Golden Taste

This past summer, my favorite Chinese place burned down, turning the space into a giant hole which matched the giant hole in my heart. I attempted to fill that hole by trying pretty much every Chinese place within a 2 mile radius, only to be disappointed time and again.

One night Julia F. was over and although we usually enjoy cooking together, we were both feeling a little lazy. We searched Yelp and Foodler looking for options and stumbled upon Golden Taste. We decided to drive up to the center and check the place out in person. Golden Taste is small but clean and the woman who took our order was very nice. There is hot tea for free and the dinner special is a steal at $8.75-$10.50 for a soup, an appetizer choice (crab rangoon, spring roll, chicken wings or fingers), entree and rice (white, brown or pork fried). The cashew chicken dinner special was delicious, and enough food for 2 meals. Other entree choices include Egg Foo Young, Basil Beef, General Gau's and Chicen and Broccoli. I wasn't a fan of the egg drop soup, a little too gelatinous for me. I sampled Julia's scallion pancakes and they were delicious and crispy.

I have since ordered delivery to my home twice. The chicken was a little dry in my cashew chicken the first time, but the Peking ravioli were delicious. On the smaller side, you get 10 for only $6.50. For my second home delivery, I opted for the General Gau dinner special. the chicken was perfectly fried, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.

My only gripes about delivery are that there is a $2.00 fee (kinda high) and the driver can't seem to understand that my apartment is in the BACK of the building.

Happy to accommodate son's wheat allergy!!!!!!!

Just ordered from Golden Taste for the first time and not only is it the best Chinese we've had in while but they were also super friendly and more than happy to accommodate our son's wheat allergy. We ordered chicken with veggies in white sauce and asked them to double check if there was any flour in it - they assured us that it was just corn starch (and even called us back after our order to double check that corn/potato starch were okay), we ordered veggie fried rice and without our asking they offered to prepare it wheat-free (without soy sauce). Not only did we feel confident allowing our allergic son eat the food it tasted great too. Totally recommend this to anyone on Gluten-free or wheat-free diet.

Golden Taste is the most recent Chinese restaurant to populate a space across the street from the theater. It feels like it turns over annually.

I gave it a few tries (let's support independent shops!) but, unfortunately, I don't like it. Here's the good and the bad:

Good: Very friendly service. Your food comes out fast. Very reasonable prices. The usual selection of Americanized Chinese food. There's... big portions..

Bad: Well, it's my turn. I always get a snobby foodie chuckle when a Yelp review only says "greasy," but, it's greasy. And, every time I've even there I've just felt tired and icky. Also it is silent inside. The TV's off, there's no music, it's just you chewing away in library silence. Just not spectacular, or even very good.

The food quality is much better than Shanghai (on Mass Ave) but not as good as Fusion Taste (near Starbucks). And Fusion Taste is just as affordable.

The garlic chicken won me over. Good scallion pancakes too!

I had gotten General Gau's here before and was not too impressed. It was part of a dinner combo meal...while plentiful with 2 meals worth of food, it was not the greatest Gau's I had ever gouged myself on. However, the wife got out of work late one night last week and we figured we'd give the Golden another go for dinner.

Again, garlic chicken is great - nice and spicy. The scallion cakes are crispy and kinda sweet. The Mrs. got some dumplings which were quite tasty. Good dipping sauces.

All in all, a solid option in a town rife with "ethnic" dining destinations. Good prices, quick service, and they even have these tasty candies in a bowl by the register.

I really dislike giving bad reviews and try really hard not to give them unless it is deserved.

First off, the delivery took forever. Grub Hub gave me their estimated delivery time...though, it took them almost half an hour longer. It ended up taking me over an hour and a half to get my food. However, I am very grateful that they drove out in the snow to deliver my food.

The real reason why they only got 2 stars was because of their food. I got the beef chow fun and wonton soup. The chow fun was tasteless. I don't think they heated their wok enough to make a good chow fun. The key to a good chow fun is a high heated wok. If you don't have that, the best you're going to get is a merely okay chow fun. The wonton soup was slightly better. The wontons were okay; the meat inside was a little dry. However, they put a piece of ham into the soup and I did not understand that. When I saw the ham, the first thing that crossed my mind was "was this ham about to go bad?" It was just a very confused soup; it seemed like the chef just threw the odds and ends of whatever was about to go bad into the soup.

