Q Restaurant
660 Washington St, Boston, MA, 02111
Q Restaurant Menu
-
Lunch - First Course
-
Lunch - Second Course
-
Dinner - First Course
-
Dinner - Second Course
-
Dinner - Third Course
Healthy Meal suggestions for Q Restaurant
-
Lunch - First Course
-
Lunch - Second Course
-
Dinner - First Course
-
Dinner - Second Course
-
Dinner - Third Course
Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
660 Washington St
Boston, MA, 02111 - Phone (857) 350-3968
- Website https://thequsa.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Validated
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
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.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Tiffany E.
Leaning between 3 and 4 but ended up giving them a three due to some factors. First off, it's extremely hard to waive down a waiter because the music is loud and people didn't really pass by our table a lot. They also didn't come to refill our soup base on the times that they did come to our table. Lastly, there was a hair on my fishball which didn't bother me THAAAT much since I had to cook it anyways but it was kinda gross. What I did like about this place was that the restaurant was pretty nice and I liked the food. Not too expensive and we had a good time minus the part when we wanted more soup. I recommend the herbal soup and tomato soup base and the lamb/beef combo plate. :)
(3)Alex A.
Decent place, good food, good deals. They have a special from 4pm-7pm (only at the bar) for every drink you buy - you get 2 appetizers half off. I got an avocado salad regularly $7, for $3.50 and a sashimi appetizer regularly $10, for $5, because I got a beer. The food was fresh and flavorful anf the hot pots smelled delicious. Also tried the spicy beef tongue - maybe it's just a personal preference but I like it more tender and not as spicy. Overall, great place for some after works apps!
(4)Stella B.
I've had beef and lamb shabu shabu lunch combo with my friend. And we chose 2 kinds of soup which are basic broth and Mara (this one is spicy ) . I love the spicy one more than basic broth . It shows 3 stars spicy but it wasn't spicy that much . They serve a kind of meet with vegetables and noodle or rice( you can choose one) Serving food is little slower than I expected ( because shabu shabu in Japan , China and Korea is really fast to get my food in front of me .) But it is not a big deal anyways because the taste was really good . I'd definitely like to go again.
(4)Hannee H.
Before I start my review, I have to clarify that my comments are only based on the Chinese dishes, not on the hotpot. Me and my husband ordered string beans, chili chicken, fried rice and Chinese style rice cake and we only spent 46$ in total, and weren't able to finish it so we packed one of the dish. So basically, the price is very reasonable even cheap in such portion, comparing to Chinese restaurants in nyc. And this is the only positive side and I gave one star for that. The other star is for the space, it's pretty spacious and modern. Food was very oily and not authentic at all. It's very typical Americanized Chinese food and I don't enjoy it at all. It's ridiculous that they put fries(even twice fried?!!) in the chili chicken and fried rice was very bland and oily either. The service is awful too. The waiter who served us was not quick, not attentive and has very strange manner. And at first I thought, Okay, he might be just as he is but the funny thing happened when a white couple who came later than us sit right next to us. The waiter showed extremely different attitude, attentively introduced a lot of menus and responded very fast. It's hard for me not think of our ethnicity that made him act like that. I felt somehow offended. He also half forced(in a 'you just do it' manner) me to add Wechat account( SNS app, typically used by Chinese) of the restaurant, without any explanation. And I also hate the fact that it's cash only and he told me that when we finished our meal. So unprofessional! I have never gave 2 stars in yelp and I have to do it this time since I was totally disappointed.
(2)Megan M.
Our favorite restaurant of all time. We have been going here constantly for about 5 years and have never been disappointed. I dream about the Green Forest Roll. My friends brought it to me in the hospital after my son was born. If you have the pleasure of meeting Johnny, your night will only be that much better. Try the Q Fried Chicken and Beef Chow Fun. Love those when going beyond sushi.
(5)Jessica N.
Went here with my mom on a thursday around the later part of the night around 10pm, and it was still packed inside with service. This place opens to 1AM, but be careful since there isn't a parking lot, you may have to park from the apartment garage that is on the same block which is cramped. This is a typical hot pot experience for me since we got to order on paper and had many items to choose from. Some of the items were rare that I didn't get at other restaurants including the egg dumplings as well as sea cucumber and fried tofu skins. I am a huge fan of tofu so I got the entire tofu selection and everything was bomb. Some of the meats can be a little pricey but its worth the try if you're getting a delectable broth. We got the crazy malay broth as well as the chinese herbal broth. Both of the broths were delicious and very flavorful. I liked that there was an assortment of herbs and spices that were in there. This was my first visit so I will definitely be back to try more items that are on the hot pot menu as well as some of the chinese dishes that were on the menu.
(3)Adam G.
Q was certainly a fun experience! Typically, I do not enjoying cooking my own meat for fear of overcooking or undercooking, but the meat they give you at Q is so thin that you can leave it in the hot pot for 30 seconds and be confident that it is done. The Mala and Black Bone Chicken broths were both delicious as was the scallion pancake appetizer. The chicken and angus sirloin were both great, although the beef balls I could have done without. I think the ideal number of people to come to Q with is four - this way you can experience a bunch of dishes and broths but do not have tons of people trying to cook their meat at once.
(4)Amber H.
The sushi is phenomenal. Great atmosphere. They played techno music which was kind of entertaining. The sushi itself was great. I ordered the Boston maki roll and spider roll. Both were tasty. The spider roll was a bit sweeter than expected but it gave it the right taste to offset the maki to make the perfectly balanced sushi combo. Great place for date night or a solo sushi run.
(4)Jia Ying C.
This is my fourth time visiting Q and I have not been disappointed! We went for lunch and ordered the lunch special which is of great value! We had the lamb set and some dumplings. Both turned out to be as good as expected. The kimchi soup is also very appetizing.
(4)Ria S.
Should there be something done about those 45 min -1.5 hrs waits? Absolutely (-1 for that sole reason). And when on that rare occasion they are short, I do love to come here. Especially nights when appetizers are half off!!! I haven't been here enough as I wish (see above: long waiting times) but hope to more often.
(4)Adam A.
Q Restaurant is a great place to go when you know you want Asian food, but aren't exactly sure what type. They have Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Mongolian, and Vietnamese dishes. Point is, they have something to please everybody. The venue is very nice, it's a great place to bring coworkers, friends, or dates. The only downside is that the numerous hot pots can make the place pretty steamy. Being the type of guy that treats his tech like a newborn child, I kind of hesitate to take my phone out when I'm there, lest my baby get any water damage from the steam. Okay... I suppose I'm overreacting. The sushi here tastes great and each piece is a bit bigger than nearby places. I think this is done simply to make the food feel more... premium. Heavy, albeit less, pieces of sushi give you a sense that the sushi you're being served is packed full. The tempura sushis are cooked wonderfully; there is nothing more satisfying than a crunchy tempura based sushi with a soft inside. The hot pot here is also great. I'm not big on hot pot personally, since I've always felt that ordering hot pot is like paying to cook food that I just paid for; being the lazy water that I am, I'd much rather have someone cook my food for me. My friends usually insist that we order this since they love it, and they do the cooking for me, so everyone's happy. The broths are tasty, but Jews and Muslims be warned, many of the broths are pork based, so make sure to ask about that--unfortunately, they don't show this anywhere near the broth listings or on the menu at all. Their appetizers are also very delicious. I'd highly recommend ordering a seaweed salad with your sushi. My favorites here are the dragon roll sushi, eel cheese avocado, sweet potato tempura, pad thai (tastes so authentic!), crab rangoons, and house fried rice. Give this place a shot, but be prepared to wait a while if you come after work hours; hot pot is a meal that you could almost say is made for socializing, so people often take a while to leave.
(4)Elleen P.
I came here with a friend and... it was alright at best. I've heard that this place gets pricey, and honestly I'm not too sure how to justify raw meat getting expensive, but he recommended we come here so we did. The food itself was good, no doubt, but I just don't really think it ended up being worth it for the price. I did enjoy the spicy mongolian soup base, and we got the standard one too but that one was tasteless. When we got here at around 6 pm, it was pretty empty and we were seated quickly, but afterwards, service got extremely slow -- we had to wave down a few servers before we could even get menus. I think other places around in Chinatown are pretty comparable. According to other reviews, they're better for dinner with drinks so maybe that's what sets them apart from 'comparable' places.
(3)Joy C.
Q Restaurant does a decent job of satisfying my hot pot cravings when I'm too lazy to prepare it on my own. The lamb combo comes with a decent amount of meat and vegetables but do not come if you are ravenous; it will not fill you up. Unfortunately the spicy broth isn't as spicy as I'd like, though it is flavorful and pungent (you will end up smelling like it so don't wear any favorite clothes). I also did not like how the sha cha sauce came in a small dipping dish because mine constantly needed to be refilled (along with my water), and the waiter was often nowhere to be found. I would go back if I'm feeling lazy again, but until then, I'll stick with making my own hot pot feasts.
(3)Jason O.
This was my first time going to a legit hot pot place and I have to say it was quite fantastic! Everything from the broth (omg...*drool*), meats, vegetables, and fish cakes were all delectable! I was splitting the hot pot with one other person and we got the beef combo with basic broth (the combo comes with beef, basic broth, noodles, and mixed vegetables). The basic broth, I swear, tastes like pho broth. So. Damn. Perfect. On top of that, we also got a side of tofu skins (i'm a fan now), extra brisket meat, and fish cakes with a sweet filling inside. Out of everything we had, I have to say the fish cakes take the cake. If there's one side dish you order, MAKE SURE you try these. Your taste buds will thank you greatly. The servers were also very prompt and courteous and did not rush us one bit. Unfortunately, the only downside to eating here is the price. By the end of the meal, I was satisfied...not full. I even had an avocado slush (TeaDo is way better) and fried green tea ice cream (mediocre). I will definitely be back for the hotpot. *I forgot to mention - the Crab Ragoons.....BOMBBBBB
(4)Kristina N.
Hot pot here was great! The Mala broth and the Chinese Miso were both delicious and added great flavor. We got there around 5:45p on a weekend night and got seated pretty quickly, though the line was quickly forming behind us. Among the three of us, we split the Surf and Turf combo and the Veggie Combo, easily filling us up.
(4)Veronica O.
I sat at the bar and the bartender was Harry! He was awesome and was very attentive! I am a picky eater and had some odd request and for him but he was super polite and made everything happen no questions asked! I appreciate such amazing service. The food was absolutely amazing! I will def come back here again with my husband!
(5)elizabeth g.
Oh my, so happy we tried. Of course, on the weekend, they had exuberant wait times. They told us about an hour but we were sat way sooner. While we waited we ordered drinks and sushi at the bar which we wound up eating at our table bc yeah wait time wasn't long at all. Bar maid and waiter were friendly and helpful. Drinks and food top notch. Lychee martinis, sushi, hot pot all delicious. Got the mala and black chicken bone broth and both were yummy. Mala has definitely got a kick to it. It was so busy but we weren't rushed out at all. Also our water glasses were never empty which is always a plus. I would definitely recommend this restaurant and go to again.
(5)John M.
My wife and I where there today and we were very impressed. We ordered the hot pot for two and it was simply delicious. This place is second to none in food quality and it's professional staff. Our waitress was fantastic showed how to order and cook the food. One of the best experiences we have had in long time. Check it out... A must stop if you're in China Town.
(4)Monica Y.
This is hands down the best hot place and restaurant Boston Chinatown has to offer! The prices are pretty reasonable and the food is flavorful and tasty. It is usually very crowded in the evening everyday even in the summer, so I would recommend to "call ahead" before going. They do not take any reservations but you can "reserve" your spot in line by calling ahead 30 minutes before you arrive. For those new to hot pot, I would recommend to not wear things that you want to smell like the broth to the restaurant. There is no way to avoid smelling like the food because you cook it at your table. But when you go, do order the hot pot with mala broth, a side of short rib, and chicken wings. For sushi, you can try the Q roll if you are feel like splurging $16, it is so good though..! Go there and you won't regret it.
(5)Yaoyao K.
My boyfriend and I came here for an early lunch today. We were trying to go to the movies at The Loew's nearby but they were closed due to the weather. Thankfully Q Restaurant wasn't! We were there early, at 11:30am, but there were already several groups of Asians there - great sign. And the place was pretty busy by the time our food came. We got half black bone chicken broth and half tomato, which the waiter suggested and they were both delicious. We ordered beef and lamb combo, Chinese sausage and loaded up veggies (mushrooms, lettuce, cilantro, daikon radiash, fried tofu skin). It comes with fixings for sauce, but I also got a side of sesame sauce since that's my favorite. They brought out the big bowl of broth and sauces right away. There was a bit of a wait for the food but the waiter was very attentive and came by to check on us and apologize for the delay twice. It was probably just because they literally just opened and there were quite a few tables of guest. Overall, food was great, service was nice and the restaurant is spacious, clean and comfortable. I will definitely be back to fill my hot pot cravings!
(4)Chris P.
Really excellent sushi. I had the Thunder Roll ($15), my friend got the Crazy Roll ($8) and the Caterpillar Roll ($12) and we both got Strawberry smoothies ($4 each). We split all the sushi. I can't recommend the Thunder Roll enough. It's delicious and super filling. The place was pretty busy when we went (Thursday at ~8PM) so we ended up eating at the bar instead of a booth (there was a 30 minute wait for the booths). So I'd recommend going a little earlier. I saw that most people go there to eat hot pot so I'll have to go again for that, but also the dessert. We both wanted to get fried ice cream but we ate so much that we were too full. For the amount of food you're getting, I wouldn't classify this place as expensive, even though I gave it $$$ ($31-60) for the price range. I'd love to come back here again.
(5)Ying X.
I always and only come here for their hot pot, which I think is pretty good, although not worth the wait that this place sometimes gets. On busy nights, it can get up to 90 minutes. They have a lot of options for soup bases, meats, seafood, veggies, and other goodies, and everything comes out very quickly. Their mala broth isn't particularly spicy though, so you might want to go for their super spicy mala if you're in the mood for that flavor (at the same time, it's twice as expensive, which I find a bit ridiculous). I've never left Q unsatisfied, and its location is also super convenient, but it doesn't really blow your mind either. Not my first choice for when I want amazing hot pot, but it does the trick when other options aren't available.
(4)Brian S.
We came here midday on a Sunday. It seems like a pretty trendy place to eat because there was a wait even mid afternoon sunday for two people, which I found a little surprising. We had never had the hot pot experience before so this was a new adventure for us. We ordered two different broths and two different menu options. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but the whole idea of a hot pot of broth in front of you and cooking your own meat and vegetables in it seemed a lot more fun in my head than it was in person. the food I found to be a little bland, & I remember walking out at the end and thinking when I go to a restaurant I should leave the cooking up to the chef. I don't think the new self-serve fad is for me. That, and this restaurant certainly is not inexpensive. We probably will not be back for a return visit.
(3)Richard H.
Clean, good value, friendly staff, and fresh ingredients. Q Restaurant is my go-to place for hot pot after two successful visits here with business colleagues. Both times, I ordered one side mala broth (perfect level of spiciness) and one side of the default beef broth. While the restaurant does have an easy lunch special between $8 and $11, we created our own platter for my last visit, combining sirloin beef, a vegetable platter, a tofu platter, a side of taro root, a side of lotus root, and udon noodles. All arrived promptly and in decent portions and made for an excellent hot pot lunch. For those not familiar with hot pot, the menu is very straight forward and the staff ready to help. They do not take reservations and get extremely busy at very random times, so plan accordingly.
(4)Kat G.
I was craving hot pot on a Friday night and this place was recommended by a friend. The hot pot was delicious. We had the seafood with two types of broth and loved it. We added on some sushi and dumplings as we were starving, but probably didn't need that much food. The cocktails weren't the best - sugary style, not fresh ingredients. Our server was really friendly and helpful in choosing off be menu. We sat at the bar to save waiting longer (we'd waited 50 minutes from when we put our names down), but if we come back, we'd probably ask for a table as it want easy eating the hot pot. The one thing that annoyed me was that we were told the wait would be an hour and a half, but to be back in 45 mins just in case. We went to find a drink somewhere else and it would have been nice to stay there longer and receive a text message when our table was almost ready.
(4)Amanda P.
FOUND MY NEW HOTPOT PLACE!!! holy crap the service was so fast I have never got my food so quickly the wait was what 5-10 minutes our waiter was funny too!! I didn't get his name but he has long hair and it was in a pony tail. it's a little cramped too
(5)Jing Z.
We started going there 3 years ago when it first opened, Food was good at the beginning and not too much people waiting, app was decent, but as they get busy now, food quality is going downhill like most places. Especially we always order the cold noodle, now they use the instant ones instead of making the real kind. Hotpot is not as good as before, and I don't think it's as good as the little lamb. We brought some hotpot spice from Sichuan and made them at home, so much better than little q, their sauce and hot pot ingredients taste like the ones you buy in the chinatown super market.
(2)Bill B.
I hosted a business dinner with my staff & new clients. I was impressed with the upscale club decor theme with cool lighting and soothing club tunes that were the perfect volume level to carry on a business convo, The fantastic service in a immaculate setting, linen table covers & napkins in cool colors with convey seats were a elegant touch. I had tuna brown rice salmon rolls, salmon brown rice roll a few yellow tail sashimi all were fresh, with perfect consistency. Then I ate steamed chicken & broccoli (no sauce) my training diet meal tasted bland as I like. Christine was my server, she was fantastic and was very attentive. I plan to hold more lunch meeting here. Bathrooms were very clean'
(5)Elle W.
Great place to go for lunch when it's cold out (*cough* right now *cough). It's a huge place, so perfect for groups. The menu is enormous so it has something for everyone (Chinese, Japanese, sushi, and Mongolian Hot Pot), even those with a selective palate. I go for the delicious Mongolion Hot Pot lunch. You can get two different flavors of broth and then choice of meat. The menu says Mala is extremely spicy, but it's really not unless you want to drink pure broth. When you dip in the meat for cooking, the spicy Mala imparts the flavors but not the level of spice to the food. Even if you drink the broth, you should order some Udon to go along with it which also cuts down on the spiciness. I also like the Mongolian veggie as a bland counterpoint. I went with a group of 6 and getting one hot pot, plus additional meat (both Wagyu options) is more than enough. I also like the sushi rolls - Thunder Roll and King Spider Crab.
(4)H G.
The first time to try hotpot in a restaurant in the US is a nice experience. It's a little bit inner Mongolian type of hotpot rather than more typical Sichuan or Chongqing hotpot, as you can tell from the cumin in the pot. The flavor is good, portion of dishes is right, and the food is fresh enough. The two reasons I don'd give them five star is: they don't supply sesame oil or sesame paste as the sauces, and they don't have enough pepper in the pot.
(4)Theodore T.
My favorite hot pot restaurant in the area; I come for lunch and dinner almost once a week. I usually get boneless short rib, ribeye, udon, rice, and extras like dumplings, fish cake, and tofu. I've also tried their non-hot pot dishes, sushi, and smoothies; hot pot is what you should get if you visit. Main reason I come is for their broth, which is the most flavorful I've found around here -- the black bone chicken and tomato broths are delicious. The atmosphere can get a little loud, but nice overall and I like the fish tanks. Recommend getting a booth, sushi bar seat, and high table, in that order. Wait staff are overall fine, but the hosts can be really snooty and curt sometimes. They don't take reservations and the wait for dinner can be long, but none of these cons keep me from coming regularly.
(4)Noah S.
The food here was delicious with something for everything, you have to try their Mongolian Hot Pot and the Mala broth for those who like some spice.
(5)Ashley C.
The food is excellent. The wait was long.. but in the end I tried many meats and even some of the fish (I'm not a fan of the fish). The beef was especially good and it was fun to cook and eat the foo at my own pace.
(4)Michel M.
Nice place, great service, first time ever doing Hot Pot and it was really cool, lots of options and many choices for vegans... drinks could have been a little stronger ;)
(5)Mel C.
Q restaurant is frequented by Asians and non-Asians alike - a rare quality for a Chinatown establishment. It does a good job of catering to both tastes, the hotpot is authentic and offers higher quality meat than Hot Pot Buffet. The sushi and stir fry options appeal to the mass market/non-Asian crowd. The smoothies are good too.
(5)Oki P.
This is my favorite hotpot restaurant in Boston! First of all, the convenient is point on and it has a stylish chic decor. Although a little small and crowded, the food was worth the wait. All the broths tasted amazing and service was great. The menu options are also more exciting as they also serve other food besides hotpot such as sushi and appetizers which are great for friends who do not favor hotpot as much. I cannot wait to come back, i just hate the lines!
(5)Chen C.
Great place if you are looking for high quality and authentic hot pot! Their meat and vegetables were all quite fresh, not like most other hot pot places I've been to, and came in relatively large portions. The price is a little bit high compared to most other restaurants in Chinatown, but for the environment, service and quality of food material you certainly get what you pay for. Make sure you order the more flavored hot pot base though, they don't have many options for dipping sauce. Also tip is included in the check.
(5)Radhika M.
Great food, great ambience and very good service. I've gone there 5 times for hot pot now (never had the sushi) and each time it's been fresh and delicious. The atmosphere is also very lively unlike other hot pot places.
(5)Esther J.
Have heard of this hot pot place from NY. New, modern extension of hotel. Subsidized $7 all day parking on weekends, but don't forget to get both original and subsidized ticket voucher! With four people, tried their spicy and regular broth with two orders if seafood/meat platter and two orders of noodkes which was enough for four adults! Spicy broth looks ridiculously spicy but not too bad. Don't dress too warmly though. It's the type of food that you'd be willing to sweat for!
(4)Dedania M.
For a Monday afternoon, they're not busy at all and there's no wait! So where should I start? The food was actually tasty and decent price (lunch specials). I didn't get hotpot but the sushi and sashimi is still worth trying. I honestly wouldn't go here all the time just because I feel like the food isn't too special or authentic enough for me but they do decorate their food nicely. My waiter was a little weird though. He didn't acknowledge my friend at all and only talked to me. When I asked for the dessert menu, he held it in front of me instead of just handing it to me so I can discuss with my friend.......He also complimented how pretty I was.....it was really weird. P.S. THEY OFFER STUDENT DISCOUNTS!
(4)Frank M.
We had the Mongolian Hotpot which was really spicy and tasty, if you like spice the Maffa is the ticket. Looking forward to trying more dishes.
(5)Dan Z.
Not friendly. Sushi was so so, prices were out of market, esp considering the locale. Loud environment. Noodle bowl that couldn't have been more bland. Would have been better served in a suburban family sushi joint, not a great place at all.
(2)Tianzhou Y.
Hands down the best hot pot restaurant in Boston! I come here pretty much every single time when I get to visit Boston. Been coming here for years. Always a long line, so be ready to wait for at least 20 mins up to 2 hours.
(5)Celin W.
Long lines - have had to wait at least 40 minutes each time I've been there. But those times have also been on Friday/Saturdays. One can always step out for bubble tea and come back comfortably if you have 30 minutes. On the pricey side for hotpot, but the broth is quite good, and ingredients fresh. The spicy broth could be more flavorful and actually spicier. Recommend the beef and lamb, as well as vegetable combos in picking ingredients. The menu can be quite overwhelming so the combos might make things easier. Price is more expensive than what you might expect a hotpot to cost.
(4)Tricia B.
I ate here last night leaving less than pleased. My sushi, the Q roll was decent; however my entree of steamed Flounder with noodles was a bust. Seriously I like spicy food but this was inedible. Upon first taste clearly I should have sent it back. Big mistake that I didn't. I tried to eat it and proceeded to remove at least 75 hot red peppers from this one dish. It actually could have been more. Totally overkill and it killed my meal. It would seem that when I had to ask for rice which didn't come with the meal and sent two full bowls of chile peppers back to kitchen that maybe they'd have a clue something was up. Very disappointed.
(3)Lea L.
I came there about 3/4 times the food is really good and the ambiance is really nice. After tonight, I went on yelp to see the reviews they had. My family from France came to visit me I thought it would be a good place to bring them to. As we asked for the check the manager came and explained us that the gratuity was already included, which wasn't the 2 other time I came. The manager tried to tell me it was because we where more than 4 people which was obviously a lie since I came with 6 other friends once. I was really shocked about how this happened. As a server I think this is just unacceptable. When I tried to tell him he only did it because we where French he wasn't actually able to admit it. As a server I do treat my Americans tables the same way as my Europeans or Asians tables without expecting anything from anyone. I totally disagree on what happened. I use to tell everyone it was a nice place to go to because it is but this just ruined everything and made me really mad. I will avoid this place from now on. I found it really embarrassing and at least the manager should have had the honesty to admit what he did. Plus putting 19% gratuity isn't even a good tip. So it's not helping his server as he tried to explain me. I've been a server for 3 years now and I've never seen or heard about such a thing.
(2)Ambreen D.
A fancier hotspot experience than our usual go to place, Shabu Zen. Overall good food and service, been here a couple of times now. Their Mala broth is highly rated on yelp, hence we tried it. It was ok, nothing special. I would order my usual, tom yum, next time. Their crazy roll is great! And so is their crab rangoon.
(3)Lixin Z.
Boston, I'm in love with you! Wish I'm a little closer... Sis and I were sooo craving for some good hot pot, and major shout out to my friend Fang for picking us up 10pm at the airport and spent about an hour figuring out parking in Chinatown (OMG it was IMPOSSIBLE!!). Q happened to be one of those who close at 1am, so made us feel a lot less guilty at going in at 11:30pm and worrying about people spitting in our food. The interior was a little too cluby (com'on purple light and Arianna Grande, seriously!?), but nice overall. Drink - I ordered a milk tea, wanted it warm cuz I was still recovering from a serious flu. Waiter dude was super hot, but not so hot on the service. Service was quite slow, and milk tea came HOT too. Spilled a little but waiter had a very good attitude, apologized and grabbed me another napkin. Food - Got mushroom base soup. Was flavorful and clean. Everything else was almost what I expected for food, except for the sauce which was WEIRD. I'm talking about real Chinese hot pot sauce, which is not just a giant bowl of soy sauce (?!) plus little plate of other stuff. It was too pretty and too fancy for non-Chinese people. Unfortunately, we don't eat as gracefully as a lot of other cultures, if you want real experience. Additionally, that bamboo shoots soaked in those chemical shit. Big YUK! This is BOSTON, I want FRESH bamboo shoots!! Price was rather fair, and it was the right amount even though they didn't appear so. Unless you have three football players there I guess that'd be a different story. All in all, a very nice experience. Would definitely go again and would recommend people to go, without a car.
(4)Nisht G.
I was excited to find a hot pot restaurant so close to where I was staying in Boston Common because I've always wanted to try it! My mom and I ordered the mala tang and Vietnamese veggie beef broth. Both were rich with aroma and spices. We ordered the ribeye steak combo with an a la cart order of shrimp. The vegetables that come with the combo are great. It would've been nice to have more than one forest mushroom and tofu piece because we both weren't able to try them. Otherwise, the entire experience was awesome. I loved cooking the veggies, meat, and shrimp. The broth was very delicious. Skip the fried ice cream desert. It was stale and probably defrosted (it had a freezer smell). They shouldn't be serving it.
(3)Cathy Z.
I've only been here at odd times (e.g. 5pm) to avoid the long wait times. If you've got a fierce craving for hot pot and this place is packed, you can always walk down the street to AYCE Hot Pot Buffet. That being said, the ambience here is definitely nicer. They give you a platter with 5 different flavorings to doctor up your soy sauce with, which is pretty fun. The service is decent, but we did have to call someone over to dilute the broth. It's also a better deal than AYCE if you don't have a huge appetite. Most items (besides beef and seafood) are $3-8. For example, on my last trip I ordered udon noodles, angus rib eye ($18), shrimp paste, fish tofu, cuttlefish balls, enoki mushroom, seaweed knots, fried gluten balls, watercress, and a tofu platter for about $65, or what dinner would have cost at Hot Pot Buffet. The only things I would not get again were the cuttlefish balls and the tofu platter, since they didn't seem very fresh. Everything else was great quality, and the mala/black bone chicken broths were tasty too. I will keep coming here when I'm starving at off times!
(4)Karen P.
Every time I come here with my family, we leave a few hundred dollars lighter with sadly a semi-full stomach. My family consists of BIG eaters. Anyone that has ever seen us eat always look awestruck. For the amount of $$$ we pay, portions are tiny, requiring us to order over and over again. We only do hot pot and sashimi here. The hot pot is average. Soups are bland. This place does offer good quality beef, I'll give them that. But I still say hot pot at home is better. The variety of hot pot foods here is sorely lacking. Sashimi here is really big and fresh though. The pieces are thick cuts melt in your mouth good.
(3)Jennifer W.
Nicer and more upscale hot pot restaurant. It was a bit stuffy when we first arrived due to the steak from the hot pots which probably meant that their ventilation was lacking - but we got used to it. Portions were fair, place was more expensive than other hot pot places but I guess you pay for a better ambiance. Would return again If I'm looking for a more upscale-feel hot pot experience in the downtown Boston area.
(4)Tammy T.
Oh how much I love this place! I never learn to make reservations ahead of time because I'm always waiting at least 30+minutes! I very much enjoy hotpot here, but sushi on the other hand, not worth it. The prices are ludicrous! They're not anything special. The service is usually okay too, but understandable since they're always packed.
(4)Jessica H.
Holy happy hour!! Not many places have a happy hour on SATURDAY! They offer two half price appetizers per drink ordered. 5-7 and then again 9-close. The cocktail menu is extensive. And they have deep eddy vodkas! (Grapefruit and sweet tea). I really enjoyed the Q-rita which is a jalapeno/mango puree margarita. We got the vegetarian spring rolls, which were delicious. The chicken teriaki was a little dry but the portion is HUGE, and with happy hour prices it was almost a meal. The seaweed salad is wonderful and will get again. The edamame was soggy...and the only real disappointment here. Got the chicken pad thai for dinner and it was delicious! The scallion flat bread smelled amazing, others at my table had it. The adjacent table got a hot pot which looked awesome! Definitely something you would have to have a big group all agreeing to share.
(4)Susan Z.
It sounds like everyone comes here for hot pot but fiance doesn't like hot pot so we ordered off the sushi and entree menu -- still delicious!! Sweet potato tempura appetizer is amazeballs. Think tempura battered sweet potato sticks. I followed that up with a fresh and yummy scorpion roll, good seaweed salad (tastes like the one you get at Costco) and then we shared the Q fried beef. So tender. So fried. So delicious. It did make me wish we had ordered vegetables or at least rice with it because it was so heavy, but it was great. If we're back in the area we'll come in again. Service was also exceptional - friendly waitress and food came out really fast despite it being a full restaurant.
(5)Iman M.
First time hot pot user. Had a great time and wonderful experience. Our wonderful waitress, Dee, was top notch! She gracefully handled our lovely group of 14! Not an easy feat but she was very helpful.
(5)Morton Z.
Came for the hot pot. Absolutely great food. The Mala broth wasn't very spicy though. We asked for more peppers to put in the broth. The less expensive beef slices were just as good as the more expensive ones. We got both and actually thought the cheaper one tasted as good or better. The only thing I would say to watch out for is that they automatically added 18% for our party of 4... I would say that shouldn't be automatic for a relatively small party. That's the only thing I would say takes this place from a 5 to a 4 star review.
(4)Julia O.
Went for shabu last night. Food was delicious and the atmosphere was nice.The service was not so good. The guy was nice enough but quickly fell short. First my boyfriend dropped his cookware onto the floor(see note below). Server saw it and said he'd be back with new ones... Never came back so we shared my cookware. He did check on us a beat after we got all of our food but I was more concerned about the mushroom combo I ordered that had never arrived. We never received water refills and we didn't see him till it was time to ask for the check. If they offer to sit you at the sushi bar don't if you are there for shabu. It felt like we were juggling everything in the limited space.
(4)Lynn S.
Wow!!! Great experience! And Dee was a fantastic server. Our group was large (14) and all from out of town. Dee and her team were phenomenal is getting us seated together and serving us the BEST HOT POTS ever!!! The food was incredible! This is a Must the next time you're in Boston!
(5)Dana H.
Really really great place! Can't wait to come back! Awesome sushi & lots of vegetarian options! Waitstaff were very nice! Highly recommend calling ahead :)
(5)Denise M.
Finally posting my two part review. I know four times and finally we post!! Part 1. The sushi, fabulous. The hot pot...was interesting. I went for the super spicy and got what I asked for, a whole lot of hurt! I'd go again for the hotpot and try another broth, maybe the next level down but my own fault I was warned. The veggies are fresh and the staff are super friendly. It's a great place to grab a drink after work as well with the buy one drink and get two appetizers half price its a great deal but stick with the chicken and steak terriaki its not on the menu but the bartendar recommended it to us and they were good. Fun happy hour place. The bar is small, get there early and stake your claim! The bartender is friendly but make sure he remembers half price appetizers. He made it up to me the next time which is why they get 4 stars. Part 2. I've tried the hot pot twice and it's not my favorite but the don't have 3.5 stars and I've liked the experience, staff and other food selections so 4 stars it is. There's a lot of places in Chinatown to try and I'll keep trying but can't beat the happy hour eats!!
