"Joanne Chang's loud Pan-Asian counter since 2007, where the wok-charred udon still rules — book it for a lively cheap date night."
About Myers + Chang
The wok-charred udon was the first dish Joanne Chang put on the menu in 2007, and it still outsells almost everything else at the Washington Street counter. Chang opened the restaurant with Christopher Myers as a neighbourhood place for the kind of loosely interpreted Chinese, Taiwanese, Thai and Vietnamese cooking they wanted to eat themselves, and the South End has treated it as a local fixture ever since. It clears the bar set in the signs that separate a great restaurant from a good one.
It is not a tasting-menu room and never pretended to be. Plates are small, built for sharing, and the kitchen runs fast and loud. For where it sits in town, see our Boston dining guide; for the broader category, our best Chinese restaurants guide sets the bar this room is judged against.
The Kitchen
Joanne Chang runs the kitchen, and her training shows in the precision under the noise. She is a Harvard maths graduate turned pastry chef who built the Flour Bakery chain across Boston and won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Baker in 2016; the fluffy scallion pancake here is made from Flour's focaccia dough. Chef Karen Akunowicz ran the line for years before leaving to open her own room, and the kitchen has kept her standards.
Order Mama Chang's pork and chive dumplings, the Tiger's Tear grilled sirloin sliced over chilli and lime, and the wok-charred udon with chicken and bok choy that started the whole project. The soy-glazed salmon and the dan dan noodles round out a table. Prices stay low for the quality: most plates land between $12 and $18, and the Monday and Tuesday Cheap Date Night prix-fixe feeds two for $45. The address is 1145 Washington Street, on the South End's restaurant row.
The Room
The room is a narrow, neon-lit storefront: a long counter facing the open wok station, banquettes down one wall, communal tables that fill in fast. Lighting is bright by date-night standards, the soundtrack leans loud, and conversation runs at a happy hum that tips into a roar by eight on a Friday. Around sixty seats turn over quickly. Dress is whatever you walked in wearing. Sit at the counter if you are two and want to watch the woks; take a banquette if you are a group.
Best for a Casual Date Night
Book this room for a casual date because it is cheap, it is fun, and the shared plates keep both people busy and talking. The Monday and Tuesday Cheap Date Night menu is built for two at $45, the counter gives you something to watch when conversation lulls, and nobody will rush you out. Go early in the evening if you want to hear each other, since the room gets loud at peak. For a group night instead, compare our best restaurants for a team dinner.
Not for
Not for a quiet, lingering dinner: the room is loud and bright, plates land fast, and the energy is built for turnover, not a three-hour candlelit conversation.
Frequently Asked
Is Myers + Chang worth it?
Yes, if you want lively Pan-Asian small plates at a fair price rather than a hushed tasting room. Joanne Chang and Christopher Myers opened it in 2007, and dishes like the wok-charred udon and Mama Chang's pork and chive dumplings have anchored the menu since. It is loud, fun, and built for sharing across the table.
How do you get a table at Myers + Chang?
Book through Resy, where most weeknight slots open without much trouble; weekends and the dim sum brunch fill faster. Walk-ins are welcome at the bar. For the best deal, target the Monday or Tuesday Cheap Date Night, a $45 prix-fixe for two that the kitchen designed for sharing.
What should I order at Myers + Chang?
Start with Mama Chang's pork and chive dumplings and the Tiger's Tear grilled sirloin, then the wok-charred udon that has been on the menu since day one. The dan dan noodles and the soy-glazed salmon are reliable too. Order several plates between two and pass everything around.
What is the dress code at Myers + Chang?
There is no dress code. Come as you are: the room is a casual, neon-lit storefront on Washington Street, not a jacket-and-tie dining room. Jeans are the norm at both the counter and the banquettes, which makes it an easy choice for a relaxed dinner or a first date.
Is Myers + Chang good for a date?
Yes, especially on a budget. The Monday and Tuesday Cheap Date Night menu is built for two, and the shared-plates format keeps conversation moving. It is loud at peak hours, so book early in the evening if you want to talk easily. See more options on our Boston dining guide.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Myers + Chang
Book on Resy; walk-ins taken at the bar. Or reserve via the restaurant's site.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address1145 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118
NeighbourhoodSouth End
CuisinePan-Asian
PricePlates roughly $12–18; about $40–55 a head before drinks. Mon/Tue 'Cheap Date Night' $45 for two.
Dress CodeNo rules
Seating~60; counter, banquettes, communal tables
ReservationResy; walk-ins at the bar
