I have been eating at Shanghai since it opened 30 years ago. No matter how much time passes between my visits the owners treat me as if I am their favorite customer in the restaurant. Over the past several years I have only ordered takeout and I am never disappointed. The food is always hot and fresh and prepared exactly as I ask. There is one dish I order with a modification and they haven't gotten it wrong in 30 years. The primary reason I keep returning is taste. I often find that Chinese restaurant food has an unusual taste that I do not like. The food at Shanghai does not have this taste. Taste, freshness, order accuracy, family atmosphere and friendliness has kept me coming back for 30 years. read more

While in town for the 2026 Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion we stopped in for a bite to eat and listen to some live festival music during a late afternoon thunderstorm. They had a large outdoor seating area set up just for the festival, but normally it isn't there. We went and sat down and on every table there was a QR code where you could order right from the table kind of similar to some of the restaurants I've been to in Chinatown in Philadelphia. We had started to order when a waitress came to try and take our order. I believe she was just family helping out so some of our message got lost in translation. She brought my drink and then some 10 minutes later brought besties's tea after we tracked her down. They had typical Chinese restaurant fair on the menu. The restaurant wasn't super busy when we got there. There weren't a lot of people seated outside. It appeared. They had only three people running food and taking orders. A fair amount of gas did show up after us and probably got their food. We had to track somebody down as there was some delay in them actually pulling our ticket to go make our food after we had ordered via the QR code of the table. This was a bit disappointing. I can only chalk it up to having inexperienced help during the festival. When ordering on the app, you can make modifications to just about any dish. Bestie did order something called ants on a log - it was a vermicelli rice noodle dish. Came out completely wrong without any of the extra she ordered. I ordered a simple chicken and broccoli. Chicken had an odd texture and Bestie's dish had chicken too and she thought it was a little odd as well. She did get a new order made when we saw her order was wrong. We brought it to one of the waiters's attention and they made her a fresh order and that came out very quickly. Which we did appreciate. We were served on paper plates, which I can only assume was for the festival. There was live music playing in the front room of the restaurant which could be heard throughout. It wasn't super loud so we could have a conversation. The food tasted OK. It wasn't anything to rave about. Prices were very reasonable. read more

Shanghai Chinese Restaurant - Ants on a log - Chinese Near Me - Bristol, Virginia

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The good: plenty of choices beyond the basic Americanized Chinese options. Nice couple working a very slow restaurant for 7 pm on a Friday. Food came out in decent time and overall was packed full of flavor. gentle instrumental music made for quiet environment. The not so good: order and food delivery but no checking in so don't count on refill. Scallops were overcooked and rubbery. Really had high hopes but just a solid average with maybe a bonus point for being in business for so long. read more

Shanghai Chinese Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Bristol, Virginia

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Interior open and clean, the peaking duck was phenomenal, family owned and friendly, respectful. Eggrolls were cooked perfectly crisp, I would leave more stars if it were possible read more

We came in the late afternoon and we were only ones in restaurant. The staff was super friendly and so nice. We ordered soup and chicken teriyaki.. the wonton soup was great. Even brought those thick yummy crunchy noodles to table.. I love them in my soup! Wonton was light and not overdone.. great flavor! Warms ya from inside out! My chicken teriyaki was very good.. chicken bites very tender and veggies were good with little bit of crunch! Came with fried rice! He came back to us and we each got an egg roll.. reminded me of spring roll! It had great flavor! When we got our bill it came with a tangerine for each of us.. prices were very reasonable. It's not a fancy place by any means but very cozy.. read more

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Overall I had a very positive. experience here. The family who owns this restaurant is very nice. The service was good and the food tasted great. The portion sizes were a little small and the food was priced a little high for me. I will definitely come back and enjoy this place again. read more

My kids and I enjoy coming here and ordering lunch. My kids love the sesame chicken and delicious wonton soup. The staff is so friendly.

Food is good, service is good. I usually go by myself, so I like to go between lunch and dinner. I have always enjoyed my meals read more

Shanghai Chinese Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Bristol, Virginia

Shanghai is a Bristol gem! Everything is always fresh & delicious. Sweet & sour, General Tsos, Lo Mein, alllll the fried rice is incredible. The sugary donuts are a long-standing family-favorite. The warmth the family provides to our community is astounding - from hosting a stage for our local festival to proudly displaying Christmas cards from their many, avid fans. read more

Absolutely ridiculous!! We ordered delivery, paid $6.75 delivery fee plus a 20% tip, assuming it was one of their five kids delivering to us....nope - Uber, who said it would take an hour and 25 minutes. We call the restaurant to say we will pick it up instead. My husband drives 15 minutes there to find that the Uber order wasn't canceled by the restaurant. He then called the Uber driver directly to cancel, who somehow beat him to the restaurant - two minutes before him, he was told the Uber driver lied (supposedly) saying he spoke with the caller's wife (me, who wouldn't give out my number if my life depended on it...) both are lying - and the Uber driver has now blocked our phone number. No dinner tonight and out $90 for two people with NO FOOD! Very sad - we were so excited to try their food. read more

