Chinatown Cafe
262 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA, 02111
Chinatown Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
262 Harrison Ave
Boston, MA, 02111 - Phone (617) 695-9888
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:30 am - 8:00pm
- Mon : 10:30 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
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 : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
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Garrett Y.
This is one of my favorite places for Chinese food in Boston. This is very authentic and reminds me of the places I miss in Chicago and NYC. The portions are huge and the prices are very reasonable. I like to get the shrimp and lobster sauce with fried rice. The lobster sauce is the old school Cantonese style. It's a darker sauce with pork and black beans. I also love their barbecue items. The pork and chicken are excellent. See my pics. The place is considered fast food-ish. You get in line and order at the register, and your food is packed up to go or served on a tray at the end of the line. Then you find a seat in the dining area if you want to eat on the premises. The place is in Boston's Chinatown. Like in a lot of areas in the city, parking and traffic is bad. I would recommend getting here via public transportation. I can't wait for my next meal and Chinatown Cafe!!
(5)Francisca W.
maybe i'm getting increasingly picky with little things, but the last couple visits keep telling me i don't need to rush back. their portion is large which makes your meal (or two) quite economical, but the quality...is sometimes questionable. for example, today, i went before that's literally the closest place for a quick bite, i read the menu over and over again, having trouble settling on a dish. of course, making the blonde mistakes, i order beef brisket "lo mein" thinking it's the Cantonese style (ie. soup noodle with sauce instead of soup), but got the blah yellow noodles. not their fault, but no one told me it'd be peppered with presumably GMO bean sprout. as filler or as vegetables? i know not. but it took me a good while to pick them all out. lady at the counter who was barking my order number for pickup included the word "choy" (green veggie), which i didn't pay attention bc i didn't know there is "choy" in my order. by time i looked at my ticket and saw the number she had called, i went and asked if it's beef brisket noodle. maybe i spoke too softly, but she just shoved the box in my face and went on with her duties. the lady who took my order and money earlier wasn't exactly all teeth either. nor did she really hear what my request was when ordering the crispy suckling pig. they're not rude (tho sometimes bordering so), and i know this is Chinatown - not daring to expect 5-star service here. but it's just quite...depressing to see them working like ants without a slight smile on their face...unless to each other, or if they know you in person. it often feels like you're giving them trouble by patronizing. for these reasons..."meh, i've had better".
(2)Nanci C.
Terrible service!!!! Not surprising. Never would come here ever again. The new and previous boss is so disrespectful. Patrons come in here to give you business and money but all of you like to say disrespectful things to all customers!!! Complained that my mom is too clean. So I guess all Chinese restaurants likes to be dirty. Very rude Chinese people. Told the current boss to have the table clean but he just stood there and give dirty looks to my mother and I. My mom saw the chefs picking their nose and teeth and hey won't wash their hands. Told the boss and the boss didn't tell his workers not to do so but started trouble that my mom is the trouble maker. This is why a few months back they had to wear mouth masks to serve people. The bulging eyes boss looks like he wants to punch my mom in the face because the lady that chopped BBQ meat wiped the table then the chopping board and my mom thought it was very dirty. The old boss just stand at the cashier line like someone will not pay their bill or the employees will hide some money from the registers. So I guess the boss of this restaurant previous and old just like to complain about customers even the customers that calls in to order.
(1)Cynthia L.
I ordered brisket chow mein and barely have any brisket but a whole bunch of choy stem and on top of that found a piece of plastic in my noodle and the cook said squid spine which either way is still not edible. Did hey offer to cook me a new one or a refund?? A big fat NOPE!!!
(1)David R.
I was pretty disappointed - the Yelp reviews were great, so I had high hopes, but I found the Spicy Szechuan Chicken and the Chicken and Vegetables to both be very unflavorful. Too bad!
(2)Yan C.
Two words: BBQ pork (char siu). I was recommended by my non-Asian colleagues to try the Chinatown Cafe. The hanging ducks (and other assortment of meat) always intimidate me, but I decided to give this place a shot. The first time I came here, I ordered pad Thai - huge mistake. I should've known that a small cafe tucked away in the Chinatown residential area would not excel in non-Chinese cuisines. The majority of the dish was rice noodles. In comparison, there were very little shrimps, peanuts, and vegetables (bean sprouts etc). The noodles were dry and bland. Upon my return, I ordered BBQ pork over rice. The BBQ pork was just a little dry but very flavorful. It was sweet and savory. The sauce penetrated the rice underneath and gave the otherwise plain rice a rich flavor. I'm not Cantonese so I can't say this with 100% confidence - but their Cantonese dishes seem very authentic. The portions are huge and inexpensive. Definitely a great option for those on a budget. Whenever I get take-out from here, I'm all set for the next 2-3 meals. The ambiance is casual and the restaurant itself is not very nice. Most people get their food to go. Like many other place in Chinatown, it's cash only. So make sure you hit up the ATM before coming here. In summary, this place is definitely a gem. If you aren't a fan, you probably didn't order the right dish! Can't wait to try the wontons next time!
(4)Eileen L.
The price was really good and the quality of the food, especially the rice was decent. The staff wasn't your typical ride Chinese take out place and were helpful when you asked. We also came in with a really large group but they were accommodating.
(5)Theodore T.
One of my standbys in Chinatown. I come here somewhat frequently for lunch and dinner, usually takeout but I've dined in before. I also sometimes get lunch for the office from here. Nice location, good prices, and the food hasn't disappointed (I tend to stick with the rice plates but also have gotten the noodle soups, roast meats, chicken wings, and entree dishes). The soy sauce chicken and R8 are awesome.
(4)Sarah A.
