Cheli is a beautifully decorated Chinese restaurant in east village. You can order off an iPad which is very convenient. We got the wine soaked chicken and tofu wrapped vegetables to start, along with soup dumplings and a steamed bun (it was so big my jaw dropped!). As for mains we got the beggars chicken and the braised pork belly. My personal favorites were the braised pork belly and the wine soaked chicken though everything was pretty yummy. The beggars chicken featured a phenomenal presentation, with the chicken wrapped in lotus leaves lit on fire and an opportunity to smack it a couple times with a mallet. Prices were also pretty reasonable - we got these 6 items (with lots leftover) for ~$120 post tax. I will note the mains did take a bit longer to come out to be prepared to wait a little. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants I've had so far living in NYC. I've literally come here 3x within the span of 2 months if that tells you anything. I definitely gravitate towards Chinese cuisine a lot when choosing restaurants, so I'd say I have a taste for good / bad Chinese food. This place is amazing. Food tastes very authentic and fresh. There's a reason why they're a Michelin Bib Gourmand. It's a place you'll want to bring your friends to when they're coming to visit town. read more

Cheli - Pine Nut Fish FIllet w. Sweet&Sour Sauce, Sautéed Water Spinach, Garlic Steamed Butterfly Prawns - Shanghainese Near Me - New York, New York

Was very busy with a long waitlist so I'm glad we had a reservation! They're very efficient in getting tables cleaned and sorted out but we didn't feel rushed at all, which I greatly appreciated. We got four dishes - which was a lot to share between two people, but we wanted to get an array of their menu. 1) Braised pork belly - sweet and fragrant and very soft; almost wished I had a bowl of plain white rice to eat together 2) Lotus Pond Stir Fry - mix of sautéed in a light, slurry sauce of lotus roots, asparagus, snow peas, carrots, and woodear mushrooms; just ordered to have some veg option 3) Mapo tofu - came out the latest so I wish I hadn't gotten full from the other dishes; very tasty and also wish I had a separate bowl of rice 4) Hot stone braised rice - our favorite of the night! Super comforting and has that blast of umami, savory flavors read more

Cheli - Braised pork belly - Shanghainese Near Me - New York, New York

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Came for dinner here because it is highly rated and on the Michelin list. We ordered mapo tofu, kung pao chicken and beef with veggies, and rice cakes which came in sticks. The rice cakes were probably the best part, the server suggested kung pao, but the kung pao was the worst. It had pineapple and tasted like they put ketchup in the sauce!!!!!!! Mapo tofu and beef were alright. The vibe and ambiance of the place was super traditional and vibey, and the service was really good. The food was very MEH overall and we were disappointed. For such a high rating, it left much to be desired. read more

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The food here is delicious, authentic, and, for me, super nostalgic-- the flavors really brought up childhood memories of me visiting China. My parents (both from China, with my dad being a Shanghai native) also gave their approval. I liked the pear juice (didn't really taste anything like pears but was sweet, refreshing, and went well with the food). I really enjoyed the flavor of the wine-soaked chicken and the sauce the smoked fish came with was exactly what I wanted. Braised pork was super tender and had good flavor. Pea shoots were solid. Yang zhou meatball was seasoned less strongly than the other dishes but honestly still very good in a comforting, feels-like-food-in-the-form-of-a-warm-hug way. I loved the Longjing shrimp-- not only was the presentation super pretty, I also just really like shrimp cooked that way (very tender, highlights the natural qualities of the ingredients). The only dish that was kind of meh and I wouldn't recommend was the crispy duck served with wraps-- thought it was a little dry and there were too many bones for eating the meat in wraps to be practical. The milk tea with yellow wine went well with the sweet osmanthus rice cakes and were the perfect way to end the meal. read more

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Visited with a friend yesterday and was immediately struck by how beautifully decorated the space was; clearly a lot of thought went into the high-end ambiance. The service was also excellent; our water glasses were refilled frequently, and the staff were accommodating and attentive without being intrusive. I had originally planned to order what looked like a version of Peking duck, but after learning their "crispy duck" was deep-fried rather than roasted, I switched to the braised pork belly. It turned out to be a great choice--rich, tender, and satisfying. I also asked to have the pancakes that typically come with the duck served alongside the pork belly instead, and they made that change with no issue. The pancakes were surprisingly good--soft, hot, slightly chewy, and fairly priced at $4 for six. We were served green tea, though I was expecting oolong (which I love). In hindsight, it makes sense--green tea is more commonly served in Shanghai-style restaurants. Not my personal favorite, but it was complimentary, so no complaints. Lastly, we tried the soup dumplings. They were solid--definitely enjoyable--but not noticeably better than versions I've had elsewhere. read more