(4)Aakriti T.
Its a fun place to have a meal - we had lunch here on a tourist visit to Boston. Its very close to the Boston public garden/ Commons and is in the China town area. We tried their Mongolian style broths (Mala) and it was fun. The ambience is nice. They have traditional Chinese options too, which were fine. I recommend this place.
(5)John O.
The atmosphere here is like a trendy night club, modern design, music etc. Don't let that fool you, they have delicious food and a reservation is a MUST. Most people come here for the Hotpot and it is the way to go. The Ying-Yang pot (2 different broths) is the best. Get one hot (Crazy Mala) and the other flavorful (Black Bone Chicken) choose your meat and you're off to flavor town!
(4)Sarah S.
My family always gravitates towards eating Asian food, so when we saw that there was a hot pot place near our hotel, we could not say no. The restaurant looked modern and clean and pop music was playing in the background, creating a comfortable atmosphere. We ordered a yin yang bowl with mala and black bone chicken broth, a lamb combo, a beef combo, a seafood combo, and glass noodles. Each combo came with a basket of vegetables as well. The broth was wonderfully flavorful, I didn't even use any of the sauces to dip my meat or vegetables in. The meat was also thinly sliced and pretty much melted in my mouth. I would definitely like to go back again sometime!
(5)Carolyn S.
My favorite spot for hotpot. It's on the fancy side though, and the wait can be long, but waiting at the bar makes the time go by fast!
(5)Geri V.
Came for happy hour.. Each drink u get at the bar u get 2 half off apps.. Not too bad... Food is pretty good.. Prices are okay.. Really big place with great music!!! The sushi was fresh and not that much rich which is a huge plus in my yelp book... We also got the chicken wings.. A lil salty but crispy. The eel avocado roll was on point! It's was rich and creamy!! The thunder roll was huge!! Also very delish with lots of crispy tempura flakes! Oh and that watermelon mint mojito... wOWwwww!!!
(4)Tom M.
Best Chinese Restaurant in Boston. We have gone twice and the hot pots are great Plenty of options and fresh ingredients great sauces Good portions ON STANDARD FARE And I had sesame chicken that was perfect as well as chicken with mango and peppers We ordered sashimi and tuna rolls for appetizer extremely fresh.Wait staff friendly and helpful No reservations but you can call ahead
(5)Nancy K.
Possibly the best hot pot place I have tried in the US. Had the herbal broth along with the famous mala broth. It was the perfect combination. As for the meat, we ordered the lamb and beef. It is slightly pricey compared to other hot pot places but overall was worth it. Couldn't find another hot pot place that had the flavors they had in their broth. Overall great experience!
(5)G U.
Ordered the vegetarian hot pot special and spicy green beans. It was a good amount of food for 2 people but the soup was a litle salty. The service was good and attentive.
(3)Bill J.
Hot Pot or sushi this place is great! Wish it was a better kept secret but if you have not been this is a must try.
(5)Alex S.
By far the best Chinese restaurant I've dined. Came upon it walking by and was not disappointed! Great menu, food was delish, fresh, and large portions. Very reasonably priced!
(4)Shanta S.
Came here a couple months ago for the sushi, but upon entering I was by the amazing aroma of hot pot! So naturally, this was ordered, in addition to the sushi lol. Hot pot: fantastic! Just the basic broth had great flavor. Sushi: not sure if I was full from the hot pot, but I was a bit disappointed. Great presentation though! Service: polite and off-hands. I may have to try the sushi again on an empty stomach for a more accurate review!
(3)Caprice H.
After my last debacle with Q, the owner promptly reached out to me and apologized for the service -- I really appreciated that, so I decided to give it another try. Went there with a couple of my girlfriends and was quickly seated. We ordered shortly after that and the service was fast and efficient. The waiter was attentive and came back to check on us several times. As for the food, it was great overall. The broth was a little salty but other than that, the food was very fresh.
(4)James J.
If there was a perfect Asian dining experience out there, this would come close. In my opinion anyways. Q is located on Washington Street in the heart of Chinatown. I find it is always hit or miss with restaurants in this area. Some are great, others are sketchy and some smell so bad you don't wanna eat there at all. Not at Q. They have a great menu, a wonderful selection. There is Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Mongolian and hotpot. There is also a good selection of sushi. The prices are moderate but you get what you pay for. There is also a good selection of liquor but the beer menu could be expanded. It being Chinatown, your only option would be to find a parking garage and park there and walk over. Or if you are taking the T, it is just down the corner from the Chinatown Orange Line stop and the Bolyston Green Line stop.
(4)Sampad D.
This place is awesome.. The ambiance is nice , the hosts are friendly and the hot pot is awesome. The concept- Order broth, order meat for broth..slow cook the meat in broth and spend some quality time with your friends while enjoying the hot pot. The broth is the key and it was just awesome. I also tried the warm saki and it was awesome ...It was really good with the broth. There is a nearby paid parking..in the same building ..Certainly recommend it ..good for the price !
(4)Dennise A.
(My main reason to yelp about this place is my last part) Every visit here is a great experience. The staff is super friendly and they know the menu well. Only bummer is no reservations and they are always busy. The appetizers are okay. I mean I thought the chili beef tendons were going to hot but... Little did I know they were cold and soaked in chili oil with everything being cold and pickled. Wasn't for my taste buds. The sushi rolls are fresh , tasty and presentations are interesting to look at very neat. Red Sox roll, spider maki, the grilled scallop roll (my mouth is watering) there's so many more that I've tried and I have no negative feed back towards them. Now for The hot pot - great Milanese soup. I personally love a kick so I go for the pickle and or hot (beware it'll hurt ya later). You can pick from your basic veggies to your crazy tasting pickled chicken feet -recommend them to be added to soup but not to be eaten cold as they come. Dessert I have had fried ice cream twice once mango flavored and the second vanilla. It's not your traditional tempura hot fried ice cream but it's very good. Was just how I wanted to end my dinner. Now for parking you can park right next door and have them validate it for $7 dollars. So for my main reason on yelping about this place is the bartender Alyce (hope I spelled it right) she was so friendly, fast with her drink preps and gave my partner and I a great time at the bar with apps and fruity drinks. My favorite and I wish it was on the menu was the Italian ice; your fruity fresh watermelon crushed ice peach flavor drinks! Really wish it was on the menu so that the other bartender didn't look at me with five heads when I asked for a watermelon drink! Everyone that saw me drinking it asked me what it was, felt like a walking promoter for this delicious drink! I would recommend this place . Great prices, friendly staff, parking, great drinks, and delicious hot pot.
(5)Karen L.
Had hotpot here for the first time this weekend. My comparison points are the Hotpot Buffet, also in Chinatown, and several places I went in China. We ordered a la carte, although you can also get a combo--basically, a set selection of meat or fish or veggies, plus the broth to cook it all in and noodles of your choice. As at other places, the broth sits in the middle of the table (we had the basic and the black-bone chicken) and you and your friends crowd around it and throw things in, only to fish them back out and cram them into your greedy maws moments later. As you cook more and more food in the pot, the broth gets richer and ever more tasty, and by the end, it's a delicacy in its own right. Super-fun! Super-communal! Super-dericious! This really is a fun way to eat, if you don't mind the occasional splash of hot broth. (Note that vegetarians and carnivores can eat together, as the broth dish has two separate halves and there are plenty of veggie options.) The selection at Q seems quite broad to me (you can check out their menu online in advance and form your own opinion), and we liked everything we tasted. For the indecisive, there are variety platters of meats, seafood, and veg. The biggest difference between this and its (geographically) nearest competitor, Hot Pot Buffet, is that at HPB, you pay a set price of about $22 per person and can order as much as you want off their menu (although you're not allowed to exceed a 2-hour stay). Other important differences are the ambiance--Q is really sleek on the inside, with high ceilings and a chic dark-wood-and-stainless decor--and the ability to take home leftovers at Q. Everything I eat for the next week is going to taste like that amazing broth, and I am thoroughly delighted about this. Service is comparable at both places, although our server at Q was especially friendly, possibly because he spoke fluent English (our HPB server did not, but was still fast and pleasant). Both places are full of Asian people with occasional non-Asians few and far between (which I take to be a good sign). Although I do really like the hotpot here, I was also here once before and had some pretty good sushi and a taste of a standard Chinese dish that seemed nice--they have a very broad menu that seems worth exploring. I can also attest to the excellent quality of the smoothies here: I've had lychee and watermelon, and I'm pretty sure the contents of both were exclusively frozen fruit--I don't think any sugar was added at all. They're so refreshing and light, especially after a very warming faceful of hotpot. With a similar group of people, we spent $20 per person here (including several drinks, a dish of dumplings, a smoothie, and hotpot for 5) and $25 per person at HPB (including some of the same stuff). It's possible we tasted fewer things due to our decreased interesting in experimenting within the a la carte schema, but honestly, we didn't notice, because--have I mentioned this already?--we were too busy shoving hotpot into our wordholes.
(4)Amanda C.
Had a reservation here on New Years Eve and I got to skip the line and go straight to my table. I had the steamed pot stickers and an avocado roll. The dumplings were great, but the sushi was very tough. The nori didn't want to break apart and I was often left with just a big ribbon of it. My boyfriend had the veggie hotpot. We've never tried one of these and it was a really strange adventure. The soup was very tasteless (probably because it was all veggies!!) and we struggled to finish it. The other thing that annoyed me was our waitress. She was very nice, but she asked us 6 times if everything was okay with our food, and an additional host and hostess came over to ask about our food on 2 occasions. EIGHT times and we were only there for about 45 minutes! Will definitely not be returning here again.
(2)Julie N.
The first time I walked by this place I thought, "It's too fancy - it'll die early." Yeah, that's tough, but I honestly think that if you put Q in the Back Bay it would be an instant sensation. Turns out that if you give them a chance, they'll rock your world. I've only been in twice for sushi and both times have been really wonderful. The spicy tuna roll is actually spicy??? What is that?!?!? Seriously though, every roll is fresh and delicious. Oh and their steamed japanese dumplings were little bites of heaven. Service was great, decor is cool, and prices were right up my alley. Can't wait to get some hot pot!
(4)M B.
Terrible terrible service. The waitresses got absolutely NO CLUE about the menu. Waitress: "Ready to order?" Us: "Can you explain a bit how it works?" Waitress: "You order what you want..." No kidding!! So we get one bowl or two halves? Both. Huh?? And so on... Thanks for internet you can get educated on how it suppose to work. Awesome. Restaurant you need to do homework for. Well - Food was ok, a lot of exotic spices and stuff. But really - I do not know how to cook or what is the "right" cooking time for each piece. That's why I go eat out! Overdone few pieces of meat and also seafood... So the experience is "interesting" at most. But no slim chance I ever go back! Too much work, too much homework, no guidance, and too much mess. Absolutely not the thing if you plan a business meeting or a fun date. Not to mention some of the staff busy chillin at the bar with their buddies instead of paying attention to customers, or the lack of general sense of urgency. Whatever...
(2)Michael D.
Happy Hour is now 4-7pm and 9pm-close, BUT you HAVE to buy an alcoholic drink, and you get two apps per drink you buy. No longer my favorite happy hour, but still good nonetheless.
(3)Ken W.
Service was terrible. Our group arrived at 11:45am to an EMPTY restaurant for lunch. Four out of five of our group were there but the host and manager told us we could NOT be seated until all five of us were there. The restaurant was EMPTY and the majority of us were there. Absolutely ridiculous and unwelcoming policy. I've had the food in the past. The interior decoration is nicer here but food is fresher at other hotpot places in chinatown.
(1)Julie R.
What a cool new place! It's immediate swank leaves it a visual step above the other Chinatown stops. The atmosphere is clean and modern. I came with Sara S. for some sushi. Walking in, you can smell the humidity of the broth in the air. I noticed most tables were taking advantage of the hot pots. The tables all have the built in burners. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. There were no apps listed in it but he pointed out some that were listed at the bar. Full bar by the way, with a creative cocktail list. We got 3 maki's. The rainbow roll was presented beautifully with fresh fish. Same with the dragon, even the simple spicy tuna looked great. Prices are about slightly above average for sushi in the area. The hot pot combos ranged from $13-$20, depending on the meat or fish choice. Then you can add additions a la carte. On my next visit I would try the hot pot. This place would be great for a date, drinks at the bar or even a quick bite alone. If you can't find a parking spot they validate in the Archstone garage for $6.
(4)Guy A.
Service was great, food was amazing and just a great atmosphere!!!
(5)Sara S.
Nice addition to the Chinatown/Theater District scene. If you want delicious sushi, hot pot, and a full bar in a central location, this is your place. Strictly based on sushi, the fish was incredibly fresh and reasonably priced. The spicy tuna roll in particular was delicious - generous portion of tuna combined with tempura flakes and spicy mayo. The Rainbow roll was also beautifully prepared, portioned, and refreshing. Accept credit cards, fluent English speaking staff, super easy to find. If I JUST want sushi, I'll still go to Suishaya. If I JUST want hot pot, I'll go to Kaze. But if I'm feeling indecisive, want a full bar, better atmosphere, and a place to hang with friends, The Q Restaurant is The Place.
(4)Yan Z.
Extremely slow service! Extremely disappointed for the meal with my friends! The food was not fresh, the sashimi was placed over rotten Japanese basil leaf! The manager don't give a shit! The server was staring at us because she gave us bad service! The food order was mistaken! And we were here for a friends birthday! She didn't even brought up the cake!!!!!! Will never come here again! Do not recommend! Not even worth trying! Hotpot buffet, shabu zen, kaze shabu are all way better!
(1)Jack M.
The newest addition to Chinatown, " The Q" classes up the district and is easily the swankiest restaurant in the neighborhood. - A lot of the newer restaurants to the area are working hard to clean up the area's reputation for lack of cleanliness. You'll spot the newer places as you walk around - shiny, new, gleaming metal, fancy lights and spotless tables. I would almost say these newcomers are "americanized" Asian restaurants. Chinatown is mainly hole-in-the-wall type places serving homestyle cuisine. But these new flashy places seem to be catering to the white-collar white-skinned people in town, and it shows. - A gorgeous place - as you walk in "Q" greets you with these 2 glass walls with bubbling water and spooky blue lights. You know immediately this isn't going to be some grungy Chinatown place. As you walk inside - is just so spotless. High ceilings - 2 stories high - lots of dark wood, nice seating areas, a number of booths, sushi bar around the corner. It's the nicest place in the district. - And what to get here - hot pot! They do have some other dishes - sushi, etc - but you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't get the hotpot here. It's the best I've had. - Service is GREAT - we had 2 different people waiting on us. Very attentive and informative without being annoying. The food was the best- check out their presentation (See photos!). They really kick it up a notch. It's just so well done. Fancy. - Food: We got two broths - they'll do that - use a large bowl with a ying-yang thing down the center keeping them seperate. I got lamb, she got beef. Each came with noodles and vegetables. We also got pot stickers. For broths we chose the Mongolian Vegetable and the Spicy Mala. Both are EXCELLENT. I highly recommend the lamb and the Mongolian broth. They also serve you a number of condiments, so you can flavor your own personal dish of soy sauce however you like. The Pot Stickers were great. The hot pot was AMAZING. Just so fresh and flavorful and fun. The waitress warned us about the Mala broth - but neither of us thought it was as face-burning as they lead you to believe. It is spicy, but it has some depth to it. Just very nice on a cold day. - As you'd expect, it's pricier than other places, but for the quality of the food, the quality of service and the ambiance, I have no qualms paying for it. Lunch for both came to under $35. Expensive for Chinatown, not expensive for me! Wonderful place. I am a now a huge fan and will be going back!!!!
(5)Wei L.
Went there for a friend's birthday. Got seated right away, our waiter came to greet in 5 mins, pretty friendly. But took him a while to get every order right, and almost forgot to take order from 1/3 of the group. There was only ONE chef making sushi. Took 50 mins for our order to come. While we were eating, the waiter didn't check on us at all, no water refill either. The food was alright, looked pretty good. Then waited very long for them to get the bills and process credit cards. I would say 3 stars for the food, 2 for the service..
(3)Becca P.
I was expecting better. SERVICE: it was ok, the waiter kept on bringing us stuff that we didn't order and charged us for it on the bill SUSHI: ok, I have definitely had better HOTPOT: didn't really like the broths, the soy sauce didn't taste like soy sauce just tasted like water, small selection of food, seafood platter is a rip off (scallops were not fresh) Overall, I would rather go to Kaze or Shabu-Zen, same price range but better food.
(2)Mk E.
5 for food, 1 for service. The food here has always been great. I love hot pot, and I think ordering a la carte here is a good deal. Unfortunately, I've never eaten here when the service wasn't somewhere on a spectrum from absent to bizarre. The host(ess) will flat out ignore you, even when you're standing mere inches away. Once the host asked if the sushi bar was okay, without informing me that the sushi bar meant no hot pot. (They've since added more portable pots for the sushi bar.) It's quite common for your a la carte ingredients to come ages after the broth, or for the heat to be turned on too low for the broth to get moving. Once we ordered a spicier broth, and several different members of the wait staff expressed concern for our well-being. Okay, I get it--I'm super white. But I also really like spicy food, and once you've seen me enjoying my food, it's probably time to stop tip-toeing around my table like you're worried my face will melt off at any minute. A final warning: just don't go on the weekends. I arrived around 6:30 on a Saturday to find a wait of an hour and forty-five minutes. They won't take reservations on weekends, which mystifies me, so this is likely to happen any time you show up on a weekend night.
(3)Alan Y.
I've been to Q three times; one for drinks and twice for hot-pot. The decor is modern and clean, which is quite different from most Chinatown restaurants. The drinks are very well made; the Mai Tai is very strong. The Hot Pot is also exellent; the broths are very flavorful and the ingredients are fresh. My favorite broth is probably the Mala, although it is very spicy. I also enjoy the Tum Yum broth, which is a bit sour,as well as the Black Bone Chicken broth, as that is very pungent. All of the ingredients are very fresh and service is very smooth and patient, especially with those new to hot pot. The sushi is also very fresh. I have not tried any of their "chinese" dishes. The price is reasonable, if not exactly cheap for a Chinatown meal; plan to spend at least $20 per person for a decent meal. However, I feel that the quality of the food, service, and decor is worth the expense.
(5)Steve L.
This place was fantastic. I have been around the country to all of the various Chinatown's in New York, Los Angeles, San Fran, as well as traveling to China on a few occasions. I have been to the best Hot Pot locations in every Chinatown. Finally, Boston can really brag about having an authentic, clean, fresh, and friendly Chinese hot pot experience. I think some of the other reviewers prefer mounds of food with no taste and mostly expect to pay $2 and be satisfied. If you want fresh food in generous portions with top quality ingredients then Little Q is the place for you! I recommend the Thai Tomyum hotpot broth and Sichuan spicy broth. The lamb was top notch and a side order of prime rib eye beef short ribs nicely sealed the deal. All of the veggies were nice, fresh, crisp, and green. Wait staff was very attentive and helpful and the owner was kind enough to introduce himself and welcome us to their new establishment which is by far the nicest place to eat in Chinatown. I will be coming back with all of my friends and hope to see you guys too ^_^
(5)Val B.
I walked by a few times and today finally decided to go there with my bf. Walking in, it looks great. Blue lit waterfall wall by entering makes it a little exciting and had me say 'oooh!'. Was greeted by a friendly hostess and the waitress was very friendly and comfortable. Then the food. Just like my rating...meh. Scallion pancakes were very crispy but not so scalliony. Spicy tuna maki was meh. Spider maki was below meh but I don't know the word lower than meh but better than yuck...."hmf" maybe? It tasted as if the tuna was made very early in the day and the soft shell crab in the spider maki tasted as if it was fried hours ago and just heated in the microwave. The crunchy battered shell was more soggy than crunchy. Boyfriend had wonton soup which he also thought was 'meh'. Not impressed at all, especially for that price. I'd rather spend a little more at All Seasons Table or Yoki and get actual fresh sushi and better tasting wonton soup than go back here. And those places are actually the same price for the sushi. Had mango smoothie but the mango wasn't ripe, it tasted extremely green. Very odd - boyfriend had Tsingtao beer with a glass. When he was done with the beer he ordered water and the waitress poured the water in the glass he just had beer in. Not a big deal but very odd that she didn't give him another glass. I don't know if they're specialized in hot pot and just threw the sushi on the menu cause there was space left for a sushi bar? Speaking off, there's this yellow/grey flat fish in the fish tank that kept on going belly up, so I think it's dying...but not sure bout that. Either way, it was a disappointing experience and I'm gonna keep on walking by.
(2)Melissa C.
I liked the hot pot. They have a nice variety. They'll do two broths. They have a nice a la carte menu. I threw in rice cakes and a ton of yummy little quail eggs. I have a few issues with the place though. The sushi was being described as "Amazing, super fresh, it's flown in from Japan daily!" Um... now I'm pretty sure that flight is about 11 hours... . I'm sure there is some ground travel involved, too. And when are the food deliveries made? I'm not sure that this sounds crazy fresh to me, it also sounds really wasteful and unnecessary. Next, there is a wasabi vodka drink. This sounds yummy and spicy. It actually tastes like sugar water. The bartender tried to make it again, still tasted like sugar water. How about, just try not to get stuck with the bartender. I generally don't mind the talking, but I do when it means I have to ask you twice for a bowl and that I'm never going to get my water refilled. The bartender was also talking to people about my food while I was eating it. It's just weird to me, hate to be super nit-picky or whatever, but I don't like the bartender talking to the table beside me, and pointing to my food and directing them to look into it and discussing whether it is tasty. I ordered it, I'm eating it without complaint, I like it, I don't want you and the table beside me discussing how meh it is. The bartender also rushed my bill out when I was still eating. I might want to keep ordering, well probably not from this guy with his miserable service, but I was still hungry. I went someplace else for dessert. It wasn't busy, I was still eating, I hadn't asked for the bill, so he should really just wait. Anyway, I might want to go back for the food, but I'd walk out if I got that bartender again.
(3)Doris W.
I came here with my family on Columbus Day. I was excited about being able to eat shabu and sushi at the same time. I've been to their restaurant when they were originally in Quincy but haven't been to their new spot in Arlington yet. We got there a little after 7:30pm and we waited for almost 45 minutes for a table for 5. The wait stunk but it gave time for my sisters to find parking. When we were seated, we were placed in the back corner booth. It was an interesting set up because we were facing another group across from us. Slightly uncomfortable, but if you don't mind staring at people then you're good. Our waiter was an adorable kid and he tried his best to charm us while we placed our orders. He apologized for the wait, which was ok. Our booth had 2 burners which was nice. Although the placement of the switches were slightly inconvenient. My sister and dad had to shift over so they can turn them on. The menu is filled with shabu options, sushi, and main entrees. A good selection. The shabu is on the more pricier side. We ordered the kimchi broth which was not as flavorful. It came with a side of kimchi that was sour. The regular broth was okay. We ordered the surf and turf, lamb, short rib, and chicken shabu, salmon and yellowtail sushi, spicy salmon maki, and a dragon lotus cocktail for myself. The meats were good and the veggies were were decent. We got the typical dipping sauces with the addition of chili sauce. The salmon sushi was great while the yellowtail was not good. Avoid the yellowtail (unless it was just bad that day). The cocktail I got was very good but large. I couldn't even finish it so I had to chug it behind my dad's back when we left. Definitely got a good buzz later that night! :) The waiter came back to apologize once again about the wait and slow service (I didn't think it was that bad) and noted that they were understaffed. If you're a new restaurant and understaffed, then I hope they get their act together because they're competing with 2 other shabu restaurants around the corner. Despite the prices and kinks, I would go back but not any time soon.
(3)Suzie A.
We stumbled upon this restaurant and what a great find it is! The aroma of the hot pots when we first walked in had us hooked! The food was incredible-we shared a hot pot full of fresh ingredients in a Satay broth that was to die for. The sushi was flavorful and presented beautifully. The full bar was also a plus with great drinks, which we enjoyed while we waited for our table. The decor and atmosphere was great, our service was attentive and welcoming, and the entire bill for 4 people was shockingly lower than we anticipated! The icing on the cake was the singing manager who belted out "Happy Birthday" in a soulful voice-dinner and a show! We will absolutely be going to Q Restaurant again in the near future!
(5)Ling D.
I had really high hopes for this place. It was highly recommended by a friend however, my experience is less than stellar. First, I was told to wait for 20 mins for a table so we sat at the bar and ordered a beer and a Q-sicile. As soon as our drinks came, the hostesses came over to tell us our table is ready and for us to settle our tab before going with them. While I am pleased with the wait being 5 mins instead of 20, I am confused as to why I my tab couldn't be carried over. But that doesn't account for the negative review. The beer on draft was nice and cold, however, the Q-sicle was sickly sweet and tasted of syrup with a splash of flat orange soda. I was only able to drink half of it. **I can only comment on the hotpot since that was the sole purpose of us going to this restaurant. We LOVE hotpot. We make it at home and we love to go to places to eat hotpot. We ordered the yin yang hotpot with ma la and the basic broths as our two broths. Then we ordered the beef and lamb platter and the supreme seafood. The beef and lamb was okay. The supreme seafood was a rip off. $16 for two pieces of shrimp, two tiny pieces of salmon (not fresh), two pieces of half cut scallops (not fresh), two tiny cut up pieces of previously frozen fish filets (not fresh), two clams, two tiny pieces of calamari, along with two pieces of fish tofu and fish cake that has been sliced thinly. While I have no qualms about paying money for good food, this place was a rip off both in quantity and quality. The broths were kinda tasteless with the basic broth actually having more flavor than the ma la which is extremely surprising! We decided rather than dismissing the place with just the initial platters, we were going to order more from the a-la-carte menu. However, after trying to wave down a wait staff (ANY wait staff) for 15 mins, we gave up. We didn't even see our waiter for 30 mins of our meal, even though we were actively looking for any wait staff to give us the time of day for water, additional drinks, additional food, etc. I felt like a mad woman waving my arms frantically trying to get anyone's attention. What annoyed me most was that the place wasn't even busy and had ample wait staff and I can see them speaking among themselves with their backs turned away from the customers. I was finally able to wave down a bus boy and he had to track down our waiter to get our check. After we got our check, once again, I had to wave down a wait staff for a good 10-15 mins for them to take my credit card. Bottom line, the food was overpriced and mediocre which I could have dealt with but the frustrating and inattentive wait staff was completely unacceptable. From now on, I will only go to Shabu Zen for hot pot.
(1)Stacy W.
Okay, I admit, I have weird food allergies (cinnamon and seaweed). And I also completely understand that a restaurant shouldn't have to cater to difficult requests to accommodate them. But this place, the attItude, APPALLING. At dinner with a friend, I ordered 3 sushi rolls, and asked that they be wrapped in soy paper, or anything other than seaweed, because I have an allergy. The snooty waiter says "no." So I asked if that meant they didn't carry an alternative, his response "we do, but the chef is too busy for substitutions." Long story short, I asked for the manager who claimed it was company policy not to make substitutions or change recipes. Soy paper for seaweed is NOT more time consuming NOR is it altering the recipe. Never in my life have I been to a place where the chef has said that they simply are "too busy" (at 830 on a Tuesday) to accommodate a VERY simple request because of a food allergy. I eat sushi all the time, and while it is an up charge, No one has ever said "we don't care to accommodate you." Needless to say, I won't even consider this elitist place again after that service. And to the snobby waiter, your attitude only made the situation worse. UPDATE: In response to the manager's comments below -- yes he is right, they DID accommodate me (after many hoops), and the food as good. However, my objection is not with the food, it is with the attitude of this restaurant. We live in a world where many people (that manager included) have food allergies, and restaurants that don't cater to those people will always lose business. If my friend and I had known this was their policy before we dined there (which we didn't, because it's not stated ANYWHERE), we wouldn't have ever gone there. It wasn't made clear to me by anyone other than a rude waiter who made me feel like I had to eat something I didn't want, or come to that restaurant for because their chef couldn't take 3 seconds to reach for another ingredient to wrap my sushi in. The two stars I gave this restaurant is for it's terrible policy. While I do sincerely appreciate that this manager did go out of his way to and make sure I could order, the experience was a nightmare. The waiter was rude. The chef was rude. And the policy is just wrong.
(2)Gabe C.
Q Restaurant is the latest addition to Chinatown, coming in to give a much needed boost to the coolness of the neighborhood dining scene. We went during the grand opening weekend and the staff reminded us several times that they were still ironing out the kinks (e.g. beef tendon was written as "beef tenderloin" on the menu). We had to wait about 15 minutes for our table, but we didn't mind hanging out in the lounge area by the entrance and ordering a cocktail off of their drink list. When we got seated we decided to try a maki from their sushi kitchen. The spicy tuna roll was pretty good, although there are much better options for sushi if that's all you're after. The hot pot selection was a little limited on the meat side (if would have been nice to have had a few more cuts of beef and some of the more exotic proteins like fish balls), but there were plenty of veggies to choose from. The broths we got, black chicken and mala were great. We asked for the mala extra spicy but it still didn't have the over-the-top heat I was craving. Overall, this is easily one of your best choices for hot pot in Boston. If you really value atmosphere and friendly service, this is your spot.
(4)Sara G.
I stopped here for lunch yesterday in order to fortify myself before going into the RMV. Looking over the menu, I could have jumped for joy - there it was - Shanghai-style wonton soup. When I was many years younger than I am today, we took a Chinese business client of my father's to a restaurant in NYC's Chinatown, where we were served a giant bowl of Shanghai-style wonton soup. I ate more wontons than anyone imagined a small girl could consume - they may have been the best thing I'd ever eaten. The restaurant in NY has long since changed hands, and I continue to dream of those flavorful delicate wontons. Now I have found it! The wonton soup at Q restaurant is so delicious. The wontons themselves are filled with an exquisitely seasoned mix of pork and shrimp, the noodle-y outside soft but holding together the filling securely. The portion is huge - the "appetizer" (12 wontons!) made a hearty lunch yesterday and a lovely dinner again today. The broth was light but salty enough, with a handful of spinach added for good measure. The waitress was attentive and informative. She told me that one of the restaurant's specialties is hot pot, and I look forward to returning to try it. This place was so good it made me not mind that I got denied not once but twice at the RMV! That means I can go back to Q restaurant, which will make it a good day.
(5)Jeffrey L.
Oh lord not another "Ma La" hot pot place, the food can be good but the broth which is the most important part is NOT. Its the typical mandarin hot and spicy broth that is over powering. Interior gets all the stars here but other than that I would choose SZ any day.
(2)Sean M.
3.923 stars At the edge of Chinatown; Lounge, Hot Pot and Sushi makes a nice combination eatery. It's a beautiful room and bar, sitting in the cozy booths slurping noodles to hip music, is quite chillaxing. Any of these elements on their own would not be as impressive. It isn't quite a lounge, the hot pot is better at nearby places, and cheaper and the sushi is just passable. Together the pieces fit if you don't mind paying premium. The hostess station does seem to be perpetually unmanned but the servers are helpful, attentive. * Nice place to start the night after work. * Nearest parking is at the lot further up on Washington St. * A tad expensive on all counts.
(4)Don E.
We had no clue what to expect and out waiter was more than helpful to make us fit right in. This is a great family and friends dinning experience.
(5)Kitty M.
This place was great...super crowded so we sat at the bar. Ordered steak and chicken with broth bowl...yum! all great food..very clean food.you control the sauce so it is great for people with food allergies.. I am watching my weight and all the thin cut meats and veggies kept the pounds under control even though I ate alot! Tried the mushroom broth and it was good. Wait staff were helpful..no one rushed us out. Bill was very reasonable for the food, service and atmosphere..
(4)Geoff A.
Great place for a social dinner. Ambience: Clean, trendy and busy. Nice touch with the tablet computers at the entrance which you can use to kill time while waiting for a table. We got there at 10pm on a Saturday and we still had to wait 15 mins to be seated. Some would complain about this but I look at it as a good sign. Service: friendly and fast. The waiter was a little bit of a novice, but the greeters and manager set us straight on what would be best to order - and was right on. Food: Excellent. We had a hotpot shared amongst 4 people. 2.5 orders of udon, one veggie and one mixed meats was enough for us. For those who aren't familiar with the concept you get divided bowl of boiling stock (plenty of choices of flavors) and cook the meats/veggies/noodles yourself as you want. You can order more as you need and it comes almost immediately. The flavors are terrific and you can't complain about the way it's prepared as you are the one doing it. Oh, and the Asian Sangria was very nice. Price: Perhaps just on the high side for some but I considered it excellent for what we got. In short - I'd recommend this place to everyone if they're in the area.
(4)Eric F.
Nice atmosphere with the owners going for a more modern Asian vibe and the staff is friendly and efficient. Tried the salmon & avocado maki and negihama and both were a little above average. Close to being worth the price, but not quite there. The specialty rolls are still on the pricey side just like every other sushi place in Boston. I'd consider coming back here again, but probably only if there was an occasion for it.
