Boston’s Chinese culinary scene has undergone a remarkable transformation since the establishment of Chinatown approximately five generations ago. Despite facing significant challenges, including the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and rising anti-Asian sentiments, these cherished local businesses have persevered, maintaining a rich legacy of delicious flavors. Whether you’re seeking classic Chinese-American takeout, freshly made hand-pulled noodles, the fiery zest of Sichuan cuisine, or delicate soup dumplings, Boston offers a diverse range of options. From Allston to Brookline, Cambridge, and beyond, discover the best Chinese restaurants the area has to offer right now.
This guide was last updated in May 2021; expect ongoing updates.
Bess’s Cafe
Bess’s Cafe, a humble and welcoming eatery owned by Bess Lee and her family, specializes in homestyle noodles and comforting dishes. Their menu features a concise but impressive selection of dumplings, available both pan-fried and steamed. These dumplings are crafted with a delicate, perfectly textured rice dough made fresh daily in-house. Signature dishes include steamed chicken dumplings bathed in a vibrant, spicy Sichuan sauce, delightful dan dan noodles, and satisfying side orders of scallion pancakes.
224 Cypress St., Brookline, 617-879-0993, besscafe.com.
Blossom Bar and the Baldwin Bars at Sichuan Garden
Ran Duan, a second-generation owner, has garnered significant acclaim for his innovative cocktail bars, Blossom Bar and The Baldwin Bar, located within his family’s Sichuan Garden restaurants in Brookline and Woburn. These establishments are celebrated for their creative and expertly crafted drinks. Duan’s mixology is now accessible at home through his Craft Blossom Mixers, offering premium bottled cocktail ingredients. Complementing the drinks, the Sichuan Garden menus are also available, allowing patrons to pair cocktails like the visually striking Halo Halo with spicy dan dan noodles, or the robust Gloria, infused with coffee and passion fruit, with Chongqing dry hot chicken. Enjoy the full experience of Duan’s bars without waiting for a seat.
295 Washington St., Brookline, 617-734-1870, blossombarbrookline.com; 2 Alfred St., second floor, Woburn, 781-935-8488, thebaldwinbar.com.
China Pearl
While its current reduced hours might reflect the decrease in downtown office foot traffic, China Pearl remains a Chinatown landmark and one of the neighborhood’s longest-standing restaurants. Devotees of their brightly flavored dim sum will be pleased to find that the quality has not diminished. Both the Boston and Quincy locations now offer “survival packs,” featuring larger portions of dim sum favorites like pork and shrimp shui mai, BBQ pork buns, and spareribs with black bean sauce, catering to those seeking a substantial and satisfying meal.
9 Tyler St., Boston, 617-426-4338; 237 Quincy Ave., Quincy, 617-773-9838, chinatowndelivers.com.
Double Chin
Double Chin, a popular late-night destination in Chinatown, is known for its playful fusion cuisine. The menu features creative dishes such as Sriracha-honey chicken, kimcheesy waffle fries, and comforting noodle soups, alongside indulgent Hong Kong-style French toast. Adding to the fun atmosphere, Double Chin offers bubble tea, smoothies, beer, sake, soju, and signature cocktail kits to go, including the option to add a boozy kick to your bubble tea.
86 Harrison Ave., Boston, 617-482-0682, doublechinbos.com.
Dumpling Daughter
Dumpling Daughter, with three locations including a recent addition in Brookline’s Coolidge Corner, offers a taste of home-style Chinese cooking. Owner Nadia Liu Spellman’s restaurants, inspired by her mother, chef Sally Ling, feature dishes reminiscent of her childhood meals. The menu includes pan-seared and steamed dumplings, refreshing spring rolls, savory scallion pancake rolls, noodles, and soups. For those who want to enjoy Dumpling Daughter at home, frozen dumplings are also available.
1309 Beacon St., Brookline, 617-383-5282; 73 Ames St., Cambridge, 617-577-8886 ; 37 Center St., Weston, 781-216-8989, dumplingdaughter.com.
Five Spices House
Five Spices House, a multi-time Best of Boston award winner, boasts two locations – one in Chinatown and a newer one in Cambridge – both serving authentic Sichuan cuisine. Known for its bold flavors and use of Sichuan peppercorns, the restaurant offers dishes with varying levels of spice. Signature items include delicate wontons in a vibrant chili oil, a flavorful whole-roasted fish, and customizable spicy dry pot stir-fries with a choice of vegetables and proteins.
