TJ's Shanghai Dumplings

The best dumplings and the best onion pancakes I’ve ever had. Wow. You will not be disappointed. If you are considering this place, definitely try it out. I would recommend it to anyone. Very kind staff, too! Went there on a Saturday around 4:30 PM and it was perfect.

Drove by & thought, “I’ve gotta try this place!” Ended up grabbing a quick carryout—chicken dumplings & cheese crab rangoon—& OMG, sooo good!😋 Definitely a hidden gem. U know how they say the little “hole-in-the-wall”spots are always the best? This 1 totally proves it! The owners are super sweet & helpful which really adds to the experience. Sorry the pics aren’t great… I was starving & couldn’t wait to dig in!

Food is amazingly fresh, and flavors are exactly as they should be. Fried items seem as though the oil was fresh which was a plus. Very impressed for such a small menu. I'd been waiting to try this place and now that i have i can say i am truly pleased. Customer service was awesome as well. Greeted kindly upon arriving in , walked through what type of menu they have (due to it not being large) and order was taken and started very quickly. The lady (who I assumed was the owner) offered a warm tea as we waited which I found to be extremely kind. Will be back

Authentic hole in the wall specializing in dumplings. The owner and chef are very friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend the pork and shrimp dumplings, wontons, and scallion pancakes. Will be back again soon!!

The best dumplings I've had and the owner was super friendly. I mean like he gave us free drinks because we've never been before . If you're in the neighborhood just get some pork dumplings for a quick lunch.

Been wanting to check this place out for awhile now and I’m so happy I did! I got the pork dumplings and they were some of the best I’ve ever had! The shrimp chow mein was very flavorful, savory and fresh tasting. The lovely woman and man working there were so friendly. The establishment was very clean. I cannot wait to come back and try more! 10/10. Come check them out!!

Great takeout spot. Everything I've tried is delicious and the owner is so kind. My favorite is the pork dumplings and the onion pancake, but you really can't go wrong with anything. Takeout is always well packaged and yummy leftover.

Very small space but clean, and the gentlemen running it are extremely kind. We got shrimp and pork dumplings, green onion pancakes, crab rangoon (you get six; I had tried one before I took a pic) and beef noodle soup. Everything was delicious. The crab rangoon was light and crispy and had a good amount of crab, not almost all cream cheese like some places. My husband loved the sear on his dumplings. I liked that they packaged the noodles and vegetables separate from the broth. Prices are very fair for the portion sizes, which are nice as well. Definitely will be back again.

I came in and got a carry out order about a month or so ago. Everything was delicious!! I got to chat with the owners of the business and they are really nice. I ordered just about everything on the menu and it was all good!! Please check it out

We got a serving of each dumpling, Veggie, shrimp, chicken and pork. Also crab rangoons. Veggie - 7/10 great but no comparison to the meats Shrimp - 6/10 a little bland Pork - 9/10 super tasty! Chicken - 10/10 Spectacular! Chicken and cilantro, the flavors were killer. We will be getting these every time we come back!

Great quick stop for some solid dumplings! Menu isn't huge- the hot and sour soup is great! Comes hot and hot- not an eat in spot. To go! I didn't know this and ate it in my car. Good food and nice price. If I'm in the neighborhood I'll go back.

Had the best pork dumplings from here! We were greeted by two older chefs when we walked in. They were very nice and let me split an order of half pork and half shrimp dumplings since they weren't too busy at the time. The shrimp lo mein and crab rangoon was also very good. I didn't realize this was more of a carryout place so we ate in the car but they do have a few seats if you prefer to eat there. The shrimp dumplings were a little on the bland side but weren't bad..I'd probably try other ones next though. I have been wanting to go back and try other items since we went but it's a little far for us. The place could use a little uplift with the decor and flooring but they make up for it in delicious food. I do wish you could get an order of dumplings and try all 4 options but over time I'll try them all. Will be back soon!

Had the chow mein shrimp and the pork dumplings. Was soooo good. Enough for two meals. The owners are very friendly too. I cant wait to order more from this restaurant.

This is the spot to go in Madison Heights for authentic Chinese food. Menu is small but that is the best part. The wait time can be longer but that adds to the entire scene. There are two older gentlemen who run this spot and sell very good homemade food at a very affordable price. I would advise to call ahead and be sure to add 20 min to the time they tell you so you don't have to wait. Lives in Madison heights for 31 years and happy to find this gem.

