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Chinatown Cafe

3.5 star rating
based on 24 reviews

Category: Restaurants

Neighborhood: Chinatown
262 Harrison Ave
(between Curve St & Marginal Rd)
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 695-9888
Nearest Transit:

Herald St (Silver)

Ne Medical Center (Orange, Silver)

Hours:

Mon-Sun. 10:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Parking:
Street
Accepts Credit Cards:
No
Price Range:
$
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
No
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good for:
Lunch
Alcohol:
None

24 reviews for Chinatown Cafe

Review Highlights   

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"The congee tastes great here, and they give huge portions." (in 6 reviews)
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"…tried the roast duck, chicken, pork and char siu here and it's very good…" (in 4 reviews)
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"…is actually a family friend and used to roast a pig at a party every year…" (in 6 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Ly N.

 

0

8

Ly N.

Saugus, MA

5 star rating
3/27/2009

I've only tried the roast duck, chicken, pork and char siu here and it's very good. So good that I would eat here everyday even if it'll make me gain 20 pounds.  But sadly, this place is a little out of way so I can only make the trip every other week.

But really.... try the BBQ'd meats!

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Photo of Tatsu I.

Elite '09

442

89

Tatsu I.

Cambridge, MA

5 star rating
12/17/2008

Service With A Stare

"Thank you for coming to my tour! Please look to your left at Chinatown Cafe. Notice position relative to Tai Tung Village housing community. Ah yes, basically restaurant lives under 700 or more low-income inhabitants. This is the Harrison Ave, this is where most of Chinese lives, not the retail Chinatown over there! This is real Chinatown, but B.R.A. come to buy it for yuppie devils soon, so anyway. So! What you infer? Nothing? (Inscrutable Asian Stare.) OK! This Chinatown Cafe--we feed thousand of working class people, even we roll up sidewalk at 8:30PM. When you come to slurp on the noodle sometime, you watch many a double-parked Honda from 5 to 6PM. Mommy and daddy rush home to feed suburban A.B.C. kid, ha ha ha! I tell you story..."  http://www.bostonchina...

What's in those bags full of take-out? Solid family fare, roast meats, char siu, chow fun, even the most humble but awfully sustaining congee. I love the congee. What else do you really need to live on? Robert Capa, my favorite photographer, used to live on a little sugar dissolved in water once a day. Congee is manna from your fellow man, man.

Check out the photos on the wall. Local politicians, sports figures, community and school events. This place means something. It's not quite the Bahston institutions that (former) Amrhein's or Doyle's are perceived to be, but it deserves a more vaunted reputation. Think about the name, "Chinatown Cafe". After you realize "cafe" is, by accident or by design, short for "cafeteria", it's suddenly apropos, not generic anymore, right?

The link explains the real story. Again, http://www.bostonchina...

True to community service, no bragging, you would never know by eating here that this is a real community center.

Chinatown Cafe, we just serve, food and elsewise.

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Photo of Alex T.

Elite '09

45

155

Alex T.

Newton, MA

2 star rating
7/29/2008

My mom used to own a salon at Tai Tung Village and I used to go to BCEC (Boston Chinese Evangelical Church) across the street so I have been a steady patron of CC for many, many years now.  I remember when the church used to let out, there would be a mass migration straight to CC for lunch.  My mom would also often send me to CC to get their roast pork, char siu, or roast duck for dinner takeout.

This place is a classic.  The portions have remained pretty much the same since the 90s except they might have cut down on the meat/veggies/seafood a bit with each order.  The rise of food prices is to blame as most places do that now.  Their Chinese BBQ is still the highlight of their menu.  I like to get a mix of BBQ meats on either rice or noodle soup.  You can get the duck and chicken on rice, char siu and duck on noodles, and whatever combination strikes your fancy.  They also have a large variety of rice plates and noodle dishes so there is something for everyone.  

All in all, this place is a safe bet for a value lunch or dinner.  They do not open for breakfast and they accept cash only.

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Photo of Wei W.

Elite '09

11

84

Wei W.

Roxbury, MA

3 star rating
4/13/2008

I wish Chinatown Cafe could go back to the good old days when it was actually good. Now I don't go out of my way to get roast pork, duck, or chicken from here. I remember when the owner actually used to be behind the counter instead of on the customer side, guiding his chefs and butcher to make the best takeout meals ever.

