Chinatown: Good Eats
Written: Nov 19 '01 (Updated Mar 31 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Lots of restaurants to choose from in a small area.
Cons: Crime and grime.
The Bottom Line: Chinatown, with its numerous restaurants and convenient location, is a great choice.
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| leonawong's Full Review: Boston |
Do you have a craving for authentic Chinese food? How about Korean, Japanese, Malaysian, or Vietnamese food? If so, why not head to Boston's Chinatown?
Chinatown is located between Downtown Crossing and the Theater District. It is easily accessible via the Chinatown (Orange Line), Boylston (Green Line), and Downtown Crossing (Red Line) T stops. (For information on the T, including maps and schedules, visit the MBTA's website at http://www.mbta.com.) T and walking is highly recommended. Most of the horror stories about driving and parking in Boston are true, and Chinatown is no exception. However, if you absolutely insist on driving, some meter spots can be found along Kneeland Street and some of the side streets. In addition, Chinatown has several pay parking lots. Parking difficulty varies depending on when you go. Friday and Saturday nights between 7pm and midnight tends to be crowded because of all the theater go-ers and club kids. Sunday mornings tend to be very, very crowded also because a lot of people like to go grocery shopping after church. Also, keep in mind that Chinatown is Boston's most densely populated neighborhood and attracts many visitors. If you decide to drive, you will be crawling through an already very congested area.
I love Chinatown because it offers many restaurants within a small area. If the wait at my first choice is too long, I can find another restaurant without too much thought or effort. In addition, it is one of the few places in Boston, where restaurants are open really late. Where else can you get sushi at 4am? I will take sushi over greasy omelets any day! In addition, Chinatown is a convenient place to grab some food because of its proximity to Downtown, the Theater District, and the Financial District.
Below is a summary of the places I like to frequent.
Dim Sum. Dim Sum is comparable to brunch. It is served until 2pm at most Chinese restaurants. At Dim Sum, you do not receive a formal menu. Instead, waitstaff push carts filled with different dishes past each table. You can pick and choose what you would like off each cart. Most of the dishes consist of small bite size offerings. The point of dim sum is to get a large variety of food. This is truly a unique experience, and I recommend it to anyone who has not tried it. China Pearl and Chau Chow City offer the best dim sum in Chinatown. If you would like more information on them, I have written reviews on each restaurant. China Pearl: http://www.epinions.com/rest-review-452F-5E509BF-3973F3F6-prod4. Chau Chow City: http://www.epinions.com/rest-review-1EA-1D8E06A5-397699AA-prod5.
Chinese. My favorite place for Chinese food is Peach Farm. The food is very good, and the waitstaff is very friendly. (Friendly and attentive waitstaff can be hard to find in Chinatown.) If you decide to eat here, be sure to ask for the coconut tapioca for dessert. The dessert is included in your meal, but they will not give it to you unless you specifically ask for it. It's very yummy, and it sure beats fortune cookies.
Vietnamese. If you are looking for Vietnamese food, head over to Pho Pasteur on Washington Street. (Pho Pasteur has two restaurants in the area. The Washington Street location is the original. And, in my opinion, the best one.) They have won numerous awards for the best Vietnamese food in town. And I guarentee you won't need more than $10 to feed yourself!
Malaysian. If you are in the mood for Malaysian food, walk to Penang, which is located across the street from Pho Pasteur. This restaurant seems to be a favorite of the theater crowd, as it gets very crowded on Friday and Saturday nights. The food is great, and the interior of the restaurant is very interesting. However, the service can be hit or miss. Even with the iffy service, people continue to pack into this place.
Japanese. For Japanese, the place to go is Ginza on Hudson Street. They have the freshest fish and most creative sushi in town. And a big plus is they're open until 4am on Saturdays and 2am the rest of the week.
Bakeries. By far, Eldo Cake House is my favorite bakery. After filling up on food, walk over to Eldo Cake House for dessert. You can get a slice of Hong Kong style cake. I recommend the peach. Hong Kong cake is a lot lighter than American cake. The cake is very fluffy, and the frosting is very light. It is heavenly! If you'd like to grab a snack for later, you can also stock up on some pastries. Besides the cake, I also think they have the best chau siew bao (roast pork bun).
Late Night Dining. Are you looking for some eats at 3am? You have many choices in Chinatown. Ginza, Chau Chow City, and Peach Farm are all open late.
After writing all of this, I have to admit I am now salivating and can't wait to eat.
But I do have to offer one caveat about Chinatown. Chinatown includes an area once known as the "Combat Zone." The Combat Zone was the redlight district of town. Strip clubs and prostitution were common in the area. Over the years, the Combat Zone has gotten smaller and smaller due to stricter zoning laws and vigilance of local residents. As the Combat Zone got smaller, more Asian owned businesses moved in and took over the old space. Today, you would hardly know the Combat Zone ever existed. However, recently, after many years of decline, I have noticed an uptick in prostitution in the area. I am not saying this to scare you away from Chinatown, but I want you to be aware. I think Chinatown is a safe area, but visitors need to use common sense when visiting. Despite increased police presence and crackdowns, I would not recommend wandering around Chinatown alone late at night. Please use your street smarts.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Friends
Best Time to Travel Here: Jun - Aug
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Epinions.com ID:
leonawong
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Member: leona
Location: Boston, MA
Reviews written: 9
Trusted by: 6 members
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