The interior was breathtaking! And the food was so unique if you know what to order. The hot stone braised rice was soooo good! Definitely a must! Amazing service - they will pack your leftovers for you. read more

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Great service for a Chinese restaurant, they changed our plates 2-3 times to clear away the fish bones and crab shell. We ordered the fermented whole sea bass (liked the flavor from the fermented pork, fish was a little overcooked, not very spicy), blue crab in yellow wine (this is a cold dish, very nice wine flavor that was a little sweet), hot stone braised rice (this was almost $25 which seemed a bit expensive for a rice without any meat and the mushrooms were very soft/mushy). Interior was nicely decorated and the waitresses wore hanfu style skirts. read more

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Love. Flushing really stepped up their game. The ambiance is nice and the aesthetic of the restaurant is top tier, it's truly like you're being transported back. Went on a Saturday night without a reservation, we had to wait a bit but worth it. Had several pork and shrimp soup dumplings and did try the truffle. I'm a purist so would stick to the original. You can also ask for spicy sauce too. Also had the pan fried pork buns, delish. And the pork belly with the quail eggs was good too. Would deff come back! read more

There's so much competition in Flushing, unfortunately Che Li does not scream out to me. The food isn't anything crazy and the flavors don't scream out to me. 4 stars because the service is impeccable and the restaurant itself is very pretty and unique. Like I said, the food is standard, nothing to rave about. The smoking chicken was sold out on a Friday early dinner so that was unfortunate. They did mention that they switch their menus quite a bit perhaps we got the end of a season's menu. Would I come back? Most likely not...there's just too many options couple steps away but I'm not bummed to have tried it. read more

Cheli - Flushing - Eel wrap similar to Peking duck wraps - Shanghainese Near Me - Flushing, New York

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Food 9/10 Brings me back home. Ordered everything I had growing up so it brought back childhood memories. Also came here for Chinese New Year eve's dinner with the family, so it was very wholesome. A table full of delicious dishes. The only qualm I have is that their order of food being brought up was quite in disarray. The vegetables came before our main meats, and then the noodles came up before some other meats came out too. A little messy in that disregard. Feeling lenient about my grading, but the vegetables lacked seasoning. The beef tendons were my favorite though. Soup dumplings' skin was a bit too thick, but at least i could taste some crab. Still can't compare with Shanghai though. Atmosphere 9/10 Nice decor, very distinct vibes and theme. Plenty of seats, a winding pathway. Service 8/10 Super friendly and accommodating, but the only issue was the order of dishes being brought out. read more

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So so yummy! It was $100 with tip for 5 of us with a pot of tea. I love the custard mochi and the eggplant so much! We had amazing staff taking care of us. Ryan and Coke are so lovely. I love Che Li so much this is my third time here and I always come when I visit New York. The interior makes you feel like you're not in NYC. The atmosphere is awesome. You're going to love it. read more

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Keepin it real out here in Flushing. Nicely designed restaurant with traditional dishes with some twists. This middle high end restaurant setting seems to be what Flushing dining is heading to. There's a place and time for this, overall solid. read more

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Our server was really polite, informative, and efficient. I had questions regarding a few of the menu items and she was very patient in answering them. I had a better experience this time around as I probably made better menu choices. We ordered the soup dumplings which I've had before and while they didn't have a whole lot of soup, the skin was pretty thin. We also ordered Qianlong's favorite eel, which I have also had before and wanted to order again. It was still delicious. We decided to try the crab meat noodles and it was excellent. We also tried the stuffed dates which I thought was really well-made, but not really my thing. However, my mother really enjoyed it. Overall, a really great meal with quality dishes. read more