Phenomenal service and good food! Little bit of a wait but it is worth it for sure! Cheers! read more

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After being basically rejected from the restaurant across the street, the service and attentiveness from the staff here was refreshing. Very cool decor. The food was good and we were satisfied, good menu and great recommendations from our server, Cuck. The duck was great read more

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I've been to this restaurant a few times. I got there a couple of minutes early and they were kind enough to seat me right away. The service is impeccable. Our server was so attentive and patient with our questions about the menu. The decor is absolutely beautiful. It feels like you are at a restaurant in Asia. Most importantly, the dishes were excellent. My favorites are the wine soaked chicken and the pork belly with quail eggs. Can't wait to come back for more!! read more

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Super cute restaurant with tasty shanghainese food! Love the presentation of the dishes as well. My friends and I got a lot of items but my favorites were the soup dumplings, crispy eel, and claypot rice. read more

Cheli - Shanghainese Near Me - New York, New York

Overpriced. Everything tasted alright, there wasn't anything overtly bad, but I also didn't eat anything that I would want to try again. But for the price, go somewhere else. read more

Had a reservation (came early so can't say it was bc we were late) but was still made to wait 30min past the reservation time, with no acknowledgement / apology. Friends of the waiter were seated first. Food was fine but not worth the disrespect. There are much better and authentic Chinese restaurants in the city. read more

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Great atmosphere, friendly service, terrible food. I don't know how braised pork belly can come out dry, but it did. The crispy duck was also really dry, the plum sauce was amazing, but it didn't override the dryness and tastelessness of the meat itself. I did enjoy their pea shoot, it wasn't special though. A lot of pretentious presentation without any of the flavors to back it up. read more

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The food is extremely good. Lively vibes and energetic service. Food is very good -- the wine chicken, fried pumpkin with salted egg yolk, and the smoked fish were particularly delicious. Highly recommend. The pork belly is a bit too much fat, but the flavor is still good. My complaint is that, despite making reservations, I've consistently not had a table ready when I arrive. Wait times for a table to be ready are usually 20+ minutes, which defeats the whole point of making a reservation. Food remains good and I'm still returning, but build in buffer time for your meal because chances are you may not be seated at the time of your confirmed reservation. read more

This is the place where elegance of the ancient Dynasty meets the refined flavors of Shanghai cuisine. The Longjing shrimp is definitely the star of the show here. Fresh and tender with a subtle sweetness. And let's not forget about the table flamed Grilled Beef Ribs, tender and juicy with a hint of char. And for all my spice lovers out there, the Yellow Lantern Beef Over Silken Tofu will have your taste buds dancing! Each dish is a masterpiece, beautifully plated and rich in history. From the enchanting decor that whispers tales of an artistic era to modern twists on classic recipes, every moment here captivates both palate and imagination. It's no surprise they have earn the title MICHELIN-GUIDE restaurant for three consecutive rows, BIB GOURMAND 2024 and one of 100 Best Restaurants in NYC! read more

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Finally got to try this place after having been on my saved list for quite some time! Love the atmosphere and decor. Came w a friend a tried the salted egg yolk pumpkin, the longjing shrimp, steamed egg w crab and the boleto mushroom rice. All were fantastic, and so much food. Each portion was decently sized. It was just the two of us, but we had plenty of food, probably enough to feed 4! Food was authentic and true to taste, while still being unique and elevated. Environment is fabulous. Had a great time read more

Made reservations for 2 on a Saturday for an early dinner and the place had a few tables eating already. Me and my date got the braised pork belly, which I really enjoyed since I do prefer eating fattier meats. I would recommend ordering a side of rice, just because the flavors can get overwhelming and rice will mellow it out a bit. We also got the sweet and sour tenderloin which was also really flavorful. Both dishes were larger than we expected, and had to take the food home. The pictures make it seem as if the dishes are small, but they have depth! The soup dumplings are on the smaller side, so if you come hungry, I'd recommend getting two orders. The milk tea with white wine was also extremely enjoyable, had a distinct flavor that I really liked. read more

