Double Chin has to be my absolute favorite restaurant in Boston - Chinese food or otherwise. From the cute and punny names of food items ("Crab Me Benny One More Time" soft-shell crab Benedict, "Double Chinwich" hoisin beef sandwiched between two scallion pancakes), to each entree rated in terms of "Instagrammability", I can't help but appreciate the attention to detail and the curated nature of each aspect of this restaurant!
Located conveniently in the heart of Chinatown, Double Chin pays homage to cafes in Hong Kong. I have on good authority from friends who I have brought who have been to the real deal, and they say that Double Chin is doing a good job as far as that goes. The cafe is decorated in pastel colors, with ample seating and board games on shelves to play as you wait for your food. I can't tell you how many times my friends and I have gotten into an intense Jenga game just as the food was about to arrive! They are also open until 4 AM (!!!) on Thursday-Saturday nights, which is an anomaly for Boston, and even more of an anomaly to be able to eat high quality food from a restaurant that late at night. Double Chin at 2 AM is the place to be on a Saturday night! I'm always there with my Rocky Horror castmates still in full makeup, chowing down on a plate of dumplings!
While I have tried many items on the menu, and could wax poetical about all of them, I'll give you my top three "Certified Morganic" favorites!
Spam Breakfast Sandwich: Before Double Chin, I had NEVER had Spam before. I thought it was something that was for overworked 50's housewives to feed to their kids when they'd had ENOUGH of the day (at least that's what Food Network would have you believe). However, since I've been coming here, I can't get enough of the stuff! The Spam Breakfast Sandwich is a great "gateway" to becoming an addict like me - the robust flavor of the pan fried Spam is meatier and more flavorful than your average ham, and paired with a perfectly cooked over easy egg and fluffy homemade toasted bread, it can turn any "nay" into a "yay"! At $4, it's a bang for your buck as well!
Skillet Mac N' Cheese: Exactly what it sounds like, and everything you didn't know you needed in a mac and cheese dish! Asian rice noodles substitute for pasta, and a flavorful, rich, creamy cheese sauce coats every inch! Crispy bacon bits and toasted panko breadcrumbs add crunch, and scallions are artfully arranged on top for a refreshing herb flavor that cuts through the savoriness of the noodles and cheese. What really makes this recipe a standout are the complex layers of grilled flavor that come from cooking it in a skillet. I could (and have) eaten an entire skillet-full on several occasions, and you should too!
Cube Toast!: Double Chin's take on the Asian classic, this dessert is essentially French toast elevated to the stratosphere! Their homemade bread is hollowed out, dipped in egg batter, grilled, and restuffed with every topping imaginable! Try the Berry-Healthy, which has strawberry ice cream, strawberry sauce, fresh fruit, strawberry Pocky, and granola! Depending on if they have any dessert specials going on, they might add some surprises to the Cube Toast as well. I have gotten it with homemade macarons sticking out of the top! One of the most Instagrammable items on the menu, the Cube Toast is perfect for sharing with friends, or hoarding all for yourself!
Be sure to check out their creative cocktail menu as well! They have huge drinks served in anything from fishbowls to hollowed out watermelons, and are a fun treat I haven't seen in other restaurants in the areas. For teetotalers, they can be made without alcohol.. just ask! Service is fast and friendly.. you can be in and out of here in 20 minutes, or you can stay all day to work or play games with friends. I like having that option. Gloria, one of the co-owners, is always in the restaurant, and she is very sweet and fun! The whole menu is her brainchild, so picture the kind of person that has all of those creative and unique ideas, and that's her! If you're a regular customer, she'll sometimes let you test out new menu ideas to add to their ever-rotating list of entrees and desserts!
I know that five star rating says "Woohoo, as good as it gets!", but Double Chin really IS as good as it gets! :) read more