We had missed our train and as a result, had about an hour and a half to kill with stomachs that needed to be filled. My friends and I agreed on something from chinatown since it's about a 5-10 minute walk from the station. After doing some research, potluck cafe came up as good and cheap food. It was located in a sketchy alley way; talk about a true hole in the wall. When we walked in, it was us and another two groups eating, with about 3 other empty tables waiting to be used. I read that they dumplings was a must, so we asked for an 8 piece order which were $10. We also decided to get a plate of food. We chose spicy chicken drumsticks (2), some pork belly, and orange chicken with a side of rice for also $10. We shared everything among three people and were satisfied. The orange chicken was decent. The batter was soggy and not too sweet, and the chicken itself was white meat. The pork belly was our least favorite as it was in broth rather than the classic crispy style. The chicken drumsticks were good, and not too spicy. The dumplings were very good. The dough was crispy on the bottom and soft on top. The filling was moist, tender, and flavorful. Near the cash register they have crushed chili in oil which amplifies the flavor and soy sauce. While eating, about 4 more groups came in so it got packed quick but since its quick bites, it's not hard to come across seating as people are constantly going in and out. The staff was kind and explained what each item was. They do have tags to describe the food, but they aren't always accurate as they shuffle trays around. read more

Potluck Cafe - Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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This place reminds me of the little food courts in Flushing NY. They offer cheap eats, like the lunch box for $10 which comes with rice and 3 items from their hot food bar. Most people come here for their pan fried dumplings which were 8 for $10. Aside from the very reasonable price and hot bar selection, thats where the good stuff ends. I saw all of the social media posts and it made me really excited to come try this place. Don't fall for it. It must be staged, or it just was bad timing for my visit. I'm telling you how it is. The service is good, the lady behind the bar was friendly and spoke passable english. The hot bar had really good variety that would meet most palettes, like veggies, meat etc. Some were very comforting like the braised pork belly. I also got orange chicken and kung pao chicken. This was good enough for 2 people for a light meal. Quality was not great though. The pan fried dumplings that are plastered all over instagram? Pass! They are much smaller than the ones in Flushing NY or even the place in Fenway. They looked stale but we still got it since we made the trip for these. The lady had a hard time scraping them off the pan in once piece and struggled to get them to separate from each other. Many of our pieces had holes by the time we could separate them. The dumplings were kinda dry. It's a really cheap dish but it is absolutely NOTHING like what social media shows you, at least for our visit. The place has multiple tables for a shared seating space. There is hot oil self serve. I saw containers of soup but not sure if its supposed to come with my rice place, self serve or for sale. I didn't get any. read more

Potluck Cafe - Lunch box, 3 items $10 - Chinese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Small cafe with a variety of East Asian options. We only got the Pan-Fried Buns. Stellar meat flavor, but the exterior was quite thick and the bottom wasn't particularly crispy. Later, we came back and one of my friends got the $10 combo--seemed like a great deal for the amount of food! read more

Potluck Cafe - Menu (1/2) as of 3/29/26 - Chinese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Pretty good selection hot bar and great value! You have to ask for the soup or they won't offer it to you. read more

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Really really good food would definitely recommend to everyone that loves Chinese food AAA+++ read more

Potluck Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Best... dumplings... EVER!!!! I cannot stress enough how good their juicy, soft, and savory dumplings are. Especially when they're fresh with that nice crisp bottom. They explode in your mouth! I've been here about 4 times and will continue to come back because I'm obsessed!!! It's reasonably priced (I think? I'm still getting used to Boston prices lol) for 8 pieces for $10. The staff is super chill and efficient, they've given me 9 pieces before because that was all that was left so... yay! The inside is cute and cozy, however limited seatings. 10/10 recommend!!!!! read more

