Wanted to write this review because we were super disappointed... We had duck tongue in wine sauce, Shanghai soup dumplings, fried pork bun, pork wonton in spicy sauce and Shanghai short turnip cake.. Duck tongue 2/5, it's overly salty, and it's just salty and a hint of sesame oil Shanghai soup dumplings 3/5 Good enough but definitely not the best. a little on a bland side, but the vinegar helped. Fried Pork Bun 2/5, the dough is very thick, the meat filling is super salty, and the only flavor you can taste is saltiness, nothing else. The only good part about these bun is the crispy fried bottoms. Pork Wonton in spicy sauce 1/5, this dish is so bland....... It serves with chili oil and peanut sesame butter. It has a hint of sweetness but nothing else... we asked for hot oil on the side trying to save the dish but it didn't help. Shanghai short turnip cake 4/5 this was crispy and crunchy, and did not feel greasy. But again, the filling is on the bland side. Overall, their dishes are either super salty or super bland.. and there is no other flavor besides saltiness. read more

See all

Lao Wu Authentic Shanghai Dumpling is an epitome of a hidden gem! I almost don't want to write the review because I want to selfishly keep this discovery for myself (it's THAT good!) Haha, but of course, they deserve all the recognition and more! I came here on a Monday night and reading some of the other reviews, I think I got lucky! The inside is extremely small so I had to wait only about 10 mins before I got seated. Since it's dimsum, we got a lot of small plates to share. If I must admit, we let our eyes (instead of our tummies) do the ordering but each dish was so impeccable, I don't regret it! Pork Steam Juicy Buns: 100/5, incredibly soupy and perfectly made. Don't skip on this one!! Preserved Pickles with Pork Noodle Soup: 5/5, I don't know how to describe this other than it tasted like home. It was simple and made with so much love! Also, it's a very hearty serving and this alone could have been my entire meal! Rice Cake with Spicy Minced Pork: 5/5, has the perfect kick and chew! Great amount of pork and edamame. Shangai Sticky Rice Shumai: 5/5, I don't find this on a lot of menus and it was a unique dish! Loved how the flavors came together! I was too busy eating to my heart's content to grab pictures of everything, but trust me, this will be some of the best Shanghai Chinese food you'll ever eat! I guarentee it! read more

Lao Wu Authentic Shanghai Dumpling - C1. Pork Steam Juicy Buns - Shanghainese Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

So happy my party and I came across this restaurant on Yelp when we were looking for a dinner spot in the area. It was great comfort food for a snowy/rainy day. We started off with a variety of appetizers and they were all good! The Spicy Beef Tendon was so flavorful and thinly sliced and had a great texture overall. The Crabmeat and Pork Soup Dumplings came in a batch of 6, and the soup was super light and fresh. The Pork Buns looked crispier than it seems, but the meat inside was very flavorful. And the Scallion Pancake was like a combo of a deep fried dough and scallion pancake. We would've liked it more if there was more scallion taste to it and if it wasn't as hollow and deep fried, but we enjoyed the crispiness. For the main entrees, we shared the Shanghai style Udon and pan fried noodles. We ordered the same flavor but different noodles, however the Udon dish was saltier and the noodle wasn't as chewy as we had hoped for. On the other hand, we preferred the flavor for the pan fried noodles and loved the crispy noodles. Even after eating all the other food before eating this dish, the sauce did not make the noodles overly soggy and was still tasty. The waiters and waitresses were all very kind and mannerly. They were attentive to clear our plates and refill tea/water. They can communicate in Mandarin and English. And the food came out pretty quick even when the other tables were seated too. We enjoyed our meal here and can't wait to bring our family and friends for the next visit! read more

Lao Wu Authentic Shanghai Dumpling - B8. E2. E10. C2. C1. A7. - Shanghainese Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

Small space but tasty food! We came for lunch on a rainy Sunday afternoon and it was packed. We waited for about 20 min for a table for 3. They have most of the classic Shanghai staples. We got: Pan fried pork buns (7/10): I think it could use a tad more meat and a little less bread but this was tasty and juicy! The bottom could also be a bit more crispy. Shanghai soup dumplings (9/10): great texture on the skin and the filling was just right. Shanghai stir fried udon (10/10): this is the best Shanghai udon I've had. Good flavor without being salty, pork is tender, noodles are chewy and they didn't skimp on veggies Fish noodle soup (9/10): tender pieces of fish, good soup base without the msg taste and generous portion of noodles. We live pretty far from Edison NJ but would definitely come back if we are in the neighborhood! read more

