Unfortunately, Yelp doesn't allow for half stars, but Yunnan Kitchen would be a solid 4.5/5 for me. A group of friends and I made the trek to the South End on a rather sad, rainy day, so we had high expectations for the food. For the most part, Yunnan delivered. We came in on a Sunday at 5 pm, and the restaurant was moderately busy. We were able to find seating and order relatively quickly. Based on one friend's suggestion and a bit of online help, we ordered the Boiled Fish Fillet in Chili Oil, the Mint Beef, the Potato Pancake, and the Stir-Fried Rice Cakes. Overall, the meal was pretty good. The stars of the dinner were the Stir-Fried Rice Cakes and the Mint Beef (which was realllyyyy minty and herbaceous), while the fish tasted pretty standard for a typical Chinese restaurant. The Potato Pancake added some nice texture, but it wasn't particularly memorable and I probably wouldn't order it again. Now you might ask... okay? Cozy restaurant, fast service, good food--why the 0.5 off? And sadly, it was the dessert. Call me picky, but this was the part I had the highest hopes for. After finishing our meal, we decided to get the Coconut Delight and the Devil Sweet Sticky Balls (their words, not mine). The Coconut Delight was... okay. The best part was the bread (three pieces per cup), which, when soaked in the coconut milk, was just heavenly. But beyond that, the dish resembled a rather sad, runny coconut sago. The Devil Sweet Sticky Balls weren't much better. We loved the texture of the rice balls (chewy!), but the brown sugar syrup tasted burnt and left a strange, bitter aftertaste. This may have been a one-off, so we'll have to return to verify (and when we do, I'll update this review). But to give Yunnan the benefit of the doubt, I'll round up to a full 5 stars for now. For main dishes, fast service, and a cozy ambiance, Yunnan hits all the right boxes (just not quite dessert!) read more

See all

The lighting here is very dim and gives off romantic vibes, although it's not necessarily a romantic spot. We came for dinner on a Sunday and it was fairly quiet. The food is authentic Yunnan cuisine, and while many menu items are labeled spicy, I wouldn't consider them very spicy. The flavors are more well-seasoned with just a slight hint of spice. The stir-fried rice cakes were delicious and reminded me of pad see ew in texture and flavor. The beef with longhorn peppers was very tender, and the sweet and sour pork had the perfect balance of crispiness, sweetness, and tang. The fish fillet in chili oil came in a huge portion, but I wished it had more spice. It tasted more like lightly spiced oil and lacked additional depth of flavor. I also did not enjoy the Dali mushrooms, as they were very dry and bland even with the side of chili powder. Overall, I would come back because the food is good, but if you're expecting bold heat, I recommend asking for a higher spice level. The service was okay. read more

See all

This place is so slept on! I randomly discovered this place while walking one day and ended up having the best meal. If I'm ever in the mood for udon noodles this is my go to. The jalapeño beef stir fried udon is my favorite item here. The noodles are perfectly cooked and the flavor is amazing. Definitely spicy though, so if you don't like spice I'd recommend the udon noodles that don't come with the hot peppers. They also have a lot of classic Chinese food options like general gao's chicken, beef and broccoli, etc. And you can add spice to any dish! For dessert, I recommend the coconut delight. The toasted brioche it comes with has such a nice texture and flavor. I would say that it's a pretty casual atmosphere in there. They make all the food quickly too and everyone who works there is really nice! read more

They do regional specialties such as fish, mint beef, and sweet and sour pork well. We also had friends who preferred American Chinese food and they ranked the general gaos chicken as one of the top! Service was fast and friendly with 2 toddlers in tow. The restaurant is in a dark wood panel setting which is nice but they are always full so I anticipate them moving to a larger place someday given how popular they are. read more

Yunnan Kitchen - Sweet shrimp - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

