Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Cheli

    4.2 (486 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 11:00 pm

    Order Cheli Takeout or Delivery

    Cheli Photos

    Business Info

    CHELI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Cheli

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Fried Rice Cakes W.shredded Pork&Geechoi 荠菜肉丝炒年糕
    Hanna F.

    Very cool place - vibey and seating was great. You order off an iPad, and everything comes out pretty quickly. My favorite dish was the rice cakes - a must get. Not super impressed with the pork belly or duck. The AC was also broken so it was super hot while we were eating, which made it a little less enjoyable.

    Young Master Neon City Pale Ale, made in Hong Kong.
    David J.

    I have been eating Chinese food for 50 years, and I've never had Chinese food like this! I mean that in a good way. There are so many flavors it was intoxicating without even drinking alcohol. Speaking of no alcohol, the "Milk tea with yellow wine" is delicious, and (I'm pretty sure) alcohol-free. If you do like alcohol, they had a nice ale from Hong Kong I never heard of before, but it was very tasty. We started with black truffle soup dumplings, which were amazing. Then, pickled cabbage fish stew, which was also unlike anything I had ever tasted before, an "explosion of flavors," my dinner companion said. We got a side of some garlicky "water spinach," which in Chinese is called "hollow heart vegetable" because the stem is a tube. Our server was as nice as can be, and was fluent in both English and Chinese. It's easy to see why this place is always crowded.

    Sandar S.

    Quick dinner to catch up with my friend. The place is nicely decorated like old Chinese village vibes. Food is good, not too overwhelming yet tasty. Service is okay. The only thing is they keep asking if we finish or want to take left over food home. Feels like a little rushed when there was o people waiting and definitely not peak hours.

    House Special Fish Stew 浙里也有酸菜鱼 eggplant
    Jessica C.

    My friend from NY kept raving about this place and said it was one of the few chinese places that his family likes for chinese food in the city. The ambiance was great, I liked the aesthetic and felt that it was well decorated. Service was good, they checked in on us and confirmed our order after we places it through the ipad. I liked the eggplant dish a lot, one of the better versions that I've had. The fish stew had tons of fish and was enjoyable. I thought the braised pork belly was decent but too fatty for me personally.

    water spinach, pork belly, longjing shrimp
    Angelina L.

    i got the golden fried rice, longjing shrimp, pork belly, and water spinach! absolutely no misses with any of the dishes. the pork belly was a flavor explosion pairing perfectly with the umami fried rice, and the longjing shrimp tasted as impressive as its presentation. the water spinach balanced out the meal with a lighter, but still delicious flavor profile. the decoration inside is stunning & transports you to shanghai. i'd definitely recommend booking a reservation here -- the restaurant was packed for dinner on a random weekday! in a city where i don't often repeat restaurants, i want to come back here to try every dish on their menu.

    Lava volcano dessert.
    Steve G.

    We were lucky enough to be in a party that got the private table in the back. It made for a cozy and fun lunch. We tried about ten items on the menu. All were good. Standouts were tofu puffs; soup dumplings; string beans and shrimp in a delicious glaze. Beware: like in Asia, you need to eat the shrimp shell for the full flavor. It was great. For dessert we each had a lava volcano; hot custard inside a very unusual dough. See photo. Prices very reasonable for the city. Service was good.

    Lizzy L.

    Cheli is always a hit - it's been my go to recently for amazing Shanghainese cuisine. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu but my favorites are the pork belly, longjing shrimp, water spinach, string beans, and hunan spicy beef. I wasn't a huge fan of the flaming chicken, it was a bit dry. The ambiance is great; I love the "Chinese garden" feel. I also really like how the ordering system is on an iPad with photos of the dishes. I went with a big group of 9 recently and there was a secluded long table they reserved for us which was more private. For larger groups they have a minimum spend - I think it's about $60 per person.

    Spicy Tender Beef With Silken Tofu 豆花嫩牛肉
    Hellen N.