See all

My husband lived in China and is always looking for authentic dumplings like those he loved while there, and he thought this place was great. Very friendly staff, and -- as evidenced by the line out the door at dinner time -- very popular! read more

This spot is a tiny hole in the wall with 10 tables at most. With that in mind there was a decent wait. For a table for 2 at off peak midday I waited 15 minutes. I understand why after trying the food. Every dish was so flavourful and very authentic. Spicy peanut dumplings were a highlight along with the noodles. Everything else I got was so good. Highly recommended if you are ever in the area. read more

See all

Of all the dumpling restaurants in the area, this one is my favorite. Not only is the food delicious, but the prices are low. For about $26 I can get enough food for 2 people and have a little left over. Apparently lots of people agree with me about how fantastic this restaurant is because this place is usually packed, sometimes with a line out the door. It's small inside and the tables are close together. Staff is friendly and hardworking, hustling to get the food out quickly. Everyone working here speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, and English. So far we have tried the Golden Lava Dumplings (sweet and delicious), the Crabmeat Dumplings (so good that we get it every time), the Jellyfish and Turnip (nice garlic flavor), scallion pancakes, Shrimp dumplings, and cucumbers (that was addictive!) The restaurant is at the end of a small strip mall with plenty of free parking. It's right on a main road and easy to find and access. I am positive that anyone who likes dumplings will enjoy their meal here. Five stars all the way. read more

See all

My one word of advice is to come here at least 15 minutes before they open to secure a table. There are only about 10 tables in this very small restaurant. We arrived 5 minutes before opening and the line was already wrapping around the building! Crab meat and pork soup dumplings had so much soup. The skin was the right thickness and they were a good size. Scallion pancakes came out hot and crispy. I loved the sauce as it was sweet and spicy, the scallion pancakes were the perfect amount of flakiness. Pork pan fried dumplings were a surprise! They were such a good size and even though they were crispy on the outside, they were super juicy on the inside. Panfried udon noodles with mixed vegetables was tasty and chewy. The noodles were very long and had the perfect amount of sauce and seasoning. I am definitely coming back! Portion sizes are big for the price. All of this with tax and tip was $45 for 3 people. All of us were stuffed at the end. read more

Lao Wu Authentic Shanghai Dumpling - Shanghainese Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

See all

Lao Wu lives up to its name and is a solid choice for some authentic Shanghainese dishes. *AMBIANCE* The restaurant is located in the same shopping complex as the Kam Man supermarket. The restaurant is super small (probably doesn't seat more than 20 people) and mostly seats groups of 2-4. They also don't have a reservation system where they take your name down... it seemed like it was first come, first serve, single file line and we had to wait around 45 min on a Friday for lunch. So come early! *FOOD* Everything here is tasty and reasonably priced. We ended up ordering the following: -Pork Steam Juicy Buns ($8.5) - Highly recommend this! Comes with 6 pcs. -Crab Meat & Pork Steam Juicy Buns ($8.5) - Really delicious. Comes with 6 pcs. -Pan Fried Udon with Spicy Minced Pork ($13.50) - Good but this was SUPER spicy so not recommended if you are spice sensitive -Pan Fried Pork Buns ($7.95) - These were fantastic! I loved how flavorful the pork filling was. - Shanghai Pan Fried Noodles ($12.95) - Delicious and flavorful, though the sauce can get a bit salty. *SERVICE* Service was ok. It didn't seem like they had enough staff...there were only 2 people handling both take out orders and restaurant diners. Overall, I recommend trying out the food here! read more

See all

Xiao long bao were probably the best I've had in NJ. Very soupy and very good taste. They had the ginger in the soy sauce/vinegar mixture which was also perfect. Had the pan fried dumplings which were also very good. Juicy and the sauce really made it. The rice cake shanghai style was ok. A little on the salty side. The place is a little on the small side but if you come at the right time, then all good. Service was quick as with the small size, they want you in and out. They didn't at all rush us although there was a line that was behind us that had a good wait. read more