This place could be a classic Chinese restaurant from my hometown in New York. They seem to be making everything from scratch and the food was delicious. If I were Jewish, and they had a Pac-Man game at the bar, this would be my spot every Christmas. There was a time in America when eating at a Chinese restaurant was a date night, an exotic experience, It wasn't take out. It was a meal at a restaurant with nice drinks, great service, cozy seating, where the owners know your name, that's what I feel this place still is. However, it could use a little makeover. I wish the bar were slightly more inviting, it looks like a good place for a Mai Thai and a spring roll or steamed dumplings. I'll continue to support them every chance I get and look forward to sampling new things on the menu every time . read more

Good food! Good atmosphere. Great service. Delicious dinner. Will definitely be back.

Some of the best Chinese food in the area hands down, the service is always great and friendly. The dining is very spacious with of a fusion of oriental and the true art deco of the building. If you find yourself on state street this place is a must! read more

Great food!!!! Have been looking for 3 years to find good Chinese food on the East Coast, this was the best by far. Ordered the Aunt climbed tree and prawns. Can't wait to come back next trip down in December. read more

Located in downtown Bristol, this Chinese takeout restaurant staple caught my eye as one of the only Chinese restaurants in the area. I ordered the general tsos chicken lunch special, the hot and sour soup, and the wonton soup. I'm a sucker for Chinese food so I went into this with high expectations. However, the food wasn't exactly to my taste. The hot and sour soup wasn't too thick from cornstarch which I liked but it had kind of a sweet flavor. Wontons in wonton soup were good but the broth had an oily flavor and the general tsos sauce was a little too sweet for my taste. The owner of the restaurant was really nice and I felt welcome there, service was good. The inside of the place was pretty empty for lunch time so it was hard to get a good feel for the feel of the restaurant especially during peak hours. Might be worth another try. read more

Food is delicious and service is amazing. The wait for the food was short and the place was moderately busy. It just felt like you were stepping into your relatives dinning room to eat dinner with family. Over all the food and atmosphere were a 10/10. read more

Shanghai Chinese Restaurant - Pork dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Bristol, Virginia

Amazingly delish! Very tasty and fresh - the Singapore mei fun is to die for, and sliced duck with young ginger is the most beautifully full of ginger flavor dish I think I've ever seen. The egg drop soup isn't weighed down with cornstarch and it's a lovely, rich chicken broth instead, with delightfully light ribbons of egg. We got stuff to go tonight, but looking forward to eating in - it is a charming and lovely little spot with a cute patio on State St. The staff is friendly and warm too. What a gem! read more

The food was wonderfully full of flavor and the service was very friendly. Portions were great and we easily could have had left overs if we weren't enjoying it so much. We will definitely be back! read more

We travel to the Bristol twin cities once a year to visit family. Bristol is where the double line that separates Virginia and Tennessee is painted right down the middle of State Street. Shanghai Chinese Restaurant is located on the Virginia side of State Street. My cousin, David, a local, introduced us to this restaurant last year and we had a great meal. Last night, we were hungry for Chinese cuisine after a long travel day. The Shanghai was busy but the friendly hostess greeted and told us to choose any open table we liked. She brought our drinks: iced tea, hot oolong tea, and water. David ordered Beef Lo Mein; my husband chose Garlic Chicken and I picked Mu Shu Pork with thin pancakes and hoisin sauce. Choices were all excellent and we cleaned our plates! We highly recommend The Shanghai for friendly service and great Chinese cuisine. read more

not a buffet, but greeted promptly and friendly. Seemed nice and inviting. That's all cuphxyc vjfjhdy fugflhlxk read more

My family has been coming here for many years. Always great food served by a wonderful, friendly family. Highly recommended.

Overall positive experience. Their famous buffet went away during Covid (understandably.). If there's anything to point out, it is their customer service, which is outstanding. No questions asked if, for any reason, some thing you order isn't working out. They, without hesitation. switched out and then checked to make sure you were 100% satisfied. read more

Love love love this place. It's so quaint! When you first walk in you see a lot of family history on the walls and just an overall really homey feeling. The food however, is INCREDIBLE. Everything tastes so fresh and well seasoned! The gentleman running the place was so kind and attentive, we just had an amazing experience overall. Would 100% come again. read more

Shanghai Chinese Restaurant - a plate of noodles and vegetables - Chinese Near Me - Bristol, Virginia

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Very good food!! We were greeted by a very sweet man and he made the food for us! In a very good location!

