Gene’s Chinese Flatbread Cafe
86 Bedford St, Boston, MA, 02111
Gene’s Chinese Flatbread Cafe Menu
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Foods for Diabetics:
Diabetics at Yogen Fruz:
Diabetics can look for No Sugar alternatives of frozen yogurt. Yogen Fruz offers a variety of different sugarless probiotic frozen yogurt and smoothie options to help diabetics enjoy the tasty treat without any compromises. Diabetics should be extra careful while enjoying the tempting flavors of frozen yogurt at Yogen Fruz.
Foods to Avoid at Yogen Fruz for Diabetes:
Diabetics need to regulate sugar intake as well as monitor the cholesterol levels to reduce heart risk. Yogen Fruz offers regular as well as no-fat, no-sugar light yogurt at the restaurant. It is highly recommended to avoid the regular frozen yogurt at Yogen Fruz. Also, avoid all kinds of Low-Fat Chocolates at Yogen Fruz. While most shakes served at Yogen Fruz are low in sugar, there are a few such as Candy Cane, Gingerbread, and Keylime Pie that every diabetic must avoid. Although low in sugar, an 8 fl.oz. serving of Egg Nog contains 22g cholesterol. A diabetic must avoid Egg Nog at Yogen Fruz.
Foods Suggestions for Diabetics at Yogen Fruz:
Probiotic Frozen Yogurt Low Fat Chocolate (4fl. Oz.)
Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 2g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 48mg sodium, 19g carbs, 18g sugar, 5g fiber, 3g Protein
Probiotic Frozen Yogurt Low Fat Vanilla (4fl. Oz.)
Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 2g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 57mg sodium, 19g carbs, 19g sugar, 0g fiber, 3g Protein
Probiotic Frozen Yogurt Low No Fat Vanilla (4fl. Oz.)
Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 62mg sodium, 21g carbs, 19g sugar, 0g fiber, 3g Protein
Probiotic Frozen Yogurt Low No Fat Tart (4fl. Oz.)
Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 55mg sodium, 20g carbs, 18g sugar, 0g fiber, 3g Protein
Non-Fat Frozen Yogurt – Passion Fruit Tart
Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 54mg sodium, 22g carbs, 19g sugar, 0g fiber, 4g Protein
Low Fat Frozen Yogurt – Lemon
Nutritional Facts: 120 calories, 2g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 56mg sodium, 22g carbs, 21g sugar, 0g fiber, 3g Protein
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Foods for People with High Blood Pressure:
People suffering from high blood pressure problems can also opt for the non-sugar frozen yogurt options to have a fun meal at Yogen Fruz. They can also try the non-fat variations of frozen yogurt and smoothies available at Yogen Fruz to taste the richness of frozen yogurt without any health concerns.
High Blood Pressure at Yogen Fruz
People suffering from high blood pressure problems can also opt for the non-sugar frozen yogurt options to have a fun meal at Yogen Fruz. They can also try the non-fat variations of frozen yogurt and smoothies available at Yogen Fruz to taste the richness of frozen yogurt without any health concerns. Yogurt served at Yogen Fruz is made from fresh dairy, non-dairy, low fat or no fat options.
If you have high blood pressure, then it is highly recommended to go for fresh dairy yogurt or Greek yogurt as calcium-rich foods are helpful in lowering blood pressure. Never ask for cheese or any salty food items as the toppings on your yogurt smoothies or flavored frozen yogurt. Always try fresh fruits or berries without any added salt to compliment your frozen yogurt or yogurt smoothies at Yogen Fruz.
Foods to Avoid at Yogen Fruz for High Blood Pressure:
While most food items on Yogen Fruz menu seem healthy, there are a lot of flavors and mixes which contains a high amount of sodium. To maintain blood pressure levels, avoid ordering cheesecake mixes at Yogen Fruz. Other dessert mixes like Apple Pie, Keylime Pie, Oreo Vanilla, and Oreo Mint also contain a high amount of sodium levels. Avoid these mixes while ordering your frozen yogurt at Yogen Fruz for high blood pressure. Try avoiding all kinds of Shakes at Yogen Fruz as all the flavors contain a high amount of sodium levels in a single serving.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Yogen Fruz:
Smoothie Dairy Peach Berry Sunset (8fl. Oz.)
Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 26mg sodium, 21g carbs, 17g sugar, 1g fiber, 2g Protein
Üsensations Pina Colada (4fl. Oz.)
Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 6g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 26mg sodium, 26g carbs, 24g sugar, 1g fiber, 3g Protein
Raspberry Blast (8fl. Oz.)
Nutritional Facts: 120 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 30g carbs, 24g sugar, 2g fiber, 0g Protein
Strawberry Banana (8fl. Oz.)
Nutritional Facts: 120 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 29g carbs, 21g sugar, 1g fiber, 0g Protein
Very Berry (8fl. Oz.)
Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 26g carbs, 20g sugar, 2g fiber, 0g Protein
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Low-Cholesterol Foods:
Yogen Fruz understands the need for healthy food choices. Hence, the restaurant chain offers multiple variations of frozen yogurt, smoothies, and fruit cup to serve people with different health choices. You can either go for sugarless varieties or choose a non-fatty option from the menu to enjoy a healthy meal at Yogen Fruz.
High Cholesterol at Yogen Fruz
Frozen yogurt is available in both dairy and non-dairy alternatives at Yogen Fruz. You can either opt for the non-dairy alternative or ask for non-fatty or low dairy-based yogurt to enjoy your rich smoothies at Yogen Fruz. To further control your cholesterol levels, you can choose strawberry, raspberry, or blueberry toppings for your smoothies as these berries are rich in anti-oxidants.
Foods to Avoid at Yogen Fruz for High Cholesterol:
Most food items served at Yogen Fruz are low in fat and cholesterol. However, there are a few food items that you must avoid for high cholesterol. Cheesecakes such as Strawberry Cheesecake and Pumpkin Cheesecake are a big no for high cholesterol. It is also recommended to avoid Egg Nog at Yogen Fruz to keep your cholesterol levels in control.
Food Suggestions for High Cholesterol at Yogen Fruz:
Üsensations Green Tea (4fl. Oz.)
Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 2g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 57mg sodium, 19g carbs, 19g sugar, 0g fiber, 3g Protein
Üsensations Acai Blueberry (4fl. Oz.)
Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 2g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 55mg sodium, 19g carbs, 20g sugar, 0g fiber, 3g Protein
Üsensations Lychee Green Tea (4fl. Oz.)
Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 2g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 47mg sodium, 20g carbs, 19g sugar, 1g fiber, 3g Protein
Non-Fat Frozen Yogurt – Passion Fruit Tart
Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 54mg sodium, 22g carbs, 19g sugar, 0g fiber, 4g Protein
Low Fat Frozen Yogurt – Lemon
Nutritional Facts: 120 calories, 2g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 56mg sodium, 22g carbs, 21g sugar, 0g fiber, 3g Protein
Probiotic Frozen Yogurt Low No Fat Vanilla (4fl. Oz.)
Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 62mg sodium, 21g carbs, 19g sugar, 0g fiber, 3g Protein
Probiotic Frozen Yogurt Low No Fat Tart (4fl. Oz.)
Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 55mg sodium, 20g carbs, 18g sugar, 0g fiber, 3g Protein
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Q & A for Yogen Fruz
Is Yogen Fruz vegan?
Not all Yogen Fruz items are vegan. But you will find a variety of vegan options on the Yogen Fruz menu.
Where is the nearest Yogen Fruz?
Yogen Fruz is operating in over 1400 locations spread across 46 countries. Use our Restaurant Listings directory to find the nearest Yogen Fruz from your location.
Is Yogen Fruz healthy?
The primary mission of Yogen Fruz is to develop the brand as a healthy-choice lifestyle product. Hence, the restaurant serves sugarless, non-fat, probiotic frozen yogurt, smoothies, fruit cups, and yogurt available with vegan and non-vegan options.
Who owns Yogen Fruz?
Yogen Fruz is currently owned by International Franchise Corp.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Yogen Fruz
Yogen Fruz is a renowned brand in the frozen yogurt industry serving healthy food choices to the people across the United States. The frozen yogurt franchise was launched by two young brothers in Canada during 80s. The idea behind introducing Yogen Fruz was to offer a great health experience and influence people to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle. Initially, the store offered made-to-order frozen yogurt cups and shakes. Today, you can order probiotic frozen yogurt as per your preferences. You can either opt for soft serve or get a mix of frozen yogurt with fruits. You can also try the vegan options available at Yogen Fruz.
Healthy Food Options at Yogen Fruz
Yogen Fruz came into existence with a mission to serve healthy alternative food products. The fundamental aim of this highly popular restaurant chain is to promote a healthy lifestyle. Yogen Fruz offers all varieties of frozen yogurt to serve people with different food preferences.
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Address :
86 Bedford St
Boston, MA, 02111 - Phone (617) 482-1888
- Website https://www.genescafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 6:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
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Shuang C.
