The Q

The Q is a Chinese restaurant at 660 Washington Street, offering a menu that also draws from Japanese and Thai cooking. In Boston, the restaurant gives diners a choice between individual meals and a communal hot pot format. The menu and dining room support a casual meal built around shared plates and conversation.

Mongolian hot pot is the defining experience. The meal centers on a flavorful broth, with diners selecting ingredients to cook at the table. The format creates an interactive meal that works well for relaxed gatherings, with everyone able to share the cooking process and sample different combinations. The restaurant’s hot pot offering reflects northern Chinese traditions while fitting comfortably into a modern dining setting.

Alongside hot pot, The Q serves a broader selection of Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes. The menu includes familiar Asian restaurant staples as well as seafood-focused Japanese offerings, and the drinks menu includes cocktails and bubble tea. This range gives mixed groups flexibility when not everyone is looking for the same type of meal. Vegetarian choices are also available.

The dining room is comfortable and contemporary, with enough space for the restaurant’s shared-table style. The bar adds another option for casual drinks and a less formal stop in Chinatown. The overall atmosphere suits diners looking for a social meal rather than a quiet, highly formal occasion, while the broad menu leaves room for both hot pot diners and guests seeking other Asian dishes.

The Q fits group meals particularly well because hot pot is naturally communal, though the menu also accommodates smaller parties and diners with different preferences. Reservations are available, and online ordering and delivery provide alternatives to dining in. With its combination of Chinese hot pot, Japanese and Thai selections, a contemporary setting and a group-friendly format, the restaurant offers a flexible choice for a meal on Washington Street.