A gathering with project colleagues. The cooking method was fairly authentic, but the spiciness was only at the Cantonese level. Fish Fillet with Hot Chili Sauce水煮魚片: As expected of their signature dish! The basa fish fillets were incredibly tender, the Szechuan peppercorns were fragrant but not numbing, and the overall flavor was oily but not greasy. The server would remove the chilies after serving, so there was no need to worry about the spiciness. Beef Fillets & Cabbage with Hot Chili Sauce水煮牛肉: Redder and spicier than the boiled fish. The Szechuan people present commented that this was the only dish with flavor. The beef was very tender; although you could taste the tenderizing powder, it wasn't a big problem. Scallions and Szechuan peppercorns contributed much to the fragrance. Pork Intestine with Preserved Vegetable酸菜大腸: Surprisingly, it tasted like... Hakka cuisine? The pork intestines were cut on the thicker side, not the usual kind, but the slightly sour and spicy flavor with a light thickening was just right. Spicy Frog in Fried Pot乾鍋牛蛙: Despite the name, there was a lot of sauce; the bullfrog meat was too tough and chewy. Not recommended. Ma Po Tofu (With minced pork)麻婆豆腐: Very delicious! The tofu was very tender, and the Sichuan peppercorns were very fragrant. Duck with Peking Plum Sauce京醬鴨片: The duck meat was mushy and lacked texture, and the Beijing plum sauce was heavily diluted. I had a feeling of not knowing what I had eaten. Sichuan Spicy Dumpling紅油水餃: I loved them!! The dumplings were large, the filling was generous, and the skin was on the thicker side, giving them a good chewy and firm texture. Besides the chili oil and peanuts, there was a hint of vinegar, which was very refreshing. Steamed Juicy Pork Bun小籠包: The restaurant claims they are handmade daily. Plenty of soup filling, but slightly oily; the skin was chewy but not dry, unfortunately one was broken. If this isn't the case for most places, then Fuchun Ju excels in its fillings, while Zoe's excels in its skins; both are comparable and worth trying. read more

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Our go to spot for Chinese takeout!!! Everything is deliberately made to ensure when you eat at home the food is perfect!! Chicken is still crispy. Food is still hot. Flavor is still BANGING. Food is quick and well priced. read more

The restaurant is SPOTLESS. Not a speck of dust on the windows or tables. I was impressed. The food is so fresh. The lamb and fish were very tender. read more

Zoe's Chinese Restaurant - Ma Po Tofu(with minced pork), Lamb with Garlic Stem, Dry-Fried Whole Fish in Spicy Brown Sauce - Szechuan Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Definitely do not get the xiao long bao (soup dumplings) here. The skin was rather thick, and the top was so doughy (see pics for the substantial chunks of dough). The soup and meat itself was decent, but the thick skin sort of defeats the point. The beef noodle soup tasted fine, but nothing to write home about. The beef with chili sauce appetizer was probably the best out of what we ordered. The chili sauce was a back of the tongue/mouth sort of spicy, and the beef tasted good. Service was attentive and employees were friendly. It was on the quieter side when we dined in, not because it was empty but because the vibe seems more relaxed and calm. read more

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Pretty good chinese takeout place! I pulled a trigger to test out this place. We ordered home style tofu, general gau's tofu, crab rangoon, and dry diced chicken with hot chili. The delivery time was reasonable (30 minutes ish for couple miles away). In terms of food, it didn't disappoint us. Wish the tofu was crispy but it was kinda soft and slimy texture (maybe because it was delivery?) home style tofu and crab rangoon were pretty good but nothing to woe about. when it comes to dry diced chicken with hot chilli (Sichuan style spicy diced chicken), tho? oh boi oh boy, that was the best I've ever had in the states! The flavor was perfect, crispiness was on the spot, and just delicious in general. I had it next day and it was still great. Only reducing a star as it was on pricy side and they don't include rice for dishes. read more

Nice ambient, very clean and friendly staff. Have street parking, spacious in side. However from what I ordered Dan Dan noodle and pork intestines preserved cabbage, I can see that the cooking method is not too Authentic. The dishes are mediocre. read more

Zoe's Chinese Restaurant - Szechuan Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Very casual restaurant with pretty spacious tables. There was no wait on a weeknight although it did get pretty busy. We got a nice booth near the window, felt nicely spaced apart from others. The service was very quick and attentive! The egg drop soup was very hearty for a chilly night, a classic! The pork buns were very juicy and packed with meat. The chow foon was also yummy and perfect noodle texture. The chicken was a soft velvety chew. Massive portions! We left very full! For the price it was a pretty solid eat. read more