Went in on a Thursday at 3pm, attempted to order food in Chinese. Pro-tip: Don't try to order the food in Chinese, the waitress might get confused. Just use English, it'll be faster. So I ended up getting #3(pork flatbread), #9(lamb noodles), a lamb skewer, and a tea egg. For the pork flatbread, I compared it to the ones I had at Xi'an famous foods in NYC, and they are more or less the same......except the NYC one cost $2.50 and this one cost $4. Meh. #9 lamb noodles tasted really good, despite the noodles clumping together from sitting in the bowl for too long. (Understandable as I went in past the busy lunch hours) Still, it would be nice if they tasted freshly made like the ones in NYC. This dish is $8.40, which is only a buck forty more than its NYC counterpart. Not bad. Their lamb skewers are ok, better than One of the Kind's and Wow bbq truck's. However, they aren't as good as the ones in flushing, and they were kind of cold. Again, I attribute this to post-lunch-rush-syndrome Tea egg was pretty flavorful. Nothing else to say, it's a damn tea egg. I would have given this place five stars if the price was cheaper and the noodles was fresher. Next time I'll just come during lunch hour and get freshly made #9 and realize its true potential. Hopefully.
(4)Lily L.
Finally! Gene's 2nd location is open! So far, they have a smaller menu than their location in Chelmsford. But the food is just as good. The kitchen is open so you can see the noodle making. If you want their liangpi noodles, you'll have to go to the Chelmsford location on weekends as of now.
(5)Mike C.
The hand-pulled noodles are straight out of a simple cafe in Xian, China. I haven't had food like this outside of China, which is to say that it is authentic and good, unlike the pseudo-Chinese cuisine to be found in a typical Chinese restaurant in the U.S. No beef and broccoli or Kung Pao Chicken to be had here. Of course, I challenge you to find those dishes in China. The menu is simple and you order one of several dishes at the counter. I do highly recommend the hand-pulled noodles, and the cumin lamb version of the dish is very good.
(5)Bing X.
I really wanted to like this place because I have been craving Xi'an food for a while. I moved from NYC to Boston several months ago and one type of the food I miss the most is a good bowl of hand pulled noodles and cold glass noodles ( liangpi). I was so disappointed after comparing this place to Xi'an famous food in NY from diversity to taste. They do not have the lamb burger but pork ones! It tasted so gross with over powering porky flavor and nothing else. They do not have liangpi ( what??). The hand pulled noodles were blend and greasy. Please open a branch in Boston, Xi an famously food!
(1)Kelly C.
well. I think I'm disappointed, but I'm not sure if I should be or not. This was my first hand pulled noodle experience. I went for basic, #4 for $6.50. Wasn't sure what I'd be getting, but I was hoping for delicious. More like so-so. I went at 12:45, there were people waiting to pick up but no line to order. I placed my order and was handed a bowl. I guess I didn't order the popular choice. Once I dug in, I could tell that my noodles seemed a bit dry and tough. I did however, find a few gems in there that were delicious, so I could see how people would love the stuff. (if it wasn't sitting in a bowl for awhile :( It was just noodles in chili oil with garlic. There are about 5 options, a small seating area and cash only. I will give it another shot to try something different for sure
(3)Julia C.
I love noodles, but I'm sorry to say that this place didn't do it for me. I came by for a lunch and ordered hand pulled noodles (#4) and a tea egg from a very nice man at the counter. The noodles themselves had decent texture. What really disappointed me was the sauce. The noodles were tossed in a very generous amount of red chili oil with a tiny dollop (1 tsp?) of garlic and some scallions, no cilantro at my request. The dish needed some salt or some kind of flavor other than grease. It was very bland. The noodles sat in my stomach like a rock for the rest of the day until dinnertime the next day, so I guess it was a cost effective meal...? Either way, I think there are better places (especially with Chinatown a couple blocks away) to go for a noodle fix.
(2)Jason M.
Consider me a convert. A co-worker has long raved about the tasty hand-pulled noodles here. I was confused. The word flatbread is in the name and people go here for noodles? What's up with that? That makes no sense. This place can't be real. In my delusional world, it didn't exist. After much prodding, I relented and decided to see what this place was all about. Gene's doesn't look like much - it's falling apart. The signs are dated. It's cash only. There is so much wrong with this picture... but the line at lunch time tells you otherwise. All of these people can't be too wrong. I decided to go plain and simple - hand-pulled noodles. In the next few minutes, I watched my noodles come to line, the dough being slapped around and pulled and poked and prodded. A few minutes later, there it was: noodles at the flatbread cafe. It took one long inhale of my bowl of noodles, glistening in oil, covered in spices, drowning in garlic and I was a believer. All of these people waiting in line are not wrong. The noodles are that good.
(4)Los H.
If you're going to try Gene's the first time: is cash only, but worth it; get there around 11:30a to beat the lunch crush; go for number 4 if you love garlic/the 9 if you love hand pulled noodles and lamb; only ever get the flatbread sandwich if you'd be good with a tangy-veg-free chacarrero-like thing. Gene's is nigh freaking awesome, if only evidenced by my own behavior: I've gone to Gene's for 19 straight lunches, I've made the trip there in rain storms, snow storms, from Cambridge on Xmas. Garlic loving number four diners should have a toothbrush with toothpaste and mouthwash, floss, and tongue scrapper at the ready for afterwards to avoid "number two" accusations from office mates.
(4)Emily L.
I'm not impressed - the noodles were a bit doughy and there was a tad too much oil. Moreover, Michelle J. was definitely on target about the garlic; if you come here for lunch, you should make sure to warn your coworkers when you get back to the office - the garlic is strong enough to warn off every ghost and goblin in MA. Perhaps I'm a bit spoiled because the first time I had hand-pulled noodles was at Nan Zhou in Philly nanzhounoodlehouse.com/h… / foodandwine.com/chefs/mi… - if you're ever in the City of Brotherly Love, I would definitely recommend that you stop by.
(3)Lucretia S.
For what it is (a small, order-at-the-counter, lunchtime spot) it is magnificent. We ordered the cumin lamb hand pulled noodles (#9) and the hand pulled noodles (#4) and they were both surprisingly different from each other and delicious. The #4 had a tangy vinegary sauce while the #9 came with bean sprouts and other shredded vegetables on top. The noodles were thick, soft, and chewy. Total comfort food. Big portions and reasonably priced.
(5)E J.
Delicious fresh pasta, and maybe the most authentic Chinese food in Boston. I always get the noodles (#s 4 or 9), but the chuar are also excellent, way better than Wow. Maybe a little on the expensive side, but when I taste food like this, I almost expect to be paying in RMB. I'm a bit puzzled by the reviews comparing Gene's unfavorably to Xi'an Famous Foods. I've only been there once, but I didn't find it markedly different. I slightly prefer Gene's, but they're both top drawer biang biang mian and I wouldn't complain about either. nb: I think the Mexican dude in the back is the guy from chelmsford, and he's been doing it for years now. He could probably get a job in Xi'an if he wanted
(5)Michael R.
I wish I knew about this place before I moved from Boston. Delicious, reasonably priced, and freshly made to order - 'nuff said.
(4)Ed H.
Terrific hand pulled noodles. So flavorful and just the right amount of spices. Wonderful texture. Fast and polite service.
(4)Didi S.
I was so excited to learn about this. I wanted this to work out so much. (BUT) Pricey and honestly not that good. I mean, the flatbread was too hard and not very nang-like. The #3 didn't have that kind of soft and fatty warm meat that melts in your mouth and makes you want to binge exercise. It was actually dry in that ambiguously-chickeny-cat food way. The #7 pao mo was a decent lamby-soup but they used thinly sliced hot pot lamb for the meat and even skimped on that. On the other hand, the cold noodles were pretty solid. Gene, or whatever kindly uncle figure was manning the place, seems like a sweetheart though.
(3)Chrisitine W.
Authentic taste. Good price.
(4)King Eat J.
Hello I'm street eating legend King Eat, and today I'll be reviewing Gene's Chinese Flatbread Cafe. Had a great experience here. The "reason to go" dish seems to be the hand pulled noodles. Noodles are one of those things you don't realize can taste so good till you've had them like this, I am no longer blind to bad noodles, I'm a believer. YOU CAN NOT lose with noodles made to order, I order noodles; this guy whips them up, and they're done in minutes. The dish is a little garlicky, so if you're not a garlic person this may be a problem, but in my case I am a garlic person so I win. There will be a pool of oil at the bottom of the dish, which is really my only complaint, but the dish is so good, it didn't really bother me. Let that oil drip for a minute, and eat that last noodle. Play like a champion. King Eat
(4)Daniel M.
