I'm so surprised, given the 4+ star rating, how bad this food was. The hot and sour soup just tasted like black pepper - which is nothing like what hot and sour soup is supposed to taste like. Also, it didn't come with any soup noodles. The scallion pancakes were very thick, and also tasted off. The 1 inch sauce container was only 1/4 filled and the sauce was extremely saucy. The general tso sauce was super thick, gooey and gelatinous, and the fried rice that came with it tasted more like steamed white rice with soy sauce than anything fried. I try Chinese take-out from various spots throughout southern Brooklyn at least 2-3 times a month, and this was really disappointing. read more

Coming from Queens, where there's a plethora of popular Shanghainese places, I had lower expectation for Liu's Shanghai especially for their soup dumplings. We arrived on a Saturday night around 6pm and it was packed; there were two parties ahead of us so we opted to put our name down and wait approximately 15-20, which I thought was pretty reasonable. They arrange the tables to optimize space for the following parties, so you might just get lucky with the seating arrangements. As most Chinese establishments, service was fast-paced, but we never felt rushed at any point of the meal despite the hustle and bustle. We ordered a few items for our party of 4 to share: 1. SCALLOP AND PORK SOUP DUMPLINGS: Surprisingly was a fan of this. There were big chunks of scallops in the meat. Gave the meat a bit of a bounce, but wasn't tough or chewy either. Normally would order crab at most soup dumpling spots, but scallop was new to me. Would get this again. 2. PORK SOUP DUMPLINGS: I commend them for an actual juicy and soupy filling. The pork was seasoned well and we had a whole spoonful of soup from each dumpling. The skin was a little thick for my liking. My judgment of soup dumpling is usually determined by the skin and this one didn't exactly meet the criteria. 3. FRIED WONTONS IN PEANUT AND HOT SAUCE: The star of the show! This was the dish that everyone seems to rave about and what we actually came for. The wontons were fried to a perfect crisp; they were actually crunchy and maintained that despite being dredged in sauce. I felt like there was a bit of a sugary caramelization to it, which balanced out the salty component of the dish. This whole dish encompassed every category in the flavor and texture department. 4. BEEF IN BLACK PEPPER SAUCE: I could've done without this tbh. There were a lot of onions in this, which I have no complaint about, but I wasn't trying to get my money's worth of onions here LOL. Black pepper sauce wasn't anything special either. I actually forgot that it was black pepper sauce because it wasn't peppery enough. 5. SHANGHAI RICE CAKES: The rice cakes had a pleasant chew to it and the sauce coated it evenly. I wish the rice cakes had a little more char to it so it would be more fragrant. Good, but not life changing. Overall a pleasant experience and certainly met expectations. There were some dishes that I liked more than others and some that I could do without. Probs wouldn't make the trip here frequently, but the wontons are definitely worth the trip! read more

Came back recently for dinner and was suprised to have found another dish I thoroughly enjoyed here. My friend introduced me to the tomato and beef with egg and it was so good. We also got my go to favorite dish which was the crab tofu. My friends ordered a pork dish which I didn't try but I am excited to come back and try their soup dumplings after recent reviews mentioned that their dough is thinner now. read more

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RATING - 3.5/5 - Cozy spot that can get busy with neighborhood folks. They're mainly walk in, unless you have a party of 7+, then you get their bigger round table in the back. We were a party of 6 on Father's Day weekend and waited ~10 min for a table. What we got: - Pork Soup Dumplings: 7/10 - the skin was a bit thicker than I'd like, but the taste was there. I loved that we all got individual vinegar ginger dips - Crab + Pork Soup Dumplings: 9/10 - better than the Pork! The skin wasn't as thick for our batch - Scallop Soup Dumplings: 7/10 - not a huge fan of the flavor, but I like that they don't skimp on the scallop! - Shanghai Lo Mein & Shanghai Style Rice Cake: 7/10 - they could've had more wok fry, but good flavor - Fried Wonton in Peanut + Hot Sauce: 8/10 - I really enjoyed this dish! It's not very spicy + topped with a crushed peanut/sugar flavor - so good! - Braised Pork Belly: 8/10 - pretty heavy, unless you eat it with the bao buns. Very flavorful, and may go good with a bowl of rice as well! - Scallion Pancake & String Beans: 9/10 - standard + yummy! Overall, it was a good place for a meal, but I personally had better soup dumplings elsewhere. Otherwise, everything else is alright! read more