One of our favorite place to go at Edison! Yummy authentic Shang hai spicy noodles soup. Staffs and owner are very friendly. Pricing is very affordable! Little gem family-owned restaurant at Edison! Owner always makes sure the quality is on point. Homemade is the key to maintain his successful business! I've been eating his food since 8 years ago at his previous location! It's hard to find a good restaurant in this area. Lao Wu is one of them. read more

Lao Wu Authentic Shanghai Dumpling - 上海粗炒面 （毛豆） - Shanghainese Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

See all

Very small but very fast restaurant located next to Kam Man Asian Market right in Edison, NJ. We came here on a Friday night and there was about a 20 minute wait. We heard the food here was some of the best Shanghai cuisine in the area and Lao Wu did not dissapoint! We ordered a variety of things to try and everything was delicious and fast. Food probably came within 10 minutes of being ordered! The beef scallion pancake wrap was amazing but pretty heavy. Its definitely big enough for 3-4 people to share. The cold sesame noodles were my personal favorite as it was very light. The crab/pork soup dumplings were honestly the best I've had in a while. Every dumpling had an abundant amount of soup in it and you really taste the crab flavor! I'm even craving this as we speak! The great part about this location is its away from the H-Mart area meaning you don't have to struggle for parking and crazy crowds. Theres also a Gong Cha and Ice Cream spot in the same mall for dessert afterwards! read more

See all

Loved it and really looking forward to going back but it certainly helps to go with someone who speaks their language as did my friends just in case you have any questions or special requests. The menu provides good descriptions and contains a lot of photos. The food was delicious. The dumplings in the spicy sauce were outstanding. The soupy dumplings may have been the best I have had in NJ. The meat ball itself for about $5 could easily feed 2 people eating nothing else. We also had an interesting dish, I guess some kind of bun fried outside with meat inside. Just be careful because the meat is super hot. read more

Lao Wu Authentic Shanghai Dumpling - C3. Shanghai Pan Fried Pork Buns - Shanghainese Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

See all

Authentic 5 stars. Service 5 stars. Price 5 stars. This place is becoming something symbolic of Chinese food. read more

Favorite chinese spot in town. The pork soup dumplings is the best in the states, and pan fried dumplings are amazing as well. Small restaurant but always a place to revisit for great pork soup dumplings. Prices are incredibly fair as well. read more

This meal was SO SATISFYING. Everything we ordered was delicious. I have no critiques for the food. Here are some general thoughts agreed upon by the group I are with: - Soup dumplings were steamy hot with a chewy dough and flavorful filling. Though the dough was on the thicker side, we still found ratio to be perfect. - Lion's head was HUGE and super tender - Pan fried buns were doughy, crispy, and full of umami flavor - Shanghai chicken with wine sauce is so tender and flavorful. Super authentic. - Seaweed was refreshing and cut through all of the meat we were eating. - Beef wrapped scallion pancakes were so crispy and filled with a good ratio of beef and hoisin. The only thing important to note when you're planning to dine here is that the restaurant itself is small so there is usually a wait, especially for larger parties. However, I'd say the wait is worth it! The value is unmatched. read more

See all

Very tasty, very fast. Has a very nice "hole in the wall" ambiance. Egg yolk shumai is a must have. The pork scallion cake is very good too

I was debating between 3 and 4 stars for this review. Two out of the six dishes we ordered were just not good, three were average and only one was good. Felt that three stars was the fair rating. I really like the spicy tendon, it was chewy and just the right amount of spice. The pickled pork noodle soup, cucumber salads and pork buns were average. Not bad, but nothing to write home about. The stir fry udon noodles were so oily and had no flavor whatsoever. Meanwhile the deep fried chive boxes were just not good with really thick skin. Service was fast but the space was extremely stuffy and hot on a summer day. Disappointed but there are plenty of Shanghainese places in Edison now, on to the next one I guess... read more

