-- Boston's Hidden Restaurants --

Cheng Du

762 Washington Street, Stoughton, MA 02072
(781) 341-9888 Find location!

Photo of Cheng Du, Stoughton, MA Let's face it; when you drive through Stoughton Center, you are basically taking your life in your hands. Because the center of town was apparently designed by people who watched a lot of demolition derby shows on TV when they were younger, drivers often ignore the businesses in town, as they are more concerned about keeping their cars in one piece. Perhaps this is one reason why Cheng Du is not very well known. Indeed, this little Chinese restaurant in the heart of the center of Stoughton is one of the best places for Chinese food on the South Shore, but many people who drive through town don't even know it is there.

Cheng Du is a simple little restaurant with a small bar on the right side and a quiet dining room with a few tables on the left. It is rather plain-looking inside and doesn't particularly stand out all that much from other Chinese restaurants (except for perhaps the happiest-looking Buddha statue you will ever see facing the front window), but don't let the unassuming atmosphere at Cheng Du fool you, as the food here is a huge step above most suburban Chinese restaurants in the Boston area. Delicious kung pao chicken, spicy curry noodles with shrimp and chicken, unusually fresh fried rice, delectable chicken chow foon, some of the best udon noodles you will find anywhere, a mild but delicious vegetarian hot and sour soup, and so many other great dishes, including Lake Tung Ting shrimp and yu hsiang beef, await lovers of both authentic and Americanized Chinese food.

Some folks who I have talked to on the South Shore believe that Cheng Du might be the best Chinese restaurant south of Boston. And while I have yet to try some of the great Chinese dining spots in Quincy and Dorchester, I can see why Cheng Du is held in such high regard. If you don't mind a white-knuckle ride through Stoughton Center, look for this outstanding Chinese restaurant near where Routes 138, 139, and 27 all meet.