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Trying Hong Kong cafe for the first time. I was overwhelmed by the menu on the wall so I asked for recommendations by the woman taking the orders. She recommended the fried chicken Bolo. I got shrimp steam rolls, Chinese donuts, ovaltine French toast, ice coffee, hot soy milk and cold soy milk. The fried chicken bolo was interesting. She told me it was the most popular item on the menu. I personally don't understand why. It is fried chicken with a slaw and on a bun with some sort of crumble on top. I was not impressed. The Chinese donuts were cold and old tasting; I was super disappointed. The shrimp steam rolls were very delicious! The ovaltine French toast is sweet. It has ovaltine powder on it and it's covered with sweetened condensed milk. It is tasty, sweet and a bit messy to eat but I enjoyed it. Iced coffee was strong. Iced soy milk is preferred over hot soy milk but that is just personal preference and it was over 90 degrees outside. It is a small cafe with limited seating at the window. The menu is on the wall. You order and when it's done they call your number. It is NOT ADA friendly. You have to climb stairs to get in. It was quite difficult for me as I was using my cane. This was my first Hong Kong style fast food cafe created by Chopped Champion and James Beard semifinalist Chef Laurence Louie and Rary Ratsifa. After going to another Hong Kong cafe nearby, and having something to compare this to, I would not return to this establishment as I think there are better Hong Style cafes with better food and ADA friendliness establishments.
More of a 3.5 but I'll round up. We came on a Wednesday right at noon and it wasn't too busy but we still had to wait for a seat since they only have seating along the window for like 10ppl max. So definitely more of a takeout place. We got the fried chicken bolo bao and the rubato fun fun (rice roll with Beef Brisket. Curry Fishball. Sesame Sauce. Hoisin.). The bolo bao was soft, had good flavor and a nice topping. The sandwich did fall apart a bit as you ate it though. The actual chicken was a bit disappointing. It's chicken thigh when I usually like breast for sandwiches. And it wasn't crispy at all. All of the breading was soft. The rice rolls were different. I've never had them served like that where the plain rolls are rolled up and cut into pieces. Then they put the hoisin and sesame sauce on top with the meat and fish balls. The rolls eat pretty bland since the sauce doesn't get into the center. That being said the brisket and fishball flavors were amazing.
First, a caveat: I didn't grow up with Hong Kong cafe (茶餐廳, cha chaan teng) nostalgia, and I'm also biased. Ever since Double Chin Restaurant in Chinatown closed (may she rise again), I've been on a mission to find a worthy fried chicken bolo bao. My friend and I trudged into Rubato on a cold, rainy day, hoping for a replacement. Spoiler alert: we did not find one. We ordered four items: rice rolls with curry fish balls, an egg custard lava bun, Ovaltine French toast, and the fried chicken bolo bao. The rice rolls were mild but fine, topped with enough cilantro and scallion to keep it interesting. The lava bun was hot, gooey, and did its job. (GOOD JOB, LAVA BUN!) The Ovaltine French toast? Eh, it aite. But here's the heartbreak: the chicken bolo bao. The chicken wasn't hot; it had that "sat around" feeling. And the bun? Just a dressed-up brioche, missing that true bo lo bao magic. A brioche bun with a crackly top is not a bo lo bao, my dudes. In short, everything was edible, but nothing made me want to come back. (It's not like watching like a hawk for an empty seat and swooping in the moment one opens up is any fun.) The chicken deserved better.
My husband and I stayed in Quincy for a wedding a couple of weeks ago. We had a couple of free hours during the day so we decided to check out the area nearby our hotel. After doing a quick TikTok search, I was prompted to try out this chicken sandwich from Rubato. We walked over and actually missed it on the street because it's so tiny. After realizing it, we turned around and to our surprise, there were several people inside eating and others waiting. This must be a good sign. We walked in and it was the most casual, laid-back establishment. The green color scheme and plants gave it a more earthy vibe, which I absolutely loved. Since we didn't necessarily know what to order we decided to split the fried chicken bolo. When I tell you, I have not stopped thinking about that sandwich since I ate it, I'm not kidding. It was absolutely delicious. My husband, who was resistant to even going in the first place, kept telling everyone around town about it. We will not skip a beat when in Quincy next to visit this establishment. Thanks for an awesome experience.
