"Munchies" should be an official eatery delineation. Qualifying establishments would be 1. cheap, 2. savory 3. fried 4. spicy 5. starchy 6. open all night and 7. fully-stocked, bar-wise, should you wish to wash the earlier night's regrets away. M isn't open all night, or really all that late, a shortcoming for which I deduct One Star (what, does M stand for Middle-aged, or something?). It wants, I sense, to price itself as more than a Grand Street snack-shack, with its Asian decor dujour, and rather nicely plated nosh (for Chinese junk food, anyway). What it really ought to do is embrace its comparative advantage as an I-need-a-second-wind, let's-take-a-break-and-eat-many-dumplings-in-a-nice-environs pitstop, and admit me entrance when I desire it. read more

Hm. $2.25 Subway ride to Chinatown $6.00 entree. Let's just say we get the chicken. = $8.25 for trip and entree. Who the hell wants to pay 15 dollars for a chicken entree in Williamsburg? Get over yourself. read more

I get munchies for this place's Juicy pork buns! (please don't read anything more into that statement) But seriously, I would rather go here than any place in Chinatown for these soup dumplings. Consistently Awesome Everytime. The rest of the dim sum selection here is notable. I have no problem trekking over on the L just for this spot. As for the rest of the menu, it's hit or miss. And I suppose I've ordered more misses, so I usually stick just to the dumplings, shumai, bok choy, and beer. Picnic style seating, non greasy chinese menu, decent beer selection= nice environment to start out a bar hopping night in BK. Bathroom rating- 2/5 claustrophobic and dingy read more

My favorite Chinese place in all of New York. A hip place with great service and no attitude in Williamsburg. Imagine that. Their beer selection is superb (Tsing Tsao, Kirin, Anchor Steam, and Sam Adams to name a few) and they have the best Lychee Martinis anywhere. The Sliced Beef with Scallions and Onions is exquisite, Leo's Fabulous Mu-Shu's are delicious and the Crispy Duck Eric Parker Style may be the best duck I've ever had. If you like spicy, the Best Kung Pao Chicken in Town is what you've been waiting for all of your life but not yet realized.. The steamed juicy pork buns are God's gift to Brooklynites. Every man woman and child in the New York metropolitan area needs to try them before they die..or move...or convert to a religion where eating pork is fobidden. read more

The fact that I haven't written a review for my favorite business in the whole city is crazy. Shame on me! M Shanghai is New York at its best. The food is consistently amazing - this is not your average chinese joint! No greasy mush. Veggies are fresh. And the prices are more than reasonable. The bartenders and wait staff are smart, friendly and charming - I've never had anything other than exemplary service at M's. This is the kind of place you can go have a wonderful, affordable meal with all of your friends or by yourself and either way you'll be made to feel totally at home and taken care of. Not to get sappy, but M's is more than just a restaurant to me. It's a haven from all the a**holes in this city and one of only two places I've been in all 5 boroughs (the other is Fort Tryon Park) that I know I will seriously miss when I move away... I could eat their lo mein everyday for the rest of my life, it's so damn yummy. Other things to try: -dumplings (the steamed veggie and soup dumplings are my personal faves, but they're all superior specimens. Their skin is paper thin, giving the delicious fillings top billing... yummmm) -moo shu -spicy eggplant -showing up after 2am on Fri or Sat for drinks... b/c after the kitchen closes, the bar rages on and late nights at M's can be crazy fun, especially if May shows up... it's her place (she's the "M" in M's) and she's a big part of what makes M's so special! Also, check out May's new Mediterranean place, Malta, in the same neighborhood (Williamsburg): http://www.yelp.com/biz/malta-brooklyn read more

I found a fingernail in my food. I'm really sad as well as grossed out. But I ordered the tofu sheets/ soy beans rice dish for delivery, and brought the dish to work for lunch. As I was chewing, I bit onto something tough. Thought it was rice, no big deal. Pulled it out of my mouth and saw that it was bigger, like a piece of plastic. Unfortunately, it was legit the tip of a fingernail. It would've been vomit material. I'm incredibly disappointed. And still gag at this experience. read more

M Shanghai - Fingernail in my tofu sheets/ soy bean dish. Really gross. - Shanghainese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

