4. Restaurants

Shanghai Restaurant

6718 Middle Fiskville Rd, Austin, TX, 78752
  • (512) 458-8088
  • Store is closed

Shanghai Restaurant Menu

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  • Shaun M.

    Tasty Dim Sum today. We first came to Shanghai because we were looking for xiao long bao somewhere in Austin and heard they were available here. Today's the first time we were given gingered vinegar with them, although no soup spoons yet. Either way, the dumplings are too flimsy and the broth-to-filling ratio's off, so we probably wouldn't have the full xiaolongbao experience either way. That being said, everything was tasty, there was enough of it, and everyone left smiling.

    (3)

  • Laura R.

    Excellent Dim Sum!! They bring the carts around with good frequency and have a lot of selection. Shu Mai, pot stickers, pork buns, sticky rice, fried taro, so many good choices. Also some very authentic options such as chicken feet which I was not brave enough to try. They had very good service. The restaurant seemed clean and the staff was very friendly. I'd definitely come back again! Come early, we got there at 11am when they opened on a Saturday. By the time we left at noon or so, there was a wait to get a table.

    (4)

  • Isabelle E.

    decent enough dim sum. If you're from houston or ny, this isn't nearly close to standard. It's probably one of the best ones in town. It's very bland. Steer away from what they call 'soup dumplings', they are not the real thing: they simply lack the soup part. Kind service. Affordable.

    (3)

  • Elizabeth G.

    Hands down- best shrimp shumai ever! Wait staff are always great. And they have chrysanthemum tea!

    (5)

  • Jorge L.

    Enjoyed the place very much. The decoration, even though it is missing some letters in the outside name, do not hesitate and go in. L shaped place , but very comfortable and ample. We were there for Dim Sum, and it maybe is one of the best in Austin, the variety is large and the service of the ladies is on time all the time. You just can go wrong with any of the choices in the carts, warm, tasty and very much enjoyable. Will be my new Dim Sum place.

    (5)

  • Wendy K.

    I love this place. Great wonton soup and Pan fried noodles! Service is good here. Dim sum next time! Wish realized they were not flat noodles! Great waotress

    (3)

  • Eethiee N.

    I can only speak to the Dim Sum here. Came right when they opened on a Saturday morning. It can get busy on Sunday's. Cart service with fresh dim sum. Service is great here!

    (5)

  • Anthony C.

    PSA - I would eat at Chinatown, the restaurant, for dim sum or just drive to Houston instead. --------------------------------------------------­----------- It's easier to describe the food by the presentation of the service, not that I expect any in a Chinese restaurant, but this place took it to another playing level. The ha gao, siu mai and turnup cake (lo bat gao) are lackluster and flavorless...but still resembled the traditionally recognized dim sum food. I found this similar to one of the employees who sure fooled me by dressing and walking around like a waitress but did nothing at all asides from giving excuses not to do something. This particular employee told me she was just part of the cleaning crew and didn't know anything other then how to bus a table. We asked her twice to help us either get more tea or find the dessert cart. She actually delegated my requests back to me...I was shocked. However, like they say you can't bullshit another bullshitter... I never saw her cleaning a single table. The egg tarts are like the younger woman in the front who is actually pretty cute when she smiles. I've traveled across the globe and these would rank in my top 6 best I have ever eaten. These are the two redeeming factor of this restaurant. (two stars)

    (2)

  • L L.

    Yummy yummy dim sum. Fast (cart service) and we were seated immediately. Is it cheap, like dim sum in larger cities? No, but it's definitely good. Also, some of my Chinese friends recommend it. We will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Melissa T.

    I love dim sum so I was sorely disappointed by my experience at Shanghai today. Service: rude! My goodness, it was dreadful. My Standards aren't high, especially at an Asian restaurant on Christmas Day. Basically, if you're not rude, I'm happy. The hostess didn't greet us. She rudely asked how many were in the party. The first thing we ordered was the shrimp rice noodles. The Cartguy ran out of sauce for it. He promised he'd be right back with it. 15 minutes later..no sauce. We asked him again and he said he would bring it right out. Another 20 minutes later, no sauce. He never brought it. Then, another cart lady yelled at my (very sweet) mom. My mom asked her what she had on her cart and the lady replied, "WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR." I don't care how busy you think you are, you do not yell at a customer unprovoked. Food: they ran out of food. At peak lunch hours. At noon..they ran out of food. We waited 15 minutes between carts. The food itself was alright. The tops of the dumplings were hard. Everything else was fine. Nothing outstanding. Anyways, this place is a sad excuse for dim sum. For the first time, I left a restaurant frustrated instead of full.

    (1)

  • Willy N.

    Shanghai Restaurant has the best dim sum in Austin! It is very crowded here during dim sum hours on the weekend, but it is definitely worth the wait. The food is comparable to the dim sum restaurants in Houston. Everything I tried here was fresh and delicious! All the standard dishes such as siu mai, ha gao, and cha siu bao were very large and tasty. There was also a wide variety of different dishes here. The service is great here. The cart pushers do a good job of showing you all the different options that they have available, and the waiters always have your drinks refilled Anytime I am craving dim sum, I will definitely be coming back here! There are no comparable restaurants in Austin.

    (4)

  • Rachael B.

    I'm so excited to discover delicious Dim Sum in Austin! Everything we ate was so good. We had pork bao, several types of dumplings (either pork or shrimp), vegetable noodles, steamed rice with sausage, and turnip cakes. For dessert we had sesame balls and egg custard tarts. The cart was at our table immediately and the tea we ordered came promptly. There were so many choices that we could not come close to trying everything in one visit. I have only been here one time, so I don't know if this is typical, but there were not a lot of vegetarian or vegetable dishes. We kept asking the servers at the carts if there were any vegetarian dishes and they all said "not on this cart" until someone asked if we would like vegetable noodles. Yes! They came out very quickly. Then we started seeing some vegetable dishes (we got a dish of a broccolini type vegetable and it was perfect). So this was a sort of awkward dining experience for my oldest daughter as she's vegetarian. However, what we ate was all so delicious. The service was very attentive. So much so that when I dropped a chopstick on the floor, I was given another pair of chopsticks right away. I didn't have to say a word. I want to talk separately about dessert. The egg custard tart. They were perfect. They were warm and the crust was actually flaky and light! Lots of times the crust is sort of just an afterthought...sometimes tough, sometimes doughy. Not this crust. Save room for those. I also really loved the sesame balls. I can't wait to go back. Hopefully, they will have some vegetarian dumplings!

    (4)

  • Alexanio T.

    This restaurant is fantastic! The dim sum is some of the best I've had. The service is good though at times slightly difficult due to some of the staff not being able to speak fluent English but not a big deal in the long run. Came here on a Sunday with friends and was seated right away. Everything we had was very good except for some dessert buns that I assume were green tea flavored covered in sesame seeds. The filling was really grainy and had a savory taste. Not a very good dessert item. All in all my experience has always been great and the next time I'm in Austin, I'll be coming here again.

    (5)

  • Jon K.

    I'm not sure if this is the best that Austin has to offer, and even though my expectations weren't high.. this really wasn't good. We ordered dimsum (the typical variety of shrimp, pork, chicken feet, etc) and a few items off the lunch menu (chow mien and rice) and it just ... wasn't good. Don't come here.

    (1)

  • Jennifer Y.

    I really do love their dimsum here on Sundays but unfortunately their lack of service overpowers that fact. (I have only gotten to-go orders here and it has really been that bad) The owner and his daughter are the ones who run the front counter and they are so rude that it feels like you are talking to a teenager who is having a tantrum! The older gentleman has made SEVERAL mistakes on multiple to-go orders all while he is yelling at US as if it was our fault. Still after all this I do come back here for their shumai (xiumai) and lotus leaf rice (sticky rice with assorted meats and mushrooms in lotus leaf) but honestly if I could find somewhere else who makes it, I would go there in a heartbeat over this place!

    (1)

  • Ruyi Y.

    I would really rate this place 2.5 if I could. If you know the first thing about how dim sum should taste, or how Shanghai cuisine should taste, then do not come here. Despite being half starved to death, I didn't enjoy most of what I ate here. The flavors just weren't good, and I'm especially bitter because the tang bao (soup buns) were so bad that they shouldn't have even been called tang bao. It's an insult to every other tang bao in the world. The only good thing I ate was the quail. And even then, it was just meh. And a huge complaint - the dishes they used to serve the dim sum was inappropriate. Most of the stuff stuck onto the paper and it ruined the food. So after eating around 50 bucks worth of dim sum a la carte, our small party was still hungry (more like unsatisfied) and ordered the salted fish and chicken fried rice. It was, I'm sorry for my language, disgusting. The employees are nice but kind of the typical asian restaurant aunties. The place was unmemorable in it's decorations. Overall not worth it to come.

    (3)

  • Joseph R.

    First time for me and hopefully I can make more times but I live in San Antonio and was lucky to find this place. So it's a Sunday afternoon and I need a quick bite before a soccer game. I find this by accident and notice a line going out the door. So this is a good sign. A 30 minute wait but it was worth it. I had the Kung Pao beef and some Dim sum. It was really good and cooked perfectly. The place was hopping and well full of Asians so that tells me it must be good. Hey I'm Mexican so if you go to Mexican place full of us then you know it's good.

    (5)

  • Bernice L.

    THE BEST & AUTHENTIC DIM SUM IN TOWN!!! i like every dim sum here especially chicken feet in black bean sauce(鳳爪)， jalepeno stuffing(釀青椒)，braised ribs(豉汁排骨)，preserved egg porridge(皮蛋瘦肉粥)，siu-mai(燒賣)，har-gao(蝦餃)，etc.. highly recommanded!

    (5)

  • Jen Y.

    4 stars is based on Dim Sum only. It's a pretty good place for dim sum...I wouldn't compare this against any place in Houston, but for Austin, it's definitely a place to visit. It is SO BUSY on the weekends, so go really early or later closer to 2pm (before dim sum stops). Very typical dim sum selections and all are really tasty. I think they only take reservations for larger parties. Just call and ask.

    (4)

  • Janice L.

    The staff was pretty friendly and attentive. We got seated right away during a weekday lunch hour (pretty quiet in here). We opted for dim sum because I am a dim sum fiend. The ones here were pretty decent, came out piping hot. Not the best dim sum I've had but it was alright. The prices are not ridiculous (for 2 people, 6 plates of dim sum, it was about $20). Not sure I'd rush back however.

    (3)

  • Scarlett Q.

    This is the saddest dim sum place I've ever been, the best dish I had on a dim sum brunch is fried noodles. The rest of real dim sums, including steamed ribs, shrimp dumplings, pork bun, etc, not only look bad but also taste plain.

    (2)

  • Gloria W.

    Came here with a group of friends after it came highly recommended from a friend who was native chinese from China. Surely I can trust that standard right??? Sadly not. I came here with expectations of average expectations for their dimsum and still left disappointed. We were lucky that the place wasn't crowded when we went that Sunday morning, yet the dim sum was surprisingly falling short. The rice rolls were mushy and fell apart easily. The Shanghai soup dumplings were dry and there was no soup in there! The porridge had a strong pork flavor that wasn't very pleasant and barely any century egg. There were some decent dimsum items like their egg tarts and some shrimp/pork dumplings. Note to groups, they only split checks to a max of 4 cards.

    (2)

  • S A.

    I really enjoyed our dim sum on a recent Sunday. Got there at noon and seating wasn't a problem. The next time though I'm not going to let them seat us in the little seating area on the south end of the building. The air conditioning was cranked to "meat locker" levels and even though that feels good initially in July it was almost unbearable for the duration of the meal. None of the dishes were very hot, but that might have been because they couldn't compete with the AC. The staff were all very friendly. We had har gao, shrimp and leek dumplings, squid curry, shumai, and some sort of shrimp on a slice of eggplant dish that was very tasty. The only disappointment was the xiao long bao. No soup inside whatsoever which wasn't a surprise because I could see the holes in the dumpling wrapper before even picking it up. Oh well, it's Texas, I'll be back.

    (4)

  • Steven B.

    Great dim sum. The waiters come by quickly and speak rapid fire, but are also very nice. You can get overwhelmed, but everything is good, so take your time to keep from ordering too much. You will not leave hungry. If you are looking for a slow, methodical dining experience, I assure you this is not the place. If you are hungry and want some really good dumplings, you should certainly try it out.

    (3)

  • Julie T.

    Checked in on the wrong account, "The aftermath of last night. Chrysanthemum tea will always me!" Definitely expected more from the restaurant. The tea ended up being okay. It was very watered down. Very disappointed with the tea. Asked for more flower in the tea, but not much was given. The dim sum was good to okay, but I heard it's usually better. The owners were very kind, but gave our checks before we were done is all.

    (3)

  • Mel T.

    The family wanted dim sum for brunch today (gluten feast) & I'm allergic to all grains, so I decided to stop @texasfarmersmarket picked up some jap-chae noodle salad & cucumber #kimchi from @ohkimchiaustin a total life saver. Now I'm able to join the family to my surprise Nancy & Raymond at Shanghai were so accommodating, understanding & super nice...they surprised me w/the cleanest steamed shrimp & vegetable dish, which I seasoned w/my kimchi!! I'm beyond pleased w/my creation. Thank you Shanghai for your attentiveness

    (5)

  • Tim L.

    If I could give Shanghai a zero rating, then I would. I used to love this place. After today's experience, never again. Here's why: 1. Our greeter was rude. She didn't even seem like she wanted to be there. After going for so many Sundays, she pretends to still not know my friends and me. 2. The quality and the preparation of each dish was subpar. After having dim sum in Southern California last week, I'm disappointed with Shanghai. 3. We found a dying cockroach next to our table. I'm sorry, my 3 year old goddaughter found it. 4. I tell the manager/owner of the restaurant of the discovery. Instead of apologizing, he tried to defend the roach, by saying it came in from the side door. I told him, "I don't care how it got in, my godchild found it." 5. With no apology, nor any concession, I will not be going to Shanghai for dim sum again. Dear Shanghai - Thank you for all the great dim sum meals. Unfortunately, you failed today, and in a big way. I'll no longer be dining with you. Moving forward, my word of mouth will be, "This place is meh - going downhill. My god daughter found a roach, and they didn't even apologize."

    (1)

  • Trung N.

    My friends from Austin often complain about the lack of good Asian food in Austin. I always wonder if this was true. I thought - There has to be some good places right? I would soon find out with Shanghai Restaurant for dim sum. This was one of my last meals in Austin. As a tradition, my friends like to get dim sum the last morning we're together [awwww...]. Dim sum always gives our big group a chance to try out different things without committing to something bigger [this may sound like a personal issue we might have] We came here with a party of 8 and waited around 30 minutes to be seated - It was pretty busy that morning. Shanghai offered all the staples at dim sum: - Har gow - Xiu mai - Sticky rice - Various versions of dumplings - Chun fun - steamed shrimp rice noodle Vast variety of dishes. Something was missing for me though. The variety and staples were there but the taste and feel of the dishes were a bit off. Most things were pretty bland and needed a lot of soy sauce. We ordered a ton of dishes and tried them all but I felt the dishes were average or above average, I couldn't entirely put my finger on why. I really think for the locals with the lack of choices, Shanghai offers them an outlet to get their dim sum fix. However, if you have discerning taste when it comes to dim sum, definitely think twice about coming here.

    (3)

  • Lauren S.

    Went here for Dim Sum a few months ago. I was excited to have a nearby option for Dim Sum, and was incredibly hungry (read: easy to please). We were seated in a table around a corner around lots of loud families who had clearly been there a while. It took at least 5 minutes to get water, and another 10 minutes to be offered any food, which is just plain crazy for Dim Sum. Only two carts came by in the first 30 minutes - some dumplings (I've had better ones from the frozen section at Trader Joe's) and overcooked, limp steamed greens. At that point, we decided to just pay and leave (paying at the counter also took a long time), and ended up going somewhere else that actually wanted to serve us. TLDR: dismal service, not good food, not worth getting any hopes up for delicious Dim Sum

    (1)

  • Daniel M.

    First of all I REALLY appreciate the electronic waiting list for Sunday dim sum. You leave your phone number and they text you when you your table is ready. You can look and see your place in line, online. Very helpful when you have kids along. The staff was very friendly. They answered any questions we had about the food, took our special orders and weren't too rushed like many dim sum places. The dishes overall were really good, though there were highs and lows. The shiu mai, potstickers and shrimp-leek dumplings were really great, but both of the soybean wrapper rolls were not so hot. We had creme brûlée for dessert and it was outstanding. We will definitely be back to Shanghai for the dim sum, we are already planning to bring a friend with us the next time she's in town.

    (4)

  • Alexandria B.

    In no way am I qualified to vouch for the authenticity of the dim sum at Shanghai. All I can say is that the food here tasted good. My friend, who is Cantonese and has eaten at the best dim sum places in Hong Kong (blah blah blah) isn't a fan however. Between the four of us, we scarfed down about 20 plates of food. Everything came out hot and tasted fresh except for one fish and bok choy dish. The carts came around semi-frequently and the servers were friendly. For the most part, we were able to get everything we wanted. The food was good but after a few variations of dumplings and meat-stuffed pastries, it all started to taste the same. There were no real distinguishable flavors and no single dish really stood out. I think this restaurant will satisfy your dim sum craving but don't expect to be blown away.

    (3)

  • Clifford C.

    Wanted to experience Austin's finest dim sum place. ..however I did not find it here. The restaurant had only 5-6 diners there and it still took nearly an hour to get the first order of food out. being Chinese, I noticed that the turnip cake was cold and didn't taste fresh. Most of the food that we got came out cold. The waitress we had didn't know what oyster sauce was nor did they know it went with the dish. Would not recommend this place as they are way way slow width theirs service as well

    (1)

  • Brian W.

    I'm not Chinese but lived most of my life in Seattle and this is as good as anything I ever ate there. Lots of Chinese people here too for dim sum on the weekends so it's legit! Reasonably priced too. I'm a fan.

    (5)

  • Christian C.

    Shanghai Restaurant is probably the best restaurant in Austin to grab some Dim Sum, which isn't saying a whole lot. They have a decent variety and the food is mostly hot and fresh. This place is always busy and crowded, which is a good sign that customers are enjoying their food. Service is surprisingly good as well, as most Dim Sum restaurant employees are always rushing you, or worse, ignoring you. Their Sweet Pork Buns, Pork Shumai, and Crispy Noodles are definitely some of our favorites when visiting. I've eaten at some great Dim Sum restaurants growing up in California and visiting San Francisco. Shanghai Restaurant isn't in the same ball park. However, when you're in Austin, and craving some Dim Sum, this is the place to go.

    (3)

  • Angie W.

    This was a treat! I can't wait to come back and bring my teenage kids. Rolling carts of noodles, tofu broth, sticky rice, dim sum and more! The lazy Susan in the middle of the table rolls around with varieties of delicious foods to try. We had green tea and enjoyed the experience. Note: call ahead for seating!!

    (4)

  • Jonathan N.

    Let's just make this clear: Austin does not have a good dim sum place. Go to H-Town if you want good Asian food. With that said, Shanghai is the best place for dim sum in Austin. Expect to wait 30-60 minutes for a table on the weekend.

    (4)

  • brown s.

    Best dim sum in Austin, of the 4 or 5 places I've been.

    (5)

  • Edwyn A.

    if your looking for dim sum, shanghai is the place to go. its called shanghai but only in name - you won't find Shanghai food here. For Austin its 4 stars - but compared to other dim sum places that you would find in San Francisco or Vancouver - places with more established Cantonese communities - its probably average - but what can you expect in the land of Tex Mex food obsessed Austin.

    (4)

  • craig b.

    The best dim-sum in the city. Reasonably affordable as well. I think their steamed steamed dishes are better than their baked ones, but there is no wrong way to go as far I have seen.

    (4)

  • Rosemary M.

    Just came from a family birthday party at Shanghai. It was great! Delicious food, quiet surroundings and the staff couldn't have been more accommodating. We talked, laughed, and sat at the table much longer than the usual dinner party, but no one cared. They even let us bring, and then helped serve, birthday pies. To top it off, the meal for 12 was very reasonable. It is probably much more busy at lunch when dim sum is served, but our evening meal was delightful. A super place for a gathering of family and/or friends!

    (5)

  • Zhuoying D.

    this review is overdue, because me and my friends came here so often and i kept forgetting to write this. but they are absolutely on the top in the Austin area. of course they can not be compare to the dim sum place in CA, but they are as good as they get in here

    (5)

  • Laura G.

    My friend and I had a hankering for dim sum and had been wanting to try this place for some time. I should have read the reviews beforehand about it being busy on the weekends. Got there at 12:30 on a Sunday and the place was packed. Had about a 30-45 minute wait, which usually is a good sign that the place is good and worth the wait. Once we were seated, food came around in carts very quickly. Out of everything we tried, the salt & pepper shrimp and pork dumpling were the two things I would say are good. My friend really liked the mango pudding and some sort of pork wrapped in a flaky crust with sesame seeds on top. Other than that, I wasn't very impressed. Some of the items were bland (especially the beef noodles), the duck and bbq pork steam buns were rather dry & gamey tasting.

    (2)

  • Michael K.

    While I've never been here during dinner hours, on the weekends they serve a Dim Sum Cart Service Brunch, and it is INCREDIBLE! This place is legit with a wide variety of various types of dumplings, from pork shumai to the Shanghai dumpling (our personal favorite) but don't pass up on the BBQ pork buns either! And the hot teas. Basically this place is one of the hidden gems in Austin. So do yourself and your tastebuds a favor and check it out. And the servers for the most part are incredibly friendly!

    (5)

  • Nancy C.

    The food itself is pretty good, but the restaurant gets pretty busy on Sunday afternoons. The wait time for a table changes sometimes, and they had to keep extending the time it took to find us a table. Food was worth waiting for though!

    (4)

  • Lyubov L.

    I liked the dumplings and mango pudding. Not chip place. Dim Sum for 2 persons is 64$. The service is not bad.

    (3)

  • k g.

    Fantastic dim sum, decent service, owner once kinda copped an attitude with me once when I was asking questions but oh well. Squab, xiaolongbao, crab dumplings... all great.

    (4)

  • Grace L.

    So ecstatic that we in Austin finally have quality dimsum. Yes its of course not comparable to CA dimsum but this will definitely do. We've been her several years ago and it wasn't bad but came back this past June and again in the winter and wow, it wasn't bad for Austin at all. Its very crowded especially on Sunday lunches but they do reserve. So we called ahead of time this past Nov and got seated right away. No waits at all. In June my daughter and I went right when they opened on a Saturday for lunch and got seated right away. The service is extremely nice especially for a dimsum place, something we aren't used to. The server in June was the nicest, kindest guy ever, patient as can be and not forceful like some other dimsum places who try to make you get the most expensive little dishes. Our group ordered over $200 worth of dimsum this past winter-so yes things add up but every dish was fresh and yummy. Love their porridge and especially my favorite ginger tofu dessert-done remarkably well for Austin. Their shumai and shrimp dumpling was to par as well as their chuang fun roll. Definitely go try out this place, reserve if you know ahead of time especially for a big group and enjoy. Dare to try some more exotic dishes like chicken feet and intestines because its not too bad here. Their fried stuff is usually really good and their egg tart is not bad when fresh. For Austin, I vote that this is the best place not only for their variety, freshness but also because its pretty clean and courteous which are a must for us. And we can't vouch for that in other better dimsum places even in Cali. Yay, found our go to dimsum place in Austin!

    (5)

  • Liang H.

    THE best dim sum place in Austin. I am a native Chinese, have been to many places/countries. The taste of the dim sum here is better than most places in north California. Same good as in Toronto and as in Hongkong and Guangzhou or Shenzhen China. If you really want to taste real Chinese Dim Sum. This is the best place in Austin. I also tried several other places in Chinatown and near I35, either lack of cooking/steaming time, not fresh, or not classic.

