Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Shanghai Bistro

    4.0 (197 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Shanghai Bistro Takeout or Delivery

    Shanghai Bistro Photos

    Business Info

    SHANGHAI BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    More like Shanghai Bistro

    Recommended Reviews - Shanghai Bistro

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Sue H.

    I was craving flavorful, spicy Chinese food, and a friend recommended this place. The service was average, but the food was really good and delivered on the spice. The garlic cabbage dish was a standout-- super tasty. Overall, a solid spot, and I'll definitely be back to try more dishes.

    Snails
    Michael T.

    Coming in Sichuan hot with this one! Visit one was so good, I had to come back and this time with friends who know even more than I do about the cuisine! In case you're not aware, though the name of this restaurant references a specific city in northern China and the menu has dishes from across the country, their specialty is the spicy and numbing cuisine of the Sichuan region. If you've never had this before, when you see dishes listed as spicy, they may be very different from what you're thinking. It's certainly can be a polarizing experience, with many loving this flavor and many not into it at all, but the broad menu makes this a great call for everyone. Now I love dining with others who are familiar because it lets you explore the menu through their eyes and enjoy selections made by others with taste diverse from yours. My friend picked several dishes I would've never noticed or ordered blindly this time, and I'm so happy about that. We enjoyed the cold Woodear or black fungus in chili oil, classic snow pea tips with garlic, as well as the quintessential Sichuan cumin lamb, but the other three dishes we had were 100% new to me. Those included Sichuan snails (unshelled in an oily spicy stir fry), scallops with garlic and vermicelli, and crispy spicy intestines. The snails were a win. These are small and somewhat chewy morsels that get wok fried with fried chili, chili oil, peppers and onions. The texture is similar to sautéed calamari, but a bit firmer, and the sauce coats everything with that signature numbing heat. The scallops were the big miss. This dish typically comes in the half shell with fresh scallops, but here they're using a lower quality scallop (likely frozen) and a lot of pre-minced garlic (like you'd find in a jar). It looks impressive but the scallops had absolutely not flavor and the texture was rubbery too. Skip this one for sure. The intestines were the surprise. I've had fried intestines and they crunch like a chip and have no distinct flavor that lets you know what you're eating. These were sliced on the bias and wok tossed until super crispy on the outside with a delicately chewy interior. The sauce really amplified the flavor and this all made for a great bite within the whole meal. All in all, this is a home run. If you haven't been, I urge you to check it out, as it's one of the best authentic Chinese restaurants around.

    Won ton soup
    William C.

    The quality service and down-to-earth decor screams local business which I love. However I do think the food photos on the wall is a bit much and distracting. The alcohol selection is limited even though you are greeted by an abandoned bar as you enter. The wonton soup is good but the flavor is very subtle. Salt-n-Pepper pork chop is thin cut, dry and a bit chewy. The honey walnut shrimp is fantastic! And the House Pan Fried Noodles dish is very good. This store seems to have a steady stream of customers with a loyal following and I know I'll be back again.

    Mongolian Beef
    Melissa M.

    Overall a solid Chinese food place in Reno. So happy to have found it! We were greeted immediately upon arrival, sat down and asked what we would like to drink, we had some nice hot tea. Very low key, chill place. Would return again to try many other dishes!

    Steph C.

    Small locally owned and operated Chinese restaurant in a strip mall. Lots of parking with ADA access. Not a fan of the walls covered in photos of the dishes, especially since most don't have a name or description. Service was very good and attentive. They Our party of 6 had a number of dishes off the menu, Food served fast and fresh. My favorite is the House Pan Fried Chow Mein. Lots of vegetables and variety of proteins with a tasty stir fry that tops a dry pan fried noodle.

    Menu
    Kevin L.

    Walked in for dinner, the ambiance is nice and casual, I was greeted by friendly waitress the service was quick, as I came in to order for take out. The food is amazing, I ordered beef chow fun. The chow fun was well balanced. Good texture, but too salty. Just right. The beef is good, not chewy. Well be recommended this place to family and friends. The restaurant is located behind black bear diner and next to a gym, and nutrition protein bar.

