It's been almost two years since I last came back, and I mainly returned for the soup dumplings. This restaurant isn't particularly known for them, but I have to say, so far, they're the best soup dumplings I've had in the last couple of years. I'm always on the hunt for a great xiaolongbao, and I was hoping nothing had changed since my last visit. Thankfully, they were just as good as I remembered. The skin is thin, and there's a generous amount of soup inside, which is exactly what I look for. That said, the crab meat noodles were disappointing this time. The amount of crab meat seemed significantly reduced compared to before, so much so that if I hadn't known what I was ordering, I don't think I would have been able to identify it as crab meat noodles at all. We also tried the osmanthus cakes, which my sister really enjoyed. Personally, I'm not a fan of the mochi-like texture, so while I can appreciate why others might like them, they just aren't for me. The restaurant itself is still beautiful, and the servers remain extremely polite, as you'd expect at a place of this caliber. I'll definitely be coming back again...at least for the soup dumplings. read more

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Friday evening date night Unfortunately we weren't able to make a reservation or get on the waitlist prior to arriving at the restaurant since their website was down. 4 given due prolonged wait time (hour plus). Once seated our waitress provided us with a complimentary dessert which did indeed improve our moods. The food was beyond our expectations !! Would definitely visit again ... this time with a reservation during the week. Aesthetic & ambiance 5 read more

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Cheli is my favorite place to get a more upscale (but not totally breaking the bank) Shanghainese meal. The restaurant itself is very vibey with an asian-themed interior. The tables are on the smaller size though so it can be hard to accommodate larger groups. My favorite dishes are the black truffle soup dumplings (perfect amount of truffle taste), crab noodles (saucey and comes with vinegar on the side which i recommend adding most of for a balanced flavor) , squirrel fish (sweet and sour profile), eggplant (super saucey perfect to be eaten with rice), and the Kao fu (refreshing cold appetizer). Everything is flavorful, but the sauce from the eggplant and squirrel fish is pretty sweet and strong so definitely have some white rice ready to eat with everything! read more

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Fantastic experience at CheLi. Having been to both the Manhattan and Flushing locations, I think this one is the best. We had the smoked chicken which was was torched in flames at the table, then a wooden hammer was used to knock down the clay covering, the lotus leaves were unwrapped to reveal the chicken which was then doused in the most delicious sauce. So good!! We also had the crystal river shrimp which was decent, and pear entremet dessert which was a delightful way to end the meal. Great environment and thoughtful, attentive service from start to finish. read more

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The food is authentic. Nice indoor environment and service. Recommend shrimp and eel. read more

Cheli - Flushing - Shanghainese Near Me - Flushing, New York

Came here for dinner and had a bit of a mixed experience. We started with the pickled mushrooms and tea, which was a nice, light way to begin the meal. The food overall was genuinely good. We ordered the half chicken, spinach, dumplings, and duck, which were all delicious. My personal favorite was the half chicken. It was tender and juicy, and the presentation was beautiful and fun. Definitely the standout dish for me. The ambience was stunning. It truly felt like you were transported to an Asian town. It was thoughtfully designed, warm, and immersive. The atmosphere is probably one of the restaurant's biggest highlights. Where things fell short was the service and ordering system. You order food on an iPad at the table and send it directly to the kitchen, which is convenient in theory because you can keep adding items. However, no one explained how the system worked when we sat down. At one point the iPad locked, and we had no idea what the password was to reopen it. Also, for drinks I had to flag down staff to order them. Unfortunately, the staff didn't check in on us much, so it wasn't easy to get their attention when we needed something. Parking is also near impossible and traffic in the area is very heavy, so I highly recommend taking the train if you can. Overall: beautiful ambience and solid food, but service and logistics could definitely be improved. read more

What an amazing restaurant. The ambiance is so Shang Hai. You can't deny the decor transports you away to a wonderful food experience. The food also was just so flavorful and delicious. No lacking in authenticity here. The staff is attentive and respectful. Not your typical Flushing rush-in-out style. You get to sit and relax and enjoy a great meal. Please come and stop by. You won't be disappointed. read more

