Mandarin Cuisine

Small takeout joint with a few stools for uncomfortable counter eating. Weak air conditioning on a…read morehot summer day adds to the discomfort nicely. Easy legal parking in the plaza next door. Numerous (32) lunch combos, more numerous (40) dinner combos, and a deep menu in general for this type of concept. No atmosphere to speak of and a 1-man show handling it all. -- Sweet and Sour Chicken (on a dinner combo): Ran me $15 for a Sunday lunch, $5 over the lunch combo equivalent, because it was Sunday and they don't do lunch combos on Sunday. For that $15 I got 7 large chicken fingers, a fire engine red sauce, 2 pineapple chunks, 1 maraschino cherry, and fried rice (appetizers are extra). Typically low meat-to-batter ratio. Strong crunch. Sauce was extraordinarily sweet without much sour, and in short supply if you wanted full dip-ability. Average to a bit below. -- Pork Fried Rice (with the dinner combo): There was a lot of it. Dark brown, very dry, and a Rice-a-Roni feel. Little pieces of dry pork. More flavor than Ray's around the corner, but not as fresh. More quantity than quality. Below average. -- Boneless Spareribs (an add-on to the combo): For $5.25 you get what looks like a small boat, but it's stacked high and winds up being more meat than you get at Ray's around the corner for less than even their "Appy Hour" price. As for quality, not as good, but not too far off. Some pieces dry, but some pieces had the perfect combination of fatty richness, char, and generous glaze. If all the pieces were like that, near-elite. As constituted, above average. -- Egg Roll (à la carte): Nice to have a single egg roll option ($3.75) on the appetizers list. Narrow piping hot vessel, good crunch outside, crunchy vegetation inside too, unusual seasoning, light bits of pork, and what seemed to be an even mix of cabbage and celery. Average, even with a fairly positive description, due to an odd flavor I can't place. Hard to get a handle on value. The combo was pricey considering what it did and didn't include, but the appetizer add-ons were more approachable. I was fearing getting stuck with only orange packets for duck sauce, but fortunately they had the real thing. Looking at the menu again, it's seems other combos give you more apps and leave out the pork fried rice (the weakest link), so that may be the way to go. We'll see.

Ordered take out , prices keep Increasing , quality of items…read moredecreasing Seems to have gotten worse? Maybe new owners? Beef Teriyaki no taste, tough meat Pork strips dry, tough meat Wings ok Bbq pork strips are still very good I have been getting Rays for take out now as they behave improved significantly as new family owner running it.

Egg Roll close-up

Menu as of 8/26 (printed 5/25)

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The poo poo platter box

Ding’s Kitchen

4.2(177 reviews)

2.3 mi

I call my Mom Grandma Ding because she's a little ditzy. And she likes to tag along on family…read moreoutings like a dinghy attached to a bigger boat, sometimes in front, sometimes in the wake, so when we found this place on Yelp it was fate. We came for a family dinner and of course Grandma Ding was with us in her wheelchair. We only smashed into a few chairs in the big, crowded dining room. And fortunately other customers were understanding while the staff was helpful and accommodating. The small, curious child running around the dining room without parental supervision didn't get hurt when I ran him over. The menu was huge so it took a long time to order with Grandma asking questions about every item. I could see that the waitstaff was used to quick orders and rapid food delivery to the table, but the waiter remained kind and patient. He also repeated his answers loudly when she couldn't understand his English and because she didn't have her hearing aides turned up. We finally ordered a giant wonton soup, eggplant with garlic sauce, a shrimp dish, and orange chicken; all to share. Everything was fresh, hot, tasty and delicious. Grandma Ding did have to ask for the soup to be heated up because she likes it to be scalding. The dining room is worn and dishes were flying in and out as items were served and cleared. It's definitely a place for family meals, not one for an engagement proposal or romance. Perfect for our evening. Portions are generous and prices competitive with other restaurants in the area. Parking on the street is the only difficulty, particularly when you have a nonagenarian to get into the restaurant. We will definitely be back.

