Shun Lee Palace
Chinese restaurant · Midtown East ·

Shun Lee Palace

Chinese restaurant · Midtown East ·

Classic Chinese eatery serving traditional dishes in an elegant setting.

pricey
decor
food quality
peking duck
general tso's chicken
crispy beef
service
beef with broccoli
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null
Shun Lee Palace by null

Information

155 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022 Get directions

$50–100

Order delivery
See Menu
Restroom
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Dinner reservations recommended
Fancy

Information

Static Map

155 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022 Get directions

+1 212 371 8844
shunlee-palace.com
@shunleenyc
𝕏
@shunleenyc

$50–100 · Menu

Features

•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Popular for lunch
•Popular for dinner
•Dinner reservations recommended
•Fancy
•Good for groups
•Good for solo dining

Last updated

Jan 17, 2026

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@goop
4,111 Postcards · 173 Cities

"This go-to Chinese takeout spot remains virtually unchanged since it first opened in 1971; it has a die-hard following (particularly on Christmas), as they excel at all of the classic dishes, like Peking duck, beef with broccoli, and egg rolls. "

The Midtown Manhattan Guide
Shun Lee Palace
@eater
391,688 Postcards · 10,992 Cities

‘The Search for General Tso’ Is One of the Best Food Documentaries of All Time | Eater

"After owners encountered a Taiwanese chef’s crispy General Tso–style chicken, they began serving their own version in New York; that plate of crispy chicken inspired countless knock-offs and helped make the dish one of America’s most popular takeout items." - Greg Morabito

https://www.eater.com/2018/6/23/17494860/search-for-general-tsos-documentary-where-to-watch
Shun Lee Palace
@zachbrocclovich
309 Postcards · 61 Cities
Shun Lee Palace
@grubstreet
13,564 Postcards · 1,477 Cities

New York Restaurateur Ed Schoenfeld Has Died

"A landmark 1970s-era restaurant where Ed ran the front of house and helped recruit influential chefs; those hires are credited with shaping Taiwanese-influenced dishes that became associated with New York Chinese cuisine, including elements of what evolved into General Tso’s chicken." - Adam Platt

https://www.grubstreet.com/2022/01/ed-schoenfeld-rip.html
Shun Lee Palace

Raymond C.

Google
I came here with a group of friends for a bday and let me say the food and service were extremely top notch. I ordered a bunch of dishes, my favorites were definitely the walnut shrimp, the sea bass and the Mongolian sizzling beef plate. Everything was fresh, food was brought out at a timely matter. I ordered their cocktails too 4 different ones, my favorite may be their Singapore sling. If yall want a taste of authentic Chinese food this is your spot. I can say it taste like home.

chun L.

Google
Been coming to Shun Lee Palace for about 15 years. It’s still the most authentic Chinese spot in the neighborhood. The renovation looks great — nice lighting, comfy vibe, and a more upscale feel. We stopped by on Christmas Day and ended up sitting at the bar. The food was great as always, the host was professional, and the bartender was super friendly. The place was packed — we just wish the neighborhood supported them more on regular days too. For an upscale Chinese restaurant, this is all you can ask for.

Ricky

Google
I came to this spot many times a few years back, but I was worried about how the food would be after the renovation...but I have to say, it was worth it. Restaurant looks much more aesthetic than before, and the food still remains one of the few authentic spots in the area. My only con is the price, but overall, the food is pretty good.

Hailey L.

Google
We had a wonderful experience at Shun Lee Palace on Christmas Day. Even though they were very busy on Christmas Day, everyone was kind, patient, and welcoming. The service never felt rushed, and the staff stayed friendly throughout. The food was delicious and well prepared. A great place with great people—will definitely be back.

B F.

Google
Wasn't sure what to expect, but it turned out to be a great surprise. Reminded me of what I always imagined as a traditional New York Asian restaurant. Loved the General's Chicken and the amazing Egg Drop soup. May swing by and get another order. Very prompt and polite service.

XIANG L.

Google
The checkout service here is excellent. I was planning to come here for dinner with my family today, but they ignored us for a long time, saying they were busy and then hung up on me. You have a very good employee. You'll have a thriving business! 👍

Li ying C.

Google
Quite a nice authentic Chinese restaurant, the food here is amazing and the interior is truly special, a truly upscale NYC restaurant. The only con would be the price, but then again every restaurant in that area is too

RAM I.

