Oxyear Food Court — Restaurant in Lowell

Decent option for large portion lunch specials.

Been in Lowell quite a bit lately and stopped by twice to try their lunch specials. Both times, I was the only person dining in, though there were a few takeout orders going out. The owner was super friendly and while the restaurant seemed like a single man operation, everything came out quick.

The food. The portions for most dishes were easily double what I’d expected from a typical appetizer/ lunch specials. Unfortunately, the overall quality was subpar. Some small plates, like the spare ribs, were clearly reheated in the microwave, and the excess moisture from the thawing process was clearly visible on the bottom of the plate. General Tso’s chicken had thick and soggy breading and very little meat, which made it a carb-heavy bite. Since it had been fried and frozen beforehand, it tasted almost identical to one of those frozen Chinese chicken plates from grocery stores. Thankfully, the pork belly dishes held better even after freezing. Both the garlic chili pork belly and the double cooked pork belly were genuinely enjoyable.

Overall, better than food-court Chinese, but not quite on par with average Boston Chinese restaurants. Lowell’s Chinese food scene is pretty underwhelming, so it might be worth a stop if you’re looking for an inexpensive yet...

Was on my way to work when I noticed this location has finally reopened a restaurant! Finally, a place where I can walk down the street and eat on the fly without having to bike or drive. Honestly, I didn't care what opened here- but CHINESE FOOD?! Heck yeah!

I went in, greeted the staff got to know more about the location a bit. So far, it has mainly been a soft-opening; see how the location turns out and giving out samples to those who want to try. Their meat entrees are sooooo tender with the right amount of moisture from the sauce and seasoning. Definitely recommend their spicy fish and bamboo as its something you don't see often in fast-food Chinese places.

What's also nice about this location is that it is right across the street from a laundromat. Hungry while waiting for your clothes to finish washing? They are right there ready to serve! Weary about spending extra on laundry day? Their prices challenge the amount you might often see at other competitors. For a whopping $14 (rounded-up) you get 2 entrees, 2 appetizers, rice and soup, whereas other places might charge you $20+ for that much-They even have noodle soup for those indecisive days as well. Although, this may change after a few weeks from opening. It's a really nice deal in my opinion, give em a try if you are especially...

Amazing food with a good veggie and fish selection. The owner is friendly, attentive and has a great sense of humor. He asked us how hot we want the Fish with Chilli, on a scale of 1 to 10, and I said 7 maybe 8... and "I don't mind if my eyes water a bit". After taking our order he came back with some napkins and said "here, in case you start crying". We all laughed. We had also ordered the green beans and they were so tasty. For starter we ordered the sesame bamboo shoots. They were a cold appetizer. Absolutely delicious and crunchy and slightly spicy. When I drank my water I noticed a slight "ting" or numbness on my tongue. A tell-tale sign of Szechuan Pepper. I asked him and he said yeah, they infuse it in the oil or something. Anyway, seriously, do not miss the place. If you're thinking about driving down to Billerica or Burlington to go to Sichuan Gourmet, consider Oxyear. Nothing against those places, but Oxyear is honestly right up there with them in terms of quality, selection, and taste. You will not be...