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Found this spot through social media but it is a fantastic hole in the wall. We got the $10/8 pan fried dumplings and the choose 3 plate. There's plenty of seating so you're welcome to eat there too. I didn't notice staff cleaning/wiping tables in our time there and ours wasn't clean but I suppose it's difficult to sneak in when there's a high customer turnover. The food is bang for your buck and delicious. The rice is perfectly simple, no oils or salts added, the hot foods are consistently turned over and are packed with flavor. And of course I am still thinking about those pan fried dumplings 2 days later. Will definitely go back again whenever the craving hits. read more

Potluck Cafe - Pan fried dumplings, rice plate - Chinese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Best little buns around! Definitely something a get a craving for. Only thing I've had here and only thing I ever get

When it's available, it's so worth coming here. On days where they offer spicy salted pork ribs, it's definitely worth the $10. Packed with rice and up to 3 selections from the hot bar, what more can you ask for $10 in the city? I've gone here so many times since their new renovation. Much cleaner and more appealing. Reminder, $10 cash only, anything more than $15, you're allow to use your card. read more

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Delicious food and at a great price for what you're getting. Would recommend getting the soup buns.

Don't let the long line fool you. It goes pretty fast since majority of the line is there for the 8 for $10 dumplings. The restaurant churns them out fairly quickly which is helpful for those who are hungry but it means the dumplings are served in varying degree of doneness. Seating turns over quickly as well but wouldn't be the best place for large groups. read more

Potluck Cafe - Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Stopped by to get their $10/8 fried dumplings. The worker already guessed we were there to try them, as I know they recently blew up on social media. This is a pretty small spot, with a couple tables. I saw they also have hot food plate and saw people getting that. The dumplings were very tasty! Hot and fresh, with soup inside and a crispy bottom. I can't wait to go back read more

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Life is short. F....it up! Family, Flavor, Friends After seeing multiple social media post I really wanted to try this place. As much as I want to like this place ... It's a shame. For those who follow me it's about the food and experience. It's doesn't matter if it's a hole in the wall and there are questionable things scurrying. Took a special trip on a hot Sat afternoon. This place has no Ac just fans.. we ordered pan fried dumplings and steamed soup dumplings. They told us it's takes 15-20 minutes for the soup dumplings.. but I didn't care. We got the pan fried dumplings quick.. presentation they looked fine.. there was soup inside so watch out for the squirt when biting. The wrap seems a lil bit doughy and the bottom was brown but not that crispy. The inside were lacking flavor and didn't provide the hmmmmm. 20min past and saw others getting the soup dumplings who came in after us... . The other party offered it back to us after taking a bite.. the staff said it would be another 15min. Inpaid for what I had and left. Just to be fair I really want to like this place. read more

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Potluck Cafe certainly holds up to the notion of a hole-in-wall restaurant. The small entrance, nestled in a small alleyway constantly near construction but somehow still neglected, only stands out due to a banner sign hanging from the second floor. The interior looks spartan. Some tables and metal chairs provide seating for fast meals. Up against the entrance you see a large take-out section with heat maps and various dishes. This represents the establishment's main attracted - a 3 entree take out box for $10. They also offer, on a disjoint part of their wall menu, 砂鍋 (sha-guo). Imagine a personal sized hot pot or malatang in an earthenware vessel that maintains heat. You get the flavors more akin to Happy Lamb's hot pot broth with the heat retention of Korean soups and stews. Mine cost $12 since I ordered beef offal / 牛雜. It lived up to being basically a personal sized pot of stuff. In any other restaurant, this would be $16+. I did have some trouble clarifying prices. 砂鍋 and 麻辣燙 (malatang) both use the term hot pot inconsistently. The 砂鍋 menu itself also has 2 versions - a basic one displayed on the TV and a more expansive one with fantuan / and delivery services. The latter has more customization options but also divergent prices. Here, I recommend channeling the Asian auntie and being civil but clear and firm about just what you're ordering and the cost breakdown. read more

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Great $1 dumpling hot and fresh. They also have many other foods you can get on a combo plate. Staff is friendly and fast. Definitely go back if I happen to be in the area. read more

Potluck Cafe - Fried Dumplings(6Pcs) (6Pcs) - Chinese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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We did takeout and these pan-fried dumplings are amaaaazing! Service was quick and easy. We bought them to share and every single one of us loved them! Highly recommend!!!! read more

