I'm tempted to give CK Shanghai 5 stars, but that would be unfair to out-of-area Yelpers, because the fifth star would be for convenience (CK Shanghai is close to me and has great delivery.) If I were out of town, I'd rate CK Shanghai a 4 for better-than-average, low-to-medium budget Chinese. CK Shanghai is unusual in that it fills the gap between the usual "cheap Chinese takeout" and haute-cuisine Chinese food (which is quite rare, esp., if you don't live in NYC or Beijing.) Overall--try it! read more

This review is long, long overdue. CK Shanghai has been a go-to for me and my family for many years. I've got no problem starting some drama here because I know CK can back it up: CK has the best Chinese food in the area bar none. And not only is their food tasty, their staff is friendly and professional. Even on their busiest day, Christmas Day, CK always comes through. If you're looking for a new "usual" spot look no further. read more

This is my go-to for Chinese takeout! The Shanghai platter has something for everyone and is so tasty! Honey walnut shrimp are also a fan favorite! read more

This is the best Authentic Northern Chinese food I ever taste in MA area, highly recommended. You will not be disappointed.

Ordered boneless spareribs. 90% straight fat. Absolutely gross! Very disappointed this was such inedible. read more

They have dimsum on the weekends ! It's not china town but saved 20 extra min of driving and parking hunt It doesn't come in carts but made fresh for each table read more

I rarely write Yelp reviews, but this felt like a time it was necessary. Came to CK for my daughter, but figured in such a nice area that they'd be able to communicate effectively for folks with food allergies. Wait staff should be kind, patient, and friendly. Full stop. I am a celiac. I am always understanding of menu limitations, but at CK the server decided to get impatient. There is no soup or substitute, and no fried rice. I only care because at a restaurant like this it's generally easy to use a clean pot and a gluten free soy sauce. Maybe I'm being high maintenance, and I understand this is a high pace establishment, but color me annoyed read more

NEVER EVER DISAPPOINTED. I come here often for lunch because a friend and I work close to CK. When we walk in, they already know to have Mai Tais and boneless spare ribs ready to go. The staff here are very friendly and they will remember you - or maybe it's just us. We're the type of jovial guys that will come in and start a party, make the staff laugh, and have a grand ol' time. Why? Because who cares if I have to go back to work after this, I'm going to have fun like this is the last lunch break I'll ever have. The staff welcomes that, so they're cool in my book. As far as the food and drinks go: they don't skimp on the booze, and everything is prepared very well. This is a great place for Americanized Chinese food and I've never had a bad experience. Everything I've ordered was hot to the point that I couldn't eat it right away (almost - I don't care if I'm going to burn my mouth, I want that chicken finger). Their lunch specials are priced well and they're worth it. Stop in, you won't regret it. read more

If you are too damn lazy to get in your car and drive yourself into town, then you deserve what you get -- a Sino-American blend of not-quite authentic dishes and the best hits of US Chinese restaurants, 1977-1995. Mom happens to love this place - what the hell, mom? Didn't I teach you better? When we arrived, I asked if there was another menu. The menu we were given was both pricey, with not a single Chinese character and no dish that I could actually recognize as being typically Shanghainese. The server laughed at us. Seriously, was there another menu? No. No. I knew it wasn't going to be good. The clams with black bean sauce featured fermented black beans that were still a bit too hard to the bite. The sauteed pea shoots were good, but at the prices they were charging, anything less than excellent was a rip-off. The tea-smoked duck tasted like it had been hanging in the window of a Chinatown shop for the last 8 hours and wasn't particularly good. The Ma-Po Tofu was lacking in acidity - lord knows that even the tiniest touch of vinegar can turn a dish from dullsville to dyn-0-mite. And our poor tofu was just crying out for it. Sometimes it is good to check in at a restaurant like CK Shanghai to remember why I like going to a few places in Chinatown when I come back to visit mom. read more

I went to CK Shanghai today for lunch and it was an incredible experience. Service was great, fast, and friendly. I feel that if you're out to lunch on a business meeting lunch should be fast, tasty, and affordable. Service at CK Shanghai was incredibly attentive, but not too attentive where you feel like the server is trying to join your conversation. The lunch menu is great - not only do they have a great selection of healthy chinese food, but almost all the plates are priced at $8. Overall, if you're in the Wellesley area I recommend checking out CK Shanghai. read more

