This isnt the place where you would want to come and have a tasty meal! Its just suffices for a cheap chinese fried rice and some veggies tossed together in soy sauce with salt and pepper. Nothing more than that. No effort is put in the kitchen to please the customer. It is what it is! I went in knowing what I am getting into so wasnt disappointed..lol. But if you are drunk enough to care less about what you are eating then this is the place for you.
(1)
Bryan H.
Had them for delivery, it was pretty good. We had sesame and orange chicken, both of which were good (the orange chicken had nice big chunks of orange!). They were not quite as spicy as I'd like, but we ordered mild so that's to be expected. We'll kick it up a notch next time.
(4)
Adam N.
What are these good reviewers talking about?!? This was bad. Bottom line. And I won't ever order again. First off, my fried rice smelled like an ashtray. And it tasted dirty. A genuine earthy or mineral flavor... Maybe there was a fire in the kitchen? Burnt. The GG chicken was the worst I've ever had. No texture. One note - sugar. Much too sweet. No heat. A gooey mess of really unnatural looking sauce with chunks of chicken swimming in it. Crab rangoon was also somehow infused with sugar. Fried nicely in fresh oil, but still filled with sugar. Why? Why all the positive reviews? Are we all talking about the same place? I'm sorry I don't have another place to recommend. I'm brand new to the area. OMG, it just hit me. Maybe this IS good for the area...
(2)
Manpreet S.
An OK option for Chinese take-out in the watertown/belmont area. They delivered the food fresh and hot, within 30 mins after the order was placed. Crab Rangoon is good but all the stuff is too oily. I did not like the pound cake.
(3)
Caitlin M.
So I can't comment on the food as it never arrived and the restaurant could not be reached. I placed my order for delivery well before the delivery window closed (it was placed at 8:30pm and it says delivery is open until 9:30pm). Not only has the food not arrived 1.5 hours later, but the phone number provided is unreachable. As a restaurant you should be open during your advertised hours and not allow websites to take delivery orders if you are not actually open.
(1)
Doug N.
Wide array of selections on the menu with pretty good crab rangoons, it's the brownish type of looking Lo mein with average taste....overall good food for a good price
(3)
Travis E.
There are a few times in life when a meal is so revolting and utterly disgusting that a person feels compelled to get online and let the world know about it... Last night was one of those nights. The whole family was Jonesin' for Chinese, and my oldest son made the mistake of getting on Foodler and ordering delivery from Wonder Cafe. Wow. What a mistake... The short version is that everything was disgusting. Will write more later if I get a chance, but right now I'm dealing with the collateral clean up of my youngest son's projectile vomiting. FML...
(1)
Lauren L.
Okay. My first review was also a first impression. I still hold that the crab rangoon is the best around, but there's nothing else on the menu that's worth the money or tastes that good. The apps are great, but the other food is relatively flavorless, gross or just not interesting. You're better off ordering anywhere else and ignoring the fried cream cheese on other menus (that's all it is anywhere else, honestly - no meat, just gross custard). Don't bother with any of the entrees at Wonder Cafe, though. They're under-dressed, under-seasoned and in may cases flat-out gross.
I was looking for a new Chinese place in Watertown/Newton and took a chance on Wonder Cafe. They did not disappoint! Everything was so fresh and delicious. The place itself was very clean. The portions were huge. I probably would have rated them 5 stars but my hot and sour soup had a slight "burnt soup" taste. It wasn't too overpowering though, and I was still able to enjoy the soup. We'll definitely go back when we get the Chinese food itch.
(4)
G K.
This place has typical new england Chinese food. I don't usually crave Chinese food ..but this place is good. you can tell the owner cares. the food tastes good and is not over salted.
(4)
Lindsay R.
Good option for Chinese take-out in the watertown/belmont area. Our take out arrived fresh and hot and within a very short time after the order was placed. All the appetizers were delicious, my entree of ginger chicken and string beans was a little greasy but not so much that I wouldn't order it again. A solid choice for Chinese in the limited market area.
(3)
Lam C.
Wonder cafe is a great little family owned restaurant near the center of Watertown. Do not confuse this with your average Americanized Chinese restaurant although they do provide that as well. This place has authentic Chinese food and cooks with the freshest ingredients with no MSG so if you're looking for something salty, you should look elsewhere. The staff here is very friendly and helpful. I dine here regularly and highly recommend the "General Gau's crispy shrimp," the "spicy salt and hot pepper calamari," and the "black bean sauce chow foon"
(5)
Evan L.
This past weekend some friends and I gathered to celebrate for a friend of ours. The friend has a gluten allergy, and my pal Rob recommended that we order from this establishment as they accommodate well to the intolerance. He spoke with Sue, who was very helpful in taking our large order, and in providing an excellent variety of gluten-free dishes for our darling companion. The order was delivered within a reasonable time and came snuggled in two large cardboard boxes(we ate a lot). I hadn't had Asian cuisine that delicious in some time! I wasn't feeling particularly adventurous, but what I did have was phenomenal. The peking ravioli....unreal. Scallion pancakes were similarly as delectable among soy sauce. Friends loved the beef, and while calamari just isn't for me, it still seemed popular with the rest of the crew. Their lo mein is excellent and I'm confident that the pork and chicken they use is superior to their local competition. Came hooked up with candy and mints as well. There was one mixup but it was a simple matter of misunderstanding... will definitely be ordering from this place again!!
(5)
Joe H.
This place rocks for take out! Good Chinese/American delivery is so hard to find in Allston and Wonder Cafe delivers here. Sometimes I'm hankering for some deep fried Chinese appetizers and these people do a great job with it! The crab rangoons are sweet. The chicken fingers are perfectly fried with just the right amount of batter. The chicken is also not overcooked. Walnut shrimp is BOMB! Delivery is fast! Wonder Cafe is my go to Americanized Chinese restaurant. It's a shame the city of Watertown won't let them stay open late at night.
(5)
Katie H.
Not as great as a lot of the reviews here make it out to be, all of our food had a burnt flavor. Egg rolls were weird. Gross rice. Not again.
(2)
Ann K.
My boyfriend and I have been going to Wonder Cafe for years! Family is at the heart of the restaurant (see the postcards and memorabilia decorating its walls) and the owner, Sue, truly cares about her food and her customers. We usually get a combination of pork ravioli (pan fried or steamed), crab rangoon, boneless spareribs, beef teriyaki, and soups. The crab rangoon is super crispy - delicious! - and the pork ravioli is perfection, so filling. Other great dishes include the sesame chicken (excellent sauce to chicken ratio), mongolian lo mein (unique spice combination), and pork fried rice. Portions are generous, so you can enjoy left overs for days. And for those looking for an extra kick, we highly recommend Sue's homemade spicy mustard! All in all: Wonder Cafe is consistently delicious and satisfying, with FAST and friendly service. We like to celebrate "Wonder Wednesdays," ordering a weekly feast!
(5)
F F.
Review of take out order : Spicy Ma Po Tofu w. Minced Pork was very good, the Fillet of Sole with Black Bean Sauce was mediocre. It was bland, lacking Sole and uninspiring. This is your typical American inspired Chinese restaurant, so American that we were not given chopsticks.
(3)
Dean H.
We found the food to be okay. Nothing to write home to mom about. The service was good. Portions big, and at a good price.
(3)
Stephen S.
Closed 30 minutes earlier than the sign posted on the door this evening. The lady inside saw me and did nothing.
(1)
Meredith M.
Sue Chen and her team at Wonder Cafe are Wonder-FUL! I had a large order to place with her (50 people) and she helped me pick a menu that would make everyone happy and stay in budget. I've never ordered $500+ of Chinese Food, but this was worth it. Everyone remarked how flavorful everything was. We opted for large trays of the 7th wonder Fried Rice, Beef with Broccoli, Sweet & Sour Chicken, Boneless Spare Ribs, Egg Rolls and White Rice. Most of all I felt good that she had everything under control. The delivery process was on time and efficient. We will certainly come here again!
(5)
Gayle W.
I was feeling under the weather one day and needed some Hot and Sour Soup. This place made me a great bowl of soup! I ordered it to go, but the ambiance was so calming that I ate it at the restaurant. Staff was friendly, food was great and the price was very reasonable. I plan to come again.
(5)
Victoria G.
It's a solid Chinese takeout place. Not too greasy or salty, which is great. I love their crab rangoon. Delivery was prompt and the order was accurate. I was confused about something in the order, and called up to resolve the issue. Turns out I was wrong - there was no issue! They were very pleasant and helpful even though I probably sounded a bit annoyed in the beginning.
(4)
John C.
I love Sue Chen. She makes some of the most authentic Chinese food I've ever eaten. Steamed dumplings, crab rangoons, and great lo mein. I also really enjoyed the pork friend rice and beef with broccoli. You should definitely order from here and take it back home. Fantastic meal for the price and one of the best take-out Chinese places I've ever been to.
(5)
Ben R.
I'm on the perpetual search to find a good Chinese place in Watertown and unfortunately my search continues. Maybe it was because it was the night after the big snowstorm, or because it was take out, or because we ordered the "dinner specials" (which is Chinese for "we need to unload a shit-ton of fried rice and apps so let's make it appear as if this is a good deal!"), but I was very unhappy with my meal and tossed most of it. Yes, the veggies were fresh, which was nice, but the sauce on my beef and green beans tasted "off" and my wife and daughter had tofu dishes that were less than tasty. There was also about a metric ton of rice filling the bottom of the tray, and very little of the main dish (see above). The one bonus was that their duck sauce appeared to be homemade and that was interesting. I don't think I'll be ordering from Wonder Cafe again.
(2)
Jill C.
I am writing to WARN EVERYONE from ordering take out from wonder cafe. I just recently checked my credit card bills and was over charged on the tip for take out from the wonder cafe. Twice this happened $4 for the first time and $8 for the second time. I have the receipts and the credit card statements showing the difference in charges. Wonder Cafe refused to apologize or refund the money. I am just writing to warn everyone check your credit cards.
(1)
Kathleen B.
Love this place! Super clean mom and pop shop. Portions are huge. Four and a half stars if I could. Deduction because some of the food can be a little bland. Their udon noodle soup is delicious though. I also love their boneless ribs and "chicken fingers".
(4)
Brice N.
was disappointed with both meals though the crab rangoon was awesome. delivery was prompt. I wish I could explain better, it just didn't taste good.
(1)
Jenny B.
Wonder Cafe is THE option for Chinese food in the Watertown area. The customer service is fantastic, the food and prices are great, and the delivery is quick. Sue, the owner, is friendly, welcoming, and accommodating -- you'll have an easy time here if you have a gluten allergy. Wonder Cafe is open relatively late for a restaurant in Watertown (not that that's saying much), and the portions are HUGE. Seriously, if you get one of their combo platters you'll be eating for two days. I highly recommend the Chicken with Garlic Sauce (entree), and the Pickled Vegetables (appetizer). Their Pineapple/Raisin Fried Rice is also pretty tasty. As an added bonus, you can substitute for brown rice with any of the combo platters without an extra charge! I've been paying a $2 fee at other restaurants in the area, and while it's not a huge amount of money, it adds up after a while. I give this place four stars because there are other Chinese restaurants I like a little better in the greater Boston area, but in terms of proximity to my apartment and overall tastiness and value, this is a great option for Watertown, which is pretty pathetic in the Asian food department. Seeing prices increase and the food quality go down in many restaurants these days, I'm happy to say that Wonder Cafe has continued to serve good food at reasonable prices -- I'm glad to give them business. If you like super greasy, Americanized Chinese food, this place will disappoint you. It's clear that Sue puts a lot of care into her cooking, and the ingredients are really fresh and light. Check this place out!
(4)
Rachel N.
The food is really great, the store is always well kept and clean, and the owner and staff are very accommodating. Their food is never too greasy or oily, always delicious. The steamed Chinese broccoli is perfect, and Ma Po Tofu with Pork is nice and spicy. Wonder Cafe is my go-to local Chinese take-out for sure.
(4)
Mariel T.
Meh. I've experience better. (You hit it on the head, Yelp.) There was nothing that would make me want to try this place again. Tried a takeout order of Broccoli and garlic sauce (my usual favorite) and was not impressed at all. The service was quick, kind and better than most. I really wanted to like this place but I would look elsewhere for some quick Chinese takeout. I also ordered an eggroll that was too much meat for my taste, super greasy, and just didn't do it for me.
(2)
Tough C.
Good choice for pleasing food. Never had a bad or overly oily meal from this place. Their chocolate fortune cookies are a nice treat, and never stale.
(4)
Yvonne M.
So I ordered the chicken curry fried rice, and I have to say it was amazing. Not at all greasy like other restaurants, just plain de....lish ! Also the Peking Ravioli fried, was so yummy, once again not at all greasy ! The chocolate fortune cookie was the cherry on top !
(4)
Thomas N.
