When I say “Chinatown,” are your first thoughts a.) combat zone / area to avoid b.) red light districts that appear in Jackie Chan movies, c.) dirty, d.) all of the above? Well … it may still be dirty, but nowadays the Chinatown in Boston is a neighborhood that’s well worth a visit.
Have you been planning to visit Chinatown, but weren’t sure what to get, or where to get the best bang for your buck? No problem – there’s no better way to plan your day than by following the Chinatown itinerary created by me, the guy born and raised in China. I will make sure you don’t end your day disappointed.
Itinerary:
1. Late Morning: Dim sum at Great Taste Bakery & Restaurant
2. Afternoon: Boston Common
3. Evening: Dinner at New Golden Gate, watch show at Blue Man Group
Morning:
I wake up early enough during work days, so I’ll usually wake up late during the weekend and go out for a brunch before I start my day. For me, nothing beats Dim Sum as my most favorite brunch. I jokingly told my wife that we cannot move to a city without a Dim Sum restaurant, even if it’s a crappy one. Dim Sum is that important to me.
To this point, you may ask, “what the heck is Dim Sum?” Good question! Dim Sum originated from the city I am from, Guangzhou (aka Canton, a beautiful city that is also the birthplace of Cantonese). Dim Sum is usually food served in small bamboo steamer baskets or small plates. Think of it as China’s version of tapas. I don’t really like the term “Dim Sum.” In Cantonese, we refer to going to have dim sum in a restaurant as going to “drink tea.” I guess that’s why all the restaurants that serve Dim Sum neglect the “tea” component in the States?
Growing up, we usually had Dim Sum as a family. Even though my grandparents have passed away over a decade ago, I can still remember having Dim Sum with them as a kid. Great memories are a major reason why I love to have Dim Sum, as it reminds me the importance of family.
Enough with the history, let’s start our day by having dim sum at the Great Taste Bakery & Restaurant. Don’t let the “Bakery” name fool you as they also serve the best Dim Sum in Boston. Some of the food items are even as good as those you’d find in good restaurants in China. As mentioned, Dim Sum are meant to be shared as they are of smaller sizes – make sure you grab your friends so you can try more different things. Several things I love: Shrimp Dumplings, Steamed Meatball, Fried Turnip Cakes with XO Sauce, Shiu Mai (Pork Dumpling), and Chicken Feet (if you are brave enough).
Afternoon:
After Dim Sum, it’s time to get outside and let the food digest a little. Though technically not in Chinatown, just minutes away you’ll find the Boston Common, one of the most historic public parks in the United States, and the Boston Public Garden. If you haven’t been to the area before, it’s definitely worth your time to explore the park; even if you have been to the park many times just like me, it feels good to walk around the park watching the squirrels running by, after the long, long winter and brutal cold we just endured. If you want some more things to do, feel free to refer to my previous Back Bay post as it’s also close by.
Evening:
As Chinatown is very closed to the theater district, why not watch a show of your choice to entertain your night? While there are plenty of choices, the Blue Man Group is one of my favorites. I am not really a fan of arts such as musicals or ballets as I don’t have enough knowledge to appreciate. As a result, the Blue Man Group show is perfect for me. It’s two non-stop hours of fun, music and entertainment.
A few tips to bear in mind. Don’t be late to the show, as you may become the spotlight of one of their segments. Also, if you have tickets in the “wet zone” (front rows), make sure you have your poncho ready, otherwise you will get wet. Of course, if you are the art-appreciation kind of guy, you can watch the musical or ballets shows in the area.
You also get the chance to have a picture with the Blue Man!
After the show ends, hopefully it’s not too late for you to have dinner and you can walk back to Chinatown for dinner. Don’t worry about restaurants close early, as most restaurants in Chinatown won’t close until after midnight. I will recommend the New Golden Gate restaurant. Just remember, the restaurant has many more to offer other than Pork Fried Rice, General Gau Chicken, and Crab Rangoon as they are not really authentic Chinese food. Try something that’s new and maybe exotic, they may surprise you how good they are.
Lobstah
That concludes our day in the Chinatown area. Hopefully you will have a fun day following my recommendations. Let me know what you think about my itinerary by commenting on the blog post.
Dennis – Born and raised in China, I offer perspectives blended with my Asian root. I enjoy any unknown adventure, whether it means trying new restaurants, meeting strangers, or wandering in to undiscovered neighborhood of the city. I am too laid back to follow a plan and will rather allow my feeling to dictate what I would do on any given day.
Boston, Party of 6 