this is the best authentic Taiwanese restaurant. caterer are so nice letting me leave wonderful memories with me read more

Dolphin Bay - This photo represents a place called home...... - Taiwanese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I can't say no to this place. As a SoCal native, I grew up eating Dolphin Bay every Wednesday night when my dad would play ping pong at my high school gym and pick some take out on the way home. The popcorn chicken is so nostalgic of the afterschool fundraisers I'd volunteer at. I was devastated when they closed down around 2016/2017 as I heard the owner's son had moved to Boston for college. Now imagine my surprise 10 years later when I moved to Boston and finally had the chance to pay a visit to my childhood favorite. Now I can bring my husband to my second home. The home cooked Taiwanese flavors are clearly made with a mother's love. I do miss a lot of the dishes they had when they were still in Artesia such as their squid vermicelli and this one fried rice that got my brother and me through many long nights of studying... but I understand that they may have had to shorten their menu to fit the flavor profile of Boston. One can only hope they'd bring back some of those. I will never turn down the chance to pay my old faithful a visit whenever I'm in Allston. read more

Gotta love a Taiwanese restaurant! Got tons of food to share - sausage, fried chicken (MUST GET) and a beef noodle soup. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Lovely service, nice decor - gets packed so make sure you get in early![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Can't wait to come back again read more

Dolphin Bay - Taiwanese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We got the popcorn chicken and the shaved ice and they were both the perfect portions and truly had that authentic Taiwan taste to them. Very sweet and kind family working there. Will be back again. read more

I was craving some Taiwanese comfort food in Boston and a family friend recommended this place. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was honestly really nice just walking in and hearing familiar Taiwanese music playing.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I got the wonton noodle soup and my dad got the salt and pepper pork chop rice. Both dishes were good, especially compared to other restaurants in Boston. The place seems family-owned and the staff was extremely friendly, which made me feel at home. I'll be coming back to try more of their menu, especially the popcorn chicken and drinks. read more

Dolphin Bay - Taiwanese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Wow--above and beyond. Everything was incredibly flavorful. Got the crispy pork chop over rice and added the steamed egg. The crispy coating was super seasoned with an almost mochi texture right under the crisp, and the pork inside was juicy and well seasoned as well. Steamed egg was so custardy! Such a great complement to the rest of the meal, don't skip these. Dumplings were also fantastic and flood your mouth with umami flavor as you bite into them. And the beef scallion pancake is fluffy and filled with beef that seems to have some tendon too, so a combination of textures. Onto the service, which was extraordinary. The waiter who helped us was super polite and friendly, and the owner came over too and was such a generous and positive person. She even offered us some delicious, fragrant less/no sweet oolong tea from their homeland in Taiwan, which was fragrant with floral and slight honey notes. Last time I came here I got the winter melon tea with grass jelly, very low sugar, which despite being more in the dessert tea category was refreshing and even felt sort of healthy. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice, relaxing atmosphere with hand-painted walls featuring dolphins at the shore.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] This visit was a great reminder that we need to come back much more. read more

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Came in around 8:15 on a Friday night craving some warm comfort food and did we find some here! The ladies working were so, so sweet and welcoming and made everyone feel at home. We ordered the popcorn chicken, pork belly gua bao, spicy wonton noodles and beef scallion rolls. Popcorn chicken--hot, crispy, juicy, no complaints here! Spicy wontons--hit the spot--could maybe use a garnish like some cilantro to cut through the sauce a bit but still delicious and huge portions. Beef scallion roll--good flavor, but also could use some greens like cucumber or cilantro. Gua bao--took a bit to arrive but they were super sweet and comped that for us AND gave us free milk teas! Pork belly is a bit fatty for my own personal taste but the sauce was yum and the pork from the wonton noodles is awesome on the buns too! Would absolutely come back anytime I'm craving some good, carby comfort. read more

Dolphin Bay - Popcorn chicken (back) and spicy wonton noodles - Taiwanese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