Cheli - Flushing - Shanghainese Near Me - Flushing, New York

Ate here today with my parents and sister for dinner trying out for the first time. We definitely got different kinds of dishes to eat together that it tasted really good and delicious. The service there was also attentive and super fast. We couldn't agree more about it. Finally I would definitely eat and come back again next time! :) read more

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Came here with friends to try something new. It's was actually not bad. The shrimp and noodles flavor was great. The eel in a crepe wrap was unique but we didn't love. The fish wasn't bad and the beef was the best thing there. Vegetables you can't go wrong. The dessert was meh. But the service was pretty good. Overall it was a good experience. read more

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Food 4/5 Service 4/5 Atmosphere 5/5 This place had really nice atmosphere. The food overall tasted good but I wasn't too impressed given the price. I tried drunken chicken, duck, squirrel fish. Recommend booking in advance if going Friday or Saturday night. read more

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This is definitely a family favorite place to eat given the quality of the food, taste, and service. The menu is so rich and enticing that they now have a tablet to feature and order all their specialties , ranging from sizzling black pepper prime ribs to so much more from Jiang Nan cuisine. Even their West Lake minced meat soup was cooked to perfection in terms of taste and texture. I worked my way up with some pan fried pork buns with just as much soup inside as their pork soup dumplings, but with different sauces to complement their flavors. I also fell in love with their braised pork belly given how tender the meat was to complement the fat with a soothing gravy to eat every bite of rice in your bowl. If you're a vegetarian, even their lotus with snow peas and wood ear mushrooms taste so refreshing with a natural crunch without the need to fry the nutrients away. You may want to try their Shanghainese stir fry noodles, which are so moist, yet al dente, and flavorful to enjoy even without meat :) Make reservations especially on weekend evenings because this place is packed to the max with parking across the street in the municipal lot or Tangram mall. Thus, I have no excuse not to come back for more! read more

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My mom and I came here for lunch today. We ordered Longjing shrimp, pork belly, and 'Squirrel' fish. I was disappointed that no liquid nitrogen was poured over the shrimp like the pictures. Although pork belly was tender, it didn't absorb any flavor from the sauce according to my mom. She had the same dish in Shanghai and this pork belly didn't even come close to the one she had. We both think that most of the dishes from here were premade and not cooked fresh from the kitchen. The only upside is that decors are interesting and bathrooms are clean, and servers are pleasant. read more

Cheli - Flushing - Shanghainese Near Me - Flushing, New York

Great place! A lot of food options and the food presentation is top notch. Totally recommend it. The ambiance is also very unique and the servers were all very friendly. read more

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The interior is interesting and definitely adds to the character of the restaurant. Servers were nice and mostly speak Mandarin. The food was as good but not amazing. They have some fun displays, like incorporating fire. The fried pumpkin with salted egg yolk was delicious, sweet, and savory. The crab minced tofu didn't have a lot of crab flavor. The house fish stew with the mustard was a bit too sour. People thought the chicken wrapped in leaves was overhyped and smaller, even though the meat was nice and tender. read more

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Nothing special to be honest, was more Chinese fusion. Kinda disappointed that each dish was not piping hot when served either. The duck was probably my least fave dish even though they have an interesting spin to it where it's fried. The squirrel fish and sizzling beef were prob my fave but lacked warmth. After the meal my belly wasn't warm. Do expect to pay a little more $$$ than other Chinese food spots in flushing. Worth a try if you're looking for a more "upscale" meal. read more

Cheli - Flushing - Shanghainese Near Me - Flushing, New York

Saw this in IG and really wanted to try the Begger chicken . Their renovation and interior is very nice and each seat gives you the ancient China feel. Sadly the Begger chicken was not what we expected, not enough flavor . It was succulent but lacked flavor. The mapo tofu was just numbing spice and wasn't great. The black truffle soup dumplings were too small for its price. Best thing was the Jasmine tea beef that they imported . Service was good and love that we can order our own on the iPad. read more