This place offers regional Chinese cuisine with labeled vegetarian options. The non-vegetarian options are frankly disconcerting as is often the case in Asian cuisines, but I kept to myself and ordered some intriguing dishes. Notably, they offer something called pea jelly that I hadn't seen before but which makes a fantastic salad. It is soft, but firm enough to hold its shape. The more typical dish I ordered was a homestyle tofu that generated a taste that you only get from proper wok preparation and quality ingredients. I wolfed it down pretty quickly and took a lot of my salad to go. The restaurant was busy even in the middle of the day, and I would expect it to remain so given the large number of Chinese immigrants and visitors in this area who clearly have decided that this is the place they want to be. read more

Yunnan Kitchen - 家常豆腐 Homestyle Tofu - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

This was my second time at Yunnan Kitchen and definitely not my last! First, I'm a little upset with myself because I forgot to take photos, but I was so hungry... My first visit was pleasant. The service was great and the food was good but not memorable. The second visit...OMG... we tried what I am willing to dub as two of my favorite menu items in boston! The stir fried rice cakes are the ultimate comfort food. The texture is incredible and it has quite the kick. I can't wait to eat these again. Also, grandma's potatoes. Wow. So flavorful. You can do a million things to a potato but this is my first experience with the way grandma does it. Highly recommend. The service was again excellent. My water was always full. We didn't make a reservation but we luckily got a spot. It was quite busy for 530pm on a Monday. We also try the sticky rice pork ribs which wasn't my favorite, but I literally don't care because the two other dishes were bomb. read more

While there are more and more Chinese restaurants opening in Boston, Yunnan cuisine is still rare to find. I stopped by on a Saturday for lunch and the restaurant was not too crowded. The servers were very attentive the whole time we were there. Their menu features a lot of Dali dishes, but also contains many Chinese American or Sichuan options if you are not feeling as adventurous. 2 of us split the fried cheese ($13), pea jelly salad ($12), mint beef ($24), and 2 bowls of rice ($3/each). The fried cheese was firm on the inside and slightly crispy on the surface. It came with honey for dipping, so the dish was sweet like dessert. The pea jelly salad was soaked with chili oil and vinegar. Although every piece was glistening with chili oil, the heavy portion of veggies and vinegar added a refreshing and healthy vibe to the dish. I could see how the texture (slightly grainy, similar to Italian panelle) or very mild flavor of the pea jelly could be less appealing to someone with a more Americanized palate. Lastly, the mint beef had a very tender texture and had a savory sauce that soaked into the rice well. I wouldn't have minded if there was more mint in the dish but overall I enjoyed it a lot. We realized after leaving the restaurant that we should have tried their rice cakes! I had a pleasant dining experience here and would come back to try their other Yunnan specialties. read more

See all

Not crowded on a week night and food came quickly. Portions are big so we have plenty leftovers to take home! read more

See all

Was in town visiting son and needed to find a Chinese restaurant for Christmas Eve dinner...a tradition. IYKYK. Turns out not as many traditional American Chinese dishes that I hoped for as they specialize in dishes from the Yunnan area. Obviously. We started with the potato pancakes and rice pancakes with evaporated milk. Both were great. Especially the rice pancakes. Our entrees which included sweet and sour pork and shrimp fried rice were great. Shrimp were large and perfectly cooked. All and all what they do cook were very well made. Worth a try. read more

Use to go to Chinatown all the time when I wanted original Chinese food but now favor Yunnan Kitchen. Consistently good every dish and highly recommend, it is the real deal! read more

I really liked this place - it's so hard to find decent Chinese food in Boston but this place is affordable and yummy. It's a nice vibe inside - service is extremely fast. The pickled potatoes with mustard greens is insane , the flavor is delicious. The tofu with long peppers extra spicy is amazing as well - great with some white rice. The tables loved the braised chicken too! I also really enjoyed the rice cakes with condensed milk read more

See all

One of the best places to get Asian food in the South End! Their wood ear mushroom salad is my favorite. Super chewy mushrooms in this amazing marinade that is cold vinegary, citrusy, and perfectly spicy and fresh. I always get the stir fried rice cakes too which comes with minced pork for some protein. Tried their boiled fish in chili oil which was great to share. Make sure to order some rice on the side because it's a bit spicy! Also got the yunnan style pancakes that come with condensed milk on the side to dip. Overall, always a great meal at Yunnan Kitchen. Would recommend booking a reservation if you are coming for weekend dinner. read more