You can't beat the taro milk drink at dolphin bay. The fresh taro pieces are mixed in with the mini tapioca and blended together with just the right touch of sweetness. Every sip through the boba straw delivers a consistent experience. On top of that, the drink is lactose free! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant itself is has super cute murals of dolphins to go with its theme. Super cute.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Also very friendly staff who offer you water and a seat even for takeout. read more

Dolphin Bay - Taro milk special - Taiwanese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Loved this small place right as you enter Allston![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff are incredibly friendly and attentive. They refilled our water frequently and gave us complimentary cups of their Dolphin Bay milk tea, so tasty! My friend and I ordered the basil chicken and the spicy wonton noodles. I really loved the basil chicken--super flavorful, had a good kick of spice, and was stir-fried to give it a nice crisp. I wasn't as wowed by the wonton noodles, mostly because they felt a bit overcooked and a little low on flavor. This could've just been an off day/order, given that everything else we got was great! I'd love to stop by again and try other items on their menu. read more

Dolphin Bay - Spicy Wonton Noodles - Taiwanese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I can't believe I've been walking by this place for so long and have never tried it. It's a pretty small restaurant and very easy to miss, but it was completely amazing. Both the quality and quantity of food you get here is 100% worth it, and I will absolutely be back in the future. My party ordered the popcorn chicken, pork belly, and pork chop all on rice, but I personally ate the popcorn chicken. Popcorn chicken on rice - my 5/5 stars is mainly for this dish since it's what I ordered and ate all of. The chicken itself was so crispy and nicely marinated under the batter. It's hard to describe the taste if you haven't had Taiwanese popcorn chicken, but it has some sort of a sweet soy taste to it, and I ordered this mild which wasn't spicy at all but added some nice depth to it. The batter was perfectly crunchy with juicy dark meat chicken inside and there must have been at least 20 or more pieces on my plate - I normally eat a lot of food but even I had leftovers. This also comes with a hefty portion of rice, some nicely pan fried cabbage, and an absolutely delicious hunk of steamed egg with ground pork on top. The amount of food and variety of flavors you have here is really outstanding. Pork belly on rice - this was decent - the pork belly looked like a good portion and it was nicely braised. I didn't eat a ton of this since I only had a taste, but it was nice and came with the same sides as the popcorn chicken. Pork chop on rice - this was HUGE and had a really great flavor. It was pounded and the batter had tapioca starch or something so it was super crispy but also a little mochi-esque. Really nice dish, but like the pork belly I only had a taste. This also came with the same sides as the popcorn chicken. On top of that, we ordered and got our food in probably 5 minutes - the service was extremely fast and they kept refilling our waters as we drank. I also don't remember the prices exactly, but it was around $15 a dish, which is a great price especially considering how much food you get. I didn't expect the steamed egg to be such a good portion and such a great flavor and texture, especially with added ground pork! This was a great experience and I will be back many, many times. 5/5 - perfection! read more

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Stopped in for dessert of shaved ice. They have some preset options, I picked #3 with extra pudding, and they made a different one entirely.... With ice cream and strawberries. They have us the red bean once they realized the mistake, no big deal. The coconut drink with mini bubbles and taro was okay this time. Blended too smooth according to my fellow diners as they liked the previous bigger chunks. Still, good for dessert, and street parking for two hours was free and easy to find. Downside was construction made it a pain to drive in the area. read more

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Living in Allston has allowed me to notice restaurants I would never realize as I pass them a million times because sometimes it takes a while for me to really register things. Dolphin Bay feels like a very mom and pop restaurant from its more traditional decor and furniture. I found out on my more recent visit that the restaurant was originally in California. Despite some of the negative reviews I'm happy to say both of my experiences were very different. When I visited this time, It was a weekday evening and there were not too many people inside as I went to choose a table. They had separate menus for food and drinks like bubble tea, drinks and teas. We got popcorn chicken which was mild spice but was really tasty. The noodles were a little light in flavor for me but still really good. I really liked the flavor of the beef and pork belly. The portions were a good size as well and I ended up taking food home. The staff and possibly one of the owners were really nice and even helped box our food for us. It's a very chill restaurant if you just want something good. Prices $ Food 7 Atmosphere 5 Service 8 What we got Hot olooga tea Popcorn chicken Pork belly noodles Braised beef noodle soup read more

