QingDao Garden

This place is fantastic. The people are very sweet, and the food is delicious. One favorite is the fried tofu and pork, which is what dreams are made of! The dumplings are a must, and I've never gone wrong with their house specialties. Take out and delivery is good, but the food is really best when eaten in the restaurant. Bonus points if you get to talk to the chef, he is super sweet, and will recommend all sorts of dishes to try that are so good!

Stopped in after a rough day and some excellent Chinese comfort food paired with friendly service really hit the spot. Dumplings were particularly good (some of the best northern style I’ve found in greater Boston), red braised pork was rich and flavorful, and the house-made cured pork belly (la rou) stir fried with fresh vegetables was cooked to perfection. I’d recommend asking if they have any specials/ off-menu items, as the la rou wasn’t on the menu but proved to be a particular highlight.

Horrible I am a pregnant woman who was craving Chinese wings and crabragoons with some pork fried rice and this is what I got. If they didn’t have wings the should of just said no wings period I am so upset and it’s the second time this happens never going back there

my family comes here a lot for the authentic northern Chinese dishes. My favorites are the pork and shrimp dumplings (Soo plump, juicy and flavorful) and spicy fish! They all taste home cooked and are the perfect answer to northern Chinese food cravings.

The dumplings at qingdao were recommended to me by a friend. The meat was flavorful, but I found that the wrappers were a little thick and solid (they were warm, but not hot when I ate them, so that may be a part of it). The wonton soup broth was verrryyy light. This would be great if you are not feeling too well or don’t want something very strong.

I had the vegetarian leek dumplings which were excellent. Good environment too. My family had the shrimp dumplings and spicy string beans which were also very good. My one suggestion is to have the wrap for the vegetarian dumplings a different color than that of the meat dumplings, which is what the nearby Szechuan's Dumpling does. Otherwise it is impossible to tell which dumplings are which, and that can be a problem for vegetarians. Also when we tried to call the phone would not be picked up, but that ended up not being much of a problem because we then decided to order through GrubHub.

Love, love, love! Wen (the owner) and his family and crew have been feeding us good home cooked meals for years. I love both their authentic Chinese food and American Chinese. Great vegetarian options and brown rice, there is something to please everyone. During their renovation, which took infinitely longer than expected, Wen paid his staff. Having done something similar for my own business, I have utmost respect for him. Now about food: My mother's family is originally from northern Korea so a lot of their food is what I ate growing up in S Korea. My mother in law, who grew up in CT loves their general Gao's chicken. My husband who loves all things spicy gets shredded beef with hot peppers and cucumber salad . My 3 y o daughter gets white rice 'the best rice ever!'. My 18 months old son devours the entire order of chicken dumplings. I have been hooked to pork tripes and cold beef dish combined. If you love food, like we do, this is a must try. Ask what they have fresh that day.

If looking for trashy Chinese food, here’s the place for you. Chef is really nice and if you’re open to trying new dishes, he’ll have some to recommend! Convenient for us if looking for a quick dinner.

We went for the dumplings and buns and they did not disappoint - so delicious! Service was also great, very friendly, and the prices were reasonable. Would definitely go back!

The price is worth the quality and taste and good portions to share with 2 people! It's not the most obvious Chinese restaurant takeout, but actually better more elegant decor which is like Cambridge high standards of appearance! You'll be impressed and want to come back over and over to try new menu items. It's very extensive menu with more exotic items than traditional American Chinese food. Recommended!

Not sure this posted earlier Sorry for repeat Just so upset about the food Scallion pancakes burnt Veggie low main.. no veggies Vegetable Fried rice.. no veggies A pork dish Some other chicken fried app Altogether $72 Absolute rip off Awful food Sorry so cruel .. a Saturday night about 8 pm

I know ... 5 stars for a barebones/takeout Chinese restaurant? Seriously? YES - seriously. First of all, Chinese cuisine is incredibly varied. Szechuan, Hunan, Hakka, Hong Kong, and many others. I'm partial to northern Chinese, and the numerous Hong Kong-style joints may be popular, but they're just too mild for me. I need BOLD SPICING, and after trying many of the joints around town, I had all but given up. And then I found Qing Dao, which was like finding heaven. We ordered just 3 dishes: Chicken with Cabbage Dumplings, Mu Shi Chicken, and Eggplant Peking Style. Life changing: the eggplant. OMG. Bold spicing, not hot, but super-flavorful. I. Need. More. The dumplings were good, and the mu shu was very tasty. (One person in our party had a serious need for mu shu). Service: it was crazy-cold outside, and we asked for them to turn up the heat - which they did and it became toasty-warm in minutes. Service was A+! I don't give 5-stars easily. but this place truly deserved every one of them. I know we'll be back for more. Next time we'll order only from the "Northern Style" menu.

Perfect place to go. That's if you want to get degraded downgraded disrespected and taken as a joke as you spend your money there. I'm appalled I'll be contacting my favorite lawyer tomorrow on this behalf of these people disrespect and un mannerism and unprofessionalism. Like I'm so appalled right now of the feedback that my worker personal care attendant just gave to me as far as her experience going there for me for something as simple as what I got. Very ignorant my husband works for channel 7 News and I am considering bringing the topic further than you yelp

Qing Dao is an absolute gem. I highly recommend ordering from the Northern section of the menu--you can't go wrong. And don't forget the dumplings or you'll be living a suboptimal life.

I was craving Chinese food the other night and decided to give Qing Dao Garden a try since it is within walking distance of my apartment. I ordered one egg roll and pork chop suey. The food was absolutely terrible -- the egg roll was a huge tasteless heavy blob and the chop suey was equally as unedible. I spent $24.00 on food that I had to throw out. Although the restaurant has received some good reviews, it sadly failed me. Never again.

Good food and good service. Tonight, I made the mistake of ordering through Grubhub which is automatic when you hit the "order online" button. It turned out to be $13 more than ordering through the restaurant's website.

I can't believe this place only has a 3.5 star rating. Don't trust the bad reviews. This is some of the best Northern Chinese in the region. And it also has elevated versions of all your classic Americanized Chinese fair, like Peking dumplings and crab rangoon. I've been eating here for over fifteen years and it's been meh maybe once. Is it a fancy dining room? No. It's mainly a takeout spot. But even so, the dine-in experience is pleasant with good, strong tea and fast friendly service. The owner is in there most of the time and he's an awesome dude who is happy to guide you around the extensive menu if you want to experiment. Can't say enough good things about this place. They also do frozen dumplings in packs of 50 for a steal. Go there or get some delivered. You won't regret it.

Amazing. The crab rangoon has great texture, color, and flavor to the filling. Not must cream cheese BS. Actual filling. The egg rolls are nicely fried with fresh cabbage and meat inside. Little diced green onion, too. Thick juice boneless ribs. Sweet and mesty general gao chicken. Their steamed buns are fluffy and flavorful. Big selection, too, which I miss since Wangs in somerville went away (rip). Great spot, and the woman working the front was very friendly. Talking to some customers sitting down like they were regulars. It's just a good vibe. I'm so glad I found this place. I hate when my favorite Chinese spots close, like has been the case recently in Somerville, so having this right over the border into Cambridge is a major plus.

One word: dumplings!! Delicious, handmade, sumptuous dumplings! Sure they have other stuff, but when I'm there I've got one thing on my mind. Yup. Dumplings.

Such a wonderful menu. Try the specials. Unbelievable dishes. Vegetables always fresh.

I love this restaurant! I go frequently. My favorite dish is Fresh Lotus Root with veggies and chicken, and I'm also very fond of their Peking-Style Eggplant. They also have a seaweed soup that is very good. Lots of other interesting dishes too. Not your run-of-the-mill Chinese restaurant. The owner/chef takes his cooking very seriously, and can be seen chatting with customers or bringing fresh produce to the kitchen. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Labor Day takeaway for 10 No backyard BBQ for us! Our large order from Qingdao was a great success. Kids loved dumplings, scallion pancakes, house lo mein; grown ups devoured Qingdao fried long dumplings, bok choi, chicken and green beans, fried salty fish, eggplant. Fried tofu with pork & black bean sauce a new adventure--VERY SPICY, delicious but not for everyone. Brown rice is so flavorful! Everything packed carefully and on time for pick-up. Qingdao remains our reliable #1 choice.

Truly a hidden gem. Closed except for Pick-Up, due to the Corona Virus, they were extremely nice, and remarkably busy. Based on the food they served, I understand why. Just exceptional. I've owned a James Beard recognized restaurant for sixteen years. Now I'm eating Chinese for thirty straight days, to support the Chinese restaurant community. I'm only going to the most highly touted restaurants in the Boston area. And, nineteen days in, Qing Dao was as good as any. You can read my short reviews on Instagram @shackwiththechef. I personally can't wait to return.

The food was terrible, nearly inedible. Also, the Moo Shi came with flour tortillas instead of rice pancakes. On top of all that, it was not cheap.

In all the years I've been eating out in Chinese restaurants from coast to coast this was absolutely the worst food experience i've ever had, It was just awful.

Qing Dao Garden if our local go-to spot for Chinese takeout. It's a reliable neighborhood place to grab your favorite Chinese staples. Not much truly stands out about the food other than it is consistently good. Prices are reasonable, portions are decent and they've always given us an accurate estimate for a pickup time. If you're looking for reliable, good Chinese food within walking distance I'd suggest checking this place out.

I just love this place. The dumplings are the best around, and their twice cooked pork and eggplant Peking style are delicious. We love them!

This was the "cheap Chinese take out" that I wanted for lunch. Nothing is cheap anymore though. The fried rice in particular was how I like it - simple, not dry, not over salted.

I've been eating here for over ten years, but never got around to leaving a review. It was (note the past tense) a nice place that was perhaps a bit rough as far as the interior went, but the food was always of good quality. I settled on a favorite dish (the fried tofu with pork and black bean sauce) and happily got takeout at least once a month for years. Staffing and management would seem change at times, but the food was consistently good. I wasn't in the area as much over the pandemic and so I stopped going for a year or so. I went again a few months ago. Some staff had changed, but the management seemed the same and I was happy to order my regular takeout. When I got back to sit down with my food though, it was not the dish that I was used to getting. Technically it ticked the boxes of having fried tofu, pork, and a dark sauce of sorts, but the flavors and consistency were way off. I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt though... maybe it was supply chain issues, or regular kitchen staff was out that night and someone didn't make the dish correctly. I finally convinced myself to give it another shot last night and hope things would be back to normal, but what I got was the exact same bad dish I got the last time. It wasn't just disappointing compared to how it used to be, it was straight up bad. Serving size was smaller than previously, ok I can understand how that might change. The relative amount of pork, for a dish with pork as the second ingredient in the name, was way down. It was kind of scrappy bits too with no real consistency. The veg in the mixture was some overly soft peppers and onions that seemed to have been hanging around for a while. The sauce was a bit gritty (?), maybe from an overdose of ground pepper. The fried tofu was the worst part though. It should be, and always used to be, pretty simply. You would have some irregularly cut chunks of tofu that got a bit of a fry and were finished with the rest of the ingredient. A little fried, a little chewy... fried tofu. This stuff now though, I can only guess someone has a big old bag of frozen fried tofu puffs in the freezer. The bag has been open for a while and the puffs are getting dried out and stale. They get heated up and then a handful of them are thrown on top of the pork/veg/sauce mix. Slap a lid on it and you are done. It was basically a dozen uniform dry tasteless sponges. Barely edible. The dumplings weren't as bad, but were a bit thick skinned and tough. They may be hand made, but I doubt those hands were in the restaurant. So what used to be a great little place has sadly gone down hill bad and should be avoided.

Nicest staff at this mom-and-pop-- super sweet and welcoming. Food was very authentic and delicious. Will definitely be returning again.

I am a Chinese born expat, having lived in the US since 1946. I go to Qindao Garden for the good authentic food a reasonable prices, not for the ambience (poor) or service (passable). If you go, do order from sections headed "House specials" or "northern style". Many dishes in other sections are good and authentic, but some are not -- do not order "appetizers", "chow mein/chop suey". Oversimplified primer on ordering: try to have meat, vegetables, seafood in dishes, as well as balancing spicy, bland, dark and light. Vegetarians can order mushrooms, eggplant (meaty vegetables), balanced with tofu and green vegetables. If you are wanting Chinese/Amellican food, e.g. egg rolls, spare ribs, crab rangoon etc, go somewhere else.

Came here with a date late night for some filthy Chinese takeaway goodness. However, decided to sit down for a meal. Setting: on the main road next to a bar, so you can take your tinder date on a whirlwind tour with minimal tour. Decor: unfortunately if you do take your tinder date here be prepared to experience a few shifty looks as they notice the tacky Asian pot plants, cat with moving hand and various sharpie-written signs for 'specials'. But fret not because the food thankfully makes up for the decor. Food: both conventional North American Chinese cuisine, Cantonese fair and northern chinese is served. We had dumplings which were excellent (both the pastry and meat filling), pak choi and garlic, cold sesame noodles and general tso (for the date). Food was well portioned, savoury and filling. Flavours are of course on the stronger side given it's not a high class establishment but definitely hits that MSG craving one has occasionally. Drinks: complementary tea and the usual selection of drinks. Serves Chinese wine liquor. Overall : delicious food coma -inducing meal full of flavour and reasonably priced. Decor it the only thing that stops it from getting the five stars. It's actually hard to believe this place was rated as one of Boston's best Chinese and yet they have several Tupperware boxes of dead gold fish on the front window! Update: opened up the take away packet this morning to the disappointing reality that they had not packed any cutlery.

Just dine in and ask for recommendations. We ended up with dishes that we would not ordinarily order but all were quite flavorful. Hand shredded chicken, lamb with onions and a tofu and meatball soup. Great food for a cold night.

Wow! Not good wow -bad wow! This place was, to quote Johnny Carson, "weird, wild stuff..." Ironically, I went here years ago and I liked it. It was really good and I knew I'd return some day. Now I know I won't return again. Here's why: My one and I got seated in this no-frills dining area. The staff was friendly and gave us menus which were extensive and had such delights as Cold Jellyfish Salad and Cold Couple Kidney. I had high hopes for some HQ Chinese... Moey ordered a PuPu Platter for one and I ordered Hot n' Sour Soup and Szechuan Fish and Bitter Melon Salad. I got my Hot n' Sour quickly. It was OK but lacking in ingredients and was MRE-like in appearance and taste -just a muddy brown and definitely not recently made. A woman came to the table and asked, "Are you sure you want Bitter Melon?" and asked why and she said, "it's very bitter" and I said "OK" -she returned and asked several more times and I said "OK." It was fine and bitter but just bitter melon with sesame (street) oil and nothing else. It was ultrabasic. Now for the true horror: Moey's PuPu Platter was simply the worst. Everything was old and dried up to an extent I have never experienced in all my years. Picture that you put perhaps-once-OK wings in the fridge unwrapped for days and they just got drier and drier till they could not be any more shriveled up. The beef strip and pork strips were old and actually tasted spoiled and sour. The eggroll was gross and the 'goons were totally yucky. I am not at all exaggerating when I say this was like something that was fished out of the trash. We thought about complaining but it didn't seem worth it as I'm sure they had no interest in preparing and cooking a fresh platter. The dipping sauce was gnarly too. A pink cheap-O sauce with rice vinegar added and it had a badly fermented taste. Mind you, I love weird and bizarre food but this barely reheated old PuPu Platter was downright horrible and janky AF and was hardly fit for a dog, bro. My fish dish was actually kinda OK taste-wise but featured random-whatever recycled veggies and was nothing more than partially fresh. Black burned crud was laden in the dish as a result of cooking in a wok with many generations of previously burnt residue multiplying with each time the wok was used. Tiny trash flies were buzzing about the plates and one took a nose dive straight into my dish and died pronto as he or she (are there male or female flies?) landed in the sauce. On the positive, I do believe that some things here may be good as I had experienced in the past but plainly they have no problem with serving leftover garbage to customers without concern. See you next review, YELPers :)

Disappointed! The food wasn't great, but their service was horrendous. They seemed like nice people who mean well but they came up severely short. They forgot to bring me rice so my twice cooked pork was just sitting there. I waited, thinking they were just busy. It never came. I asked and had to wait. They they forgot the very first thing we ordered, the fried meat buns. We finished the meal and it still wasn't out (despite us Reminding them about it several times). We finally had enough and cancelled, and requested the check. Then several minutes later they bring the fried meat buns and say it's already done. This is after I said forget it and to just give me the check. I just said put it in the box and give me the check. Ugh! It shouldn't have been this hard. And again, the food we ordered wasn't good. Other people's food did look good though.

This restaurant is one of the most underrated Chinese restaurants in the Boston area. I've been here multiple times because the food is really authentic and light on grease. Also, the owner and servers are all really nice and the restaurant layout is open and comfortable. The owner loves to strike up conversation with you and tell you about their specials of the day and offer you free samples of some of their appetizers! My family is from northern china, more specifically, the province that Qingdao is in (the namesake of the restaurant). This place is a hidden gem for northern style Chinese food, handmade dumplings from scratch, and northern Chinese style brunch items (fried dough, tofu soup, spiced beef sandwich, etc.) and dim sum. Everything I've ordered here has been very on point in terms of authentic northern dishes and the DUMPLINGS ARE PERFECT. I almost never order dumplings when I eat out cuz I've always felt that none I've had in the US could compare to my grandma's or my parents'. The skins are handmade and the perfect consistency, the filling is high quality and tastes amazing (I recommend the Pork & Leek and Pork & String Bean). Also, the cumin lamb and pig intenstines with peppers are both really great as well. I brought my parents here and they also impressed by this restaurant. So if you are looking for authentic northern Chinese food and dumplings in the Boston area, this place is definitely a must. It's also inexpensive and the food comes out really quickly. 5/5 for everything. Just know there is a $15 card minimum per card.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Cambridge. The food is AWESOME! In fact, it's the best Chinese I've ever had. Order off of the real Chinese food menu for the good stuff. But definitely toss an order of crab rangoon in there because that's important. The owner is very nice man. He's always pushing flounder. I've never had it but I'm sure it's good. I like anything spicy - fish, lamb, etc. And the eggplant will make you want to raise da roof. 6 stars out of 5.

Hands Down....Best Chinese Food in Cambridge. Hand made dumplings, great regional selections. Fresh Fresh Fresh!!!

Excellent Northern style Chinese!! Their dumplings are EXCELLENT. I personally love the pork with leeks - probably because it's the version closest to my mom's homemade dumplings. I also love their pork with cabbage dumplings. The first time I came here, I felt like I could've eaten more dumplings than just the one order, so I've started ordering 2 orders (which is honestly a lot for just 1 person)! And I'm surprised no ones mentioned the Chongqing Fried Hot Chicken - think perfectly bite sized chicken pieces that are deep fried then stir fried with fiery dried chilis, then dusted with Chinese Five Spice! It's meaty, crispy, slightly spicy, a bit salty, and SO GOOD. I'm such a fan! I had a the cumin lamb here before, which was also very good (and a big portion)! Each entree can definitely fill up 2 people if you order rice. I can also make a meal of just dumplings here, they're so so good.

It's almost hard to believe how bad this restaurant is. The first sign was an empty restaurant on Sunday at lunch. When I gave my drink order to the waiter, his only comments to me was that the menu was an old menu. There are new menus coming with higher prices, but they're charging the higher prices now. I ordered a combo special. Which was pork fried rice with a side. The side I chose was chicken fingers. The plate came out pretty quickly. The table was without soy sauce and they didn't bring duck sauce. When I asked for both, I was told something I couldn't understand about soy sauce even though I could see three or four bottles in a refrigerator in front of me, instead, I was brought three packets That had a tiny amount of soy sauce inside, and I was brought an equally small amount of duck sauce. The chicken fingers were tiny and greasy beyond belief. The fried rice was at best tepid, and clearly not made to order. Even with the tiny amount of soy sauce, cold fried rice with fatty pieces of pork is not pleasant. The $20 bill for such heinous food felt like a theft. There really is no way I would ever go into this restaurant again nor curse when I drive by.

Really tasty authentic home-cooked food. Owner is really friendly. Ordered specials (chrysanthemum greens, smoked bamboo and pork belly), steam buns, and pork and cabbage dumplings. Food was delicious, will definitely come back!!

We have been getting take-out from here all pandemic and it never disappoints. We always get the eggplant peking style because it's unbearably good. We also love the dumplings and just tried the twice cooked pork. Delicious!

Food is still okay. But wow has service gone from bad to worse! I have never been told to hurry up when ordering over the phone for takeout before. Am I not a paying customer? Did I miss something there or is this some kind of charity? Like whoa! Chill out. You are running a restaurant with loads of competition around. You don't need to be like a ray of sunshine but don't be rude!!

What a little gem in North Cambridge! Authentic "northern" Chinese food! The dumplings here are great and home made. My dad's side of the family came from north so I know a thing or two about doughs when it comes to how they are used in northern Chinese food. When you bite into dumplings/buns/anything doughy, it should have a specific texture and feel. It should be chewy, not too mushy, not too airy, and have a consistency that tells me the chefs really pounded that dough while making it, and put the right amount of yeast and beating. Qingdao's dumplings/buns are pretty close (hence not 5 star). Recently, heard that they had a newer chef/cook come in who's not from the north, but actually specializes in spicy food. So me being a lover of spicy food tried the spicy tendons (夫妻肺片), and it was really good! Very spicy - it's now my to go place for it. Surprised that they make it so well, but nice surprise.

Wowza! What a fine way to end a year and greet a brand-new one. Too freezy to venture out, we elected a family member to fetch our take out order--fabulous! Pork and 3 Delight Dumplings, House Fried Rice, Fried Tofu, enough for 4 famished people. Crispy, layers of flavor, fresh taste and the best choice for a lovely celebration dinner. BIG recommendation!

I found this place through a recommendation of my friend. I found it to be a real gem if you order the right things! I really enjoy the shengjianbao with a crispy bottom and yummy bready top with juicy meat inside. The potstickers are also really delicious. The serve is nice, fast and friendly. Sometimes almost too talkative for my taste, haha! But I wouldn't hold it against them!

Last night's dinner at Qing Dao was a weird experience. Altho' the restaurant is a five-minute walk from my home I never returned after going there about 12 years ago. The server was so rude that I left a $1 tip to show what I thought of him. The charge on my card was increased by $10. He had added a one in from of the tip amount. But last night I had friends visiting. They wanted a Chinese restaurant and Qing Dao was so convenient I went there. The waiter was strange. He hovered over us. Instead of waiting for us to order he stayed at the table giving us unrequested advice. If we mentioned any dish, he called out to the cashier as our order. He got us so confused we weren't even sure what would be arriving. The food was okay, enough to warrant two stars. However, the experience was awful. The server finally left us alone, but the manager took over. He hovered over our table the entire time. The three of us would have liked to talk with each other, but he wouldn't go away. When we asked him to leave us alone he would retreat for a minute or two, but then return. Most offensively, he kept calling me "grandma." At one point he said something I could not catch, and he was clearly expecting a reply. I said I couldn't understand him, that I am hard of hearing. He stuck his face inches from me and shouted at me. We finally took our food home and got out of there. I have no idea whether he was someone covering for the manager or is the manager. If the latter, I cannot understand how he staays in business. Or perhaps he is sexist enough to think women like his attention.

I hate Chinese food! But I LOVE this place!!! Oxymoronic? I think so! Despite Chinese being one of my least favorite genera of food, the decade I spent in Asia made me capable of distinguishing between authentic Chinese and the basterdized American version. In the U.S., most Chinese joints are neither authentic nor good. Quingdao is one of the rare exceptions. The coolest part is that you can order "off menu" for truly authentic dishes. Before I moved out to California, I wrote a food column in a local Cambridge news paper, and this was the first place I profiled because it was such great food and great value. Exerpt from my review: "Start your taste experience with the Scallion Pancakes or Qingdao's homemade Dumplings. The scent, taste and texture of the pancakes are perfectly balanced. If I didn't know any better, I might believe that they came straight from street vendors in China's open air markets. The dumplings are equally perfect especially when dipped in its light sweet peppery soy accompaniment. Qingdao dumplings come in over half a dozen varieties and can be purchased ready to eat in 12's or frozen in packs of 50 or 100's. Pork-Leek and Vegetarian are patron favorites, but I personally recommend the Three Taste Shrimp. Nearly all dishes on the expansive menu are worth a try, particularly the "Northern Style" and "House Specialty" section. Any number of delectable dishes will surely satisfy even the pickiest taste buds, but of note are my favorites like Pork with Cilantro, Beef with Oyster Sauce, Yu Hsiang Eggplant, Peppered Scallops, and Shrimp with Bean Curd" The ambiance is lacking, but typical of Chinese eateries. What it falls short in decor, it most certainly makes up for in tasty food. Totally worth a visit. P.S. "Empty hearted watercress" is one of my favorites.... it's off menu, but they have it about 75% of the time. Definitely try it if you like leafy greens.

I've been pretty excited to try this place for a while now as some have touted it as having the best Chinese food in the area. I finally get what that means. It's the best because they have an "authentic" menu, to complement the American-Chinese menu. I get it. In Boston, to be the best in the area means you just need a few special dishes to differentiate yourself from the hole-in-wall Chinese-American places (think General Gau's, Panda Express-like offerings). We ordered the Pork-leek dumplings, the 3 Delights Shrimp dumplings, and the Xiao Long Bao. They all were disappointing. 3 in a row. No saving grace. They claim they are handmade, but how else do you make a dumpling??? Of course they are are handmade. Nothing special here. Though these dumplings may satisfy the average Bostonian, who hasn't lived in Asia or isn't from Asia, these dumplings will disappoint the foodie or Chinese person looking for something better than you could make yourself at home. For one, thing the dumpling skins are way too thick here, so the filling to skin ratio is not to satisfactory levels. Feels like you are just eating flour. No saving grace here for the Boston's reputation for not having many good Chinese food options. Jojo Taipei still #1 for me. Going to try Formosa Taipei next. Too bad Beijing Star went down. Miss their Spinach noodles!!!

Update: as Jim S said their eggplant is ridiculously delicious, I'll be getting it again for sure. The lamb hot pot was good too but didn't "wow" me like the eggplant did.

The dishes is very delicious very nice. The stuff are very nice and friendly. It is very decent Chinese food! I love it!

I would give Qing Dao Garden 3.5 stars. My boyfriend and I just tried it out on Christmas Day. We had the cumin lamb, pork and cabbage dumplings and dou-miao(a green veggie dish). I definitely agree with other reviews that the dumplings are one of the best in Boston, with traditional flavorful, juicy stuffing, which goes so well with vinegar! I was a little disappointed that the dumplings I ordered are not made to order. Well, it's understandable due to holidays. The cumin lamb was good too. Just wish the cilantro sprinkles blended more with the meat. The food overall is decent, non-greasy and typical northern style.

Literally my favorite Chinese in Cambridge/Boston area . Everything is so fresh , dumplings are to die for! The owner is awesome , explains everything that's on the menu . Suggests amazing dishes . They don't deliver to Boston :( which gives me an excuse to come to North Cambridge .

Dumplings were great - (1) three delight shrimp, (2) spinach Mixed vegetables as well as egg with leek were very good. ... but no beer and wine ... whine

Really great homestyle cooking. The owner grocery shops daily and picks out the best produce for his daily specials. Definitely go with whatever they recommend!! Was not impressed with the dumplings.. Especially not the soup dumplings (xiao long bao), and I'd recommend the other dishes over these staples. Trust me on this and get: Watercress fried with garlic (chili optional) Lamb spiced with cumin (I came back 2 days in a row for this) This is/was my first time in Cambridge, and I made it a point to come back twice.. So that speaks volumes. The lamb is awesome and I'm sure I'll be dreaming of it when I get back to NYC.

Yea! True, specific Chinese food. Ok, here we go; Two different menus to order from so it's either Americanized Chinese food or Real Chinese food. Go for the real deal, leave general tso with his battalion. Ingredients are very well balanced, spice is appropriately restrained or balanced with traditional pairings. It's also very clean food, no gristly meat nor greasy fried items. Very fresh vegetables. I'll say it. "As someone who lived in China" blah blah blah whatever. Bottom line- YUM! And as much as I love what I just teased, it's very cool to have the split menus because sometimes I want a good Chinese meal with a little crab-rangoon-shaped guilty pleasure.

My favorite Chinese food spot in all of Boston. Wen (the owner) is super friendly, and will give you special recommendations of traditional Chinese dishes if you ask. Definitely get one of the Northern Chinese dishes--they are BOMB. Very different from the intensely sweet/tangy American Chinese dishes. Yummmm.