November 8, 2024 | Vol. 53, Issue 21

The only bilingual Chinese-English Newspaper in New England

Food

Dim sum Chinese dumplings sold at blob joint restaurants

Blob Joints: a history of dim sum in the U.S.

The delights of dim sum! Numerous trolley carts of bamboo steamers with bao, dumplings, and other dishes are pushed around the room, and you simply point at the dishes you want. Sometimes you order off a menu, selecting from a long list of intriguing choices. You might have your own favorite dim sum spot in Chinatown, or maybe elsewhere.  When did dim sum first come to the U.S.? What was the first dim sum restaurant in Boston’s Chinatown? Its origins […]

Douzo owner Jack Huang on persevering through the pandemic

Boston Chinatown restaurants are some of the worst-hit businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several places have closed down without knowing if they will reopen again. What many businesses had thought would be a temporary closure a year ago still remains today. Douzo Sushi Owner Jack Huang said, “Asian restaurants actually took a big hit. In general, the hospitality industry has been destroyed.” Despite that, Huang’s business has persevered, and he shared in an interview with Sampan how they managed to […]

China Pearl resturant in Chinatown will face challenges

Restaurants foresee business challenges for Chinese New Year

Restaurants in Chinatown and beyond anticipate that this year’s Chinese New Year will be different from past celebrations. While business owners said they believe people will still find ways to keep the spirit alive, many spaces whose banquets bring in a significant amount of revenue will be cutting back on the festivities. The holiday will mostly be honored at home, owners said. “We haven’t been prepping in the sense that we have in the past, because of COVID and the […]

Richard Chen executive chef Red 8

‘East meets West’: Red 8 executive chef Richard Chen’s vision and pride

“They think Chinese restaurants are supposed to be cheap,” said chef Richard Chen. “[It can be] even cheaper than McDonalds. And you get a nutritious meal that takes a lot of time and effort to prepare, and you get a whole entree coming out. I mean, I’d rather eat that everyday than McDonalds. But the point is, they think the price should be very cheap and low.” This is the impression Americans have about “Chinese food.” Alum of the Culinary […]

Tora Japanese Restaurant, unagi don

Boston’s first Kaisen don restaurant: TORA Japanese restaurant review

Tora Japanese Restaurant in Chinatown is Boston’s first Kaisen don restaurant. Four years ago, Tora (Japanese for tiger) was opened by owners Kenix Wong and Patrick Zhong after three years of research around Japan and training in Hong Kong. The restaurant space is simply decorated in hues of grey, white and black with minimal decor. COVID protocols were strictly adhered to with hand sanitizers, spaced out tables to provide a safe dining experience. Kaisen don means seafood on rice, unlike […]

Jacqueline Church is the owner of Boston Chinatown Tours and a freelance writer

“Lucky at Home”: Lunar New Year 2021

Lunar New Year is typically a time for huge family banquets. Restaurants would see multi-generational tables, lai see or hong bao passed to children, auspicious foods ordered, and lots of laughter. Lots of food.  Like so many other aspects of life during this pandemic, we’re planning more isolated, home-based events. Here are 8 great ideas for making your Lunar New Year as festive and delicious as possible, while staying safe at home. Order takeaway from your favorite spots. All or […]

Chinese duck sauce

A Boston origin of… duck sauce?

If you dine at local Chinese restaurants, you’ve probably been served a container of duck sauce, a versatile sweet and sour sauce that is commonly used for dipping fried foods, from eggrolls to chicken fingers, fried wontons to crab rangoons. It has become such a familiar sauce that you can find it at non-Chinese restaurants too, especially with an order of chicken fingers.  What is the origin of this curious sauce? Theories abound about its origin, most believing it acquired its name […]

crab fried rice

Food for Thought: Mahaniyom (Thai Tapas Bar)

Mahaniyom, which in Thai stands for “beloved” or “very popular,” is a Thai Tapas Bar that opened up this past winter in Brookline Village, in the old El Centro space. Long time Shojo alum Chompon (Boong) Boonnak and Smuch (Top) Saikamthorn, along with Chef Suparerk (Pao) Thampitak and their team, wanted to bring a “taste of home.” They have introduced delicious and homey Thai foods, served along with creative, handcrafted cocktails. This team brings many years of restaurant experience from […]

Peking Duck delights & some history

That crispy skin! Who can resist its taste and texture? It might be the most popular element of Peking Duck, a Chinese dish of roasted duck. It can be found in a number of restaurants in Chinatown. The version at China King might be one of the most popular. During the 19th century, nearly all U.S. newspaper references to Peking Duck referred to the breed and not the dish. This breed was introduced into the U.S. during the 1870s and quickly became […]

Food for Thought: Melodias

Melodias, translated into English, means “melodies.” It is a lovely Colombian restaurant and bar in the Orient Heights neighborhood of East Boston (just steps from the Orient Heights Blue Line T stop). Melodias now serves take out and some limited dine in seating, at the already cozy restaurant. There is a flat screen tv playing Latin music videos in the background. For our drinks, we got the Guanábana, also known as sour sop milk, custard apple, and a blackberry milk, […]

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