We chose Ding's on the spur of the moment - the reviews were pretty good. We ordered scallion…read morepancakes and vegetarian potstickers to start, followed by sauteed eggplant-tofu casserole and chicken with cashews. The scallion pancakes were excellent - the winner of the evening. The potstickers weren't what is typically referred to as potstickers, but the small gyodza that one buys by the bag in Chinese and Korean markets. These were poor and flavorless (we've bought MUCH tastier ones in H-Mart and the 88). The eggplant was very tasty, not too garlicky, and was an enormous portion. It was a bit greasy, but not too bad. The chicken with cashews was bland and boring. We dined there with a good friend and commented about the great service - fast and efficient. As I mentioned, the portion size was significantly larger that most restaurants these days. The prices were a bit high, especially considering the barebones atmosphere - but this is Newton Center, and we expected this. In short, I won't return to Ding's - there are lots of better choices.

Full bar and plenty of seating

King Crab - steamed with minced garlic sauce

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Interior

Great Wok Wellesley

4.0(228 reviews)

1.5 mi

They are located on the on ramp to route 9 so it is rather difficult to gain access. By he time it…read moreis visible, I have past it but it is well worth the stop. Since I was alone, I sat at the bar. There was plenty of sitting in the dinning room. I ad the egg foo young and fried rice. It was delicious. I tried to replicate the flavor at home Without any luck. Best to go here for lunch. I will return.

Tried again... Sesame chicken twice there I didn't like…read more.. more sweet and sour taste with sesame sprinkled seeds added? Chicken not beefy or tender pieces more stringy and batter than chicken... I forgot how bad it was last time. Egg drop soup very good with some scallion pieces 2 pieces of dry broccoli with the dish needed steaming...bad chef execution Fried rice dry and small amount, but amount is fine vs too much Appetizer of bbq bone in ribs had a new look since last Visit ? Scores marks on top Ribs were very good, not exceptional 5 ribs total a bit pricey for 5 ribs. I hated the music they playing ; some lousy dared pop or radio station ... how about soothing Chinese music .... Seems the food used to be better ... maybe new chef, manager or owner?

Nice interior

Hunan Chicken

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Enough Pad Thai for two!

Sichuan Gourmet House

3.6(168 reviews)

1.4 mi

Over the past couple of years, we have become regulars at Sichuan Gourmet House. We enjoy the food…read morevery much, we always have great service, and the cocktails, while not particularly excellent, do you get the job done! There are some standout dishes that I return to on a regular basis. The braised beef with Napa cabbage, the Chengdu style Kung Pao Chicken, and the dry cooked spicy chicken, are three examples of delicious, flavorful, and nicely spiced entrées. During our last visit, one of the owners, who goes by Benjamin, chatted with us and gave us two small dishes to try on the house. One was a small bowl of Sichuan pickled vegetables for us to nibble on, and the other was a Sichuan spicy beef jerky, and both were absolutely delicious. Ben was a delight to chat with as well. The restaurant itself is large, spacious, and quiet. It's a pleasant place to spend some time, have a good conversation, and enjoy some delicious food!

Great food in a wide ranging selection. Dumplings perfectly steam fried, shrimp with cashews…read morecarrots and celery delicious and basil eggplant were standouts.

Pork Fried Rice & Cashew Chicken

Pu Pu Platter

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L5. Cumin Lamb

Jean & Lee Kitchen

3.7(208 reviews)

0.4 mi

OMG The beef noodle soup. How do they get so much flavor in that broth?! Wow. I've been working…read morethrough their menu without a disappointment

I haven't ate here in sometime and saw a good review of late. I wanted to try again and wanted to…read morelike. I was there and ordered beef teriyaki App., chicken ginger green beans lunch special which came with rice and soup... I chose the egg drop soup. The egg drop soup was small portion bowl and excellent flavor . The beef teriyaki said 4 pieces on menu and when 3 smaller size pieces arrived for 15.95; Bernhardt back and looked at menu... the 4 was changed to 3 hand written? This was a rip off Calculates to 5.32 dollars per piece... any other restaurant serves 4-6 or more for same or less money. The chicken and green beans bowl comes out and again a small bowl size for 14.95. The sauce was excellent and green beans fresh. Chicken wasn't velvet tender . I don't see returning as the teriyaki con job or rip off turned me off. I wanted to like this place again. No appetizer piece as part of lunch special, no fortune cookie. Water was served in paper cup .