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The restaurant doesn't respect take out customers! I ordered food at 12:40 and the promised time was 1:13. I arrived at 1:14, but I did not get my food until 1:45. I understand that lunch time is busy, but the restaurant does not respect customers if they are not eating inside. When I arrived, some people came after me, but they got their food faster than I did. If your kitchen does not like serving takeout customers, you should stop offering it instead of humiliating customers. read more

Cheli - Flushing - Shanghainese Near Me - Flushing, New York

My new favorite higher end restaurant in Flushing, in love with the decor, the service, and the food. Everything is so on point, one of the best dining experiences I've had in a while. I'll be going again for special occasion. read more

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Beautiful interior and friendly staff. Came here on a Sunday off hours (3pm) and had no wait, highly recommend as the wait gets crazy around lunch and dinner times during the weekend. Free, unlimited tea, was also amazing. Food was solid, but nothing mindblowing FOOD: Sweet & Sour Pork Riblets (8/10) - Probably the best dish of the day, but a little sweeter than I expected Chinese Crispy Lava (7/10) - Nice filling, but outside was slightly too crispy + chewy Qianlong's Favorite Eel (6/10) - Eel was solid with rice, but it felt like it didn't really go well with the crepes. Crepes also super thick Braised Eggplant (7/10) - Again, solid but not the best. One of my favorite dishes but flavoring seemed a little different here read more

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The restaurant was beautifully laid out and very cool. My waitress Katt what is super nice and helpful and a beautiful smile. I had the beggars chicken and the crispy smoked fish. Both were delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

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Upscale Chinese (Shanghainese) restaurant with an interior mimicking a traditional Chinese aristocrat's home. They take reservations for dinner, but only walk ins for lunch. We went just at opening on Father's day and easily got a table. The service and food here is pretty good but a bit pricey. We enjoyed the squirrel fish (sweet and sour bass), the green beans, the crispy smoked fish and the Qianlong's eel. The eel was fun to eat with crepes (similar to the way peking duck is eaten), but I would have liked more crepes. The beef short rib dish was ok, nothing special. The beggar's chicken was a spectacle with it being lit on fire but was not good. Rice was extra. The complimentary palete cleanser radishes were delicious. read more

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I found this place through social media and I've been meaning to come here. Walking through the front doors, I was presented with a whole new, eye-opening universe. It brings me back to Chinese Dynasty, but modernized and newly renovated. I loved everything about the atmosphere. The presentation of the food was above and beyond, everything was beautifully crafted. They did a "show" of the faming beggar's chicken in front of you, which created a mesmerizing experience. My partner accidentally drop a mapo tofu stain on his grey hoodie and the female server quickly got him some wet wipes. We were grateful for her quick attention to detail to rescue us and we managed to get the stain out. I would definitely come back to try different menu items! read more

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Heart of Flushing NY. Authentic Chinese menu options with items you do not find just anywhere. Service was attentive. 2-3 wait-staff but ordering is all on an iPad. Casual dining with beautiful decor. There are items I do not eat but at the table this is what was ordered-- fish, beef, duck, rabbit, pork, eggplant, green beans, fried rice, and different soup dumplings. The lychee beer was so good and so was the green grape soju. The fish appetizer and green beans were awesome. Everything had its distinct flavors and unique presentation. It was a bit rushed and the experience felt overwhelming. It's great to have access to items you can't get elsewhere. read more

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In the area for some shopping & we decided to give these guys a try. We came in & were seated right away , they start u off w some tea, not bad. Drinks, we had the Rose lemonade was very good & Pineapple beer , good as well. On the food Sweet & Sour pork riblets & the Black pepper beef cubes lit & on fire cool to watch.. both very tasty. Next up the Garlic steamed prawns w the glass noodles, so good w great garlic flavor & Golden Egg fried rice , very good as well These two combined were delicious. Decent size place with plenty of seating, nice fun decor, service was good & prices were reasonable this was a great find, we enjoyed our meal. read more