(3)Alex G.
Great Asian cuisine. Everything from sushi to dim sum. I had the pad Thai with shrimp and chicken and tried my friends sushi and general gows chicken. It was all very good. I just wish that the bartender made the Mai tai a bit quicker. I sat there for ten minutes waiting for my drink at the bar.
(4)Katie W.
Loved it! We came here with 8 of my co-workers. They put us in a big booth with four hot plates so we had lots of options to work with. We ordered 4 broths: the mela (my fav), black bone chicken, mushroom, and mongolian veggie. I tried them all but the mela was by far the best flavor wise. Had great spices and just the right amount of kick. The portions were large and loved the a la carte options: rice cakes were amazing and loved the mushroom plate. Overall great for big groups and a major plus takes reservations. Staff was very helpfull and very attentive!
(4)christine c.
I've been here for take out during lunch time. They have some wonderful prices for lunch options and they're pretty quick. The hostess is super friendly and called me by my friend name like we were BFFs forever. I've had the Pad Thai (don't ask me why) and it was not that good. Very bland. HUGE portion, but boring. But my sushi experience totally made up for it... I got the spicy tuna roll and it was divine. For $4, I got 6 very large pieces of the spicy tuna roll with all the fixings. Honestly, it was like a meal in itself. Get 2 if you're hungry or share with a friend. Phenomenal prices! You can't get a regular tuna maki roll for that price anywhere. Very cute decor inside, too. I'm sure I'll be back for plenty more take out. Just skip the noodles.
(3)Erin C.
The hot pot here is pricey, but the broths are delicious. Try the black bone chicken broth if you don't like spicy or the mala broth if you do like spicy. Those are the best ones! The other hot pot stuff --meats and veggies-- are probably pretty similar to what's offered at other hot pot places. Also, the spicy wontons appetizer are incredible (this is coming from a Chinese person who loves spicy szechuan food). I haven't tried anything else at this restaurant, but I would never order sushi or other asian foods (like pad thai) at a Chinese restaurant. I'm not surprised if people didn't like their non-Chinese entrees but I think it's common sense to not order French food at an Italian restaurant, for example...same goes for Chinese restaurants. A lot of people also complained about the service. I don't think this is really a big deal. Just be sure to ask for dipping sauces, soy sauce, and extra broth when you want it! Our waitress was happy to provide all those things promptly...In general, you just have to be a little more proactive at Chinese restaurants. Additional tip: if you are coming with a big group (ie 6+ people), call half an hour ahead and get your name put down on the list. We did that on a busy Saturday night and didn't have to wait at all!
(4)Good M.
As a lifetime patron of chinatown and it's restaurants, I knew I wasn't going to be impressed with Little Q. Took friends from out of state here for hot pot, decor was nice and staff was informative. Food was unimpressive and [not surprisingly] overpriced (paid $19 for 3 shrimp, 3 squid and 3 pieces of tiny unfresh fish). Smoothies and drinks like thai iced tea isn't made with authentic ingredients. Definitely a tourist trap, wouldn't come back for any other occasion.
(2)Brian S.
Dropped in with a friend during one of their soft opening nights. The staff was still working out a lot of the kinks, but I was still very impressed. Let's start with the menu. The place is mainly for Chinese hot pot (Shabu) and sushi. While I didn't have any of the sushi, I was admiring it from afar and might have been caught staring from the table next to me. Oops, sorry! If you've had hot pot before, it's generally what you would expect if you order a combo. My meat was very good and the scallops were amazing. Vegetable platter was lacking a little in variety, but still very full and definitely fresh. I'm used to getting some tomatoes or tarro or corn in there, which was all missing. Overall very flavorful though. Now, I mentioned the staff was still working out their kinks, so they didn't quite know everything. However, those details were completely dwarfed by their honesty, sincerity, and overall dedication to getting it right and taking care of the customer. They were very focused on getting it right, or making it right. Awesome recommendations from the server, great introduction to the owner, and attentive yet not pushy from runners and bussers. One of the more refreshing experiences in a restaurant for me. I also like the atmosphere. Glad to see a hotpot location such as this one with the setup it has. Some pretty stellar drinks, but I thought they were on the more expensive side. Alcohol content probably made up the difference for it. Definitely coming back.
(4)Katie V.
Had lunch here today...was on my way to Pho Pasteur, but was intrigued by Q and decided to give it a shot. The manager was very friendly and seated me at the empty sushi bar. The pricing of the lunch specials is a little bizarre. You can get $4 spicy tuna and spicy salmon rolls, but then for the $9.95 2-roll combo, mysteriously, you can't, even though it's $2 more. Let me try to explain: There are 2 columns. Column A: spicy tuna, spicy salmon, salmon avocado, california roll. Column B: tuna, salmon, avocado, cucumber rolls. For the $9.95 special, you have to pick one roll from each column, i.e. you can't get two spicy rolls, or a salmon avo and a spicy tuna (which is what I wanted). Also, I assumed miso soup came with the combos. I've never had a lunchtime sushi combo that didn't come with miso soup. Come on, people, it costs like 30 cents a bowl. I ended up getting a combo that came with a spicy tuna roll and 4 pieces of sushi: tuna, salmon, whitefish, and octopus. It cost $11.95. No miso soup :( I also found the decor a bit sterile. Clean and modern, I guess, but a little bland. The place was pretty dead, but perhaps it's more jumpin' at night when the sake is flowing. Everything tasted fine/fresh, and it's conveniently located for me, so I'll probably be back....but not for the sushi. Sounds like the hot pots are where it's at.
(3)trista h.
My all time favorite restaurant! I am a huge hot pot and sushi fan. This place hits the spot in both places for me. And one of the only restaurants that I would rather return to then spend the time digging up another good place to eat. The waiter and bartenders we dealt with we're both extremely professional and point on but just plain nice as well. The more expensive maki rolls are totally worth it and I wish for the life of me I could remember the name but just ask your waiter they already know the favorites and that's how we discovered what to get as well. Oh and the last and best part was I got extremely sick one week with a sinus infection, having remembered the hottest dish I had the courage to order I looked it up on the menu online and picked it up, it's a mala dish with red chili peppers and flounder I can't remember the exact name but there isn't anything like it so you can mistake it. That dish totally cleared out my sinuses and was able to breath for the first time in days and I really believe a huge factor in the recovery of my illness lol thanks Q restaurant! :)
(5)Julie T.
So I've been planning to go to Little Q since it first opened. My first experience with Little Q was in Quincy and I loved it so my expectations were a bit high to begin with. Let's break things down to categories: DECOR: Oh, they definitely did good in this category. A+, hands down. Very chic and hip. There could be a better waiting area but whatever. SERVICE: The hostesses were very nice and professional. There was one who was more noobish but very sweet while the other one was more of a cutthroat but knew what she was doing. They balanced each other out. My waitress was a nice lady as well, but she was a little slow on grabbing our order and didn't really check up on us often. But I think she was like a part-waitress part-bartender so I cut her some slack. FOOD: I honestly love love love the food here. Everything they brought out to us was very fresh which is something I always look for when it comes to hot pot. The broth I had (Herbal) was very rich and tasty. I guzzled that shit, seriously. My only complaint was the quantity. Yeah, I know it's all about quality not quantity, but quite frankly, it's going to take more than a tiny ass basket of veggies and a small plate of meat to fill me up. PRICE: Fellow Yelpers, this is definitely one of those "special occasion" places. For a broke college student like myself, this is a damn luxury! I guess it's worth it for the quality but for the amount of food they give you, the prices are ridonkulous. And finally, my piece of advice: If you plan to go here for dinner, especially on a Friday night, make reservations!!! I literally waited an hour and a half for a table. Seriously, play it safe, give them a call like an hour beforehand to see if they have open tables. Overall, I would return!
(3)Iv L.
Overly priced hot pot in the middle of of Boston. What do you expect? Very busy at night, so call head to make reservation or expect long wait. You order your food and they bring it to your table and you cook it in the soup of your flavor. the sushi here is descent too, so good to try out while you wait for your food to come. there is validated parking in the parking lot next door.
(3)Sara S.
The service at this restaurant is really bad. I came in on a Monday night without a reservation, put my name down and they said it was going to be a 20 min wait. 40 mins later (while I sat at the bar waiting) I checked back up and asked if they had an open table yet. They looked at me surprised and said, "oh yeah" and I was seated right then and there. It seemed as though they had forgotten. As soon as we sat (I had a party of 3) it took three different attempts to get water for everyone at the table. They were very busy which I can understand, so we waited patiently. However she only brought us one water at first and we had to follow up to get the other two. We didn't get silverware or even chop sticks or spoons until we asked 20 mins into the meal and the same thing happened (we got 2 silverware sets and then had to ask for another). We asked for water refills and the waitress came back and only refilled ONE of our glasses while the other two were left completely empty. We waited forever and ever on getting our bill. I guess my point is that the waitress was completely spaced out, inefficient and not friendly. I understand when a restaurant is busy and I don't mind waiting but when service does come I expect it to be good. She was unapologetic about her mistakes and seemed dis-genuine and distracted. It's too bad because the food was pretty good. But there are many hot pot restaurants in Chinatown, and I know I will not be going to this one again.
(1)Jessica P.
This is just for the sushi and not the hot pot. Immediately gets a star for convenience and proximity. Was so excited when I saw that this place was coming in. This place is packed all the time it seems so we tried to call to make a reservation, turns out they haven't updated their message system because it was someone saying when they were expected to open? Umm pretty sure you're a couple steps behind. So we just risked and walked over. And it was packed, 45 min wait which isn't too bad but there is no where to stand, very small bar and we were staaarving. They offered us a seat at the sushi bar and we jumped on it. I've never eaten at the sushi bar but it fun to watch them make all the rolls and sashimi and there were only 3 of us so we didn't seem like anyone was left or that we were missing parts of the convo from sitting in a row. Downside was we were kinda looking forward to trying the hot pot thats located at each regular table but its not offered at the sushi bar :( so that'll have to wait til next time. Service was attentive and not too pushy. Drinks were eh, nothing special and took on the longer side but nothing to hold against them. Rolls were well made, prompt and pretty good. If you're just looking for quick sushi with a couple friends and don't feel like waiting, check out the sushi bar and avoid the crowded wait. FYI Q Restaurant: fix your phone!
(4)Aboud Y.
Solid little place that has alot going for it...including a cool name: "Yo I'm heading to Q." Catchy! Ambiance was nice: modern, yet comfortable. Service was outstanding...our waiter was incredibly nice. And now the food: + Awesome menu incl. extensive selection of drinks (beer, liquor, cocktails, sake, fresh fruit smoothies and Thai iced tea). Everyone will have the drink they want...all smiles. + Sushi...good but pretty run of the mill. I would not come here just for the sushi (there are better options) but its not bad and its very affordable ($4 rolls) + Apps/Sides: we had Pad Thai and Won Tons. Both were delicious (particularly the won tons) + Hot Pots. I must admit, I'm not crazy about the whole Hot Pot concept but we really enjoyed these. The Seafood and Mela broths were delicious, and they had a good selection of meats, noodles, and vegetables. Pretty affordable too. I definitely recommend and will be back.
(3)Amy Z.
Ate at Q yesterday with my husband and 16 y/o son. First but definitely not our last visit. the Mongolian Hot Pot was terrific and our waitress very kindly guided us through the ordering process. The meal was fantastic, the staff attentive and polite, the restaurant was very clean and comfortable. Will be back again and again.
(5)Jasmine M.
I absolutely love this place. Sushi AND hot pot, my two loves combined in one chic location on the edge of a not so chic Chinatown. It is very fancy, definitely a place for celebration, in my opinion. The service was wonderful, our waitress was very patient and polite, as was the manager/boss(?). She checked up on us frequently, and was extremely helpful. They accidently sent us an appetizer that we didn't order, and gave it to us for free. The price made me freak out a little, but it was a special occasion so it was okay. As for the food, everything was very fresh. The base portions (rice, noodles, etc) for hot pot could have been slightly larger, but all in all, it was very good.
(4)Anthony A.
Wanting to try something new and get an asian fusion fix.. we decided to try Q. I walk by it all the time and looks intriguing from the outside so I poked my head in to check out the menu....boom, and there she was the "Mongolian Hot Pot". Went later that night with a friend and that exactly what we got. The place is large, pretyy loud, young crowd- appeared to be mostly college kids. We got a spicy tuna roll and a mongolain hot pot. The Hot Pot is there specialty, and I would definitely recommend. You chose a broth, or two, veggies, meats, noodles, rice, etc. They bring the pot out, set it on a hto surface built in to the table, and you toss your food in to cook it as you are ready to eat. The meats are sliced real thin, so they only take aprx 20 seconds to cook. It was delicious, and a cool new experience, for me atleast. Service was great to boot. I went on a Wednesday night around 8 pm, and there was not a wait. I'd go back, and would recommend it.
(4)Thuy L.
Here for drinks. Beautiful atmosphere, Great services and will try the hotpot next time!
(5)Howe L.
For a hotpot place, the sushi is surprisingly good. The hotpot broth was also one of the better ones I've had in Boston, but the offerings was nothing too special nor different that stands out. Equally surprising was the level of service, esp for a Chinese restaurant.
(3)Taja R.
I love this place! I went here for my birthday a couple of weeks ago. The host staff was friendly, which is always a good sign. We didn't have to wait long, granted it was a Monday night, so it wasn't that busy, but it still had a steady flow of business. We waited 10 minutes for a table, and were seated near the bar by the window. The table setting was pretty cool. It had a heated center for hot pot. The decor was even better. Very stylish but calming. The tables were a bit close together in my opinion, but it made it more intimate and cozy. The tables were a bit on the wider side to accommodate for the food portions (as I would later learn). My boyfriend and I ended up sitting on the cushioned bench side together, and there was enough room to fit us, which was great, because I didn't want to have to reach across the table to pass things. The server/bartender (I think his name is John) was very friendly and gave us great tips on which sake to try. We chose one that paired well with the food we had. I was surprised at the menu offerings. They were inexpensive, but extensive ranging from Chinese to Japanese fare. The portions were pretty large and looked just as good as they tasted. The broth for the hot pot was flavorful and had a medley of veggies and herbs, some of which I found myself trying for the first time. It added more color and enhanced the taste and experience. So far, it's the best hot pot I've ever had, hands down! The service, decor, the food (and of course great company) made for a perfect evening. I will definitely return.
(4)Cami F.
This is a great place to go with a small group of friends. Its a hot pot restaurant, where you order hot, flavored broth, to cook you food in at the table! Very fun and definitely an experience. The drinks were also pretty tasty. The only downside is we all smelled like the broth for the rest of the night... not so cute.
(3)Michael K.
I never take the time to review the places I like or dislike. But I just had to share my story here. I loved this place. Been going there for almost two years. But since they changed management the service qulity simply dropped. This all asian hot-pot restaurant changed their management to african-american and white american and since then the experience became below poor. The time before last that I went there - they told us that there will be a 60 minute wait for a table. We asked to put our names on the list, and went for a short walk. About 30 minutes later we came back and the new Africa-American manager told us that we missed our turn... When we argued him that we returned within the time frame they gave us he mumbled and said he will see what he can do. Several minutes later he says that there is a table at the sushi bar... Once again we argued him that we were told we will get a table not a seat at the bar... He replied back that the next availabe table will be in two hours, so we can take it or leave it. When the owner came by and we told him what was going on and that we were coming to this place frequenly for over a year - the African-American manager started saying "oh, I didn't know that you were 'regulars'..."... what kind of a reply is that? does that changes anything in your attitude towards customers??? So we stopped eating there for about 6 months. Last week we chose to give this place another shot because we used to really love this place. Once again we walked in, and were told that it will be a 45 minute wait. Once again we wrote our name onthe waiting list, and askef for a table for 3. As we were going to step outside to enjoy fresh air, and African-American manager told us to come back within 20 minutes "because the wait might be shorter" and he does not want us to lose our spot in the line. So we stepped out, and came back wthin 5 minutes and found a spot at the bar. We told that manager that we are at the bar waiting for our table. We ended up waiting for over an hour. During this hour the manager approached us 3 times asking: 1. are we waiting for a table? 2. what is our name? 3. how many people? and each time we told him that we are on the list - he could not find our name (although we saw our name on the top of the paper...), and each time he added us to the button of the list while stating that he "knows when we came in"... After waiting for over an hour - and seeing how everyone who came in after us was already seated - we found the manager and told him about it, all he had to say was "sorry to hear that". This place used to wonderful and amazing! But since they changed management this place just does not know how to provide quality service anymore! Leave the Asian restaurants to Asians, why change management to Americans and African-Americans?
(1)Russel T.
I ordered take out on a recommendation from a friend and experienced bad customer service. We ordered a few dishes that were ok, but the pad thai had something wrong with it. It was a ball of congealed noodles with no sauce. We all tried it and agreed that they must have forgotten sauce. We called and they said bring it back...which is strange. When we got there they took the dish and said they were going to re-stirfty it and add sauce. When they brought the dish back it was not touched at all except for the fact that the noodles were now submerged in about an inch of brown watery sauce. It was gross. Any restaurant with any customer service experience should have just apologized and made a new one. We asked for a refund which took about 15 minutes.
(1)Ashley C.
GREAT spot for hot pot and sushi! Found this on YELP while searching for sushi places around the Downtown Crossing area, and decided to give it a try. We were all set for sushi, until our server Wendy really talked up the hot pot - so we compromised and got both. The rolls - salmon skin and tuna w/ cucumber and avocado - were delish and so fresh; and the hot pot was absolutely fantastic. So many choices that you can't go wrong; and the a la carte options are extensive and allow for any combination. Wendy was super helpful in explaining everything to us, and was super attention throughout the entire meal. And totally affordable for the amount of food (rolls + hot pot combination + seafood a la carte - $44) - super value. We will definitely be back!!
(4)caley t.
This was my first hot pot place, and it was definitely the right choice. We came for my boyfriend's birthday and they were able to seat us very quickly, especially considering how full they were, even though we had a large party of about 10. However, they don't take reservations, and they are usually really packed, so be prepared to wait a little bit. They have iPads for you to play games on while you wait, though- how awesome is that?? The waiter was very helpful and explained everything since we hadn't been before. We ordered hot pot with two broths in each pot (the pot is split down the middle), with super spicy on one side and regular on the other. The hot pot comes out really quickly (it was within 5 minutes of ordering) and the food to cook in it comes right after. There are a variety of hotpots you can order, like surf n turf, seafood combination, beef, pork, chicken, veg, etc. You can also order items al a carte. I do not eat beef but the people I was with ordered Kobe beef and really enjoyed it. I have had the supreme seafood combination and think it is great- you get something like 3 scallops, two slices of salmon, two slices of flounder, 4 pieces of squid, 2 pieces of tofu, 2 muscles, 2 clams, and crab stick, for 16 dollars. All of the combos come with your choice of rice or a variety of noodles. They also all come with a basket of veggies that includes bok choy, leek, corn, mushroom, and a few other things. They also offer a menu of various chinese items and there is a sushi bar. My friend enjoyed the sushi roll he ordered, and I tried the shanghai chowmein with seafood (9$) and loved it. I have also tried the avocado salad and it is DELICIOUS. The drinks are great as well- my favorite is the dragon lotus. It is super sweet, but stronger than you will realize!
(5)Robert D.
The feature here is the mongolian hot pot. I'd be telling a lie if I told you otherwise. The hot pot features several tasty broths to choose from. Basic is a beef broth which is just right, we also tried the spicy broth (medium spicy which proved to make my head sweat), and the mushroom broth which can be a full vegetarian choice. You are served baskets of vegetables, a skimpy bowl of noodles, and a plate of meat as your basic options. We found the sirloin to be awesome, However, I'd also tell a lie if I make you believe the restaurant is all about the hot pot. Appetizer fare has many common items, edamame, pot stickers, a sashimi plate, etc... but the standout was a spicy seafood salad featuring crisp julienned veggies with enough bits of fish and dressing to make a yummy start. And it's actually spicy! I can't speak to other entrées or their sushi fare .... the hot pot was all we had. We did finish by sharing a few bowls of mango and pineapple ice cream, and one ordered a more traditional chocolate cake. The quality of the food, the accommodation of a group of 7, and the fact that my family had a blast (10 & 12 yr old with one particularly picky eater really stretching his palette thanks to the novelty) will bring me back to this restaurant again.
(5)Wen Y.
Just so so.
(3)Bethany B.
What a fun concept! I had never heard of a "hot pot" (apparently I live under a rock and it's a fairly common thing) but it's a great interactive dining experience. A group of my girlfriends went here and really enjoyed it. The cocktails and sushi were just ok, but the hot pot boosted this spot up to three stars. Great place to go with a group of friends before a night out. Beware: the broth can get realllly hot when there's only a little bit left so don't burn your tongue like I did!
(3)Alan Q.
if you want an upscale restaurant and love hot pot this is the place to go!
(5)Benny D.
The Q is a very delicious restaurant. Price is fair. I sat in the bar last time and the appetizer was half off after 9pm.
(4)Eli E.
Not sure why the Chinatown Little Q got such bad reviews. I would understand if these reviews were for the Arlington location which was horrible. Decor - loved it. As someone said, very chic. Plus .5 Wait - It was a long wait, but we sat at the bar and I had a drink. No biggie, but minus .5. Staff - I found it to be standard Chinatown service. Having been a lifetime patron of chinatown as well, found this to be a neutral point. Food - Plus 1.5 My veggie broth was tasty. My other half had a Spicy broth, that was also good. The basic and Tom Yums weren't as good. Dipping sauce was flavorful and not just soy sauce. I liked how this was different from the other shabu places. Don't get the Avocado shake here, go to DK for that. Portions seemed slightly less than some other places. Minus 1. Price - More expensive than other places for their portions. Minus 1. Overall - good experience, will come back if wait isn't long.
(4)Megan P.
My friend and I were on a mission to explore a new place in Chinatown and get some yummy sushi and we accomplished this last night at The Q Restaurant! I was very impressed by the fun, trendy decor (who doesn't love bright blue bubbles?!) and even more impressed by the Sushi! We ordered the following makis: spicy tuna, spicy salmon, Alaskan and Crazy and ate every last bite! Luckily, our waiter forgot to bring us the Hot Pot we ordered, because we were so full after devouring all the delicious sushi! That being said, the waiter was nice but seemed a little awkward . This only added to our experience and we were giggling our heads off, but if you were on a first date or something it could have been weird. He did however comp our Green Tea ice cream dessert (that was shaped like a duck or swan or something!) 4 strong stars for now, and I'll definitely go back to try that HotPot, they looked incredible!
(4)Steve S.
This is an interesting place. Their identity is a little all over the place offering Chinese, Japanese, and Mongolian food. The comment was made that the menu had a sort of Cheese Cake Factory feel to it. (minus all the advertisements). Came here with 3 friends. We ordered green tea to start. Normally in Chinatown, you get a pot of tea with tea cups. Here we had large glasses that came with individual team bags. The water was not even hot. Very odd set up. Ordered edamame, crab ragoon, and a scallion pancake that was recommended by the server. The pancake was ok, the crab ragoon is what it always is, and the edamame was a bit bland, but easily fixed with some salt. Now for the good stuff. I had been the only one of the group who had had Mongolian hot pot before. We ordered the spicy broth, and a miso broth. Then a mix of meats, fish, and chicken. I also made sure that we ordered a side of Pad thai from a Yelp review I had read. The Pad thai was awesome. 5 star. The reason for the 3 stars however was simple. While the server was very nice, the service was just bizarre. And by bizarre, I mean messed up. So they come out with the hot pot of the broths. No problem. Then they came out with a plate of raw chicken. A couple minutes later came the pad thai. Then several (at least 5 minutes) came with some meat and fish. Then 5 minutes after that came with veggies, noodles, and the rest of the meat. Normally, all the items should come out at the same time. The other challenge here was the lack of space. Most of the hot pot places I have eaten at, have round tables. This makes a lot of sense, because the center of your table is being taken up by a pot with boiling broth in it. These tables were all rectangles. With the pot in the middle, this meant space was at premium. It made it difficult to find places for the different items and to get them in and out of the pot. Overall, the food was fine. The server was nice and friendly, but the service (coming out of the kitchen) was a cluster. If you have not had Mongolian Hot Pot, it is a cool thing to try. I am sure they will buy all new round tables, so I would make sure that if you get a booth, you are 3 people or less. It was really tight with 4. Finally, you are in Chinatown, learn to make green tea properly.
(3)Toby P.
Great place. Went in for the lunchtime hot pot special. Went with the basic beef combo, it was outstanding. Nice, clean, modern, dare I say hip decor. (some of the best places in Chinatown have grimy, dingy decor, but no such problem here)
(4)D M.
I've found yet another go to Chinatown spot. I normally don't get all excited for chain restaurants, but this one is delightful. I've been here twice within the last two weeks, and both times were great. They have good deals, like $4 PBR and $4 sushi rolls. With both dining partners, we did rolls, beverages, hot pot, and both times averaged about $25-$30 a person. That is pretty stellar. We left happy and full of relatively healthy cuisine. The waitress on our first trip was more attentive and hand holding to make sure were knew what we were doing in regards to hot pot, and the second server was a little less attentive, but still friendly. On the first trip, I got the veggie platter, and it typically comes with a mushroom plate, and when I indicated I didn't really care for mushrooms, they gave me a second huge basket filled with baby bok choy, cabbage, corn, and spinach. In general, the portions are very large, which I love when it comes to my veggies. I really love that they have a really large menu of a la carte items, and I ordered the shrimp dumplings for $3 on my first trip and really enjoyed them. I was warned by the attentive waitress that some people thought they were "fishy" but they just tasted like shrimp to me. For diners coming who aren't into sushi or hot pot, they also have Chinese entrees and appetizers as well, which the diners to our right had last night and it looked really awesome as well. The setting is really charming and modern, though some additional ventilation would be amazing. The restaurant was full last night, and we were really warm after our dinner and the windows were steamy. It did feel amazing on my skin after the cold winter. Beers on tap are $6, cocktails are between $8-12, sushi "special" rolls are $4, hot pot starts at around $11. Totally great deal, and I feel like it's a better bargain than some other shabu places.
(4)Kendall H.
Definately not as good as it's hot pot equivalent in california, but then again nothing in boston trumps its asian equivalent on the west coast. Somewhat expensive, difficult parking (wait... that applies to everywhere in boston) and somewhat confusing menu. Bottom line is, this place needs to get their model straightened out, what restaurant can actually claim to do sushi, hot pot and chinese food well and actually deliver on that promise? Otherwise, one of the few modern/clean/high end/trendy sort of restaurants around the area.
(3)Tracey L.
I've been here a few times for hot pot, have not tried the sushi yet. Atmosphere is nice, modern and comfortable. Prices are a bit cheaper than other places. I usually order off the a la carte menu as I prefer to eat mostly meats or seafood and skip the veggies. The quality is good and the amount is decent. The restaurant is located in Chinatown, close to Downtown. Parking is a negative sometimes, depending on what time you go. I come here if I want higher quality hot pot and don't feel like eating hot pot buffet.
(4)C P.
Food is always fresh and delicious. Awesome cocktails and great service! They don't take reservations (for smaller parties), so be prepared to wait if you're thinking of going during busier times. I recommend getting hot pot there! The black bone chicken broth is awesome for those who are not looking for spicy broth. The bean thread noodles are my favorite! -1 star for the extremely loud music. I felt like I'm at a club at several points during dinner.
(4)Maria L.
For the love of all things clean, go somewhere else. This is from someone who does not hesitate from eating at hole-in-the-wall joints that are clean. 1. They didn't give me a spoon when I went for my hot pot (or shabu shabu). I asked for one and the one they gave me was dirty... 2. There were flies buzzing around. 3. The wicker vegetable tray has definitely seen better days. 4. Like another Yelper Tiffany E. said, hair on food is a definite no-no. The place tries to be hip and blasted music that was too loud. Food itself was ok. I've had more flavorful, less MSG ridden broths for my hot pots. I ordered the spicy mala (supposedly spicy numbing but not very spicy and definitely not numbing) and the satay (flavorless).
(2)Vic G.
#TotallyImpressed Boy did this place pass my Sushi-Test with flying colors or what? On a sultry and very hot hot Boston summer evening, we set out to find a new place in China Town to try something new. Mad crowds everywhere. Dumpling places crowded like sardines in a fishnet. Comes to the rescue - Q. Note to self: If you come to Q anytime after 5:46pm, good luck finding a table anytime soon. The wait time increasing exponentially, every 5 minutes you arrive late. Having said all that, we were lucky to step in at around 5:44pm and get a table right away. And with that, the sweetest girl to wait on us. I have to use another hashtag here (it will be that kind of review I guess); #SweetLikeChocolate Little did I know I will be trying this place so soon; after all, it was only 2 weeks ago or so that we had tried it for the very first time. Anyways. This time, we decided to go for sushi - given the circumstances of the day; #CrazyHotJulyDay And given our obsession with (here we go again) #DanDanNoodles , we had to order that as an appetizer, and yes, we did. Not as flaming Szechuan spiciness that we found at other places, but still, Szechuany it sure was. #HappyTongue prior to the sushi extravaganza. How was the sushi at Q? #Qurazilicious good! Very good for China Town for sure. A decently sized Makimono Combo platter had the Crazy Maki, a Spicy Tuna and a California roll. And a Spicy Scallops roll was enough to send our appetites on a ride of sheer joy and simple bliss that only good sushi can provide. There was something about the sweet girl who was waiting on us that we knew was different. Our sushi orders arrive a few minutes late after we had managed to finish our DanDan noodles. She kept coming back to our table to let us know about the 5 minute delay because they had got a huge take out sushi order. And we could see the commotion at the sushi bar, rightly so. It was really not a big deal. But when we were almost done with our sushi, she approached once again to ask, "would you prefer a cheese cake or a chocolate lava cake?". We both started looking at each other, with a confused smile. "Oh, it's on the house." Could she be any more sweet?!! Honestly, a big #ThankYou for such a kind and again, sweet gesture. I think I became #Diabetic just right at that moment. For someone who rarely ever has dessert after a great meal, I made it a point to finish half of the very delicious chocolate cake. If there was any doubt this place has to prove anything more, it vanished in thin air. The entire experience was a success. What remains is to try the hot pot. I promise I won't be updating this review anytime within the next 3+ months or so. And dare I may say, I am not looking forward to having hot pot. Not because I have any doubts about Q. Simply because I have hot pots only when it is winter time. And I am so #NotReadyForWinter just as yet....
(5)Elizabeth Y.
This restaurant has WONDERFUL food, excellent service and is so romantic! My husband and I loved the Mongolian hot pots and even got some guidance from the owner who showed us how to eat this food by letting the vegetables simmer and demonstrating the different menu items. As we were first-time customers, we got treated to an amazing specialty of the house! Afterwards, it was a treat to walk along the Greenway in downtown Boston.
(5)David T.
I can excuse a 1 hour and 10 minute wait after being told 30 minutes. I can even excuse a busboy making an off-color comment to me. What I cannot excuse is having a letter I wrote to the manager (explaining my poor experience, in an extremely polite way) having been ignored. After a terrible experience here last November I decided to email the manager in order to voice my concern. I never heard back. I waited a month and half before reviewing just to see if perhaps they would take the time to write me back but they have not. It generally takes a lot to offend me and I rarely give 1 or 2 star reviews but a complete disregard for customers will linger in my mind longer than a dry piece of chicken or a bland bowl of soup ever could. Great restaurants occasionally have bad days when it comes to the taste of food and thus a second chance can, and usually will, be given. However, no great restaurant (or even good restaurant for that matter) should EVER have terrible service. Whilst the aforementioned off-color comment has been forgiven I will not return here to dine simply for the fact that I never received so much as an apology or acknowledgment from the management. It does not matter what it was but it was offensive (lets just say, it was racially based) and it spoiled my meal...even after the busboy apologized. I don't need discounts or freebies; I just wanted him/her to recognize that I was an upset customer. Boston is packed with shabu shabu and hotpot restaurants and I will choose any of them over this one. Though the food here is good and the decor tasteful, some things cannot be excused.
(1)Jennifer P.
While the restaurant was super busy, the server still took her time explaining the options on the menu and suggested various options based on what we said we liked. For beginners like us, I highly recommend the yin-yang pot, so you can try two different broths. Q is a great option for a really flavorful and healthy meal that won't break the bank! Plus, it's fun.
(4)Hoang L.
Came here for hot pot. We tried the mongolian vegetable broth and the mala broth. Broths tasted pretty good, but it's standard hotpot, with a few overpriced vegetables. Decor was nice, and wait staff was nice. Lunch specials seem like a really good deal, but dinner is just a bit too much
(3)Tom H.
Fantastic bar service- fresh sushi came out quicker than tables. Billy the bartender was a great host making sure we were always topped off. Entertaining and cordial. Make sure you ask him about his tattoo story! Enjoy the sashimi while he tells it!
(5)Mélina C.
