L.
We had dinner here tonight. At the beginning of the meal a mouse scampered by my husband's foot (he kept quiet, so as not to ruin the time for the rest of us). At the end of the meal, as we were paying, the rest of us saw a mouse running across the room. We told the woman at the register and asked for a discount. She didn't blink an eye, didn't apologize, and said that they don't give discounts and said the food was not contaminated. How would she know that for certain? If this mice has no fear in scampering across the dining area, in the glare of the lights, with people in the room, how many more are there in the kitchen, when the restaurant closes, when it is dark and with no people???
(1)Kev H.
This place is alright, I think empire garden has better food, but this place seems to offer more of a bar/restaurant ambiance. I have been to a few weddings here, theres luscious space for dancing on a hardwood floor, if you're planning maybe a wedding or some sort of after party this would be a pretty good spot.
(3)kathleen c.
my family has been coming here on and off ever since i was a kid, and it's a solid favorite of my extended family. i can see why--their dim sum is predictable and consistent, there's a HUGE booze selection, seating is prompt (even if you sometimes have to share a table with someone else), and sometimes you can get specialty items like lobster dumplings (ohhh yeah). as for the ambience--what can i say? if you were expecting something else from a restaurant in chinatown, i'm sorry to say that you are fairly disillusioned. the tables are chipped and they've done away with the pretense of a table cloth. only God knows when was the last time they vacuumed the carpet. but if you're looking for something decent and consistent, china pearl is the way to go. funnily enough, if you ever noticed how the name of the restaurant in chinese is something fierce and intimidating like "dragon phoenix restaurant" and the english translation is something lame like "china pearl" it makes you wonder...
(4)C. S.
I only went to this three floored tower of suck because my beloved Peach Farm across the street had a long wait. This place is horrible. Food makes you wish you had chosen to give up chinese food for lent. I must have ordered the vegeterian chicken lo mein because there was no chicken in it. The staff was a surly group of bums it took them twenty five minutes and four requests to get me a coke. They seemed perturbed to have to wait on people and it took another 15 minutes to get a check. I have never been very harsh on service, in fact, I rarely notice issues others point out, but this place was terrible.
(1)Sun Y.
The dim sum here is yummy-licious... for those of you afraid you wont be able to order because you don't speak the language, rest-assured, there is a foreigners level upstairs. That's where they put me.
(4)Eater O.
Quality: variable but generally good Cost: $10-15 dollars per person (100-200 pound person... If u weigh more than this... I'm not sure) Atmosphere: Bustling, mixed asian80%/caucasian20% Cleanliness: Not clean (but what do u expect?) Good food, Solid Dim sum. The food can be variable but I eat here for dim sum fixes. It's good for large parties (10 or more even).
(4)Stephen Y.
Yum...as part of our ongoing experiment in epigenetic modifications of the gweilo "palate" and ongoing training in "chopsticky"... OK the first count but failed miserably the second... probably because dim sums.. by their nature are slippery.... Nevertheless, dim sum was pretty decent but the deserts were just so- so.... Pea- shoots and gai- lan were yummy... Service can be hit- or- miss but no matter.... the dim sum makes up for the deficiency in this department
(4)Al A.
Awesome dim sum.
(4)Dan C.
Hands down the best DIm Sum in Boston; just be prepared to ask what everything is if you are faint of heart.
(5)Steven O.
We tried to get into the Peach Farm tonight but the wait was 90 minutes. So we went across the street to China Pearl, the place was full but we were able to get seated in 5 minutes. The service here leaves a lot to be desired. Either they are understaffed or just clueless. Getting the waiters attention to put our order in, get water refills, plates, rice and 1 of our dishes which came out of the kitchen after we finished evrething else. The food was decent but not as good as you can find elsewhere.
(2)Dave C.
China pearl was good because i was there with my babe and her friend who lets just say is "too good" for pork!! unbelieveable! (i cant spell) Some of the items were good some not so good but its average dim sum with a giant flight of stairs before i can start eating! food was ok
(3)Alicia H.
Our first experience with Dim Sum wasn't really that exciting. Today is the chinese new year celebration in Chinatown so maybe it ordinarily wouldn't be so obnoxiously busy, but it was a hot mess today. The food wasn't really that great, some of it was fairly gross - I think our favorite was actually a plate of chinese broccoli that was just tasty. All in all, it wasn't horrible, but I would not go back. *shrug*
(2)Yosiris P.