    (5)

  • Luis G.

    after reading some of the reviews I still decided to give this place a chance. I am a casual DimSum dinner and I also had DimSum in San Francisco, New York and Bangkok. Yes, Austin is not like all those places but those places are not like each other. I will just compare the dinning within the city, I went with my son, his girlfriend and my granddaughter. The restaurant was about half full and the hostess quickly took us to our table and took our drink order. We had 4 waters and a pot of hot tea, it quickly came out. The food carts came a few minutes later, it was nice since we had time to pour our tea and have a short conversion. The food carts attendees were a little rough speaking, asking "What do you want?", my reply would be "What do you have?", and the tone of the card attendee changed. All the trays were hot and fresh. If we did not see a dish that we wanted to try we just asked them if they had it and would wave another cart person and they would bring it to our table. The best example would be, my granddaughter loves the mango custard with cream on top. It took the girl no time to find it and it made us happy that she did. My overall experience was nice and pleasant. The food was good and yes they could have a bigger selection like other locations and city but for the food they had it was delicious. I would recommend it to anyone that is trying DimSum for beginners but just have to remember that they are not being rude, it just sounds like it.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth B.

    Meh. For starters, we were the only people in the entire place, which I guess shoulda been a red flag. They took my tea cup and left me a still half full pot of tea after I paid the check. Big pet peeve of mine. If Im still at your table then I expect to be provided with service, even if Ive already paid the check. So I had to drink my tea directly from the tea pot, which I did. Then they turned the lights out on us while we were still in the restaurant. I guess they close at 7pm on a weekday. Weird.

    (2)

  • Shaun G.

    One of the best Dim Sum places in Austin! Food was prompt and delicious but the best part of the restaurant was their service! Some of the nicest people work here and I would definitely come back with family and friends.

    (4)

  • Shane S.

    Decent dimsum - they have a pretty thorough menu but nothing Stands out. I found the bao to be sub par I'm comparing this to dimsum I had in LA. All in all this is what would be expected for Austin. Prices are too high.

    (3)

  • Lance V.

    Do not come here for lunch or dinner, we ordered 1. Egg drop soup: it's bland and sour from the cabbage. I never had an egg drop soup with cabbage. 2. Fried squid with the preserved vegetables : the waiter told us they don't have it, but he checked with the kitchen. So he brought the dish. Well the squid aren't fried, I don't think they're supposed to, that's ok. But they didn't squeeze the liquid from the preserved vegetables, so the whole dish tastes like preserved vegetable that were still in the jar. 3. The salted fish with chicken fried is bland. 4. The waiter which is an old man, kept hiding at the counter. So I have to make frequent trips to the counter for silverware and condiments. He handed the check while we're still eating and walked away. The reason I give 2 stars because I like the dim sum here on the weekend.

    (2)

  • Dario S.

    This place always satisfies my dim dum craving. It had been quite some time since my last visit, everything was up to par. The wait was not too bad they can even text your cell phone when your table is ready. I did not see the steamed meatball or the sharkfin dim sum( I love sharks and think it's very cruel on what they do them but if you already serve it at a place I'm at I'll eat it) I know I'm messed up. They always mix it up though, dishes can vary from Saturday to Sunday. Waitstaff is super nice you can ask them for something specifically and they will go in the kitchen and get it if they have it.

    (5)

  • Charlie C.

    Delicious and affordable. Lunch specials in the $6 range. The food comes out FAST and they keep your drink filled. Dim sum is only on the weekends, but it's GREAT!!

    (5)

  • Jessica C.

    It's hard to find good, authentic Asian food in Austin. In fact, this is the only place I've had dim sum and it's not bad (nothing compared to Houston dim sum though!) But.. beggars can't be choosers! This is as good as it gets, and it hits the spot when you're craving shrimp dumpings, fried taro balls, BBQ pork buns, and other dim sum items. If you're into people pushing those carts around, they do that here! I personally don't mind ordering dim sum off a menu, but here you can actually see the food you are about to order and eat.

    (3)

  • Ann S.

    First time: went on a random Thursday for lunch. Meh, food took too long to cook, and not all of my favorite things were available. Plus who knows what you're ordering when you're trying to go off of the menu? Everything pretty much sounds like same- shrimp, rice, shrimp/crab, rice noodles- they all blend together. All the other times: went on Saturday or Sunday when there were carts. MUCH better choice. Unless you get there really close to opening time, expect to wait about 20 minutes for groups of 2-4. I know them so well by now- it's weird but it's always 20 minutes. Awesomeness: -turnip cake!! (it's not a sweet) -steamed shrimp dumplings -flat steamed rice noodles with shrimp!! (make sure you're getting the right thing- they pour their own soy sauce over this one) -snow pea leaves (kind of pricey, but I'm biased since I grew up on them) -miso sea bass (really pricey but worth trying if you're a fish lover) -sticky rice (lots of people like the sticky rice in lotus leaves, but Hubs and I prefer the one in the bowl). eat it with a meat dish. -salt & pepper shrimp; I bet the salt & pepper squid is just as good, but we haven't gotten a chance to try it yet. -this fried shrimp ball thing. I know, great description, huh? It comes with 3 pretty sizeable shrimp balls, and there are kind of crazy, fried strands of stuff coming out of it. Maybe taro or some kind of dough/starch..? Hubs loves this stuff! I'm sure there are a few awesomeness dishes that I'm missing. I'll update if I think of more later :) If you're a Dim Sum virgin, make sure to create a soy sauce/chili sauce mixture for dipping. I also like adding vinegar to it, but you have to specifically ask a server for vinegar- it's not on the table like everything else. Happy DimSumming!

    (4)

  • Louie A.

    I don't really give many places a 5 star, but I will for their Dim Sum. This place is the golden palace when it comes to Dim Sum here in Austin. If you're in the area for Dim Sum, this is the only place that I would recommend i Austin. I've had Dim Sum anywhere from San Francisco, Houston, San Diego, L.A., NYC, and a few other places, and I can truly say that this place can compare to several places I've been to. Too bad that they only have the carts during the weekend from 11:00AM-2:30PM, but I will skip any plans to visit this place. Remember this is the only place I would suggest for Dim-Sum in Austin!!!

    (5)

  • Tony N.

    One of the better dim sum places I have been to. They were so busy and service wasn't the best. The dumplings were very good! The fried crab ball was even better! The only place I've had better was in Houston. But anything north of them would be this place. The cost is about the same as other dim sum places. Definitely going to his again when I have the chance.

    (4)

  • Min L.

    Today we order to go box here and didn't check. And later we found out they missed one item we pay for.

    (2)

  • Adam S.

    I am not an expert on authentic dim sum or Chinese cookery of any sort, but I enjoyed this place. Prices were a shade on the high side, but as a once-in-a-while outing, it's fine. Mainly I liked the fact that it was served in the same manner as I've had in Toronto and SF (little carts of random dim sum that you choose as you go). The quality seemed pretty good, but not great. There wasn't anything there that really knocked my socks off, but everything was about an 8/10. Expect average, and you'll be pleasantly surprised. Also I liked the people. One person at our table has issues with MSG, and they had no problem whipping up something without MSG for her to eat. Some one (manager-ish) stopped by and checked in with us, and overall people were very friendly. No problems recommending.

    (4)

  • Bradley F.

    As far as the normal menu goes it's your typical Chinese food but most of it is made with quality. The dim sum is the real reason to visit this little hidden gem. If you've never had dim sum and are open to your meal being an experience than definitely check it out. It's fun and the dim sum has a broad enough range of flavors to please anyone.

    (4)

  • Alex Z.

    Best Chinese restaurant in Austin I have to say, I'm Chinese just moved to Austin and it's really hard to find a good Chinese food, I have tried everywhere but this one surprised me. price is very good and the taste is very authentic. only problem is the place is very small on weekends needs to wait about 30mins to get in, but trust me it's worth a wait.

    (5)

  • Ellen T.

    Okay, so my advice is to look up what dim sum is before you go here, because my boyfriend and I just showed up after urban spooning where we should eat lunch and were slightly overwhelmed yet overall very pleased. We walked in and waited about 10 minutes despite how busy they were and everyone we encountered was delightful! Then this cart rolls up and we are shown all of these dishes and don't know how much anything costs or what anything is so we get like way too much food, but it was all awesome! Things that were awesome: -bbq steam buns -crispy shrimp balls with like strips of crunchy stuff all over it so it looks like a ball of fire - pot stickers Drinks were filled constantly and we had food on our table immediately! Loved it.

    (4)

  • Sam Y.

    Dim sum is almost non-existent in Austin. You have Shanghai, T&S (not even sure if they still have it) and Chinatown off Mopac. That's about it. This place is always busy on the weekends for dim sum. Come early to get seated quickly. They have pretty much all your standard dim sum dishes. The only dish I'm always looking for and they seem to be rare is the soup dumplings. One trick is to ask the waiter/waitresses for the specific dish you want.

    (4)

  • Gary K.

    The family came to town a few weekends ago and wanted to go for some Dim Dum. So we loaded up two cars and all 8 of us went to Shanghai on Sunday. Note: This is a very busy place on Sunday, so we had reservations which was nice to have. They have lots of carts roving around with different items for your eating pleasure. My wife loves Dim Sum and orders many items she likes and her family likes as well. Some of the items were: chicken feet, sesame balls, taro root, shrimp balls, egg custard, Chinese broccoli, snow pea leaves, pork and shrimp dumplings, curry squid, sticky rice, shrimp toast, sui mai, and special teas they like. She calls one of the teas pour (I don't know how to really spell it but it sounds like pour.) She likes duck feet as well but they did not have any that day. They all love these items and they just giggle and talk in Chinese and I don't understand a thing they are saying, occasionally I hear my name and everybody laughs and I know they are talking about me. I am very limited in what I will eat, I don't eat chicken feet, but I do eat pork dumplings, sui mai and Chinese broccoli and that is about it. I do like those items. The service is great and those that run the carts are very good and know what their product is. Would I (family) go back? Yes I am sure we will and most likely very soon.

    (4)

  • Ariana B.

    The best dim sum I have had in Austin.

    (5)

  • Sarah Z.

    I, like many people, complain about their rude hostess so I had stopped going for a while. Went again today and paid $32 for maybe 8 dishes, some of the are special so $6.95 a piece but we really didn't eat anything "special" there. Never going back!!!!

    (1)

  • Pink P.

    As an Asian familiar with dim sum in Asia, I can say this dim sum is decent for Texas. I would even say it is one notch up from San Francisco or New York Chinatown "Chinese American dim sum". I would go back. It's not the same as dim sum in Hong Kong, but the restaurant interior is more upscale than its exterior suggests, it's quite inexpensive, and the staff are very cheerful. The beancurd skin wrapped dumplings are quite tasty and the sauce is authentic. Char siew bao is not super authentic, but again, you are in Texas. They have all of the dim sum favorites, so worth checking out.

    (4)

  • Khiem L.

    I can hardly ever stand to give a Dim Sum spot a bad review but I feel this one is warranted. The phonetics in my review are going to be horrible but bear with me. Two dim sum staples here were not as tasty as I'd expect. It was like going to McDonald's and getting some bad french fries. The "Har Gow", shrimp dumplings, were oversteamed and the rice shell was soggy. It broke completely when I lifted it up. The "Xiu Mai", pork dumplings, were a bit salty in my opinion. The vegetables were good so no complaints there. The fried taro root in the football shape was good. The Chen Fun/Banh Cuon/Flat rice noodle stuffed with shrimp was pretty good. The carts came around plenty of times but I didn't find anything that was that amazing. I guess I'll have to resort to Houston for my dim sum cravings.

    (2)

  • Viva C.

    We drove over 40 minutes to come here. Found this place based off Yelp reviews and so pleased. As an ethnic Chinese, I'm always leery about dim sum on a weekday since cart service on weekends are really the way to go - but when you live in a location that doesn't serve dim sum, Beggars can't be Choosers on a weekday. Came for dim sum at lunch hour in the middle of the week with my overly-critical asian Tiger Dad. Even he was pleasantly surprised that the dim sum was decent. They actually had the most delicate Sesame Balls that I've had in awhile, bravo! The Shrimp and Leek dumplings were plump and really good. You can't go wrong with the traditional dim sum. Their weekday dim sum menu is abbreviated, but it's not sparse either. It wasn't crowded, but there were still at least 10 tables of customers. Was surprisingly pleased that the dim sum (on a weekday!) was actually really good! The hostess was a tad brusque, but she was still polite for an individual that was understandably slightly overwhelmed. I guess they're understaffed at the hour, but we still got everything we asked for service-wise. The dim sum was great. I was disappointed that they charged for our pot of tea though - $1.50 per customer. The bathroom was clean, something you don't typically find in Chinese dim sum places - but then again, I wasn't here on a bustling weekend. So happy that we found this place thanks to fellow Yelpers. ***To everyone who says that service is terrible, just want to let you know that you go to Dim Sum purely for the food. Chinese are not known for their gracious, nor ingratiating manner when it comes restaurant service. If you're eating in a high-end Chinese banquet hall, yes, you'll get ingratiating manners, but when you're running a Dim Sum establishment with aggressive Chinese customers vying to get their small plates before the carts run out, it can get hectic. Service isn't terrible here - it's just service Chinese-style. :)

    (4)

  • Cie G.

    I've experienced the worst service since I came to the US. The waitress was really really rude. She urged us to order more 3 or 4 times during our visit eventhough there were only two or three tables at that time. The Dimsum was OK but the egg-drop soup that come with the lunch menu was bad.

    (2)

  • Tina H.

    Have been wanting to eat good dim sum ever since we moved out to Austin last year. This place was pretty good (we were surprised Austin had a decent place for dim sum) but EXPENSIVE. My husband and I used to eat good dim sum and both be full for about $20 total in CA so we were a bit shocked when our bill came out to $70 before tip for 3 people. GREAT: - fried shrimp balls - shrimp and pork shumai - jalapeno shrimp but it was crazy HOT!!!! GOOD: - rice porridge EH: - salt and pepper shirmp We will definitely be back to try it again but I'm hoping we can find another dim sum place in Austin that's not so expensive.

    (4)

  • Carlos G.

    Bottom line the food is fresh, tasty, and very well prepared. For those bashing the hostess (co-owner)...shame on you! I think the bashing is only a reflection of those who are immature, racist, and obviously never travel the world. I'm a fan of this place and I welcome others to stop in for some delightful cuisine!

    (5)

  • Janel C.

    Again I'm going to have to pull the LA card, but it really is my gauge for good asian food in America. And although I didn't have dimsum that often during my 2 years in LA, if I had dimsum, it was definitely better than all the dimsum places in Austin. BUT, if I am judging Shanghai Restaurant dimsum based on Austin, this is a pretty good place to go. The key thing I think is that they have a good amount of traffic, so the carts go around often and the turnover of freshly cooked dishes is pretty good. Things to order: *bbq pork buns *daikon turnip cakes *you tiao wrapped in dough - I REALLY don't know what this is called or how to describe it any other way. It's just a lot of fried dough with more dough wrapped around. YUM! *sui mai

    (4)

  • Kelly B.

    Dim Sum, I love you. Sadly, Shanghi did you an injustice. Seriously...I've had dim sum on several occasions and it was much better than this. Perhaps it's because I came later in the day (around 1:00pm) after the morning crowd hit and they didn't have much choice left but the carts that came by very infrequently seemed a little sad. The place was dirty, grungy and had no character whatsoever. The food was pretty pricey for what you get. The service was pretty ungracious to boot.

    (2)

  • Lindsay S.

    I'm a huge dim sum consumer, so I know every single place in Austin. While this isn't my favorite dim sum place I like to go here because it is more affordable than say chinatown. The staff is extremely friendly, and if you ask for something they will whisp away and go find it for you. They have tons of shrimp dishes, which I love because I am a pescatarian. Unfortunately for my friend that was with me that day does not like shrimp or seafood, so she had a harder time finding foods that she would eat. The only thing I wish is that they had more variety instead of the same old dishes.

    (4)

  • Angie L.

    I am a very picky dim sum eater as I grew up in Taiwan and have had the pleasure of eating authentic dim sum. This is the only place I go to eat dim sum on sundays after trying many other places and going through countless horrific dim sum adventures. The cart service ends at 2:30 on sundays but you can order dimsum all day long and its alwys fresh and hot. Eat plate ranges between 3 to 5 dollars. if you are eating during prime dim sum hours from 11am to 1pm, they can get super busy. Which I dont mind because I know when its good dimsum, people are going to spread the word and it ought to be busy. The service is excellent as well. I always have people coming by picking up empty plates, refilling my water, and asking if i need anything. I speak mandarin so that helps a bit when translating for my friends. I have brought many friends here and they have always loved it.

    (5)

  • Tyler S.

    Worst Dim Sum ever had. Owner doesn't know anything about customer service. If you enjoy rude service go there

    (1)

  • Tianran G.

    Nasty overpriced Chinese food. My friend and I ordered chicken with garlic sauce, moo goo gai pan, and deluxe wonton soup. There are barely any wontons in the soup. The entrees are way too salty and they don't taste fresh. We could hear the microwave running in the kitchen: not a good sign. The waitress is rude and unhelpful. Will not go back.

    (1)

  • g U.

    This was the worst restaurant experience ever! I should of saw the leaking ceiling as a sign. By the way, they sat us right next to the leak with a bucket.This was the first time visiting here. My husband wanted to go eat dim sum for his birthday. I saw it had mostly decent reviews. Egg drop soup was cold thick and mushy. Sent it back, still cold. All orders came out wrong and when it did Mongolian beef smelled weird and meat was rubberish. Orange chicken was brown and didn't taste like Orange chicken. Finally asked to speak with the owner explaining our situation thinking he would be understanding. Completely wrong he instead yelled and said no you ate half. When the whole plate was full. He then yelled hold on let me see what you ordered. He took off only one item and when we paid the bill told him. We were charged for a soup the waitress never brought out he went ballistic. I was calm and told him as the owner you should not disrespect customers like that. Never go there!

    (1)

  • Anthony A.

    I've been told there was no good dimsum in Austin, but this place pleasantly surprised me. The hacao and the sticky rice were my favorites, and the service was quick and friendly. I'll be back

    (5)

  • Aj U.

    Rude service from the man that is the owner of the restaurant knows nothing of customer service and how to treat your customers . The food was cold. Orange chicken was not at all what it should be. Smell of old chicken and old food. Food was completely unacceptable owner was way out of line and needs to learn how to run a restaurant.

    (1)

  • Morgan R.

    Since I was nearby, I decided to pick this up on my way back to the office for lunch. Bad idea. I walked in and ordered potstickers with peanut dipping sauce and a pork entree. The first thing I noticed when I got to my work was they did not give me utensils or napkins. Being that it was a to-go order, I would assume it would come with plastic utensils at least. The potstickers were slathered in a spicy peanut butter mess. Again, I expected DIPPING SAUCE to be on the side... You know, for dipping. Super overwhelming. The entree itself was bland and swimming in tons of liquid with little to no actual pork. It tasted nothing like any Chinese food I had ever had before. All in all I give it a one star because if nothing else, it was a hot meal even if I was too disgusted-and lacked the utensils-to eat it!

    (1)

  • Jenny S.

    Not the best dimsum place I've been to but for a city like Austin, this is a pretty good place to visit. I usually go on Sundays when they have their dimsum carts and there's always a long line so go early! Some of the dimsum dishes were not up to par for me (maybe because I've had better in other cities) and the last time I went there was actually one dish that had gone bad. However, overall the food is good this is still my go to place for dimsum in Austin.

    (3)

  • Adrián E.

    -Food is great here, especially the dumplings -The hostess is a bitch, strict, and rude -The waiter was nice and tried to satisfy all our needs, lovely -If you are going for dimsum you must show up there by 2:30 (otherwise the hostess will be merciless).

    (4)

  • Jennie K.

    Dim sum carts in Austin is difficult to come by - so far, this is the best (that is, most like Houston's Chinatown authenticity level) I've seen in Austin. If you can make reservations for weekend dim sum, then do. For a table of 2-4 the wait was typically around 30 minutes at noon-ish. When I initially think of dim sum (char siu, siu mai, garlicky/vinegary spare ribs, chicken feet) I worried about the vegetarian friend we invited along. However, they had PLENTY of vegetarian options for her that were great tasting. Must say I'm disappointed that they don't have mango pudding for dessert. They do have those fried sesame balls with the sweet red bean mash in the middle. I have never had anything off their regular menu -- this is solely based on my numerous weekend dim sum experiences. Oh, they typically come out to about $10+tip per person, which is great for being stuffed.

    (4)

  • Joshua L.

    UPDATE: I went to dim sum on Saturday with my grandfather, and he noted that there were many college aged students around. This isn't necessarily a con, but it definitely changes the atmosphere of the restaurant. Be aware of this when you head out for Saturday brunch!

    (3)

  • Nancy P.

    I was so excited when BF told me he would be working at the data center on Friday. Great, let's have dinner close to there so we can try something different. I suggested dim sum and he was thrilled. We arrived to an empty restauant so service was quick. Looking over the menu, I noticed no dim sum. We asked the waitress who brought our drinks, cart service on the weekends but we could order from the menu. She went to get us the dim sum menu. I did notice they have Crispy Duck on the regular menu. Visions of this delightful dish in Chicago and San Fran danced in my mind. So I order the duck. We ordered the steam dumpling and BF gets the shrimp and scallop dumplings, the Shanghai dumplings, and the sesame balls. The steamed dumplings were way too doughy. The pork filling was bland. The Soy and ginger dipping sauce had no ginger flavor. The shrimp & scallop dumplings and Crispy duck arrived next. TheS&S dumpling were not bad, definately filled with real shrimp and the coating was tasty. Based on my past experience I was expecting two duck breasts marinated then cooked to crispy skin perfection. This Crispy Duck was a huge disappointment. It looked like they wacked a duck in half. Then threw it in the deep fryer and cut it with the bones in. The meat was dry, the skin was marginally crispy, and the bones made it time consuming to eat. The Shanghai dumplings were meh. The doughy outside got hard fast and the pork filling lacked flavor. The best dish was the Sesame balls. Dang, these are the best balls I ever put in my mouth. They were crispy, flavorful, and then surprize a dollop of red bean paste. Yummy! Even BF who isn't a fan of sesame was devouring these treasures. Lessons I have learned from this. 1. Sesame Balls do not reheat well in the Microwave 2. When I go for DimSum again, it will during cart service 3. Leftover crappy Crisp Duck can be made to taste wonderful with some help. Not sure if I will go back. Maybe another chance during the weekend.

    (2)

  • Mark J.

    I don't have anything to compare this restaurant to, in terms of other Dim Sum restaurants, but I know real Chinese food in terms of I go into Chinese restaurants and order in Chinese, and the taste of this food is excellent. We went with friends who've eaten there numerous times, and, luckily, knew to get there around 11, or as close to it as possible. By 11:30AM, this place was packed. I don't normally eat till I'm stuffed, but it was like the first time I ate sushi. I really just ate too much, partially because I couldn't stop eating; it was so good. The ribs were some of the best I've ever had, whether Asian or American BBQ, whatever. They were stellar! I gave them 4 stars because I don't know enough about Dim Sum to know if they truly deserve 5 stars or not, and because if I hadn't been with friends who knew how this type of dining worked, I really would have felt lost. The price for the quality of food was not bad, either. It came out to about $23/person for more food than we should have eaten. It would probably have been about $16-18/person if we'd eaten less gluttonously. We will definitely be going back!

    (4)

  • Jason L.

    Decent quality traditional items at a slightly inflated price. Granted, it's nothing like what you'll find in San Francisco (which is on a whole other level), but I eat here at least once a month. It can get a little crowded on Sundays so arrive early. Once you're done eating, the staff will impolitely run you out. Which I can't say I blame them considering there is usually a 45+ minute wait to be seated on a Sunday - but they can be a little rude about it. I don't really subtract any stars for this fact because frankly, I eat a lot of Asian food and I expect bad/rude service when I eat at Asian restaurants. Maybe it's a cultural thing? My Asian friends also expect it so...yeah...whatever. Overall, a good dim sum house and unfortunately only one of about two places even worth going to for dim sum in Austin. I expect their prices to come down as Austin gets more worthwhile dim sum restaurants. Dim sum in any other city is about half the cost - but Shanghai is good, and I will continue to go back.

    (3)

  • Catherine Y.

