RATING - 3.5/5 - Cozy spot that can get busy with neighborhood folks. They're mainly walk in,…read moreunless 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!

Came back recently for dinner and was suprised to have found another dish I thoroughly enjoyed…read morehere. 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.

Food was very tasty and flavorful. I had the basil chicken ho fun with a little spice. The price…read morewas reasonable. And the portion was enough for 2 pp. Service was great. It was quick. The lady worker was both friendly & pleasant to talk to.

I've been here a few times before and had ordered their House Special Ma Ma noodle soup. They were…read moreable to make it nonspicy for me which I appreciated. I remember it being really good. I liked all the toppings that it came with! This time I ordered the wonton and dumpling noodle soup. It came with 3 wonton, 2 dumplings, and some bok choy. Not sure if it was because I did takeout and my noodle soup was overcooking in its container, but the dumpling skin was mushy and falling apart from the meaty party of the dumpling, and the bok choy was also a dull green color. Either it was overcooked or old bok choy. They tasted fine, except maybe one was a bit bitter. I was also expecting egg noodle, but it came default udon noodles (you can ask them to change noodles, I just didn't ask). The broth wasn't flavorful either. Although this dish was a miss, I would come back for their other dishes!! Cash only establishment, or you can zelle them.

The food was spectacular. You may recognize this spot as the one that serves the viral dumplings in…read morethe top of a cup that contains a beverage. That viral dish was outstanding. We also had spicy lamb Ramen, scallion pancakes,fried catfish, and soup dumplings, all of which were thoroughly delicious. There a slew of staff that were constantly attentive and friendly. We chose to eat in. The restaurant itself is on the small side, nevertheless, we were comfortable. There is street parking. I would highly recommend them and would return again.

TL;DR: PHENOMENAL OH MY GOSH I WILL BE BACK SOON. This will easily be on my list of restaurants to…read morerecommend to any of my friends visiting NYC. Get the "20 mini dumplings + drink of your choice". Seriously, I'm getting hungry just writing this review. Food: I ordered the 20 mini dumplings and drink combo, substituting the soda option for taro boba (+$4), totaling around $18 after tax! The dumplings are mini, but they are filled with so much flavor it's unbelievable. They each have a bit of soup in them that is so flavorful and not salty. There is also a slight bit of crispiness on the outside of each dumpling before the inside just melts in your mouth. It's unbelievably good. The taro boba is also well done. It's not too sweet, and the boba pearls are a unique level of like not that chewy and feel almost like popping boba?! Service: Friendly service! My friend and I did to-go, but the staff were all quite friendly. There is also a kiosk to order from if in a rush. Ambiance: It's a very clean restaurant and spacious. However, since there were so many people waiting for the viral item, we formed essentially a crowd outside the steps. The wait took about half an hour, and then my friend and I walked just down a couple of blocks to the Brooklyn Heights promenade, which has the most stunning view of the Manhattan skyline.

Four of us had dinner here on Labor Day evening. When we arrived, we were told to expect a fifteen…read moreminute wait for seating, and it was pretty much on the dot. A carafe of water was promptly brought to the table. We took a long time with the menu because it is extensive, and wonderful. We finally agreed on Crab & Pork Soup Dumplings, Kau Fu, Dry Sautéed Green Beans with Meat, Salt & Pepper Squid, and Shanghainese Style Rice Cakes. The Kau Fu arrived first, and was truly exceptional, with large, firm, and juicy chunks of seitan, and a good sprinkling of large, not rubbery tree ears. My friend who said she didn't like seitan tried it, and liked it a lot. Kai Fu has a slight licorish flavor, and is a little sweet. We finished every bite. Moving on to the soup dumplings, the broth was delicate and the skins were thin and tender, altogether the best I've had in a long time. The green beans were perfect, seared and crispy, as they should be, with ground pork and a little pickled veg. The rice cakes were appropriately chewy, and we enjoyed the baby bok choy, mushrooms, and shrimp in the mild sauce. The squid was the only dish that wasn't perfect, being a little bland and a tiny bit too chewy for the size of the pieces. The service was attentive without being too much. We were offered hot tea, and a second carafe of water, without having to ask. The noise level from the other diners was a bit high for me, but I put my hearing aids on the noisy/party setting, and I could hear my friends, which was the important thing. We all agreed that we needed to come back again (and again) to try other dishes. I especially want to have the Hong Kong style Hot & Sour soup, which you can't get at most Chinese restaurants.