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The vibe here is home, and i love the steam cabbage with the soup dumplings. We tried the scallop and pork, flavorful and hot. The jellyfish salad is yummy as well. Staffs are kind and efficient. Doing a lot and works hard. read more

Liu's Shanghai - scallop and pork - Shanghainese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

We took our dad here for a Father's Day lunch and it was a yummy meal! It's small inside but it was quite packed with small and large parties. The service was good and the food came out really quickly! The Scallion Pancake comes with 6 pieces and was perfectly fried and airy. The green beans were my favorite dish because of how addicting and tasty it was. The soup dumplings were good too! My only feedback is that the skin was thick for some and thin for some. I unfortunately had two of them break easily when I picked it up. However, they put a lot of filling in each one which I loved. The noodle dish was good too, but a bit too saucy for my liking and the noodles were quite delicate. Overall, the food was good but not outstanding. I would still come back again though and try other things! They take both cash and card. read more

Liu's Shanghai - Sauteed Dry String Beans (contains minced pork) Scallion Pancake - Shanghainese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I've had many hot and soups and I'm always on the hunt for a good one. This soup measured up and more! Spicy, vinegary and chock full of veggies. Loved the bamboo shoots and the pork was super tender. So good I ate it in the car hehe. Update: ordered the baby shrimp in spicy sauce lunch special with fried rice. Amazing! My new favorite Chinese takeout spot. read more

Liu's Shanghai - Shanghainese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Came on the weekend with family around noon and didn't have to wait. However, there aren't too many tables and they are pretty close to one another. Food came so quick! The flavoring for the dishes we ordered were not extremely strong and was just right. Pricing is pretty reasonably. Was easy to get the staff's attention if we needed anything since they are right there lol Overall, good food and would come back again. They also sell frozen soup dumplings which is nice. Ordered the following: - Scallop and pork soup dumpling $11.95 - Crab and pork soup dumpling $10.95 - Scallion pancake $4.50 - Braised spare ribs with mushroom and vegetable (bok choy) $18.95 - Xia men/Singapore chow mei fun $13.95 - Beef chow fun $12.95 read more

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My go-to Shanghainese spot in the neighborhood. I always leave so full and satisfied. I've never gotten anything disappointing here! I love their fried wontons in peanut sauce. The menu says it's also in hot sauce, but you can barely taste it. As someone who doesn't eat spicy, TRUST ME. The savory and sweetness overpowers the spice. Other mouthwatering dishes: beef with tomato and egg. They make this dish so PERFECTLY, the egg is silky smooth and everything just goes well with rice. Also the chef specialty: crab meat with tofu. DELICIOUS. I've had their soup dumplings before too and they are also amazing. The skin is thin, there's enough soup and the meat is flavorful. There are plenty of tables. Whenever I go, I've never really had to wait, and there's always people eating inside. Even if I had to wait, it would prob be less than 15min. Staff is friendly and attentive. read more

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Delicious soup dumplings -- hot, juicy, and bursting with flavor! The wrappers were delicate yet held the perfect bite of savory broth inside. Fresh, tasty, and super satisfying. Couldn't resist ordering a second round! The rice cakes were also delicious! read more

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This is my favorite local spot to visit when i'm craving soup dumplings. I love their scallop version and when it comes out piping hot especially. I prefer a thin skin soup dumpling and this did not disappoint. Liu Shanghai is also very affordable and my wallet was happy. There's a decent amount of seats but there might be a wait when it's dinner time. The food here really warms the heart because it's a family owned business! read more

We've been going on this place for so many years. We only order certain food and they are all phenomenal. When it comes to their service, they are fast and it doesn't affect the quality of the food. It gets packed on certain days and time but the place has a decent size. It looks like you're in your own house.The ambiance is perfect. read more