I don't eat meat (shut up) so I can't speak to their other dishes but the hand stretched noodles and the cold noodles are both amazing. Both are incredibly simple, and it's fun to watch the noodles as they are being made. The hot dish is served with vinegar, chili, oil, and a cubic shit-ton of garlic. I personally like the gigantic mound of garlic even after knowing it takes the better part of 24 hours for my body to rid itself of it. The cold dish is served with less garlic but is still powerfully flavorful and comes with an amazing tea egg. This was great on a hot day! To only be able to eat two items from the menu I think about this place a lot. The simplicity really works for me.
(4)Alvin L.
The hand pulled noodles was great. As expected from a seasoned hand pulled noodle restaurant. #9 was tasty if you love lamb. #5 Was disappointed with the house noodle soup as the pictures in the menu did not indicate that it was served with rice noodles and the broth was just a spiced version of minestrone soup for the base. Did not try #4 as it does not come with meat. #3 the porkshoulder/pork rear sandwich was tasty but it left something to be desired...like thinly sliced green onions or cucumbers to balance the heaviness out. The place is small so be sure to get there before the lunch rush hour. Oh, make sure to grab plenty of napkins. Overall, I think I'll come back for more hand pulled noodles, only.
(4)Caitlin P.
As a huge fan of his Chelmsford hidden gem, I eagerly awaited Gene's introduction to Boston. Luckily for me he decided to open his first city foray right around the corner from my office! Check out the reviews of the Chelmsford location (same name) if you need a refresher on Gene's delicious bona fides. I've been stalking the location since I heard about it and it looked like today was opening day, complete with Gene behind the counter! The perfectly chewy hand-pulled noodles are as amazing as ever at the new location. I tried the #9 (cumin-spiced lamb with hand-pulled noodles, bean sprouts, onions, cilantro, and peppers) and it was perfect--the thinly sliced lamb with very little fat was an amazing addition to the chewy noodles, as were the veggies. For fans of Gene's in Chelmsford--Gene brought all of the Xian classics from his western outpost to Bedford Street, and the cold noodles are available daily!! I can't wait to go back for those and the classic #4 noodles with garlic and chili oil.
(5)Brendan K.
Awesome noodles and seasonings!
(5)Joanna H.
Staff here is super nice and friendly. I was trying to take a snapvideo of Chef Gene stretching out the noodles & he definitely noticed. Rather than giving me a grimace, he actually started laughing and continued to face me until my 3rd try. Very good-humored! I came with my coworkers, in a group of 8, so we got a taste of their hand-pulled noodles, pork flatbread sandwich, house noodle soup and chilled noodles. Overall consensus: way too greasy and too little ingredients. I love simplicity, but these dishes were way too one-dimensional. Note: It's a small place. Seats are full if you come during weekday lunch hours, even when it's pouring outside!
(2)Jeff G.
Ive had Xian's Famous noodles on my radar for a while, so when I heard that this palce is coming into Boston, I was very excited. I's not quite in financial or in Chinatown but certainly centrally located and has room for a few tables that easily fill up. The most exicitng part besides actually eating the noodles is watching them slap the noodles and roll it out. The menu is simple and straightforrward, pretty cheap and filling portions. While the noodles sometimes clump together and are pretty oily, the flavors are really delicious. Deff check it out
(4)Jane S.
This location is a lot worse than the Chelmsford one I have tried. Came here during a lunch and ordered things I would regularly try at the other location. It was packed during lunch, and service was bad. What bothered me the most is the contained that they use for the food is plastic of very low quality. I would look elsewhere if you work in downtown boston and is looking for place for lunch.
(2)Michelle J.
There's something really nice about a bowl of noodles made fresh to order. You will sometimes see a guy behind the counter pulling noodles. Can't get any fresher than that. I've tried the hand pulled noodles and the cumin rubbed lamb noodles. What I really like about the noodle bowls is that they might not look like much but they're dense and will fill you up. They're also very flavorful even though the initial scent can be off putting. Do be warned though there's a healthy amount of garlic in the regular noodles. And when I say healthy amount is that your breath will reek of garlicy goodness for the next several hours. Now I like the smell of garlic and my job doesn't require me to speak to people face to face so I don't care what my breath smells like. Other people might not be so open to the idea. The cumin rubbed lamb #9, does not have the same helping of garlic and no lasting scent side effects but it's got a lot more veggies and of course some meat. Gene's also does lamb skewers that are delicious. I like having one or two with my dense garlicy hand pulled noodles. Seating is limited and I imagine they do get very busy during the lunch rush. However, since I tend to eat lunch after 1pm there's always a free table or two when I'm there. This is a great spot to get a good lunch.
(4)Meg C.
Yum. I was a little nervous at first, considering there's no menu- just, maybe, 5 things to choose from. I went for the hand pulled noodles which were hand pulled right before my eyes. Vegetarian, with a good dose of chili oil and some garlic. Oily, yes, but super flavorful so worth it. Next time I go, I'll be sure to try a tea egg! I got my noodles to go and it only took a few minutes. During that time, a line had formed in the tiny place, so I can tell it gets very busy for lunch.
(4)Sanli T.
I like it in general ...but the fact that it only has few selections from its menu on the website throws me off a little bit. Pricing wise, it's also pricy for the food in my opinion.
(3)Quita C.
Get the hand pulled noodles. You'll taste garlic for the rest of the day, but it's well worth it. So good!
(5)Madelyn Y.
Great place for a nice authentic Xi'an noodles dish. I have tried all the dishes and they are all at such a reasonable price! The hand pulled noodles are made fresh and I love the lamb skewers! The outside may not look appealing, but that's the best part about holes in the walls. They are like a diamond in the rough!
(4)Alex T.
I remember a childhood in Kuala Lumpur where handmade chewy noodles are prepared stir fried or in a soup in food stalls everywhere. Over here in the states, finding a place that serves homemade noodles is like finding a magical unicorn. First off, don't expect to eat here. The place is tiny with very limited & uncomfortable seating. If you sit near the line, you can expect a butt or crotch in your face the whole time you're eating. The noodles are tasty. Great chew and a bit wide for a more doughy bite. Unfortunately the noodles aren't cut and can be a bit hard to eat. There is also way too much chili oil on these noodles. Tea egg fairly regular. DO NOT order the pork bun! I was thoroughly horrified by the amount of oil that drip down to my shorts just from picking it up and opening the wrapper. Very little amount of actual pork, uninspired bun, & way too much oil. Overall, the noodles in a takeout situation is the only way I'd ever enjoy Gene's again.
(2)Michael S.
This place just opened up around the corner from where I work. I have only had their flatbread noodles, which are handmade right before they are cooked. They are very delicious and garlicky.
(4)Anna L.
Please have Liangpi at this location!
(5)Cynthia L.
I love Gene's flatbread cafe, and I love Gene for bringing it to Boston so I no longer have to beg a friend with a car. And I really love the price. I never bother to get the flatbread which is delicious in a greasy kind of way. Instead I focus on the hand-pulled noodles (predominant flavor: garlic), cumin lamb hand-pulled noodle (predominant flavor: cumin) and the Xi'an cold noodle salad (predominant flavors: sesame oil, cilantro). I also like to get a tea egg and a few lamb skewers which are heavily spiced and extremely delicious. I prefer the hand-pulled noodles to anything else because of the amazing variability in texture and the toothsome qualities, but the cold noodle salad is definitely worth getting despite a lack of hand-pulled noodles because it's dressed so damn well. It's an especially refreshing thing in the summer. I also love the lamb stew, though it feels somewhat overpriced given the relative lack of lamb meat. It's a meditative exercise tearing apart little pieces of bread, though I'm not sure if the Boston locale makes you do it by hand while Gene watches and criticizes your terrible bread tearing skills. Actually, having a proprietor who will criticize your terrible bread tearing skills is a really entertaining thing, especially when he's really only looking out for the quality of your meal in the end (large bread pieces don't soak enough). The soup has a very buttery quality, and it's something you should try at least once. And since I have a friend who hates cilantro, be warned that a lot of dishes come with cilantro unless you ask, especially the noodle salad and the cumin lamb hand-pulled noodles.
(5)Howe L.
The former burrito place (Buritto Express) at this location used to be a personal favorite, so I was a disappointed Gene's didn't match up for me. I will give my complements to the noodles (not the noodle soup though), just a bit underwhelming when considering price and quantity too.
(3)John M.
Usually noodles are just sort of the carrier of the flavor given off by the other delicious elements in the dish but was that the case here? No my friends it was not. Sure the noodles were loaded with tasty garlic, cilantro, scallions etc but the noodles themselves were really tasty. when you walk in there was a guy pulling and stretching noodles and then throwing them right in the pot for your dish. so fresh, i think im used to some vacuum packed noodles that were probably made in the 80's in some factory outside of Xinjiang, but these noodles stand alone. I just had this simple house noodle thing, the guy (perhaps it was Gene himself) told me that was the most popular dish. Plus it was only 6 bucks which is a huge steal around here (note: cash only).
(5)Mariya F.
