"The only time we’ve been immediately seated at Shanghai 21 was at 3:50pm on a Monday. Even then, a line immediately formed right behind us. The wait is worth it. At this bright-green Chinatown restaurant—sandwiched right between Wo Hop and Hop Kee—the walls are covered with blown-up, illuminated glamour shots of food. Their soup dumplings are the standout, but there are plenty of other fantastic dishes on offer, too. With that in mind, consider going with a group. (There isn’t really space for, say, a giant birthday party, but Shanghai 21 does have a number of booths to accommodate parties of four or so.) You’re going to want the collective stomach space to order widely. Food Rundown photo credit: Noah Devereaux Soup Dumplings With Crab Meat And Pork Surprisingly good structural integrity, super juicy filling, and a clear, light broth that’s deeply flavorful. If you were to eat just one xiao long bao for the rest of your life, you could do a lot worse than this one. photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick Szechuan-Style Wontons The sauce is spicy with an irresistible tinge of sweetness, and we love the crispy fried shallots that top this dish. The delicate, perfectly folded wrappers are almost too pretty to eat. Almost. photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick Shredded Beef With Dried Bean Curd And Chinese Celery The beef is incredibly tender, the Chinese celery brings a pleasant punch, and the dried bean curd is a sponge that soaks up all the delicious flavor happening here." - Molly Fitzpatrick