Potluck Cafe - Dumplings!! Yum! - Chinese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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As I was heading to Jai Ho to do a little Asian food shopping I felt the rumble in my stomach . So I figured I'd walk across the street and check out potluck Café. Haven't been there in a few years. The set up is pretty much the same as it has been for quite some years. Basically cafeteria style.. The host behind the counter basically tells you to pick three things it used to be five dollars then seven dollars. I was surprised to see it was $10. Yes $10 is actually a great buy for a container of food three items plus white rice. I opted for the eggplant which had a great sauce on it. I was very happy with the Chinese eggplant for my first item. My second item I went with the pork in a brown sauce. It was almost like just chopped up, bony pieces of pork. The flavor was great. The sauce was a little watery. It would've been nicer with the exact same taste and the thicker sauce that stayed on the protein drip off, however taste was good. For my third item I got what looked like little pieces of chicken fried up with peppers. I thought it was gonna be on the spicy side. It was just basically mediocre and I got a white rice. The place could use a good deep cleaning. It is a restaurant and it was more like a school cafeteria That may be a little neglected. They do take credit cards. They offer water that is in little pictures at the end for free, but the covers of the water are dirty. I don't know why anyone is not cleaning the covers at least something that is being used every day leads me to believe they don't clean the inside either. The staff is more like someone's family member just a little bit on the pushy side so you know it's still OK to go in and get a dumplings for $10 or to get three choices plus rice for $10 as a cheap meal. read more

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I ordered catering for a work event. The food is delicious and the people who work there are so kind and helpful! Oh and try the dumplings. They are dope! read more

I was excited to try this new spot for Pan Fried Dumplings. This cafe is located down an alley in Chinatown and has a decent sized cafeteria dining area. You order and you can sit wherever you like. They have many different items on their menu, but we only tried their Pan Fried Dumplings. They were $10 for 8 which was a steal! We were skeptical when we saw that they were already pan fried ahead of time. They were surprisingly still crispy on the outside and the filling had good flavors. Unfortunately, they were greasy throughout and we needed the side of vinegar to cut through the heaviness. For the price, I think it's alright, but there are definitely better options out there. read more

Potluck Cafe - Pan Fried Dumplings 生煎包 - Chinese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Home to the 10 fresh soup dumplings for $8, Potluck Cafe serves large portions for amazing prices. This place could easily thrive off just a dumpling menu. Some of the entrees were greasy (eggplant) so I couldn't finish. The ribs were dry. Limited dining area. read more

Steamed pork dumplings were made fresh! Good place to go if you want your food quickly. Sitting area is small and it can get busy, but the tables are shared and you can just sit wherever there's space. read more

Potluck Cafe - Fresh pork dumplings, $10 for 8 - Chinese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Came for the dumpling deal. 8 for $10. So good and so worth. Be careful though. The soup will literally burst out if you only bite one side. The crispness on the outside and soft dough with the flavorful filling in the inside. Will definitely come back again. They also have a $10 for 3 items for takeout box. The food looks really tasty. Will try next time. read more

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First time here, sauerkraut beef ramen was phenomenal. Will definitely be back! Get it extra spicy. read more

Potluck Cafe - Sauerkraut beef Ramen - Chinese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

For a whopping $10, they're dishing out Chinese grub with three entrees and rice that's actually off the chain. I stumbled upon this gem on my way to catch the bus after a long day of exploring Boston Commons and then heading towards Hosteling International Boston - what a steal. The lady behind the counter was super cool. They've also got dim sum and noodles, making it a great spot to grab a bite. Just remember, towards the end of the night, the food is sitting out and doesn't taste as rad, so get there early for lunch. read more

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I love the no nonsense vibe of this place. The buns are made fresh and juicy and delicious. Can't beat the price either.