M Shanghai Represent to New American Chinese!!! Gotta admit it, I was a bit skeptical before venturing out into the world of Hipster Chinese. Spent most of my life close to C-Town, so the bar was set pretty high by all my Cramhattan favs. But when I got into that meal... American Chinese took on a whole new persona, and was reinvented with a fresh, light, and flavorful outlook. M features a chillaxed atmosphere. quality service, and food that in non-comparable to most experiences with Chinese. After trying a lot of what the menu has to offer, M definitely serves up hit dish after hit dish. Lets start with the starters... Spring rolls, Scallion pancake and dumplings (steamed and fried) have some of the best consistency and flavor combos happening. Big plus is the soy dipping sauce made table side!!! UNREAL! All the ingredients are fresh and you often get that nice bite with scallions and herbs that bring the refreshness to the fried foods. The wonton soup in unbelievably tasty and one of my favorite things here. Steamed buns hit the spot, and the salads are light and flavorful as anything out there. Only bad experience I had was the hot and sour... I'm a snob as a result of WO HOP in that respect. Next there are the mains: Usually, I'm that dude who finds their dream dish in any given spot.... But mostly everything here leaves me wanting to try something new next time. Being one of those Americans who likes meat and substance to my meal I was strangely taken aback when I found myself devouring the asparagus and spinach dishes.... ODD!!! But the most clutch meals I've had here were the #37, #52, #55, #60, and #68.... ooops! though I was at one of those place with the bullet proof windows for a hot minute.... I mean the Lo mein, the pork belly, the sliced beef, the ginger chicken, and the duck respectively. Every single one of these are Money in the tummy. They hit the spot sooo hard you wont want to try other places. Serious stuff here! My only gripe with M is the tea.... you gotta pay for it, what's up with that. But I'll even give them cred on it because they brew the tea individually in a pot to order!!! Sick!!!! M never fails to hit the spot. I would devour it on a plane, I would munch it in a train. I would sip it in a car. I would consume it near and far. read more

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice and I'm going to start petitioning Yelp for negative stars. Oh, and you suck. I hadn't given this place a second thought after my last review in February 2010. I was THAT annoyed. But hey, I've changed since then. I thought that surely in the last three years, M Shanghai would have gotten it together. After an hour and fifteen minutes had passed, I called and had the lady vehemently denied ever receiving my order. Seamless said that wasn't possible because someone over there had confirmed it. The lady called me another fifteen minutes later to say that they had found it and would have Seamless refund my money. Yeah, uh thanks? 1.5 hours... again. I'd rather not eat than give these clowns my business. Get real Chinese food in Flushing, Sunset Park, and even Chinatown. Get out of here with that garbage, M Shanghai. read more

We had a great dinner here on a Saturday night about 7pm. Since we had a car available, we were able to drive to Williamsburg easily and parking on the street was a breeze. No wait to be seated; we were seated at the end of a long table near the wall. Great people watching. We ordered a lot of food, but every dish was delicious and we only had a small amount of leftovers. Really delicious. Everything. Here's what we ordered: Steamed Juicy Pork Buns (these are NOT cha siu bao; instead, I think these are called siu long bao, aka broth-filled dumplings). Shanghai Pork Wonton Soup Spicy Wontons (these are in a peanut sauce, which was unexpected but great). Sweet and Sour Soup (daily special--a little different than the typical soup because it was more sweet than sour, large chunks of tofu and chicken--this can also be ordered vegetarian) Leo's Fabulous Mu-shu with 4 pancakes (w/pork and hoisin sauce, we had some leftovers). Next time our plan is to order everything else we wanted to order on our first visit: Steamed Seafood Dumplings, Vegetable Shu-Mai, and either Crispy Duck Erik Parker Style or Slice Beef with Scallion and Onion in Brown Sauce. The food was prepared fresh, the service was friendly and attentive (but not overly) and the atmosphere was enjoyable. Even though we ordered a lot of pork, I was impressed by the varied selections for vegetarians. read more

M Shanghai has a bit of an identity crisis. They serve and specialize in Chinese dumplings, have a full bar with bar stools in the middle of the restaurant, and have waitresses wearing Knicks shirts with Lin's number on the back. The four stars are not for atmosphere, but for the inexpensive food and quick service. In contrast to the vegan menu displayed on their website, M Shanghai does not have a separate vegan menu when dining in for Sunday brunch. They also do not have vegan soup dumplings, only pork filled soup dumplings. Hence, I ordered the next closest thing: the vegetable wonton soup. This soup, ladies and gentlemen, was fantastic! My boyfriend got the pork soup dumplings which he was raving about, but the cucumber salad that we got for starters had too much garlic and was unpalatable. The vegetable shumai is also decent and the brown-colored vinegar that sits on the table was a great condiment for these. Would be back for the wonton soup but nothing else. read more

