Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Shanghai Bun

    3.6 (478 reviews)
    ModerateTapas Bars, Chinese, Bars
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Shanghai Bun Takeout or Delivery

    Shanghai Bun Photos

    Business Info

    SHANGHAI BUN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Shanghai Bun

    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

    Vegetable Egg Drop Soup *
    Jasper H.

    The service was super friendly. The egg drop soup came out fast and was very flavorful. It came with a side of wonton chips which pair well with the sweet and sour sauce at the table. As for the Shanghai Bun and Shrimp Noodle Rolls... The Pork and Shrimp Shu Mai was hands down the stand out. Although the fish roe on the shu mai was questionable with its gel like appearance, the pork and shrimp was well seasoned. Also the pork was minced instead of ground so it has a bit more texture. As for everything else... the Shrimp Noodle Rolls, shrimp dumpling (Har Gow), shanghai pork dumpling, and shrimp & chive dumpling all looked and tasted like they got it from the freezer section at 99 Ranch Market. The noodle rolls and skin on the dumplings were thick gooey. The Shanghai pork dumpling was the most evident as the folds appeared to be machine made instead of hand made. Finally the sauce that came with the Shrimp Noodle Rolls was basically soy sauce and vinegar... it didn't have the sweetness that is expected. Overall friendly service but the most important part, the food, needs some work.

    Patio Decor
    P B.

    My husband and I went here for brunch a few weeks ago. Interior seemed a bit dark so we opted to sit out back on the patio and were seated promptly. Justin was our waiter. He was polite, personable, very attentive, and answered our questions on selections. High marks for Justin! My husband had the Shanghai Bun Deluxe Sampler and I had the Lotus Trio and we shared the Handcrafted Cream Cheese Wontons. Food was awesome, hot, and tasty! Bar area was clean and inviting. Restrooms were clean.

    Fried tofu
    Dawn B.

    Delicious meal today! We were headed up to another of our favorite spots but decided to try something new and wow am I happy we did. I will for sure be in again for the brunch. The menu item are really reasonable priced. I loved the hot mustard and the the house made dumplings sauce. I had buns, dumplings, tacos, tofu and wontons and all of it was so perfectly cooked and seasoned. Everything was so perfectly done. I also had two cocktails (Asian persuasion and Shanghai sun) and the total was only 50$

    Miko P.

    I don't normally write reviews on restaurants I don't like, but the bubble tea I ordered convinced me to write one. The taste, the texture, and everything about my Taro that I ordered was not what I would expect when ordering Taro bubble tea. Put simply, it's bland and the quality is not there. This place is probably the least likely bubble tea shop I would travel to get bubble tea. The service was great and I haven't tried the food so I cannot give a comment on their cuisines, just don't order the bubble tea. Don't.

    Hot & Sour Soup * packaged for takeout
    Leslie B.

    Growing up near Chicago, my family would go to Chinatown where we would eat in various small, independent restaurants. That was something that I always looked forward to. Since moving to San Diego, I noticed the lack of Chinese restaurants in the area. Noticing that Shanghai Bun had opened nearby, I was excited to try it. When I looked at the menu, I realized that some of it is Chinese fusion, and they specialize in various dumplings. However, I was craving some of my favorite Chinese dishes from childhood. My husband and I ordered delivery one evening to satisfy my cravings. When the food arrived it was still nice and hot. My husband had ordered some of the cream cheese wontons and I tried one. It is a simple enough dish and nothing was wrong with it, but I have never seen smaller ones before. In fact, the entire order was so small that my husband had initially though they had forgotten them, as he couldn't find them in the deliver bag. I chose the Moo Shu chicken and hot and sour soup. I don't think the soup was great, as it was a bit of a thicker consistency than I was used to. It also needed more spice. As far as the Moo Shu, the flavor and texture were good. I am not sure if they make them in-house, but the pancakes that you use to wrap the Moo Shu were the perfect consistency. All in all, this food satisfied my cravings, but was not anything too special. I would try Shanghai Bun again, but maybe try some of the fusion dumplings next time.