Review #1,117 Posted on 10.5.26…read more We went on a dim sum tour on Thursday September the 17th when in town for my wife's 40th birthday bash. We stopped inside here for our 3rd stop of 4 on the tour. This place we actually came inside and got a 4 top table and sat down and ate the dumplings here. The menu at this place is huge, & full of options, all kinds of different stuff from dumplings, soup dumplings, to rice plates, to noodle plates. Unlimited options. The dumplings come out piping hot here. You need to be sure to pierce the dumpling and let out some steam out before biting into it or you'll burn your mouth. You put some of this soy/vinegar mix into the top where you pierced the dumpling, excellent stuff. Another place I recommend & would come back to again.

Okay soooo...I totally understand why Mr Bao ends up with some pretty average reviews. This is not…read morea place where I would tell you to walk in blind, point at the menu, and expect magic. Some things are definitely better than others. BUT - after going a few times, I really think this place is a case of learning the menu and playing to its strengths. Once you know whats worth it and whats just ok, you can put together a genuinely great meal here. This time around, the star of the show was the Chef's Choice jiaozi which gives you one of each dumpling they offer. That was a GREAT move. They were colorful, satisfying, and even better with a side of the spicy chili sauce which I highly recommend adding. I also want to give credit where it's due: the soup dumplings here are delicious, and I have also really enjoyed the fried rice and the spicy noodle dishes on past visits. So yeah, I get the mixed reputation....But I think Mr Bao is one of those spots that rewards a little menu knowledge. Order smart, skip the mid stuff, and there is a very solid meal waiting for you.

Love this place but only quibble is that it's a bit pricey so we can't order very often being on a…read moreBrooklyn budget! Would eat there way more if the price wasn't so high. $16 for plain noodles is rather steep. Food is delicious tho

Service is fast and reliable - you order from an iPad and the dishes come out. The space is a bit…read moretight, but typical for Manhattan. The inside is decorated very nicely. - Salted Ham Mixed Rice, (5/5): it was nice and savory, slightly salty, and it also had like little bits of pork fat in it and it was sooo flavorful. And the crackly bits of rice were so good - Qianlong's Favorite Eel, (3/5): the sauce was a bit too sweet for my liking, and the eel meat was a bit rubbery. I can see this being a fave if you like sweeter savory dishes - Grilled Beef Rib and Peppers, (4/5): the meat is soooo tender, and falls off the bone. It's very black pepper forward, and you can tell the entire dish is coated with cornstarch given the thick sauce. it was again, a bit on the sweeter side for me, but other than that it can be enjoyed by those who don't do well with spice - Ginger & Chili Frog, (4.5/5): lots of pieces of frog, and it wasn't spicy at first but it builds. You can really see and taste the ginger chunks- it is definitely very ginger forward with several different pao cai chillies (very sour, pungent, and spicy!) - Che Li's Pork Belly, (3/5): I'm personally not a big fan of pork belly, but my friend loves this! I see a lot of people order this, so don't take my word for it, try it yourself! - Sautéed Water Spinach, (3/5): pretty standard, tasted fresh, not much seasoning - Spicy Hunan Beef, (4/5): a very hot dry spice that goes well with rice. The beef texture was inconsistent, which knocked down some points Overall, I enjoyed my experience here and I would come again.

Elevated Chinese food, Cheli is excellent for sit-down smaller/midsize parties. I appreciated…read moretheir quick service and ability to accommodate vegetarian options. And they also had enough room to seat us without a reservation. Their Mapo Tofu is the star, bridging affordability and savory. Like many of their dishes, it's very, very flavorful and spicy, with the traditional mapo numbing sensation. I'd strongly recommend ordering it with rice. Their mushroom rice dish was also succulent and tasty, and I'd also say it's a great alternative if you prefer less spicy entrees. I do think they're a bit on the pricey side, but their food is worth the cost. Be aware that, again, their dishes are quite rich in flavor.