This place really rocks. It's a restaurant in a Chinese community center off the beaten path of chinatown. Past the Tufts Medical Center T stop on the Orange line. Their wonton noodles covered with your choice of protein is what steals my heart every time. They give you 7 GIGANTIC wontons that are overfilled with shrimp and pork. Seriously some of the best wontons I've had. They have a slight sesame oil flavor to them and OMG, just so good. Their soy sauce chicken, bbq pork and duck are all delicious. You can get the combo over rice and the special soy sauce that gets smothered on the rice with the meats is lusciously delectable. It's cash only which can be a pain but it's so worth it!
(5)Izzy Z.
This place is such a hidden gem!!! I AM SO GLAD THAT I HAVE FOUND THIS PLACE! Finally a place that gives you a decent amount of yummy congee! I am coming here whenever I don't feel well cause they're congee is so good lol. Heck, I'm coming back all the time lol. It's a bit hidden away, but definitely worth the trip. Cash only, but everything is so well priced! I can't wait to come back and try their wonton soups that I see so many pics of. I'm so excited to try their BBQ!!
(5)Edgar L.
Alright, alright. I'm gonna update this and give them a littttttle bit more of a boost. I've read some of the other reviews, I'll be honest, and I think maybe getting/trying other things on the menu would be a step in the right direction. So here's what's changed since my last visit: I came here two days ago - I was sick with some kinda feverish fluish strep thing (I'm a future doctor - not actually a doctor yet haha) that was eating away at me for the past several days. I needed food, and Chinatown Cafe was the closest thing besides May's Cake House (which is good, but not real sustenance in my time of need). I ordered two items because I wanted to have food for the next couple of meals (and because I wanted to have cause to write an updated review, if it was warranted). I ordered the Roast Pork Wonton Noodle Soup and the R1 (Chicken, Roast Pork, Duck over rice). I got both to go. Plus: It was quick. Ridiculously quick. I guess the soup and the wontons are basically premade, and the meat is all just being chopped right in front of you, but nevertheless it was very quick. The soup was separated from the noodles and the wontons, which I thought was classy. The wontons were pretty packed and tasty. The soup was perfect against my inflamed/ill throat (and also flavorful). The noodles were decent, and the soupy roast pork was good - better than the roast pork I had last time for certain. The one order of soup was more than enough for one meal. The R1 was enough for 1.5 meals or more - I split it into 2 meals, and they were decently filling. Minus: The meat was just ok-tasting. I still don't recommend the freshly cut hanging bbq meats. I don't know why it is not that great. Ok - the chicken was kind of dry. The roast pork - unless it is the fatty variety - is also rather dry. The duck was ok, actually, but it's hard to go wrong with duck in my opinion. Verdict #2: as with my previous review, do not get the bbq meats - there are far better places in Chinatown to get them - FAR better. Try the Roast Pork Wonton Noodle Soup - it's pretty decent and filling.
(3)Joyce L.
Chinatown Cafe's menu is overwhelming if you're not familiar with cantonese food... Fortunately, I was able to do some research on yelp before heading over and decided to go with the BBQ pork, since that seemed to have an overall positive reputation. The serving sizes here are massive. If you love white rice, you will be delighted to see the amount of rice they pack into your togo box. The pork was good, but a bit salty for my liking. It was my first time trying this type of preparation of pork, so I was surprised with the crispy texture of the pork skin when I first bit into it. It was a novel combination of textures with the soft fatty pork belly mixed with the salty, crispy skin, but I actually really enjoyed the drastic juxtaposition! The dish came out to be about $7.50 and I think I could eat it for 2 meals. All in all, super affordable and not bad!
(3)Gigi L.
You know that feeling of disappointment when you've been craving something for hella long and when you finally get it, it sucks balls?!!! Well that's me right now!! Got a plethora of cbbq--roasted duck, cha Sui and white chicken w ginger scallion. All badddd!! The roasted duck was bland and texturally wrong.. Meat was a bit mushy! The cha Sui had absolutely no sweetness and was just salty. The chicken was rubbery and lacked any chicken flavor. Prices were not particularly cheap compared to other cbbq prices. Service was your typical Asian attitude. Major disappointment today.. Def Won't be back for the cbbq, but maybe their menu stuff is better....
(2)Emily C.
Although I only have one check-in here, I have been coming with my family since I was a kid. So many childhood memories among those burgundy booth seats! This place is well-known for amazing Chinese BBQ. We typically get their roast pork. The crispy skin and layer of fat underneath is deliciously indulgent. I am also a HUGE fan of their wontons! The most plump and flavorful I've ever had (but beware the occasional shrimp shell). Another warning - this place can get crowded around lunch and dinner rush. If you do not want to sit in, just take the food to go. However, if you do choose to dine in, you will be immersed in old-school Chinatown ambience!
(4)Nikki L.
Love the roast duck and BBQ pork here. Also, the chow fun noodles are delicious! It's not the healthiest but definitely Chinese comfort food! Another one of my family's favorites are the yellow noodles with mixed seafood. If you are in a hurry definitely call ahead!
(4)Julia K.
This place may be one of the best kept secrets of Chinatown. It's located off the main streets of Chinatown and further down Harrison close to the bridge in a small retail strip. The wonton noodle soup with bbq pork is one of the best dishes here. The wontons are stuffed with meat and the broth is flavorful yet not too salty. For ~$6-8 per bowl, you are left feeling stuffed. The bbq duck, boiled chicken w/garlic and green onion are also very good and perfect for take out.
(4)Amanda P.
Quick, and huge portions. It's humid and stuffy in the cafe, their setup reminds me of a food court. The pad Thai is amazing but the calamari tastes like its been doused in salt.
(3)Raymond W.
