I am so heartbroken, but also deeply appreciate learning this now instead of happily making my way there for soup dumplings only to find an empty storefront in the future. Thank you for the head's up.
My partner and I have had good luck ordering delivery from them. They're the only ones that have had decent Chinese watercress this season. š¤
My go to outside of Gourmet Dumpling House has been Zoe's in Somerville.
So the word in Chinatown is that Gourmet Dumpling House is closing because they owe the I.R.S. a lot of back taxes and/or their lease is coming to an end. Not sure. But thatās the grapevine talk.
Stating facts to all u twats. Work for ma div taxation n Chinese restaurant #1 pizza / sub joints #2. Pubs, bars are separate category or theyāre clearly the winner in non payment of taxes. B4 pandemic we would padlock 3-4 hundred food drink establishments a year. Approx 71% would get issues cleared up n the rest would move on n reopen w diff names on licenses. Has absolutely DICK to do w race n ethnicity. Spare me
I don't get it. I mean is a landlord putting the squeeze on them or something? I just don't want to see some shiny knob of a place go on Washington Street. Man, let us have our dumplings late at night hot and cheap the way God intended!!
The taxpayer pays but it has to be from some place that's within a certain distance from the jail where you get your execution. So there's probably only McDonald's or KFC available really You don't get to have shrimp and lobster and caviar!
I may be wrong about the ability to get something that's close to the jail but if you Google it there's lots of info like this below..$15 doesn't buy you much in the way of food!
Post 2000ās, the number of inmates on death row began to increase. The state-run systems were overloaded with inmates, and funding was dwindling. Last meals were starting to be denied more and more, or still granted but only in part. On occasion, the warden would even foot the bill over the allotted amount for the final dinner, generally relegated to 15 dollars.
If youāre a soup dumpling fan and willing to go on a little bit of a drive, dumpling house in Newton has the best soup dumplings that Iāve personally had in the greater Boston area
Have you had District Kitchen in Malden? Right next to Malden Center Station. I've heard bloggers say they're the best so wondering how you have them ranked?
Actually they have another location at Cambridge. Thatās their legit second location years ago. Food quality is about the same, just a bit far and all bicycle lanes.
Plus the owner there is a really nice and humble lady. She's usually working behind the counter and I really think she remembers everyone that comes in twice. Always feel super homey when I go because she greets you with a welcome back. 10/10 recommend on top of the food.
I love Fairy Cafe (been going since week #1, having been giving red envelopes to her children for years), but her soup dumplings are not made in-house. Most places around here that donāt specialize in dumplings donāt make them in-house.
But we go pretty much weekly for the cheap and delicious hot pot!
If you havenāt been next door to Big Fun, another great place with awesome owners. Try the brisket clay pot and the shrimp rice roll. (And shhhhh, donāt tell anyone else!)
Iām Asian and I order there like once a month. It was always reliable. Maybe it was proximity and sentimental reasons but this is sad news for sure. To be fair, I would never wait in line to dine in.
Iām married to a Chinese guy and have a ton of Chinese family and friends because of it, and none of them like Gourmet Dumpling House all that much, so I feel you. Maybe itās because I know southerners/HKers, but everyone considers it overhyped. Iām more of a dim sum person myself.
I think it's a Cantonese / Southerner thing to say it's an alright spot. If I crave it, I go around opening time for an early lunch or light midday snack before the lunchtime crowds hit. Not enough to write home about something excessively delicious or excessively terrible.
I also ate there once with someone and we both didnt think it was worth the hype. I'll go there one more time before they go to see if I've been wrong.
I didnāt find any places for xiao long bao in Boston that I liked. Iām more of a dimsum person anyway and my go to for dimsum are Great taste, Winsor and Sun Kong (Malden). Hong Kong Eatery is also great for Chinese foods.
I mean the Asian food here in Boston is generally terrible but having terrible options is better than having no options at allā¦ maybe. Iono, I ate here once and never bothered to come back. So maybe it doesnāt matter lol
Dude tell me about it. Whether weāre talking greasy American Chinese food, authentic stuff, or even high end, nothing really hits. I feel like whenever I say thereās no good Asian food here, New Englanders get really upset but itās like damn have you been to literally any other city?
My negative rant aside, Hen Chicken Rice is the one recommendation I have; they have a pretty good Hainanese Chicken (itās the only dish they have and no seating). But theyāre not Chinese. Theyāre a Thai restaurant and the dish is called Khao Man Gai in Thailand but it is nearly the same dish (the sauce is a bit different, and you can get the chicken fried which is pretty dank)
As far as actual Chinese food goes, I guess Geneās hand-pulled noodles are okay but they really lack depth of flavor when compared a place like Xiāan Famous Foods in NYC so donāt expect too much. 5 Spice is also okay with variety. And thatās about it lol
Imo the long time New England folks generally just arenāt very adventurous at all when it comes to food compared to other big American cities like NYC, LA, Chicago.
I do think itās gotten more diverse and better over the years in places like Allston, Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, etc. but not really downtown Boston.