    I came for dinner with some friends when I was in the area and really enjoyed the vibes. The restaurant is decorated to give a traditional Chinese, ancient-time vibe. We had a reservation so the wait was not too bad. We ordered the Longjing Shrimp, braised pork belly, crab meat soup dumplings, and the white pepper beef with soft tofu. The food was delicious. My favorite was the white pepper beef with soft tofu eaten with white rice. It was a perfect mix of spicy, meating and smooth. The Longjing shrimp presentation was beautiful, the shrimps tasted fresh, but the taste didn't stand out too much for me. We also got the pear dessert, which ended up being one for those "look better than it tastes" situation. The pear was a panna cotta texture with pear flavored fillings served in a mildly sweet snow fungus goji berry soup. It was worth a try, but I wouldn't order again. Overall, very nicely decorated restaurant with delicious traditional Chinese food. I would come back to try more other dishes.

    Wine Soaked Chicken
    Justin C.

    Visited Cheli with 3 friends on a Saturday night, wait was a bit long (1.5 hours) so I highly recommend a recommendation! Once we were seated however, things were pretty great. Our waitress was incredibly accommodating and everything we ordered came out very quickly. Wine Soaked Chicken: Not something I've ever tried, but I thought it was excellent. The chicken was juicy, flavored perfectly with the wine. 4/5 Soup Dumplings: Solid soup dumplings, not particularly stand out but definitely not a bad a choice if you're feeling soup dumplings. 3.5/5 Crab Mapo Tofu: Super good! Really flavorful, generous with the crab, and it went perfectly with rice. 5/5. Eggplant in Garlic Sauce: Always a classic and Cheli's take is great! Highly recommend getting one as a vegetable dish. 5/5 Overall, it was a great dining experience! The food was good, service was quick, and the place is perfect for dates or groups (although once again, get a reservation!)

    Qianlongs Favorite Eel
    Jason W.

    Really good Chinese restaurant that focuses on regional cuisine from the Shanghai area. Cheli brings on all the big hits from Shanghainese cooking: soup dumplings, smoked fish and braised pork belly. The execution of all the dishes were consistently good. Service was great. We were sat down and ordered off an iPad. Food came out quickly and service was attentive.

    Qi G.

    My husband and I had a wonderful experience dining here. The waitstaff were super attentive from start to finish and helpful in answering our questions about the dishes. Unfortunately they ran out of the beggar's chicken, but we were advised to call in advance to reserve a chicken for our next visit. Everything we ordered was exceptional and piping hot! The ham sizzling rice and the acorn fish were my favorite dishes. I look forwarding to coming back again to try the beggar's chicken!

    Tony Y.

    First time eating here in person and I have to say it's pretty amazing. The decor is like old school China dynasty. The staff here is super friendly and attentive. My water cup was basically never empty. We ordered the pork belly, white pepper beef, eggplant, soup dumplings, mapi tofu, drunken chicken, and their house special fish. My absolute favorites were the white pepper beef and the fish. I'll definitely be back. This place is great.

    Warm ginger and red bean milk pudding
    Melissa S.

    The famous flaming beggar's chicken was gone in an instant, but our server Jason more than made up for the disappointment--especially for first-time diners like us. He was an absolute treat: personable, professional, and spot-on with his recommendations from appetizers to mains and desserts. The hype is real, and I'll definitely be back--for the ambience, the food, and of course, Jason!

    Soup dumplings

    See all

    Photo of Royce L.
    715
    1736
    9261

    20 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    23 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    27 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    27 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Qi G.
    368
    415
    378

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tony Y.
    349
    472
    2691

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 3
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Frank A.
    1445
    1339
    6613

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Agatha V.
    56
    55
    103

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Yuna C.
    525
    496
    1181

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 13

    Cheli Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cheli

    Going with my elderly mom and want to make sure they take checking COVID vaccine status seriously. Do they do a good job of making sure only vaccinated people are admitted for indoor dining?

    They check but it's not the most stringent. They didn't check ID. And they don't check you again after your waitlist is up.

    Is it byob?

    No they serve alcohol

    How can I order take out? Is there a menu or site?

    Order thru Uber or grub.

    Is there delivery?

    Yes! Uber eats and grub.