See all

Most things about Lao Wu was delicious. Cucumbers are a must. Soup dumplings were amazing. Scallion pancakes crispy but flavor was lacking. Biggest complaint were the pan fried noodles. They laid on the corn starch too thick. Felt like I was eating jello. Kinda gross. read more

delicious and so affordable. just small so you may have to wait for a table. and i think the workers only speak chinese and a tiny bit of english read more

See all

I'm obsessed with this place! We order here quite frequently, especially when we don't know what to eat. Our family loves the juicy pork dumplings, cold sesame peanut noodles, fried pork buns, pumpkin pie, dumplings, beef noodle soup ...... I swear I am drooling just thinking about it haha. I always take it to go but the spot has a fair amount of seating and is conveniently located on route 1 and next to boba and ice cream if you want dessert after! read more

Excellent food. Fast. Tasty. Small place so expect a 20min+ wait. Wish they would fix their air conditioning. Can get hot as B*llz in there. read more

Lao Wu Authentic Shanghai Dumpling - Tried the Shanghai turnip. Turns out it's shredded turnip wrapped in a type of croissant. - Shanghainese Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

This is one of my favorite place to dine at in Edison, NJ. It's a small shop with 7 tables and the line does get long on the weekend. Hidden in a shopping center with plenty of parking. The soup dumplings are made to order and delicious and juicy. The beef scallion pancake rolls are my favorite. I would skip the wonton in spicy sauce. Overall, would come back again and again. read more

Lao Wu Authentic Shanghai Dumpling - Shanghai buns and preserved vegetable and pork noodle soup - Shanghainese Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

Absolutely LOVE this soup dumpling place! With taiwanese parents, having a restaurant they actively suggets going to speaks volumes as to the authenticity, flavor, and price point of this restaurant. As I am sure you are all aware, the MUST-HAVE is the soup dumpling. This place has the best ratio of flavorful broth, tender meat, and chewy yet thin dumpling skin. You cannot get a better price for this high quality soup dumpling! However, don't neglect their other dishes as well. Their glass noodle soup with fried tofu is my personal favorite, as it is a single serving of a clean fresh taste, most likely a meat broth of some sort. With some fresh cilantro on top, it truly is a chef's kiss. If you are not adverse ro meat with bone in, the drunken chicken is also delicious. It is a cold dish with a rice wine marinade that is a great pair along with some rice. Other must haves also include the flaky beef scallion pancake roll and pan-fried dumpling! Never had I had a cartoon-like juicy bun like these delicious pan fried buns. The star deduction is purely because of the new found insta-fame of this wonderful hole in the wall! Wait times seem to be half an hour to an hour, no matter when you come to eat, and if you try to get there early, there is bound to be a few people in line before the doors open. Inside they can only accommodate small groups of 2-4, so it looks like they are quickly outgrowing their place. read more

Hands down OG authentic Shanghai eats. Cold appetizers were flavorful, fresh and bright, perfectly seasoned and salted. We ordered jellyfish and daikon, seaweed, garlic cucumbers, and spicy beef tendon. Shanghai Soup Dumplings - right ratio of dough shell, pork filling and a very generous servin of juicy broth. OG / Shen Zhien Bao and Lion's Head Meatball. Pan fried read more

See all

My friends and I tried this restaurant and were happy we did! We did family style and got Shanghai Spicy Minced Pork Noodle Soup, Beef Scallion Pancake Wrap, Pan Fried Udon w/ Spicy Minced Pork, Pork and Crab Soup Dumplings and Cucumbers. Overall, we enjoyed all of the dishes but my favorites were actually the pan fried noodles and crab soup dumplings. I personally didn't love the beef scallion pancake wrap which I usually do. I didn't like how the scallion pancake was so thick and fried. I prefer a thinner scallion pancake. Overall, great place still! read more

See all

Lao Wu's really hits the spot if you're craving soup dumplings. I tried Lao Wu's for the first time today and was very satisfied with all of the food. Their pork steam juicy buns are packed with soup and flavor. The scallion pancakes are crispy on the outside, but soft on the inside. Additionally, the pan fried pork buns are soft, crispy, and overall flavorful. I appreciate how everything came out steaming and the portion sizes were actually very good. Everything was much bigger than I expected, making this a very filling meal for 2 with leftovers. I won't lie, the atmosphere here isn't that great. It's a small place where you're not far from the server area. The dining area is nice, though some areas in the restaurant look worn. But the atmosphere can very easily be overlooked by their great food and service. The employees brought out the food quickly and were very nice. I thoroughly enjoyed eating here and I can't wait to come back! read more