I've only been here once and only tried one menu item (hence 4 stars instead of the potential 5) but I absolutely loved it. There is nothing special about the interior, just some tables and chairs, but you don't exactly come here for the ambiance. I had the #4 hand pulled noodle dish and it was amazing. So fresh, so good. I worried that there were not enough toppings at first (comes with garlic, red pepper flakes, maybe a few scallions) but the noodles had so much flavor that you don't need anything else on top of it. I've never had anything like it before and I will definitely be coming back again for lunch to get the exact same dish.
(4)Hilary B.
I'm THRILLED that this little gem has opened so close to my office in DTX. I had the #4 which was fresh, hot, and filled with tender hand-pulled noodles. If you're a garlic-phobe, don't mix in the generous dollop of minced garlic served on-top. The sauce is still piquant and delicious without it. If you like garlic... well, go for it! This is going to become a regular lunch stop for me. Noodle heaven.
(4)Melisa C.
My boyfriend always raved about Gene's but I was never able to make it in due to place only being open on the weekdays. We finally made it in on MLK day and I have been longing for it again since. We got there around 1:30 pm, so a little after the lunch rush but still had to squeeze in for 2 seats. There isn't a lot of seating so if you plan on dining in you should go before or after the lunch rush. We ordered the #9 which has lamb, and it was out of this world ($8-9), and is very filling. The noodles are nice and thick, and the lamb compliments the other ingredients so well. If you are in the area you HAVE to stop by this place! **CASH ONLY!
(5)Juju W.
This is the best Xian food you can ever found in Boston given that this is the only Xian restaurant in town. Authentic. Here you can get cheap lunch but the most delicious noodles in the area. Noodles are all handmade. The owners are very friendly. They could totally raise the price, and I'm sure they wouldn't lose customers for that.
(5)Espresso T.
Would I return? Yes. But I was not wowed and I do think they are on the pricey given what they serve at essentially take-out place that is self serve. There are tables but it gets quite hot in there without AC. The food...had the hot oil over noodles, which I asked to be extra spicy and they delivered the level of spiciness that I have not had in any Chinese food places in Boston, which I liked. The noodles were also chewy in a good way, which is delicious. But, for a bowl of just noodles with nothing but hot oil (literally) at a take-out place, $6 is a bit steep. Tthe lamb skewers were too dry and not much per skewer really.
(3)Xin X.
Love the hand pulled noodle love the lamb on a stick love the tea egg. Hope they can serve Xi an style salad like Dongbei Da ban cai or Xin Jiang da ban cai.
(5)U V.
It's really between 3 and 3 1/2 stars.. I got # 9.. I really wish they put some more meat in it and less oil with the dish... I'm not sure whether it's supposed to be this oily... it's noticeable especially when the portion is small with oil underneath just sitting there with the noodle... For the price I paid the meat come with my dish was so little... They really need to put some more meat into the dish especially with the tax included come out to be $ 9 w/out drink or anything..., I could have just go down to eat pho or get myself pad thai and get good portion... the place is small and be sure to ask where the line is to order the food... otherwise you will end up standing behind people who just waiting for their friends to come in so they can order together.... it's cash only...
(3)Aaron T.
one of my foodie friends has for years been complaining about the absence of hand pulled noodles in boston. so hearing about gene's flatbread coming to town was exciting. finally got a chance to grab lunch and consummate the anticipation. my short assessment: happy that its an option- ill definitely go back. worthy of foodie frenzy? not convinced. its a quaint spot on a side street downtown. probably no more than 18 seats. visible right at the counter where you order, one of the cooks was pulling fresh noodles. its a short menu, which i can get behind. i got hand pulled noodles and lamb skewers and my friend got noodle soup. my noodles were pretty on point. i respect the 'from scratch' effort and the benefits are evident. nice wide cut white noodles with great chew. the noodles are served warm with an assertive sauce (chili oil? vinegar, garlic etc) and finished with cilantro. i thought it was tasty. that being said, i also wanted something else. some actual vegetables to cut the visibly oily sauce? a little meat maybe? i respect the simplicity, making the noodles the star. but as a meal, i liked the flavor but it felt heavy and ultimately lacking. that being said, you're getting hand made noodles for $6.50, so I'm still pretty pleased. the lamb skewers were pretty good. rubbed with cumin and pretty tender, the little lamb morsels were a welcome addition ($1.50). finally, my friend had noodle soup. her noodles were not the chewy hand pulled noodles that i had, but instead looked/tasted pre-made. they were uniform and skinnier, and weren't bad per se. but compared to my fresh noodles, tasted soggy and very unspecial. the broth in her soup, though, i thought was pretty excellent and maybe flavor-wise was the most interesting thing we had. it felt like a combination of pho broth (with the star anise, clove thing) and a light sweet and sour soup. i thought it was well balanced, bright but still with some underlying richness. if i could wave the magical foodie wand, id ask for some more content in the hand pulled noodles, and for the soup to be served with fresh, hand pulled / cut noodles. but at $6-8.75, im ultimately pretty pleased. ps, if you haven't watched chefs make hand pulled noodles, i highly suggest you find demos on youtube. it is pretty wild and aspirational as a home culinary project.
(4)M M.
I've been here three times. The restaurant is clean and the atmosphere is convivial. The owner is friendly and working right behind the counter, pulling the noodles right before your eyes. The first and second time I went I had the hand pulled noodles. The noodles were tasty and actually reminded me of an italian pasta dish. The third time I went, I had the cold noodles. They were disappointing and I haven't gone back since. This place is a great option if you're downtown or in the financial district and don't want to walk to chinatown for chinese food. Also, if cleanliness is an issue for you, you can eat happily here.
(4)Kevin X.
I was surprised by the limited menu, given all the hype that I heard about the place. Had the tea egg and hand pulled noodles. Definitely had better tea eggs (and for cheaper than a dollar for just one), but the noodles were pretty good. However, while the pulled noodles had the chewiness makes for great hand pulled noodles, the absurd amount of grease and garlic that topped the noodles was surprising and disappointing.
(3)H S.
if you like thick doughy slightly gummy noodles, you will like these (not my thing but ymmv). cumin lamb was ok, much prefer the "chicken fried" spicy version at New Shanghai. takes a while to cook each order so be prepared to wait.
(2)Marisa M.
I love noodles so I was really excited to try this place. I ordered the #9 - the noodles with lamb. I was quite happy with the thick meaty fresh noodles and the combination of cilantro, raw onions and small bits of lamb, but (and this is a major but) it was way too oily, especially the last of the noodles as they were swimming in a pool of oil at the bottom of the bowl. I liked the noodles so much I still finished my meal with a grimace. I think the next table had a better idea and left a few noodles behind. My stomach was still working on the food 9 hours later and I wasn't hungry for that time, which was strange because I'm the kind of person who eats every few hours. Anyway, I got there after 1pm but the line was still long so prepare for a wait. Gene seemed to be an affable fellow though and I appreciate the specialness of the noodles and I think I would come back again if only he made it much less oily!
(3)Betty L.
Fresh, a little greasy, chewy, and pretty darn good. The minute I pushed aside those plastic-curtain things and steedp into the restaurant, I felt like I've been transported to a little home-style noodle shack in China. Having just been in China this past summer, this gave me a nostalgic, bittersweet feeling. However, this illusion was immediately popped when I took a good look at who was cooking in the kitchen xD. Not that this matters, though. I ordered #4 (Hand pulled noodle), #2 (Lamb hand pulled noodle soup), and two lamb skewers for my husband and me. I really liked #4!! It's topped with spices and garlic, and the taste was spot on. I do wish it could be a bit spicier, but I'm not going to complain, not when I've found fresh noodles in Boston! The noodles were dough-y, chewy - just as homemade noodles should be. #2 had really fantastic slices of lamb, but I thought it was just a tad too greasy. Alex loved it though. As it's walking distance from where we live, he insists that we have to go back. Plus, it's relatively inexpensive! To be honest, I've had better fresh noodles in China (duh) and in California bay area, where I'm originally from. However, I was very pleased to find this in Boston. We will definitely be coming back. (cash only)
(4)Roger F.
This is my second time here, after swinging by in the middle of the polar vortex last February. The cafe's the same, but the atmosphere is different in the summer. Going with the season, I opted for a noodle bowl instead of a hot soup. I came in at around 3:00 with a bunch of relatives, but otherwise the cafe was empty. While our food took a bit longer than it did in February (maybe ~5 minutes difference), I realized it was because they were making a fresh batch of hand-pulled noodles... right behind the counter! And let me tell you, it really showed. I've never had noodles like this before; an almost doughy texture, but with all of the slurpiness you'd expect. Just enough spice, but not enough to overwhelm. And the taro soy milk drink I grabbed from the fridge was just the right compliment.
(5)Katia M.
So this place doesn't have a ton of vegetarian options, but what they have, the hand pulled noodles, are so garlic packed amazing that I don't care about that. Bring cash, order in and sit at the counter or the little tables, or order takeout and bring it back to the office and make yourself the garlicky envy of everyone there. God the noodles are good. Don't go on date night, though.