I'm back in town and I'm here! I had to come back of course. I absolutely love this place. Food is great, service is excellent and I absolutely love this couple. They take such great care of me when I come. Although it's a little small, they have such a welcoming atmosphere and ambiance here that you love to dine at the bar and just talk with them. Keep this husband and wife in business!!! They are amazing!

Wonderful spot! Vegetarian dumplings, the scallion pancake, meatless ragoons, and the lo mein made vegetarian were top-notch. We ate at the small counter. Delightful experience!

Weird backstory: pork wontons are my favorite thing on earth. I haven't been able to find them since I moved from my hometown almost 10 years ago. Well, when I finally discovered this place I was thrilled! I called (no online ordering, sadly), the lady told me "not even 10 minutes" and when I arrived, I was met by her with a friendly demeanor and attitude. The wontons are good, sort of small, but I'm so happy! I would ask for more sauce next time though. Def coming back. Only downside is the only ordering and almost driving by the building lol

Ok as you might suspect I'm a food explorer. There's no place too odd or too far off the beaten path for me. That said some places have avoided my hunt despite having driven by them literally for years! TJ Dumplings in Madison Heights is such a place. And it's been there since 2003! Non descript in a land of non descript buildings TJ appeared to me as if out of nowhere. The end of a brick building with "modest" signage it won by default as I passed on Telway which was too busy and take out only (or carry out to Michiganders) so a no go and not yet at my Vietnamese fave up the road. Now despite it being take out only also, I went in. Plain Jane interior with a few stools for eating (think high top sushi bar), kitchen right in front of you and a fridge for sodas. That's about it. Concise menu had a small array of offerings but they all looked great and authentic. The proprietor greeted me and took my order with a little guidance. His wife helps serve and was super friendly. I had dumplings of course. 4 pork and 4 shrimp with a vinegary dipping sauce. They were fantastic. Shanghai style I was told. Similar to gyoza. And wonderful. My only complaint is I hadn't brought a friend so I could try more stuff! I will be sure work my way through the menu. So check out this gem hidden in plain sight for a super Asian dining experience. TJ IMHO A1! GO!!

I honestly love this place! The staff/cooks were very sweet, they were very patient with me and my mother, both of us hadn't been there before so we took a minute and asked quite a few questions, but they didn't seem to mind, in fact they seemed to appreciate the questions! The food was very good as well, the dumplings were the best of all! I didn't like the crab rangoons much, they tasted more like crab than I'm used to, but that's just my personal taste preference. I had and liked the: green onion pancakes, the pork dumplings, and spring rolls. The restaurant is mostly "appetizer" type dishes, but they do have some regular meals. It was very sanitary inside! Mind you, the sign is small, so keep close attention to the buildings when you drive by!

food was very flavorful and it was made quickly. The interior of the shop is very cozy, and they have places to sit down and eat. The employees I encountered, were very polite and answered all my questions. I would definitely recommend coming here.

excellent dumplings and lots of options for vegetarians! The people who work here are so incredibly nice, too. This is my favorite takeaway restaurant. the pricing is very reasonable compared to similar types of restaurants. I highly recommend the green onion pancakes, vegetable rangoons, and dumplings of course! The interior is very small, not much room to eat inside but it is a takeaway place after all... expect humble small-business atmosphere with ammmaaazzzinnnggg fooodd!!!!

The best dumplings I've had in many years. Delicious, hot and made with love. Staff was very friendly and accommodating.

I don't normally write reviews, but TJ's deserves it. The two sweetest guys were working today, & they said they had never seen the place so busy (I and many others checked it out because of a Seoung Lee food review video). They were a little busy, but they apologized multiple times for the wait. Service was phenomenal, and the food was delicious! I'm a vegetarian, and I love that they have veggie Rangoons. My boyfriend loved his chicken dumplings as well. We will be back!

First time trying this little shop. The two chefs were very friendly and helpful (even offered a soda on the house!). Absolutely loved the food! Simple menu, great service, and delicious food. A lowkey spot that should not be slept on!!

