Wai Wai Restaurant
26 Oxford St, Boston, MA, 02111
Wai Wai Restaurant 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 :
26 Oxford St
Boston, MA, 02111 - Phone (617) 338-9833
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
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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Leslie Y.
This is one of those places that most grew up with, a hole in a wall type.....very old looking, the owners are older just as we are.....and the food is still amazing.... This is truly a Boston treasure, they are famous for their rice dishes, all types such as chicken, roast pork, roast duck, gotta say it, liver and kidneys, hearts and etc...... My favorite has always been breast meat chicken and one salted egg..... It was so good and appetizing that I went twice in the few days I was there and the funny thing was, the Owner still recognized me from so many years ago......way to go.... This was the best meal I had in Boston on my trip home......believe it or not...
(5)Alexander C.
I want to start off by saying that I've been here multiple times both recently and farther back in the past (years and years ago). Overall I enjoy the food, and personally do not mind the atmosphere as I grew up in Chinatown and can understand the basic decor, small tables, and often cramped restaurant. Unfortunately that does not excuse the cleanliness of the restaurant from the greasy napkin holders and tables to the dirty chopsticks that were given to us by one of the workers (a woman). My table had 5 people sitting in it, yet we were only given 2 cups of tea which we awkwardly stared at. Next, she asked us what we wanted, which luckily we already knew having been there before. We had "Sam bo fan" which is several different meats with rice and which comes with a small bowl of soup before it. When the soup came out, the bowls were different sizes and the worker gave it to only one of the people at my table whom she expected to help her pass around the table. After the soup, the same thing happened with our rice plates: she gave it to one person expecting him to pass it to the rest of us. The quality of the food is always enjoyable there, but during eating it was somewhat awkward and quiet as we were all kind of pissed at the service. After we all finished, we waited there awkwardly for her to clean up or do anything really. So after about 15 minutes of just sitting there, we called for a check which she didn't give to us and instead told us a number. We promptly paid, gave an extremely small tip, and left. Keep in mind that the restaurant was virtually empty when we went in and it was around 730PM on a Sunday. Trust me when I say that there are much better restaurants in Chinatown than this one, albeit I always like the food (only reason I put up with the service).
(2)Katie B.
This tiny, hole in the wall restaurant in china town is a great place to go if you're looking for a cheap dinner. They give you free tea and soup (both of which are very tasty), and their mains are the typical cheap, greasy, food you'd expect (but they taste good!). It is a little sketchy, but I'll be returning.
(4)Harris R.
Don't be afraid to ask for the chili sauce as you might not receive it with your meal! Wow this is my favorite dive chinese restaurant in Boston. In the winter it is freezing cold and this past week it was so hot and crowded I thought I was going to die. It's cheap and a great "experience". Make sure to get the roasted pork or duck over rice. The sauce from the meat is incredible over the rice. The lady can be quite grumpy as others have mentioned but it's part of the fun! Don't be afraid to ask for the chili sauce as you might not receive it with your meal!
(5)Alex T.
Chinese comfort food to the max! I love the chicken, char siu, roast pork, roast duck rice plate and their many combinations. No frills go-to spot when I'm hungry and looking for value in the Chinatown area.
(3)Pete J.
The decor looks like it was new in 1964, last cleaned in 1977 and the waitress last smiled in 1982. Ambiance consists of the sound of cleaver on chopping block. On the other hand they probably haven't increased their prices since the last time the AC worked. The food is the star here, it is absolutely divine. A very simple menu consisting of roast meats available atop rice or noodles with a spooning of a ginger, scallion soy sauce over the lot. I like the 2-meat rice plate, and for $5.75 you can't go wrong. The soy sauce chicken is juicy and tender, the roast pork is delightful and the duck is exquisite. (Note to all - you might find bones in the meat. Until scientists develop a boneless duck, chicken or pig, this is going to happen - live with it and spit, we won't judge you) Each meal starts with a bowl of chicken broth, with chicken meat and bones. One time I even got a slice of carrot in the soup. Order a side of vegetables if you feel like splashing out. Cash only
(5)Josephine L.
Whether you're a seasoned Chinatown veteran or someone who shrinks in fear at the sight of a chopstick, if you come into Wai Wai with the following expectations, you should have a satisfying experience: - It's a subterranean hole-in-the-wall kind of place. No sunlight except from the door. Deal. - The main woman/waitress is Cantonese, cranky and curmudgeon-y. The indecipherable grunts she makes are her way of saying "Thank you", "Okay", "Right away". Unless of course you speak Cantonese. Then the grunts are in Cantonese. - The soy sauce chicken is all breast and so flavorful even without the skin. The roast pork is crisp and cut up into perfect bite-sized pieces. The roast duck has crispy skin to die for and the tenderest, fattiest meat. - Unlike some Chinese BBQ places I've been to back home, Wai Wai is pretty generous with its bbq soy sauce over rice. Expect to devour your rice down to the last grain. - A plate of 2 different meat options costs less than $6. Feel free to have a cocktail after to celebrate. That's what we did. - Cash only. - No A/C, old, old place with zero decor and sticky vinyl tablecloths.
(4)Michael D.
So normally I only eat at a restaurant like 1-2 times max so that I can try other places in search of the best food. That being said, i had wai wai for the past FIVE DAYS IN A ROW. They seriously have the best crispy fried pork I have EVER had. And the scallion soy sauce complements the rice better than peanut butter complements jelly. I swear, they put crack in their food cause IM ADDICTED. BY FAR my favorite place in chinatown. Bomb ass food for such a low price.. I'm a fan. OH and they sell ICE CREAM.. WTF. The display case is literally right next to the bbq stand but it's like completely iced over... I think I'll stay away from that... GET THE CRISPY FRIED PORK
(5)Brendan O.
Basement dining room and kitchen. Like really large kitchenette, right?! Love the vermicelli-thin lo mein with roast pork or roast duck. Under $15, often less than $10 / plate. I will be coming back for more barbecue pork and vermicelli lo mein noodle. If you want to try duck get here and cost less than Chinese restaurants outside city. So easy and tasty for $10. Mmmmmmmmmmm
(5)Bex M.
This is my third time here and definitely third time's the charm! The first time I went was during a heat wave. Oh so bad an idea because there's no a.c. at all and they were serving hot tea! The second time, I ordered the noodle soup while everyone else ordered the rice plate, bad idea. Finally I got smart and did what everyone else did, the rice plate. Roasted duck leg over a bed of steamed white rice with a scallion + oil sauce, simply satisfying. The chicken leg is really popular too. The plate comes sans veggies so just request it if you want to look healthy. Also, comes with a side of chicken? soup. The place is dinky and in the basement, but hey, I like it.
(3)Han T.