I had been wanting to visit Rubato for a while but when I noticed Chef Laurence was replicating his dishes from that week's episode of Top Chef, I knew I had to go for it. On my first visit, my partner and I had the catfish sando and a bao filled with pork. The sandwich had a great texture. The fish was crispy from the outside but juicy and tender from the inside. The honey mayo was delicious and added a different flavor profile, and the bao on the sando had leather britches (dried beans from the south) which added flavor and complexity. With Boston being a huge seafood city, I hope this becomes a staple in the future. Although I'd love it even more if there was a spicy sandwich option, yeah it's the Mexican in me! This week, we came looking for the cheung fun quartet but (no surprise) the place was buzzin and the dish sold out. Luckily, they still had some of the other rice roll dishes so we tried the beef brisket cheung fun. And let me tell you, it lives up to the reputation. The brisket was so juicy and tender, and the rice rolls were great. We coupled this with the chili chicken polo bao, which is epic. The top of the bread was sweet and reminds me a little of Mexican sweet bread. The chicken (just like the fish the week before) was perfectly crispy on the outside and tender in the inside. I'm not sure what the mayo/sauce was, but it was pretty tasty. My partner had the chili tofu and, obviously, I had to try a little bit of it. Unexpectedly, the tofu turned out to be one of our favorite things. You may be noticing a trend here but it was perfectly crispy on the outside and spicy but nice and tender in the inside. We shared a spicy cucumber salad which was both refreshing but had a nice kick to it. I think we got excited and over ordered, but looking at the bright side, we have delicious leftovers to take home. The service is very quick, even though it's busy. Chef Laurence is very friendly and greets all guests. I was lowkey star-struck when he said "welcome back" and remembered us from last week. We're super fans of Rubato and will keep coming back to sample more of the menu!
My third visit here, and the food continues to impress. The flavors are always consistent. I usually order the Hong Kong-style lemon tea along with a few other items, and this time I went with the fried chicken bolo bao. It was pretty busy when I ordered, so they waited until I found a seat before making the sandwich to keep it fresh. About 15 minutes later, it arrived. The sandwich looked great--juicy, well-seasoned chicken on a soft, fluffy bun. My only complaint was the slaw, which didn't have much flavor. I was hoping for a bit more acidity to balance the sweetness of the bun, but overall it was still a solid sandwich. Just a heads up: it's a small spot with very limited seating.
The hype is real, the chicken bolo was Crispy and full of flavor while being incredible moist on the inside. It's more of a takeout space than a sit down but service was very prompt and the food was super fresh when we got it.
We have been rooting for our hometown hero, Chef Laurence, this whole season of Top Chef. We were excited when we found out he would be serving the dishes he cooked each week on Top Chef at Rubato, and the first one we got to try was the fried catfish sandwich with sourwood honey mayo, and with fresh baked bread with leather britches inside (southern beans that are hung up to dry). The ingredients he incorporated were such a great homage to the Carolinas, where this season of Top Chef is taking place. We also tried other regular menu items, on that and other visits. The char siu bun had great flavor and was stuffed with meat. I think I may have tasted some star anise? My favorite so far has been the chili tofu, just because I'm a sucker for tofu (was a vegetarian for a number of years), and because the tofu was perfectly and completely fried, great for absorbing the chili goodness. Also tried the chunky cucumber salad and the brisket rice noodles. My Texan boyfriend whole heartedly approved of the tender brisket. I enjoyed it too! We also really liked the Hong Kong tea and the lemon tea (good to the last drop- I even ate the pieces of lemon inside). Almost forgot, a colleague recommended the bolo bao, and it did not disappoint. My boyfriend loved the fried chicken bolo bao, and I also enjoyed the few bites I had. Careful, it's a little messy. I walked out with sauce on my cheek, smh. My boyfriend said the bread reminded him of pan dulce- I totally agree with him. It has a similar sugar crusty top as a Mexican concha. When that fell off a little and was left for the end, my boyfriend happily finished it off, saying it was the best part. We wish Chef Laurence success at the Top Chef Finale. we are happy his restaurant is so close to us. Also recently learned Rubato is sponsoring a family event for a local nonprofit, BCNC. It's awesome that he cooks such great food, and that his restaurant is embedded in and supportive of the local Quincy community.