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I went there a few weeks ago to order a takeout after reading some favorable reviews. But for my personal experience, it's a huge thumbs down. For a fast food quality environment their prices are oddly hight compared to other run of the mill Chinese joints. (They raised the prices so the published ones on internet don't apply), and most importantly, the caliber of food is a one out of five. For example, oyster friend eggs was all starch and one should be lucky to find two tiny oysters in it. It appeared to me that due to slowness in business, the owner tried to make it up with cut corner portions and raised prices. They won't and shouldn't last. read more

This place is underrated. Server is fast and attentive. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant has about 40 people capacity, music was great.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I ordered beef shanks and Alex's noodle. The beef shanks is a must have. It's tender and rich. The noodle was cooked al dente and pork meat was tasty too. The food were really tasted like mom/dad's cooking. Definitely recommended!! read more

Dolphin Bay - Beef shanks - Taiwanese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Taiwanese food in Allston! A small spot with mom-and-pop vibes, and good if you're looking for for a really casual comfort meal.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Most of the dishes I've gotten / seen are individual servings and the portions are generous; I'd say fairly priced given the large portions. I usually go for their rice plates because its a Meal meal - rice, meat, egg, side veggies. Menu includes starters to share with the table plus some sweet treats (slushies, milk tea, shaved ice). I never have complaints with service here, and the staff is hospitable -- they actually gave my table milk teas on the house the first time I went. My things I'd recommend ordering as mains are the Pork Chop Rice and the Beef Noodle Soup, and for table starters I really like the Pop Corn Chicken and the Beef Stuffed Pancake. read more

Dolphin Bay is my go-to Taiwanese place to eat whenever I'm craving Taiwanese food. The food is hearty and home-y. It hits the spot whenever I'm craving home-y meals. Don't expect anything fancy here. It's not likely to blow your socks out of the water, but for being one of the only Taiwanese places that is easily accessible in the city, it's a regular for me. I would recommend the spicy popcorn chicken. Crunchy, and flavorful. I love that they also serve it with sides like curry potatoes and stir-fried cabbage. My girlfriend loves the spicy beef noodle soup. The spice definitely has a kick and the broth feels like a warm hug. I also tried the drinks here, they were okay. Not bad, but not amazing, I'd probably go somewhere nearby for drinks. Pro-tip: buy the 32 oz ground pork for take out!! You will NOT regret this decision. It goes well with everything you're cooking. Super flavorful and enhances everything. Good price and worth it. Parking is street parking. read more

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Came here on a Saturday noon with no wait and had a group of four. Good: - Food came so fast! We got there and ordered and food was there in 10 min - I liked the Alex's lunch and it came with so many noodles and bok choy, huge portion sizes Bad: - Pretty casual place and hard to flag down the waiters. Overall this place was solid for a quick casual catchup meal. read more

I love supporting local small businesses and restaurants, and I'm so glad my friend introduced me to Dolphin Bay! [[HIGHLIGHT]]From afar, it doesn't look like much, but when you enter, you'll be greeted by kind servers and a warm atmosphere that is actually harder and harder to come by these days.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'm not a Taiwanese food expert, but my Taiwanese friend said that this place has a unique style and I'd say the food that I've tried so far has been tasty and memorable. Serving size is also generous and you will leave feeling very full! My favorite so far is their beef noodle soup and their popcorn chicken. You can adjust the spice levels on these, which I'd highly suggest if you're not able to eat spicy food. read more

Giant bowl of shaved ice!!! Super friendly owner and staff! Loved how you can add a lot of toppings to the shaved ice! Definitely enough for a group to share (more than enough to share between groups of 4-5). The owner was very nice and stopped by too chat, we just came to get some dessert after having dinner somewhere else and enjoyed the shaved ice :) portions are huge and great for groups! read more