Two words - Soup Dumplings. Three words if you are ordering online - Steamed pork buns (sneaky bastards) Holy mother of everything that is holy they are awesome. A bunch of steaming hot sumptuous dumplings filled with sauce ready to go off like a grenade if you so much as stare at them wrong. Coating your mouth and anything within a 2 feet radius with sticky deliciousness, the buns will take you to heaven before you realize you just ruined your shirt and the entire room you were sitting in. Seriously though, they are awesome. The rest of their menu is pretty standard western Chinese fair. Shout out to the huge scallion pancakes that I get to round out the delivery minimum pretty often. Speaking of which the delivery is always pretty fast and the food comes hot. I have eaten in the restaurant too, which is a nice communal space. Relatively clean with a good vibe. But seriously don't steal - however lie and cheat if you have to, and get your butt some soup dumplings. And then get me some, and we can be friends forever. read more

This is one of my new favourite places to eat Chinese food. My favourite dish that never disappoints are the juicy pork dumplings (which are bursting wih flavour which you have to eat with a spoon to catch all the juice)and the spicy wontons in peanut sauce. The peanut sauce tends to thicken after a couple minutes if you tend to eat slow and the peanut flavour really comes through. A plus is the owner who is a wonderful lady named May and the bartenders who make really strong drinks and are very attentive. It can get pretty crowded, but I usually sit at the bar for less family style seating. There is also semi-outdoor seating in the warmer months. Overall a great experience every time I go. read more

M Shanghai - Ginger chicken - Shanghainese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I had recently introduced my best friend (now an official New Yorker) to the fantastic deliciousness of soupy buns (xiao long bao). So, when I was scheduled to come up for a weekend of frivolity, she went onto Yelp to find a decently rated soupy bun place near her...and came up with M Shanghai. I will admit, I wasn't sure what to expect. After all, decent soupy buns outside of Canal Street Chinatown? Or Flushing for that matter? Soupy buns in Brooklyn? What nonsense is this??? The neighborhood seemed like an unlikely setting for delectable soupy buns, but once we stepped in, I knew we came to the right place. Once through the door, you are transported to a rustic, yet modern and chic vision of what China would have been without the peasants. Beautiful birdcages festoon the restaurant, highlighted by a magnificent bar (always notice the bar. Always). Small but with that infallible charm that you knew that the atmosphere would more then make up for any lack in the food (which was solidly good). The soupy buns were definitely delicious. I will say that I've had better in Chinatown...but only marginally so, as the M Shanghai soupy buns were incredibly tasty and pretty much on point. It's nice to know that there is such a yummy soupy bun place near my best friend's apartment! I think I single handedly wolfed down 2 orders of the soupy buns. The menu is hilarious - lots of funny little names of ordinary Chinese dishes. I tried the Freddie Mercury's Balls - because who doesn't love Queen? If you know Chinese food, these were basically "Lion Head Balls" - and while it was quite yummy, I must say that my mom's is far better (sorry!). I also had the Tic Tac Toe Chicken which was very good. Definitely a fan! Now, just based on the food, I would give this place 3 stars. No no - don't hate me. The food is very tasty, and I love their menu. I get their "twist" on some of the dishes - and I think they did a really good job. However, I would like to see them push the envelope just a *little* more. They are right on the edge of greatness, and I have no doubt they will only get better. But they are more then their food. I'm giving M Shanghai 4 stars because of the following reasons: 1) The decor and atmosphere made this meal incredibly fun and memorable! 2) THE HOTNESS OF THE STAFF...OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG...!!! HOT HOT HOT! DROOL-FEST!!! And more importantly then hot... 3) SERVICE WAS GREAT!!! It was a large group of us (I think there were 10 in our party), and the staff was incredibly awesome! They took pictures of us (yeah, we're girls, what can you do?), made sure that we had plenty of refills on our drinks, and gave us some great recommendations on the food. Most importantly? Some of us (*ahem*...me) ate enough to feed a small sweatshop - and they didn't make a single crack about if I was planning on eating all of that myself. Heh. Now *THAT'S* great service...and super-human restraint. I highly recommend this place as a fun date place - or a great place to go with a group of friends. The bar is well stocked and I can see this as a regular local hangout. Definitely a fan - and I can't wait to come back. read more