TJ's Dumplings are tasty and filling. They come 8 per order with choice of pork, shrimp and vegetable. Tried all three variations and my favorites are pork and shrimp. Vegetable is good as well - lots of different vegetables in the filling, not just plain cabbage like you find at other places. Accompanying dipping sauce, which may not seem like enough at first, is the perfect amount of soy flavor needed for all 8 of the dumplings without overpowering taste of the dumplings themselves. Scallions pancakes with side sauce were delicious as well, nice portion of 3 large pancakes per order. This is more of a carry out place. It's fairly small and there are a few seats at the counter, but I understood these are not typically used for dine in. They said we could sit at the counter to dine in that day only because it was in the middle of the afternoon and traffic was slow. It did start to pick up while we were finishing up later in the afternoon as the dinner rush started coming through. The owners were very kind and generous while we were there. I would definitely recommend TJ's for carryout of their dumplings. They offer other dishes as well which I will try next time I'm there to pick up some dumplings :)

Ooooo weee! I'm in love! This place is divine! It's a tiny carryout restaurant, but if you are a sensual being like myself, who truly appreciates the experience of the sights, sounds, smells and energy around you, you'll understand the divinity of this place. Starting with the warmth I felt when I walked in... the proprietors (I'm assuming) were kind and just felt like the kind of people who feed you from their hearts. The aroma hits you at the door. My mouth began to salivate before I could even see the delicacies being made over the counter. The price point for this yumminess is quite a steal. I was stuffed after eating a $13 lunch combo. The menu, though small in variety is very satisfying. I wanted to be greedy and order everything. They have spring rolls, rangoon, green onion pancakes, dumplings, beef noodles, a pork chop that looks amazing, fried wontons, soups, chicken tenders, and Chow Mein. The lunch combos are a variation of menu items. I ordered the #3... Dumplings with two fried wontons and soup. As I was noshing, all I could think was that I could literally eat this meal everyday. The aromatic wonton soup is delicious and very much a meal within itself. The warm broth is just what you need on a cold Michigan day. It tastes like love. The wontons are plump and filling. The green onion and corn provide a tasty crunch element. The fried wontons were sort of an appetizer, you receive two with the lunch combo. They are full of flavor; and the crunch was fun to eat and dip in the accompanying sauce. The piece de resistance...the pork dumplings... I believe there were about seven in the order. I'd have to count them in the picture I took because I scarfed them down so quickly I can't remember how many I ate. If you like dumplings, you'll love these. The filling is delicious. There's no skimping either, these dumplings are plump and juicy with the perfect yin yang of the steamed/pan-fried goodness of ultimate dumplings. Ok, I'm stopping this review here. I'm putting on my coat to go grab that pork chop and an order of hot & sour soup (cause I have the sniffles).

Fantastic mom and pop shop! I've driven by here so many times and never noticed it. It is small and quiet, with a counter to eat at. The menu is also small, which is a good sign if you ask me! Everything was delicious!We had the spring rolls, both types of Rangoon, green onion pancake, and the veggie and chicken dumplings. The dumplings were fantastic! I liked the veggie best; the vegetables were fresh, the mushroom pieces in particular were the perfect chewiness. The chicken dumplings were flavorful and fresh as well. The owners sent us a complimentary veggie Rangoon to try, which we enjoyed even more than the original. The green onion pancake was chewy bready goodness, and the crisp cucumber was the perfect compliment to all the fried goodness. What really makes this place five stars is the service. The gentleman behind the counter who took our orders and cooked the food was so sweet and friendly. He gave helpful recommendations and was conversational. We will be back!

Very friendly staff. Your order is taken as you enter. No phone ahead orders. My food was ready in 10 minutes! Very small place with minimal seating as they do mostly take out. Very clean family run establishment. The food was excellent! Overall a great take out experience. I'll be back!

Was I surprised to say the least. I lived in the area for 30+ years and just discovered this treasured little restaurant today. The owners were from my hometown and the Green Onion Pancake was crisp outside and tender and soft inside. Pork Chop and Chow Mein are so delicious!!

Closes at 8pm. Carry out only. Place needs a good scrubbing. Small but focused menu. Ordered the crab cheese Rangoon, chicken dumplings and a green onion pancake. $20.38. We did get a free water while we waited for our order. The crab Rangoon veggies are bad, they taste odd and have no cream cheese in them. My husband said they were the worst crab Rangoon he's ever had and they were not carb worthy for either of us. You know it's bad when we don't eat all of the crab Rangoon and worse when we throw it out. The sauce was odd as well, didn't have any flavor, wasn't sweet or tangy at all. The onion pancake was so greasy and plain too. The sauce was okay. The chicken dumplings were good, sauce was also not bad.