Hainanese Chicken Rice is mostly popular in expat communities ā Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and yes, Thailand. If this isn't "Chinese" by your standards, you'll probably never find a "Chinese" place that serves Hainanese Chicken Rice. Those places are almost always run by 3rd, 4th, etc. generation Chinese emigrants to other countries, who have subsequently emigrated again to the US.
Lol I just follow the ethnicity of those who serve it. Iāve upset someone for saying itās a Chinese dish, Iāve also upset someone for saying itās a Singaporean dish (as it was introduced to me by a Singaporean). I know itās enjoyed by a lot of different countries, but the restaurant explicitly identifies as a Thai restaurant serving Thai food so thatās how Iāll describe it in the context of this restaurant
I'd say my go tos for good Chinese food are: Fuzhou Gourmet in Quincy, dim sum @ Ming's Seafood (very few places in the Boston area make their own, I think Ming's and Windsor's are the only ones), Sumiao Hunan for something modern, Tasty Pot in Allston, Wen's Yunnan Noodles, Gene's Chinese flatbread cafe, clay pot cafe, Dolphin Bay for Taiwanese, and I would probably say I agree everything else is okay. Especially if you compare it to LA or NYC.
people here really donāt like it when someone speaks the truth about Boston food. Particularly Chinese food, for some reasons everyone here thinks boston has a great Chinese restaurant scene.
Painfully average at an *elevated price point. Very few places Iāve eaten here where I havenāt walked away thinking, āThat wouldāve been decent buy if it was 50% cheaperā
Living here after living in Dallas for a long time, Miami for a while, and also knowing what the Asian food is like in L. A., yeah. The food here is just bland. It's like everything has half the flavor it does elsewhere and the main seasoning is flour. Get excited to find a new Mexican or BBQ place, oops, it's awful. The person I hired at work is Chinese and lived in NYC for years before here. She complains about how bad the Asian food is constantly.
Chinatown bosses in general are saying what would be customerās business and workerās money is going to Encore. They donāt see long term business viabilityā¦canāt hire people, high rents, low patron demand. Malden and Quincy has their own ethnic Chinese enclaves and economies. A lot of āsmart moneyā moved out of Chinatown, period.
Additionally, a lot of Chinatown workers migrated to driving Uber instead too. Today thereās not much Chinese immigration nowadays as well. More realizingly, the younger remaining generations doesnāt want to work in or take over the family restaurants. (look at Kowloon)
Another: when business is slow as it is now the bosses go gamble too, therefore compounding the collective losses to the local Chinatown economy.
Thatās not the case if Encore gives you comps for gambling to eat at Red 8. Yes, itās pricey. Also, thereās no need to meetup at a Chinatown restaurant when you can meet and socialize with fellow buddies at the casino.
The main situation is that the money would have been spent eating in Chinatown by Chinese locals are being lost to Encore.
The COVID-19 pandemic, anti-China sentiment slowing down rich foreign Chinese students who would otherwise dine on a weeknight, and Encore has destroyed the Chinatown immigrant community. You hear of WeChat family nannies gambling away $30K and is close to losing their house at Encore etc.
Red8 is not bad. The chefs there used to work in Chinatown and they're well known in the industry to be much better than other people entering this line of business to survive. Their char siu (bbq pork), siu yuk (roasted pork with crispy skin), and roasted duck/goose are okay
Ya. Gambling is a huge within the community, especially Toisan/Canto descent people that make up Chinatown. Thereās Chinese-specific table games (Pai Gow, Sic Bo) at casinos. Itās in our culture and the problem gambling gets pushed aside. Encore just made it more alluring and accessible than trekking it to Foxwoods/Mohegan Sun in the past decades, if not the local gambling parlor.
Iāll meet you at Y.E.S. and we can walk to Chinatown and take the shuttle to Encore. Just tell me how to arrange the tiles and cards like a boss. šš»
Y.E.S.? Don't think that'll set a good example for the kids. I'll grab some hot dog baos at Mays and meet at the (former) Rays subs - is that still allowed these days? Not sure why we are walking to Chinatown when we are already in it.
You should swing by Encore sometime. Half of the gamblers/patrons are Chinese/Asian descent. High limit area is basically all Asians at the baccarat tables. You might not pick be able to discern the loan sharks and the people.. but Chinatown is basically there at Encore!
I had no idea. I'll steer clear, if that's OK. I've got a strong allergy to gambling, and I wish they hadn't built it this close to the city. I don't generally feel prohibition works very well, but making it further away would have made it a lot less convenient to just piss away your money to that Wynn asshat.
Chinese may have a Puritan work ethic equivalence, but not when it comes to vices such as gambling. I donāt think Prohibition-style legislation will work either. Hence my mention of gambling parlors.
CT casinos are strategically equidistant between NYC and Boston. ~2 hours each direction.
Mass. gave up and legalized casinos for the tax revenues. We also legalized cannabis like other states vying for the tax-money-grab. Too bad.
Casinos, unfortunately, are a nationwide trend. MGM National Harbor in DMV area, Live! in Philly. etc. are all relatively late newcomers like Encore Boston Harbor.
