China Pearl
Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, Boston
Cheers:
The China Pearl, Boston, is one of the most affordable places to go for a group meal or just a fun brunch/lunch, even dinner. Since this is Dim Sum, items are grouped into a series of three or four, which is appropriate for sharing and good to your wallet - typically it's around $2-4 for a platter of a few items. Dim Sum is a similar idea as Tapas, or small plates. Make your meal exciting by ordering many different things. It's an adventure, so try it out. This place gets rather busy on the weekends, especially around lunch, so get there early to save a table. Best time to go for a lively experience is Sunday Brunch.
my notes:
Pineapple Bun with Custard
A favorite: dessert pastry, has no pineapple, but it is rather a golden bun pastry glazed with yellow checkerboard-pattern glaze.
Inside has yellow-sugar custard and a soft doughy inside. Very fluffy.
Char Siu Bao
A favorite: I go nuts over these. It's totally the meat and the sauce that is midly sweetened by brown sugar (same concept as BBQ sauce); it is steamed white "Bao" bun with sweet pork filling (shredded pork, that is)
Red Bean Roll
The best I've had: a red bean puree surrounded by soft moist rice flour dough and covered in sesame seeds
Char Siu mini puffs
Really good, mostly dough though.
Golden brown rectangle pastries with glaze and soft flaky dough on inside, with pork paste
Green Tea
Simple and straight. Great, and complimentary with meal!
Egg Tart
Good: petite egg tart with puff pastry cups of crust (too eggy in consistency though)
Pork Fried Rice Bowl
Just okay: it was like all other pork fried-rice I've ever had from take-out. There is lots of this to share per bowl! About 4-5 people worth.
Vegetarian Wraps
Okay: Fried Wraps. That simple. Oh, and no meat.
Pork and Vegetable Wraps
Okay: Fried Wraps, again.
CHEONG FUN: Rice Sheet Rolls with Shrimp and Veggies
Okay, but way too much noodle for me. Slimy.
Accompanied by Sweet Thai Peanut Sauce and Teriyaki
Custard Pao Sweet Cream Bun
Okay: Bao white bun with yellow milk custard inside
Lo mai gai
Ew: literally glutinous rice chicken, also called steamed chicken in lotus leaf wrap, or glutinous rice in lotus leaf wrap. It's the smell and the mush. The rice was like porridge. I've had this elsewhere and this was absolutely not done right here. Disgraceful.
Honeydew Gelatin/Pudding
Not good: it's green and jello-like, too sweet
Mango Gelatin/Pudding
Not good: better than Honeydew though. Too jello-like
All portions here are enough to fill you quickly, some of the plates have extra helpings. Money goes far here. Just make sure you order the right things, and go with someone who has done this before or knows how to communicate properly. You might not want to end up with fried chicken feet...
Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown, Boston
Cheers:
The China Pearl, Boston, is one of the most affordable places to go for a group meal or just a fun brunch/lunch, even dinner. Since this is Dim Sum, items are grouped into a series of three or four, which is appropriate for sharing and good to your wallet - typically it's around $2-4 for a platter of a few items. Dim Sum is a similar idea as Tapas, or small plates. Make your meal exciting by ordering many different things. It's an adventure, so try it out. This place gets rather busy on the weekends, especially around lunch, so get there early to save a table. Best time to go for a lively experience is Sunday Brunch.
my notes:
Pineapple Bun with Custard
A favorite: dessert pastry, has no pineapple, but it is rather a golden bun pastry glazed with yellow checkerboard-pattern glaze.
Inside has yellow-sugar custard and a soft doughy inside. Very fluffy.
Char Siu Bao
A favorite: I go nuts over these. It's totally the meat and the sauce that is midly sweetened by brown sugar (same concept as BBQ sauce); it is steamed white "Bao" bun with sweet pork filling (shredded pork, that is)
Red Bean Roll
The best I've had: a red bean puree surrounded by soft moist rice flour dough and covered in sesame seeds
Char Siu mini puffs
Really good, mostly dough though.
Golden brown rectangle pastries with glaze and soft flaky dough on inside, with pork paste
Green Tea
Simple and straight. Great, and complimentary with meal!
Egg Tart
Good: petite egg tart with puff pastry cups of crust (too eggy in consistency though)
Pork Fried Rice Bowl
Just okay: it was like all other pork fried-rice I've ever had from take-out. There is lots of this to share per bowl! About 4-5 people worth.
Vegetarian Wraps
Okay: Fried Wraps. That simple. Oh, and no meat.
Pork and Vegetable Wraps
Okay: Fried Wraps, again.
CHEONG FUN: Rice Sheet Rolls with Shrimp and Veggies
Okay, but way too much noodle for me. Slimy.
Accompanied by Sweet Thai Peanut Sauce and Teriyaki
Custard Pao Sweet Cream Bun
Okay: Bao white bun with yellow milk custard inside
Lo mai gai
Ew: literally glutinous rice chicken, also called steamed chicken in lotus leaf wrap, or glutinous rice in lotus leaf wrap. It's the smell and the mush. The rice was like porridge. I've had this elsewhere and this was absolutely not done right here. Disgraceful.
Honeydew Gelatin/Pudding
Not good: it's green and jello-like, too sweet
Mango Gelatin/Pudding
Not good: better than Honeydew though. Too jello-like
All portions here are enough to fill you quickly, some of the plates have extra helpings. Money goes far here. Just make sure you order the right things, and go with someone who has done this before or knows how to communicate properly. You might not want to end up with fried chicken feet...