Small shop you can get into to enjoy some good food. I got their chicken sandwich which looks amazing, but it isn't something I'd try again. I've tried many different chicken sandwiches and a lot outperformed compared to this one. For what the place is I would give it a solid 4 stars. I may go back to try their other foods which seemed more appealing in a home cooked meal sense.
I've heard amazing reviews about this spot so I was super excited to try this spot. The space is pretty small with limited seating so definitely better to go for takeout if you can. The service was also pretty quick so nothing to complain about. I absolutely loved the fried chicken bolo bao. Even though it was a complete mess to eat, I think they nailed the sauce and texture of the fried chicken and the flakiness of the pineapple bun. I also ordered a hong kong milk tea and it was solid with the strong tea flavor.
I stopped by Rubato while traveling and I was so glad I did. This unassuming cafe has some amazing food. There is very limited seating within the cafe so be sure to plan accordingly. Some other patrons were kind and made space for us to sit. The staff were friendly and attentive. I had the fried chicken bolo, it was sweet and savory and not a combination I thought would work, but it did. If I am in the area I will definitely be stopping by again!
Cha siu bolo bao -- was nice and crispy on outside with soft bread and very yummy sweet and savory pork inside. Was actually very yummy and filled w meat. Usually dont love bolo baos but rubato's take on it was very well done :) lava egg yolk French toast -- nice crunchy crumbs of something, plus soft dense yummy French toast. And the egg yolk! More sweet than savory but the salty lava egg yolk added a nice satisfying warm creaminess. Definitely a heavy dessert but worth it Inside is very cute green tiles and simple but cute countertop area to eat. Seating is all in a line and also not many seats, so hard to come in a group of maybe more than 3 Service was quick and efficient, food comes out on little metal trays, chill cafeteria vibe
The place is small but the food is 5 star. I had two different steam buns char sui and braised beef amazing and then I had salt and pepper chicken over white rice. They were all delicious. Worth every penny.
This place is over hyped in my opinion. We arrived on a weekend day just as they arrived, as we hear it gets super busy here. Walking in at 9am, this place was ICE COLD. We were wearing summer attire as it is hot out...but you will freeze inside! Service was okay. I witness the 2 workers out front fighting in the open over one person putting a paper tray down to indicate either take out or dine in, but it was wrong. This could've been better handled in front of customers. It shows they do not like working there or enjoy their work. On to the food... Cha Siu Bolo - This is their bread and butter item and I was looking forward to trying them...hoping it would be just like the ones in Manhattan chinatown. The ones here cost like 3 or 4x more than manhattan chinatown and they do not live up to the hype at all, which was most disappointing. It had a good amount of filling but the filling was so so salty! Not just a little, but by a lot. We ate it, but it wasn't enjoyable. Lava Egg Yolk french toast - Okay, definitely order this! Its fantastic! Very very yummy. It's sweet but a little savory with some crisps here and there. Have this with the milk tea. Milk tea - This is the best milk tea I've had, ever! However, let me caveat by saying I don't typically drink milk tea. I believe this place may have converted me and I'll be looking to drink this more...hopefully it'll be as good. Sesame and hoisin cheung fun - Nah, not that great. Ding ho in chinatown made it soo much better. Pass on this. Outside of the french toast and milk tea, I'm not moved to come back. read more
Business owner information
Laurence L.
