This is my favorite local spot to visit when i'm craving soup dumplings. I love their scallop…read moreversion and when it comes out piping hot especially. I prefer a thin skin soup dumpling and this did not disappoint. Liu Shanghai is also very affordable and my wallet was happy. There's a decent amount of seats but there might be a wait when it's dinner time. The food here really warms the heart because it's a family owned business!

RATING - 3.5/5 - Cozy spot that can get busy with neighborhood folks. They're mainly walk in,…read moreunless you have a party of 7+, then you get their bigger round table in the back. We were a party of 6 on Father's Day weekend and waited ~10 min for a table. What we got: - Pork Soup Dumplings: 7/10 - the skin was a bit thicker than I'd like, but the taste was there. I loved that we all got individual vinegar ginger dips - Crab + Pork Soup Dumplings: 9/10 - better than the Pork! The skin wasn't as thick for our batch - Scallop Soup Dumplings: 7/10 - not a huge fan of the flavor, but I like that they don't skimp on the scallop! - Shanghai Lo Mein & Shanghai Style Rice Cake: 7/10 - they could've had more wok fry, but good flavor - Fried Wonton in Peanut + Hot Sauce: 8/10 - I really enjoyed this dish! It's not very spicy + topped with a crushed peanut/sugar flavor - so good! - Braised Pork Belly: 8/10 - pretty heavy, unless you eat it with the bao buns. Very flavorful, and may go good with a bowl of rice as well! - Scallion Pancake & String Beans: 9/10 - standard + yummy! Overall, it was a good place for a meal, but I personally had better soup dumplings elsewhere. Otherwise, everything else is alright!

Food was very tasty and flavorful. I had the basil chicken ho fun with a little spice. The price…read morewas reasonable. And the portion was enough for 2 pp. Service was great. It was quick. The lady worker was both friendly & pleasant to talk to.

I've been here a few times before and had ordered their House Special Ma Ma noodle soup. They were…read moreable to make it nonspicy for me which I appreciated. I remember it being really good. I liked all the toppings that it came with! This time I ordered the wonton and dumpling noodle soup. It came with 3 wonton, 2 dumplings, and some bok choy. Not sure if it was because I did takeout and my noodle soup was overcooking in its container, but the dumpling skin was mushy and falling apart from the meaty party of the dumpling, and the bok choy was also a dull green color. Either it was overcooked or old bok choy. They tasted fine, except maybe one was a bit bitter. I was also expecting egg noodle, but it came default udon noodles (you can ask them to change noodles, I just didn't ask). The broth wasn't flavorful either. Although this dish was a miss, I would come back for their other dishes!! Cash only establishment, or you can zelle them.

My family and I were nearby for an event and stumbled upon this restaurant for dinner. Little did…read morewe know, this was the viral restaurant that makes the tiny dumplings! We were skeptical about this restaurant but it exceeded our expectations and we can't wait to return! We came on a weekend for dinner so it was busy! We were able to snag a table and seeing how busy this place was, we knew it was going to be good! We had the pork XLB, chicken feet, pork & vegetable wontons with spicy peanut sauce, noodles with scallion and peanut butter sauce, beef lo mein and the beef ribs. Everything was delicious! The highlights of our meal were the pork XLB and the beef ribs. The pork XLB were made fresh to order and they were flavorful and juicy! Definitely on my list of best XLB I have ever had. The beef ribs were also delicious! They torched it table side which definitely added a nice touch! Considering how busy they were, the service was immaculate. They were also very attentive to details since we had a kid with allergies. We will definitely be coming back soon. This place is also right next to the Court Street train station which makes it very convenient to get to!

Excellent soup dumplings. Juicy soup and good portion size…read more Fried dumplings were not that good. It felt like they were just unfrozen and the skin was extremely hard. Very solid seaweed and also the cucumber salad. Scallion pancakes were thin and could have been more crispy. Overall very satisfied with the soup dumplings. Would go again.

