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    Shanghai Bun

    3.5 (358 reviews)
    ModerateShanghainese
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM

    Shanghai Bun Photos

    SHANGHAI BUN ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Joanna Z.

    Very mediocre food overall and I highly suggest you eat somewhere else. Soup dumplings: the filling was like a big fat meatball. Broth was good but the meat inside wasn't super flavorful and it was HELLA dense. No balance whatsoever Chive pancakes: errr definitely better but she was a little pasty looking. Definitely needed some more time in the pan because it was limpy af. Filling was normal. The sauce? + meatball + noodles dish: errrrr DEF PASS. I don't know how to even describe it, like the meatball was the same meat as the pork dumplings?!?!?!? LOL. The sauce or broth was SUPER thick. Not exactly light and refreshing and the flavors weren't it either. Felt like a mosh pit of things lying in the kitchen The fried rice: The ONLY redeeming quality. It has bacon in it and was super flavorful and rich. Downside is it's a bit too greasy but flavor ig??? Taro buns: your regular buns, not too sweet. Doubt it's made in house tho LOL.

    Jennifer A.

    We ordered the beef noodle and a sesame chicken. The food was good but service was not great. I went in and the staff saw me but no one came to ask me what I needed. They just stood together by the wall until finally someone came over with someone else's take out order and finally asked if I needed help. Staff not friendly or inviting so I'll pass.

    Soup dumplings
    Allison G.

    Shanghai Bun is an absolute gem and hands down my favorite spot for dim sum and Chinese cuisine! The waitstaff here are incredible, kind, attentive, and working so hard to ensure every customer has a great experience, even when the restaurant is packed. As a regular, I'm always greeted with warm smiles and treated like family, which makes every visit feel so special! I visit here with different friends every other week and everyone I invite always wants to go back! The welcoming ambiance and sincere hospitality truly set this place apart from other restaurants!! If you enjoy dimsum the xiao long baos (soup dumplings) are a must, the flavor is unreal and tastes so good with the vinegar and soy sauce they give you! shrimp dumplings and any of their baos (buns)! I am a huge fan of their eggplant dishes, the eggplant with tofu and basil is my favorite. The basil really makes dish fragrant and delicious! If you're looking for amazing food and top-notch service, Shanghai Bun is the place to be!

    Red bean cakes
    Julia L.

    The red bean cakes (dou sha su bing) are flaky and enjoyable. The red bean filling is not too sweet. They're pretty small. Service was fast and better than the standard Chinese restaurant. Can get crowded, but lots of booths and tables available. Roomy vibes.

    Pork Soup Dumplings
    Aparna R.

    Cute restaurant near the Princeton Junction station--it seems to be a fairly popular spot amongst older West Windsor and Princeton locals. The service was excellent; all our food came in really quickly, and the staff were lovely. The XLB (pork soup dumplings) that we ordered as an appetizer were the highlight of our dinner. They were fresh, hot, juicy, and flavorful. Even family members who almost always avoid pork in every form were delighted by the dumplings. Everything else we tried was...disappointing. The fried dumplings with chicken and string beans weren't particularly flavorful. They almost tasted of raw string beans? I'm not sure if this was intentional. The pad thai was far too sweet and tasted almost like ketchup. The sesame chicken had an unnatural orange-ish tinge. Which is fair--maybe it's what I should always expect when ordering a takeout classic. The fried rice wasn't particularly flavorful, and the white rice that came with our chicken dishes was a bit dry. Most of the food that we got was very mediocre, but I may come back just for the xlb!

    I do not recommend this place. The gluten is supposed to be soft like a wet sponge, but some pieces are hard. Makes me think this dish been days old. The wine chicken does not look appetizing (dry and not fresh) and it tasted weird (not a sour taste where it is spoiled). Also, do not trust the photos. The fish is not fried on the photo. Won't be back even if the meal is free.

    Soupy pork dumplings
    Susanna C.

    Been here many times and this is a great local go-to spot for us. Of course the Shanghai buns are a must have. The vermicellli noodles are delicious and I personally like the rice cake with bacon. We tried the chili beef special, which was disappointing since it was like beef boiled with chili sauce. All good, wanted to try new things but that wasn't for me. It can get very busy on the weekends, much better on weekdays. Food is great, the service is ok, could be friendlier (depends who you get), but I'd overlook that because I like the food!

    Soup not served with my meal.
    Phillip F.

    I am tired of being ripped off and manipulated at local restaurants and businesses. Coming in for supper I ordered a meal with soup and dumplings. I was never served the soup I ordered. I asked the waitress to take it off my bill. She kept asking to give it to me. I already ate my meal and it should have come first. I said no. Then she said she would give it to me free to take home. When I got my cash change she didn't remove the charge. When I was a kid, my parents showed me in a Chinese restaurant how the male owner was taking the ladies tips. We never went back there and I am not going back here.

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    23 days ago

    If you aren't Chinese -- prepare yourself. There is good food here, no love though. It's obvious the place is built on greed.