Hey John, thanks for coming by and thanks for an honest review of the…
The Bao is an amazing part of my visit. I tried twice different ones this week. Lava egg and pork bao I just took one bite and felt as if I was in Heaven. The taste was so different and wonderful at the same time! I also tried the Nutella French Toast. read more
5 months ago
Finally got to check out Rubato for breakfast the other day! There is limited seating (~9 seats) along the counter if you want to dine in. We ordered the Fried Chicken Bolo, the Spam Bolo, and the Gochujang Pork Floss HK French Toast special. It seems like things are made to order because it took a while for our items to come out, but everything came out pipping hot. The crispy fried chicken was very juicy and paired well with the refreshing sesame slaw on top. The spam was a bit thin and overcooked for my taste, but you can't go wrong with a spam, egg, and cheese combo. We loved ending the meal on a sweet, unique note with the Gochujang HK French toast. It came with a generous portion of pork floss, condensed milk, and sweet/savory gochujang filling. It's pretty easy to find street parking nearby, but definitely come early as it gets busy later in the day! read more
5 months ago
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Rubato seems unassuming since its exterior appears to be a small store on North Quincy's busy Hancock Street. However, when you enter Rubato, you are greeted with a cozy, yet delightful fast-casual Hong Kong Cafe. There is minimal seating (probably about 10 chairs), so expect a grab-and-go situation if you visit here since it will likely be filled with lots of people. When I visited on a Sunday afternoon, there was a line and the 10 chairs were filled. Although there was a line, they got through orders fairly quickly! I got my food within 10 minutes which was fantastic. We ordered their HK Milk Tea, Yuen Yeung, Fried Chicken Bolo Bao, Curry Fishball Cheung Fan, and Nutella French Toast. My personal favorites were their HK Milk Tea, Fried Chicken Bolo bao, and the Nutella French Toast. - Fried Chicken Bolo Bao: The fried chicken was super crispy yet tender and juicy! The sauce it comes with is heavenly and pairs amazingly with the sweet and flakey sugar topping of the bolo bao. - Nutella French Toast: I loved the crunchy bits on top and how soft the actual toast was. It was filled with tons of Nutella which was delicious. - HK Milk Tea (iced): It was definitely on the sweeter end but very flavorful. I would 100% recommend trying this one! The Curry Fishball Cheung Fan was good, but not my favorite thing. I don't think I would get this again because there wasn't much memorable about it besides it being kind of spicy and the fishballs being fresh (clearly not frozen). Overall, I would totally recommend trying out Rubato. Everything was very tasty and packed full of flavor! It was a cute experience and I enjoyed everything I had. read more
Business owner information
Laurence L.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful review!! So glad you had a good…
7 months ago
Went for lunch with wife and daughter. I got the Chili Chicken Bolo. This was an amazing fried chicken thigh sandwich with chili sauce, sour cream with onion dressing. The buttery bao with its crunchy top was tremendous. My daughter tried some and thought it was great as well. The chili sauce was a little of my wife's heat level but liked the chicken. We split a Beef Brisket Bao which we all liked. I thought it was great, daughter and wife while not as exuberant, they still liked it. My daughter got the Rubato fun fun, this is a bowl with rice roll, curry fish ball, and beef brisket chunks that had a sauce of sesame and hoisin. She added chili sauce to this and it was really tasty. My wife got the ji cheung fun with just the sesame and hoisin sauce. While the chicken bolo was a little pricy at $14 i thought it was worth the cost and will likely visit and Fried Chicken bolo with sesame slaw next time. read more
Rubato HK Cafe is a Hong Kong breakfast takeout restaurant in Quincy, MA. I visited on a Friday morning in January. The restaurant had a retro style cafeteria feel to it. You order at the cash register and food is served in a metal tray that you can bring to the stool seating area by the window. You do feel like you are no longer in Quincy in this hole in the wall mom and pop restaurant. The HK milk tea is very simple, slightly sweetened. The must order item has to be the lava egg French toast which was amazing! It was salty, savory, and crunchy. I have never had anything like it before. Not something I would eat daily, however, something I would order again had I lived closer. We also ordered the Rubato Sampan rice congee, which was very simplistic in flavor. I would say it is a must have comfort food type breakfast item for those looking for something warm. The rubao fun fun was a party of flavors and textures! If you cannot decide on the cheung fun that you want just order this as it has everything in it, brisket, curry ball, etc. If in the area, this is a must try. See my pictures! read more
2 years ago
This place is a very simple, straightforward but their food is truly off the charts good. We had the chicken sandwich and the beef curry. Flavorful, healthy portion, well presented. The hype around this place is well earned and you'd be silly not to try this when you're in Quincy. read more
2 years ago
A very cute spot in Quincy with modern Hong Kong food. I was very excited to try it, as I've heard great things! The service was great- everyone was super friendly. The fried chicken bolo was delicious, with crispy chicken and some type of aioli that paired nicely. I thought the rubato fun fun was overwhelming with everything together, and wished I had ordered one of the other options. Overall, I would try other items if i'm in the area again! read more
2 years ago
Business owner information
Laurence L.