We have been coming here for the last 2 years. We find it a friendly place, great service. I have lived in Boston, Cambridge, Brookline, Needham, Newton and now Wellesley, and being Chinese, I know all the Chinese restaurants in these areas. I have to say CK is among my top 3 favorite places for a "home cooked meal," we either go or do takeout at least 2-3 times each month. When our kitchen was being renovated we went embarrassingly almost every day. I read some of the 2 star posts, and have to disagree with most of them, as the posters seem to miss the point that the dishes are served up as they are ready, home style, not meant to be all brought out at once; and no lids, who does that? And no, there is no left over because this is not Vinny Testas (out of business), who wants left overs to bring home? As with anything, there can be some hit or miss with any establishment. Recommended dishes are the mo po tofu, tangerine beef, beef scallion pancakes, soup dumplings (weekends), peanut noodles. Few places do peking duck well, and CK's peking duck is very good. Suffice it to say that I have recommended this place to plenty of friends and colleagues and this is where I go when I have out-of-town family visiting when they are in the mood for Chinese food. read more

I had dinner here two nights ago and as usual it was very good & did not disappoint. I've recommended CK to many friends that really love this place too. I've been going to CK for a few yrs now and would say I've been at least 15 x's. I think only once was I disappointed. When I pointed out to the manager what was wrong with the meal it was quickly corrected and they were very apologetic. Admittedly 75% of the time I get take-out & can attest with some of the other reviewers that the servers @ CK are not friendly, most of them actually come across as abrupt & up-petty. I've decided that it may be somewhat cultural though as the servers are not American-Asian, most of them have bad English. IF YOU are a fried rice lover you will be very disappointed here because their's is more like a Vietnamese fried Rice, in that it's fresh steamed rice and barely seared in the pan. Not at all like 99% of the other Chinese restaurants. I asked the manager about it and he said the chef refuses to use old rice, he wants the rice to have a fresher healthier consistency, he told me people often get upset about it. Personally, I don't care for rice, unless it's brown but I've had friends that were disappointed so thought i'd mention that as a footnote. We get stuck with ideas of certain dishes, so I get it! Not Traditional Pooorrrkkk Fy'd Wice .. OK! Menu favorites "must try's" 1.General Gao's Shrimp, 2.Salt n' Pepper Shrimp, 3.Black Pepper Sea Scallops, Dumpling's & Cold Sesame Noodles ( very hard to find in Boston because of the whole nut allergy thing). Veggies & seafood have always been very fresh and a giant step up from almost every Chinese restaurant I've tried in the Boston/Metro Area. The Chef has been well reviewed in various magazines. The prices are def. $3-$4 more per dish than most other places too, but I think you'll be happy to pay a bit more. Cheers, read more

Something about a well known chef...blah, blah, blah. The food here is WAY over-priced. But the ambiance is really upscale for a Chinese place. Seriously, from the table settings, to the tea cups, to the bar. The place is nice. I went for lunch and had yu shiang eggplant which is my test for a Chinese restaurant. Not at all impressive. The sauce was too sweet and not salty enough and there was hardly any eggplant. I mean the sauce is my favorite part, but little sauce AND little eggplant? Give me a break, the overhead can't be THAT bad. I mean a lunch special should be an immaculate snapshot of what your restaurant can offer so that I come back for dinner. Needless to say, I never went back for dinner. Famous or not, the food sucked. I prefer the fatty and tasty Oriental Great Chow eggplant and tofu down the street any day. read more

I've been eating at CK Shanghai for a couple of years, and up until a few weeks ago, I really liked it. But, I brought my wife and mother there a few weeks ago for dinner and we had very poor service, we were erved long after people that came in ahead of us. The food came out tepid at best and the rice was fair. Last week I walked over to CK's from work (about 1 mile) to pick up a lunch, and when I got back the rice was terrible. Usually I eat half a lunch on 2 consecutive days. The food was o bad that I threw the rest away. Since this is the only Asian restaurant in walking distance, I may go back in a few weeks, but right now it is on my do not recommend list read more

It's too bad that CK Shanghai is in Wellesley now instead of Boston. I don't go to Chinese restaurants much (as nothing really matches to what my mom used to cook), but the Lady of the Table has forever recommended this joint. The atmosphere at CK is "clean." It's not a rundown establishment, and it doesn't pretend to be upscale. The waiters were attentive and friendly, and the portion sizes were quite decent. Do the flavors still have a distinctive American style to it? Yes, but not as much as you would find at a Chinese buffet. Are some of the dishes still too oily? Yes, but again, not as much as you would probably find elsewhere. read more