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Really enjoyed my lunch at CheLi last weekend! I love the ambiance inside, super cute with the decor. My friends and I ordered a bunch of dishes to share. The pork and black truffle soup dumplings were really good! The skin was thin and a good amount of soup inside. We also really enjoyed the "squirrel" sweet and sour fish, the eggplant, and Cheli pork belly. The Chinese crispy lava was good too! I normally get the salty version at dimsum but this was a good dessert version with salty egg custard inside. The only thing I would not get again was the crab noodle. It was okay but I thought it could use more crab and maybe a thinner noodle that would be coated better. read more

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Came here for dinner on a Tuesday with reservations and were seated pretty quickly. The ambiance is very nice - clean and super traditional in appearance, it really felt temple like with the decor. Service was okay, orders were taken pretty quickly and food came out fast as well. The menu had a good variety of dishes to share and everything was executed relatively well. The portions were a bit smaller than expected given prices, but other than that, everything was great. The pumpkin was really amazing honestly, I'd recommend that above everything else. Overall, we had a nice meal and wouldn't mind coming back again in the future. Thanks, Cheli! read more

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Went out with the big bro a few weeks ago & he mentioned eating at Cheli. I don't venture to Flushing often so I said hell, why not? I trust his taste so I let him take charge of all the ordering. The soup dumps were on point & every dish that followed was sooo delish! Get your rice ready because a lot of these dishes are saucy so let that white rice soak up alllllllll the flavor! Everything from the meatballs to the eggplant is worth the try. And leave room for dessert - pancakes rolled with peanuts and fried dumps with salted egg yolk fillings. Augh, so good!!! Will definitely be back. Pro-tip: make reservations! read more

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Cheli in Flushing is a beautiful Chinese restaurant with a grand, upscale interior that makes a great first impression. The service was exceptional due to the staff being so attentive and constantly changing out our plates The food was flavorful and well-portioned. My favorites were the crab noodles which were rich and savory, and the sticky mochi with brown sugar for dessert that also were perfectly chewy and sweet. Overall, everything from the ambiance to the service and food was on point. Definitely a spot I'd come back to for a nice meal out! read more

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everything was so perfect presentation of the shrimp was definitley better than the taste but it was nice to experience servers were very nice and attne6tive and bilingual i wish they had more drink options! but overall would come back again 4/5 food 5/5 atmosphere 5/5 service read more

Very cute atmosphere inspired by East Asian garden. Lots of wood looking dividers. Plant like decorations. There's even a fish pond. Certainly one of the prettier restaurants that I've dined at in Flushing. The sake selection seemed to be the most intriguing on the beverage menu. Some wines, cocktails, and beers too. I wanted to cool off, so I had a chilled glass of Riesling from the Willamette Valley. First course was a giant steamed bun with a sweet dipping sauce. I tasted a lot of syrupy peach flavor while my friend picked up on plum. Great option to start or end the meal. Second course was the chilled chicken in a white wine sauce. A wonderful item for a hot day. Loved it as a pairing with the Riesling. Lots of sweetness and light brininess coming through. Third course were the Xiao Long Baos. The soup dumplings were my favorite item of the meal. Simple yet perfectly executed. Super savory and salty. On par with nearly any other XLB that I've had. Fourth course was the braised eggplant. Soft cooked eggplant in a sweet sauce with minced work. A traditional item we've had at many restaurants. Another classically executed dish. Fifth course was shanghai noodles. We didn't plan on ordering this item, but the waitress recommended adding this or a fried rice item to round out the meal. This ate as a basic, neighborhood Chinese-American lo mein dish. There was a mix up and it was served to us without any peppercorns. Probably would have skipped on this item in retrospect. Sixth and final course was the crispy duck. First time that I've had fried duck. I personally prefer roasted duck to fried duck. I felt that the duck dried out and that flavor was overwhelmed by the frying oil. Service was attentive and accommodating. Pacing of the food was slightly quick. There were two single occupancy restrooms. read more

Came here with 2 friends for a light dinner. Staff was very friendly and the interior is gorgeous. Ordered Sixi Kaon Fu, Yangzhou Meetball Soup, and the Crispy Duck. Food was good but the duck was a little dry. Food was a little pricey so I think you're definately paying for the atmosphere. read more