Their dumplings taste like frozen dumplings. The dumpling wrapper taste and look like store bought. Not sure how they are getting these reviews?

This is a really great hole in the wall dumpling shop that's been here for 21 years! Not a lot of sitting space, but the food is some of the best I've ever had and some of the only Shanghai style Chinese food I've ever had. Give them a try if you're in the area!

Absolutely incredible first visit to Tj's!! The food was beyond delicious and the service was even better. Such a nice vibe in the restaurant, too. Although it's small, it's cozy and welcoming. Can't wait to come back!

BEST DUMPLINGS I'VE EVER HAD! After a day of adventures, my fiance and I decided to hop on Yelp and find a place to grab some dinner. Knowing all of the great places in Madison Heights, and being close by, came across TJ's Shanghai Dumplings. At first, the five star review seemed too good to be true, but I started to read the reviews and I realized we may have found one of those small, hidden gem type places that we're always seeking out. We absolutely did! TJ's is small and unassuming. It's mostly a carry-out place with a small counter to eat there. Since home base is all the way in Livonia, we decided we'd eat our food there. When we arrived, we were greeted by what I believe was a husband and wife couple who owns and operates the place. We picked out some food from their small menu (for how great it is, there's no need for tons of options) and placed our order: shrimp dumplings, chicken dumplings, crab rangoon, and spring rolls. They immediately started making the food and had a friendly conversation with us while doing it (we were the only people there at the time). They gratiously offerred us free water or soda from a small fridge near the counter. Then, they brought out the food. During our conversation, they mentioned everything was homemade, down to the sauces. After hearing this (and knowing their Yelp review), expectations were high, and boy were they met! The dumplings were amazingly juicy and flavorful! Both the shrimp and chicken ones were absolutely top notch. Each order came with 8 dumplings and we almost polished them off between the two of us! My fiance, the queen of rangoon, said they were some of the best she has ever had. The spring rolls were also delicious. While chatting some more, we learned that the dumplings were true Shanghai style, where they're taken directly from their uncooked state into the pan. Other places will apparently boil them before pan frying and they said they can lose their flavor and some of the juicyness. They said that most of the places in the area are all more Cantonese style and it made them unique. This is one of those rare places where we walked out literally talking about how we need to tell so many people who live nearby to check this place out. TJ's is a MUST DO!!!

Dumplings are amazing! The menu being very small is perfect. Service is excellent - with my 2 orders of dumplings and 1 order of wontons, I evidently had enough to justify a free soda too!

What a yummy place. Super small menu makes it easy to decide. Beat Wonton soup I've ever had and the pork dumplings were stellar. First time having onion pancakes and they did not disappoint. The owners are a sweet couple who clearly love what they do. Will be back for many more orders.

An unassuming hidden gem! It's a no frills, hole-in-the wall restaurant, but it's quiet (it was empty when I went), and I found the countertop seating to be surprisingly intimate and cozy. Soft jazz played in the background while the gentleman chopped and fried behind the counter (ASMR triggers galore). The food was fresh, authentic, and absolutely phenomenal. Best dumplings and wontons I've ever had! It feels like the kind of place Bourdain would adulate.

Great little find in the area. We eat frequently in the Madison Heights but first time eating here. Wonton soup and beef noodles(curry flavor) were our favorites. Was expecting the beef noodles to be more of a Singapore style curry flavored noodle dish, but it is beef noodle soup that tastes more like satay than curry. Only dish we wouldn't get again are the green onion pancakes. They're very greasy and only tastes like oil. The sauce served with it does go well with it though. Everything else was great!

Random Wednesday drive...we figured that we would stop and try Tj's. Thank goodness we did. What a treasure! Each lil' pouch was full of fresh juicy flavor. We ordered a chicken dumplings, pork dumplings, crab rangoon, and a fried wonton. We really enjoyed everything but the chicken ones stood out the most. I could taste a touch of five spice which hit it right out of the park for me. So yummy! The owner was super nice and very inviting. We will be back.

I love this place! Easily my favorite scallion pancakes and crab Rangoon. The owners are also lovely people.

Yeah, this is a gem. Nondescript little mom and pop ... and fresh, very flavorful food made with love. I had pan-fried pork, and steamed shrimp dumplings. The scallion pancake and sauce were sublime. Small menu but they do what they know exquisitely. I'll try more. my go-to dumplings place now.