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Cheli is a phenomenal restaurant. We didn't have a reservation but we were seated within a couple minutes right when we arrived. Our waitress and staff were so helpful. Each food dish arrived one after another. Food was amazing. The ambiance felt like we were in China. I would definitely come again to try the other dishes. read more

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I absolutely loved this spot! The food was so delicious, ambiance is great, and service was so friendly and efficient. We made a reservation ahead of time for 3 so we were able to get seated quickly. They have some pickled veggies as an appetizer when you sit down. We got quite a few dishes: yang zhou meat ball, the che li "squirrel" fish, qianlong's favorite eel, chinese crispy lava, and green beans. We also ended up getting the osmanthus rice cakes complimentary because they accidentally brought out the fish with pine nuts after we specified that there was a nut allergy. This was super generous of them, and our waitress spotted the error for us immediately. Out of all the dishes, the fish and green beans were my favorite! The fish was so crispy and the sauce that coated it was delicious. The green beans had such a savory yummy flavor. I also really enjoyed the chinese crispy lava for dessert which had a mochi texture and salted egg yolk flavor filling. All the food was fantastic though, and I was so pleased! Definitely recommend this spot for some delicious Chinese food, It's right next to the infamous Szechuan Mountain House, and there's also Mango Mango right next door for dessert too :) read more

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Beautiful interior. Overall ambiance is just lovely. Service is curt, not the nicest, and on the slow side. Everything was good but nothing memorable. We were a large group ordered quite a sampling of the menu and I'd say across the board it's hard to order something bad here. read more

Came here after being put on the waiting list for the place next door. The atmosphere was similar so we figured we'd give it shot. We were immediately seated and felt like I was transported across the world. We ordered a few veggie plates to try including the fried pumpkin and steam bun, the latter of which surprised us. It was a show of sorts - the server cut it into a few slices and we expected it to have a filling but it was just that - a humongous steamed bun. We were prepared with our cameras but it was rather anticlimactic. Nothing stood out but perhaps it was the dishes we selected. Would recommend for the ambiance alone. read more

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I might have ordered the wrong things but everything here threw me off. The rice cakes were not what I was expecting (one of my most shocking orders I've received), and the other dishes were okay. Good service though and it's well decorated! I would come back and try other menu items as all my friends do like this place. read more

Cheli - Fried rice cakes w. shredded pork & geechoi - Shanghainese Near Me - New York, New York

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Beautiful restaurant. I brought my parents and boyfriend for labor day and we absolutely loved it. Our server KK was so sweet and helpful! Our favorite dishes were the pepper and mushroom rice and eggplant! read more

Cheli - pepper and mushroom rice - Shanghainese Near Me - New York, New York

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Cheli is definitely one of my favorite Chinese spots in the city. Most of their menu is solid but a few standouts: Mapo tofu- I'm not normally a mapo tofu guy, but theirs is probably the best in the city Desert lamb ribs- melt-in-your-mouth tender, super unctuously rich. I hope they make it a permanent fixture on the menu as it's currently only seasonal. Red-braised pork- solid take on a classic. Pork intestine and chicken- delightfully-spiced, with great contrast between the rich intestines and leaner chicken. White pepper beef with soft tofu- I haven't seen this dish elsewhere but I love it. Great comforting dish especially in the colder months. The interior and atmosphere are super nice. It is popular so try to book in advance when possible! Pro-tip: Mango Mango is right next store, so you know what to do for dessert :) read more

Great place for a double date, they had a good variety of dishes. Appetizers are on the smaller side, entrees are decently portion - we ordered soup dumplings and braised pork as appetizer. For the main, fish soup and pork rice cake - dishes on the pricier side but good nonetheless. The ambiance is nice and ancient Asian wooden style, waiters were friendly speaks mandarin and English. read more

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Pork belly and tofu were really solid. also really enjoyed the texture of the rice cakes. i was a bit surprised but the eggplant because it's described to be with a garlic sauce but it ended up being quite sweet which i personally don't really enjoy. wouldn't have ordered it if i had known. read more

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Authentic and high standard Shanghainese fare. Specially enjoyed the freshly cut eels in oil with the right amount of water bamboo (茭白). The rice cake with shepherd's purse (荠菜) was also Shanghainese standard. The lions head was ok, and the drunken chicken's rice wine sauce was sweet and favorable, unfortunately the meat was a little on the tough side. Also loved the Shuchow opera induced ambiance. read more