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My first time here; my partner had been several years ago and wanted to visit again. We ordered popcorn chicken, salt & pepper pork chop, and spicy wonton noodles - TASTE: 3/5 - I was expecting to be wowed. The seasoning on the popcorn chicken was only on the top pieces. The pork chop was okay, more peppery than anything. But the spicy wonton noodles were def a highlight: I loved the chili oil, spicy paste, and pork-filled wontons. Didn't get a chance to try their sweets! TEXTURE: 4/5 - the popcorn chicken and pork chop were fried nicely. I liked the texture of the noodles, paired w the bok choy PRICE: 4/5 - prices weren't bad SERVING SIZE: 4/5 - enough to bring home for leftovers after SERVICE: 3/5 - we walked in at 5pm on a Sunday and there were two other parties seated. Our food started coming out 30min later after ordering ATMOSPHERE: 4/5 - iconic nautical decor and dolphin-painted walls. Small space with lots of character! PARKING: 4/5 - got a free street spot a couple of blocks down Brighton Ave read more

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I was really looking forward to good Taiwanese food because there aren't many options in Chicago. Unfortunately, this didn't satisfy that craving. Beef noodle soup was bland and the noodles were not fresh, and in my opinion, not compatible with the soup. The beef rolls were not crispy enough. In the braised pork rice, there was not enough sauce and finely cut pork belly to cover every bite of rice. Service was excellent though. Staff was polite. When they got one of our orders wrong, we were compensated with free drinks. read more

Dolphin Bay - Taiwanese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Still best beef noodle soup in Boston, in my opinion. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is very casual and pleasant[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], the service is super friendly and accommodating. read more

Delicious as usual, and the servers are always some of the nicest people. Got my usual braised beef noodle soup and shared some popcorn chicken with friends read more

Dolphin Bay - braised beef noodle soup - Taiwanese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Favorite dishes to get (December 2023 update) Basil chicken - entree loaded with flavor but does not come with rice Crispy chicken cutlet noodle soup - still a personal favorite, they have a rice dish version if that's what you're looking for Dolphin Bay Snow - standard milk tea with boba and pudding, nothing special The past 4-5 visits have been take out but one day, I'll dine in again so I can try their shaved ice... read more

I first tried Dolphin Bay in 2019 while visiting a friend at BU and remember being quite surprised at how authentic the food was. We are both Taiwanese American and from New York so I naturally have pretty high standards when it comes to this cuisine. Fast forward three years - my then fiancé (who is also Taiwanese American) and I decide to take a day trip to Boston and I had to bring him here. Here are his thoughts: Dolphin Bay is a slice of heaven. The pork chop (generously spiced and fried to golden-brown perfection) is, quite simply, divine. Rarely on the East Coast (I grew up in California) do I find Taiwanese restaurants with all the fixings, including appetizers of mixed seaweed and dried bean curd. Moreover, the kitchen and wait staff all seemed to be a friendly and unassuming family, which added to the warmth of our meal. We visited on a miserably rainy day and I can say honestly that I would hike through a monsoon to have this food again. 10/10 read more

Dolphin Bay - Taiwanese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Such a hidden gem! I come here every time I crave Taiwanese food and it always hits the spot. I've only ever done takeout from here so not sure how the experience compares dining in. But service is always great while I'm waiting for my food! They offered me some water or milk tea to have for free & the owner even came by and gave me a free passion fruit slush! The prices are fair given the large portion sizes. Totally recommend! read more

Great food and value. Owner is very sweet as well. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Store has a cool layout with a boat in it and overall great time[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Cute restaurant with amazing portion sizes!! Most recently, we ordered their beef shank and oyster omelet appetizers and shared a spicy wonton noodle dish. My favorites were the appetizers! I loved the flavor and softness of the beef shank and the chewy mochi-ness of the omelet! The noodle dish was good as well, but definitely not spicy. Service was friendly and efficient. Next time we're craving Taiwanese flavors or large amounts of noodle, we'll pop by to try some of their other items! read more