Very small restaurant with only a counter to sit at. The proprietor is also the cook. Extremely nice gentleman. Food is excellent. Located in small strip mall and easy to miss if you're not looking for it. I definitely recommend T.J's.

Today was my second time ordering from Tj's and let me tell you what...they have some of the best dumplings I have ever eaten. The sauce that comes with them is just as amazing. My first time I ordered the pork dumplings and the crab rangoon. I wasn't a fan of the crab rangoon, but it was probably just personal preference. Today, I ordered the pork dumplings and the green onion pancake. Both were absolutely delicious! Everything is homemade, and the customer service is top notch. If you're looking for something new to try, I HIGHLY recommend you check out Tj's!

Excellent pork dumplings and fast service! My scallion pancakes were burnt, but the dumplings made up for it.

The dumplings and other food items are absolutely exquisite and I have become a "regular" as a result. The food items I have purchased are cooked to order, fresh, and brimming with flavor. For example, the dumplings are cooked to the point of having the signature crispness at the base, but are soft and brimming with flavor within. I have sampled dumplings throughout the country and internationally but this is my favorite spot--it's a hidden treasure. If you live in this region or are travelling by, you should try this place at least once to see for yourself. It's a small, unassuming looking place, but the food is anything but that.

I tried this place based on the reviews. The restaurant is small with a counter and a few tables. The couple running the place are very nice. I ordered the shrimp dumplings, pork dumplings, spring roll, and wonton soup. It was underwhelming. The spring roll was greasy and the soup was salty. The dumplings were just ok. I have no plans to return here.

Feels like a homemade meal every time I come eat. The green scallion pancakes are delish, but the sauce is a little inconsistent. Some meals are a bit different style of Chinese dishes and are unique. Not sure what it is. Would definitely come back for the pancake and pork dumplings.

The dumplings here are sooo good. Must try. Cute little place, I Keep going back. Love the onion pancakes

This tiny place is a blink and you'll miss it. The menu is short, but I think this is to keep the focus on the quality of the name sake. And the dumplings are awesome, and authentic, offered in pork, shrimp, chicken and vegetarian. I also tried the wonton soup and the green onion (fried) Chinese pancakes. Everything was made fresh by a polite gentleman that I took to be the owner. There is a small eat in counter, but they seem to be mostly carry out. The one complaint I had was that it was difficult to order by phone, which, as a primarily carry out, seems problematic. I do hope they figure this part out as the owner was very nice and the food was wonderful.

What a gem! Love this place. Take out only. Please, for the love of God, try the onion pancakes and the chicken dumplings. Amazing.

Probably the best dumplings I've ever had! If you're ever nearby the area, make sure to give this place a visit!

Hands down the best dumplings in metro Detroit. Such warm and welcoming people who run it. I came in with my baby in my arm and the woman insisted on taking the food out to my car to help out. We always go for the shrimp dumplings and pork dumplings and they're incredible. Also got the wonton soup for my youngest and it was also amazing. The broth is brown instead of the traditional yellow/clear, but oh so good! Go here. Now.

This spot is a small place, mostly a Togo place, there's a few chairs for sit down. The dumplings are solid & come out pretty quickly. When I was there, only one person as working and got my order in and made the food.

Great home made dumplings, the crab Rangoon is the best I've had. Excellent soups as well. It's mostly a to go restaurant. The staff was very nice. Looking forward to exploring more menu items.

Uncomplicated, straightforward, solid traditional Chinese dumplings. If you've had Chinese dumplings cooked well before, that's what this place is. Not mind-blowingly good but hits the spot when you're in the mood. Other offerings are all solid. Nothing incredible but of a large order (including chicken tenders) and not a single thing was bad. They do what they do and they do it well.

The sweetest people run this restaurant. Thank you for your kindness every time I come here. The pork dumplings are so delicious! I love the crispiness of them. Highly recommend you trying!! @eatdrinkmichigan

Wow, this place is amazing! My husband and I stopped for lunch and we were so glad we did! I ordered vegetable dumplings, a spring roll, and wonton soup. Everything was delicious and fresh! I'm already planning when I can go back with my kids! Definitely check this place out--you will not be disappointed!

Just moved to the area and found this place on Yelp ! I really enjoyed the pork dumplings and the business owner was so nice !