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My new favorite Sichuan spot! Everything we ordered was good, the standout was absolutely the frog! Just be warned, it is superrrrrr spicy. We wish it would've came after the rice so we can have something to chase it with. We also ordered the fried rice and rice cakes not pictured here. As well as their beef ribs. It came with a fire so that's always cool. Service was excellent and the seating area is definitely cozy. It would be perfect for a cold winter day. The XLB was always very good and on par with the other places. We ordered eggplants as well as we need so veggie and it was also good. The shrimp in garlic was eh since it didn't taste too fresh. It tasted like it was frozen thawed then frozen again. So we'll prob skip that next time - 1 star for that. read more

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Good food, friendly staff, and great ambiance. Favorite dish was the stir fried eggplant with clams. read more

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Great service. My favorite dish was the salted yolk pumpkin. The qianlong eel was too saucy for me. Stir fried string beans were flavorful. Ambiance of the place was really nice. Fried rice was ok but the meat was pretty salty. Short wait time for party of 5. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in all of the U.S. We returned from Shanghai/Hangzhou missing the food. China is a big place with many regions, each with its own cuisine. This place was not only beautiful, it had great service along with the clean, refined flavors characteristic of the Zhejiang region. I look forward to being back the next time we're in NYC. read more

I heard that after the Flushing location opened, all the OG chefs from the Manhattan location moved here, so the quality at the Manhattan one got worse... I haven't been to the original one since 2021, so I can't speak to that, but I can assuredly say that the Flushing location is still just as fantastic as I remember. My two friends and I came for an early-ish Sat lunch; we had a reservation but it was still quite empty (and throughout our meal there were always still a couple of tables available). The decor is nice in the same traditional Chinese style that seems to be quite popular nowadays. We ordered: Crab meat tofu stew (蟹粉豆腐): this was actually the primary reason we came - it's SO delicious and I'm glad that it has stayed just as yummy since the last time I came. Tofu was silken and smooth, the sauce was rich but not too heavy, and the crab flavour really managed to tie the dish together. Pairs very well with white rice, of course. Pork soup dumplings (鮮肉小籠包): another phenomenal dish. The skins were delicate and thin, the fillings well cooked with a wonderfully-rich flavour, and the broth had such a fragrant and savoury aroma. A bit pricey, in my opinion, but the quality was definitely really good so I suppose it's acceptable. Sweet & sour tenderloin (糖醋裡脊): Pretty good. I think the sauce was laid on a bit thick, but other than that, I thought it was fine. The meat was a nice combo of juicy on the inside and just a tad crispy on the outside. I do think that there were probably better options for pork dishes, though, so I might suggest opting for something diff next time. Stir-friend string beans (乾煸四季豆): Probably the low point of the meal. The string beans were a bit undercooked (too hard / chewy) and didn't have much flavour. It was only good as a complement to the heavier flavours of the other dishes, but I wouldn't order this next time. String beans notwithstanding, the meal was - as expected - fantastic, and at a great price point, too (came out to less than $30pp). I'll have to go give the Manhattan one a try again to see if the quality there actually went down hahaha read more

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From taste, ambiance to overall service, and a number of competing restaurants to boot, Cheli really brings itself to head of the pack with its great flavours, presentation and just an awesome traditional themed restaurant. The moment you step inside and walk up the stairs, you will notice the beautiful interior and design that starts to teleport back to Ancient China. Taste: 4.5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Value for Money: 4.25/5 (Worth the experience but there's just so many value options in the area!) We had: 1) Wine soaked Chicken: Well soaked and drunken, flavours were there and seemingly an acquired taste. Good to try and definitely recommended for a larger party given the strong taste. Ours was slightly tough but it was good 2) Crispy smoked fish: One of their signature items. This is unique. It reminds me of barbecue if Chinese cuisine had it. Not bad! Also recommend sharing amongst a larger party given its flavours 3) Che Li's Pork Belly: Highly recommended. The pork belly fell apart and the quail eggs that were used to soak in the sauce was just exquisite 4) Stir-fried Okra and Yam: A great compliment to all the strong flavours on the table, gotta get them anti-oxidants! Joking aside, this dish is light, has a nice crunch and tasted healthy 5) Crab sauce over noodles: Recommended as well! A bit salty but was overall delicious All in all, this restaurant was awesome and we see ourselves coming back absolutely! read more

