China Pearl Restaurant
Boston, MA 02111-1947
Phone: (617) 426-4338
- Price:
- $$
- Cross Street:
- Kneeland Street
- Hours:
- Daily 8:30am-11pm
Editorial Review for China Pearl Restaurant – by Gerrish Lopez
Located in the heart of Chinatown, this acclaimed restaurant has become synonymous with dim sum, offering a breathtaking variety of Chinese delicacies. Weekend waits are a given for the suburban families and homesick college students who fill communal tables (larger groups usually get a table of their own). Harried servers are constantly in motion, pushing rickety carts of dim sum past curious onlookers. While there's a standard Cantonese menu of familiar dishes (orange flavored chicken), most diners come here for the high-quality dim sum, of which there are dozens of varieties. By offering authentic, Old World delicacies (periwinkles with a spicy black bean sauce, steamed chicken feet) and simple, tasty buns and dumplings (savory shrimp shumai, sweet barbecued pork buns), the kitchen keeps dim sum veterans happy while providing beginners with a wonderful introduction to this popular dining phenomenon.
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Insider Tips
Save TimeThe restaurant gets particularly crowded around noon on Sundays. Arrive early to avoid the rush.
Know Before You GoUnless you have a native speaker in your party, expect a bit of difficulty in discerning what certain items are (most servers can't be called upon to help).
When to GoWeekday diners can enjoy dim sum at all hours, but on weekends it's not served after 3pm.
User Reviews for China Pearl Restaurant
12/29/2006 Posted by b00pi3flak3s
The Dim Sum here is probably among the best in Boston for its fresh variety of delicious dishes. There is a considerable amount of stuff to choose from, however, its recommended that you get what you want quickly before someone else in the immense crowd snags it. The service has been incredibly friendly despite the busy weekends and have been more than accommodating for each occasion. The decor is quite nice, banquet-hall style but Saturday / Sunday afternoons are so crowded that people tend to share tables. The prices are consistent with most Dim Sum places and most importantly are not back breaking. Best recommended for the average Dim Sum foodie who can get here before the noon rush.
Pros: Dim Sum, Service, Prices
Cons: Crowded
08/05/2006 Posted by fantasian
After going to several different dim sum places in Boston, I've found that China Pearl is the best in terms of variety and consistency. For people both new and old to dim sum, it's a great place to try out a large selection of different foods. In particular, I have found that China Pearl has by far the largest selection of vegetarian options, with carts often containing meatless versions of the main staples. The servers in general speak some English, but when all else fails, pointing works too. The main downside is that China Pearl can get very crowded, especially weekend afternoons. Also, if you're seated in one of the wings, not all of the carts will come by, and not very frequently at that. If they put you off to the side, request a table near the center or the 2nd floor if it's busy enough to get all the carts.
Pros: Great variety with vegetarian options, servers speak some English
Cons: Crowded and noisy on weekends
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