LJ Shanghai

our usual spot next door was closed... this was a GREAT find the spicy noodle soup and plain noodle were both 10/10! great owners also! will be back :)

Food- EXCELLENT! Best soup dumplings that I've ever had. Pork and shrimp wonton soup was also the best I've ever tasted! If you like spicy, and they mean it, order the spicy beef soup. Yummy! Service- they did a great job! Friendly people. Ambiance- a little hole in the wall restaurant. It's adequate, but honestly, I don't care so much. This is an amazing place that I HIGHLY recommend.

Aww, man, this place is one of the only places to get good Asian soup dumplings. The dim sum spot also has soup dumplings, but this place takes the prize. This is also your neighborhood spot. LJ, the owner, is so friendly. The proper way to eat a soup dumpling is to have a 10/90 ration of hot oil and vinegar. Put the dumpling on a spoon, bite a bit off the time to suck a letting of the soup out. Pour as little as much of the sauce in. And all in one shot. You'll love this. But I digress. I love this place. Prices are higher, IMO, but you get some quality food. It's anywhere from about $10 to $20 for each plate. You can't just get one per person; it's a sharing event, and you must get some appetizers, too. It looks like they are short-staffed most of the time. So be patient, the food will come when it's done, and you will enjoy it. The vibe is awesome. It's like the Cheers of Cleveland.

The food here is what makes this place!! It's authentic and delicious. The vibe is definitely hole in the wall. It's not super cute so you're not coming here for the aesthetic, but for the food. Service is usually pretty quick and staff is friendly.

Food was amazing! The lady who works here is too funny . The only issue is way too much food.

If I'm looking for a restaurant to bring my Shanghainese parents to, this is it. Bare bones dining rooms, vinegar on every table, and the best homemade XLB that Cleveland has to offer. The cherry on top is the boisterous owner, who greets diners loudly in English and Chinese while flying across the restaurant taking orders. LJ Shanghai is comfort food for when you need a good takeout bowl of soup noodles to eat alone in front of the TV or dumplings for the whole gang (although the whole gang must be present to be seated). On weekend evenings it can get quite busy, but if you come in a group of 2-4 you're usually able to get a seat on the fly. The menu is a small front and back laminated page and has evolved a bit over the years, with the core theme of Shanghainese cuisine with a little Chongqing spicy flair. Prices have risen over time as well, but are still quite affordable and you're almost certain to leave feeling full. First timers will not be disappointed by the soup dumplings, spicy beef noodle soup, or pork and shrimp wontons. If you're feeling even more Shanghai, go for the fried rice cake or fried bean curd. Honestly though, any variation of noodles here has restorative powers, particularly on a cold, gray Cleveland day. Service is pretty quick, and to pass the time you can peek in on the dumplings being made in house in the kitchen next to the cash register. Restrooms are located in the back up the ramp, and though one is marked for male and the other female, they're identical in their contents so I'll often use whichever opens first in a pinch. I'll see you here soon!

When a friend asked me to join him for lunch at a local Chinese restaurant, I thought....great....always a good time for some orange beef and rice. But this place is something quite different. Not the usual Chinese fare I am used to. I have no idea what authentic Chinese food is supposed to be but this food seems as close as I can get in Cleveland. It is a no frills kinda place, fairly spartan and does have much in the way of ambiance....but the food was spectacular. Delicious, hot, just the right amount of spice and priced very fairly. Service was fine, owner was waiting tables, seemed like family working the back kitchen. Fairly active at lunch time, Seemed like a lot of regulars. If you're looking for really good Chinese that is not the usual fare, this place could be for you. Throughly enjoyed it.

Tiny cute spot! The menu is limited which makes it really unique. We ordered a little bit of everything from soup dumplings to soup noodles to dried noodles! Everything came out hot, fresh, and yummy. Service was decent, food makes up for it though.

Great service, good flavorful food. Fresh ingredients cooked well. They have a great menu, I should have ordered the soup dumplings the table next to me got them and they looked amazing. Definitely try the chili oil on the table.