This place has one of the BEST customer service I have encountered!!! " chinese takeout Rest." I'm giving this place 5 STARS for service!!! I was given 30 mins and it got here in about 15!!! Speaking of delivery, the guy came in took my cash and was about to walk out with my order!!! Talk about trying to double dip! "charge" Not mad but def funny!!!! Ok, now for the food. Im posting this in hopes to not have it be shown in a bad way but by reading this, "the owner" it might inspire the cook/owner in maybe finding a way to be "RE-TRAINED" in the art of cooking tasteful AMERICAN chinese food!!! Food was SOOOO BLAND 1.Lacking strong features or characteristics and therefore uninteresting. If you are thinking about a New Years resolution "diet" then MOST def this can be the place for you to lose some weight!! Im NOT kidding!!! I spent including tip about $16 and the best thing that came out of it was the fortune cookie!!!!! For the amount I paid, you would think the food could of been much better and maybe the amount of food would of been more than 5 strips of boneless spare ribs,few pieces of chicken, maybe 5 or 6 whole cashews and an abundance of celery!!! " But then again, MOST and I mean MOST was thrown away" wish I had some xtra soysauce to Flavor it up myself!!! And maybe some salt and pepper as well!!!! So owner/chef, If your reading this, Please find a way to improve on your food and maybe I will give it another shot!
(5)
Bill M.
This is a pretty good place for Chinese. This is now one of my stops when I go to do laundry and have to wait for the drying. For one, the spicy wings are actually spicy, at least for those that like the taste of spice but not the pain of say, 911 Hot Buffalo wings. They also have good Crab Ragoon. The house special fried rice I got was very tasty and I didn't even need to apply soy sauce etc.
(4)
Cate S.
Every dish we got was too hot/spicy woweee and we can all take some heat. Be sure to tell them to tone it down...
(2)
Rachel S.
Wonder Cafe is a gem. I'd driven by this place many times and never gave it a second thought until one night after a Target run I had a serious hankering for chinese food. I have a peanut allergy so I'm always a little wary when it comes to trying new asian places, but I'm so glad I stopped in. The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating and had no problem substituting anything I couldn't eat. The food is super fresh and actually tastes healthy. You all know the feeling after a greasy Chinese meal, and it isn't pretty. But after dining on food from Wonder Cafe, you'll feel great! No joke. Plus, they deliver virtually anywhere in the Boston area. I'm never turning back, this is officially my Boston-area chinese place. PS Their crab rangoons are super yummy. Coming here is a no-brainer.
(4)
Nicole G.
Surprisingly good. I'm very picky about Chinese and I have a hard time finding a good place every tie I move. We ordered pork fried rice, lobster fried rice, beef teriyaki, scallion pancakes (or scallion pie), and vegetable lo mein. Everything was very good, except for the lo mein - it was made with flat noodles and had an odd flavor to it that I couldn't identify. Not bad, per se, just not to my taste and not what I want when ordering Lo Mein.
(4)
Heather H.
I saw all of the positive reviews and was excited to try this place out. The portions were huge, the delivery was prompt, and they offer brown rice at no extra charge. With all of that factored in, I still have to give this place 1 star. The food was absolutely disgusting! I ordered the General Gau's chicken and my husband got the tangerine chicken. We both ended up throwing our food away.
(1)
Steven S.
Now I don't usually go around reviewing reastaurants but when I had a taste of wonder cafe which just opened in the area of which i work at, I just had to because I felt so good after eating from this place! No msg induced coma! No lightheaded walk to work after eating chinese food! I was happily surprised that the dishes tasted very natural! The fact that Wonder cafe says on their menu that they strive for healthy food with zero msg seems to be completely true! Aside from my little rant I had the crab rangoons which I'm a slut for. Wonder cafe's crab rangoons surprised me. I'm always on the search for good crab rangoons and ill definantly have to come back for a second tasting for my final verdict of whether or not they will be my favorite ones. They were sweet and savory and didn't leave me with creme cheese breathe. I also had brown rice with lobster sauce which was very good. The taste was different from other chinese places. It tasted natural and wasn't goopy and weird but was rather thick and hearty which is another reason for my whole rant... Cons - the staff! They are Way tooo nice and polite! Its like they have alterior motives or something. So if you don't like good service, stay away! ; ) P.s. they have soybean drinks!!!!! No longer do I have to run to the old super 88 in allston during work to grab this drink!
(5)
Erin C.
Wonder Cafe is Wonderful! At first I didn't even realize this place had opened but randomly walked by one day and decided to give it a try. The interior is nothing fancy but it is clean and bright. We were greeted by a super friendly staff and they quickly took our order. I had the shrimp with broccoli and the egg drop soup with tomato. My dinner date had the chicken curry rice. My shrimp was fantastic! The garlic sauce that it was in smelled and tasted delectable. The egg drop soup was tasty although I was a bit weirded out by the tomatoes at first. You get used to it though. Unfortunately, the rice was a bit dry but nothing a little sauce can't fix. Wonder Cafe will definitely be on my lists of stops on Mt. Auburn St from now on!
(4)
Justin K.
Lady argued with me about the pronunciation of the word satay. Big turn off. I said I wanted the beef chow foon with satay sauce three times. Then she said say-tee. Yup big turn off. Food is okay. Decor initially makes if feel like upscale take out, then you look further and see all the crap flyers and wall decor. One half expects this to be a Chinese restaurant - day care combo. I've seen plenty of those. Three stars for food, minus one for attitude.
(2)
Sindy T.
The food was extremely bland and the sauce was those white sauces. I ordered the chicken broccoli and white rice with beef teriyaki. The delivery driver forgot the sodas and my boyfriend ordered the strip and veggies with crab rangoon and he felt sick an hour later :( Just like I see in other reviews, I wanted to like this place because they are friendly BUT the food is just not fresh and not worth the price.
(2)
Sara M.
I ordered Chinese from here the other week and was pretty happy with it. My food arrived quickly and was still hot. They advertise that everything is cooked to order and is fresh, which I am not adverse to believing. I had two egg rolls, pork fried rice, chicken fingers, and kung pao beef with white rice. The egg rolls were decent but I think they were vegetable. The kung pao beef had too much celery and the sauce wasn't my favorite - it had a strange taste but it may have been due to the mushrooms they used. The beef was a bit chewy but I really loved the peanuts and wished there were more of them. My favorites were the pork fried rice and the chicken fingers. The rice had nice chunks of pork and it was darker in color, which I like. The chicken fingers were huge with good breading and meaty chicken. The duck sauce was pretty good. I would definitely order from here again and try the General Tso's chicken next time!
(4)
Shaun G.
This place deserves a premium downtown location inside a hotel, maybe my hotel one day :). Menu is extensive, but everything on it is crack-cocaine (thats a good thing). I highly recommend this place for just about anything, work lunches, and late night munchies. Simply put, I've lived in Boston for 23 years, There is no better place in the Boston area for Cantonese-American cuisine. This is coming from someone 10 miles out.
(5)
carol l.
Had been going to this Chinese restaurant over the one a few doors down from it. One day the lady behind the counter forgot to pack my chicken appetizer. I called once I got home and realized it was missing. She first hung up on me then the second time I called, she argued with me and called me a liar. They finally did deliver it but I will never go back. Horrible customer service!!
(1)
Sherwin L.
I admit I am instinctively supportive of any Chinese restaurant that opens nearby and caters to the health conscious. Wonder Cafe has a rather extensive menu, and I am willing to take some time to explore it. The noodle soup I ordered had more vegetables than I expected and was quite tasty, so that's a good start!
(4)
Chris E.
Great food. Very friendly service. Now my favorite chinese place nearby.
I rate this as a 6.8 out of 10 on my own scale (10 being best). The place is definitely a step up from the usual cheap eats Chinese food places that litter the New England landscape like the Greek owned sub/pizza shops you find on every corner, nook and alleyway. I prefer this place over other local shops in Watertown b/c it's clean, the food less greasy and b/c the owner seems to care about whether you enjoy your meal or not. I've tried the mapo tofu and loved it. I'm def going back for some more.
(3)
T M.
I will preface this review by saying that I have never been a huge fan of the food here, but as another reviewer said: it is THE place to go for Chinese in Watertown. I think he might have meant it in a more favorable manor. However, I think it's not because the food here is any good...just that it's literally the only edible chinese food you will find in the town of Watertown. Having lived in Watertown for several years now, your options are severely limited for take out. On those extremely lazy nights where I just don't have it in me to cook for my family and pizza has already been "done" for the week... Wonder Cafe has been an option for us. After tonight, no longer. I had asked my husband to order me a pan fried noodle dish I had had the last time we ordered from there, but asked him to confirm the name with the person taking the order. Long story short, there must have been an error in translation at some point because what I got was absolutely not what I wanted. No matter...mistakes happen. What I did not appreciate is, when I called to check my order with Wonder Cafe, the person I spoke to (presumably the owner Sue C.?) was incredibly rude and blamed my husband. First of all, I found it very difficult to understand what she was saying myself...so it didn't take long for me to realize that my husband probably had the same issue. Second, at no point did she offer to remedy the situation. I realize this isn't a 5 star restaurant or anything, but it is a hole in the wall chinese restaurant where I just envision vats of ready made food over large hot pots or frozen in freezers ready for nuking... it would not have killed her bottom line to offer a customer her preferred dish. Third, the "Chow Mein" that was sent was a virtually colorless and bland mixture of chicken and vegetables drowned in gelatinous clear liquid! It just harkened back that urban legend from college that people that ate at a certain Chinatown restaurant were acquiring STDs in their throats after consuming chinese food... I will not say more. Thank you Sue C for the maybe 10 times I allowed my family to consume your food, but never again. PS I will happily pass you by on my way to Fusion Cafe!!!
(1)
Liz A.
small place but nice atmosphere. I only gave 3 stars because i am not a big fan of Japanese food. The red bean ice cream was a great surprise and very very good!
(3)
May D.
I'm so happy I can now get HK style noodle soups and rice dishes close to my home . And they make tasty ones. People there are so nice and easy to talk to. Like their website says, they make nice and warn family atmosphere. I tried several fishes and my favorites so far are salt and hot pepper chicken and pork chop with tomato sauce on rice. I also love their green tea with bubble. I definitely recommend this place to my friends. PS. I wish they have salted/roasted chicken on rice and lychee bubble tea.
(5)
Kendra D.
Food has gone down hill in recent months. I used to love the food here. It is now just a cold, bland mess. My last order was overcooked and under seasoned and I had 70% brown rice and 30% of chicken and vegetables. Why all that rice? Yuck. Not a fan. They do get an A+ for friendly service.
(2)
Naomi U.
This place is not for fine dining (white table cloths and Peking Duck) but more like a very high end cafeteria where you can get great food. IT IS Friendly, Clean, family run, reasonably priced (especially lunch at under $7) and it has a simple but Big menu and a nice comfortable vibe. Bubble Tea I usually have to go all the way to Chinatown, Alston, or Harvard Square to get a bubble tea so this place is a very big deal in Watertown!! It also really appeals to me to have seen someone hand mixing something hot to start my bubble tea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Decor Someone said the tchotchkes were tacky...I have to say it's all in the eye of the perceiver...I looked in and saw them with the orange wall paint, and Knew for sure this was really run by youthful Chinese people...I told my boyfriend "it' a real Chinese place!, we're going in", for me it was like a validating stamp of approval. (sorta like spam sushi, shave ice and poi, it might look a bit odd but that's real Hawaiian; FYI Hawaiian is Not when you put pineapple and sugar on a slab of pork) I am very pleased to have a new Chinese place (outside of Cambridge or Chinatown): 1) without numbered dishes on red and yellow plastic sheeting backlit by florescent tubing. 2) without the de rigueur rude, insolent, and impatient waitstaff who will pretend not to speak English when a critical question is asked; like, "Does this contain chicken?"
(4)
Leslie S.
Ordered food last night for take-out. Got steamed dumplings, chicken shumai, scallion pancake, house friend rice, white rice and two entree's, the Mongolian Beef and Dragon and Phoenix which is with Jumbo Shrimp and chicken with veggies. Both dished were under the House Speciality dishes. I'll admit, I went into getting food here with hesitation, as the reviews were all over the place. For the beef dish, I asked if it could be made mild, as it had a hot pepper symbol next to it. I was told no problem. When the order was repeated back, I said again, "PLEASE make sure the dish is mild". The food came around the time they averaged. I don't like pork dumplings but my husband and kids said they were great. The shumai was average as was the scallion pancake. The chicken and shrimp dish tasted of uncooked white wine, both rice's were crunchy and tatted stale. The beef dish was so hot, I couldn't eat it. And, I normally love hot. I only got it mild for my kids. All in all the food was meh at best, but what knocked it down to one star was the attitude of the owner. I called back and told her about the food. She insisted that what I said wasn't true, and when I insisted back that "yes, it is", she said she was going to send a driver back to take back the food and see. I told her, "that's fine, but I want a credit, which she said ok to". Back he came and I wrapped up what I didn't like, which was most of it, almost completely untouched. When I checked my bank balance the next day, I didn't see the credit, so I called and left a message. She called me back about an hour later and said that she would not credit my card. Only give me a credit to use towards the restaurant. If the food was good and I had an off night, sure, I supposed. But, now I'm stuck with about $30 bucks that I can only break even if i order more food that I don't like to begin with. I think that the owner needs a quick lesson in keeping a customer happy. Consider yourself $30 richer Wonder Cafe. You got my money and but you lost a customer. Shame.