58 Beach St., Boston, 617-574-8888; 546 Mass Ave., Cambridge, 617-714-3339, 5spiceshouse.com.
Gene’s Chinese Flatbread Cafe
Despite its name suggesting a focus on flatbread sandwiches, Gene’s Chinese Flatbread Cafe, with locations downtown and in the suburbs, is truly renowned for its exceptional hand-pulled noodles. Prepared in the style of owner Gene Wu’s native Xian, these noodles are thick, chewy, and expertly tossed. Diners can enjoy them with various flavorful toppings, including cumin-scented lamb, a refreshing garlicky cilantro sauce, or a spicy chili oil.
86 Bedford St., Boston, 617-482-1888; 466 Main St., Woburn, 781-938-6888; 175 Littleton Rd., Westford, 978-692-3406, genescafe.com.
Gourmet Dumpling House
Gourmet Dumpling House, a consistently popular spot in Chinatown, is currently open for takeout and delivery, making its sought-after Shanghainese cuisine more accessible. Must-try appetizers include Shanghai-style smoked fish and spicy pork ears. Their “mini juicy” soup dumplings are a highlight, and other notable takeout options include salt-and-pepper fried calamari, a Taiwanese oyster omelet, and hot and spicy ox tongue and tripe for the adventurous palate.
52 Beach St., Boston, 617-338-6223, gourmetdumplinghouse.com.
Home Taste
Home Taste, run by wife-and-husband team Ying and Kai Chen, brings the authentic flavors of Henan province in central China to the Boston suburbs. During these times, they continue to offer their signature “home taste” for takeout and delivery. Their menu features robust, peppery stir-fried wheat noodles, Chongqing “small noodles” with minced meat, peanuts, and chili oil, and flavorful flatbread sandwiches filled with aromatic stewed lamb, providing a comforting and authentic Chinese dining experience at home.
1312 Mass Ave., Arlington, 781-646-8080/781-646-8081; 58 Mt Auburn St., Watertown, 617-923-0227/617-923-6227, hometastema.com.
Mary Chung
Mary Chung, a long-standing Cambridge institution since the 1980s, originally founded by a Joyce Chen alum, has been a favorite among MIT students and Central Square locals. The restaurant is known for dishes like spicy dun dun noodles with chicken, refreshing Sichuan beef salad, and unique hand pies filled with crispy radishes or savory chives, offered as regular specials. A standout dish is the suan la chow show, featuring pork wontons with bean sprouts in a spicy, tangy hot and sour sauce.
464 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-864-1991.
Mei Mei
Chef Irene Li, a multiple James Beard Rising Star award nominee, has been a transformative figure in Boston’s dining scene since launching Mei Mei as a food truck a decade ago with her siblings. Mei Mei (“little sister”) has adapted to the current climate by transitioning to a takeout and delivery-only model, offering a creative Chinese-American menu. They provide ready-to-reheat dumplings, seasonal curries, and pantry staples like sauces and meal kits, including everything needed to make their renowned sandwiches. Beyond the kitchen, Li is also a prominent advocate for social justice in the food industry, contributing to the Restaurant Resiliency Initiative at Commonwealth Kitchen, supporting BIPOC-owned restaurants in Boston.
506 Park Dr., Boston, 857-250-4959, meimeiboston.com.
Myers + Chang
Myers + Chang, chef-founder Joanne Chang’s acclaimed Asian gastropub, offers a vibrant dining experience where Chinese flavors are integral to the fusion cuisine. Beloved for its innovative dishes and lively atmosphere, the restaurant features menu items like tea-smoked spareribs, signature pork and chive dumplings, and a decadent coconut layer cake. For takeout, Myers + Chang offers beer, wine, sake, and provisions like brown sugar-pepper rub, allowing customers to recreate some of their signature flavors at home.
1145 Washington St., Boston, 617-542-5200, myersandchang.com.
Peach Farm
Peach Farm provides a quintessential Boston dining experience with its Hong Kong-style Cantonese seafood. Selecting your own lobster directly from the fish tank is a memorable tradition for many diners. Peach Farm’s Cantonese seafood menu is highly regarded, featuring dishes like garlicky scallops on the half-shell and whole-steamed black fish with ginger and soy, all showcasing fresh, high-quality ingredients and authentic flavors.