Definitely a hidden gem in Chinatown. Simple. Cheap. Tasty Rice plates. Underground. Yes, this place is as "hole in the wall" as you can get! Visualize a friend's basement, add a kitchen and some tables, and a wandering anti-smiling Chinese lady and you're pretty close to what Wai-Wai is. There are only about 5 tables in this cramped base-staurant (basement + restaurant), but after a few moments (first scan for a fire exit :p) it feels cozy and you're glad to find the place. There are a good mix of all ethnicities here, but predominantly Asians, which is a good sign. You don't want to go to a Chinese restaurant and find mostly white folks there...that just suggests that the food is not authentic and more Americanized Chinese fast food, unless that's what you prefer. Once seated, they start you off by punching you in the face...just kidding...with a nice hot bowl of chicken broth soup. Most people enjoy this very much! This place offers chicken, duck, BBQ pork, etc rice combination plates with green veggies for less than $6.00. Tasty and filling. The service isn't amazing, but that isn't a priority for a place like this. Overall, a very nice spot for lunch. You'll find all types of people here, from hot sexy ladies in suits to homeless illiterate billionaires like myself. :)
(4)Hiro T.
This place is great! Cheap, tasty, and convenient especially if you are a student of the graduate campus at Tufts. You have got to try the BBQ pork and the roast duck on rice. If you're a light eater, this plate might last you two meals! The place is a little dingy looking, but it's worth the trip inside. Oh, also it does look closed even during the day, but I assure you that the restaurant is open. The soy sauce that comes on the rice plates is also delicious!
(4)Anne W.
I am glad that I drove all the way down to Chinatown to full fill my cravings for roast duck on rice. I am glad that I asked four people where Oxford Street to get only a confused look. I am glad that I wandered around for another ten minutes until I found this hole in the wall in the basement. Yes, it is everything you dreamed of.. and it's actually cheap. $5 without veggies and $6 with. It's that easy. I haven't tried this soup or tea.. but I will definetely go again. What a cheap fantastic eat! Cash only.. and from what it seemed.. you need to go with somebody who speaks Cantonese. My Mandarin friend was given a quizzical look. Fantastic!
(4)Bridget P.
OMG! I thought I had died and gone to heaven -- the pork rice is as good as anything I ate in China! What really sealed the deal was watching the employees of other restaurants in Chinatown come to Wai Wai to eat. Fancy? Nope. Delicious? Yes! . . ..Be sure to ask for seconds on the soup!
(5)Ryan M.
You've read the reviews. You know the woman behind the counter isn't friendly. You know it's below street-level and a bit of a dump. I don't think this is the best food in Chinatown but it's very tasty for $6. I had the duck rice. I loved the tiny bowl of chicken broth with a small piece of chicken. It was very flavorful. I added the oily chili sauce condiment from the table (with the screw-top lid) into the broth and WOW! Very good. Clean, simple flavor. That there wasn't much meat on the chicken piece didn't really concern me. The broth was the real deal. I also enjoyed the small glass of tea that came with it. I think it was pu-erh. I was cold and coming in to a hot cup of broth and a hot glass of tea was very warming. The decor hasn't been changed since the Reagan administration. I couldn't get over the vintage ad for soft drinks like Tab, Fresca, and Ramblin' Root Beer. I don't really care about decor. I prefer authenticity and great food to decor. I enjoyed the duck rice. The sauce was fantastic. The duck had crispy skin and was flavorful. Duck can be so expensive in some places. Not here. This was $6 for the whole shebang. My one real comment is that when I go back, I want to get veggies. Duck rice is just pretty much that. Duck, some sauce, and the rice. But, oh man..what sauce! And delicious duck. I love places like this. But don't expect fancy. It's a small place in a basement. The filth keeps the yuppies away. The only Caucasians you'll typically see are the hardcore foodies. Not those Williams-Sonoma ostentatious Food Network foodies, but the dirty Bourdainites who dream about pho and crave street food. A little grunge isn't a bad thing.
(4)Huong H.
I haven't been back to this place for years. Just had some of their chicken and rice with vegetables. It was delicious! This place is always my favorite for cheap but delicious food. I will be back.
(5)Scott B.
Wai oh Wai was that waitress so rude to me? And, Wai oh Wai was there a chicken talon in Marc's soup? And, Wai oh Wai is an old country cock kitchen decoration hanging directly next to a light-up asian nature scene? Wai oh Wai is there a backwards American flag back to back with a regular-ways American flag complimented with American flag banners? And, Wai... oh... Wai... is this food so damn good? Even if you are a fixture in Chinatown, chances are you've strolled past Wai Wai a zillion times and never even noticed it existed. This place is not for the amazing service... Rather, it is for the true Chinese experience. In no way does this restaurant cater to tourists, rather it stays true to it's roots and is the antithesis of Americanized Asian food. For that, it gets mad props.
(4)Ryan R.
The ultimate "hole in the wall" restaurant. Do not be scared off by the unhygienic looking environment. A hot bowl of rich chicken broth is served at the beginning of each meal which is very welcome. The rice dishes are a great deal; choose several meats (chicken, soy sauce chicken, bbq pork, roast pork, roast duck...) and subsequently agree to have vegetables served along with the dish. An excellent value
(4)Steve S.
I know that many of you are aware of fusion food. Normally, you see French with Asian, or Indian, with Asian, or something to that effect...Here at Wai Wai you get a great type of new fusion food. It is filth combined with Cantonese. And let me tell you something, it is delicious. As you walk down the stairs into a restaurant that is off the beaten path of Chinatown, you enter a place where the filth is evident on walls and ceiling. The hot air from the lack of AC and small fan hits you like a ton of bricks in sweltering heat of the Boston summers. You sit down and are given a somewhat dirty laminated menu. The cranky old server comes over with hot tea and soup and asks "whatta you want"? We ordered lo mien noodles with chicken and duck, rice with bbq pork, and chicken, and a side of veggies. The old man in the kitchen cooks each item with great care. One entree came out, then the veg, and 5 minutes later the noodles. The flavors explode in your mouth like some sort of Asian euphoric fantasy. The hot oil they have adds to the taste adding a bit of pop to the meal. The green veggies have oyster sauce on them and are flavored perfectly. We shovel it all down and can eat no more. The bill comes and it is $17 dollars for 2 people. WTF??? You cant beat that. Great cheap food infused with dirt and cranky staff. This is the wave of the future..... YUMMY!
(4)Espresso T.
Just like the bbq pork, roast duck and steamed chicken that you would find in Hong Kong! A great place for tasty and cheap food! The place looks surprisingly clean given that it is in Chinatown. It is small but not crowded. The food is just good! And, it is very cheap. A rice plate with two different meats is under $7 and they give you a good portion.
(4)Alan W.
Let me first say that this place may look shady, but it has the best chicken on rice in Chinatown. The chicken is tender, it literally falls right off the bones and the sauce...oh my...the sauce is freaking delicious! I usually get the chicken on rice along with a side of soup. The service here might not be the best around, but the food definitely makes up for it.
(4)Jen H.
This is a little hole in the wall restaurant. You see the sign, you go down stairs, and you enter a small seating area. There were only about 4 or 5 tables. There is a refrigerator with sodas and such if you wanted one, it was self serve. Three of us were seated, and we were brought 2 hot teas.... a 3rd was never brought over, but we didn't mind. The woman who took our order never smiled, and was very matter of fact about everything. According to my friend who has been here a # of times, she's always like that, and was just told to ignore her. I ordered the chicken lo mein, and as soon as I could take a bite of it... I could care less if that lady had a mean mug on her face because this food was good! I had never had "authentic" chinese food before, always an americanized version of chinese food... so it was different than what I was used to, but very flavorful. There was also a huge amount of lo mein, and a decent amount of chicken.... and it was inexpensive too!! I'm thankful my friend escorted me through the winding streets of chinatown, because I would have never found this place on my own...and if I had, I don't think I would have tried it without his guidance. I'm a wuss when it comes to that kind of stuff.... but trust me when I say this place is worth the adventure to find it!
