Gene's Chinese Flatbread Cafe

"Gene’s is the OG player in Boston’s growing hand-pulled noodle scene. Order the hand-pulled noodles in chili oil; order the hand-pulled noodles with cumin-spiked lamb; order some lamb skewers; order everything. If you’re in the suburbs, you can also find Gene’s second location in Woburn, where there’s more indoor seating." - Nathan Tavares, Valerie Li Stack, Eater Staff

"On the bottom end of the neighborhood, Gene’s Chinese Flatbread Cafe is a great lunch spot and source for hand-pulled noodles. Get the standard noodles (#4 on the menu) seasoned with so much chile and garlic, and add a skewer or two of lamb — and perhaps a tea egg — on the side." - Celina Colby, Eater Staff

"A Downtown Crossing mainstay, Gene’s is one of a fairly small number of places that serve Xi’an-style Chinese cuisine in the Boston area, highlighting hand-pulled noodles that are garlicky, chewy, and so filling. Add a lamb skewer and/or tea egg to boost the (already ample) portion." - Erika Adams, Rachel Leah Blumenthal

"The #4 at Gene’s - a bowl of thick, chewy hand-pulled noodles topped with a garlicky pepper sauce - is one of our single favorite dishes in all of Boston. And it costs only nine bucks. When you get that along with a big, greasy $5 pork sandwich, you’ll realize that, while it’s mostly true that money doesn’t buy happiness, $15 at this tiny counter-service place Downtown does." - dan secatore

"We don’t know why Gene’s chose to name itself after its sandwiches. They’re really good - filled with ground pork and so greasy that they should be wearing headbands - but the noodle dishes are the reason you need to come here. Everything is hand-pulled at this tiny cash-only spot, and you’ll see and hear them slapping the noodles on the counter as you wait. The result is some really thick, chewy noodles that you would eat with just about anything, but which are absolutely perfect when topped with a peppery sauce." - dan secatore