Overall a very good Hunan meal. We ordered the Fish Maw Soup with Luffa, Chili Chicken, Steamed Whole Tilapia, House Crispy Duck, Sizzling lamb, and Stir-Fried Shanghai Greens. The soup came in after a few dishes arrived which was unexpected, but had a thick consistency that tasted quite interesting from other asian soups. The Chili Chicken and Sizzling lamb was numby and yummy as expected. Steamed whole tilapia was done in ginger scallion style, which was quite yummy, unfortunately it was a little small, since we wanted more of it. House Cripsy Duck is more your typical duck and not peking style, but pretty standard. Stir-Fried Shanghai Green was basically stir-fried bokchoy, also standard. Overall, I would happily eat here again! read more

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Got to try this place for this first time tonight with some friends. Was initially interested because they label vegan option on their online menu. The menus in the restaurant however are labeled vegetarian and say to ask about vegan options. Definitely wish that was a little clearer. The food was delicious though! I had noodles, Chinese broccoli and Bao buns. The Bao buns were lightly sweet perfect to balance the salt and spice. They were a little bready but the filling was delish. We also had a few drinks which were tasty - I got a lychee one which was unique! The only thing I can say about the service is confusing. We didn't have a set waiter, the timing of the dishes was just a they were ready (including apps and mains) and then it took a long time for the check and to go boxes. Overall, the food was delicious enough to make me want to come back and hopefully next time service will be smoother. read more

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My husband and I got to try out this Best of Boston winner in Kendall square last night and got a ton of food (lots of leftovers). Note, the food comes out as it's ready. We got the purple yam bao which were huge and had a mild flavor. I definitely want to try the red bean bao next time. The egg & veggie stir fried noodles were not bad, and I really enjoyed the string beans and eggplant. We didn't realize the pumpkin cakes were deep fried (which I don't care for) and they tasted like plantains to me. I also enjoyed the mule mocktail. My husband liked the pork gyoza, but thought the Hunan street noodles were just ok. What I appreciated the most was that they really took my allergies seriously and were able to accommodate dishes not being spicy. I also appreciated that the menu was easy to navigate because vegetarian items are labeled clearly. read more

Adore the lava fish and the beef on fire. Tea service is beautiful as well. The dining area's aesthetic is modern and comfortable, and when it's not packed, there's a peaceful energy lulling through the restaurant. When it's busy, though, the kitchen and the bar suffer a bit. Not that the food is bad (I've never had a low quality experience here), but normally balanced and flavorful dishes can feel rushed and sloshed on plate. If I worked in the area, this would be a 1-2 lunch a week type joint. Affordable, delicious and welcoming. read more

I've been coming to this restaurant for years, often bringing my dog to the outdoor patio, and have even dined inside with my dog before--never once told it was "service animals only." This restaurant has always been dog-friendly, so today's experience was disappointing. I called ahead to ask if the patio was open, and the person on the phone said it wasn't, but kindly offered to seat me inside with my dog. After driving 30 minutes, I arrived only to be told by the manager that it was "service animals only." This completely contradicted my past experiences and what I was told on the phone. The person I spoke with on the phone was right there and clearly uncomfortable with what the manager was saying, but didn't speak up. It's clear the manager made up this rule on the spot and didn't care about my time. If there is a policy, it's not consistently enforced or communicated. I won't be returning. read more