After a few weeks of rotating through Chinatown Cafe, Hong Kong Eatery, and Quic Pic, I've definitively decided that Chinatown Cafe has the best Cantonese Style BBQ. The Roasted Pork is my favorite of all 3 by far, especially if you can make it bjust before or during peak lunch rush. All 3 options suffered during a later afternoon hour, while Chinatown Cafe was straight up out of food. That says something. The pork was by far the sweetest so if you're not into that bbq aspect, i may point to Hong Kong Eatery. Also, this is probably the location with the worst English so be ready to order by letter/number if you're Chinese is weak.
(5)Vinny N.
They have good food no doubt but today I make a order with the first lady and the second lady fulfill it and mess it up the first lady noticed and make a common but passed it up anyway, what even worse is That she deliberately put the messed up order on the bottom, this place been open for years and have good reputations, perhaps that's why they don't give a shit about my...one order?
(2)Linda R.
Worth the walk out of Chinatown down Harrison! Lots of food, great prices and clean! Close to Tuft school. M26 = udon noodles with pork and shrimp. All the food comes in a to go styrofoam container whether you eat in or take out.
(4)Cindy H.
I've been going here since I was a kid. At a low cost, you get a lot of decent quality Chinese food. I love all their dishes, except the wonton mein - which comes off as fishy to me. Also, their meat is not the greatest quality and cutlets, but for the price, I won't complain at all. I noticed they are really cheap with the condiments, napkins, bowls, etc., so be sure you ask if you get take-out! I always have to hound them for their hot sauce, which tastes unique (I always try to bring some home). There's free hot tea, but don't knock your cup over, as I did when I grew up!
(5)Emily L.
Best crispy roast pork in Boston! They are cash only though so be prepared. If I were to get a lunch plate I would do a trio of meat - crispy roast pork, scallion ginger chicken, and sliced pork. It comes with rice and veggies.
(5)Anthony P.
Tasteless food, place is filthy as well. They only accept Cash as well. Would avoid.
(1)Karina H.
Salty but so good. They give so much rice and drench it in sauce. I think if u have high blood pressure don't eat here but if you live this kind of stuff.. Great Chinese bbq.. This is the place to go. Got a rice plate with roast pork for 8 bucks. The boiled Napa that comes with it completely complements the rice plate.
(5)Theodore W.
Review for won ton noodle soup. This place is interesting - everything is served in take-out containers, so it definitely sin't someplace where you're trying to enjoy a protracted meal. The portions are generous and the flavor is passable. Finally the price is quite fair. The won ton noodle soup had tons of won ton. They were smaller than the average won ton, and I don't remember much shrimp if any that were in there. The flavor, like I said earlier, was passable. I also got bbq pork in my noodle soup, and that was also plentiful and decent. The pork was good and lean, but lacking in that real delicious rich sweet and porky flavor. I hate that char siu that has fat globs unevenly distributed throughout the meat and utterly lacking in flavor. Might come back to try some other dishes since this place seems quite popular, but I was hardly wowed by the WTNS.
(3)Guillermo M.
Amazing Chinese food, cheap, authentic experience. You feel like you are in China!! Informal, take out place but with a lot of tables to sit down and eat. Quality of food is amazing. We had the roasted duck and wonton soup and was delicious. Want to come back a try a lot of the rice plates that look great.
(4)Wayne T.
Eating here since a kid, bit pricey but make up by giving huge portions so its a good deal, like to get the congee here, some of the dishes are very oily, greasy, service very chinese, good for quick food, sometimes lines get long
(4)Ignacio G.
Little too authentic for us. Employees did not speak English. Food quality ok but not very flavorful. At least it's inexpensive.
(3)Thanh N.
This place has gone down the wrong end. It was excellent before and now the quality of the food is not good and the people work there are rude. I was there to pickup some roast pork and BBQ pork (char-siu) for myself and my aunt. When I asked for a receipt, the woman said I don't need one. When I said I bought for someone else, she gave me a handwritten receipt with a total. I need to know how much roast pork and how much BBQ pork and the unit price. A handwritten total won't do good. I was told they always over-charged their customers that's why I asked for a detail receipt (one that came out of the register after they keyed in the numbers) and she said she can't give it to me. This is unbelievable. I didn't want to argue with her because the line is long so I don't want to make a fuss so I leave. I wonder if they are trying to cheat the owner for having some kind of scheme to over-charge their customers. A friend of mine told me the same thing. They don't give out receipt when you only buy just the BBQ stuffs. You get a receipt if you buy the meal boxes. The thing that really bugged me is that the amount shown up on the cash register is always not the same amount they asked you to pay.
(2)Chris C.
Great place, great food, all for a low price! Every time I come here with my family we order a Wonton Mein (W1) and a Hong Xue Fish w/without rice (R31/S1). It's absolutely delicious. The broth in the Wonton Mein flavored and seasoned well and the gravy on the rice dish tastes really good. Overall, if you want a quick/cheap dinner or a good lunch while in Chinatown, then I would highly recommend you come here. :)
(4)Catherine W.
Got takeout twice here recently. Would pass on the lobster pork dish (too soupy) next time and the seafood congee was just okay. Really liked their stir fried wide rice noodles though (both chicken and seafood versions).
(4)Nathaniel R.
Best authentic Chinese food this side of the city. Have been coming here since I was two. My favorites are R1 and J6. You have to order by number rather than by name. The staff speaks Chinese. For those who are looking for the best quick and tasty Chinese look no further than Chinatown cafe.
(5)Ngan T.
Solid, fast, and yummy. Don't come here looking for gourmet foods. What you WILL find however is cheap authentic Chinese food given in giant portions. Do yourself a favor and try any of the meats. Flavors and marinades seep right to the bone. Their lunch portions are usually overflowing and wonton soup bowls are more than filling. It's cash only btw! The space itself is small, and as is with Chinese service, hurried and offhanded. Good luck finding a table. Your best bet is takeout.