    Do they take reservation?

    no. only walk in

    View All 10 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Shanghainese 21,239 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Shanghai 21 - D2. Soup Dumpling with Pork

    Shanghai 21

    4.2(2.1k reviews)
    1.2 miChinatown, Civic Center
    $$

    Every dish here is solid. We came here and it was a bit of a wait, but it was well worth it. Make…read moresure you bring cash since it's cash only. Ordered the crab and pork soup dumplings. They were really juicy and savory broth. The shrimp dumplings were packed with shrimp. Flavors were spot on. We also got the bean curd Szechuan style. It was good but thought it would've been spicer. Ordered the beef with broccoli over rice and it was the perfect portion for one and great price. Overall, would come back!

    These guys claim to have the best soup dumplings, and I have to say, they might be right. Their…read moresoup dumplings have thin skins and juicy centers, exactly what you're looking for. They're definitely one of the best I've had. Even their scallion pancakes are good. Thin and crispy with enough substance to hold its shape after a soy sauce dunk. We also ordered the salt and pepper squid, the Szechuan style bean curd (basically mapo tofu), and the watercress with enoki mushrooms. Everything was very delicious. Service however, was just adequate. But it's what you would expect from a delicious Chinese restaurant. The waitstaff will get you what you want when you ask it, but clearly doesn't want to be there. Also the place is cash only. But there's a reason they're always busy on the weekends, this place is good.

    Photos
    Shanghai 21 - The inside

    The inside

    Shanghai 21 - D13. Szechuan Style Wonton

    D13. Szechuan Style Wonton

    Shanghai 21 - O7. Double Sauteed Pork over Rice

    See all

    O7. Double Sauteed Pork over Rice

    Little Alley

    Little Alley

    4.0(620 reviews)
    1.4 miMurray Hill, Midtown East
    $$

    Went here after work with a reservation. Not too crowded and tables were far enough apart…read more Drinks were a good price. Must get the cauliflower & the rice cakes!! You can skip the soup dumplings here.

    We didn't make reservations at Little Alley, just showed up around 7:30, but with just a short wait…read morewe were able to grab a table. The hostess and our various waiters (they all seem to assist all diners) were all very friendly and welcoming. We love to try new things so we had to check out the Little Alley Pig Ear appetizer, and I also wanted to try the Shanghai Crispy Eel. For entrees the husband ordered the Eight Delicacies in Chili Sauce and I got the Soft Shell Crab with Rice Cake. Pro tip- their appetizers and entrees are hefty, with two apps and two entrees we were stuffed at the end. The food! The pigs ears were our favorite thing we tried- they well seasoned and so unique I've never had anything quite like it. We didn't read the menu carefully and were surprised it was a cold dish- I imagined the crispy was from being fried but it's just the texture of the cartilage! It's probably not for everyone but I really enjoyed the new experience and the flavor and spice were great. The crispy eels were also tasty, though with such a large portion split between just two people I found the sweetness of the sauce a bit much. I started dipping them in the chili oil from the ears and enjoyed that, but I'd still only get the eel again with more than 2 people to split it. For entrees the 8 delicacies was tasty, all the meat was nicely cooked and tender, and the sauce was pleasant. I wasn't super wowed by this dish compared to some of the more interesting things we tried but it was a solid well-cooked entree. The fried soft shell crab over the rice cakes was delicious and again a very unique experience. I found the sauce a tad sweet but I think I was still a little over the eel dish so I may have been extra sensitive. That being said, it was fun and delicious and I'd eat it again! I can't remember the cocktails we bought, I know they were good but the food definitely distracted us! Little Alley was great overall and I'd love to go back to try some dumplings; sadly we were just too full at the end of the meal!