This was an alright experience! As some reviews have noted, this is relatively pricey for Chinese food. You'd expect that to be made up in service. But there were several mixups. 1) We had two orders of Sumiao hot dry noodles, and we'd asked for one mild, one spicy. When the waiter arrived with our orders, he didn't know which was which. Moreover, another waiter then came back with the record of our order, and said that both had been entered as "regular" -- neither mild nor spicy. It felt as though the waiters were saying *we* were at fault when there was some error with the recording of our order. 2) One waiter came by to ask if we needed anything, and we asked for takeout boxes. Then 20 minutes passed by, and nothing happened. We followed up with another waiter. It really wasn't clear who was our server. Our meal took 2.5 hours, but if service had been more efficient, everyone would've saved time. 3) We ordered white rice bowls, which didn't come when all the other food had come. We had to follow up with a waiter about it. Beyond the service, the food was alright! Everything was nice and flavorful; here are some notes: - Hot dry noodle: We enjoyed this! It went well with the main dishes as we were waiting for our rice. - Rustic fried tofu: This was listed as having pork belly, but the pieces were super tiny. My dinner friends didn't even notice that there was pork belly until I reminded them about the menu description. - Sizzling lamb plate: This went well with our rice, once it finally arrived. read more

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Sumiao is pretty high up there on my list of favorite places to go. If you want to find traditional Chinese food, go here. I have made it a point to eat way too much when I go there just so I can try everything, and I still really haven't had a miss on these dishes. The Lava Fish is a contender for my favorite dish. Just great simple ingredients, put together beautifully with decent presentation to boot. Service was also beyond exceptional every time I have gone. This time around, Gin helped our table out, and she was probably the best part of the night--which is saying something. Attentive, responsive, knowledgeable, helpful, and just nice to talk to. If you're one for dining in, the interior has a pretty chill ambiance going for it. Not over the top fancy, but classy. They offer some outdoor seating as well when the weather is good for it. I can't recommend Sumiao enough. Try it for yourself. Just be prepared for some higher prices. read more

Had the lunch special with cauliflower and pork belly which was truly delicious and different from anything I've ever had. For starters tried the hot and sour soup which was good and pretty standard. I saw a lot of reviews complaining about paying for rice separately. It's a bit weird. Rice really wasn't needed with mine, but I was impressed that they had the black/forbidden rice as an option. Service was fine. Very quiet and bright inside, so the hostess recommended the bar which was a good choice! read more

Sumiao Hunan Kitchen is located on 270 Third Street in Cambridge, MA. This is a contemporary Chinese restaurant that specializes in Hunan Cuisine. I was able to easily make a reservation online for lunch. There was street parking within walking distance from the restaurant. The restaurant had a formal dining area, a bar seating area, and additional semi-private dining areas in the back of the restaurant for larger group gathering. For lunch, my family ordered a variety of their specialty dishes. For appetizer, we ordered the pork soup baos (soup dumpling). These were not the best I have had but delicious none the less. We ordered the Hunan street noodles which came with chicken, shrimp, beef and pak choi. The noodles were coated in a delicious, thick sauce. I recommend this. The Globe Steamed Pork was also another one of my favorite. Beneath the strips of pork belly were dried mustard green. The pork belly melted in your mouth. The pork belly and the vegetables was cooked in black bean and soy sauce to give it that dark brown color. It's a classic that goes so well with a bowl of white rice. The lava fish is another must try. You can ask for less spicy. The fish is tender and the chili oil paste add a bit of heat. We also ordered the house crispy duck and also the street style mussels. For the house crispy duck, you have the option of bone in or bone out. If having with the bao buns, it's best bone out. I prefer flat pancakes over the bao buns. There was a spicy slaw underneath the crispy duck that caught me by surprise. I am not sure if this is something that I would order again since I have had better elsewhere. My husband enjoyed the street style mussel, however, I was not a fan of the mussel used and the flavoring. You'll have to try for yourself. Some hit and some miss. Overall, I enjoyed the busy atmosphere and the prints that decorated the restaurant. It is definitely a destination location. It's a lively, fun place to dine. Service was excellent and I would definitely come back to try other dishes. See my pictures! read more