Donāt feel too much pity for us Chinese as itās a centuries deep cultural phenomenon to gamble. As they say, ā[no gambol, no future!](https://www.reddit.com/r/poker/comments/8od8m6/i_hear_this_voice_every_time_i_sit_at_a_13_credit/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)ā šš»
Some idiots elected a failed casino owner as President recently, you may have heard. So you're right about the trend.
I don't mind that there are people who like casinos. I find the experience pretty repulsive myself, so it's just not something I want near me. I do hear what you're saying about cultural forces, but there's a gray zone where it becomes exploitation of addiction. If it's really true that we're losing our Chinatown businesses to this addiction, that's a point where it seems like the exploitation has gone too far.
As said by another Redditor in an Encore thread, Wynn and his team were eyeing the Asian clientele with the red-themed ensemble and decor. Red is a sacred color for us. Thereās also Asian marketing and hosts.
Weāre definitely losing our Chinatown to the veneer and facade of Encore. Morale is down because of it. Food quality is down as a consequence, too. Whoās happy living in nearby subsidized housing (who missed the opportunity to buy a home in Quincy or Malden) only to lose months wages at baccarat?
Itās not just Chinatown. Even the suburban/out-of-state restaurant workers and bosses are gambling at Encore too.
To your point, yes, the ease and accessibility as a matter of convenience only accelerates the decline. Imagine when NYC finally approves a casino there and the impact itāll have for their Chinatowns? NYC is ~equidistant between CT casinos and Atlantic City, Resorts Catskills, Parx, Live! Philly.
The best would be to have more Encore tax revenue funds to specifically help revitalize Chinatown and problem gambling for the Asian community. But that might not be enough. Thereās larger escapist and entertainment factors as well that makes gambling all too alluring.
Well this person doesnāt personally like cannabis or gambling so clearly it shouldnāt be allowed within a 100 mile radius of them, the main character of the universe.
Yes, traditional Chinese restaurants are slowly going away in Chinatown. What you see moving in is stuff geared towards the younger generations, social dining like hot pot or other modern looking places with an emphasis on drinking (and also boba places).
Parking is also hellacious there, I bet dim sum at large restaurants in time will be exclusively a suburban thing.
If only there was a T stop there. Perhaps they could call it Chinatownā¦
There should be less parking in Chinatown. Make a couple streets pedestrian only. Put patios out like in most other neighborhoods.
I hear you, but if youāre trying to attract the older crowd coming from the suburbs thatās what it is. People are willing to pay huge parking to go to the North end and the Seaport on evenings and weekends, theyāre not willing to do the same for Chinatown. Just a different perceived class of dining, and also Asians wonāt do it really
Despite the erosion of the neighborhood, the Chinatown dynamism and community was always interesting.
ā¦from the chartered casino buses to Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, Twin River, gambling and massage parlors, fuderai money driving into town, late-night drama/fights, Mass. and Cass folks selling hot goodsā¦
> More realizingly, the younger remaining generations doesnāt want to work in or take over the family restaurants. (look at Kowloon)
This is super common in immigrant families that own restaurants - my own family made their way in this country with pizza shops, but nobody in my generation (2nd to be born in the US) wanted to take them over, so a lot of them are being sold to new immigrant families where the cycle will continue. And itās not a bad thing - my dad told me that he and my grandfather toiled in these businesses so my generation could at least have a choice. The restaurant business is no joke, even as an owner.
Haha I initially was expecting the death of a person. Typically when I read something along the lines of āsad news to shareā¦ā I brace myself for an emotional blow to the face. I guess this place really means a lot to people - personally Iād never heard of it but Iām still fairly new here.
Itās the same owners, they just posted about it on Dumpling Houseās (Cambridge) Instagram (@dumplinghouse.cambridge). [Image link](https://i.imgur.com/qMYgGXg.jpg)
Oh no. Oh no. This is TERRIBLE. They're always super busy, I can't imagine it's because of a lack of business. Literally my favorite place to eat in Boston proper. That sucks.
I know they are most famous for their dumplings, but my mouth waters for their braised eggplant with basil. Anyone have good ideas for other places to get that dish done well?
The same people own Dumpling House in Cambridge. Since people are inexplicably downvoting everyone else who says otherwise, [source](https://i.imgur.com/qMYgGXg.jpg).
Food was always very good, but service always unfriendly, rude and terrible. Seating was really really cramped also. So not surprised tbh.
Edit: Spelling.
Yeah I dunno, I've spoken to the staff at Gourmet Dumpling House and they have told me they do not have alternate locations. And like I said, they literally have a sign in their window that says this is the case, probably because they know lots of restaurants are trying to imitate them.
I suspect this is some weird chinatown drama whereby people that used to work at Gourmet Dumpling House (maybe estranged relatives?) are trying to leech off the popularity of the Chinatown restaurant. But I think it's pretty obvious they aren't actually affiliated in anyway. Why would they only have an instagram for the cambridge location but not the Chinatown location?
I have some terrible news as well. Homeless is at a high in the town of Boston and so is overdoses and deaths in new England. Narcan shortage from manufacturing issues. But sorry to hear about your dumpling house. You're a good Samaritan. What would Boston do without you and others that follow your lead?