(5)Chenkai L.
I came here high hopes craving a bowl of hand pulled noodles and walked out disappointed. The noodles definitely hand made but the flavor was not authentic at all. The garlic flavor was overpowering and the noodles tasted sour (im hoping its from the vinegar) and overly oily.
(2)Francisca W.
was excited to try this place since friend mentioned it about a month or so ago. always excited to try an "exotic" cuisine outside of the mainstream. made a point of coming, here's what i found: - one little one-page menu posted on the window outside the restaurant; another one posted at the end wall next to cashier - only two places where you can read very simplistic descriptions of the menu items (still better than just the name and a picture overhead) - extremely limited but disorganized menu (numbered but not in order anywhere, also some numbers seem missing) - rather pricey items, ranging from $6.50-11 for the same size bowl of noodles (diff kinds, some hand-pulled... i supposed) - misleading photos (ex. pork flatbread at $4 showing two on the picture, but each order is one. also didn't mention there's a beef option.) - lack of "customer service" in comparison (ie. even the food truck at the square outside RMV would ask if you wanted chili pepper dust on your lamb skewer; they don't) - given the strong flavors of food, it'd be nice to have complimentary water jug and cups for perusal, but instead they want to capitalize on selling you beverages, available in not one but two drink fridges - served with disposable containers and utensils only, with a small bottle recycle bin next to the main trash. my heart ached for the environment as i witnessed how many plastic and Styrofoam receptacles/cutlery being thrown away in an hour's time, let alone the encounter of sour smell as you approach the trash bin, what with all the spicy/lamby/vinegary soups being thrown in the same trash, sitting at the bottom of the barrel... - ...in a hot summer day, in a dining space without a/c - was hoping for a few more non-soup offerings too. i mean, it's 70 degrees outside. as my lunch buddy pointed out: you got "flatbread" in your name, but there is only ONE item involving bread. strange, eh. on the bright side: - hand-pulled noodles (as in #2) were of good craftsmanship: soft but not soggy, cuts easily with a plastic spoon, light & fluffy, no doughiness. meat is also flavorful, if a little fatty and looks a lot like the frozen pre-sliced meat sold in Chinese market for hotpot - cumin lamb skewer tender and flavorful; but like said before, would have preferred to be asked if i wanted the chili powder on top - pork flatbread: looks dried but wasn't too bad; meat also flavorful, and the bun/bread goes well with it - house soup noodle (#5) may not be hand-pulled, but still very soft. soup is vinegar-based, but i liked it... didn't care for the bits of frozen veggies (carrot, peas, green beans, potato bits) that accompanied the dish, though. yeah, and what's up with the amigo doing the hand-pulled noodles too? isn't this, like, a treasured skill of the nation? in all...been here, done this. now onto to next food adventure.
(3)Michael C.
Came for lunch on a weekday with a co-worker. It is one of those financial district lunch spots, located across from one of the entrances of the State Street building. Pork Flatbread Sandwhich - It tasted fantastic, it was just way to greasy. It made 5 napkins below it transparent. It just could have been a lot less greasy. The taste was on point, maybe next time I'll ask them to squeeze it out or something Lamb Noodles - Same as the last dish, It tasted amazing and you saw the cooks making the handmade noodles from scratch. It had a great kick to it too. Still a little too oily for me, especially after the pork.
(3)Hang P.
Definitely a hole in the wall! I ordered the #2 (lamb hand-pulled noodle soup). My experience with lamb hasn't been that great so far, but this dish is bomb! The lamb tasted kind of like beef, and the noodles were nice and al dente. The soup did lack some flavor on its own, but with the noodles soaked in the soup, woo it was delicious. The only complaint I have about this place is the entrance to the restaurant with the plastic flaps covering the door. Made it hard entering and going out of the restaurant, but also blocked the needed air to go into the restaurant (it was SUPER hot in the restaurant). Overall, the noodle soup was delicious, can't wait to go back to try more dishes!
(4)Hayley H.
Ermergershhhh. This place is a winner. What I love about it: they pull the noodles in front of you, they are prepared to order! The price is great, perfect portion. Not fussy, just delicious. I had the lamb cumin noodles and they were well-balanced and just a little spicy. And they have tea eggs for a dollar! We went at 4:30 on a Saturday, and it was completely empty, so there was plenty of seating. The location is great though, so you can always walk a block or two and sit at the park. Cash only (but there's a Citizens, BoA, and Citi right there.) Just, check it out. You can split a $6 bowl of noodles if you're unsure. But you'll be back for sure.
(5)D S.
CASH ONLY!! First time here. Had their hand pulled noodles; first bite, i wasnt really intrigued .. BUT the flavor lingers in your mouth and makes you want more! it couldve been a bit spicier, in my opinion. Is their flatbread sandwich supposed to be super hard? Idk because thats how mine turned out... Regardless of how the sandwich came out, i'll most definitely go back to visit Gene's to try out the rest of their menu!
(4)T K.
Last Wednesday, my boyfriend and I decided to do take-out at this place for dinner since we weren't hungry. This place was quite empty on around 5pm. We got number #2, #9, and 2 lamb skewers. I asked if they can separate the broth for #2 so it won't make the noodles soggy. The woman, sheepishly, said no, which was kinda bizarre to me. Normally, when I get a soup-based meal for take-out, the restaurant usually complies. Anyhow, they called out our number, our order wasn't packed to go. And we told them that it was take-out. Seems like there was some sort of miscommunication. Though the noodles were quite soggy, overall, the food was really delicious. It wasn't too spicy. However, the skewers were quite spicy. You can totally see a line of red spice on the skewers. I would definitely back here to get lunch/dinner. I don't think there was any parking near this place. Best bet is to park your car in chinatown and walk over for 5-8 mins.
(4)Annie L.
This place is a hidden gem, a hole in the wall (limited seating), but nonetheless a great find. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a noodle fanatic (they call me noodle girl), so I was so excited when my boyfriend took me here for hand-pulled noodles. I ordered the #4 hand pulled noodles which were doughy, thick, and chewy; they absorbed the flavorful sauce nicely. My boyfriend ordered the #2 lamb hand-pulled noodle soup, a beef flatbread sandwich, and lamb skewers. I'm not a huge fan of lamb, but I finished his noodles (as usual). Overall very yummy, inexpensive noodles, but bring cash!
(4)June-Young C.
This place is easy to miss. I was looking up a place to eat noodles and when I looked at the map, I thought that it was pointing me to Sa Pa. The noodles here are really fresh, You can even see them rolling the dough right when you order. Just like most Chinese restaurants, prepare to bring cash. Unfortunately, I only had $6 dollars and some change on me, which was just enough to get their plain noodles. Although I will probably come get the lamb noodles next time, I think that the noodles on their own are really great. They are thick and chewy and really absorb the sauce that they put on it. The #4 Hand Pulled Noodles has garlic,cilantro, peppers, and did I mention garlic? I read another person's review later and it will definitely leave your breath garlicky. Pretty good place to go for lunch in the financial district and there isn't usually a huge line like that one Chipotle around the corner.
(4)T W.
Spicy and Succulent! I absolutely recommend the Lamb Skewers, ask for extra spice you won't be disappointed! Also tried the Xian Noodle Salad, tasty veggies and excellent portion size for the price. The only comment I have of dissatisfaction was the Bbq Pork, not much seasoning and rather bland. Don't let the location or layout fool you, there is great food here if your willing to look for it ! Great little spot on the corner, would recommend for a quick bite in China Town!
(4)Courtney Z.
Cash Only, Sells out of Liang Pi really quick on weekends. I am pretty disappointed by that so I only had the pork sandwich. it is juicy in a crunchy bun, but is it better than Xian Famous Foods in NYC? Not really, its on par i suppose.
(3)Mel C.
I've been meaning to come here for lunch for 3 months now.. and I finally did. Now I'm pretty sure I'll be coming back here almost every day. The #4 Hand Pulled Noodles are thick and have great chewy texture. The flavor is great and leaves you satisfied for $6. If you don't want the thick noodles, you can get #5 the House Soup Noodle which has thinner noodles, a few vegetables, potatoes, and a light slightly sour soup. For such a cheap price, I will definitely come back. Most of the $5/$6 Chinatown specials are loaded with oil, salt, and MSG. It's nice to see a place that delivers on quality more so than quantity. And yes people, THIS IS NOT NYC! We get it. But it's really good for Boston.
(5)Lindsay D.
As other people have mentioned, cash only here! Now that that is out of the way... I've been longing to try Gene's for so long and the noodles did not disappoint! We went early Saturday and it wasn't busy at all. You do have to wait a little, but that's because they're literally pulling the noodles for your order. It's fun to watch! The food is delicious and deceivingly filling. We tried the 3, 4, 6 (weekend special, and 9. I'm not sure I'd get the 3 again, but my husband loved it! The 4 and 9 both feature hand pulled noodles -- this is what you need to get! They're known for their hand pulled noodles and there's a reason for it! Try them. So yum! Must go back soon. :D
(5)Ladyjane S.