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Really love the authentic Chinese food here, speaking as a 2nd gen chinese-American. The stir fry are excellent, the spicy are hot, the soup bowls are hearty. Dumplings are handmade! read more

Updating because we have ordered from here several times since and have some new favorite items! The chicken and cabbage dish is spicy with a flavorful sauce and has become our new favorite. The lo mein is always solid along with the crab Rangoon. Service is super quick for delivery in the area and there is a cash discount! Favorite Chinese take out in Somerville and in general! read more

HANDS DOWN BEST BEEF NOODLE SOUL IN TOWN! No one is doing it like Zoe's their food is always delicious with great portions for their fabulous prices. Rarely a week goes by without us getting our Zoe's fix. Their lunch specials are perfect and so generous with their portions. Shoutout to their pork with smoked tofu, beef with scallion and onion, and all their noodle soups. A local treasure that always makes me feel right at home. They bring the flavor! Highly recommend. read more

Arrived at a busy time in Xmas day night. Staff was courteous and attentive. For the amount of takeout and table service, our orders came it fast. Tasty food. Good selection. I'd go back. read more

3.5 stars. So I live in Somerville and I am part of Facebook community Somerville group. A few people have asked there "Where would you go for Chinese food?" And so many people answered Zoe's!! So being Chinese/Vietnamese first generation I had to try this place out. My husband and I ordered beef chow fun, honey mayo shrimp, and crab rangoons. The honey mayo shrimp was covered in an orange colored sauce that I've never seen before on this dish. It tasted good but I was surely surprised. Beef chow fun was bland. The crab rangoons were okay. Maybe I ordered the wrong dishes ? I felt it was quite pricey as well, 14-25$ for each dish. read more

Food is great but they do steal money from you. I used my credit card for take out and left a five dollar tip. I received an alert from Capital One that not only the five dollars was added but also an additional 40% ($27.19) that they took it upon themselves to arbitrarily add. I am glad I saved the receipt but watch out for them they are avarice and sneaky, no surprise. Pay cash, no tip for take out. When did that become a thing anyway??? read more

Zoe's Chinese Restaurant - Actual order - Szechuan Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Randomly chose this place in Somerville and after reading some of these reviews and tasting the food, I was not disappointed. The Chicken with Garlic Sauce was as ordered. (Spicy) and the springrolls were delicious. The veggie fried rice was also very good and the soup (hot & sour) had just the right taste. Everything was delivered and perfectly without having to call back and say they forgot something which most places inevitably do. Definitely a must taste and will be ordering from here again!!!! Thank you to Sydney who executed my order perfectly!!!! ***** read more

Our family of 6 loved Zoe's. Close walk from our hotel, and the staff was super helpful. Food was great. It was my niece's first time trying Shumai and she is a big fan now. Other favorite dishes were the house fried rice and fried and steamed dumping and several other dim sum dishes. Hot tea was great as well. Thank you! read more

Steam whole Fish was very tasty, and also smoke duck. Highly recommended! Will go back order again!

Someone suggested Zoe's to me in passing over 4 years ago, but I had always confused it with the other breakfast-food Zoe's on Mass Ave until recently. My friend and I happened to be in the area when looking for somewhere to eat lunch, so it was a great chance for us to drop in and try it out. They have a very nice selection for lunch specials (and so cheap! only $12.50). I ordered the kung pao chicken and my friend the mapo tofu. Both dishes were fantastic! Kung pao chicken was well cooked and with a surprisingly large portion size; peppers, water chestnuts, and peanuts were plentiful and paired well with the juicy chicken bites. Sauce was not very heavy, which was good, but alas not too spicy either, which was less good. Mapo tofu was a great choice too - looked quite spicy at first but was actually not that bad. Also, the sides were excellent. My egg drop soup was tasty, but expectedly so - the real hidden gem was the vegetable fried rice, which was REALLY surprisingly good (so delicious!) Interior is very clean and simple - I liked how comfortable the ambience was, and the servers were all very nice. I can't believe it took me so long to come by. Such delicious food at such a low price - I'm already looking forward to my next visit! read more