Very pleasantly surprised. I didn't read the reviews before coming - instead, I reminded the friend that brought us that I didn't want to be disappointed - Chinese food is a picky topic with me. Scanning through the reviews - I have to agree that you shouldn't expect to be blown away - it is the suburbs. But I do take issue with some of the comments about "authenticity". Just take a look at the menu. Despite the name, it's clear that the goal is not about being authentically Shanghainese. They serve the typical mish-mosh of dishes from different provinces. Ma Po Tofu, for example, is not Shanghainese. So would I expect such a restaurant to serve a killer Yu Xiang Chicken or Ma Po Tofu? No - average at best - a generalist Chinese restaurant is never going to touch a Sichuan or Cantonese restaurant. That's why it was so surprising to find delectable pea pod stems (more of a Northern Chinese dish), shredded chicken in chili sauce (Sichuan style), double-fried Shanghai noodles (thick like Udon, and definitely Shanghainese) and yes, their well-balanced potstickers (which were not the typical calzone-like monstrosities). The Good: Very clean, pretty kid friendly. Solid food all around - worst dish was the scallops with black pepper sauce - not terrible, but too heavily breaded and sauced. The Bad: a bit on the pricey side, but it is Wellesley after all. In Short: All in all, will go again - a reasonable suburban alternative to Sichuan Gourmet - though definitely not as authentic! ;) read more

Food was slightly above average and not too Americanized. However, I found a staple in the fried calamari with spicy salt. Also ordered chow fun with minced pork but they substituted hamburger. This suggests a general carelessness and disrespect for customer preferences. read more

Our favorite restaurant outside Chinatown. Been coming here for years. Authentic Asian fare. Recently while dining Ming Tsi and son's dined with the owner while Ming proclaimed how much he loved CK's cuisine We followed CK here from his Chinatown restaurant. Our favorites are pea pod stems with garlic and whole fish with CK's signature sauce. The people that don't like this restaurant should stick with their Pu Pu platters and chicken wings. Love Crystal and staff- very accommodating and friendly. read more

Background: CK Shanghai is a worthy successor to the New Shanghai in Boston's Chinatown. I have fond memories of a superb wedding banquet at the old "New Shanghai." The Chinese bride had worked out the menu with the chef, and that meal was one of the best I have had in the US. I was pleased to learn that the chef had set up CK Shanghai and wondered if he would provide authentic Chinese food in a Wellesley restaurant. Food: We found well prepared dishes with ample portions. We did not find dishes with the authentic distinctly regional character of the old Chinatown place. Favorites include carefully prepared versions of standards like scallion pancakes, cold sesame noodles with minced cucumber, peking ravioli, a variety of silken smooth and well balanced soups, flavorful squid in black bean sauce, tasty lamb, pungent peapod leaves in garlic sauce, a very nice bok choy with black mushrooms, and the usual array of chow foon and other noodle dishes. CK Shanghai's extensive menu is worth exploring. Service: Dining room is staffed with exceptionally efficient and pleasant servers. Ambiance: This is a very pleasant restaurant, from the tasteful modern decor to the crisp white table cloths and nicely designed place settings. During peak hours, the restaurant is a bit noisy. Location: Just across the Newton-Wellesley line. If parking is scarce on the street or behind the restaurant, additional spaces may be found in the municipal parking lot behind Paparazzi. Pricing: On a par with upper end suburban Chinese restaurants, but fair given the quality of food and ambiance. read more

Terrible. Just had dinner with my family here. Thursday evening and I think they were low on staff because the waitstaff seemed so flustered. Once we got to our table it was empty. No silverware, dishes or glasses. It took awhile for them to give us our menus and then even longer for them to come take our order. We had to ask for water and it was then that they noticed we didn't have any settings. Plates were plopped down on the table, not even in front of us individually. I had to grab our own napkins from the drawer behind our table myself. When our entrees arrived they also were just plopped down on the table, not in the center of our round table but close to the edge. Our waitress never once came by to see how we were doing or refill our water glasses. The food itself was just ok. Really saucy and it basically drowned out the flavor of the meats. We ordered the Dragon and Phoenix (chicken and shrimp dish), eggplant and beef pot, and lamb with ginger and scallions. It was our first time to this restaurant and we had heard rave reviews in the newspaper. What a disappointment. The service was terrible and the food just so-so. We won't be back. read more

The food is... okay. For the duck, shrimp, veggies dishes - not bad, but nothing really to rave about either. I shouldn't have read the reviews on their website, then my expectations wouldn't have been set so high - was expecting to be wowed. read more

Excellent food, efficient service, waitstaff could be a bit more "kinder and gentler." We have struggled to find a good Chinese restaurant in the greater Boston area and we have found one in Wellesley - C.K. Shanghai. The food is fresh and very well prepared. For appetizers we had the Scallion Pancakes which were not greasy and the Shanghai Cucumbers which had just the right amount of "heat." The Egg Drop Soup was light and flavorful and the Sweet and Sour Soup was perfectly balanced. We also had the Hunan Style Bean Curd, Moo Shu Vegetables, and Chicken with Broccoli. Everything was served hot and promptly. Our main courses were served so promptly that we weren't done with our soup or appetizers when they arrived. This made for a very crowded table and a feeling that the waitstaff were instructed to serve the food and then clear it away as fast as possible. Case in point, my daughter was still eating from her main plate when one waiter decided to reach over her to grab a used plate as opposed to going around to the other side of the table to clear it. My advice is to give your waiter clear instructions on the timing of meal. By doing so you are guaranteed a very good one. read more