    For somebody who grew up eating dim sum every weekend morning with my folks, Shanghai restaurant passed my test for dim sum. It has quite good of a selection and they were yummy. The stuffed jelapenos, stuffed eggplants, shrimp dumplings, shue mai's, chicken feet and all, they were good. Too bad they don't make Chinese beef stew, those are delicious and staples in Dim sum restaurants.

    (4)

  • Jackie K.

    Good Dim Sum - lots of variety. Lots of shrimp and pork combos. Everything we tried was wonderful except the fried oysters. Would consider this the best in Austin right now. But considering these are the same people who started Marco Polo - the prices are high. Over $20 per person.

    (4)

  • jade y.

    The best dimsum in Autin!! I can say..it is better than LA! But do not come in weekdays...the dimsum is frozen...so the taste is not fresh!! But weekend...ahhhh...fresh and yummy and ...many choices!!!

    (5)

  • Dave K.

    This place is great! There was a line out the door on a busy Sunday around 1:00, and the two of us got seated within 5 minutes. And then the carts started coming immediately. And boy was the food good! They have all the usual stuff. They have some things wrapped in puff pastry which are phenomenal. Very light and buttery and yummy - I have never had anything like that. The staff is very helpful and friendly - I wanted a certain shrimp dumpling from the dumpling man and he couldn't find it on his cart...but a few minutes later he came scampering back with said dumplings after he found them, apparently hidden on his cart. That was cool. And I got into a nice conversation about bitter melon with another cart driver where we started talking about NYC in the winter and Indonesia where she is from. But these people will leave you alone if you want. The only thing that was lacking in my opinion was the char siu bao, I prefer it with pork chunks rather than slices. Overall it was fantastic, just about as good Dim Sum as I have ever had. Yum!

    (4)

  • Peylin F.

    I love dimsum, and it's a shame that it's so hard to find a good dim sum restuarant here in Austin. I recently visited Shanghai because of the reviews from Yelp and also some personal reviews, and I thought it was ok. Yes, it is better than most of the dimsum places here in Austin, but some of the dishes either were too salty, or didn't have enough flavor. Also, a lot of the dishes we tried were super greasy. I could taste the grease on my lips. If I had gone here before Chinatown at Mopac, I would've given this place 4 stars, but since I tried Chinatown before Shanghai, it gets docked a star. Chinatown might be a little bit pricier, but it didn't seem quite as greasy as Shanghai. If you're craving dim sum, it's still worth your $$$ to go.

    (3)

  • Diane B.

    We went here on Mother's Day, so you can imagine what a traffic jam that was, but even though the wait staff must have been exhausted, they were very friendly and the food was quite good. I particularly like that the seafood is so fresh. Dimsum is a delight to have, very out of the normal fare for us, and we glad and lucky to have a great place close by here in Austin. We came here once before and just missed the dimsum hours, so ordered off the menu that time and stuck to seafood, which was fresh and tasty if not amazing. Solid place.

    (4)

  • Hannah S.

    my mom, my friend and her son and i eat here almost every sunday. sometimes we go midweek for dinner. i have never had anything that wasn't perfectly prepared. i am not a fan of congee or chicken feet, but iwill try almost anything new. by the way, i lived and worked in new york for almost 10 years and ate frequently in chinatown -- i hereby pronounce the dim sum at shanghai closer to any other dim sum i've experienced since leaving the big apple. that includes aspen, where i was a chef for 7 years. two things combine to provide solid testimony to shanghai's authenticity: ginormous lines waiting to get in on sundays between 11:30 and 1 and the number of asian families who are in that line.:

    (5)

  • Andrew M.

    This place has good dim sum on the whole. I didn't have anything that was amazing, but it was all good. I also loved the fact that they do the carts, which is way more fun than ordering off the menu. Next time I am in Austin I will be back!

    (4)

  • Dennise d.

    We went to Shanghai this past Sunday for dim sum and it was PACKED aroun12. It seems to me that it suddenly becomes the new hot dim sum spot after the Chronicle article that declared Shanghai is their new fav "dim sum place". At first, I kinda joke about how good their dim sum could be since it's called "Shanghai". Second, although I generally trust Chronicle's food review, I have some doubt for this one because it mistakenly believes sweet-pork bun (cha-shu bo) is dessert. (blasphemy, I know) After 20 mins waiting with other 10 customers, it turns out that their dim sum is refreshingly good and of course, has nothing to do with Shanghainese food (they do have some shanghainese dishes but majority of their menu is definitely Cantonese). Their shrimp dumpling and turnip cake are very tasty, fresh and chewy (in a good way). I could smell scents of Chinese bacon and ground turnip once the cart was approaching, which really reminds me of dim sum places in Hong Kong. We only tried two pastry dishes but they are strong enough to show how cooks pay attention to details. Pastry is a basic cooking skill for Chinese dishes while it requires experiences to achieve deliciousness and keep freshness at same time. Most of dim sum places I've been tend to care less about buns/dumpling skins, which means bun/dumpling skins are usually stiff and bland, in other words, an absolutely waste for your carb diet. Shanghai's pastry, however, is carefully home-made. I think they either don't frozen their pastry or freshly made that morning. If you turn the buns upside down, you can see knead mark at the bottom. You can also see layers beneath the puffy bun skin once you open it. All these reasons makes me believe they made pastry by themselves (not buying frozen ones)and hand-made their buns. As for taste? as good as they look. We also tried minced beef balls, chicken feet, bean curd skin rolls, and rice wrap w/ beef, and none of them let me down. I usually dislike bean curd skin rolls because it's hard to keep bean curd skin crispy and not too greasy at the same time. The key word here, again, is freshness. When I put it in my mouth I could hear the crispy sound from bean curd skin and feel the flaky texture. All together, it is a surprisingly good dish. My only complain, is their dishes are kinda less salty. I'm not a big fan of salty/greasy food (Din ho is too salty for me,) but I'd like to have more saltiful kick in rice wrap sauce and dumpling meat. Conclusion? this is my fav dim sum place in Austin. Shanghai totally sweeps Tiang Hung and Pao's.

    (4)

  • Amod B.

    Must try steamed sponge cake and shrimp dumplings.

    (4)

  • Justin M.

    They have a great selection of Dim Sum and on the weekends the carts are plentiful. I was full before I was able to try everything that looked good. I'd say this is my new favorite Dim Sum place. The large size of the restaurant (No 30 minute waits like at Marco Polo, at least for now), the selection of Dim Sum, and large clean bathrooms help it stand out among the other Dim Sum places here in Austin. I haven't tried any of the other menu items but when I'm eating Dim Sum thats all I need.

    (4)

  • Rebecca S.

    dim sum to rival nyc chinatown

    (5)

  • Phyllis K.

    Since every other Yelper mentions the lack of Shanghainese food, I assumed that the Shanghai in the restaurant name referred to the days when young, unsuspecting hooligans were kidnapped and put onto pirate vessels. I was wrong as well. But, despite choosing the most inappropriate name ever, the people running this place are doing a lot of things right. First of all, the restaurant is clean and isn't rundown looking. A totally unexpected plus from ANY Chinese restaurant, new or old. And despite being clean and pretty the dim sum was really quite good. **My family has this philosophy that if you go to a Chinese restaurant, and the management has time to clean the tables, the food must suck. We never eat at a place above a "B" health code rating when we're in LA.** The dishes are pretty standard, but taste much fresher than other dim sum places I've been to. The service is polite and efficient and the price is on par with other places in town. What really sets this place apart is how fresh things taste. Your dumpling wrappings aren't crazy sticky and chewy. The one downside to the freshness is the waiting for it to arrive. Dishes tend to disappear as soon as the carts leave the kitchen, and since flagging down carts doesn't seem to fly in Austin, you have to load up the first come around, otherwise you could wait 20 minutes for a turnip cake. I have only one other minor gripe, more my own fault, because really I should have realized it was a bad idea. Never get the shrimp-stuffed jalapeno. It is crazy spicy. They cook it with the seeds and veins still in the pepper. I tasted nothing but fire for a good 10 minutes.

    (4)

  • William M.

    I'm kind of becoming obsessed with dim sum. My feeling is the only time to go is on the weekend when the carts are going around. Tastewise Shanghai is comparable to Chinatown. Shanghai is a little bit cheaper and has soups. I had a soy milk soup that was excellent. Shanghai also brings around plates of Chinese broccoli, which might be my favorite vegetable right now. However, Chinatown's got some things that Shanghai doesn't, i.e. Peking Duck, and the presentation is more attractive. The service at both places is great. Bottom line is that I like 'em both. Shanghai is a bit less frilly, but is definitely worthy. I've ordered from their menu a couple times and have enjoyed what I ordered each time. I particularly enjoyed the braised pork with salted dry mustard cabbage.

    (4)

  • J W.

    Wonton Soup - No veggies in my cup, have to get the bowl - crap. Tasted a little like my dog smells when he's wet. Hot Sour Soup - Delicious. Kung Pao Shrimp and Scallops - not worth $13, there were only four shrimp and a bunch of slimy, tasteless, undercooked scalllops. The veggies were fresh and good. Beef and Snowpeas - tasted like beef and snowpeas. NO FORTUNE COOKIES?!?! WTF.

    (2)

  • Julie D.

    We were promptly seated and served when we arrived at the restaurant last Sunday. It was probably because the place just opened up for the day and wasn't busy yet. The dim sum is good. All the traditional dim sum dishes were good...but not spectacular. I've had better shu mai and har gao in Boston. You can't really go wrong with the Tsang Fun or the Dan Ta so I wasn't disappointed. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience with exceptional service. The servers were really attentive and we always had a full glass.

    (4)

  • Ming N.

    The dim sum here is more authentic compare to some of the Vietnamese restaurant dim sum. Our last visit wasn't to friendly to our stomach that we might stay away for a while. It might be the slow season (Christmas time) that some of their food are not fresh. There were 6 of us that day and I think everyone had some stomach issue afterward (ranging from diarrhea to stomach pain). The service was on the annoying side also. First they refuse to sit incomplete party, which is fine with us. But what annoyed us was during end of our meal, they seated another party of 6 with only 4 people there. On top of that, the servers kept dripping water on us when they put the dishes down. A waitress dropped sauce on my husband's pants and she just said "oops". No sorry or anything else, they were very careless. My father-in-law finally got so annoyed and ask the guy 'why do you keep dropping water on me!'. During paying, the hostess specially made my husband wait. She kept processing other tables credit cards while my husband standing there and waiting. The last card refuse to go through, so she just keep trying and trying and finally typed the whole card number in, then she processed our bill. And they charged us 18% gratuity and sent us home to our bathroom! I think I will stop going there now.

    (3)

  • David L.

    The Combination Fried Rice was excellent. All the ingredients were extremely fresh and tasty. I liked that the Sweet and Sour Chicken comes with the sauce already on it. It is also a very clean and tidy establishment. Waitstaff is also quite pleasant. It was a delightful dining experience and I will definitely go back.

    (5)

  • Cyndee V.

    How exciting - I get to be the 101th review. I am going to start off by saying we are really good friends with this family. We have seen them open several restaurants that we love, and this is no exception. Their dim sum is truly remarkable. If you only knew how time consuming the dim sum making process is. We are truly lucky to have them, their precious time, and their presence in our little city.

    (5)

  • John G.

    Well I have now had my fourth visit to Shanghai and each time has been a little better. Hot tea and water arrived promptly. The jook/congee/rice soup now has the creamy texture it should have had all along and the eggs were in the right proportion. The Baked Char Siu Bao (Hum Bao) were rated as yummy by a table mate. The curry squid is light on curry but delicious nonetheless. The dumplings were still delicious hot and fresh (or is fresh and hot, whatever). The servers are helpful and pleasant. Still hard (impossible) to get the broccoli, spinach or steamed peas leaves. I heard from a table mate that they had seen some greens during the wait for a table but not since. Never saw a duck. Eggplant with shrimp paste was pretty good but without the offer of oyster sauce as I thought was customary. No fried dumplings made their way to our table. So all in all a pleasant improvement and I will continue to make my way back to Shanghai for dim sum

    (3)

  • Jonathan H.

    Being a native growing up in Hong Kong, dim sum was pretty much what we ate on a weekly basis(comparable to western's breakfast taco or bacon and eggs). For a period of time I was skeptical about the dim sum in Austin. Dim Sum represents the fine art of the food culture in southern province of China and Hong Kong. I tried two restaurants that serve dim sum but was unimpressed by the food presentation as well as the overall taste. However, after dinning in Shanghai because of my Vietnamese roommate's recommendation, I was quite pleased with their integrity of keeping the original food recipe here(They only serve dim sum during the weekends btw). Here are several must have if you are unfamiliar with dim sum: Shrimp dumplings, Sui Mai(Pork dim sum), chicken feet(it is good, seriously), noodle roll, pork buns, sticky rice in lotus leaf, pork ribs, and more. You can't really go wrong with the choice since they are pretty standardized. Dinning w/ several friends is recommended because you get to try everything! The food name translation here might not be exactly same on the menu, since everyone names it slightly different, but you get the idea. The only major downside for me is that the dim sum here SHOULD be served on a bamboo steamer instead of the stainless steel ware. Quite a turnoff actually. I'm not too sure if it affects the taste but presentation wise I like the bamboo more, since that's what they use in Hong Kong. Lastly, if you are not sure what to get, look over your shoulder and observe the natives, order what they did and you can't go wrong. In the process you might acquire some eat-out buddies who can show you the insider's places for your next adventure. Now you know what to get.

    (4)

  • Rachel S.

    We went here on a busy Saturday lunch. There was a 20 minute wait, but as soon as we were seated, the service was quick. There were so many carts running around, and we filled up our table fast. They were also quick to clear out empty plates and fill up our water glasses. The food itself is pricier than I'm used to. My favorite things were the sesame ball (perfect crunch, good sesame coverage, and filled with red bean goodness) and the deep fried shrimp/taro cake (extremely crispy and delicious). The shrimp & scallop dumpling was also worth a try. The shumai was average. Not so great dishes: the shrimp dumpling's wrapper was rather doughy & sticky, and the stuffed eggplant came without sauce. Overall, it's solid dim sum, fast service, and the place is clearly popular. Bonus points that a staff's daughter was selling girl scout cookies that day. :-)

    (3)

  • Martin Y.

    Best Dim Sum weekends only

    (5)

  • Ellen L.

    Expect to pay about $1.50 PER CUP of tea, 2.95 for small dishes, 3.85 for medium dishes, and 4.35 for large, where most of your dishes will be large for dim sum. It was a ripoff considering the value, quantity, and quality, but when there's not very many alternatives, this is the best of the worst. For $50, we still left hungry.

    (2)

  • Alistair S.

    I'm a big fan of this DIm-Sum place. In fact, this is my go to Dimsum joint whenever my family feels like eating some quality dimsum brunch. The staff are all great and they take care of all your requests; the cart staff are patient and show the n00bs what the food is and explain whats in it. They also have some great dimsum classics such as the chicken feet, spare ribs and har gao. I've eaten dimsum in LA, NYC and Philippines and I can confidently say that this joint compares :) One reviewer here commented on the attitude of the front manager - I have never experienced this but i should say that this lady is very busy seating people that she was probably having an off day.

    (4)

  • Tim C.

    We've eaten here about three times and enjoyed a great meal each time. We tried and devoured ( no leftovers or prisoners) the family size wonton soup, the fried dumplings and the general cho's chicken. We'll make like macarthur and "we shall return"!!

    (4)

  • Aaron H.

    can i just say Fried Shrimp balls?!?!? this was my first dim sum experience in Austin and it was surprisingly good. anything remotely shrimp-related dishes were good, except for the salt & pepper shrimp. shrimp and pork/shrimp shumais were just as good as ones from CA. the only and THE issue is the price. compared to CA, it was almost 2.5 - 3X the cost. yeah, i was pretty darn surprised to see the bill as it was almost $70.00 for three of us. maybe this is what i have to look forward to in Austin if i want a decent dim sum? or should i simply get a decent meal somewhere else for the price? hopefully someone can tell me i can get the same quality with more reasonable prices.

    (4)

  • Zinf A.

    Oh boy. What a disappointment. The quality of their food has really gone down in the last couple of years Pros: - Carts pass by pretty frequently. - Waitstaff were polite and put in an order of the Soup-filled buns for me. - My glass of water was never less than half full. - Liked the shrimp and eggplant, tripe, sticky rice, fried leek buns, sticky rice with chicken (covered in a leaf-type thing), and bbq pork buns. Cons: - The price/portion sizes. 3 fried leek buns to a plate, and I could've fit 2 in the palm of my hand. This was a "large" plate ($4.50). What the heck is a small one, then? - The pork in black bean sauce is no longer in black bean sauce. Instead, it's kind of red and really oily. - Ordered the soup-filled buns and they didn't have soup in them. Such a disappointment, when you've had the real thing. They also serve it with some red vinegar dipping sauce, which is all sorts of wrong. - The pork and shrimp shumai. It has an underlying fatty taste that leaves you feeling nauseous. - The stuffed tofu skin was fried, which left it incredibly chewy and difficult to eat. (You're not supposed to fry this kind of tofu skin...) Who was the genius behind this one? Overall, this place left me pretty unsatisfied. Everything was more oily than I remember, and the prices have really gone up- the bill for 2 turned out to be $40 (not including tip), and we could have done away with half of the dishes. They have a few good dishes but ended up butchering some of my favorites, which is a big no-no.

    (2)

  • Sarah H.

    This place was packed at 11am on a Sunday so be prepared for a wait... All in all it was a solid experience. The food was fresh and tasty and the servers came around with the carts frequently so we were able to try lots of new dishes. The only complaint I had was that we had to wait awhile to get out check and pay.

    (4)

  • Huan Y.

    Worst dim sum place we have ever been to! Went there On a Friday morning, hostress was Not very nice, food took a long time to come out, and once they came out, check this out, the dumplings were still frozen in the middle and the meat was raw! That was awful! Will never ever go back to that place again!

    (1)

  • TU N.

    Service here is POOR. We've dined here twice for dim sum and both times poor service! I had to ask 4 times for the dessert cart and then it took 20 minutes before the cart rolled by. Finally, after waiting that long for a itty bitty dessert item, the waiter failed to give us dessert plates and we had to wait another 10 minutes for clean plates and spoons. On my last visit, I specifically asked for chinese brocoli. The waiter could care less and we finally saw it on another cart 20 minutes later. I miss Tien Hong where dim sum service was like rapid fire! You ask for an item, they make it appear! Most of the dim sum was not served steaming hot either, which is bad form. The wait staff here is LAZY. The best service we got was from the lady who refilled our water glasses. We gave you two chances Shanghai, now we're done with you. So long!

    (2)

  • M A.

    ...I'd actually give this place more of a 3.5 stars, but bumped it up to 4 because of acceptable good food + great service. We had dim-sum here a Saturday morning. Listening to other yelpers recommendation to arrive early, we were there by 11a sharp. As mentioned by others here on yelp, by 11:30a (more like 11:20a) the place was packed, if not nearly full-capacity. So, if you don't want to wait for table, come early. The food was great. Of all the items we've tried--and we tried a lot of their dim-sum items...29 markings on our little order sheet!--the only one that didn't taste right was the taro dumpling, and the bao (the bun with meat inside) was so-so. Unfortunately, fired taro dumpling is one of my favorite dim-sum food :( Fortunately, there is a plethora of selection, and I enjoyed most of my other favorite dim-sum food. The chicken feet was good, could be more spicy; the little tiny braised ribs was delicious; soft tofu with ginger is made just right, the syrup is not to sweet...the list goes on. We also ordered their pan-fried combo noodles, and that was quite fragrant and delicious--the assortment of meat and seafood were fresh and yummy! I do have to say that the sauce on it was on the sweeter side, but it was definitely good. For dessert, they offer several traditional dim-sum dessert, like egg tart, sesame balls, mango pudding...etc, but they also have crème brûlée, which my children simply adored! Bottomline: dim-sum selections were good and fresh. The service was quite outstanding, especially for a Chinese restaurant during such a busy time. Waters and teapot were refilled as needed, without having to wait or ask. All the waitstaff were nice, and so were the staff who were pushing the dim-sum carts. Overall, we had quite a good experience, and aside for being a bit spendy, there's no doubt we'd definitely be visiting again and again...and again.

    (4)

  • Isabelle K.

    I asked a friend to go to Shanghai with me for dim sum. She said she won't go because the Shanghai female manager is an asshole. They had a big fight there. And she treated the customer with no respect. So I went there with other friends. I should listen to her. The incident happened. The waiter delivered the wrong tea. Since he didn't come back and we are thirsty, we drank it. In the end we complained that to the manager. She got so upset. She was yelling at me for a while. Thought we did that purposely and she didn't even say sorry. Although they made the mistake and the manager was so mad and made a big scene. I had to calm her down. She is kinda crazy. So I told her "It's OK. You sent the wrong tea, but it's our fault!" And after that, she turned around and left. What kind of attitude! She must think she has so many customers, so she doesn't need one more. OK. I will boycott this restaurant from now on!

    (1)

  • amy h.

    I went there a few times, the quality of dim sum is getting from good to bad. my main complaint is the lady owner at cashier will always over charge you.(she knew no one will actually add up their dim sum bill before they pay) I always add up my bill before handing it to her, without fail, she over charge me every time, she pretended she made a mistake when I asked her to recount my bill. try add up your bill once and judge for yourself.(if you must go there, i won't)

    (1)

  • Linda R.

    fair Chinese for lunch, tasted like fast food, hardly any flavor. I guess I need to come back for dim sum

    (2)

  • Yulun W.

    My friends and I had a bad experience there, only because of the rude attitude of the female manager. Even though the food there is OK, I won't go there any more, and won't recommend my friends to go there. Believe me, you don't want to have a bad appetite after you go there. I think people focus more on service now than before. If Shanghai cannot provide an average service, I think going forward their business definitely will go down.

    (1)

  • June L.

    Very decent dim sum for Austin, great selection, my stomach didn't hurt afterward so that's a plus.....only down side is they won't seat you until everyone of your party is there....it could be a long wait in the weekend, on Sats, they start serving dim sum at 11:00am.... great for group gathering in the weekend for dim sum.....

    (4)

  • Anjie S.

    Never coming here again. Service last Sat was horrible, the dim sum carts only came around once for a table of 5 people. I kept on waving people down to try to get food..but food never showed up. Our waters were never filled either, even though the waitress came by to fill the cups of other customers. To make matters worse, the order we placed when we first arrived never showed up... Lastly, as we were checking out, the female manager up front was super rude and did not even say thank you or even look at us when we were paying.

    (1)

  • Jin C.

    This is the second best Dim Sum place in Austin, and sadly, it's not super-tasty. Unfortunately, I live next to this place, while my favorite place is a drive, so I frequent this location often. Nevertheless, on a Sunday afternoon when I have a Dim Sum craving, Shanghai Restaurant has the stuff to settle my craving. I like their char siu bao (steamed pork bums), shu mai (shrimp and pork dumplings), har gao (shrimp dumplings), xiao lom pao (dumplings with chicken broth inside), congee (porridge), egg custard, and creme brulee.

    (3)

  • myles f.

    This is the worst meal I ever had in Austin. We went for a midweek dinner, with the place empty at 8 PM. Terrible, really terrible food in a gloomy environment. Orange beef had no beef inside the fry in unbalanced, vinegar laden sweet sauce. Chow fon noodle dish was prepared with too much soy sauce and the beef we found in it was lousy. Disgusting. Makes me sick to even think about the meal. Note: this is not the dim sum menu, which has some local fans. But I would never step inside this piece of crap restaurant again or its stinky bathrooms

    (1)

  • Nadia B.

    For Austin, this place definitely offer a great dim sum. But yes, I've had better. I grew up in Australia and dim sum place are everywhere over there and not to mention much cheaper and we can afford to go almost weekly. Oh well, this will do for now. They offer pretty good variety, always steaming hot and fresh but lines tend to get very very long if you arrive at noon on weekends. We never have bad servers, but I do notice that the lady manager tend to get snippy so I try to avoid dealing with her especially since we normally get what we need from our servers.

    (4)

  • Andrew L.