To satisfy my childhood nostalgia of going to Dolphin Bay back when it was located in Rowland Heights, California, I went to Allston on a Thursday evening and found myself at a familiar sight. The establishment was half-full at 7PM, so I received seating immediately for my party of 3. I ordered the appetizer combo / 小菜拼盤 ($8) to share and the braised beef noodle soup / 紅燒牛肉麵 ($14.5) for myself. The appetizer combo consisted of marinated egg, five spiced tofu slices, and seaweed with soy sauce paste (it has a consistency of a thick sauce). It all tasted like basic marinated stuff, as expected. The portion size seemed a bit small, especially with only 2 marinated egg halves. 3* The beef noodle soup's portion size seemed larger. The beef seemed tender enough, but the soup base tasted slightly sweet. Not sweet enough to suggest msg, but enough to notice that it was attempting to make up for a too-light beef broth. That broth could not sufficiently carry the noodle soup. 3* Nostalgia aside, Dolphin Bay represents a type of cuisine that is rapidly growing out of fashion in Chinese communities across the states - Taiwanese cuisine. Boba aside, these Taiwanese restaurants that served beef noodle soup, curry rice, and popcorn chicken rice are slowly getting phased out in favor of hot pot and mainland Chinese cuisine. While demography plays a factor (immigration trends, population size, etc.), I suspect that the cuisine itself plays a part. The palate is simplistic and dated, and cannot compete with more novel, interesting flavors. read more

Dolphin Bay - Appetizer combo / 小菜拼盤 - Taiwanese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Visiting Harvard and MIT and saw Dolphin Bay pop up on Yelp when searching for lunch options. Thought to myself, "wow that sounds like the same name of the restaurant that was in Rowland Heights and closed about 10 years ago". Took the bus with wife and daughter to the restaurant. Got seated and saw "Est. 2000 in Rowland Heights, California" on the menu! What a coincidence to eat a restaurant that moved from Rowland Heights, CA to Boston! We order the same delicious popcorn chicken rice plate, wonton noodle soup, and salted vegetable and pork noodle soup. Very comforting on a chilly day! Best of all Mrs. Chen came out and personally greeted us and chatted for a good while It was such a delightful experience. Definitely will let friends know to drop by if they are visiting the neighborhood! read more

Dolphin Bay is an amazing Taiwanese restaurant! I have been wanting to go after seeing the other reviews and photos of the popcorn chicken and beef noodle soup. I got the beef noodle soup, popcorn chicken appetizer, and the salt and pepper pork chop with rice. The beef noodle soup was so good and flavorful and I loved the added spice (I got medium). Popcorn chicken with no seasoning just salt and pepper was easily some of the best popcorn chicken I have ever had and I like how simple and peppery it was. The pork chop was also great! The portions here are a solid size and I definitely would go back to try their desserts and other foods! read more

Dolphin Bay - Taiwanese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Hadn't had Taiwanese food from my hometown for a while, so I came to Dolphin Bay with high hopes for some warm beef noodle soup and fried chicken for the 9 hour long drive back. I had a good first impression since the workers all spoke Mandarin with the same regional accent I'd find in Taiwan. But I left disappointed and am surprised Dolphin Bay expanded from California where competition would be high. I had the beef noodle soup and popcorn chicken. The balance of noodles, beef, and vegetables was perfect. But the food was tasteless and underwhelming. I also got a spicy popcorn chicken, but it wasn't spicy at all. It just looked spicy with the red powder on it, but it wasn't spicy. I've had better popcorn chicken from Chinese restaurants opened by mainland Chinese people. read more

Dolphin Bay - Popcorn chicken - Taiwanese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great food, service and lovely ambiance.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Kind and thoughtful attendants with great conversation. read more

Dolphin Bay - Alex's soup - Taiwanese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

My favorite Taiwanese restaurant in the whole Boston! Their Dolphin Bay Milk tea always brings back childhood memories for me. My go to order: chili wonton, popcorn chicken, beef noodle soup, Taiwanese sausage rice or braised pork belly rice. read more

