Quaint Chinese restaurant located in Lyndhurst, NJ. We live a couple of towns over and we're on the hunt for a new Chinese spot - as the ones near us haven't been what we were looking for. There was outdoor seating and they do self seating in their dining room when you arrive. Between the hospitality, the quick service after ordering and the quality of the food - I give my experience a 5/5. So, so good! Our food came out HOT and everything we tried was delicious. My husband's favorite were the crab and pork soup dumplings which I also really loved. We also got the wonton noodle soup which was so hearty and delicious. The garlic chicken was crispy and a huge portion. We also tried the Sour Plum drink! It was my first time having it and I would love to have more next time I visit. Thank you so much for your kindness and our delicious dinner! read more

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came and dined in on a friday. local spot had a handful of tables full on a friday night where you can BYOB. there's a call me button when you're ready to order and you can self serve the sauces and extra utensils i had to try their spicy soup which had so many mix ins. it was like i was at hot pot. the soup dumplings are okay - personally i like a thinner dumpling the spring rolls were crispy and delicious. service was great as well. read more

I pass by this restaurant every day and have mentioned it to my husband countless times. We finally made it here after a year--and I'm so glad we did! This place is definitely worth a visit. The udon had a nice chew, the beef was tender, and the bok choy still had a bit of crunch, which I really enjoyed. The scallion pancake was soft on the inside with a nice crispy texture, and the sauce paired really well with the dish. The pepper steak was another highlight--it wasn't overcooked, and the meat was tender with a slightly crispy exterior. The flavors really popped with every bite! The dumplings were just okay in my opinion, and the plum tea was a little too sweet for my taste. The restaurant itself is very spacious, with a nice and inviting interior. I also thought the call button at the table was a convenient touch--it made it easy to get the staff's attention when we were ready to order. Overall, we had a great experience and are happy we finally stopped in after passing by this place for so long! read more

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Hidden gym ! Simple menu but very tasty ! Love the soup dumpling ! And spicy chicken and clam!!!

We got takeout, the dumplings were very delicious, but the entrees were a huge disappointment, general tso chicken no meat, and so deep-fried you could hardly taste any flavor. Very disappointed for so much money. Not worth it at all. Don't think we will be back. read more

Was craving soup dumplings and found this restaurant nearby. You seat yourself and there's an area where you pick your cutlery, hot oil, and a fridge to pick up drinks. We had to order our food all at once and we ordered the pork soup dumplings, dumplings in spicy sauce, Dan Dan noodles, and general tso's chicken. The soup dumplings were delicious and served piping hot. The spicy dumplings were served at the same time but part of it was cold, I'm not sure if it was cooked entirely. I liked the Dan Dan noodles, but it was topped with a lot of cilantro and scallions which was a little overwhelming. The owners were super sweet though! read more

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Tried AJ for the first time today. I will be going to Tasty Fusion! It's much better and the use white meat chicken not cheap dark meat chicken ugh read more

Great experience dining here. Restaurant is clean and the service was efficient. I had my choice of tables at 3pm. I ordered the Wonton Soup with Noodles and the Sautéed Pea Shoots. I'm obsessed with Asian soup, and this did not disappoint. Best wontons that I've had in a long time! No thick skin and mystery meat here! These are really high quality with a delectable pork filling. The noodles had a nice chew as well. Beautiful fresh scallions and cilantro added to the light broth. I could eat this every day. The pea shoots were slightly crispy yet delicate and were in a mouth watering ginger garlic broth. I finished every bite of both dishes They also serve a delicious pot of hot tea with your meal. The prices are not cheap, but I will gladly pay a bit more for quality. I only wish that the menu was a bit more extensive. However, that won't stop me from going back! read more

Absolute killer soup dumplings. The smashed cucumber salad is a good accompaniment. The service was friendly and efficient. read more

Aj Shanghai - (O ) Shanghai Pork Soup Dumpling (6pic) - Shanghainese Near Me - Lyndhurst Twp, New Jersey