Bummer you didn't enjoy it :(
2 years ago
This spot makes me extremely happy! All the food items were nostalgic and super high quality. It's clear that a lot of care went into to opening and running this place and I am excited to continue to support them! Food: There is no way to go wrong with this menu. It hits on a good number of Hong Kong breakfast classics and adds welcome twists here and there. Whether you want to kicked back to your childhood or you want to try a new palette of breakfast flavors you'll be satisfied. For specifics, the fried chicken plate was incredibly crispy, the cheung fun was perfectly bouncy and saucy, and the spam bolo bun was a killer combo of salty and sweet! read more
2 years ago
Honestly one of the best restaurants I tired in Boston! All the food was exceptional! They are known for the Fried chicken bolo! The chicken was extremely crispy and juicy. The added sauce exponentially enhances the sweetness and saltiness of the sandwich. Buns are phenomenal with a crispy texture on the outside and a sweet/soft texture in the inside. Rice rolls and congee were both amazing! Very light and a great amount of salt on each dish! The lava egg yolk buns are my favorite! It is very fresh and gooey in the inside! The staff were very friendly and during the weekday, it was not packed at all. A nice small seating area (yellow curtains made the pictures look yellow). I would honestly go here every time I visit Quincy! You have to bring your friends here if you want to impress them with great food recommendations! read more
I stopped by for lunch today and it wasn't too crowded! The restaurant is a casual spot for you to eat in or take out. I ordered the brisket cheung fun and it was delicious. I loved how the cashier asked about the toppings. It is defaulted to include scallion, cilantro, and a spicy sauce. I'm not a fan of cilantro or spicy flavors so it was really nice that I was able to remove that from my order. I can't wait to come back and try their bolo buns next time. read more
Business owner information
Laurence L.
Nicole, thanks so much for the kind review. Hope to see you soon for…
You know how I say if Bao are on the menu, I will [almost] always get them? Imagine my excitement when I heard about Rubato, and more importantly their menu! Their hours are somewhat limited, but one Saturday I finally resolved to make the hour long walk and try it out. While nothing I had was mind-blowing, everything was hot, fresh, and tasty. Very respectable in its own right. Plus it's unique, as there aren't that many HK-Style Fast Food places around. I had the opportunity to try: - Cha Siu Bao - Fried Chicken Bolo - Iced Milk Tea (less sugar) The Cha Siu Bao is the closed type (meat entirely contained inside bun). The dough was hot, soft, and fluffy. The BBQ pork within was tender, savory, gently sweet, and in perfect amount. The Fried Chicken Bolo was an interesting take on a fried chicken sandwich. The bolo (pineapple bun) was a little flaky and had a pleasant sweetness. The chicken was a thick piece, cooked to crisp and tender perfection. The slaw added a pleasant freshness. Meanwhile the sauce got lost in there for me. The Milk Tea was okay. It had perceptible tea flavors, but it felt as though something was missing. I'm not sure if it's the tea they used, or if it was just "less sugar" ending up being very little. The location is small, and seems to be more a grab and go spot. While there is a long table by the window, it isn't well suited to long term stays. No public restrooms, either. Finally, where it comes to service: it was fast and polite enough. You aren't smothered, but the staff is by no means rude. Thus, a terrific restaurant to have in Quincy. The food is tasty and the service is fast. That said, I do not believe Rubato is a destination worth going well out of your way for. read more
Business owner information
Laurence L.
Mark, thanks so much for your thoughtful review. We are so proud to…
3 years ago
This place was superb! I grew up eating at HK style cafes a lot, and it was really cool to see the innovation in the menu here. Bolo bao as a bun for a burger? French toast with lava egg yolk? Yummy! There's a mix of classics and new takes on those classics. Everything slapped, and the portions are great for the pricing. It's 5 hours later, and I'm still full. The service was nice too: a friendly cashier. The place is a bit small, with maybe 10 seats along one side of the place. There was no restroom. So plan for that! This is probably best for small parties and for takeout. We came at 11 on a Sunday, and it quickly filled up, so that by 11:30, no seats were left! I'm excited to try more the next time that I come! The menu looks so fun! read more
Business owner information
Laurence L.