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Honestly, you don't even need to eat there to be wowed. The way the restaurant is designed is so beautiful and feels like you were transported away. The service is also phenomenal. I would have gone back before I even ate the food there. I don't think you can order wrong, I really enjoyed the soup dumplings, drunken chicken and pickled package fish stew. read more

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Ordered the wine soaked chicken, nine-spice rabbit, and a bowl of rice. You can tell the chicken was soaked for an ample amount of time; it had great flavor. The nine-spice rabbit was also perfectly seasoned. Good food. The waitress was nice too, but it could get pretty busy (meaning the service can be kind of slow). Overall, worth a try. read more

Cheli - Flushing - Wine Soaked Chicken - Shanghainese Near Me - Flushing, New York

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My favorite Chinese restaurant in NYC (as of Dec 2023)! The food here does NOT miss, and the osmanthus rice wine is amazing as well--highly recommend! Also, the service here is very attentive and polite. Qianlong's favorite eel -- flavorful and the wrappers were so thin and delicate. Frog leg casserole -- a bit on the heavier side, but so flavorful, spicy, and tender Pea shoots -- because you gotta eat your veggies! Fresh and perfectly cooked without being too oily. Osmanthus steamed sponge cake -- the texture is SO soft, and it's not too sweet, allowing the osmanthus to shine through read more

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Our group of 4 came in after a day at the US Open for a birthday dinner! The decor immediately makes you feel as if you went back in time to ancient China. I really liked the touches to the space like wood-bamboo accents on the chairs and indoor roofs to the Koi pond that greets you at the entrance. Of course we had to get Shanghai Fried Noodles to celebrate a birthday. They were tasty and the chicken was cooked perfectly tender. The Braised Pork Belly was also just as tender, sweet, and complemented with the grittiness of the little eggs in the dish. Both were authentic while being presented in a delicate, 'trendy' way. The Fried Tofu bites probably weren't the best item on the menu to order -- I've never ordered them on a Shanghainese menu -- but we wanted to give them a try. The batter is light, but in terms of taste or aroma there wasn't much to add to the dish. The staff was very quick to help us from pouring tea to answering our allergy questions. A family favorite that I think is worth a reasonable price for what you're getting. read more

Cheli - Flushing - Braised Pork Belly - Shanghainese Near Me - Flushing, New York

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Meal here was amazing! i wanted to try it out since I was so impressed with the st marks location. The restaurant was just as beautiful and service was just as impeccable but there were less people which made my experience even better. For apps we had the smoked fish and jellyfish and conch salad. The smoked fish was really good, but a little too sweet. I was neutral to the jellyfish and conch salad since i'm not a big fan of either. for entree we had the pork soup dumpling which was decent, the crispy duck and the crab sauce noodles. The star dish was definitely the crab sauce noodles (sadly forgot to take a picture). The noodles were cooked perfect and sauce was delicious with small pieces of crab. Definitely coming back for more crab sauce noodles! read more

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Food 4.5/5.0 Service 3.5/5.0 Value 3.0/5.0 Decor 4.0/5.0 Overall 4.5/5.0 Realized I forgot to rate this spot after stopping by the St Marks location, and though I'd drop this one here for good measure. Great restaurant. Prices a bit higher for the area / 'traditional Chinese' and I'm happy for it. The food is pretty great. I'd come back. read more

Came in without much expectation but I absolutely loved the decor and the food. We ordered the Flaming Beggar's Chicken, Crab Meat Tofu Stew, and Ginger and chili frog with rice. You will need the rice to soak up all the juices from each dish! It also balances everything. This was enough for 4 people. Everything was really good especially the crab meat tofu. The chicken was very flavorful and tender. I would def order this again. I also loved the menu because they used the "booklet/paper" you would typically see when writing calligraphy. I thought it was a really nice touch. read more