Fabulous lunch today! Ask the owner what to order. I had chicken and cashew today and could be the best I've ever had! Super clean, AC works great, quiet and chill. Exactly what I wanted all around... read more

Absolutely love this restaurant! A local gem that is family owned by the sweetest people in town. The hot and sour soup is a must if you come here. Definitely check them out and enjoy a friendly atmosphere and delicious food. read more

Growing up in Bristol, my family and I always ordered Chinese delivery from Shanghai. I've always loved their food, especially the beef and broccoli and cashew chicken. Now that I've moved away, I've not been able to find anywhere that is as good as this place. I always eat here at least twice when I'm in town. It's the best place to order for take-out or delivery. read more

Why this place wasnt packed. I have no idea. Visiting from NC and stopped in. Best spring rolls EVER!! Super friendly and great service. Everything was wonderful!! Definitely coming back again during our stay. read more

Wonderful, friendly service.... great food. We are visiting from out of town, and went here for Dinner... I would recommend this wonderful little Restaurant to anyone read more

Food is always good. Resurant is clean. Owners are very nice. One of my favorite places to eat.

I absolutely love this place. It's beautiful and has amazing food. Buffet is great. The one star reviews on here don't make any sense to me. I eat here all the time and have never had an experience like that. This place is a MUST TRY. read more

Shang Hai is THE Chinese Restaurant in Bristol. It's definitely a family affair. We've watched their children grow up working in the restaurant, doing their homework, and practicing the piano. Then they've gone off to some of the country's best universities and medical schools, and now they're getting married. We particularly like the egg drop and chicken & corn soups, crab rangoon with their delicious ginger sauce, shrimp lo mein, pad thai, and beef with broccoli or mushrooms. My husband enjoys their spicier dishes! Everything is freshly made in the kitchen. The restaurant may not be crowded because they offer free delivery and many locals take advantage of that or takeout. Also try what I call their beignets. They melt in your mouth!! read more

My family and I had a wonderful lunch today at the Shanghai Restaurant! My wife is originally from Taiwan and it is very rare for her to find a Chinese restaurant that she enjoys here in the good ole USA! However Mr Chen and Ms. Wei (the owners) make their al a carte and buffet dishes themselves! This is extremely rare at Chinese buffet restaurants in the US! We highly recommend their homemade chili sauce and hot and sour soup among the many delicious items that they homemake! Looking forward to our next trip that allows us to pass through Bristol to visit them! Thanks again! (非常感謝你們!) read more

My wife read the reviews and we decided that we would give it a try. We got to the restaurant about 5:30, and noticed the food in the buffet looked like it was leftover from lunch. We were greated by the owner, who said he will be bringing out fresh food, and we could sit anywhere. We decided to start with soup and walked by the rest of the leftover food. It wasn't until we sat down with our soup that we noticed what appeared to be dirty dishes left on some tables possibly from lunch, and flies crawling on the plates. We waited but only two fresh dishes were brought out. The food was by far the absolute worst Chinese that I have ever eaten in my entire life. One star is one star too many. read more

On a long road trip with two friends, driving from Montana to New Jersey. Our day began in the northern suburbs of Chicago and ended over a pile of steaming, savory delicacies at Shang Hai restaurant in Bristol. The food was wonderful, but what makes this place so special is the familiar feel. Be sure to say hi to co-owners (husband and wife team) Chen and Ying! And the dumplings are not to be missed! read more

This is the best Chinese in Bristol, hands down. They have fast friendly service and a wonderful patio! The beef and broccoli is excellent. These people are wonderful people who support our local community and the YWCA. Please go and visit them! read more

This is a classic mom and pop type restaurant, Dad is running the kitchen, mom and other family is running the front of the house. The owners were sweet and genuine, greeting me with a, "hello" as I walked in. While it wasn't the fanciest of venues the focus was obviously on the food. Buffet was great, the pan friend dumplings were fresh and the sauce that goes with it (which I heard is made right in the kitchen) was delicious. I also loved the chicken wings, couldn't get enough of them. I heard from others that food off the menu is even better. Final Verdict: sweet little family restaurant with good food! read more

Do Not order take out. For the first time I have to let others know how bad my experience was. The egg rolls and soup were old and cold ! The dinners looked like they pulled them off the buffet... I asked the cashier if the items were fresh and she said yes. She lied! I am from out of town and made this mistake as they were rank 4 stars on yelp. read more

Shanghai Chinese Restaurant - Yuck - Chinese Near Me - Bristol, Virginia

This is the worse Chinese buffet ever. We were traveling to Gatlinburg area and made a pit stop here on a Friday night. First off, there were only 3 couples/families in the place on Friday evening. The food on the buffet was dried out, skimpy on meats, and just didn't look fresh. I don't expect much for a 9.00 all you can eat Chinese buffet, but this one was terrible! I got a half plate of food and couldn't bear my self to eat at this run down looking establishment. Note for others.. Don't use the bathrooms. Yuck! read more

Best Chinese in town! Yes, there are those that say they don't have a large selection on their buffet, but I've tried the mega buffets elsewhere and struggle to find one or two items that are decent. At Shang Hai, I always find several items I love. The food is cooked in small batches and refilled regularly at the buffet so it's fresh and hot. Family owned and operated for as long as I can remember! And you can order of the menu if you please. read more