Brandon, thanks so much for your kind and thoughtful review.…
3 months ago
4 months ago
Bravo! 5 visits later, it consistently hits the spot!! This delightful, casual Hong Kong establishment won Top 23 new restaurants nationally in 2023, and for a good reason. So accessible, authentic, comforting, and scrumptious, catered to both cultured and naive taste buds. Ambience: cafe casual, seats just 8 inside. Since it's award, lines have often been out the door, so order online to get ahead! Tons of free weekend street parking if needed. Food: *by now, I've ordered most of the menu; the quality has not faltered!* A few highlights: - Salt and Pepper Chicken Plate ($17): light, crispy, flavorful, so accessible - Cha Siu Bao ($4, $8 in bolo): must not miss! so flavorful, try the bolo on at least one bun-- the buttery textured sweetness is a revelation! - Lava Custard Bao ($4 each): such an accessible dessert bao, the perfect choice if not wanting to calorie splurge on the... - HK lava egg yolk french toast ($11): HK dessert like I've never had before; there's sweet, savory, smooth, and crunchy all in one unforgettable bite! - Congees ($4,5,7): I grew up eating these for breakfast and will always order one with each trip, but the appeal is probably a touch less accessible than the rest. A final word about service-- before all the award buzz, we enjoyed lovely conversations with Connie at the register. Unfortunately, the pressures of high volume have tainted her joyous spirit. It hasn't shaken me; don't let it shake you. I can't wait to be back! read more
Business owner information
Laurence L.
Daniel, Thanks so much for your thorough, thoughtful, and kind…
After its highlight in Bon Appetit, I knew I had to check it out. The fried chicken bolo bao was fantastic- the chicken was juicy and crispy. The sesame slaw added a wonderful crunch and balanced out the fried chicken well. Though on the sweeter side due to the condensed milk, the lava egg yolk toast was a great cap to the meal, though definitely large enough that it needs to be shared. Also tried the rubato fun fun ji cheung fun to sample the beef brisket and fish balls-- this was tasty but probably won't get next time. The unsweetened soy milk was very refreshing. Will definitely be back for more of the fried chicken bolo bao and try the char siu bao that was unfortunately sold out when I went. Service was quick. There is some limited counter seating by the windows. read more
We were promptly welcomed and order taken. Ordered the fried chicken bolo. It was so good. I ordered hot coffee but swear it tasted sort of like English tea so I'm guessing instead I was given the tea with soy milk. Whatever it was it was good. The locale of really cold but luckily they turned off the AC and was a.able to enjoy the delicious bao. A must check in the area read more
Finally had the time to swing by Rubato's to try more things on their menu! Interior is cute, though it's simple, I love that they have the yellow tint shades so when you're sitting, the sun isn't blinding you haha but also makes the place look so cool. They have their menu on one of the walls in big font printed & it's big enough so that you can still see it from the seats. What we ordered: -Chili chicken bolo sandwich -Pork and Century Egg Congee -Lava Egg Yolk HK French Toast -Iced HK Milk Tea -Hot soy milk Thoughts: The chili chicken bolo sandwich was good! It's got the Sichuan mala spicy taste & chicken was not dry. Loved that they use bolo baos as buns! Pork & century egg porridge is my go-to whenever I get porridge... I'm obsessed with century egg to be honest lol. It had a good amount of pork & century egg ratio to porridge. Ask for some white pepper and sprinkle it in, SO GOOD! The lava egg yolk HK French toast was what we were most excited about. Aesthetically pleasing but I will say, wasn't what we were expecting. It was a lot sweeter than we would've liked. Lots of condensed milk & I think the salted egg yolk was mixed with condensed milk? Too sweet. We both love condensed milk but it was overwhelming. I also didn't really like the crunchies that were put on top of the French toast, so this was actually pretty difficult for us to finish. The iced HK milk tea was also extremely sweet, even though we requested for less sweet when ordering. Lastly, I had the hot soymilk, which was perfect! Not sweet at all... just how I like it. We used it to cleanse our palate in between bites. Staff was so nice & friendly. The food was made super quick too. I'd definitely come back again for the pork + century egg porridge & bolo bao sandwich. Oh and also, the soymilk. Parking: There's free 2 hr street parking on Hancock St & if no spots are available on this street, check Billings Rd & the parking lot that's on Vane St/Billings. read more
Business owner information
Laurence L.
