10/22/08

Phenomenal Authentic Food at an Excellent Price

by dlgclement

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.

• Pros: Variety and taste of food
• Cons: Hole-in-the-wall atmosphere

08/03/08

The Very Best

by JohnHugo

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.

04/12/08

good stuff

by freewilly7

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).

:)

• Pros: consistent quality food
• Cons: inconsistent food; lines during peak hours.

07/15/07

The most authentic Chinese restaurant I've been to in Boston

by mimikli

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!

• Pros: Fast, attentive service; authentic and very tasty Chinese cooking
• Cons: Cash only and does not deliver via any type of service

01/08/07

Constant mealtime bustle and exotic, authentic, un-Americanized Taiwan dishes distinguish the must-try eatery within the heart of Chinatown.

by Contributor

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.

10/17/06

Highly recommend

by cassyfont

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.

08/07/06

No longer the same

by binabean

Considering Boston has only a handful of Taiwanese restaurants, Taiwan Cafe used to be the place for Taiwanese eats, but a recent visit there changed the picture. While some dishes are still decent, the overall quality of Taiwanese dishes has gone downhill. I think for some of the traditional Taiwanese 'small eats,' May's Cafe in Allston is better, and much better presented if you're around the area.

• Pros: Not like before
• Cons: Still the same value

05/26/06

Best taiwanese food

by lateralex

This is my favorite place for food in Chinatown. There are none of the standard chinese fare items so if that is what you seek, steer clear of Taiwan cafe.

The service is good; I usually don't carry high expectations of service in Chinatown but found the waitresses did their best to help me with their limited English.

As for dishes I've liked just about everything I've tried. Then again I haven't tried some of the more daring dishes like pickled mustard w/ intesting & blood pudding. I'd highly recommend the pork with bamboo tip (my staple dish), Eggplant with Basil, or any of the seafood dishes. The safe bet is to just order what everyone else is getting ;)

Very unusual and delicious food here. Highly recommended!

• Pros: Food

01/24/06

I'm in heaven!!!

by facciapresto

This is by far one of the most authentic Taiwanese restaurant I've eaten in. I'm not sure why other reviewers are getting bad service. We never had to ask for a water/tea refill. Our food came promptly and hot. We were greeted and seated right away. No one was surly. The steamed buns, beef/tomato rice and piping hot noodles were superb. Everything was perfect and the portions were just right. Not too salty and nothing americanized. Definitely reminds me of the comfort food I grew up with. Between the three of us, we couldn't break $20. We saw a group of 8 crammed in a medium sized table. But with such tasty food, I would crowd around the table too.

• Pros: Taste, Value, Service
• Cons: Cash Only, Parking

11/12/05

Going back again soon!!

by turtle758

Great food for reasonable prices. Jellyfish in garlic sauce was delicious, Taiwan-style noodles were excellent, and steamed taro with duck was yummy (though slightly on the salty side). Great menu selection and the waitress was very helpful with our decision making. No Chinese-American food here for sure - and that's definitely a good thing. I'm adventurous and like to try all kinds of new foods. There were so many more things on the menu I wanted to try - I'm definitely going back again soon!