See all

They have a lot of good options, the food l got was the best! I got 2 dishes of edamame vegetable fried rice and l loved it but l got the edamame with some soy sauce and l really love this place and I'm definitely coming back read more

Yunnan Kitchen - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

When I went here for the first time last year, I immediately went again the next day because I wanted to try so many things on their menu! The food is super yummy, the service is wonderful and efficient, and the interior is so cool and unique. I ordered their sautéed choy som, Dali fried mushrooms, Yongping braised chicken (tender, juicy, and warmly flavored), stir fried rice cakes (wish it was cooked through a little more, but the flavors completely made up for it), Yunnan style rice pancakes (great texture and when dipped in the condensed milk it was a perfect level of sweetness), boiled pork in chili oil (the broth was again a flavor explosion), handmade sticky rice meatballs, vegetable stir fried udon, and yunnan potato pancake (so so crispy). Went again more recently and everything remains super delicious! Found some new favorites including their sweet and sour pork (sauce is so so good), mint beef, and their boiled fish filet in chili oil (this might be my favorite). Loved everything here, and there's still more I want to try! read more

See all

Great take out! Got beef with mint and rice cakes. The beef was tender and nicely flavored, the rice cakes were the perfect texture! Generous portion and reasonable price, definitely gotta try to go in person read more

Yunnan Kitchen - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

**Yunnan Kitchen Review - Boston** Nestled in the South End of Boston at 1721 Washington St #B, Yunnan Kitchen stands out! **Yunnan Potato Pancake**: A crispy shredded potato masterpiece akin to a French fry pancake. A bit spicy thanks to my brother's heavy hand, but a solid 8/10. **Stir-Fried Beef with Long Horn Peppers**: This dish offers perfectly seasoned thin cuts of beef paired with seriously spicy peppers. It's a mouth-watering 9/10. **Mint Beef**: Thinly sliced beef with crispy fried mint leaves--light but flavorful, earning another 9/10. **Stir-Fried Rice Cakes**: A best-seller for a reason! Tossed with pickled mustard greens, pork, egg, and tomato--this dish is a must-try if you're new to rice cakes. 9/10. **Authentic Yongping Braised Chicken**: Generously seasoned with garlic, tsao-ko, scallions, and whole chili--this dish keeps you coming back for more. 9/10. **Lemongrass Tilapia**: Stuffed with chili herb paste, jalapeños, garlic, lemongrass, and citrus, cooked perfectly to score a flawless 10/10. **Xuanwei Ham and Potato Rice**: Cooked in a stone pot, this dish offers delightful crispy bits of rice. Absolutely delicious! **Ambiance and Experience**: It's a small space, but it packs a huge punch with some of the best Chinese cuisine I've had. And even while we were there someone in another booth said it was the best Chinese food they have ever had. The ambiance is simple, rated 5/10, which lets the food shine even more. **Affordability**: With reasonable pricing for exceptional food, it scores a 7/10 on affordability. **Tip**: Share several plates with friends or family, order a bottle of wine, and prepare for an unforgettable dining experience. **Overall**: - Food: 9/10 - Ambiance: 5/10 - Affordability: 7/10 If you're looking for authentic Chinese cuisine outside of Boston's Chinatown, run, don't walk, to Yunnan Kitchen. You won't be disappointed! read more

See all

Mapo tofu is so good. First time here. Definitely come back again and again. The service and environment are nice as well read more

Yunnan Kitchen - Mapo tofu - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Tasty and authentic food. Quick and friendly service. And cozy atmosphere. We came here on a Friday night and were immediately seated. It didn't take too long for us to order since the pictures and names were pretty straightforward. The tomato beef stew came very quick, although it's definitely on the sweeter side, more like ketchup than tomato sauce/fresh tomato. There were plenty of beef chunks in the clay pot tho. The coconut delight (dessert) was special, mainly because how rare it is to find. The chewy couscous/rice on the bottom of the drink tastes fun. The light was quite dim, so it took me some time to get used to the environment. And it was super hot inside. So I would wear shirt instead of sweater next time coming here. In general a decent experience dining here. Neighborhood restaurant that you can chill with friends after a whole week work. read more

