The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

Review: Renamed Chinatown eatery a veggie delight

By By Gal Tziperman Lotan, News Staff

Despite the spectacular food and atmosphere inside, My Thai Cafe does not make a good first impression:’ It is located up a flight of dirty, smelly stairs in Chinatown where an alarm is constantly beeping, and it is situated down the street from Centerfolds, Boston’s best-known gentleman’s club.
But those deterred by the walk up could miss out on the all-vegan Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai menu has more than 100 items, from spring rolls and chicken fingers to curries and dairy-free chocolate desserts.
Non-meat eaters can become bored of dining out in restaurants where vegetarian food is scarce and flavorless. Some meat eaters often think of vegan food and conjure up images of raw carrot shreds wrapped in lettuce.
My Thai Cafe solves both problems:’ The food is spicy, varied, intricate and meat eater-friendly, with plenty of veggie-chicken, veggie-beef and veggie-seafood on the menu. The meat replacements are not identical to the real thing, but delicious nonetheless.
The Ginger Fish, $13.50, a veggie-fish steak, comes with scallions, onions, bell peppers, fresh ginger and a thick ginger sauce. It is garnished with slices of tomato, cucumber and lime, and comes with a small bowl of white rice.
The restaurant is much more pleasant than the stairway leading to it. The walls are painted white with a dark teal ceiling, white ceiling fans and netted curtains on the windows overseeing Chinatown. Woven mats with red cloth piping lie on the wooden tables with chopsticks and western utensils.
Adventurous diners can try the Asian Sizzling Platter, $15.95, which is transferred onto a piping hot metal plate at the table, where the veggie-chicken and veggie-beef simmer in a light brown sauce with zucchini, snow peas, celery and cashews.
Another standout, Fried Wontons, $4.95 for six, are filled with veggie-chicken, mushrooms, tofu and vegetables. The Chicken Fingers, $6.50 for eight, are pieces of tofu marinated in a mix of spices, covered in flour and fried.
The cafe also offers nine soups for $3.25 each, which range from classic Miso to Tom Yum Gai, a mild Thai soup with lemongrass, mushrooms, tomatoes, chili paste and spices.
There are also various flavors of bubble tea, $3.95, and desserts including a mint chocolate ganache, $5.95.
Manager Christine Tran said she moved to Boston from Vietnam in 1991 to work in the restaurant, which her brother Cuong Tran opened in 1990. The eatery was called Buddha’s Delight until Cuong decided to change the name last year. He has another location on Harvard Street in Brookline, near Coolidge Corner.
‘It’s a sister and brother working together with the whole family,’ she said, gesturing to her sister and niece, who were taking a short break from working as servers at a nearby table.
Cuong opened the restaurant after he found there were no vegetarian or vegan restaurants in Chinatown, Christine said.
‘He loves it, he likes to eat vegan food,’ she said.
The service is friendly, with servers who are quick to bring the food out of the kitchen, but are sometimes slow to bring the check. Overall, My Thai Cafe offers a delicious, inexpensive alternative to a regular weekend burger joint.
My Thai Cafe, 3 Beach St., second floor, Chinatown. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

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