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I haven't dined in person in a while but when I saw they do delivery I was so excited since this is one of my favorite Shanghainese restaurant. Unfortunately, the quality for delivery is terrible. Not sure if the quality went down in general or because it is delivery. We have ordered delivery a few times and it just wasn't as good as I remembered it. We always get the rice cake with pork and preserved vegetables and the rice cake wasn't good. The texture was off and there was so much liquid at the bottom of the dish from the condensation. The portion is also very small. The chicken and salted fish fried rice was good and always a favorite of ours. The XLB barely had any soup inside but the flavor was still very good. I'm hoping the next time I dine in person it is a better experience. read more

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Love Shanghainese food? Staff speak English when compare the old time. Quick serving after order. I am sure they renovated with nice seating available. Price is cheaper than any other chain Shanghainese restaurant. read more

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My go to for soup dumplings and Shanghainese food in Brooklyn. Taste is on point and service is good. Ambiance is cozy as well. Great local spot. Would recommend. read more

Liu's Shanghai - Shanghainese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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They have a great selection of food here with the soup dumplings being a must get item. However, it's not my favorite soup dumpling since the skin is a bit too soft and not chewy enough for my taste. I think shrimp and pork is still my favorite soup dumpling filling. The menu is nicely organized with photos and many options to pick from. The food is pretty simple and tasty but nothing to be blown away by. If you're looking for a good authentic Chinese meal with many option this is the place to go! I was not a fan of the salt and pepper squid - the batter was not crispy at all and tasted more like a spongy batter. (Like what you'd expect for a nian gao batter). This parking situation around the area is a bit difficult - we had to circle around the neighborhood for 10 minutes to finally find a spot on a weekend. read more

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I love the dumplings here. The service is good. The place is small, so it's best for smaller groups.

I ordered online and the food was delivered quickly. The name doesn't seem to match with the food. I ordered spicy meat sauce noodle, it has no meat in the sauce and it looks like hot and sour soup. The jumbo prawns is not jumbo at all. These prawns are the smallest size in supermarket. The head is the same size as the body. All the food has the same taste. They use the same sauce for meat sauce and Kung pao chicken and it's bland. To be honest the food looks like it's from an American Chinese restaurant. read more

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Not much to look at from the outside. The inside is a bit better but with still a-hole-in-the- wall, type of appeal. Not much else interesting in this area. It's quite a walk from the main restaurant drag of 86th st. Of course you come here to try out their soup dumplings! Tried the crab and pork version. A tasty and good amount of soup fill these pockets of deliciousness. They are a nice size. Skin is thin with the right amount of firmness. These are pretty good. Also tried one of their casserole dishes which are huge! It's served in a giant round ceramic casserole pot. Comes to the table piping hot. It's big enough to feed several people. It's very healthy and light, since all the ingredients are cooked in a plain light broth. We got a bit of everything version which a lot of different ingredients, vermicelli, cabbage, mushroom, chicken, pork, crab stick, baby shrimps, and bamboo shoots. Service is friendly, quick, and efficient. Upon arrival, you get a ceramic pot of tea to share amongst you and your companions. Lots of customers in here. Restaurant was filled. read more

Once I heard that Liu's Shanghai is almost a Brooklyn institution, I had to check it out for all of its worth. The restaurant inside is very nondescript. Roughly a 10 minute walk from the D train on 20th Avenue, it only has about 20 tables but certainly feels smaller as large parties come here to partake in lunch. Thankfully, this is where I save this review from falling into the pratfalls other Chinese restaurants I have been to here in the city fall into. I was immediately greeted by the owner who was a really great guy, dad body and all. He immediately gave me a table, tea, and menu, offering his genuine suggestions of what to order. Pork soup dumplings and a stir fried noodle dish with a little bit of everything is what I got. The food came out in I kid you not, three minutes. All of it was hot, fresh, delicious, and generous. I honestly could not finish all the soup dumplings as they came in eight and are of nice size! When I asked his staff for a fork to help finish the rest of my meal, this is where I felt the good vibe would end. Instead, I got one with no judgement and rather a compliment that I was able to finish my dish with not one morsel of meat or scrape of noodle on my plate. My leftover soup dumplings were packaged up nearly so I can have them for later. They also take credit cards which I really appreciate. As this is more than likely my last review for 2023, I can say that at least it ended on a positive note here at Liu's. read more

