What's Going Down in Chinatown

by Sabrina Weiss

photography courtesy of Carina Lee

Boston is a city composed of various neighborhoods, each bursting with cultural diversity. Chinatown is an easy T ride away where visitors are transported to a lively community of Asian cuisine, shops and parks. Chinatown offers a unique cultural experience unlike any other neighborhood in Boston.

Chinatown Gate

Start off your trip by walking through the Chinatown gate. The traditional Chinese decorations of the grand entrance exemplify the uniqueness of this neighborhood. Be sure to see this entrance during the day to spot the ornate decorations before beginning your journey in the area.

Chinatown Park

The beautiful Chinatown Park is a welcomed green space in the bustling area. With stunning flowers, a calming waterfall and unique Chinese design features, this park is not only a great green space in Chinatown, but also in all of Boston! If you enjoy playing chess, be sure to bring your pieces and play alongside other residents. Stop by while the weather is still nice to take in the scenery of this park while munching on some food from one of the delectable restaurants in this neighborhood.

Double Chin

Double Chin is your hotspot for a delicious brunch of Instagram-friendly foods. Their eccentric cube toasts and fun egg dishes (like their soft-shell crab eggs Benedict) are exciting finds! Also, Double Chin offers some fun dinner options with build your own noodle bowls or Asian fusion dishes like “spam and taro French fries.” Grab some extraordinary food, snap some pictures and head out to explore more of Chinatown.

Gourmet Dumpling House

Gourmet Dumpling House is the casual, classic go-to spot in Chinatown. Gourmet Dumpling House is a fairly tight space but it is charming to bump elbows with fellow diners. Their juicy pork soup dumplings and the cozy, communal feel of the restaurant make this spot a necessary stop!

Shojo

Shojo is a funky Asian fusion restaurant with a great environment and fun menu. The walls are covered in graffiti and have a television playing a stream of various Asian films, giving the whole restaurant a hip feeling. Their menu varies from Taiwanese bao buns to chicken and waffles with an Asian twist, all of which can be accompanied by fun cocktails and mocktails. After your meal, walk across the street to the hybrid TeaDo and Zinneken’s Belgian Waffle store to end your night with some refreshing bubble tea and a warm and crispy waffle.

Jaho Coffee Roasters and Wine Bar

For a comfortable and chill stop, go to Jaho Coffee Roasters and Wine Bar. With their hours ranging from 6:30 a.m. until 11 p.m. during the week and 7 a.m. until 12 a.m. or 11 p.m. on the weekends, Jaho is a great place to stop for early mornings and late nights. This restaurant is a coffee shop by day and cocktail bar at night with fun drinks and delicious desserts at any hour. People marvel over their cappuccino artwork with intricate foam and their various coffee flavored martinis. Go to Jaho during the day to get some work done with a fun caffeinated drink or visit the bar at night to socialize with friends with tasty cocktails.

Boston is full of expansive opportunities of culinary discoveries. Rather than falling into the rut of fast food rotation, step outside of your routine and head over to Chinatown. Enjoy delectable food and diverse culture right off of the Boylston T stop by visiting this neighborhood.