In all fairness I was weary about the C rating but I lived to write this review and I'm not reporting an incident of food poisoning. The soup pork buns blew my mind and I had a soup too I believe it was chicken and thin rice noodles. My girl friend had some spicy dish that made me cringe. I wish I could remember more. read more

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Is everyone just seduced by the Brooklyn-wood-interior? Or is everyone so hell bent on MSG to ignore that their soup dumplings taste frozen? Drink your beer on tap, then take the G to the 7 to Flushing. Better yet, take the L to Broadway Junction, transfer to the A to JFK and go to Outer Richmond in San Francisco. Just please don't write like you know soup dumplings because you've been to Joe's Shanghai once. *Why you should never use yelp for Chinese food* read more

YAY! You've found your Chinese default. highlights: - juicy pork buns (soup dumplings- not as cheap as Joe's Shanghai's, but who wants to deal with that wait + commute?) - sweet + hot soup: I've tried both their chicken and veggie option and have gravitated to their veggie. - scallion pancake: crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside! - great, great service :) read more

There is nothing better in life then some good old fashion Chinese food, and this spot serves just that and always hits the spot. The staff here is great and friendly and there is a decent amount of seating bar/table and space. The Food is delicious all around: -Soup dumplings, flavorful, perfect texture, great broth and meat -Pork belly, very good, a bit chewy, great sweet sauce -Ribs, great garlicky flavor, tendor -Lo mein, don't love Lo Mein but they make a pretty good one -Mu shu, one of my favorite mu shus of all the spots i ate it in, not greasy, flavorful. All around great Chinese food, fair prices and great spot to grab food and a drink read more

Great atmosphere, friendly + helpful staff and totally. tasty. foods make this place my favorite not cheap Chinese restaurants in Brooklyn (possibly all of NYC, excluding places that are exclusively dim sum). The prices are reasonable for the most part. I'm veggie, and all the entrees are under $10 and very filling, even shareable. The best deal, however, are the dumplings: little pockets of wonderful (with sauce poured at the table) for around $5. All my meaty friends crave the pork dumplings, while my favorite is the spicy veggie wonton. They're well-seasoned without being overpoweringly flavored, and they're just the right size for not spoiling your appetite. If you need any suggestions, ask the servers--they haven't steered me wrong yet (though they do tend to like the spicier dishes, so be careful if you're not a fan). This is one of the only restaurants in my neighborhood that I truly crave, and I can't recommend it highly enough. read more

I've happily fed off the bounty of the five burroughs for three years without experiencing an offensive meal. Until M Shanghai. Based on the other reviwes, I'm assuming the dumplings are the express train to gustatory revelation. I somehow bypassed this fact and slid down a cooking oil-slicked chute of disappointment and desperation. I ordered sauteed cellophane noodles with spicy pork ($12). On paper, it sounds amazing--crispy, fiery, meaty, chewy--in practice, it arrived looking like a steaming plate of chunder with far less taste than any half-digested deja vu. Assuming anything that ugly must have a deliciously cultivated character, I made the mistake of tasting it instead of letting it inch its way back to the East River. Heavy, wet forkfulls of brown viscous slop (I justify using this word since the ratio of "brown sauce" to noodles was nearly 2:1) with not one modicum of flavor. I also ordered spicy sweet and sour soup ($7). Zero flavor. Literally, zero, and not like Coke Zero. There wasn't even a distant but slightly poisonous resemblance to its usual self. It was just unctruous, oily, corn-starch-laden simulacrum. I doctored up both dishes with enough black-tar vinegar and chili paste to get through the meal and hopefully prevent it from forever caulking my pores. A day later, I still feel hungry and unsatisfied and not at all comforted by the purported cheapness of the meal. More like F Shanghai. read more