(4)Aaron G.
If you are obsessed with hygiene, this is probably not your place. The tablecloths are clearly years old, and your utensils will be tossed right on the table. This is a true hole in the wall; or perhaps hole in the ground, considering it's located in a basement. If you're confident in your immune system, though, this is a fantastic place to eat. For a mere 6$, you can have some of the most delicious, tender BBQ'd meat served over a bed of rice with a distinctive and flavorful sauce. The (obviously made on the premises) chicken broth is a simple and delicious start to every meal. I'm no expert in Chinese cuisine, but given that my friend and I were the only white people in the restaurant, it seems to be authentic food. tl;dr - Fantastic, cheap, hot meal. Leave your OCD at home.
(4)Jimbo J.
The only people that would appreciate this place would be the kids that grew up in Boston in the early 80s. Since this place has been in business probably since the late 70s and have been pretty much serving up the same stuff since then. I can tell you that the tables/table cloths/chopsticks are the original ones from the 1980s. Just get whatever you feel like, chicken/duck/roast pork they are all good. Each plate comes with soup and veggies. Back in the day it used to be around 3 bucks, but the 6 something isn't all that bad today either. I believe the owner is the chef and the lady that doesn't smile is the wife.
(4)Jackie D.
What the hell, Yelp? Is this your idea of a joke? The broth was good, but that was about it. I ordered the chicken and duck with veggies and rice. Thanks, Yelp, for suggesting the veggies, because that's basically all I ate. The rice was fine but the sauce was horribly salty, and they give you a 4oz glass of water with your meal, so good luck with that. The chicken looked like it might've been raw a few moments prior, and the duck pieces I was served were 40% fat and 40% bone. None if it was particularly flavorful. Worst of all? The entire plate was cold. Sick. I only picked at my dish for fear of blowing chunks during Harry Potter. We snuck PB&J sandwiches in the theater instead.
(1)Brandon L.
Roast duck, vegetables, rice, and scallion sauce. Load up on that sauce that may or may not be the juices secreted from the Gods as a daily reminder that there are things that exist beyond our understanding that constantly look out for us. Eat here... now
(5)Kyle S.
Like everyone has said, this place is off the beaten path in Boston's Chinatown. Super close to the Orange line (Chinatown stop). I guess we got lucky because we did not have to deal with the "angry chinese woman" that this place is so famous for. Instead we had a very friendly cook, who came out and talked to us about the "1000 yr old egg" that I had just ordered (called salty egg). The food was cheap and delicious, very authentic... like eating with a friend's family for dinner. The BBQ Pork was salty salty salty, but the ROAST DUCK MMMMMMMM. try the "salty egg" if you want salt. It's unique but not as eccentric as it might sound. Bring cash!
(5)Chris P.
Boy howdy, I had to think a bit over giving a 5 star rating to a place that looks like Wai Wai does on the inside, but I've gotta say these guys TOTALLY deserve it! The food is good. Really good. I got the chicken and barbecue pork. The pork has delicious, crispy skin and is nicely seasoned, definitely more savory/salty than sweet but I really like that as a change of pace as most chinese BBQ pork is way on the sweet side. The chicken was delicious tender and moist white breast meat, also very nicely seasoned, and absent the usual bones that many chinese bbq places will give you as they cleaver the chicken bones intact and heap it onto your plate. As others have mentioned, the soy ginger sauce they spoon over the rice is positively yummy! They also ask if you want chili sauce, which is your fairly garden variety aggressively hot chili oil with flakes chili sauce, but is a nice accompaniment nonetheless. Also the vegetables are better quality and tastier than lots I've had with similar barbecue at other places. To sum it up, you pay slightly more for slightly less food here than places like Best BBQ, but you get what you pay for in terms of quality and taste. This is my new favorite Chinese BBQ joint in Boston :)
(5)C T.
Brought my mom here, who's palette for Asian cuisine is rather advanced when it comes to home cooking. And Wai Wai passed with flying starts, grungy interior, dodgy entryway, and stained bowls aside!! She CLEANED her whole plate -- and this is a woman who eats delicately -- and then called my little sister to make her jealous about what we were eating. Seriously, when I come back to Boston, this is what I crave. So any chance I get to go to my beloved "sketchy chicken place," I will. The ginger scallion soy sauce concoction they pour over the rice and meat is simply that addictive. The chicken and crispy pork are highly recommended, and the duck is also pretty decent. Make sure you ask for "vegetables", too, so that you get some good boiled greens to balance out the flavors. I also am a fan of their "all things in the pot" soup at the beginning; it warms your belly and preps your soul for the goodness that's about to come. At $6.50 a plate, it's a steal! Try a scoop of coconut ice cream afterwards to top it all off. I dunno what people are saying about service; you may have to repeat yourself a couple of times, but I think it's pretty standard service if you're in Chinatown. Just don't mess with my chicken!
(5)Juliana N.
This place is great! The chicken + Rice is so good. You have the option of ordering your meat without bones! =x shhhh!!! that's our little secret. Honestly, i dont mind bones. I grew up eating meat with bones. However, eating this at work and picking it out of my mouth, etc, is not so pleasant to watch nor eat in front of coworkers. So, i ask for no bones =). The woman who takes the orders is a bit rude and never smiles but she never messes it up. It's so funny how she lays out all the dollars separately to make sure that she and i both know that she gave me the right amount back. Maybe a bad experience previously? Anyhow, i love this place, and i think it tastes better, but the place on Kneeland Street gives you MORE and they're friendlier AND they give you soup!!! The SOUP on Kneeland Street is awesome. And... the lady there smiles =).
(5)Lieu T.
(Cash only!) A sketchy looking place with poor decorations and questionable hygiene that is run by an unfriendly demeanored hostess and a quiet chef (although once I saw him conversing with a patron about Obama and politics in English!). However, the food is fast, simple, cheap, and tastes phenomenal! (Someone give me the recipe??!) I usually order chicken and rice with vegetables. You need to ask for vegetables if you want it in there and if you don't want your chicken to have bones, you can ask them to give you chicken meat only! You also have to ask for the soup. It hits the spot on those cold winter days (there's a bigger size option too!).
(5)H L.
This place has stuck around and for good reason. I have been going here since I was a young lass and it definitely has not changed. Seriously, I think the tables are the same ones from 30 years back. Even the service hasn't changed; that woman has not smile since i was a little girl but she is efficient! Why fix anything that is not broke, right? This has been my favorite place to get rice with chicken. The scallion & ginger sauce is the best. Yes, other places do more dishes and have more exotic items but no one beats Wai Wai when it comes to simple, easy, and authentic rice plates. And if you are new to this type of eating environment, try not to look at the dust encrusted fan that is mounted on the wall (summer AC).