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Cheli - An Authentic Taste of Shanghai in Flushing! Stepping into Cheli feels like being transported straight to Shanghai--the decor is stunning, and the vibe is just right. But the real showstopper? Their flaming Beggar's Chicken--literally set on fire right at our table! With a huge and diverse menu, every dish was a masterpiece, both in presentation and flavor. Everything we tried was absolutely delicious, and we're already planning our next visit! Don't leave without trying the Chinese Brush Pastry--it's as unique as it is tasty! Features: Tofu skin with mixed vegetables Crispy smoke fish. Osmanthus plum juice Song Dynasty Flaming Beggars chicken Black.pepper Beef Ribs Steamed egg and minced crab meat Chinese Brush Patry Jasmine Milk Pudding read more

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As excited as we were for this food, it just didn't live up. For starters, I did enjoy the soup dumplings (we did regular pork xlb, but also got the pork/truffle xlb). The skin of the dumpling was thin and sturdy so it made for a good soupy bite. You order via an iPad, so there isn't much human interaction but I was able to add their beggars chicken to my order however when time came to place the order, we were told they were sold out. It wasn't clear that there's limited quantities, and by the time someone physically came to our table they said they're sold out but another batch would be ready, one server quoted us 40 mins, another said over an hour. So that was disappointing Next, there's no rhyme or reason to how the food is brought out. Our fried rice came out before any of the entrees, which was then followed by soup but no bowls were given at the table-we had to ask multiple different servers. The soup was phenomenal though, it was a beef in golden broth soup. After the fried rice was finished, we got our fish in sweet and sour glaze. This wasn't very appetizing at all, there's so much sauce/glaze that you don't even realize you're eating fish. It was way too overpowering. Then came our fried duck, which is meant to be eaten like Peking duck, but the duck itself was so hard and over done. The beef ribs in pepper sauce were good, lacking flavor but compared to what we had until then it was ok. The poached shrimp was delicious, the shrimp was cooked perfectly. Mind you, we had ordered some sides of white rice, which never came out until the end. I think our meal had potential to be better but just certain things need to be worked on. The restaurant wasn't as chaotic/busy as other reviews have said it can be. There were many empty tables when we went so not sure where the breakdown in serving was? iPads can be a good ordering tool but not a substitution. When we had asked for our white rice during our meal we kept being told it was coming out, but it wasn't also like we had a dedicated person serving us, you had to try to flag someone down every single time and it was never the same person twice. Like we're getting our fried rice before we get the white rice that's more than likely premade, and just needs to be plated and served? It's a moderately priced restaurant, but there's definitely better ones in the area... read more

Solid place for a nicer place to eat Shanghainese cuisine in flushing. The service here is very good and the interior design of the place is like an old chinese village which is super cool! The dishes themselves are solid. The XLB had very flavorful soup and was a good deal at 6 for ~$9. Also tried the clams and eggplant which was very tasty. I was not impressed by the rice cakes. The lobster was ok. read more

Elegantly decorated restaurant in the heart of flushing, NY. When you walk in, you get an ancient China vibe. It's reflected in their menu as well. You'll see references to different dynasties in China. Ordered the eel specialty- it is similar to the Peking duck dish where you wrap it with a glutinous rice paper? The fish stew was very good. It's sweet and sour (more sour) and a little creamy. The fish was thinly sliced with no bone. There's vermicelli in the stew but I would recommend ordering a rice on the side. The service is very fast. I was amazed how quickly our food came out. Pricier than average for a flushing establishment but the taste, quality, and service is on point! Also the bathroom is very clean! read more

Cheli - Flushing - Shanghainese Near Me - Flushing, New York

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The food was amazing and the service was great! I especially enjoyed the sweet rice cakes! read more

