- Chinese Food
- Chinese Restaurant
- Massachusetts
- Middlesex County
- Cambridge
- Neighborhood Nine
- Chinese Restaurant in Massachusetts Avenue
- Changsho
Changsho Photos










Hours
Monday, 11:30 AM - 9:00 PMTuesday, 11:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday, 11:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday, 11:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday, 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday, 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday, 11:30 AM - 9:00 PM
About Changsho
Changsho is a Chinese restaurant located at 1712 Massachusetts Ave in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Serving the neighborhood for over three decades, it has become a local favorite for those seeking classic American Chinese comfort food. While it may not be the trendiest or most authentic Chinese spot in the area, Changsho offers a unique charm and consistently delivers fresh and flavorful dishes.
The restaurant's decor is noted for its tasteful design, although some diners have found the lighting to be somewhat dim, creating a slightly gloomy atmosphere. However, the service is generally considered decent, with friendly staff.
Changsho stands out for its attention to detail in preparing familiar dishes. For example, the Wonton Soup is described as being beyond the standard, featuring pickled veggies that add a tangy contrast to the umami of the wontons, along with seaweed and sesame oil for an extra layer of flavor. The wontons are reportedly added just before serving to prevent them from becoming soggy.
The Soup Dumplings are also highly recommended, served traditionally with a vinegar-and-ginger dipping sauce and praised for their rich, savory broth. The Shaomai offers an interesting twist with the addition of fish roe on top, providing a playful texture.
Entrees like the Tian Shan Spareribs and the Crispy Beef with Sesame have been commended for maintaining their crispiness despite being coated in a sweet and sour sauce. While the portion sizes are noted to be on the smaller side, suggesting an appetizer for those with a larger appetite, the quality and flavor of the food are generally well-received.
Overall, while Changsho may not be considered a must-try for the most authentic Chinese cuisine, it is a reliable choice for good-quality American Chinese comfort food that consistently satisfies. You can visit Changsho at 1712 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA, or contact them at (617) 547-6565 or +1 617-547-6565.
Changsho Location
1712 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Customer Reviews
The restaurant's decor is clearly well-thought-out, and the overall design is quite tasteful. However, upon entering, I found the lighting to be a bit dim, which created a somewhat gloomy atmosphere that I didn't particularly enjoy. The dishes were rather average, without much to stand out. On the bright side, the service was decent, and the staff were friendly. Overall, the experience was just okay.
Old school Chinese restaurant that serves one of the best American Chinese food in the city. Swung by this spot a few times whenever I’m craving classic American Chinese comfort food. While it’s not the trendiest or most authentic Chinese restaurant in the area, it’s got a charm all its own. Having served the neighborhood for over three decades, it’s more of a local favorite than a student hotspot. The food isn’t upscale or fancy, but what sets it apart are the little details—everything is fresh, extra crispy, and perfectly balanced in flavor. Take the Wonton Soup and Soup Dumplings, for example. The Wonton Soup here isn’t your standard “free with entrée” stuff. The pickled veggies inside add a tangy kick that beautifully complements the umami of the wontons, while the seaweed and a drizzle of sesame oil give it an extra layer of flavor. They even time it right, adding the wontons just before serving so they’re not soggy—just give them a minute to soak up the soup. As for the Soup Dumplings, they’re some of the best I’ve had in recent memory. Served the classic way with a vinegar-and-ginger dipping sauce, they’re perfectly crafted, with pork fat melting into a rich, savory broth at the bottom. Shaomai had an interesting twist - fish roe on top added a pop of playful texture. The entrées I’ve tried so far have been great as well. The Tian Shan Spareribs and the Crispy Beef with Sesame were perfectly crispy despite being coated in a thick sweet and sour sauce. It’s rare for dishes like these to hold onto their texture, but these nailed it. Portions lean on the smaller side, so if you’re feeling ravenous, I’d suggest kicking things off with an appetizer. Changsho might not be one of the must-try Chinese spots in the area, but if you’re craving good-quality comfort food that hits the spot, it’s definitely worth a visit.
The food was excellent but the service was easily among the worst I've ever had. My wife and I had gone there for dinner. They took the orders immediately and we got our first drinks in a few minutes. We then ordered appetizers and entrees. And that's when everything came to a crashing stop. It took almost 25 minutes for the appetizers to show up. We finished our appetizers and then waited for the entrees. There was no sign of the food coming. Our server made zero eye contact and I saw her quite a few times and tried to get her attention. It looks like there may have been a big party and I saw her taking food to those tables and completely ignoring us. I walked up to the bar and asked about our entrees. It then showed up after another 15 minutes. No apologies and no regrets expressed for this inexcusable delay. Such a horrible service. The food itself was excellent and tasty. But I'm not sure if I would go back there after this awful experience.
Very good ! The food was so good ! It’s totally different at any other Chinese restaurant. The quality is the main differentiator. High prices, high quality. Totally recommend.
I’ve been coming to Changsho since it opened in 1993 — the food was good from the start and I’ve been a customer ever since. There was a period a few years back when the food wasn’t quite up to standard, but now the cuisine is top notch (in a time where finding really good Chinese cuisine is difficult, even in major cities). The crispy egg rolls are excellent — completely in a different league from the egg rolls one usually gets elsewhere. Crispy Salt and Pepper Shrimp and Mu Shu Pork are also wonderful. The Mu Shu Pork has a wonderful smoky flavor that makes this dish stand out from what people might be used to. Note for people arriving by car: The restaurant has no dedicated parking — the lot next to the restaurant should never be used as it is all reserved for tenants in other buildings. Metered street parking only. Note for physically disabled: There is a handicap bathroom off of the dining room. Ask your server to be directed to it.
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