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Real Hunan restaurant per request I am from China and I really like Hunan spicy food. The food reminded me of the time living in central Hunan. Foods were quite spicy and my stomach was burning during those days. Cabbage is strongly recommended. Wok technique was great. Vinegar was added when the dish is almost done, making it tasted a little bit sour and more delicious. Chilies seem the same as those served in China. Chilies in Grandma's pork (Sautéed pork with chili pepper) were not those in authentic Hunan cuisine but still spicy. (I know it might be hard to get authentic Hunan chilies in the US even in somewhere outside Hunan in China). We told the waiter to make the dishes (as spicy) as those in Hunan so we got some very spicy ones. Have a try if you want some authentic Chinese spicy food (be aware of your digestive system)! read more

Sumiao Hunan Kitchen - Shaoshan Cabbage, Grandmas Pork - Chinese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This place was super cute and cozy. I ordered the Hunan Street Noodles and devoured it so quickly. The sauce with all the meat was portioned perfectly. read more

Sumiao Hunan Kitchen - Hunan Street Noodle * - Chinese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The restaurant was not busy at all when I got there. In fact, one side of the restaurant was already closed while the other side had more than one table available and I was the only one waiting. Also, I was alone; so the 20-person party gratuity policy does not apply to me. read more

modern+upbeat chinese restaurant with good vibes B) came here for mother's day with the family and enjoyed most of the food we got. service was fast and attentive, and we were seated right away (we chose shared seating, which is just one long table which multiple parties can sit at, since we hadn't made a reservation). there's also bar seating my favorite dish was the eggplant+green beans- so warm and melts in your mouth! highly recommend. pork and tofu were just alright. seasoning was a bit lacking, but enjoyed nonetheless! price was way above average. however, I would say it's worth it to try this place out at least once for the experience. one of my top chinese restaurants in cambridge so far:) read more

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I like the lunch special here, which comes with soup. You have to pay additional for rice though. My favorites are Beef on fire and grandma's pork, not sure whether they are authentic or not though. The price is a bit on the high end for lunch. but given the location, ambiance, and food quality, it is not unreasonable. The servers are nice and attentive. I would recommend this place for lunch in Kendall square. read more

Food is good but it's overpriced. 28 dollars for one entree doesn't even come with rice. Rice was almost 4 bucks ..scam of the century! They trynna take advantage of yuppies in the area but don't let yourself be fooled. Also charging .30 cent extra for take out paper bag is hilarious. If you got money to burn then go ahead but you can find cheaper options elsewhere read more

Probably one of the most solid Chinese food places in the Boston area. The interior is clean and well kept. I love that it's close to my office, I will definitely be visiting again soon. My favorite was the grandmas noodles. I asked for it with maximum spice, and it was just what I needed. The noodles digest very well and the overall plate isn't too greasy or flavorless. It's a great balance of flavors. I definitely recommend getting it. Pork soup dumplings are the typical xiao long bao. Nothing special but a solid choice. String beans with eggplant (low spice). This, although on the pricier side is a staple for me at any Chinese restaurant. I usually get just string beans but the eggplant combination was fantastic. *not pictured* popcorn chicken (max spice). I don't recommend this, it's average at max. The way they fried it was not crispy at all, and too much breaded texture in my opinion. Blue Hawaiian cocktail was surprisingly very good and very strong. It tastes like a blue yakult and isn't too sweet. I didn't taste any alcohol at all so it was a plus for me! Overall, I'd recommend for someone looking for a place to satisfy their Chinese food cravings. read more

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We loved Sumiao. Food and service was five star. We ordered wood ear mushroom salad, spicy, crunchy cucumber, Shao's cold noodles, steamed pork bao, sizzling, basil, eggplant, double cooked five spice, duck, garlic calamari. Bernadette the waitress was so helpful and patient with all our questions. Amazing time and food all around. read more

We went back to Sumiao again today and was absolutely amazed by the food. We had David today and he totally killed it. The food came out so quick and the service is top notch. Highly recommend read more

Very fast service and accommodating for our 2 year old. Most dishes are spicy, although there are nonspicy options. read more