    I went to Shanghai for lunch last Sunday. The dim sum here might not be as good as the dim sum you might find in Dallas or Houston, but it's decent and some of the best in Austin. The cart service is quick and if there's not an item you want, you can notify one of the staff to what you want (assuming you know). The dim sum, like I said, is good but not great. Everything is mostly fresh, and if you're craving dim sum for dinner, you can order from the menu before 7 PM. Ordering from the menu gives the added bonus of everything coming out hot and fresh. Prices are okay and the dim sum is decent, but this is my go-to place in Austin for dim sum just because there's nothing better around.

    (3)

  • Maria C.

    Great location, lots of parking. Great atmosphere, relaxing, bright and airy, with all the windows. Food was great. Staff were friendly. Definitely coming back.

    (5)

  • Randy M.

    Our 2nd visit wasn't so great. The general tso chicken is pretty bad, way too sweet and the egg drop soup was the worst I've ever had. On the plus side the green tea sesame balls were very good. We'll still give this place another try. I do wish the lady greeting people would be more nice. She's been scary both times. :( Lucy was great again! (I hope I have her name right)

    (2)

  • Eve R.

    I'm giving this a relative 4-stars - that is relative to the fact that we're in Austin, not New York, Boston, Los Angeles or San Francisco. This is faithful, good dim sum. All the shu mai and dumplings are good, the sesame balls and pork buns are good, some things are hit and miss (I normally love the lotus-wrapped sticky rice, but it wasn't as good today as it normally is). There is a great variety of traditional and exotic dishes, and you can always try something new if you are brave enough to do so. I tried chicken feet for the first time today, and while I got lots of knowing looks when I didn't clear my plate, I can now say I've done it. All that being said, some dishes are absolutely outstanding. My favorite dish ever is the sea bass. I don't know how to describe it, it was so good. Buttery, flaky, flavorful - best sea bass I've ever had. That alone is worth a star. Going with a group is the best bet, as you can try a wider variety, and chances are someone else will like what you didn't, so nothing goes to waste. I always over-order, and end up with another meal or two worth of leftovers. Mmmmm. This is Chinese comfort food, wonderful for a weekend morning pig-out. Make sure you get there EARLY. They open at 11, and we got there at 11:07 today, and got one of the last tables. The wait can be long if you miss the first seating. But it's worth it. This is good dim sum.

    (4)

  • Wendy L.

    I would say I think this is the best place to get dim sum in Austin. They offer a large variety and it helps satisfy my craving for dim sum until I can go back to Houston. I would recommend going to eat with a large group considering you will be able to get more different items and it would be a lot cheaper too. However be warned that the wait can be a little long if you have a party greater than 4 since they don't have that many big tables. To eat I would recommend soup dumplings, which are dumplings with a little bit of liquid inside. The only problem I have about it though is that some times there is no liquid inside, which I don't know if it's because their cooking them to long or they're just drying out while in the carts...so it's a hit or miss.

    (4)

  • Elin O.

    I have been going to the Shanghai for Dim Sum for the past 5 yrs. Now I do not claim to be an expert in Dim Sum but I have eaten it in Hong Kong, NYC, San Francisco, Seattle and Houston, this little Austin place can defiantly hold its own to all of them. Some had more variety but not as fresh or was fresh but had bad service, none of them had it all. Shanghai has consistently served me a fresh, hot delicious variety of Dim Sum with excellent service every time I've been. Also stop slamming the hostess/manager, she works hard and runs a tight ship, she might not be the friendliest person but she is professional and it shows in the quality of the food and service.

    (4)

  • Sara H.

    Hubby and I went for dim sum on a Saturday. I'm giving this place a 3 star but only because I gave Ivy's a 2 star and this was marginally better, but still not great. If there were 1/2 star rating increments I would give it a 2.5. It was fine. If it is the best I can get in Austin, then I will probably return at some point, but I wasn't thrilled with what we had. Service was good, and the carts came around often. Special requests were brought out very quickly as well. I really wanted to like this place more, but it was just OK.

    (3)

  • Robert G.

    Friends rave about dim sum and I'd never had the chance to partake. I got a late night text informing me that the crew of Burningman friends was getting together and I should come out for brunch. I met a smiling group of friends around a table and amid the energy that comes with dim sum had pleasant conversation. I was a little taken aback at the constant waitstaff presence but I presume that's how dim sum is. If you went with a date or alone I think the experience would be very different. The ongoing flow of food, water refills and the like gives the foodie a different restaurant experience than I'm used to. Think Chinese tapas with Austin flair. Everything I had was wonderful. The steamed dumplings, potstickers, sticky buns, fried shrimp balls, gai lan or chinese brocolli, pork spareribs were all great. Small portions were easily shared around the table via the lazy susan set up and one of my more memorable meals was had. Appreciation for sharing a meal from the same platter is something often missed in American cuisine and I'm glad to see dim sum change some of that pattern. The influx of different cultures in America has brought together new traditions and ways of being that will hopefully infuse our way of life. I asked our waitress if they had green tea and either due to some misunderstanding or lack of english never received any. I asked another waiter for a cup for tea which was already on the table and it was a brown/reddish cup with a few tea leaves floating. When in Rome, the tea was good. It made a nice contrast to the small ongoing portions passed around. The spicy mustard is always surprising for what I suppose is its horseradish content that makes me pull air in my lungs so as to not have my sinuses full of it to the point of tears. Bonus for the what I think is smoked or fried chilis in oil that you can mix. It's hot but has a carmelized, nuanced flavor I found interesting and have only encountered at Sichuan Garden in Round Rock. All in all a good meal and most importantly good friends. If you go for dim sum be sure to bring a crew, it's a good brunch choice on a sunday. Man does not eat for nutrition alone but the company one can keep while engaging in something common to man, sharing a meal.

    (4)

  • Billy Jac K.

    I will not set foot in this place. The owner is and the food is not good.

    (1)

  • Mai H.

    Good for groups? ONLY if you come in before 11 on Sunday, Saturday is a bit less crowded..lines are out the door. Food is good but not TOO many vegetarian options for dim sum. Even the congee has meat in it! The menu itself looks like it has good veggie options but when going for dim sum, I haven't actually ordered off the menu. The options are pretty good but sometimes service is REALLY slow and you have to do everything BUT chase the carts around yourself (we did that once). I took a star off for service and for price. Coming from Boston/NYC the dim sum prices are at least 1-2 cheaper than Shanghai...guess that's another thing I have to get used to.

    (4)

  • Shannon G.

    I've not eaten a great deal of dim sum previously but I was really impressed with this place. First off, the other dim sum place I've been is in a huge stark room with a big stage, just not very comfortable especially if isn't very busy. This place looks a little more like a restaurant with a decor. Was it once a steak house or something because the bathroom doors are labeled Buck and Doe. I found it hilarious but it's also really confusing, not every one is a hunter who is aware of deer genders! I saw a very confused little boy stand around between them for a while, he ended up choosing correctly. Put a bow or some lipstick on the painting of the doe or something! We had to wait a bit but things moved quickly once we are seated. We had a party of five and I felt like we just got a ton of food but the total was a little less than we expected. Score! All the dumplings were very good, the sharkfin were especially flavorful as was the BBQ pork bun. They also had a miso seabass that was so so good. Shrimp on eggplant was super yummy. We ended up with an abundance of noodle rice rolls when the shrimp came out we asked about the pork but they only had beef on their cart. We said we'd just take that. But they thought we still wanted pork so they abandoned their cart and went and got us those too! So bonus points for making sure we got all the rice noodle rolls we could ever dream of! I particularly loved the bok choy, which seemed to be prepared really simply but still very delicious. Chinese broccoli didn't come around until we were too stuffed which was a shame. I'm only giving it 4 stars because I don't think I've built up enough of a frame of reference to say it was the tippy tops. But it was damn good and we were all so full and satisfied that we had to waddle our dumpling dimpled asses to the car.

    (4)

  • Tim L.

    You'll find the best dim sum in Austin here, but that's not saying much. The dim sum is decent and definitely better than any other place I've tried. This is your typical dim sum and there's nothing that's outstanding here. There can be long waits especially during holidays so show up early if that's the case. FYI: The hostess (I think there's only one because I ALWAYS see her) is a biatch. Every time I've gone she's been a real pain. I really don't know what's so difficult about standing behind a counter and smiling?

    (3)

  • Josh L.

    I took my 5 year-old here for his birthday on a Tuesday and it was deserted. Aside from a couple finishing up when we arrived, there was no one else. This was very different than the stories I had been hearing. The dim sum here is excellent, probably the most authentic I have had in Austin. While the one non-dim sum dish we ordered (green beans) was just OK, the dim sum more than made up for it, enjoyed by kid and adult alike. They do serve dim sum on weekdays, a huge plus in my book as someone who hates the Sunday wait.

    (4)

  • Kasey S.

    Only go here for Dim Sum. I used to go to Marco Polo - they had the best dim sum in Austin before they shut down. Now some of the workers from Marco Polo now work at Shanghai. The things to get: shumai, bbq pork bun, shrimp toast, taro bun, turnip cake, shrimp dumpling, shrimp with rice noodle, chinese broccoli. That's all I can think of for now. Good dim sum place. Not the best but a good substitute for my old favorite.

    (4)

  • Matthew H.

    Up until the point of writing this review, I'd never had dim sum. Well, that's not entirely true - I did have what was called "dim sum" at a place called Golden Wok that thinking about it makes my stomach churn in a, "WTF were you thinking?" sort of way. So when my wife and a pair of our friends decided our need for dim sum was great, we scampered on over to Shanghai with promises of tiny plates of food beckoning to us. Upon arrival, something was very obvious - the place was popular for the very reason we'd come. Groups of people choked the entrance waiting for a spot inside. All we could do was stand outside, pressed against the glass and plotting which cart we would flip over and steal its contents from like some sort of modern day bandit horde. Once seated, the fun began. Having never been exposed to the process, I found myself feeling frantic about the carts passing by. While my dining companions calmly surveyed each dish as it was offered, picking the choicest plates with the keen eyes of experience, my own eyes scanned each cart like a wild animal. At any moment I thought I might snap and find myself crouched on top of one of the carts, screeching wildly and cramming scalding hot food into my mouth. The food was just as good as I'd hoped - the dumplings, specifically, being superb. There were several authentic dishes to try and to stretch the range of your palate with. And once I realized, "Ok, Matthew - there are more carts coming - let go of the waitress's arm." and relaxed, I realized I'd found a new favorite weekend activity.

    (4)

  • Melise L.

    Don't go on Sundays b/c it's always busy and the dim sum carts won't find their way to you. Flagging down a taxi in NYC rush hr would be easier. I love the rice noodles with beef (I eat 2 orders myself), pan fried leek dumplings, sticky rice, and shumai (which prior to coming here, I couldn't eat without gagging). It grows on ya I suppose. They are painfully bad at refilling your drinks. So bad I've made the conscious decision to bring my own bottled water the last couple times I've been here. I've come here so many times I know where they keep their silverware so after I get seated I make a beeline for a knife and fork b/c I don't know how to use chopsticks =( The first few times here, when I asked what's what in the carts, a couple of the trolley-pushers would say it in Chinese. Me no understand. The fact I'm wielding a knife and fork while even the white folk at the table are using chopsticks shoulda been the first sign I haven't kept up with my native tongue. When met with my blank stare they'll say it in English. They're better now, one guy even remembers that I like the leek dumplings and rice noodles so he'll bring those around. That's extraordinary considering we all Asians look alike. The bill has always figured around $20 a person so it's worth it if you like what you got, and a total rip off if you ordered things that turned out terrible.

    (4)

  • David L.

    Saturday fills up later than Sunday, but this place does a land office business for dim sum. The eggplant shrimp and the shanghai dumplings are the stuff of dreams. And i don't know why everyone keeps banging on the hostess. She has never been any thing but delightful to us.

    (5)

  • Daniel C.

    After reading through the reviews, guess we weren't the only ones unfortunate enough to encounter the disgruntled, unhappy-with-her-life b*&#h queen hostess up front. Upon arriving, we simply asked her "given it's 1:30PM right now and dimsum ends at 2:30PM, can you confirm if carts with fresh food still will still be pushed out?"... to which she quickly snapped back "I DON'T SPEAK CHINESE, AND OF COURSE WE ALWAYS SERVE FRESH FOOD OK, THERE'S STILL AN HOUR LEFT GEEZ." Wow, who pissed in your oatmeal this morning? Even the folks waiting to close out their tab made the comment "wow, she really doesn't want to be here..." Add to the fact that their dim sum tastes like re-steamed frozen junk, don't even waste your time or money here.

    (1)

  • Ha N.

    A native Houstonian, I know a thing or two about what a chinatown and dim sum should be. To be honest, Shanghai comes pretty close to meeting the expectations of someone who came out of the womb with chopsticks in hand. The siu mai and har gao are absolutely delicious and would meet the mark for any authentic dim sum restaurant. They're also cheaper than some of the other dim sum options in Austin. And if the bustling lines out the door on a Sunday afternoon aren't proof enough of a successful dim sum service, maybe the friend shrimp balls with crab claw will be ;) What Shanghai is NOT is your prime example of fine dining. The establishment is humble and simple in decor (lined up tables with white tablecloths and not much on the walls). The staff can be slow at times and you have to call them over often for drink refills or a new order. As it is, I would definitely recommend it for your weekend dim sum fix.

    (4)

  • Grace I.

    Their dim sum has gotten worst since the last time I ate here, which was about six months ago. I've had my fair share of dim sum and people only go here because there seems to be no other place serving dim sum. That doesn't mean they should flake out on the quality and taste of their food. The shrimp dumplings were over cooked and soggy.. Steamed pork buns had no flavor.. Pork ribs were a bit too salty.. and the desserts had an off taste.. There was nothing good at this place.. The waiters are friendly and nice.. However, the hostess that works in the front is absolutely rude.. She must be a relative of the owners, by how she treats all the customers.. Sorry lady, this isn't China.. where being rude is accepted.

    (1)

  • Katie L.

    I really did not enjoy coming here at all! Me and my boyfriend came here for dim som and I didn't like it at all for some reason! I guess it is not for me! The service is terrible except for one waitress that was real nice but all the others seem like they hate their job! If you like dim som, I would suggest going to a different restaurant!

    (2)

  • Anh P.

    Dim sum is excellent here! Well at least it is to me b/c my Chinese friend knows what to order. I always have good Dim sum here. I think people that give it low reviews aren't Asian people who have any idea what Dim sum is.

    (4)

  • Benjamin D.

    Coming from Hong Kong, this place is an embarrassment to Dim Sum. I found most of the food ranging from inedible to mildly ok.

    (1)

  • Chien C.

    In terms of dim sum, it is the best in Austin. But I am very disappointed with the service from the owner (the lady). I live in Austin and this is always our pick for dim sum occasionally. It happened 2 times when we received not so fresh shrimp dim sum, we requested to return and the owner had to approve it. In both experiences, she was reluctant to do so and not even bother to offer any apology. She basically thought that we are the bad customer and trying to take advantage of it. My wife and I are just very disappointed with the treatment. Going forward, I think this place is off our picks. I really hope the owner can see this review and make appropriate changes on customer service.

    (2)

  • Sue D.

    Review for Dim Sum only: Overall a good experience, but a bit pricy compared to most places. With tax and tip our bill was $48 for two people. Yikes! We did however, have some leftovers. The cart service on the weekends can be slow. There were often times you wouldn't see a single one in sight! At one point I found myself hailing down a cart as soon as it came out of the kitchen, everyone looked but I didn't care. The options are typical of your dim sum fare, but they didn't have the turnip cakes!!! The pork buns were delicious, maybe the best I've had. Portion sizes are small - average compared to the prices. The service I must say was pretty good for an Asian restaurant. It was a nice surprise.

    (3)

  • Mary T.

    My husband and I bring a large group of friends here just about every other month for Sunday dim sum. We'd be here more often, but every other month is about all our wallets and waistlines can handle. It is unequivocally the best dim sum in Austin. The downside is, just like almost everything else in Austin, the dim sum here is pricier than anywhere else. Otherwise the food is consistently good and the service is consistently mediocre. If you're a dim sum virgin, come with people who have been before since it is extremely overwhelming when your party is surrounded by carts who are all trying to drop plates of steaming hot goodness on your table. You need to bring someone who can say, "No, thank you" with authority but you also don't want to inadvertently pass up anything delicious by accident. I'm not even going to pretend I'm cool enough to know the names of anything I'm eating here, I just recognize the food I like on sight and point to it emphatically until it's off the cart and on the table. Oh, but be sure to get the crème brûlée. Not only is it a completely unexpected dim sum item but it is astoundingly good. Dim sum is a lot more fun with a large group of people. I'd say six people is the minimum party size for maximum dim sum enjoyment, though they do have smaller tables for smaller parties. The people who work the cash register are almost always grumpy, but to me that is a part of the authentic dim sum experience. If the people behind the counter were smiling at me, I'd be paranoid that they'd gone batty and poisoned the food.

    (3)

  • David R.

    Their hours say 9 on here, their hours say 9 on the door... At 8:30 we were walking up and they turned the lights off in front of us. Food may be decent, but not worth it if the aren't ever open.

    (1)

  • Meggen D.

    So I've ooohed and aaahed over this place for weekend dim sum. I've since returned a couple of times for dim sum and once for lunch. I've heard that they have dim sum for dinner, as well, so I kinda expected it for lunch, too. WRONG! For lunch, it's a cookie-cutter, dive-y chinese food restaurant. Not particularly good, either. They should stick to dim sum. Really. The lunch specials include the usual suspects: beef and broccoli, lo mein, general tso's...that come with soup and egg roll. Well, I got the house lo mein. It was tasty, but it wasn't nearly as good as the noodles they have with dim sum. The egg roll was filled with molten cabbage...pretty sure that was it...and it was particularly greasy. The wonton soup was good, though. The food was just okay, but that wasn't what ruined lunch for me. The second I walked in, I knew it was going to be a different experience. For dim sum, the place looks really great: white table cloths, servers carting around the goods, people everywhere. Turns out that without the hustle and bustle, it's just not the same. And without the table cloths on the tables, the room looks dank and old. Also the hostess wasn't nearly as eager to seat us. It was just awkward. Realize that my 2-star rating is only for the lunch experience. I've never had a bad experience here for dim sum (read my review from 1/20). I don't want to discourage people from eating here. Just know that it's only worth it if you go for weekend dim sum. My lunch could have been from any generic chinese place. All I can figure is that the good dim sum cooks only work weekends...along with all of the servers...and the table cloths.

    (2)

  • Tenore G.

    Okay...yes, my friend has mad ninja skills. Way to go Liz H. You are sneaky. I still didn't give names. My mother taught me well, if you don't have something nice to say about somebody, don't say it. Anyways...on with the food! The food was excellent. Like Liz's review, the dim sum was the choice of the day. We all picked different things. Being adventurous, I chose bible tripe. If you don't like tripe...then don't eat it. I happen to enjoy crunchy, yet chewy, meat-flavoured things with papillae texture. It was very good. I also chose shrimp w/ egglant and the BBQ pork thingys were awesome. Did i mention sesame balls! Yes, they are awesome. Everything is made fresh as well, so be careful...it's hot! I also added their chili oil sauce to pretty much everything, which added a nice toasty, spicey complexity to the simple dim sum. To cap everything off, I chose a coconut bean curd. It's like coconut flavoured jello w/ crunchy red beans, which reminded me of coffee. Yes, the chili oil went on the coconut as well... i know...i'm a freak. I really enjoy this restaurant. It consistently has great food for a great price (for lunch). If I dont' have dim sum, i usually order from the dinner menu, shrimp with chinese vegetable (which is broccoli rabe). Bitter broccoli w/ sweet shrimp is an excellent combo.

    (5)

  • Tina P.

    It doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside is GREAT dim sum!!! This place gets busy on Sunday afternoons so try to get there early. I came today at 11 am and had no problem finding a table. Good basic selection of dim sum here for very affordable prices. My bill almost always ends up around $15 and I always leave feeling stuffed and satisfied. I've never tried anything else here so I can comment on their regular menu items. Best if eaten the day after a heavy night of drinking... nothing like some good dim sum to make you feel better! (not that I have experience or anything)

    (4)

  • Tiff T.

    Not bad dim sum when comparing it to places outside of Austin, but definitely the best option available in town. On my most recent venture with a group of 10 on a Sunday at noon, the hostess was rather bitchy, probably because she had to deal with hordes of people coming in and asking how long the wait was. But doesn't she have to do that every week anyway? I'm sure she should be used to it by now. After over an hour of waiting (mostly for people who were already done eating to get their asses out of their chairs and pay their tab) we finally get seated at the prime table next to the kitchen door. Woohoo! The fun begins. My dad enjoyed bantering with one of the waiters in the little Cantonese he knows. And I wave along the carts that either had bad timing (desserts should not be eaten before xao mai) or had already come by. I always have a hard time controlling myself at dim sum: whatever comes by that looks tasty is ordered in threes, and I devour my share almost immediately. We ended up with a tab of $140 for our crew. The verdict: Shanghai isn't great if you don't know better. But I can pretend I don't know better for an hour to satiate my dim sum cravings.

    (3)

  • Karen T.

    Dim sum is tolerable, if somewhat pricy. They have the usual staples of char siu bao, har gao, siu mai, egg custard, etc. Nothing is particularly stellar except for maybe the special salt and pepper calamari. Probably the best place in Austin to invite a new initiate to the dim sum scene. Service is prompt, but they also tend to run out of items. The wait can be long at peak hours (Sunday noon). Dining area is cleanly, but the bathrooms are not. TLDR: Wait = Ok. Food = Good. Price = Boo. Service = Yay! Cleanliness = Meh.

    (3)

  • John M.

    My youngest daughter (and spouse, for that matter) has a real jones for Dim Sum - quite possibly cultivated from numerous trips to San Francisco and visits to various Dim Sum joints in and around the Bay Area. I like Dim Sum well enough, it's just that after awhile, I think it's kinda hard to tell the diff between one place and another (assuming it is fresh, etc.). I mean, you can only do a shrimp or shark fin dumpling so many ways... But the clanking carts, the servers in constant motion, the little meal "score card", the pot 'o Jasmine tea and the inevitable language barrier all add to the fun and charm of it all, so I have come to like it a little more than I have in the past. So, it was off to Shanghai before a Horns ballgame. There was a slight wait, but after we were seated the dumplings and tea flowed. It's definitely the real deal - the food was excellent. The prices were also reasonable and we left as one big happy family. We'll be back!

    (4)

  • Bryan V.

    Let me start out by saying that I've had some pretty phenomenal dim sum in my life, having eaten at a couple places in San Francisco, one in Seattle, a couple in Vancouver, and a few in New York. Not to mention some pretty decent places in Houston. I wouldn't go into a dim sum place in the middle of Austin expecting to get food like those places. However, after looking at reviews and menus, this seemed like the best place to go among limited options (I distrust this "modern" take on dim sum offered at another local establishment.. what is this shrimp in cocktail glass tomfoolery?). We arrived a few minutes early, so were sat in the first group. I can't speak for how bad the wait gets, but it did fill up pretty quickly. The design of the restaurant is a little questionable as the bulk of the tables are far from the kitchen, and cart service goes (or went, at least) in primarily one direction. I got most of what I wanted, though, and it was still hot. I did have a baffled moment where the server spoke to me in clear English, which I am not used to. There seems to be the usual variety of stuff. Nothing too adventurous. The barbecue pork was uninspired, though not insipid. My dining companion, usually a fanatic, wasn't enthused about stealing the third cha siu bao from me. And I think I'm the only one that ate any fun roll. The sticky rice, usually a favorite for both of us, was underwhelming with one mushroom, one meager slice of sausage, and a few specks of pork inside each one. The shrimp paste in the har gao was too full of filler (texturally off and low on flavor), though this turned out to be a boon on the eggplant topped with shrimp paste. Dishes not involving BBQ pork or shrimp were better, though I neglected to order any Chinese broccoli because it looked overcooked. The one truly great thing there were the woo kok, the crispy taro puffs full of pork. They had just been fried, and were crispy and delightful. I could've eaten a whole meal of them. In fact, I wish I had. The service was OK. It seemed friendly, though my friend was bothered by them being a little grabby, taking away plates while I was peeling rice off the leaf it was wrapped in and standing there waiting for me to finish, etc.

    (2)

  • Bernadette D.

