Chinatown in Stoughton is the best around.   We'll fly 500 miles just to go to it.

New Garden in Needham. The best!!

CK Shanghai (Wellesley) is my favorite, try the Chicken with Yu-Shiang Garlic Sauce....awesome! Actually going tonight.

New Garden in Needham. The best!!

This post has been removed.

Mary Chung in Central Square, Cambridge: what it lacks in charm and decor it more than makes up for with excellent (and low-priced!) food. It's basically what every Chinese take-away joint should be. There's something for every palette here, and Sunday brunch (featuring a special dim-sum menu) is consistently jam-packed with a wide spectrum of customers: from the club kids shaking off their hangovers from the night before, to tables of enthusiastic Chinese grandmothers.

Another neighborhood favorite of mine is East Asia, a tiny hole-in-the-wall takeout joint in Powderhouse Square, Somerville (just to the north up College Ave. from Davis Square). They boast some great traditional-style dishes in addition to more "classic" American palette-pleasers.  As with Mary Chung, their sauces tend to be more flavorful than those you'll find at other takeout establishments, and don't suffer from the overabundance of starch and salt that can turn dishes served elsewhere into gelatinous, flavorless-yet-briny piles of goo. East Asia does it right, and though it sounds cliche, you really can "taste the love." Their Buddha's Delight is one of my standbys: they take what can be a very boring vegetable dish and make it really come alive with a variety of crunchy fresh vegetables, water chestnuts, and a deliciously garlicky sauce. I especially recommend anything featuring their homemade tofu/bean curd. I don't know how they achieve the wonderful texture it has (pleasantly chewy but almost as melt-in-your-mouth creamy as the best "silken" style tofu), but it is consistently excellent. And I've never found anything like it at any other restaurant, shop or grocery. The women who run the kitchen (sisters?) are great. Eating here sometimes feels less like going to a restaurant and more like temporarily adopting a Chinese mother or aunt.

A brief note to the veg*ns out there and any omnivores who dine with them: Both of these restaurants use tofu, per tradition, as an ingredient in its own right rather than a meat substitute. One shouldn't assume that any dish with tofu or vegetables is automatically vegetarian. Such dishes may be served with meat, or a broth made with animal ingredients. However, the staff at both restaurants can help you by pointing out which dishes are vegetarian, as well as those that can be modified to swap out or omit animal ingredients. They handle these sorts of questions and requests frequently, so don't feel embarrassed: just be polite when asking and try not to belabor your questions! In my experience, they've always been happy to accommodate, and my guests and I have always left satisfied.

China Jade - North Beverly - of course...!

China Cusine in North Reading.

CHINA

Great Chef in East Boston

The Wok in Wellesley.  The Hot and Soup Wonton Soup and the chinese style baby back ribs are to die for.

Mandarin Cafe in Natick. Stritcly take-out, but good.

Kowloons is good, but you have to try Out of Asia on route 1 in Saugus

Shangri-la in Belmont

Victoria Seafood, Commonwealth Avenue (near Babcock Street)

How about moving some these great Chinese restaurants to Helsinki?? The Chinese food here is the worse I have ever had. There is not one decent place in all of Finland. HELP!!!

In Response to Re: Your favorite Chinese food in the Boston area?:



Mansfield location is great too!

Shanghai Gate in Allston: Harvard and Comm Ave.  Easy to get to, great atmosphere and the food tastes great!  Very authentic.

I can't believe you didn't pick the Gourmet Garden in Swampscott!  It is fantastic and they make it taste great with no MSG.  It's clearly a well-known spot because it's always packed!

I've seen a lot of good places here, but I like May's Cafe in Medford (Take out only).  Great food there.  I live in NH now but when down in Somerville/Medford the two places to visit - May's Cafe and Lyndells Bakery.

If you're ever in Manchester, try Taipei and Tokyo III in Bedford (next to Hannafords).  The BEST "american" chinese I've ever had!

My wife and I enjoy Fuloon restaurant in Malden. We discovered it a few years ago and simply love it. It's like having a Chinatown restaurant right next door. The fact that is has won multiple best of Boston awards just confirms what we already know. I would suggest the wok baked beef or any of the unique dishes.  

In Response to Re: Your favorite Chinese food in the Boston area?:


Cheng Du Mansfield is the best hands down......BUT Bring BACK Yenni!

The best Chinese food in Metro-West is Shanghai-Tokoyo on East Central Street in Natick. They have a small eat in area, great sushi and the best take out around. If you are in the area, definitely stop in. It is worth your time and money. Very reasonably priced for sich great food.

Su Chang's in Peabody

A little further south, but my favorite is Tsang's Village Cafe in Hanover.  The food is always fresh and never greasy.  The staff is always pleasant and welcoming and the sushi bar is amazing. 

I can't understand why people like Cathay Pacific in Quincy.  It has been termed Cathay Pathetic by folks who work in the area and the food is extremely greasy.  To each their own though so if you enjoy it...all the power to you...enjoy!