    Beef Noodle Soup *Shrimp Dumpling *Lotus Trio *
    Jane C.

    Ordered food from DoorDash! Glad for the app! And the food arrived in time. The food is delicious!!! Everything that I order tasted on point. The noodles, the beef broth, the lotus trio!! Beef chunks ...yummy! I will ordered from them in future or swing in for its specials dim sum .... And see how they fare~~~!!

    Hot and Hot & Sour Soup *
    Kristina L.

    This place is so good. I would highly recommend. I appreciate the vegan options so much. This is definitely a go to place for Chinese food. We like sitting outside and they turned the heater on for us! =] HUGE PORTIONS TOO. I thought I took more pictures but I guess not. Haha.

    Shrimp hargow

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Roch B.
    147
    415
    1617

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Owner was pressing about me for just using the bathroom when there's literally no public restrooms in the area.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of P B.
    0
    8
    38

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    The Hot and Sour Soup is delicious. Service is great. Happy to have found Shanghai Bun, and am excited to try more from the menu!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dawn B.
    774
    376
    3666

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Miko P.
    37
    51
    27

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Regular here. Whoever was cooking tonight deserves a raise! Food done right thank you

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Fantastic service and delicious food. Sat on the back patio. Nice, clean and friendly. I would revisit.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Great Chinese takeout! Quick and professional. Enjoyed the food and will be back. Inside looked nice for dinner.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 19
    Thanks 3
    Love this 14
    Oh no 5

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Great place for tapas. Good food well .awesome workers who are super kind. Would def go again

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Arlene P.
    2543
    1658
    9430

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    The food is amazing but the real star is Sandy! She is amazing! From start to finish she made our experience amazing.

    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 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of El Dragon M.
    0
    128
    1423

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Val D.
    0
    13
    3

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Amber H.
    252
    31
    9

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nell C.
    317
    819
    2158

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Lin P.
    0
    23
    6

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 12

    Shanghai Bun Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Shanghai Bun

    Do they still have the all you can eat dim sum on the weekends?

    Do they have outdoor seating?

    They have a patio.

    How much is the brunch special? Is there an option without mimosas for less?

    $30 per person. I don't see an option for those over 10 years old that is cheaper on the menu.

    Does anyone know the 25% Chinese Tapas on Tuesday would apply for the take out too? I am afraid I don't have enough time to eat lunch in the restaurant.

    Only in restaurant

    View All 6 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Tapas Bars 2,189 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Shan Xi Magic Kitchen - 10. Biang-Biang Spicy Hand Ripped Noodles

    Shan Xi Magic Kitchen

    4.2(2.3k reviews)
    8.1 miKearny Mesa
    $$

    Located in the same Convoy plaza as Yun Tea House, the parking here is absolutely horrible, and we…read morehad to wait about 10 minutes to be seated--but the food easily earns 5 stars! They have a super easy online ordering system right at the table which makes things convenient. We ordered the spicy lamb biang biang noodles and the non-spicy beef pulled noodles, and both had the perfect chew and incredible flavor. We also ordered the garlic green beans, but they came out so late that we were already completely full from the noodles, so we took them to go. Thank god we did, because they turned out to be pretty salty on their own and really needed to be paired with white rice at home. Overall, an amazing spot for authentic noodles! Absolutely love this place and will be back.