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Generally speaking, good as usual. Tried their chicken dish that's on the seasonal special menu. It has a very light fragrance and I like it, but some might find it a bit flavorless. It was very tender. The kaofu is a bit too sweet today. read more

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Food is average,s Service slow Noisy ambiance Some dishes too spicy even told the server to tone down the spice. read more

I came here for the first time with my family of 5 for mother's day. The restaurant was beautifully decorated and dishes were authentic, but the serving size of each dish was a little small in my opinion. We ordered: - Crab meat tofu Stew: 3/5 this dish pairs really well with a bowl of rice. The flavor is really light but you could still taste the hints of crab and salted egg yolk - Crispy smoked fish: 5/5 this dish was so unique. I loved the sauce and smokey flavor. - Che Li's pork belly: 5/5 I highly recommend this dish! The pork was so tender and flavorful. The quail eggs were also delicious after being braised in the sauce. I could eat the sauce alone with a bowl of rice. - Fried sliced pumpkin with duck egg yolk - 5/5 this was my favorite dish of the night! The fried pumpkin was nice and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a generous amount of salted egg yolk that pairs so well with the pumpkin. - Crab sauce over noodles: 3/5 not bad, but a little too much vinegar for my taste. - Chinese Crispy Lava: 4/5 definitely crispy as the name says it is! I loved the crispy outer shell and soft bun inside and how the filling just oozes out. The filling was nice and hot, and not too sweet. Overall, the food was deliciously and would definitely recommend trying this place! The serving sizes were a little small, so wouldn't recommend coming here with a large group. read more

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Too sweet for me. But environment is quite good. Staffs were very attentive. Good for friends hang out

I've been here twice now & I love this place! Nothing I've had falls short, it's all super tasty. The staff here all attentive & friendly. I also love the ambiance & interior. If you're craving soup dumplings, this is the spot to go for it. Especially the crab one. I love that the skin is thin and the dumplings are very flavorful. I also enjoyed their fried rice & the spicy clams & egg plant - so delish! Overall, I'd highly recommend coming here for food! read more

Food is good. Overall nothing to complain. Service is a bit slow but it is fine. Overall a good experience. read more

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I have never received such great service at a Chinese restaurant before! My son is in an adaptive stroller and they had two staff lift him up all the stairs to our table. Usually we have to do it ourselves. The Ambiance was like we were in ancient China. Everything was well decorated. They did not skimp on the interior design. There was one single Female bathroom and one single Male bathroom. Both were big enough for a stroller. The complimentary pickle reminded me of childhood when my mom would use that to cook in egg. The wine soaked chicken was perfect. The jellyfish and conch was so refreshing. The okra and yam dish was also refreshing and very healthy. The best dish was the Steamed Dungeoness Crab with steamed egg. The flavors were unlike what I ever had. The sea urchin cooked was kind of a waste. We still thought uni is best raw. I would come back to try more dishes. read more