Cute little hole in the wall place with a friendly staff. I personally didn't much like the soup dumplings that other reviewers rave about, they were falling apart and tasted like bland watery pork. That being said I did like the spicy beef noodle soup. Seems like they have a lot of authentic options that you don't see on many menus around here like duck head and chicken feet, so that's pretty cool!

Came here for a team lunch for 8 people. Service was good and we got our foods relatively quickly. Soup dumplings were pretty good. The soup dumplings skin was thicker than how I usually like it but the taste was pretty good. Got the pork belly noodle soup. I really liked the noodles, they were soft. Credit card minimum is $15. Additional charge of $2 if you pay with Amex. F*ck around, find out with all their Smith & Wesson signage.

Fantastic restaurant with delicious food! My friend and I went there for the first time and got three plates: soup dumplings, fried bean curd, and a vegetable udon noodle dish. Everything tasted amazingly! The service was fast and friendly - we were seated immediately around lunchtime and the whole place was busy with happy customers! Don't let the outside fool you, the restaurant is quaint and lovely! I can't wait to come back and try more meals!

LJ Shanghai is one of my favorite places in Chinatown and this time, I brought a newcomer here to try out their specialties! We ordered their Soup Dumplings, which they are famous for!! Pipping hot from the steamer and dunk it in a little bit of vinegar before inhaling it... YUM! Their prices have slowly gone up through the years, but they are so worth it! 6 handmade dumplings for $8. You can even see those little guys being made behind the glass from the second dining room. We also got an order of their Shanghai Pan Fried Noodles, which is another popular item! Loaded with veggies and what I believe are pork pieces. Can't wait to come back again!

One of my top restaurants in Cleveland. Good for a group of 5-8 people so you can try a variety of the plates family style. It's a smallish restaurant though so maybe call ahead to see if they have the room. You should be fine for lunch time on a weekend Highly recommend the flat noodles, the soup dumplings and a spicy pork dumplings they have on the menu Bring cash as they prefer it but will also take most credit cards except Amex . Service is friendly without being overwhelming

LJ Shanghai is a Chinese food staple in Cleveland. I've been here countless times with both friends and family, and my Chinese immigrant parents were very impressed to find such authentic food in Cleveland. Their spicy beef noodle soup is very popular for a reason, though it is definitely very spicy. You can also get a beef noodle soup without spice in it FYI. I most recently tried the pork noodle soup, which was very delicious, and good for people who are not feeling spicy food. Their Xiao long bao are also excellent, and I've also enjoyed a variety of their side dishes. The service at this restaurant is very fast, though they can get very busy. They don't seat you unless your whole party is here, but are quick to bring out food once you're seated. Definitely check it out!

We came here with some friends after seeing a TikTok boasting about it's amazing soup dumplings. I can confirm that the soup dumplings do not disappoint. The broth inside them was to DIE for. Absolutely delicious. My only sadness is that we didn't order more. I really wanted to try their pan fried noodles but they were all out. Instead I got the scallion noodles and they were tasty. We also got an order of edamame, which was not what I was expecting. They arrived cold and only slightly cooked so we just ate the insides! Still tasty, just different than i anticipated. They were slammed but we still got in and out pretty quickly and the servers were pleasant enough. Its owned by a family from what I can tell. The interior was fine. A good amount of seating and everything felt clean!

Decided to come here right before the show at Playhouse Square. You really have to go out of your way to come here...and we did because one of the couples that we were with suggested it. To be fair, most of the dishes on the menu are pork or shrimp, and we don't eat either one of those. We tried 3 dishes: seaweed salad, cucumber with garlic, and one beef dish. We were not impressed. 2 couples that were with us did seem to like their dishes, but we didn't try them, so I can't really comment. Service is fast, the place itself is pretty small and very basic. They don't let you split checks.