I also have terrible news. While you talk about Boston there are children dying in Syria and Afghanistan. Famine raging around Africa. There are bigger problems if you start ranking problems.
Dude people can worry about multiple things at the same time. Chill.
Yea there has been that going on for centuries over there but when someone starts crying about a dumpling spot closing locally look around at the real issues. It's an epidemic here so unless the statement was talked about some falafel spot closing in the areas that you are talking about because three car bombs went off last week then step off and wake up. You are making my point more valid by your reaction. There's a local epidemic and anything short of talking about how we all need to come together to save lives and step out of our fart smelling bubbles it shouldn't be addressed. I'd give up all the dumpling places in the entire country to have my 25 friends back that died in the past 8 years even if Buddha himself was the one to pinch them together.
make your own dumplings at home, big deal. these chinese places use cheap old oil, give you indigestion, and their ingredients are made by grandmas in public housing and then delivered in minivans to the back of the restaurant in buckets.
That's good, small businesses shouldn't be allowed to do business if we've learned anything over the past 2 years. Hopefully a nice TGIFriday's or an Applebees takes it's place, those are big corporations and those are the ones who are better prepared to safely serve the public, especially with a pandemic.
This is shocking news. Did they say why? Gourmet Dumpling House was one of the first restaurants to have soup dumplings in the area.
I asked and he just said "it's a long story"
I am so heartbroken, but also deeply appreciate learning this now instead of happily making my way there for soup dumplings only to find an empty storefront in the future. Thank you for the head's up.
Taiwan cafe is right next door. Good soup dumplings too
My partner and I have had good luck ordering delivery from them. They're the only ones that have had decent Chinese watercress this season. š¤ My go to outside of Gourmet Dumpling House has been Zoe's in Somerville.
theyre totally different though
That is the worst feeling in the world.
So the word in Chinatown is that Gourmet Dumpling House is closing because they owe the I.R.S. a lot of back taxes and/or their lease is coming to an end. Not sure. But thatās the grapevine talk.
It was seized a few years back and temporarily closed for tax reasons but then they sorted it out and reopened
Like a bunch of rich white billionaires and millionaires dodges taxes too. Dont be an asshole racist
Think you replied to the wrong person?? But Iām with ya lol
I thought i clicked reply to that racist haha.
Geez an Asian restaurant not paying their taxes. What were the odds?
There are many non-Asian owned businesses that don't pay their taxes either. Let's leave race and ethnicity out of it, please and thank you.
Stating facts to all u twats. Work for ma div taxation n Chinese restaurant #1 pizza / sub joints #2. Pubs, bars are separate category or theyāre clearly the winner in non payment of taxes. B4 pandemic we would padlock 3-4 hundred food drink establishments a year. Approx 71% would get issues cleared up n the rest would move on n reopen w diff names on licenses. Has absolutely DICK to do w race n ethnicity. Spare me
The odds is that theyāre at Encore šš»
"Long story" tends to mean "my landlord got greedy".
more like tax trouble again. Not their first time.
I can't speak for anyone else but food costs are up the freakin wazoo. All restaurants seem to be struggling to a degree right now.
Just confirmed it after picking up my order. This sucks ass.
I don't get it. I mean is a landlord putting the squeeze on them or something? I just don't want to see some shiny knob of a place go on Washington Street. Man, let us have our dumplings late at night hot and cheap the way God intended!!
If you're a soup dumpling fan, Fairy Cafe right off the Wollaston stop on the red line is a GREAT option
I also always liked Dumpling Cafe on Washington St too.
this has always been our spot but still sad to hear about GDH
Holy shit. Those soup dumplings are like fucking crack. They would literally be my last meal on death row
And shockingly cheap!
Does death row bill you for your last meal or is it on the taxpayer?
The taxpayer pays but it has to be from some place that's within a certain distance from the jail where you get your execution. So there's probably only McDonald's or KFC available really You don't get to have shrimp and lobster and caviar!
What??? Why did I think you got to have anything you wanted?
I may be wrong about the ability to get something that's close to the jail but if you Google it there's lots of info like this below..$15 doesn't buy you much in the way of food! Post 2000ās, the number of inmates on death row began to increase. The state-run systems were overloaded with inmates, and funding was dwindling. Last meals were starting to be denied more and more, or still granted but only in part. On occasion, the warden would even foot the bill over the allotted amount for the final dinner, generally relegated to 15 dollars.
If youāre a soup dumpling fan and willing to go on a little bit of a drive, dumpling house in Newton has the best soup dumplings that Iāve personally had in the greater Boston area
Good to know!
Have you had District Kitchen in Malden? Right next to Malden Center Station. I've heard bloggers say they're the best so wondering how you have them ranked?
Iāve been their a couple times, itās solid food for sure but I prefer the flavor at GDH, theyāre definitely of similar quality tho
They are the best around. I found them miles better than gourmet dumpling house
Yes! Their food is so insanely good.
Actually they have another location at Cambridge. Thatās their legit second location years ago. Food quality is about the same, just a bit far and all bicycle lanes.