(5)Stephen Y.
"Authentic" might be the most polite yet appropriate descriptive... Dingy, dark, subterranean place in the bowel of ctown... Not someone in his or her right mind would voluntary go into w/o thinking twice and I speak cantonese (at least grade 3 level) I made the mistake of asking for a menu.... not realizing there was only 3 choices... duck w rice, chicken w rice, bbq pork w rice... I also made the mistake of asking for "veggies".... so sorry ! There was a guy who kept chopping stuff on the cutting board... There's a pot of stuff boiling... all the time But the BBQ duck was BLOODY AWESOME ! crispy skin and juicy inside...Best I've had in Boston. The boiled chicken w ginger/garlic dipping sauce was great ! The meal was started w chicken stock... boiled all day from the carcasses of the little birds... It was yummy ! Meal was cheap - we had 1/2 duck and 2 chick/rice - altogether for $20 - price (CASH ONLY) of an appetizer at many of the finer dining establishments in town... yet we left satisfied and wanted more of the BBQ duck nazi ! Update - Don't order takeouts ! Always eat in becoz they FXXK YOU ! There was not a lot of flesh... mostly attached bones... and no soup... But still it was delicious... So just a warning- ignore the interior and the stifling heat of the restaurant and eat in !
(3)Sean M.
[To the tune of Run DMC's "Hard Times"] Your wallets been hit by the economic flu Watch out homeboy, no lunch for you P-p-prices go up, can't afford nothin downtown When you got short money, your stomach is gonna growl Turn around, get ready, head to chinatown There's a cheap place to eat underground Wai Wai! Wai Wai! Chicken, duck or pork rice on the side Have all three if you really can't decide Be nice to the lady who takes your order Be nicer to man with a clever in his hand Yo momma told you to eat some veggies every day Six dollars fifty cents is all you gotta pay Wai Wai! Wai Wai!
(4)Absolut C.
In all the years I've known my boyfriend and through all the Cantonese lessons (I still can't remember how to count 1-10)...the only thing I can remember (and care to remember) is... SAM BO FAN! That's pork, duck, chicken and white rice. Thank you Chinese Culinary Gods.... Wai Wai has the best SAM BO FAN...better than New York...can you believe that shiz?! Trust me it hurts me to say since I'm from the city of 8 million...I mean admitting that Boston offers something better than NYC is blasphemous...
(5)Stefanie S.
Scallion sauce is rediculous!
(4)Cindy W.
This place ROCKS for quick - cheap - delicious chicken and rice combo plate.
(4)K S.
I enjoy fine dining, but I enjoy home cooked meals as well. There's a quote that I live by " the more ghetto it is, the better the food" not that high end restaurants are bad or anything. But wai wai is definately satiable and one of those hole in the walls. Sketchy location, ancient utensils, and a waitress that looks like she hasn't gotten some in a while. But this place is definitely not a place to look for good service. Just good food.
(5)Donkey H.
Upon reading the reviews on yelp, Wai Wai sounded extremely promising. Chicken on top of rice sounds delicious. Roast pork on top of rice sounds delicious. Duck on top of rice sounds super delicious. Entering this place felt like entering a dungeon. There were about 6 or 7 tables covered with plain old table covers due for an upgrade. It only added to the dive atmosphere of this place. Hell, this place was so plain that I don't even remember anything being on the walls. I guess in the end all you need is a table, napkin holder, and chili. The lady running the counter was a frumpy character comparable to the grinch. She showed no enthusiasm towards her job. I hope to God that she is not the owner. She reminds me of the brick wall I used to face when I was in detention in high school. Whatever though... The food was a big disappointment. Perhaps it's because I've had great duck here in California. Ordered 3 duck rices. Each had about 6-7 pieces of skimpy scrawny duck bones. Where was the meat?! Ok, so they give you a heaping mound of rice, but I didn't come here to eat rice. The duck meat, or what meat there was, was just ok. The rice was rice. The sauce over the duck was pretty good, but that's about it. Overall, the lady running the counter needs to cheer up. Your little dive is actually pretty popular! All the tables were full when we ate dinner there, so what reason do you have to not smile. The bottom line is that this place is OVER RATED. If the duck rice was priced at $.99 instead of $4.75 then maybe I'd consider going back, but until then you can count me out. Well my family as well. So that makes 3 people who aren't big fans of you Wai Wai.
(3)Ashley J.
Ok, I am down with the hole in the wall places. I regularly eat tacos and papusas's out of a closet in Eastie and don't bat an eyelash so I am not an ambiance snob but this place is straight up DISGUSTING. Don't give me this crap about how it is part of the experience or I should just deal. There is a difference between hole in the wall and straight up food poisoning/health code violation waiting to happen. I watched a guy sterilize his spoon and chopsticks in his tea while he waited. Enough said. I can deal with the rude lady, she is the same at all these kinds of places. The food was horrible. The legendary sauce I read about had zero taste. I told some friends of mine who frequent this place and they told me apparently I had not followed the unwritten code of Wai Wai. Only get takeout, ask for extra meat, always ask for the hot sauce since that is what makes it have taste and ignore the lady. Yes, you get what you pay for but I would rather pay more and not need antibiotics to kill the intestinal infection I am sure people get from this place. Nasty.
(1)Raymond W.
A real hole in the wall/ground, but not in a good way. I got BBQ pork, but the vegetables were overpowering and the meat wasn't as tender as other Chinatown quick service BBQ places like Hong Kong Eatery.
(2)Ranjit V.
Lo mein took a while to make, but I knew it was fresh. The place is a hole in the wall but the meat is very tender and tastes great.
(3)Mary M.
The last bastion of the cheap rice plate in Boston (aside from the Vietnamese sandwich shops). I hadn't been to Wai Wai in years (and that was for the ice cream...yes, really), but I stumbled upon a review here and thought, "Hot diggity! Roast duck rice plate!" Ever since they took the Mall away I've been in mourning for my roast duck rice plate. So I hippity-hopped to Wai Wai, strolled up to the counter, and said, "I'll have a roast duck rice plate, please." Too many words. The woman behind the counter gave me a "huh?" look. I tried again: "Roast duck rice plate?" Again the look of incomprehension, but we were getting closer. "Duck rice?" she inquired, with an air of "I don't think that's what you want, but it's my best guess." Yes! Duck rice! That's exactly what I want, thank you! So I parted with my $5 and departed a minute later with a styrofoam container full of rice and ducky goodness. I don't know about the char siu availability -- what was in the case today was chicken and duck, and that's what you were having if you were eating at Wai Wai. Fine with me. Fine with you too, probably, if you're a fan of tasty and inexpensive duck. Just remember, say "duck rice" and it's all good.
(4)Winnie K.
God, I remember when Wai Wai first open, Late 70's, early 80's maybe? I love this place. I love the 3 combo rice plate, BBQ pork, Chicken & Duck! Yum Mie!!! I love the green onion ginger oil sauce that they give with the chicken too. I spread it all on the rice! I was brought here by my parents & I will bring my future kids here too!!
(4)Al N.
I had written a review over a year ago using the old name, "Wai Wai Ice Cream Shoppe," but it's time to update. Yes, it's a dump. Zero atmosphere, minimal service, and questionable plumbing. But once you've tried the roast duck, crispy pork, Hainanese-style chicken (with or without bones), tripe, or "liver" (assorted offal), all topped with a salty scallion sauce on a pile of rice--you could care less if they punched you in the nuts when you walk in the door. Speaking of that, the lady who runs the place comes across as kind of surly. In the hundred or more times I've eaten at Wai Wai, she either says, "What you want?" or "Uh" to me in a tone that suggests I must have stepped in a large pile of dog poo before I walked in the door. It only adds to the ambience. The roast duck is the best I've had in the Boston area, and the crispy pork is a meat lover's dream, with just enough fat to let you know you're alive, but not too little that you don't know you're going to die. The "soup" that comes with every meal is a broth made with whatever bits are lying around, including chicken feet (if you think you don't eat feet, if you've eaten soup anywhere in Chinatown, you've eaten feet, so stop whining and finish your lunch). It's great. There might be a menu. I don't know. I just look in the case at what's hanging and order what looks good. They also serve ice cream.
(5)Carol W.
I've been here a few times with my husband who raved about this place the whole time we were dating. Anyway, apparently, him and his friends were all shocked to find out that I had never been there, even though I'm a Boston native. They call it a Boston Chinatown institution. So, yes, everything is very tasty, but I found it a little on the pricey side. For some reason, our bill was like $23 - maybe it was our sodas?
(4)Diane H.
There's actually two of this restaurant in Chinatown..the older one that is downstairs and a new one that is a couple streets away upstairs. I haven't been to the old one in long long time, but I was at the new one, well it's kinda new, not really and I got a cold herbal tea, very tasty! And the guy was very quick. I like eating here when I am low on cash and...want some good food that comes in a nice large quantity! There's not AC so..if it's really hot, avoid! Mostly people get takeout or they just dine in for lunch. Not so much after like 3 pm. They have tables..sits the most at 4 I think, you can even eat here alone! :)
(4)Chanpon N.
The quintessential "hole-in-the-wall" Chinese eatery. I have to pay homage to my favorite Chinatown hole in the wall eatery, and when you visit this place you'll know exactly what I mean. Wow, an ice-cream counter that's been there for maybe 30 years, and perhaps the ice-cream as well? No worries though, because despite it's name (it used to be called an ice cream parlor as well), I have NEVER seen anyone get the ice-cream. NEVER EVER. What's good here are the rice plates. They have no menu that I know of, so if you don't know what you want to order, this is not the place to walk into to try to figure out. You usually pick an order of rice with something (chicken, duck, char-siu..) and out comes your dish within a few minutes with a bowl of soup and a cup of tea. Most plates are topped with enough rice to fill the heartiest of appetites, and it will usually cost you between 4-6 dollars/person. The best bargain in Ctown (heck maybe in the city)! They used to serve soup noodles as well, but I have to admit it's probably been a good 20 years since I've had them here. *sigh* What can I say about the 7 tables or so in this place? I wouldn't be surprised if the tables nor the tablecloths haven't been changed for decades. They usually have a fan caked with dust hanging up on a wall. Folks, ambiance and elegance this place is not. Those in the know though aren't turned off by this place's bare-bones facade.
(4)Ashley P.
Oh Wai Wai. How I love the descent into this small basement restaurant. This place has been around for a long time. I love the char siu/bbq pork rice plate. The pork is so tender and juicy. The accompaniment of the ginger/scallion topping, the chicken soup, and the veggies just makes it. And doesn't the sign say something about ice cream? I like their coconut and pineapple ice cream, it's pretty damn good. Sometimes I get a little uneasy about eating it though, because I've never seen anyone else order it. I mean, who knows how long it's been there?
(5)jenilee p.
wai wai is a little hole in the wall restaurant with only a few tables, and from what i saw yesterday does a serious take out business. i ordered the small rice plate with duck. the duck was juicy, with nice crispy skin, and well flavored meat. upon ordering they slice a cut of meat from the few ducks they have hanging near the counter, heap these pieces on top of a huge portion of rice, and then sprinkle juice from the roasted duck as well as some delicious green onion sauce that adds a little kicks of flavor to the entire order. while the duck is delicious, it does take a little effort to eat, as you will have to pick apart some tiny bones that were once a part of the rib cage. overall a good lunch, and glad i took the effort to find the little basement take-out restaurant located off of oxford street in chinatown.
(3)KC V.
Since living in Hong Kong, I am always looking for good restaurants that can serve Chinese BBQ the way I remember it. One of my favorite dishes in Char Siu Fan (BBQ pork rice plate), which was excellent the multiple times I have come here. Additionally some of their other dishes that I have tried have been quite good and I see a lot of other good soups and plates that other people are eating. This restaurant is very good for both the Chinese and non-Chinese alike, although this restaurant is run very similar to how some are in Hong Kong--seat yourself and then pay at the counter before you leave. I recommend this place to people who are looking for a very close to HK experience. I'm homesick, but a trip to Wai Wai definitely reminds me of home.
(5)Ari H.
This is the original Wai Wai location in Boston's Chinatown. (A second, and larger, location is on Harrison St.) This is, literally, a hole in the wall. You could walk past the entrance and not see it. It's on a side street in Chinatown that does not receive much tourist traffic, but that works to the restaurant's favor as there is seating for maybe 10-12 max. You can ask for the menu, but realize the menus haven't been updated (or cleaned) in years. There is a limited selection, but I recommend the excellent pork, chicken, or duck.
(5)Mike S.
Today was my first Wai Wai experience and I gotta say, if I brought my friends here and took them down the creepy stairs into the hot dungeon and we all left with the food I ate today, they would think I was a foodie rockstar. I am the type of person who really plans my actions as to not look too terribly inept but this place was a real challenge. I walked by it 3 times, peaking down the stairs thinking it was the back door and eventually followed someone down. Inside...well, I think everyone else explained it just right. I stood waiting to see a menu or some sort of English. All I could read were "vanilla" and "yelp." Luckily a man came up behind me and asked if I was in line and I immediately asked "what should I order?" He recommended the three treasures: A big portion of sweet and tender pork, delicious crispy duck, and incredibly moist chicken on top of sticky rice with a salty sweet scallion sauce .Ordered my food soup nazi style and waited 5 minutes, walked to a bench, and in a few minutes all that was left was a few bones and a piece of skin. It was great! Go for the food and go to brag about how brave you are.
(4)Nathan W.
Love this place, quick and fast food that is delicious
(5)Cary C.
A lot of places in Chinatown do Rice Plates with Duck. Wai Wai does it the best. (That I've had at least, I'll let you know when I've found better.) Wai Wai isn't head and shoulders above the rest, but it does the little things like give you some crazy good green onion sauce and they don't skimp on the meat. They do have a menu, but everyone here gets the rice plates with one of 5 meats (from best to worst) Duck Roast Pork BBQ Pork Soy Sauce Chicken Hainanese (Boiled) Chicken The Chicken isn't bad, but once you've had the duck, it pales in comparison. Also the roast pork is fatty as hell; enjoy it while you eat it, hate yourself afterward. Also one time I got the duck with lo mein. They used skinny egg noodles and wok fried it. Sounds great, right? Believe you me, this was like the one time I felt a meal had too much grease. If you get the duck or pork, trust me and stick the rice. I forget the exact prices, but it's like $5 for rice with one meat and then if you want to add another type of meat it's like 50 cents more. You can get up to 3 different types of meet. Add $1 if you want veggies on it, it's usually boiled Chinese broccoli. They don't give you that much and it's probably not worth the dollar, but I always get it to trick myself into thinking it's a healthy lunch. Also the women there never smiles so don't take it personally.
(4)ChianWen T.
Wai Wai is not so much a hole in the wall sort of place, it's more a hole in the ground sort of place. You really have to look on the ground to find this place. I am just not charmed by this place. I am real ghetto Chinese and this place is real ghetto Chinese, but I just don't have the feeling WaiWai reminds me of any place in the vicinity of the Pearl River Delta. So I can't love W2 for the nostalgia factor. It reminds me, however, of a triad movie from Hong Kong, like Chow Yun Fat busting out of the kitchen dual guns in hands, flying backward in slow mo out the door. There is a sense of danger in being in a place such as this. I come here full of expectations, I leave here full of disappointment.
(3)John L.
I use to love their rice plates here but now they have gone down. It still taste the same, but they serve stone cold chicken now. Their rice plates are not as generous portions as they use to be. There service is also not amazing. There food is still good but it's not filling when they decreased in size. Try China Pearl Best Cafe rice places, which I think have better rice plates.
(3)Sofia H.
this place always astonishes me the food is real good, especially since it actually tastes like 'home cooking' and the prices are unbeateable! if you don't mind the poor decor, the fact that you might be the only people there (and the place is only like 6 four-tops!), and that you won't get that great of service then this place is for you! plus it's always an adventure to venture deeper into chinatown!
(4)John B.
Duck rice for $5. I seem to recall a place that serves pork rice on Allen St., in NY for $2. But $5 for a generous amount of duck is certainly fine. And this was good duck with generous fat, crispy skin and surprising flavor. I'm always a little bummed out and suspect when I go these places and find, like, two options in the soda fridge. What gives them the idea that people only want milk, Mountain Dew or grape soda? In fairness, maybe it was just the end of the day, and those three things are what people DON'T want.
(4)Keith T.
Tried Wai Wai for lunch and the food was yucky. The chicken soup was okay, but the rice was dry and the chicken didn't have flavor (and wasn't cut up too well).
(1)Jennifer D.
Ok, I ordered the combo rice plate with pork, chicken and duck. The meat came to me warm on the outside, and cold in the inside. It's been a while since I've been served cold food that's supposed to warm. The duck was on the dry side. The chicken was good, but again, cold. Also, I don't like the little bone chips/splinters. The pork was OK--the skin crispy. I think I was also mischarged since the bills always come out to a whole number, larger than expected considering tax here is only %5. The lady serving you is gruff. Oh, and I've a pet peeve for being charged for a bowl of rice, but really, $1.50 for a bowl is excessive. I don't think this place is that cheap considering it's Chinatown. That said, they get a extra star for serving duck blood, because that's not the easiest to find.
(2)Clint L.
Wai Wai has been around for 20+ years! I grew up eating at this place. I love it. They make the best scallion sauce in Chinatown. I always ask for extra and put it on everything, literally. The price is decent. $5-$7/person. It is quite small and gloomy inside. There is no big dining tables. This place brings back so much memories. Be on the lookout or you would walk pass it. They have very good ice cream, too. I usually mix the strawberry and the coconut. Yummy! This place is not a place for long conversations or first dates. The staff could be interpreted as being a snob. Just eat and get out!
(3)Dave C.
Sometimes you have to throw caution to the wind and eat a meal that makes you feel like you're going to have a heart attack in the very near future. But hey, it was great going down! I grew up with this place and even though I don't eat there so much now (about once every couple of weeks,) there are times when I crave the chicken leg, roast pork and char siu on top of rice, smothered in ginger and scallion sauce, oozing with sweet soy sauce. They make great beef tripe if you're in the mood, and they even give you soup made from various chicken parts...yum! It's where the locals eat and I think that a few clogged arteries are a small price to pay for a meal at Chinatown's hidden jewel.
(5)Kenny Q.
Love their chix and hot sauce.......
(5)Hieu N.
walking in, legit i was scared. i was walking on the main street when out of no where my brother vanishes and it took a second for me to realize he walked down extremely narrow stairs to a dungeon looking place. she had the friendliness of a bitch and i wanted to beat her. AAAAANNNYYYWAYYYY i was super hungry and for the amount we paid the food was decent. soup at the time came free but not anymore, a buck but its still good getting stuff on a rice plate with soup. its aiiiiightt but forgetable. broke? hungry? sick? wai wai it is
(3)Ut T.
hole in the wall chinese rest. if you're asian, then nothing about this place is surprising. good chicken and duck for dollars on the pound. this has been the go-to place for us everytime we come up to visit the fam. if you want service with a smile, shiny floors, and undusty walls, go to whole foods. But if you just want your barbeque duck and that's it...then come here!
(5)Catie C.
Dinky hole in the wall that's been in Chinatown for as long as I can remember. It's in the basement level so don't expect much ventilation. I really just want the rice plate for childhood sake. It's just not the same as it used to be. The portion shrunk and it tasted like yesterday's roasts during my lunch visit. The rice was mooshy. I eat like a bird and yet I was not full. Okay, I didn't eat a whole lot of rice but I shouldn't have to stuff myself with a boat load of rice to feel full when I ordered a rice plate. This has dropped down to the bottom of the list of places to go for a roast combo plate when in Chinatown.
(1)Norina N.
After all these years, their quality is still as good, rice dishes are always excellent, you cant go wrong with any of them. Whenever we are undecided of where to eat, we would head to this place and always hit the spot. The lady and the staff there become friendlier when they see us as we go there too often.
(5)Dan R.
Being a fan of hole in the wall restaurants we decided to have lunch at this little basement eatery while wandering through Chinatown about a month ago. This was my first time in Boston's Chinatown and after eating here I can tell you that I will be coming back many more times. The restaurant itself is warn down and greasy which was great. The staff was polite but to the point and made sure we were in and out asap. We ended up buying the rice and duck which we thought was delicious. The rice was perfectly cooked and the duck was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The next time we come we hope to try their chicken which looked incredible. The final moment that sold me on this restaurant was when I was waiting for my food the chef who speaks no english made eye contact with me, smiled, and then loaded another heaping layer of duck on my rice for no particular reason. I thought this was cool and showed great customer service.
(5)Will C.
Went here recently with a few friends and I've been here many times before and never had an issue with the food. But this recent visit, I had ordered chicken + fried pork for dish and was brought a dish full of chicken scraps and no fried pork. All in all, I had maybe 3 bites of meat to eat with my large plate of rice and couldn't help but feel ripped off. Not sure if they decided that they could do that to us since we come all the time and that we'd let it slide but that's not what I paid for. I will hold off coming to this particular branch until they clean up their act. Next time, I'll go to the Harrison one instead.
(2)Nicole F.
This is NOT a fancy place..and that's ok! The food is what I would call "Cantonese fast food". Only thing I don't feel absolutely disgusted with myself after. Its a HOLE IN THE WALL. or more like a basement. The food is tasty, i'll give them that but I must say that my expectations were a wee bit shot cause of the hype that was created about this spot (at least from my friends). The chilly sauce they have was awesome! (I love spicy) I'll def visit again but ONLY once I finish trying out ALL the other places in Boston's Chinatown.
(3)Daniela L.
My favorite lunch place in Boston Chinatown. I try hard not to go there everyday. U could have passed by it millions of times and never noticed it, unless someone recommends to you. It's not fancy and one can argue it actually feels dirty. But it serves the best chicken rice in town - tender and juicy, with simple but yummy ginger and scallion sauce. I usually pay additional to add boiled veggie. It is relatively healthy compared to other Chinese food. Their roast pork and duck is good too but I think Chicken is what really make them stand out. You would not want to try chicken rice elsewhere. The soup served together with the rice dish is yummy too. Service is not bad at all. The waitress lay just never smiles but she's actually very nice. She remembers your preferences if you dine there often.
(5)John W.
Yes, the hole in the wall doesn't provide great expectations. The staircase to the basement tells you to keep out and the horrible interior leads you to think otherwise. The lady that manages the counter seems quite disgruntled with her harsh voice but that is who she is. This is the cheapest meats and rice place you can find. You may want to get your order to go and sit at the park to eat but the food is usually good. There will be times where the rice is not as cooked and you may want to question eating it but you will be fine. I've been here for over 20+ years since I was little kid with my father as a quick eat on a day off.
(4)晟
Foods is good and Price is reasonable．The foods are as delicious as those in China.总之这个价ä½è¿™ä¸ªå‘³é“和分é‡ï¼Œæˆ‘觉得å¯ä»¥æ»¡æ„
(5)Ellie L.
This restaurant is really good at 1 dish - the meat and rice. Whatever meat you get, it will be satisfying when placed over a mound of rice and delicious sauce. DEFINITELY get the roast pork - that is perhaps the best, most tasty cut of meat at this place. Also, I think you can ask for vegetables on the side so don't order just the plate of vegetables unless you're in the mood for just a ton of chinese broccoli and oyster sauce. The scallion topping is a bit on the salty side but when spread well over the rice, it makes everything a great combo. Also, yes, it is hole in the wall so be prepared.
(4)Phi T.
best asian bbq place to go to in chinatown, definitely recommend this place! Remember ! CASH ONLY.
(5)Carlos F.
I am a white dude and have never had "real" Chinese food as evidently done by Wai Wai. I found this hole in the wall depressing. How the hell could the kitchen be clean. I had bland roast chicken that wasn't hot and white rice with some scallions and soy sauce. Yes, cheap at 6.50 but cheap is not the same as value. I'd take other "Americanized" spots any day of the week.
(2)Patrick D.
The food was absolutely delicious, and the service was excellent. A local told me that he'd been going there for 18 years. It turns out that they only accept cash, so I decided to trek to the nearest ATM - there are none very close by - on account of the man's enthusiastic, positive review. It was worth it!! I had the roast duck leg over rice. It was fantastic. It was served with hot tea and a pork based soup. Everybody there was very pleasant and polite. I will definitely drop by next time I'm in Boston.
(5)Wayne T.
Come for the food to take out, ice cream good too Good value for quality bbq, very local, soup very good Not for everyone, not very healthy too, but delicious bbq
(5)Daniel A.
Wai Wai has changed my life. A coworker and friend who was from Bejing brought me here once and opened my eyes to give me an idea on what real Chinese food was. Before that I've only ever had American-Chinese, and Canadian-Chinese, and I can't believe I've been missing out on my whole life. Don't go in there with expectations, instead consume the food, and let the food consume you. The rice is delicious, and they are very generous with it. The duck, roast pork, and the chicken are always delicious and consistent. Everything is so flavourful, filling, and fresh. You'll leave this place with a smiling face, a belly ready to burst, and a wallet that has hardly been touched. I highly recommend it.
(5)Zakkai K.
It makes you poop not good. I went to this place having read reviews about feeling sick afterwards, deciding hey, I'm tough, plus, I can't recall ever getting food poisoning in the US! The food was good and the atmosphere was really cool if sort of uncomfortable, and the service was frustratingly terrible. Sure enough, 'round the time those fried noodles hit my large intestine, I had pretty bad diarrhea starting before dinner and lasting for the rest of the night. Definitely seemed like food poisoning.
(1)Minhan N.
I've been coming to this place with my family since I was very young and now I come here with my friends. I love their chicken & duck rice plate with vegetables and their chicken soup is amazing.
(5)Mercedes T.
Nothing beats cold chicken with ginger/scallion sauce and rice and green veggies. I have tried to replicate it several times...but to no avail of cracking their secret sauce. Also, I love their simple soup that they serve with it. It's addictive, filling, and feels like home for me. I recently tried their noodle soup with roasted duck....and I will definitely be going back for more! And if you still have room, try their coconut ice cream! Also, I would recommend not doing take out....you'll get more food (with the soup and tea) if you eat in! I guess they are renovating/moving-- and their new location is cleaner. Did I mention this might be my favorite place to eat in Boston? I just wished I lived closer to it!
(5)Jerry X.
I have to say it, firstly I entered the restaurant, I underestimate the experience. But once the food comes out, you won't be disappointed at all. We are the only seating customers at 9 PM dinner, but saw a lot of people come and go for take out order. The chicken noodle is amazing, the roast duck also great although a bit on too much fat, but the skin is crispy to make it unforgettable.
(4)Lily C.
I'm a little OCD, and Wai Wai REALLY pushes against my limits. If you are a snob about your dishes being sparking clean (they will be sort of clean, for the most part!), and want some friendly service and great ambiance, don't come here. In fact, stop reading right now. But if you want some authentic Chinese food and can bear through what feels like 30+ years of grease on the walls, this is the joint you want to hit up. Get the BBQ duck, the BBQ pork, and be prepared for terrible service. Seriously though, it's worth it if you're really craving legit HK Chinese food!
(3)Mike T.
This is my go to place for Wai wai in chinatown. The chicken is delicious and the crispy pork is alright. I go here all the time and never got food poisoning as others reported. With every rice order they give you a small soup with chicken and small veggies. Service is terrible and location is a little sketchy. If you go here you have to try their hot sauce they put at the tables. Makes their food so much better.
(4)Chris P.
Been eating from this place since I was little. Had a rice plate with white rice, BBQ pork, duck egg, Chinese greens, with ginger and scallions and soy sauce. Absolutely excellent. The place is very small, but still good for a group of 3-4. Good price (cheap). Would highly recommend for college students/people on budgets. Important note: CASH ONLY. Not gonna lie, it's not the cleanest place, but I'm biased, so five stars!
(5)Milly C.
Very Delicious chicken, taste of Canton (Hong Kong). The boss is very friendly. Half an hour parking right in front of the restaurant. You need to ask for vegetables at an additional charge not big.
(5)Khoa N.
I am a cheap date. I really am. And Wai Wai is where this can happen. One of my favorite foods of all time is the white chicken. And nowhere is as good as here. White chicken with green vegetables over a bed of rice, the tasty soy sauce, the scallion sauce, and spoonfuls of that chili oil that's been sitting on the table since forever - that'll make my taste buds go haywire. Despite the small and rundown interior, the cold winter air that comes in whenever a customer enters/leaves, and the not so clean tables and silver[plastic]ware, you'll find me with the biggest smile whenever I'm here. Those OCD qualities of mine can momentarily be cured while that plate of chicken over rice is in front of me.
(5)Dana V.
Honestly the food is good but I've noticed that everytime I leave, a few hours later, I'm home with a crazy stomach ache. I went there last night and I order the chicken and bbq pork... all i got was chicken. Didn't want to complain because I felt like the server would spit into my food. (If you've been here, then you know exactly why I would think that.) She never smiles. Never laughs. Sometimes I wonder if she has a soul. But she does play candy crush during her down time.
(3)Robert D.
Food was great but I was overcharged on my order. The lady scribbled some number on a piece of paper. I ordered only 3 items but was charged for four. It costed $34 for me and my wife. I didn't want to argue with her so I paid my bill and promptly left the restaurant. The lady that served me was not all that friendly and place didn't look very clean.
(2)Brittney K.
As soon as I stepped into the restaurant I saw that there were dead bugs in the sauce containers. Flies we're flying around the low ceiling and I could literally hear it buzzing in my ear. I left without ordering so I can't say anything about the food, but with that kind of setting, I think we can say that was food wouldn't be safe to eat.
(1)Justin L.
Well well well. This place is like the OG in cheap chinese food. It's basically Chicken or Duck on Rice and Chicken Soup with a side of wilted asian greens topped with scallion ginger oil sauce. I used to eat at the original downstairs joint where the checkered table clothes were so worn out from elbows. I think there is a sister restaurant on Harrison called Wai Style restaurant. Not sure if its the same owner but pretty much same food. Anways....this places isn't fine dining and it looks a bit dirty. But might be just comfort food memories when I was little that ignores these faults. I know what to expect when I order from here.
(4)Jonathan N.
Best steam chicken in Chinatown!!! I love their combination rice plate also. The foods here are excellence!
(5)Dennis D.
Great food, fun atmosphere, good service. Had the Roast Pork lo mein soup, the Roast Duck lo mein, and the Chicken on Rice. It was all super delicious, and cheap. Cost $22 bucks, with a generous tip (do restaurants in Chinatown tip?). The food was all really good. Chicken on Rice was bland at first, but the scallion sauce really added some delicious salt and flavor. Mixed with the chili sauce, it was out of bounds. The Roast Pork lo mein was a perfect 10 out of 10. Generous helping of pork, delicious broth, some greens and vermicelli thin lo mein noodles. The Roast Duck lo mein was good. It had a delicious flavor, and the lo mein noodles were again delicious. The duck pieces were fatty, had a great skin but were super bony. I know that's inevitable to a certain extent, and is the way that it is done, but I'm not that into it. Still, very good. Those three dishes were more then enough for my date and I. The ambiance was, well interesting. Bare, underground, and cold are the three adjectives that described it the night I was there. They brought hot tea and hot broth to help with the cold, and I understand how difficult it is to clean bare underground decor. I was more interested in what my date was saying, and our conversation, so I didn't look around that much, and I'm sure I'm glad I didn't. That being said, I didn't worry about getting sick, and I didn't (this was over 24 hours ago at this point, I'm in the clear). This seems like authentic street food, and It seems a lot cleaner than some of the places I've eaten in my life. The service was good. There was a little old lady working there (I don't know how little or old she was). She was super attentive (we were the only patrons for most of our visit) without being overbearing. We clearly were no inconvenience for her (that's a compliment), and she none to us. The food was prepared quickly but seemed fresh, I imagine there's a lot of turnover on the 20 or so dishes that they prepare. Overall, I would definitely go back, and am excited to try more variations on this delicious food.
(4)Michael S.
Went to Wai Wai with my brother for his birthday upon hearing that it is the best place to get truly authentic Hong Kong style food. Very cool location and vibe overall, definitely felt like it was a hidden gem! Food was solid overall, but a bit cold when it came out. I love how we got hot soup and endless tea included at no extra charge. Overall very satisfied with quality, price and location. Don't expect your typical sit-down dining experience though, definitely for more adventurous eaters!
(3)Ambrose C.
Are you looking for a simple but filling and tasty meal served in a gritty Chinese setting for less than $8? If you said yes, this place has your answer. This place is located inside the basement of a building in the side streets of Boston's Chinatown, and they serve a simple selection of Chinese barbecue meats. I walked inside, and stared at the barbecue meats, while at the same time, looked at the menu to see what selections and combinations they had. I saw a small and somewhat stout Chinese lady, and she was saying to me in Cantonese Chinese: "Yiu mat ye ah? Yiu mat ye ah?" (What do you want?) I decided to get a rice dish with three Chinese barbecue meats, since I wanted to try everything so after reading the Chinese characters on the menu, I said, "Saam bo, cha siu, siu youk, siu ngaap." (Three treasures, barbecue pork, crispy roast pork, and roasted duck) She seemed to understand everything I said in Cantonese Chinese. Although she seemed to be a competent English speaker from talking with the non-Chinese people inside, she was definitely more comfortable speaking Cantonese Chinese and told me to sit down. I was given a glass of tea, and some warm chicken soup as I waited. The soup was simple, but good. Within a few minutes, I was given a plate filled with rice, the Chinese barbecue meats I ordered, mixed with a somewhat oily sauce made from freshly cut scallions. The pork meats were tasty, I really liked the crispiness of the roast pork and the tenderness of the meat. Combined with the flavor of the scallion and the warm rice, it was a tasty combination. The roasted duck was also good, was not bony, and it was a fairly meaty and tender duck. I thought I was given a really generous portion. Since the food is served on a plate, if you are not good at using chopsticks, you can use the soup spoon to scoop up the rice. One small bowl of chicken soup, with a rice plate filled with cha siu, siu youk, and siu ngaap should be enough to fill the stomach of one hungry man. After finishing my meal, the somewhat stout lady said to me. "Luk mun boon," ($6.50) That's fairly inexpensive for a tasty meal that can fill up your stomach. $6.50 is probably enough to buy you only a low-quality factory processed fast food meal with soda, a large cup of frozen yogurt, a small hot sandwich, a couple slices of premium pizza, a small roll of sushi, or a medium sized salad in the somewhat decent city of Boston. Atmosphere is fairly gritty, so do not expect a really clean restaurant or really nice people, but somewhat effective service. Somehow, they can keep the government inspectors happy. Overall, this is a really good choice if you want a simple Chinese barbecue meal if you can tolerate the gritty setting and atmosphere. This is also a great option if you are on a really tight budget, want a good meal to fill your stomach and if you are not willing to spend more than $10 for a meal. Another fact for those people who love Yelp way too much: This place has not one, but two stickers saying "People Love Us on Yelp" posted on the counter, so this place should be "legit".
(4)