(4)Sylvia C.
Even though it changed ownerships...the quality and quantity remains the same. Favourite things to order: Rotisserie chicken (fresh and frozen) - my preference is the frozen (cheaper) Salty Fish with Chicken fried rice
(4)Kswagg X.
This place used to be good. I ordered the beef chow foon and it was flavorless. The noodles were all stuck together too, so the noodles didn't absorb the sauce. Go to Peach Farm instead.
(2)Phenix A.
Great value, unassuming, no nonsense and has everything you expect at a Chinese restaurant. Rice dishes have tons of rice so you will have some leftover, be prepared to bring this home and cook it up with some egg later.
(5)Corinne T.
Gourmet is not the idea here. (And that's fine!) Home-feel Chinese food and large portions. Rice plates and noodle plates are $6.50 ish and can last you two meals if you want it to. Pretty much pick a meat and vegetable you want and pair it with rice or noodle and it comes right up! (In a styrofoam box - again, not gourmet, but whatever!) Wonton soup is good here too. We come here late night when too tired to cook - homey, quiet, leftovers for the next day!
(4)David W.
I wouldn't say their roast foods are excellent, but its taste is still above the average of Cantonese food in Boston.
(4)Shin M.
I got the roast duck, roast pork, and chicken. It was very good! I wish the bones weren't there though... My family usually always gets the tomato beef udon and it is usually delicious. This time around though, it was too sweet. The place is kind of stingy with giving out its plastic plates/forks/napkins. And it's cash only. Still like the food overall. And it's quick and convenient.
(4)Tanya Y.
I'm almost hesitant to write a review on Chinatown Cafe, simply because it's a hidden gem that's so precious that I want it to be mine, all mine! But no! This place is far too good and amazing to hold keep to myself. So here it goes: Toward the end of Harrison Ave, a little walk away from the center of Chinatown, sits Chinatown Cafe. It's been here for years now and has great credibility. The place is relatively clean for a Chinatown establishment, which is a huge plus. There's a good amount of seating here as well, with various booths and tables to eat at. The menu is also pretty extensive, including different types of BBQ meats, soups, noodles, rice plates, pork, chicken, and seafood. What's even better? It's cheap and the portions are HUGE! Scenario #1: When I ordered my beef chow foon [wide white rice noodles] with black bean garlic sauce and broccoli to go (~$7.00), they warned me to hold the bag upright because the food and sauce was overflowing from the styrofoam container. Scenario #2: My friend ordered salt and pepper fried pork chops over white rice (~$7.00). There was so much food in his styrofoam container, causing them to use a rubber band to hold it all together. There's complementary hot tea, hot water, and regular water that you can help yourself to. Smoothies and other canned beverages are also available to purchase. This place takes CASH ONLY, and parking around the area sucks butt, so take the train and walk instead [Orange and Silver Lines to New England Medical Center]. Chinatown Cafe is definitely a family and friend favorite and I know I will be back for a countless number of times.
(5)Eric F.
More or less run-of-the-mill Chinese BBQ with the exception of the delicious roast pork belly - tender and juicy with exquisitely crispy skin. Totally worth the money for the lunch rice plate specials given the portions and rice quality.
(4)Michael D.
HUGE menu. I got the Rice Combo #1 which normally comes with white rice, roast duck, roast pork, and soy sauce chicken, but I substituted the roast pork for crispy pork and got brown rice for an extra dollar ( yelp.com/biz_photos/g3OJ… ). As you can see from the picture, they give you a BUTT TON OF FOOD, and they dont skimp on the meat either! Definitely enough for two meals! I was a devoted fan of wai wai down the street, but I think I Chinatown Cafe might have topped it.. especially since its so close to tufts med! AND they let you substitute brown rice instead of white rice for only ONE bone just so we can feel kinda healthy as we eat GREASY ass roast meats. All the roast meats were freakin tasty, and the CRISPY FRIED PORK was SUPER moist, but still really crispy on the outside! ahh so freakin good! HIGHLY recommended!
(4)Sidney L.
I came here on the recommendation of a friend who owns a food business and does business with the owner, who also owns a business that provides restaurant supplies. It's a little bit outside of Chinatown proper, in the Tufts medical area, Pros: - You order and pick up your food at the counter, and you seat yourself. Despite this, it's a clean and large establishment, unlike other Chinatown BBQ joints which have just a few tables. Plus you aren't under as much obligation to pay tip. - Portions are great. I ordered wonton noodle soup with roast duck, and I got 8 very large wontons in my soup. Each wonton took me two bites to eat! - All you can drink hot tea (self service as well). Cons: - The roasted meats I've tried (duck, crispy pork, soy sauce chicken), are pretty average to me, without a lot of flavor. - A few times I have gone (usually at around 7 o'clock), they have run out of a few dishes (once they didn't have roast duck, another time they did not have my favorite thing ever, crispy pork). - You're going to be eating out of disposable containers, using disposable utensils. I think this works okay with the rice dishes, which are served out of a styrofoam box, but it doesn't work for the soups, which come in a plastic disposable soup bowl with the broth separate and a flimsy soup spoon. The broth also wasn't piping hot, they way you'd want your soup to be on a cold, hurricane-ravished evening. - It's greasy. But hey, this is Chinatown. - I think this place is marginally more expensive (~50 cents) than other BBQ places in Chinatown, like Hong Kong Eatery or Quic Pic.
(3)Rona H.
You will be overwhelmed by the size of their menu when you walk in! The scallion pancakes here are great! And the amount of rice they give you with their "rice dishes" is more than plentiful; you can sub in brown rice for $1. They cook the food so fast too! You get enough food for about 2 meals to boot. Highly recommend!
(4)Patrick L.