    Photos
    Little Alley - Interior shot

    Interior shot

    Little Alley - Poached Dumplings in Chili Oil (6)

    Poached Dumplings in Chili Oil (6)

    Little Alley - Inside, interior, indoor seating, ambiance, vibes

    See all

    Inside, interior, indoor seating, ambiance, vibes

    Shanghai time - Soup dumplings

    Shanghai time

    4.1(156 reviews)
    1.8 miMidtown West
    $$

    I stumbled upon a new years until lunar new year dine in promotion (on social media) for either…read moretheir pork soup dumplings or pork pan fried buns for 1$ each. 4 dumplings for 4$ (1 promo per person). The food was incredible and made super fresh to order. My favorite was the pan fried buns - they fry the top of the bun instead of the bottom with an amazing crisp. Hot soup is prone to gushing out of the bun, so consume with caution so you avoid burning your tongue. 100% recommend getting those pan fried buns. The soup dumplings were also good, but not as memorable as the pan fried buns (shengjianbao). They do the noodles pretty well as well - the only disappointment was the tofu crab sauce dish that I ordered. The tofu/sauce felt bland and lacked flavor. Despite that, the pan fried buns just rocked it outta the park for me so much I still say it's 5 stars in my book. The interior was also very comfy for dine in - they started using ipads for customers to order from - and the pictures helped a lot in the ordering process. Love the deals, love the flavors and price - especially in this part of town!

    Decided to give this place another try and man....its just consistently mediocre…read more Service is much much better this time. Very attentive but the food is still lacking. Pork soup dumplings: 3.5/5 these aren't bad. A little bland, strong msg taste. The vinegar improves it a lot. Pan fried soup buns: 3/5 just ok. Also strong msg flavor. The vinegar also helps with flavor. Pepper beef stir fry: 1.5/5 this has no beef flavor at all. It's so bland. It tastes only of soy sauce and oyster sauce. Basil chicken: 1.5/5 this is the same as the beef dish. It's hardly any discernible flavor. I don't taste the basil and it only tastes like soy sauce and oyster sauce. Crab roe noodles: 4/5 this saved the meal for me. Not the best crab noodles I've ever eaten but it's decent compared to everything else. This restaurant closes a little later than other Chinese restaurants around the area. Otherwise, I would have avoided.

    Photos
    Shanghai time - Interior

    Interior

    Shanghai time - Shanghai Time Special Panfried Pork Soup Dumplings 4Pcs

    Shanghai Time Special Panfried Pork Soup Dumplings 4Pcs

    Shanghai time - Salted Crispy Chicken(N) (N)

    See all

    Salted Crispy Chicken(N) (N)

    Tri Dim Shanghai - Steamed shrimp dumplings.

    Tri Dim Shanghai

    4.0(628 reviews)
    3.5 miUpper East Side, Yorkville
    $$
    Full bar
    Fine dining

    Love love the food ! The crispy rice soup and design your entree are always terrific !…read moreThe service is always excellent Its my fav restaurant on the upper eastside

    I generally gravitate to Chinatown-type restaurants, but with InKind credits to redeem, we ended up…read moreat Tri Dim Shanghai. And I'm glad. We'll certainly return! Shredded crispy duck is lean, crisp (living up to its name) and in my estimation, perfect! A half order is $33 and comes with crepes and what I guess is thin-cut celery and hoisin sauce. Our other two dishes merit maybe four stars. I had high hopes for prawns with black bean sauce and minced pork, but there was little pork and the dish was under-seasoned. Beaten egg white, a component of the sauce, was almost raw and when separated from the black beans, runny and unappealing. When I inquired about 'vegetarian delight,' our server suggested creating our own dish. Four sautéed vegetables for $16. I went with bok choy, broccoli, mushrooms and fried tofu. I asked for a flavorful sauce. I believe we got garlic, but it was too subtle, not garlicky enough.. Service is on-the-ball. Ambience is lovely. And Saturday night, hours before the dreaded snowstorm, the restaurant was busy. Reservations recommended.

    Photos
    Tri Dim Shanghai - Red cooked short ribs pumpkin casserole

    Red cooked short ribs pumpkin casserole

    Tri Dim Shanghai - Shanghai braised duck appetizer is a perfect way to start the weekend!

    Shanghai braised duck appetizer is a perfect way to start the weekend!

    Tri Dim Shanghai - Red Cooked Short Ribs in Hang Chow Style 红烧牛仔骨

    See all

    Red Cooked Short Ribs in Hang Chow Style 红烧牛仔骨

    Cheli - shanghainese - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...