Every time we come to NY this is definitely a must go to place. The food is amazing the service is…read moregreat as well. It can be a bit crowded but that expected from a place this good. We travel from California to New York as a family multiple times out the year and we always make it here before we head on back home. I love the Asian style ambiance that this place has. I would definitely recommend this place to any one traveling and has a thing for Asian cuisine

Shanghai 21 in three words: Flavorful. Filling. Affordable!…read more Note: They only accept cash! We only intended to come here for a couple share plates and then bounce around to a few other places however, it was so good we ended up ordering more than originally intended and were very satisfied with our meal! As a group of 5 we all ordered a plate and shared around the table. The two favorites were the Soup Dumplings w. Pork and the General Tso's Chicken! Definitely would return for these items! The restaurant is clean, service was quick, and it's a very casual place. The food is served hot and fresh, which is something so simple yet very standout. We are from the West Coast and this was easily some of the best Chinese Food we've ever had. If you're looking for a warm, delicious, and affordable meal this is your spot!

Okay soooo...I totally understand why Mr Bao ends up with some pretty average reviews. This is not…read morea place where I would tell you to walk in blind, point at the menu, and expect magic. Some things are definitely better than others. BUT - after going a few times, I really think this place is a case of learning the menu and playing to its strengths. Once you know whats worth it and whats just ok, you can put together a genuinely great meal here. This time around, the star of the show was the Chef's Choice jiaozi which gives you one of each dumpling they offer. That was a GREAT move. They were colorful, satisfying, and even better with a side of the spicy chili sauce which I highly recommend adding. I also want to give credit where it's due: the soup dumplings here are delicious, and I have also really enjoyed the fried rice and the spicy noodle dishes on past visits. So yeah, I get the mixed reputation....But I think Mr Bao is one of those spots that rewards a little menu knowledge. Order smart, skip the mid stuff, and there is a very solid meal waiting for you.

Love this place but only quibble is that it's a bit pricey so we can't order very often being on a…read moreBrooklyn budget! Would eat there way more if the price wasn't so high. $16 for plain noodles is rather steep. Food is delicious tho

Came in late in the evening on a Thursday while it was quite busy, but my party of 2 was seated in…read moreabout 10 mins. Service is super efficient, to order food you use a tablet at the table and order drinks from the servers. The dining room is beautiful and kind of peaceful. I saw quite a few large parties so this spot seems good for groups. We started with the truffle pork soup dumplings which might be the best I've ever had. The soup was the perfect temperature and so so flavorful. I would come back just for the dumplings. The mapo tofu and sauteed green beans came next, and we ordered two sides of plain white rice which came in a generously sized bowl. Portion sizes are large here, we had plenty of leftovers. We went for more familiar dishes, which were so well done, but all the different dishes flying through the dining room looked incredible. Will definitely be coming back to explore the rest of the menu.

Service is fast and reliable - you order from an iPad and the dishes come out. The space is a bit…read moretight, but typical for Manhattan. The inside is decorated very nicely. - Salted Ham Mixed Rice, (5/5): it was nice and savory, slightly salty, and it also had like little bits of pork fat in it and it was sooo flavorful. And the crackly bits of rice were so good - Qianlong's Favorite Eel, (3/5): the sauce was a bit too sweet for my liking, and the eel meat was a bit rubbery. I can see this being a fave if you like sweeter savory dishes - Grilled Beef Rib and Peppers, (4/5): the meat is soooo tender, and falls off the bone. It's very black pepper forward, and you can tell the entire dish is coated with cornstarch given the thick sauce. it was again, a bit on the sweeter side for me, but other than that it can be enjoyed by those who don't do well with spice - Ginger & Chili Frog, (4.5/5): lots of pieces of frog, and it wasn't spicy at first but it builds. You can really see and taste the ginger chunks- it is definitely very ginger forward with several different pao cai chillies (very sour, pungent, and spicy!) - Che Li's Pork Belly, (3/5): I'm personally not a big fan of pork belly, but my friend loves this! I see a lot of people order this, so don't take my word for it, try it yourself! - Sautéed Water Spinach, (3/5): pretty standard, tasted fresh, not much seasoning - Spicy Hunan Beef, (4/5): a very hot dry spice that goes well with rice. The beef texture was inconsistent, which knocked down some points Overall, I enjoyed my experience here and I would come again.