Been going to Chinatown Cafe for years. Haven't been for quite some time. Always good value and tasty!
(5)Kimberly Y.
Where do I begin? The BBQ is the BEST in Chinatown. My family loves the roast pig so much that I usually buy a 10 LB slab at a time. (Yes, we are carnivores) The skin is so crunchy and tasty and the meat moist. My boys are also big fans of the roast pork, duck, chicken. We don't go anywhere else for BBQ. They also have the best wontons in town! Each wonton is filled with 1 whole shrimp and they are the biggest wontons I've ever had. The portions are ginormous. One portion is more than enough for 2 people to share. The prices are cheap compared to other places in Chinatown. You really do get a lot of bang out of your buck here. The service is quick and efficient. It's basically self service and they offer free water and tea. There is ample seating and is very clean inside. I don't cringe when I use their restroom like I do in most places in Chinatown. Also, they have a baby station in their restroom which is a plus when you have little ones to change. Whenever I ask my kids where they want to eat in Chinatown, they always scream out Chinatown Cafe!
(5)Ambrose C.
I have been coming to this restaurant fairly recently, particularly on Wednesday nights before I go to a get-together with friends. The dishes are simple and inexpensive. This restaurant is really generous in terms of portions. I ordered Gon Chao Ngau Ho (I think the English word is Beef Chow Foon), and they gave me so much that I think it could last me for about three meals. Plus it was so warm. The heat from the take out dish lasted for more than a few hours. It was pretty good and had a strong pungent smell that could make your mouth water. Other noodle dishes that I have eaten are Shanghai Style Stir Fried Udon, and the Beef and Broccoli Chao Mian. When I ordered the Shanghai Style Stir Fried Udon, they were also really generous with the portions and it could last you for two meals. The Beef and Broccoli Chao Mian was okay, it was nothing too special, it just filled up my stomach and kept it happy for several hours. In terms of rice dishes, I had the Seafood and Vegetables, and it was pretty good, the vegetables were crisp, and the seafood was tasty, but it was doused with a lot of sauce, making it really greasy. Overall, Chinatown Cafe is not a bad choice when it comes to getting some good and inexpensive Chinese take out, but I would probably choose Hong Kong Eatery down the street for slightly better quality.
(3)John B.
Real simple. This place is the best Chinese food I've ever had. I was adventurous and got the pork belly strips on rice. Delicious crunchy outside; soft, moist, and salty meat with just enough fat to complete the whole bite. My co-worker is a sucker for duck and he said it is by far the best he's had. Pros: - Cheap price and huge portions of good food. - Cleanest place I've ever been to. - Everybody is friendly. - They cut their meat on an old stump butcher block with what looked like a Hattori Hanzo butcher knife (Kill Bill reference people, get with the program) - This may sound weird but the rice was ridiculously hot throughout the entire meal. It was hot in there but the rice was still steaming hot from start to finish. - Delicious delicious food! - Again, cheap price and more than filling portions. Cons: - I didn't know about this place before.
(5)John R.
Roast duck on rice plate and wonton soup! Cheap and basic real Chinese food plates.
(4)Rob W.
Chinatown Cafe looks like a stereotypical chinese restaurant in Chinatown. From outside you walk by and you see the roast pork, ducks, chicken, etc. hanging from the windows and a butcher hack away with his cleaver. Admittedly I eat a decent amount of "Chinese BBQed" meats, but my aunt was telling me how they had the best Roast Pork and how the skin was the crispiest and best... and boy was she right. I don't know if it was because it was fresh or whatever, but the pork was perfectly juicy and moist and the skin was perfectly done. I definitely will be coming back here for meats. The rice plates and noodle orders are gigantic and ridiculously cheap. We ordered a beef chow foon (dry fried) and a beef chow mein and they were literally too big for the boxes, in fact they barely closed.
(4)Anthony L.
the good: cheap large portion (compared to rest of chinatown) get your own food aka no tip the bad: could use more flavoring, some things taste kinda mediocre will be returning!!
(4)Carol W.
I remember coming here as a teenager and getting these spicy flavored fried potato wedges that were called Big Joes, and they were really tasty. The thing with this place is that you have to know what to order here. I agree that the BBQ is okay, congee is definitely unique, and the pepper salt fried pork chop over rice is tasty. A major disappointment was that the wontons in their wonton noodle soup does not contain shrimp. I thought it was just me, but then I overhead customers talking about it at another restaurant down the street. I used to work around the corner from this place and would only come here if I was strapped for time or wanted congee or the fried pork chop. Ordering anything else seemed like a gamble.
(3)Manesh P.
It's amazing this restaurant has been around for more than 20 years now and it's this amazing cross between suburban takeout chinese and what amounts to relatively traditional chinese/cantonese flavors. Stuff that an asian mom and dad can enjoy as well as an americanized youth. I'll admit I'm biased. Chinatown Cafe is the food I grew up on. In addition to mom's home cooking, we always had occasional take out Sundays from this place. The gravy they pour over a bunch of their dishes must have crack in it as I dream about the stuff when I've been away from Boston for too long. Ive patronized a lot of takeout chinese places and never found anything close. Three dishes you must get? Shrimp with egg sauce over rice, the 8 delights chow mein (pat gen chow mein) and the assortment of roasted meats over rice (I get the traditional chicken, roast pork and duck). Moreover, for $6.75, you get enough food for two meals.
(4)Serena L.
i worked a block away and always came here for lunch. it's very affordable and the food is so good. the wait is quick as it's prepared as soon as you order it! i love the shredded duck lo mein and the wonton noodles were always a close second! the seafood satay udon was another good dish. when my husband started working nearby, i told him to go here for lunch.
(4)Will N.
Best Gereral Gau's Chicken I've ever had. The rest of the menu is rather bland for my tastes. This place doesn't have parking so everyone double parks on weekends.