Wanting to grab dinner between work downtown and a concert at Severance Hall I decided that I would give LJ Shanghai a second try. Still a great little restaurant, modern sleek and a great place to grab a meal. The menu is still two sides of pictures; the selection has changed with more vegetarian items and a couple of seafood items. I decided to get the scallion noodles and the fried shrimp. The scallion noodles are still a very good sized bowl of buckwheat noodles in a warm broth. A very nice dish and even better as compliment to the rest of the meal. The Fried Shrimp were outstanding, whole shrimp still in the shell with the heads, split open and then fried and served with an excellent sweet pungent sauce. The flavor works really well if you eat them in the shells, it adds crunch and flavor. I ended up combining the shrimp over the noodles and it was as good a meal I have had in a while. LJ Shanghai is an great place to grab some Asian food that is both a bit familiar and also a bit different; if you want to be adventurous and have a great meal this is the place for you.

Who would open up a Chinese restaurant in this part of town, let alone a Shanghainese style one in Cleveland? And yet, here it is and locals of all types are flocking here for the spicy dishes you will not find at your local Americanized Chinese takeout. Contrary to popular belief, General Tso's Chicken is an American invention with the General being pure fiction and you won't find his chicken at LJ Shanghai. But you will find many authentic Northern China regional dishes. Of course we had to sample the Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings). The skins are thin and delicate and filled with steamy hot liquid as they should be. Next was the Chongqing Beef Tripe & Tendon, which was good & spicy. They even tossed in some Tongue and Shin. The more cow parts, the better. My wife's favorite was Fried Rice Cakes which were perfectly chewy with the right amount of sauce & seasoning. The Shredded Pork and Pickled Vegetable Noodle was just like the way my mom made it and it brought back memories of my childhood.

If you like adventurous, and extremely delicious authentic Chinese food, you will not find a better place. My husband and I have had nearly everything on the menu, including the dishes most won't try and trust me, it's incredible, and it doesn't get more authentic than this. LG and her family do sacrifice to provide the highest quality food money can buy. Honestly, her spicy sauce is her trademark. Incredible. Any time we can get away for a few hours, this is our go to, and LG is there to great us every time, by name, ready and quickly seating, taking orders, and serving us everything we ask. Best time to go is before 6-6:30pm. Below are a few of our the most recent and some of our favorite dishes.

Went here with my man for the first time yesterday. Loved it and will definitely be back. The chaoshou in spicy chili oil was my favorite. They were already out of the Shanghai pan fried noodles so I'll definitely be coming back to try those. Until then, I am going to be dreaming of that chili oil!

BEST place in Asia town! I crave their pan fried noodles and soup dumplings. The food is quick and tastes extraordinary! I recommend this place to everyone!!

This is a great place to take friends and grab some traditional dishes together. The restaurant is small but cozy - it's not lavishly adorned, but you don't come here for the atmosphere, you come for the food. The soup dumplings are definitely a must, and the spicy chaoshou is so good, my friend always asks to box up the extra sauce so she can cook with it later. I'm also a fan of the pan fried flat noodle, and the fried pork chop isn't bad. The wonton soup is a classic, but a bit harder to share. I'm not entirely sure the garlic cucumbers are worth the price, but if you're looking for a lighter complement to a heavy meal, they'll do the trick. Lastly, the owners are super nice and get you your food in no time, even when you come with a group and order as much as my friends and I do!

Have seen this place all over Instagram and on food blogger sites around Cleveland. Have gone for years to the pho restaurant a few feet away and was very excited to see this open so close! Prior to going we read a couple of Yelp reviews on what to order. Definitely recommend the Pan Fried Beef Daoxiao noodle, soup dumplings, and sticky rice. Next time we will probably try another noodle dish and more soup dumplings

We went here or a brunch time and the place filled up pretty quickly. They have a small menu to choose from so I assume they're focused on quality! The dishes we got were okay. Dumpling was good. They have mostly pork option for meat and cannot substitute so it wasn't convenient for my boyfriend who cannot eat pork, but he still enjoyed the dish he got.

If LJ is like MJ, then Koko is Scottie. The farther you get away from San Fran, Binondo, Chicago (Southside Chinatown) and SoCal, the harder it is to find legit dim sum and bonafide Xao Long Bao (XLB). So LJ Shanghai (the owner does have mainland roots) is the real deal, in my XLB fixated opinion. Our first meal here was sit-down and it was during the height of COVID, the owner came by to say hello and that was super nice of her. We really enjoyed our soup dumplings, the crispy katsu and I'd prolly skip the soup but I'll let you be the judge of that. This second time around was a drive by situation due to time constraints, don't want to get busted speeding on the Ohio turnpike, so we took our XLB to go. It was piping .....and I mean piping hot and juicy. If you're ever in Cleveland, and y'all get a hankering for some great XLB, dim sum and then some...you know where to go.

