Price: $10
Royal East, a presence in Central Square since 1985, maintains an old-school Chinese restaurant feel. The menu is vast, with strong Malaysian influence: There’s Malaysian curry chicken and beef rendang next to kung pao chicken and Peking duck. I tried the xiao long bao – broth-filled steamed pork dumplings, also known as soup dumplings – and they were incredible. The wrappers hit the sweet spot between chewy and thin, the soup inside was hot and flavorful, and the meat was juicy and tender. Each dumpling was meaty and rich, a total melt-in-your-mouth bite, and the black vinegar served on the side helped cut them with some acidity. The dumplings come five to an order, so it’s not the most satisfying meal you could get for your money, but they were more filling than I expected. (And yet I still could’ve eaten at least five more, they were that good.)
Royal East, 782 Main St., Central Square, Cambridge
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