Now it's sad - higher prices, smaller, less tasty portions (of meat and veggies), too much rice . . . I also remember when I could taste the sauce in their flat noodles with beef. I don't recall seeing so many cops sitting down and eating lunch and dinner there, either.

Oh Chinatown Cafe . . . you used to be so good to me. Why, oh why, did you go downhill?

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Photo of Damien Y.

 

0

17

Damien Y.

Boston, MA

2 star rating
5/10/2009

Back in the 90's this used to be my favorite place to eat in Chinatown.  The owner is actually a family friend and used to roast a pig at a party every year.  Fast forward to today; the dishes have a lot more rice and just don't taste as good as other places in the area.  The congee is pretty damn good though.

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Photo of Kit Y.

 

120

122

Kit Y.

Brooklyn, NY

3 star rating
1/23/2007

My office orders this 1-2 times a week.
I am sick of it.

Somehow they got the idea that I only eat steamed veggie no oil or salt on white rice, blech!

I have corrected this and now I like to eat the soft tofu with green beans and they get me some stir fry with tofu sometimes.
For the most part, I would never eat here if it didn't come to me, but I have to say I do like that green bean tofu dish.

Every one is right.
It is cheap, but the prices are slowly going up and I would rather get a cheap lunch somewhere else in Chinatown.

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Photo of Kristina B.

Elite '09

145

248

Kristina B.

Cambridge, MA

3 star rating
12/11/2008

I teach near here and went for the first time last night upon recommendation of other teachers (who had gotten recommendations from students).  All three of us ordered the General Gau's chicken and ended up stuffed and happy.  There was more than enough for lunch today and it actually reheated well!

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Photo of Beth E.

Elite '09

160

152

Beth E.

Medford, MA

3 star rating
6/29/2007

I'll start off by saying that I'm not really a fan of Chinese food. And by that, I mean the Americanized Chinese that you find out in the sticks. It took a long time for folks to convince me to head over here. It's definitely better than I was expecting.

Prices are pretty low, and the portions are huge. I'm lucky if I make it through half. I still don't want to go everyday, but I'm now totally game for the occasional trip into Chinatown.

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Photo of Will N.

Elite '09

9

80

Will N.

Boston, MA

3 star rating
2/28/2008

Best Gereral Gau's Chicken I've ever had.  

The rest of the menu is rather bland for my tastes.  

This place doesn't have parking so everyone double parks on weekends.

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Photo of Robby T.

Elite '09

38

224

Robby T.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
1/24/2008

This is good value for the oversaturated Chinatown $5-8 lunch scene.  Lotsa food!...but you can get that many places.  Tasty and fresh.  And there are tons of veggies incorporated into their ~75 menu items.  

Typically, I get the duck chow mein.  Crispy noodles, freshly chopped duck (not a boneless breast...it's legit chinese cleaver-makes-bone-shards style), and lots of chinese broccoli w/ carrots and such.  Not overly starched gravy--nicely flavored sauce.  It'll be two meals, so bring a fridge or an extra person!

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Photo of Carla K.

 

3

41

Carla K.

Brighton, MA

4 star rating
8/4/2008

Been coming to C-town Cafe since they first opened when I was in elementary school.  The food is good and the prices are awesome. Portions are good and the flavors are all still there.  Some dishes were better in the past, but for the most part, everything is good. I still advocate that they have THE BEST General Gau's Chicken you will EVER eat! The orange balls of chicken are spicey and flavorful. Make my mouth water just thinking about it......

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Photo of Shana L.

 

6

62

Shana L.

Roxbury, MA

5 star rating
8/19/2005

The congee tastes great here, and they give huge portions!  I found myself almost licking the bowl at the end of the meal.

I was quite impressed by how clean the restaurant looked as well as their extensive menu with very good prices.

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Photo of Alison I.

 

10

14

Alison I.

Torrance, CA

4 star rating
3/28/2007

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. Since I moved from from there a few years ago, it's maybe the one restaurant I wish I could've brought with me to LA.