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I really started to enjoy Sumiao. It is now worth an almost weekly trip. Lava fish, sticky rice, spicy cauliflower, wood ear mushroom salad, ocra, five spice beef, cumin lamb are on my favorite list. Avoid duck yolk shrimp. No flavor! On the drink side: Sauvignon blanc (aka Baby Sancerre) is my favorite. read more

Just tried Sumiao for lunch. The lava fish was GREAT! Service was terrific. My lychee drink was really good. My colleague got the Grandma's Pork, and said it was too spicy for him, but it looked good. I ordered the lava fish as spicy as it would traditionally be prepared (per another review) and it was not overly spicy. Melted gold soup (pumpkin) was unique and satisfying. Definitely going back. read more

Sumiao Hunan Kitchen - Lava Fish * - Chinese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Stopped here on our way home for a quick dinner and it was perfect! Got seats at the bar and it was exactly what we were looking for. A lively ambiance with indoor and outdoor seating, friendly staff and great food! read more

(Last visited 8/20/2020.) While working in Cambridge for the week I stayed at the Hotel Marlowe and had the pleasure of being able to walk to several awesome restaurants during that time. This was one of them and I'll tell you why... Atmosphere/Appearance: It's a warm August day and this place was BUSY. The outdoor "garden" style seating was all full (especially with the COVID-19 regulations in place where tables had to be more spread out) so we got put on the waitlist for an indoor seat. We only waited about 10 minutes or so and were sat near one of the giant windows facing the street where we could see the whole restaurant. The décor looks very busy at first, but then it grows on you. It's done very tastefully. The chairs weren't the most comfortable since they were high and only supported your lower back, but you'd be spending most of your time leaning over the table eating, right? Service: The name of our server escapes me, but she was quick, sweet, fun and made great conversation. She told us her story of how she came from overseas (I've since forgotten a lot about the conversation), but it was awesome how transparent she was. We appreciated her. Food: I started off with a Lychee Martini which is simply vodka and lychee. For those of you who don't know what lychee is (I didn't), it's a small rounded fruit with sweet white scented flesh, a large central stone and a thin rough skin. It looks like a nectarine with spikes on it. Lol. It was an okay drink, not my favorite. For an appetizer my fiancée and I tried their Nom Numb Wings. They're quite beaded, fried in peppercorn oil and then topped with dried chilis, scallions and sesame seeds. They were... okay. I wouldn't order them again, but they were good for what they were. I was unsure of what I was expecting anyway. For my entrée I really tried something different... rabbit. On the menu it's called "Hop Hop" which is farm-raised rabbit meat, dried crispy red pepper, peanuts and mini red chilis. It's served with a side of white rice because you will need it. I got mine super spicy and I can't even describe the taste of rabbit. Tender... a tiny bit game-y, but decent nonetheless. I wouldn't order it again, but I'm glad I stepped out of my comfort zone. I'm sure I just didn't make the best food choices here because I'm sure the food would be better (that's why I'm giving them 4 stars), so when I do return here, I'll be sure to try other things. Value: My martini ran me $12.00. *Sigh*. That's Boston for you. Be sure to pregame before you come here. I mean, unless you're loaded, then by all means go crazy. Lol. The wings were $9.00 for 6 and they were of a decent size so that wasn't bad. My "Hop Hop" was $24.00 and that's a little up there, but rabbits aren't the most commonly eaten thing on the planet (sorry, I mean in the United States) so I respect the price. I only say all of this to say, this is a NICE place and you have to pay to play. Don't walk in here thinking this is some mall-style or hole-in-the-wall Chinese place. The experience here is worth it. In conclusion, this place was pretty awesome. Like I mentioned earlier, I didn't make the best food choices, but I will make some better ones on my return visit! Check this place out if you're in the area! read more