Google
Of all Chinese restaurants without a doubt, this has the most delicious, unique & different Chinese food. Flavorful, great presentation & perfect portions. The staff is overly friendly, warm & welcoming. The decor is aweful! Is old, bad 80s decor & cheap looking. A good renovation with great Chinese decor will make this an exciting experience ! It is pricey but it's also worth it. Recommend it a lot.

Li Ying C.

Yelp
Quite a nice authentic Chinese restaurant, the food here is amazing and the interior is truly special, a truly upscale NYC restaurant. Service was nice and fast, everyone was surprisingly cheerful. The only con would be the price, but then again every restaurant in that area is too.

Kevin L.

Yelp
We came here for a birthday party and the ambiance was extremely cozy. The price was well worth the authentic flavors, especially the walnut shrimp, which was plump and juicy. Highly recommend. We also ordered the tequila sunrise and you can really taste the alcohol. I highly recommend eating it family style so you can try a wider variety of dishes and flavors. We got the special roll as our starter and it was by far the best piece of sushi we have ate. The waiter constantly checked on us and even provided us wet towels.

Raymond C.

Yelp
I came here with a group of friends for a bday and let me say the food and service were extremely top notch. I ordered a bunch of dishes, my favorites were definitely the walnut shrimp, the sea bass and the Mongolian sizzling beef plate. Everything was fresh, food was brought out at a timely matter. I ordered their cocktails too 4 different ones, my favorite may be their Singapore sling. If yall want a taste of authentic Chinese food this is your spot. I can say it taste like home

Johnny S.

Yelp
Very nice interior vibes with great food. Great service and cleanliness. Love the seafood

Tyler M.

Yelp
Came here a few years back during the holidays and had a great time. I heard they had a renovation, and I have to say the restaurant looks even better, while the food still remains good. Although it is quite costly, I'd say it was worth it for one of the few authentic Chinese spots nearby. While they do have some weaknesses in terms of service, that could just be the busy holiday season, and of course them being jsut opened

David S.

Yelp
This is not the old shunlee east Not by a wide margin-marginal service and really mediocre food Just what a shame
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Vincent S.

Yelp
We stopped in for dinner after a movie. The food was very fresh, but was lacking in flavor. Service was great and the ambience is very nice.
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Jenifer C.

Yelp
Ordered food in for an office lunch and everything was delicious. Timely delivery too.

Bob S.

Yelp
Not certain how this place has survived so long. It's pricey and the quality if the food is poor; each dish lacked character. Egg drop soup inedible due to over-salting; wontons in the Cantonese soup were undercooked and of poor taste. All seven dishes ordered were mediocre or simply poor. Nothing was worthwhile. Chose to eat here due to location. Never again! Star rating is for ambience and service.

Hanan H.

Yelp
It used to be one of the best chinese restaurants in NYC but unfortunately no longer The waiter mr Wong was great and from the old time era Unfortunately the whole lobster i ordered was not live not fresh as i was told but a frozen or old from another era Being that i do not intend to return i just left it almost whole in its plate and no one asked why
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Whitney D.

Yelp
Usually I would recommend this place. Though after coming here for christmas day dinner this year I was not pleased at all. I know it was very busy and they seemed very short staffed. I get it its holiday time... but the food was soooo not like it usually is like. I had corn soup which came out pretty hot which is a good thing. It went downhill from then though. I got chicken and Broccoli and the chicken tasted like fish a little bit and parts were cold and some pieces of chicken were hot. I then tasted the lo mein and oh man could I really taste the salt.. the spare ribs were so so. Not to mention waiting like an hour and half for this meal. We usually come here for christmas day dinner but after this experience... may need to rethink it. One last tid bit...I over heard them say to the table next to us how they ran out of Wonton Soup!!!
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Lenny K.

Yelp
It's not what it used to be. Especially in terms of eye appeal. It looks a little dated. But I am happy to report. The food is still excellent. It's very expensive compared to your neighborhood Chinese restaurant but for the most part, the food here is not like your local Chinese restaurant. All the soups are outstanding. The ribs were meaty and delicious. Beijing duck still the best. General Tso's maybe the best I ever tasted. And that server was great. 10 of us and everything came out exactly as ordered. Plenty of street parking after 7 o'clock during the week. In Manhattan that's a big, big plus.

John V.

Yelp
It was mostly good but misleading. What I mean by that is the ants climb tree dish was supposed to have beef. We called after delivery as we saw no beef and the woman that picked up said she confirmed with the kitchen that they added beef. She said next time call and she'll add more, I'm not sure why that's not the standard. We live a block away and were excited to try this place, but for $36 and no protein, just noodles, there are much better options.