Mid pan fried dumplings. I tried them both old and fresh. And both were not fhe greatest. Service not the friendliest. I'd choose somewhere else in Boston read more

First of the dumplings are exceptional delicious and other food was great must stop in and service is fast and efficient more of a hole in the wall to go place but definitely worth it. Prices are great can be a line but moves quickly. read more

Dumplings are really good, some of the best in Boston. A bit on the expensive side though, 8 dumplings for $10

Went here on a lazy Saturday afternoon after hearing about this place from someone else. A true hole-in-the-wall, it's located in one of the larger alleyways of Chinatown. Be warned - the English translation of the menu is not really accurate and if you don't know what you're getting, you might be in for a surprise. The service was great as the lady in front gave us a friendly run-down on how to order on the tablet. We ordered two different noodle soups, one with beef + beef tripe + rice noodles, and the other a pork specialty with glass noodles, both requested at mildly spicy. The wait was normal, maybe 10-15 mins, and the bowls they come out with are deceptively deep. Both noodle soups had tofu, bak Choi, and Napa cabbage. The broth was delicious and the bowl themselves kept very hot for a long time. The spicy was just at the right level and for ~$13 a bowl there was a lot food to get through. Tasty and satisfying I think we spent like 20-30 mins mins trying to finish our meal because there was so much! They also have handmade baos to take home but we were too full at the time to consider it. tldr; pretty cheap, good service, good food, generous portions, 100% authentic, but isn't a clean restaurant. read more

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I feel like I have to leave this review as a PSA given how this place seems to be trending on social media lately for their pan fried dumplings/buns, and I'll admit that I was also baited by one such post. In my opinion, the pan fried dumplings/buns here are overrated. I went on a weekday around lunchtime so ymmv, and not only had my buns clearly been sitting out for a while and not that fresh (actually kind of dry/greasy), but they were also practically burnt on the bottom. Yes, they had some juice inside, which is more than can be said for a lot of other places, but that is not enough of a redeeming factor given how lackluster the outside was. The flavor of the meat/juice was okay. If nothing else, they clearly have a consistency problem since even looking through some of the pictures other people have posted at the time of this review, one day's buns were much darker than another day's buns. The ambience is that of a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, and there is some seating inside. Price is certainly on the cheaper side, and they do have other lunch options there (seemed kind of like cafeteria style) that I did not try. read more

Their lunch menu is really affordable. It's just $10 for three choices of meat or veggies, plus rice. The service was great; the server told me what I could choose, and they have self-serve water. There's enough space for people to sit; I came in with a group of six. read more

Always walked past this place leaving Jia Ho Supermarket and decided to try it out. 3 Dish lunch combo for $9 is solid for the amount of food. Taste is alright -- homecoming vibe but wasn't a fan of the Szechuan fish but the other two dishes were fine. Limited english speaking but manageable. read more

Potluck Cafe - Szechuan Fish Fillet Pork w/ Pepper and Onions Beef and Potatoes - Chinese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The best and cheapest Chinese food in town. First time I ate there I just sat on the curb and ate.

Money seems to disappear before our eyes these days and it's harder and harder to find good deals anywhere. Potluck Cafe is the oasis we have been looking for. It's one of the best bangs for the buck anywhere. The traditional, old school and home-style Chinese food here is unique, even for Chinatown. If you don't mind a no-frills Chinese cafeteria, then you are in for a treat. Ten dollars will buy you rice, heaping servings of three delicious entrees and a humble yet piping hot bone broth of sorts. What they generously stuff in that black bento box is enough for at least two meals. The service is minimal but efficient. It's a solid quick-service mom and pop restaurant in Boston's Chinatown. read more