(3)Arivu A.
This place is almost as good as it gets when it comes to cheap, large servings especially when it comes to Chinatown. Located on Harrison Ave., a short walk from Tufts Medical Center this place is perfect for that "I'm starving" feeling that most teenagers get when they haven't eaten for a couple hours. It's pretty clean and has no strange smells something that you sometimes have to deal with when eating in this neighborhood, and there is enough seating for the people who choose to eat there who aren't many because of its simple outward appearance. It has a large menu of Seafood, Beef, Chicken and even duck dishes, which is a plus considering how delicious all the food is. I went with my girlfriend and another friend and each of us got a dish, choosing simple things because we weren't that hungry. A few minutes after ordering we each get a box packed to the brim with piping hot food, so much that none of us could finish our dish. There are dispensers of hot tea, hot water and cold water which you can just go and grab whenever you want without having to wait for someone to refill your cup. One of the staff Raymond has great recommendations when it comes to the food, and let's you know what goes well with what. He's funny and easy to get along with and talk to, unlike many other restaurants the quality of the food and the service both make Chinatown Cafe a great place to eat at when you just want to be full to the brim.
(5)Julie G.
So you've had a busy day at work. Maybe you skipped lunch and now you have that "it's 5pm and I need to eat a lot of food right now before I hurt someone" type of feeling. Well look no further than Chinatown Cafe. You get a ton of delicious food of cheap. Even when I am super hungry I cannot finish a whole order in one sitting. Everything I have gotten there has been tasty and they have so much to choose from! Also the last time I was there the guy in front of me in line bought cow stomach. How cool is that?
(5)Wei W.
I wish Chinatown Cafe could go back to the good old days when it was actually good. Now I don't go out of my way to get roast pork, duck, or chicken from here. I remember when the owner actually used to be behind the counter instead of on the customer side, guiding his chefs and butcher to make the best takeout meals ever. Now it's sad - higher prices, smaller, less tasty portions (of meat and veggies), too much rice . . . I also remember when I could taste the sauce in their flat noodles with beef. I don't recall seeing so many cops sitting down and eating lunch and dinner there, either. Oh Chinatown Cafe . . . you used to be so good to me. Why, oh why, did you go downhill?
(3)Robby T.
This is good value for the oversaturated Chinatown $5-8 lunch scene. Lotsa food!...but you can get that many places. Tasty and fresh. And there are tons of veggies incorporated into their ~75 menu items. Typically, I get the duck chow mein. Crispy noodles, freshly chopped duck (not a boneless breast...it's legit chinese cleaver-makes-bone-shards style), and lots of chinese broccoli w/ carrots and such. Not overly starched gravy--nicely flavored sauce. It'll be two meals, so bring a fridge or an extra person!
(4)Hogger K.
If you're looking to impress a woman on a first date, don't go to Chinatown Cafe. But if you're dating someone and both of you like going off the beaten path for good food, then this place is great. The easiest way to go there is taking the Orange Line to New England Medical Center, and then this place is about a 5 minute walk. As others have mentioned, the portions are big. Yesterday I tried the General Gau's chicken. Is he a real person? And although the chicken was good, the sauce was sickeningly sweet. I don't mean that in a good way. Really, it was gross. So, rather than write a review criticizing the hell out of it, I went back today to order the Har Moon (shrimp and pork with rice noodles), and that was delicious. Seriously, I've had so many noodle dishes taste like junk at Chinese restaurants that I expect it. This place knows how to cook noodles (and I should say that the rice yesterday was great). Some people have talked about how great the scallion pancakes are. It depends how you like them. If you like them crispy, then this is the second-best place I've had. The ones at Chang Sho in Cambridge are my favorite. But if you like soft scallion pancakes, then you should go to a decent Korean restaurant because I haven't been to a Chinese restaurant that doesn't fry them. But this place is good, and you've got to respect that they don't try to rip you off with a lot of fancy decor. You go there for the food. And then you go there for the price. Both of them are right on point.
(4)Alice S.
The thing that keeps on bringing me back is their amazing duck that they have hanging on those hooks. Biting into it is like biting into a piece of heaven. This is a great place to bring your friends or your entire family for a quick MSG'ed lunch or dinner. The atmosphere is extremely lively and it's always great fun to eat in. Not to mention that there is practically always a line-- the food is just that good! A couple of Boston police officers are also regulars here. Overall, this is a great place if you're looking for decent Chinese food. My only advice is to stay far away from that bubble tea.
(4)Jasmine L.
I came here with a friend today for lunch. It was amazing the crowd this restaurant was attracting. The line was literally out the door. Unbelievable! On with the food. on suggestion by my friend, I order the fish fillet w/chinese broccoli over rice. The portion was incredible. Enough for two meals. The fish fillet had a light batter; very fresh, moist and big chunks of fish. The broccoli was fresh as if they grew it themselves somewhere in the back. OMG! the chili oil they gave for free was incredible. I never tasted anything as good. Definitely, one of the best hot oils I tasted. My friend ordered BBQ with wonton noodle in soup. She gave me a sample and was blown away by the taste. Also, surprising in the wonton wrap was pork and shrimp. Normally, places only use pork in the filling. Overall, definitely will eat here again and again and again!!
(5)Evan L.
Went in on a Sunday afternoon based on a bunch of ratings/recommendations here on Yelp. The place is relatively small - definitely designed mostly for takeout counter service, but there are about 15 tables. Place was clean and the staff was friendly. As stated in a couple of other reviews, the portions for the amount you pay are sizeable, and the food we had was excellent.
(4)Tatsu I.