Jordan M.

Yelp
The quality has been diminishing for a while. Tonight was the worst so we're done. Virtually no duck in the duck roll. Almost no pork in the pork fried rice. A small amount of chicken in the chow mein. However, we got 4 bags of noodles (so unnecessary). Very high prices and subpar experience means it's time to end our relationship and find another Chinese restaurant in the neighborhood.
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Tsolak G.

Yelp
The most disgusting food ever in NY. Never order or eat from here. Waste of money and the food is absolutely garbage. Ordered food for the kids over $180 and if I wasn't far away I would bring it back to have them eat their own food. Terrible
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Gina P.

Yelp
Listen, I love this place. I will always go back, probably long after I should. I love the food and am grateful for the dark decor masking the SERIOUS filth. I mean, there's no other way to say it. The food is good, and the service is speedy. And I know it's hard to keep things clean in the city- but could you please tryyyyyyyy
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Slade N.

Yelp
Ordered the vegetarian singapore noodles and the general tso chicken and it was amazing. Fast service Delicious food cant ask for more

Judith C.

Yelp
Excellent food. Always the best Chinese I have had! Great taste and good quality ingedients
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Carmen H.

Yelp
Just OK... the food was very greasy, the crispy beef was very overdone. The server was very attentive and pleasant. I wish the food was better
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Joseph R.

Yelp
I've been to the west side location multiple times, but not since COVID. There was a big article in The NY Times that inspired me to try the east side location. This was clearly a mistake. Once you get past the hideous entryway carpet, the rest of the interior is old and pretty worn. Clearly hasn't been renovated since the 80s. We ordered dishes that we've ordered in the past at the west side location. The egg drop soup and fried vegetable dumplings were very good. It went down hill from there. The chicken with three types of nuts was ok, the sauce wasn't as good as the west side location and they inexplicably added red and green peppers. Here is where things went down hill. My wife was served a tiny bowl of room temperature rice with not one but TWO long strands of black hair in the rice. Neither of us have black hair. We couldn't even get a waiter to come over to complain to. We had to get up and bring the rice over to them to complain. This ruined the entire meal. Also we ordered dry shredded crispy beef but they brought out lo mein which we sent back. Once we saw the hair no one was hungry anymore and I had to go up to the host to tell them to cancel the second dish. They took it off the bill but they brought it out anyway. The beef was very chewy and the sauce was terrible. Another disappointment. The waiters were very apologetic after they realized all the issues. But it took them like 15 minutes to even acknowledge them. I recommend walking a couple blocks south to Peking Duck House. MUCH better food and more consistent. I would not return. Also 84 degrees outside and there was no AC! FAR too hot and uncomfortable!

Kathy L.

Yelp
Frequent customer, but no longer. Tonights take out meal was sooo dissapointing! Dried out spareribs, tough filet mignon, tasteless fried rice. Is ita new chef or a new owner? don't know but its not the shun lee i always loved

Joan G.

Yelp
We used to love this place! When my dad was working he would eat there every week! Lately the food has been very mediocre if not inedible! The dry sautéed crispy beef was soggy , tough crispy beef the last 2 times we ordered it! This is not the Shun Lee that I remember! The only thing that has gone up are the prices! Ridiculously overpriced for such poor quality!

J A.

Yelp
Used to love this place..high prices..no taste. Blah taste that almost rivals corner takeout at best.lo mein with few vegetables and a very greasy spring roll...no crispy noodles..nochopsticks...good bye shun lee...btw we were disappointed a few years ago and worth another try...will not try again.
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Isaac H.

Yelp
I never make reviews, yet I have to for this place. The worst dining experience of my life. Food was bland and had a stale almost rotten taste. Charged $10 for water without being informed there was a charge for water nor a mention of the price in the menu. Scallion pancakes were overly oily with the oil flavor being old. Dumplings were improperly rolled with the filling being clumped in the center instead of evenly spread. Fish was so slimy I almost gagged. Orange beef tasted like chewed up hamburger coated with orange candy. In fact, I feel nauseous from eating here. When leaving, we overheard a waiter mention something about rats in the kitchen in Chinese.

Shunlee M.

Yelp
At one time this was my favorite NYC restaurant. Not so much now. So many reviews about cleanliness....aren't they reading the reviews. Where's Michael ??????
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Duplicate D.

Yelp
The mariner Prawns was my fav dish. I don't come here often but when I do that's what I order.
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J A A.