Liu's Shanghai - Shanghainese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

We were in the area, so decided to try Lius Shanghai for lunch. Every time I go to a Shanghainese restaurant, I order my go-to items to determine whether I like the restaurant: Pork Soup Dumplings ($8.95) - You get 8 dumplings, however skin was too thick and dry, and the broth was oddly sweet. Scallion Pancake ($4.50) - Too thick and doughy, but the dipping sauce saved the dish. Sauteed Dry String Bean ($12.95) - Stir fried well with the wok, but did not have any minced pork flavor, and I'm not a fan of the pickled veggie. Yang Zhou Friend Rice ($12.95) - Just okay Shanghai Style (Pork and Veggie) with thick noodles ($11.95) - The assortment of vegetables would normally be a good thing in my book, but it just did not work for this dish. And the sauce tasted very mediocre. I was not a fan. Unfortunately, I have to agree with another review that states the food ranges from mediocre to not very good. The staff was not very attentive, but was nice when we finally called them over. I did see a roach in the bathroom, which was gross. Fortunately, they accept credit card without additional charge, and prices were very affordable. read more

Delicious food as always. My family and I love coming to this family run business. It is small inside but everyone is so nice. We loveeeee the soup dumplings - they are the best we have ever had. don't skip on the hot and sour soup. The braised ribs with bak choy dish is delicious. Honestly you can't go wrong with any of the food here and by now we have tried so many dishes. read more

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The soup dumplings at Liu's Shanghai are excellent. Hands down the best I've had in Brooklyn, and probably even in NYC, especially now that my other fave (Shanghai Asian Cuisine in Chinatown) is closed. We always get the crab meat and pork soup dumplings--the broth is really concentrated and delicious. On my most recent visit, I also tried the scallop and pork soup dumplings, which were also really tasty, with the added bonus of having whole pieces of scallop in each dumpling! If you want other dishes to supplement your soup dumplings with (not totally sure that's necessary but you do you), you can't go wrong with the chicken or Shanghai-style (pork) rice cakes or crispy chow mein. The jellyfish and the hot and sour soup (I'd stick with the original, you can barely taste the crab in the crab meat option) are solid choices. The fried wontons in peanut and hot sauce were an interesting item I hadn't seen on Chinese menus before, but they were surprisingly quite tasty, though I could've done without the sugar on top. It's a casual spot, and the service is also very friendly. One note: it's a pretty small restaurant and can get packed. There's only one big table, so if you have a party size larger than four people, I'd recommend calling ahead and making a reservation. read more

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I think this is one of the best Shanghai places I've been to in NYC. I have to admit the service was exceptional. We came on a cold Saturday afternoon for lunch and our friends were running late so we didn't want to take up a table so we sat outside on some stools. The owner came out and insisted that we sit inside at a table and wait which was nice of him! Friends ended up taking additional 15-20 minutes so we felt bad and ordered some appetizers, but the owner said we didn't have to. Everything we ordered was very good! For the four of us we got: - hot and sour soup - spring rolls - pork soup dumplings - pork and scallop soup dumplings - Shanghai fried rice - Peking style pork chops The soup dumplings were well filled and the pork and scallop had a full piece of scallop which was great. They definitely didn't skimp on the filling. The fried rice was perfectly seasoned and the Peking style pork chops were delicious with a good amount of veggies and a sauce that wasn't super sweet. I would 100% come back here again based on the service alone. Street parking is also relatively easy in the area. They started getting busy towards the middle/end of our meal around 1:30-2 but the wait wasn't terrible (people were quoted about 5-10 minutes). read more

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Tried this place for the first time and was impressed by the soup dumplings. Service was quick and efficient. The place wasn't too big with about 10 tables, but full of customers. Ordered the crab meat and pork soup dumplings + pork soup dumplings. The skin was made well where it didn't break and it was full of soup. The broth had a lot of flavor too and they didn't skip out on meat. Really hit the spot when I wasn't feeling well. The little bit of everything lai fun was pretty solid, too. Also my first time trying their fried wontons in peanut & hot sauce and I love it!! I haven't seen this anywhere else before. The wontons were so crispy and had a bit of peanut, chili, and soy sauce flavor. Not spicy and really tasty Overall the good food and portions with decent pricing. Would come back again read more