Cheli - Flushing - Drink menu - Shanghainese Near Me - Flushing, New York

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Che Li is easily one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in NYC, and while I usually visit their East Village location, the flagship restaurant in Flushing offers its own charm and a consistently outstanding experience. My past two visits to Flushing have only deepened my appreciation for this spot. The ambiance at Che Li is incredible. With its wood and bamboo accents and numerous Chinese decorative elements, the decor gives the restaurant a classic, authentic feel that makes you feel immersed in a warm and welcoming setting. The service is attentive and helpful--don't hesitate to ask for recommendations, as the staff is happy to guide you through the menu. My go-to starter here is a small carafe of warm "Nv Er Hong," a Chinese rice wine that comes with dried plum and ginger, adding a lovely warmth to the experience and balancing the richness of the dishes that follow. Recommended Dishes: -Wine-Soaked Chicken - Served chilled and marinated in Shaoxing wine, this appetizer is bursting with flavor. The chicken's tender skin and delicate texture make it a fantastic start to any meal. Personally, I love adding the broth to my rice for an extra layer of flavor. -Spicy Sliced Pork Kidney - Thinly sliced and served over a bed of bean sprouts with a fragrant Szechuan peppercorn chili oil, this chilled dish has the perfect kick for spice lovers. -Pork Soup Dumplings - Savory and soupy, these dumplings are delightful. I like to take a small bite to release the broth, sip the soup, then add a bit of vinegar soy and ginger before enjoying the rest of the dumpling. -Che Li's Pork Belly - This Shanghainese-style braised pork belly is served with quail eggs. Though it's on the sweeter side, which isn't usually my preference, the flavors are so well-balanced, and the pork belly so perfectly tender, that it just melts in your mouth. -Qian Long's Favorite Eel - Cooked in a rich brown sauce, the eel is served with cucumber and scallion, making it perfect for wrapping in a thin Chinese pancake. The flavors and textures are a delight. -Spicy Christy Pork Knuckles - If you're a fan of pork knuckles, this dish is a must. The fried knuckles are wok-tossed with red chilis, giving them a crispy exterior while keeping the meat tender and juicy. I can't wait to have this one again! Che Li also shines with its vegetable dishes. I've tried the Lotus Pond Stir-Fry and Braised Vegetable Medley, and both were flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and provided a refreshing complement to the heartier dishes. I thoroughly enjoy each visit to Che Li and can't wait to return to explore more of their menu! read more

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Cheli's ambiance, food and service deserve 5 stars. My friend found this place on TikTok. We made reservations weeks in advance. Our table was ready when we arrived right in time. When you enter there's a Koi pond in the front and there's a dark narrow walk way. Each party has its own separate dining area. My friends and I ordered the following: Regular XLBs and crab meat Pea shoots with Chinese liquor sauce Braised eggplant with clams Hangzhou braised duck Tofu bites Grilled beef ribs Shanghai style fried rice Braised pork belly Garlic lobster Flavors and textures here were on point. Each dish had something unique about it. The braised eggplant and beef ribs were my favs. Plenty of clams in the eggplant and a touch of heat . The beef ribs had a cool presentation when the waiter heated up the dish in the aluminum foil. The rib sauce was so delicious we found ourselves adding it to our rice. Price wise everything here is reasonable. With the +10 dishes, 2 bottles of sake our tab came out to under $50 before tip for a party of 7. We left stuffed and really enjoyed our experience here. The only downside was since our party was large we got seated way in the back where the door leads outside. The cool windy breeze kept passing through. We found ourselves asking the waiters to keep the door closed. Overall, we had a really fun experience here. Dark intimate vibes with fun music playing. You get quality Shanghainese without breaking the bank. read more

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Took my mom to Che Li for her birthday because we've never tried Jiangzhe cuisine before. We ordered the Longjing Shrimp ($26), Qianlong's Favorite Eel ($29), Che Li 'Squirrel' Fish ($42), Tangerine Crab Meat & Steamed Egg ($26), Spicy Braised Ox Tongue ($32), and Plum Juice with Sweet Osmanthus ($8). Longjing Shrimp - These shrimps were cooked in longjing tea and came with a vinegar dip. I enjoyed the clean taste when eaten on it's own, and the addition of flavor when dipped in vinegar. However, since the tea flavor is so light, it's almost undetectable. Qianlong's Favorite Eel - I usually only eat the unagi marinated eel, so it was interesting to try this style where it is stir-fried in a thick savory sauce. Came with 6 thin delicate wrappers that you can put the eel, cucumber slices, and shredded scallion in. Che Li 'Squirrel' Fish - This fish was one of my favorite dishes of the night. You can see how much skill is needed to cook this dish. The entire fish was fried perfectly, where every bite was crisp and coated evenly with this sweet and sour sauce. All the bones were removed, so it was easy to eat as well. Tangerine Crab Meat & Steamed Egg - This dish is interesting. The crab meat is a little too salty and the though the tangerine is refreshing and sweet, I don't think the flavors mesh well together. The steamed egg on the other hand was silky smooth and light. Spicy Braised Ox Tongue - This was another highlight of our dinner. If you have never eaten wagyu, this resembles the texture. Each tongue piece was so soft, tender, and has a bounce to the touch. The numbing spice brings out so much flavor with the mushroom slices. It just sucks that most of the dish was peppers and pods, with only a few pieces of meat. Plum Juice with Sweet Osmanthus - The drink tasted just as you would imagine, smoked plum with osmanthus. The vase it comes in is deceiving because it has a divot in the middle, so you think you are getting a lot more than what is there. Overall most of the food was exceptional, but very pricey for the portion size. The décor was beautiful, and the service was good. My mom was given a complimentary bao since it was her birthday. read more