Yelp
Pros: - No tourists - Great service - Good food - ambiance- I love white tablecloth, and kitschy decor Con (but not really).: Pricey, but what isn't ? I haven't been here in over 20 years, but I'm happy I came tonight
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Mahesh P.

Yelp
Upscale, pricey, and meh. Seriously, that about covers it all - its elegant, the decor is calming, white linen on the tables, nifty art on the walls, etc. The service is about the same, elegant, refined, and that's when the hiccups start - it just doesn't follow through all the way (share plates offered, but not delivered, spilled tea, etc) The food is about the same too - good, but not *that* good, a tad over-oily, muted flavors, and all in all, not really anything befitting the price (or heck, anything much beyond a run of the mill Chinatown restaurant) So yeah, don't go...
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Jacob K.

Yelp
Man has Shun Lee gone downhill. I've gone here a dozen times over the past 6-8 years, and I was always a fan, even despite their exorbitant prices. So, I was surprised to see that their yelp rating is down to 3 stars. But after our meal tonight, it makes sense. We had hot and sour soup, duck egg roll, lettuce wraps, general Tsos chicken and young chow fried rice. And honestly, none of it was good. The soup was just fine. The lettuce wraps were filled with oily and bland chicken, my wife didn't even eat hers. The general tsos chicken was fairly flavorless. Mostly just fried chunks of bland chicken. The young chow fried rice was flavorless too. What makes it really tough is that at the prices they charge, everything should be top notch. $10 for an egg roll? $22 for 2 lettuce wraps? $31 for general tsos and another $27 for a side of fried rice? These prices are 2X most other chinese restaurants and it just doesn't make sense given how downhill the food has gone. At these prices, just go to mr chows. Disappointing to see this NYC staple have gone so downhill : (
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Ginette P.

Yelp
I happen to stop by for lunch at this location we came in & had no problem being seated. Once seated we got some sparkling water & stuck with the tea, not bad. To start I had the Hot & sour soup, good soup even better adding the delicious giant noodles very good on their own better with some added sauce or in the soup. Dishes to share we tried the Filet mignon with veggies very good nice tasting meat, good broccoli. Also had The Xo prawns they were good as well, decent size shrimp these are fried but are not bad at all.... topped this with some brown rice & it was a just enough food. As for the restaurant nice size, simple decor ..service was good & prices are high for Chinese food but not so terrible that u can give it a try.
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Anjali B.

Yelp
Food was very good and takeout did not take to long (~30 min) . Loved the soup dumplings and moo shu pork. Will be returning

Ana P.

Yelp
Great food and service. Their prawns are amazing! Sad to hear their West side location closed recently
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Dana S.

Yelp
The food here is good, if wildly overpriced. But our big complaint about this place, where we went for a long-planned celebratory family lunch, is that the restaurant is not ADA-compliant and accessible to wheelchairs, as they specifically told us they were when we called in advance to reserve. Two people in our party use wheelchairs and are in their 80s, and the doors to both the men's and women's bathrooms are too narrow to let a wheelchair in, and even if they did, neither has a stall wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair. It had a significant effect on our fun family lunch that two people at the table required about twenty minutes and the help of several able-bodied helpers to simply use the restroom. If this place ever wants our business again they should be truthful about the accessibility of their space.

Abigail B.

Yelp
Delicious Chinese food in an upscale atmosphere. Been around 50 years. The only thing I would change is that the portions are kind of small but maybe that is because it is upscale.
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Sue C.

Yelp
My office always ordered from here, and had small parties at the restaurant. Never liked the food. Always had a bleach taste to it. Figured they probably washed the pots with bleach and was tasting the residue. Bleh.

Ed M.

Yelp
The delivery service from Shun Lee Palace is either terrific or totally terrible. Tonight it was not only embarrassingly terrible, but there was no one answering the phone or capable of making good on a reasonably expensive meal. Tonight the main problem was "Ants climb on tree." There was plenty of tree, but no "ants" -- in other words all noodles and virtually no beef --let alone decent beef -- to be found. What can these people do to again regain a reputation for caring about their food and their delivery to customers. I'd hate for them to have to close, but they are self-inflicting wounds that are painful to see unfolding, given how reliably wonderful and consistent they have historically been on delivery quality food. Ed M.
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Nikki M.

Yelp
Well, what can I say? It saddens me to give a one star but really they kind of gave us no choice. We ordered soup dumplings. When they finally came there was barely any broth. Hood but not much liquid. Then came the rest of the dinner .... Shame. Luke warm and ok but really not great. The mooshoo pork was rolled for us but with no hoisin sauce!!! Did I mention the speed? We waited for ever. I wanted to like it but really it was not great.