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My mother picked this restaurant for a weekday lunch because her father is from Hunan. We ordered the following dishes: (1) HOUSE CRISPY DUCK 本楼香酥烤鸭 for $36 (1/2 duck, bone-out, served with 4 steamed buns, cucumber, scallion, and seasoned seafood sauce); (2) LA ROU WITH MUSHROOMS 野山菌炒腊肉 for $28 (house-smoked hunan bacon with fresno pepper); (3) STRING BEANS WITH EGGPLANT 四季豆炝炒茄子 for $16 (dried chili, garlic, and seasoned soy sauce); (4) SUMIAO SHANG GAN 素描秘制香干 for $8 (tofu in chili bean sauce, dried chili, garlic, and scallion); and (5) WOOD-EAR MUSHROOM SALAD 凉拌酸辣木耳 for $8 (in house-made hot & sour sauce). Dishes aside, they charged $12 for a pot of tea, $3 for black rice, and $1 for white rice. The $12 tea surcharge was a nasty surprise. The tofu appetizer was the most authentic to Hunan. Because of that I would probably get it again, even though it was quite small. The eggplant and string beans were voted best dish by two people. The duck dish was overcooked to the point of being too dry, considering that duck meat is so fatty. I also belatedly discovered that the duck dish used to come with three rows of meat rather than one. Our duck dish presentation was mostly bean sprouts. (Check the photos. Both photos supposedly show half a duck!) The $28 smoked bacon dish had maybe ten slices of meat in it. The wood ears were bland and I do not recommend them. Ordered items came to $112. I tipped up to $140, because COVID times are hard enough on servers. But I probably won't be back. read more

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It's a decent Chinese place. Service was fine food was decent beef on fire I would recommend other dishes were ok. Overall would come back but barely. read more

Reservation for 2 at 6:45 which was busy. Food was so so. We ordered changsha shumai, pork soup bao, steamed fish dumpling, spicy crunchy cucumber, scallion flavored noodle, duck yolks breaded corn kernels, and kung fu beef brisket. For the pork soup bao and steam fish dumpling which was plain taste. Crunchy cucumber which was not that spicy and have a special peanut taste. Scallion flavored noodle which have no scallion flavored, only soy sauce and oil taste. Kung fu beef brisket which the brisket is chewy, pepper are crispy and not spicy even is hot pepper since it was fried. Our only favorite dish is the duck yolks corn which had a salty yolks taste which wrapped around the corn, not oily til toward the end when it gets cold. Don't think I am going to come back again... maybe if the seasonal crawfish is available on the menu. read more

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Finally got to try Sumiao and I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked the food! The ambience is pretty nice though my friend and I were seated in a side section what was a little brighter and less interesting than the main area. Sumiao definitely does spicy dishes well! Beef on Fire is a must-try! The pork soup bao were pretty good, a little smaller and more doughy than I prefer, but still tasty. The chili chicken was very tasty, had a good kick of spice, and was nice and tender. Ginger and scallion chicken was super flavorful and filling. This was really great. Beef on Fire was probably my favorite dish. The beef is shaved thin and very tender. The flavors are bold and the spice is excellent. I ordered black rice with it and it was so satisfying. The coppa pistachio dessert was also very good, with a nice creamy gelato. read more

Sumiao Hunan Kitchen - Beef On Fire - Chinese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Wait staff was amazing and friendly, my water cup was rarely empty. Food came out a little late but the wait staff kept us updated and apologized. Definitely did like the vibe and layout of the restaurant. Food was good. read more

A few good things: close to kindel square, open late and provide free wifi. Food is good, not spicy or can adjust spicy ess. read more

Sumiao Hunan Kitchen - Eggplant with green bean. - Chinese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Honestly some of the best Chinese food I've had in the greater Boston area. On first appearance, I was worried Sumiao wouldn't be authentic. The space is modern and located in an area that isn't exactly known for having a large Asian population. However as soon as I got a bite of their food I knew this place was as real as it gets. Sumiao is one of the few restaurants in the greater Boston area where you can get Hunan food. Don't miss their lava fish which was perfectly moist and flaky! Another favorite from my group was their red braised pork belly. The food at Sumiao is pricier compared to other Chinese restaurants however I think the food is well worth it. read more