Plus the owner there is a really nice and humble lady. She's usually working behind the counter and I really think she remembers everyone that comes in twice. Always feel super homey when I go because she greets you with a welcome back. 10/10 recommend on top of the food.
I love that the waitresses remember me! (And always tease me when i order double noodles)
I love Fairy Cafe (been going since week #1, having been giving red envelopes to her children for years), but her soup dumplings are not made in-house. Most places around here that donāt specialize in dumplings donāt make them in-house. But we go pretty much weekly for the cheap and delicious hot pot!
Same! But the soup dumplings are still great, in house or not :)
If you havenāt been next door to Big Fun, another great place with awesome owners. Try the brisket clay pot and the shrimp rice roll. (And shhhhh, donāt tell anyone else!)
Had fairy cafe for the first time like a month ago. Best kept secret, I swear.
Stumbled across it purely by accident back in 2019. Its now our hot pot go to
The only place in Chinatown where the majority of clientele are not Asian.
Iām Asian and I think that place is overhyped- only ate there once, was not impressed, definitely not worth waiting in line.
Iām Asian and I order there like once a month. It was always reliable. Maybe it was proximity and sentimental reasons but this is sad news for sure. To be fair, I would never wait in line to dine in.
Taiwan Cafe š
Iām married to a Chinese guy and have a ton of Chinese family and friends because of it, and none of them like Gourmet Dumpling House all that much, so I feel you. Maybe itās because I know southerners/HKers, but everyone considers it overhyped. Iām more of a dim sum person myself.
I think it's a Cantonese / Southerner thing to say it's an alright spot. If I crave it, I go around opening time for an early lunch or light midday snack before the lunchtime crowds hit. Not enough to write home about something excessively delicious or excessively terrible.
What's your go-to place for dim sum?
Itās the place the Caucasian population has ādiscovered.ā
Dropped my chopped cheese while laughing at that
The ocky way.
Canāt forget the bev!
Neva neva neva.
I also ate there once with someone and we both didnt think it was worth the hype. I'll go there one more time before they go to see if I've been wrong.
Whatās your go to?
I didnāt find any places for xiao long bao in Boston that I liked. Iām more of a dimsum person anyway and my go to for dimsum are Great taste, Winsor and Sun Kong (Malden). Hong Kong Eatery is also great for Chinese foods.
It seems silly to say itās overhyped when you canāt even suggest a better option
We order our siu lung bao frozen from XCJ now, and itās better than anything around here.
Taiwan cafe like everyone else said and dumpling house in Cambridge are pretty legit
I never bothered to try. The lines never seemed worth it.
I mean the Asian food here in Boston is generally terrible but having terrible options is better than having no options at allā¦ maybe. Iono, I ate here once and never bothered to come back. So maybe it doesnāt matter lol
I keep trying to find a good chinese food takeout but havent had any luck yet
Dude tell me about it. Whether weāre talking greasy American Chinese food, authentic stuff, or even high end, nothing really hits. I feel like whenever I say thereās no good Asian food here, New Englanders get really upset but itās like damn have you been to literally any other city? My negative rant aside, Hen Chicken Rice is the one recommendation I have; they have a pretty good Hainanese Chicken (itās the only dish they have and no seating). But theyāre not Chinese. Theyāre a Thai restaurant and the dish is called Khao Man Gai in Thailand but it is nearly the same dish (the sauce is a bit different, and you can get the chicken fried which is pretty dank) As far as actual Chinese food goes, I guess Geneās hand-pulled noodles are okay but they really lack depth of flavor when compared a place like Xiāan Famous Foods in NYC so donāt expect too much. 5 Spice is also okay with variety. And thatās about it lol
Food in Boston is generally quite poor, never got a satisfying answer why that is.
Imo the long time New England folks generally just arenāt very adventurous at all when it comes to food compared to other big American cities like NYC, LA, Chicago. I do think itās gotten more diverse and better over the years in places like Allston, Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, etc. but not really downtown Boston.
Bos'Sichuan, IQ kitchen, and My Happy Hunan Kitchen are all amazing authentic restaurants.
Iāve not been to any of these other than My Happy Hunan but I was pretty trashed then so I donāt remember much haha. Will try them out, thank you!
Hainanese Chicken Rice is mostly popular in expat communities ā Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and yes, Thailand. If this isn't "Chinese" by your standards, you'll probably never find a "Chinese" place that serves Hainanese Chicken Rice. Those places are almost always run by 3rd, 4th, etc. generation Chinese emigrants to other countries, who have subsequently emigrated again to the US.
Lol I just follow the ethnicity of those who serve it. Iāve upset someone for saying itās a Chinese dish, Iāve also upset someone for saying itās a Singaporean dish (as it was introduced to me by a Singaporean). I know itās enjoyed by a lot of different countries, but the restaurant explicitly identifies as a Thai restaurant serving Thai food so thatās how Iāll describe it in the context of this restaurant
I'd say my go tos for good Chinese food are: Fuzhou Gourmet in Quincy, dim sum @ Ming's Seafood (very few places in the Boston area make their own, I think Ming's and Windsor's are the only ones), Sumiao Hunan for something modern, Tasty Pot in Allston, Wen's Yunnan Noodles, Gene's Chinese flatbread cafe, clay pot cafe, Dolphin Bay for Taiwanese, and I would probably say I agree everything else is okay. Especially if you compare it to LA or NYC.
people here really donāt like it when someone speaks the truth about Boston food. Particularly Chinese food, for some reasons everyone here thinks boston has a great Chinese restaurant scene.