Upstairs seating area

Saturday Lunch at Jean & Lee Kitchen 12/2025

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Dining area

Grandma’s Kitchen

4.7(213 reviews)

3.4 mi

This spot is super legit. Haven't had a chance to try more but would love to…read more I had: Apps Fried mantou (good) Beef pancake (great) Meal Popcorn chicken rice medium (very good!)

I had no idea that grandma's kitchen was Taiwanese. The last time I had, Taiwanese was a bad…read moreexperience so bad, I wiped my tongue off with a napkin however, today I got the beef broth soup with noodles. It was delicious and I ate every single bit. I didn't try anything else because my tummy a little under the weather today. But what I did try was delicious! I wish they had more dishes that didn't have so much pork in it. The soup was of flavor. The price was $14. I think it's a little overpriced . I think the appropriate price should be $10 maybe $11.

Restaurant

Popcorn chicken (medium)

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Braised Beef Noodle Soup (medium)

Ray's New Garden

3.5(89 reviews)

2.1 mi

Appetizers here are consistently very good. They offer…read morelunch specials, appy hour appetizer specials. The beef teriyaki was excellent flavor and tender to the chew . The golden crisp skin on the wings really is ideal . The crunch of the skin and the duck sauce rolls off the wing with the crisp fry. The barbecue ribs bone in are exceptional with a perfect glaze and char. My only comment is the ribs sometimes are beefy or more meaty. But I rank these ribs in my top five of the Chinese restaurants for ribs spots. Enjoyable friendly staff and great bar area. They do have Nightly events with trivia, music events.

I accompanied some friends to Karaoke night (my first time ever!) and it was a blast. Low stakes…read moresinging, the host Demitri was personable, efficient in scheduling folks in and filling in gaps with his great voice. We weren't there for the food but got there a little early to get a bite. We all got some form of sushi. I had a California maki which was just the way i like it. The wait staff were courteous, prompt and efficient. No problem with separate checks for 6 of us plus 2 more who came later. I WILL be going back!

Nice sport TVs

Egg Roll close-up

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Vegetable Singapore Noodles

Dumpling House

3.5(185 reviews)

2.0 mi

Well , I was in the mood for some dumplings. I stopped in at…read morelunchtime ... place was hotter than Haiti . I assume a/c wasn't working and 99 degree day. Even the cook brought out a fan to cool his table as staff had their lunch. At least he was cooled done a bit while sweated like steer. Well , was committed ; so too late to convert to a take out meal in my Lamborghini or someone's else's. I ordered the ribs on spinach, pork egg rice, spinach and egg dumplings pan fried . The ribs were tender, actually very good in a flavorful sauce. The spinach in the sauce excellent ... I needed a lot more spinach. The egg pork rice was freshly prepared and was very good . The spinach egg dumplings were a first time for me type experience and these were excellent... pan seared perfect fresh tasting... these would be good for breakfast with a breakfast maple sauce on a waffle and bowl of fruit...or a spinach smoothie. My ice water melted from the heat . My dumplings would have steamed themselves in the heat. This visit was much improved since a prior visit months back. Ribs were beyond my expectations. Service was fast. I wanted soup and a side app included in the lunch special. I have been to their Cambridge location and that is excellent .