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Great local spot for Shanghai food with fast service and attentive staff. The noodle soups were good and had a decent selection to choose from. The soup dumplings could have been better but it definitely satisfied the craving. The crabmeat and tofu was nice and hearty and paired well with the fried rice. The place is a little smaller than other spots but it's still a good casual spot to go for a decent and quick meal. read more

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Super nice respectful staff and great food. You're always made to feel welcomed . Family vibe, parents should be proud! read more

Andddddd they're finally on Uber Eats! So happy to see one of my favorite spots is now delivering to those of us that are just a little too far away. I honestly don't mind paying a little extra for the convenience, and the food is always spot on. One of my all time favorites. It doesn't get better than Liu's. read more

First time back since the pandemic! And Liu's great service and food are exactly how I remember they were a few years back. This little spot is still as busy as always. Soup dumplings and stir fried rice cakes are a must. read more

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Super homey spot serving up authentic Shanghainese eats! Liu's Shanghai has been around for years, and it's easy to see why. There's only about 7 tables inside, so expect a bit of a wait for a table especially during lunch rushes. Service is super fast & friendly though, and food arrives quickly. Takeout seems to be a popular option as well. Between my parents & I, we split 2 orders of the pork soup dumplings, the shanghai pan fried udon/noodles, rice cakes, wine chicken, and a hot & sour soup. It's really quite rare to find a spot that has more than 6 dumplings to a steamer anymore, but Liu's has a generous 8! Dumplings were tasty and had a decent amount of soup. The pan fried udon was yum - flavors were well balanced and not too salty. Hot & sour soup here is also pretty tasty. Wine chicken was not our favorite though. Highly recommend asking for a side of their hot sauce - it's super fragrant and delicious. Cash & card are both accepted. Will most definitely be back! read more

Liu's Shanghai - Hot & sour soup - Shanghainese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I've been here a few times and there's a good variety on the menu. I generally like to get their wine chicken, some kind of noodle soup with preserved vegetables, and the soup dumplings. Their wine chicken is possibly the best wine chicken ever. It's always meaty and flavorful. I've never consistently had both when getting wine chicken elsewhere. The food is good and service is also good. The bathroom is tiny and the place itself is small but it fits a lot of people and is somewhat cozy. They do have a questionable rating outside but maybe that's why this place is so good ‍ read more

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My cousins and I stopped by for dinner around 7:30pm. We were told there would be about a 15 minute wait for a table of 3. Inside the restaurant, there were only 7 tables, 6 of them were for groups of 4 and one was a large round table in the back. There were some seats to wait outside, or you can stand in the street to wait. Due to the size of the restaurant, they only allow reservations for 7 people and up. As you wait for you food, they bring out hot tea for the table. You can order other drinks like boxed tea/juices, soy milk, or soda for an additional charge if you desire. We ordered for our group of 3: - 1 pint size (small bowl) of hot and sour soup ($2.95) - jellyfish ($9.95) - fried wontons in peanut & hot sauce ($10.95) - eggplant with garlic sauce ($12.95) - crab and pork soup dumplings ($10.95) - 1 bowl of rice ($2) The hot and sour soup was very flavorful. It was definitely sour and boiling hot, but not spicy as you would think. It was very on par with what you would think as hot and sour soup. The jellyfish was interesting. I was used to seeing jellyfish that was more yellow and a bit softer. This jellyfish as best as I can describe it, was a bit, crunchy. Not in a bad way, but just different than what I am used to and lacked flavor. My cousins seemed to enjoy it though so it is definitely due to taste preference. The fried wontons were DELICIOUS! If anything, get this for sure! It was so yummy, the wontons had pork in it and it was juice on the inside, but crispy on the outside. The peanut sauce had a sugar coating on it that made it very unique. The hot sauce wasn't very hot, it was more so like a chili sweet sauce. The plate consisted about 8 wontons approximately. The eggplant with garlic sauce reminded me of my childhood. The flavors were on point and the wood ear was a pleasant surprise. You definitely need a bowl of rice to eat it with because it was sauce and a little salty without it. As for the crab and pork dumplings, it was good. The xiao long bao order had 8 large soup dumplings. They give you a pair of tongs to grab them. You can taste the pork and the crab meat and it was very juicy. The skin of the dumpling was thin, but not so much that it broke apart when picking it up. FYI, the bowl of rice was fairly large that you can definitely share without another person. Great little hole in the wall dumpling place that accepts card without a service charge, though cash is always preferred. The service was friendly and quick. There is a good amount of street parking that didn't seem too hard to find for us, though we had a lot of parking luck that day. Overall, come check them out if you're in the neighborhood! Delicious food with very affordable prices! read more