See all

This place was good, traditional Chinese food I believe is is James Beard recommended? We had sticky rice meatballs, beef udon, and two pork dishes I can't remember the name of. They had hard to find Asian beers and an interesting menu. I definitely recommend visiting! read more

Yunnan Kitchen - Beef Beef Stir Fried Udon - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

I ordered the Stir Fried Beef w/Long horn Peppers ($21). And it had mostly peppers and a few meat spread around. I am from NY so I have been to several Chinese restaurants. The $12 lunch specials in NY has more meat than this! I ordered a pork dumpling appetizer (1/4 the price) because I was so hungry. I told the waiter that the dumpling had more meat. Please change name to 'Long horn Peppers' with beef because that's how your dish is made. The service, ambience, food tasted great. read more

We of course had to get the pea jelly salad to start. A classic. It's served cold with nuts and some chili sauce, but it's really not spicy. It has a fresh jelly taste and an umami flavor. The peanuts adds some crunch balanced well with soft jelly. The Stir Fried Rice Cake is a must have. It's soft and chewy with a tangy flavor, and I can eat it all day! We also have the Mint Beef for extra protein. The thinly sliced beef is soaked in pickled pepper and mint sauce. The coconut delight is a must have for drinks. It's a coconut milk based drink with some magical ingredients that makes it doesn't taste like coconut at all. It's sweet and it's just right. And the toasted brioche bread adds so much flavor and texture to it. The service is super fast and the waitress is crazy nice and attentive. The ambiance is peaceful with decor that is not Buddha status but still distinctive East Asian. read more

See all

Small Regional Chinese joint near the corner of Mass Ave and Washington Street. Small bar, about a dozen tables, and specialties from Yunnan province that bring lots of sour and spicy flavors. One of my favorite Chinese restaurants. Yunnan Potato Pancake: A first, and a fine starter, but plain (we ordered it milder for my wife) and not that exciting. Fortunately, the other dishes are VERY exciting. Lots of crispness here. Fish Fillet with Pickled Vegetable: Soft, delicate, white fish in a very non-delicate broth. Incredibly flavorful and sharply so, both in sourness and spiciness. Think chicken piccata, only fish instead of chicken, Chinese instead of Italian, and everything more intense and a little extra spicy (from both finely sliced peppers and whole peppercorns), and there you have it. This was a triumph of texture as well as flavor, with so many contrasting elements. It's a dish that reheats well, but you gotta eat it in the restaurant to appreciate how finely calibrated every aspect is. By far my favorite dish here. I like to get a separate little bowl for the broth to enjoy that as a separate entity. Yongping Braised Chicken: Big clay pot with large chunks of red/brown-tinted chicken on the bone, crisp on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, complemented by whole garlic cloves, scallions, whole chile peppers and peppercorns, and chunks of a mushroom-like/ginger-like plant. Delicious flavor, remotely similar to Kentucky Fried Chicken original recipe, but elevated about 7 or 8 levels in intensity, quality, and spice. Aromatic too. Hard to eat without simply picking up the pieces, so just go for it. Plenty to share or save. Beef with Longhorn Peppers: Succulent beef with spicy, crunchy peppers cooked almost to the point of losing the crunch, but not quite. Some smokiness in the mix, from the natural flavors in the vegetables. Beef very tender and moist. Spiciness comes from several sources here, and flavor is sky high. Fried Tofu with Longhorn Peppers: Same crunch, same smokiness, same enjoyment, and yea, even though it's tofu. Thankfully fried but not deep fried. This is a dish you can devour and still respect yourself in the morning. Dali Spicy Shrimp: Spicy, tangy, very slightly buttery, very faintly sweet. Salty in a good way and different way, hard to describe. Wonderful. Boiled Fish Filet in Chili Oil: Darker, deeper, spicier, and crunchier than what I've had elsewhere. Captivating broth delicious enough to spoon on its own, although too oily to indulge in more than a few spoonfuls. Wonderful. Mint Beef: Tender, aromatic, not spicy. They don't all have to be spicy. Subtle yet effective. General Gau's Chicken: I am a firm believer in the "when in Rome" principle, so an unusual choice here. But this restaurant has wowed me so many times before (and the manager recommended it as something beyond an item to appease the less adventurous), so we gave it a try. Crisp, fresh, and good meat-to-breading ratio. Sauce was typically sweet, with minimal if any contrasting elements. I wouldn't get it again, but no regrets on trying it. Wood Ear Mushroom Salad: I'm not a mushroom guy, but I do make an exception for dishes like this. Not firm like I'm used to, but the "refreshing" promised on the menu was indeed fulfilled. Great combo of spice and tartness, with fresh lime slices in addition to the lime juice. Sticky Rice Meatballs: Sometimes a dish can impress without having to dump the entire spice cabinet into it. This is one of them. Subtle but full of finesse, with tasty steamed minced pork, covered with rice, and topped with a goji berry (don't ask). Boiled Pork in Chili Oil. Not as dark (in both meat and sauce) or as garlicky as in the menu description and photo, but enjoyable nonetheless. Spicy with nuance. That said, I'm still not convinced it was pork. read more