I was up in the area and I was hungry and I thought this place looked pretty nice from the outside…read more I did try opening the door and I almost thought it was locked. The front door was very hard to open went inside. They had a really nice clean seating area . Everything was pre-done so plates and silverware. We're already on tables done ahead of time. Not sure if that's good or bad depends on how long they sit out in the open I would've liked to have ordered something that had all a complete meal together, but I missed the luncheon Specials which made or forced me to order separately. It came out very quickly all packaged in the bag cause I was taking out and I paid and when I paid, I almost passed out with the price. I'll add the slip to the review out of the entire meal. I had the crab Rangoon when I was in my car cause I was hungry. I didn't feel like staying at the restaurant the crab Rangoon were excellent waited till I got home for the entire rest of the meal. Add a whole container of pork fried rice started to have a little bit on that one and I didn't find any pork in it, but I did have some vegetable stuff in it so that was kinda OK but it'd be nice to have pork unless it's at the bottom, I haven't gotten that far The general Gau's chicken was very rubbery and it all stuck together as one clump in my takeout not sure if it would've been any better eating in the restaurant but I've had some very good takeout from other restaurants and this just wasn't it like I said the chicken in it was very rubbery and stringy. It did have broccoli three pieces in the takeout. What I really was looking for was one single container with general gau's chicken Some pork fried rice with a couple of crab Rangoon's. I'm not local, but I do travel there due to my jobs. This is one place. I probably won't make an appearance again due to the takeout quality of the meal. So if you're looking for a really good crab Rangoon, they definitely did a great job on that And maybe it would've been better as a eat in situation rather than a takeout situation

Interior with a/c broken or not working

F3. Szechuan Dried Spicy Chicken

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Interior 90 degrees with no a/c ... I was ready to disrobe for a sauna spa lunch

Home Taste

4.0(365 reviews)

4.7 mi

Picked up takeout from here and everything was incredibly delicious! The standout was the spicy…read morehand shaved noodles. The portions are generous and the prices are really reasonable, especially when you factor in how much you get. LOTS of bang for your buck. When we went in, we got some canned sodas, but there's a minimum $5 charge in restaurant, so we ended up getting an extra soda to hit that threshold (our fault for forgetting to add the drinks to our main order!) so just something to keep in mind. It's definitely a place to go get takeout and seems tailored to that purpose, but they do have tables inside for eating in. The staff was nice and very efficient. Overall an incredible meal and I will definitely be ordering again!

A hole in the wall spot slinging bowls of fresh hand pulled noodles at reasonable prices with…read moremediocre service. Not for big groups. But great for takeout or a meal with a party no greater than 4. The Chongqing noodles with beef were bomb. The perfect level of spice and flavorful broth, accompanied by some slices of beef and Shanghai bok choy. It's so simple, yet so good. The beef chow foon was decent but it's hard for non-Cantonese restaurants to make it well. Although the noodles were great. The beef and broccoli had a slight schezuan spice to it which was a little off putting.

Inside

Mala Pot

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Inside

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15 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Colby M.

34

7

1

4 years ago

Best Chinese in Newton/Needham and I will stand by that statement for the rest of my life. Joan runs an incredible restaurant. Mandarin has an incredible ambiance, with super unique decor and calming music greeting you (along with the smells that accompany high quality Chinese food) as soon as you walk into the door. 9 times out of 10, Joan will be the first smiling face you see. She is incredibly kind, hardworking, family oriented, and entrepreneurial. She's the real deal. What amazes me is the conversations that I have with her whenever I'm in there (which is very often). On the surface, we are two very different people from different backgrounds and cultures. And yet, I find it so easy to speak to her and genuinely find our conversations to be one of the best parts of the experience that is mandarin cuisine. My family (immediate and extended) has frequented mandarin since I can remember. The staff know us and are always happy to see us. When my grandfather passed, Joan and the rest of the staff expressed condolences to my family, and went so far as to surprise us with a photo of my Zayde on the TV screen throughout our meal. It's little gestures like that which get me. Now on to the foood!! Scallion pancakes/spring rolls/white and friend rice/Peking raviolis/general Taos/ boneless spareribs/chicken wings/beef teriyaki/wonton and egg drop soup/beef with broccoli. Every. Single. Thing. It's all delicious. They also have a ginger sauce which is fantastic. And while I am now sober, several of my family members cannot resist the Mai Thais! Food: 5 stars Service: 5 stars Atmosphere: 5 stars Price: 5 stars Portions: 5 stars Joan: 5 starts!!! Mandarin is the bomb diggity. When it comes to Chinese food in the Newton/needham area-this is the easy choice. On a side note-for folks tight on cash, lunch specials are the move. For a super affordable price, you'll get massive portions of food and rice and soup and tea. For folks who want to sample some of the magic-pu pu platter and general tsos with a side of rice is a fail-proof order which will satisfy everyone! The pandemic was really hard on many Chinese restaurants-and mandarin is no exception. So get out there, order a ton of food, enjoy the experience, and make sure to tell Joan she is the best! I'm read more

