Snapshots of a Few Favorites in Boston's Chinatown

During one of my last Saturdays as a Boston resident, I visited three of my favorite spots in Chinatown.  Each offers some of the best of their trade. 


Great BBQ, 15 Hudson Street

This small, no-frills shop offers roasted whole suckling pig, whole ducks and chickens as well as pork and beef offal.  My favorite treats, the two that I crave the most, are the sliced roasted bbq pork and the traditional Zongzi a savory, glutinous rice and pork (most commonly) pocket.  Fillings are wrapped in large bamboo leaves, wrapped with twine, and steamed.  They are traditionally eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival also known as the Duanwu Festival, a celebration of the lunar year), but can be enjoyed all year round.
The sticky rice treat at Chinese BBQ as well as at Ho Yuen (traditional) Chinese Bakery are so good that removing the twine is reminiscent of opening a present on Christmas morning.

After a few quick bites at Great BBQ, we headed over for dim sum at China Pearl, 9 Tyler Street.  Dim sum is always exciting to me.  I love the rush of the carts as they roll by with tempting plates, bowls, and bamboo steamers.

This is the only time I actually enjoy the feeling of being rushed to make dining choices.  It's always fascinating to order something quickly, before the cart disappears, and being either pleasantly surprised, thoroughly confused, or both (the zenith).

 







On this particular day, my usually conservative-eater of a friend was open to try just about anything.  I wish I could have recommended the bbq chicken feet, but on a previous visit, I found them to be prepared more sweet than savory (my preference).

Chicken feet

 The pork shumai at China Pearl has great flavor - a punch of it, in fact.  The texture can be a bit too sticky on occasion, but on this particular day, everything worked.

After the shumai, we went pretty veg and seafood heavy, enjoying the crunch of the steamed bok choy, shreadded veggie stuffed, thin sliced zucchini, shrimp dumplings, and stuffed crab claw (the highlight of our second wind with its burst of fresh oceanic flavors and extreme crunch of the coating)

Zucchini "rolatini" stuffed with veg in a ginger soy sauce.

Shrimp dumplings

Crab claw with chili sauce

We completed our day with some sweets from Ho Yuen Bakery, one of the few traditional Chinese bakeries in Chinatown.  There, I purchased a double duck egg moon cake, sesame rolls, coconut bao, and a sticky rice dumpling.

It gets no better than days like that!

Snapshots of New England Lobster: Oh, How I'll Miss Thee! James Hook Co.

James Hook Co.'s $17 lobster roll...worth the dimes?  Yes!

This has to be the best cold lobster roll I've had in New England.  I prefer mine warm and drenched in drawn butter, but James Hook really was fab.  All meat, no excessive mayo or celery filler, served on a warm toasted, buttery roll, you can downsize to the $12 smaller roll, but why bother?  Just go for it!

Never eat a lobster this large and old....this guy is at least 70 years old.  Check out those claws!

James Hook Co. is a must do when in Boston!

 They also sell fresh fish and shellfish, seasonings, & accompaniments.