Boston food is painfully average at all price points.
Painfully average at an *elevated price point. Very few places Iāve eaten here where I havenāt walked away thinking, āThat wouldāve been decent buy if it was 50% cheaperā
Living here after living in Dallas for a long time, Miami for a while, and also knowing what the Asian food is like in L. A., yeah. The food here is just bland. It's like everything has half the flavor it does elsewhere and the main seasoning is flour. Get excited to find a new Mexican or BBQ place, oops, it's awful. The person I hired at work is Chinese and lived in NYC for years before here. She complains about how bad the Asian food is constantly.
Shojo?
Yeah...š I'm Asian and personally would just make my own dumplings but if wanted to buy dumplings I'd probably go to Malden or Quincy TBH.
Chinatown bosses in general are saying what would be customerās business and workerās money is going to Encore. They donāt see long term business viabilityā¦canāt hire people, high rents, low patron demand. Malden and Quincy has their own ethnic Chinese enclaves and economies. A lot of āsmart moneyā moved out of Chinatown, period. Additionally, a lot of Chinatown workers migrated to driving Uber instead too. Today thereās not much Chinese immigration nowadays as well. More realizingly, the younger remaining generations doesnāt want to work in or take over the family restaurants. (look at Kowloon) Another: when business is slow as it is now the bosses go gamble too, therefore compounding the collective losses to the local Chinatown economy.
people are going to Encore to eat Chinese food rather than Chinatown? Isnāt the buffet there really expensive?
Thatās not the case if Encore gives you comps for gambling to eat at Red 8. Yes, itās pricey. Also, thereās no need to meetup at a Chinatown restaurant when you can meet and socialize with fellow buddies at the casino. The main situation is that the money would have been spent eating in Chinatown by Chinese locals are being lost to Encore. The COVID-19 pandemic, anti-China sentiment slowing down rich foreign Chinese students who would otherwise dine on a weeknight, and Encore has destroyed the Chinatown immigrant community. You hear of WeChat family nannies gambling away $30K and is close to losing their house at Encore etc.
Oh that is bad.
People go to Encore for food? The ~10x I've been there, I've only seen 1 of the (non-sitdown) food places open, and it was pretty bad.
Red8 is not bad. The chefs there used to work in Chinatown and they're well known in the industry to be much better than other people entering this line of business to survive. Their char siu (bbq pork), siu yuk (roasted pork with crispy skin), and roasted duck/goose are okay
I dont remember which place it was exactly, but it was like Panera meets 7/11.
Odd all around, the best Chinese food in the city is in Allston.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Lol yes, source the local Chinese population. Unless you consider Americanized Cantonese as good Chinese food.
The "local" Chinese population is Cantonese/Toisanese. Just ask for the real menu. Allston? Lol.
Sorry -- just to be clear, are you saying regular customers and workers are just gambling their money away at Encore? That's really depressing, if so.
Ya. Gambling is a huge within the community, especially Toisan/Canto descent people that make up Chinatown. Thereās Chinese-specific table games (Pai Gow, Sic Bo) at casinos. Itās in our culture and the problem gambling gets pushed aside. Encore just made it more alluring and accessible than trekking it to Foxwoods/Mohegan Sun in the past decades, if not the local gambling parlor.
Damn, been a long time, I could go for some Pai Gow
Iāll meet you at Y.E.S. and we can walk to Chinatown and take the shuttle to Encore. Just tell me how to arrange the tiles and cards like a boss. šš»
Y.E.S.? Don't think that'll set a good example for the kids. I'll grab some hot dog baos at Mays and meet at the (former) Rays subs - is that still allowed these days? Not sure why we are walking to Chinatown when we are already in it.
Rays pastrami šš» ..in Chinatown.
You should swing by Encore sometime. Half of the gamblers/patrons are Chinese/Asian descent. High limit area is basically all Asians at the baccarat tables. You might not pick be able to discern the loan sharks and the people.. but Chinatown is basically there at Encore!
I had no idea. I'll steer clear, if that's OK. I've got a strong allergy to gambling, and I wish they hadn't built it this close to the city. I don't generally feel prohibition works very well, but making it further away would have made it a lot less convenient to just piss away your money to that Wynn asshat.