    Weekday Lunch Special
    Myrna S.

    My sister, her family and I headed to Shanghai Bistro for lunch. When we arrived at the restaurant, they had just opened for lunch service, so the restaurant was still empty but a few moments after our 5-person party was seated at a corner table, more customers started to arrive. The proprietress greeted each and every customer warmly as they walked through the door. It didn't take long for us to decide what to order (we're creatures of habit, we go with sure bets); so we ordered the same dishes from our last visit: the salt-and-pepper (fried) chicken wings, the potstickers, and the salt-and-pepper calamari appetizers. For our entrees we ordered the house fried rice, the honey garlic chicken, and the honey walnut shrimp. Our wait was very minimal, all the appetizers arrived at table almost immediately, followed soon after by the main dishes. The food was well-seasoned and expertly prepared similarly to our last visit (consistency is good), everything tasted delicious and we nearly finished all the food this time. The service was polite, friendly and attentive. After our meal, the proprietress graciously thanked us for our patronage-- that's always cool and we thanked them in return for the wonderful service and the great food. Once again, we left extremely satisfied and with full happy bellies; I look forward to our next visit.

    Salted Egg Tofu
    Manabu S.

    I unlocked a new favorite Chinese dish here. The salted egg tofu was absolutely mind blowing and easily the highlight of the meal. Their other dishes were also really good, including the chow fun, salt and pepper chicken wings, and the spicy wonton. Everything was flavorful and satisfying. Service is typical at a Chinese restaurant. I would definitely come back if I'm ever in Reno again.

    New business owner take over
    Simon I.

    New owner and new menu and service, not bad! Not only Shanghai style dishes, more choices! Must tried their spicy dishes! They have a bar and TV ti watch live games!

    Dry Fried Pork Intestines
    Shaun A.

    What an absolute gem in Reno. Easily the best, authentic Chinese food I've had in Northern Nevada, possibly ever. Tucked away in the back of an unassuming shopping mall is Chinese cuisine well worth making a trip for. I was immediately greeted when I entered, and started with some hot tea. I ended up ordering Garlic Cucumbers and Dry Stir Fried Pork Intestines. The cucumbers were light and refreshing with a punch of garlic. The intestines came out crispy and piled high with red fried chilis and szechuan peppercorns. I am a huge spice nut and this absolutely hit the spot! (If you have a low spice tolerance you may want to ask for less spicy as the server did not ask how spicy I wanted it). The cucumbers were the perfect accompaniment to balance the heat and numbing from the chilis. When I first looked at the menu, I thought the prices were a bit high. After seeing the enormous portion sizes, it all made perfect sense. There was easily enough for 2 full meals for me (245lb, 6ft3in man with an appetite). The portions are clearly designed to be shared. On that point they also feature traditional Chinese style banquet seating with the lazy suzan in the middle for family style eating. All told I was extremely impressed with the food quality, service, portion sizes and ambiance. I will absolutely be adding Shanghai Bistro to my regular rotation!

    Orange chicken, after we serve ourselves.
    Kay H.

    Excellent food. Nice decor. Extra large servings. The waitresses spoke very little English Everyone else in there was Asian. Our meal was superb. We would definitely go back.

    Dry Beef Chow Fun
    Kirby D.

