Chinatown

Culinary adventures in one of Boston's oldest neighborhoods

Word to the wise: Many of the restaurants open past midnight, some until 3am, making them popular for late-night partiers in search of grub.
Talk of the town: Before gentrification, an area adjacent to Chinatown dubbed the "Combat Zone" used to be a thriving red light district, riddled with crime and violence.

Boston's Chinatown may be smaller than New York's, but there's plenty to see in this compact, dense neighborhood whose Chinese community dates back to the 19th century. It seems to contain much more inside than what's visible on the outside, with a bewildering number of stalls, holes-in-the-wall, and multi-floor banquet halls, all splashed with vibrant signs with Chinese characters fighting to be seen.
Asian kitsch can be bought here, of course, but the more adventurous will sate their curiosity by trying foods they don't recognize and can't pronounce. Different regional styles are represented, as well as Korean, Japanese, Singaporean, and Malaysian cuisine. Often delicious, food here can also be great value, with many Chinese seafood restaurants, including New Jumbo and East Ocean, offering a twin lobster special for around USD 20.