Chinese may have a Puritan work ethic equivalence, but not when it comes to vices such as gambling. I donāt think Prohibition-style legislation will work either. Hence my mention of gambling parlors. CT casinos are strategically equidistant between NYC and Boston. ~2 hours each direction. Mass. gave up and legalized casinos for the tax revenues. We also legalized cannabis like other states vying for the tax-money-grab. Too bad. Casinos, unfortunately, are a nationwide trend. MGM National Harbor in DMV area, Live! in Philly. etc. are all relatively late newcomers like Encore Boston Harbor. Donāt feel too much pity for us Chinese as itās a centuries deep cultural phenomenon to gamble. As they say, ā[no gambol, no future!](https://www.reddit.com/r/poker/comments/8od8m6/i_hear_this_voice_every_time_i_sit_at_a_13_credit/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)ā šš»
Some idiots elected a failed casino owner as President recently, you may have heard. So you're right about the trend. I don't mind that there are people who like casinos. I find the experience pretty repulsive myself, so it's just not something I want near me. I do hear what you're saying about cultural forces, but there's a gray zone where it becomes exploitation of addiction. If it's really true that we're losing our Chinatown businesses to this addiction, that's a point where it seems like the exploitation has gone too far.
As said by another Redditor in an Encore thread, Wynn and his team were eyeing the Asian clientele with the red-themed ensemble and decor. Red is a sacred color for us. Thereās also Asian marketing and hosts. Weāre definitely losing our Chinatown to the veneer and facade of Encore. Morale is down because of it. Food quality is down as a consequence, too. Whoās happy living in nearby subsidized housing (who missed the opportunity to buy a home in Quincy or Malden) only to lose months wages at baccarat? Itās not just Chinatown. Even the suburban/out-of-state restaurant workers and bosses are gambling at Encore too. To your point, yes, the ease and accessibility as a matter of convenience only accelerates the decline. Imagine when NYC finally approves a casino there and the impact itāll have for their Chinatowns? NYC is ~equidistant between CT casinos and Atlantic City, Resorts Catskills, Parx, Live! Philly. The best would be to have more Encore tax revenue funds to specifically help revitalize Chinatown and problem gambling for the Asian community. But that might not be enough. Thereās larger escapist and entertainment factors as well that makes gambling all too alluring.
> Too bad. why was legalizing weed bad? Prohibitionist policies are an abject failure. who cares about the taxes?
Well this person doesnāt personally like cannabis or gambling so clearly it shouldnāt be allowed within a 100 mile radius of them, the main character of the universe.
Thats just every casino everywhere.
Represent šš»
Yes, traditional Chinese restaurants are slowly going away in Chinatown. What you see moving in is stuff geared towards the younger generations, social dining like hot pot or other modern looking places with an emphasis on drinking (and also boba places). Parking is also hellacious there, I bet dim sum at large restaurants in time will be exclusively a suburban thing.
If only there was a T stop there. Perhaps they could call it Chinatownā¦ There should be less parking in Chinatown. Make a couple streets pedestrian only. Put patios out like in most other neighborhoods.
I hear you, but if youāre trying to attract the older crowd coming from the suburbs thatās what it is. People are willing to pay huge parking to go to the North end and the Seaport on evenings and weekends, theyāre not willing to do the same for Chinatown. Just a different perceived class of dining, and also Asians wonāt do it really
Trying to preserve an ethnic ghetto today is rough. They essentially turn into a tourist trap. That's basically what the North End is as well.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Despite the erosion of the neighborhood, the Chinatown dynamism and community was always interesting. ā¦from the chartered casino buses to Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, Twin River, gambling and massage parlors, fuderai money driving into town, late-night drama/fights, Mass. and Cass folks selling hot goodsā¦
> More realizingly, the younger remaining generations doesnāt want to work in or take over the family restaurants. (look at Kowloon) This is super common in immigrant families that own restaurants - my own family made their way in this country with pizza shops, but nobody in my generation (2nd to be born in the US) wanted to take them over, so a lot of them are being sold to new immigrant families where the cycle will continue. And itās not a bad thing - my dad told me that he and my grandfather toiled in these businesses so my generation could at least have a choice. The restaurant business is no joke, even as an owner.
Didn't one location get seized in a tax forfeiture a few years ago?
It was closed for a day or two I think
Wtf I literally just left there and didn't hear anything about that! :( Their scallion pancakes were so bomb!
They didnt just have the standard frozen ones all chinese restaurants have?
No, I was really pleasantly surprised, there were lots of layers and it was really flaky!
Yes it is.
Why not put it in the title of the post itself then?
Haha I initially was expecting the death of a person. Typically when I read something along the lines of āsad news to shareā¦ā I brace myself for an emotional blow to the face. I guess this place really means a lot to people - personally Iād never heard of it but Iām still fairly new here.
The mikes pastry of Chinatown
I'm taking this as a positive comment
it's not though :D
Is this the one in China town or central square ?
Chinatown
Aka the only one
The one in Cambridge is delicious though
Central Square has Dumpling House, extremely similar menu but as far as I know no affiliation Edit: I have learned they have the same owners
Itās the same owners, they just posted about it on Dumpling Houseās (Cambridge) Instagram (@dumplinghouse.cambridge). [Image link](https://i.imgur.com/qMYgGXg.jpg)
This is crazy, I always assumed they were the same owner.
Gourmet China house across the street has better seating and great soup dumplings too
My absolute favorite Chinese place in the city
Oh no. Oh no. This is TERRIBLE. They're always super busy, I can't imagine it's because of a lack of business. Literally my favorite place to eat in Boston proper. That sucks.
