Gordon Y.
Yelp
Important Update: heard that the head chef has left after only one week after grand opening. Follow up visit was lackluster at best. Very noticeable difference in Gi Choi Wonton and Snow Cabbage & Edamame. Hope he comes back, otherwise, I think Lao Ke Le Shanghai Cuisine will be my preferred new Shanghainese restaurant. They both opened around the same time.
Cuisine: 8
Service: 7
Decor: 7
Value: 8
Overall: 8
After two visits during their soft opening, I can safely say that I will be revisiting this restaurant regularly. Though not everything was perfect, much of the food here definitely reminds me a lot of what I experienced as a child growing up in Shanghai.
Being a new Shanghainese restaurant, we had to try some of the most iconic cuisine from my hometown. Overall, the dim sums were a bit of a letdown, but the cold and hot dishes are where they really shine.
1. Salty Soybean Milk - Not what we expected and somewhat lacking. Would not get again.
2. Gi Choi Wonton - These are traditional wontons made with pork and sheperd's purse (gi choi). Though the name is poorly translated, these are some of the best Shanghainese style wontons in NYC. When I want something light and clean, I will come for this.
3. Soup Dumpling w. Pork - Wrapper on these were a bit thick and sticky, but the filling and soup were quite good. Not what I would come here for when there are so many better options in Flushing.
4. Soup Dumpling w. Crab Meat & Pork - Skin on these were definitely better on these. I wish there was more crab flavor to the broth and the filling was a bit too loose. Once again, go elsewhere.
5. Turnip Puff w. Pork - What's inside was delicious! Unfortunately, the pastry crust needs to be crispier and flakier. The server said it usually would be, so hopefully it improves. I would give this item another chance.
6. Fried Bean Gluten - This cold dish was excellent and the flavors were on point. However, know that it is meant to be sweet and savory, therefore be mindful if you do not like sugar in your food.
7. Braised Fish w. Sesame - Another classic cold dish done relatively well. . Usually made with fresh crap, this fish is fried and then marinated in a sweet soy sauce. Be careful of bones.
8. Chicken in Wine Sauce - Skip! The meat was not tender and the wine was a bit sour.
9. Snow Cabbage & Edamame - Dish of the night! Wow! Best version in NYC period. Description leaves out that the bean curd "noodles" that is the star of the show. If you ask them to remove the shredded pork, this item can be made vegetarian.
10. Squirrel Fish - Never understood the name, it is basically a deep fried grass carp (best guess) drenched in a sweet and sour sauce, drizzled with pine nuts and peas. Flavors were good. Could be crispier.
11. Braised Deep Fried Round Hoof - If you got a large group, this entree can be the centerpiece. The mostly lean pork was delicious dipped in the sweet soy sauce. It is surrounded by a melt in your mouth pork skin (best part) that makes you forget that you're on a diet.
12. Gi Choy, Bamboo w. Pork Rice Cake - If you see shepherd's purse, bamboo and pork together on or in anything, it is likely a Shanghainese classic, as was this offering. Chewy rice cake stir fried with this tasty combination is absolutely heavenly to me.
13. Shanghai Pork Rice w. Vegetable - Very hard to find a good version of this item in NYC. We make it at home all the time. Made with salted pork and bok choy, this dish is finished off with a scoop of lard to add flavor. Though quite good, they did overdo it with the lard and made the rice a little too oily. I told the servers and hope they fix this mistake. The leftovers we took home tasted better after I added a little more rice.
Honestly, I am excited to find a chef from Shanghai that can produce food that comes close to my memories. I would not come here for the dim sums except for the wontons, but hopefully as they improve over time, this may be where I get my fix of Shanghainese cuisine.