Taiwan Cafe

Doesn't Recommend

XiaoTianShi

Joined 2 years ago

Good food but service terrible!. When the near-by Dumpling House was full and people were waiting in line outside the restaurant, we decided to go to Taiwanese Cafe instead. The food was good and similar to Dumpling House, so I wondered how come this place wasn't even full on a Saturday night. But soon we found out WHY! 1st....the waitress was extremely rude. She gave us this face right from the start. When we ordered some sodas, she just dropped the cans on the table...not even to individual person who ordered it! 2nd....after we finished eating, we gave her the credit card, and she said "cash only". Wish they put up a big huge sign on the door saying "cash only"! 3rd...we left 15% tips on the table, the second we got up, she took the tips right away and then say in her native language (I understand partially) loudly complaining about our tips to another waitress! Come on, for her service and we still paid 15%? She should thank god already! We'll never ever go back again even the food was good! We should never be treated like this when we are the ones paying for the service!

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gregd on cs

Joined 3 years ago

Authentic chinese food. Good restaurants and Chinatown don't go hand in hand. Of all the restaurants I have tried in Chinatown I prefer Taiwan Cafe. It appears reasonably clean, the prices are good, and the food tastes good. When we go we have a native speaker order for us and that probably solves any problems that might arise. It's authentic, cheap, fast and good. Not a date place, just a food place.

Doesn't Recommend

sodoku2008

Joined 3 years ago

Go somewhere else. Ok - this place is definitely in Chinatown.

Anyways - the service is terrible. Our waitress misunderstood our order, got it wrong, brought it to the table, and then argued with us for several minutes insisting that we were wrong. After telling us we were wrong she insisted that we take the wrong order anyway and had a terrible attitude. We took the wrong order anyway, an oyster omelette, and it wasn't that good.

I ordered a noodle soup with flat noodles and vegetables. The noodles were not that great. I've had several much better noodle soups before.

Other friend ordered wonton/noodle soup which he wasn't a big fan of.

Other than cheap prices, there are much better place to eat taiwanese food than here. I will never go back.

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LingboLi

Joined 4 years ago

Maybe I ordered the wrong thing?. My friend and I wandered in, looking for a light dinner. Except Chinese meals don't really work that way - you gotta order a ton. And a good deal we did - seafood congee, a noodle and beef dish, and a app of spicy beef tendon. The tendon was thinly sliced and tasty, but we request some extra spice for more of a kick. The seafood porridge didn't have the kind of thick, glutinous quality, and could have used some extra seasoning. But it was huge, filling, and comforting, at least. Finally, the lo mein hit the spot with a bit of oily goodness. Not transcendental by any means, but maybe we just didn't order the right dishes.

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dlgclement

Joined 5 years ago

Phenomenal Authentic Food at an Excellent Price. This is a no-frills dining experience that focuses on the food. The food is very authentic, very fresh, great portions. The menu is big and exciting! You cannot beat the price at this restaurant, either, which makes everything an amazing value.

Great place for lunch with friends during work. Service and kitchen are fast.You can get in, eat a great meal, and get out in reasonable time. Although the place really looks like a hole in the wall and there is nothing average about the place settings, you'll be having so much fun with the food you wouldn't even notice. Very charming.

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JohnHugo

Joined 5 years ago

The Very Best. I think Taiwan Cafe is a great find. Generous portions, friendly service, fabulous food! I find myself going again and again. Their "Spicy Beef" is my favorite dish. And the wonton soup is amazingly good. Taiwan cafe is by far my favorite Chinese restaurant in Chinatown.

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freewilly7

Joined 6 years ago

good stuff. it's the only taiwanese restaurant i find that offers quality cheap eats (i.e. wisteria on newbury doesn't make the cut), and it's close to work, so what more can i ask? service fluctuates and is greatly dependent on individual wait person, but usually it's... "tolerable". the place can get very busy during weekday lunch and weekend brunch hours, so go early or at other times.

my fav dishes (english names are guesstimates as i go by their chinese names). rice dish: pork chop (must try!), beef w/tomato sauce, fried chicken w/salt & spice ("yen su ji"). noodle (sauteed, soup, or dry): braised beef, pork & veggie wonton, meat sauce (dry); satay beef vermicelli (sauteed). main courses: "3 cup chicken" ("san bei ji"; named such bc sauce is made w/1 cup of soy, water & wine each), braised string beans, veggie w/satay beef, spare ribs w/sweet vinegar sauce ("tang chu pai gu"). weekend breakfast/brunch: sticky rice ("ci fan"), soy milk (conservatives: try the sweet; adventurous: try the salty), potstickers ("guo tie"), scallion pancake. dessert (summer time): crushed ice w/self-selected ingredients (my personal fav: red bean & condensed milk).

:)

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mimikli

Joined 6 years ago

The most authentic Chinese restaurant I've been to in Boston. When I first discovered Taiwan Cafe in Chinatown, I went back to the restaurant 3 times in 2 weeks. It is hands down the most authentic Chinese restaurant I've been to in Boston and really reminds me of Mom's home cooking. The dishes come out piping hot within minutes of your order, and I have yet to try anything that I didn't like. If I had to pick, I would recommend the mini steamed buns w/ pork (xiao long tang bao), the spicy salt & pepper soft shell crab, the beef stew noodle soup w/ spinach, and the sauteed beef w/ long-horn pepper. All are extremely tasty and made memorable culinary experiences. I think the best way to enjoy Taiwan Cafe is to go with a group of friends and order family style. The atmosphere is lively and the place is perpetually packed. Beware: The array of items on the menu is really geared for those with an adventurous palate and can truly appreciate authentic Chinese cooking. I'm native Chinese so it's all good for me :) Also, remember it's cash only!

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Constant mealtime bustle and exotic, authentic, un-Americanized Taiwan dishes distinguish the must-try eatery within the heart of Chinatown.. Think Taiwanese food means Chinese food? Think again, especially over the salty, tangy, textured fare. Mostly Asian-American families fill the bright, but otherwise nondescript, dining room. For the brave, there's fried pork intestines, chilled jellyfish with garlic, spicy pork ears and five-spice duck tongue. More conventional options include scallion pancakes, gigantic bowls of soup and the can't-miss basil eggplant. Handmade steamed dumplings and raviolis make for perfect starters. Portions are huge across the board; its best to order one or two dishes at a time. Those looking for dessert can stroll across the street to one of the many area bakeries.

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cassyfont

Joined 9 years ago

Highly recommend. I'm not taiwanese/chinese or taiwanese-chinese, so I can't really vouch for its authenticity, but I love this place! The "Home style braise eggplant with basil", "Crispy Tofu", "Chinese watercress" dishes are so yummy! I've been here almost 10 times and the service is always so quick! Beware - CASH ONLY!. A must try if you're in Chinatown.