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Well this place has been around for a few years now I should go here more often. The inside is cozy seat your self. The staff is great and supper friendly. The food is Superb some of my favorites are the Sweet Red Bean buns they are always perfect, Scallion pancakes maybe the best in the surrounding area light flaky and never greasy, Dan Dan Noodles perfectly cooked firm and tender flavorful with a lil kick sooo good! Double Cooled pork maybe my favorite of all time spicy with chilies and Szechuan peppers, Genrals tsp chick perfectly fried and not overly sauced this dish is what a genral tsp's should be, we rounded out the meal with sautéed book choy which were cooked perfectly firm and crisp! 10/10 I'm going again!!! read more

Everything was great. I love thier on line menu. It makes it so easy to order. The place was so clean, I did not think they were even open. I highly recommend. read more

Been to AJ's many times and every time I make it to AJ's they always have plenty of space for big or small parties. We came here right before flying from Newark and even with being on a time crunch we were able to have a full blown meal because of how timely their dishes came out. There is always the same waiter. Very nice guy. Always attentive to the table. The place is very clean and very well kept, but besides the restaurant being clean all the dishes very amazing. We did order other things besides the photos that were taken. We ordered the braised beef noodle soup, scallion pancake and wonton noodle. Everything came out amazing. If you're looking for an authentic Chinese restaurant and are in the area. I highly suggest this Shanghainese restaurant. read more

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Fried dumplings and soup dumplings were delicious. Udon was very good, the meat was a little tough. Chicken and broccoli was good. Many menu options available. Big dining space and parking lot. read more

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Some of the most delicious food I've eaten out in a resturant. In my opinion the best soy garlic chicken and sesame chicken ever tasted. The meal started off with pan fried dumplings and vegetable spring rolls which were fantastic. Note to mention the was on point. Service was prompt, friendly and polite. Some good 80/90s tunes playing in the background made the lunch date feel like we were living back in the prime days of going out and about. Definitely on my return to soon list. read more

No thrills, sit yourself dining room with the best soup dumplings in the area. I wasn't in love with the main meals but I would go back for their dumplings any day. The shrimp and chive dumplings were also a top choice. It's a byob so go and enjoy. read more

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As an overview, this place is ok but not great. Had some dishes that are authentic but execution was mediocre. Food: Tried some dumplings, pork belly (hong shao rou) and a hunan fried chicken. Some of the flavors reminded us of meals in Beijing, but everything was just so-so. Service: one server for the whole place equates to slow service Ambiance: dated and aging faux Chinese Value: price to quality ratio is aligned read more

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When I walked in the place was packed and luckily we were able to grab a seat ! ( there is no hostess so you walk in and seat yourself) As soon as you sit down they provide hot tea which is delicious! They also have a cool machine on the table where you can call them over/pay the bill super cool & helpful for us shy people!!! For appetizer we ordered the soup dumplings and scallion pancake ! - "Scallion pancake" ( sorry I was not able to get a picture super hungry) ITS SO CRISPY AND FLAVORFUL a must!! - "pork soup dumplings " ORDER THEM! nothing else to say! they have a sign on the table on how to eat them Main course: Chilli Fried Chicken with Sichuan Pepper & Home style tofu The chilli fried chicken is to die for! Especially if you can handle spice! A MUST for the people that love spicy food! This order comes with rice and trust me it's crispy , spicy and delicious! The home style tofu is on the less spicy side , it's definitely a favorite as well ! Both were gone in a matter of minutes! Everything that was ordered was for a party of two. My partner and I left full and happy ! read more

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This is a Chinese restaurant with both traditional and American Chinese. I stayed with the traditional Chinese dishes. This is BYOB. Ambience: this is a simple place. There was one gentleman working all the tables. Be patient. You seat yourself. There is a buzzer on the table to order and get your bill. I eventually flagged the gentleman down. Food: ordered the pan fried dumplings. They were cooked properly but not super temperature hot and the dumpling wrappers are a bit thicker than I prefer. Got the braised pork belly. They were beautifully braised and so tender and full of flavor and fall apart. The chili-fried Chicken with sichuan pepper was the hit. The chicken was fried perfectly and crispy and the Sichuan peppercorn really gave the perfect numbing. The chiles were spicy. Both dishes reminded me of eating in Beijing. The rice was edible. We got the bottom of the rice cooker and it was not fluffy and sadly almost sent it back. The mains were solid but would recommend the chili-fried chicken with suchuan pepper. read more

