Boston's third-largest Chinatown packs Cantonese roast-meat counters, Taiwanese soup dumplings and Vietnamese pho into ten blocks south of Boylston.
Dumpling Cafe on Washington Street has rolled Taiwanese soup dumplings in Boston's Chinatown since 2009. Boston Magazine Best Dumplings 2024; mini juicy buns the headline order.
Signature: Mini juicy buns, Beef pancake roll
Order: The mini juicy buns: pork-and-broth xiao long bao, eight per basket.
Tip: Open until 02:00 weekends. The beef pancake roll is the under-ordered dish; order both.
Hei La Moon on Essex Street has rolled cart dim sum on weekends in Boston's Chinatown since 1997. Two-floor banquet room, Cantonese roast meats midweek, carts Saturday and Sunday only.
Signature: Cart dim sum, Roast duck
Order: Cart dim sum at 10:30 weekends: har gow, shumai, char siu bao.
Tip: Cart service Saturday and Sunday only; weekdays are menu service. Arrive by 10:30 to beat the family rush.
Gene's on Bedford Street has hand-pulled wheat noodles and folded Xi'an flatbread in Boston's Downtown Crossing since 2013. Closed Sundays; cash only; queue forms by 11:30.
Signature: Hand-pulled noodles, Cumin lamb flatbread
Order: Hand-pulled cumin lamb noodles, the Shaanxi house dish.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Cash only. The flatbread sandwich is the to-go order; the noodles need a seat.
Gene's on Bedford Street has hand-pulled wheat noodles and folded Xi'an flatbread in Boston's Downtown Crossing since 2013. Cash only, closed Sundays, the city's only Shaanxi noodle shop.
Try: Hand-pulled cumin lamb noodles
Tip: Cash only. Hand-pulled cumin lamb noodles are the menu order. Closed Sunday and Mondays in winter; line by 11:30.
Gene's on Bedford Street has hand-pulled wheat noodles in Boston's Downtown Crossing since 2013. Cash only, $12 cumin lamb noodles the menu order; closed Sundays.
Try: Hand-pulled cumin lamb noodles
Tip: Cash only. The flatbread sandwich is the under-$10 lunch order; the noodles need a seat.
Dumpling Cafe on Washington Street rolls Taiwanese soup dumplings in Boston's Chinatown since 2009. $13 for 8 mini juicy buns; Boston Magazine Best Dumplings 2024.
Try: Mini juicy buns
Tip: Open until 02:00 weekends. The beef pancake roll at $11 is the under-ordered side.
South Street Diner on Kneeland Street near Chinatown has run as Boston's only 24-hour diner since 1947, originally as the Blue Diner. Esquire Best Late Night Food in the USA pick.
Try: Boston cream pancakes and burgers
Tip: Busiest hours 01:00 to 04:00 weekends. The Boston Cream Pancakes is the unique menu order; the burger is the late-night closer.
Q Restaurant on Washington Street has poured Mongolian hot pot in Boston's Chinatown since 2014. Chinese, Japanese and Mongolian hot pot; Boston Magazine Best Neighborhood Restaurant Chinatown 2022.
Try: Mongolian hot pot
Tip: Friday and Saturday until midnight. Hot pot for two takes 90 minutes; book a table by 21:00 for the late-night dinner.
Dumpling Cafe on Washington Street rolls Taiwanese soup dumplings until 02:00 in Boston's Chinatown since 2009. The city's go-to late-night Taiwanese soup-dumpling counter.
Try: Mini juicy buns
Tip: The 01:00 to 02:00 line is short; the dumplings come out faster. The beef pancake roll is the late-night second order.