Came back for the second time during our short stay in Cleveland. What does that tell you? This place is amazing! Had to come back and try the soup dumplings--they were scrumptious! This time we got the pan fried beef noodles, also excellent, and round 2 of the craveworthy spicy wontons. This family run restaurant has great service and you will feel like you found a very special place when you discover this authentic Shanghai noodle house.

LJ Shanghai is a must when craving soup dumplings in Cleveland! Soup dumplings were perfect for the cold cleveland weather, the sweet and sour pork fell off the bone, the cucumbers were crisp and refreshing and the pan fried beef noodles were so so good. The handcut noodles were probably my favorite. The noodles were chewy, beef was tender and overall seasoned so well! We ordered a variety of dishes and all were 10/10.

for being in cleveland, lj shanghai has some decent chinese food. a nondescript building, free parking, lots of indoor seating. we came at 11:00am on a thursday and were the only ones there. service was fast, but i wouldn't say the most friendly (took order, served the food, and that's about it). generally authentic flavors, so giving it 4 stars (i would rate it 3 stars in california where we are from) // xiao long bao (6 for $8.00) // average pricing for xiao long bao. the dumplings are bigger than din tai fung's. pros: good amount of meat inside and very soupy/juicy. main con is that the dough is too thick, especially on the top. additionally, xiao long bao is normally ate with ginger slices: we asked the waiter for ginger slices but she said it was already in the vinegar (did not taste any). it would have been great to just get some ginger on the side. // nian gao (rice cake) $11.00 // average portion of nian gao with assorted vegetables. nian gao was cooked well and chewy, but i thought the overall dish lacked some flavor.

I do not recommend this restaurant. If I was rating this purely on food, I might give it a 3/5. The dumplings were ok, but I thought a lot of the other food was more of a miss. For ambiance, this place has somewhat of a hole-in-the-wall appeal to it. That can work if food and service are exceptional. They weren't. I'm upset about the service we received. We were immediately scolded for picking up the menu at the check-in desk. I'm still not sure what this issue was here. Then, we were interrogated about why we had a small bag of trash with us (we had just traveled for 5 hours in the car). I think it's fair to ask us not to dump excess trash, but keep this part in mind for later. Also keep in mind that we promised not to dispose of this small bag of trash in the restaurant (eye roll). We were sat next to a flickering light. When we asked for a seat away from the flickering light, the waitress sighed and impatiently asked us where we would like to sit. When we asked if we could have a side of rice for the meat dish we ordered, the same waitress again impatiently explained that this "noodle house" did not serve rice. Again, fair enough, but it really seemed to annoy her that we even asked if her Chinese restaurant served rice. We get our food. Again, more misses than hits, but we pay out around $90. Then my wife uses the restroom. The waitress comes knocking on her door demanding she not throw trash away in the bathroom. Now, you might think that surely the waitress saw my sneaky wife taking that bag of trash to the bathroom. You'd be incorrect. I was holding the bag of trash while waiting for her. I believe this fact doesn't matter, since I'm pretty sure that the waitress thought my sneaky wife had smuggled the trash into the bathroom. When my wife opened the bathroom door, the waitress had to make sure my wife didn't put the trash in the toilet by flushing the toilet. At this point, I'm not aware of the bathroom saga, but I've already decided we wouldn't return to this restaurant. The bathroom drama was just the cherry on top. For what it's worth, the waitress only treated the Asian members of our party with this weird attitude. Maybe she has some issues to work out, but I refuse to pay for them.

Simply the most authentic Shanghainese food you will find. Soup dumplings are not to be missed. Husband/wife cold meat salad is the perfect starter. Knife cut noodles can not be beat by anyone. Staff is super friendly and somehow remembers us even though we only get there a few times a year. Wish I lived closer. Everything I've ever tried has been delicious. I'll be back soon.