Came here for dinner with two friends after we literally wandered half of Williamsburg trying to decide what to eat. The original plan was Traif, but there was some horrendous wait and we were pretty hungry, so M Shanghai it was! We were seated pretty promptly, and ordered our meals. I had a mojito, which bordered on just barely decent, and then the food started arriving. And by arriving, I mean one plate at a time emerged from the kitchen in no particular order. Generally, when three people come and order together, you'd think there would be some sort of concerted effort to ensure their meals arrive at the table at the same time. Apparently this is a new, high fangled concept that doesn't apply to M Shanghai. Very well then. Don't get the cucumber salad, whatever you do, it's just a bunch of cucumber sliced up in water. Salad my ass. read more

I dig this place. Laid-back vibe, long communal tables, rotating artwork on the walls, warm and cozy feel. KILLER dumplings. i think the Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken is my favorite entree. ...and what really seals the deal for me is the HOUSE BAND: the M. Shanghai String Band (http://www.mshanghaistringband.com/home.aspx) plays hip BK bluegrass downstairs about once a month, and a crew of loyal fans crowd into the basement den to sing along and have a swell ole' time. read more

I LOVE this place. I've been going here for years. The only reason I can't give it 5 stars is because the quality of the food (particularly the Awesome Beef) is inconsistent. When the "Awesome Beef" is good it's beyond awesome - it's the best Chinese imaginable! But sometimes it's a little less flavorful and a little less awesome and that's always a disappointment. For some reason it's usually better during the day/lunch special. Other dishes I love there: Kung pao chicken Pork soup dumplings Steamed pork dumplings Shredded chicken with chili pepper Lo main The staff is really nice and the restaurant has a great atmosphere! Usually there are good beers on tap. The lunch special is also a great deal although they give you twice the rice and half the usual portion of the main food. I thought lunch special was supposed to be cheaper cause of the time of day and not because they give smaller portions? Anyway this place is a gem. Love you Shang! read more

The food is totally unremarkable and quite expensive for Chinese food (particularly considering how little meat you'll find in the chicken entrees). It's not bad, but it's not good either. A meal for two is easily the most disappointing $50 I've spent in Williamsburg. Also: communal table seating is mandatory. Ugh. read more

Pork buns totally live up to the hype! The lo Mein-style dish is great and the hot and sour soup is complex and filling. No cornstarch or Neon sweet and sour here. Def one of my neighborhood favorites! Not dirt cheap but you pay for what you get. read more

When Jimmy and I heard that M Shang is now open 7 DAYS A WEEK, we CHEERED! OUTLOUD! I'm southern, so, hearing this news was like what it would feel like if Chick-fil-A was opened on Sundays! My favorites are the chicken with peppers, the chicken in black bean sauce and the sliced beef with scallions and onions (!). Jimmy goes nuts over the duck with plum sauce! We also love the steamed juicy pork buns and the steamed vegetable dumplings. Oh! And it's hard for us to have a meal there without the sauteed string beans. De-lish. Into martinis? Their Lychee Martini is consistently amazing. I think the prices are fair, considering the portions -- we only get two entrees if we're totally starving. One appetizer, one vegetable and one entree is totally enough food for two people. Long live M! read more

There's a lovely waitress that works in Shanghai during the day. She plays lovely music and the kitchen staff is lovely. Shanghai is a lovely, cozy place. I'll probably eat there for lunch tomorrow because their spicy wanton dumplings are the best in the world. The peanut sauce is perfectly balanced. They have a wide array of yummy dishes. Shanghai feels like Chinese comfort food cooked slowly and with care. I have no idea what real Chinese comfort food is, but to an uninformed Native American, Shanghai Bistro seems to be it. Shanghai is definitely one of my top 3 lunch spots in NYC. read more

I was literally the first customer ever at M. I used to live on the block and this was at a time when you could actually keep track of the businesses opening in Williamsburg, one by one. Sensing there was something new to check out, me and a couple of friends went in to eat. The owner Mae was there and since we were the only customers, she talked with us for ages and sent over a bunch of dishes to try. I was hooked and to this day I still order from M when I am in the 'burg. Favorites: steamed vegtable buns, soy beans and tofu sheets, and the noodle soup with tofu, mushroom and spinach. Almost everything I've had here is good, though over the years the quality of the food has flutuated up and down as I'm sure the kitchen staff has changed hands a number of times. When it first opened, everyone ate in the restaurant and it was always packed. Now M does a much greater delivery business, which I can vouch for as I haven't eaten in house for ages. No difference though. I keep calling for more. read more