    An incredible gem or an absolute flop -- depends heavily on what you decide to order. Luckily, I…read morearrived with a group of 7 so we all had the opportunity to find out the easy way. Beef noodle soup - excellent flavor overall, including a strong broth and a nice, soft texture to the noodles. Out of the countless Chinese restaurants I've visited for beef noodle soup, this makes its way into the top three. 5/5 Lamb skewers - wayyyyy too dry. This is certainly not their specialty, and asking for extra cumin to sprinkle on the lamb did not redeem the firmness. I struggled to slide the meat off the skewer and ended up just eating it while still on the stick. 1.5/5 Fish fillet - so good. Easy to eat texture-wise. Caution -- a bit saltier than it looks. The bell peppers in particular were seasoned spectacularly. 4.5/5 Dry fried green beans - a delicious option for vegetables to add to the table. Most people will enjoy this one in my opinion. A bit more crunch than I expected, which is not a bad thing. 4/5 Double cooked pork - I've never seen it cooked this way, and am not a fan. I'm used to a more oily version of this dish. It contained a bunch of dried and crunchy... yams? Potatoes? Overall, the dish was mainly crunch with no flavor, and contained a relatively small amount of pork. 1/5

    Photos
    Shan Xi Magic Kitchen - Inside

    Inside

    Shan Xi Magic Kitchen - 93. Lamb Skewers

    93. Lamb Skewers

    Shan Xi Magic Kitchen - 79. Ma Po Tofu

    See all

    79. Ma Po Tofu

    Fortunate Son

    Fortunate Son

    3.8(1.5k reviews)
    6.6 miUniversity Heights, North Park
    $$

    I had my doubts. CH is known for being all vibes, no taste, but Fortunate Son may actually be one…read moreof their restaurants that is getting it right! The food here is really good! My husband and I couldn't narrow down our favorites so we ordered more than we needed! We got the crab rangoons, fried rice, orange chicken, honey walnut shrimp and green beans. Everything was delicious! You can never go wrong starting with crab rangoons. The fried rice was really tasty and well seasoned. The orange chicken had that real orange glaze (not overly sweet). Our stand outs were the honey walnut shrimp and the green beans. Both were crisp and cooked so fresh! We had plenty to go after because they did provide some nice sized portions! The restaurant itself is very vibey and over the top, as to be expected, but way smaller than I expected. Definitely make a reservation. They have a limited drink menu with a few non alcoholic options and 3 beers. Glad I finally got to try this place and that I was so pleasantly surprised by the food!

    I have heard mixed reviews about this place, so I finally got to experience it myself. The place…read morewas quite small, but the overall aesthetic of the place was clean and stellar. We had a reservation as well and were seated right away. I am someone who looks at menus before I go places and I had my eye on something that was not on the menu anymore. I forgot to take a picture of the updated menu, however the beef dish I got was one of the newer items. The food was family style so great to share. Both dishes I felt were really yummy, not too salty, and good portions. If anything, I wish there would have been a little more ribeye because it was tasty. Another random side note, I wish there was more than one bathroom!

    Photos
    Fortunate Son - Instagram: @hungrytamale

    Instagram: @hungrytamale

    Fortunate Son - General Tso Cauliflower! Crispy, mildly spicy zing, tender but with some crunch - well sauced and prepared! Definitely a nice option!

    General Tso Cauliflower! Crispy, mildly spicy zing, tender but with some crunch - well sauced and prepared! Definitely a nice option!

    Fortunate Son - Buddah Beer

    See all

    Buddah Beer

    Minh Ky Restaurant

    Minh Ky Restaurant

    4.2(1.4k reviews)
    8.4 miCity Heights
    $$

    Locally known as 明记面家, it's a Vietnamese-Chinese fusion noodle shop. It's located further south, so…read morelunchtime is recommended--traffic is always heavy here in the evening. Hidden in the Little Saigon area of City Heights, this humble eatery has stood the test of time thanks to loyal regulars, consistent great taste, and solid value for money. They specialize in Cantonese and Vietnamese-style noodles: classic wonton noodles, Vietnamese beef noodle soup, and Southeast Asian stir-fried noodles. Broths are slow-simmered with pork bones and dried flounder, paired with house-made thin egg noodles that have a nice springy texture and wheat aroma. Highly recommend the Sate Beef Rice Noodle, Sate Beef Tripe with Turnip Dry Noodles, and roast duck. Portions are generous, affordable, and the restaurant is clean and tidy. A top pick for noodle lovers!