    I met up with some friends for some dim sum and I realized this was my first dim sum ever since I arrived in Austin. The dishes that stood out were the salt and pepper calamari, fried dumplings and creme brulee. Definitely going to come back. Also dim sum is pretty cheap when there's more people with you.

    (4)

  • Rachelle R.

    Whoa. Didn't know I could eat my weight in dim sum. At this place, it was easy. With shumai, pork buns, salt and pepper shrimp coming around the bend every two seconds, I was really in trouble. We've been a little hesitant about trying the dim sum in Austin ever since we moved here from NYC, but we've definitely found our dim sum spot with this place! Downside? It's a little pricey. I'm used to things being like $1.50. Boy were we surprised when we got the bill: $50 for about 10-12 dishes. Just a warning.

    (4)

  • Tre T.

    This place is top notch for Dim Sum. Great choices and very fresh food every time. Even their lunch specials are the best in the area (if you can't make it for Dim Sum on the weekends). They staff is friendly and attentive. Finally the price is just right, very affordable!!!

    (5)

  • Stephanie P.

    Score. Pretty good Dim Sum in Austin. Who knew? I had a craving this morning and found Shanghai on Yelp. Reviews seemed good and it's pretty close to our house so we figured, what the heck? Truthfully my expectations were low as I've had spectacular Dim Sum in Chicago, San Fran and NY... so a restaurant in the parking lot of a bad strip mall in central Texas isn't exactly what I pictured for great Dim Sum. Pleasantly surprised to have been proven quite wrong. We arrived around 11:30 am (easy parking.. plus of said strip mall)and were told it would be about 20-25 minutes but it was really only about 15. People were flooding in and out - one of the great things about Dim Sum.. its fast! The first cart was at the table literally as we were seated and we dove right in enjoying a flood of carts, choices, and fresh quality food with good flavor and spice. What we had: - Pot of hot tea - Peking Duck (the hubby raved!) - Leek Dumplings (the best thing we had) - Taroroot dumplings (good flavor but didn't realize there was pork in it till we'd eaten it - ugh - and I don't like to eat pork because I think pigs are too cute to eat. Yep, that's the reason. After that I was sure to ask specific questions about each item) - Shrimp Dumplings (pretty standard) - Stick buns with red bean paste (also pretty standard but always yummy) - Pork Dumplings (hubby raved) - Pork Bums (looks like baos. He took down all three without blinking an eye! Um yeah, he was stuffed!) - Jalapenos stuffed with Shrimp (awesome!! Great flavor and good heat) Desserts looked good too but by then we'd had enough. Oh and ALL of that for three people (yep, we are eaters) was only $35! Overall it was a good variety but I would have liked to see more veggy or non pork items and more fish. There were a couple of soups that sounded good but one had tripe (ewwww) and the other pork.. so alas, had to pass on the soups this time! I do think the selection is a bit of the luck of the draw as we saw some beautiful Chinese broccoli go by as we were leaving.. bummer. Next time I'll hold out for the broccoli as yes, there will definitely be a next time!

    (4)

  • Kathryne B.

    Went for mother's day dim sum with my family. We are 1/2 Italian, 1/2 Philipino, and I guess the foodie explorer in us comes out around food. I love that 4 out of 5 of us are adventurous and will try almost anything that is put in front of us... which makes for a table FULL of good (and a few not-so-good) food! (except for dad- he's diabetic so he's particular about sauces and carbs) The wait was about 45 mins, but it might have been longer than normal since it was Mother's day. As soon as we were seated, the carts started coming, and our eyes are always bigger than our stomachs. We immediately started saying "YES, please!" to every dish they offered, and I think regretted it an hour and a half later. Don't get me wrong, about 90% was awesome (the other 10% was greasy and/or just not to our liking), but we were STUFFED beyond belief when leaving. My suggestions to make your meal here a complete success: BE PATIENT. Really slow yourself down so you can get the delicious things they bring out later (because they take longer to cook, like CRAB!). Or even better, go a little bit later on in the morning. Also, don't be afraid to try anything. You never know what you'll be pleasantly surprised about :) Can't wait to go back for more!

    (4)

  • Michelann Q.

    I crown Shanghai Restaurant my favorite Dim Sum place in town. For now. There's some mythical dim sum chef who, if all the rumors are true started at Rainbow Seafood, and has worked at almost every other dim sum joint in town. Whether or not this is true, they've got it right at Shanghai. The restaurant itself is bright and clean, and the decor is modern and nice. The servers are friendly and helpful, and they come by pretty frequently. The selection is the best I've seen in Austin, they even had some dishes I hadn't seen since I left San Francisco. We went at about 11:45 on a Saturday and there was no wait to be seated. On our first visit, we had steamed shrimp dumplings, leek and shrimp, shark fin, pork dumplings, baked pork bun, Chinese broccoli, shrimp balls, sesame balls, turnip cake, and shrimp noodles. There were about five other things I wanted to try but couldn't cram in. The leek and shrimp dumplings were a standout, so fresh and flavorful. The shrimp balls, which I usually avoid because of greasiness, were excellent and looked really cool too. The pork dumplings (siu mai) were good but not as strongly flavored as my husband likes. The sauce on the Chinese broccoli was a little oilier than I prefer, but the freshness of the broccoli made up for it. I highly recommend Shanghai for an authentic and totally yummy Dim Sum experience.

    (5)

  • Colin T.

    My sister-in-law's from Taiwan and was armed with this place's name for dim sum as they passed through Austin, and as I led them to the address I was amused to find it was in the old Mason Jar building. Some of the original hillbilly signage is still there, too, to slightly bizarre effect. It wasn't crowded at all at 5:30 on Friday; we were one of 4 tables at its peak. The dim sum came out fast! We'd made about 7 selections and ordered two entrees between the three of us, and it all came out in two waves. I particularly enjoyed the shrimp and scallop ones, and the bbq pork buns were tasty. The sponge cake was hot and delicious, but I wasn't into the sticky rice like she was. Still, she's the one who ordered it and she ate a lot of it. Apparently my brother's not man enough to eat chicken feet with his wife, so he encouraged her to do so with me, since I would. Is that some kind of incest? The feet were alright, but not sauced very well; I prefer the ones at Golden Fortune. They were hot, which is the main thing for me, and again, she liked it fine. Oh yes, she did. The black bean eggplant was unexpectedly spicy, so if you're very sensitive to peppers, you might want to confirm with the staff that you want things mild, even for dishes you've never thought of as spicy. Seemed like the staff was a mother & daughter (call me), and we got plenty of water refills and no dirty looks regarding my 1.3 yr old nephew, who made a lot of noise. A bunch of her favorite items aren't offered during the week, so I'd go back on the weekend, when all dim sum items are available.

    (4)

  • Thomas M.

    Worst Dim Sum I've ever had. You'd do just as well to buy shumai, bao, noodles at an asian grocer and cook it in a microwave. The rice paper, and other wrappers turned to mush the moment you touched them. There was cartilage in my shumai. The bao was dry and tasteless, the beef noodle was absolute mush! Their "shrimp balls" were ok but considerably more salty that I was used to. The staff was very friendly and they came around with food frequently; even so, I suggest you go somehwere else!

    (1)

  • Laura F.

    My friends and I went here for lunch today and were really disappointed. One of my friends was craving dim sum and read on Yelp that it was good here. I've never really had legit dim sum but what we had this afternoon was NOT good. The lunch specials are cheap but nothing special- very greasy and unremarkable. We ordered some dim sum and the buns and dumplings were all really sticky and filled with unflavorful mystery meat. To top it off the waitress really seemed like she hated her job/us. The egg rolls were filled with like.. dough no veggies or meat filling. One of my friends asked for sweet and sour sauce and she got applesauce (?!). It was just one of the worst food experiences I've had in a long time. At least I was in good company! We won't be back...

    (2)

  • Jeanie D.

    this place gets packed on the weekends for dim sum- basically chinese brunch, bite-size. the waiting area is standing room only and overflows outside. ppl usually convene in groups so for a party of two, we moved right up to the next three names to be called. SCORE!! see ya suckaaas!!! dim sum can be ordered daily, but it's only pushed around in carts on weekends around brunch time. that is NOT the time to want to be in a secluded corner for an intimate convo. you want to be out front and center where you easily flag a cart down and pick what your heart desires. on the menu, for us, today: *pork & shrimp dumplings (shu mai)- quite arguably the best in austin or houston *leek dumplings- heavy with leak and garlic! *fried taro with ground pork- funky looking and we just call it the football *boy choy sauteed with garlic *shrimp balls with crab claws- fried ground shrimp balls with a crab claw jabbed into it *"shanghai style" rice cake with shrimp *bbq pork steam buns *egg custard steam buns

    (4)

  • Matt S.

    Major downgrade over the years.. I wrote my 4-star review back in 2007 when Shanghai was pretty new and was actually trying to please customers.. The management has now turned into money-grubbing monsters. For example, the mandatory 18% gratuity they add for large parties. If the service sucks, you should not have to pay 18% gratuity. Let's be honest, this is just Dim Sum, nothing unique about it. The dishes are the same as any other Cantonese Dim Sum on the planet, nothing special. I have no idea why the management has adopted the current attitude that WE customers should be grateful for stepping foot inside the restaurant. I will now go to ChinaTown for Dim Sum going forward,, Bye Bye Shanghai, go luck losing customers one by one..

    (1)

  • Jeremy K.

    This isn't saying a whole lot, but this is the best dim sum in Austin. It's fresh, the service is much less salty than other dim sum places I've been to, and the dishes are delicious and don't make you feel (as much) like you've been poisoned by MSG. The selection of dim sum dishes isn't as big as places I've been to in other cities, but is more than enough to have a good meal. The prices are in line. One honorable mention goes to their lo mein noodles - I've only seen them twice on the dim sum carts, they are fried thin yellow noodles in a small dish - but they are awesome. Definitely get them if you see them!

    (4)

  • Bella M.

    So on our trip to Austin we planned on having Dim Sum. Since i have to try Dim Sum at each city we travel to. So I did my research and we were both anxious to try what so many people said was the "BEST" Dim Sum. We were sadly let down. We arrived at about 12 and were told there was going to be a 30 min wait. Well me having previously worked in the restaurant industry knew that was a lie. So our 30 min wait quickly turned into an 1hr 15 min wait for a party of two. Now I'm used to traditional Chinese setting when it comes to Dim Sum. You know big bowl of rice in the middle of the table so everyone can eat from it. Well when we asked for that we quickly got told in a rude way that, that was impossible. So we got two little bowls of rice ok i will let it slide. But than the rice tasted like something out of a box. But here is a quick list of what really stood out. - Soy Sauce watered down - Rice was not Jasmine rice but yet tasted like Uncle Ben's - Shrimp Dumplings tasted so god awful - Chicken Feet blah! just no! - Crème Brûlée? Really Did France invade China and i wasn't aware We had mostly everything we usually get in Dallas minus the Crème Brûlée but unfortunately this place just wasn't up to par. When i go back to Austin I will mos def not visit this place. Not to mention a lil pricey for dim sum that honestly was not memorable.

    (1)

  • Gallant D.

    Took forever for the cart to reach us and by then all the food was cold , but for it being semi good after being super cold just shows how good the food is fresh !!

    (3)

  • Vinh T.

    Cold food. Selection was average but poorly executed. Will not return.

    (1)

  • Karyn S.

    Service was good but I've had better dimsum. Cha siu bao was cold and too sweet,Ha cheung fan was not soft and the sieu mai was a bit cold,but everything else we had was good i recommend lo mai gai and hakkao

    (2)

  • Brian B.

    Thought I had written a review of this place based upon my first visit several months ago, but I can't find it so I guess not. That visit wasn't so good (we got stuck in the back). Today it was like we went to a completely different restaurant. We arrived at around 11:15 and got the last free table. The wait quickly grew after we sat down and by the time we left, the place was absolutely packed. Note to self - arrive early to avoid a lengthy wait. It was 30+ minutes when we left. Service was absolutely incredible. We had drinks within 2 minutes and food on the table within 3. Dim sum is served via carts instead of by menu ordering, at least on weekends. Everything (except the sticky rice) was absolutely delicious, fresh and hot. Shrimp and potato hashbrown cakes were incredible, as were the fried shrimp balls (covered with wonton strips). The more traditional dim sum pieces were also fantastic, from steamed shrimp and pork dumplings to spring rolls to pot stickers to wonton soup with seafood. Wow. I've only had better dim sum and that was in Vancouver's China town. The sticky rice doesn't come in a banana leaf here and isn't in a steam cart, so it was luke warm and kinda dry. I'll avoid in the future. Otherwise, this place was fantastic and is highly recommended for beginners to more advanced dim sum palettes. No fish smell today either, which is common at my other dim sum choice, Fortune. Several very large family style tables are available here, but the place itself is no where near as large as Fortune, which likely explains the wait. Staff spoke very good English, which can be very helpful when trying to determine what you want to order, especially for beginners.

    (5)

  • Cristina N.

    Best dim sum in Austin! This place is packed on the weekend. There's a line before the place even opens at 11am. We came in at 11:30am on a Sunday with a group of four - we were told 40-45min, but got seated within 20-25min. My favorite dim sum items are the steamed pork buns, the green shrimp dumplings, the sesame seed balls, and the egg pastry cups.

    (4)

  • Priscilla Z.

    I've been there once. And I was told it is the best dim sum restaurant in Austin... The food is Ok, not that good. Maybe is because I'm from LA. I really wish I could find some good Chinese food in Austin.

    (3)

  • Alexa B.

    A friend and I went here for dim sum yesterday (a Saturday) and it was absolutely delicious. It was pretty slow when we got there at around 11:15-11:30am, but was packed by the time we made it out. The only disappointment was that we really stocked up on goodies as soon as we got there and were too full when they brought out new treats around 12:30. The waitstaff is very friendly and happy to explain everything. Everything I had was delicious, but the rice noodle rolls with shrimp were probably my favorite. I can't wait to go back and try some more!

    (5)

  • Jennifer H.

    They have lovely dim sum on the weekends. The bean and pork is heavenly, just enough fat lol. The eggrolls are a very safe choice. The fried shrimp is flaky, crispy, delicious! The pork dumplings are also very basic part of the meal. The shrimp dumplings are good too. The sesame ball for dessert rocks! Loved my first experience at Shanghai dimsum time

    (4)

  • Miki M.

    It's time for me to add my 2 cents. I am convinced this is the best dim-sum place in Austin, and while it's not as visually attractive as another restaurant called "Chinatown" (which is tailored for a predominantly Caucasian audience), to me Shanghai is a lot more authentic. If we can talk about authentic Chinese cuisine in Austin... No wonder this restaurant is frequented by a predominantly Asian audience, which in my book is a very good sign. :). Their Shanghai dumplings (a.k.a. shao long pao) were tasty, but a bit dry and broke easily when I was trying to detach them from the steaming plate... To tell you honestly, I've had a lot better Shanghai Dumplings before in my life... But i loved almost everything else that I tried: - Fried Taro Balls - Har Gow, Tripe - Squid in Curry Sauce - Tendon, Spicy Squid - Sharkfin Dumplings - Soft tofu (available in sweet syrup or spicy chili sauce) - Pork BBQ Bao (buns) - Stomach - Chicken Feet - Shrimp & cilantro dumplings - jellyfish... - Etc. etc. etc. Everything was super tasty, maybe except the sticky rice and the beef noodle, which felt like they didn't have the entire list of ingredients at the time. Maybe it was a temporary thing, but I haven't felt like ordering those ever since... No matter what, Shanghai Restaurant is a very good, solid, reliable choice for Dim-Sum lovers in Austin. Check out some of the pix uploaded by other Yelpers, yummy! Actually, I am on my way there as we speak. :) See ya there!

    (5)

  • James Kimo L.

    YES! This is THE place for Sunday dim sum..luckily we got there around 11 and the place was already full of people but once we got done around 12:30-1pm, holy moly there were TON of people waiting and the waiting area and outside were packed! Once you get a table though, you can breathe a sigh of relief but only for a few seconds because the carts start charging through and while one waitress ask what you want to drink, another is already asking if you want the steam pork buns on his/her tray. Now THAT'S FAST service lol. Dim sum is pretty predictable and you definitely have your typical fare here...don't expect the unexpected here...there's no fancy fusion menu, vegan style this or kosher that...it's just good old fashioned Chinese delicacies from your variety of dumplings to chicken feet and beef tripe....from fried vegetable egg rolls to banana wrapped sweet rice. The waitresses were good about refilling water and the carts did plenty of stops to our table...you know you had good dim sum when you feel full but not too bloated. For a table of about 8, we got alot of plates but we all ended up paying only around 20 bucks each (and that included tip)...not bad. Definitely will come back again! Thanks Shanghai!

    (4)

  • Michael G.

    Since moving to Austin this has been my family tradition with my brother eating here. We have gone other places for Dim Sum, but this is the most consistent. And I don't think we are the only ones that know this since this place is always busy on the weekends. From the duck, sesame balls, Chinese broccoli, to the dumplings this place always delivers. Choices can be scarce and they don't usually make special requests, which is fine. It is best to get there early for if you want to try the more popular items but there are bold choices for the brave as well. I'm thankful that our friend who is from Singapore is always with us. He picks, we eat and then decide for ourselves. I never ask what he picks until I've tried it. Reminds of how my dad got me to to try calf fries when I was little... Live and learn.

    (4)

  • Robert S.

    After Tien Hong closed on Burnet & Ohlen, I thought I would never have my dim sum itch scratched again. I was partially right. Shanghai comes close. Personally, I'm addicted to the leek dumplings. I would fight with my best friend for them. Everything else is good, too. You cannot go wrong. If you don't know what something is, the staff is more than willing to help you out. Most of the dumplings are filled with shrimp, pork, chicken, or beef, or some combination. So there's nothing really out there - save the chicken feet. I never grew enough of a pair to have that. And now that I'm a vegetarian and borderline vegan - darn! Speed of service is a toss-up. Sometimes the line is out the door and the service is fast. Other times it's not. The Szechuan chili sauce is a bit on the weak side compared to other places I've had any. It mainly tastes like oil and crushed red pepper flakes - which is pretty much what it is. Either way, for a little flavor, add some salt to the sauce.

    (4)

  • Rhyno X.

    Food is massive excellent. Competitive pricing, friendly & efficient service, & convenient ez on ez off location. I live within 5 minutes of the Chinatown center and I would still drive all the way to Shanghai to eat. It's that good. Everyone has a big butt. Let's talk about mine. Minus 2 stars for our server holding a co-worker's baby by cradling it under it's diapered butt several tables away then returning to table our food seconds later. There's no way hands were washed in that little time. I watched & timed it. I like babies (properly cooked w/ a light pan sauce) but fer Budda's sake have the decency to handle them out of sight when yr bringing stuff that goes in my mouth. UGH. If this place were a dump I might not be so harsh but they aspire to greatness and this put me off my meal. I'll go back at some point as this is likely isolated but potentially dirty baby butt and food handling are a deal breaker.

    (3)

  • Kristen F.

    Remember the soup nazi on Seinfeld? Compare him to the hostess at Shanghai. They're pretty similar- you have to be careful not to get on her bad side. She can be pretty tricky. My bff, Jen C., is a dim sum expert. She made sure to give me the skinny on all the available options, and ordered some vegetarian-friendly fare for me. The hot tea, sesame balls, rice-covered chinese doughnuts and creme brulee were my favorites. The creme brulee was the most adorable thing I've ever seen. I had to take out my camera phone and take a picture (see the photos - I"ll upload it) of the little mug with a cute little blueberry on top. Adorable. The wait was about 20 minutes at noon on a Saturday, which didn't seem so bad. Steve T. mentioned this can be unbearable if the weather's bad, and I can understand him. We did have to wait outside. Jen says she has some friends that spend twice as much, but for a party of seven, we ran up a bill of about $100, so about $14 each. Kind of pricey for what I ended up eating, but it was a fun experience. I'd go again.

    (3)

  • Michael B.

    Shanghai is 10,549 miles away from Austin according to my iPhone map. That's 37 days and 8 hours with traffic! I had a good laugh at that when plugging in Shanghai into the map Sunday morning. You'd think common sense would prevail and it would send me to the nearest business with Shanghai in it's name! I will be honest. I never once had dim sum in China. Oh sure I had quite a few dishes that that correspond to dim sum offerings, but traditional cart dim sum I never even saw. I hear it's mainly a Hong Kong phenom and Hong Kong for me meant one thing when I visited: Western Food! So all my experience with dim sum has been in the US. And the best for me until now was the first time 6-7 years ago in Atlanta. We had a dim sum establishment fairly close to us in Plano, unfortunately they rarely had the carts out. That's half the fun right? Nine out of ten times you'd have to order it off a small menu. The taste was no where near as good as Shanghai. Shanghai is at least equal to that busy Atlanta spot my friend Hua took me to all those years ago. There are so many choices here, that my wife and I were completely gorging ourselves and still wanting more. I saw some kind of stuffed pepper go by and I wanted it so badly, but just had to let it move along. My wife was completely satisfied with the shrimp and pork dumplings. They were soft and flavorful! And the chicken feet curled her toes. That was the only dish we ordered and I didn't try. I've had chicken feet before in China on my first night there in fact. I don't find it either tasty or disgusting. I'm just left with asking why? We both thought the calamari was fantastic and slightly spicy. There was also an interesting variation of hash browns made with taro! The sesame balls were warm and chewy. The only thing she didn't try was the pair of fried/stuffed crab claws. I thought they were delicious with a the hot pepper oil! i was impressed to find a plate of mussels on a cart as well. They were very hot and dripping with flavor. Shanghai is obviously popular. We had a brief wait for a table Sunday morning. I do think we have found our go to dim sum spot in China . . . er Austin even if it is a good drive for us. I'd like to add the staff was incredibly friendly. Each and every dim sum cart driver had a smile and was affable! What a visit!

    (5)

  • Heidi L.

    This is my favorite place to get dim sum in Austin on the weekend! For those who have never eaten dim sum, the food is pushed around on carts and you order food off of the cart. Favorites here are the Har Gow (Shrimp Dumpling), Shumai (Pork and Shrimp Dumpling), Xiao Long Bao (Shanghai Soup Dumpling), and the Lo Bak Go (Turnip Cake). My favorite is the dessert cart. I love the egg tarts, mango pudding, creme brulee, and sweet tofu. Apparently they serve dim sum all day on the week days as well; however, it's not as fun since you have to order off the menu. Some dishes are not available on the weekdays. Staff here are usually pretty nice and speak lots of English. Tip for the lazy, you can tell your server what you want, and they will try to find it for you; whenever I ask them for something, it usually takes them 5-10 minutes to bring it to me. There is one cart pusher that I am not fond of. He always skips my table every time I am here no matter where I sit or who I am with. I would mind it as much if he wasn't pushing the steam cart with the delicious dumplings. -Reminder for me and the BF: We do not like the bread wrapped with noodles here since they put green onions in there. We order it every time since we forget.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth M.

    I went here specifically for the Dim Sum. I was only able to sneak away during the week, so I had to order of the menu instead of off the cart. BIG mistake, people. I received some of the most... unusual dishes I have ever had in my mouth. The lou mai gai (sticky rice in lotus leaf) alongside with the lo bak go (turnip cake) were practically inedible. However, your standards... dumplings, potstickers, etc. were exactly as you'd expect.

    (1)

  • Seth L.

    MMMMMMM, dim sum. I lived in San Francisco for a while and like to think I've had some awesome dim sum. Shanghai is the only place in Austin I'll go, and not because it's the biggest one around or one of very few options, but because it's the best. Shanghai is my favorite place to go on a Sunday morning. They open promptly at 11 and if your hope is to walk in, sit down and eat, you may want to get there a little early. My girlfriend loves soup dumplings and Shanghai does a great job. Personally, I won't leave without having at least a few cha siu baau and turnip cakes, and we typically finish up with the sesame balls. Everything I've had there is good, some stuff better than others, but for the price and experience it really can't be beat. Not in Austin at least...

    (4)

  • Jim K.

    Their food is as good as it gets in central Texas. Only one bad experience, but overall very consistent quality.

    (4)

  • Minnie E.