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I've been going to A.J.'s since it opened years ago and I still dine here every month to get my spicy Szechuan Chinese food fix. I don't know why the ratings are so low when owners Jin and her husband are always accommodating to us! And the place is always packed on the weekends. Maybe diners are expecting the U.S. "traditional" takeout Chinese food which this certainly is NOT! Food is always fresh and tasty, and if you don't like too much spice then you can say, "not too spicy". I recommend the Sesame Chicken, Brazied fish in a sweet soy-based sauce and their spicy dumplings. New menu items were added in late 2024 and it was much needed to their smaller menu. Try the Garlic Soy Chicken...mouth watering! Oh and we love their black tea which is filled up immediately at every table. If you dine with them often, grab a free soup dumpling card that they'll punch (with a lucky cat stamp) for only 5 visits. read more

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Good soup dumplings without having to deal with the trek to pal park and fort lee. Don't get me wrong I'd rather eat in the pal park area but in a pinch this place fills the cravings. It's a no frills seat yourself and self serve type of place. You do order with a server and food is brought to you. Byob and parking lot available. read more

My partner and I ordered takeout from this restaurant and it wasn't bad. I ordered the braised beef noodle soup and we also purchased the soy garlic chicken. The chicken was fried very well and it was flavorful. I also enjoyed the soup. The beef was tender and it wasn't salty. After reading the reviews, the next time I return it will be to eat inside of the restaurant. read more

What can i say !!!!!!!! Spicy dumpling served in what was like a peanut sauce , Really ???? Sautéed eggplant and my king pao chicken made with tons of sweet vinegar! What kind of cooking is this? Terrible. I will never go again. I guess there's a reason why the parking lot was empty at 6:30 in the evening read more

The soup dumplings are some of the best you'll have and the service is really great and you get a lot for what you pay for it's not expensive at all very affordable great food read more

A Shanghainese restaurant in Lyndhurst? Yes, Lyndhurst might seem like a strange town to have a Shanghainese restaurant considering there aren't many Asian restaurants in the town, but, hey, I hope they open more in the area! After noticing this restaurant on Yelp, we decided to drop in on a Sunday afternoon when they opened at 11am. Not to our surprise, we had this large restaurant all to ourselves for a good 30-40 minutes before the next customers arrived for lunch! The interior was very clean and we loved the spaciousness of it. It IS oddly located in a strange location within Lyndhurst where there isn't much else around. The menu isn't as vast as most Shanghainese restaurants we've frequented in NYC or Fort Lee, but all we were in search for were soup dumplings! And that's where AJ Shanghai definitely excelled! You find their menu online on their website, but here's a quick run-through of what we ordered: Crab Meat and Pork Soup Dumpling Pork Soup Dumpling Pan Fried Dumplings Scallion Pancake w Beef Shanghai Beef Pan Udon Braised Beef Noodle Soup Shredded Eggplant with Pork Soup dumplings were excellent! Definitely a surprise for us because we didn't know what to expect with this restaurant. Also, we really liked the scallion pancake with beef because it was so crunchy. The Shanghai Beef Pan Udon was also very, very good as well. Lots of flavor in it. I am typically not a huge fan of udon, but, pretttttty, pretttty good here. The noodle soup was OK, nothing great, but not bad either. The only thing we regretted ordering was the Shredded Eggplant with Pork because it was just so gooey. We love sauce on everything we eat, but it was very overwhelming. Also, this was something we weren't going to order, but figured it might be something our toddler would eat .... WRONGGGG. Overall, not bad, but the menu definitely needs a bit of sprucing up by having additional items. The soup dumplings were a huge hit with us and that's probably what most customers come here for, but I would really love to see them expand the menu a bit more. read more

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Food: decent standard Chinese fare; scallion pancakes were very crispy and not greasy Service: complimentary hot tea was a nice touch; they also have a self-service station that was useful Ambiance: no frills, clean, roomy Ample free parking! read more

Food was very good and authentic. If you are looking for some flavorful spicy Chinese cuisine here is your spot. Service was also very good overall solid experience. I'll certainly be back when my craving hits again! read more

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Food is fantastic! Everything is delicious and very flavourful, portion sizes are great. Service when you dine in is great, all the staff are attentive and friendly. Love the ambiance, really nicely decorated and very comfortable atmosphere. read more