    Minh Ky was a place we stumbled upon, and I am so glad we did as it was highly nostalgic for me…read more Walking in I immediately noticed a woman in the back folding wontons. Ok.. that's always a promising sign. Then I noticed the pleathora of sauces and seasonings at each table: soy sauce, chili oil, red vinegar, white pepper, pickled peppers, Sriracha, oyster sauce. Ok.. even more promising. Then I saw the menu with seemingly endless options. Yep, this place is legit. And reminds me of a place I grew up at in the Bay Area. Except here they play Drake. The food was delicious. The duck egg noodle came with a generous portion of duck. I appreciated that the wonton wrapper and rice noodles actually had a distinct texture. I may have added too much spice to mine, but I have no regrets. The cashew pork was a nice surprise to my bowl. While you may have to get lucky with parking (we parked on the curb and was just fine), and get through the slight language barrier, it is a wonderful experience and is worth a try.

    Photos
    Minh Ky Restaurant - Updated interior

    Updated interior

    Minh Ky Restaurant - Duck noodle soup, specify wide rice noodle for the win! Amazing food.

    Duck noodle soup, specify wide rice noodle for the win! Amazing food.

    Minh Ky Restaurant

    See all

    Wei Wei Asian Express - San Diego - Mongolian Beef, Fried Rice, 12 Salt and Pepper Wings, Cream Cheese Wonton

    Wei Wei Asian Express - San Diego

    4.4(1.3k reviews)
    10.5 miRolando
    $$

    TL;DR It's really good. Go here…read more -------------- I came here after a friend recommended it when I told them I was coming down to San Diego for a day trip during my spring break from school in Orange County. I was born and raised in LA, so I've had a lot of Chinese food growing up, and I wasn't expecting to be this surprised--but I really was. I ordered the black bean eggplant and the salt and pepper chicken wings. The wings are what they're known for, but I have to start with the eggplant because it completely caught me off guard. It wasn't mushy at all--crispy on the outside, perfectly cooked on the inside, and coated in sauce without losing its texture. Every bite had depth and balance, not just saltiness. I actually meant to start with the wings, but the eggplant was so good I ended up eating half of it before even getting to them. By that point I was already getting full, but I still made sure to finish the wings--and I'm honestly excited to take the rest of the eggplant home as leftovers. By the time I got to the wings, I understood why they're popular--crispy, flavorful, and super satisfying--but what stood out to me was how both dishes complemented each other. One rich and layered, the other crisp and bright. I never got tired of eating, which honestly says a lot. I even told the staff how much I enjoyed the food and they thought I was joking, but I meant every word in saying I thought it was comparable, if not better then the food I've had in Chinatown in LA. Really glad I came here and the next time I have a chance to come back down to SD I definitely will come back here and that's not negotiable for me

    Stay away from this place, seriously do NOT believe the positive reviews. We ordered on a…read morerecommendation from other people and some goofball online. Well, let me tell you. This place is NOT worth the high rating it has. We ordered the Fried Green Beans, they were cooked in oil that was obviously not to temperature. Too greasy for consumption. To make it worse? They were drowned in salt! The Crispy Beef was nothing but thick dough with no beef inside. To add insult to injury it was BURNED so badly that all you could smell was burnt dough and taste burned dough. Hardly any sauce on it as well. The Shrimp Fried Rice should have just been plain white rice for how bland it was. The Vegetable Chow Mein literally was just a container of salt. Slim noodles and salt, disgusting! We spent so much money and all of this is going right into the garbage. Stay away from this hole! It should be shut down for trying to poison people. Feels like I am going to go blind from the amount of salt I ingested from only a few bites. Gross!!