    Update : we went back for lunch. It was AMAZING. Had the Combination Fried Rice, Dry Beef Chow Fun and Salt & Pepper Pork Ribs. Everything was delicious. Here is how our first time at Shanghai Bistro went. My sister-in-law is Taiwanese and wanted some authentic Chinese. After a quick search on Yelp, we stumbled upon Shanghai Bistro. The restaurant is quite large with a good amount of seating. Our service this evening was by the owners, our server for the evening and her husband is the cook, of over 15 years. We started our meal with the Hot & Sour Soup and Egg Rolls. The Egg Rolls were "good" with lots of vegetables and a nice snap. The Hot & Sour soup was definitely hot and a bit too sour (for my taste). It was rich with tofu, bamboo shoots, mushroom and other niceties. For our mains, we ordered the Combination Meat and Tofu Clay Pot. Expecting more of a thicker gravy served over tofu and veggies, we were surprises by the soup that was delivered. Still quite flavorful and delicious, it was just different from what we expected. The star of the evening was the Garlic Green Beans with Minced Meat. O-M-G was this delicious. The Green Beans were fresh and cooked to perfection. the Beans were rich with flavor. A must order item! My sister-in-law ordered the Napa Cabbage Pork Rice Cake. A delicious order, she said that it "reminded her of home". My wife ordered the Salt and Pepper Pork Ribs. We had never had this dish served quite this way, but I must say, it was absolutely amazing. The pork was tender and full of deliciousness. My go-to dish is the Singapore Rice Noodles. Not exactly a dish from Shanghai, but the restaurant still delivered. While I would have preferred a bit more curry in my dish, overall, the Singapore Rice Noodles were a solid offering. If you are looking for a balance of authentic Chinese and a bit of Chinese adjusted for the American palette, Shanghai Bistro is your place.

    8/15/23 Lunch menu combo Chow fun - sorry, my guest dug in before I could take my picture.
    Lee D.

    Quality/Quantity - Lunch Menu Combo Chow Fun - Soy sauce/salt forward, if you like that. The beef was tender. Fresh onions. It reminds me of my childhood, but I have outgrown this type of flavor. This was suggested to us as a better deal than ordering from the regular menu. So we decided to order both to compare. Beef Chow Fun - Regular full order, the owner was correct as the lunch special was almost the same size for $3 less. Similar flavors as above, except the above was a combo. Singapore Style Rice Noodle - Our guest commented that it tasted a little "grainy?" As if the curry powder was not mixed 100%...? It also had a puddle of oil in the bottom of the dish. Decent quantity and flavor. The combo version. Atmosphere - Small family run business. Open 7 days a week from 11am to 8pm. Service - Good. Price - $48 + tip. Owner Suggestion - Congrats on your success since 2019, wishing you the best.

    Sweet and sour pork, chicken chow mein and family style tofu

    See all

    3 years ago

    Food was very traditional and tasted amazing! The service was decent and the surroundings were quite ambient.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jacques L.
    238
    13
    16

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 14
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tim N.
    68
    5
    3

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of RJ T.
    341
    13
    8

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of David C.
    152
    56
    111

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Now my favorite Asian restaurant in Reno. Good food, good service, easy parking, clean.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Delicious! Unique food for Reno with plenty of flavor and spice. Service was attentive and the portions were generous.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anna S.
    16
    47
    19

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kilo F.
    1
    83
    99

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Todd S.
    1835
    491
    327

    7 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alma F.
    246
    262
    1786

    7 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Peace L.
    293
    11
    5

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 3 of 5

    Shanghai Bistro Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Shanghai Bistro

    You might also consider

    SIU Korean BBQ

    SIU Korean BBQ

    3.8(555 reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $$$

    First time eating there and our servers Jennae and Eurie were wonderful. It was a busy night for…read morethem the only two servers. Immediately apologized for any lapse in service and it was understood. Hopefully they're your servers just elevated the entire experience will visit again. 10/10 recommend.

    We hadn't been here for several years, but since we were in the area, we decided to give them…read moreanother try. One thing we noticed right away was that the bonchon was already set on the tables before guests arrived. It wasn't a large spread--just a small tin of cheese corn and a divided tray with kimchi, bean sprouts, and fish cake--not sure how long they were left out and did look and taste dry. The servers seemed to work well together. Different team members checked on us, cleared dishes, served food, and helped other's tables. Once it got busier, they also used robot servers to help deliver food. We started with the salad with house dressing and the popcorn chicken. Both were good, and the chicken was nice and moist. For the BBQ, we ordered the Chardol, Ju Mul Luck, Hawaiian Steak, Tri-Tip Bulgogi, and Galbi (short ribs). Having eaten at quite a few Korean BBQ restaurants in Las Vegas, we noticed the portions here were a bit smaller. They also limit each round to three appetizers and four meat selections. Overall, the service was good, and we especially appreciated Eurie for being friendly and attentive. The only thing that concerned us was when another server changed our grill. Instead of lightly drizzling oil onto the grill, she forcefully squeezed the bottle, causing the oil to shoot out onto grill. It seemed like an unnecessary safety risk for both guests and employees. Our favorites were definitely the Tri-Tip Bulgogi and the Galbi. Both were flavorful and tender. The Chardol was good, but the slices were very thin and the portion felt a little small. The restaurant filled up quickly between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m., so it's clearly a popular spot. Overall, we enjoyed our meal and would come back for the Tri-Tip Bulgogi, Galbi, and the teamwork displayed by the staff.