Service With A Stare "Thank you for coming to my tour! Please look to your left at Chinatown Cafe. Notice position relative to Tai Tung Village housing community. Ah yes, basically restaurant lives under 700 or more low-income inhabitants. This is the Harrison Ave, this is where most of Chinese lives, not the retail Chinatown over there! This is real Chinatown, but B.R.A. come to buy it for yuppie devils soon, so anyway. So! What you infer? Nothing? (Inscrutable Asian Stare.) OK! This Chinatown Cafe--we feed thousand of working class people, even we roll up sidewalk at 8:30PM. When you come to slurp on the noodle sometime, you watch many a double-parked Honda from 5 to 6PM. Mommy and daddy rush home to feed suburban A.B.C. kid, ha ha ha! I tell you story..." bostonchinatown.org/arch… What's in those bags full of take-out? Solid family fare, roast meats, char siu, chow fun, even the most humble but awfully sustaining congee. I love the congee. What else do you really need to live on? Robert Capa, my favorite photographer, used to live on a little sugar dissolved in water once a day. Congee is manna from your fellow man, man. Check out the photos on the wall. Local politicians, sports figures, community and school events. This place means something. It's not quite the Bahston institutions that (former) Amrhein's or Doyle's are perceived to be, but it deserves a more vaunted reputation. Think about the name, "Chinatown Cafe". After you realize "cafe" is, by accident or by design, short for "cafeteria", it's suddenly apropos, not generic anymore, right? The link explains the real story. Again, bostonchinatown.org/arch… True to community service, no bragging, you would never know by eating here that this is a real community center. Chinatown Cafe, we just serve, food and elsewise.
(5)Tiffany G.
duck was super greasy. only takes cash.
(2)Alex T.
My mom used to own a salon at Tai Tung Village and I used to go to BCEC (Boston Chinese Evangelical Church) across the street so I have been a steady patron of CC for many, many years now. I remember when the church used to let out, there would be a mass migration straight to CC for lunch. My mom would also often send me to CC to get their roast pork, char siu, or roast duck for dinner takeout. This place is a classic. The portions have remained pretty much the same since the 90s except they might have cut down on the meat/veggies/seafood a bit with each order. The rise of food prices is to blame as most places do that now. Their Chinese BBQ is still the highlight of their menu. I like to get a mix of BBQ meats on either rice or noodle soup. You can get the duck and chicken on rice, char siu and duck on noodles, and whatever combination strikes your fancy. They also have a large variety of rice plates and noodle dishes so there is something for everyone. All in all, this place is a safe bet for a value lunch or dinner. They do not open for breakfast and they accept cash only.
(2)Tammy L.
On some days, the food is fabulous. But on other days, the chefs must have a grudge against my taste buds because there's barely flavour in the food. As for portions, I think I should get less rice and more meat and veggies. Prices keep on climbing...and portions are getting smaller, aren't they?
(2)Dan C.
I've been coming to this place for years but i just recently discovered their Pad-Thai. AMAZING The location is a little bit on the outside of chinatown, which is actually better if you're traveling by car. I've been here with my friends a few times and never seem to be disappointed. The customer service is just fine, it isn't the type of establishment that you expect top notch customer service, but the people here are generally friendly and helpful. There are better seafood restaurants in chinatown but this place is one of the best restaurants in terms of portion/value and quality. You won't be able to beat their assortments of rice plates and noodle soups for 6-7 dollars. I've actually recently discovered their Pad-Thai here.... and i must say, it is AMAZING. Easily one of the top pad thai's i've ever had and the portion is HUGE, not to mention it's only 7 dollars. The food and value here is more than enough to keep me coming back.
(4)Mark W.
I use to always get the chow foon and loved it but this recent visit delivered the worse dishes I ever got from this place. The foon was trouble the cook must have just thrown the noodles into the container and poured a little sauce over. The other dishes were just as bed. Maybe they just had a bad day?
(1)Edmund H.
This has to be the best place for a quick fix! I grew up on their food for almost 9 years. The Beef chow fun is my favorite but for my family they love the Wonton noodle soup. If you can still go for some more have a side of their BBQ Pork, it's very crispy! They also finished remodeling the place too which is a big plus!
(5)Angela L.
My favorite place for a quick lunch carryout when working in Chinatown, everything I've had is delicious. Especially the duck and chicken that they'll pull from the window and cut up, this is Chinatown, this is the kind of food I grew up on and my parents make, and it's cheap and just fast enough. Service is good too.
(5)Beth E.
I'll start off by saying that I'm not really a fan of Chinese food. And by that, I mean the Americanized Chinese that you find out in the sticks. It took a long time for folks to convince me to head over here. It's definitely better than I was expecting. Prices are pretty low, and the portions are huge. I'm lucky if I make it through half. I still don't want to go everyday, but I'm now totally game for the occasional trip into Chinatown.
(3)Perry F.
One of my all time favorite restaurants where you get a ton of rice or noodles! The 8 Delights chow mein is a staple for my ordering! Filled with pork, chicken, shrimp, fish cake, veggies, etc. with a nice gravy that soak into the fried noodles is an old school comfort. The beef and bitter melon is cooked to perfection where both are tender with the right amount of black bean sauce. The salt and pepper pork or squid are yummies!! The congees are tasty and hit the spot when its cold out and warms your stomach. The pork belly usually runs out early on the weekends so get there early enough to buy a pound or two to share with your meat eating friends. they will love you!
(4)Kristina D.
I teach near here and went for the first time last night upon recommendation of other teachers (who had gotten recommendations from students). All three of us ordered the General Gau's chicken and ended up stuffed and happy. There was more than enough for lunch today and it actually reheated well!
(3)Kit Y.