    Photos
    Wei Wei Asian Express - San Diego
    Wei Wei Asian Express - San Diego - Chicken Chow Fun

    Chicken Chow Fun

    Wei Wei Asian Express - San Diego - Salt and pepper chicken wings

    See all

    Salt and pepper chicken wings

    Taste of Hong Kong - Salt And Pepper Crab

    Taste of Hong Kong

    3.8(381 reviews)
    8.2 miKearny Mesa
    $$

    for only $19.99 AYCE, they have sooo many hong kong style dishes to choose from -- dim sum,…read morenoodles, roasted meats, seafood, desserts, and more everything came out hot, flavorful, and perfect for sharing with family & friends definitely one of the best budget eats in convoy if you're craving authentic cantonese comfort food!!

    The $19.99 AYCE on social media is deceiving…read more I took my mom here so we could try this new AYCE option this place was offering based on social media influencers. It was empty coming in around 5:30pm on a Friday, but it soon filled to capacity in the next hour. So coming into it, we thought we would choose between Menu A and Menu B. Afterwards, we thought it was AYCE on the menu of your choice + the side buffet where there are limited selections of sides and refrigerated drinks. We ordered orange chicken, Chinese style fish and something else. Again, this was on the thought that we could order more than one item on our selected menu. So imagine our surprise when the bill was nearly $100 for two people? It was a misunderstanding. However, the initial staff gentlemen was completely rude about it and ignored us as we sought to understand. Finally, a second female server came and heard our concerns regarding the false advertisement and unclear messaging. She was able to provide us the price we thought this was for based on Menu selection. All in all - I don't recommend the AYCE option. I think it would be important to make a distinction that AYCE clearly on the menu and at the front - AYCE means each individual selects ONE entree (which is a one small portion) and the AYCE component of the deal is ONLY for the side buffet.

    Photos
    Taste of Hong Kong
    Taste of Hong Kong - Fried Prawn

    Fried Prawn

    Taste of Hong Kong - Honey BBQ Pork

    See all

    Honey BBQ Pork

    Meet Dumpling - Wonton Soup

    Meet Dumpling

    4.7(304 reviews)
    0.1 miPoint Loma, Fleetridge
    $$

    Yes, there's a wait just like at any spot that's actually worth it. The place is small, so come…read morewith a little patience or just order to go if you're in a rush. We tried a few dishes. The green onion pancake was crispy and golden on the outside with flaky, layered bites.The sweet corn with chili dumplings had that perfect balance- slightly sweet, a little heat, and super juicy filling. The green pepper with corn dumplings had a light crunch and savory flavor. The standout for me was the Beijing zhajiang noodles. That was probably my favorite. Noodles were perfection. The owner was kind. You can tell it's a family-run spot, especially with the sweetest little girl helping out, which made the whole experience feel even more genuine and homey. We were seated in about 20 minutes, which honestly isn't bad at all. Free parking lot. Will be back soon.

    I kinda had a biased opinion coming into this place. Pt Loma hasn't been a hot spot for good…read morechinese food, but I'm glad this place proved me wrong. They offered all the usual chinese food dish you would typically find in a dumpling shop. Dumplings, noodles, appetizers. We got some scallions pancakes, thinly sliced beef and an assortment of dumplings. I even picked up a dan dan noodle on my second go around here, yes, my second time! Honestly, the dumplings were ok. Hit or miss depending on what you got. I would probably avoid the beef with carrots, along with the chive with shrimp. I know chive is a classic, but something about their ratio with shrimp was way off. All the other dumplings were spot on! The other dishes earned high marks with me. Authentic taste and just very filling. Some quick tips. Parking is a pain because of how small the lot is. The shop is also kinda tiny, so get cozy. Enjoy!

    Photos
    Meet Dumpling - Inside

    Inside

    Meet Dumpling - Cucumber & Wood Ear Mushroom Salad

    Cucumber & Wood Ear Mushroom Salad

    Meet Dumpling - Zucchini & Egg with Shrimp Dumplings

    See all

    Zucchini & Egg with Shrimp Dumplings

    Shanghai Bun - tapas - Updated June 2026

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