POINT BLANK -- IF I COULD GIVE THIS RESTAURANT 6 (or even) 7 STARS -- I WOULD NOT HESITATE! On a very rainy Saturday night, I was in the mood for some spicy takeout food... Searching for that near me yielded some familiar results that didn't quite meet the level of heat I was looking for, so I decided to try something new and AJ Shanghai came up. I ordered what I believed would do the job -- The Sichuan Spicy Hot Noodle, and the The Chili Fried Chicken with Sichuan Pepper... AND WOW!!! The restaurant was impressive with a large seating area that was both clean and beautiful, and my order was ready (with a smile) in the promised 20-minute wait time. The food was not just an experience of divine spiciness, it was also delicious beyond compare, and (long story short... er) -- I am already craving this again this next morning AND CANNOT WAIT TO RETURN!!! read more

Aj Shanghai - The Chili Fried Chicken with Sichuan Peppers was perfectly prepared and DELECTABLE! - Shanghainese Near Me - Lyndhurst Twp, New Jersey

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Service: attentive and fast. 5/5. Ambiance: large inside, especially compared to Shanghai Restaurant in Fort Lee. We went at 8pm on the Saturday night of Memorial Day weekend. It was dead. Light background music. Could hear yourselves without shouting. Based on that, 5/5, but would probably get a better sense when it's busier. Ample parking outside (dedicated lot). Food: TL;DR, 4.5/5. We got the the pork soup dumplings and scallion pancakes. Obviously this is a subjective review because of all the other varying reviews on this site, but YMMV. We liked the density of the dumpling skins and the soup was quite flavorful. We got our usual mains to compare to the Fort Lee location. Sesame Tofu and Chili Fried Chicken with Sichuan Pepper. Gotta say the Chicken dish was marginally better than the Fort Lee location's, and that's saying something, because we think the Fort Lee location's is a 10/10. The breading at AJ felt lighter and more sublime in comparison. Conversely, the Sesame Tofu was marginally less good than the Fort Lee location's, but not by much. It probably could have just been fried a smidge longer at AJ's. Next time we go back I'll get the hand-rolled dumplings and beef with scallions to compare those at Lyndhurst to those at Fort Lee. Can't please everyone but we were pleasantly surprised with how comparable the Lyndhurst location's food was to the Fort Lee location's food. We were afraid to cheat on the OG location but it's just so much closer to us. read more

Aj Shanghai - Sesame Tofu - Shanghainese Near Me - Lyndhurst Twp, New Jersey

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Stopped by here to pick up dinner for Mother's Day! Got the following items: - spicy wontons 3.5/5, more mala than I was expecting, but juicy - yangchow fried rice 2/5, had ground beef?! Not supposed to be in yangchow fried rice. Honestly seemed like fried rice I make at home. Disappointing - green beans 4/5, delish! Classic - beef scallion dish 4/5, kinda sweet, beef seemed battered a little. Not what I was expecting but delish read more

This is my go to lunch spot for dimsum and chinese food. They have nice interiors and they keep the place clean. Their food is comparable to NYC or Fort Lee's dimsum place.7.95 for lunch specials? Can't beat that. The waiter is always attentive. Parking spot is never an issue. I ordered the Gen Tsos today which was good but their chili fried chicken with sichuan pepper is still my favorite. The complimentary hot tea is also a plus. read more

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I wanted to.love this place but I think it has some room for improvement in the taste of their food. The soup dumplings skin was not as thin and soft as I was hoping for, was kinda doughy. The inside and broth was good though. Also tried some other dishes like the eggplant pork with rice but it was very sweet. I'm sure that's traditional Shanghai style but I could use a little less sweetness to the dish to balance the savory. I'll come back another day, maybe just an off day for lunch. Very nice people and service though. Give it a try though, it's very affordable pricing here which is great read more

Aj Shanghai - Soup dumplings - Shanghainese Near Me - Lyndhurst Twp, New Jersey

I was looking for a good Chinese place to sit down and eat I did not find one found a great place Not your typical one so don't go looking for take out menu you can but better to eat in. Start off with fresh hot tea for table My friend is not that adventurous so will go back again and try some different stuff We did have the scallion pancakes best I ever had then some fried dumplings also great and finished with kung po chicken So a must go if you live in area and try new stuff I know I will next read more