See all

We've been here twice and have ordered the same thing each time (some sort of stir fried beef with pickled vegetables) and it's very tasty and reasonably priced for the portion sizes. This is our new go to for Chinese style food. read more

Great environment and great food! The soup and fish and desert and beef are awsome. Will come again read more

Yunnan Kitchen - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Stumbled upon this and wanted to try a new cuisine. The vibe and service were superb. We ordered the Yunnan Style Rice Cake, Coconut Delight, and Sweet and Sour Fish Filet. The Coconut Delight was a fun and sweet drink/dessert. The Rice Cake was bland but luckily there was condensed milk for dipping. Soon, the rice cake got cold and hard to bite into. The sweet and sour fish filet's batter reminded me of the thick chicken finger appetizer from a Chinese restaurant. It should be not be this thick. Overall, the experience was pleasant but the food was just very very mediocre. read more

See all

Yummy food, cool ambiance, friendly staff. Enjoyed beef with mint and stir fried rice noodles with pork and vegetables. Pan fried dumplings also a must. Will be back soon. read more

Multiple friends had this spot on their list to try. In my opinion, I think the food was decent. The flavors were good but I expected more of a spice due to the hype around this place. We got here at 1pm on a Saturday and it was not super busy. Not a super upscale place but more like a mom and pop shop. Food arrived quickly to the table and the portions were big. The tomato pork dish (I forget the name) was our least favorite unfortunately. It leans much more towards tomato and sour flavor than a savory meat dish. Overall I probably won't go out of my way to come here again. Maybe if I find something on the menu I can't find elsewhere read more

See all

Amazing food and experience. Came in with a group of 12 and they were above and beyond accommodating to our group. Some of the best food I've had in a while! read more

We made reservations for Christmas weeks in advance asking for the chef's choice menu. Our reservations were for 5:30; we waited 45 minutes until we finally got a table which we nearly didn't get because the staff was paying no attention. They had no idea of what we had asked for, took another 20 minutes to figure out. We then waited another 20 minutes until after begging for food we finally got a cold mushroom dish that unless we were starving would never have eaten. The food was only ok, had to ask for rice, and didn't even get water without having to ask. Dessert was awful. I will never go back. read more