I don't really know what I was expecting but the noodles didn't really do it for me. It may be because I took it back to my office to eat, so it wasn't very slippery and didn't have much sauce/oil, etc. I think the noodles absorbed most of it by the time I got back, so it was just like eating very thick (but nicely flavored), dryish noodles. I will have to go back and try them fresh from the kitchen. The ladies working behind the counter were very friendly and welcoming.
(3)Mary T.
I really like xian hand pulled noodles and my friend suggested this place to try. I got their lamb hand pulled noodle soup on a hot summer day. That was not the smartest idea, but luckily it was somewhat cool inside the restaurant. When my food finally came, I was excited to dig in! After taking a sip of the soup, I thought it was not flavored enough. It was bland and there was no complexity of flavors. I wish it was spicier and that they used more spices to flavor the soup. The broth was also really greasy. The noodles did not have the right chewiness that I was looking for. I thought the noodles were really doughy, actually. And I wish the lamb had more of the gaminess flavor that you get from lamb, but it was masked by the broth. What I ordered would be good to eat during the winter because it warms your belly. Will I come back to try other items on their menu? Probably not.
(3)Christopher M.
Thwap! Thwap! No, they're not screening 50 Shades of Grey. That's the sound of traditional hand pulled noodles being, well, hand pulled. Mixed with cumin lamb, fresh vegitables and topped with a generous helping of cilantro, you get the #9: cumin lamb hand-pulled noodles. Or as I like to call it, "mouthgasm." Seriously, it's amazing, and without a doubt my favorite lunch in the city of Boston. Just be sure to bring bills, because Gene's Chinese Flatbread Cafe is cash only.
(5)Jeannie D.
Always wanted to try this place because there are not many restaurants that have hand pulled noodles in Boston. I have to say that after finally coming here, it was not really what I expected. There are less than 10 items on the menu and they include dry noodles, soup noodles, pork buns, tea egg, and lamb skewers. We got the hand pulled noodles ($6.50), lamb noodle soup ($11), and pork bun ($4). The hand pulled noodles were pretty good. While waiting for your meal, you can actually see them pulling the noodles and making whipping noises which is really cool seeing it there and then in your bowl. I thought it was flavorful but little bit...too flavorful. The sauce that they had was kind of strong (it was like garlic chili or something?). $6.50 is a good price though. The lamb noodle soup was also pretty good (and really hot when it comes out!). The soup was filled all the way up to the brim. With the noodle soup we had to use the regular plastic spoons and it doesn't work out well when you have thick noodles. Pork bun: I can't really figure out what the taste is...but it didn't taste too good to me. Definitely not worth $4. In summary: this is definitely some real authentic food you can find in the street carts in China. I think I'm just not used to the taste so it didn't really satisfy me :(
(3)Katie L.
Let's be clear -- you come here for the noodles, not the flatbread. And they are delicious! When you're ordering, you can watch the man behind the counter pulling them by hand. And when you are eating, you can tell that they're fresh and extremely high quality. I tried both the #4 and #9 (hand pulled noodles and cumin lamb hand pulled noodles). Split between two people, it was about the perfect amount of food (definitely not a snack). Both dishes had really great, interesting flavors that weren't too strong, though they both did get boring about half way through, so it was nice to be there with someone else to split the load and try a second dish. While the cumin lamb noodles were probably the better of the two dishes, they were also $2.50 more, which wasn't exactly worth it -- though they were much less greasy than the hand pulled noodles, and had a salad of carrots, bean sprouts, and cilantro on top which was great (and would have been a welcome addition to the #4). Pro-tip: mixing these dishes together was kinda fantastic. Not sure if this is sacrilege. The atmosphere was clean and not too quiet or too loud; I recommend eating in instead of getting takeout, but takeout is probably good too. All in all, this is a solid place if you find yourself in the area. Probably higher quality Chinese noodles than you've had before unless you make Chinese noodles your thing, and very cheap to boot. They could have a few more options, the food could be a bit less greasy and a bit heavier on the veggies, but ultimately a solid spot. Cash only.
(4)Harlan K.
It doesn't matter what you get, as long as it contains all of the words "Hand," "Pulled," and "Noodles." If you like lamb, get it with cumin lamb, but the noodles steal the show here. Noodles of such elegance and substance you're going to wonder if you'll still be able to have a normal life. You won't. Not without these noodles, anyway. Obligatory PSA: Cash only, don't expect seating, pretty busy during the lunch rush, and the best damn noodles you'll ever have.
(5)N C.
This place rocks. You'll probably have trouble finding a seat. It will likely be hot inside. You probably won't get warm hospitality. And you might even get the stinkeye from the lady if you don't respond immediately to your number being called (she usually calls the numbers in Chinese, and even non-Chinese folks will not be spared her wrath.) BUT - if you endure all of that, you'll get utterly delicious Chinese food in a matter of minutes. The restaurant and the dishes are super simple and no-frills, but everything is fresh, homemade, and authentic, and you'll walk away with a deeply satisfied belly and a smile on your face. My one wish is that they would add some more vegetables to their noodles. It would be nice to have something bright and healthy to cut through the rich flavors of the dishes. That said, I'm super happy with my eating experience at Gene's, and I would even rate the flavors a bit higher than Xian's, Gene's more famous hand noodle compatriot in NYC.
(4)Andrew R.
It should probably be named Gene's Chinese Noodle Cafe. Sort of hidden on one of the more obscure streets around DTX, the namesake is is sort of hidden from the menu. There is but one item which features flatbread in the name, and only one other that has the option of flatbread in it (choice of flatbread or noodles in a soup). Speaking of the flatbread, it's $4 and is definitely only worth perhaps $2.50. Not bad, but not great. What you should get and what the place should have in its name is noodles. Hand-pulled, chewy, springy, thick noodles. Banged, stretched, beaten, whipped, bounced, and finally cut into noodle shape, they are as fresh as can be. In the cumin lamb ($8.40), they're delicious, but not because of the lamb. They'd be great in any of the noodle dishes. There's really not enough lamb to justify getting it, and the flavors should still be present in any noodle bowl ($6). I bet the chilled noodles on the weekends at $4.50 is the best deal around. Note that while there's some bean sprouts and carrots, you're mostly eating noodles and oily sauce. Prepare yo self!
(4)Carmen C.
Taste like home! I ordered the #5 House Noodle Soup and it tasted like something my mom would make for me whenever I come home. The soup has a slightly sour taste with cilantro, peas, carrots, potatoes and a decent portion of meat. Personally, I could have done without the peas and carrots. Next time I'm going to get it extra spicy.
(5)Qianlei L.
Very authentic Chinese food. It's actually Xi'an food - for those who are confused by its name. I'm a big fan of Xi'an Famous Food in NYC, and I would say this one is as tasty as that. I'm from Xi'an, so you can definitely trust my review.
(5)Tiffany F.
A hidden gem in downtown that you could easily be missed. The Hand Pulled Noodles and the Cumin Lamb Hand Pulled Noodles are both delicious - noodles are made fresh (it's pretty undeniable as everyone in the restaurant and see/hear them aggressively pounding the noodles behind the counter), jam-packed with flavor, and very filling. WARNING: if you stop by for a weekday lunch, be sure to have gum on hand for when you return to your office. Delicious, authentic, garlic-filled chinese food comes with a price and while that price isn't reflected in the incredibly affordable prices of Gene's, it is in fact reflected in the potent breathe you'll have after.
(4)Cathy S.
Gene's is on the outskirts of Chinatown and is home to some authentic regional Chinese food. You order at a counter and the menu is pretty simple and laid out on the wall with pictures. I've only tried the hand-pulled noodles so far and they are really tasty. The noodles are thick and super chewy, and the dish is packed with flavor. Just make sure to mix it up before digging in because it comes with a glob of garlic and a dusting of hot pepper on top. The flavors are definitely pungent with the garlic, spice, and cilantro. One thing I do wish is for this dish to also come with some veggies or meat to round out the meal. I think I'll just have to try some of the other noodles dishes next time for that.
(4)Lynda D.
+ LOCATION | near/in chinatown, hidden on a non-busy street by a parking garage | STREET PARKING only (horrible during weekend) + FOOD | Food is good but lets be real if you're on a diet then you might want to rethink about it since it does have a lot of
(3)Jessica Z.
Cash only! Gene's Chinese Flatbread Cafe wasn't hard to find. It's pretty small inside, but can seat somewhere between 15-20 people. I ordered #9 (cumin lamb hand pulled noodles) and my friend ordered #4 and #6 (hand pulled noodles and house hand pulled noodle soup, I think). The portions were really small because I don't feel like you get that much noodles for #4 and #9. For mine, I think 75% of the dish was bean sprouts and had to dig my way to find the few pieces of noodles. I didn't pay $9 for beansprouts and cilantro... There was a big gamey flavor infused with the noodles, which I did like though. The noodles itself for all dishes I found to be a bit bland, kind of floury-tasting, so I didn't like it. Not sure if there's anywhere else like this place in Boston, but this place was a miss for me. The most expensive dish is $11, but with the portions, even the cheaper ones weren't worth it.