    Photos
    SIU Korean BBQ - Hostess station

    Hostess station

    SIU Korean BBQ - Pork galbi, chardol, spicy chicken bulgogi, and small beef intestine

    Pork galbi, chardol, spicy chicken bulgogi, and small beef intestine

    SIU Korean BBQ - Can't eat alone!

    See all

    Can't eat alone!

    Kauboi Izakaya - Takoyaki waffles

    Kauboi Izakaya

    4.0(585 reviews)
    0.7 miMidtown
    $$

    Came back with some friends from Vegas and we ordered the following:…read more Ordered: - Tokyo Fried Chicken Thigh and Spicy Mayo: This is so good! It's perfectly crisp 5/5 - Hamachi and Asian Pear and Aji Amarillo: fish is fresh, pear is good, and the cubed soy sauce all work surprisingly well together 5/5 - Ten layer Pork Tonkatsu and Black garlic: I love the hint of wasabi flavor, but you don't actually feel the spiciness of it. 5/5 - Chicken Skin Skewers: very crispy and thin on the outside and soft on the inside. 5/5 - Chicken Thigh Skewers: the chicken is not dry at all and the green onions helps bring out the flavor more 5/5 - Bone Broth ramen: pork is great, but the noodles, and broth tastes like a wonton soup . The egg yolk tasted different 3/5 - Battleship: the fries are thin and crispy which I love. The cheese balls and meat are good. The curry is good and it should come with a bowl of rice 5/5 - Gyoza: it's more a dumpling, a little too acidic but the meat is very flavorful 4/5 There was no wait this time on a Friday evening. I feel like the music is still too loud, but I enjoy the environment. The staff are always attentive and quick. This was a much better experience, than the first time I came here. However, the prices are still high for the amount of food served.

    Took me long enough, but I finnaly stopped by Kauboi Izakaya…read more Walking in, I do like how this place looks. Great way to repurpose an older building in Midtown. Parking is fairly easy, with plenty of street spaces nearby, and an easy walk if you're already hanging around the neighborhood. The service was friendly and fairly prompt, and even for a weekday night the place was bustling, leading to a bit of a backup. Cool vibes all around, and it's neat to sit at the bar and watch the chefs do their thing. Though it does mean this is a little bit on the noisy side. Look at the menu, and there are tons of tempting options. As the name suggests, their specialty here is small plate off the grill or out fo the fryer. But they do serve really good-looking ramen, too, which I will make not to try next time I swing by. I at first went with a quick bite of grilled chicken thighs, which were just amazing! They were juicy, eprfectly seared, with some grilled green onions and an amazing sweet soy sauce. I also went with the yakionigiri, which are balls of rice that are grilled, brushed with sauce, and topped with a sort of mango slaw. A bit uncommon, but wow, these were also just so delicious! Also had a glass of sake, though they have a full bar should you want some other sort of beverage. Prices here are, I feel, a little on the higher end for small plates. However, I think it is definitely worth coming and trying this place out at least once or twice, just to expereince some of the good food. I'm sorry it took me so long to finally step through the doors, but I am certain I will be back again to try more of what's on the menu.

    Photos
    Kauboi Izakaya - Inside bar

    Inside bar

    Kauboi Izakaya - Yakitori skewers

    Yakitori skewers

    Kauboi Izakaya - Miso ramen

    See all

    Miso ramen

    Shanghai Bistro - chinese - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...