Amazing spread of cheap eats, the soup dumplings were juicy and filled. Service was really quick…read moreand attentive. Honestly couldn't complain as all the food was great for the price. Ambiance can get pretty busy during lunch hour but other than that not too hectic. Love this spot for a good cheap dumpling vibe.

I liked the pan fried buns but my bf wasn't a fan of the flavor. I thought the soup dumplings were…read morea but bland but my bf liked them so really depends on your preference. Since this is the express version, you use the kiosk to order and they bring food to your table and you busk your own table when you're done. I like that even though its express, the soup dumplings still come out in steamer baskets. Not much to say about ambiance but they had decorated for Christmas with a tree so I could see that they still put in effort in the express location

I always come to this restaurant. They are so budget friendly and healthy. Low to no oil, low…read moresodium but absolutely delicious in every dish. Quantity is quite light but very satisfying and filling to hit the spot whether ver hungry or just a snack, this always worked for me. This is one of the most soothing, low priced, and balanced healthy but absolutely delicious meal. I like the sit down area is always clean and enough space. There is no time limit but I definitely would try to be respectful to not hog the seat too long. This is a pay first and choose your seat later.

Affordable restaurant with a speciality of duck noodles. Not something I really enjoy but they also…read morehave other noodles, dumplings, wontons, Xiao Long Bao. There is a ground floor and a lower level for seating so usually there is no wait. I like their how they have a few combo selections which is kid friendly. They have cups on the side and sauce trays so it's easy to split the food. This is self service so no tip is required.

Excellent food! My order genuinely made me so happy. The flavors felt like something that arrived…read morestraight from Chinatown, and it was incredibly nostalgic for me. Growing up, we had pan fried noodles all the time. They're harder to find now, and when I do find them, they're often disappointing. Not here. The shrimp pan fried noodles were excellent. Perfectly done and full of flavor. The crab & pork soup dumplings were delicious, and the fish cake & fish ball noodle soup totally hit the spot. Portions are generous! I had enough for lunch and dinner the next day, which is always a win. I've passed this place so many times and I'm so glad I finally gave them a try. I'll definitely be back to explore more of the menu. Also, I have to mention the packaging. Some of the best I've ever seen for delivery. Each soup dumpling came in its own separate plastic cup (if you've ordered these before, you know how easily they can arrive broken with soup everywhere). The pan fried noodle broth was sealed and packed separately from the noodles, and the soup was packaged thoughtfully as well. Everything arrived intact and fresh. Highly recommend!

This place used to be good.... Now it's just below average…read morecrap! Tasteless noodles, and beef stew. This is mid day I ordered. If you want nice Hong Kong Cantonese food go to Chun Hong Kong Cafe....

I teach for a mahjong organization called Dragon's Den that regularly hosts their mahjong nights…read morehere + it's SUCH a vibeee!! the back area is perfect for hosting + would be my go to seating choice year round. food is a crowd pleaser too + has a slightly more authentic touch to your typical chinese takeout dishes. - general tso's chicken: always a hit. always the first thing to go, - long dumplings: super juicy + good filling to wrapper ratio - veggie/egg fried rice: not much wok flavor - many mushrooms noodles: good. ratio just a little off-balanced

This place is a certified sleeper! Very unassuming Chinese food spot. I loved the low mood…read morelighting, play list was exceptional, and the service was attentive. The food is why we are all here and this place did not miss! We sat at the bar because we didn't have a reservation and it was a Sunday night. We were told the specials for the night with great detail, we snagged one of the last soup dumplings and they are incredible. The only other place I've had soup dumplings as good is in flushing - that's high praise from this queens girl. Next up we ordered the scallion pancakes - which ruined all other scallion pancakes for me. They were ultra crispy and flaky. The dipping sauce was deeply flavorful and the portion was perfect. We also ordered the chicken wantons that came in a chili crisp oil and peanut sauce, delicious. The pork noodles were the secret star because the description was pretty straight forward. But my partner is a chef and insisted we get them. They were some of the best noodles I've ever had. Definitely made in house and they were coated in a flavorful sauce. The crispy garlic chicken was so good that I had to take it to go because we were stuffed, still amazing the next day. The bartender with the cool tattoos that gave me extra coconut candies, you are truly amazing and really made us feel well taken care of. Can't wait to come back and try mo