Alas, sniff, sob... I ended up here completely by a bizarre random chance that involved a downed subway line and a chance meeting with a fellow musician at a subway stop that included some general drinking and carousing fairly late into the evening. So why am I sad? Because, dammit, it's just not fair that food of this quality can be found seemingly everywhere in the greater NYC area. But then, I'm just a lowly native Kansas guy in love with Queens so I should know by now. But wait, where are the Chinese people working in this restaurant? Yet we were served perfectly marvelous soup dumplings, two types, and a beef dish with onions that was to die for. A couple of Chinese beers sitting elbow to elbow at one of their picnic style tables... life was fine. I've had soup dumplings at three other highly rated Chinese eateries on this visit and these took a back seat to none of them. Unlikely I'll ever visit again but I won't soon forget the pretty spectacular meal we had. This is good food as it should be. We had: Steamed Juicy Pork Buns Steamed Vegetable Buns (see photo) Sliced Beef with Scallion and Onion in Brown Sauce (Awesome!) Two Tsingtao Beers The (Awesome) above is their description on the menu but I concur. read more

Still on the fence about this place... The soup dumplings are ok, a bit too gingery. The fried rice would be tasty, but they add onions which throw off the texture. The Shanghai lo mein was not good. Chicken hot and sour soup = WEIRD. Total white person shit; not into it. The Awesome Sliced Beef or whatever it is = tasty! It's a good option in Williamsburg if you can't get to Chinatown proper for real Chinese. However! My manfriend and I ordered delivery from this spot and we were sick for the rest of the day. I had TERRIBLE headaches and was lethargic as fuck :( Overall, tis truly 'a-ok.' read more

I just ate here with Valerie V. and some other friends about two weeks ago. They seated us in the patio section and the effect of the rain coming down was spectacular. As for the dumplings, they were out-of-this-world delicious. Definitely on par with my favorite spot, Joe Shanghai, and the decor & service was surely a step above JS. Random observation: they have a person who comes to your table and mix 2 dishes of sauce every time you are served. It wasn't long before our table was littered with little dishes, all of the same type of sauce. I think it's nice to provide this service but it got a little absurd after a while. We later took over by stacking the dishes and mixing our own. I had a great time. The bill came out to much less than I expected (less than $20/pp) and we were stuffed. Unfortunately Willieburg is a trip for me and I don't plan on going back anytime soon, but if you're in the area, I highly recommend you try it. Just don't order the non-dumpling foods. My friend decided to get creative and his rice cake soup was tasteless and disgusting. (-1 star) read more

The soup dumplings aka juicy pork buns, seriously beautiful. The wrapper is as thin and soft as could be, melts in your mouth with the explosion of soupy pork inside. Great atmosphere, down to earth, friendly service. Never fear Manhattanites, the J-M-Z will whisk you there in moments :) read more

Delish. Tonight was my first time & I can't wait to go back! As suggested, the juicy pork buns are seriously unbelievable.. I also had the veggie moo shu, but asked them to add a kick...result, spicy perfection. Can't wait to try the potatoes & soy peas with spicy bean paste (Heard its also delectable). Veggie options are plenty, but not at the expense to carnivores. Atmosphere is cozy - warm. Tea seems pricey, but totally worth it! read more

The bao - juicy pork buns - are pretty near perfect. At least for what I am looking for. Nice light skin, but thick enough to hold in the juices of the pork. The sauce (mixture of ginger, vinegars, soy sauce, and chili sauce) takes me back to my favorite chinese places back in California. I don't know about the rest of the menu - but I know I'll come back again and again for these. Also, the wait staff is super chill, but plenty attentive. Plus on the weekends the kitchen is open pretty late. read more

I order M for delivery at least once a week. I love the dumplings. I've tried almost every dish on the menu. Best Chinese food in Williamsburg. I'd like some now. read more