Cheli - Flushing - Rice cake - Shanghainese Near Me - Flushing, New York

Came here on a Saturday afternoon and the place was packed. The interior was nicely decorated and had plenty of seating. We started off with the soup dumplings which were quite solid, the wrapping was the perfect amount of thickness and the broth was savory. The pork riblets had solid flavor to it but the sauce was just a bit too strong for me. The vegetables tasted fresh and the chestnut chicken was an interesting pairing. To finish it off, I really enjoyed the sponge cake as it had nice texture and was not too strong. Overall, the food was solid - for the price its portion was not too unreasonable. You are definitely paying for the decor and the service which was on point. Cheli is not a bad option for a meal but definitely there are a lot of other restaurants in the area that I would want to try first. read more

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Celebrated Lunar New Year here with some friends for dinner. Fortunately, our party of 4 had someone who lived close and was able to get our name down early. *Pro-Tip* Just because there are no Resy reservations left online does not necessarily mean they won't take a reservation in person. Still ended up waiting about an hour, but it was well worth it. We ordered the Stir-Fried Rice Cakes, Steamed Yellow Croaker, Che Li's Braised Pork Belly, Stir-Fried String Beans, and a Meatball Soup. Food portions were small but everything was delicious! String beans were not spicy and had a lovely balance of garlic, chili oil, and salt. The Rice cakes were light and warming. Porkbelly had a generous meat to fat ratio. I wish the sauce was a bit thicker but a pleasant surprise was the generous serving of quail eggs. (Ask for some rice) The Yellow Croaker was delightful and reminded me of a home cooked meal. The Meatball soup was refreshing but definitely should've been shared between 2 people max. Overall a good experience! Would recommend this as a celebratory meal or a nice date night, asmy biggest complaint was that the portions were small considering the cost per dish. read more

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Really nice interior decoration (kind of feels like I'm in old Shanghai) -- I've been to the one in SoHo and I think this is the superior location. More organized, less chaotic, better ambiance, and better menu items (though largely similar, there are slight variations in dim sum, dessert, and small plate offerings) Food highlights: Spicy Conch and Jelly Fish (5/5): loveeee this -- has a wonderful kick, the jelly fish and conch are super fresh (has a nice crunch and bounciness to them). Conch is also very sweet and the presentation is lovely. Crispy Lava (5/5): love this custard filled dimsum treat which we decided to get as dessert. Super crispy, not overly sweet. Be super cautious because the filling is piping hot and will explode as you bite down. Squirrel Fish (4/5): not the best I've had but still really good. Sauce has the right balance of sweet and sour, wish the fish was just a bit crispier. A shanghainese classic and definitely must try! read more

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I was in New York City to visit my parents in January 2024. Obviously, I then had to meet up with close friends that I don't normally get to see every day. One of my foodie friends and I decided to meet up. We always try to go to a new place that we both haven't tried - and we ended up here at Cheli. Cheli is a Chinese Restaurant (specifically Shanghainese) located in East Village (Manhattan) and Flushing (Queens). My friend, his girlfriend, and I went to the Flushing Location. According to their website, Che Li presents a distinctive dining experience, weaving together the rich tapestry of Song Dynasty banquet culture with the authentic and sophisticated flavors of Shanghai cuisine. Their culinary philosophy is deeply rooted in the heritage of Jiangnan--a region known for its delicate beauty, culinary finesse, and the origin of Shanghai's gastronomic excellence. Characterized by its subtle yet profound flavors, meticulous preparation, and elegant presentation, their cuisine pays tribute to this heritage while celebrating the refined communal spirit of Song Dynasty feasts. We were all super excited to try! Between the 3 of us, we tried the following: - Wine Soaked Chicken - Crab Meat and Pork Soup Dumplings - Sweet and Sour Crispy Eel - Nine Spiced Rabbit - Hot Stone Braised Rice (mushroom) - Sauteed Water Spinach - Black Sesame Sticky Rice Balls - Rose Lemonade Super fun and feels like an authentic experience. My friend had to order in Chinese - and I obviously pointed to the menu to order since my Chinese skills are limited. Never been to China but I would imagine the decor is pretty representative. Food, service, ambiance were A+. ENJOY!! read more

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