On a positive note, the portion sizes were really big. However, I'm not sure I wanted such a big size. I'd be ok with better tasting/better quality food and less of it. I have no plans on ordering from them again. There are a few other Chinese take-out/delivery places in the area to choose from. I was not at all impressed with Golden Taste.

Like many Chinese food places, Golden Taste offers lunch and dinner combination specials. @ $7 for lunch and a buck or so more for dinner includes soup, app, rice, and main dish. Instead of ordering from the rest of the menu, this is a great way to cut costs and have a meal with some variety.

Spring rolls are great here (crispy and a bit greasy - as they should be - they aren't meant to be health food). Many vegetarian options. If you aren't into greasy, oily, or salty, ask for your order steamed. They give you a side of ginger sauce to add a little flavor if you desire. Good sized shrimp, fresh tasting veggies, brown rice option, free tea in the restaurant, and a tv that is occasionally on. I don't eat chicken or beef so I can't comment on all of the dishes, but from what I've had here, Golden Taste is a better than average, affordable Chinese restaurant with plenty of menu options. The seating at Shanghai Village might be more comfortable and accommodating, but I think everything else is better here.

I have ordered delivery twice from Golden Taste and both times there was an added confusion that made the order seem like it would never end, and I would worry that I was not going to receive the correct order.

The first time they did deliver the wrong order. When I called I was told that the chef was too busy to make me the correct order. In return I was supposed to have a free coupon for the same dish I should have had (the one they gave me had food items in it I can not eat).

I called and ordered from them a second time (mistake). Again the order took longer than it needed to. Also despite my mentioning it, they still charged me for the dish I was supposed to have a coupon for. They owe me a meal.

The food is decent, but nothing you couldn't find equal or better tasting at any Chinese joint. The staff were difficult but not unpleasant.

They have an online order option if you click over to their link on the yelp page. Go that route, no phone orders. Also both times it took at least 20-25 minutes later than max estimated time.

Sigh.

Normally if I discover something really amazing, I don't tell anyone about it, but this place definitely needs some good comments. I don't know why there are bad comments bring this place down since the food here is so good. Here is a list of food that I would totally recommend others to try:

-General Gao Chicken (MUST TRY)
-Crab Rangoon (MUST TRY)
-Chicken Wings
-Peking Raviolis
-Sesame Chicken
-Orange Beef

TRUST ME!! YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE THIS PLACE!!

Long day at work? Stressed? Hungry? Craving chinese food? RUN AWAY!

Lets start from the beginning. I submitted my order via GrubHub and specifically stated "Please do not forget the hot mustard! :-)"

The wait was not too long before getting a phone call. Immediately I realized a language barrier (which is okay!) but I could not figure out what he was saying. Finally after running up and down my street I realized this driver was in Arlington and not Somerville. Does my order not specify my exact address? I order out 3-4 times a week and this is the first time there has been a problem.

Okay okay...mistakes happen...no worries.

The food arrives and I am ready to dig in to the egg rolls and spicy mustard! As you can imagine I am hungry at this point in time. As I open what I feel to be an early Christmas present I realize there is NO SPICY MUSTARD - noooooooooo!!!! I call the place back immediately to inquire (maybe they do not have any) and the gentleman on the phone says "The food has already been delivered"....yes...I realize this...that is why I am calling. "You did not get any hot mustard?"...yet again...why I am calling..."Sorry, don't know what I can do"...so that ended the story. I hung up.

Since I am starving at this point I suck up my tears and start eating the food...and then I realize 1) it is cold, I assume from the driver being in the wrong city, and 2) it is not that great. The egg roll lacked flavor and the chicken was heavily breaded.

My recommendation is to go another direction for ordering chinese food. Up to you!

Golden Taste closed some time ago, perhaps two years ago. Lucky Dragon is the name of the new establishment.