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Came here on a Sunday around noon. Loved that it was a quieter spot. Food came out pretty quickly and was authentic. I liked that there were Hunan dishes, rather than only Sichuan which most places are in the US. Every dish we had was on point, particularly the tang cu fish - the sauce was perfectly sweet and there was a lot of it but the fish was still crispy underneath with tender meat. I was pleased that they brought every table tea but was quickly disappointed when they said you have to pay for rice (not very OG of them!). 5% discount if you pay in all cash. read more

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Zoe's has been my family's favorite Chinese food in the Boston area for at least the last 10 years. Hosting a big get together? No problem, we'll get Zoe's. Meeting someone for lunch? Zoe's. The quality is excellent and totally consistent. It's family owned and run, as well. Thanks, Zoe's staff! read more

Hot sour soup was good and shrimps were fresh. Beef was with a little too much meat-tender powder and tasted wired read more

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Probably the best Chinese food I've had in Cambridge/Boston/Somerville so far! Portions were big and food was delicious with a kick of spice in each dish. Service was fast :) read more

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Lunch special $13 comes with main and choice of two sides (either rice, soup or spring roll). - Sesame chicken is pretty tasty, with sweet sour sauce that reduces crisp. Perhaps one day a dry crispy version could be added to menu? - Spring roll is crispy and densely delicious. Wish it comes with two rolls instead of one, given it is trade off vs soup or fried rice. - vegetarian fried rice side is good, comes with eggs, peas and onions. Wish they offered all 3 sides including soup without having to choose trade off. Cost of each side is small, and gives better customer experience of a complete meal. read more

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Inconsistent food quality has us looking for a new restaurant for Chinese food. We ordered take out tonight and only three of six dishes of were good, two were flawed, and one was inedible. The shrimp pad thai was rancid and after one bite we could not eat more. The fried rice was bland and dry and spring rolls were soggy. This is disappointing, but our recent experience with Zoe's has been very uneven. We felt based on reputation we should try it again but will not return as this is the second bad experience out of four attempts. read more

Zoe's is a lovely gem in the Camberville area. It's more than just the food - although I will get to that in a minute. It's a quaint restaurant in off hours, and stuffed at dinner time, but always good to stop for a good meal and hot tea. The people are servers are incredibly friendly and attentive - they remember me when I come back! They always make sure to check if we have enough tea and water and to make sure everything is ok. Very kind and generous folks. Ok on to the food!!! My go-tos: - steamed juicy pork bun (or pork xiao long bao): the skin is a bit thick, but there's a lot of flavor and a decent amount of broth - broccoli with white garlic sauce: I don't know how they do it but I truly mean it when it's some of the best broccoli I've ever had (I'd seriously keep coming back for this dish) - kung pao chicken is pretty solid - dry diced chicken with hot chili is incredibly flavorful and I love pairing it with... - Dan Dan noodles are so simple & so flavorful - scallion pancake and hot and sour soup (not pictured) A lot of Chinese food in Boston (from my experience) has either been too salty or the flavor has been underwhelming - but I always leave Zoe's feeling satiated and satisfied each of the several times I've been here! The food and people truly make a dining experience important to me, particularly the flavors reminding me of the summer I lived in China. So the comfort factor is through the roof. I keep seeing diners with the fish fillet with hot chili sauce dish. It seems pretty popular so I think that's next on the list! read more

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I do not recommend the fried rice, it's very salty and soggy. Doesn't have any taste.

Not as crazy for this place as I used to be; ordered a few fish dishes, many of which tasted so similar (the vegetables with fish, and the pickled vegetables with fish). The fish in hot oil was decently, but again too oily, and the fish was not of the highest integrity (stiffness - a bit too mush). The eggplant stir fry was decent, though probably a bit too oily (like most other things on the menu). The ants climbing the tree (the soft mungbean noodles) seemed as if the flavors weren't infused enough into the noodles. The pea pod stem leaf was decent. The brown sauce mushrooms I didn't quite understand; could have had more varieties of mushrooms. The beef shank appetizer was missing the tendon - the tendon is important for the dish to work. A good local place; let's hope it keeps up! read more

So so so so good. I was absolutely blown away by the amazing spicy dumplings, incredible Mapo tofu, delectable dry hot chicken, etc. I've always enjoyed the classic Chinatown restaurants, or dumpling house in Cambridge, but Zoe's competes or even beats them all. Lovely classy atmosphere, good quick service, and above all quality food make Zoe's a newfound favorite of mine. read more