Dolphin Bay - Taiwanese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

When I was a medical student in Rhode Island, there was an absolute famine of Taiwanese food in my area. I had to go to Boston for my nearest fix. And for Dolphin Bay, I would have absolutely zero problem with making the trek. It's owned by an adorable family, and even though I've since moved away to Chicago, I have fond memories of eating there. Things you must order: 1) Beef noodle soup. A deep and richly flavored broth with beef and bok choy over chewy noodles. 2) Popcorn chicken. Crunchy morsels of boneless chicken, breaded and deep fried with five spice. You can decide how spicy you like them! Addictive. 3) Jasmine green tea with salted cream. Basically heaven on earth. The sweet and floral tea combined with the salty cream is a perfect union. read more

Dolphin Bay - Jasmine green tea with cream - Taiwanese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I've been to dolphin bay twice now to order way too much takeout for two people and I've been mostly pretty happy with what we've tried. It's home cooked Taiwanese fare so lots of nostalgia, meat/carb heavy deliciousness. The menu can be overwhelming but here are my favorites: -Chicken wings: Taiwanese fried chicken is one of my favorite things. I love both popcorn and wings so you can't go wrong with either. -Pork chop, crispy: Similarly, Taiwanese pork chop is incredible. Crispy, slightly spicy, so juicy. Ugh so good. -Braised beef noodle soup: A classic Taiwanese dish that I thought was done decently. Not the BEST I've ever had, but pretty good. -Spicy wonton: Ahhh can't go wrong with red chili oil dumplings with sweet/spicy sauce. Tender wonton skins, bursting with flavor. -Beef stuffed pancake: Another classic done REALLY well here (better than the versions I've tried in Chinatown for sure). Super crispy scallion pancakes, tender beef, delicious dipping sauce. Things I tried but prob won't re-order: -Oyster omelet: My husband really liked it...I think it's an acquired taste because of how slippery the texture is. Not "q" enough IMO. -Gua bao: I liked the texture of the bao but the pork belly was a little dry. -Pork and bamboo stir fry: This dish grew up on me over time but initially the bamboo shoots were pretty sour tasting, the next day it mellowed out and tasted a lot better. Would have liked more garlic flavor and pork. -Braised pork belly: I would have liked more tender pork pieces, amount of fat was good though, liked it came with veggies. ...I will definitely be back. read more

Dolphin Bay - Beef noodle soup, oyster omelette, spicy wontons, pork chop, pork belly - Taiwanese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Wow I can't believe it took me 4 years to find out about this restaurant! This is easily the best Taiwanese restaurant in all of Boston (move over Taiwan Cafe and Mulan) in terms of quality and cost. I came in on a Friday night and the place was packed. The restaurant's small, but there's about 10 tables available for seating and they do takeout. There was easy street parking available outside. We ordered the Beef Scallion Roll as an appetizer and it was good. If you're a fan of Scallion Pancakes you will love this dish. For the main entrees, we got the Popcorn Chicken Rice and the Noodle Soup with Fried Pork Chop. My rice dish came with a side of broccoli and cabbage and a side of curry which was a pleasant surprise. They also give a very generous portion of chicken that I could hardly finish. The chicken was crispy and perfectly fried. My friend got a huge pork chop with his order and a lot of noodles. Overall, very affordable place with large portions and authentic Taiwanese food read more

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Excellent customer service and delicious winter melon drink. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Music is lively inside with decent amount of seatings.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Street parking can be challenging read more

Great food and very friendly staff! Came on a Saturday for lunch and ordered the popcorn chicken rice plate and pork belly baos. Both were delicious! I especially liked that the plate came with vegetables (cabbage) and tofu. read more

Dolphin Bay - Popcorn Chicken - Taiwanese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Mom and Pop shop located in the heart of allston, serving authentic taiwanese cuisine with a fun interior.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Their noodle soup as well as braised pork with rice was great, but don't skimp out on their popcorn chicken and their custom bubble tea made in house read more

Dolphin Bay - braised pork with rice - Taiwanese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts