Sei Bar Wakefield (湘私馆)

This place changed my impression on the whole cuisine. Everything we had was incredibly tasty. We tried the black fungus appetizer, lamb starter, chicken hotpot and fried rice. It's a hidden gem. Should get more recognition. The food is actually spicy, so, beware.

I had a fantastic experience at this restaurant, and as someone from Hunan, I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking to try Xiangcai cuisine for the first time. The presence of a map showcasing Changsha city on the table evoked a warm and welcoming feeling. The food at this place is outstanding, especially the spicy chicken gizzards and the fish dishes, which I thoroughly enjoyed. While the cauliflower dish was just okay and not something I’d recommend, the chicken gizzards were exceptional—chewy, well-seasoned, and with a pleasant level of spiciness. They paired wonderfully with rice, making for a satisfying meal. Another highlight is the unique Changsha shaomai, distinct from the shaomai you typically find in other Chinese restaurants. Unlike those that usually contain shrimp or meat, the Hunan shaomai is filled with seasoned sticky rice, creating a delightful twist. We also tried the two different pepper fish dishes, and we loved adding noodles to them. The noodles soaked up the delicious fresh broth, enhancing the overall taste and experience. Xiangcai湘菜 is one of the eight major Chinese cuisines, and I believe it deserves more attention. Compared to chuancai 川菜, it stands out with its spicy seasoning derived from fresh peppers, avoiding the numbing effect of chili peppers. If you’re a fan of Chinese food, I highly recommend embarking on a Xiangcai culinary adventure at this restaurant!

I've heard this place for a few years since they open, but never got the chance to drive to Wakefield to try it. Finally went last Saturday. It's nice to see their note about opening at a larger place in Woburn soon. Overall, very good services and food. I'm from Sichuan, so I know the difference between the Sichuan spicy and Hunan spicy. We ordered mostly 3 pepper dishes which are not too spicy for me. Some friends suggested me to try the 4 pepper spicy chicken next time. I actually like the Spicy Pig Intestine (干锅肥肠) the best. Very well cooked and flavored. Not rubbery, very tender. Portions are very good for the price as well. I'll be back. Maybe to their new location in Woburn.

Excellent food and service. I was the only non Asian tonight so the authentic Hunan dishes are popular for people who know! Bring an appetite as the food portions are large. I had a pickled pigs ear salad and sweet potato soup with leftovers to take home.

Good Food, But Terrible Service. After waiting over 40 minutes to be seated, we sat for another half hour with no service—not even water. Two teenage staff members were busy playing games instead of attending to customers. The restaurant was clearly understaffed, which made the experience even worse. Despite their website stating no reservations, we were told a table was “reserved” for another group. They also failed to have rice ready when we asked for more and had to wait 20 minutes into our meal for it, which they said was because they had to make another batch. While the food was good when it finally arrived, the lack of professionalism and basic service made the visit very disappointing. Be prepared for long waits and inattentive staff if you choose to dine here. Also, despite the title of the restaurant is a little misleading: no sushi or Japanese food is available here.

THE BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT IN BOSTON AREA!!!!! Totally worthy the travel. I hope the second restaurant in Newton is opening soon. I really really like spicy food. I have eaten in almost all Chinese restaurants in Boston, but none of them is impressive enough for me to want to go back again, except Sei Bar. Every dish you order won’t disappoint you. Authentic spicy, authentic flavor!!!

As someone from Hunan, I can say the flavor is truly authentic to the original Hunan taste, and I'll definitely come back.

*Update*: The owner replied back and told me it's the problem with our order that causing more than an hour's wait, not their tardiness. So I changed my review from 4 stars to 2 stars. There are other Hunan cuisine in Cambridge and Brookline that worth a try! -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Fact 1: The food here is pretty authentic and delicious. Fact 2: It took the restaurant more than an hour to serve us 3 dishes. Fact 3: No one apologized for the long waiting time while we were there, not at all. Context 1: We came here around 3 p.m and ordered 3 dishes, each arrived separately with a long waiting time gap in between, so basically we had our order taken, waited 15min, Dish A coming up, finished it in 10 min and waited for another 15min for Dish B, continued to wait for 25 min, and finally came the Dish C. Context 2: There were only 4 tables (10-12 ppl) while we were dining there, and one large group of 8 is leaving. I understand sesame ball and steam fish will take longer than usual, but the waiting time is insane at 3 p.m.