Incredible food. Absolutely the best lobster in Boston. The spicy twin lobster dish is a little expensive, you have to call 48 hours in advance, but it's absolutely worth it. The level of spice is perfect and the portion was enough to happily feed 2 people (though we also got an Udon noodle dish on special that was very good). I've also had their sizzling lamb dish on previous visits which was spicy, flavorful, and tender. Their cocktails are also delicious. Honestly you can't go wrong with anything at Sumiao. read more

Sumiao Hunan Kitchen - Spicy twin lobster - Chinese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Nice Chinese restaurant by MIT. The service is friendly and there's lots of space. The menu is quite long so there's lots of options. Sadly the food is just mediocre (not very flavorful or filling) and the prices are pretty high. The ambiance is reasonably nice, but looking at my food and other tables, the food isn't really a cut above your standard Chinese restaurant. The noodles I got where subpar for Cambridge, honestly. The food options by Kendall square are mostly underwhelming, but I certainly wouldn't make visiting here a priority. read more

Sumiao Hunan Kitchen - Beef & Egg Rice Noodle - Chinese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We booked a table for 10 and were seated in the back during graduation weekend. Atmosphere was great--they had live music given it was a Wednesday and it was a white girl seeing popular Chinese oldies (which is just beyond impressive). Our server was very knowledgeable and helpful. We sampled a good portion of the menu and I can say that this spot provides a great sampling of Hunanese cuisine, a traditional cuisine in China that is perhaps most bastardized. You order Hunan beef in any Chinese restaurant in the States and it's the blandest, most garlic-soaked mess you'll eat...when in reality, Hunanese cuisine is arguably the spiciest one of the bunch. I'd recommend the rice noodles, pumpkin cake (delicious), smoked meat and fish. But honestly, everything was way better than I'd thought it'd be. Props to the owners for really putting together a great intro to Hunanese cuisine & hospitality! read more

Delicious and so fresh! Had the mushroom salad which had so much flavor and loads of garlic and spices. Also had assorted protein and noodles. Velvety texture and smooth sauce made the chicken, shrimp etc taste fantastic! Atmosphere is relaxed and chill, and affordable. read more

Sumiao Hunan Kitchen - Assorted protein and noodles in brown sauce. - Chinese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I wish I had 10 hands... so I could give this place 10 thumbs up! It's refreshing to have service that is attentive, gracious and kind... thank you to our server Gin, incredible! Best of luck to your new team member, Lucas! We will be back soon. read more

Good and quick service, the food is super good, and the outdoor seating is great! Food is authentic and definitely a popular spot read more

Sumiao Hunan Kitchen - Wood-Ear Mushroom Salad *Spicy Cauliflower *Beef On Fire * - Chinese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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BEEF ON FIYAHHHHH~~~ This is the only dish I've tried bc it's so damn good. You can control the spice level if you can't handle spicy dishes. Rice is an extra $2 (brown rice is $3). You have to wait a bit for your food to come out but it's worth the wait! read more

Not open on Mondays as my family unfortunately found out after arriving... Hours are not accurate on Yelp.

Favorite Chinese food ever! Far more to offer than our Americanized standards. Favorite dishes: mala duck, yellow river beef, lava fish, popcorn chicken. read more

This is one of the hidden gems of Cambridge! Located in Kendall square, it's by far the most authentic and delicious food I've had. The drinks are delicious, and the party bowls are affordable. As a vegetarian, there's so many options! My favorite so far has been the sumiao Shang gan and the spicy string bean and eggplant! The flavors are amazing and I will definitely be coming back soon read more

Sumiao Hunan Kitchen - Spicy Cauliflower!!! - Chinese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts