Top 20 Chinese Food in Boston (and Beyond) – Off the Beaten Path Food Tours

Chinese Food is one of our favorite cuisines. Growing up, Lizzie’s best friends were Chinese so she spent many a night playing mahjongg in her friend’s basement, making trips to Boston’s Chinatown for food tours, and taking the Fung Wa bus to New York City’s Canal Street. When she met Sam, she met her match — someone who also absolutely loves chinese food. So together they’ve done a lot of research to find the best Chinese food in Boston and you can find good chinese near me.

Boston’s Chinatown is quite central to the city, bordering nearby South Station. While it’s home to less than 5,000 residents, this area of town is always bustling. And there’s some really cool Asian markets here as well as interesting smells wafting through the narrow streets. Chinatown was created by filling in a tidal flat. In fact, the first Chinese Americans who came to Boston were in the late 1800’s, arriving from San Francisco. Today the most recognizable icon in Chinatown is the gate which has a foo lion on either side. It is located at the corner of Beach Street and Surface Road, steps from the busy 93 and 90 intersection.

However, nowadays Chinatown is not the only spot with interesting and delicious Chinese influenced cuisine. Read below to learn more about our favorite Chinese food in Boston and beyond in cities like Cambridge, MetroWest surburbs, and Quincy.

 

Boston and Chinatown Restaurants

 

 

1

China Pearl

We’ve been going to China Pearl since we were in elementary school, and the atmosphere feels frozen in time. They serve traditional Cantonese cuisine, and the time to visit is definitely for dim sum. So pour the sugar packets in your hot tea and flag your server down to sample their delights.

Website
Address: 9 Tyler Street, Boston Chinatown
What to order: shrimp or lobster dumplings, shumai, chicken feet (if you dare!), turnip cake, warm custard buns

bao steaming on a plate

 

 

2

Hei La Moon

Another great option for traditional “dim sum” in Boston’s Chinatown is Hei La Moon, which opened after China Pearl and quickly established itself as a local favorite. This place gets very busy during the weekends, so try to snag a seat near an aisle so you can move.

Website
Address: 88 Beach Street, Boston Chinatown
What to order: beef rice crepe, soup dumplings, tofu, red bean riceballs, egg tart, salted egg yolk lava bun

 

 

 

3

Gene’s Chinese Flatbread Cafe

Owner Gene Wu came to Boston from Xi’an, the capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi porvice to study chemistry. When he turned 40, he craved more than just a corporate career and thus began his journey into noodle-pulling! And we couldn’t be happier. This cash-only place is a must visit to anyone craving noodles in Boston.

Website
Address: 86 Bedford Street, Boston Chinatown
What to order: a bowl of hand-pulled noodles in soup, lamb skewers

 

 

 

4

Mala

If you like Spicy food, you HAVE to try Mala in Allston. Featuring the numbing spice cuisine of Sichuan, China. They serve their signature dry pot stir fry where you can make your own spicy stir fry. They also serve classic Sichuan family styled dishes. This is a must try if you are in the Allston area. Super casual atmosphere to experience real authentic dishes.

Website
Address: 129 Brighton Ave., Allston, Boston
What to order: spicy stir fry

 

 

5

Cafe Corner Bakery

Ever since we were kids waiting in line for the Chinatown-NYC bus, we would stop quickly at Cafe Corner to grab a pineapple bun and peek into the display case of treats.

Website
Address: 62 Harrison Street, Boston Chinatown
What to order: pineapple bun, portuguese custard tart, red bean moon cake

 

 

 

6

Red Lantern

Sam had his bachelor party here at Red Lantern, and they had a fantastic time. The atmosphere is top notch from the statues to the huge colored lanterns. It used to be a horse stable for the Boston police many years ago. The food may not feel as authentic as in Chinatown, but the service is friendly and the menu is comprehensive.

Website
Address: 39 Stanhope Street, Back Bay Boston
What to order: strong drinks like a lychee martini, traditional Asian fare like duck fried rice, kung pao

 

 

 

7

Q Restaurant (Hot Pot)

Especially on a colder winter night, we just love the cook your own hot pot interactive experience. Sort of like at the Melting Pot, you’re given a plate of vegetables and thinly sliced meat to cook in a temperature controlled broth that’s bubbling in front of you. If you can’t decide on a broth, they let you pick two flavors in a “ying yang” assortment. The broth is super flavorful, and you can also add garlic, scallions, and paste to your liking. Shabu shabu away!

Website
Address: 660 Washington Street
What to order: any of their cook-your-own hot pots, bubble tea

a hot pot full of broth chinese food

 

 

8

Myers and Chang

On our Harvard Square Chocolate Tour, we visit Joanne Chang’s other claim to fame — Flour! Together with her husband, Chang opened this neighborhood hotspot to focus on her native Taiwanese cuisine and other Southeast Asian specialties. This spot is a bit on the asian-fusion side, and a delight for both adventurous and non-adventurous eaters.

Website
Address: 1145 Washington Street, South End, Boston
What to order: hakka eggplant, sweet and sour brussel sprouts, pork belly buns, tea smoked pork spare ribs

 

 

 

9

Victoria’s Seafood

This is a gem tucked away on Boston university Campus. This is authentic cantonese food in Boston. If you’re craving twin lobster or authentic no-flare Chinese dishes, Victoria’s Seafood is the spot for you. Our favorites are their salt and pepper squid, mapo tofu, and twin lobster.

Website
Address: 1029 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
What to order: squid, mapo tofu, twin lobster

 

10

Hong Kong 888 Cafe

Talk about hole in the wall, if you ask any resident of Roslindale, they’ll tell you their favorite Chinese take-out spot is Hong Kong 888. It’s definitely a no-frills place with an assertive staff and no public bathrooms, but their following is intense. 888 is an auspicious number in Chinese and is also the place’s address.

Website
Address: 888 South Street, Roslindale, Boston
What to order: traditional “American” chinese that’s not greasy including vegetable rice, crab rangoon, General Tso’s chicken, lo mein

11

Peach Farm Cafe

Of course, we cannot skip Chinatown if we’re looking for good Chinese food! This place offers delicious Chinese seafood meals. The speed of which the dishes come out is a highlight. This is the late night spot to order a bunch of plates to share with friends. Sizzling plates will come out one after another from the kitchen. This is the place to go for authentic family styled, big crowded festive environment.

Website
Address: 4 Tyler Street, Boston
What to order: seafood

 

12

Taiwan Cafe

One more place that we love in Chinatown is Taiwan Cafe. Although Taiwanese food is a different cuisine, Taiwan Cafe serves many Chinese dishes along side to its Taiwanese menu. One of our all time favorite dishes is their tomato egg and beef rice plate. It is such comfort food. You can also find soup dumplings, fried pork chops, and braised egg plates here. Open until 1am, another late night grub place for you.

Website
Address: 34 Oxford Street, Boston
What to order: tomato, egg, and beef rice plate; soup dumplings

 

13

Spring Shabu Shabu

If you are a veggie lover, an alternative hotpot spot is Spring Shabu Shabu in Allston. This location offers an all you can eat vegetable buffet bar. You can go up and grab as many plates of the assortment of veggies, tofu, fishcakes, noodles available as your heart desires. You can order meats a la carte. Honestly, most times we go, we get full off the different fish cake and tofu options that we don’t even need meat! This place also has a really modern aesthetics and great to go with groups of friends.

Website
Address: 304 Western Ave, Boston
What to order: shabu shabu hotpot

 

 

Cambridge Restaurants

 

 

14

Changsho Restaurant or Zoe’s Chinese

Changsho:

I’ve heard of people travelling from Maine to eat the delicious food at Changsho, and I can attest that it’s a solid favorite in our take-out rotation. Although they have a daily lunch buffet, you can also expect yummy cuisine for pick-up or dine-in dinner and big portions. Afterwards stroll over to Honeycomb Creamery for a sweet treat dessert.

Website
Address: 1712 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA
What to order: lo mein, sizzling black bean or pumpkin chicken, beef and broccoli, soup dumplings, chicken fingers

Zoe’s:

Another great Chinese take-out spot is right on Broadway in Somerville, MA near the Cambridge line. It’s another stand-by for Chinese take-out in our household, and the food is consistently fresh, plentiful, and flavorful. They do also offer some authentic Sichuan cooking for the more spice-friendly adventurous eater!

Website
Address: 296 Beacon Street, Somerville, MA
What to order: eggplant basil with brown rice, Sichuan spicy specialties, mapo tofu, crab rangoon

 

thai bao sandwich

 

 

15

Dumpling Daughter

We love visiting Dumpling Daughter on our popular Kendall Square Cambridge Food and Innovation Tour on Saturdays. Started by the daughter of Sally Ling who opened one of the first Chinese restaurants in Boston, this spot also has a suburban outpost in Weston. The family recipes are converted into a fast casual spot near MIT, and you can take them to go and eat on the nearby Kendall Square rooftop garden.

Website
Address: 73 Ames Street, Cambridge, MA
What to order: homemade dumplings, wonton soup, buns, crab rangoon

dumplings on a plate with soy sauce

 

 

16

Sumiao Hunan Kitchen

On our Kendall Square Food Tour we stop at Sumiao Hunan Kitchen is a nice restaurant to find authentic Hunanese food. This cuisine offers dishes catering to a spicy palate. Their specialty is their lava fish or their braised pork belly. They have a cute dine-in area with good lighting and quirky decorations. This is a nicer spot to take your friends and family for a nice dinner. Still very authentic vibes.

Website
Address: Third Avenue, Cambridge, MA
What to order: lava fish or braised pork belly

 

 

 

17

Wusong Road

We are excited to showcase Wusong Road on our Harvard Square Food Tour. They embrace Asian American cuisine and also the Tiki lifestyle. They have also elevated the space of an old conductor’s building and have quickly become the most trendy restaurant in Harvard Square. Can’t wait to share more on our tour together!

Website
Address: 112 Mt. Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA
What to order: mini animal bun, mocktail or Tiki Mai Tai drink

 

 

 

Other Restaurants

 

 

18

Chili Garden, Medford

With a friendly atmosphere and traditional Szechuan cuisine, it’s worth a trip out to Medford to experience Chili Garden. The servings are large, and the restaurant is a neighborhood favorite.

Website
Address: 41 Riverside Avenue, Medford, MA
What to order: kung pao chicken, chili noodles, diced chicken with house made pickles, fish soup with mustard greens

 

 

 

19

Chili Square, Quincy

Quincy is known for its asian food, and we really love Chili Square right in the downtown area. A bone fide hole in the wall Chinese restaurant in Boston, it’s definitely worth stopping in, and the authentic chinese noodles are a delight. Just remember it’s cash only!

Website
Address: 666 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA
What to order: mala soup bowls, spicy cumin lamb noodle, bao

 

 

20

Windsor Dim Sum

Looking for dim sum in Boston? We recommend checking out Windsor Dim Sum where you can check off your order on a paper menu sheet on your table. They have everything you’d want at dimsum- dumplings, fried sesame balls, shumais, etc.

Website
Address: 706 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA
What to order: good introductory dim sum

On every Boston Food Tour and Chocolate Tour, we serve a variety of unique foods and treats to tickle your taste buds and indulge your senses and sweet tooths. Really, there is something for everyone on our unique experiences. So check our Tour Calendar and join us this week.