    Best Dim Sum in Austin. I'm from Houston, where I'm spoiled rotten and I finally found a place that can feed my cravings. From the shrimp dumplings to the sesame balls. I almost can say their dumplings are one of the best I've had. I have no complaints except at 1 pm, we had to ask for the Chinese broccoli. It wasn't ready until we were stuffed and full. The service was good, very tentative as I never knew who our real waiter was. The chrysanthemum tea was so flavorful and kept as warm as the restaurant was freezing. However, if you want Dim Sum in Austin, go here. now!!!!!!!!!

    (4)

  • Sam W.

    I've only been here for dim sum in the post-rush hours on weekends, so your experience might be different. The food is good here, and prices are reasonable. Portions tend to run on the small side compared to the average of what I'm used to in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and China, but it's of better quality here (compared to the large-plate/cheaply priced restaurants). Their steamed bao/stuffed bun plates are well-formed and taste good, as are the shui mai/pork dumplings and har gaw (shrimp dumplings). The egg custard tart's crust was on the dry side, but hey, it could just have been they were made earlier. The service here is amazingly attentive. Empty plates are whisked away unobtrusively, and if you need anything, your waiter will get it for you in a jiffy. My only gripe is you get asked a lot if you'd like to order more--admittedly, it's a matter of personal taste; I like attentive waitstaff that are there only when I need them.

    (4)

  • EmiRose T.

    The food is good but service is always lacking. The owner sat us with a phone attached to her ear. We were the first ones there for lunch that day so it wasn't busy yet. She didn't seem welcoming when we arrived. The Hispanic lady who refilled our waters was very nice. We went to this place several times on the weekends even if it's busy. Haven't gone here in a while when the older Asian lady snapped at us when we thought we got charged for a dim sum order. The service REALLY needs to improve. Food is the only thing I come here for but I don't look forward to the service.

    (3)

  • W L.

    This used to be my dim sum away from dim sum since my mom lives in San Fran... the holy land for dim sum other then being completely out of the U.S.!! I used to be excited to come here to use my chinese/cantonese because I am slowly losing it! I came here a couple times before but I just recently came here with my sister who LOVED this place for the same reason but I think now that they are serving dim sum at night (wth? dim sum is only supposed to be a breakfast thing...) the quality has REALLY gone down the drain. I would have to say it was my last and final time to Shanghai Restaurant, and I am saaaaaad inside. My mom came here before they started serving dim sum for dinner and she even said it was good, for being in Texas. Now it is seriously just crap and expensive. Dim sum orders go by small, medium, and large orders and their small orders are 2.25$ I think... that's just ridic for the quality of food they are providing. All the chinese servers that used to work there, and who we could also order from because they would know what we were asking for, are gone now. We walked in, got sat, and was ready to order our hot tea (red/chrysanthemum mix) but we only knew the name of it in cantonese and our mexican waiter got mad because that's what we wanted and she couldn't help us.. nobody else knew what we wanted to order either.. and what we asked for were typical dim sum dishes!! Seriously?! I'm just saying, if you have ever REALLY eaten GOOD QUALITY dim sum.. this is NOT the place anymore. Really upset about that.. really sucks when great restaurants lose their high quality to meet the needs of the growing business. Can't we meet at a happy medium!?

    (2)

  • Lenah K.

    Went here with a friend on the day after Christmas. It had been over a year since my husband and I had had dim sum, and that was at Lucky Dragon III in Houston. Before that we were Tien Hong folks in Austin, but that place is long gone. Anyhow, it was pretty good. We were worried there'd be a big wait, but when we got there there were only a couple of other tables occupied, and those patrons were already eating. So we prettymuch had the carts to ourselves. That was probably a bad thing because we ordered so much stuff right off the bat that we were too full for a second pass. I know we got chinese broccoli (this was actually good, sometimes it's too tough but not here), curry squid (yay!), fried shredded taro, turnip cake (what I'd been craving), and some noodle rolls with what my friend called "chinese donut" in them (these were good but the "chinese donut" was so chewy that it hurt my jaw), and some warm mochi-like things with sweet black sesame paste inside. We probably also ordered at least two fried things that included shrimp, but I don't remember exactly what. We just shouldn't have ordered so much so fast. But no complaints about the food. Dim sum is not an everyweek thing for us since it's so heavy and so umami. But we'll definitely consider Shanghai the next time we get that craving, especially because there aren't that many places to go in Austin.

    (4)

  • John K.

    Don't know what the fuss is with some of the one star reviews. I go here 3-4 times per year and nothing has changed at all from what I can tell., and I visited again yesterday. There was no grumpy hostess there - wait staff were great. Are they a little pushy, yes but that is to be expected and is part of the "experience". Tell us about a better dim sum place in Austin. There are none. No excuses for overcharging - but just whip out your smart phone and do some quick math - that is what I did....

    (4)

  • Alvin S.

    Atmosphere: Typical Chineese Dim Sum Joint... Food: Get the sesame balls! And the egg custard. Pace yourself, as they will continually bring out new and tastier treats. The roast pork came out when we were totally full, but we got it anyway and it was VERY good! 11:45am on sat is a perfect time to come for the best selection. Slightly over priced for dim sum--but worth it! Service: Regular cart service, good rotation. if you want something you don't ses...just ask!

    (4)

  • Robb G.

    Best in town. Yes, front desk staff can be prickly but... Always busy on Sun for Dim Sum. Overall quality is good and service prompt. We have treid everything else in town and this is the best for Dim Sum. We go to Asia Cafe for a fix of regular Chinese but Dim Sum it is Shanghai all the way... Not too many extreme dishes, ie pretty standard Dim Sum, but again still good enough and THE BEST IN TOWN. Not that there are many contenders... Luck!!!

    (3)

  • Izzy M.

    I had a pleasant experience at Shanghai with my boyfriend and friends today. There was a good variety of dim sum and it was yummy. I'd say it's a toss up between here and T&S, although my boyfriend prefers T&S. We live very close to Shanghai, so that's a big plus for me. I loved the Chinese broccoli, pork ribs in black bean sauce (the best i've had so far), steamed shrimp dumplings and sesame balls. Two complaints: First, we were seated where the air vent was blasting onto the table. Also, the gains achieved by serving coffee in a French press was nullified by the mini moos...I know, coffee & dimsum? What can I say, my boyfriend needs his coffee. I liked this place! Restaurant Inspection Scores: Shanghai Chinese Restaurant 6718 MIDDLE FISKVILLE RD AUSTIN 78752 01/04/2010 96 Shanghai Chinese Restaurant 6718 MIDDLE FISKVILLE RD AUSTIN 78752 02/02/2009 77 Shanghai Chinese Restaurant 6718 MIDDLE FISKVILLE RD AUSTIN 78752 07/01/2008 87 Shanghai Chinese Restaurant 6718 MIDDLE FISKVILLE RD AUSTIN 78752 11/06/2007 84

    (4)

  • Tracey S.

    This restaurant opened recently. The interior has a lot of nicely-spaced tables that do not feel crowded like some restaurants do. I didn't have much time and ordered a lunch special of stir fried vegetables. It was fairly cheap for Austin--only $5.55. The food was decent for Austin and surprisingly enough, didn't leave me sleepy (possibly due to MSG) like so many restaurants (both Chinese and American) do. The food also didn't give me the nausea that greasy food usually brings. For the lunch special, the food came fast. Soon after you order, someone brings your drink and the soup. Not long after I finished it, the rest of the food came. The amount was fair--a little more than enough to make me full. I didn't have to eat dinner that evening (but I didn't exactly do a triathlon that afternoon, either). I will probably return someday. I didn't feel significantly unhealthier after eating it. :) Shanghai is in a separate building from the Galaxy Cinema / Souper Salad / Taj Palace shopping center.

    (4)

  • sherrie n.

    this is where you go for dim sum in austin. it's not the best dim sum every, but it's really good and i'll take it! we always order the normal fare, but i really like the "footballs" here. not sure what else to call them but fried deliciousness in the shape of a football. it's funny, i can't even rate dim sum on things like service because all i expect is someone walking around with a cart yelling, "chicken feet!" try it, it's good. bring a group of 4 at least to sample a few things since that's the normal serving size. enjoy!

    (4)

  • Caroline R.

    We've been here 4 times now, always for dim sum on Sunday afternoon. We come on the later end of the dim sum and while they don't always have everything that they served at the beginning it has always been fresh. Sometimes it is very crowded but the hostess has always been nice and makes sure to come find us when our table is ready. The waitstaff has been professional and our drinks were always full. We haven't had any bad experiences here.

    (4)

  • Gabrielle K.

    I haven't been to this restaurant for dim sum yet so I can only review the dinner that I ate. I was actually kind of dissapointed because after ordering our meal the waitress mentioned that we could have ordered off the dim sum menu (which they hadn't given us) oh well. I am very picky about chinese food, only because I compare every restaurant that I eat at in Austin to my favorite chinese restaurant in Portland Oregon that I ate at for about 10yrs. My sister and I each ordered the egg drop soup, it was really really bland. She had the mushu pork for dinner and I had the cashew nut chicken, both were very, good. reminded me of my favorite place back home. I only have 2 small complaints about this place, the first is that there were little fruit flies flying around our table and second, they only gave me a tiny serving of rice and when I asked for more the waitress kinda looked at me like I was a pig! Over all it was a good meal and I can't wait to go on the weekend and try their dim sum.

    (4)

  • JoAnn O.

    This is our first time and decide on them based on the good reviews on-line. We are from Houston so we have tried quite a few dim sum restaurants there. The restaurant is very nicely decorated. The service is very good and rolling carts with fresh Dim Sum come around all the time. You can start eating as soon as you sit down. We had our usual such as Turnip cake, Chive Bun, Sui Mai, Pan- Fried Taro Cake, Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf and Ma La Gao (Steamed Sponge Cake). The only one that we don't care for is the shrimp fried with shredded taro. It has no taste. I will visit my daughter in Austin often in the future and I would like to try other Dim Sum places in Austin next time but I do recommend this place. It is pretty good.

    (4)

  • Andrew K.

    Very solid dim sum, packed house on Sunday, egg custard buns (which are rare), charge you for tea, and prices slightly steep.

    (4)

  • Trinity B.

    ordered take out. After tasting my different dishes, immediately threw away all of it. $25 dollars worth of food. It was inedible. I got a veggie noodle dish, which tasted and had the texture of MUCUS . It was the worst. ever.

    (1)

  • Michael G.

    Great dimsum! Only real alternative when Tien Hong closed. We've only been there a couple of times, and don't know about the manager as mentioned in other reviews. It gets crowded very fast, so come early and enjoy!

    (4)

  • Victor E.

    Let's star by saying, get there 15 minutes early before opening if you go on Sunday. We were there 10 minutes early waiting for friends when we saw a group of 6 arriving. After that, it was like the flow gate open, more people kept coming. The food is excellent & fresh, we try different dishes. I was really hungry. One thing about Dim Sum is to ask the hostess for help if you don't know what to get. It help with if bring someone who speak the language. I enjoy myself and I definitely will go back again. The first time I have Dim Sum was in Queen, New York with my asian friend who was ordering for me at the time. What made the experience excite when I live in nyc was that they would seat you at big table with other people you have not met in your life and they would watch you eat and you watch them. Give this place a try...

    (4)

  • Jim T.

    I love this place. They have the tastiest, most fresh dim sum in Austin, I've tried just about every other place that serves dim sum in town. While some of the other places offer more variety, and some other unique dishes, Shanghai is the most consistent, fresh, fast and affordable.

    (5)

  • Christine C.

    This place is definitely not as good as the Dim sum places in Dallas and Houston, but it's not bad. I've tried almost everything from this place and they've all been okay. Be ready to drink a LOT of water, this place puts a lot of MSG in everything and always makes me extremely thirsty. If you are craving for Dim sum and don't want to drive 2.5 hours to Houston, then I guess this is your only option.

    (3)

  • Danny T.

    I'm a dim sum fanatic so going to try new dim sum restaurants is just an early Christmas. Unfortunately we were running late and didn't arrive at the restaurant until about half an hour prior to the closing of dim sum. We came in with a thirty minute wait (the place was packed with college students - I believe Shangai' s the closest one to campus). Their dim sum hours run from: Monday - Friday from 11:00 - 2:30 Saturday - Sunday: 11: 00 - 3:00 I think the worst part, which got my star down ratings was the seating placements that they put us in. As it was just me and another person, they literally have a spot in the restaurant that's hidden away from the rest that contains only two tables. So since it was packed, the carts didn't come to our corner until I was literally jumping up and down screaming "I will die if I don't eat now". After about 10 minutes, they realized that we were in a corner alone with no food, and compensatory for the absence of food on our table, they gave us a little menu to check off what we wanted and they went to get it - which I'll give them credit for, and was incredibly nice of them. SO. The food. As with all dim sums, it contained all the standard dishes with different types of shiu mai, tripe, dumplings, eggrolls, buns, and different vegetable dishes. Because we had the menu, everything was brought out piping hot. All the dishes tasted great. Not exceptional, but up to par with the other dim sums in the metroplex. The salt and pepper shrimp was a bit chewy and was at room temperature as it was one of the dishes still being brought around (I'd imagine so, the damn dish was $6) So if you've got craving for dim sum, feel free to try Shanghai. Just be sure to not show up right before it closes and be seated twenty miles away from food carts. Keep in mind that this place is rather pricey, I believe more pricey than the other places. The smallest dishes begin at $2.25 a dish upwards to the $6 special dishes. But dim sum is a love-hate relationship, they can keep taking my money but I'll keep coming back.

    (3)

  • Crystal A.

    My first experience with Shanghai was shortly after it opened. I worked just blocks away, and a coworker and I were interested. We had lunch in a not-yet-busy restaurant. I think we were one of maybe 4 tables. We enjoyed our lunch, but the most entertaining part was a couple of "businessmen" sitting a couple of tables down. These guys were complaining about the state of things and how much money they used to make. One order the Almond Chicken and complained when his dish came and there were indeed almonds on the chicken. "I thought it would just be some kind of almond flavoring!" Then I heard about their Dim-Sum. Delicious! I love Dim Sum and they have a nice variety to choose from. I am always saying I need to get a group together so I can taste more. It seems I only ever have one friend that wants to meet up for Dim-Sum.

    (4)

  • Mark H.

    Dang, I love this place! Dim sum is very good. The shrimp dumplings, shumai, BBQ pork buns, gyoza, and soups are all good. Service is efficient with wait staff returning with carts of goodness every few minutes. They have shark's fin dumplings, pork riblets, and beef tripe - Asian stuff that you ain't gonna' see at your local Pei Wei. Two of us can generally have our fill of dim sum (with tea as our drink) for about $40. A pretty good deal given the array of food consumed. Recommended.

    (5)

  • Scotty U.

    After my third visit (twice for dim sum, once to try the lunch special), I decided to bung in my 2¢. Having moved from South Florida a little more than a year ago, I have been frustrated by the limited quality of Austin's Chinese restaurants. My wife and I did some holiday shopping at the Blue Genie Bazaar and found Shanghai nearby. I was delighted to learn they offered dim sum daily (no weekday cart service, but EZ ordering off the bowling score sheet). LUNCH SPECIALS: I'll briefly sum up my experience, starting with my slight disappointment of the lunch specials; however, bearing in mind the incredible low prices: from $5.55 for soup, egg roll, fried rice and entrée! First, my starter was won ton soup. Not spectacular, but the noodles, fragrant of ginger, had a generous filling, whose warmth was welcome on such a cold winter day. The sauce on my sesame chicken was overly sweet and syrupy, too much like the ubiquitous Westernized "honey chicken." Flavor was good but dish should have a crunchy outer glaze with only a hint of sweet. Mrs. U ordered beef with broccoli and was rewarded with slices of beef quick fried with other vegetables. A rich brown sauce accompanied. Our ticket for two lunches was $13 and change. Overall, a tremendous value, though I find it annoying that they charge $1.50 for a pot of tea. DIM SUM: Clearly, the pride of Shanghai is their dim sum. Dim sum menu is Chinese, Vietnamese and remarkably error-free English, albeit with no descriptions for the uninitiated. Some of the items are only available weekends, such as the baked BBQ pork bun that I was craving. I will give brief descriptions of what Mrs. U and I ordered over two visits. Most portions have 3 pcs. for sharing and range from $2.25 up to $4.95 for some large items, so two diners can expect to spend $20 or more: Steamed BBQ pork bun -- A bit spongey outer casing of rice flour, filled with slightly sweet BBQ pork, so earns 3 stars. Fried egg roll -- smallish pcs., very crispy with a tasty filling. Steamed shrimp and cilantro dumpling -- my favorite of all, very delicate and bursting with complex flavor. Neither shrimp nor cilantro overpower. Steamed shrimp and leek dumpling -- Mrs. U's favorite, very light. Sometimes steamed leek can be chewy but here was perfectly prepared. Pan fried pork dumpling --I've had them where noodle is very thick and fleshy. Not so here, fluffy like a cloud with a delicious filling. Fried green tea sesame ball -- dessert. Not to Mrs. U's liking but I loved it. Very crunchy green outer shell with hot gooey sesame filling. We live in South Austin so Shanghai is 10 miles away but worth the drive.

    (4)

  • Travis T.

    I'll keep it short and sweet: Good dim sum (probably the best you'll find in Austin) but the price is a little steep compared to what you could get in Houston. But because this is Austin and considering the competition in town, the premium seems justified. As for their non dim sum food? I have no clue. Maybe I should try their dinner offerings some day, but I think I'll be A-OK pigeonholing Shanghai as a dim sum restaurant, and I have a feeling that that's what it does best anyway! So try it! You might like it, especially the chicken feet :P But go before noon, before the line really starts growing

    (4)

  • Connie W.

    Shanghai continues to be my dim sum favorite in Austin, but recent trips have led me to bump my previous five-star rating down to four stars. My previous review was from the perspective of going in a small group (2-4 people), and the experience is vastly different with larger groups of 8-10 people. The restaurant only has about two tables large enough to seat ten people, and these tables are located out of the way and at the end of the cart path. By the time a food cart arrives, most of the popular items are gone or very few are left. Having long lulls in between dishes does not make for a happy eater. Because the tables are off to the side, it's also more difficult to get the attention of waiters to refill drinks or make special requests. Should we really have to ask four different people for drink refills? We were so tempted to look for a water pitcher and do it ourselves. Larger groups naturally require more attention but this gets lost somewhere here. Keep in mind that they only allow 3-4 credit cards per check. Shanghai is still great it you manage to score a small table, but I would recommend coming very early (1030AM) for larger groups.

    (4)

  • Alan J.

    Didn't see any dim sum on the menu - is it really available? We were there on a Friday night about 6:30 - the place was empty. I was not impressed. Had the spicy dumplings - they were not hot, it was like they had been re-heated, but not re-heated enough. The filling was uninspired (mine is much better), the sauce - spicy peanut - was okay but I've had better. The entree, Shitaki mushrooms with bamboo and snow peas was nice and hot, and the ingredients were good, but the sauce was a bit lacking. It was light, but did not really add to the dish. It was mostly just freshly cooked veggies, without much other taste to pull it all together. Service was fine. Altogether a disappointing experience. I love dim sum and dumplings, I've eaten them all over the Far East, as well as Vancouver, Houston, and New York, and these do not come close.

    (2)

  • Mae C.

    This place has awesome dim sum! They have a variety of dishes to choose from. The price is cheap for the amount of food that you get. If you want to end up paying below $10, bring about 6+ friends or so. Not only do you get to try more dishes, it won't hurt your wallet. The only bad thing, like with every good restaurant, is the wait. If you're with more than 4+ people, don't expect to be seated right away. They don't have many tables that can accommodate to bigger groups. I notice it's easier to get seated if there's 1-2 people. But other than that, the waiters are really nice. I go here a lot, so they pretty much know what I want, lol. It's just a very nice atmosphere, and a nice place to go with your friends or your family. Peak hours is probably between 12-1:30pm. But you never know. There are days where you wait for a long time and days where you get seated right away.

    (5)

  • Sabrina G.

    It was good, not as good as other Chinese places (I lived in China so I'm hard to please) but still nice to get some dim-sum. Don't know about the hostess, didn't have any interaction with her besides paying the bill, don't know what the fuss is about. Would go back but not if a better restaurant opens.

    (3)

  • Dennis C.

    Much to my surprise, I enjoyed this place. I didn't think I would, based on some positive reviews from friends that...well, let me just say that I don't trust their Chinese food judging ability. But Shanghai was good. I'm comfortable claiming this as the best Dim Sum in Austin. Seemed like they have the full array of dishes and, on a Saturday, the Dim Sum carts were plentiful and consistent. The portion size is not quite as good (shrimp dumpling, for example, was a bit small), but the taste is very authentic and it's decently fresh. For those unfamiliar with Dim Sum, my recommendation is to go with a larger group. As others have noted, you get to try more dishes this way. Otherwise, the price of getting several dishes for just two people is cost-prohibitive.

    (4)

  • Hannah P.

    Went to eat Shanghai in the morning with my friend and cousin. The food was good. The cart pushers were very friendly and one of the guy was hilarious. I would definitely come back, but early in the morning. It gets really pack after 12. I went here a couple weeks ago with a couple of friends and the wait was quite long that we just decided to eat elsewhere after 15 minutes. But I have been waiting so long to try Shanghai and it was not bad at all. The dim sum was decent pricing and every cart pusher came to us to make sure we weren't missing out on anything else.

    (4)

  • Allison F.

    I am so glad that I found a decent dim sum place in Austin. I went around noon on a Saturday, and it was a full house. The turnover was pretty quicky though. The food was great, and service was prompt. My only complaint is that there were not enough vegetable dishes. The prices are a little more expensive than what I am used to (spoiled by Houston and New York), but it ends up being about $10-$15 a person, which is not too bad.

    (4)

  • Oscar G.

    Great dim sum, decent prices, had leftovers for the next few days

    (4)

  • Hey U.

    This is good Dim Sum. Disregard the people who rate this place 1 star then say they have been their 12 times because the love the food and service but man that hostess is mean! Really, I mean 1 star for a mean lady at the door. Boo hoo. I grew up in San Jose, CA and have a good friend from Hong Kong who taught me the ways of Dim Sum in the Bay Area. And there are many fine choices there...Austin not so much. But if you have a place that has a line out the door before they open, it is a good sign. We went today for the first time and got there at 10:55am and were the 15th party in line. Walk in and I would say this is your classic dim sum place. Basic decor, big room, a ton of folks pushing carts with deliciousness in little trays. Unlike CA dim sum, the service was friendly. I mean in CA the old ladies pushing the carts give you the business (most of it with a little grin) but the folks here were really nice. The food, I thought was very good. May be not the best dish I'd ever had but good to very good in every case. I'd name them but with dim sum all I can do is point and go "that's pork right?" We were really happy with everything and they were great with our 13 month old son. Pricing, good. What I expected. The mean hostess we saw on the way out. I can see she is a ball-buster but if you know authentic Chinese places to eat, you know they are not about customer service. So take off you sensitive-Suzy bonnet and deal with the fact not everyone in Texas is just that nice. In the end, really good food, friendly and not pushy service and the right price. Worth a try. I think some of the reviewers here are being crybabies...

    (4)

  • Suzanne G.

    What a disappointment! The dim sum here was way below average. The breakfast noodles were yellow, seriously yellow! They tasted like noodles drenched in oyster sauce. Almost everything that we ordered was cold. Nothing was hot, barely even warm. The only hot dish was a vegetable dish, bok choy stir fried in garlic. I don't even think bok choy is a traditional dim sum dish and this was the best they had. The long shrimp rice noodle dish with sweet sauce, cheong fun, was bad. It was more mushy than expected, had way too much rice wrapping and barely any shrimp. The steamed bbq bun was gross. Took one bite and didn't eat the rest. The fried taro balls had an after taste like ammonia or bleach, gross! The shumai tasted like a freezer! Maybe we're spoiled with Houston dim sum and are being snobby.... Naw, this place was bad! A total waste of $50!

    (1)

  • stella l.

