Casual modern Sichuan fare with underrated hits. Stopped by a couple times for quick lunches, and while they’re not as busy as it once was (especially with Mountain House around the corner), the food here still beats most Sichuan spots I’ve been in the city. Clean space, solid service, and no misses. My favorites so far were the Braised pork elbow and the Beef brisket noodles. The pork elbow was like a warm, heartier version of the garlic pork appetizer—slightly fattier, but the chili flakes on the side added a sweet-spicy kick that balanced it perfectly. As for the noodles, the shoyu-style broth was light yet savory, with tender brisket and perfectly al dente noodles. Simple, comforting, and well-executed. I also tried two lunch specials, both decent but with minor quirks. The potato grilled pork ribs donburi had well-seasoned ribs paired with braised vegetables—flavorful, though the bone cuts were a bit awkward (watch out for sharp edges). The "halibut rice" was misleading—no fish, just braised pork belly in a soy-BBQ sauce. Still tasty over rice. The prices here aren’t exactly budget-friendly, but I would occasionally come back for that braised pork elbow.

The service is really good. They had option of hot sweetened soy milk as complimentary drinks, which goes well with the spicy dishes. The sweet duck was crispy on the skin, the lotus roots and celtuce are fresh and delicious. Would recommend reserve in advance, as it gets quite busy during the weekend.

One of my favorite spots in Allston for lunch specials. Been coming here for lunch whenever I’m running errands in the area. While trendy new Chinese restaurants are constantly popping up in Allston, Dumpling Kingdom offers classic Chinese lunch specials that transport me back to simpler times. Forget the flashy newcomers. This unassuming restaurant consistently satisfies my cravings at unbeatable prices. Their lunch specials feature over 20 items, each accompanied by a complimentary side of egg drop soup and white rice. Some of my favorites include the Mala Spicy Flounder Fillet and Twice Cooked Pork. The flounder fillet, with its perfect balance of heat and tender meat, is one of the best I've had in Boston. Other dishes I've tried, like Beef with Scallions, Salt and Pepper Pork Chops, and Taiwanese Pork Belly, were also solid. I've also tried two of their dumplings and particularly enjoyed the Mini Juicy Buns with Pork & Crabmeat. While the umami of the fillings wasn't completely satisfying, these buns were packed with a good amount of pork juice—so much so that my first bite splashed all over my shirt. Despite this amazing lunch special deal, the restaurant doesn’t get crowded during lunchtime, so I highly recommend giving them a try.

I’m convinced this place has the best juicy buns in the entire city. We always sort of saw this as a takeout place but today we were in the area and stopped by to dine in and honestly? The food was even better. Everything tasted fresh and had a nice presentation. The service is quick and this place continues to hit the spot. Love you DK❤️

Both waitresses were very rude. The picture of the stir fired vegetables is completely different from what they gave me (different vege ingredients), the waitress asserted to me that they've 'always' been like this without being apologetic at all or saying sorry once. The meat dish was half cold when they served it, the candle didn't help. Fried Taro is double sweetness of a funnel cake, way below my expectation. Such a shame that this restaurant had some good reputation.

WARNING: Found a caterpillar in delivery I had just returned to Boston, battling severe jet lag after nearly a day and night without sleep. In hopes of finding comfort, I ordered from a restaurant I knew and trusted. Imagine the surprise when I discovered the caterpillar hidden among the spinach, soaked in the soup. Thank you, Haoshiguang, for providing such a shock that I will likely stay awake for another night. While the general standard of restaurants in Boston can be fairly mediocre, this restaurant has consistently done a decent job with its quality offerings. I was shocked and disappointed by my most recent order: a caterpillar in seafood bisque was certainly unexpected. Despite my previous experiences, encountering such a lapse in hygiene has made me reconsider my choices. The restaurant must address this issue to maintain trust and ensure it doesn't happen again.

The best American style Chinese food I’ve ever had. I truly love this style of Chinese food. I know it’s not authentic but I’ve eaten it my entire life and it is one of my strongest comfort foods. I’ve eaten from every spot in the greater Boston area this is by far my favorite. Flavors are perfectly balanced. The portions are enormous. It’s greasy and salty but not too greasy and salty. The seasoning is perfect. This lo mein is the best I’ve ever had in my entire life. Just perfect and hit the exact craving I wanted. This is the only place I will order this style of Chinese food from now on.

I was visiting my Uncle last night and my cousin ordered appetizers and rice from here. The boneless spareribs were so delicious, I had to order it again tonight for the kiddos. Great service and delivery driver was a nice guy.

We went to Victoria with some friends for dinner. It was REALLY cold outside so we sat in the back of the restaurant away from the window area. The restaurant serves very good Cantonese food. I was really happy to have a nice warm Chinese meal during our travels. Over-all, I was very happy with the food and service. Would I eat there again ? Yes ! The food was delicious.

We had preserved meat claypot, plus a squid dish with vegetables. The former was excellent, the latter very good but the squid was a little tough. The portions were huge! It's not a fancy place but it's very clean. It was pretty crowded and noisy. Service was excellent. We would return and we recommend it.

so clean, so many veggie, fish cake/tofu, and noodle options, quick and respectful staff service. the broth is on the saltier side but very warm and comfortable meal otherwise ~ more worth than regular hot pot in my opinion bc you can get what you want and how much you want. sauce bar was great with complimentary tea and water

Have gone a several times and has been amazing! Very good soup and ingredients you can choose yourself. The signature beef bone broth in medium spice is perfect. The sauce bar is also very nicely.

Food is decent. Decent portions for other foods. The claypot portions are a little small for the price. Excited to finally have some claypot closer than Chinatown. The claypot rice though, could have had more sauce. If you need more, don’t forget to ask for it they will give you extra. The rice rolls on the other hand are meh. Not really worth getting. Wish they had the Hk style.