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Ordered rice cake for take out and when my husband was eating it he bite into something hard and it was a piece of black plastic. Flavor is very bland! read more

Liu's Shanghai - Shanghainese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Finally, I have tried out Liu's. Just finished having dinner with my family. Everything was phenomenal, the soup dumplings are to die for. The peanut wontons are amazingly sweet and spicy. The crab hot and sour soup was probably the best hot and sour I've ever had. The noodles with a bit of everything were equally as good. The service was great, you can tell it's family run and they really are committed to their restaurant. Prices are great. I am not sure how anyone could possibly have anything bad to say about this place. We will be back again. Thanks!! read more

This restaurant pairs wonderful staff with a comfortable setting. The establishment maintains numerous employees who are all approachable. The kitchen provides good products and generous amounts. We found the food tasty and the atmosphere entertaining. The menu prices reflect the high-quality dishes. read more

Stopped in late night to grab a bite before closing. I was visiting boyfriend I was so hungry for some xia long bao! What a wonderful little gem in that neighborhood! This spot was fantastic, and I'm scared to even leave that it was so wonderful, because I don't want people ruining it for me! We called in advance to see if they had any space and They were really friendly. When we got there, we only made it a few minutes before getting seated. It's a corner building with a bunch of tables, and for such a small space it didn't feel overcrowded. They were even busy that late at night, and that's always a good sign in my book that the food is gonna be great. We ordered some chrysanthemum tea, Shanghai noodles, xia long bao, and sesame chicken. Everything was so good, my belly was so full, and I will most definitely be going back when I'm in the neighborhood again. It really hit the spot without having to go to Chinatown! read more

Liu's Shanghai was a regular spot that my boyfriend and I would go to (dine in and take out). I really enjoy their soup dumplings - we usually get the scallop one. It's really flavorful and delicious. We also usually get their shanghai fried noodles, again really flavorful and good. Can always count on Liu's to be a solid meal! Definitely recommend. read more

My favorite spot for Shanghai dumpling and other foods. Great foods and service. Foods come pretty fast and very tasty. The place is very spacious. read more

Liu's Shanghai - New signage - Shanghainese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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A yummy local business! The staff here are friendly and attentive. The wait on a Sunday evening wasn't that bad for my large party (~15 minutes). The scallop was so big and juicy in the soup dumpling. I'm not sure if it was me or the soup dumplings but they were really easy to break so most of the soup came out before I even got to taste it- have your spoon ready! The peanut butter fried dumplings tasted bready and refried (in a good way) plus the sauce made it special. I never saw this option at other Shanghai places. read more

Liu's Shanghai - peanut butter - Shanghainese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

My favorite Shanghainese place in Brooklyn! Amazing food and service. There is only a handful of tables so expect a bit of wait during dinner time especially for large parties. My go to orders always include pork soup dumplings (what they're known for), vegetarian mock duck and fried wontons (be aware that this contains crushed peanuts on top and sits in a peanut sauce). The soup dumplings are hand made and I really love the dumpling skin, it's a little thicker than other places, but I prefer that chewy texture. The vegetarian mock duck is a tofu skin wrapped with mushrooms and my tip is to ask for chili oil to go with it. Also tried several of their noodle dishes such as the three delight chow fun, preserved vegetable and pork rice cake and Shanghai rice cake. All good options to try if you've never had it before. My most recent visit, I tried smoked duck which tasted great but the skin was on the saltier side for my liking. It pairs perfectly if you combine it with a rice or noodle dish. read more

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