I wasn't a big believer in this place since it was further than the usual Chinatown dives we usually visited. But when a friend took me there repeatedly over the summer, I found myself completely addicted to the food. The best plate there (actually the only one I've ever had, but hey, if it ain't broke don't fix it) which is the roast pork/wonton/noodles (the wide noodles) soup! This is best meal I've ever had for under $6.

The wide chow fun noodles are plain and cooked perfectly, accompanied by freshly chopped roast char siu pork and the best wonton I've ever had in my life. A few pieces of Chinese broccoli is added to the mix along with wicked hot soup, that's more like a plain broth. Served super hot and fresh - it doesn't get any better.

Chinatown Cafe is a little out of the way and attracts locals from all points of the city. Local police, downtown residents and even some members of the Boston Bruins are regulars at this joint. Get there early for the wide noodles (they're worth it - trust me) and a table - this place gets busy!

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Photo of Grace U.

 

1

14

Grace U.

Braintree, MA

5 star rating
5/21/2006

YUM YUM YUMMY! The congee was delish! Real nice prices and in a really cute area. Also it's pretty close to where all the real action in Chinatown is!

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Photo of So S.

 

30

270

So S.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
8/30/2005

Authentic Chinese take-out place known for their great congee and good stir fry noodles.  Very good portions.  I usually go here when I am hosting  a party and need good cheap Chinese food.   A bit of walk from the T-stop though.

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Photo of Michael G.

 

21

231

Michael G.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
7/21/2005

Unfortunately, this place is on the far side of Chinatown, which is inconvenient for most people, but it's worth the walk for their tasy food. The food comes out fast, and the menu is huge. I recommend the noodle dishes or the rice congee, which are extremely inexpensive. Don't expect any service, though. It's a purely bus-your-own-table place. It's a long walk from work, but my coworkers and I have become semi-regulars despite the distance.

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Photo of Esther L.

 

21

145

Esther L.

Medfield, MA

4 star rating
7/21/2005

I really like their food. Its authentic, but its cheap, fast, and you can take it out. They have lots of rice and noodle dishes. You can order in English, but its better if you know the Chinese version of what you want, just to make sure the cashiers get your order right. They also have cooked poultry and meats you can buy by the pound and take home to eat. I like their soy sauce chicken. I'd recommend getting it to go because it gets really crowded.

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Photo of T L.

 

4

44

T L.

Boston, MA

2 star rating
4/1/2008

On some days, the food is fabulous. But on other days, the chefs must have a grudge against my taste buds because there's barely flavour in the food. As for portions, I think I should get less rice and more meat and veggies. Prices keep on climbing...and portions are getting smaller, aren't they?

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Photo of crystal w.

 

1

100

crystal w.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
8/23/2005

Chinatown Cafe is a great cheap place to get all kinds of Asian food.  I like the traditional chicken dishes and their rice.  It's quick and will fill you up fast.  A great place for a grab-it-and-go lunch.

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Photo of Kathleen T.

 

0

105

Kathleen T.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
8/31/2005

In the city, good Chinese food is really hit or miss.  Chinatown Cafe, however, is a hit.  The stir fry is great and I have a hard time varying my meal because of it.  Neverthless, the price, portions and staff is great.

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Photo of Meg B.

 

2

38

Meg B.

Alexandria, VA

3 star rating
7/7/2007

Pretty good food. You get your money's worth and more when it comes to the size of the meal. But be sure to bring cash.

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Photo of Mike C.

 

1

9

Mike C.

Boston, MA

5 star rating
5/26/2008

I used to come here almost every other day for lunch and it's the only place in Chinatown where you'll get your money's worth for the food.  It doesn't matter which dish you order, they will serve it in HUGE portions for a very low price.  Not to mention that the food tastes superb.  I'm never disappointed when I come here: you can't be when you're paying under $7 bucks for a plateful of goods.  I still remember this place when I was a kid, loved it back then and still do.

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Photo of ame k.

Elite '09

7

143

ame k.

Quincy, MA

3 star rating
9/5/2005

it's the same as other chinese food.

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Photo of Teddy C.

 

0

14

Teddy C.

Alexandria, VA

5 star rating
7/15/2008

great, satisfying, authentic food, easy on the wallet.  nuff' said.

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