(1)
Dusty M.
We've tried this new place 3 times and overall have enjoyed what we've ordered. Love the chicken dishes made with sliced white meat like tangerine chicken or mango chicken. The egg drop soup is really good, love the bits of tomato they add in. Have also enjoyed the ribs, dumplings and scallion pie. The one thing we didn't love was the beef and broccoli. The broccoli was overcooked which is funny because all of the other dishes with veggies we ordered had nice, crisp vegetables. The beef was just average and the sauce seemed heavy on the cornstarch. Not nearly up to par with the chicken dishes. Like that they offer both white and brown rice. Excluding the beef and broccoli dish, the sauces are very light, nothing has been over salted and you can tell they don't use a lot of oil in the foods so it really does seem healthier if your watching fat and sodium. Even the scallion pie was crisp but not greasy. Heated up the next day in the toaster oven and there wasn't a puddle of oil on the cookie sheet. Nice. Just hope they can keep up the quality here. Often new places start out with a bang then switch to cheaper ingredients and everything just goes downhill. They haven't been open long and seem to need some work on getting orders out the door quickly when things get busy. Maybe some more help in the kitchen. Overall it's probably the best option in Watertown for a decent Chinese dinner.
(4)
Dan B.
The food here is pretty decent. Given that I am mildly obsessed with egg rolls and string beans, I have to say that Wonder Cafe makes the grade. Not the best I've ever had-- I mean, actually, I likes me some MSG-- but not the worst. (BTW, if you want the best Szechuan-style string beans anywhere, go check out Chilli Garden in Medford-- wow!) The veggies are indeed fresh at Wonder Cafe. What kicks this place up a notch, though, are the people working there. The first time I ordered here, I called ahead, and after speaking with the woman on the phone, I said to myself "wow, what a nice person". She said "I noticed that you didn't order any rice. Some people don't order rice because they don't know we have brown rice. Is that why you didn't order any?" And, yes! That's why I didn't order any originally. When I went in on another occasion, I recognized the voice of the person from the phone, and she introduced herself as "Liz". While I was waiting, she remarked that she had not seen me before, and asked if I was new to the neighborhood. Well, yes, I was. Ding! Another point. So I put Wonder Cafe squarely in my "good bet for Chinese food" category. I will certainly go back again. BTW, DO NOT go to the Chinese food place down the street, "Tiki In". Disgusting. The contrast between the two places could not be sharper.
(4)
Iggy A.
I love Wonder Cafe! Chinese food is one of my guilty vices and after trying almost every Chinese place around in the Belmont/Watertown/Newton area this is my definite fave! The food is delicious and unlike most Chinese food it tastes fresh (even the fried stuff) without that grease that you typically taste and feel. I've tried several items on their menu from everything to the "healthy" eating options to the dinner combinations and everything has been wonderfully flavorful with portions that leave plenty of leftovers! I also have to say that the ordering process with this restaurant is by far one of the best experiences I've had. The people on the phone are super friendly and courteous - even introducing themselves over the phone! My least favorite part of ordering food is actually talking to the people on the phone (I know, I know) but this really is the best experience I've had with ordering. No repeating credit card numbers or orders, no grumpy employees, no rude delivery people. Not here! Absolutely a great place for Chinese food and a friendly experience too :)
I don't get it. We were looking for a new local Chinese restaurant, and we turned to Yelp's reviews/ratings to help us find one. Our Kung Pao Shrimp was a load of celery with ten very over-cooked shrimp. The Hot & Sour soup was so strong, it was just icky. Too much soy or vinegar or something. The Beef with Black Pepper Sauce was okay tasting, but its overall color/presentation left a lot to be desired. Color of dog food blah. We were really disappointed and are unfortunately still on the hunt for good Chinese food!
(2)
Michelle L.
The food here is quite good. Probably not the BEST Chinese food in the world, nor the most authentic, but it's tasty Americanized nostalgia, only it offers plenty of healthy and relatively healthy options, is easy to customize to your tastes, and is MSG-free. And it's family-owned, which is always a plus for me. Brown rice as an option also earns bonus points. The food is four stars but I'm tacking on an extra for the exemplary service. I came here with the girlfriend after a very long weekend when neither of us could even think about cooking. We spoke with a very sweet girl at the counter who chatted with us and was very patient while we agonized over the menu choices and asked questions about several different dishes. Finally we ordered combos: I had chicken in garlic sauce with an egg roll and brown rice, and the girlfriend had General Gau's chicken with crab rangoon, and they very kindly made her some pork fried rice without the pork, as she cannot eat pork products. The girl at the counter says they will accede to any special requests or orders. Now that just gets a gold star. We also tried their bubble tea and found it delicious. I recommend the coconut bubble tea; it was especially refreshing. Our food was tasty and very filling, with lots of good, fresh vegetables. I'm definitely coming back.
(5)
Amy H.
If you are someone who loves Chinese food but hates the "too much oil and MSG induced coma" that ensues after indulging in it, then Wondercafe is the cure for what ails you! We phoned in a takeout order the other night; since a friend of ours highly recommended them. We were extremely pleased with our food. The boneless spare ribs were amazing-first of all they were real! Not the usual dried out, dyed bright pink, greasy bits of meat that one typically expects. Everything else that we ordered followed the same trend and was delicious! I also noticed, when we went to pick up our order, that they have specials with local seasonal veggies-AWESOME! If you are debating on whether to give them a try, definitely go for it!
(5)
Eli R.
I have been here twice, once for the food and once craving bubble tea. The women who served us was sweet. She was accommodating to my picky food needs. The meal was good and tasted fresh. The dumplings that were served were steamed and scrumptious.I found the food not be greasy and tasteful. The decor of the place was not fine dining but the food was a decent value for the price. Wonder Cafe is more of a take-out place rather than a dine-in venue. The second time I went here was looking for bubble tea. There are few places near Newton MA that have bubble tea, especially after 10PM. The process in make the "smoothie" versions were different than the Vietnamese methods. I requested a Green Tea Smoothie but they had never tried making it before. They were willing to attempt to make it, which I appreciated and showed good service, but I declined the offer. I tried the Chocolate and the Mango. The chocolate was satisfying, but the residue of Hershey's Chocolate syrup presented an attempt at it, rather than a perfected method. The mango smoothie was much smoother and sweet. The actual Boba were a good texture and did not taste old, as some do. Based on the large assortment of Cantonese American style food, late hours I would order here again, takeout.
(3)
Angel R.
This new place already feels like its going to be one of my favorites to eat out. Its not too big (thank god for no loud crowds) nor is it small. Its perfect for a relaxing environment to eat your food at peace which I do. It also has got to be one of the cleanest places I ever entered. if anything is misplaced or food gets somewhere they are on it in a heart beat which I greatly respect (Its a pet peeve of mine). Its simplistic interior but not to point where its bland. If anything the colored walls bring out a very positive and fun vibe to the place. I looked at their menu and was so impressed with the variety of foods they have listed, it was on going (and last time I checked that certainly wasn't a bad thing). So it will take you a good minute to fully read the thing but you'll definitely will find something here. The staff there (which were really nice to me) filled me in on how they do it healthy and stuff which was cool. Lastly they have these bubble tea drinks which taste sooo good! Please I recommend anyone to try one when they get there. I had a Taro and Coconut both with pearls (YUM). So I really say try this place cause I gave it a shot and exceeded what I thought about it.
(5)
Francisco M.
My initial impression was quite delightful, the ladies were very kind and had a genuine sense to make sure we got all that we wanted. (unlike what I've seen at most other Chinese restaurants) The food was prepped up quick and I must say hands down it was some of the best Chinese food I've had near the Boston area. I had the teriyaki beef sticks with General Gao's chicken and pork fried rice and it was delicious! The beefs were big and overwhelmed the sticks they were placed on, the General Gao's was saucy yet not soggy and very meaty, and the pork fried rice so good I would say it's some of the best rice I've had. Now after the meal and paying the check the workers were very social and happy to have satisfy our craving for Chinese food. I didn't have a bloated stomach because they do not use MSG and it was actually filling so I didn't get hungry an hour later! I definitely plan on returning to this establishment and with great food like their's it's it's a Wonder why I hadn't heard of them sooner ;-) I wish more Chinese food restaurants had such good business practices 5 out of 5 stars for the Wondercafe for their fantastic food and great hospitality!
(5)
George B.
Was pretty good. I had chicken curry on rice. Took a star off cuz the windows werent clean and there were few leaves gatgeredvin the entrance.
(4)
Rene' Y.
I went to this take-out place because I read some great reviews from Yelp. I was excited because of the selections and the price seems very reasonable. DISAPPOINTED. I ordered a traditional, authentic chinese dish which most Chinese take-out place does not offer. The pork was over cooked and hard to chew, really, I had better. Maybe because I am Chinese and I am particular about authentic chinese food; Well, my boyfriend with the generic America taste, didn't even like his fried rice, I took a bit, yup, too bland. I may order from this place once more and give it another chance.
(3)
Mason M.
Drove by this place and decided to try it. Wonder Cafe food was delicious. No MSG and fresh ingredients. The staff was extremely friendly and personable. I had Beef and Broccoli combination plate which came with an appetizer and choice of rice for $8.95. It was a huge portion and a great value. Highly recommend!!!
(5)
Bailey B.
I thought, new Chinese restaurant to replace the other one before this and the other one before that. my reviews on these dishes. egg roll - gross, and it sticks in your teeth, I pulled out some shredded cabbage from a week ago from teeth. chicken cashew nut- wtf, its has grey clear sauce and as appetizing as thrush wash, 4 cashew nuts only. tons of shoots. fried rice - repulsive, makes Tiki Inn fried rice seem eatable. chicken noodle soup - the broth was unimaginable. crispy orange chicken - is it a chicken? or is it a mystery meat? the crispy part; the batter tastes like its been sitting around. crab Rangoon, what kind of oil are they frying it in? 1 star for the chocolate fortune cookie and being very friendly. So disappointed.
(1)
Evan D.
Service was friendly but the food was pretty much flavorless. Sichuan pickles had no heat at all!
(2)
Ashley W.
I was really excited to try Wonder Cafe after reading the other yelp reviews.. i have to say I was a little disappointed. We ordered the appetizer sampler and the general tso chicken combo plate with beef teriyaki and pork fried rice. The chicken was unlike any other general tso chicken I've had before.. and I don't mean that in a good way. The sauce was congealed and didn't have a typical general tso flavor. It was overly gingery and just not that great.. it made me wonder if maybe I was given the wrong meal? It was also a mix of white and dark meat. The fried rice was pretty good, along with the beef teriyaki which was my favorite part of the meal. The chicken fingers were overly battered. I'd say only 1/4 of a chicken finger was actual chicken. The crab rangoons were lacking crab flavor also. I didn't try the pork or chicken wings, but my boyfriend seemed to enjoy them. Highlight of the meal- the chocolate fortune cookies. I had high hopes for this place, but am sad to say I don't think I will be returning.
(3)
Leah L.
It's the best-tasting Chinese food in the area. Fresh ingredients and none of that weird awful MSG flavor (and subsequent MSG-induced headaches) you get at most Chinese places. Mango chicken is great. I don't remember what else I've ordered, but I have enjoyed all of it. The chicken rice soup is good for when you're sick. I've gotten takeout from Wonder Cafe several times and the staff here wins the prize for their notable kindness and friendly demeanor, even addressing customers by name in person and on the phone. Just for that it makes me WANT to spend my money with these people. Of course, the food is a good motivator, too!
(4)
Craig D.
It's the best Chinese food in Watertown. This family run restaurant has quality Chinese food. It's either a take-out or seating for about 15. For a combination of price point, quality and service, in this niche, Wonder Cafe deserves five stars. The sweet and sour soup is authentic. Try the sauteed vegetables including the Shanghai bok choy on as good as anything in China town. The Szechaun fish on rice provides a generous portion of fish, vegetables and rice - The fish is light, sauteed (not deep fried) and it is appropriately spicey. The Kung Pao chicken is light with lots of chicken, veggies and peanuts. The traditional Chinese dishes are the best.
(5)
Liz O.