I am in love with Dim Sum. China Pearl is the place to go on a weekend morning with family and friends. Get there early, otherwise you will be waiting in the stairs for a looooong time. Food is good. I love their chicken feet, shrimp dumpling, shrimp noodles and tofu. Service is fast, tons of carts going around at all times with lots and lots of food so you will never be dissapointed for your favorite to not be available. Save room for dessert. Have some warm tofu pudding dessert. It is one of the best things i've ever had. It comes with a side of (or they can pour it on for you) ginger-honey syrup. It is the perfect combo. The best way to end a filling meal.
(5)Gabe L.
So I was about to create a list for dim sum places and realized that I hadn't reviewed any.... and only 2 restaurants in Chinatown. Omg, what a travesty! I've been to China Pearl for dinner, lunch, banquets, dim sum. But normally, I only go here for dim sum and banquets. The summary: 4.5 stars for the dim sum, 3.5 for dinner, 4 for banquets. I think my banquet rating may be biased though, since I've gone to so many there, it's like a tradition. Service is usually good and attentive, food is good, and price is not bad. The dim sum: one of my favorites foodwise, a sentiment obviously shared by many given the crazy rush every weekend. Hint, sundays are busier than saturdays, be there before 11:30 or after 1 to avoid the rush. They stop serving at 2:30 but the selection starts dwindling as well. Speaking cantonese helps, but the dim sum ladies speak enough english to tell you the general ingredients at least. You can order pitchers of water, which makes things easier for you and the waitstaff when you have a large table. If you're a beginner, avoid the cart with the chicken feet. It's full of advanced stuff including tripe. The food up at the buffet is also good, with things like spicy salty shrimp, pig's blood (it's good, really), chow foon, etc. When you do get there, make sure to go up and ask for a number. If you're there at rush hour, you'll be waiting for a while (especially in a large group). It's easier to be seated in a small group but I personally like going en masse and devouring dim sum like hungry savages. Also I advise to tip well - I know there isn't a single waiter/waitress serving you, but there's a number of them, and the service is quick. And they'll appreciate it. Also they've switched their take out containers to styrofoam, so if you're an environmentalist, keep that in mind. Bring your own tupperware or something. Some people say the food at hei la moon is way better, but I think they're about the same. They share the same staff, which I think includes the chefs. Chau Chow City is the other one people mention, but I think the quality of the ingredients is better at China Pearl. The dinner: Not much to say, really. It's your standard Chinese place, the food is pretty good, the waitstaff attentive... it's solid. The banquets: The food is always good, and I don't know what kind of magical pig they use for their appetizers but the char siu is fight-over-the-last-piece good. Sometimes when they serve a big fish, it comes overcooked, which I understand, since it's really hard to cook a large fish completely yet not overcook it. But other than that, the food is invariably very good. And for you people who love mango pudding, there's been times they serve that as part of dessert. Big giant mango puddings in interesting designs for each table. Ours was in the shape of a fish. And the garnishes are often interesting too. Once we had a carrot carved in the shape of a dragon, that looked really cool.
(4)Natasha S.
This place is an experience. I never ever go to chinatown or the "combat zone".. I ventured down there and ended up going to this place. I am not a big dim sum person.. so when the lady came over asking me if i was interested in "duck feet" i was like "noooo thank you". There traditional menu is pretty good though, we had the chicken lo mein and the snap-pea steak. super yummy. whole meal cost about 23 dollars. Great place for groups.. will most likely come back!
(3)Tracy H.
I've had take out from the upstairs restaurant twice, and I was more disappointed the second time than the first. I ordered chicken and broccoli and I was disappointed that it wasn't in the brown sauce, but it was decent. The second time, I ordered crispy beef, and it was terrible. More fat than beef and drowning in sauce. Both times, the service was rude and even though no one else was at the pick-up counter, the staff took their sweet time acknowledging my existence. Maybe the in-restaurant experience is better, but I won't be doing take-out from them again.