Ben Y.

3

7

0

16 years ago

So, 4.5 stars on Yelp. Lesson learned. This place wasn't terrible but wasn't exactly memorable either. The service can get a bit slow sometimes where the wait staff doesn't really notice you. This especially happens in the evening hours on weekends. I understand that it can get a bit hectic, but that's never an excuse for bad service. The worst Ma Po Tofu I have ever experienced. Not even a whisper of heat from a dish that, by definition, is supposed to be numbingly hot. Mandarin should put more meat than breading in the General Gao's Chicken. Last but not least, they snuck pieces of shrimp shell in my lo mein! I've had some pretty great chinese food before, and this definetly wasn't it. read more

Charles D.

0

44

30

2 years ago

This restaurant prepares deeply authentic Chinese Food. Both of what is considered Classic style & Modern style. Possibly the best in the region! We have dined here many many times and they are as consistent in service as with the food. Anything fried is correct and Golden Brown! Nothing overcooked. No Mistakes. You can't go wrong- There isn't a bad dish on the menu. Eat with full confidence! Highly recommend. read more

Georgine B.

0

8

0

4 years ago

Is this the only chinese resturant that has a small size rice, and no large ?? Also, each time I call to order take-out, the prices of the dishes seem to go up another dollor or more and the chicken quality is very gamey and rotten. The women at the entrance are so unfriendly and are basically happy to just take your money and walk away. Tired of this place and time to find someplace better ! read more

Eli G.

241

14

0

16 years ago

My #1 favorite Chinese restaurant for many many years, and definitely one of the best restaurants I've ever been in! Everyone is ALWAYS friendly and fast, food is always really good, no matter what you order even though they have a very large selection. Place is very nice and always nicely maintained. Perfect for family dinner, a romantic date, or just lunch with friends or co-workers. read more

Roman T.

4

6

3

10 years ago

I ordered lunch special General Tso's Chicken! I got chicken peaces with no taste, some celery in there, rice with vegetables ( not a fried rice) and two peaces of dry chicken wings! If you are looking for a nice chinese food, look for something else! read more

Bob W.

0

5

0

5 years ago

The chicken was rotten and overpriced and everytime we call an order for "take-out"", the total of the bill gets inflated more than it should be. My advice is to stay away from Mandarin Cuisine as I am going to do from now on read more

Blow M.

14

8

0

13 years ago

What a great place. Every time just proves itself over and over. The food always great. The staff and the owners are always there and very nice and friendly. Exceptional place with an exceptional service. read more

Phillip P.

0

4

11 years ago

Very good food going there for years never had a complain the food taste as good as the first visit nice decoration and food service highly recommended read more

Anne S.

0

16

0

1 year ago

I was going to eat something here , but noticed the lunch prices went up again. Roll the price back before you lose more business.

Hannah L.

0

2

0

8 years ago

The food here is ok and a little to pricey. You can better Chinese food. But the restaurant is spacious and has a Chinese vibe.

S W.

0

7

1

6 years ago

Overpriced and the rice was soggy -- Obviously rice is one thing that needs to be good in chinese resturants. Go elsewhere

Doug M.

0

2

0

10 years ago

I have been a customer for many years and lately the food has become very bland - not happy

Josh S.

0

2

0

10 years ago

I would recommend this spot, great food and very friendly staff.

Matt P.

0

11

0

12 years ago

Best Chinese food in Needham

Mandarin Cuisine - chinese - Updated October 2026

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Mandarin Gourmet

3.4

(213 reviews)

I went during lunch time (around 12:30) with my sister. We were greeted immediately with: "Yes?"…read more We asked for a table for 2. Sat immediately. A server was at our table within moments and gave us our menus. Overall the restaurant looked clean although I did find a stray cooked grain of rice on my table although I am unsure where it came from. We each ordered from the lunch specials (no substitutions) and a soda. I asked for a coke and was brought a Diet Coke in a can. Personally I don't care but it might bother someone who has a strong preference for diet vs regular. My order was the hot and sour soup , fried rice with chicken teriyaki / crab Rangoon / spring roll . The hot and sour soup tasted fine but had a gelatinous consistency. I don't usually order hot and sour soup so I'm not sure if this is the texture it's supposed to have but I found it off putting. The main course is fried rice (rice and egg only no vegetables) - no flavor; 1 crab Rangoon - tasted fine; 1 chicken teriyaki - well cooked and most flavorful thing on the plate; 1 spring roll - beautifully fried and crispy but I didn't enjoy the filling. My sister also ordered scallion pancake for us to share. This too was fried beautifully and crispy but had very little scallion flavor which I suppose is to taste... We were brought napkins and asked once if we were doing ok (I had finished eating already). The price overall was fine ~$15 for the lunch special and ~$2-$3 for the soda. When we left hosts said thank you. Overall, was an ok lunch . Would probably not come again.

The best Chinese food in the Chestnut Hill / West Roxbury area. Lobster sauce isn't jello like…read moreother places. Staff is friendly and the chicken wings are the best.

Sichuan Gourmet House

3.6

(168 reviews)

Over the past couple of years, we have become regulars at Sichuan Gourmet House. We enjoy the food…read morevery much, we always have great service, and the cocktails, while not particularly excellent, do you get the job done! There are some standout dishes that I return to on a regular basis. The braised beef with Napa cabbage, the Chengdu style Kung Pao Chicken, and the dry cooked spicy chicken, are three examples of delicious, flavorful, and nicely spiced entrées. During our last visit, one of the owners, who goes by Benjamin, chatted with us and gave us two small dishes to try on the house. One was a small bowl of Sichuan pickled vegetables for us to nibble on, and the other was a Sichuan spicy beef jerky, and both were absolutely delicious. Ben was a delight to chat with as well. The restaurant itself is large, spacious, and quiet. It's a pleasant place to spend some time, have a good conversation, and enjoy some delicious food!

Great food in a wide ranging selection. Dumplings perfectly steam fried, shrimp with cashews…read morecarrots and celery delicious and basil eggplant were standouts.

Lobster Wok

3.2

(104 reviews)

They seemed more interested in selling produce and eggs to Chinese Patrons then my food order…read more Food has gone downhill and the price has risen a lot. I am finally done with this place.

Trust me, I didn't expect much when I entered this small establishment. I'm literally slowly making…read moremy way around the "Chinese" spots around the area until I've tried them all. I wasn't expecting anything and definitely not expecting any form of "service" as it *is* a Chinese spot. Yet, she spoke to me. She reached out and conversed in a manner that only this culture could really explain. She wanted to know me and why I was even here in this area. One eyebrow up, I explained. Two eyebrows up, almost an hour later, I still explained. All I knew was that she welcomed me and wanted me to feel home. There was nothing else past that. It's just the culture. It's Chinatown outside Chinatown, and Chinatown outside China (and everything else associated with it). They take the time to purchase produce on behalf of their customers at close to cost price. They take the time to welcome people in. I'm one of them - out of place, out of the element - and she gave me almost an hour of her time. She even apologized for the "yellowness" of my order due to the time it sat there while we conversed BUT I simply told her I'd see her again. Her family welcomed me to Massachusetts. And moments later when I dug in to the food I brought home, I knew home was here. They served up some seriously legit Chinese influenced dishes. BEST PART? The posted menu is only a front. How do I know this? She read me and invited me shortly to the private chat group for the daily cuisine specials directed at those wanting to taste home. There is some legit culinary techniques here. I'd voyage more into it but I'll respect the secrecy of it all. Come with respect, explain a genuine intent to partake, and perhaps, you'd be invited to the ball of a lifetime. I know I am for one awaiting and ready for it. These guys *can* seriously cook.

Dragon Chef

3.6

(68 reviews)

Small takeout joint with a few stools for uncomfortable counter eating. Weak air conditioning on a…read morehot summer day adds to the discomfort nicely. Easy legal parking in the plaza next door. Numerous (32) lunch combos, more numerous (40) dinner combos, and a deep menu in general for this type of concept. No atmosphere to speak of and a 1-man show handling it all. -- Sweet and Sour Chicken (on a dinner combo): Ran me $15 for a Sunday lunch, $5 over the lunch combo equivalent, because it was Sunday and they don't do lunch combos on Sunday. For that $15 I got 7 large chicken fingers, a fire engine red sauce, 2 pineapple chunks, 1 maraschino cherry, and fried rice (appetizers are extra). Typically low meat-to-batter ratio. Strong crunch. Sauce was extraordinarily sweet without much sour, and in short supply if you wanted full dip-ability. Average to a bit below. -- Pork Fried Rice (with the dinner combo): There was a lot of it. Dark brown, very dry, and a Rice-a-Roni feel. Little pieces of dry pork. More flavor than Ray's around the corner, but not as fresh. More quantity than quality. Below average. -- Boneless Spareribs (an add-on to the combo): For $5.25 you get what looks like a small boat, but it's stacked high and winds up being more meat than you get at Ray's around the corner for less than even their "Appy Hour" price. As for quality, not as good, but not too far off. Some pieces dry, but some pieces had the perfect combination of fatty richness, char, and generous glaze. If all the pieces were like that, near-elite. As constituted, above average. -- Egg Roll (à la carte): Nice to have a single egg roll option ($3.75) on the appetizers list. Narrow piping hot vessel, good crunch outside, crunchy vegetation inside too, unusual seasoning, light bits of pork, and what seemed to be an even mix of cabbage and celery. Average, even with a fairly positive description, due to an odd flavor I can't place. Hard to get a handle on value. The combo was pricey considering what it did and didn't include, but the appetizer add-ons were more approachable. I was fearing getting stuck with only orange packets for duck sauce, but fortunately they had the real thing. Looking at the menu again, it's seems other combos give you more apps and leave out the pork fried rice (the weakest link), so that may be the way to go. We'll see.

Ordered take out , prices keep Increasing , quality of items…read moredecreasing Seems to have gotten worse? Maybe new owners? Beef Teriyaki no taste, tough meat Pork strips dry, tough meat Wings ok Bbq pork strips are still very good I have been getting Rays for take out now as they behave improved significantly as new family owner running it.

3 Fortunes Chinese Restaurant

3.1

(100 reviews)

A friend picked up take-out for three of us earlier this week, we each had our own dish and also…read moreordered the pupu platter which was HUGE. From that I devoured a few chicken fingers and beef teriyaki skewers which were both very good. I ordered the beef w/broccoli, it was really good and there was a lot it (which I finished for lunch the following day). For $14 I had two meals, so it's quite the deal!

This place is consistently good with their food quality and especially pricing. Other places in the…read morearea just keep raising their prices and/or changing the food quantity/sizing/quality. I know what I'm getting every time at 3 fortunes. The place is family operated and they are super friendly and kind with servicing customers. There is always parking space right up front for picking up my order. My faves are peking ravioli, chicken fingers and hot and sour soup. My kid loves their sesame chicken as well. Check them out if you're in the area. They have plenty of dining tables inside but I believe they are strictly delivery and takeout since covid days.

Ray's New Garden

3.5

(89 reviews)

Appetizers here are consistently very good. They offer…read morelunch specials, appy hour appetizer specials. The beef teriyaki was excellent flavor and tender to the chew . The golden crisp skin on the wings really is ideal . The crunch of the skin and the duck sauce rolls off the wing with the crisp fry. The barbecue ribs bone in are exceptional with a perfect glaze and char. My only comment is the ribs sometimes are beefy or more meaty. But I rank these ribs in my top five of the Chinese restaurants for ribs spots. Enjoyable friendly staff and great bar area. They do have Nightly events with trivia, music events.

I accompanied some friends to Karaoke night (my first time ever!) and it was a blast. Low stakes…read moresinging, the host Demitri was personable, efficient in scheduling folks in and filling in gaps with his great voice. We weren't there for the food but got there a little early to get a bite. We all got some form of sushi. I had a California maki which was just the way i like it. The wait staff were courteous, prompt and efficient. No problem with separate checks for 6 of us plus 2 more who came later. I WILL be going back!

Hong Kong 888 Cafe

3.8

(161 reviews)

Absolute the worst. Food was inedible, called to let them know and she clearly wasn't happy about…read moreme saying so. She said if I brought the food back I'd get a refund so I did. Was unapologetic and rude. Highly recommend to skip this place if you don't like dry everything.

It's not good, it's not bad. Mid. Crab rangoons are just cream cheese. Everything is way over…read morebattered and a bit greasy. Spare ribs are good. Teriyaki sticks were good too. Egg rolls were not it, the filling had no punch and was sparse. General Tso's didn't have a ton of flavor but the chicken was tender. Kung Pao beef had good flavor but was mostly vegetables. Pork fried rice was greasy, lacked flavor. I'm always suspicious of a PuPu platter that is 90% chicken fingers and chicken wings. Anyhoo, if you go in with mid expectations you will be fine!

Little Spoon Thai Kitchen

3.9

(120 reviews)

I just love this place…read more Food is great, ambiance as well. No complaints. The service is nice and the flavors are great here. The bar offers colorful faux alcoholic drinks at $8 too for the kids and folks looking not to consume booze. I just adore the curry and the pad Thai.

Little Spoon is a Thai restaurant tucked into a corner of Main Street in Needham with a cozy,…read morewelcoming atmosphere that makes it easy to settle into for a relaxed dinner. We walked into a space with a cute, unique quality to it, and the menu covers a wide range of Thai dishes including ramen, curries, noodles, and rice dishes, which gives a table with different preferences plenty of directions to go. The pad see ew and basil fried rice are both solid orders that cover familiar ground competently. The noodles on the pad see ew had decent wok character and the basil fried rice was well seasoned and aromatic, though neither dish pushed beyond what you would expect from a good neighborhood Thai spot. The mango sticky rice is a satisfying finish and the sticky rice texture was on point, though the mango itself can vary depending on the season. The Thai tea is well made and a natural complement to the spicier dishes on the table. Across everything we ordered, the food was consistently good without being particularly memorable, landing in that comfortable range where you leave satisfied but not necessarily thinking about it the next day. For a weeknight dinner close to home it works well and the portion sizes are reasonable for the price. The menu is large enough that there is probably a higher ceiling to explore on return visits with some of the more distinctive options like the khao soi, tamarind wings, or crispy duck. Service and pickup accuracy have been inconsistent based on different visits, so dining in tends to produce a smoother experience than ordering out. As a neighborhood Thai option in Needham, it fills the gap well enough.

Joy Luck

3.2

(58 reviews)

Solid general gau and beef satay. Very sweet. Very american. Will try other things…read more Much better than the similarly named establishment in the neighboring city.

Best beef teriyaki in the area. The Peking dumplings are huge. Poo poo platters are great and a…read moregreat value service is quick and polite not much atmosphere never seen anybody eat there just waiting for takeout

Blue Orchid

3.6

(71 reviews)