So sad. I had to bring work home with me and wanted to drown my sorrows in spicy grease and since it was a grey, rainy day, was leaning towards delivery (unusual for me), when I drove by this place for the millionth time and saw parking out front. I took it as a sign and was further comforted by the "people love us on Yelp" sign on their door. Yelpers, you have let me down. The menu was large and full of the Chinese-American favorites I loved growing up and still crave. We ordered General Gau's bean curd (it came out as gloppy, corn starch ladden vaguely orange-flavored sauce with rubbery tofu), spicy chicken with garlic sauce (this one had some flavor, but was mostly huge mis-shapen pieces of bell peppers with gloppy corn starch-thickened sauce), and noodle dish that was supposed to have a peanut sauce. There was no peanut flavor at all in this dish. Just gloppy corn starch - again. The only decent part of the meal was the fortune cookie. My boyfriend said even the brown rice was not great. Yes, it was cheap and plentiful; I'm sure my garbage appreciated the meal.
(1)
Selena J.
Vegetable chow mein, beef with broccoli, and sesame chicken... Simply not good. It wasn't terrible, but I definitely won't order from here again.
(2)
Marty C.
It's yummy. I recommend the 7th Wonder fried rice. Great service. Some people should stop commenting about food being bland. I've been to so many Chinese restaurants and eat over-seasoned food maxed out with msg and salt. Our palates are so accustomed to eating such chemically altered food that we forget what real vegetables/meats taste like. Wonder Cafe serves health conscious food, which translates to just the right amount of salt (a human's daily dosage should max at 1700mg) and minimum to zero amount of msg. If you want to introduce more destructive elements into your body, you ought to shop else where. I will continue visiting this restaurant to satisfy my Chinese food taste-buds and live an additional 20 carefree healthy years.
(5)
Tony K.
Horrible food. I ordered chiken with nuts. It came with horrible white sauce, that you can't eat it no matter how hard you try.
(1)
Kristin P.
Great food and the staff is so friendly. I especially love that they pack the takeout with a little candy and chopsticks.
(4)
S W.
Not so tasty- I got the 4 Happiness which is usually a spicier dish- I asked for it mild and there was still some kick but that's all there was to the flavor- no saltiness, sweetness or any other flavor marrying it all together - just bland with spicey. Egg rolls were kind of gross- like the outside was warm but the inside was cold- like it wasn't cooked long enough. The only thing that was pretty good were the boneless spareribs-- Less greasy than your average.. Service was nice and quick which was a plus- I just cannot remember having a Chinese food take- out meal blander than this one ever.
(2)
Jenni W.
Well, I was sad to see the previous place in this little spot go... and SO HAPPY to see Wonder Cafe take its place... what a wonder this cafe is (yeah, I went there). First off, their combo plates are an AWESOME deal, not to mention full of options and yumminess. I got, for a measly 6.95, brown rice (light, fluffy, and moist, not dry and undercooked like many places I have been), chicken teriyaki (juicy, flavorful adn huge... on a stick! gosh I love Jeff Dunham), and General Gaus shrimp. Now, oftentimes this is a dish that would be loaded in grease seeing as it is FRIED then the sauce is added, but this wasn't. The shrimp were plump, huge, and cooked just right. The sauce was slightly spicy, very natural tasting (did I detect orange and ginger... usually all I can pick out is grease and sugar), and there was just enough, it wasn't drenched or lacking. The portion was large and it made it from the restaurant to my office still nice and hot on a very cold day. My coworker ordered a noodle soup which they had the piece of mind to separate the noodles, veggies, and wontons from the broth so it made it back without turning into a mushy mess. I had a soy drink (yum) and anxiously await the arrival of their bubble tea machine (which they assured me should be in in about a week). They offered desserts and other sides (they had an aloe drink... and tiramisu!). The staff was helpful, i was even able to place a phone order without difficulty. When we walked in the girl behind the counter was very helpful, offered to make suggestions, and let me down easy when they told me the bubble tea machine wasn't in yet. I am excited to see this small, family-run restaurant take shape in Watertown... they put a lot of work and effort in and it shows!
(5)
John M.
This is the best place around for good Boba tea. Lollicup is weak in comparison. The employees are really, really friendly and even though I haven't actually eaten there, I still give 4 stars on the Boba alone (it just has such a good flavor compared to other places). Get almond with Boba and prepare to have your face punched in with refreshment!
(4)
Liz R.
The answer is YES, go here! After craving Chinese take-ou for no particular reason all day, I gave in. I was really happy with the results. Fresh, delicious food; clean environment; really nice people.
(4)
Peter S.
The food at this place is terrific and the staff is super nice. Along with the usual Chinese dishes they serve some unusual and very tasty offerings. I'll be going back very soon.
(5)
D H.
If you don't have taste buds, it should be fine.
(1)
Danielle F.
I recently moved into the area and last night I was desperately craving Chinese food. After searching for reviews on Chinese restaurants (on yelp) I placed my bet on Wonder Cafe. The food arrived in under a half hour and was delicious. Just pulling the food out of the bag was a treat- it smelt so good! and the bag was not covered in grease.The pork fried rice was light and flavorful. The boneless ribs were awesome and the chicken wings were pretty good. Plus no MSG! I will definitely be a repeat customer at Wonder Cafe.
(4)
H R.
The previous restaurant in this location was just atrocious, so I was happy to see something new come in. The first couple of times I ordered takeout, I was quite pleased. I liked that there were many options for eating healthfully. I enjoyed the vegetarian spinach ravioli, the steamed shrimp with vegetables, and the pickled vegetables. The last couple of times I ordered takeout, however, I was disappointed. Here's the low-down on what I didn't like: The hot and sour soup seemed all sour but not hot. The scallion pancake was deep fried and way overdone and dried out. I prefer scallion pancakes to be pan-fried (perhaps I will suggest this...). Jumbo Shrimp w/Garlic Sauce and Scallops w.Garlic Sauce are both supposed to be spicy dishes, but my b.f. and I ordered them recently and not only were they not spicy, but also they hardly had any flavor at all. This is a family-run restaurant, and the mother and two daughters are really sweet and genuinely want to please the customers.
(3)
K R.
I hate to admit my fiance and i were Tiki Inn people since there really wasn't anything else within walking distance to just grab some quick takeout. But when this place opened, we immediately tried it. Of course with the Tiki, everything is the opposite. Tiki has very heavy, fatty food, that you just feel disgusting after eating but you can't help but just go back for more since it's so cheap. Not to mention everything tastes the same. There service @ Wonder Cafe was excellent to say the least! Everyone was very friendly. The place was simple, clean, and the food was amazing! We got sick of eating the kind of Tiki chinese so the thought of having healthier chinese really lured us in. The food actually had flavor!!! Each thing had it's own flavor, and you definitely get your moneys worth. Good bye Tiki Inn... hello Wonder Cafe!
(5)
Gretchen W.
I wish I'd eaten at the *good* Wonder Cafe that everyone's reviewing. The one I ate at last night was nothing like people are describing. I ordered Kung Pao chicken. It was loaded with celery and water chestnuts (two ingredients that signal mediocre Chinese food to me) and had absolutely no spiciness at all. It really tasted of nothing but celery. I also ordered black bean chow foon with vegetables. Again, celery was the primary vegetable. The noodles were nicely cooked, but the sauce and vegetables were literally gelatinous. The sauce was plopped on top of the noodles, and by the time I arrived home (5 minutes away), it had become something resembling an aspic. Little globs of goo stuck to each bite, making for an exceedingly unpleasant eating experience. I really wanted to like this place! The people working there were very nice (as others have said) and there were some interesting items on the menu. Sadly, I won't risk going back and getting more gooey noodles.
(1)
Mariko K.
I was curious to find out what "Healthy Chinese Food" was like, and I can tell you that it is not only healthy, but is also Y-U-M-M-Y!!!! There is a variety of dishes on the menu, including some Japanese dishes. The fusion of cultures is always nice, but it's even nicer when you can "eat" them! :) The wait staff is very courteous and pleasant. They make you feel good about being there. The quality of the food is like a five-star restaurant, but the prices are VERY affordable. I give FIVE HEARTS to Wonder Cafe!
(5)
Nadia K.
So we ordered take out, and it's definitely a place to do that at unless you enjoy the really tacky plastic asian inspired decor- complete with cheap looking plastic/metal tables and chairs... I was expecting really good food after the following yelp reviews, but I have to say- mediocre was the name of the game here. We got an order of orange chicken, the flavor was good, and so was the very outside layer of the fried batter, the problem was that the batter was so thick around the chicken that it was very gummy on the inside.... The crab rangoons were ok, crispy, but lacked flavor and desperately needed the spicy sauce that, kudos to them, they included. To me it tasted like they needed some salt too. We also order the beef chow foon, which had a decent amount of beef, but the noodles had congealed together into a massive blob at the bottom- which had noticeably occur before putting them into the container because all of the meat and veggies were pilled on top of the noodles and not mixed through it, like they should be had it just come out of a wok. That was the other problem, chow foon noodles are a wide rice noodle that lack all flavor except what you put on them, which makes them brilliant and an indicator of care at the same time. These noodles needed to either be cooked in a wok at all, or cooked longer to get a little more carmelization of the black bean sauce. I'm used to black bean sauce being a dark brown color and having a rich flavor, this was light and lack-luster. When we picked up the order my boyfriend sent me in with his credit card as he double parked outside, I figured they'd at least ask why there was a mans name on the card- no comment at all, I signed for him and left. That bothers me. The people that we interacted with over the phone and when picking up the food were very friendly, and probably the only reason I'd go back to try something else next time. I have a feeling there are other good things on the menu, I really love good chow foon maybe next time I'll ask them to cook it in the wok longer or something. Hopefully that doesn't offend them.
(2)
jeremy t.
woner cafe what can i say its way way way better than any Chinese food around and the combo plates can feed me and my wife, the staff is super nice and its finally clean in there lol the only thing i didnt like is that they have a 10 dollar card limit which is actually illegal and the crab ran goon is a little fishy tasting the chicken is awesome and the rice is super fresh i am siked to have a nice chinese food place near my house thank you Jesus! i would say the wonder cafe and ginger root are the only chinese places worth anything around the newton watertown brighton area the rest are just nasty! go wonder cafe!
(4)
T T.
So after telling my wife about my love of this food, and the fact they said they can work with the gluten-free issue we jumped in for round two. First I have to say that the customer service is awesome, it is a personal level that you just don't find when doing take out. Tonight we went with a few noodle dishes and lobster sauce. the amount of food I got in a dinner special was fantastic. For an additional $1 (with the dinner specials) you get the soup of the day. Well, well, well worth it just try it out if nothing else. The chicken fingers that I got were from fresh chicken, you can tell if they are frozen as the texture is different and absolutely it was fresh with a light golden batter. The scallion pancakes were excellent and my son ate them with ferocity. My wife got two gluten free dishes one that had shrimp and we were both blown away, the shrimp weren't those little shrimp that you normally find, but good sized ones, again not frozen, no water added that were fantastic. the review hasn't changed , try it.. This place is a gem.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Kartik P.
This isnt the place where you would want to come and have a tasty meal! Its just suffices for a cheap chinese fried rice and some veggies tossed together in soy sauce with salt and pepper. Nothing more than that. No effort is put in the kitchen to please the customer. It is what it is! I went in knowing what I am getting into so wasnt disappointed..lol. But if you are drunk enough to care less about what you are eating then this is the place for you.
(1)Bryan H.
Had them for delivery, it was pretty good. We had sesame and orange chicken, both of which were good (the orange chicken had nice big chunks of orange!). They were not quite as spicy as I'd like, but we ordered mild so that's to be expected. We'll kick it up a notch next time.
(4)Adam N.
What are these good reviewers talking about?!? This was bad. Bottom line. And I won't ever order again. First off, my fried rice smelled like an ashtray. And it tasted dirty. A genuine earthy or mineral flavor... Maybe there was a fire in the kitchen? Burnt. The GG chicken was the worst I've ever had. No texture. One note - sugar. Much too sweet. No heat. A gooey mess of really unnatural looking sauce with chunks of chicken swimming in it. Crab rangoon was also somehow infused with sugar. Fried nicely in fresh oil, but still filled with sugar. Why? Why all the positive reviews? Are we all talking about the same place? I'm sorry I don't have another place to recommend. I'm brand new to the area. OMG, it just hit me. Maybe this IS good for the area...
(2)Manpreet S.
An OK option for Chinese take-out in the watertown/belmont area. They delivered the food fresh and hot, within 30 mins after the order was placed. Crab Rangoon is good but all the stuff is too oily. I did not like the pound cake.
(3)Caitlin M.
So I can't comment on the food as it never arrived and the restaurant could not be reached. I placed my order for delivery well before the delivery window closed (it was placed at 8:30pm and it says delivery is open until 9:30pm). Not only has the food not arrived 1.5 hours later, but the phone number provided is unreachable. As a restaurant you should be open during your advertised hours and not allow websites to take delivery orders if you are not actually open.
(1)Doug N.
Wide array of selections on the menu with pretty good crab rangoons, it's the brownish type of looking Lo mein with average taste....overall good food for a good price
(3)Travis E.