4 Tyler St., Boston, 617-482-3332, peachfarmboston.com.
Qingdao Garden
Qingdao Garden, a Northern Chinese restaurant in Cambridge, highlights wheat-based dishes like dumplings and noodles, reflecting the culinary traditions of northern China. Their extensive menu features a range of dishes, from crisp stir-fried vegetables to crispy fried flounder and spicy lamb hot pot. The “Northern Style” section of the menu is particularly recommended for those seeking authentic flavors from this region.
2382 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-492-7540, qingdaogarden.net.
Shanghai Gate
Shanghai Gate, an unassuming spot in Allston, is a go-to destination for well-prepared traditional Shanghainese dishes. Their menu includes classic soup dumplings, seafood dishes infused with rice wine and ginger, and tender lion’s head meatballs. A Shanghainese staple, the savory lion’s head meatballs are served as a hearty “casserole” with steamed bok choy, offering a comforting and flavorful experience.
204 Harvard Ave., Allston, 617-566-7344, shanghaigateboston.com.
Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine
Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine, located in Inman Square, offers a unique and relatively rare culinary experience in the Boston area. Specializing in the cuisine of the Uyghur minority from northwest China, the restaurant showcases a blend of Turkic and Chinese influences. Signature dishes include lamb- and onion-filled naan, flavorful marinated lamb kebabs, and pumpkin manto, providing a taste of this distinctive regional cuisine.
645 Cambridge St., Cambridge, 617-945-1909, silkroadcambridge.com.
Sumiao Hunan Kitchen
Sumiao Hunan Kitchen highlights the distinctive flavors of Hunanese cuisine, known for its complex spiciness that differs from the numbing heat of Sichuan dishes. Hunanese cuisine emphasizes fermentation, heat, vinegar, and smoky notes, evident in dishes like fried cauliflower and pork belly with duo jiao (chopped-chili sauce), and “beef on fire” with Fresno pepper, cilantro, and banana pepper, offering a vibrant and flavorful experience.
270 Third St., Cambridge, 617-945-0907, sumiaohunan.com.
Taiwan Café
Chef Peter Wang, the creator of the popular Dumpling Cafe empire, also runs Taiwan Café, a street-food focused eatery in Chinatown established in 1998. While known for “mini juicy buns,” Taiwan Café offers a broader menu of Taiwanese and Chinese dishes. Highlights include crispy pan-fried dumplings, scallion pancakes rolled with roast beef, succulent fried pork chops, and garlicky sautéed watercress, providing a diverse and satisfying taste of Taiwanese street food.
34 Oxford St., Boston, 617-426-8181, taiwancafeboston.com.
Winsor Dim Sum Café
Winsor Dim Sum Café, a Chinatown favorite, is known for its extensive dim sum selection. While traditionally offering cart service, they now operate with a menu-based ordering system. Diners can still enjoy a feast of dim sum classics like shumai, spare ribs in black bean sauce, wok-charred chow fun noodles, and Sichuan-style beef stomach. Currently offering takeout and delivery, Winsor Dim Sum Cafe provides a convenient way to enjoy their popular dim sum.
10 Tyler St., Boston, 617-338-1688, winsordimsumcafe.com.
Zoe’s Chinese Restaurant
Zoe’s Chinese Restaurant in Somerville offers a diverse menu featuring both authentic Sichuan and Hunanese dishes alongside familiar takeout classics. Standout dishes include flavorful Peking ravioli, mouth-numbing ma po tofu, and dry-fried beef or chicken with hot peppers. For those seeking more familiar options, Zoe’s also provides well-prepared versions of dishes like orange chicken and lo mein, packed with fresh vegetables.
296 Beacon St., Somerville, 617-864-6265, zoeschinese.com.
Boston’s Chinese food scene is a vibrant tapestry of flavors and culinary traditions. From historic Chinatown to the diverse neighborhoods beyond, these restaurants offer a taste of China right here in Boston. Explore this list and embark on your own delicious journey through the best Chinese Food Boston has to offer.