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Amazing soup dumplings. My husband tried the mei fun with beef and also thought it was very good.

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    1 year ago

    Best soup dumplings in town!! A must try! Made fresh to order, you can watch them make it through the window!

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    Ask the Community - Shanghai Bun

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    Lao Wu Authentic Shanghai Dumpling - Shanghai pan fried pork buns.

    Lao Wu Authentic Shanghai Dumpling

    4.5(195 reviews)
    18.6 mi
    $$

    There are a million dumpling places to choose from in Edison and Middlesex County but this one…read morestands out above the rest. The service is very friendly and patient (and American friendly). The food comes out lightning fast. Everything is very reasonably priced. Best of all, it's all delicious. I tried stuff outside of my comfort zone and I loved it all. My favorite were the pork juicy buns (soup dumplings) but the most unique thing was the pan fried noodle which was like a crispy deep fried noodle that would soften as it sat in the sauce. The golden lava buns were sweet and rich and perfect for dessert.

    After visitation for a beloved family member while in New Jersey state, my party arrived super…read moreearly and waited 1.25 hour for opening on a Saturday. We were second standing outdoors waiting in this big fat long line. Immediately upon opening for the day the line nearly forced entry near stampede and this cafe was immediately packed to full occupancy of patrons with free seating. The Yelp reviews are accurate and truthful. The food is great. This is a small cafe with only approximately eight tables. I do not recommend large parties of five and greater. It is no-frills, but not exactly "hole in the wall" type that lack in aesthetics for upscale lavish atmosphere but the deficiency is resolved in the food quality. There is one sole functioning restroom in the whole business, ergo, stand in line and wait. We entered hungry in a lugubrious sense of deep sorrow, but exited hunger pangs fulfilled. When exiting upon completion of our lunch meal, there was a line that quickly formed outdoors waiting. Unfortunately, access to this cafe in Edison, NJ is by car only and there is a free parking lot that is shared with neighboring businesses located in a small shopping complex. There are no business cards, and no takeout menus available. Customer service is efficient as the staff worked methodically hustling busy to take orders and fulfillment. Our male waiter was attentive to respond to our inquiries and make suggestions based on our desires. I was able to keep the sales receipt. Price is in the rationale realm of stagflation totaling $41.75. Nota Bene: No table hibernation as the table turnover is fast pace with a line overflowing outdoors which cannot interrupt the flow. My foodie synopsis: Pork steam soup dumplings, 6 pcs, siu2 lung4 baau1, 小籠包, $8.75 Very juicy, flavorful and great. It was served piping hot. This is my favorite default dish for every visit at any Shanghainese ethnic cuisine. However, there were no serving tongs provided for this particular appetizer which is industry standard. Preserved cabbage with pork noodle soup, syut3 coi3 juk6 si1 min6, 雪菜肉絲麵 $9.50 This is a satisfying Chinese comfort food. This noodle soup was abundant with noodles, pork and chopped vegetables. It provided warmth to my very broken heart. Shanghai chicken in wine sauce, zeoi3 gai1, 醉雞, $8.95 A traditional Chinese cold appetizer, aka Chinese Drunken chicken made with Chinese Shaoxing cooking wine. It has amazing flavor and texture to be deliciously enticing. Of course, the cooking wine brings flavor to this appetizer making you want more. Shanghai pan fried U-Don noodle, soeng6 hoi2 cou1 caau2 min6, 上海粗炒面, $11.95 Abundant noodles with good consistency and it not heavily filled with grease and oil.

    Photos
    Lao Wu Authentic Shanghai Dumpling
    Lao Wu Authentic Shanghai Dumpling - C3. Shanghai Pan Fried Pork Buns

    C3. Shanghai Pan Fried Pork Buns

    Lao Wu Authentic Shanghai Dumpling - Shanghai pan-fried noodle

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    Shanghai pan-fried noodle

    Tasty Moment

    Tasty Moment

    4.1(725 reviews)
    17.4 mi
    $$

    Tasty Moment is one of the best places to eat in Edison. It's always busy and the parking lot is…read morecrazy. You're lucky if you can get in. We were lucky. We ordered the spicy pork dumplings and sautéed string beans to start. Both were very good. The broth inside the dumpling is very spicy and absolutely delicious. If you like spicy things, these will warm you up. We also ordered mapo tofu and noodles with pork. The tofu was extremely soft and melts in your mouth. Good flavor in this dish. The noodles were very good too, however they were not as spicy as advertised. The server warned me and I told her I love spicy things (I devoured the dumplings), so I really hope the noodles are spicy too. They weren't, however they were still very good. (I took leftovers home and added my own spice to them.) I've been here twice. I would love to come back and try more things, but like I already stated, it's always extremely busy and the wait can be long. Plan ahead!