There are a few times in life when a meal is so revolting and utterly disgusting that a person feels compelled to get online and let the world know about it... Last night was one of those nights. The whole family was Jonesin' for Chinese, and my oldest son made the mistake of getting on Foodler and ordering delivery from Wonder Cafe. Wow. What a mistake... The short version is that everything was disgusting. Will write more later if I get a chance, but right now I'm dealing with the collateral clean up of my youngest son's projectile vomiting. FML...
(1)Lauren L.
Okay. My first review was also a first impression. I still hold that the crab rangoon is the best around, but there's nothing else on the menu that's worth the money or tastes that good. The apps are great, but the other food is relatively flavorless, gross or just not interesting. You're better off ordering anywhere else and ignoring the fried cream cheese on other menus (that's all it is anywhere else, honestly - no meat, just gross custard). Don't bother with any of the entrees at Wonder Cafe, though. They're under-dressed, under-seasoned and in may cases flat-out gross.
(2)Ari P.
There are so many aspects of Wonder Café that make me want to love it like a NY Chinese restaurant. It's not set up like your typical take-out spot with the illuminated menu board and formica benches, they don't use MSG, and my dish had vegetables with a healthy crunch and texture. But like other reviewers mentioned, the food tasted off. I've eaten here twice and both times the chicken has a taste like you sometimes get with chicken breast that has defrosted and then been refrozen repeatedly. It's an oddly harsh hit to the taste buds. I have to wonder if I've experienced this at other restaurant that mask the taste with MSG, but the slightly higher prices here made me feel like I really squandered money to ponder that. I have heard good things about the dumplings and crab rangoons, so perhaps one day I will give them a try, but for other American-Chinese staples I'm still looking around the 'hood.
(2)Noah Z.
I was looking for a new Chinese place in Watertown/Newton and took a chance on Wonder Cafe. They did not disappoint! Everything was so fresh and delicious. The place itself was very clean. The portions were huge. I probably would have rated them 5 stars but my hot and sour soup had a slight "burnt soup" taste. It wasn't too overpowering though, and I was still able to enjoy the soup. We'll definitely go back when we get the Chinese food itch.
(4)G K.
This place has typical new england Chinese food. I don't usually crave Chinese food ..but this place is good. you can tell the owner cares. the food tastes good and is not over salted.
(4)Lindsay R.
Good option for Chinese take-out in the watertown/belmont area. Our take out arrived fresh and hot and within a very short time after the order was placed. All the appetizers were delicious, my entree of ginger chicken and string beans was a little greasy but not so much that I wouldn't order it again. A solid choice for Chinese in the limited market area.
(3)Lam C.
Wonder cafe is a great little family owned restaurant near the center of Watertown. Do not confuse this with your average Americanized Chinese restaurant although they do provide that as well. This place has authentic Chinese food and cooks with the freshest ingredients with no MSG so if you're looking for something salty, you should look elsewhere. The staff here is very friendly and helpful. I dine here regularly and highly recommend the "General Gau's crispy shrimp," the "spicy salt and hot pepper calamari," and the "black bean sauce chow foon"
(5)Evan L.
This past weekend some friends and I gathered to celebrate for a friend of ours. The friend has a gluten allergy, and my pal Rob recommended that we order from this establishment as they accommodate well to the intolerance. He spoke with Sue, who was very helpful in taking our large order, and in providing an excellent variety of gluten-free dishes for our darling companion. The order was delivered within a reasonable time and came snuggled in two large cardboard boxes(we ate a lot). I hadn't had Asian cuisine that delicious in some time! I wasn't feeling particularly adventurous, but what I did have was phenomenal. The peking ravioli....unreal. Scallion pancakes were similarly as delectable among soy sauce. Friends loved the beef, and while calamari just isn't for me, it still seemed popular with the rest of the crew. Their lo mein is excellent and I'm confident that the pork and chicken they use is superior to their local competition. Came hooked up with candy and mints as well. There was one mixup but it was a simple matter of misunderstanding... will definitely be ordering from this place again!!
(5)Joe H.
This place rocks for take out! Good Chinese/American delivery is so hard to find in Allston and Wonder Cafe delivers here. Sometimes I'm hankering for some deep fried Chinese appetizers and these people do a great job with it! The crab rangoons are sweet. The chicken fingers are perfectly fried with just the right amount of batter. The chicken is also not overcooked. Walnut shrimp is BOMB! Delivery is fast! Wonder Cafe is my go to Americanized Chinese restaurant. It's a shame the city of Watertown won't let them stay open late at night.
(5)Katie H.
Not as great as a lot of the reviews here make it out to be, all of our food had a burnt flavor. Egg rolls were weird. Gross rice. Not again.
(2)Ann K.
My boyfriend and I have been going to Wonder Cafe for years! Family is at the heart of the restaurant (see the postcards and memorabilia decorating its walls) and the owner, Sue, truly cares about her food and her customers. We usually get a combination of pork ravioli (pan fried or steamed), crab rangoon, boneless spareribs, beef teriyaki, and soups. The crab rangoon is super crispy - delicious! - and the pork ravioli is perfection, so filling. Other great dishes include the sesame chicken (excellent sauce to chicken ratio), mongolian lo mein (unique spice combination), and pork fried rice. Portions are generous, so you can enjoy left overs for days. And for those looking for an extra kick, we highly recommend Sue's homemade spicy mustard! All in all: Wonder Cafe is consistently delicious and satisfying, with FAST and friendly service. We like to celebrate "Wonder Wednesdays," ordering a weekly feast!
(5)F F.
Review of take out order : Spicy Ma Po Tofu w. Minced Pork was very good, the Fillet of Sole with Black Bean Sauce was mediocre. It was bland, lacking Sole and uninspiring. This is your typical American inspired Chinese restaurant, so American that we were not given chopsticks.
(3)Dean H.
We found the food to be okay. Nothing to write home to mom about. The service was good. Portions big, and at a good price.
(3)Stephen S.
Closed 30 minutes earlier than the sign posted on the door this evening. The lady inside saw me and did nothing.
(1)Meredith M.
Sue Chen and her team at Wonder Cafe are Wonder-FUL! I had a large order to place with her (50 people) and she helped me pick a menu that would make everyone happy and stay in budget. I've never ordered $500+ of Chinese Food, but this was worth it. Everyone remarked how flavorful everything was. We opted for large trays of the 7th wonder Fried Rice, Beef with Broccoli, Sweet & Sour Chicken, Boneless Spare Ribs, Egg Rolls and White Rice. Most of all I felt good that she had everything under control. The delivery process was on time and efficient. We will certainly come here again!
(5)Gayle W.
I was feeling under the weather one day and needed some Hot and Sour Soup. This place made me a great bowl of soup! I ordered it to go, but the ambiance was so calming that I ate it at the restaurant. Staff was friendly, food was great and the price was very reasonable. I plan to come again.
(5)Victoria G.
It's a solid Chinese takeout place. Not too greasy or salty, which is great. I love their crab rangoon. Delivery was prompt and the order was accurate. I was confused about something in the order, and called up to resolve the issue. Turns out I was wrong - there was no issue! They were very pleasant and helpful even though I probably sounded a bit annoyed in the beginning.
(4)John C.
I love Sue Chen. She makes some of the most authentic Chinese food I've ever eaten. Steamed dumplings, crab rangoons, and great lo mein. I also really enjoyed the pork friend rice and beef with broccoli. You should definitely order from here and take it back home. Fantastic meal for the price and one of the best take-out Chinese places I've ever been to.
(5)Ben R.
I'm on the perpetual search to find a good Chinese place in Watertown and unfortunately my search continues. Maybe it was because it was the night after the big snowstorm, or because it was take out, or because we ordered the "dinner specials" (which is Chinese for "we need to unload a shit-ton of fried rice and apps so let's make it appear as if this is a good deal!"), but I was very unhappy with my meal and tossed most of it. Yes, the veggies were fresh, which was nice, but the sauce on my beef and green beans tasted "off" and my wife and daughter had tofu dishes that were less than tasty. There was also about a metric ton of rice filling the bottom of the tray, and very little of the main dish (see above). The one bonus was that their duck sauce appeared to be homemade and that was interesting. I don't think I'll be ordering from Wonder Cafe again.
(2)Jill C.
I am writing to WARN EVERYONE from ordering take out from wonder cafe. I just recently checked my credit card bills and was over charged on the tip for take out from the wonder cafe. Twice this happened $4 for the first time and $8 for the second time. I have the receipts and the credit card statements showing the difference in charges. Wonder Cafe refused to apologize or refund the money. I am just writing to warn everyone check your credit cards.
(1)Kathleen B.
Love this place! Super clean mom and pop shop. Portions are huge. Four and a half stars if I could. Deduction because some of the food can be a little bland. Their udon noodle soup is delicious though. I also love their boneless ribs and "chicken fingers".
(4)Brice N.
was disappointed with both meals though the crab rangoon was awesome. delivery was prompt. I wish I could explain better, it just didn't taste good.
(1)Jenny B.
Wonder Cafe is THE option for Chinese food in the Watertown area. The customer service is fantastic, the food and prices are great, and the delivery is quick. Sue, the owner, is friendly, welcoming, and accommodating -- you'll have an easy time here if you have a gluten allergy. Wonder Cafe is open relatively late for a restaurant in Watertown (not that that's saying much), and the portions are HUGE. Seriously, if you get one of their combo platters you'll be eating for two days. I highly recommend the Chicken with Garlic Sauce (entree), and the Pickled Vegetables (appetizer). Their Pineapple/Raisin Fried Rice is also pretty tasty. As an added bonus, you can substitute for brown rice with any of the combo platters without an extra charge! I've been paying a $2 fee at other restaurants in the area, and while it's not a huge amount of money, it adds up after a while. I give this place four stars because there are other Chinese restaurants I like a little better in the greater Boston area, but in terms of proximity to my apartment and overall tastiness and value, this is a great option for Watertown, which is pretty pathetic in the Asian food department. Seeing prices increase and the food quality go down in many restaurants these days, I'm happy to say that Wonder Cafe has continued to serve good food at reasonable prices -- I'm glad to give them business. If you like super greasy, Americanized Chinese food, this place will disappoint you. It's clear that Sue puts a lot of care into her cooking, and the ingredients are really fresh and light. Check this place out!
(4)Rachel N.
The food is really great, the store is always well kept and clean, and the owner and staff are very accommodating. Their food is never too greasy or oily, always delicious. The steamed Chinese broccoli is perfect, and Ma Po Tofu with Pork is nice and spicy. Wonder Cafe is my go-to local Chinese take-out for sure.
(4)Mariel T.
Meh. I've experience better. (You hit it on the head, Yelp.) There was nothing that would make me want to try this place again. Tried a takeout order of Broccoli and garlic sauce (my usual favorite) and was not impressed at all. The service was quick, kind and better than most. I really wanted to like this place but I would look elsewhere for some quick Chinese takeout. I also ordered an eggroll that was too much meat for my taste, super greasy, and just didn't do it for me.
(2)Tough C.
Good choice for pleasing food. Never had a bad or overly oily meal from this place. Their chocolate fortune cookies are a nice treat, and never stale.
(4)Yvonne M.
So I ordered the chicken curry fried rice, and I have to say it was amazing. Not at all greasy like other restaurants, just plain de....lish ! Also the Peking Ravioli fried, was so yummy, once again not at all greasy ! The chocolate fortune cookie was the cherry on top !
(4)Thomas N.
This place has one of the BEST customer service I have encountered!!! " chinese takeout Rest." I'm giving this place 5 STARS for service!!! I was given 30 mins and it got here in about 15!!! Speaking of delivery, the guy came in took my cash and was about to walk out with my order!!! Talk about trying to double dip! "charge" Not mad but def funny!!!! Ok, now for the food. Im posting this in hopes to not have it be shown in a bad way but by reading this, "the owner" it might inspire the cook/owner in maybe finding a way to be "RE-TRAINED" in the art of cooking tasteful AMERICAN chinese food!!! Food was SOOOO BLAND 1.Lacking strong features or characteristics and therefore uninteresting. If you are thinking about a New Years resolution "diet" then MOST def this can be the place for you to lose some weight!! Im NOT kidding!!! I spent including tip about $16 and the best thing that came out of it was the fortune cookie!!!!! For the amount I paid, you would think the food could of been much better and maybe the amount of food would of been more than 5 strips of boneless spare ribs,few pieces of chicken, maybe 5 or 6 whole cashews and an abundance of celery!!! " But then again, MOST and I mean MOST was thrown away" wish I had some xtra soysauce to Flavor it up myself!!! And maybe some salt and pepper as well!!!! So owner/chef, If your reading this, Please find a way to improve on your food and maybe I will give it another shot!
(5)Bill M.
This is a pretty good place for Chinese. This is now one of my stops when I go to do laundry and have to wait for the drying. For one, the spicy wings are actually spicy, at least for those that like the taste of spice but not the pain of say, 911 Hot Buffalo wings. They also have good Crab Ragoon. The house special fried rice I got was very tasty and I didn't even need to apply soy sauce etc.
(4)Cate S.