My office orders this 1-2 times a week. I am sick of it. Somehow they got the idea that I only eat steamed veggie no oil or salt on white rice, blech! I have corrected this and now I like to eat the soft tofu with green beans and they get me some stir fry with tofu sometimes. For the most part, I would never eat here if it didn't come to me, but I have to say I do like that green bean tofu dish. Every one is right. It is cheap, but the prices are slowly going up and I would rather get a cheap lunch somewhere else in Chinatown.
(3)Kev H.
This place used to be the "spot", after church, after school, after sports, a quaint enviorment where cash is your best friend because creidt cards will just earn you an angry stare. Eating Chinese Food everyday does get to me, so I've had better at home *some things*, but the one thing I never get tired of is the beef noodles. Its been one of my favourites since I was a wittle boi, just because the price is more jacked I'll have to lower the rating =(.
(3)Gabrielle S.
HUGE portions of delicious food for student prices. Seven bucks will easily feed two people here-- I love their king pao chicken and their General Gao's, and their soups always look delicious.
(5)Alison I.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. Since I moved from from there a few years ago, it's maybe the one restaurant I wish I could've brought with me to LA. I wasn't a big believer in this place since it was further than the usual Chinatown dives we usually visited. But when a friend took me there repeatedly over the summer, I found myself completely addicted to the food. The best plate there (actually the only one I've ever had, but hey, if it ain't broke don't fix it) which is the roast pork/wonton/noodles (the wide noodles) soup! This is best meal I've ever had for under $6. The wide chow fun noodles are plain and cooked perfectly, accompanied by freshly chopped roast char siu pork and the best wonton I've ever had in my life. A few pieces of Chinese broccoli is added to the mix along with wicked hot soup, that's more like a plain broth. Served super hot and fresh - it doesn't get any better. Chinatown Cafe is a little out of the way and attracts locals from all points of the city. Local police, downtown residents and even some members of the Boston Bruins are regulars at this joint. Get there early for the wide noodles (they're worth it - trust me) and a table - this place gets busy!
(4)Damien Y.
Back in the 90's this used to be my favorite place to eat in Chinatown. The owner is actually a family friend and used to roast a pig at a party every year. Fast forward to today; the dishes have a lot more rice and just don't taste as good as other places in the area. The congee is pretty damn good though.
(2)Jen Y.
I love this place. I've been coming here for years and I can tell you that if you order wonton noodle soup with the thick noodles and either bbq pork, roasted pork, or roasted duck, you will not be disappointed! Adding the duck is my personal favorite. This costs around $6-7 and the portions are amazing! The wontons are large and stuffed, noodles are plentiful (I can never finish them), whatever meat you pick you'll also have lots of, the soup obviously has some MSG but with a little of their homemade hot sauce.. it's heavenlyyy, and they even throw in some greens (choy) in there. I don't think there's anywhere else that offers wonton noodle soup at such a fair price for such quality and large portions. Some of my other favorites for this place include the fried thick noodles with beef and their fried chicken wings. Yeah, they're quite greasy, but if you plan on indulging, this is the place! P.S. everything you order from this place basically comes in a large rectangular styrofoam box and the average price is prob. around $7-8
(5)M. T.
I've only tried the roast duck, chicken, pork and char siu here and it's very good. So good that I would eat here everyday even if it'll make me gain 20 pounds. But sadly, this place is a little out of way so I can only make the trip every other week. But really.... try the BBQ'd meats!
(5)Momo K.
i am a fan and i like this place. i used to think that this place was cheap and nasty until my bf started ordering from here. i would have to say it is quite a pleasant surprise every time that i eat their food. I like every dish i've tried so far. i love their roasted pork the most. this place is cheap, no tips, and free tea. what else can you ask for? the prices are reasonable and it is a pretty authentic chinese catery. great for family and somebody who wants a quick bite.
(5)Grace U.
YUM YUM YUMMY! The congee was delish! Real nice prices and in a really cute area. Also it's pretty close to where all the real action in Chinatown is!
(5)Meg B.
Pretty good food. You get your money's worth and more when it comes to the size of the meal. But be sure to bring cash.
(3)Mike C.
I used to come here almost every other day for lunch and it's the only place in Chinatown where you'll get your money's worth for the food. It doesn't matter which dish you order, they will serve it in HUGE portions for a very low price. Not to mention that the food tastes superb. I'm never disappointed when I come here: you can't be when you're paying under $7 bucks for a plateful of goods. I still remember this place when I was a kid, loved it back then and still do.
(5)Esther L.
I really like their food. Its authentic, but its cheap, fast, and you can take it out. They have lots of rice and noodle dishes. You can order in English, but its better if you know the Chinese version of what you want, just to make sure the cashiers get your order right. They also have cooked poultry and meats you can buy by the pound and take home to eat. I like their soy sauce chicken. I'd recommend getting it to go because it gets really crowded.
(4)So S.
Authentic Chinese take-out place known for their great congee and good stir fry noodles. Very good portions. I usually go here when I am hosting a party and need good cheap Chinese food. A bit of walk from the T-stop though.
(4)S L.
The congee tastes great here, and they give huge portions! I found myself almost licking the bowl at the end of the meal. I was quite impressed by how clean the restaurant looked as well as their extensive menu with very good prices.
(5)Michael G.
Unfortunately, this place is on the far side of Chinatown, which is inconvenient for most people, but it's worth the walk for their tasy food. The food comes out fast, and the menu is huge. I recommend the noodle dishes or the rice congee, which are extremely inexpensive. Don't expect any service, though. It's a purely bus-your-own-table place. It's a long walk from work, but my coworkers and I have become semi-regulars despite the distance.
(4)Kathleen T.
In the city, good Chinese food is really hit or miss. Chinatown Cafe, however, is a hit. The stir fry is great and I have a hard time varying my meal because of it. Neverthless, the price, portions and staff is great.
(4)Ame k.
it's the same as other chinese food.
(3)