Delicious and authentic food in a casual setting. We enjoyed the soup dumplings, handmade wontons in soup and handmade noodles with tender beef and red onions. Be aware that your whole party must be on site before you can be seated and sometimes items are sold out.

This place is the real deal y'all. Never in a million years would I have thought I'd be getting likely the best Shanghainese meal I've ever had in CLEVELAND out of all places. I'm from Southern California and live in Chicago, and I was very impressed with the quality of food and service here. Typically, I'd say the service is too friendly for it to be authentic, because majority of the time I find myself at a Chinese restaurant, due to cultural differences, staff is normally not attentive unless you flag them down or don't show much friendliness as a whole. That's just how it is and usually the food is bomb at those places. I was skeptical, but this place really delivers well on both ends. Food was absolutely amazing and had the perfect amount of spice level for us. The spicy dumplings were incredible, and I loved my Chongqing spicy pig intestine noodle soup bowl. Everything about it was amazing. The ladies were so sweet and constantly asking if I needed a water refill or to let them know if I wanted my hydroflask refilled at any time that I had brought in. This place was poppin' with not only non-Chinese, but Chinese as well. I would HIGHLY recommend this place if you're a foodie and living in or passing through Cleveland. The location is in an unassuming area, but don't judge a book by its cover. It seems like "Asia Town" in Cleveland is slowly growing!

It's good there's a Shanghainese restaurant in Cleveland. Their food is not super impressive but it gets the job done. It was open on Thanksgiving Day, which was nice.

Delicious and authentic little gem in AsiaTown! Everything was amazing! Run don't walk to get a little bit of everything on the menu

Love their Beef noodle Soup amazing ! Super yummy I enjoy going there . Family friendly people

The soup dumplings. Oh my god. Have you ever had soup dumplings? You bite, it dribbles down your chin, it is so so good. Pour a little sauce in there... mmmmmmh. It's erotic, disastrous, insane. I've lost my being inside these dumplings. My tongue flounders sensuously at the thought of them.

Amazing food. Highly recommend if you're in the mood to try something new. You're not going to find general tso chicken and lo mein here, but you'll find way better options. We always go in a group and order family style. Soup dumplings always steal the show and we end up ordering extra at the end of the meal. Service is great, the owner is so sweet. Highly recommend the seaweed salad, bean curd, cucumbers, scallion noodles, fried rice cakes, Shanghai pan fried flat noodles, and spicy chaoshou. They do not serve alcohol here but you'll be too busy enjoying the food to notice.

The soup dumplings are easily the star of the show! The Pan Fried Beef DaoXiao Noodles are also the best main dish I've had so far, I finish the plate every time!! Sweet and sour ribs are also pretty good, but it probably makes a better side dish, like the seaweed salad or sticky rice, than a main meal. The soups are a little hit or miss. The broth from the Pork & Salted Veggie noodle dish was good, but the pork and veggies were underwhelming. In the pork belly soup the pork was good but the broth was so-so. The pork and veggie wonton soup was also fine, but not something I'd order again. Our server was friendly, and running to from table to table to give customers quick service.

The food was amazing. You have to try the soup dumplings!!! The service was phenomenal as well!

Few of the Chinese restaurants worth trying in this area. Authentic Chinese food! A little overpriced.

Stopped in for lunch and we will definitely be back the next time we're in the area! Both noodle dishes and the soup dumplings were amazing!