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Loved the ambiance and decor but the food wasn't anything spectacular or memorable. Got the wine soaked chicken, smoked fish, braised pork, beef and tofu with green peppercorn, and the uni rice. I was disappointed in the chicken - yes it was juicy but it was bland and I'm probably not accustomed to the rubbery skin but I really didn't like it. The braised fish and pork were good. The pork was my favorite dish. The beef dish was interesting because of the green peppercorn, but the beef itself was rubbery. I'd say everything was hit or miss and nothing really stood out, especially because it was on the pricier side. read more

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They serve traditional Chinese food and while the dishes are well-prepared, it is on the pricier side given the smaller portions. Out of all the dishes, I would recommend their crispy smoked fish and the red braised pork. The dish I wouldn't recommend is the Shanghai stir fried noodles The staff are efficient and dishes come out quite fast. The layout of the restaurant is also really nice with a dark interior reminiscent of a night market. read more

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Tucked away on St. Marks Place, this hidden gem is an absolute must-visit. We ordered 12 dishes (yes, twelve!) and every single one was fantastic. My personal favorites? The Kung Pao Chicken and Truffle Dumplings--perfection on a plate. The cozy seating is perfect for bigger groups, making it an ideal spot for celebrations. We went for a friend's birthday and couldn't have had a better time. The service was attentive and friendly, which only added to the experience. The best part? The meal was reasonably priced, especially since we shared everything. Sharing is always my go-to for Asian cuisine--it's the easiest way to sample a little bit of everything, and here, everything was worth tasting. I'm already looking forward to the next visit! read more

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This place gets a 5 star from me because of the Fried Pumpkin Cube W. Salted Duck Egg yolk!! my goodness I could've just came for this dish and left happy. I would skip the crispy duck, but honestly everything else was amazing, I loved the braised rice and braised pork belly too. Cute for a date night or dinner with friends!! The interior design is also super flattering. 10/10 would come back! read more

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We ordered catered food for $1300. $1000 for the food, $150 delivery fee and $100 for tax. We catered for 35 people but had much left over. It could be our guests were small eaters or the manager can't count very well.... :) It included large trays of Shrimp, 9/10 awesome deep fried pork, 9/10 awesome 3 pepper chicken, 8/10 very nice and Fried Rice 10/10 perfect and unique Small trays of rice cakes, 8/10 very well done china town style but a greenish sauce, moonlit Veggies, 9/10 green beans, 10/10 delicious and Xiao lim Bao. 9/10 Clark the manager added some really great chilly oil and silver ware. Clark drove the food to our location perfectly on time and was kind and responsive to all of our questions and demands such as gluten free. The food was considered by our guest to be very high level and some dishes the best they had. The shrimp with shells were perfect - tasted clean with the shell on, no refrigerator taste. Deep fried pork was also very unique and beautifully done. The spiciness in all of the dishes was perfect: tasty and met the needs of all types of eaters. Every dish looked like a new creation - except for the Bao. read more

Came here for Mother's Day and had a great time! The server seemed pretty eager to take our order immediately (not a bad thing), we just needed some time to settle in first because we traveled for an hour to get to this location. The timing was a little weird because when we were ready to order, they weren't available hahaha. Food was delicious, but I found that the eel was a little too sweet for my taste, and seemed to just be fried eel skin, with not much meat. Favorites were the wine soaked chicken, which was demolished, and the braised pork belly, which was sooooooo good, but also a smidge too sweet as well. We didn't realize that it was placed on a bed of quail eggs as well, which quickly disappeared because they tasted lighter than the braised pork belly. The braised pork belly was so tender, soft, and fatty I could only eat one! It was very heavy. We wanted pea shoots for our veg dish but they didn't have pea shoots available :( Loved the ambiance, beautiful space, and would 100% come back to try their other dishes. read more

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All the dishes done really well. The entrees are where they really shine. My favorite was braised pork belly with quail eggs. read more