(3)Steven W.
Personally speaking, I prefer to take this place as a takeaway restaurant because I am obsessed with the amazing flavor of its flatbread while others are just so so!!! I have to say the flatbread here is so so so delicious and I have told a lot of friends and they unanimously think it is fabulous. But this restaurant is very hard to find as it is very small. My tip is that it locates at the opposite of State Street Building back door~~ Another annoying part is its schedule. It is too short and I often happened to find it was close when I desperately wanted to savor its flatbread!!
(3)Nancy C.
How lucky I was to find this place. It's so hard to find Chinese food like this Boston, where most of the Chinese food is either Cantonese or Taiwanese. This is more like the cuisine I'm used to at home- spicy. The hand pulled noodles are some of the best I've had in the States; they're just the right amount of chewiness. You can see a guy in the back making the noodles, so you know that it's fresh. Get the cumin lamb hand pulled noodles. Nothing else here is really worth your time. Definitely not the pork bun. It's way too oily, and for $4, contains a stale, greasy piece of bread and dry pork. Save your money (and your stomach) for the noodles. The noodles themselves are oily, yes, and decently spicy. Don't wear anything white, because you will most likely get chili oil splattered all over yourself. Don't worry if you do, though- it's worth it. Considering there's lamb in these noodles and it's a pretty big portion, the prices are very fair. Definitely recommend.
(4)Noa C.
This place is great!!! It's really small, so either get there early to snag a seat or get it 'to go'. The noodles are hand drawn (and you can watch them make them through the window) and the sauces are very garlic-y. I usually get a #4 which is just hand-drawn noodles with garlic sauce and ask them to add bean sprouts for a texture change. I think it makes the dish so much better! The #9 - cumin lamb is great, as are their lamb skewers.
(4)Lillian C.
I'm glad they are open on a Sat because I was finally able to try this place! The store is in a random corner and is pretty small. It's so weird that they have the plastic flap things that you have to part to enter and exit... Reminds me of old school Asian markets. The inside is actually cleaner and newer than I expected so that was good. We ordered #4, #5, and a lamb skewer. Came out to $15 so it wasn't bad. They make the food fresh when you order it so that's good. There are bowls, plates, and utensils next to the register so grab that, get a table, and wait to get called. Food came out pretty quickly and was so fresh. The pictures aren't really representative of what you actually get IMO, but I guess that's all Chinese restaurants? Haha The hand pulled noodles had a garlic hot oil sauce with cilantro. I do agree that this dish is a tad oily for my taste, but the noodles are so chewy and delicious! I personally also like garlic and this had a hint of it. The noodle soup had some potatoes, carrots, peas in it along with some sort of meat. Was decently flavored, but the noodles were the thin kind and not as good as the other dish. Overall, this place is pretty cheap and food is decent. May try another dish if I come again.
(3)Nina S.
So I have to compare this place to Xian famous foods in ny, and this place doesn't reach the bar that was set. I got the lamb cumin noodles and a lamb skewer. The lamb skewer was nothing special. It didn't have any nice charcoal grill marks or anything so it was pretty simple. Glad I only ordered one. The noodles were ok, but there wasn't a lot of lamb meat and the vinegar was a bit too much that you couldn't get the cumin flavor. Don't know anywhere else in Boston to find these types of dishes so this will have to do for now :/
(3)Mike C.
Anyone familiar with the rapidly-growing and excellent Xian Famous Foods mini-chain in NYC will immediately identify Gene's as a poor man's version. This is a good thing, as the food there as well as here is great. They have an even smaller menu here, but you just need to get the staples: the Pork Flatbread Sandwich ($4) is the absolute must, and the Cumin Lamb Hand-pulled Noodles ($8.40) are also pretty excellent. The Pork Flatbread Sandwich is Gene's version of Xian's Pork Burger, and the flatbread is just as crispy and tasty. The pork is also just as nice and greasy. The Cumin Lamb Noodles were actually better than some of the similar noodle dishes I've tried in the past, and had a very generous amount of delicious, large pieces of lamb. It wasn't overly greasy either, which was a welcome surprise. We also tried a Lamb Skewer ($1.50) too, which was pretty good and worth trying for the cheap price. For those that can't make it to the several excellent locations in NYC, this is a very solid substitute.
(4)Y H.
Delish!!! Easy to miss, hole-in-the-wall. I ordered the #9 cumin lamb along with a tea egg. The tea egg was just so-so. Also, be sure to bring cash!
(4)Joy C.
Do not go in comparing this place to Xi'an Famous Foods in NYC or else you will leave sorely disappointed. We ordered lamb hand-pulled noodle soup, cumin lamb-pulled noodles, and the flatbread sandwich. The broth of the noodle soup was very watery, thus diluting any flavor present. Furthermore, the majority of the dish consisted of mostly noodles with scant pieces of meat (akin to the amount of those small pieces of fruit in yogurt). Similarly, the dry noodle dish was also bland and scarce on the protein. Lastly, the renowned flatbread sandwich was way too greasy, and I could only stomach one bite. I will admit that the noodle portion size is generous though if you're content to only eat carbohydrates. However, other drawbacks include lack of free drinking water and no bathroom (closest one is probably Starbucks). Overall, the steep prices don't match the quality, and I will not be back.
(2)William F.
I'd never experienced or even seen hand pulled noodles before coming here. I can only describe the dish as a deconstructed dumpling. The noodles are thick, heavy, and chewy. You can watch them being made as you wait for your food. The noodles at the bottom of the bowl are easily the best part as they are completely soaked in chili oil. My one complaint is that the dish could be spicier and they don't seem to have any additional spice options aside from a bottle of sriracha on the counter.
(4)Annette A.
Came here for the flat noodles, and while the hand-pulled texture was wonderful, I found that the dish, as a whole, was not anything that would make me a repeat customer. That said, I know there are other dishes that I should try and I will make an effort to do that. But as for the noodles? They're ok.
(3)Emily G.
Gene might be advertising his flatbread sandwiches on the door, that's not what lunch dreams are made of. For me, there's one dish, and one dish only - #9: cumin lamb hand-pulled noodles. I know absolutely nothing about Xi'an cusine, but I have great appreciation for freshly pulled noodles and Gene's got the craft down. After handing over $9 for #9 (they round up, I guess for tax), watch in awe as they pull, stretch and slap the noodle dough on the counter before cooking. The quality is better when the tiny storefront isn't slammed with hungry patrons, so I like going around 1:30 or 2pm to get my fix. I also recommend eating in if your office is more than a two block walk, as the noodles do not benefit from extra time in the to-go container. Slick with a chili oil, the thick, chewy noodles are interspersed with tender slices of lamb, mild whole cumin seed (perhaps bloomed in the oil), sweet onion slices, and topped with fresh bean sprouts, julienned carrot, and cilantro. Although a bit unwieldy to eat out of the takeout container, this is a hefty amount of food and easily can cause an afternoon food coma. Since opening, the ratio of ingredients has been better balanced, so complaints about an excess of oil haven't been in a problem. Of course, Gene's operating hours are catering to the lunch crowd in DTX, so your chance to score some cumin lamb noodles are limited if you aren't nearby. But don't worry, I'll eat your portion too.
(4)Alex B.
All I can say is WOW. The house noodle soup is the greatest soup I've ever tasted in my life (sorry, mom). Little bits of richly stewed meat, potatoes, carrots, peas, and noodles in an incredibly tasty, rich, tangy broth with just a little bit of spicy. For $6.50 its tastier than any steak I've eaten at Smith & Wollensky's and I'd put it up as equal to the best pasta $30 pasta dish at Bricco. The hand-pulled noodles are not far behind. Deliciously chewy with a dollop of garlic and some kind of rich sauce to be mixed up... they are also fantastic. What a bargain... I've been walking from Fort Point for lunch at least twice a week just to eat here.
(5)T N.
Better than Xian Famous Food in New York!
(5)Sally B.
So fresh and so so so good. The noodles here can't get any fresher - they literally make them while you wait, and it's worth the 10 minutes it takes to cook them. The lamb noodles are where it's at, even if you don't usually eat lamb (like me). This is the kind of place where you should make an exception, pick one of the limited options, and enjoy it wholeheartedly. The noodles are thick and rich enough that this can easily be two meals. Cash only!
(4)Alex M.
great food, no ac though so it can get really hot inside
(4)Anastasia B.
have ordered lamb noodle soup. was delicious, great flavors. service is very fast even during lunch time. extremely affordable prices. not a big menu but no need what they have is great!
(5)Julia K.