Amazing spread of cheap eats, the soup dumplings were juicy and filled. Service was really quick…read moreand attentive. Honestly couldn't complain as all the food was great for the price. Ambiance can get pretty busy during lunch hour but other than that not too hectic. Love this spot for a good cheap dumpling vibe.

I liked the pan fried buns but my bf wasn't a fan of the flavor. I thought the soup dumplings were…read morea but bland but my bf liked them so really depends on your preference. Since this is the express version, you use the kiosk to order and they bring food to your table and you busk your own table when you're done. I like that even though its express, the soup dumplings still come out in steamer baskets. Not much to say about ambiance but they had decorated for Christmas with a tree so I could see that they still put in effort in the express location

Affordable restaurant with a speciality of duck noodles. Not something I really enjoy but they also…read morehave other noodles, dumplings, wontons, Xiao Long Bao. There is a ground floor and a lower level for seating so usually there is no wait. I like their how they have a few combo selections which is kid friendly. They have cups on the side and sauce trays so it's easy to split the food. This is self service so no tip is required.

Terrible experience. All of the utensils that came with my order had visible mold on them. This is…read morecompletely unacceptable and a serious hygiene concern. I called the restaurant to complain, but instead of taking responsibility and properly addressing the issue, they kept blaming their supplier. Regardless of who supplies the utensils, the restaurant is responsible for what is being handed out to customers. This was disgusting and has made me completely lose confidence in their hygiene standards. I have already filed a complaint with 311. I will not be ordering from here again and would not recommend this place. 非常糟糕的体验。送来的所有餐具上面都有明显的霉菌，卫生状况完全不能接受。我打电话向店家投诉，但对方不但没有认真处理问题，反而一直把责任推给他们的供应商。 不管餐具是谁提供的，最终是由你们店送到顾客手上的，店家就应该对卫生和食品安全负责，而不是把责任甩给别人。 这种情况非常恶心，也让我对这家店的卫生管理完全失去信心。我已经打了311进行投诉。不会再来，也不推荐任何人来这里消费。

I've been meaning to try this place for a while and finally got the chance to today. Not very busy…read moreon a Sunday afternoon so seating wasn't an issue. Our host/server was very prompt in greeting us with menus and ice waters. We ordered crab and pork soup dumplings, steamed rice rolls with hoisin and peanut sauce and oxtail in curry sauce. Everything came out within 10min of ordering and was piping hot. Crab and pork soup dumplings- the tops of the dumplings were fairly dry but the soup and dumpling itself had a nice flavor Steamed rice roll w/ hoisin and peanut sauce- Exceptional! The rolls were soft and light not sticky and dense. They were cut up bite size and the sauce was ample. I grew up eating from Cheung fun carts which are and still are easy to come by BUT the actual good ones are hard and far to come by. E Noodle definitely invokes that nostalgic feeling of being a kid and your parents dragging you to Chinatown early on a SAT/SUN morning so that you can carry the groceries but you knew your one reward was being able to see the elderly Cheung fun lady w/ the cart...Next time I will def add fish balls. Oxtail w/ curry sauce- we def enjoyed this dish and was pleasantly surprised at how tender the oxtail was. Can't wait to comeback and try other items on the menu.

Wontons are the star here - fresh, thin-skinned, and tasting home made. The soup was a bit salty,…read morebut the rice noodles hit my cheung fun craving, even though I wish they were flat, wide noodles with a little bok choy for a heartier lunch. The container they used to separate the noodles from the soup was a genius idea; I was worried there'd be no broth left by the time it arrived, but everything held up really well. The preserved egg and pork congee was just okay, but overall they clearly do wontons and noodles well. I wouldn't do delivery again, but I'd happily come back for takeout or dine-in and try more dishes.

I teach for a mahjong organization called Dragon's Den that regularly hosts their mahjong nights…read morehere + it's SUCH a vibeee!! the back area is perfect for hosting + would be my go to seating choice year round. food is a crowd pleaser too + has a slightly more authentic touch to your typical chinese takeout dishes. - general tso's chicken: always a hit. always the first thing to go, - long dumplings: super juicy + good filling to wrapper ratio - veggie/egg fried rice: not much wok flavor - many mushrooms noodles: good. ratio just a little off-balanced

amazing food, service and vibe The soup dumplings are my…read morefav. We have been going to the LES for years - happy to have you in Park Slope