I have always thought that half of what makes a good meal, is the company you are with and the conversation that you have. When I walked into this restaurant with an old friend from high school two weeks ago, and they were playing Pavement's "Slanted & Enchanted" (our favorite album in high school), the conversation was automatic. We sat at the bar to ensure that we would get good service. Our drinks arrived instantaneously with the menus and we surveyed the food, as we reminisced about a Pavement show at the Howling Wolf in NOLA. We settled on two orders of dumplings (vegetable and pork), the Kung Pao Chicken, and a Succulent Duck with Sticky Rice platter. The veggie dumplings arrived 1 drink later, and were piping hot. Normally I demand meat in my dumplings but surprisingly I really enjoyed these. As we finished the veggies the pork dumpling arrived, and I must say they are the best dumplings that I can ever remember having had. In the five years I have lived in New York I have noticed that my stomach has shrunk to the smaller portions served in the city and really these two orders would have been enough for me and my friend any other day. We even commented about how we would need to take leftovers to my friends apartment (two blocks away) prior to heading out to the bars. The Kung Pao Chicken arrived less than two minutes after we had finished the dumplings and I was still savoring the taste of the dumplings in my mouth. It was amazing and we started digging in, well not digging since there was no silverware, but you get the picture.... Two minutes later the Duck arrived and a meal that could not have gotten better, got exponentially better. The duck was succulent and there were many many cuts near the skin (the best cut with duck), and the slightly sweet sauce that it was cooked in was exceptional. Adding the chili sauce kicked the dish into the stratosphere, and we couldn't stop. The phone rang as my friend who was coming in from across the river wanted to get directions, but I silenced the phone, not wanting to be disturbed till after I finished eating. Five minutes later nothing was left, which saved us from having to take leftovers to my friends house, which was fortuitous since we needed to meet my friend from across the river at Iona. Since the bartender was right there the check was immediately available, and we were pleased that the bill was under $50 for the two of us. I highly recommend this restaurant and can't wait till the next time I get to go... (Tip: Bartenders can't hide from you... While waiters can rehearse their lines, or think about the job they really wish they had when they are hidden away in the kitchen, the bartender is generally always within earshot. Just make sure you learn their name when you sit down and you will find that it will take half the time to dine, with the best service available. Plus you never have to wait for a refill of your drink...) read more

When friends asked if I wanted to eat Chinese food in South Williamsburg, I wasn't expecting much. These friends live in Manhattan so their wanting to cross the bridge for Chinese was a good sign. We ordered several items and the best thing by far was the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings). They were simply the best I've had in a long time. They were seasoned perfectly with just the right amount of soup in every bite. Simply divine! The noodles and veggie/tofu stir frys were wonderful too. Low on the grease factor, high on taste. There's a modest selection of beers, including white beer which is a favorite of mine. The service is good and attentive. read more

Holy shit, this place is mediocre. I want my $20 (for vegetarian food, for lunch, on a weekday) back. Never again. Ugh. And the dumplings...seriously? They were reminiscent of....nail salon. read more

YUM. Good Chinese is hard to find in New York, and this stuff is amazing. The steamed vegetable buns are so good that I dream about them, and they are quite large, so you get a bang for your buck. But the real prize here is the Mu shu, it is so delicious and fresh, it's served with equally delicious pancakes for eating with....sigh. The atmosphere is cute as well and the owner, quite friendly. Finally, real Chinese food, that is deliciously ungreasy and I feel great about eating. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in my hood. Favorite dishes: Lotus Root with Soy Peas. So fresh, crisp, delicious and healthy. I love this unique dish. Chinese Broccoli with fresh garlic. I love chinese broccoli. They do it well. Crisp, non soggy. Pretty perfect. Eggplant in garlic sauce-- this dish goes really well with an order of the Vegertarian Moo Shu. The Sauteed String Beans are delicious too. Portions are smaller than what you're used too, but the prices are the same. But you're not being gipped, because the quality of ingredients is really great. The owner and wait staff are super friendly too. read more

Very delicious, with a nice ambience. Garden seating. Plenty of vegan options. The portion sizes for dinner are not huge but you ought to be eating the dumplings to start, anyway. Steamed veggie dumplings: Amazing. Definitely above average stuffing that includes dark greens and mushrooms, with their mixed-at-the table dipping sauce. Fried were nice, too. Eggplant: sort of sweet and spicy, with really soft melty eggplant chunks. Lotus Root: with edamame. It was super crunchy and had a nice texture contrast with the other soft dishes. Pea shoots: So, so good. I am craving them right now. Bright green, softened but with a grilled wok flavor that made them very memorable. Shanghai tofu: soft tofu served with brown sauce and mushrooms. I wouldn't order this next time, but it's worth trying because of the freshness of the tofu. Fried tofu with peppers: More standard vegetarian chinese fare, but rounded out the meal nicely. It might be a little pricey but it's worth it! read more