Cheli - Shanghainese Near Me - New York, New York

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We came here on new years eve and it was pretty good. I feel like there's a lot of fancy Chinese restaurants like this these days so I can't say it was a standout compared to the rest but all the dishes we got were good. We got 3 dishes and I would say the praised pork belly was the best. The pork belly was so soft and tender and they gave a lot of quail eggs under too which helped justify the price of the dish. The other 2 dishes we got were too good. Flavorful enough and the chicken was a good palette cleanser in between as it was a cold dish. The eggplants were very soft and the sauce had a very slight kick but my friend said it wasn't spicy at all for her so I guess it depends on the person. The service wasn't like the best. Everyone was really nice but we kept having to ask for water refill even though the place wasn't busy. If I'm in the area and want some fancy Chinese food I might come again just to try some other dishes too. read more

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# Overall: Definitely can recommend giving Cheli a try. Uni tofu stew and Hunan beef are my recommendations. There is an extensive menu that I intend on exploring more the next time I come back! # Ambiance Cheli's Manhattan location is right smack in the middle of all the action of St Mark's place. From the hustle and bustle of the Lower East Side, you're greeted by a completely different atmosphere when you step foot inside. Everything including the lighting and decor attempts to bring you into a different time period. There's even a mist machine that subtly provides an air of mystery. # Food and Drink Crab Roe Soup Dumplings (Crab Meat Pork Soup Dumplings) The soup dumplings here are exactly what you would expect when you want soup dumplings. You're provided a small pair of tongs for an extra touch of delicacy to not prematurely puncture the dumpling. The ginger infused vinegar brings the flavors together. Uni Tofu Stew Everytime I've visited Cheli, I've ordered the uni tofu stew. The stew just pairs perfectly with some rice. The dish is able to highlight the seafood's inherent sweetness. Braised Pork (Che Li's Pork Belly) The braised pork belly was very flavorful and paired nicely with rice. However, some pieces felt a bit dry or tough. I'm also not the biggest fan of quail eggs. Osmanthus Rice Cakes This was an interesting dessert option especially when not looking for something cavity inducingly sweet. Ultimately it is a rice cake with some osmanthus syrup, so a more light and delicate flavor. Others had before: Black Truffle Pork Soup Dumplings The crab roe soup dumplings would probably be a better choice unless you're really looking for that subtle hint of truffle. Hunan Stir Fried Spicy Beef Didn't get this dish on this visit, but definitely can recommend for its flavor. Tender beef with a punch of flavor. read more

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Came here on a Friday night as a party of three. We called ahead of time to ask them to put us on the waitlist and after we got there, waited maybe 30-40 mins. Would definitely recommend making a reservation, as it was pretty busy when we went. The place is nicely decorated and really vibey, and the service was excellent. We got the wine-soaked chicken, soup dumplings, sixi wheat gluten, braised pork belly, and osmanthus rice cakes. My favorites were the wine-soaked chicken and the sixi wheat gluten. The wine-soaked chicken wasn't fatty at all and the sauce was delicious. The sixi wheat gluten absorbed the sauce really well and had this sweet and savory taste. I also enjoyed the soup dumplings a lot - the skin wasn't too thick and the juice inside was quite delicious. The braised pork belly was highly recommended by a lot of people on yelp, but I thought it was not tender enough. The osmanthus rice cakes were yummy too - very floral tasting. I do wish portion sizes were larger, but I would definitely come back and try some of their other dishes. read more

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Loved my experience in Flushing, so ofc I had to visit the Manhattan location! Came with a larger group this time, so we got to try a ton of dishes. Sautéed crab with duck egg yolk -- huge $75 dish that was definitely the star of the show. Highly recommend if you have enough people to split it! The crab is so flavorful and the tofu is soft and comforting. Fried pumpkin -- light and crispy, not too heavy but still flavorful Fried sticky rice pancakes -- texture of this was amazing. There is a chewiness from the mochi flour, and the peanuts at a sweet crunch Moonlight -- veggies were cooked perfectly and not too greasy Porkbelly -- so tender and flavorful Definitely will be back to try some of their other menu items I haven't had yet! read more

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Cheli is surprisingly good. The menu is pretty extensive, but the wait staff made solid recommendations. Would come again.

Came on a fairly busy Friday night for dinner but didn't feel rushed at all by the staff; all the servers we encountered were super kind, patient, and welcoming. We ordered the braised pork belly, hunan spiced beef, pork and veggie fried rice, and mapo tofu, all of which was really good (but the braised pork belly was the resounding favorite of the table). Each dish felt carefully curated and made. Ambiance was great; lively with unique Chinese decor all around (we were seated in an elevated little hut!) Would definitely return :) read more