Lizzie, Thanks so much for your kind review. We love to hear that we…
1 year ago
3 years ago
LOVE this place. It's like an upscale dimsum with choice items that they feature: bao (stuffed buns), congee and those long dough sticks that go so well with congee ... then they have non-dimsum menu items like fried chicken bao which looks like a cross between a chicken sandwich in a biscuit and a spam bao with egg (yes it wasn't a typo) - spam in a bao! whatever it is, it works! They serve hot or cold fresh soy milk, something hard to find. Service is fast! read more
This place was delicious! Everything we had was amazing and flavorful. It's a small place so be prepared for there to be no seating left, definitely not for large parties to dine in. But a really delicious find. The portions are also great, I def recommend getting multiple dishes and sharing. The French toast really stood out as a unique sweet dish. The salt and pepper chicken was so crispy and good. I'll definitely be back! read more
So delicious. I discovered them this past Saturday and couldn't go to them on Sunday. I weep as I write this because I can't go to them today (Monday) or tomorrow because they're closed. But I can't be mad because work/life balance is important. The bolo baos are these delicious brioche like buns topped with a lightly sweet, slightly crunchy topping. I had the fried chicken bolo bao which I enjoyed so much I went back to get a spam, egg and cheese bao which I enjoyed even more. I tried the congee with pork and century egg which was very flavorful congee. The plain bolo bao is yummy all on its own too. I'm definitely going back. And if you haven't tried it, please do! Maybe you'll enjoy it as much as me. read more
1 year ago
Salted fried chicken and pepper with rice and vege was really good! Highly recommended. The chicken was crispy and flavorful on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. Taste of sauce on rice balances it out, and the vege helps me feel less guilty about the fried chicken read more
One of my favorite places in all of great Boston and well worth the modest trek down to Quincy (one that I make just for Rubato at least every 1-2 months). Fast but elevated and delicious Hong Kong style street food. The stars for me are the fried chicken bolo bao, the rice rolls and the salt and pepper chicken. The regular baos are also tasty and the French toasts are fantastic, too, if you're looking for something sweeter. As someone who doesn't eat shellfish or pork, which can predominate in Asian cuisine, I especially appreciate the significant number of vegetarian, beef and chicken options. The staff are also super friendly. This place has definitely earned all the hype and awards attention of the past few years! read more
Flavors - 3.6/5 Textures - 5/5 Presentation - 4.2/5 Value for Money - 4/5 Would return? Yes Their star offering is the Fried Chicken Bolo--a bao bun baked to perfection, adorned with a sugary crunchy topping, and packed with crispy chicken thigh, sesame slaw, and their secret sauce. Showstopper presentation! In terms of cooking techniques, this sandwich is flawless. The chicken is incredibly crispy and juicy, the slaw is perfectly crunchy and pickled, and the construction is impeccable--except for one flaw. The crunchy top on the bread poses a problem, as it tends to crumble with the first bite. Now, onto the flavor. I adore how the Chinese flavors distinguish this sandwich from any others in the area. The sweet bun pairs beautifully with the sesame slaw and chicken. However, I felt the chicken was slightly underseasoned, and I could have used more sauce. read more
Business owner information
Laurence L.
Zaraid, thanks so much for coming by and thanks so much for your…
came here on a whim and wow!! amazing food and quick service. i got the butter bolo, cha siu bao, pork congee, you tiao, and yuen yueng coffee. the coffee was hot so it took a while for me to drink it but it was balanced between black tea and coffee, very tannin forward. the cha siu bao was delicious and exactly what i want in a bao - pillowy soft with a delicious filling, not too salty. pork with century egg congee was good!! read more
4 years ago
This is a great addition to North Quincy. This place serves classic Hong Kong style dishes with congee and cheung fun, but they also have a couple fusion dishes that are a hit. I got the fried chicken bolo bao and the lava egg yolk HK French Toast. The Fried Chicken bolo bao was delicious. The chicken was juicy and really well seasoned. It was also topped with a refreshing slaw and had something like a spicy mayo. It was the perfect balance of salty and sweet. The lava egg yolk french toast was really good as well. It is definitely on the sweeter side because it is topped with sugar and condense milk, but it's a great dish to share if you're craving something sweet. I wish there was more seating in the restaurant, but other than that I'll return for the fried chicken bolo bao. read more
6 months ago
1 year ago
Came here sunday around 12:30 and the place is crowded. We waited 5-10min to put in our order and another 10min for our food. There're only a few seats by the window and we were lucky enough to get it. Our favorite were the egg yolk french toast and fried chicken bolo bao! read more
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Laurence L.
Lena, thanks for the review and so glad you locked in a seat! Hope to…
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