See all

One of my friends said she never had a proper soup dumpling so my other friend and I made sure we took care of this. I had the spot marked off to try and given the reviews I knew we were good. We arrived around noon on a Sunday and the line was already out the door because this place is tiny, only about 6 to 8 tables. The service was very kind and attentive and walk this through some items. We ordered a bunch of stuff and were pleased with everything although the star, soup dumplings, were magnificent! The pan fried Singapore noodles and scallion roll were a huge hit and the pan fried buns were also good but not as great as I had hoped we were all disappointed with the sticky rice shoe mine although with some vinegar and chili oil they were better. There was some miscommunication as a couple of us asked for wonton noodle soup to take home but when we got it it was only wontons and they said they don't have that type of soup. I had it the next day for lunch and it was very good and there are about 10 wontons in the order. Definitely will be returning. read more

See all

It's just meh. Crab & pork soup dumplings didn't have enough crab flavor but still ok.

Came here on a Thursday Night with a friend for dinner! We got here around 6:15 pm and there were plenty of empty tables to sit at but then around 7 pm the place started to fill up Ambiance -cozy space - traditional Chinese decorations - ample natural light Service - fast service! - waiters could improve on refilling hot teas periodically throughout the meal, but when I asked for more hot tea they came by quickly Food - Pork Wontons in Spicy Sauce- my favorite dish! The sauce has so much peanut butter and mild chilli oil! Wontons we're filled with meat and paired so well with the sauce - Shanghai Pan Fried Pork Buns- a must have! The buns were pretty large and pan fried to crispy perfection. The Bun was chewy and not too thick, meat filling was very flavorful - Pork Steam Juicy Buns- thin bun skin, packed with meat filling! The soup part was also very flavorful and hearty - Pickled Cabbage with Fish Filet Noodle Soup- such a classic flavor combo and I typically order this type of soup whenever I see it on the menu! Medium thick chewy noodles, soft fish, just enough pickled cabbage in a hearty broth! I'm glad that I live so close to this place because I will definitely be coming back! read more

See all

LaoWu has great food! We tried LaoWu after seeing Google Reviews. We had an assortment of dumplings, noodles, and dishes and enjoyed everything. We ate on a super cold day so there was quite a strong draft from the wind. There aren't too many tables but we didn't need to wait long for a part of five. The dishes are reasonably priced too. Overall, solid spot, would recommend! read more

See all

We bought some dumplings and noodles here while traveling to New York City from Virginia. Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of what I found in the food but we did find a small bug in our pan fried noodles. It looked like a small roach and was close to the size of a sesame seed. I couldn't believe it so I put it on a napkin and squished it...it had wings and legs. It was most definitely a bug! I lost my appetite after seeing it so I can't give an honest review of the taste of the dumplings but they looked really good. I think it would have been a 4-5 star review if we didn't find the bug. That's why I'm leaving a 2 star. Just a heads up, make sure you thoroughly check your food when dining out. Anyway, parking was fine and the place is small for dine-in customers. It was packed in there. read more

Lao Wu Authentic Shanghai Dumpling - Pan fried pork buns (Top) Soup dumplings (Bottom Left) House Special Pan Fried Noodle (Bottom Right) - Shanghainese Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

I arrived on a Saturday afternoon and this spot was already fairly packed. Luckily my friend and I managed to get seated right away. We ordered an order of the crab and pork soup dumplings, pork soup dumplings, and a pickled cabbage and pork noodle soup. My golly, I've never had soup dumplings filled with so much soup before! My spoon was overflowing with broth, and that alone was enough for me to want to come back. It was flavorful, filling, and affordable. As for the pickled cabbage and pork soup, it was a bit on the blander side, and the noodles weren't great. I'd love to come back just for the soup dumplings if I'm ever in the area again! read more

Lao Wu Authentic Shanghai Dumpling - C2. Crab Meat and Pork Steam Juicy Buns - Shanghainese Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