Oh. My. God. So delicious!!! Now my hands down favorite restaurant in the Cleveland area. They've got amazing authentic Chinese food! The service is good enough and you can order in mandarin in you like. I came with three girlfriends and we just couldn't stop eating LOL we had to call back the waitress for more. If it's you're first time going, I highly recommend the pan fried beef daoxiao noodle and if you can tolerate spice, the spicy chaoshou. Shanghai Shrimp & Pork Wonton Soup 4.5/5 A tasty light soup with great wontons! You can really taste that they're homemade. The ingredients inside are finely diced to retain texture and have their flavors shine through. Shanghai Pan Fried Flat Noodle 4/5 More veggies came in this than we expected but we liked that! The noodles were fresh and springy while the veggies were juicy. You can definitely taste the wok hei in this! Chongqing Spicy Beef Noodle Soup 4.5/5 Such a good hot, flavorful dish! The mala soup base is aromatic, slightly mouth numbing and had a good amount of spice. The beef chunks in it were so tender you could easily split it by pushing into them with a spoon. Great on a cold day! Pan Fried Beef Daoxiao Noodle 5/5 The star of this dish was their tender, juicy beef slices, but the noodles are perfectly soft and savory as well! Their onion is a little raw for a light burn and alongside the snow peas add a nice crunch to the dish. Classic! Spicy Chaoshou 5/5 We ordered these twice and I had dreams about these after I ate them. The wrappers are so light and slippery, the filling mildly sweet and the sauce so so so flavorful. I wish I could buy the sauce to bring home!! It's perfectly garlicky, savory and spicy with some vinegar in the mix. The contrast between everything was ugh, I can't even say, please go eat this, it will increase your quality of life. Soup Dumplings 4/5 I love a juicy XLB! This could have been juicier but the fact that they make them in house so prettily with good skins and filling garners some respect. They've got nice flavor and will hit the spot if you're craving them. I should have asked for ginger with these since they don't bring it out with the dish, but these are still good with the table's sauces.

The food here is amazing! I got the spicy beef noodle soup along with soup dumplings and I was NOT disappointed! The only reason I am giving 4 stars is because when we came in, there weren't any seats available and there was also a whole group waiting ahead of us so we decided to order takeout from them instead. The dumplings were juicy, sweet and soft! The beef meat was just heavenly when I ate it. It tastes so good and almost melts in your mouth because it's a so soft and well done. The noodle soup was just the right amount of spicy and noodle was so good!! I definitely will be coming back and hopefully I get to eat in the restaurant next time. PLEASE TRY THIS PLACE!

Very quick service and tasty soup dumplings! Great place to visit if you're new to Cleveland and want support a local business.

Came here Sunday for lunch and it was very popular! Plenty of street parking on the Main Street and side streets. Staff were prompt and kind. We stayed a little longer after we paid and we were not rushed out despite the busy crowd which was much appreciated. There were two of us and we wanted to try many dishes and ordered the soup dumplings, Pan Fried Beef Daoxiao Noodle, Chongqing Spicy Beef Noodle Soup, and fried rice cakes. This was my friend's first time trying these type of Chinese dishes and she LOVED it. Being Chinese, I can be critical sometimes with my culture's food and this place does a great job. Soup dumplings were juicy and such a great price! I loved the crunch of the nuts in the beef noodle soup and there was a great portion of beef and noodles. My least favorite were the rice cakes but that's because I favor bolder flavors and this was more simple but still tasty regardless! My favorite were the pan fried daoxiao noodles just purely on its savory flavor! Would have preferred them to not have dried onto to each other for some pieces but that's just me being picky and giving advice! So excited to return! Enjoyed my meal thoroughly!

We've been here several times. Authentic Chinese food is here. It's a lot of noodle soups with some veggies and meat. Has good dumplings. You can also order duck head, chicken feet and pig intestines. The portions are good size. We like this place. Reminds Hubby of living in China. Sunday at 11:30 we walked in and were seated. By noon the room was full. A party of six waited. The owners and staff are friendly. They make small talk. Next time I want to have the garlic cucumbers and edamame. This no frills restaurant has good food. Parking is on the street.

Best food I ever had . The service was amazing the people who served us was so nice. I racamand the soup dumplings and there hot tea

Decently executed Chinese joint. Ambiance is simple. Service is efficient and no frills. Soup dumplings were good. Ribs were so so. Not a bad choice if in area.

You didn't receive a tip for a reason! The fact that you grabbed me and held me insisting that I need to tip you for your shitty service you're lucky you're not getting sued! Your service sucks! Your food taste like ass Your customer service is absolute dog crap You didn't get a tip because you guys SUCK!!!!!!!!!!