The food was delicious!!! Wow, just found a new favorite. Highly recommend the beef soup. read more

We have been looking for a great soup dumpling place and this does not disappoint! Started with the scallion pancake, which has a hint of 5 spice powder. Really wonderful flavor and nice crunch on the outside giving way to a chewy inside. Also a nice refreshing start was the cucumber and garlic. Good cool crunch and nice flavor. The Shanghai Pork Soup dumplings came out next and in my zealousness to try I burned my tongue but that is on me. They were totally delicious. On a roll, we ordered the dumplings in spicy sauce which had a nice 5 spice powder flavor to it. So good! Will definitely be back! My favorite thing is the pork dumpling cam in the restaurant where they have a loop of how the dumplings are made. read more

Aj Shanghai - (Cho)Dumplings in Spicy Sauce - Shanghainese Near Me - Lyndhurst Twp, New Jersey

Looking for Dim Sum and Xiao Long Baos all of the time so when I heard they opened in Lyndhurst I had to try. There isn't much selection of dim sum unfortunately, just several types of dumplings and a few other things. Pigs Ears were too spicy, it kept tickling my throat making me cough lol. Hubby loved it. Pork and Crab Xiao Long Baos were so good. I do wish the crab meat was inside rather than on top hehehe Braised Pork was tender and delicious Snow Cabbage and Pork Noodle Soup was ok. I've had better... But still a good enough when you're freezing hehehe Turns out they are actually the same owner as the Shanghai Restaurant in Fort Lee. Both locations are about equal distance away but this location has a parking lot and is bigger. Have my eye on the Braised Beef Noodle Soup so I'm definitely coming back to try it! read more

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Once you walk in the smell of cinnamon hits you. It's walk in pick your own table. The menu is on the table . The drinks they provide is jasmine tea very tasty. The table has Chinese spoon and chop sticks. If you require fork or spoon it's self serve just like the drinks of water soda cans and bottles . It's byob. It's reasonable prices. It's famous for their dumplings which there a large tv showing the process. There's a round buzzer on the table to summon the waiter. We had a gentleman who comes over with a tablet. We were a party of nine we were in the back table facing the parking lot and the windows are not covered but for the heaters they have hanging just above. The decoration is a bit strange but the music is low mellow vibe. We ordered the wonton soups and spring rolls. The soup dumplings and beef soup more like a pho . The food came out pipping hot and in these cute bowls. Everything was nice and hot and very tasty. The amount of food given is definitely filling. The dumplings are super soft and the meat inside is delicious so tasty. The broth was amazing and delicious just done fresh . The beef was tender seasoned. We definitely walked out full and satisfied. The prices are so reasonable for a good Fresh meal. read more

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Visited AJ Shanghai Restaurant for dinner on a Thursday. The restaurant is in a kinda weird location, but at least it has parking. There were only a few other groups, so we were seated quickly. Service was decent, our food came very quickly and they kept our drinks filled. We ordered the scallion beef pancake, shrimp dumplings, pork soup dumplings, chili fried chicken, and snow pea shoots. The scallion beef pancakes were scallion pancakes wrapped around thinly sliced beef. It was OK, but could have used a sauce. The soup dumplings were good, and the shrimp dumplings were full of shrimp. My favorite thing was the snow pea shoots, which were nicely wilted in garlic sauce. The chili fried chicken was OK. Some of the chicken chunks were a bit dry, but I did like the flavor. The restaurant is spacious and it seems pretty new. The food is good for the area if you're looking for authentic Shanghai food. But there are better restaurants if you're willing to drive a bit further. read more

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We finally made our way to this fairly newly opened establishment. It was a great night, so we took advantage of dining on their outdoor area. The restaurant was very clean and service was impeccable. They start you off with fresh brewed tea. We started with the dim sum and the scallion pancake. I got the pork and crab meat soup dumpling. Both were very tasty and well done. For dinner, I went with the General Tsos chicken. The chicken was fresh and had a great kick to it. For two people, it was moderately priced and well worth it. read more

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Very authentic Chinese food. Recommended by a native Chinese. Had crab dumplings and they're so flavorful. Would definitely come back.