The proper category for CK Shanghai is "Suburban Chinese", a fairly tasty cuisine with a sophistication level similar to a burger joint. It is peripherally related to various Chinese cuisines. On the scale of Suburban Chinese this place is excellent, if a tad pricey. The peking raviolis (dumplings) have been very fresh and relatively delicately flavored every time we have visited. The drinks are good, the staff is professional, and the atmosphere pleasant. It's really very good for what it is. read more

We were passing through the area and decided, on a recommendation from a friend, to go to CK Shanghai. Glad we did! The food was fresh and delicious. We did not experience any of the service issues that others reported here. Our experience was good from start to finish. We will definitely find another opportunity to return. read more

This has been our go to Chinese restaurant for over 15 years . The food is fresh and tasty and the service is great. Some favorite dishes include General Gows Shrimp, Sesame Chicken, and most Mushi dishes. They have great Hot & Sour soup and appetizers too. We have never had a bad dish. read more

Dim Sum on Sundays! Great food, good price, wonderful service! Clean, friendly, and consistently delicious. Great food, okay cocktails, but not quite the South Pacific. Highly recommend read more

Very intimate Chinese restaurant in Wellesley. One of the only ones in great Boston area that serve shanghainess food and is good too.

BEST. CHINESE. EVER atmosphere is eh, nothing special. but seriously, I ONLY get Chinese take out here, it is by far my favorite. love everything about the food! definitely a treat. read more

Not the greasy chinese delivery that is the norm around my neighborhood, and not uber fancy chinese cuisine. This place is right in the middle and does the trick. A nice dining room and fast service. I work up the street so come for lunch occasionally. Lunch menu and price is great. $7-$10 for soup, entree and your choice of rice... can't go wrong. read more

Decent Chinese food that gets a little weird... Is the food authentic!? I had one of their duck dishes and the duck meat did not at all resemble duck. Their Yu Xiang eggplant was too salty and barely touched by a party of 5 people, but everything else was pretty good. It's definitely on the expensive side (entrees cost $9-15), especially for Chinese food, but it's nothing too exorbitant. read more

My go to place for lunch. Quick service, reasonable prices, friendly staff, usually not crowded. Parking can be tough.

A friend told me about CKs and I had to try it out on my trip to Wellesley. Had a Chicken and vegetables lunch special and it was amazing. Portion size was great and it was delicious. Spring rolls and the citrus sauce on the side were also great. I will definitely if we are ever in the Wellesley area again. read more

Some of the best Chinese food I've ever had! Every single thing I've tried here--and I've tried a lot--has been top notch. Service is great too. If you like chicken fingers, try the Hong Shill chicken (also known as Hung Sue Gai). It's not on the menu, but they'll make it for you. read more

Typical american style chinese food. Not bad.

Not bad for a Chinese restaurant in suburban Wellesley. The pork ribs are crispy and juicy, just a little oily but is a go to of mine for comfort food. The fried rice is subpar. The duck is pretty tender. The spicy salted calamari satisfies the craving and is crispy enough. Good service, and nice peaceful ambiance for a Chinese place. read more

Made a spontaneous stop for dinner CK Shanghai and I am so glad we did not miss out. Food was very good, service was great. Tad pricey, but large servings. Definitely worth it. read more

CK Shanghai - Chicken & Broccoli with brown sauce. Cashew chicken with side of rice. - Chinese Near Me - Wellesley, Massachusetts

Fabulous food,gracious employees,excellent service Will definitely return Can't wait read more

Visited CK Shanghai for the first time this evening. Glad we did as the food was outstanding. Nice interior, reasonably priced (app, two dinners, two drinks was $50. Would definitely go back and refer to my friends. read more

What??? 3.5 for CK?? This is the best Chinese in the Boston area. I have probably tried them all. Love the sesame chicken, soups, and the green beans. read more

For a suburban Chinese restaurant, this place is pretty decent. (I am Chinese American). I think this will become our new place for Cantonese style type take out for based on proximity and quality. We got the following take out - spicy salted calamari- awesome, just what I was craving, totally hit the spot. Love the leftover spicy stuff for putting over rice later. - beef double pan fried noodle- this was ok. beef was cut sort of julienne style and wasn't that flavorful. The pan fried noodle itself was spot on, but they used white button noodles, so a little weird. - beef chow fun. Good staple dish - pea pod shoots with garlic. Amazing!! So hard to find places that serve this. Very generous portion. Loved it!! - chicken wings. Didn't taste, but kids loved it. - chicken with mixed veg. Good. Also, the inside was very nice, with white tablecloths and beautiful decor but we just get take out because of the kids. We'll be going back. read more