(2)lorraine s.
unfortunately i read the yelp reviews after i visited the rest. the place looked dirty, i should have turned around, but we were taking our granddaughter who is a student at northeastern out for a meal. we were visiting and she suggested this place. we are boston natives but have been living near san fran for the last 30+ years. there are a some things that we have a taste for as soon as we get of the airplane at logan. fried clams, and chinese food. the chinese food in cali is good, but it's different than what i grew up with. the food was just okay, and that was a disappointment, this was supposed to satiate me until my next visit to boston. gotta say, i'm happy to return to cali where i will get very fresh food. the worst part of the experience was the very, rude, waiter. he seemed as though he had hatred for his customers. it sort of makes me a little sick thinking he probably spit in everyone's food before he brought it out from the kitchen. all the waiters decided it was time for their dinner. they sat down to eat while we stared at them, thinking they might get the hint that we were ready to pay our check. they ignored us. i told my family i knew how to make them move. i stood up put my coat on, and place my purse on my shoulder. it worked like a charm. he rushed over and left my cc receipt, and he hovered around me waiting to see how much tip i left. i left 10 percent. i usually am a 20 percent tipper. 10 percent was too much by 9 percent. i'm leaving for the airport this morning, sad that so many things in boston have changed. this is just one more thing i have to add to the list.
(1)Kristine M.
Average dim sum. It's not my favorite in Boston. I'd rather go around the corner to Hei La Moon. It's not really worth the wait!
(3)Chin C.
Best dimsum in Boston area! I agree with So S. It's hard to find dimsum in Boston so this one is the best here. I love chicken feet, stream bun, shrimp dumbling. I havn't tried other than dimsum here so my rating was based on only dimsum.
(3)Christine T.
Great place to eat Dim Sum, though if you go after lunch time and before dinner in the middle of the week, your food will be luke warm or cool. While the service is very average (most of the servers walking around don't look like they really want to be bothered - plus their English isn't so hot which makes it difficult to communicate) the food is decent and price reasonable. The decor is strange, though. No windows in the place!
(3)Robyn L.
I remember this place being fun and pretty good when I was first there -- about six years ago. When I returned this week I was not impressed. Maybe I got a bad batch of dim sum. Part of the problem was that I had to work with a fixed/pre-arranged menu because I went with a large group. I definitely would not have chosen many of the items on that menu. That said, I'll eat pretty much anything once and I'm usually open minded about food. (I tried tripe at my last dim-sum outing. Can't say I enjoyed it, but I tried it!) Everything tasted, sort of, slimey. The dumplings weren't flavorful -- just plain shrimp in a slippery white dumpling shell -- and the mushrooms and bok choy were doused in this heavy sauce that ruined what would have been good veggies. The one thing I really liked was the veggie spring rolls. Then again, those were fried. Really can't mess up anything fried in my book.
(2)Marcus D.
China Pearl was where the family and I would go after seeing something in the Theatre District - my mother and aunt would laugh at the hookers in their crooked wigs and flimsy outfits navigating their way down the middle of the streets - that was THEN, before the new Ritz appeared. It was also THE place for cold tea when I was in high school, but I'm sure that's changed. I did not know they charged for tea - that may be a deal breaker. They never used to, but Boston is a city of "used to's," don't you think?
(3)Q S.
Pretty good dim sum. One of my two favorites to go to in Chinatown. A good variety. It is always crowded when I go.
(4)Lee C.
The best place in Boston for Dim Sum. Period. Rivals the best of Chinatown in NYC which is saying a lot (considering Boston's chinatown is 1/8th the size). Be prepared for a line, for disorganization, weird looking food, and a memorable eating experience.
(5)Bella and Aleksey R.
Went for the proverbial dim sum here (sometimes you just get that urge for dim sum in Chinatown). It was OK, though we were there with someone who knew the different dishes. I liked stuff with shrimp inside with that nearly transparent white, soft dough all around. The bathroom situation was gross... even more so than you would expect.
(2)Shawn F.
One great thing about China Pearl is that it has dim sum even on weekdays. The dim sum fare here isn't incredible, but it's not bad, either. Service was efficient when I was there, but my visit was in the early afternoon on a Wednesday so it wasn't exactly crowded. Parking can be tricky. Curbside metered parking lines Tyler Street and the surrounding avenues, but it takes some luck to find an empty spot. There is a pay-to-park lot just steps from the restaurant, but it's more expensive than street parking. I should also note that China Pearl gets top honors for dim sum in the Phantom Gourmet's guide to best restaurants.
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