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    Potluck Cafe

    3.8 (100 reviews)
    ModerateChinese
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Potluck Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    POTLUCK CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Potluck Cafe

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    Dumplings
    Natalie H.

    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.

    Menu (1/2) as of 3/29/26
    Winston L.

    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!

    Charlie L.

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

    Pan fried dumplings, rice plate
    Eva A.

    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.

    05/07/2024
    Jimmy N.

    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.

    inside
    Isabella C.

    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

    Rich L.

    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.

    Menu
    Justin S.

    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.

    Fried Dumplings(6Pcs) (6Pcs)
    Michael S.

    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.

    David R.

    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.

    Dumplings!! Yum!
    Jess S.

    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!!!!

    Pan Fried Dumplings 生煎包
    Emi H.

    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.

    Fresh pork dumplings, $10 for 8
    Jessica D.

    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.

    Sauerkraut beef Ramen

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    1 year ago

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

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    8 months ago

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    4 months ago

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

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    1 year ago

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

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    Recommended by my friend, this pan-fried bun生煎 place isn't far from MFA Boston. The little place is…read moreincredibly popular and well-known among Boston's Chinese student community. Shanghai Classic Pork Pan-Fried Buns上海生煎饅頭: I was instantly hooked! It's hard to imagine finding such good pan-fried buns in the US. Almost every table ordered them, so they were all freshly made, piping hot. The bun was made with unleavened dough, making it chewy and refreshing, with a light, crispy bottom--not oily or hard. The meat filling was substantial and tender, with plenty of broth (see picture). It was sweeter than salty, incredibly umami. The chili oil was also very fragrant, and dipping it in Zhenjiang vinegar enhanced the flavor and cut through the greasiness. Shredded Pork & Preserved Vegetable Noodle Soup雪菜肉絲麵: The noodles were thin and round, with a soft, mushy texture. While the noodles were clearly machine-made, this isn't a problem in the Yangtze River Delta region; the issue was likely overcooking. The shredded pork were well-stirred, with tender meat, but the noodles lacked flavor. They had to be eaten with the pickled mustard greens雪菜 to be slightly salty, and the umami flavor was severely diluted. The tableware is all disposable, and tipping is not mandatory. It's quite affordable.

    I went to Spring Shanghai Pan-Fried Buns during my quick trip to Boston. I ordered the Pan Fried…read morebuns and the meatball. The buns were very fresh and served hot. I appreciated the vinegar and chili on the table to add to the buns. The buns had a chewy and crispy wrapper and the filling was seasoned well. The meatball was tender and the liquid it was braised in was flavorful.

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    Blossom Bar - Ribs

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    Ambiance was 9.5/10! Dimly lit interior makes for an intimate vibe great for dates or girls night…read moreouts. Service was great; we had two different servers come check on us regularly without making it feel stuffy. Super friendly, efficient, and easy to talk to. Food: -Dan Dan Noodles, 7/10: Not bad, but not a standout. The noodles are reminiscent of linguine noodles and aren't dry. The flavor could've been a bit stronger. -Eggplant, 9.8/10: Best Chinese eggplant I've had! TONS of meat on top to the point where you don't see the eggplant, flavorful, stayed warm for a while, large chunks of eggplant. Only downside was the eggplant wasn't chopped into smaller pieces so you either have to cut it yourself or bite pieces off, which can be messy with all the sauce. -Mapo Tofu, 6.5/10: Tofu wasn't the silken tofu kind that I personally enjoy more, it was the tougher type. Flavor was more subtle tha desired and there was virtually no spice. I've been here before for drinks and remember them being good/unique! Will be back to try more drinks next time :)

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    Potluck Cafe - chinese - Updated May 2026

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