Clay Pot Cafe is a Cantonese styled Clay Pot restaurant located near Super88 in Allston, expanding from its other store located in Boston's Chinatown. The staff are friendly. It does help if you speak Cantonese, but staff treat you the same if you speak to them in English as well. The food comes out quickly, and the place is cleanly. We got a wide range of clay pot dishes as well as vegetable dishes. The Clay Pot style was replicated very well here, and it tastes like traditional clay pot dishes found in Hong Kong or other enclaves. The price is good for the portion, and the meats were flavorful and went well with the clay pot rice.

5.0. This restaurant is amazing! The food is awesome. I would recommend the frog. It is fresh and delicious, which is hard to find anywhere else. In addition, the service is good, the atmosphere is lively, and the location is convenient.

Best Mala restaurant in Allston. Food is delicious, bursting with flavour, and portions are generous. Highly recommend getting the Mala Tofu, the dry Mala pot (and select your fillings), and the spicy peanut noodles. Very authentic food (and service). Come hungry!!!

A Flavorful and Fun Experience! This hot pot restaurant is absolutely fantastic! From the moment we walked in, the vibrant and lively atmosphere set the perfect mood for a fun dining experience. The ingredients are so fresh, and the variety is incredible—there’s truly something for everyone. The broth options were packed with flavor, and customizing my own combination of ingredients made the meal even more enjoyable. The staff was friendly and helpful, always checking in and making sure we had everything we needed. It’s clear they care about creating a memorable experience for their guests. If you’re looking for a place to enjoy a delicious, interactive meal with friends or family, this is it! I left feeling happy, full, and excited to come back again soon.

Great spot for hot pot! I went with a big group of friends, and we had an awesome time. They offer several options on their "all-you-can-eat" menu, and we chose two different broths to share. The service was excellent—right at the start, they provided us with bibs to protect our clothes, which was a thoughtful touch. We enjoyed a wide variety of meats and seafood, all fresh and delicious. For dessert, we tried two options: the sugar rice cake, which we loved, and the jelly ice cream, which was good but a bit unusual. It might just be an acquired taste! Overall, I highly recommend this place for a fun and satisfying hot pot experience.

My first time coming here and it was such a good choice! They were so so nice and welcoming and the food was equally so so good! I think it will definitely be a favorite spot for my friends and I from now on!!

Solid budget hotpot with an old-school charm. One of my friends gets delivery from here religiously (at least twice a month), so I’ve tried a few custom bowls before finally stopping by for my own hotpot lunch. Unlike the newer Chinese hotpot spots that lean into the techy QR-code experience, this place does it the old-school way. Right by the entrance, there’s a toppings station where you grab everything yourself, and pay by weight. Honestly, I much prefer this setup. You get to eyeball the quality, pick and portion exactly how you want, and try more variety without overcommitting. The owner did warn me not to go over 1.5kg, but between all the fresh veggie toppings and solid protein selection—quail eggs, bacon, sausage, frozen pork and lamb—I couldn’t help myself and slightly overshot. No regrets. However, this place is definitely on the no-frills end of the spectrum. No fancy seafood like scallops or lobster, no DIY sauce bar, and only one broth option: a classic mala beef broth (you can choose the spice level, at least). The setup is more cafeteria-style—pick your toppings, pay at the counter, and the owner handles the rest. No mandatory service charges, just comfort food done right. Allston’s hotpot scene has gotten trendier and flashier in recent years, but I totally get why this spot remains one of my friend’s faithful go-tos. It’s definitely going on my own list for cozy and satisfying hotpot.

The fish was super tender, and the pickled mustard greens had the perfect balance of sour and spicy. Great portion size and friendly service too. Will definitely come back!

Ordered the three person combo + drinks and desserts. Portion size is good and the feiteng flavor is legit. Especially like the appetizers (fried pork strips and pepper chicken). Location is clean and spacious. Enjoyed the dining experience.

Casual yet stylish spot that serves solid HK food. Allston's Chinese food scene is solid, but Baby Cafe fills a niche with its Hong Kong-style comfort food. While HK cuisine might not be worlds apart from the usual Chinese fare, there are definitely some dishes with European influences here that make it unique. I swung by twice for lunch, and despite its low ratings, they had some good dishes. Couple dishes that I enjoyed were the Salt & Pepper Shishamo and the Beef Stew Rice. It’s rare to see Shishamo at a Chinese restaurant, but the quality of the fish was quite good - crispy and packed with flavorful roe. The stewed beef was also very tender and I liked that they kept the bits of tendon to add a satisfying, jelly-like texture. There were, however, some dishes that I thought were just okay - Baked Pork Chop Rice and the HK Style Butter Toast. The pork chop was on the dry side, and the basic tomato sauce didn’t do much to elevate the dish. The butter toast had not much to write home about on its own—it was dense and didn’t have much flavor—but paired with condensed milk, it went from plain to satisfying in one swoop. As for their signature Iced Baby Milk Tea, it was a playful surprise: they serve it with milk tea frozen into the shape of a little character, which keeps the drink cool without diluting the flavor as it melts. Overall, a solid addition to the neighborhood. Would pop in for lunch now and then.

I’ve been to this restaurant multiple times with my friends, and even my picky eater friends keep talking about this place! The Hainan chicken is our go-to dish, always flavorful and tender, they have really good balance of chicken fat and meat. (But tbh everything we tried so far were all good) I also love their egg puff and Hong Kong milk tea—absolute perfection…😭 The atmosphere is clean, cozy, and such a vibe. I’ve never revisited a restaurant this often, and it’s easily one of the top 3 Hong Kong-style spots in Boston. Highly recommend!😋😋