My brother really wanted to try this place so we dragged the whole fam to try more dishes. Overall I think they use solid ingredients (especially compared to the typical Chinese restaurant) but the flavors can be tweaked. They have wok air which is nice. I wouldn't feel like my mouth is dry from msg afterwards. Not my type of place but would be open to coming again. Interior We don't like how they kept the previous restaurant's decor with all the dark wood and dim lights. Chinese food esp this type isn't meant to be moody. I literally saw a couple need to use their phone flashlight to read the menu. Booth seating works for me. Heating is uneven across various parts of the restaurant. We ordered: stir fried rice cake, sweet and sour pork, boiled fish in chili oil, yong ping braised chicken, sauteed snow pea leaves, stir fried beef with pickled vegetables Stir fried rice cake It was a surprise that it's not too oily too mushy and has wok air. The seasoning is uneven so some bites are too salty. Sweet and sour pork This was surprisingly still crunchy with sauce coating each piece. Meat is fresh. Flavor isn't the best but the balance of other parts makes this pretty solid. Boiled fish in chili oil The fish is flounder filet pieces but thankfully no freezer taste. My mom requested mild spicy so they eliminated the fragrant oil, and we immediately realized how bland it is without. The guy was nice enough to give us back the fragrant oil, promising that it's not spicy. True it's not spicy and not mala either. It tasted better but still not a flavor I like and found it not intriguing enough. It was a surprise they have a bunch of veggies at the bottom. Yong ping braised chicken It looks so dark and dry but surprisingly actually still juicy inside. The only problem is too salty and oily. Sauteed snow pea leaves We ordered this instead of choy sum because this feels relatively more worth considering the price difference. It was mediocre. We got it only for the sake of veggies. The actual sprouts aren't tender and quite rough. Stir fried beef with pickled veggies This was my least favorite. The beef was mushy and thin. I don't like pickled veggies. I read some reviews saying that this is authentic and yummy such that Chinese people would go to. No offense but when I went everyone else was non-Asian. There's so many Chinese in Boston, I 500% bet that if something is authentic enough and proper Chinese social media it'll be flooded with them. I'm not judging their marketing and I'm fine with them staying peaceful. It does look like a family run business. The front of the house does look like siblings. They speak mandarin with each other but know some cantonese as well. read more

See all

Yunnan was not too busy on Saturday evening. They make reservations by phone only so I had made one a few days before but it looked like it wasn't needed. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very casual but cozy. There was some booth seating next to the windows and much longer tables closer to the bar side that could fit a very large group. There was actually a group of 7-10 celebrating a birthday. I'd seen comments saying that they had some very spicy dishes but none of the stuff I got was really spicy so I was surprised. The food though was very delicious and flavorful. Also the portions are really nice so we ended up having leftovers for the two of us that could last for at last 2 days. Service was alright and definitely you need to take initiative when it comes to making sure you get your check or to go boxes as the servers and staff forgot about us at the end. What I got: Stir fried beef w/ pickled veggies Sweet and sour pork Dali Fried Pea jelly (very similar texture to tofu) Stir fried rice cake (very yummy one of my favs) Price $$ Food 9 Atmosphere 7 Service 5 read more

See all

I really amped up my expectations after hearing about the James Beard nomination. Definitely delicious and worthwhile but wasn't out of this world or mind blowing. Still, you cannot make a mistake when coming here and you will enjoy good food with great taste and extremely fast service. There are definitely some dishes that I felt were rarer to find in this area and that I thoroughly enjoyed, such as the pea jelly and the rice pancake with condensed milk. Go for those! Other more common dishes, such as the stir fried beef udon noodles and the boiled pork in chili oil, were more on the average side for me and maybe could have had more ingredients in it or something to make it stand out more. I came on a Saturday night and the wait was minimal. Keep in mind your whole party has to be present to be seated. Food came out extremely fast - like shockingly. Decor was good except for the random Halloween witch and the Valentine's bear... Jazz in the background was a little too loud. read more

See all

I would go back to this restaurant just to get the fried rice cakes! Perfect texture, perfectly flavorful. We also got the pork stew, it was decent. The service was a bit slow, but the yummy food definitely made up for it. Will definitely be back to try more things! read more

Yunnan Kitchen - Fried rice cakes - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Ordered delivery for a larger group and it came very quickly and everything was still hot on arrival! The rice cakes and scallion pancakes are must get items for me! Tried the dali fried mushrooms for the first time and was very pleasantly surprised, have never had anything like it before! read more

Great service, and so many great choices! Great atmosphere and vibes. Absolutely delicous. Would recommend!