Gene's does not compare to Xi'an Famous Foods in NYC but is a nice choice to satisfy a Xi'an food craving. The biggest draw back is that the Boston-Chinatown restaurant has very limited hours of operation during the work week and completely closed on the weekend. I would highly recommend eating the food at the restaurant or somewhere outside/nearby. The noodles become stuck together and lose some of their wonderful texture when they aren't eaten right away. We ordered the flatbread sandwich, hand pulled noodles and cumin lamb hand pulled noodles and ate them outside of my office 10-15 minutes away and even by then, the noodles had already clumped together. My favorite was the cumin lamb hand pooled noodles because it had a great balance of flavors and the veggies provided some lightness. I didn't think either dish was overly oily.
(3)Jason A.
I really wanted to like Gene's Chinese Flatbread Cafe. Like when you get introduced to your in-laws and you REALLY want to like them because you know that they're going to be your second set of parents for the rest of your life, kind of a situation. Thankfully, my in-laws love prosciutto so I'm all set. Back to Gene's: so I love me some Xian Famous Foods in Flushing, NY and really really wanted Boston to have its own version. I got all the tried and true dishes: pork flatbread sandwich, hand pulled noodles, lamb skewers. And they were all mediocre. Certainly not Xian Famous Foods "I gotta have me some more now" good, but passable if you needed a crack fix of Xian delicacies. Ultimately, if you're in the area (and it is about a 2 block walk from the main core of Chinatown), it's an affordable trip. I wouldn't go out of my way to check it out though.
(3)Maureen D.
I went here at the recommendation of some other respected Yelpers. Unfortunately this place is only open a few evenings, and no weekends, so it was a bit of a challenge to make this happen. The place is in Chinatown, a short distance from the Chinatown stop on the orange line, and not far from Downtown Crossing, South station or Park St. The place was full when we arrived at 6pm on a Wednesday. We ordered and hung around 6 minutes, and sure enough, a table cleared out. While we were waiting we got to watch our hand-pulled noodles being made. The hand-pulled noodles were interesting; not really what I was expecting. The thinner noodles were delicate and chewy, and tasted good with the raw garlic paste and chile paste on top. The thicker noodles were not enjoyable and somewhat gummy. My dining companion had a noodle soup, which had great flavor, and some other items to give it a *little* variety; thin slices of meat, and a few veggies. It was surprising, however that all the veggies were cooked nearly to mush, such that we couldn't tell if the white chunks were potato or turnip; they tasted like nothing. I would have liked a combination of the two dishes; some hand pulled noodles, and some other items to make the dish more interesting: tofu chunks, some fresh carrots and scallions. Though a bowl full of plain wheat noodles might be comforting, it is certainly not nutritious, so I will limit my future visits.
(4)Vivian C.
Excited to pick up a take-out lunch? Yes, odd, but true. In a world where lunch is but a brief respite from work, quickly picked-up or reheated and just as quickly downed in order to get back to work, I was excited for this little trip in my mid-day because I had just recently discovered that Gene's Chinese Flatbread Cafe's location in Boston had finally opened, and within lunchtime walking distance! The well touted original is all the way out in Chelmsford - but just when am I going to be all the way out there?! Yes, not very likely. Gene's is a small establishment - brickwork and drink-fridge lined - with a window counter/open kitchen lined with faux brick against the back where you order and can observe the kitchen workers cooking away, and sometimes hand pulling those noodles. There were perhaps 8-10 tables as well as a counter with seats by the window - not too shabby for high rent Boston. But there wasn't really anywhere to wait for take-out without being in each other's way. Located right beside the also relatively new Vietnamese SA PA, it is like we have our own mini Chinatown within easier lunching distance of Downtown Crossing! From ordering at the cashier to having my bagged food in hand - about 10 minutes. Just listen up for your number. The see through partition between the kitchen and the public tends to muffle the noise here. Plasticware, chopsticks and napkins are set off to the side - be sure to pick some up as they do not provide them with your food. It is self-service here. My #3 Pork Flatbread Sandwich ($4 for 1; the picture on the menu is just a tad deceiving) was a bit oily - not sure if that was due to the moist mass of shredded pork (neither too dry nor too moist) or what. The bread was a bit tough - not the soft steamed buns that I've been enjoying lately at other businesses - but hey, it isn't called flatbread (and not bao) for nothing. One's a snack - a meal it isn't. But I also had my order of #9 Cumin lamb hand-pulled noodles $8.40. Chewy wide glistening orange oil tinged (yeah, that's the source of the spice) noodles, flavorful tender slices of lamb (but watch out for the few tougher bits), thick onion pieces (the sweet sort!). Yes, this was a meal. My tongue and lips tingled - I could handle it, but I'll see if they can do a mild or non-spicy version next time. I also realized what the simple beansprouts and cilantro (perhaps the onions too) were there for - unflavored and basic and boring looking - they were there to cut the heat! CASH ONLY! Don't be that fella, all ready with his credit card to pick up the bill, whose lady friend and her wallet has to come to the rescue of. (Yes, that really did happen.) Just FYI - they rounded me up to the next decile, so no pennies change hands here, I guess! *** 2/2014 *** One big bonus they have for the winter patron - a solid wooden inner door!!! Having recently been subjected to a blast of chilly air every time the door opened during lunch at another local establishment, I'll vouch for the blessing this is. And I hope you can handle some spice in your food - my #9 came with a kick even though I asked for it to be not spicy. PS - their Boston menu offerings have grown since last summer with the addition of two $11 dishes: #2 Lamb Hand-pulled Noodle Soup, and #7 Lamb Stew, although the latter is offered only after 2pm. PPS - they don't accept orders over the phone, so get your butt out there and place your order in person. *** 7/2015 *** Okay, the wooden inner door is now thick strips of hanging plastic - but does the job (note, I'm saying this in the summer time). I tried again with the #9 Cumin lamb hand-pulled noodles $8.40 non-spicy version. It was explained to me that the lamb marinade is already somewhat spicy, so the dish couldn't be made 100% non-spicy. The dish that arrived however was missing the glistening redness of the past - so, score! The portion was generous, and I took the rest of the dish back with me for another meal.
(4)Kelly O.
If you're looking for a quick/cheap meal, you'd be hard pressed to spend $6 on a tastier plate. The #4 hand pulled noodles are deceptively simple and yet oh so delicious, and that coupled with a $1.50 lamb skewer made for a perfectly filling and tasty meal for under $10. This was my first introduction to Xi'an food so I have no real frame of reference, but I do know quality when I taste it, and those made-to-order noodles slathered with garlic and chili oil were pretty fricken solid. My mouth did taste like garlic the entire rest of the night (even after gum and a few cocktails containing ginger and mint), but it was worth it. Of note: this dish is barely spicy if that concerns you, but it is pretty oily, and as such I couldn't actually finish the entire bowl because my body was like "nope, we've had enough oil for one day, thanks". Plus there's no vegetable matter in the dish (unless you count cilantro), nor any protein, so just be aware what you're getting into (the cumin noodles has both, if that's more your speed). We were there right after work on a Fri night (they're open til 6:30), and it was empty when we came in, but 4-5 pairs of people eventually wandered in. Cash only, counter service, nothing fancy here, just good hand-pulled-to-order noodles.
(4)Lilee N.
Hole in the wall gem of a grubbery. We came in on a cold wintery Thanksgiving day and had the lamb soup with hand pulled noodles. So delicious that my brother and I went home to try making the dish and replicating every aspect of it. The noodles were chewy and cut in big ribbons. Fun to eat. Definitely a no frills restaurant. Everything is served in disposable containers.
(4)E K.
I don't understand why this is so popular. There was a hit, and several misses in what we ordered. 1. Pork Flatbread: Super oily, not very flavorful (only flavor is salt!) and totally not worth $4 at all. 2. Dumpling Hot and Sour Soup: The soup is fine. The dumplings are the frozen kind that you get from Cmart or HMart for 3 BAGS for $10. It's insane that they charge almost $9 for soup with dumplings that are from a frozen bag. Based on the above two, I would have rated this place 1 star. BUT... 3. Cumin lamb hand pulled noodles: This is what you need to get when you come here. It is great! 5 Stars. 4. Weekend cold noodles are not bad, but I was the only one in my group that liked it. 4 Stars. It was just noodles and bean sprouts. Kinda expensive for $4.50, but tasted good. Overall, you have it. 3 stars. Just don't get anything else other than noodles.
(3)Ryuji S.
If you love spicy food and love chewy homemade noodle, don't wait to go there. I tried the lamb cumin noodle at my first visit in a hot summer day at 2pm, when the place was very slow, and I didn't regret. The woman made the noodle while I waited, and I asked a few questions about the noodle and how the food is like in Xi'an. The noodle reminded me of hand made fettucini, but with a very different flavor and presentation. I'll visit this place again and often, and I'll try all of the lamb dishes. If you go to other Chinese restaurants, you can find big noodle dishes, but they're all machine made noodles and also in a very different style.
(5)