Every dish we got was too hot/spicy woweee and we can all take some heat. Be sure to tell them to tone it down...
(2)Rachel S.
Wonder Cafe is a gem. I'd driven by this place many times and never gave it a second thought until one night after a Target run I had a serious hankering for chinese food. I have a peanut allergy so I'm always a little wary when it comes to trying new asian places, but I'm so glad I stopped in. The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating and had no problem substituting anything I couldn't eat. The food is super fresh and actually tastes healthy. You all know the feeling after a greasy Chinese meal, and it isn't pretty. But after dining on food from Wonder Cafe, you'll feel great! No joke. Plus, they deliver virtually anywhere in the Boston area. I'm never turning back, this is officially my Boston-area chinese place. PS Their crab rangoons are super yummy. Coming here is a no-brainer.
(4)Nicole G.
Surprisingly good. I'm very picky about Chinese and I have a hard time finding a good place every tie I move. We ordered pork fried rice, lobster fried rice, beef teriyaki, scallion pancakes (or scallion pie), and vegetable lo mein. Everything was very good, except for the lo mein - it was made with flat noodles and had an odd flavor to it that I couldn't identify. Not bad, per se, just not to my taste and not what I want when ordering Lo Mein.
(4)Heather H.
I saw all of the positive reviews and was excited to try this place out. The portions were huge, the delivery was prompt, and they offer brown rice at no extra charge. With all of that factored in, I still have to give this place 1 star. The food was absolutely disgusting! I ordered the General Gau's chicken and my husband got the tangerine chicken. We both ended up throwing our food away.
(1)Steven S.
Now I don't usually go around reviewing reastaurants but when I had a taste of wonder cafe which just opened in the area of which i work at, I just had to because I felt so good after eating from this place! No msg induced coma! No lightheaded walk to work after eating chinese food! I was happily surprised that the dishes tasted very natural! The fact that Wonder cafe says on their menu that they strive for healthy food with zero msg seems to be completely true! Aside from my little rant I had the crab rangoons which I'm a slut for. Wonder cafe's crab rangoons surprised me. I'm always on the search for good crab rangoons and ill definantly have to come back for a second tasting for my final verdict of whether or not they will be my favorite ones. They were sweet and savory and didn't leave me with creme cheese breathe. I also had brown rice with lobster sauce which was very good. The taste was different from other chinese places. It tasted natural and wasn't goopy and weird but was rather thick and hearty which is another reason for my whole rant... Cons - the staff! They are Way tooo nice and polite! Its like they have alterior motives or something. So if you don't like good service, stay away! ; ) P.s. they have soybean drinks!!!!! No longer do I have to run to the old super 88 in allston during work to grab this drink!
(5)Erin C.
Wonder Cafe is Wonderful! At first I didn't even realize this place had opened but randomly walked by one day and decided to give it a try. The interior is nothing fancy but it is clean and bright. We were greeted by a super friendly staff and they quickly took our order. I had the shrimp with broccoli and the egg drop soup with tomato. My dinner date had the chicken curry rice. My shrimp was fantastic! The garlic sauce that it was in smelled and tasted delectable. The egg drop soup was tasty although I was a bit weirded out by the tomatoes at first. You get used to it though. Unfortunately, the rice was a bit dry but nothing a little sauce can't fix. Wonder Cafe will definitely be on my lists of stops on Mt. Auburn St from now on!
(4)Justin K.
Lady argued with me about the pronunciation of the word satay. Big turn off. I said I wanted the beef chow foon with satay sauce three times. Then she said say-tee. Yup big turn off. Food is okay. Decor initially makes if feel like upscale take out, then you look further and see all the crap flyers and wall decor. One half expects this to be a Chinese restaurant - day care combo. I've seen plenty of those. Three stars for food, minus one for attitude.
(2)Sindy T.
The food was extremely bland and the sauce was those white sauces. I ordered the chicken broccoli and white rice with beef teriyaki. The delivery driver forgot the sodas and my boyfriend ordered the strip and veggies with crab rangoon and he felt sick an hour later :( Just like I see in other reviews, I wanted to like this place because they are friendly BUT the food is just not fresh and not worth the price.
(2)Sara M.
I ordered Chinese from here the other week and was pretty happy with it. My food arrived quickly and was still hot. They advertise that everything is cooked to order and is fresh, which I am not adverse to believing. I had two egg rolls, pork fried rice, chicken fingers, and kung pao beef with white rice. The egg rolls were decent but I think they were vegetable. The kung pao beef had too much celery and the sauce wasn't my favorite - it had a strange taste but it may have been due to the mushrooms they used. The beef was a bit chewy but I really loved the peanuts and wished there were more of them. My favorites were the pork fried rice and the chicken fingers. The rice had nice chunks of pork and it was darker in color, which I like. The chicken fingers were huge with good breading and meaty chicken. The duck sauce was pretty good. I would definitely order from here again and try the General Tso's chicken next time!
(4)Shaun G.
This place deserves a premium downtown location inside a hotel, maybe my hotel one day :). Menu is extensive, but everything on it is crack-cocaine (thats a good thing). I highly recommend this place for just about anything, work lunches, and late night munchies. Simply put, I've lived in Boston for 23 years, There is no better place in the Boston area for Cantonese-American cuisine. This is coming from someone 10 miles out.
(5)carol l.
Had been going to this Chinese restaurant over the one a few doors down from it. One day the lady behind the counter forgot to pack my chicken appetizer. I called once I got home and realized it was missing. She first hung up on me then the second time I called, she argued with me and called me a liar. They finally did deliver it but I will never go back. Horrible customer service!!
(1)Sherwin L.
I admit I am instinctively supportive of any Chinese restaurant that opens nearby and caters to the health conscious. Wonder Cafe has a rather extensive menu, and I am willing to take some time to explore it. The noodle soup I ordered had more vegetables than I expected and was quite tasty, so that's a good start!
(4)Chris E.
Great food. Very friendly service. Now my favorite chinese place nearby.
(5)Cloie H.
Let's call a spade a spade here and just come right out and say it: this place is never going to win a beauty contest. I even remarked to my fiancé while we were waiting for our food that, "I wouldn't be shocked if this place used to be a dive bar." His response: "I think it was." So, the decor leaves much to the wanting, and the numerous hand written signs are alarming, funny, and have a slight charm. That is only part of the score of a place (in my book anyway). There are many other factors at play in a rating; there is service, which this place did okay at, and, of course, the food. Walking in here, I was dubious; the marathon numbers on the wall just seemed an oxymoron for a Chinese food place. There are also (what look like) fish bath toys hanging from the ceiling fans, and ALL of the plants are dusty. Yet we stayed and actually chose to eat at the restaurant. When we walked in we were the only people in the place, save the lone woman, (wo)manning the counter. She told us that we could sit anywhere that we liked, so we chose our table and were promptly handed a menu. Not a laminated menu mind you, a paper one, the same ones that they staple to the out going food orders. I know this is true because I witnessed the stapling first hand. We took a while with the ordering. Like any Chinese restaurant, the menu is quite dense. I was pleased to see that they are not just Chinese food, though; they have Cantonese and some curry dishes too. The latter of which my boy ordered. I ordered... you ready? What I ordered is the reason for the 4 stars, so you should prep a bit? You know what, I will give you a second for the awesome that I am about to write. Do some breathing exercises. . . . Ready now? Did you do some stretches? Limber up for the shock? No? I suggest you do. . . . Okay, ready now? All right. This is what I ordered: General Gau's SHRIMP! See, aren't you glad you warmed up for that? I know that you have heard of General Gau's Chicken, everyone has, but have you heard of General Gau's Shrimp? I had never heard of it; had only heard of the chicken. Dang that food was tasty. So tasty that I did not want to share with my fiancé, but then he pouted so I gave him one bite. That is it, just one bite. About four bites in I knew that that plate of food was going to become a "craving food", you know what I am talking about? The kind of food that you just know there will come a time at four o'clock in the morning and you will want it so bad you could kill for it. Yeah, that is this. Everything was cooked perfectly too: the rice, the broccoli, that sauce. See, now I am running into a slight problem. In writing all this I want to eat it again and right now I can't. This is just torture. Go eat this food, you will not regret it. Do not be scared off by the empty Nantucket Nectar's bottles that are strewn around the pots of plants. Only boring, unadventurous eaters would be scared by that kind of thing. You are not a boring, unadventurous eater; you are a Yelper, and you should eat as such! Give these people your money and eat their amazing food. Do it now.
(4)Elbert K.
I rate this as a 6.8 out of 10 on my own scale (10 being best). The place is definitely a step up from the usual cheap eats Chinese food places that litter the New England landscape like the Greek owned sub/pizza shops you find on every corner, nook and alleyway. I prefer this place over other local shops in Watertown b/c it's clean, the food less greasy and b/c the owner seems to care about whether you enjoy your meal or not. I've tried the mapo tofu and loved it. I'm def going back for some more.
(3)T M.
I will preface this review by saying that I have never been a huge fan of the food here, but as another reviewer said: it is THE place to go for Chinese in Watertown. I think he might have meant it in a more favorable manor. However, I think it's not because the food here is any good...just that it's literally the only edible chinese food you will find in the town of Watertown. Having lived in Watertown for several years now, your options are severely limited for take out. On those extremely lazy nights where I just don't have it in me to cook for my family and pizza has already been "done" for the week... Wonder Cafe has been an option for us. After tonight, no longer. I had asked my husband to order me a pan fried noodle dish I had had the last time we ordered from there, but asked him to confirm the name with the person taking the order. Long story short, there must have been an error in translation at some point because what I got was absolutely not what I wanted. No matter...mistakes happen. What I did not appreciate is, when I called to check my order with Wonder Cafe, the person I spoke to (presumably the owner Sue C.?) was incredibly rude and blamed my husband. First of all, I found it very difficult to understand what she was saying myself...so it didn't take long for me to realize that my husband probably had the same issue. Second, at no point did she offer to remedy the situation. I realize this isn't a 5 star restaurant or anything, but it is a hole in the wall chinese restaurant where I just envision vats of ready made food over large hot pots or frozen in freezers ready for nuking... it would not have killed her bottom line to offer a customer her preferred dish. Third, the "Chow Mein" that was sent was a virtually colorless and bland mixture of chicken and vegetables drowned in gelatinous clear liquid! It just harkened back that urban legend from college that people that ate at a certain Chinatown restaurant were acquiring STDs in their throats after consuming chinese food... I will not say more. Thank you Sue C for the maybe 10 times I allowed my family to consume your food, but never again. PS I will happily pass you by on my way to Fusion Cafe!!!
(1)Liz A.
small place but nice atmosphere. I only gave 3 stars because i am not a big fan of Japanese food. The red bean ice cream was a great surprise and very very good!
(3)May D.
I'm so happy I can now get HK style noodle soups and rice dishes close to my home . And they make tasty ones. People there are so nice and easy to talk to. Like their website says, they make nice and warn family atmosphere. I tried several fishes and my favorites so far are salt and hot pepper chicken and pork chop with tomato sauce on rice. I also love their green tea with bubble. I definitely recommend this place to my friends. PS. I wish they have salted/roasted chicken on rice and lychee bubble tea.
(5)Kendra D.
Food has gone down hill in recent months. I used to love the food here. It is now just a cold, bland mess. My last order was overcooked and under seasoned and I had 70% brown rice and 30% of chicken and vegetables. Why all that rice? Yuck. Not a fan. They do get an A+ for friendly service.
(2)Naomi U.
This place is not for fine dining (white table cloths and Peking Duck) but more like a very high end cafeteria where you can get great food. IT IS Friendly, Clean, family run, reasonably priced (especially lunch at under $7) and it has a simple but Big menu and a nice comfortable vibe. Bubble Tea I usually have to go all the way to Chinatown, Alston, or Harvard Square to get a bubble tea so this place is a very big deal in Watertown!! It also really appeals to me to have seen someone hand mixing something hot to start my bubble tea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Decor Someone said the tchotchkes were tacky...I have to say it's all in the eye of the perceiver...I looked in and saw them with the orange wall paint, and Knew for sure this was really run by youthful Chinese people...I told my boyfriend "it' a real Chinese place!, we're going in", for me it was like a validating stamp of approval. (sorta like spam sushi, shave ice and poi, it might look a bit odd but that's real Hawaiian; FYI Hawaiian is Not when you put pineapple and sugar on a slab of pork) I am very pleased to have a new Chinese place (outside of Cambridge or Chinatown): 1) without numbered dishes on red and yellow plastic sheeting backlit by florescent tubing. 2) without the de rigueur rude, insolent, and impatient waitstaff who will pretend not to speak English when a critical question is asked; like, "Does this contain chicken?"
(4)Leslie S.
