This bowl of spaghetti in Boston is ok

🍜 Jahunger Cambridge: Boston’s New Xinjiang Spot—Nail the Noodles, Skip the Dishes Word is out: Rhode Island’s popular Xinjiang restaurant Jahunger has landed in Boston. I tried their RI location ages ago—solid, but not mind-blowing. With mixed reviews (locals say Boston’s branch lags behind the original), I hesitated… until a sudden noodle craving pushed me to go. Verdict? Great noodles, forgettable everything else. 🌟 The Hits Jahunger Stir-Fried Noodles: 🍝 The standout. Yes, it’s oily—but the hand-pulled “la tiao zi” noodles are worth it. Each strand is evenly coated in savory sauce, with a chewy, springy texture that gets more flavorful as you chew. Simple, satisfying, and the best thing on the menu. Baked Lamb Buns (Kao Baozi): 🥟 Decent, as I remembered. The thin parts of the crust are crispy, and the lamb filling is tender with no gaminess. the sealed edge is a thick, doughy mess—so much raw, undercooked dough it’s inedible. A shame, because the rest works. ❌ The Misses Sichuan Pepper Chicken (Jiaoma Ji): 🐔 Hard pass. Dry, overly salty, and completely lacking the numbing-spicy kick of good jiaoma ji. For reference: Yi Die Sichuan does this right—zingy Sichuan peppercorn aroma, tender chicken. Nang Stir-Fried Meat: 🥩 Bland and underwhelming. The nang (Xinjiang flatbread) is dense and doughy, with little flavor. The meat doesn’t save it—skip. ✨ The Verdict Noodles First: Come for the stir-fried la tiao zi—they’re the only reason to return. Comparison to RI: I get the hype around the original. Boston’s version feels rushed, especially with dishes like the jiaoma ji and nang. Budget Score: 3/5. Worth it if you’re jonesing for hand-pulled noodles, but don’t expect a full meal to impress. Jahunger isn’t bad—it’s just inconsistent. Save your appetite for the noodles, and skip the rest. 📍 Jahunger Cambridge 272 Brookline St, Cambridge, MA 02139 #BostonXinjiang #CambridgeEats #NoodleLovers