Potluck Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

[update in 06/2022] this place now reopen with renovation and change in menu! They no longer offer the "buffet-like" precooked dishes but instead you order from their menu. A decent selection, same authentic tastes (LOTS of vegetable options), plus MaLaTang麻辣烫 and ShaGuo/ Clay Pot 砂锅 dishes, with or without meat. The offer complementary rice and soup when you order 3 dishes or more. The place is clean. So exciting to see their strong return. i miss this place! I am writing this review per my experience with this place in 2019 - it was a dirt cheap place where you get three dishes plus rice plus soup. It is a place where a lot of local Chinatown residents and those who work nearby went for lunch. The serDespite crowded - service is fast. the place was always full of people, all attracted by its price and relatively large selection of dishes. Unfortunately with a place relying on customer volume and needs cash flow, it did not do well after Covid pandemic starts. The owner tried to switch to a menu model - but of course given the tense competition as well as overall much smaller customer number - the place eventually closed since 10/2020. Hope it will reopen one day. read more

Potluck Cafe - 梅菜扣肉, 红烧豆腐, 豆豉鱼，green bean - Chinese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Food is so good with the affordable price. I wish I can eat this thing every day but I lives so far.... read more

Potluck Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Very authentic northern Chinese food. Very cheap for a decent serving size! Everything taste amazing, just like home! Def will come back for some home style Chinese food! read more

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Evidently they don't have the same "cheap" meals anymore (unless I ordered wrong), but what I got for about $19 was well worth it. I had two fried chicken legs, mapo tofu, and string beans, along with a plateful of white rice and a small bowl of soup. These were all served quickly with a friendly smile. The restaurant is a little small, but I didn't have to wait very long to get a seat. Will be back! read more

Potluck Cafe - Chicken legs (雞腿), Mapo Tofu (麻婆豆腐), green beans (乾煸四季豆) - Chinese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Today, the menu has changed, so I ordered ramen... So I decided to order volcano ramen takeout (noodle soup is packaged separately)... In the end, I don't know what I ate. The noodles were not ramen, they were clumpy and I couldn't pick them up with chopsticks. The soup was sour, and I couldn't taste the essence of Japanese ramen soup base at all (the waiter said that this was a lot of ingredients that had been boiled for a long time, anyway, it was sour and spicy and I didn't know what I was drinking). The chili oil simply tasted like chili powder, and the side dishes were normal, but they added a few more pieces of fish tofu in a weird way... I originally wanted to give the boss some friendly advice, hoping that they would pay attention to it in the future. The boss was refuse to answer the phone call, and just asked the waiter to answer it for me. Who knew that I was ridiculed and said, "This is fusion, the whole United States is doing fusion, if you want to eat authentic ramen, go to Japan."... In short, for this price, the portion is okay, and the rest is forgettable. I hope everyone doesn't step on the thunder!!! read more

Currently, the price is still $5 (cash only) for three choices, plus white rice, plus soup. Take a look at the choices laid out behind the glass at the counter, tell your server your selections, pay, and take your order to go or go find yourself a seat... All the choices looked pretty fresh. Today's 23 choices included three types of fish, a green leafy vegetable, fried tofu, General Gau's chicken (or was it sesame?), clams in black bean sauce, an eggplant dish, pork ribs/taro, fatty pork/peanuts, scrambled egg/tomato. There is very little seating in the place, maybe 5 square tops with a round table by the door. Tables are set with chopsticks, spoons, napkins. Bathrooms are best described as small and narrow. The food was good for the price, but nothing was outstanding. They handle both take-out and eat in. If you eat in, you can leave your trays on the table when you're done, and they'll clean up after you. (There's no place to place your tray if you want to try to bust your own table.) *** 7/2010 Update *** The price is now $5.25 for three choices, plus white rice, plus soup, or for two choices, plus either lo mein or fried rice, plus soup. *** 12/2012 Update *** The price is now $5.75 for three choices, plus white rice, plus soup, or for two choices, plus either lo mein or fried rice, plus soup. Cash only. 22 choices behind the glass cases, and another 12 choices under the heat lamp at the far end. Several tables were available with seats for perhaps 20. The soup was pretty simple and not the most flavorful, but the rice was fine, the broccoli retained some bite, the fried saucy chicken was all meat under the batter and the flavors were acceptable. No trays were provided and there was a trash can against the innermost wall where I dumped by styrafoam container and other trash. read more

Potluck Cafe - Potluck storefront (4/09) - Chinese Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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