Ordered food last night for take-out. Got steamed dumplings, chicken shumai, scallion pancake, house friend rice, white rice and two entree's, the Mongolian Beef and Dragon and Phoenix which is with Jumbo Shrimp and chicken with veggies. Both dished were under the House Speciality dishes. I'll admit, I went into getting food here with hesitation, as the reviews were all over the place. For the beef dish, I asked if it could be made mild, as it had a hot pepper symbol next to it. I was told no problem. When the order was repeated back, I said again, "PLEASE make sure the dish is mild". The food came around the time they averaged. I don't like pork dumplings but my husband and kids said they were great. The shumai was average as was the scallion pancake. The chicken and shrimp dish tasted of uncooked white wine, both rice's were crunchy and tatted stale. The beef dish was so hot, I couldn't eat it. And, I normally love hot. I only got it mild for my kids. All in all the food was meh at best, but what knocked it down to one star was the attitude of the owner. I called back and told her about the food. She insisted that what I said wasn't true, and when I insisted back that "yes, it is", she said she was going to send a driver back to take back the food and see. I told her, "that's fine, but I want a credit, which she said ok to". Back he came and I wrapped up what I didn't like, which was most of it, almost completely untouched. When I checked my bank balance the next day, I didn't see the credit, so I called and left a message. She called me back about an hour later and said that she would not credit my card. Only give me a credit to use towards the restaurant. If the food was good and I had an off night, sure, I supposed. But, now I'm stuck with about $30 bucks that I can only break even if i order more food that I don't like to begin with. I think that the owner needs a quick lesson in keeping a customer happy. Consider yourself $30 richer Wonder Cafe. You got my money and but you lost a customer. Shame.
(1)Dusty M.
We've tried this new place 3 times and overall have enjoyed what we've ordered. Love the chicken dishes made with sliced white meat like tangerine chicken or mango chicken. The egg drop soup is really good, love the bits of tomato they add in. Have also enjoyed the ribs, dumplings and scallion pie. The one thing we didn't love was the beef and broccoli. The broccoli was overcooked which is funny because all of the other dishes with veggies we ordered had nice, crisp vegetables. The beef was just average and the sauce seemed heavy on the cornstarch. Not nearly up to par with the chicken dishes. Like that they offer both white and brown rice. Excluding the beef and broccoli dish, the sauces are very light, nothing has been over salted and you can tell they don't use a lot of oil in the foods so it really does seem healthier if your watching fat and sodium. Even the scallion pie was crisp but not greasy. Heated up the next day in the toaster oven and there wasn't a puddle of oil on the cookie sheet. Nice. Just hope they can keep up the quality here. Often new places start out with a bang then switch to cheaper ingredients and everything just goes downhill. They haven't been open long and seem to need some work on getting orders out the door quickly when things get busy. Maybe some more help in the kitchen. Overall it's probably the best option in Watertown for a decent Chinese dinner.
(4)Dan B.
The food here is pretty decent. Given that I am mildly obsessed with egg rolls and string beans, I have to say that Wonder Cafe makes the grade. Not the best I've ever had-- I mean, actually, I likes me some MSG-- but not the worst. (BTW, if you want the best Szechuan-style string beans anywhere, go check out Chilli Garden in Medford-- wow!) The veggies are indeed fresh at Wonder Cafe. What kicks this place up a notch, though, are the people working there. The first time I ordered here, I called ahead, and after speaking with the woman on the phone, I said to myself "wow, what a nice person". She said "I noticed that you didn't order any rice. Some people don't order rice because they don't know we have brown rice. Is that why you didn't order any?" And, yes! That's why I didn't order any originally. When I went in on another occasion, I recognized the voice of the person from the phone, and she introduced herself as "Liz". While I was waiting, she remarked that she had not seen me before, and asked if I was new to the neighborhood. Well, yes, I was. Ding! Another point. So I put Wonder Cafe squarely in my "good bet for Chinese food" category. I will certainly go back again. BTW, DO NOT go to the Chinese food place down the street, "Tiki In". Disgusting. The contrast between the two places could not be sharper.
(4)Iggy A.
I love Wonder Cafe! Chinese food is one of my guilty vices and after trying almost every Chinese place around in the Belmont/Watertown/Newton area this is my definite fave! The food is delicious and unlike most Chinese food it tastes fresh (even the fried stuff) without that grease that you typically taste and feel. I've tried several items on their menu from everything to the "healthy" eating options to the dinner combinations and everything has been wonderfully flavorful with portions that leave plenty of leftovers! I also have to say that the ordering process with this restaurant is by far one of the best experiences I've had. The people on the phone are super friendly and courteous - even introducing themselves over the phone! My least favorite part of ordering food is actually talking to the people on the phone (I know, I know) but this really is the best experience I've had with ordering. No repeating credit card numbers or orders, no grumpy employees, no rude delivery people. Not here! Absolutely a great place for Chinese food and a friendly experience too :)
(4)Jay M.
Since moving to Cambridge 4 years ago, I have gone through 3 "favorite" Chinese food restaurants (they've all since closed for one reason or another). None were necessarily very impressive, but they served their purpose of giving us our monthly Chinese food fix. When I noticed Wonder Cafe in Watertown center, I figured we had another serviceable option in the neighborhood, so we decided to give it a try. What you get from Wonder Cafe definitely stands out. I'm a decidedly predictable Chinese food diner... generally crab rangoon and/or hot and sour soup with Orange/Sesame/ or General Tso chicken, but I decided to mix it up. The black bean chow foon jumped out at me and my fiancée had the 7 Wonder Fried Rice. We both knew we found our knew go-to for Chinese food. The ingredients are extremely fresh. The bright reds and green of bell peppers are a welcome change from the normal soggy/greasy fare at most establishments. The menu selection is familiar, but there are a few additions that sound delicious. I've tried the curry chicken and the satay sauce chow foon, but nothing beats the black bean sauce chow foon (yet anyway). (Only one negative- but a matter of person taste- sometimes they have a heavy hand with the onions.) While the food is always delicious, what really sets this place apart is the staff. Every single person that works here is fantastic. Whether you are a regular, or a first time visitor, they treat you like you are a valued customer and guest. If you have to wait for your order to finish up, many times you'll find yourself chatting with one of the cashiers about weekend plans, road racing, or whatever is on her mind at the time. Fantastic food and staff. I've been back often!
(4)Jane S.
I don't get it. We were looking for a new local Chinese restaurant, and we turned to Yelp's reviews/ratings to help us find one. Our Kung Pao Shrimp was a load of celery with ten very over-cooked shrimp. The Hot & Sour soup was so strong, it was just icky. Too much soy or vinegar or something. The Beef with Black Pepper Sauce was okay tasting, but its overall color/presentation left a lot to be desired. Color of dog food blah. We were really disappointed and are unfortunately still on the hunt for good Chinese food!
(2)Michelle L.
The food here is quite good. Probably not the BEST Chinese food in the world, nor the most authentic, but it's tasty Americanized nostalgia, only it offers plenty of healthy and relatively healthy options, is easy to customize to your tastes, and is MSG-free. And it's family-owned, which is always a plus for me. Brown rice as an option also earns bonus points. The food is four stars but I'm tacking on an extra for the exemplary service. I came here with the girlfriend after a very long weekend when neither of us could even think about cooking. We spoke with a very sweet girl at the counter who chatted with us and was very patient while we agonized over the menu choices and asked questions about several different dishes. Finally we ordered combos: I had chicken in garlic sauce with an egg roll and brown rice, and the girlfriend had General Gau's chicken with crab rangoon, and they very kindly made her some pork fried rice without the pork, as she cannot eat pork products. The girl at the counter says they will accede to any special requests or orders. Now that just gets a gold star. We also tried their bubble tea and found it delicious. I recommend the coconut bubble tea; it was especially refreshing. Our food was tasty and very filling, with lots of good, fresh vegetables. I'm definitely coming back.
(5)Amy H.
If you are someone who loves Chinese food but hates the "too much oil and MSG induced coma" that ensues after indulging in it, then Wondercafe is the cure for what ails you! We phoned in a takeout order the other night; since a friend of ours highly recommended them. We were extremely pleased with our food. The boneless spare ribs were amazing-first of all they were real! Not the usual dried out, dyed bright pink, greasy bits of meat that one typically expects. Everything else that we ordered followed the same trend and was delicious! I also noticed, when we went to pick up our order, that they have specials with local seasonal veggies-AWESOME! If you are debating on whether to give them a try, definitely go for it!
(5)Eli R.
I have been here twice, once for the food and once craving bubble tea. The women who served us was sweet. She was accommodating to my picky food needs. The meal was good and tasted fresh. The dumplings that were served were steamed and scrumptious.I found the food not be greasy and tasteful. The decor of the place was not fine dining but the food was a decent value for the price. Wonder Cafe is more of a take-out place rather than a dine-in venue. The second time I went here was looking for bubble tea. There are few places near Newton MA that have bubble tea, especially after 10PM. The process in make the "smoothie" versions were different than the Vietnamese methods. I requested a Green Tea Smoothie but they had never tried making it before. They were willing to attempt to make it, which I appreciated and showed good service, but I declined the offer. I tried the Chocolate and the Mango. The chocolate was satisfying, but the residue of Hershey's Chocolate syrup presented an attempt at it, rather than a perfected method. The mango smoothie was much smoother and sweet. The actual Boba were a good texture and did not taste old, as some do. Based on the large assortment of Cantonese American style food, late hours I would order here again, takeout.
(3)Angel R.
This new place already feels like its going to be one of my favorites to eat out. Its not too big (thank god for no loud crowds) nor is it small. Its perfect for a relaxing environment to eat your food at peace which I do. It also has got to be one of the cleanest places I ever entered. if anything is misplaced or food gets somewhere they are on it in a heart beat which I greatly respect (Its a pet peeve of mine). Its simplistic interior but not to point where its bland. If anything the colored walls bring out a very positive and fun vibe to the place. I looked at their menu and was so impressed with the variety of foods they have listed, it was on going (and last time I checked that certainly wasn't a bad thing). So it will take you a good minute to fully read the thing but you'll definitely will find something here. The staff there (which were really nice to me) filled me in on how they do it healthy and stuff which was cool. Lastly they have these bubble tea drinks which taste sooo good! Please I recommend anyone to try one when they get there. I had a Taro and Coconut both with pearls (YUM). So I really say try this place cause I gave it a shot and exceeded what I thought about it.
(5)Francisco M.
My initial impression was quite delightful, the ladies were very kind and had a genuine sense to make sure we got all that we wanted. (unlike what I've seen at most other Chinese restaurants) The food was prepped up quick and I must say hands down it was some of the best Chinese food I've had near the Boston area. I had the teriyaki beef sticks with General Gao's chicken and pork fried rice and it was delicious! The beefs were big and overwhelmed the sticks they were placed on, the General Gao's was saucy yet not soggy and very meaty, and the pork fried rice so good I would say it's some of the best rice I've had. Now after the meal and paying the check the workers were very social and happy to have satisfy our craving for Chinese food. I didn't have a bloated stomach because they do not use MSG and it was actually filling so I didn't get hungry an hour later! I definitely plan on returning to this establishment and with great food like their's it's it's a Wonder why I hadn't heard of them sooner ;-) I wish more Chinese food restaurants had such good business practices 5 out of 5 stars for the Wondercafe for their fantastic food and great hospitality!
(5)George B.
Was pretty good. I had chicken curry on rice. Took a star off cuz the windows werent clean and there were few leaves gatgeredvin the entrance.
(4)Rene' Y.
I went to this take-out place because I read some great reviews from Yelp. I was excited because of the selections and the price seems very reasonable. DISAPPOINTED. I ordered a traditional, authentic chinese dish which most Chinese take-out place does not offer. The pork was over cooked and hard to chew, really, I had better. Maybe because I am Chinese and I am particular about authentic chinese food; Well, my boyfriend with the generic America taste, didn't even like his fried rice, I took a bit, yup, too bland. I may order from this place once more and give it another chance.
(3)Mason M.
Drove by this place and decided to try it. Wonder Cafe food was delicious. No MSG and fresh ingredients. The staff was extremely friendly and personable. I had Beef and Broccoli combination plate which came with an appetizer and choice of rice for $8.95. It was a huge portion and a great value. Highly recommend!!!
(5)Bailey B.
I thought, new Chinese restaurant to replace the other one before this and the other one before that. my reviews on these dishes. egg roll - gross, and it sticks in your teeth, I pulled out some shredded cabbage from a week ago from teeth. chicken cashew nut- wtf, its has grey clear sauce and as appetizing as thrush wash, 4 cashew nuts only. tons of shoots. fried rice - repulsive, makes Tiki Inn fried rice seem eatable. chicken noodle soup - the broth was unimaginable. crispy orange chicken - is it a chicken? or is it a mystery meat? the crispy part; the batter tastes like its been sitting around. crab Rangoon, what kind of oil are they frying it in? 1 star for the chocolate fortune cookie and being very friendly. So disappointed.
(1)Evan D.
Service was friendly but the food was pretty much flavorless. Sichuan pickles had no heat at all!
(2)Ashley W.