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great ambience and vibes when u arrive ur greeted w this pickled dish which was rly rly good however it's def on the pricier side esp in flushing and the squirrel fish was ur typical sweet and sour sauce tbh read more

Restaurant had a great ambiance! The traditional Chinese food was flavorful and yummy. IG: gaogirlsgrubbin read more

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This place is a gem, I felt like I was instantly transported upon arrival. Love the decor and ambiance. We didn't have a reservation but we were seated quickly! Enjoyed the menu scroll and the presentation of the veggies! We ordered the appetizer of veggies, wine soaked chicken and fried rice. The service was highly attentive, they always checked to refill our tea. Would recommend ordering the wine-soaked chicken as that's their specialty. The portions were large so didn't have room for dessert. I would highly recommend this spot! read more

Cheli - Flushing - The menu - Shanghainese Near Me - Flushing, New York

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Didn't like the food. Not the best to me. I think the flavors are too adapted. However, the salted egg pumpkin is something I might go back for. That was the best of all that I had the night. read more

Cheli was absolutely delicious! We ordered a feast, the braised pork belly, Shanghai noodles and the crispy duck was amazing! And our server Lily was the best! Highly recommend and will definitely be returning! read more

Cheli - Flushing - Shanghainese Near Me - Flushing, New York

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I came here few days ago with a friend from cali. he said wanted try someting diff. i actually been here 2-3 times before. honestly im not a big fan. i like the spot next door a lot better, jiangnan. but he tried it last time already. i personally would only give this spot 3 stars. but all my friends liked the food. saying most of the dishes were good. so i came up with a medium score of 4 stars. btw, idk y yelp dont do stars by 1/2 lol. but neways, i mean all the food presentation was pretty nice esp that chicken. looks all fancy. but taste to me was soso. but like i said 3 my other friends all loved it. than the service was good. nice servers. the vibe wasnt bad. feels like im eating in a restaurant in china. also, when i left i noticed the front door has like new york times michelin recommended for like 4-5 straight years. im not sure if that means anything but if youre nearby or comes to flushing to eat occassionally i guess can give this spot a try. mayb u will like it more than me since all my friends liked it. just wasnt really my cup of tea. read more

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Came to Cheli for a weekend meal with friends. Did not make a reservation and don't remember having to wait much. The ambiance is so nice! The interior looked like old China and the music was also classical Chinese music. Our service was quick like all the Chinese places in Flushing. The food was delicious but the presentation was probably the best part of this restaurant. We had a simple shrimp dish and they made it smoky, which was cool for the camera. Overall the price was pretty was pretty good, I expected it to be more expensive than what it actually was. read more

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I was so looking forward to the experience, as relatives had given this restaurant the highest approval. I was greatly disappointed in everything about it. The food was unexceptional. In fact, I did not enjoy one dish. The service was adequate. The atmophere is phoney. Honestly, I would not recommend it. read more

Decor and setting is interesting and different. Good place for more intimate small gatherings. Some dishes are pricey and are more on the average. Good to try, but no sure about being on the top choice as the go to spot read more