    Growing up in SF I have been trained to expect dim sum between the hours of 11am and 2:30pm... no exceptions per the Dim Sum Nazis that rule the Bay. Thank you Shanghai for breaking the 11th Commandment and offering your tasty dumplings all day long! My wife and I cruised in at 4pm on a Sunday and were treated to exceptionally friendly service and some darn good dim sum. All the staples were there and even some unexpected ones (beef tripe...ok, not for everyone!) were on the menu. Standouts for these two dim sum vets were the sticky rice, pork dumplings, and steamed char sui bow. Authentic tasting Chinese food with friendly service and a mindset that defies dim sum law... not only the on demand dumpling schedule but the bathrooms with deer pictures on the door (Buck for men, Doe for women)- truly a first in Chinese restaurant history and we've got it right here in Austin folks! Give Shanghai a try, I think you'll be quite satisfied.

    (4)

  • Carmen R.

    Shanghai takes me there! Where? San Francisco Chinatown. Growing up in San Francisco we were able to eat authentic Chinese food. Shanghai reminds me of those days. I've lived in Texas over 17 years and have always said I wish I could find a good Chinese Restaurant. Shanghai is it, the favors and freshness of the food is outstanding. The baked bar b que bums were heaven. I never thought I'd find them anywhere but home in San Francisco. Wow, I can get them every week end! Oh, by the way they're only 10 minutes for the job, so you know I don't wait until the weekend to tantalize my taste buds with they're fresh Dim Sum (taste like the shrimp were fresh from the water that day) . If you go on the week end get there early because there will be a crowd waiting. Or do like me, take it home put your feet up and enjoy the taste of oriental heaven. ENJOY!

    (4)

  • Candace S.

    I grew up going to Chinatown in Boston for dim sum with my family. I never knew what the dishes were called as my dad would stop a cart and get one of everything and we'd share with my mom and 3 brothers. I knew what I liked and didnt like by sight. So, fast forward to now in Austin, TX. I recognized items by sight and the taste would bring back memories. I've had dim sum at Kim Son and T&S so far and I think I like Shanghai the best of all 3. They have a great variety of food and they have a few of our favorites like bbq pork buns, shrimp dumplings, sticky rice and egg custard pastries. It does get busy so I'd advise arriving right at or maybe a few mins before they open. Service was good and if you dont know what's on the cart, they're more than happy to explain what each one is.

    (4)

  • allison j.

    Dim Sum. . .Great. Not enough high chairs and me having to hold my baby and eat. . .not so cool. I'll go back. Even the Singaporean fried noodles were awesome. That was one tastey meal.

    (4)

  • Nita N.

    Yum yum yum yum! I looove this place. I'm so happy to finally find a place in Austin that serves such delectable dim sum (thanks yelpers!). They have many traditional dim sum dishes, such as the fried taro root, shu mai, congee with preserved duck egg, and chicken feet (mmm, me likey). They also serve other dishes that I generally don't see served at other dim sum joints, such as sea bass with miso, which was so tasty that I devoured the whole thing in about two bites. The service there is outstanding-all of the ladies and gents who work there are so courteous and definitely value all of their customers, even when they are packed to the brim with folks lining up out the door waiting for a table. My only gripe about this place is that it is a little on the pricey side. Last time I went there, it was over $30 for just me and my friend. Whereas, in the bay area, when I went to my regular dim sum joint with a group of 4, our bill would only be about $20 every time even though we stuffed ourselves silly (although, i do think that that price is exceptionally low for very good dim sum). If you want the best dim sum in town, without a doubt, go to Shanghai. It's even better than that place that was on Burnet that closed this summer (the name of that place has escaped me for the moment).

    (4)

  • Janeth O.

    This place is the BEST CANTONESE Chinese restaurant I have gone to in Austin. I gave it four stars because the waiter, who is always there, is a little rude sometimes. She seems to be always in a hurry. However, she makes sure she takes away empty plates right away, and always keeps up with refills for your drink. Their dim sum is awesome! My husband and I love the shrimp with cilantro steamed dumplings. They are very light and the cilantro just makes it better. The shanghai steamed dumplings are very tasty too; they have ground pork with a little bit of soy sauce and ginger. The ginger flavor is very light allowing the natural pork flavor to shine. The BBQ pork steamed buns are very good too. However, they are in the heavy side. The pork is a little sweet and the "wrapper" looks and feels like white bread...but trust me, it is a lot better, and more filling, than white bread. The sesame balls are very tasty. They are fried. They have a sweet red bean paste inside, and the sesame seeds are nice and toasty...not burned! Today, my husband and I tried the crab steamed dumplings and fried taro root. They were so good! The crab steamed dumpling has real crab in it; it is actually a mix of shrimp and crab, but it still has REAL crab meat. It was not as light as the shrimp and cilantro dumplings. The fried taro root was amazing! very unique in flavor and appearance. It surprised us because it actually has shrimp and pork inside. The taro root tasted like fried yucca. It was not greasy and very moist inside. My husband has tried their chicken and shrimp kung pao, with fried rice, an eggroll, and sweet and sour soup. Everything was very tasty, not very salty or greasy. The kung pao has been the most original we have tasted. Their eggrolls (chicken or vegetable ones) are awesome! they are crispy and have a thin wonton wrapper. Their egg drop soup is also very good. It is my favorite one. Very unique and "healthier" tasting... Their pan fried beef flat noodles are very original. They are the closest to a dish we tried in Chinatown in Peru. They are a little greasy but full of flavor. The beef is nice and toasty and the noodles are soft, but not too soft. Their Crab Ragoons are to die for! They actually have REAL CRAB MEAT and the cream cheese is so creamy! very crispy, creamy, and tasty. Oh and their tea tastes different from other "Chinese" restaurants. It is very good, a little expensive but it is worth it. NOTE: they actually use real crab meat for all their dishes containing crab! No crappy fake crab meat here!!!

    (4)

  • Hannah S.

    I do not think I have ever had such terrible service. Ever. I brought my new housemate here who just arrived on Thursday from Shanghai. No, I was not expecting authentic Shanghainese food, but I was expecting to be treated at least like someone who is paying for a meal. Instead what we got was a 40ish year old waitress with the attitude of a petulant teenager. My roommate tried to speak to her in Mandarin to which she said (give this your best teenage girl attitude here) "What?!??" Then, my poor roommate found herself apologizing when she kept asking the waitress what Chinese broccoli was because, guess what, that's not what they call it in China. She finally said, "is there anyone in the restaurant who speaks Chinese?" So the waitress lets out a big sigh, rolls her eyes and yells to her mother across the restaurant in Cantonese and the mother responds, in Cantonese with the answer. Yes, I understand Mandarin and Cantonese are different languages. I also understand graciousness and hospitality and what I saw was appalling. Meanwhile, the only other full table sat there rolling THEIR eyes when our lovely waitress seemed to forget that taking orders was something she was supposed to do and had an extended conversation with her friends at the front about their summer vacations. . . . My roommate concluded, "maybe she's having a bad day." Maybe. But I am appalled that this restaurant gave my roommate her first impression of dining in the United States.

    (1)

  • Peter T.

    Good stuff! Ever Since Marco Polo went bye bye, this is the new default dimsum place in town. It's crowded on Sundays so go early (at around 11) or a little later (after 1:30) in order to avoid a wait. Try the congee and fried taro balls. Also, try the creme brulee for dessert. No I'm not joking... they have creme brulee and it's really good.

    (4)

  • Leslie W.

    If you are looking for dim sum in Austin, then this is probably your best bet. It's not the best dim sum you will ever have in your life (you will have to go to Hong Kong for that), but it isn't bad and I don't think any other place in Austin can beat it. They have all the regulars - shu mai, ha gow, turnip cake, bbq pork bun, egg tarts etc etc. - as well as some things I'm not use to seeing at traditional dim sum places....shrimp toast? wtf?! Some of the people I was with seemed to enjoy it though. Service isn't that great which is not all that surprising. Usually the people with carts flock to you and constantly ask you what you want. Not here, at Shanghai Restaurant we had to flag them down. You would think with such a big party (about 10 of us) we would be easy prey....but no, we had to be proactive and assertive with getting the staff's attention. Please note: I do tend to judge Cantonese Chinese food harshly because I am Cantonese. Also, I have been to enough Cantonese restaurants in the U.S. and HK to make fairly accurate judgments. Two stars for being the only decent dim sum place in Austin, and only two stars because of the crappy service.

    (2)

  • Michelle L.

    When Shanghai first opened for dim sum over two years ago, I would not hesitate to admit they were probably the best in Austin. The first few times I went, I was very satisfied and felt like we got a good deal. I went back several months later to see that it has changed. Just like Tien Hong and many other dim sum restaurants, the quality has plummeted and is no longer good at all. I was hoping this wouldn't happen to a good dim sum restaurant in Austin, but once again when business picks up, quality dies in order to meet demand. I'd have to say Chinatown Restaurant's dim sum is still superb after a year; quality tastes and looks the same. Yeah, the prices are more expensive, but I feel better about eating food that was actually good in quality.

    (2)

  • Sharon I.

    We lived in China for 5 years and I would say that Shanghai dim sum is pretty authentic. They even have chicken's feet. Delicious fresh food, good service with the carts and a pleasant place to spend Sunday morning. As they would say in China this restaurant is hun re nao "Hot and Noisy" (which is a good thing).

    (5)

  • Brandi B.

    My first ever dim sum experience. It cost about 30 dollars for me and one other person. You have to get here about 10-15 till 11. (Sunday).. otherwise you will wait for longer while everyone else is munching on their tasty food. what I ate: Chicken Feet, Chinese Broccoli , Sesame Balls(drools)... , Scallop dumplings, Shrimp Dumplings, Fried Shrimp Balls, Shau Mai, and I believe my guest had some porridge of some kind. yes.. it quite a delightful meal .. to say the least. I will be back for food other than dim sum it's reasonably close to where I live. So that's why I didn't give it a full rating yet.. . . just have to see if scratches my itch for less grandiose Chinese food cravings.

    (4)

  • Kerry G.

    My first Dim Sum experience. I knew we were in store for a treat when the line of Asian customers was flowing onto the outside sidewalk. We were seated quickly and here came the congee, the dumplings, the chinese broccoli, the chicken feet, the bbq pork buns, the sesame balls...WOW! I ate dim sum and dim sum more! Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

    (4)

  • James L.

    This place has good dimsum. No foolies. Better than Marco Polo. I heard that the Marco Polo chef left and came here. Funny. Anyways, they seem to have a bigger selection of dimsum than the other places in town. The majority of their stuff tastes really good. As a friend of mine says, if the shumai is good, the restaurant itself won't be too far from that same quality. It's good. OH important fact here guys. If you sit in the BACK (especially back corner) you get completely effed. effed. Because the food is usually all gone from the carts by the time it rolls around to you. Even if you repeatedly say "please bring me this.... please?" They'll be like "ok." and then about an hour later they'll say "did it come out?" and then that's when I cry. I did have the chance to try their normal dishes and I was disappointed. The non-dimsum stuff was... hmm very Americanized. I kinda figured it would be more traditional. Anyways, try the dim sum.

    (3)

  • Christine M.

    A week after my first dim sum experience at Kim Son, I got to try Shanghai with a group of Yelpers. Shanghai is a pretty nice place, fancy-looking, but definitely family-oriented. We were far from being the only large group there. We were seated quickly after everyone had arrived and all the servers were friendly, though it seemed overly difficult to communicate some requests, like for straws and extra plates. One of my complaints about Kim Son was the infrequency with which food carts came by. Not here! BEHOLD THE ONSLAUGHT OF FOOD! Within a minute of sitting down, we had no less than three people with carts full of food, desperate to fill up the lazy susan at the center of our table. The pace of food delivery continued briskly after that, but slowed down towards the end of the meal. Whether that was because we were past the main lunch rush at that point or just that they knew to avoid our table because we were close to done, I don't know. The food itself was mostly fantastic, with the notably odd exception of the tofu w/ ginger sauce. Think a bowl of silken tofu + light ginger tea, very flan-like -- not bad so much as... weird. My favorites were the BBQ pork buns, miso sea bass, fried taro root, and sesame balls. Unfortunately, we never got steamed pork buns, just baked... not sure if they didn't have any or if that particular cart just never made it around to our table. They lose half a star due to the lack of steamed pork buns and another half star due to the price. The price after tax+tip was over $20/person. I think that was partially due to overall higher prices (as compared to Kim Son, not sure about other dim sum places) and possibly due to a high gratuity included? I didn't see the final bill myself, so I'm unsure of the specifics. Overall this was a good experience, though, and I will be back. The laid-back atmosphere of Kim Son is nice in its own way, but having more ready access to food (and wider variety in general) are major pluses.

    (4)

  • Spring C.

    Absolutely wonderful! DO order the sesame balls, the Chinease doughnut, the fried pork dumplings with crispy lotus wrapping. I found the prices to be very reasonable. Definately a MUST HAVE! Great table service!

    (5)

  • Theresa Z.

    Tasty tasty dim sum! I even requested to go here for my upcoming birthday dinner. There's nothing better than picking and choosing little dishes from carts that go by. The food is one thing, but the wacky bathroom doors are what I really enjoy. Apparently the building used to be some kind of outdoorsy-Texany place that I assume served giant steaks to manly men. The reason for my assumption? The men's room has a painting of a deer with "BUCKS" written above it and the ladies' room has "DOES". The new owners either didn't care about the paintings OR they have a wonderful sense of irony. Either way, I get a good giggle every time I go to the bathroom there.

    (4)

  • Texas T.

    I frequent here often with my two boys, 2 and 5. About the Food: Love the food. Highlights in my opinion include: steamed tofu wrapped pork, curry squid, ginger tripe, tofu w/ sweet ginger sauce, sesame balls, sticky rice in lotus leaf, shrimped stuff eggplant and turnip cake. Despite being pushed in a cart, the food consistently comes to me warm. Portions are average when compared to other dim sum restaurants. You get more variety when you go right at noon - their busiest time. If you go to early some of their specialty items are not out yet. If you go to late, they are out of some of the more popular items. Going right at noon offers you the best selection...and along with it, the longest wait. About the Wait: This various. They open at 11, and sometimes by 11:15 there's already a wait. If you're there at noon, be expected to wait. They do not seat incomplete parties. Call ahead of time to check on the waiting time. About the Service: The waitstaff is great. They will bring you items (actually offer to) if something you want is not on their cart. They are prompt with drinks and removing old dishes. The one person/position that never fails to be a negative encounter is the hostess. There is never a smile on this girls face, and in speaking with her she can be down right rude. I star is deducted for the consistent unfriendliness this lady brings. She is the first impression people have when entering the restaurant, she/they would think they'd want it to be a positive one. Really nice dim sum. I recommend this place and will continue to frequent it.

    (4)

  • Hai D.

    I've been to this place twice now. The last time was with my family for my birthday. I wouldn't say this is my favorite yet, just because both experiences came at different times that I would say I didn't get the full experience of the dim sum menu. The first time was when the restaurant opened. I have heard that the original owner who had the restaurant on Koenig had opened up this place. I really loved the dim sum at the old location, so I talked some friends into coming here. My friends and I have eaten at Tien Hong and Marco Polo, so we are big fans of dim sum. The selection that we encountered were not quite as various and large as we had hoped, but we attributed to it being new. The food was good, but still did not impress us enough. We vowed to come back and try it when they got their legs going. My second time we went on a Sunday morning for lunch this week at 11am for my birthday. There was a much more variety on the server trays, but still limited in what we had hoped. Our servers came around with what we felt were the same stuff on their carts. It wasn't until we were done and full that the servers came around with carts that contained new dumplings and different food. I guess we came at an early time to take in the full dim sum menu. I will give Shanghai another chance. I am not convinced it is the best dim sum here yet, but I'll come with my dim sum fanatical connoisseurs and see how this place really stacks up to the rest.

    (4)

  • Javier D.

    I like dim sum. I like the dumplings with all kinds of things inside. I like the sesame balls, those were very tasty as a dessert. The chinese broccoli was a little tart, different, but good. The duck was flavorful but a little chewy, not as easy to get off the bone as I've had at other places. most everything with the pork was delicious. The fried taro was a little greasy, but it looked cool and had an awesome flavor. I'm sure that we sampled a bit of everything so I can say that it was all tasty. I was a little bit disappointed that there were no shark dumplings. I talked them up and I wanted to share in my experience. One big turnoff though was that some of the dumplings seemed hastily done and/or oversteamed. I don't know exactly how the outside gets cooked but they were mushy for the most part. I don't really go for the pan seared/fried dumplings so i expected the steamed ones should hold up firmly. They didn't. I would have also liked the option to have sticky rice served in a steamer with a spoon. It would have been nice to be able to dole it out without having the anxiety of using your own chopsticks which have been in your mouth to serve someone else. (no offense to anyone) I did notice that there were not a lot of offerings in the way of sauces and it seemed like the trolley girls worked on commission. They didn't offer a lot of direction in the way of what tastes good with what, they really seemed disingenuous in that way. With the exception of the fish sauce at the beginning and the dumpling served with red vinegar sauce. That was very tasty. That place really needs a liaison for the dim sum inexperienced. I know what it tastes like when it is done right, but I would like more direction please. Possibly a manager with more connection to the diners. There was definitely a feeling of communal management on an assembly line. I wouldn't say this is a symptom of mismanagement, just not as hands-on as I like.

    (4)

  • Autumn C.

    I've now been to Shanghai 3 times and cant find one flippin' thing to complain about! lol. Really though, you can go to shanghai and eat dim sum multiple times and never even order the same things. The selection is ridiculous in a really good way! This past Sunday I took 2 friends of mine to Shanghai to introduce them to dim sum and they loved it. Oh wait, I do have a complaint....they aren't south! Shanghai....please open a location South:)

    (5)

  • Liz H.

    Love getting dim sum at Shanghai on the weekends. My favorites are the fried shrimp balls, salt and pepper pork, and the shu mai. Also love the greens. Overall brunch at Shanghai is just a wonderful and delicious treat. Go early on the weekends (they open at 11 am) or you may be in for a long wait for a table.

    (4)

  • H. Y.

    Overall, the dim-sum is fine. As a fan of Dim-Sum, I wish they are authentic ones. The fried taro tasted good.

    (3)

  • Kenneth C.

    I love dim sum but places like this that can't even properly make chicken feet don't really have my respect.

    (2)

  • Khanh N.

    The dim sum here is AWESOME...for Austin. I have to put that modifier in there because I am from Houston and just recently had some dim sum back home. The dim sum at Shanghai is really good, really fresh and the servers are a lot of fun. I have been to Shanghai for dim sum at least 6 times. I actually went two weekends in a row, and each time I sat with at least 12 people and we ate like kings and queens and have never paid more than $20 per person. And I'm not saying that the food is cheap - I'm saying that it's reasonably priced and delicious! I love their shrimp dumplings (ha cao) and their shumail which are dim sum staples but their taro root cake is really good and one of my favorite dishes is the steamed sticky rice wrapped up in the banana leaves. Their rice congee is tasty as well. I've tried the majority of dishes that are pushed around on the cart - yes including the chicken feet and the beef tripe - and it was all very good quality and freshness. This is my new favorite place in town for dim sum. If you haven't gone, you really should try it out. The place gets PACKED with Asian families and groups of folks looking to get their dim sum on so going early is recommended. I believe dim sum starts at 11:00am on Saturday and Sunday. It's not a traditional dim sum dessert but you should try the little creme brulees that are in these tiny demitasse cups that they bring around - they are quite yummy. But it's not dim sum for me if I don't finish off with some egg custard tarts in a flaky pastry crust. If you've never done dim sum before, you're really missing out on a culinary experience. Highly suggest you go soon and check it out. The restaurant is located where The Mason Jar used to be which then became Oishi and is now Shanghai. It's by the Galaxy 10 theater and the Taj Palace on Middle Fiskville Road. Lots of parking so you're good there. ***NOTE: the last time I went to Dim Sum they were out of the creme brulee :(

    (4)

  • Jacob L.

    Great place for Dim Sum in Austin- very inexpensive. Great place to take a group for brunch. Although I have had better, it certainly is one of the best places for Dim Sum in Austin.

    (4)

  • Tom L.

    only legit dim sum place in austin. that being said, good food but also pretty pricy. also, get there early to avoid cold food and less selection. a variety of dishes from chicken feet to congee to traditional items like egg tart and dumplings. service with the cart pushing is hit or miss, sometimes they will completely skip over you. but with the food, this is probably the safest bet for dim sum in austin (which is not saying much as many people have said)

    (4)

  • Kilo L.

    This is regarding dimsum only - The place has gone down hill; either the chef or the ingredients changed, things just don't taste good like they used to. I speak on this as a regular patron since they opened. Also watch out if you order dimsum takeout, it's an opportunity for them to 'forget' an order or two; sub an ordered item for something inferior (rather than just telling you they ran out) and you don't find out until you get home. I guess restaurants know you aren't gonna drive all the way back for a $4 miss. Definitely don't order dimsum on week days, you're getting the severely nuked versions of the prior wkend leftovers.

    (1)

  • Jaye B.

    Dim Sum makes me so happy. I don't seem to do it as much as I'd like to though. In all honesty, I'd do it every Sunday if I could find people to go with me. I'd heard that the best place in Austin for Dim Sum used to be Marco Polo, but evidently it's not true anymore. I read recently that Shanghai is the creation of the former owners of Marco Polo. So last Sunday, I headed on over to Shanghai. Where I was greeted by seeing my ex-boyfriend, his wife and two children (um, they were acquired after we broke up). Aside from that, we also spied former Mayor Gus Garcia. And we ate. and ate. And ate. The pork cracklins were awesome, they looked a little scary, but they tasted wonderful. Steamed pork buns were fluffy and filled with BBQ pork (a little skimpy on the filling though). The pork and shrimp shumai was the favorite though. There were also some shrimp dumplings that were round that were really tasty. Amazingly, we topped it off with miniature creme brulee. At dim sum. How cute is that? So it was good, but when that bill came? We were in for a little sticker shock. It was $50 for the two of us. I think that was the total of the bill for about 5 people the last time I went to Tien Hong. Plus at Tien Hong, you get to see Kinky Friedman. So while Shanghai was good, it wasn't better than Tien Hong and it was a lot more money. Plus, I'll take a Kinky sighting over Gus Garcia, and my ex and his family, any day.

    (4)

  • Francine H.

    My new favorite dim sum place in Austin! Now, some may not know, but not all dim sum dishes are the same at every dim sum restaurant. I've had my fair share of bad dim sum experiences, where the food wasn't flavorful or cold or made you feel absolutely gross after eating there-- but not here! I went here for the first time this past weekend and found myself very satisfied after eating. All the dishes were fresh and hot. They weren't too heavy or too greasy like some of the dim sum I've had at other resturaunts. If you get a chance, try out the spare ribs, taro dumplings (they're fried), chang fen (rice noodle rolls), and shao mai--but don't hesitate to try the rest. They are also tasty! When you're hungry for dim sum, go to Shanghai Restaurant. It's very yummy : ]

    (5)

  • Michelle C.

    Finally got a chance to check out Shanghai today at lunch time. Good stuff! Not as great as Pao's, Din Ho, or Asia Market, but good enough that I'm very interested in going back for the dim sum, as I have yet to find great dim sum in Austin. My lunch companion ordered a bowl of hot and sour soup, which I had to try. I was very impressed; it was rich and very flavorful. For our entrees, we split a kung pao shrimp & scallops ($11.99) and a plate of shanghai style rice noodles ($9.99, I think?), both of which were on the dinner portion of the menu; nothing on the lunch menu was calling my name. The kung pao seafood was a little saucy for my taste and light on scallops - still tasty, but it didn't bowl me over or anything. I was a fan of the noodle dish, though; they didn't skimp on the curry and it had just the right amount of kick to it. It needed just a little more salt, I thought, but that was easily remedied for me, and I love salt so others would probably be happy with it as it was served. Service was very friendly and attentive. The place isn't fancy, but it is clean and nicer than the average Asian restaurant (which I realize isn't saying much, but you're here for the food anyway, aren't you?). Austin has a sad lack of good Chinese food, so I'm glad Shanghai has joined the scene. I'll definitely come back to try the dim sum and will update my review once I do. ------ UPDATE, 1/30/08: I *finally* made it back here for the dim sum! A solid showing, for sure. Chinese broccoli was perfect. They had these things made of shrimp and eggplant that I had never seen that I LOVED. Liz C. picked out some fried sticky rice that I never would have chosen, but it was quite delish, as well. The one set of fried potstickers we tried (shrimp and leek) were great, but I was wishing they had a better selection of pan-fried potstickers - seemed like there was a heavy emphasis on steamed stuff. I guess my arteries might appreciate that small favor. I was less than sold on the ha gau - the texture of the wrappers was a little off. And they ran out of custard tarts pretty early on, which bummed me out. I lurv those things. As others have mentioned, the wait can be LONG, especially if you have a larger party - so be sure to make a reservation!