My friend and I just turned 21 in the past month so we decided to go out and get a nice meal after I got out of work on Friday night. We really wanted dumplings so we headed to Chinatown and stumbled upon this restaurant that looked very chic and inviting from the outside. The inside was just as fantastic in decor and we got a great booth table in the center of the dining room. To start, we got the Dragon Lotus and the Bellinitini. The Bellinitini was unanimously our favorite of the two but both were very aesthetically presented and both had a great kick and unique flavor-fulness. We also got the dumplings we were feinding for and they were simply divine. We didn't get the Japanese Pot Stickers from the Appetizers but the Pork Dumplings from the Sides page of their menu. We were both rather skeptical but we decided to try the hot pot and selected the Mala and Herbal broths, chicken breast as our meat, and Udon noodles. We must have looked really confuted because another server came over to explain to us what to do and how to tell if the food is cooked properly. It was really cool to try and the finishing products were delicious and quite filling but the next time we go I think we're just going to stick with their à la carte menu. We ordered two more drinks to help wash down the hotpot. She got the Asian Boston cocktail and I got something along the lines of the Xue Jiau(??), something I couldn't pronounce anyway but it was their twist on a sangria and it was phenomenal! Of the four drinks, that was definitely our favorite one followed by the Bellinitini. For dessert we got the Chocolate Truffle Cake to split and it came out beautifully laid out. It was a little small for the two of us but I feel like it would be too much for just one person, especially after doing a hotpot. Our server was very friendly and a lot of fun and gave us good recommendations for all our courses. He seemed to be giving us his honest opinion when we asked questions and he interacted with us every time he came to check on how everything was going. All in all, we had a wonderful time and a very enjoyable meal. We definitely plan on returning.
(5)Dogen B.
I love this place for lunch. We have been here many times and have tried the $4 sushi rolls and some of the stir fry noodle dishes. The decor is pleasing.The quality has been always exceptional and the service mostly good. One server was s low, another equally good. I always showed my appreciation by tipping well. I highly recommend the place, for sushi, stir fry noodles. Next time i will try the hot pot but seems time consuming...Deserves a two woof..woof..
(5)Urmy M.
Love this place!! Great ambiance. Awesome food.. The hot pot is delicious! We always come here whenever we have out of Boston friends visiting us! The broth is delicious!! Good to come here to chill out with friends.. have conversations while the meat and veggies get slow cooked in the hot pot. Finding parking is not that bad. There is a paid parking garage just next to the restaurant. Would recommend everyone visiting Boston to make a trip here.
(4)Sreya C.
This experience was a couple of months back and I felt like if I didn't post this, then I wouldn't do the restaurant justice. My friend and I got together for a day out on the town. We were craving some Asian food and came upon this restaurant on our quest for some good chow. The menu was presented outside the restaurant which is a plus considering our limited knowledge of the restaurant and the type of food they served here. Upon reading the external menu, we saw that they had hot pot!!! My friend and I love hot pot. We considered the prices and were willing to spend over our budget to try their food. As soon as we entered we were greeted with a smiling hostess and was seated on the left side of the restaurant. I must say the look of the restaurant on the inside far exceeds its appearance on the outside. The place is clean which adds to my comfort level because I am kind of a clean freak FYI. We ordered the medium spicy broth. Bad decision because usually I can handle spicy, but their interpretation of medium spicy is totally different than what I had in mind. The whole time my friend and I sat there sweating like we just came out of a sauna. No lie! Despite my memory loss of what I had ordered that day, I remember the taste and smells. To sum it all up in a couple of words, it was delicious. This pertained to the meat, the vegetables (except the baby corn, I despise it), drinks we ordered, and yes even the spicy broth. Since we are not old enough to drink, we settled for the fruity drinks with the flavored pearls, that when eaten pops liquid juice into your mouth. That was my favorite part. Our bill came out to be pretty high partly due to how expensive it was and how much food was ordered. Being a college student, I can only afford to come once in a long while (because college really does make you broke), but when I have the chance and the money I will surely coma back for a second time. And with the knowledge I gained from my first experience, I will NOT order the medium spicy.
(4)Jessica S.
Excellent. Really enjoyed it and the hot pot was great. Ordered the mala broth & it was perfectly spicy and hot.
(4)Alex G.
For the hot pot (shibu shibu) dining experience, this is a solid five stars. Fun, fresh and hip, my wife and I greatly enjoyed the Q from start to finish. Our waitress, Rebecca, was knowledgeable, polite and cute - and navigated the hot pot menu for us. We loved the thin slices of rib eye, which cooked super quick and tasted heavenly, as well as the vegetables - especially the baby bok choy (yum)! We also got the mushroom platter, with more types of exotic mushrooms than you can shake your chopsticks at. We had a split broth bowl, with two different types; the standard beef broth was our favorite, however. We also took down two mini bottles of unfiltered, cold sake, along with desert - red bean and coconut gelato. This was a healthy, tasty, and super cool way to dine. Loved it.
(5)kim s.
The new Little Q in Chinatown is stunningly hip and great for a date. However, portion is miniscule and sushi is very average. I miss the old Little Q in Quincy.
(3)A C.
Not bad. Pricey. The environment and decorations are nice and clean but then again they are new so that might change as time goes on. I had hot pot there as that was the goal and that was what they are known for. Got the rib eye beef combo with udon noddles along with a mushroom platter and a side of taro. Had the regular broth. Its the first thing I like to try at any new hot pot place before going onto other ones. The meat and veggie was normal portion size I usually see at other places. The noodles however was dinky and on top of that for udon with your combo, you need to pay an extra buck for it. That I think was a rip off. The mushroom platter is alright although I wish there was more of the oyster mushrooms. There was about 6 paper thin slices of it only. The taro is good. Those came precooked so you don't have to wait that long for it.
(3)Al A.
Wonderful food. Good service. Okay drinks. Dark washrooms.
(5)Dennis A.
Went here for the first time a few months ago and have been back many times since then. Really an all around great restaurant. For starters the sushi is some of the best I have ever had and really exceeded my expectations, as this place is really known for their hot pot and not so much for their sushi. As for the hot pot, again, truly exceeded my expectations. Generally speaking, I'm not so in to restaurants that want you to cook your own food, I mean if I felt like cooking, I probably wouldn't have gone to a restaurant in the first place. But here, everything tastes so good that it's well worth it. I have yet to find something that I don't like. Everything from the broth to the various meats, to the noodles they have all been great and cheap. Like really cheap. Service is exceptional and everyone that works there is very friendly. The only real drawback is the wait times. On some occasions I have been seated immediately, other times there has been a wait of an hour and half. I don't really fault the restaurant here, as eating hot pot does take a lot of time and is really out of the hands of the servers. You can't make someone cook or eat faster. All around a great restaurant and a great time.
(5)Allie W.
This place is great. My boyfriend and I were going out to another restaurant in the area and passed this place on our way. We had seen it before and thought it looked interesting during construction so we decided to see what the menu was like. Upon heading in we had no clue what hot pots were, but we were excited to try them the minute the waitress told us they were the Chinese version of Shabu Shabu. It is so entertaining to boil meats, noodles, and veggies in yummy broth at the table. Also this place is suuper reasonable. We tried the pork and the peeled shrimp. Both were very fresh. I would suggest getting the shrimp for sure and pick your own veggies; don't do the medley. I would go with spinach and broccoli next time. Check this place out. Its a great dinner for the horrible horrible Boston winters.
(5)Lynn D.
Good food. Clean, decent atmosphere, with good service.
(4)Jamie C.
I've eaten at Q a couple of times before and the food has always been good. However, I had such a terrible service experience tonight! A group of us went for a friend's birthday and the host originally did not want to seat us because not all of us were there yet- which I totally understand, but when I said it was no problem and we would wait, he said he'd give our table away, but then said he would seat us, and proceeded to give me a lecture about turnover and how we had to order immediately when we sat down because otherwise we'd be at the table for too long. Then our food arrived at totally different times, with some of it taking a full 30 mins longer than the rest. Finally our server said they usually don't run more than 4 cards, which is fine, but he didn't say anything ahead of time even though we had a large party, and then said he would run more cards anyway. The food itself was just fine but I won't be taking another group there for a special occasion.
(1)Wenqing L.
i really love the hot pot here, especially the ying yang. the milk tea with bubbles is tasty, it's not too sweet and that's why i love it. i haven't tried the sushi yet, but it looks nice.
(5)Pierce H.
We had the good fortune to eat our meal in the bar, to enjoy excellent service and upbeat advice from Shawn the bartender, and to simply relish a grand hotpot assortment and modern Singapore Slings. And the demographic is pleasant enough: some are in post work business attire, some have just finished supermodel yoga at the Ritz.
(3)Mimi K.
Whenever I need a sushi fix, I will always look up to Q lounge to satiate my palate with their amazing sushi! Everything is fresh and delicious, very well done. The chinese menu also has your regular dishes whose appetizing aroma has you wringing your hands under the table in wanton lust. Basically what I'm saying is, their spicy wantons are orgasmic. (Is it okay to talk about food like this? Meh!) I also love the hot pot option. The decor is beautiful and so is the service. Q is a sure gem in Chinatown!
(4)Jen T.
One of the best mango bubble teas I have ever tasted. The spring rolls were so fresh and crisp, not over-fried...just delicious, as was the dipping sauce. Sushi was top notch. The tables were comfortable and it was very clean with a great atmosphere!
(5)S. M. S.
Fun night out with friends, great service, food as good as you can cook it yourself. We ended up all smelling like Mongolian Hot Pot for 24 hours, but a great diversion from our standard post-movie Pho.
(4)Lana L.
I can't complain about any part of my visit with this restaurant. It was great! We chose the short rib with our hot pot and it was so tender and all the veggies were fresh. I'm getting hungry again just writing this review.
(5)Yb W.
All the perks of a trendy, city bar, without sacrificing authenticity or flavor of Mongolian hot pot. An odd combination, but one that seems to work. The manager explains (and sells) the food very well to hot pot virgins and serves as a great cultural/culinary ambassador. I see great potential in this place!
(4)Mat T.
I was trying hot pot the first time and it the best experience. My taste buds are still craving for more of it. I ordered both mala/regular broth hot pot with beef & lamb. The broth came in a ying yang shaped bowl. Although I am used to eating really spicy food, mala was too spicy for me. I mixed it regular broth and it was perfect combination. Beef and lamb slices were fresh and I even ate a raw slice of beef. The price was very reasonable too, $18 for hot pot, and one hot pot is good enough for 2 people. They have good and cheap sushi too. Four for four is a good deal, you get 6 pieces of sushi for $4. We had salmon and yellow tail sushi. It was fresh and tasted great with sake. Overall, good food and good service.
(5)sierra l.
Their Maki was so good. It was priced well for sushi. I went there for dinner and I loved it. The decor is very nice and the staff are super nice always checking on you which to me is nice because I have people not even care to check and then come back dropping the check off and then expect a tip.
(4)Fan L.
Great authentic Chinese hotpot restaurant. Not too pricey and great atmosphere as well.
(5)Michelle L.
As someone who frequents many of the Chinatown establishments, this is one of the nicest and most beautiful. I've never particularly been a fan of hot pot, but this place makes it worth it, though I wish there were more exotic meats. I went for lunch and sat right next to the aquarium. My date and I ordered a beef and lamb special. When the food came out, there were 3 plates of meat, the 3rd we didn't order and looking back it was clearly a mistake, but I also didn't bring it up to the waiter since I was confused as a first time patron. The lunch specials were only $8.99 each and came with the meat, fresh WASHED veggies, and noodles. Didn't spring for any special broths but did get a side of taro which was super yummy. The taro here, unlike other places, seems to be precooked so it doesn't take a million years to get it cooked.
(4)Marty C.
Food was decent but quite pricey. Like fondue, it's better to save your money and cook your own food at home instead of paying to use someone else's facility. The decor... I felt like I was drowning as I stepped in with all the rising bubbles from the tubed h20. It was sorta tacky even though it was simplistic looking. Bubor Cha-Cha restaurant down the street is tacky, but in a fun way.
(2)Amanda G.
Last night we were celebrating our anniversary; they don't take reservations but we were eating early, before the theatre, so had no trouble getting a table. We didn't tell them it was a special occasion but the waiter saw us clinking glasses and saying "happy anniversary", and he surprised us with a free dessert. That made up for any slow service previously! That would be our only complaint - he forgot to bring our drinks until halfway through the appetizers. In every other aspect, this was excellent and great fun. We tried the hotpot for the first time and it was AMAZING! They have a huge selection of broths but you can choose two. We picked satay and tom yum. We experimented with some of the dipping items and discovered what we did and didn't like. Our favorite was the angus beef. The portions are enormous and extremely reasonably priced. We will definitely go back and try some of the other broths. I recommend going with another couple so you can mix and match. I also tried the spicy salmon sushi roll and it was great - run, don't walk!
(5)Katelyn G.
I came here on a Monday night around 7:00 pm. I was told it would be about a 45 minute wait before myself and my boyfriend could be seated. Over an hour and ten minutes later we were finally shown a table by a very spacey hostess who was much more adept at gossip than at rubbing pencil lead on thinly sliced tree bark and directing pedestrian traffic to stationary parking tables. Instead of placing us at a clean table by ourselves, we were hidden away at a corner booth that we ended up sharing with another pair. Although the two women to our left came in after us, they were treated first. Simple things like asking for an order of rice and soy sauce took as much time to occur as the arrival of this year's spring season. My boyfriend got the flounder, which, while tasty, was submerged in a mini-ocean of oily sauce. My black mushrooms and Chinese yams were also pleasant to the taste buds, but the portion size was wanting. At least the seaweed salad was quite good. Overall, the poor service highly overshadowed the decent food. I don't plan on coming back until either they hire more waitstaff and a functional hostess, or at least train them better.
(2)Karen W.
We needed a quick dinner before the ballet and saw the positive reviews for this place down the street fromThe Opera House. It did not disappoint! We were in a rush do we ordered off the Chinese menu and 1 sushi dish. Everything was flavorful and fresh. Next time we want to get a " hot pot ", clearly the signature dish at this place. Reasonable prices. Give it a try!
(4)Kristine Elaine M.
Prices are actually pretty decent for hot pot. Considering the portion sizes you do get a lot. I would probably double the amount of noodles though because it does go by quickly. The waitress i had was very helpful also attentive. The only thing that could be better is the sushi, its avergae in my opinion but a little pricey for what it is. Also parking is hard even with the parking right next to it. Spaces are tight. Other than that the restaurant is a great choice for hot pot.
(4)Bela S.
Our latest experience was pretty disappointing. We wanted to bring our friends visiting from Cali to grab some hot-pot. That's about the only good thing I can say about that night. We ordered appetizers (black fungus and an eel roll) to start. We waited, and waited... and had to remind our server we were still waiting when she brought out our broth. The excuse we got was that the teas had to be fresh made. About a minute after that they came; they were warm. Flavors were good (boba very tasty and fresh), but warm. And so was the eel roll (we saw it sitting on top of the sushi fridge for a good five minutes). The meat and veggies came, order was correct, but we never got offered refills on water or asked how our meals were. For that matter, we didn't even get asked if we had been here before or knew what we were doing (every other hot pot place, including this one in previous visits, we were asked this). We were seated in such a place where we could see the server chowing down in the kitchen while we were. I have no issue with that whatsoever, except when a paying customer comes in and is all but completely ignored. Luckily, tips can reflect our experience. Will we be back? You bet, but only because previous experiences were leaps and bounds ahead of this one. Had this been my first experience, we would have not even considered it, which is a shame.
(2)Jeff L.
A beacon of homestyle hope in a far away land... The gf and I came over from California to Bahston as part of our American history vacation. As was expected, it rained us. Naturally, as Chinese Americans, a hot pot craving ensued. And Q delivered. Excellent service -- English-speaking Asian Americans (my favorite kind of Asians) who were most attentive and friendly. Excellent food -- we got fish balls, tofu, watercress, and tongho in the veggie broth. Felt just like So Cal. Mm mm good. Nice ambiance -- this place was poppin'. All sorts of people in here -- mostly students and yuppies. Kind of loud, but good overall. It gets crowded, so be mindful of this. And the price was right. If I'm ever in Bahston again, I'll be back.
(5)Ben S.
Q's hot pot is pretty standard, but pretty good all the same. The atmosphere is a little more mellow and classy than my regular stops, which I think makes it more ideal for an intimate outing than a big party. You can find better food and pricing down the street if you're just in the mood for hot pot, but if you're on a date, you could do worse.
(4)Ayelet R.
So admittedly I was somewhat apprehensive about eating here, perhaps because for a restaurant on the edge between the Theatre District and Chinatown, it seemed so very un-Chinatown. The hipper than thou design, Top 40 radio blasting too loudly, and menu that hasn't quite decided what kind of Asian it wants to be definitely made me want to keep looking. But it was late on a weekday, and the smell was enticing, and considering how Theatre District it looked, the prices were definitely reasonable. Suffice it to say, I was pleasantly surprised at just how good all the food was. We opted for the hot pot, one half basic broth (which is free with a combo) and one half tom yum. Don't let the "basic" in the former's title fool you: that ish is delicious and flavorful, with whole cloves of garlic and pieces of ginger nestled into it. The tom yum was also on par - spicy, though not as hot as your average bowl of tom yum soup (after all, it only dons one little chili pepper on the menu, while other items go up to five). Having one spicy broth and one savory broth made for a perfect combination for trying everything. I got the veggie combo for dipping, which was a TON of food. Two basketfulls of fresh veggies, plus a beautiful plate of mushrooms. The highlight was definitely the mushroom plate. So many different kind of mushrooms I couldn't even name them all, each with their own distinct flavor. It's a mushroom lover's dream. Since we took two combos we got our choice of two types of noodles - we opted for bean thread and cellophane. I LOVED the cellophane noodles, although I found that the combination of chewiness and just how damn long they were made the bean thread kind of hard to eat. This was technically my first hot pot experience - I have had Shabu before but wasn't super impressed. This time I loved it - everything was super delicious and surprisingly fun. I also got the Thai Tea bubble tea. It was the perfect amount of sweet, and I love that they serve it without ice - more tea to be had. So the consensus: it was fun and delicious and fresh and I want to do it all over again. But, at the risk of bringing my inner old lady out, turn that music down. Just a bit.
(4)Torry L.
Too expensive. Not worth it. They charged 5 beef slices for 58 dollars. It wasnt worthing that much.
(1)Raymond L.
liked the food, hated the commercial. Other than that, the quality of the food is pretty good.
(4)Trivedi A.
A great hot-pot place with variety of broths. Really great and recommended for big groups. It gives an advantage of trying different types of broth and various a-la-carte options including meat, sea food, vegetables, mushrooms and tofu. For big tables, you can have maximum of 4 broths at a time (each burner can hold 2 broths). The only problem one might face is the space issue. It can get really messy and crowded at times and can almost cause accidents. The heat intensity for burners can get difficult to adjust by yourself, it is better to ask your server to do the needful. The server and the staff are very friendly and helpful with their suggestions/recommendation. NOTE: They do not take any online/telephonic reservations in advance. They can write down your name 30mins in advance and you can get priority fr seating. The place seems to be often very crowded with an estimated wait time of 45-60min (for a Sunday evening).
(4)Yelena Y.
I went here for dinner on fri night with my girl friends. I had the hot pot with Kim chi broth and high grade lamb. The food was delicious. Very spicy, abundant and great service. I waited 45 mins to get a table so get there early.
(5)Hannah R.
I am of a mind that this is the perfect date night restaurant. The boo humored me when we were first testing murky romantic waters, but alas, now that we're all settled in, he's revealed that he's of a mind that soup is not an adequate meal. What a hater. This place is so fun! If you've never had hot pot, you'll get a great education. Ya get your soup broth (they have neat bowl dividers, if you want to try more than one), ya noodz, and ya meatz and veggiez. Then ya cook it all via built-in table hot plate! My mouth is literally watering as I type this. I went here for my birthday a couple years ago, and not only did everyone in the group walk away sated, the bill only came out to $20 each, including tip. So maybe it's not just a perfect date night restaurant, it's also a perfect big group dinner restaurant! The cocktails are yummy too. I haven't had their sushi, because in case you haven't noticed I am all about the soup. All the time. In all things. Pour it down my gullet. Oh, and when they say spicy, they mean it--and I love them for it.
(4)Jacqueline C.
Great place to go when I crave for hotpot. Busy as always on a Sunday night. If you want a seat make sure your group of people are there and ready. It gets busy starting from 5pm. We always got half and half for the broth. Service was relatively quick but the restaurant was so busy that it may take some time for you to actually talk to the server( they were running all over the restaurant). Will def come back for hotpot whenever wanted
(4)Angel S.
Bad reception. There were three people at the reception and none of them wanted to make the effort - just exchanged lolglances. Hygiene: it's not one of the cleanest places I've been to. It's also always stuffy and ventilation is not efficient. The food: it's a huge menu, huge selections and I must admit I haven't tried everything to judge correctly. I was tuned off by hygiene and how everything ultimately smelled like the next thing.
(1)Meg C.
I'm a huge hotpot fanatic and was excited to try this place after putting it off for so long. The decor is very nice and our waiter, Harry is super attentive. Aside from that, I was actually a bit disappointed. I love spicy food so we ordered the Mala broth. They gave us the usual hot pot dipping sauces, but instead of fresh hot peppers we got a hot pepper paste. I'm not sure if it was the paste or the hot pot BBQ sauce they use, but it made my sauce very salty. I love taro and ordered a small side of taro. They came out a bit soggy and damp. Like someone preboiled it and brought it out. I asked our waiter if it was precooked for us and he said no, but he did offer to take it back for me and I declined. Within seconds of tossing the soft taro into the pot it started to fall apart. Not a big fan of the vegetable sides you get with the hotpot combos. The corn was about an inch long and you only get a few sprigs of enoki. All in all, I won't be back. It's in Chinatown and I would much rather go to a different hotpot place. Oh! Also if you park in the garage on Washington street and bring in your garage ticket, Q will validate it for you and you pay only 7$ For 3 hours! Not bad.
(2)Ken M.
First time at Q and it was excellent! I had the Mongolian hot pot with beef and lamb. Quite frankly, anything in the pot would have been great. The family had a mix of soup, sushi, lo mein. All was terrific. We noticed a lot of PF Changs in the city. One wonders why anyone would ever subject themselves to that when they can have this.
(5)Cristina P.
Nobody does hot pot like Q, I mean nobody! Although there's quite a boatload of different places to grab some hot pot in Boston and the surrounding areas, this one takes the cake. Great atmosphere, delicious food, and extremely personable waiters. What more could you ask for? My favorite broth is the kimchi broth...salivating just typing this! All of their broths are great, but the kimchi has this kick that keeps me wanting more. If it is your first time getting hot pot, then I would highly recommend coming here. Don't even think about going to Hot Pot Buffet. Seriously, it is expensive, dirty, constantly humid and icky inside, not to mention the meat coming out like ice cubes and the just broths can't compare. Although the wait is a little crazy on Fridays and the weekend, it is so worth it. Q is reasonably priced considering the portion size, and if you're a student make sure to pay with cash and show that ID to get the hookup! I can't remember how much it is, but hey it's better than nothing. Also, they have an amazingly priced lunch menu that is definitely worth your money if you're a first-timer. If that didn't convince you, I'm not sure what will! I'm drooling over here just typing all of this. Simply put, Q is THE BEST!
(5)Brandi Q.
Favorite place in Boston. Food is excellent. Drinks are great as well. The place smells wonderful with all the other broths at the tables.
(4)Charlene L.
I LOVE this place! Although I mainly eat hot pot here, their entrees and cocktails are just as good a reason to stop by. A few coworkers and I came here during happy hour -- 4pm to 7pm Monday through Friday, buy 1 drinks, get two appetizers half off. We got the spring roll and steamed dumplings, both of which were solid. The cocktails are yummy and if you don't like your drink, the bartenders are very accommodating and will fix your drink for you. First off, I cannot rave enough about their Q Fried Beef. It's SO good. It's fried perfectly on the outside and is still tender and juicy on the inside. It's definitely a must try! I also love their wontons in chili oil - it's a good balance between the wonton wrap and filling. I've always loved all hot pot spots and didn't think any particular one stood out until I tried Q. It is hands down the best hot pot in Boston. Their broths are delicious -- I usually get a split pot of Spicy Mala and Herbal. The herbal broth makes a great soup after or during your meal. Food is fresh and nicely presented. My favorite is the fish dumplings with shrimp paste filling -- salty with a hint of sweet. 5 stars for this restaurant! I'll definitely be coming back.
(5)Gris G.
Dee, asst. manager was wonderful accommodating our 14 person group. Amazing food and awesome vibe! Go!!!!!!
(5)eduardo s.
awesome place to sit down and enjoy the best hot pot in boston area! service was great and the vegetables is always fresh!
(5)Hang P.
Came here unexpectedly on a snowy Sunday night, not really expecting much. My family and I came in and it was packed. Considering it was cold and a Sunday evening, I wouldn't have expected it not to be packed. I don't really care for the decor of a restaurant, but man, this restaurant was quite modern looking! The tables were spacious and it has a very intimate feel. I was already drawn in. My family and I ordered pork & beef fried rice, it was pretty good, just tasted like your standard fried rice. Although they included these small red like ball things (it's in most Vietnamese che's), it gave it a subtle sweetness which is nice. We ordered the spider and spicy salmon roll, the rolls were big and flavorful. As for hot pot, we had the Tom yum and mala broths, super flavorful. The pots were big too! Our food came out relatively quick, and all the food we got was delicious. Definitely recommend the fried tofu skin and beef short ribs! Our waiter was very attentive and very accommodating when it came to our questions about the food. Overall, the meal was probably more expensive than most hot pot places, but definitely so worth it! Definitely will want to come back and to try more dishes.
(5)Jim B.
This place is awesome! If you're looking for a new trendy spot in Chinatown with great food and a top notch waitstaff, this is the place!!! I highly reccomend the mala mala noodle soup and pork dumplings.
(4)Amy M.
The Q is my new favorite place for hotpot, sushi, and drinks. I came here for a low-key birthday night out, and was surprised by how friendly the waitstaff was. Without even asking, I got a cake with a small firework on top (seriously!) and two free birthday shots (say what?!). Even when it's NOT my birthday, everyone is welcoming despite busyness. Since everyone's talking about hot pot, I have to mention that the sushi and tempura entrees are AMAZING. You can't go wrong, but my suggestion is to pick something from one of the full-page pictures in the menu (seriously). They're highlighted for a reason! Even the appetizers are great, from shrimp tempura, to crab rangoons, to soup. Drinks are great -- everything from non-alcoholic (bubble tea and real-fruit smoothies with boba) to alcoholic (large variety, but be warned: they're pretty strong for what you'd expect at a restaurant). Food is inexpensive for the quality, but drinks are pricey. Overall, a night out that won't break the bank, but still an incredible experience.
(5)Kimberly Y.
Hubby, baby, and I came here for lunch last month. We waited about 10 min for a table and was given one that accommodated the infant stroller so that's probably the reason for the wait (restaurant was fairly empty at the time). Our server was mediocre. It was our first time here so we weren't sure of the hot pot portions. When asked he couldn't even describe the size. So hubby and I decided we can always more in case the portions were on the small side. I had asked about the hot factor the crazy mala which he couldn't even describe. Fine. I went with the mala in case it was as spicy as he said. It wasn't. I was disappointed with his lack of knowledge of the food here. We also ordered sushi. It was only ok and not worth the prices they charge for it. The hot pot foods were going ok until we got to our extra veggies we ordered. We got some extra protein in that order and that was enough to end our lunch here. See pic. We summoned our waiter and without even an apology he muttered he will get the manager. The manager did apologize and discarded the bug. She comped us for the veggies the bug was found in and gave us 15% off our bill. I'm not looking for a free meal but with this being our first time here and we found a huge bug in our food she should've comped us our entire bill to try to get us to come back again. Honestly even if they had comped us our meal, we will never go back here again. Service was really mediocre and the food was only so-so for the price.
(1)Sue Z.
This place is ALWAYS extremely busy and I don't see why. They're good, but not worth the wait. Make sure you have a reservation. We've eaten here maybe over 10 times. I usually order the seafood hotpot plater. One time, I got spoiled scallops, other times they're alright, it's kinda inconsistent. We've had the sushi too, which was alright. The spicy beef dish was really oily and there wasn't a lot of beef. One time I came in with some bubble tea from outside (wasn't even opened, I was gonna save it for later) so they took it to their fridge (which is understandable) but then they actually lost it hahaha! Wth? Verdict: this place is just "alright" but by no means spectacular
(3)E S.
Really yummy and perfect on a freezing cold day. I love that I was able to try two different broths (spicy and veggie). The service was very helpful and nice also. Check out when in the neighborhood!
(4)Evgenii B.
1. Waiting. This is one of the places, that became very popular. Here in Boston being "popular" results in long (up to 2 hrs+) waiting time and "no reservation policy". You can come and leave your name to come later, but will have to wait when you arrive anyway. If you're not in for waiting, just forget this place. If you are, it's worth it! 2. Atmosphere. Once you get your table, you'll face a friendly waiter (speaking better English, than Chinese:)), not the cold hostess who has to fight off constant requests to "bypass the line". Majority if those around you will be young Chinese (shockingly young, have to admit), but the atmosphere is very modern-you feel exactly like it is -a corner of Chinese food in the middle of the modern world and walls. If you're looking for "authentic ambience"-forget it! China is modern, fast paced, well ahead and rolling! 3. Food. The food itself is very good - comes in huge variety of broths and all kinds of meat, seafood and vegetables. You can have rice and soup, rolls and sashimi as well, but this place is about the hot pot. So, its not even pure Chinese any longer - it's Mongolian, Japanese and Chinese which becomes increasingly modern. Everything is of very high quality and at reasonable prices (up to 40 p.p. if you're drinking wine). Love hot-pot! Hope you enjoy it as much as our group did.
(5)May N.
Ahh! the food is so so good! kinda pricy but deff wurf. waiting to get a table is problem one of the biggest problems. when I go for dinner, I usually have to call in for reservation and when I get there I have to wait for an extra hour for seats. I believe the wait is really worth it tho! waitress are super nice and careful.
(5)Devika G.
One negative thing that I have heard a lot about this place is the long waiting. However we entered the restaurant after the movie at 8ish and we were asked to wait for roughly 20mins which is surprisingly decent. Then we called and we seated and no server came to us for good 5 mins. And we had to ask twice for gasses of water.. Terrible service. We placed the order . we called to lychee and watermelon smoothie, was good. We order ying yang hot pot.. One with khimchi sauce and other with Tom kha sauce. We got veggie combo (veg platter and mushroom platter), tofu platter, rice cakes, noodles. The platters had variety in it and everything looked healthy. I was trying this for the first time and trust me I was disappointed.. I devoured every bit of it. The only thing bad was the service. Else, excellent food. Definitely visit again n again n again.
(4)Carrie L.
Q Restaurant is one of the few hot pot places that incorporate a vast amount of appetizers and noodle/rice entrees with hot pot. The restaurant is clean and trendy, with a bar at the entrance. The bar does happy hour from 4-6 PM if you buy a drink, you get apps for 50% off. They have a lot of soup choices, and so far I like black bone chicken broth the best. But every time I go to Q, I get lost in their menu. There's just so many choices for everything! However, every little thing on the hot pot menu adds up at the end. The best thing about Q is, if you go there with friends who don't like hot pot.. they will not sit idle by and starve. There are sushi, chinese cuisine, noodles for them to choose from. Q is definitely climbing up quickly on my list of favorite hot pot places!!
(4)Ingrid S.
Delicious! If you like shabu or hot pot, this is the place. Great atmosphere too. We arrived at 6:45 and after learning of the 45 minute wait we decided to order some drinks and appetizers at the bar. When we received the bill we were delighted to see that we had gotten happy hour prices (1/2 price appetizers until 7pm). Meal itself was great- my husband and I each ordered a separate broth and meat (he got mala broth with steak, I got kimchee broth with shrimp & fish). The mala broth was the favorite, although both were good. Next time we'll get one pot of just the mala. Each order also came with a basket of veggies- spinach, baby bok choy, mushrooms, etc. We couldn't finish everything- there was a lot of food. The dinner bill was reasonable too - $80 for 2 drinks each, and 2 hot pots. We'll go back for sure!
(4)Kay W.
My flounder and broccoli was ok. It needed some chili sauce or some seasoning. A friend of mine got the Special Q Noodles Soup and it looked flavorless and she didn't finish it
(3)Idy T.
There is shabu shabu and there is hot pot. In other countries this is known as fondue. Shabu shabu is a Japanese style where you get your own individual pot, whereas hot pot is a Chinese style where you have 1 pot that you share with a group of friends. Essentially it is the same thing but I like to have my own individual pot so my food doesn't get lost in one big pot. This way, I don't have to worry about scooping up someone else's food that they put in the pot. Q Restaurant is a hot pot restaurant where you choose your choice of meat and broth and have to share it with your friends. They have lunch specials starting at $7.99. But if you don't want the basic broth that it comes with, it costs $3.00 more for a choice of their different soup base. This is still a pretty good deal for hotpot. It comes with rice or ramen and a side of veggies. I ordered the chicken with the Mongolian spicy broth. The broth was really good and it had a kick to it. I also really like the sauces that it comes with. It really adds more depth and flavors to the meats and veggies. The service was really good. Our server was really helpful and friendly. The only complaint I have is about the hostess who dealt with our bill. I came with 6 people and they would not split the check for us. They also have some policy where they only accept up to 3-4 cards per table. I do not understand the logic behind this. She kept hovering over us to rush us for the bill and she was also kind of rude. Well if she would have split the check for us everything would have been easier for all of us!
(4)Marcus M.
Fantastic place. Tonight was my second time here and the food was even better than the first time. I did the hot pot with surf n turf combination. Everything was delicately prepared and left me feeling satisfied but not too full. In addition, the drink selection is great. I tried two new whiskies tonight-- Angel's Envy and Overholt-- and both were good. My date enjoyed her chocolate martinis. I think the icing on the cake was the service. Our waiter was fun, knowledgeable, and confident. My date remarked multiple times that he deserved a big tip. He checked on us but not too much and was able to make good suggestions. I add this place to my elite list. If you haven't been here, you're messing up. Come by. Doooo iiittt.
(5)Stephano M.
first time I went there, waited 1 hour (the girl told us 1 hour) when we went back she told us another waiting hour... really???
(1)Antonia T.
After coming here on a tuesday night a few months ago and having an awesome experience, I decided to bring my entire family and a couple of friends. We were a party of 8 on a Saturday night, which I was pretty weary of. I called 1 hour ahead, and shortly after 6pm we were seated. We had a few starters (Scallion pancake and the Tuna, which were both yummy) and then we dug into some Hot Pot! It was so delicious and savory, we probably ate for an hour straight... Tons of veggies, Udon noodles and fish galore. It was delicious! To top it all off, we had told the waiter in secret that it was our friend's birthday, so after he cleared the table, the waiter brought her a huge piece of chocolate cake topper with a lit roman candle! It was so awesome and we were so thankful that he took such good care of our table. I would recommend this to anyone who has never tried Hot Pot before, it is not only a fun experience but a delicious one at that.
(5)Amanda M.
Went here last week with a friend for dinner. Neither of us had ever done a hot pot before and were quite confused on what to do. We told the waiter we were newbies and he was very nice and patient with us. He took the time to walk us through the menu, explain how it worked and even gave recommendations. Once we ordered he even made sure to come over and explain the cooking process with the hot pot. The food was very delicious. The place was very clean, including the bathroom. I will definitely be back again!
(5)Susan B.
Delicious!! Foods are so good and the desert is awesome. The place is quite good with the music played around makes me feel so enjoyable.
(5)Lavinia K.
I love, love, love Q. We go all the time to indulge in Hotpot with all the fabulous ingredients! We recommend a yin-yang pot with Mala (hot) broth one side and basic on the other... For apps we crave the crab rangoon which we think are the crispiest around! One think I would avoid here is sushi- I love fresh fish and on two separate occasions I had to send the ikura back for tasting old and flavorless.
(4)Mike J.
Great place for group of people, but the seats are kinda tight. Great food, great service, I don't mind to go back there everyday.
(4)Stephanie S.
Had a lunchtime special, a 2 roll sushi combo for $8.99 which includes a miso soup. Each roll is cut up into 6 pieces. Had a california roll and spicy tuna roll. Really delicious tasting. I must say you could barely see the tuna in the roll though - they were somewhat skimpy on the meat. Nice food, nice waiter, nice atmosphere. I'd return here.
(4)Anna Y.
Came here the other night and fell in love! With soup. I fell in love with soup. I always liked hot pot in general but this place just does it really well. Cool atmosphere, upbeat pop music, great service. Your food comes with all these cool little dipping sauces which are all delicious. The menu is expansive and not too expensive, and you can get combo platters or go a la carte. Or both! We got some kind of spicy broth and it was so flavorful and delicious. All kinds of weird mushrooms in the vegetarian platter, which is my kind of party. Fun delicious cocktails- I got a spicy margarita. They serve sushi too, but we didn't try that. What a swanky Chinatown gem, I can't wait to return.
(5)Victoria P.
Came here with my boyfriend on a Friday night and waited almost 2 hours for a table. I called ahead to decrease the wait time, but it really didn't matter. After watching the flow of people going in and out for 2 hours, I noticed just how inefficient the restaurant was. After getting seated, we ordered the mala and the black bone chicken broths with a veggie combo and an angus sirloin combo. The broths were good (although I'm a huge fan of spicy, I enjoyed the black bone broth more than the mala). Everything was pretty good, but the wait wasn't worth it. We debated multiple times about leaving and going elsewhere, but it was my boyfriend's birthday and I really wanted to take him here. Overall, we decided that Swish Shabu was better and we'd probably just stick to what we know.
(3)John W.
One of the better places in Chinatown; clean, modern, and more importantly provides friendly service. I'm not usually a fan of asian fusion, but this place serves up some delicious Cantonese cuisine. Accompanied mom this visit which explains why the majority of dishes are vegetarian - braised tofu with shiitake mushrooms, spinach, and bamboo slices, sautéed shiitake mushrooms over greens, and sautéed Chinese yams with black fungus. I ordered beef with broccoli for myself. I know what your thinking...not really Chinese right!? But I'm Asian-American, I had a craving, and it's what I grew up on! Don't judge. :) Not into what i've listed, no worries, try the Mongolian hot pot - it's social, interactive, and fun.
(4)Monica L.
A great place to go with a group of people with a wide variety of palates. Chinese dishes are solid, the hot pot is awesome and they also offer Thai and Japanese options (which I cannot vouch for). The Mala broth is the best, although my Irish bf likes the basic beef broth. You can get a split pot so you can have the best of both worlds. My bf also has seafood allergies, and the staff did a great job of ensuring the seafood was on a separate plate. Call ahead for a reservation during peak dinner hours.
(5)Janice C.
Solid choice if you're around Chinatown. I have a really high expectation for hot pot because I get really good hot pot at home with home-made broth. However, Q was good. My friends and I went here last Saturday, and it was acceptable. We order three plates of beef and three plates of chicken, along with a ton of veggies and udon noodles! We ordered the basic broth. Solid yet again. It was good, but I'm biased toward hot pot at home. We had five people, and it was sixteen dollars per person. Happy eating!
(4)Mary T.
I had hotpot here for the first time on a hot summer day It was still delicious. This would be my go-to place during the winters. I like that they have lunch specials and you can choose your own broth for hotpot. I normally pick mala broth, which is spicy and hot! They also have tom yum broth, mushroom, and other broths or you can choose the basic broth with no extra charge. The lunch special comes with your choice of meat, a basket of vegetables, and you can choose rice or noodles. This is the perfect amount of food. Their menu is very diverse. They also serve sushi, fried rice, appetizers, etc. The whole experience is fun because you get to cook your own food and add the sauces you want with the meat. The only problem with this place is that some of the workers there have an attitude problem. They wouldn't let us split the check, and their excuse was that the tax wouldn't come out right. I understand they wanted to charge us gratuity and she could have just added gratuity on the split checks. I don't know what kind of logic she used, but it did not make any sense to me at all. Come on, they could have come up with a better excuse... We are asians, please don't try to lie to us with the one thing we are good at--MATH. So it took us a while figuring out who has to pay what and the server kept coming back and asked is the check ready yet? And we were like no not yet, then she rolled her eyes and walked away all pissed off. HELLO lady, it wouldn't take so long if you let us split the freaking check. Overall, the food is great, the service could be better. I will definitely come back for more hot pot though! Oh and this place is kind of like the knock off of Little Fat Sheep in California, China, and Hong Kong.
(3)Katherine L.
Came here Friday night with two friends, they arrived ahead of time and got a table for us, so by the time I arrived, our table was ready (luckily because a crowd kind of grew near the entrance soon after) We had the herbal broth and the Mala Spicy (both tasted really good). Down side of the broth was that it has so many herbs and spices in it, it was difficult to scoop my noodles out without getting any of the leaves. Easy to remove them with utensils though. We had the Prime Short Rib, Angus Rib Eye, and Surf & Turf combo. All were delicious, although it wasn't anything to brag about. Our stove kept turning on and off, so the water would boil for about 5-10 minutes, then stop for 3 before it would turn back on again. I'm not sure if this is supposed to happen (?) but I was really confused. I personally didn't think the sides for the hot pot sauce they provided was enough for three people, but I didn't want to bother for asking for more. Overall, our experience was good, but I've been to better places.
(3)Bambino D.
The menu has anything you could ever want if you're craving Asian food. Lucy is the best server ever! Service is a lost art, but not at Q! It made my first dinner in Boston a truly memorable one. Sushi was fresh, big rolls. Hot sake smooth and mild! Get the 12 oz;)
(5)Ally G.
Love coming here on a cold winter day for hot pot with friends! There sushi is also amazing and even prettier to look at. During the week they have happy hour which means half off apps with the purchase of a drink in their bar section. I suggest the scallion pancakes!
(4)Shir L.
If i could give u a negative score i would. Your food: 3 stars for hotpot. Host/manager: -1 stars Waitress: -1 stars Reservation at 845 pm for party of 10 and even though a few of us arrived at that time, we couldn't be seated without majority of the party, that's perfectly fine. Understandable. But the attitude from the host guy was NOT. He said we were 30+ minutes late (it was passed 9) but a friend replied it was reserved for 845 pm and he responded "we're setting up the table now since you guys are late, it was for 840 pm." Really? Did the extra 5 minutes cost you a few hundred dollars (that's what was paid that night) We had to ask the server for water after being seated for 10-15 minutes. After our guest of honor put in her orders, we were served everything minus the satay sauce, how could you have hotpot without all the sauces.
(1)Rishabh D.
Very nice location, amazing service, and the food is really nice as well, specially the hot pots. The sushi too was really nice. Only problem was that they could not accommodate us all on one table which we really would have appreciated; but as a whole, it was a good experience :)
(4)Katherine R.
Hands down, the best sushi I've ever had. Disclaimer: have never had sushi from Japan or anything, but damn if this wasn't delish! I got the thunder roll, spicy salmon roll and the miso soup. Amazing. The bartender was super nice and was our waiter. The ambience of this place is great. The Mongolian hot pot looked amazing, will have to try it next time. All in all, so much deliciousness. I will definitely be back!
(5)Gabriella R.
Such a perfect way to end a cold day walking around Boston. The hot pot is highly recommended. We got the surf and turf with the yingyang pot (basic/hot broth) which would've been enough for us two. We also ordered the Hawaiian maki, which tasted overwhelmingly like the fried tempura and ended up being too much food for us in the end. Loved the atmosphere and the service. Highly recommended!
(5)Jessica S.
I had a wonderful experience at Q Sushi. I took my boyfriend, who was very excited to realize we were going to "the place with the blue bubbles" - needless to say he was very impressed with the atmosphere and decor. The hostess who greeted us was very sweet and friendly, and sat us at a nice corner high-top in the bar area, which was perfect. We ordered mai tai's, apps, sushi, and General Gau's Chicken, all of which were amazing. The service was great, waters right away, refilled, very attentive without being invasive, good experience all-around. I will definitely be back with my boyfriend, friends, coworkers, anyone who wants to come here with me. I am looking forward to trying their hot pot next.
(5)Suzanne K.
We decided to eat at Q knowing our 17 year old daughter had been wanting sushi. We were actually going to a place across the street, but noticed Q had sushi and we decided to go there instead. There are a lot of specialty rolls on the menu and we decided eventually that after our calamari and pot stickers for appetizer, one specialty roll per person would do the trick and it did! They were beautifully made, fresh tasting, and filling!
(4)Senka O.
My favorite Hot Pot place. I have tried possibly 2 other restaurants with Hot pot and I have to say this one is my favorite. It has extremely reasonable prices and hot pot is my favorite. Mala broth is the best and even the general complimentary broth is the bomb! One of my fav. Places to eat Hot Pot.
(5)Monica B.
Hot pot here was very good. I didn't have sushi but others at my table did and they loved it. I will go back for some sushi though! I'm giving this place 4 stars because, although we had told the waitress that we were done with our food, it took them almost 45 minutes to remove the dirty dishes. I mean, you kinda need the hot pots to be gone when you order dessert. I'm not into warm cheesecake ;-) Overall, the food was very tasty and service was decent.
(4)Nancy O.
I highly recommend this place for the hot pot. We had the mala and the black bone chicken broth with the surf and turf. The mala was really spicy which my husband loved. I liked the black bone chicken the best. It was so full of flavor which was a nice surprise considering I usually am bored with chicken soup. All of the seafood and meat was really fresh. I must say this being our first time at a hot pot restaurant we were a little overwhelmed but quickly got the hang of it and really enjoyed the whole experience. We also had the beef fried rice which was delicious. I must mention that the other couple we were with only had the sushi & sashimi combo and they weren't that happy with it. I have a feeling their specialty rolls are probably better since they look great on the pictures, overall a great experience: service, food, and ambience top notch.
(4)Rae P.
We went for Hot Pot & chose the mala broth (hot &spicy) and the black bone chicken broth. We chose various ingredients: Beef short rib (thinly sliced & absolutely delicious), fish balls (never heard of them, but they were tasty), watercrest, napa, udon noodles, etc... All ingredients were very fresh and the broth was flavorful. They also give you ingredients on the side to make your own dipping sauce (soy, scallions, bbq, chopped garlic, etc). This was my first Hot Pot experience and I really enjoyed it. There was only one Con: Small/medium sized place so long wait times to be seated (something to be mindful of). No stars deducted, however, because the food was worth the wait. Pros: Clean, comfy seating, you choose ALL ingredients yourself, fresh food, full bar and reasonable pricing for the quality. If you enjoy Asian cuisine, def worth your while. 5 stars for sure! :)
(5)Jenny S.
HAPPY HOUR= half off appetizers w/ minimum one drink purchase AT THE BAR AREA ONLY! although it seems like most people come to this trendy restaurant for hot pot! we had a large group, so we got to try a lot of the appetizers! ---chicken wings were yummy! ---seafood salad was nice and spicy but not much seafood ---gyoza: good but hard to mess these up! ---sashimi: decent ---crab rangoon: not much flavor ---sushi: mediocre SKIP ---calamari: wasn't crispy!! my friend ordered the chicken fried rice from the regular menu & it was pretty good! ALCOHOL-WISE the drinks were inconsistently strong/weak but have nice presentation ( i love orchids!)
(3)Justin W.
The food is good. Must go for the hot pot. They have a lot of various soup base flavors. Beware that the spicy soup bases are quite hot. The prices are okay, I feel as if they are a tad on the expensive side. The choices are plentiful. However, there was one particular server where she kept on asking how everything was whole we were eating from the hot pot. This happened more than one occasion and it felt like we were being rushed to finish the meal and leave. It wasn't a pleasant feeling this, the 3 star review. If not I would have given a 4 star just because of the food and friendly atmosphere.
(3)Gina S.
First time having hotpot here. This is serious Asian soul food right here. We got the black bone broth with taro, fried tofu, and all kinds of meat. Serving sizes were generous and the flavorful broth brought out the best in all the ingredients we threw in it. Overall--fresh ingredients, great ambiance, and a varied and extensive menu. The waitstaff was very attentive and friendly. Judging by the diverse crowd in the restaurant, I think this place was a hit for everybody, Asians and non-asians alike. Coming back again!
(4)Good E.
great food! this is a trendy place in bean town's chinatown ambiance great! this is one of the better venues to eat at it in the area. the wait was very long(over 2 hrs ) so we walked around and then came back to sit at the bar. once we were seated we were there for over 3 hrs and toward the end they were kinda rushing us out to seat the awaiting guests food great! hotpot was excellent. we got one regular and one spicy broth. i loved the lamb in the spicy broth combo. also one of my friends is chinese , so she was able to walk us through the hotpot cooking and steps for the meat and veggies. it was a great experience. i sampled the spicy tuna roll from my friend and it was quite good. i also got two bubble teas: the green tea was awesome, the taro was good but not as good as the green tea. the portion size for the tea was a bit small. price it is expensive. but places like this usually are overall definitely go! be prepared to pay 20 to 30 bucks per person
(4)Gokul K.
This restaurant is a must for any vegetarian. The mala broth with vegetables and rice was out of the world! A must-try place here in downtown boston.
(5)Kathy N.
This is my favorite place to get hotpot. Located in Chinatown, it's the spot to go to on a late night out on a weekend if you're feeling hungry. Last call is 12:45AM and they close at 1AM. Anyhoo, the atmosphere is incredibly relaxing and enjoyable with a twist of sophistication? The waiters are always very nice whenever I go there. The quality of the raw food is up to par and doesn't compare to any other hotpot place near the area. Also, their sushi is amazing. Had the sweetheart roll and fell in love. Definitely a place you should go to if you're looking for a great experience in Asian cuisine. Weekdays are not as busy unless it's cold weather out or a holiday then the place is buzzing. Definitely make reservations for dinner on weekends!
(5)Leah K.
First time hot potter, here. We sat at the bar for about 30 minutes until we got a table. For 2 (STUFFED) people, here's what you should order: - 1 combo (we did seafood). It came with lots of veggies, a starch (we got ST noodles), and three slices each of 3 types of fish. - Shitaki mushrooms - Shrimp "dumplings". They were more like...shrimp dough shaped like cigars? - 2 broths, the house broth and the kimchi broth. - 2 bubble teas (not the best I've ever had. weird after taste). We couldn't even finish everything. They give you very decent portions, and along with all that broth, it really fills you up! Tip: Don't put everything in at once. In fact, really be choosy about what you're cooking. We found that some things were overcooked (for example bok choy should have only been in there for a few seconds. after a while, it gets quite soggy). Also, we couldn't find some of the things we dropped in until the very end. It was hot, tasty, and so filling. I can't wait to go in the winter, it warms you right up! The only things I wouldn't get again are the shrimp dumplings (just pretty fishy) and bubble tea. Everything else was FANTASTIC. I can't wait to go again. It came out to $15 per person.
(5)Kathy N.
Just grabbed an unagi handroll for under $7, the prices are of any average sushi restaurant and the host was very pleasant. I will definitely be back.
(4)Christine J.
I like their broth more than the Q in Arlington. And they give you all the spices/ingredients needed for sauce. I miss coming here for lunch!! Will have to go back.. Not a fan of anything that's not hotpot related (sushi eg) Just come here for the hot pot and you won't regret it. Mala and Herbal broths!
(4)Brianna S.
What a score!! Sometimes, you Yelpers take me to the best spots in the cities I am most unfamiliar with. Case in point, Q's Cafe. It was walkable from our hotel, I mapped it on my iPhone, and off we went! I was extremely hungover, and even though it was 8pm, it was going to be my first solid meal of the day. We stepped in, and the place was straight packed! As any foodie would recognize, this is a clear indication that the food is reasonably priced AND good. We decided to wait it out instead of moving on to the next stop. We hovered around the bar area, thought that would be the best plan of action to avoid the hour long wait. And right we were. After about 15 mins of waiting, we snagged some seats. To our suprise, it was Happy Hour! And Happy Hour at Q's Cafe means, for every 1 drink purchased, you get up to 2 Apps half priced! SCORE!! MY party of guzzled two drinks and four apps each and we shared them all. From sushi, grilled ahi, to salads, miso soup, edamame, sashimi, egg rolls, won tons, you name it, we ordered it. We left quite full, at the bills was only $100... For four people, four appetizers and two drinks per pop, that's a STEAL!! The service was stellar to boot. If you ever find yourself in Boston and hungry, park it at Q's.
(5)Kevin C.
Busy...no reservations, which makes it difficult for large groups especially Food was just ok, nothing special. Had appetizers only, not the hot pot because we were there for almost 2 hours and couldn't get a table. Staff was nice enough. Only plus was that we had half price apps because it was after 9.
(3)July W.
Went there for the hot pot. It's not bad. Be prepared to wait in line if you don't make a reservation.
(4)Ellie L.
This is my go-to place for hotpot. I prefer Q over any other place and I speak very highly of this place to my friends. I was able to convince my friend to have dinner with me here versus hot pot buffet. I told him the food was fresh, very clean, and very nice atmosphere. We came back for the second time last night, lets just say... I let him down. I was so upset with myself. He found a roach in a vegetable plate. Lets just say, i was not happy at all! I couldnt eat after seeing that. I just got up paid for the bill and left. It ruined my night because i left not satified nor full. I guess we will have to go with his choice of hot pot next time.
(2)Jillian C.
Such a fun place to go for dinner and be engaged with the process by using your hot pot!! I wasn't crazy about the steam blowing in my face for the meal but it's part of the experience and I loved the food! I also love their bubble tea here!! So delish I will definitely be back again!
(5)Jenn Z.
Q is a great place for hot pot. Delicious and reasonably priced. For the other dishes like sushi or Chinese stir fry, I'd recommend other better valued places in the neighborhood. The interior decoration is very modern and comfortable; a nice change from the usual Asian restaurant decorations in the area. However, if you order hot pot, your clothes will guaranteed to smell by the end of the meal.
(3)Julia K.
I love going to Q with a group for hot pot and the novelty of it will probably never wear out for me. Prices are reasonable and the ingredients they give you are always high-quality. Other than hot pot, the "black fungus" appetizer (wood ear mushrooms) is absolutely delicious. I could stuff myself silly on a few of those all day long. Prices are decent - with hot pot, it can feel like every little thing is adding up, but if you've got a group, order a couple of the platter options rather than everything individually al a carte and you'll get a good deal as well as a good assortment of different ingredients. The seafood and tofu platters are my favorites - yes, there are quite a few ways to do tofu. And there's also something flat-out magical about the mushroom broth. The only problem is that it's perpetually packed and they don't take reservations, and there's not much space to wait around inside. Be prepared to feel like you're in everybody's way while you're waiting - but it's worth it.
(4)Mital P.
I went here on Sunday around 5pm for an early dinner. We had drinks, appetizers and sushi. Perhaps coming for sushi was a mistake, as the majority of the people there were having the Shabu. The drinks weren't too shabby. A previous reviewer was raving about the dragon Lotus. It was definitely a good drink, albeit not particularly manly looking... We had the black fungus as an appetizer. It said it's served cold. I didn't expect some of the pieces to still have ice chips in them... This just added to the bland flavor. Definitely a skip. The sushi was nothing spectacular, despite the high prices. Light on the fish and lacking creativity. If it's sushi you're looking for, you can do better for less.
(3)Steve G.
Loved it!! Elise was excellent at the bar, fun & knowledgeable and makes a great drink. Ask for Lucy if possible - she's an amazing waitress, made our experience there so good!
(4)Nik B.
Asian-inspired cocktails are what initially drew me to The Q Restaurant. Unfortunately, there were only two cocktails on the menu that really seemed to attempt new creations. I had the Q-tini, which included Domain de Canton ginger liqueur, and wasabi-vodka. The wasabi doesn't come out very well, but perhaps that's a good thing for the average cocktail drinker, the ginger liqueur also gets dimmed by a lot of vodka, but you get quiet a bit of booze in 1 drink. We started with the scallion pancakes, which are greasy, savory and delicious. The pancakes are nice and crispy but still somewhat soft on the inside. We also ordered a Boston Red Sox Roll, which was very well prepared. It had large slabs of tuna wrapped around the outside, interspersed with avocado, and spicy tuna on the inside. It was fresh and light, yet complex. We also split a hot pot with herbal broth, thinly sliced chicken and udon noodles. Our waitress was very good about explaining all the details and how everything works. All of the hot pots come with an array of both sauces and vegetables. This is the fun part as you get to mix and match things to your own liking, and cook the food in the broiling, delicious broth. Our herbal broth was very flavorful and an excellent choice. Overall, the Q is a fun experience for a date, or a group of friends. The cocktails are strong, the food portions are large, and the fun of a hot pot can make for a good night.
(4)Eva L.
I'm just glad to see a relatively high-end hotpot place!!! It has a full bar and serves a wide range of drinks. For those who are used to traditional Chinese hotpot, you might be a bit disappointed by the dish portion. But hey, it's real tasty. I enjoyed my experience here.
(4)Lillian Z.
The bartender's service was not that good and he dared to charge me 20% tips without asking... Its just 2 person party.
(1)Peter H.
I would definitely eat hot pot here again!
(4)Caroline R.
My boyfriend and I came here on a belated birthday dinner. We're both fans of hotpot and had a recommendation from a friend to try this place out. It was great! We arrived around 6:30 and were seated right away but noticed that the restaurant filled up very fast during the course of the evening. We came in specifically for hot pot but the sushi looked enticing so we started out by getting a Dragon Roll which was DELICIOUS. One of the best rolls I've ever had. We then got our hot pot. The plain broth was very good and flavorful. It's also the only free option they have. We ordered the Surf and Turf combo platter which came with pork, beef, squid, small scallops, fish, and mussels, plus a side of noodles and a big basket of veggies. We also ordered an extra vegetable, bowl of rice, and the shrimp dumplings. The shrimp dumplings were interesting to say the least...they weren't like traditional dumplings but are cylinder tubes and pretty much taste like fish balls/cakes. Overall, the hot pot was yummy and very, very filling. It was the perfect amount for 2 people. Service was good but we did need to ask for the broth to be filled up after a while (I see another reviewer also wrote about this). Prices are right for the kind of food and service you get. All in all, I hope to be back here again!
(5)Due H.
My favorite place to eat in Boston Chinatown. I always go straight for the hotpot and chill for an hour or two with a friend chatting away. The hotpot flavors don't really make much of a difference for the food. If I don't get the Ma La pot (or the crazy mala) then I just get the regular free pot. Most of the flavor comes from the sauce they give you. UNLESS, you are really into drinking the hot pot as soup, then its worth not getting mala (because you don't really drink mala as soup) and some of the speciality soups. So if you are a soup lover, try the speciality non mala broths, if you want some spice, mala or crazy mala. Crazy mala is 8 dollars extra, mala is 4 dollars extra, and regular comes free. If you care just for the taste of the meat, I would just go for regular broth. If I come during non lunch specials, price usually comes out to be around 30-40 dollars for two. Lunch specials come out to about 11 dollars after tip per person.
(5)L L.
it"s just OK. My go-to Shabu place has been Shabu Zen for the past, oh, 8-10 years or so; but thought I'd try this place. Shabu: basic broth is not as flavorful as Shabu Zen's. I suppose the meat was good and portions were large. Don't get the bean thread noodles with your combo unless you enjoy the mouth-feel of chewing plastic. The sweet and sour pork was pretty good. Service was OK, not too bad, not too great. I don't think our server smiled even once? Also, they have business cards for each of the servers at the hostess station. That's a bit....different. I think this might be a good place to go with 3-4 people where you could just order a la carte, but otherwise, I still prefer Shabu Zen (better veggie sides with your combo).
(3)Tanya E.
Yep, I'm a fan. Initially when my parents mentioned this new "Mongolian hot pot" restaurant, I immediately thought it was the Mongolian barbecue style and figured, "Been there, done that." and wanted to go to Faneuil Hall instead for clam chowder. Glad we skipped it! The hot pot concept involves choosing a broth and adding raw meat/seafood/veggies to cook in it, right in front of you. Lazy man's cooking! Loved it. I ordered mussels and baby bok choy with Udon noodles; added it to the Mala broth. Voila, instant meal. The broths were all very flavorful. We also ordered the Hot and Sour, Q special, and Miso. But I preferred the Mala. Cool atmosphere. Creative cocktails. Decent dessert. Give it a try if you're in downtown Boston.
(4)V. T.
Q holds a dear place in my heart. Why? I can't tell you. But please do get the Gunnar (cocktail) while you're here. It's my soul mate and it does help lighten up my day when I needed ^___^ Well, I don't believe Asian food should be expensive. Food is so cheap in Asia. Hotpot places are like a dime a dozen there. Why should I pay extra money to eat food from a pot of soup that everyone dumps whatever they want in??? Somehow the people at Q did convince me that Chinatown Boston needs a hotpot place with a fine diner look. Because you never know, you might find a cute potential mate while walking back from Tufts and you can't invite them to Banh Mi Saigon or McDonalds. You could try taking them to PF Chang but you also need to show off your wonderful knowledge of culinary around the world. Q is not a bad choice. Warning: you both will smell quite bad walking out of there! All these years, hotpot has been a great companion for many people. It helps us to warm up during cold, gloomy nights of Boston. It cures the horrible headaches and hangovers the day after epic nights at your favorite bar. Through thick and thin, hotpot is still there. It's time, it deserves a higher standard with a right touch of class. There you go, my made up story of how they formed Q! The interior design is of course not your typical Asian restaurant! It is very warming and inviting. They have iPads for you to play with/check out the menu while waiting. During the weekend, this place is in quite a demand, wait time could be from 20 mins to an hour so plan ahead. I have to admit the broth here is excellent, always very flavorful and you can tell that it was made from scratch (real chicken bones, not flavors). I've tried most of the broth flavors but my favorite has to be the MALA and KIMCHI. Please don't get the CRAZY MALA unless you are a spicy freak! They don't joke around here! It is well deserved its 5 chili peppers! The SEAFOOD quality here gets most of my love! Take a bite out of the shrimp and squid here and you can tell the different. They are definitely not the frozen kind. For MEAT, I always get beef tongue, rib eye and angus sirloin when I'm here. These kinds of meat absorb the most flavor from the broth, making every bite so delicious! The SUSHI here is not the most authentic but that's the beauty of Q. Q itself is already out-of-the-box so their sushi bar creations are definitely not your typical Japanese style. My favorite roll has to be the summer roll, probably because of the touch of mango sauce...yummm...so refreshing! If you are a fan of just Sashimi (raw fish), you are in for a treat. Oh another favorite is the SEAFOOD SALAD, a little spicy but crunchy and not too bad of a choice after yoga! I am not impressed with the Chinese cuisine part of the menu because they are pretty basic and nothing really ever catches my eyes. Plus, I could go anywhere else in Chinatown and get the same dish for a cheaper price! Service here is pretty good. All the waitresses/waiters I've had were pretty attentive and helpful. I am pleased every time I come to Q and definitely will come back more often!
(5)Clare M.
Two of our friends were leaving town, so we came here to mourn our loss over hot pot. Q wouldn't take reservations so we had to wait for a while to get seated. There were 7 of us, but they seem to have lots of big tables, so it wasn't as much of a nightmare as it could have been. Luckily we turned up late so our wait wasn't as long as the idiots (if said idiots are reading, i do really love you) who showed up early. Being late really does pay off. When we were seated, we ordered some of the watermelon smoothies that people were raving about. They'll add booze to them if you ask, so we got one with Bacardi. It was delicious. Apparently the watermelon was "fresh in", and we were promised it would be extra tasty...and it was. We got sweet potato tempura for an appetizer, which to my disappointment was a great hit. As one of two vegetarians at the table, I was really hoping to be able to destroy them in relative solace. However, the waiter foiled this plan by bringing out our appetizers one by one, with the sweet potato tempura first, then the pork dumplings, then the chicken fingers. This meant I got effed by the greedy meat lovers, who also loved the sweet potato tempura, especially the early birds who were famished from their long wait at the bar. We ate family style, and totally over ordered (my friend"s husband said "its her last night in Boston, if she wants to over order, let her over order). I got the avocado sushi, which was fresh and delicious, and again, got eaten up by all the meat lovers around me (bastards). Then we got two hotpots with 3 broths. One was the spicy mela broth (one full pot), one was the miso (half a pot), and one was the blackbone (half a pot) chicken. The miso was delicious, and the mela was delicious and wicked spicy. Based on trying the regular mela broth, I would recommend the super spicy mela broth unless you have no tastebuds or soul. Everyone eating the food cooked in the mela broth coughed at least 6 times from the spice, and one of our friends had bright red lips for about 30 minutes after he finished. While he was eating he said that the meal broth was legit, and I asked him if it was too legit to quit. He looked at me like I was "special" (American's apparently don't like it when English people quote lines from their favorite rappers) and then reconsidered, saying..."actually, this IS too legit to quit...I totally want to quit because it's burning my insides, but I just can't stop eating it". In short, if you're thinking about going here, you should do it. It's awesome. The food was all really fresh, it was not as expensive as I thought it would be (We ordered 3 apps, 3 watermelon drinks, 5 beers, two hotpots, two sushi plates and only paid $30 a head), had a great atmosphere, and was a great place for a group of people who wanted to hang out and chat to one another. If you're looking for some hotpot action, or some sushi, I would highly recommend Q!
(4)Andy G.
Q is located just a two minute walk from the Boston Opera House and the Paramount Theater on Washington St. in Bostons Theater/Chinatown district. The main reason that people love Q is the Chinese Hot Pot. This a little more upscale then most places in Chinatown so its a great place to go before taking in a show. Its a fun experience of you are one of those that likes to play with your food. Simone was under the weather so also a big pot of boiling broth was just what the doctor ordered. There are many different choices on the menu for your hot pot, but if you would rather not cook your own food then the Q has got you covered. Sushi and other popular Asian dishes are also available. For our hot pot broth we went with a combo pot. One side Miso Broth and one side Basic Broth. Both are mild and very well flavored with vegetables and herbs. For our vegetables, we went with a veggie platter assortment, a wild mushroom assortment, and Chinese broccoli. For the meat, thin sliced Lamb and Sirloin, and for the starch, Udon Noodles. The Broth came out within two minutes of ordering, and the meats and veggies within another minute. This was quick service at its best. The broth quickly started boiling. Simone seemed a little confused and gave away our hot pot rookie status by asking for a fork to accompany our chopsticks so the waiter graciously explained the Hot Pot process to us.Basically just drop your vegetables into the broth of your choice and cook them for as long as you desire, then at the last minute add the noodles and meat and cook for about ten seconds and at that point you are good to go. Scoop it all out into your bowl, add your condiments of choice, more broth if you want, and enjoy. The great thing about it , the more you cook, the better the broth gets as it absorbs the different flavors. And if you don't like the food well its kinda your own fault...you're then one that cooked it. That being said, our food was great ( because I cooked it). I'm not much of a soup guy but at least for one meal I changed my mind. Hot Pots can be a great meal on a cold night or just something if you want a healthier, fresh option when you go out to eat. When we fished with our meal we had some Ginger Coconut Ice cream for Desert. It was cooling and smooth and hit the spot. Overall the Q was a bunch (or should I say bowl) of fun. They do not take reservations so go on a weekday or plan on arriving early or waiting. If you do need to wait they actually give you an I-Pod with games on it to keep you amused. This is definitely a strong four to five star meal and a place I would return to again.
(4)Scott L.
One of the newer and nicer hot pot spots in Chinatown, this place has a industrial, yet semi-romantic ambiance. Lunch features some cheap options, and the sushi is made for you to see. I've never had the hotpot, but everything else I've gotten here has been delicious. A good spot for large groups or even a date-night.
(4)Juliana N.
Bar & Food review ONLY Awful. Who is running this restaurant? My friend and I sat at the bar because we just wanted to chat over a drink after work. What was supposed to be a relaxing, fun experience turned into a very bitter awful experience and all because of the bartender. Yes, your customers like to chat and we know bartenders like to chat, but this one was just a little too chatty and started being really rude. Needless to say - unless you're getting a new bartender... NO THANKS.
(1)Youyang G.
I came here on numerous occasions before, but left every time because of the long wait. This time, I made a phone call 30 minutes ahead of time, and did not have to wait at all when I arrived. There were a variety of food choices (Sushi, Chinese, Vietnamese, hot pot). We went with the hot pot, and it was a very enjoyable experience. The atmosphere is much better than your typical hot pot restaurant. The quality is also better than Hot Pot Buffet, but that is pretty much expected. The sauce was great, and I especially liked the fish balls and lamb. Overall, it wasn't too expensive. I would definitely consider coming here again.
(4)Stephen J.
Good food and nice service. Had to wait a bit of time...
(4)Jenny Y.
Been in Boston for the past week on business and passed by this restaurant on my way down to Chinatown. I was pleasantly surprised by their modern decor, overall cleanliness and of course their fully stocked bar. I went during lunch and ordered the Mala Broth with the Surf And Turf and an extra portion of Enoki Mushrooms (my fav). Here I am, expecting a tiny little individual pot to cook everything in (typical at shabu shabu restaurants) and a HUGE a** pot of broth is presented before me. They also have the option of splitting the pot with regular broth and mala broth - for those interested. The Surf and Turf was very fresh, but the portions were small for $19. Although very filling, I could have opted for some more veg/meat. I'd definitely go back and crush some more food - perfect for a cold winter day/night.
(4)Lizzy D.
By far the best hot pot I have had in Boston! The mala broth is full of flavor; my favorite. The black bone chicken broth isn't worth the extra charge because its basically the same as the complimentary basic broth. I would stick to the basic and the mala. As for the maki, the Red Sox roll and Phoenix roll are my top choices. They add gratuity, 18%, which is unnecessary because the service is exceptional. It slightly annoyed me and they don't inform you about it. None the less, this place is great and I would recommend it to anyone!
(4)Andrew K.
This place is pretty awesome. 1) Servers are nice and quick 2) Food is good 3) Only $13 for a Angus Sirloin order (which is a steal, usually pay $20 elsewhere) 4) Great for groups (I came with 10 people and we were treated wonderfully, even with separate checks) 5) Left full I am only docking it a star because they don't use Ponzu or Peanut Sauce. I know I shouldn't because its Mongolian Hot Pot, not Shabu Shabu...but I just love them too much. Wish I could dock only 1/2 a star Otherwise this is one of the best places I've been too
(4)Rob M.
The food is defnitely five stars, but the wait and the huge crowd that just mills around inside waiting for a table is what takes its down a star. I don't mind waiting, but the wait here is long and like being in a very slow moving, apologetic mosh pit.
(4)Ngan T.
Maybe I am picky with hot pot but this was just OK in my opinion on the quality. Atmosphere and service were great-clean and trendy, nice little bar area and also serves sushi so you can eat variety of food and not just hot pot. Broths arent unique but kind of a blend between Kaze and Shabu Zen. Wide selections and prices are on par (not cheap) but I left still having love for Kaze or Shabu. Would go here again though if the wait is an hour at Kaze or Shabu Zen.
(3)Richard S.
We've had selections from both the sushi menu and the Chinese menu, and all have been fresh and flavorful. We have not tried the "hot pot" yet but it looks like fun for a group. Atmosphere is nice and it is very convenient to the T. Although there is no specific children's menu, our kids are able to share appetizers and entrees, and they love the food.
(5)Richard A.
Fresh sushi, Mongolian hot pot and Chinese dishes in a sleek, modern setting. Loved the avocado salad appetizer: diced crab, avocado and cucumber over shredded jicama.
(4)H. Q.
I come here with my friends pretty often, and I always enjoy the food and the drinks. The service is pretty decent; although, at times, I can tell when we get an inexperienced server because our water glasses would not be filled, or they did not take our menus away after we ordered (so we end up having these giant menus on our small hot pot table). I really like the sushi here and the hot pot... I've tried most items on the menu and everything is always good. The spicy wontons are a must-try item. I like the atmosphere of the place and the prices are extremely decent for the portions and quality of food. I think this place can cater to the 20-something- year-olds looking to have a drink and some food after work, or even to a family who wants to enjoy a night out together. The place looks fresh and new, and doesn't seem like your typical Chinese restaurant.
(4)R A.
By far the best hot pot I've had. I swear there must be crack in the broth, it's so addictive you just can't stop eating it until you feel like you're going to explode, and even then you'll still manage to force feed yourself a few more spoonfuls. Get the Mala and plain broth combo with the angus prime rib, you wont be disappointed! Don't know what others were talking about, service was great, very fast and friendly.
(4)Suzy Y.
I have been to Q's three times an every single time I went I was very pleased with everything. I must say this restaurant compared to other Chinese restaurant had amazing service! The servers attend to your every need, if I didn't like my drink I was offered a fix, if my brother was too spicy he offered to change it. They are friendly and attentive! As for the hot pot, Q has an amazing broth flavor called Mala, spicy but delicious. What makes their hot pot so speial is the dipping condiments they provide. Theres chili, bbq, chopped cilantro, chopped garlic, everything neccessary for a great dipping sauce.Prices are about equivalent to other hot pot places, definitely affordable. The ambiance is great for dates or matter fact to impress your significant other
(5)Petra W.
Great price, fancy food, nice restaraunt, and super friendly waitress.
(5)honda c.
Q has the best sushi anyone could ever ask for. The hot pot is amazing! 5 stars if I was sat quicker! You have to call ahead and even that doesn't help. Johnny always seems to find a way to help out though. I wish the front desk treated returning customers like he did.
(4)MJ L.
Best hotpot in Boston! High quality food, great service, clean and friendly. Upbeat music too! There is usually a long wait though. They do not take reservations, but you can call 30 minutes prior to arrival to put your name on the list. A little pricier than the other hotpot places in Chinatown, but definitely worth the splurge if you are craving the best food!
(4)Christina K.
I would actually give it 4.5 stars if I could.. I went here with my bf after passing by it last time on our way to Penang. Their Hot Pot lunch special seemed to be a really good deal, starting at around $8. They also have a variety of options to choose from for lunch, like sushi and other entree/appetizers. We both got the beef hot pot. I got the regular broth and my bf got the kimchi broth. The price was VERY reasonable - came out to about $23 (before tip), including the +$3 for the kimchi broth. We both also got the ST Noodles, which I liked more than udon noodles. I don't know if it's because it's a relatively new place and they're trying to promote themselves, but OMG they gave us SO MUCH FOOD. I came out of the restaurant literally about to burst. The food was really good. I wish they gave us a little more variety on the vegetables though. The environment of the restaurant was really nice. It seemed very clean and welcoming, which can be difficult to find in chinatown. Although the waiter was a little bit difficult to understand (I felt like he was mumbling to himself the whole time), he was nice and tried to be helpful. I definitely would want to come back soon, especially for their lunch special. It's seriously an awesome deal.
(4)Oceana Ren R.
Love Little Q! Lovely waitress, cool atmosphere, delicious food. Last night, paired with a bottle of Malbec, my date and I ordered 4 appetizers (1/2 price).. chicken fingers, black fungus, crab rangoon, and cucumber wrapped crabstick. The only advice is the crabstick cucumber could use a bit more spice. It has a very crabstick flavor. Other times, I always enjoy their hotpot. Everything always fresh!
(4)Rebecca S.
Hot pot restaurants are an iffy proposition in my experience, but I don't think you'll be disappointed at The Q. First there's the broth: the Q's spicy broth passed muster, with a tastier and more complex flavor than the salty dishwater that often is served as "broth" in some hot-pot places. And it was spicy! Next, the meat and veggies: also good at The Q. We had thinly sliced chicken, and pork (if I remember correctly). Note that the standard vegetable serving includes enoki mushrooms, so only order them ala carte if you *really* like enoki mushrooms! To be honest I was tired the night we went to The Q, and was much more interested in the conversation than the food, so my ability to recount details of the meal is limited. The restaurant is clean and bright, the service was friendly and efficient. A good bet for hot pot.
(3)Chan L.
Happy hour has really good deals on small dishes. Bartender's friendly and prices reasonable.
(4)Kristin G.
Just a side note-I was a HUGE fan of Little Q Hotpot's Quincy location, and am super psyched that it's back, albeit much more upscale! I have been here twice- both for hotpot- and was impressed both times with both the service and the food Everything was fresh and flavorful. Also- they cook the taro here before they bring it out- so it doesn't take FOREVER to cook in the broth. Yay! You can't beat the location- it's literally steps from the chinatown stop, and not far from the red line (dtx, park) or green line (boylston.) There's a parking garage right next door that validates, too! Warning: all of the ala carte items can get really pricey. It's super easy to rack up a huge bill- but in my opinion, it's worth it!
(4)Sophie P.
The food is not dying for and service is less than satisfactory. I stop going after several visits.
(3)Kavita S.
Glad I got to grab a bite here while in Boston. It's a cute little restaurant that serves hot pot, sushi, and chinese food. I wish I could have come with a group of friends... that way I could have tried more things! But I was in the mood for sushi, so I tried the dragon roll-- sweet potato and shrimp termpura, topped with unagi and tobiko (see pic). It was delicious and just the right size for me. At $14, the price fell somewhere in the middle of the range for their sushi rolls. Service was just fine-- no complaints.
(4)Sarah H.
Inconsistent service. The first time I went, the food was good and service was decent. I'm a low maintenance type of girl, have worked in restaurants and am pretty understanding. However, my last visit in November was terrible. I was seated at a long table with a friend, and another couple was at the other end. We had the same waitress. For us, the waitress dropped off our menus and then ignored us for the rest of the night. We had to repeatedly flag another waiter to bring us drinks, the dipping sauces and the check. The other couple sitting next to us though had our waitresses undivided attention throughout the meal. She brought them drinks, took their order, explained the process, and checked in on them. I don't know what was the cause for this discrepancy. The only difference is my friend and I were Chinese and in our mid-twenties and the other couple was white, in their thirties and perhaps looked more affluent. It's unaacetpable that two couples at the same table with the same waitress received such different service at the same time.
(2)Anne D.
This experience would have been a great one if it weren't for some minor slip ups. The waiter forgot to bring out two drinks then when brought to her attention she asked if we wanted to remove the one she charged us for...if we didn't consume it or receive it why would we pay for it. Then came the bill time, she didn't divide the bill properly then the manager came over to question the tip....which was tacky and tasteless. I always tip(well at that) and have never ever been approached about a tip. Last time I checked its not mandatory. That left a bad taste in our mouths. If your going to harass customers for tips, just include it in the overall total
(3)Akshat J.
Solid restaurant with good lighting and a relaxing environment in general. The hot pot was great, but word of advice: if you don't know much about chinese food, research it!
(4)Marissa A.
My boyfriend took me here for my birthday. We ordered a Hot Pot with 2 broths - it comes in a ying yang shaped bowl. We also ordered sushi, i.e. the Red Sox Roll, Spicy Tuna and the Dragon Roll. The sushi was excellent. Their cuts of fish were fresh and the rolls were creative. The Hot Pot was, well, half and half. We ordered the seafood 'platter' as our 'meat' for the soup. It came with shrimp, fish, scallops and possibly one more. However, the portions could have been better. We received 3 shrimps, 3 tiny pieces of fish and 2 scallops. My boyfriend was in agony with the spicy broth. First of all, there were all peppers on that side. You literally could not see any broth bc the top layer consisted of peppers! We will definitely go back for sushi, but we are staying away from the hot pot for now - or at least get only the standard broth.
(3)Alicia L.
This place is NOT what I expected when my friend invited me for Hot Pot in Chinatown... such a pleasant surprise with fresh and delicious food, great hot pot broths and delicious friend green tea ice cream. If you want a great waiting experience, ask to sit in Johnny's section! Great waiter! Can't wait to go back and maybe try some of their sushi selection!
(5)Prime M.
Best Chinese food in downtown Boston.
(5)Rona H.
I've only ever had hot pot in Asia, so I don't know if this is expensive by "hot pot standards," but for a dinner price, it's totally reasonable. I got the standard hot pot with beef and lamb, and two side vegetables (in addition to a small basket hodgepodge vegetables that they give you that comes standard) for less than $30. It was enough to serve two people. The non-spicy broth is delicious if you throw in all the spices that they give you! I think the concept of hot pot is kind of ironic, because, in essence, you're paying to cook the food yourself! ..but my mom loves hot pot, so I just go with it..
(4)Nina N.
Alas, a hot pot establishment that I will gladly skip on by. Well, at least for now until it is fully established I suppose. I treated my co worker to hot pot for her birthday lunch. We weren't completely disatisfied with the overall experience, however, we definitely saw many areas that needed improvements. Decor wise, I thought the place was very chic, modern. We were greeted and seated right away. The place was fairly occupied considering the light drizzle outside and it also being Monday and noon time. Seated, I realized a major problem with the seating plan. The bar stool and bench were not leveled. I was definitely a few inches higher and therefore we were not eye level in conversation where I sat on the bar stool and my friend sat on the bench side of the table. Ordering proved to be a challenge, the wait staff was not very well versed in English, which made me a bit worried for their own sake rather than my own. I managed to order two flavors of hot pot, tom yum for my friend and for myself, I opted for the most spicy broth they've got. We ordered from the dinner menu rather than the lunch menu to be sure that the portion would be adequate. We ordered the sirloin beef and the seafood supreme. For drinks, we decided on Thai Ice Tea and kept the menu since we haven't decided on which sushi rolls to order. How odd? Our Thai Ice Tea came without ice and a few degrees lower than room temperature. But Thai Ice Tea without ice served in a typical cylinder shaped water glass, I could think two suggestions already. Serve ice water in this same glass after you seat your patrons. Now for other drinks, then serve them in a more suitable glass for the high end decor and also please don't forget the ice if it be a cold drink. I was happy when our hot pot cooker came. I thought the pot was vast and plentiful. Also very attractive with its "s" shaped divider separating the two flavors of broths. Minus points for the utensils given to cook and retrieve the food with. We were given an oversized ladle and a pasta scoop. There was a good five - ten minute delay with kitchen service so we sat talking and watching our hot pot broths boiled profusely. We waited. When our waitress returned with our small woven baskets of vegetables, I was slightly disappointment. Perhaps they were aiming for minimalist. There was baby bak choy mainly, a few slices of white radish, a VERY small, measly I dear say, stalk of enoki mushroom, a few sprigs of spinach, an inch of corn, and three wedges of fresh tomatoes, and also one other mushroom. I was so disappointed with the skimpy selection of vegetables, that it detracted from the cute little basket the veggies came in. A very small amount, perhaps six strings of udon noodle was served with the meal in a small bowl for each of our order. The seafood supreme and the sirloin beef we had ordered looked more like a single dish or lunch combo, like what one would serve as a surf and turf as in one order as opposed to two separate hot pot orders. The portion was so little. I was so disappointed. Quality wise, I was also disappointed. The scallop was not fresh and broke apart when we tried to pick it up with our chopsticks. It did not smell like the sea but rather something that washed up from the sea. Poor management is evident. We waited almost ten minutes before we could waive down our waitress for our sauces and condiments which she altogether forgot. We had already begun our meal without it since we watched the broth evaporated long enough without food in it. As our fear was confirmed, we were still hungry and so the extra order of the shrimp tempura maki turned out to be a wise decision. It served as a filler and was nothing worth mentioning. I have had better sushi. All in all, I would have to say, while the broth and flavors were tasty, the lack of service, the poor seating plan, the lack of attention to details, the not so fresh quality and minimal size portions all added to the overall negative experience for me. Perhaps Little Q will get better once they are more situated. At least that is my hope. If the ratings changes, I hope to give them another try. But as of present, I prefer Kaze and would take the extra 5 minutes walk. This place is last on my list for hot pot in the Chinatown area.
(2)Julie C.
I love Hot Pot. SO much, that I can here 2 days in a row. I have never been to the Lil Q in Quincy but this place is great! IMO,this is better than Shabu Shabu since you get a huge bowl of broth. (tom yum is the best) and a combo plate fills you up whether you eat at lunch (half off dinner price) or dinner. Service is ok. they aren't super quick and you need to ask for water. Sit at the bar is cool, the bartender is really cool (the guy from Wrentham/Dedham) he makes a mean cocktail. I could eat this almost everyday.
(5)Paul R.
Fantastic hot pot. This play is delicious!
(5)Cindy T.
To start off, I'd like to emphasize the following strong statement about Q Hotpot in Chinatown: I COULD LIVE HERE AND DIE HERE HAPPILY AND FULFILLED. I love this place. The first time I visited this hotpot heaven was with my parents when they were visiting Boston in the early fall. I don't know about your Chinese parents, but mine are notoriously hard-to-please at Chinese restaurants and make sport out of nit-picking all Asian cuisine prepared outside of their home all of the time. This is why I was feeling very hesitant when we walked into the Q Restaurant on a whim after being attracted by the bright blue bubble wall near the entrance when we were wandering Chinatown. First off, the ambience/cleanliness/modern decor of this place is excellent. And I'm not just saying for Chinatown. This place is snazzy. The service is also very fast, and maybe I'm just saying this because I go there at least once a week, but the staff is super-friendly and helpful. AND THEN THERE IS THE FOOD! IT IS EXCELLENT! I usually get the mala hotpot broth with the high choice lamb combo with ST noodles, and I add on extra veggies like napa cabbage, bok choy, spinach, those delish enoki mushrooms. Lamb is the authentic hotpot meat of choice, and having been to the real Q Hotpot counterpart (Xiao Mian Yang) as well as other great ones in China where they serve fantastic lamb, I found Q to be JUST AS GOOD IF NOT BETTER. The lamb is sliced expertly super thin and is perfect for hotpot. I've tried other broths as well, like the seafood and the standard chicken broth, and the veggie broth, and they are all good too. But as capsaicin tends to jumpstart the metabolism (my excuse for extra-spicy food) I like the mala broth best. It gets spicier as it stews...OMG. I also always get the spicy chicken feet. They are marinated in jalapeno/rice wine and are not like the chicken feet typically found at dimsum places that are braised in soy sauce and soggy. These Q chicken feet are some of the best I've had: spicy, with great texture and chew-factor. I convinced my bf to try them after he'd sworn off chicken feet after some bad dimsum experiences and EVEN HE LIKED THEM. Or at least this is what he told me to make me happy. On the rare occasion I don't get the hotpot, I order the mala noodle soup with pork and it is also delish! And I have also gotten the beef chow fun, it is also pretty good. Although the waitress told me that they sell the chow fun in limited quantities so you have to get there kind of early for it? IDK what she meant really... I've also had the sushi: Q roll. It was correspondingly good as well. Also! THE WATERMELON SMOOTHIE IS TO DIE FOR. GET IT. Anyways, I digress. All you need to know is that the Q is a hotpot haven. Go there. I hope you love it just as much as I do. xoxo, Gossip Girl
(5)Alejandro G.
Q is a great restaurant, not your average chinese restaurant. Service is fun and very helpful with explaining dishes, my waiter even showed my mom how to eat and combine the hot pot ingredients. The Hot Pot is awesome, don't have it for yourself, always share it with somebody else since is humongous! Good selection of food, the also have a sushi bar. A bit pricey, but like i said, not your average chinese restaurant.
(4)An L.
The Mala hot pot which was described as a favourite was much too spicy for our palates but the Mongoloian veggie broth was very nice along with the combination of veges. Lots of Lady Gaga music here.
(3)Sidi L.
It's good in boston...not expensive. Be careful with the hottest potï¼last time we ordered that my BF bought me two tubs of ice cream to relieve the spicy tasteï¼ï¼it's a good place for date；）
(5)Misha T.
You're a big of a fool if you get anything that doesn't come raw and require being dunked in the hot pot. My soup recs would be the herbal and spicy. I didn't think medium was that hot so I'd say go for the hot, let your tongue get mala tingly and ride the wave. They don't seem to have fishballs which is a real shame. The waiter didn't even know what they are and that was a little shocking. PS. your jacket, especially shells will just smell like hot pot for days so if this is a problem put them somewhere else.
(4)Crystal E.
Love the happy hour special, although I would love to try the hot pot. Seems really good. Will definitely go back again.
(4)Jeff P.
After a recent extended wait at the DMV, we came into Q for a quick lunch as we had plenty of time. What an excellent surprise! Q was clean, with a nice atmosphere and very reasonably priced lunch specials. I got the shrimp pad thai and it was delicious! My girlfriends dish was equally awesome. Food came quickly and in reasonable portions, our water was always full, and our server was great despite how busy they were. We'd definitely come back and look forward trying to hot pot.
(4)Han P.
What can I say?! The best hot pot in Boston. No doubt. I have been a fan of this restaurant since it was reopened at Washington St. Q is one of the reasons why I love coming bk to Boston. Nuff said!!!! If you are someone looking to enjoy a great hot pot meal, you have found your place!!!! Woohoo!!!
(5)Mary Ann D.
Excellent sushi! Loved the atmosphere. Really fun dining experience.
(5)Daphnee D.
I've been here twice with a large group of friends. No reservations needed they were able to accommodate us, I played temple run on their ipad while we waited to be seated. Easy to find. Easily accessible via T. Street parking or parking at the archstone garage. AND they validate your parking! Joyyyy. Great music, good menu. First time I went I had the chicken pad thai which was delish and the last time I went I was so hungry I just got a whole bunch of appetizers and was highly satisfied. Good pricing check it out. 3 stars for Q because my friend's fried chicken was not fully cooked and we know raw chicken is detrimental to our health. We do not like salmonella. They nicely threw the bird back in the fryer though. great customer service! Q you get a B.
(3)Yours Truly B.
this was my second having hot pot and it was by far a much better experience. the atmosphere is great, a very cool and CLEAN lounge vibe with a nice bar area. the menu was great, food and drink, lots of choices. we went with their smoothies and combines flavors, i had a strawberry/watermelon and it was awesome! for our meal we ordered the mala and tomyum broths. the mala was extremely spicy (i had ordered it that way) and was amazing. the best part was the variety of vegetables, meats and noodles. they had just about anything you could imagine and everything we ordered came out fresh! also extremely large portions for the price. the waitstaff was great, extremely friendly and helpful. i don't think i've ever seen a restaurant this clean, including the bathrooms, especially in chinatown. this is a MUST try restaurant!!
(4)Anne E.
Do NOT eat here if you have food allergies. They lied about my food being gluten free.
(1)Bryan B.
Came here last week as a new place to try with the girlfriend and we were both pleasantly surprised. Q feels completely out of place in chinatown, but definitely in a good way. Its a refreshing change to get (what I'm assuming is) authentic Chinese/Japanese (sushi) food in an environment that doesnt make you feel out of place as an english speaking white person. The whole place has an extremely modern yet classy feel to it from the blue lighted bubbling walls as you enter right now to the silverware everything feels completely brand new (as it should only having opened a few weeks ago). Since neither of us had been to a hot pot place before we both got the surf and turf combo (choice of 2: beef, lamb, chicken, pork dinner along with the mala, and vegetable broths and a spicy tuna roll to split. It's a lot of food but come hungry and you should be able to finish mostly everything. Everything we ate was very good and all the seafood tasted very fresh (especially the mussles mmmmm). Be warned though, while the mala broth is very good with the meats and seafood, put something in it that will soak it up i.e veggies or tofu and your mouth will be on fire. The spicy tuna roll was one of the better ones I've had and I would come back here just to try more of the sushi. A note on the service, as they're new we were originally assigned a waitress who was trying to serve without her trainer for the very first night. I'm sure she would have been fine for people that are familiar with hot pot style dining however she couldn't answer any of our questions and quickly became frustrated. Thankfully she called over her former trainer who was extremely knowledgeable offering tips on how to cook things and recommendations on what to order. He was great and he got a big tip for being so helpful and understanding with us first timers. Overall Food: hot pot 3 stars (it was good but nothing incredible) sushi definitely 4 stars (great but nothing really creative/special to push it to 5) Atmosphere: 4 stars Service: Not counting the first waitress, 5 stars we'll be back, most likely for the sushi
(4)Sunny K.
The bf and I have been here a good number of times and each time has been about the same. Though it's a bit pricey, esp for the special sushi rolls, we try to come here for special occassions and such. I'm not a fan of the cocktails here, they are either too strong or too sweet. One of the raspberry vodka martinis tasted like cough syrup and it was really hard to finish it. I ended up just not drinking the remaining half of the drink. Anyways, the hotpot broth is the best here. We always get the Mongolian broth. Ordering the meat combo gets you a side of veggies as well. Along with hotpot, we also always get the Q sushi roll. It is the BEST roll we've ever tasted. I have to admit, $16 for one special roll is too much but since we don't come that often, it's okay once in awhile. The bonito flakes on that sushi roll is the perfect topping. In all, I would say the envt & food is pretty good. We've had a few issues with waiters in the past taking too long to get our order or bringing our check. My other issue would be the pricing of its menu items because this place is definitely not cheap.
(3)Neil R.
Best Hot Pot in Boston. Try the Mala broth.
(5)Melissa K.
First time coming here the other night and I was not disappointed! The decor is trending and the waiting/bar area is pretty spacious for cramped chinatown. I love hot pot so much and the best part this place had fantastic sides! We had a large crew of people and there are table that accommodates for TWO hot pots which is fantastic!! The sushi here looked great too. I was too full to try any but I'll be sure to leave room for it the next time!!!
(4)Sahara S.
Very nice staff and better food. This was one of my first spots eating from after moving to Boston and I love it! The fish and asparagus is my 1 year old son's favorite.
(5)Peavey D.
I was really excited to try out the new Little Q especially when finding out it was opening in the Archstone building, however I was really disappointed. The atmosphere in the restaurant was impressive but the food and wait staff were highly disappointing. We went during lunch time and the lunch menu seemed decently priced with all hot pot combinations under $10. Once we got our food we realized why it was so inexpensive. The portions were extremely tiny and hardly felt like a meal. Each combo comes with a side of noodles but the amount was obsurdly minimal. The wait staff were friendly but very unattentive. They were more intent on talking to each other rather than paying attention to the guests in the restaurant. I highly doubt i will go back.
(2)Justin I.
Went here three times last fall when they first opened, then again a couple weeks ago with the in-laws. The first couple of times I went alone and sat at the bar. I was killing some time between work and the wife's rehearsals over in the Theater District. The bartender was really cool and they had some decent beer on tap. I had the crab rangoons and some soup to start, then I tried some sushi. All of the rolls are good. The most recent time we sat in the main dinning area and had a great time. It was busy and the service was a little delayed but it was not bad enough to complain or take off any stars. The crab rangoons are some of the best we've ever had and this time we got some steamed wantons that were very delicious. We also got some edamame and we had more sushi rolls than we could handle. The bathrooms are cool and the whole building is interesting and unique. Still have yet to sit at the actual sushi bar and we have not tried the hot pot yet because the sushi is just too good to skip. If you like sushi, you've to to try this place!
(5)Edward B.
Great food, ambience, nice staff, be patient with the new ones, clean. Japanese dumplings, crabrangoons - excellent.
(4)Dennis J.
Delicious hot pot
(5)Freddie C.
awesome service...we sat at the bar and there was no bartender on duty so a server took care of us...we had the "red sox roll" which was so fresh and delicious...it truly was one of the best rolls we've had in years. then we had the "midnight roll" and i thought it was just as good as the "red sox roll". both were amazing...so we got another "red sox roll" again just to make sure it was as delicious as we'd thought and it was...anyway, everything was so good we're going back tomorrow for a big meal before we head out of town. we really wanna try their hot pot.
(5)Mara M.
Really not that great. The best part of the restaurant is the atmosphere, which is really quite nice. We went for Shabu-shabu, and were completely underwhelmed with the tastiness of our food - we got the spicy broth (which was hot and flavorless somehow) and I think Tom Yum, also surprisingly flavorless. We had some kind of meat and a rather nice mushroom platter, but it was hard to get into it given the blah broth. The portions were rather small, and even with some (unremarkable) sushi, we left not feeling very satisfied. Given the number of great shabu-shabu options in Chinatown, I would recommend checking another place out.
(2)gwendolyn g.
my favorite restaurant! they get EVERYTHING right. nice ambiance, polite servers who speak english, they remember their regulars and their hotpot is GREAT. the sushi is good, too. i see people coming into to this place and ordering non-hot pot around me....WHY??? my favorite broth is the black bone chicken. the shell on shrimp is especially delicious for some reason and their meat is high quality. they have a wonderful assortment of veggies and the veggies are always clean. by far the best hotpot place around boston. i crave this place. it couldn't be better for me. they are just that good. oh, i also love the fish tofu. yum yum yum
(5)Eddie G.
Stopped in on a busy Friday night and sat at the bar for a few minutes chatting with Nick the GM. Super friendly.... The food was yummy, I had the steamed pot stickers and crab rangoons. Both were delicious. I am really eager to try the hot pot :) Check it out. Fun place.
(4)J R.
The hot pot is a great and has every imaginable meat or vegetable you could think of to add to the broth. As another reviewer said, it can get very warm inside due to the steam and heat from the pots, so keep that in mind. The service was super quick and we needed to add a few more things after we started eating, them came out immediately. Fun place for group meals.
(4)Khanh P.
Fancy schmancy! Recently came here for dinner to celebrate a friend's birthday. Now my review is strictly on sushi since we opted out on hotpot (originally came for hotpot but we kept eyeballing the sushi lol). We started out at the bar since it was Thursday night and had to wait about 20 minutes for our table. The bartender was very nice and honest in recommending drinks. If I remember correctly I chose the Mango bellini and it was okay and not really what I expected. The drinks are on the pricier side due to the size that they're served in ($10 drink served in a champagne glass). Comparable to club-size drinks. Food: spicy salmon roll sweetheart roll midnight roll avocado salad spicy seafood salad pickled chicken feet Appetizers came out in a pretty moderate size, sushi rolls were pretty good especially the midnight roll, it definitely spiced things up for me. Sushi quality is worth your money and you can't go wrong. Overall, the place is fun to come and eat with a small group of friends. I felt that the spacing was a little too close for comfort. The decor of the restaurant gives it a classy feel.
(4)Tina W.
The service is pretty good. The girl who served us is so nice. And the food is pretty good. But a little bit expensiv
(4)Kerri M.
Meh. Picked Q for all the good reviews. Service sucked and food was sub-par. Beer was barley chilly. Disappointed, would not recommend.
(2)Manfred S.
Very nice hot pot. The Ma La broth was fantastic. Very unique subtle herbal taste. Service was nice and efficient. Much nicer than most Chinatown places. Discounted parking at Archstone next door with validation from Q.
(4)Candy T.
I Love their lunch hot pot...Lol... sometimes we sneak out and had long lunch there... Well not recommended to go at night Coz it's aways Full house by 5ish.....（￣￣）
(4)boom b.
For MY tastes, the Mela broth was not at all spicy and too greasy. Even so, the Mela Seafood soup was tasty and the quality of food was impressive, particulary given the price. Service was friendly and nice but so very slow -- even though the restaurant wasn't busy. There's an alarming amount of dust on the upper walls and ceilings........very visible in daylight. I hope they will deal with the dust issue very soon.
(3)Anabela S.
I had a fantastic experience here with my boyfriend. We arrived around 7pm on a Wednesday night and was told it would be about 45min to an hour wait. Luckily we chose to sit and eat at the bar since we weren't planning to order Hot Pot. Ginger Ale is served with a candied ginger stick. Yum! For appetizers we had fried pot stickers and crab rangoon. Both were delicious and tasted very fresh. My entree was Udon chicken and he ordered Pad Thai. Both were large portions and extremely tasty! We had no left overs. We ordered fried green tea ice cream which was a splendid ending to a satisfying date night!! We will definitely be returning. Two thumbs up for Q Restaurant!
(5)Juliet N.
Came here on a double date before heading to a tour a few blocks away. We had a great experience. We knew we wanted asian food, but the reviews for most of little Mom and Pop businesses in Chinatown suggested the servers were rude and that you should not go if you don't speak Chinese or "don't know what you're doing." That's a lot of pressure for a fun night out so we chose Q Restaurant, on the edge of Chinatown instead. Four of us shared the pot stickers and crab rangoon, both tasty but I don't think I would order the pot stickers again. The crab rangoon was delicious. My husband and one friend ordered some sushi rolls and both really enjoyed them. I had the sesame chicken with white rice and thought it was great. High quality chicken with a delicious sauce that wasn't too sweet. Our other friend had the mango chicken and really liked the flavors in that. Our server was friendly and attentive. When he wasn't around another staff member (manager maybe) made sure to be in the area and fill drinks and check on his tables. The place looks clean and modern. The tables are ready for hot pot orders too, if that's what you're into. Overall a great experience, would definitely go back.
(4)Rachel N.
Earlier review redacted - while I may never crave Q's solidly mediocre/totally catering to a gringo audience sushi, I ALWAYS crave Q's hot pot. Always. Like at least once a week I find myself thinking, "damn, I wish I was sitting around a table w/ an electric boiler in the middle of it, making it rain kombocha squash, enoki shrooms, and hella baby bok choy into some steaming broth right now" - seriously - I find it truly scrumptious, and always worth the dry cleaning bill that follows it as the smell of hot pot deliciousness lingers on everything that came w/in a 50 foot radius of it. Broths are $3-5ish, meats are around $10-15, and most of the veg are $3-6 -- you can make an effing delicious soup for not a ton of cash, which is always a win. The decor is still totally weird - that water feature when you enter gives it this strange aquarium vibe - I always kind of leave the place feeling like I stepped out of reality for a hot second - and service is always absent, kind of friendly, but also kind of incompetent. OH, on the drink front, per my dates last night, the Q-Rita is dellllicious, and they do have Knob Creek, which is one of my bourbons of choice. Worth a trip.
(4)Michael C.
Simply, this place is like the Cheesecake Factory of Asian Cuisine. They have an expansive menu that is organized mostly by region (American Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Hot Pot). We ended getting an order of Crab Rangoons and a couple of sushi rolls. Both were pretty standard and unmemorable. The service was fine as well. While the place has a classy interior and exterior especially for Chinatown but the ventilation is pretty poor and your cloths will stink of the food cooked here.
(3)Regina F.
My father is a WASP. My father is a WASP who ate only grilled chicken and steamed broccoli for years. My father is a WASP who ate only grilled chicken and steamed broccoli for years, and still orders his salmon well-done because he thinks any dark pink indicates salmonella. My father is a WASP who ate only grilled chicken and steamed broccoli for years, and still orders his salmon well-done because he thinks any dark pink indicates salmonella and HE LIKED Q. Not just liked, loved. And I love Q too. As does my mother, who is not a WASP, but is of Asian origins. Q is the place to go when you want to warm your soul. The beauty of Q is in its adaptability to any diet/lifestyle. If you're an animal loving vegan/vegetarian, you can get a giant pot of boiling vegetarian broth with which to fill with an assortment of vegetables (pumpkin! lotus! spinach!) and tofu (silken! frozen! fried!). If you're a pescetarian, you can have your fill of sea creatures (fish balls! scallops! seaweed!). If you're a carnivore without remorse, you will most definitely not be without meat (kobe beef! pork dumplings! tripe!). Everything is super fresh, super clean and super efficient. Of course, the service is - um - what it is. The cocktails are creative, though the bubble tea is a tad too sweet. For an appetizer, the scallion pancakes are brilliantly fried, with just the perfect amount of dough and crisp to keep your stomach calm until your broth is boiling. And...I suppose, if you're not into soup, there's always sushi, various types of stir fry dishes and a bathroom for you to go cry in once all of your friends abandon you for your idiocy.
(5)Dan H.
Boom. Just left. Happy Hour specials are awesome. Important to know that the bar happy hour special means the bar only... not the tables in the bar. Still the bartender told us up front so no surprises. My wife and I had a drink so we got 4 half price appetizers. Potstickers, calamari, beef terriaki, spring rolls... ALL AWESOME! can't wait to go back and try the Hotpot
(5)Jula B.
I came here when visiting my sister up in Boston, and ever since I've been dreaming about the hot pot at this place--it was so delicious! When I visited Q, I had never experienced the Chinese hot pot before, but I'd always heard people raving about it. When my sister suggested this place, I jumped at the chance to try it, and I was not let down. We got the hot pot and filled it with an assortment of meats, seafood, tofu, and veggies. The broth was seriously amazing--we got both spicy and regular--and I loved how the cloves of garlic exploded in my mouth after they'd been cooking in the pot for so long. It was truly a great experience. Plus, considering all of the food we got, the bill wasn't too outrageous. The wait was long but the quality made it worth it. I'm eagerly awaiting my next meal at this place the next time I'm in town!
(4)Alistair B.
good and reasonably priced chinese hot pot. Not sure if it is actually related to "Little Sheep" hot pot on the west coast, but it is very similar. Nice ambience and good food. Perfect for cold winter nights if you can handle the spicy!! We had the lamb and beef combo which included assorted vegetables and noodles to add to the pot. yum.
(4)Fiona V.
Great hot pot spot!! And it's not runned by Chinese...
(5)Ellie W.
The food here is ok--I still prefer Shabu Zen for hot pot--but the service is a little lacking here. It took me 15 minutes to get green tea. Yeah. Green tea. I probably could've walked home and made it myself before I got it at the restaurant. Yes, the prominence of iPads all around the restaurant is quite 2012 cool. Welcome modern-day technology. But this is 2013, and my stomach doesn't go to restaurants for iPads. It wants food. And couldn't give a damn about opening up the Fruit Ninja app when it ain't gots no food in it. The hot pot is decent--we got the really spicy broth and the tom yum broth. Both were pretty good, but didn't blow me away. This is one of my friend's favorite hot pot joints, but I just can't quite give it the top spot, or even top 3 spots, in my list of favorite hot pot restaurants. Sorry, Q. Mind-blowing hot pot? There's no app for that.
(3)Bobbie W.
I was in Boston for work and was craving some Asian comfort food like crazy. I yelped this place and decided to try out their hot pot. I was pleasantly surprised. They serve ALL kinds of Asian food: Japanese, Thai, and Chinese. The service was really good and the restaurant is pretty nice inside. They have ipads for you to play with while you wait. I got the beef hot pot in regular beef broth. There was a good variety of veggies and sauces and a good serving of meat which was pretty tender. The only thing I didn't like was the broth had a lot of MSG in it. It tasted good but it's all due to that white, crystally substance. All my coworkers enjoyed their dishes as well: pad thai, a roll and Shanghai chow mein. I didn't get to try anything else so this review is just for their hot pot.
(3)Mayuri S.
The worst place ever! We were told to wait for 30 minutes and people who came after us were seated before us. Why... Because the host seemed to know these people. And then when it was finally our turn, we were asked to sit on a weird "shared" table (which had two people sitting there already) and the previous group was given a booth. The reason given to us for that was because we were three and the people who came after us were four. So I guess if you ever want to go to this place please make sure that you go in an even number unless you want to share your table with strangers. P.S. This might not happen to you if you know the host! Worst customer service ever!!!
(1)Milla J.
I always want to try this restaurant but never managed to get in until today. Pros: very nice atmosphere. High ceiling, nice decor. Wait staff is very friendly. Validated parking for only 6 dollars after 4pm. Cons: Food is expensive for hotpot. The corn I had is a bit rotten. Tables are close to each other so it's a bit congested.
(3)Linda M.
Really expensive and bad service, the waitress was talking to someone else and did not serve at all. But she added 18% tips to our bill automatically at last!!! Don't go to this restaurant.
(1)Laura S.
My best friend and I discovered this place when it first opened a couple years ago. We had no idea it was new and were just looking for something fun and fresh to try. The staff was so attentive; the manager even checked in on us to make sure everything was good. We thought that was great and kept coming back. We almost always had the same waiter, and he began to remember us because we always got the same drink (dragon lotus). He's now become some level of manager, but hasn't forgotten us, and our signature drink! The sushi is amazing and fresh and comes in so many wonderful combinations we still have new rolls to try 2 years later. The hot pot is so much fun to do with a group of friends. Theres so many vegetables, you don't leave feeling overly full and weighed down. And the drinks! They're great! Of course I think everyone should try the dragon lotus...at least once ;) I'm happy to see they've become as busy as they have now...but on that note, you should definitely call ahead. They don't take reservations, but you can call ahead and get your name on the list and avoid a possible hour and a half wait. Well worth the wait if you find yourself there though!! I'm a fan for life :)
(5)Matt M.
Amazing! The sushi was fresh and you could see the chef prepare it. The potstickers came out fast and has a tasty sauce. We got the house beer and the maka broth (slightly hot). The surf and turf had enough food to feed two, all of the ball where delicious, beef tongue had tons of flavor. With all the food and drinking the bill was cheaper than expected. I look forward to coming back soon!
(5)Chloe S.
In one word: EXCELLENT. I've never had hot pot before, but after this place, I ABSOLUTELY will be having hot pot more. Like a lot more. I got the Tom Yum broth and the beef and lamb. Delicious! They bring all the food out in beautiful little rolls in these little pyramids. The broth was spectacular and exactly how Tom Yum should taste. The meats were fresh tasting and very evenly cut for good cooking time. Portion sizes are totally adequate. For two people we had two broths, one plate of: meat, tofu, bok choy, mushrooms, gluten balls, Chinese broccoli, and soba noodles and it was the perfect size for 2 people. The price is very reasonable. With drinks for both of us our whole meal was about $50 including tip. It's a good place to go for a date. It's silly to rate a restaurant down because the wait time is long. The place is already huge and they have a call ahead system (you can call up to 30 minutes ahead of time). It's packed because it's great. I had NO problems with the service. It was very fast and our server was very friendly and quick. We called ahead but still had to wait 20 minutes and they continuously apologized to us for the wait.
(5)Cody C.
Late night fried rice.... yes. Very tasty..... soaks up all of the alcohol... which is really the only reason to be eating late night fried rice. Late night sushi.... never again. It was a bad judgement call on my part.... but i usually trust 4 yelp star restaurants. Left the sushi on the platter... Yellowtail was completely cooked through and tough. Unagi just didn't taste right. Won't be coming back even for hot pot when there are so many other options available. Also Q seemed to be more of a college crowd than i prefer.
(2)Angela S.
Expensive for hotpot, but a fancier atmosphere. The basic beef soup is very nice, for a free soup base. My friend tried the super spicy mala soup, which was pretty killer. The meat was good, but cut slightly thick. I would recommend the beef and lamb combo to get the most bang for your buck. I paid about $20 for just the lamb plate, which comes with a small basket of assorted veggies and choice of various noodles or rice (okay but not sure who eats rice with hotpot...). The serving amount is enough to be full and the quality of meat was decent, so I still let this get 4 stars. Not sure I would go again because it's pricey and catered more to nicer occasions and Westerners.
(4)Melanie M.
Yay for hot pot. I got the mala broth and even though the waitress said she would take the spice level down a notch, it was still incredibly spicy. The next time I go, i'll remove a lot of the red chili's that are floating around in the broth before they cook. With that being said, the broth was very good. I got the beef lunch special hot pot and my friend got the shrimp. We shared the same mala broth instead of doing a yin and yang pot. I was more than full when I left and didn't finish everything. The service was a little slow, but they were really friendly. We had to find someone at the end to get our check.
(4)Shayna C.
I've been frequenting this restaurant as of late, because I can't get enough of the high quality food and great service. My last two experiences the past month have been wonderful. The staff is friendly, and attentive. I'd like to make a shoutout to Lucy, who was an absolute delight when I went two weeks ago! I took two friends, and she was so energetic and sociable, and really took care of us while we were there. Q Restaurant is so affordable for the quality of food that you receive, and the volume of which you get for your dollar. For $100, my two friends and myself got lamb, beef, short rib, squid, lotus root, broccoli, snow peas, spinach, potatoes, asparagus, rice noodles, and three drinks from the bar and one smoothie. We also ordered a dessert that we split between the three of us. Trust my word when I say there was a lot of food; we got what we paid for and then some! Without the drinks from the bar, we paid around $20 a person to leave full. All and all, this is one hot pot restaurant that you shouldn't walk past in Chinatown. It's worth stopping in. I'd recommend calling ahead though; my friends and I did that, and we only had a fifteen minute wait. After we arrived, there was a swarm of people and the wait ended up getting to the 30-45min mark. So calling ahead a half hour will help you get a table faster!
(5)Amelia A.
His: Great service. Tried hotpot. Going to be smelly after you finish. Not bad. Hers: Hot Pot is always a fun time! It was nice to do on a cold day! We got the satay broth, which actually wasn't spicy as advertised, but still yummy. The Beef and Lamb meat was good, as was the Veggie Platter - especially the baby bok choy! The Seafood Platter was also a nice addition - however the fish tended to get lost at the bottom of the bowl (maybe it was supposed to be eaten as sashimi? oops?) The only thing that I didn't really like was the Ball Platter (came with shrimp, beef, chicken, and fish; the only one I liked was the fish). The Tofu Platter was good too! I didn't realize tofu could be all that different... I didn't care for the what I think is called tofu skin, but the others were really good!
(4)Guillermo M.
3.5 stars. The hot pot is great and it is great value (more affordable than other restaurants). However the restaurant is relatively small and it gets crowded with long waits. That is why I would prefer Shabu Zen in Allston/Brighton, it has much more space and can accommodate groups faster.
(4)Bart R.
The place had greats food. Had beef and chicken in the hotspot, with a number of vegetables, and it was delicious. Also got peanut sauce which was great. Only thing is that you need to order a lot to fill yourself up, which can add up. However there is a 10% student discount, which should be used.
(4)Byron D.
"I love the hot pot! " I just love this restaurant.. the staff here is really high caliber, the food here is excellent quality. I would not give any other hot pot experience restaurant a higher rating. We have been so pleased with our experience we will go a couple T-Stops out of my way to visit. Great for all ages! Great for picky eaters and people with food sensitivities. They make their broth from scratch and will tell you anything you want to know about the ingredients. The staff have been so accommodating, polite and helpful, I wish they were closer.
(5)Lina J.
ordered one of their specialty rolls and it was pretty good the crazy roll, spicy but no to spicy. pretty good. their menu have so many options that I have to come back soon. unfortunately didn't make it for happy hour but they offer good options if you come 4 to 7. the chicken teriyaki looked great too.
(4)Kristine M.
This place... is a dream. I'm not from Boston, I'm from the Washington, D.C. area and given the diversity around there you'd think we'd have a comparable hot pot place. But we don't. So I yearn for Q from afar... Atmosphere is clean, classy, modern. The herbs/spices/dips are cutely presented, as is the vegetable basket. The drinks are creative and don't skimp on alcohol. But the best part? THE BROTHS. The broths, the broths!! Tom yum! Satay! Not watered-down! PACKED with flavor! And you can have TWO at the same time! You're supposed to only dip the meats/veggies into the broth to cook it? Screw that. I was slurping the soup the entire way through. And had plenty to bring back home (they were good about that, thank goodness). Worth every penny of my $20. *sigh* Take me back.
(5)Michelle C.
I use to go there almost every other week, the owner was nice, staff were friendly. But I went there the other night and it wasn't anything like the Q restaurant that I use to go. The food was okay, staff were not helpful. Disappointed.
(3)Gina D.
I love this place. Whenever we are in the area we go here. I have not tried the hot pot yet but am dying to get it here. Their sushi is so fresh and is just great. I get the beef ramen a lot and the beef is tender and the broth is tastey. The crab rangoons are made fresh to order and they are awesome. The only reason that I gave them four stars is because there is always a really long wait and I don't like the girls who are the hostesses. They have a call ahead seating where they will put your name on the list 30 mins before you arrive. That's cool but then when we arrived the last time the idiots didn't write our name down on the list and tried to make me seem stupid and called the Quincy location. I did not call the other location and the girl refused to look at my recent calls as she was too busy trying to do something else. We ended up eating at the bar instead because I didn't want to sit at the sushi bar, I wanted an actual table. The bar tenders were both really awesome and gave us a free shot.
(4)Alon L.
For those unfamiliar with hot pot, you order a big boiling pot of broth and a bunch of mostly uncooked dishes (veggies, meats, noodles, dumplings). You then toss in the food in small portions at a time, wait a few minutes, then eat! Good hot pot places season the broth well and may marinate the meat (varies) . Well, Q is a solid hot pot option. The broth is quite good, even the plain no-extra cost broth. You could really just drink this stuff like a soup. We also had the spicy mala broth, which is tasty but only if you're a spicy fan. The meat and veggies were nicely portioned. If you stomach space, the red velvet cake ice cream was a great finish! We found the service to be prompt and friendly. One complaint - we never had our broth topped off, and much of it evaporated toward the end of our meal. At other hot pot places, we usually have frequent broth refills, which makes it easier to cook the food. Best of all, the price is very reasonable!
(4)Kimberly T.
What a great place and a fun experience! The hot broth is so yummy and makes the food so flavorful! This place does get very crowded and reservations should be made! We unfortunately didn't have one and waited about an hour. Definitely was worth it though :) this place is great and pretty inexpensive for what you get. Definitely try it!
(4)Kevin W.
Food is amazing and I'm from a Hot Pot laden country! The hot pot is as good as it gets here, I usually get the herbal broth and the boneless short rib meal with a ton of extras. The only reason this place gets a 4 instead of a 5 is the service is sub-par and the wait is always excruciating. Can't control that I guess...
(4)Beth S.
This is a "fun" sushi bar. Delicious drinks, seafood salad, gyoza, and a very nice happy hour deal on apps.
(4)Nashrah R.
Q has amazing flavorsome broths compared to other places like Shabu Zen. However, their sides are smaller, which means that your wallet at the end feels a whole lot lighter. The atmosphere at Q is a little too dark and unwelcoming for my taste. We went there for lunch on a weekday so understandably it was less crowded but the quietness and general layout of the place just seems a little too on the slick side.
(3)Sarai B.
I absolutely LOVE Q! I highly recommend this restaurant. Great vibe, great drinks, affordable food prices, great music and fun staff. Harry-the bartender is the best!
(5)Jinyoung S.
I haven't tried hot pot but sushi. They have open sushi bar and It's pretty delicious and fresh. I would like to go and try hot pot for sure.
(4)Jon S.
So I had never eaten Hot Pot in my life before moving to Boston. My first time was at this jank place in Chinatown (whose name I can't remember) that should probably be written up by the health inspectors for a disregard for cleanliness. Thankfully, this place is completely different. The restaurant at least appears clean, and has a modern feel to it. It's a little loud inside and they bump Top 40 in there which doesn't help, but it's not ridiculous where you have to shout across the table. It gets busy, I think we had to wait around thirty minutes. The food came out fast, but I guess it should given that you cook it yourself. I ordered the Angus Sirloin combo which was pretty cheap at $13. Includes a bowl of rice and a large basket of veggies. The meat wasn't fatty, and the veggies looked and tasted fresh. We ordered the chicken bone (I think that's what it was called) soup and it was surprisingly flavorful. I also liked the fact that they brought out dishes of garlic, chili, some weird sauce, cilantro, and green onions so you could make your own to your tasting. I didn't care for the sauce (someone called it BBQ sauce, but it's definitely NOT bbq). Overall I left full and satisfied. I'll definitely be back, particularly in the upcoming cold months.
(4)Leah S.
After having hot pot in it's birthplace, Chongqing, this summer, I decided to try it out here in the states. This place did not disappoint. Our waitress was super friendly and very interested in helping us have the best experience possible, giving helpful recommendations that were not overbearing. We had to wait at the bar for a little while, as it's a small place. I had the Feng Shui cocktail, which was good if you like lychee. The potstickers we ordered as an appetizer were quite good. My only complaint with the whole meal was that she forgot to bring the sushi roll that I ordered. Our hot pot had half mushroom broth, half mala broth. The mala was just spicy enough to give the sirloin that we ordered a delicious, flavorful taste. We also had chicken, pork balls, lotus, noodles, mushrooms, and the vegetable assortment that came with the meal. If you have a big appetite, you should probably get more than we did, but it was enough for the two of us. My favorite part of this meal was the la jiao, which I had been missing from my time in China. Dessert was a cheesecake brulee, which was tasty, although definitely not made in house. I'd recommend this place to anyone who hasn't tried hot pot before!
(5)K J.
Food deliious! AMAZING atmosphere! Theyserve hot pot, sushi and more comfortablle meals like Beef and Broccoli which is what i had. The drink i had was a Sangria mix which was great. only downfall wasmy food came out cold as if it was microwaved, reason i say this is because some portions of my meal were cold. Was bursting with flavor but food temp threw me off a bit. My waiter was great and the desert was fantstic. Check out my pic! #168
(3)Tim K.
Every time we are in Boston, this is a must stop! Their Mongolian hot pot is a thing of beauty. My wife likes everything non-spicy and I like it hot. With their divided hot pots, you get the best of both worlds! I normally order the seafood, but this last visit, I opted for the beef and lamb. Excellent choice! Probably won't go back to the seafood any time soon. We also were blown away by their cold, beef tongue and beef tendon. Throw out all preconceived notions and try them both. The tongue is sliced very thin and is very rich and tender. The only downfalls, it is very noisy. You will be hard pressed to carry on a conversation without shouting. I highly suggest the call ahead seating as this place gets busy.
(4)Drea R.
Went to Q for our first hot pot experience while in Boston. Service was awesome and the food was delicious! We sat at the bar and ordered 1/2 price apps during happy hour and then had the beef and lamb hot pot. The traditional broth was great and so was the Tom yum... But the Tom yum was a bit too spicy. Our server/bartender was very attentive and gave us advice on how to enjoy the hot pot. We will definitely return when in Boston!
(5)Aoran L.
Rude restaurant. They asked us to tip them first, and they add our tips to the bill and get the pretip bill for us to try to fool us to make a second tip!! Bad bussiness man
(1)Julia K.
Hot pot can be a year round treat at Q! The staff is super friendly and all of the meats and veggies are always fresh. The a la cart meat dishes are a bit pricy but I think the quality makes up for it. My favorite broths are the black bone soup and miso. The mah lah is VERY spicy, and can be quite deadly when the vegetable leaves soak up the chili oil. Beware! My favorite drink is the watermelon slushy! It goes well with the steaming hot food!
(4)Arch J.
Love love love this restaurant!! Their Spicy Mala broth is to die for! I moved all over Boston in the last 5 years but always go back to this restaurant. One of my favorite places to eat in Boston!
(5)David B.
Great restaurant! The food is very tasty and you get large portions for the price..... Not that I eat a lot. Great atmosphere and Harry the bartender is on top of things! If you order a side of fried rice, it's enough for 4 people- $8.
(4)Peter Y.
Located in the heart of Chinatown, the Q's interior will make you feel like you're at backbay instead. I love their fish tanks and mahogany tables, but enough about the interior design, and on to the food. They have a bunch of individual dishes that you can order, which cover the obligatory sesame chickens, general tsos, etc... But chances are, you're at the Q for their hotpot, and not their scallion pancakes. And that's good, because that's where the Q really shines. Their hotpot is sooo good. The meat they offer is fresh and well cut, without being too thin or fatty. Their mala broth will also heat you up on a cold, winter day, and give you the kick you've been looking for. The most surprisingly part is that you can get all of this for under $20. For hotpots, that's considered pretty damn cheap.
(5)Tina D.
I Come here for the happy hour most of the time. Half off apps 4-7 and after 9pm if you sit at the bar (each beer you purchase is equal to half off two apps). Beer selection is limited if you want draft beer: Sam Adams, Steel Rail, and Sapporo. Apps are definitely the attraction. Scallion pancakes are nice and crispy, dumplings are nice and juicy, seafood salad is good, but i like the wings most! nice and moist on the inside. the reason i'm giving this place 3 stars is because the hot pot is so so. we also had the ramen here which was not very good and the meat they give you is the thinly sliced meat they used for hotpot which just doesnt go well w/ the Ramen. the Beef Udon noodle soup was just terrible, we literally didnt finish half of it. the soup was very watery and bland, and the meat lacked any kind of flavor. Will continue coming back for half off apps but will not have any kind of soup based food here
(3)Kevin H.
Great food and atmosphere. Have been there a couple times. Unfortunately have to rate a 1 star and probably will not be back based on treatment of staff. I witnessed a wait staff employee being forbidden to use the rest room from 6-9 pm Saturday night and that she just better hold it. While everyone appreciates prompt attentive service you are not guarding the gold at Fort Knox. Unacceptable way to treat staff.
(1)Karen W.
I love this place! Best hot pot in Boston and my favorite restaurant in Chinatown. Their broth is better than Shabu-Zen, Hot Pot Buffet, Swish Shabu in Fenway, or the new Little Lamb in Beacon Hill. Even the basic house broth (no charge) has lots of flavor. The quality of their meat is also much better than the aforementioned places. Standard sauce accompaniments are automatically provided (sa cha, garlic, green onions, cilantro, soy sauce) but you have to ask for sesame sauce / jalapenos - no charge though! Hotpot for us generally comes out to around $15 per person. If you're not in the mood for hotpot, try their noodle soups! This is one of the few restaurants I have seen that successfully serves authentic Chinese cuisine while catering to both Chinese and American clientele. Great ambiance and easy-to-navigate menu. Serious props to them!
(5)George N.
Good place, delicious food. The decor of the restaurant gives it a higher end feel. The prices in my opinion aren't too bad especially for lunch, which is what I came for -- and it's enough food to make you feel satisfied.
(4)Janae G.
Took my little sister here for her 21st birthday and had an amazing night. I was a bit annoyed that it took us forty minutes to be seated despite calling in advance, but the food was everything! The chicken fingers are unbeatable. I had mango chicken and everything was fresh and delicious, my siblings really enjoyed it. The best part of all... they surprised us all by bringing out a birthday cake for my sister which was the icing on the cake - pun intended! I really liked this place and I'll be back.
(4)Sarah D.
Disclaimer: my crappy review is about their reservation policy. I never got a chance to actually eat their food, so it could be great for all I know. I called up Q on a Saturday to make a reservation for later that night. The receptionist said they didn't take reservations, but if I could be there within 30 minutes, she'd just put my name on the list. I gave her my name and we showed up within 30 minutes. I gave her my name, and she said, "Okay, it'll be a 45 minute wait." I thought I misheard her--what's the point of calling ahead if you have to wait 45 minutes?--so I said, "Um, I thought I was on the list." Her response: "You *are* on the list, but people got here before you, and everyone ELSE has to wait 2 hours." So let me get this straight: I call ahead to avoid a wait, like any reasonable person expects, and you hit me with a 45 minute one? Then when I'm surprised, like any reasonable person would be, you try to justify it be saying, "Well, at least you don't have to wait 2 hours!" Um, no thanks. We went around the corner and immediately got a seat at a different place with zero wait (or reservation). Worst policy ever.
(1)Stacey G.
Two weekends ago about 5 of my friends and I went to dinner at Q restaurant near chinatown, Boston. The restaurant is known for hot pots - you cook your own meats and vegetables in a boiling broth - meat takes about 30 seconds and vegetables about 2-3 minutes. I got the vegetarian broth and a variety of vegetables (tofu, broccoli and corn). Everything was very fresh but quite bland. They do provide some dipping "sauces" but some were spicy and another was just simply minced garlic. Overall, it was a fun experience. The wait staff was great - very attentive and friendly. I would probably not order a hot pot again but I wold certainly return because the atmosphere was great for a group.
(3)Khoa N.
I can probably eat this every day, okay, maybe week. I haven't enjoyed hot pot like this for a while since I've only been doing buffet at Van's Shabu and always leave with meat sweats and swearing I'd never do that again. Q is different though. No buffet. And that's an incentive for me to eat moderately. I left full and satisfied, yet still craving for more. Perfect happy medium. America should do away with all-you-can-eat deals. The mala sauce here was delicious. I didn't even do the crazy mala and was already sweating because of its spiciness. Enough to tease my taste buds but not so crazy as to ruin the meal. The tom yum broth was also good, though different from other shabu places. It was milder here with a more sour kick. Still good and interesting not to eat the same thing everywhere. The meat was tender and juicy. I enjoyed the lamb and the Angus prime ribs. Did not get to try any seafood - but I will be back for that in the very near future. The veggies came in a little weaved basket - very nice presentation and different. Also more veggies than a regular plate. But where was my watercress? Hm, that's my favorite shabu veggies and they're skipping out on me (just like Shabu Zen nowadays). I would've ordered it a la carte but the basket had a good amount, plus I had to finish the bf's veggies as well. Next time, I'll come earlier, hopefully when there is a shorter or no wait time so I don't waste my precious tummy space at the bar. Then, I will have more room for more meat, seafood, and my some watercress.
(4)Andrea H.
Love this place! One out of favorite places to get hot pot (next to Swish Shabu in the Fenway area) I love the look of the entire place, very cute, stylish, it just had a great overall atmosphere. The menu is great, a huge selection of items ranging from hot pot, sushi, thai food, and chinese food. I am a big fan of the spider roll, I usually end up getting at least a roll or two every time I come by. My two favorite broth's are the kimchi and the black bone chicken, yummyy. Great selection of veggies with the combo, I do dislike that the udon noodles are an extra charge with the combinations. I've had the lamb combo, seafood, prime rib, etc. Pretty much every combination on the menu and I've never been disappointed with the quality of the meat. The wide selection of foods lets me try something new every time I eat. The pad thai is very good, and so is the fried rice. I also highly recommend the spring roll appetizers, hot crispy goodness! Overall I love the menu, I love the place, and the location is great. There's usually discounts available to knock off a few dollars off your meal. (I get e-mails for 15% off and they even have 10% for students if you ask)
(5)Eugene Y.
Never go to this space They cheat on your credit card I would love to rate zero if possible. I was in Boston last Saturday, and had my lunch in the restaurant. It was the single worst experience I have ever had. First, they gave me something I had not ordered. The unwanted dish was served when i almost finished my lunch, so i asked them to box it for me. The dish they ordered for me was $16, which pushed the final bill to $75, i gave them $86 in total. However, when I checked my banking statement earlier, it turned out to be $96. I hope that was just a mistake, but I would never go to the restaurant again.
(1)Judivelly T.
I ended up waiting for over an hour to be seated for a party of 3. It was crowded but larger parties who had arrived before us got seated quickly and well before us. After all of that, we were seated and our served made up for the previous slack. Our server was attentive and the wait from order to table was less than 10 minutes! If you order the hot pot, know that it is HUGE! Could probably be shared with your entire party. Also, this place is hot- literally. Good food for a reasonable price.
(4)Andrew M.
DOESN'T THIS PLACE REMIND YOU OF LITTLE SHEEP IN SAN DIEGO/SAN GABRIEL IN SO CAL? Okay, maybe I'm the only one who's from there. But this place is pretttty bomb, albeit a bit expensive at the end to feel full. I like this place better than Little Sheep because the broth is lighter and less salty (aka less MSG). The meat and ingredients quality was pretty good, I just wish they had those fish balls with roe inside. :( Service is really friendly and quick, so I'd definitely recommend coming here with friends.
(4)Joseph T.