Judy S.

Yelp
Expensive, terrible service and bland food. There are some really good Chinese restaurants in this neighborhood - our friends had selected this one. I hadn't been here for 20+ years and remember it used to be excellent. No longer the case.
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Lynette K.

Yelp
the best fresh chinese food for years & years!!!!!! i love the lamb, steak, baby bok choy, chillaen sea bass! i love the shrimp fried rice! honestly, i have never had a vad meal at shun lee palace, ever!!! the decor is always elegant!!!
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Dani O.

Yelp
It was a OK dining, but not memorable experience.I think that lately more fit for foodies Chinese restaurants became available in NYC ,and that Shun Lee has passed its peak momentum. However, still, who ever is in for a traditional experience, should be satisfied here. I wouldn't mind still going back for a decent Chinese food.
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Rich R.

Yelp
Great service and of course great food And they loved my service dog Baci Have the wanton egg drop soup mix Then have the shrimp in lobster sauce Yum......
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Cara B.

Yelp
Order lunch from her every once in a while and the food is good. It is a little pricey but what do you expect in midtown east. The sweet and sour chicken is a good portion and is all white meat which is great! It doesn't have too much breading on it and the sauce it comes with is good too. It has pineapple, water chestnuts, peas, and peppers in it. Yum! It comes with a side of white rice which tastes delicious with the sweet and sour sauce. My boss loves the hot and sour soup and the slippery chicken! This is quality Chinese food and you definitely pay for what you're getting.

Pearl M.

Yelp
I hate giving one star. But this used to be my absolute favorite resturaunt. Now its horrible. They ignore you the whole time, get the order wrong and worst of all the food sucks. Super disappointed and sad. Do better. DONT GO HERE.

Janet A.

Yelp
We have been dining at the restaurant since the 1960. Saturday night was first time back since covid and it was so sad and disappointing. I did not recognize any of the new and amateur wait staff. No one seems to be in charge. The Duck and chicken song that were always prepared and served table side came plated on watery lettuce and thick and soggy pancakes. No one filled water glasses and several dishes requested, the waiter never heard of and several more were not available. The crowing touch to the meal was the hair in the food. Of course that was free of charge!
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Elaine H.

Yelp
Good value lunch in midtown area for a slight mark-up in price. For 35pp, one can enjoy a combo with an appetizer, a main course plus a dessert. The fish fillet I got was well seasoned and preserved its tenderness. My friends also enjoyed their Szechuan shrimp, which was slightly on the spicy side. One can choose between ice cream and pineapple plate for dessert. The place had a great ambiance, so good for business lunch too.
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Elisa G.

Yelp
I love this place. The service is excellent--attentive and efficient. The shrimp dumplings were plump and lightly seasoned and oh so perfect on a warm August night. The Beijing Duck was perfection. We ensured that we ordered a half duck per person because that is all we really wanted and it was presented and sliced within view of the table--as it should be. The skin was like glass and the leg on my plate, with the crispy skin was heavenly. Each pancake was expertly crafted and placed on a platter--with extra hoisin. The decor is not "dated" in my view. It is plush, comfortable, clean and contemporary. Plenty of room to have a quite conversation. Very nice evening!

Janice L.

Yelp
Definitely only mediocre. Have met been in years and was a favorite on the east side. No crispy fried noodles with hot mustard when we sat down...altho some table did get them. Fries dumplings were more sautéed. No sign of crispness. Just warm soggy dough. Cold noodles were good. Orange beef was very tough. Impossible to eat with chopsticks. And I suspect the dish was reheated... based on toughness of meat. A disappointment. Service was eh...
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Jordan A.

Yelp
MEDIOCRE....if I was paying $10-20 for an entree. Factor in a $30-45 entree price range and the restaurant is a depressing waste of time, money, and calories. The place is stale. The decor looks like it hasn't been touched since the 1980s. When I walked in to the restaurant, I had to double check the name to make sure we were in the right place. There are low ceilings which wouldn't be an issue except for the fact that the tables are packed tightly and they are stingy with air conditioning. The staff is attentive but the attire looks like it was from the same year as the decor. There is a decorative plate left at the table but the dirt on the plate distracted from its aesthetics. The steak and general tso's were...ok...at best. Save your time and order from the local chinese restaurant around the corner from your apt.
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Robert B.

Yelp
Still one of the best in a fading scene of NYC Chinese restaurants. Much to admire particularly the consistency in presentation and flavors over the many years. Easily accommodate heat and specific spice preference.