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Zoe's has a special place in my heart! Walking in, there's a cozy vibe that makes me feel right at home. I usually order the same stuff every time - Chicken and broccoli: sounds basic, but they do it SO well! One of my personal favs, perfectly tender chicken and delicious savory sauce - Mala fish: boneless spicy fish fillet tossed with celery, not soup-based, good portion - Soup dumplings: doughy skin and juicy filling, what more can you ask for? Honorable mention goes to the wonton soup (great broth!) and eggplant stir fry. You'll want to order some rice with your dishes and keep the teapot flowing during your meal! Good choice for take out as well! read more

I do not know the food got here so fast. 20 mins? Must've been a tear in the time-space continuum. This post is just to say: the Shredded Pork and Eggplant was SO GOOD. It is the best thing I've ever had here. Many thanks to the person that posted the photo of that dish and suggested it! Mapo Tofu was second best - I tasted the fruity spicy Sichuan pepper. The thing that wasn't the way I expected: Spicy Beef Noodle Soup - it was spicier than I expected. I prefer Taipei Gourmet's version that is more savory and deeply-flavored. Still great 7 years later. Thanks Zoe's. read more

Pretty standard Chinese experience. Menu has all the staples. Ambiance is simple and ops seemed focused on takeout. Service is decent. Food is acceptably executed. Not a destination but acceptable if in area. read more

We had food from Zoe on Sunday 1 October. Dan Dan noodles and chicken tenders. It was inedible. Dan Dan was noodles and white pepper liberally added on top. So much so that we both tossed it. The previous time the food was great. read more

Really worth it, probably one of my favorite restaurants in the Cambridge area regardless of cuisine. It was great when eating at the restaurant but since then I have ordered delivery several times and always the quality is the best. I often regret when I order other places (this restaurant is not open on Mondays!). It may seem very off the times that they are not on the typical delivery apps, but their website allows you to order online, and they have their own delivery network (person) who is very, very prompt. You say like 7:12pm and he literally arrives at 7:12pm. Of course this also means they don't have to pay the exorbitant commissions of the delivery apps and that we also pay with marked-up prices. (On the other hand I have ordered "asap" and it arrives in a flash). I would say the most important thing about Zoe's is the quality of the food, you can tell the ingredients and method of preparation is without shortcuts. The grand litmus test is probably their kung pao chicken. I am a recent transplant from the SF Bay Area with some of the best Chinese restaurants. Furthermore, I've lived (not just visited) in Hong Kong and Beijing for many years. So I think I kind of know my kung pao chicken. Theirs is very good. Sometimes when a restaurant has a Sichuan or Hunan speciality, everything is just drenched in chili oil and, well, oil. This is not that type of restaurant. My favorite dish, like many others most likely, is the tea-smoked duck. But I guess the dish that makes me feel they have a lot of self-pride in what they do is the west-lake minced beef soup. Really great. So put down that mobile phone food delivery app, and just go to their website and place an order, you won't regret it. read more

Ordered through grubhub. Delivery was super fast, faster than the estimated time, everything arrived hot. They were generous with the fortune cookies, although the one I ate tasted stale. Food was just ok. Salt and pepper shrimp tasted good, but were overly battered, think of Chinese chicken fingers, but shrimp instead. Not crispy and light like I've had at other places. House fried rice was white, not the usual brown color. It tasted ok, but could definitely use more seasoning and I missed the bean sprouts. I fixed the blandness with a splash of soy sauce. Fried chicken wings tasted nice, but again were soggy, not crispy. Spare ribs were fine. Price point is good and compares with other places. Overall not bad, we would probably order again on a lazy night. read more

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A nice option for Chinese food within walking distance from Harvard. Service was fast and attentive with food coming out quickly. I ordered the beef tendon in chili oil as an appetizer and the mapo tofu. Both are my favorite dishes and I'd heard Zoe's is famous for their mapo tofu and I had to give it a try. Both were different than what I was used to, with the mapo tofu standing out for it's strong doubanjiang and chili oil flavors. Wasn't what I was expecting but Zoe's definitely seems to be serving unique signature dishes. Would be interested in coming back to try the other offerings on the menu. read more