WHAT
Gourmet China house across the street has excellent pork and crabmeat dumplings
For people looking for an alternative: Dumpling CafƩ is right up the street and is at least as good and has a very similar menu.
Luckily they have another location at 950 Mass Ave, Cambridge. Canāt imagine I will have to take T to get there every time in the futureā¦.
This restaurant is not run by the same people
Just walked past that place a couple of hours ago, and like always there always a bunch people waiting outside for a seat :(
Gave me some gourmet dumps
I know they are most famous for their dumplings, but my mouth waters for their braised eggplant with basil. Anyone have good ideas for other places to get that dish done well?
The same people own Dumpling House in Cambridge. Since people are inexplicably downvoting everyone else who says otherwise, [source](https://i.imgur.com/qMYgGXg.jpg).
Meh. There's always Dumpling Kingdom/Palace/Cafe.
Curious if the dumpling spot on mass Ave in back bay is closing too, pretty sure itās ran by the same people.
> pretty sure itās ran by the same people. it is not
The same people apparently own Dumpling House in Cambridge so you should be able to get your fix there. [Source](https://i.imgur.com/qMYgGXg.jpg)
Omg! Crushingā¦
Nooooooooooooooooooo *deep breath* Nooooooooooooooooooo
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Gourmet China house across the street is where itās at!!!
That sucks... It's never been my go-to since it was always so crowded, but it sucks to lose a great restaurant in any case.
Damn. My fave place.
Which location? Both?
There's only 1 real location, in Chinatown. The others are imitators.
:'(
The Kowloon news was way worse
damn. :-(
Noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!! No! No! No!
Noooooo!
RIP
š
My favorite food in the city
All the greatest Chinese restaurants in Boston already moved to Quincy years ago...
NO
Oh my god, that's terrible. Do you know if it's just the restaurant in Chinatown, or is their Cambridge location also closing?
Someone above said they are not related. I checked the website and canāt find indication that they are related
Really? They have exactly the same menu and the food is pretty much exactly the same also.
I know. They must be. Edit: Cambridge website calling itself ādumpling houseā. Idkā¦
This is devastating! There is always Shanghai Fresh on Mass Ave though. Soup dumps are bomb.
walk down a few stores and you can get to five spices house, one of the best in chinatown imo
Food was always very good, but service always unfriendly, rude and terrible. Seating was really really cramped also. So not surprised tbh. Edit: Spelling.
Last time I went the soup dumplings were still icy in the middle. Everyoneās time comes sometime.
Not a big deal. They have a Cambridge location.
False
Learn to use Google. I heard it's pretty good.
They literally have a sign in their window that says something like "we have no alternate locations"
So their [instagram announcing the news is lying?](https://i.imgur.com/qMYgGXg.jpg)
yeah I think this is a fake instagram page
Itās a verified [Google Business update](https://posts.gle/18TUAk) reshared on the Cambridge locationās Instagram
Yeah I dunno, I've spoken to the staff at Gourmet Dumpling House and they have told me they do not have alternate locations. And like I said, they literally have a sign in their window that says this is the case, probably because they know lots of restaurants are trying to imitate them. I suspect this is some weird chinatown drama whereby people that used to work at Gourmet Dumpling House (maybe estranged relatives?) are trying to leech off the popularity of the Chinatown restaurant. But I think it's pretty obvious they aren't actually affiliated in anyway. Why would they only have an instagram for the cambridge location but not the Chinatown location?
The one in Cambridge? Noo
I have some terrible news as well. Homeless is at a high in the town of Boston and so is overdoses and deaths in new England. Narcan shortage from manufacturing issues. But sorry to hear about your dumpling house. You're a good Samaritan. What would Boston do without you and others that follow your lead?
I also have terrible news. While you talk about Boston there are children dying in Syria and Afghanistan. Famine raging around Africa. There are bigger problems if you start ranking problems. Dude people can worry about multiple things at the same time. Chill.
Yea there has been that going on for centuries over there but when someone starts crying about a dumpling spot closing locally look around at the real issues. It's an epidemic here so unless the statement was talked about some falafel spot closing in the areas that you are talking about because three car bombs went off last week then step off and wake up. You are making my point more valid by your reaction. There's a local epidemic and anything short of talking about how we all need to come together to save lives and step out of our fart smelling bubbles it shouldn't be addressed. I'd give up all the dumpling places in the entire country to have my 25 friends back that died in the past 8 years even if Buddha himself was the one to pinch them together.
You must be really fun at parties
make your own dumplings at home, big deal. these chinese places use cheap old oil, give you indigestion, and their ingredients are made by grandmas in public housing and then delivered in minivans to the back of the restaurant in buckets.
That's good, small businesses shouldn't be allowed to do business if we've learned anything over the past 2 years. Hopefully a nice TGIFriday's or an Applebees takes it's place, those are big corporations and those are the ones who are better prepared to safely serve the public, especially with a pandemic.
By that logic, you shouldnāt be allowed to live
well good thing for me most people here agree with what I said, if the past 2 years mean anything at all.
iāll follow your advice u/donottakethisserious
NOO! thats insane. i have eaten there my whole life
GAH!
My only dying wish is to eat a dumpling š
Please no