Q restaurant is a good place, but it's also the most OVERRATED hot pot joint that I ever have been to. I will tell you why: 1)Poor service, 2)Broth quality, and 3)the operation of the place. I will tell you that it has more downs than ups because it's how it goes down in the restaurant scene in Chinatown. However, it's unacceptable and inexcusable. Poor service occurs because I feel that the manager hires bimbo and airhead and FOB servers who don't know how to handle and treat customers and only provide a better dining experience to non-Chinese and some personal and close Asian friend from their social lives. I had this server who did alright, but she took too long to bring the drinks and foods and didn't check up on me and my friend about our dinner. Plus, on busy days, they would ignore any customers who come alone to eat as a single person and not to give him or her a table. Yes, they didn't give me a table when I saw other small tables were available and one of them could be given to me, but I was told that I needed to wait for 20-30 min. The Chinese hostess in the white last Sunday was trying to be a smart-ass to me and said that I needed to be patient. I was patient for more than 30 minutes! I was starving and tired. The broth quality is just average. They are good. I ordered Kimchi flavor, but it's not as good as I have had at Shabu Zen and Kaze. The foods there are very good and the hot pot items are abundant in portions. But I find it disappointing that the any of the broth there doesn't really live up to each's standard level of flavor profiles and spiciness. The operation of the restaurant is a bit of cluttering and if I was the manager, I would have fired the hostess who made me to wait way too long for a single customer who could have had any small table, but it seemed to me that the whole joint caters to a group of people. If you are going to make someone to wait for a certain time, but also ignore him or her at the same time, that's not a good way to practice your business and perform your hostess duty. I mean, seriously, I saw a few of small tables were ready and available, and yet, they let newly arrived customers to get a table ahead of me and left me out hanging? Also, I felt that the hostess was looking at my hearing aid and me wearing a backpack when I entered into the restaurant.I had a feeling that she didn't want to give me a table because I was looking like a deaf Paddington Bear. I got infuriated. I told her that I have decided to leave because she was making me to wait for more than 30 minutes and letting other people to get tables ahead of me and frankly, what kind of hostess she was who preferred to cater to a group of college students and Chinese families. Then she replied to me in a half-ass apology, "Ohhh, I'm sorry." I won't be going there again because of what happened and I strongly don't think that you should go there as a single person who wants to enjoy dining a hot pot alone.
(1)Larissa A.
At this point I have visited The Q numerous times. I miss The Little Q, as I have stated in my quest for new excellent hot pot in the Quincy area. I'll find it I really will. In the meantime, thankfully, Chinatown and The Q are not far away. I adore this place, the ingredients are always fresh and the Tom Yum broth is hands down one of my favorite foods on the planet. Service here is also excellent, some remember you from one visit to the next, some are just efficient. But all are great at their job. A couple of times it felt like we had a new person since they were a tad awkward but nothing to the point that it ruined the experience. The only thing I would change is that the front area is VERY small and makes it a little uncomfortable getting in and out if there is a wait.
(4)Kari C.
This is a great hot pot place near Chinatown if you are looking for something a little bit more upscale and American. I've only had their cooked dishes once and that was the last time I'll ever have it. If I wanted to go pay for overpriced Americanized Chinese food, I would've went to P.F. Chang's. It was decent I guess but not worth it. I prefer authentic food over this any day. I come back here regularly only for the hot pot and some sushi. First off, their drinks here aren't all that great and definitely not worth the price so don't get them. Hot pot is of great quality though. I usually just get the regular broth, lamb combo with udon noodle, extra side of rice cakes, and a spicy salmon roll. All very fresh and delicious. I've tried several hot pot places so trust me on the quality. Sushi is also great here and it doesn't make my stomach queasy like a few other places. Service is pretty good. Maybe not the most enthusiastic but they do come check up on you regularly which is essentially what you need, right? Above average if you compare it to a typical Chinese restaurant. They have mostly younger staff here. They also have a separate group of staff who come out to serve you the hot pot items. I guess my only complaint about this place is the way they manage how the hostess seats you. I was here one time waiting for one friend, it wasn't busy at all, and they refused to seat me until he had arrived. Another time, we came before the rush hour during dinner time, and had asked to be seated in a booth instead of sharing a large group table with another party. Again, wasn't busy at all, probably about 4 booths empty, and they refused to let us sit there. If they were a little bit more generous to the customers in terms of special requests and things of that sort, they would be getting a four and a half star from me. The other note would probably be that they are a little bit more expensive than usual hot pot places but I am not entirely upset over this since you are paying for a bit more cleanliness and quality of the restaurant.
(4)lily l.
It was a nice modern restaurant, but broth lacked flavor. I had the vegetarian hot pot and my entire plate was just mushrooms which I was very disappointed in. And the amount was ridiculously small amount. Not happy. Husband got seafood and came out with barely anything. With so much competition around you I would think that giving some better quality would be in order but I guess not. Think I'll stick with my other hot pot spots. Sowy :(
(3)Kimmy T.
Fancy hot pot place, great foods! I can come back here for their mala, and black chicken broth any day! Their mixed drinks are absolutely delicious! I love their lychee martini and chocolate martini! They also serve sushi, which is not too bad. I'd love to come back again.
(5)Katherine D.
Maybe if I had eaten here during the discounted happy hour I'd be happier about the quality of food, and more likely to ignore the subpar service. I have however, only eaten from the lunch menu. The hot pot is just not great, and the upcharges for broth are disproportionately high for the area. The ramen was pretty much terrible, with large clumps of noodles and tiny sparse strips of meat submerged in a flavorless broth. Cocktails are also just OK. If I do return it will be to ty their happy hour deals at the bar.
(3)Joel S.
I took my girlfriend here for the first time tonight, and was pretty excited about it. I read a lot of reviews here raving about the food--specifically the hotpot portion, but I also saw a few users mentioning poor service. We walked in about 8:10, and had about a 20 minute wait (not bad for Valentine's Day). Immediately to our left was the full bar and most of the rest of the restaurant was to the right. We were promptly greeted and told we'd been put on the waiting list. There are two iPads for customers to play with/browse the web while they wait. Awesome. (We played Angry Birds). What we ordered: Alaskan Roll Black Bone Chicken/Herbal broths with lamb and beef to cook in it. Let me just say, coming into the Q, I thought we would need to get some sort of entree and have the hotpot as kind-of a second dish. No need. The portions are generous, and along with the Alaskan Roll we split, it was plenty. The food was excellent--specifically the lamb cooked in the black chicken bone broth. The veggies were pretty good, but I'm picky when it comes to leafy greens, so I wasn't a huge fan. The bubble tea was good, but the smoothies could use a little more sugar. But the biggest thing for me was the service. Our waiter (his name escapes me) was perfect. He was extremely helpful in explaining to us how to properly use the hotpot and explaining other menu items. Great service, especially considering some of the negetive reviews on here in that department. Overall it was a great date. Good food, atmosphere, music, service, and did I mention great food? I'd eat at this place every day if I wasn't a poor college student. (I dropped about 70 bones after the tip, but this was for two main courses, a side, a bubble tea, a coke, and two smoothies. Not bad.) I highly recommend The Q Restaurant!
(5)Amanda M.
I've been here on two separate occasions, once with a group and once on a date. Both times were wonderful, inexpensive, delicious and fun. One of my friends is a vegetarian, so we really liked that we could choose two different broths so that people could have meat and she could keep it out of hers. Everyone got to pick different things from the menu and by the time the check came we were all really full and expecting to pay a pretty good amount... but were pleasantly surprised with how cheap it ended up being! It is a really fun group or date activity to be able to cook your own meal and I love how easy it is too. We had great service both times which allowed us to keep ordering more things as we finished parts of the meal. I'm definitely hoping to go back soon!
(5)Alexis G.
This is an awesome place to eat if you're ever looking for a Mongolian Hot Pot treat or sushi! Seriously, get a booth and bring some friends and try the Mongolian Hot Pot. They give you a giant bowl that is split in half with two different flavors of broth on each side. Your table has a heating mechanism built into it which the staff turns on. Don't worry, you won't get burned under there. They bring you fresh meats and vegetables for you to pour into either side as you please. As I've said, the bowl is HUGE, so you either need to be starving or bringing friends in order to help you eat this. The waitresses are sweethearts, too.
(5)Melissa F.
I came here a few weeks ago after seeing a movie. It was a really cold, windy night so my friend suggested hot pot. This seriously is the best thing to eat in the winter. It was dinner time so we had to wait a while unfortunately (~45 mins) so we walked over to the bar for some drinks. Their beer is well priced (love Sapporo) and their mixed drinks looked really really good. Eventually we were seated at our table. We decided on their fabulous mala broth. Don't let them talk you out of it by saying it's too spicy. If you like some heat definitely get it. And also get a strainer if you can it helps a lot. We ordered the chicken, beef tenderloin and beef tongue. They were all delicious, but I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty the beef tongue was. Don't pass it up when you're here. Ordered bok choy and spinach as sides too. Service was good even though it was a busy time. We never felt neglected. It was nice that they kind of just left you alone to cook your food and chat with friends. To round it all off I was shocked when the bill came. We had 3 meats, tofu, 4 veggie sides, noodles, 2 beers and a smoothie and it came out to $62 total. That is unheard of for Boston! The 3 of us stuffed ourselves and still didn't get to finish everything. I am anxiously awaiting my next visit to The Q. This place is such a find in the city. Skip ShabuZen or those other more well known places. Here you'll get better food at a better price and have a great time.
(4)Tina N.
So amazing. Hot pot and sushi were wonderful. They originally said there was going to be a thirty minute wait and we were seated and had our food in under thirty minutes. I will definitely be going back.
(5)Mike G.
good thing south end eateries were closed cuz the hot pot sure made for an ideal and novel (to my dutch guest) dinner on a brrrr x'mas. in fact, table after table sported boiling cauldrons of this specialty. shared angus rib eye and seafood platters which we cooked in house beef stock and black chicken broth. so much food as each order gets a basket of fresh veggies plus choice of noodles or rice and all that delicious soup for slurping after. tip: call 30min prior to arrival to get on list. we got seated within 5 min, walk-ins told an hr wait.
(4)Emily W.
Disappointing. I really liked Q the first time, but either today was an off day, or they have somebody new in the kitchen. First off, our veggies that came with the hot pot had dirt on them!! The steamed dumplings were meh, and the hot pot was so oily I could barely eat it! I took a friend who was a virgin to hot pot. She was NOT impressed and I don't blame her. (I was actually a bit embarrassed that I brought her and it was so bad) The Kimchi broth was WAY spicier than usual and had tons of oil in it. Also, the vegetable portions and variety sucked compared to the other hot pot places in Chinatown. I ordered the fish and shrimp combo, and got 3 shrimp and 6 TINY pieces of fish. Two positives-the waitress was very nice and the summer roll was very tasty. However, I will not be returning to Q. It will be Kaze and Shabu Zen for now on!!
(2)Gabriella B.
Let me start off by saying that it would've been 5 stars, had they given back ALL of the leftovers of my Mongolian Hot Pot. My dad and I started off with the crab rangoon, which was okay. Could have used a bit more filling. Second, we ordered the Rock and Roll sushi, which were out of this world and happily consumed in one bite. Delish. Then, we both ordered Mongolian Hot Pots. Great flavor, fresh fish and veggies and loved the fact that you got to cook it yourself. I got the vegetable broth, and my dad got the mushroom one- we both liked mine better. We had gotten halfway through it so we took the rest home and ordered dessert. The desserts were amazing; I got the Red Bean fried ice cream and my dad got the chocolate truffle which were both out of this world. We left full and happy, but were a bit disgruntled the next day when we went to open our leftovers, only to find less than half of our Hot Pot in the plastic containers. At a $90 tab, we wanted every last drop, sorry! Plus, it was just too delicious to waste. Will the waiter- try not to skimp on leftovers next time! Please and thank you.
(4)Hana P.
Fantastic selection of food as well as delicious. So far my best choice here. :) We had the teriyaki chicken, sweet and sour shrimp, beef chow fun - all good!!!
(4)Rachel R.
I had sushi from Q for breakfast. It was awesome. We had the dragon roll, which was tempura'd sweet potato, unagi, special eel sauce, ebi, and some other deliciously wonderful things that are escaping me currently. Basically, everything I ever wanted in a roll. We also tried the special, which was called the summer roll. It was covered in mango sauce. There was a lot of fish in it. Everything about it was enjoyable. I hate sushi in Arizona even more than I did before coming to Q. Thanks a billion for a great experience and bringing my standards back up from the depths of the desert.
(4)Phuong D.
I used to come here often because I knew a bunch of people that worked here. I still know quite a few people that works there and have been recently returning there for hotpot. I forget how good this place really is! It's a great atmosphere. The restaurant is modernly & neatly decorated. All of their tables consists of booths except for the sushi bar so very comfortable seating. Great music playlist as well, more like the latest pop songs. As for food, they have a wide variety, besides being mainly a hotpot restaurant, they also have regular appetizers, chinese entrees, sushi & dessert. I have tried their fried rice before and it was pretty good. Smoothies are awesome there! & their cocktails are quite strong. I had the Gunnar & it was okay. It was kinda too strong for me. My friend had the lychee cocktail & I loved it! It was so good. Now to focus on hotpot, they have a great variety to pick for your sides and I noticed that they have certain things that other hotpot restaurants don't. For example, I've become a tofu fanatic so they have fried tofo skin, which NOWHERE ELSE HAS. & it's great! it cooks really fast & soaks up all the flavor of the soup. This is the main reason why I keep coming back here. They also have their own special shrimp dumplings & other items that I notice are unique. The food here is great, drinks are okay, atmosphere is great, the only downfall of this place is that it's kinda pricey. Hotpot is generally pricey but I'd say Q is pricier than others! But for good reason I guess. I will definitely be coming back.... a lot. lol
(4)Kathie L.
Good broth, not the best I've tasted but still pretty good. I also tried an entree here and the presentation/food quality was amazing. Service is very good and friendly. Prices are good Atmosphere is luxurious and very relaxing.
(4)Mike D.
I went to Q during the week a bit later at night and it was pretty busy. I like the space and the feel. It was clean and modern. My bro and I ordered a lot of food and everything was good - we ordered the veggie rolls, veggie maki, cold rice noodles, general gau's chicken. Also the green tea flavor was incredible. The service was good - although I must say we waited 25 min before someone came over. However, once our server arrive he was very good. I will be back to try the hot pots because it looked awesome!
(4)Clara L.
What a delicious experience. We dined to a hoppin mix of 90's and today. We tried both the miso and regular broth, but agreed that just the regular broth was awesome for the price of free. We ordered beef, pork, seafood, and the veggie platter. The meat was sliced perfectly thin, and rolled in to pick-upable spirals that don't require much chopstick dexterity. The scallion pancakes are also some of the best in Boston, and a nice addition to the hot pot. We had a great server as well, rounding out a good experience at the Q. My only gripe is their seating process. It can be extremely lengthy on cold busy nights, and reservations are not taken. Go in the afternoon, early evening, or later in the evening. Prime dinner hours are a gamble in wait time.
(4)Connie C.
First time at this restaurant, per a recommendation. I loved the atmosphere, although it was a little humid in the restaurant when we were there for NYE. I also love the fact that they had SO MANY different broth choices! I've only ever been to one other hot pot restaurant and this was in Oregon, so I'm not a pro when it comes to hot pot and wasn't sure if this was the norm. I will DEFINITELY be back to try the other broth choices sometime in the near future!
(5)Oz P.
This was our first time having hot pot and it was perfection! Everything about this place was great. The broth was so flavorful, the meat was high quality, the vegetables were fresh and crisp, and the sauces were delicious! Great place for a date night! If you've never had hot pot, I highly recommend it. It's a fun dining experience to cook the food right at the table like that. The service was excellent and the drinks were good too!
(5)Varancharee M.
A good place for hot pot. The place is nice and clean the food is good,,, not freaking awesome but good... Not really pricy.. Quite cheap for me... I don't know ...maybe my friends and I didn't order the expensive ones ... We were the first table on sunny Sunday ...so it wasn't crowed... But I don't know why all the staff weren't not really happy... They hardly smiled ... Seemed in a rush/impatient when they were talking to us.. But they were polite and we got everything we ordered ... What to explain, right?
(4)Leanna W.
I can't say enough about how good the Kimchi hotpot with the Angus sirloin was.. between three people we came pretty close to finishing the whole bowl..First hotpot experience and I would definitely go back! Not a bad spot for mai tais and appetizers either.
(4)Pete L.
Everything here is good but nothing is amazing, staff is friendly and the atmosphere is much nicer than most places in Chinatown. Hot pot is probably the way to go, the sushi is fine, but nothing to rave about. If you are looking for a place which is somewhat authentic, but has a nicer atmosphere, this is it. If you are looking for the best possible food there are better options in Chinatown.
(3)Nic H.
I give this place 5 stars simply on the fact that they played the entire NSYNC AND 98 Degrees albums during my hot pot meal. The hot pot was good, service was friendly and great, and sushi was ok as well. Prices are average for downtown hot pot - you get what you pay for. The overall experience reminds me a lot of Bon Chon in Allston - very trendy, except I would say this place has much better food (yes, I know it's a different type of food - but I don't think Bon Chon does Asian fushion well). Wait times are long so be prepared to get a cocktail at the bar. They are about $10-$12 but are made well and taste great. They also have a bunch of options to choose from if you're looking for something new. Bathroom is clean and overall it's a great atmosphere. BEWARE: you will smell like hot pot for the rest of the night. This is pretty standard with these types of places though. So go, listen to boybands and Rihanna, and get some good hot pot. :D
(5)Jennifer C.
I was a hot pot virgin before eating at Q. I was a bit intimidated at first, but overall, I really enjoyed the experience! My favorites were the lamb, flounder, and taro root. I know, strange combo, right? I was with a bunch of people and we tried all different kinds of things in the hot pot. I had one of the milder broths (can't do spicy), but my friend, who likes spicy did the Mala broth. What is neat is that the pots are divided, so you can have two different broths in the same pot. I would so the whole hot pot thing again... I also recently tried the sushi and it was excellent. Very fresh and delicious. I also had the vegetable fried rice, which was one of the best I have had. Not greasy and had large, fresh veggies in it. It was surprisingly good. The menu is huge, so I am looking forward to trying other things. The only negative was the service.. not a lot of effort the night I got hotpot. I actually served myself and the others at my table because the waitress just left the food on a table near our table. It also seemed like we had to be extra nice to her in order for her to do her job-not impressive. However, when I ordered takeout, the staff was very friendly and helpful. I will come back again.
(4)Marine C.
Good!
(4)Isabella L.
Who doesn't love hotpot? When I asked our waiter, who happened to be someone I know, what Q stood for, he responded that it means quality. I brought my beau here for lunch and it was his first time. We received exceptional service with thorough explanations, recommendations, and hands on service. Thanks Johnny (our waiter)!!!! The lunch special is really worth trying for the value you're paying. You just have to be aware that they will charge for the type of broth you use aside from the plain one that comes with the lunch specials. We had the beef and shrimp specials with the Mala and the Bone Marrow Chicken broth, with a few a la carte items. The Mala broth was definitely our favorite, only because we love spicy food. The only I didn't like was that I barely had phone service (T-mobile carrier) and I was seated in the back right corner. FYI, I really like that seating area because you can snuggle next to your partner. Great for the Autumn/Winter season!!!
(4)Catherine W.
Went here for hot pot with friends. The hot pot itself was about 3.5 stars, but I would say the loud atmosphere and the long wait makes it more of a 3 star experience for me personally (if I was 21 I would probably love it!). Came here just before 5pm on a Saturday night, and there was already a 45 minute wait. Restaurant was a young crowd, twenty-something place, with a clubby and lounge-y atmosphere. Felt bad for the hostess because it seemed like a stressful experience to manage the wait time and walk-ins (no reservations here). There is a very small bar area and there are really no seats for waiting for your table, so the standing room is tight and not comfortable. The booths were comfortable - we got a spacious corner booth for 5 people. Service was friendly but not that timely -- meats for the hot pot came out for only half the table at first, and the other half came out at least 10 minutes later after prompting. Lots of soup options for the hotpot but FYI we paid extra to get the black bone chicken broth, and there were Chinese herbs floating in the broth (it tasted great, just a surprise to us that it wasn't a pure broth). For a party of 5, they added an automatic gratuity of 18%.
(3)S. S.
Food was standard fare ...we had the pad Thai and chicken with garlic and both were decent. Service was good. Appetizers came at the end of the meal when we were full with the entrees. There was a strange smell in the restaurant and the air was a bit stuffy. Might go back for the hotpot.
(3)Jie Q.
Don't go to this restaurant, the service is bad bad and bad. We ordered some food to go last night and we went back later the restaurant was closed and we call them today the manager said they throw the food away and the reason is we did not pick up before it closed. But according to them the close time is 3:00am and we actually went back to the restaurant at 1:30am but the restaurant was already closed. The manager lied to us and her attitude was really bad I even thought she may just has broken up with her boy friend or she has eaten some sh*t. She just don't want to give us the food that belong to us.
(1)Elena E.
Came on a Tuesday night at 7pm with a group of 6. We did a call ahead to put our names on the list (they wouldn't do reservations beforehand). When we arrived there was still a 30 minute wait. I can't imagine what a weekend would be like. They said they could seat us at a table in the bar area which sounded fine with us. When we got to the table we saw that it was actually two tables with the leafs up to connect them. But the leafs were very unsteady so we ended up having to basically sit at two separate tables. We started with cocktails which were all very good. The ginger and the pear cocktails were great! 4 of the group did the hot put while myself and one other shared sushi. Sushi was definitely the way to go. The hot pot group were a bit disappointed with their choice. Nothing they had was too exciting or blew them away (which has always been my thought about hot pot. I don't really get the hype). The bill came out to be over $200 for the 6 of us. I don't feel inclined to return. The sushi was good but there are plenty of places for sushi that are just as good and not as packed and loud.
(3)Alexandra L.
The staff at Q are great. The place is equipped with a full bar, and lots of booths. It is also frequently busy, it seems to be quite a popular joint. I ordered their famous hot pot and the broths were very flavorful and fragrant. I recommend it!
(4)Kelly C.
Always nice to have a place to get SHabu on a cold day. Nice atmosphere, friendly server, and the food was good! A good place to take your non-adventurous friends to let them see you eat hot pot, while they order regular dishes....so they can see its not scary...
(4)Joan U.
We were in the area to visit a family member at Tufts Medical Center. It wa a great experience. Never had a hot pto before and the waiter was very helpful and the food was good. We were glad to be able to enjoy the experience.
(4)Jeff L.
I love Q! Q is fairly posh by Chinatown standards. This was my first Hot Pot and it was so good that I came back one week later. It is always packed. Try the kimchi broth with pork slices...Absolutely delicious! The service is VERY friendly and Very fast. Q is an excellent place to try ones hot pot.
(4)Robyn L.
What a spectacular happy hour!! Usually, I'm not a fan of happy hours that don't have drink specials but the food is so ridculously cheap that it completey makes up for it. We came out of the theater famished and wandered a few blocks until we found this place right by the parking. It was just our luck that it was happy hour! (4-7 and again 9 -12) The 1/2 priced appetizers are only offered at the bar. We pulled up three stools and received very nice service from the bartender. They had around 10 appetizers to choose from including squash tempura, sscallion pancakes, potstickers, crab rangoons, miso soup, edamame, and so on. The portions were quite large. 6 rangoons, and potstickers, 8 scallion pancakes. They all ended up being priced from $1.00 - $2.50. Crazy!!! We had 5 appetizers, 3 miso soups, 2 cocktails and 2 orders of hamachi and our bill still only totaled $42. Can't beat that! Very pretty inside and a big menu offering hot pot, chinese food, and sushi. I'd go back for sure!
(4)Diane M R.
Delish. This place is near my job (understatement) and had a super-cute exterior. We went in for a lunch meeting and i was surprised. It had the yummy-ness of chinatown meals (though not the typical $3 pricetag) but was wonderful. The hot-pot lunch special portions are enormous, the hot pot itself was an adventure; I had lamb, veggies, and the idea of cooking it at the table (and the beautiful fragrance that rose up was delicious too). Go there, bring a data, it will give you a chance to loosen up and check their culinary skills. I'd say however, if you have even .5% traceable african in your genes, and you're rocking a smooth straight hair-style: use caution, you will not leave looking like the same person after this meal. One word: Steam. Otherwie: go, eat, enjoy. It's great.
(5)Kiran B.
This is definitely one of my favorite hot pot places, and it's great with large groups. Q is a regular hangout for my group of friends. Q has the most unique and interesting selection of broths of any hot pot place I have been to. We always get a yin yang pot with mala and tom yum broth, then order meat and vegetables à la carte. It ends up being fairly cheap for an incredible amount of food.
(5)Ross G.
Hot green tea was excellect very tasty. Veggie rolls were hot with great flavor and for an entree i got generals gaus chicken also delicious. They were out of miso soup but no worries i will be back to try a hot pot. Great place to try you should all go here.
(4)May C.
Honestly, the hot pot here is so nice. My friend recommended this restaurant to me. I should say it didn't make me disappointed. However, the service here has potential to be better if the staff here could be more passionate.......
(4)Peter P.
Admittedly unfair to rate this place based on my experience, but figure it worth it to fill in Yelpers on the hours of operation (which forces me to give it a rating). Went here just after 10pm - Yelp said they closed at 10:30. We sat at the bar and after 5 minutes or so were told the bar was closed...so we went over to the restaurant area. Some folks were still sitting/eating/chatting, but yep, we were told they were closed too. Why not just say you close at 10pm?
(2)Amy D.
Review is strictly for the bar service review and drinks. Arrived to The Q Restaurant after having drinks at other bars during a business trip to Boston. Sat at the bar and ordered drinks from the super friendly bartender. After the bartender had carded us, she realized that we were from the West Coast and struck up a conversation. Of all the bars we had been to, she was definitely one of the nicest/attentive/genuine bartender. It's a shame that I did not get her name. She made us feel welcome and got our drinks ready in a timely manner (plus they were delicious!). In addition to the great service, she even gave us advice of where to go while we were in town. If I were to visit Boston in the future, I will make sure I have a drink at The Q Restaurant's bar.
(5)R W.
Awesome hot pot, awesome food in general, and a really great happy hour menu! My only complaint is re: the service - I could order the same thing here four days in a row and my check would be four different amounts... also, something that comes with rice one day, I'm told does not come with rice the next... so it's knocked down a star for having no consistency whatsoever!
(4)Alex K.
Its all about the dining experience. And Q delivered! Q stands out as a fancy place within the Chinatown community. Where most eateries are holes in the wall or outdated, rundown and smelly locations, Q offers a great decor, ambiance and excellent service and food. We were nicely greeted, and although the place was packed, we were constantly informed of our wait times and status for a table. Once seated, we were inmediately greeted by our server. I came here for the high ratings on the mongolian hot pot, which is their specialty. For those that never had a hot pot, it can be confusing with all the options and combinations. Our server was extremely helpful and knowledgeable, walked us through the options and made sure we had a great dining experience. Excellent service. The food was also very good. Fresh ingredients, nicely plated and presented, and very flavorful. We ordered the beef tongue appetizer and the surf and turf hot pot with the kimchi broth and their signature mala broth. Everything was well balanced. And finally, prices were very reasonable, even compared to other options in the area. In summary, great location, excellent decor, excellent service, excellent food and fair prices gave us a five star experience.
(5)Jess W.
House music, a full bar, ambiance and decor suggestive of a lounge. Excuse me if I break out in dance or start fist pumping because I forgot that I was eating lunch at a hot pot restaurant and that I'm not out on a Friday night at a club. This is the newest addition of shabu places in Chinatown and it's definitely more trendier and lively compared to it's competitors. But thankfully "hip" in this case does not translate into "expensive." The broth at this place is not necessarily weird but it's definitely different. I'm pretty accustomed to the base broth over at Shabu Zen, clean and simple. This broth has a bunch of ingredients floating around- goji berries, sesame seeds, ginger, cilantro...even ginseng. How fancy. Portions are standard- meat, side of veggies, and noodles or rice. And it's cheap too!!
(4)Steph C.
I LOVE this hot pot place! The interior is very chic and cozy. The wait time gets really crazy, but it is well worth it. I usually go with one other person, and we usually order an appetizer of one sushi roll. For hot pot, the Tom-Yum soup is amazing. We get two combos (a meat one and a seafood one), and it is very filling as it comes with veggie platters as well. I love how you can mix your own sauce as well. The food is very fresh (compared to Hot Pot Buffet; I question the quality of food at buffets...), and they give you enough utensils to cook everything easily. The drinks are really yummy too! I have been here a couple of times with a larger party, and they are very accommodating. Overall, I enjoy the food very much. It has a more Chinese-style flair to it, compared to the shabu shabu places in Chinatown. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who loves hot pot!
(5)Michelle T.
Is it common practice to NOT allow sake bombs at the table, only at the bar? Because it's a huge party pooper and Q should give that rule the boot. Don't come here if you're in a larger group and you all want to eat sushi. On a Tuesday night there was 1 sad soul (aka sushi chef) making ALL the rolls. I suppose that's why we waited an HOUR to get all our rolls. At least they were pretty good! Special rolls here run about $11-$17. Simple rolls like california are $5. Sushi was tasty (thank the sauce) and the fish itself was fresh, but nothing was a standout. I'd recommend the spider roll. It took another 45 minutes for them to process 5 credit cards. Overall, our 2.5 hour dinner was composed of exactly 25 minutes of eating. Waiting was the remaining 2 hours. This is the perfect restaurant for you and your group if you all are retired. If it's hot pot you want and value for money is important to you, Headover to Hot Pot Buffet down the street. It's not as fancy, but your wallet will thank you and so will your stomach.
(3)Renee B.
Goodness! This was my first time experiencing hot pot and oh what a joy. I was in Boston for a 1 day business trip and quite annoyed at the possibility of being trapped there because of a snowstorm heading their way. Before heading to the airport my co-worker (who lives in Boston and I'd just met on that day) suggested we go for this "hot pot" thing. I said hey when it comes to food I'm always up for a new experience, so sure why not. Well Q was so comfy and friendly and warm that I temporarily forgot that I might be trapped in Boston that night...Perhaps the foodie in me was secretly hoping to get stuck so I could come back to Q the next day! We went for lunch on a Wed so were seated immediately. We ordered the satay broth and the boneless short rib and udon noodles. Initially, I thought this is going to be some bland soup kind of deal. But oh my, I had to bite my tongue! The broth was so flavorful, the veggies were quite fresh and that lean yet tender beef just melted in my mouth. It was all so tasty that I forgot to use the little sauce they give you (with the option of adding your own garlic, scallions, and other stuff). I remembered the sauce towards the end of my meal and that was really tasty too. My only request would be for them to make the Thai Iced tea a bit stronger, it was rather weak and not sweet enough for my NY/GA tastebuds. All in all it was an awesome experience and so now that I am heading to NYC in a few weeks, I will seriously be on the hunt for some good hot pot there!
(5)Josephine L.
A good idea in theory, but the execution is pretty lacking. First off, the decor is lovely and there are seating options for date nights through big parties. So you're covered there. The drinks are great--I had the Gunnar and tried the Sangria and both were delicious (go for Gunnar if you're into pretty green pear-ness). The food was pretty good. Sushi rolls were fresh and flavorful, hot pot was warm and delicious. We went with the house broth and it was great. The vegetables and meat were well-cut and clearly fresh. Score on all that. Now the gripes: No accompanying dipping sauces unless we ask for them? Was this an oversight or were they trying to passively avoid giving us dipping sauce? You can't have hot pot without satay, soy, garlic, chili and--though I personally detest it--scallions! Dipping sauce fail. Also, service. It was fine in the first half and non-existent in the second half. Our servers (yes, plural) just never walked by. Never mind checking in, we never even saw them after our food arrived. Water glasses were left unfilled, empty dishes piled up on our table and various other requests simply died at the table because we couldn't flag ANYONE down to hear them. One of my dining companions lives in the Archstone right above Q and is a frequent customer. She blamed the terrible service on the water pipe damage and how it forced some of the staff to quit. The new hires, in her opinion, were the cause of our service problem. Shame, really, since I'd certainly like to come back for food and drinks. But crappy service is like vinegar on cake: It'll ruin it no matter how good everything else is.
(3)M. N.
Been here numerous times but they've never failed in serving great hot pot with great service. The wait is horrible on weekend nights but once you're seated you'll never regret it. Don't forget to add all that garlic into their dipping sauce!
(4)Kim P.
My first experience with the Hot Pot has me planning to return. The Mela broth is SPICY and so good. They give you a sizable amount of meat to cook, which is also good. We actually came here because the bartender (who might be new) used to work at Buddha C in Brookline. We liked him--liked his drinks more--and took him up on a tip to come check it out (plus, he now bartends at Q). We had a group of six, were told it would be a 40 minute wait for a Saturday night, but were seated in about 15 minutes. I thought the value of what we got, the strength of the drinks, and excellent service (go with Karen if you can sit in her section) make it a worthwhile experience and one worth repeating.
(4)E H.
Service was good. We chose the hot pots. I had Tom Yum-fantastic, and hubby had Kim-Chee. We had gone to Shabu-Zen two nights before and they are on par with each other food wise. Atmospheres are completely different though. At Shbu-Zen it was very hectic and busy and you sit at long tables with many other diners-which I happen to like sometimes. At Q you can have your own table and the lights are dimmed and it is a bit quieter-still busy but more quiet. Whichever is your preference you will not be disappointed!
(4)