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This is my current go-to place for Chinese food delivery. I wish I had pictures, but it seems that every time we've ordered from here we've devoured the food before I had a chance to (don't judge me - who doesn't get stoked when they see dumplings?). We always opt to order delivery via their website and the food arrives quickly with the food still hot. As an FYI, their online ordering system doesn't have the same gps-type tracking like Doordash/Grubhub, but they will call you when your food arrives so they can hand you the order and you can sign your receipt. As someone who typically requests no-contact delivery (ahhh people), I appreciate this because there's nothing worse than a delivery order that never makes it to your doorstep (especially when you're hangry). Onto the food: Steamed juicy pork buns: I think these are my favorite thing on their menu. I could seriously eat them for days. If you are craving soup dumplings, look no further. Order these and thank me later. Fried chicken wings: only ordered these once - great flavor, large wings Pork lo mein: good texture and flavor, but a bit greasy. This didn't bother me since I obviously wasn't expecting a heart healthy, low calorie meal when placing my order. Scallion pancake: yes. Crispy and flavorful. Peking ravioli: they are smaller than what I've had at other places, but will leave you feeling full and satisfied vs ugh-i-ate-too-much-and-feel-gross full. Orange chicken: on par with the orange chicken you're probably familiar with. I think the chicken had the right amount of breading and the sauce was not too sweet. We usually order this or the sesame chicken. House special fried rice: I don't know if it's actually healthier, but this feels like a healthy version of fried rice. It looks like white rice that's been gently stir fried/mixed with the other ingredients. At other places, fried rice is typically saltier and appears darker (like it's been drowned in soy sauce) - this is not the case with the fried rice at Zoe's. So, if anything, the next time you are craving Chinese, you can tell yourself you are making healthy decisions as you place your order. So, yeah, I think I would say I recommend this place :) read more

Really great Sichuan cuisine for the price. If you're homesick for some specific regional Chinese food this place delivers.

Ordered mushroom delight and pea shoots both of which were great. Food came out quickly. First szechuan experience for 2 friends and they loved it. read more

Living right next to Zoe's, I've walked by this place so many times, thinking that such a nondescript-looking place in Boston would not have authentic Chinese food. Turns out I had been fooled by its humble facade! I finally tried it at the behest of a friend (who has lived in Boston for 16 years) when she raved about it being her favorite restaurant in the Boston/Cambridge area. Warm service (available in both English and Chinese), fast cooking times, and every single dish I've tried on repeat visits within a month has been delicious! In particular, I would recommend the following: -mapo tofu: I never order this dish as I think of it more as a home-cooked one, but it was just the right amount of spicy and full of flavor. I got it vegetarian as I was dining with a vegan friend but imagine with meat would be even better -chicken broccoli: again, not a dish I typically order at a Chinese restaurant but I tried some of my friend's and the chicken is velvety and soft, with generous portions of both meat and greens. The seasoning is great too. -xiaolongbao: I forget what they translated this as on the menu, but it was clear from the skin that they make these in house. It's not DTF but it was juicy and tasty. Cons: rice by the bowl is extra, prices are a bit steep- but I'm very happy to support a local, family-owned business. Bring multiple people when you come so you can eat family style :) read more

We live around the corner and absolutely adore this restaurant. The people who work here are lovely and the food feels authentic in a way that other local Chinese American restaurants do not. Our go tos are the hot and sour soup, the spicy Szechuan dumplings, the pork with eggplant, and the chicken with peanuts. If we eat in the restaurant we also enjoy the dry diced chicken with chili peppers and any stirfried green vegetable with garlic. If you happen to like boneless spareribs, they also do a great version with honey. The other more Americanized dishes we've eaten here have not been our favorite so we tend to stick with the Szechuan side of the menu. read more

Really enjoyed our meal here. About an 8 min drive from Harvard Square. Got here around 7pm on a Sunday. Crowded but we were seated immediately. Not what I'd call a dive but decor is sparse. Food was delivered very quickly which was great because we were very hungry! We ordered the Lo mein with shrimp, chicken and pork. I don't normally order lo mein but it tasted good to me. My two companions do typically order this dish and they were very satisfied. Also got the orange chicken which was delicious. Listed as spicy, but for my taste, it was quite mild. There were dried orange rinds in the dish which I'm sure added to the flavor, but I but I recommend eating around them(as you would the red chili peppers)! The last dish was Beef with Peanuts, aka Kung Pao Beef. We asked for mild version but I'm sure the regular spiciness would have been just fine. Beef was very tender and sauce was good. Had plenty of peanuts...yum! Meal came with free tea. At end, there was pineapple(canned) in addition to fortune cookies. A nice touch. Lastly, there is a 5% discount if you pay cash. Oh, and they have an efficient staff. I will definitely be back. read more

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