I was really excited to try Wonder Cafe after reading the other yelp reviews.. i have to say I was a little disappointed. We ordered the appetizer sampler and the general tso chicken combo plate with beef teriyaki and pork fried rice. The chicken was unlike any other general tso chicken I've had before.. and I don't mean that in a good way. The sauce was congealed and didn't have a typical general tso flavor. It was overly gingery and just not that great.. it made me wonder if maybe I was given the wrong meal? It was also a mix of white and dark meat. The fried rice was pretty good, along with the beef teriyaki which was my favorite part of the meal. The chicken fingers were overly battered. I'd say only 1/4 of a chicken finger was actual chicken. The crab rangoons were lacking crab flavor also. I didn't try the pork or chicken wings, but my boyfriend seemed to enjoy them. Highlight of the meal- the chocolate fortune cookies. I had high hopes for this place, but am sad to say I don't think I will be returning.
(3)Leah L.
It's the best-tasting Chinese food in the area. Fresh ingredients and none of that weird awful MSG flavor (and subsequent MSG-induced headaches) you get at most Chinese places. Mango chicken is great. I don't remember what else I've ordered, but I have enjoyed all of it. The chicken rice soup is good for when you're sick. I've gotten takeout from Wonder Cafe several times and the staff here wins the prize for their notable kindness and friendly demeanor, even addressing customers by name in person and on the phone. Just for that it makes me WANT to spend my money with these people. Of course, the food is a good motivator, too!
(4)Craig D.
It's the best Chinese food in Watertown. This family run restaurant has quality Chinese food. It's either a take-out or seating for about 15. For a combination of price point, quality and service, in this niche, Wonder Cafe deserves five stars. The sweet and sour soup is authentic. Try the sauteed vegetables including the Shanghai bok choy on as good as anything in China town. The Szechaun fish on rice provides a generous portion of fish, vegetables and rice - The fish is light, sauteed (not deep fried) and it is appropriately spicey. The Kung Pao chicken is light with lots of chicken, veggies and peanuts. The traditional Chinese dishes are the best.
(5)Liz O.
So sad. I had to bring work home with me and wanted to drown my sorrows in spicy grease and since it was a grey, rainy day, was leaning towards delivery (unusual for me), when I drove by this place for the millionth time and saw parking out front. I took it as a sign and was further comforted by the "people love us on Yelp" sign on their door. Yelpers, you have let me down. The menu was large and full of the Chinese-American favorites I loved growing up and still crave. We ordered General Gau's bean curd (it came out as gloppy, corn starch ladden vaguely orange-flavored sauce with rubbery tofu), spicy chicken with garlic sauce (this one had some flavor, but was mostly huge mis-shapen pieces of bell peppers with gloppy corn starch-thickened sauce), and noodle dish that was supposed to have a peanut sauce. There was no peanut flavor at all in this dish. Just gloppy corn starch - again. The only decent part of the meal was the fortune cookie. My boyfriend said even the brown rice was not great. Yes, it was cheap and plentiful; I'm sure my garbage appreciated the meal.
(1)Selena J.
Vegetable chow mein, beef with broccoli, and sesame chicken... Simply not good. It wasn't terrible, but I definitely won't order from here again.
(2)Marty C.
It's yummy. I recommend the 7th Wonder fried rice. Great service. Some people should stop commenting about food being bland. I've been to so many Chinese restaurants and eat over-seasoned food maxed out with msg and salt. Our palates are so accustomed to eating such chemically altered food that we forget what real vegetables/meats taste like. Wonder Cafe serves health conscious food, which translates to just the right amount of salt (a human's daily dosage should max at 1700mg) and minimum to zero amount of msg. If you want to introduce more destructive elements into your body, you ought to shop else where. I will continue visiting this restaurant to satisfy my Chinese food taste-buds and live an additional 20 carefree healthy years.
(5)Tony K.
Horrible food. I ordered chiken with nuts. It came with horrible white sauce, that you can't eat it no matter how hard you try.
(1)Kristin P.
Great food and the staff is so friendly. I especially love that they pack the takeout with a little candy and chopsticks.
(4)S W.
Not so tasty- I got the 4 Happiness which is usually a spicier dish- I asked for it mild and there was still some kick but that's all there was to the flavor- no saltiness, sweetness or any other flavor marrying it all together - just bland with spicey. Egg rolls were kind of gross- like the outside was warm but the inside was cold- like it wasn't cooked long enough. The only thing that was pretty good were the boneless spareribs-- Less greasy than your average.. Service was nice and quick which was a plus- I just cannot remember having a Chinese food take- out meal blander than this one ever.
(2)Jenni W.
Well, I was sad to see the previous place in this little spot go... and SO HAPPY to see Wonder Cafe take its place... what a wonder this cafe is (yeah, I went there). First off, their combo plates are an AWESOME deal, not to mention full of options and yumminess. I got, for a measly 6.95, brown rice (light, fluffy, and moist, not dry and undercooked like many places I have been), chicken teriyaki (juicy, flavorful adn huge... on a stick! gosh I love Jeff Dunham), and General Gaus shrimp. Now, oftentimes this is a dish that would be loaded in grease seeing as it is FRIED then the sauce is added, but this wasn't. The shrimp were plump, huge, and cooked just right. The sauce was slightly spicy, very natural tasting (did I detect orange and ginger... usually all I can pick out is grease and sugar), and there was just enough, it wasn't drenched or lacking. The portion was large and it made it from the restaurant to my office still nice and hot on a very cold day. My coworker ordered a noodle soup which they had the piece of mind to separate the noodles, veggies, and wontons from the broth so it made it back without turning into a mushy mess. I had a soy drink (yum) and anxiously await the arrival of their bubble tea machine (which they assured me should be in in about a week). They offered desserts and other sides (they had an aloe drink... and tiramisu!). The staff was helpful, i was even able to place a phone order without difficulty. When we walked in the girl behind the counter was very helpful, offered to make suggestions, and let me down easy when they told me the bubble tea machine wasn't in yet. I am excited to see this small, family-run restaurant take shape in Watertown... they put a lot of work and effort in and it shows!
(5)John M.
This is the best place around for good Boba tea. Lollicup is weak in comparison. The employees are really, really friendly and even though I haven't actually eaten there, I still give 4 stars on the Boba alone (it just has such a good flavor compared to other places). Get almond with Boba and prepare to have your face punched in with refreshment!
(4)Liz R.
The answer is YES, go here! After craving Chinese take-ou for no particular reason all day, I gave in. I was really happy with the results. Fresh, delicious food; clean environment; really nice people.
(4)Peter S.
The food at this place is terrific and the staff is super nice. Along with the usual Chinese dishes they serve some unusual and very tasty offerings. I'll be going back very soon.
(5)D H.
If you don't have taste buds, it should be fine.
(1)Danielle F.
I recently moved into the area and last night I was desperately craving Chinese food. After searching for reviews on Chinese restaurants (on yelp) I placed my bet on Wonder Cafe. The food arrived in under a half hour and was delicious. Just pulling the food out of the bag was a treat- it smelt so good! and the bag was not covered in grease.The pork fried rice was light and flavorful. The boneless ribs were awesome and the chicken wings were pretty good. Plus no MSG! I will definitely be a repeat customer at Wonder Cafe.
(4)H R.
The previous restaurant in this location was just atrocious, so I was happy to see something new come in. The first couple of times I ordered takeout, I was quite pleased. I liked that there were many options for eating healthfully. I enjoyed the vegetarian spinach ravioli, the steamed shrimp with vegetables, and the pickled vegetables. The last couple of times I ordered takeout, however, I was disappointed. Here's the low-down on what I didn't like: The hot and sour soup seemed all sour but not hot. The scallion pancake was deep fried and way overdone and dried out. I prefer scallion pancakes to be pan-fried (perhaps I will suggest this...). Jumbo Shrimp w/Garlic Sauce and Scallops w.Garlic Sauce are both supposed to be spicy dishes, but my b.f. and I ordered them recently and not only were they not spicy, but also they hardly had any flavor at all. This is a family-run restaurant, and the mother and two daughters are really sweet and genuinely want to please the customers.
(3)K R.
I hate to admit my fiance and i were Tiki Inn people since there really wasn't anything else within walking distance to just grab some quick takeout. But when this place opened, we immediately tried it. Of course with the Tiki, everything is the opposite. Tiki has very heavy, fatty food, that you just feel disgusting after eating but you can't help but just go back for more since it's so cheap. Not to mention everything tastes the same. There service @ Wonder Cafe was excellent to say the least! Everyone was very friendly. The place was simple, clean, and the food was amazing! We got sick of eating the kind of Tiki chinese so the thought of having healthier chinese really lured us in. The food actually had flavor!!! Each thing had it's own flavor, and you definitely get your moneys worth. Good bye Tiki Inn... hello Wonder Cafe!
(5)Gretchen W.
I wish I'd eaten at the *good* Wonder Cafe that everyone's reviewing. The one I ate at last night was nothing like people are describing. I ordered Kung Pao chicken. It was loaded with celery and water chestnuts (two ingredients that signal mediocre Chinese food to me) and had absolutely no spiciness at all. It really tasted of nothing but celery. I also ordered black bean chow foon with vegetables. Again, celery was the primary vegetable. The noodles were nicely cooked, but the sauce and vegetables were literally gelatinous. The sauce was plopped on top of the noodles, and by the time I arrived home (5 minutes away), it had become something resembling an aspic. Little globs of goo stuck to each bite, making for an exceedingly unpleasant eating experience. I really wanted to like this place! The people working there were very nice (as others have said) and there were some interesting items on the menu. Sadly, I won't risk going back and getting more gooey noodles.
(1)Mariko K.
I was curious to find out what "Healthy Chinese Food" was like, and I can tell you that it is not only healthy, but is also Y-U-M-M-Y!!!! There is a variety of dishes on the menu, including some Japanese dishes. The fusion of cultures is always nice, but it's even nicer when you can "eat" them! :) The wait staff is very courteous and pleasant. They make you feel good about being there. The quality of the food is like a five-star restaurant, but the prices are VERY affordable. I give FIVE HEARTS to Wonder Cafe!
(5)Nadia K.
So we ordered take out, and it's definitely a place to do that at unless you enjoy the really tacky plastic asian inspired decor- complete with cheap looking plastic/metal tables and chairs... I was expecting really good food after the following yelp reviews, but I have to say- mediocre was the name of the game here. We got an order of orange chicken, the flavor was good, and so was the very outside layer of the fried batter, the problem was that the batter was so thick around the chicken that it was very gummy on the inside.... The crab rangoons were ok, crispy, but lacked flavor and desperately needed the spicy sauce that, kudos to them, they included. To me it tasted like they needed some salt too. We also order the beef chow foon, which had a decent amount of beef, but the noodles had congealed together into a massive blob at the bottom- which had noticeably occur before putting them into the container because all of the meat and veggies were pilled on top of the noodles and not mixed through it, like they should be had it just come out of a wok. That was the other problem, chow foon noodles are a wide rice noodle that lack all flavor except what you put on them, which makes them brilliant and an indicator of care at the same time. These noodles needed to either be cooked in a wok at all, or cooked longer to get a little more carmelization of the black bean sauce. I'm used to black bean sauce being a dark brown color and having a rich flavor, this was light and lack-luster. When we picked up the order my boyfriend sent me in with his credit card as he double parked outside, I figured they'd at least ask why there was a mans name on the card- no comment at all, I signed for him and left. That bothers me. The people that we interacted with over the phone and when picking up the food were very friendly, and probably the only reason I'd go back to try something else next time. I have a feeling there are other good things on the menu, I really love good chow foon maybe next time I'll ask them to cook it in the wok longer or something. Hopefully that doesn't offend them.
(2)jeremy t.
woner cafe what can i say its way way way better than any Chinese food around and the combo plates can feed me and my wife, the staff is super nice and its finally clean in there lol the only thing i didnt like is that they have a 10 dollar card limit which is actually illegal and the crab ran goon is a little fishy tasting the chicken is awesome and the rice is super fresh i am siked to have a nice chinese food place near my house thank you Jesus! i would say the wonder cafe and ginger root are the only chinese places worth anything around the newton watertown brighton area the rest are just nasty! go wonder cafe!
(4)T T.
So after telling my wife about my love of this food, and the fact they said they can work with the gluten-free issue we jumped in for round two. First I have to say that the customer service is awesome, it is a personal level that you just don't find when doing take out. Tonight we went with a few noodle dishes and lobster sauce. the amount of food I got in a dinner special was fantastic. For an additional $1 (with the dinner specials) you get the soup of the day. Well, well, well worth it just try it out if nothing else. The chicken fingers that I got were from fresh chicken, you can tell if they are frozen as the texture is different and absolutely it was fresh with a light golden batter. The scallion pancakes were excellent and my son ate them with ferocity. My wife got two gluten free dishes one that had shrimp and we were both blown away, the shrimp weren't those little shrimp that you normally find, but good sized ones, again not frozen, no water added that were fantastic. the review hasn't changed , try it.. This place is a gem.
(5)