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Very great value for their 10 dollar "choose three items" value meal. They have many items to choose from including sweet and sour chicken, broccoli and chicken. green beans and chicken, tofu, sweet and sour pork fried fish, all to name a few. Is it the best tasing? no. But its great value! Their pan fried dumplings are decent!
The pan-fried dumplings were so yummy and so cheap! I was pleasantly suprised by the salty, crunchy texture of the outside. Def give it a try!
Small restaurant with only a few tables in Boston's Chinatown. We really enjoyed the fried dumplings. Tasty and hit the spot for a mid morning snack! The lady who helped us was friendly.
Genuinely the best pan fried dumplings I've ever had. I think about these dumplings all the time. So much so that I have decided I'm going to try and make them from scratch. The dumplings were the perfect amount of crunchy on the bottom, but chewy and fluffy. The meat and soup inside were so flavorful, and the vinegar to dip with it was perfect. The service was very quick, and I had gotten there as soon as they brought out fresh dumplings. I wasn't in there for long since the service was quick, but I saw a lot of other people eating their other selection of foods! Those also looked pretty good, but I only came for the dumplings. The place is in a random alley way, but don't be fooled. It's a must!
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.
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.
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!!!!!
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.
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!
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.
Really really good food would definitely recommend to everyone that loves Chinese food AAA+++
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
Solid snack place here in Boston's Chinatown! Everyone seems to talk about the pan-fried dumplings, but they were okay in my opinion. Great deal for the price. My partner randomly ordered the fried chicken wings, and for some reason that stood out to me even more! They gave us all wings, and it was incredibly crispy. They have a lot of other lunch options that I didn't get to try, but it looked great. The service was quick and straight to the point. The restaurant itself was small and very quaint. I recommend this place if you're looking to grab a quick snack. read more
Great value, hole-in-the-wall spot in Chinatown. $10 for 3 dish combo with rice - lots of tasty options to choose from, cafeteria-style, generous portions. Had the eggplant/veg, broccoli and chicken, and pork belly - fav was eggplant/veg, sort of a sweet and sour take that hit without being too syrupy. Tried my friend's dumplings and it was tasty, like a pork bao with a fried bottom. Soy/vinegar with ginger and chili oil was available to take for dipping. Service was friendly and fast. Space was no frills and had a handful of tables to eat at, but took mine to-go. Induced some nap-o'clock vibes later, but had enough leftover to enjoy for another meal. read more
11 hours ago
Fast hot food for a good price! The dumplings are so fresh and they are constantly cranking them out! I definitely want to go back to get a rice platter. read more
4 months ago
Very great value for their 10 dollar "choose three items" value meal. They have many items to choose from including sweet and sour chicken, broccoli and chicken. green beans and chicken, tofu, sweet and sour pork fried fish, all to name a few. Is it the best tasing? no. But its great value! Their pan fried dumplings are decent! read more
22 days ago
Small restaurant with only a few tables in Boston's Chinatown. We really enjoyed the fried dumplings. Tasty and hit the spot for a mid morning snack! The lady who helped us was friendly. read more
9 days ago
Genuinely the best pan fried dumplings I've ever had. I think about these dumplings all the time. So much so that I have decided I'm going to try and make them from scratch. The dumplings were the perfect amount of crunchy on the bottom, but chewy and fluffy. The meat and soup inside were so flavorful, and the vinegar to dip with it was perfect. The service was very quick, and I had gotten there as soon as they brought out fresh dumplings. I wasn't in there for long since the service was quick, but I saw a lot of other people eating their other selection of foods! Those also looked pretty good, but I only came for the dumplings. The place is in a random alley way, but don't be fooled. It's a must! read more
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
1 day ago
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
1 year ago
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
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
7 months ago
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
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
7 months ago
Really really good food would definitely recommend to everyone that loves Chinese food AAA+++ read more
20 days ago
1 year ago
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
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
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
7 months ago
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
1 year ago
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
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
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
5 months ago
5 months ago
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
11 months ago
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
1 year ago
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
1 year ago
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
9 months ago
First time here, sauerkraut beef ramen was phenomenal. Will definitely be back! Get it extra spicy. read more
5 months ago
11 months ago
1 year ago
4 years ago
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
10 months ago
2 years ago
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More info about Potluck Cafe
7 Knapp St
Boston, MA 02111
Chinatown
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(617) 482-1188
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