    (4)

  • Kelty G.

    Yummy for my tummy. I went with a 6-person group and our food and service were good. In addition to the usual offerings (pork bun, steamed rice, a variety of dumplings, spare ribs, etc.) they had an interesting selection of items that I have not seen offered on other dim sum menus congee, soft tofu with ginger sauce and some super-yummy green tea balls (I don't know their real name). When I needed water my glass was refilled without having to ask. When we wanted vinegar and a pot of white rice they brought it to the table quickly. The food circulated quickly and was fresh and hot when it arrived. I have *not* been to other dim sum places in Austin, but in comparison to other dim sum experiences I have had, I would say that this one is up there. I would recommend it. There were no chicken feet rattling around (maybe we just missed the cart) so if you're looking for shock value, you may have to go elsewhere, but the food was good.

    (4)

  • Marilyn E.

    We brought a big group of 12 for dinner and ate family style. They had a round table large enough to accommodate us and we all got to enjoy talking to each other more & sharing the good food. The service was excellent & friendly. The food was good and we felt very welcome. I asked for special dishes & they prepared them as I requested. Everyone in our family liked the food and had a good time. Next time I'll try it for dimsum.

    (5)

  • Don P.

    What did you say that was in my mouth? Chicken what? Ok, I've tried some weird stuff in my life and enjoyed most of it. So no problem trying chicken feet. But man... that stuff is nasty. Overall though I'd say that I really enjoyed Dim Sum at Shanghai (my first time). It helped that Dennis was with us... he could interpret not only the language but what is "good" and "bad" to eat. Fried shrimp (big check). Shrimp bell peppers (small check), turnip cake (big check... yeah, I said it), and there were other things that were good. Great experience... get the hot tea (the basis of Dim Sum I'm told) and just graze. Leave yourself a couple of hours for the meal and maybe another half an hour for the wait. Oh, I think Dim Sum is only on the weekends... so I'm told. And if you don't know or care what the heck Shanghaiese (or whatever it's called) food is, you'll fit right in.

    (4)

  • Pamela R.

    5 stars because they are the best Chinese food that I have had in Texas, granted I havent been elsewhere in Austin, but I have tried plenty in Dallas. The hot and sour soup is vegetarian and has a bit of a kick to it. The veggie delite and vegetarian fried rice were right on target. I ambiance is nice, clean, and somewhat upscale. I would definitely recommend it.

    (5)

  • Tim M.

    I notice some people here say they lived in San Fran, well so did I, for 9 years and I had a Chinese girlfriend for 5. Went out to dinner many times with her family and we did Dim Sum on Sundays. Anyway, now that my street cred is established, I would give Shanghai's Dim Sum 3.75 stars. The selections are very good, but do not surpass Chinatown Restaurants'. During Chinese New Years, they (Chinatown) pull out the stops and the selections are endless, fresh and superior quality. But where Shanghai lacks, they make up in price. It is about 25% cheaper. That and it being close to my house makes it a definite go-to when we want to get our Dim Sum on. The service was very good, the selections tasty, though not so varied. We will definitely go again.

    (4)

  • Felice T.

    How can you not love a place that serves dim sum 7 days a week?!?! I enthusiastically enjoy their chinese turnip cake, shrimp and leek dumplings and black sesame mochi balls. on weekends, they also have a fried tofu number that is amazing.

    (4)

  • Caroline T.

    Shanghai was my first dim sum experience in Austin, and while it was quite tasty, I was a little shocked at how expensive it was. The portions are smaller than normally expected in dim sum (I've never seen such small cha sau bao before!), and as others have said, the dishes are pricey. My family and I went on a busy Saturday morning at around noon. We waited about 15-20 minutes before being seated, and after we sat down, we had to wait several minutes before we could even get anything off of a cart. By the time each cart rolled around, all our favorite dishes were gone. We had our first plate of taro cake towards the very end of our meal. At any rate, my dim sum experience at Shanghai was very similar to my banh mi experience at Lulu B's -- very tasty food at not quite justified prices.

    (3)

  • Peter J.

    All I can say is what happened. I arrived back in Austin after an extend stint in the Bay Area and was very happy to find Shanghai, a newly opened Dim Sum place putting a former Applebees (or whatever) to good use. The food was exceptional. I ate Dim Sum at Yank Sing in SF on a regular basis for years and this was the 1st place in Austin I knew could easily stand up to places in SF or NYC. I was eating there almost every weekend. I loved the wait staff, many of whom came from the old Tien Hong. I was especially happy when this place remained consistently top tier for months on end not suffering any of the usual quality drop / price hike once the customers where coming. Then out of the blue I go in for my weekly Dim Sum (even brought a friend who'd never had it before) and the bottom falls out. Looking at the carts I could easily see that the recipes for the dumplings had been altered. The wonderful fried bread had to special ordered, it arrived down sized and drowned in soy souce (not the sweet soy it's supposed to come with) Inedible. The pork and shrimp dumpling had no shrimp and tasted like hot dogs. The wrappers on all the steamed dumplings were too thick and over steamed. It just got worse and I felt this had to a fluke. So I waited a month in the hopes that maybe the head chef had been sick or some other temporary calamity had beset them. But no luck, the return visit was just as disappointing, confirmed by my brother and good friend who are both long term devoties of Dim Sum. It was over, I felt returned to dark days of the 90s when we had to chase what seemed like one good Dim Sum chef around town. Honestly restaurants come and go. It was very disappointing to see such a stellar Dim Sum place drop the ball. However the real disappointment comes from the utter failure of the Austin pallette to take notice of such a drastic and obvious drop in quality. I find that here in Austin once a place has a 4-5 star rating people seem to turn their brains off while eating there. As such, places that get their ratings based on hype or the old "it's expensive so it must be good" never get called out. And places that drop the ball don't see any real drop in customers, so why go back to all that hard work and those expensive ingredients. I know that you've got to read the fine print, high marks don't mean much till you see who's leaning them and why, but seriously, people still think this is the #1 Dim Sum place in Austin. Sad.

    (1)

  • Wendy D.

    My first experience with dim sum off the carts and we loved it! Everything we tried was excellent. My favorite was the calamari. Oh and don't skip dessert. The creme brulee was the best! I also loved the sticky rice and bok choy. Service was outstanding. Can't think of a bad thing to say! I'm ready to go back this weekend!

    (5)

  • Viktha B.

    Has to be the best dim sum around town! I hate that my eyes are bigger than my stomach!! At first I didn't know the name of this place, shame on me! So we went to other dim sum joints, just didn't do it for me. So a friend suggested this place and to my surprise, it was the same place! I was soo excited!! The banh coun, fried taro and pork, har gao, shu Mai, BBQ pork bun, chicken feet were all delished and devoured in no time! (making me want more!) plenty of refills on the drinks! Service was attentive, plenty of carts to go around. All in all, I was a very satisfied customer and the bill was so cheap compared to all my other dim sum adventures! :)

    (5)

  • Juan R.

    First my credentials... I first went to Shanghai for dim-sum in Nov-2007, and have gone there 4 other times since then (always for dim-sum). I have also tried all other dim-sum places in Austin, a few in SFO, DC and overseas. IMO, the food was good. There were no dishes that I considered bad or even mediocre. The dough of the char siu bao (pork steam buns) was light and fluffy; the shrimp dumplings were nicely seasoned (not bland); the taro cakes were nice and crispy outside; the curried squid was excellent, although it could be considered too "fishy" by others; the sweet steam buns had enough filling, and they weren't overly sweet. In addition to that, I got to try the "green tea sesame balls" (a new thing to me). They don't carry them all the time, so be sure to ask your waiter to see if they have it when you go. And if you try them, be careful not to burn your mouth as the inside can be really hot! As with all dim-sum places, when the dishes come in a tray (not in a cart), it is likely that they "deluxe" items (more expensive). Be sure to ask before you order them. However, something that surprised me was that the Chinese broccoli was considered a deluxe item. TIPS: What others have said is true; be prepared to wait between 15-45 minutes if you go between 11AM to 1:00PM. A little longer if you go in parties greater than 4. Try not to sit on the back of the restaurant (away from the front door), as you will have a hard time getting food.

    (5)

  • Pete T.

    This place is pretty spot on with all of their stuff. The Dim Sum favorites "Har Gao" and "Siu Mai" is solid. Most of their other food was fresh, and most importantly hot. I didn't think too much of their "Xiao Long Bao" however. The turnaround for tables are about as fast as you can get at a dim sum place. The only downside is that the place isn't that big. So if you go during peak dim sum hours, the wait can be long (but rest assured, it's well worth it). As far as traditional dim sum goes in Austin, this would get my vote as the best.

    (4)

  • Cam A.

    I've been Dim Summing since I was 10 or 11 years old, so I consider myself somewhat of a connoisseur. The quality here was not too bad, but I don't think it justifies the price. It's a little expensive. Service however was fast and friendly.

    (3)

  • Jackie V.

    my favorite place for dimsum...always tasty and yummy! their fried pork is very crispy on the outside and delishously seasoned. Everything here just taste better. This is not a place for the dull palate...you have a wide variety of seafood, pork, and beef dishes that come in spicy and non-spicy favors. They offer some things that you don't normally see elsewhere...oh yeah, and get there before the rush at noon and you'll get seated faster.

    (5)

  • brook s.

    decent most of the time, but be very careful when going near the end of dim sum service. last time i ate here, (probably the last time ever), i was served dumplings that were completely raw. now i like raw meat quite a bit, but raw dumpling pork? not cool... the real sad part is that this is just about the level of quality of any dim sum in austin. seriously, someone ship in more chefs from vancouver, and/or open a damn bakery.

    (2)

  • Jeff C.

    some friends called wanting to know if we were up for dim sum.. we assumed it was for lunch and we couldnt go. but instead they said dinner. well Im game. Dim dim for dinner at shanghai is different that for saturday or sunday brunch. You order off a dim sum menu and its made to order instead of picking it off the carts. It didnt matter,it was still excellent. the 4 of us had 10 or so different dishes ranging from beef tendon to sticky rice to shrimp toast. the only think I really didnt like was the shrimp and leek dumpling. to me the flavors didnt blend well. other than that everything ranged from very good to excellent. I recommend trying the beef tendon wich is cooked in a 5 spice sauce if you want to try something out of the ordinary. The shrimp toast was a piece of toast with a whole shrimp on it. All in all its my favorite dim sum house in austin. and its good to know you can get dim sum there for dinner. In a way its a good thing its so far from my house or I would be there almost every day

    (4)

  • Jason R.

    I would have given this place 5 stars if I had reviewed it 12-15 months ago. When this place opened, it was good enough to impress friends from CA and NYC. A few months after building a sizeable and enthusiastic clientele, Shanghai pulled an old trick that unfortunately still works like a charm in Austin -- it replaced its top-notch chef with a cheaper fellow that turns out food ranging from disappointing to pure crap. Of course this is Austin, so almost no one notices. Anyway, it's not what it was before. If you read or hear glowing reviews about this place, it's either from someone who only ate at Shanghai when it first opened or someone with a less than discriminating palate.

    (2)

  • Sandy H.

    This place is great because it's clean and very tasty dimsum. Not sloppily put together. We always make sure to stop by when I come home for a visit. And I live in SF which has the best Chinese food in the US! My daughter is a very picky eater and she loves the dumplings they have!

    (5)

  • Michael V.

    As advertised, the dim sum is the best I've had in Austin. However, don't discount their regular menu. Shanghai passed the "General Tsos" test. The chicken was crispy with a spicy sauce. Moreover, instead of a saturated pork fried rice, you get a nice fresh white rice fried tossed with a type of soy sauce that really gives the meal and interesting and fresher flavor. Looking forward to my next meal here.

    (4)

  • Matt W.

    Had the Kung pow chicken. Pretty good for a typical Chinese place.

    (3)

  • chiu t.

    I am Cantonese and I would vote for Shanghai as the best dim sum place in Austin. Everything is good, fresh and quite authentic. My favorite dim sum in Shanghai include ha gao, shiu mai, egg custard, Chinese broccoli, etc. I heard their chicken feet was good, but unfortunately I don't eat chicken feet, since it does gross me out. Their dinner is not bad, but not as good as their dim sum in my opinion.

    (4)

  • ellen s.

    Let's get a couple of things straight: dim sum at shanghai ends at 2:30 -- at least you have to be in the door by then. There are inevitably people lined up outside the door, down the steps -- and, from time to time -- along the sidewalk. We go there because the food is the best dim sum in town-- from chicken feet and congee (not usually appealing to westerners) to roast duck, pork buns, chinese brocooli and baby bok choy to and every imaginable kind of dumpling (think shrimp & leeks; scallop; curried squid). To label someone a bitch because she doesn't cater to you while managing a restaurant that seats 100, seems kind of silly, not to mention tasteless. It's sad that we're unable to lobby constructive criticism without resorting to juvenile name-calling. Not coming back anymore? No sweat. More food for my friends and me.

    (5)

  • Heather N.

    typical dim sum shop, nothing interesting ..same steamed pork buns, globulous shrimp balls and even more gloopy white stuff with small overcooked shrimp and chicken feet. I have the feeling that if you spoke Chinese, the food could be awesome, but my gweilo friends and I looked on in hunger and wonderment as asian tables teamed with all kinds of tasty and interesting morsels..anyone speak Mandarin and want to create a dim sum 'food tour' for us half-whits? I wished that they would at least have some vegetables or sauce mixed in, all of it was just flavorless and white..blah...

    (2)

  • tess V.

    The Dim Sum here is mighty tasty. I thoroughly enjoyed the steamed pork balls, pork steam buns and shrimp toast. The pork balls were bursting with flavor. I tried a coconut pudding and decided the texture was too lumpy and the waxy bits throughout were not particularly tasty. I will go back and eat their Dim Sum soon!

    (4)

  • Little M.

    Stay away during the week - I went to Shanghai on a weekday for dim sum and was very disappointed. The dim sum was not fresh and some were clearly microwaved. Definitely better to go on the weekend.

    (2)

  • Maria L.

    Shitty dim sum which is equaled only by their shitty and downright rude service!!!! Oily, flavorless, mushy, and OVER-PRICED are only a few adjectives to describe the dim sum. If the only problem was the service I might actually go back but bad service and food makes this restaurant a FAIL!! Don't waste your money here.

    (1)

  • Holly O.

    I absolutely love Shanghai. In fact, my husband and I are fighting off the cravings. We went to Shanghai because a friend of ours recommended it for dim sum. We decided to go for dinner instead. The wait staff was very attentive and the restaurant maintained a busy flow yet, never packed. There was a good selection of vegetarian options on the menu and lots of very fresh seafood, including lobster. We order snow pea leaves, fried squid, and hot and spicy fish fillet. I have never been so pleased with Chinese food. All the flavors were full and there was nothing unhealthy feeling about the food. I say this because until now, Chinese food has been my hangover food. I cannot wait to try Shanghai for dim sum!

    (5)

  • DONNA V.

    Good prices for good dim sum!

    (4)

  • Roland L.

    Dimsum only ok at best. Some items are clearly from frozen inventory. Very pricey because they are at this time the only dimsum restaurant in town. Really did not like deliberate obscuring of the fact that 18% gratuity had been added to our bill for party of 6. Seen this done at a few restaurants. Asked for bill and got a credit card slip with no indication that 18% had been added. Asked the waitress about it and she claimed she did not know and did not bother to find out. Finally asked the hostess/traffic coordinator type lass and she said that it was added into the bill. No explanation why it was not noted on the bill. Kind of a low class way of hoping to snag a second tip. Minus 1 star because of that. Also when it's starting to look like you are not ordering any more food, they'll clear the table and service will cease. A not so subtle way of telling you to leave so they can flip the table.

    (2)

  • Barron F.

    Dimsum here was really good. All the standards were delicious, and the service was friendly. It's a little far of a drive for us, but I'd keep it on the list of good dimsum in Austin. There was a wait for a table, about 20 minutes on Sunday at 11:30am. Lots of Chinese ppl eating here as well, which is a good sign! I hope Shanghai survives, but I'm wary of the location, since the restaurants have really come n gone over the years here.

    (4)

  • Paul W.

    This is a solid 5 stars for dim sum, especially in Austin, Texas. Tien Hong also was an excellent place, but it recently closed so I believe Shanghai is your best bet. Ton Kiang in SF is one of my families' favorite place, and I believe Shanghai is a good alternative when you are on the "third coast." They have all the variety -- bao (my 4 yo's fav), bol choy gao, siu lang bao, dai dze gao, rice noodle stuffed with shrimp or pork, turnip cake, veggies and even chicken's feet (and other spare parts). They throw in a little local flavor by adding cilantro and jalapenos to some dishes. The quality is excellent and everything tastes excellent. Like most Austinites, the folks here are friendly and accomodating. Now be prepared to wait a bit unless you get there by 10:45. My 4 yo son has the attention span of a guppy, but he never complains about waiting for his bao here.

    (5)

  • steve t.

    If there is a better dim sum place in Austin, I havent found it yet. The dim sum here is very good and very fresh, even on the carts. The sticky rice is superb, as are the salt and pepper shrimp. There are downsides though. The wait on weekends is sometimes almost unbearable, especially when its cold and/or raining outside. If you wait until the rush subsides, all the good stuff is gone and you have only whatever hasnt been picked up yet. And the price. Its very pricey (at least by Bay Area standards) so going there for brunch/lunch is about the same as going to a standard dinner somewhere. But still, if you are looking for a dim sum fix and thought there wasnt decent dim sum in town, this is the place to try.

    (4)

  • P R.

    Best Dim Sum in town. Spouse is a world traveller and claims this comes close to some of the best dim sum from Asia. Be prepared for a wait on Sunday afternoons.

    (5)

  • Ruben L.

    The first thought that entered my head when I walked in, was "What is the deal w/all these people running around w/little karts?" It was like a Chinese edible version of Mario Kart in so many ways. I journeyed to Shanghai w/11 other yelpers for lunch and my first Dim Sum experience. The whole time I thought Dim Sum was a type of food, and never realized it was a eating style. Once everybody showed up, we were immediately seated at a huge round table that made me feel like playing musical chairs at first. Not knowing what to expect, I immediately saw people zooming by w/those karts and hearing random "I'll take 1 of those, 2 of those, Oh and ya, 2 of those as well." I have to be honest, and say it was a bit chaotic at first, cuz I was totally clueless as to what was going on. After realizing how it all works, I began to like this dim sum idea. The idea of getting to try various dishes and desserts seems brilliant. With all the karting that was going on, it seems like the variety selection they had was huge. it seems like every 20 seconds there was a new kart person at our table just piling the stacks of food. With all that the 12 of us ordered, I do have to commend the service of this place for being able to keep up and never let the stack of empty plates get too high before they were whisked away. In regards to the zillion items that were ordered and about 2 I had ever heard of, the food that I did manage to eat was good. If I remember directly, I had some chicken, sea bass, rubber duck (yes that is what it was called), salt & pepper shrimp, some pork item, and a shrimp dumpling. I pretty much had 2nds of everything w/exception to the dumpling. Again, another first experience for dumplings, and it just didnt agree w/me. This whole dim sum idea is still pretty new to me, so I don't see myself going back unless I'm ordering something straight off the menu. After all was said and done, the bill was appx $280 for 12 people, rounding to appx 23.50/person. After all the food that was had, it appeared to be cheap. Now even though the food was good, it wasn't totally fulfilling for my stomach. So was the food I had equally worth $24 bucks? Not so much. But was the experience I had w/11 other yelpers worth $24 bucks? Hellz yea!!!!

    (3)

  • Denise R.

    I'm used to dim sum on the weekends only and I couldn't believe I found a place that serves dim sum all week long. Chinese tea lunch is my favorite. I get something different each time and I love it all. Except the rice isn't sticky rice, but that's o.k. I would never recommend getting creme brulee from a Chinese restaurant, but it's really good here. We came here for a birthday brunch for one of my girlfriends and the staff treated us all to a dessert. I know I should have ordered something less not at all Chinese, but I had azuki bean pudding for breakfast (or maybe I didn't). The Chinese sweets are good and AUTHENTIC (I know because I tasted everyone's dessert and they tasted mine...we're kinky like that), but they also have non-Chinese desserts like tiramisu (don't know about it) and creme brulee (oh yes, it's lovely). Thing is, I'm usually pretty full after eating here and only have room for some nice jasmine tea to aid digestion, so I doubt I'll be exploring the dim sum restaurant's dessert menu too extensively. I was just surprised by the quality of the creme brulee is all.

    (4)

  • Suzanne Z.

    Granted I am not the most adventurous person when it comes to trying different things during dim sum BUT the BBQ pork buns, the shrimp dumplings, the shrimp and scallop steamed dumplings are AMAZING!

    (4)

  • K S.

    I have to agree with some of the prior posters that there is much better dim sum outside of Austin. I'm a huge fan of a few places in both Los Angeles' and NYC's Chinatowns. Houston even has a better tier of dim sum places. With that being said, this is the best in Austin from what I've experienced, and still enjoy coming here when the cravings overwhelm me during my visits to this city. I've had almost everything on the menu- shark fin dumplings, fried tofu, etc etc. The egg custard buns are a bit on the small side and I thought more doughy than usual, but they were still yummy and are my favorite way to finish the meal with some hot tea. Tips for people based off of prior reviews: *There are 2 menus- the main menu and a dim sum menu. *Usually it's the complete opposite, but during the weekdays at lunch I've had better quality than on the weekend. Weird, I know. Maybe it's just been my luck.

    (3)

  • kim n.

    My most recent dim sum experience was not as good as my first and made me think maybe I should have went to the one on lamar. We were seated in the nook which was the last stop for carts but at least we were seated. All things shrimp were delicious although the shumai was more gray in coloring than I remembered. I didn't see a chinese broccoli cart so I had to flag some guy and inquire about it. He came back with bok choy, dude I'm asian I can differentiate between my green asian vegetables. I did enjoy my coconut jello with red beans which was rich and not too sweet if thats possible. I've been their on a weekday at the place is pretty vacant. I like their walnut shrimp with a mayo based sauce over friend shrimp and candied walnuts, probably the only reason to ever attend an asian wedding reception. There are better chinese restaurants but for central Austin this place might be tops. The service is always good and almost too attentive for drink refills.

    (4)

  • Rukaiya K.

    By far my favorite dim sum place in Austin! Yummy dumplins, soups....and everything else that comes out on that cart of theirs. Food is super fresh, and super tasty! Stomach is growling just thinking about it....yummm.

    (5)

  • Mimich W.

    Like my friend Catherine Y. I grew up eating Dim Sum every weekend morning with my mom and aunt who are originally from Hong Kong. Shanghai Restaurant is a very good Dim Sum place. For the first time, I experienced the stainless steel steamer instead of the bamboo ones and I like it. I don't feel like I'm sharing germs with strangers... Catherine Y. named all the great Dim Sum to order. I would add the tripe, the salt & pepper shrimp, turnip cake (my favorite), siu long bao (aka small steamer pork buns), etc. For those who want to become a Dim Sum expert, get this book: amazon.com/Dim-Sum-Kit-S… . You have the mandarin pronunciation, the ingredients and the most important, the picture of every kind of Dim Sum. I'm not giving a 5 stars because I know better Dim Sum restaurants in Hong Kong, Toronto, Montreal. Also because I was disappointed once when they didn't take my friend's allergy seriously even after warning them... People! Do not go to a Dim sum Restaurant if you have Shell Fish allergies!!! Otherwise you'll spend the rest of your Sunday afternoon in a hospital hoping that your friend will survive!!! Silly me! I should have known better that shrimp are EVERYWHERE!!! Darling Kristof, I'm sorry! Thank you for still being my best friend!!!

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Brunch
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : No
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Shanghai Restaurant

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