    Oh my. Oh my oh my oh my. We're going to move to Edison…read more Okay, no we are not. But are there other attractions in Edison? We have to find some other excuse to come back here. We were in the area and wanted to stop by for a quick lunch. We came at 11:35 am (5 minutes after opening) on a Sunday. There was a 40 minute wait. WHAT? We got take out. It was a 40 minute wait for our take out order. Oh sigh. We were very late for our next commitment. But I guess it was worth it. Food was excellent. It was all of the Chinese food that we wished we had in Fort Lee. Xiao long bao (soup dumplings). Hong shao niu rou mian (braised beef noodle soup). Fan tuan (rice rolls). You tiao (Chinese donut) and dou jiang (soybean milk). All of it was authentic. All of it was delicious, even in take out form. We'll find a reason to come back to Edison. There has to be something.

    Photos
    Tasty Moment - Interior seating

    Interior seating

    Tasty Moment - Hold your chopsticks high

    Hold your chopsticks high

    Tasty Moment - Noodle pull

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    Noodle pull

    Wu' s Shanghai Dumpling

    Wu' s Shanghai Dumpling

    4.0(1k reviews)
    16.9 mi
    $$

    This restaurant features a minimalist Shanghai-style design, centered around a striking red and…read moregold color palette. Although the decor is simple, the bold use of red and gold makes it highly memorable--and the space is very clean. Even though the bowls and chopsticks are disposable, there's clear attention to detail. The chopsticks feel great to use, and they are even engraved with "上海小笼," which is a thoughtful touch. The bowls are made of thick, sturdy paper, with a beautiful red base and gold rim--both aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly. Ordering is done through a self-service kiosk, but there are still staff members nearby. When it's not busy, they are friendly and happy to assist with any questions. The Noodle in Scallion Sauce (上海葱油拌麵) has a rich scallion oil flavor with perfectly chewy noodles, while the Cold Noodle w. Peanut Butter Sauce (麻將涼拌麵) is packed with a strong peanut flavor and equally chewy texture. Both dishes are delicious and taste very similar to Taiwanese sesame noodles. Every dish is served fresh and hot, and the prices are very reasonable for the quality. Whenever I'm in Edison, I can't help but come back to try more items on the menu.

    A wonderful Shanghai surprise. Tradition, authentic and tasty. Simple clean with friendly service…read more We ordered Scallion pancake, fish fillet soup, spicy tofu with preserved egg, pumpkin pancake, carb & pork juicy buns,scallion scallion noodle and cold noodle in P&B sauce Cooking mama would love to come and visit. Would give 3 bonus gifts There is noting less than great The bonus is above all is less than $80.00. Outstanding!

    Photos
    Wu' s Shanghai Dumpling - Inside

    Inside

    Wu' s Shanghai Dumpling - Crab Meat and Pork Steam Juicy Buns, Shanghai Spicy Pork Steam Juicy Dumpling, & Pork Steam Juicy Buns | #intenselypassionatephotography

    Crab Meat and Pork Steam Juicy Buns, Shanghai Spicy Pork Steam Juicy Dumpling, & Pork Steam Juicy Buns | #intenselypassionatephotography

    Wu' s Shanghai Dumpling - Sticky rice shumai

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    Sticky rice shumai

    Lotus Garden - Sizzling Seabass the best!

    Lotus Garden

    3.0(173 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Good food but service could be better. The loudness of people talking was somewhat bothersome.read more

    Where do I start?…read more On Friday we stopped in for lunch around 12:30. We were greeted nicely and bought waters with lemon as we asked. I ordered won ton soup, shrimp with vegetables and fried rice. My gluten free friend brought a new bottle of gf soy sauce. She ordered rice noodles with vegetables and added tofu. She chose not to have soup and asked for her won ton to be packed to go. The waiter whose English wasn't so good very nicely took the bottle with him to the kitchen so her food would be prepared with it. I noted the fork at my place was not clean and moved it aside. Next he brings me a soup plate with broth and 2 big doughy won ton. Neither the broth not the won ton were more than tepid. The won ton was not to my liking. I took one bite and pushed my bowl aside. Next the entrees neither were more than barely warm! My shrimp were a bit smaller than quarter sized, broccoli was nice and the rice too, but the sauce had absolutely no flavor. No flavor and cold. The rice noodle dish was fine but flavorless and lacked the vegetables she ordered. Usually she would tell the server that she can have garlic and ginger, but she didn't. And the food was not hot at all. The place was busy with just the one waiter. He very nicely brought the won ton soup to go for her when he brought the check. He also wrapped all the leftovers to go. We did not complain because everything deserved a complaint. We had also lost interest. This experience did not get only 1 star, because of the waiter who was the only one in the busy restaurant. He was doing his best, but the kitchen needs to do its best. We tipped him nicely, and deposited the take home won ton in the trash can down the sidewalk away from the restaurant.

    Photos
    Lotus Garden - Inside

    Inside

    Lotus Garden - Steamed Whole Fish

    Steamed Whole Fish

    Lotus Garden - Chili oil

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    Chili oil

    Shanghai Bun - shanghainese - Updated June 2026

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