TLDR: Great Shanghainese food in a little nook. There can be a wait but staff get people in and out quickly. The soup dumplings are great - perfectly suple and thin skins. Be careful when picking them up! The minced pork noodle soup and pickled cabbage with fish noodle soup were filling and satisfying. Our favorite was the pan fried pork buns. They were fluffy, crisp, and had a great filling to bun ratio. This is one of my favorite Shanghainese spots in the area. There's almost always a line, but the staff bring out food quick and clean up quick. I haven't waited for more than 10-15 mins read more

Lao Wu Authentic Shanghai Dumpling - C3. Shanghai Pan Fried Pork Buns D1. Shanghai Spicy Minced Pork Noodle Soup D7. Pickled Cabbage with Fish Filet Noodle Soup - Shanghainese Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

This is a small local spot with really good affordable food. They dont take reservations, its first come first serve but the food is definitely worth the wait. I LOVED the beef scallion pancake. Its super tasty but i'd recommend sharing it with others since it is pretty heavy. The soup dumplings are juicy and you can actually taste the crab in them. The noodle dishes we had were also super tasty. This is probably my favorite spot to grab soup dumplings. Parking is also easier than the Hmart lot. read more

See all

How have I driven past this place and missed it? This has got to be one of the more affordable and best dumplings, bao, and rice cake. Their service was quick and attentive. The constant turn around on tables made this place worth the short 10min wait. The ambiance was slightly lacking, but for a hole in the wall place this was perfect. Majority of their orders seem to be To-Go, but for the 7 to 10 tables inside patrons get in order and eat all quite quickly. The wait on the food seems to be faster then McDonald's on a really busy day. However, all is cooked to order, fresh, and hot. This place can give Nan Xiang a run for its money. Vegetarians and Vegans...they have plenty you can choose from ans the Baos and dumplings all have different fillings. This is a blessing because food will not all taste the same which is a cop out for restaurants. These guys do it really well!!! I am definitely coming back...only criticism which is something they can not fix. Only 1 restroom, so that can be challenging. read more

My favorite dumpling place ever! Get takeout and save time and they would never disappoint! I love the meat dumplings, dim sum with shrimp, the house specialty soup with crunchy noodles and the soup dumplings. If you want to eat there please make reservation since it's always packed with Asians enjoying a scrumptious meal! They are all so very nice and hustle with their service! read more

This is a hole in the wall restaurant that is packed on the weekends! We went in thinking we were going to get a seat however there were multiple different families sitting and eating. It's a small room that's definitely smaller than the dining room in your house but they were moving quickly. We ended up placing a take away order we ordered about three of their different dumplings with the pan fried as the dumpling, we like the most out of all. They didn't put any soy sauce in the bag so I can't give them a five out of five rating. But I definitely understand the hype !! read more

This was hands down the best Chinese food I've had in a WHILE. It really doesn't get any more authentic than this. Highly highly recommend any of their Xiao Long Bao, although they are known for the classic Pork and Pork + Crab. The portions are super generous and every single dish is so delicious. If I'm not mistaken, this place used to be located somewhere else and was PACKED with hour+ lines all the time. Ever since COVID, they moved to this location and it seems to be less crowded. Definitely not complaining -- that just means faster and more delicious Chinese eats for me (and the other people who have discovered the relocation :)) read more

See all

With plenty of parking, you won't have trouble finding a spot. But you may have trouble finding a table. There are only about ten in the restaurant, and with food this good those seats fill up fast! Besides being on the smaller side, the restaurant is plainly decorated. Nothing stood out in the ambiance department, but it was clean and the servers were welcoming. Here was our order: - The cucumber with scallion. It's a cold refreshing dish with lots of flavor and a good crunch. It's served as a good appetizer and nice palate cleanser in between. - The cold noodles with sesame sauce were beautifully plated. The noodles were cooked to perfection. I think they slightly overdid it with the sauce, however. The peanut was a bit overpowering. - The pan fried pork buns were outstanding! They were packed with pork and the buns boasted good texture. - The pork soup dumplings were delicious. They were filled to the brim with soup and the dumplings were sturdy. There is lots more to explore on the menu, but these headliner dishes hit the spot. Stop in! read more

See all