Really amazing food; good fast service for a large group for brunch. Not dim sum but better and happy to dial up or down the spiciness. We will be back! read more

yunnan is a classy place that always seems to be teeming with guests. come at lunch time for less of a crowd. i am fortunate enough to live across the street from such a good establishment, so i frequent here. service is quick, no fuss, and out of the way so you can enjoy the company that you came with. some favorites include the stir fried rice cakes, the beef with peppers, sticky rice meatballs, and dali fried mushrooms. enjoy your time here!! read more

Yunnan Kitchen - Hand-made Sticky Rice Meat Balls - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

Very spacious seating. (Much appreciated) There's also a small bar area. The service was okay. The sweet & sour fish filet was good. I really likes the sauce but wished that the fish batter was slightly more crispy. No complaints about the fish itself, super soft and tender. The braised chicken was also yummy. It was flavorful and moist. The beef was super soft, tender, and flavorful. The dessert was surprisingly good, not too sweet. Would definitely come back for the dessert and other sweet and sour dishes that they have. read more

I've ordered out a single fish dish from here several times (boiled fish in chili oil) but finally had the opportunity to dine in with a few friends and try some different plates. Yunnan rice cakes: a crispy on the outside, soft on the inside patty served with a condensed milk sauce for dipping. Also makes a perfectly absorbent medium for sopping up the spicy sauces! Helpful hint: Wait for them to cool before trying to stuff the whole cake in your mouth. Mint beef: This was a friend's pick for which I had no expectations at all but ended up enjoying so much that I ate most of the bowl. Tender beef cuts sauteed with fragrant mint and with just a bit of a spicy kick. Stir fried rice cakes: I'm a huge fan of these chewy nuggets. Think al dente rice pasta tossed with mustard greens, pork and egg in a mildly spicy oil. Boiled fish in chili oil: A thing of beauty. It's a dish I've had at other restaurants but the tofu skin and baby cauliflower set this one apart for me. It's not half as dangerous as it looks or sounds - the sichuan peppercorns and chili oil just leave you with a pleasant tingly-face. Green pepper and potato fried rice: This was our safety/recovery (non spicy) dish if we needed it, but we liked it as much as everything else on the table. Not at all greasy, almost like broken rice with shreds of potatoes and pepper. Fast and unobtrusive service, as well background music with an actual background volume level to make this one of the rare restaurants where you can actually hold a conversation (THANK YOU AND PLEASE DON'T CHANGE). A unique and delicious experience! So much more to try here. read more

Yunnan Kitchen - Rice cakes (front) mint beef (upper left), boiled fish in chili oil (upper right). - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Being Boston's first and only Yunnan restaurant, I came in expecting food incomparable to those served from other chinese restaurants around Boston. For the most part, I came out relatively satisfied. The stir fried rice cakes exceeded my expectations. The dish was actually quite fragrant and smokey, providing a great deal of wok-stir-fry flavor and aroma. The mint beef was also a delight! The beef was tender and moist; the chillies added a fiery but sweet flair; and the mint leaves provided a refreshing aftertaste that leaves you going for another piece. The wood ear mushroom salad was simple but refreshing! Cold, soaked in soy sauce and vinegar, accompanied by crunchy onions. A great pallet cleanser! Unfortunately, the steamed pot chicken completely fell short, and was by far the weakest dish. $35 for a few chicken scraps in a broth that lacked any depth in flavor. The chicken itself was somehow incredibly dry and lacked any complexity in its taste! It's almost as if they took the scraps of another chicken dish, boiled it in water, and served it in a fancy vessel. Aside from the food, the restaurant itself is cozy, though not very spacious. As for the service, the food was brought out almost instantaneously! All four dishes came out in less than 5 minutes! Unfortunately, we were rushed out before I could even ask what was on the dessert menu. Overall, Yunnan kitchen isn't a bad restaurant at all. Aside from the chicken, it executed its food quite well. Personally, I wasn't too blown away by it. The flavors were good, but certainly not extraordinary to leave me wanting to come back for more. Needless to say, you won't be disappointed coming here. read more

See all