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    Shanghai Inn

    3.2 (91 reviews)
    InexpensiveChinese, Seafood, Noodles
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Shanghai Inn Takeout or Delivery

    Shanghai Inn Photos

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    SHANGHAI INN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Shanghai Inn

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    Exterior
    Fabian R.

    Nice and easy lunch stop for the day. The owner was very helpful and social. I ordered the house special rice 10.99 and bbq pork 7.99. I was expecting more pork for $8 but it is what it is. The food was hot and only took 15 min per usual somehow.

    Poultry section of menu (2018)
    Lou C.

    You know why I have not written a review after so many years? I really want to collect enough dining experience here. Yesterday, I was craving for noodle soup but don't feel like fighting the traffic to my usual restaurants 2 miles away. My coworkers always ask me about Shanghai Inn restaurant. To be honest. I don't find the food here delicious. But since it's far away from Chinatown, I have to say just okay. I'd rather go to Panda Express for Americanized Chinese food or Mambo Seafood for shrimp fried rice. I don't have a strong stomach to experiment lunch at Shanghai Inn. I've been here a couple of times when I stayed at Studio 8 next door over a decade ago. I didn't like it then. But I'm willing to try again for my coworkers. Last time I was here 4 years ago I ordered noodle dish called ja chan mien 炸酱面. I ordered a noodle soup yesterday. They had similar runny gravy. Sorry, not my style. Then, the meats had absurd taste. The only thing saved this review from being a 1 star was the eggroll. I considered it authentic to Mandarin cuisine standard that I'm accustomed to. It's a popular lunch spot for some in Northwest side of town and Highway 290. But you just come here to eat food and don't use the bathroom. That was the tiniest men's restroom I've ever seen. Urinal was right in front of a door of one toilet. Another toilet was in front of tiny sink from last century. The sink was wet. I figured there must be running water. But I can't turn on the faucet to save my life. **63rd review of 2018**

    Jake S.

    I went in it took maybe 2 minutes for me to get my order taken, though the man who took my order was patient and kind. I waited roughly 5 minutes, I'd say for my food. I ordered the Shrimp Lo mein and egg roles, and both are absolutely delicious, this is my first time in Houston and I very well will come back here again next time I am craving Chinese! (:

    walnut shrimp

    Last week, my company ordered " office lunch" for us. I was so impressed. They gave us a large portion with our budget. Then this week, I want to try their " dine-in" food. We ordered the shrimp and sha cha beef dinner special with wonton soup. The walnut is crispy and sweet. The wonton is full of meat. The only thing I don't really like is the fried rice which comes with the diner special. If you want to eat yummy and fresh fried rice, you'd better order the fried rice entree, not the side order.

    A few weeks ago, me and my coworker had lunch over there. I was referred by her. I ordered the kung pao chicken. It tasted great. For the majority of the American, the taste is the authentic Chinese food, so my coworker likes it. For Asia people, the taste is kind of Chinese mixed with America. My coworker ordered the shrimp with walnut and house special fried rice. The walnut is crispy, the fried rice was tasty and large portion (for lunch special price, it is really worth the price. it comes with soup, rice and egg roll!)

    Ordered food for pickup. Taste good and big portions. The lady was very helpful and very nice! The price is $1 higher than before, but the portion is big enough for my family. For me, it worth the money. No sure why the review is only three stars, but it should be higher than that! I will definitely refer this restaurant to my friends. The curry shrimp is very tasty (better than I expect. I only ordered curry chicken before). The beef and scallops are taste good too. Shanghai inn has lots of items on the menu, except g. tso chickien, lo mein and fried rice, I always try something new and never disappointed me.

    General chicken

    General chicken. Taste was okay but I've had better. I couldn't eat anymore after seeing pink chicken. They also made my order wrong. I asked for an order of veggie rolls because they said they had them and I asked for steamed rice instead of fried rice. They gave me fried rice and a side of steamed rice. I don't think I can go back. Also they have remodeling going on and has a heavy cigarette smell. I should've walked out in that moment

    Kung Pao chicken dinner come with rice
    Mel S.

    This place is great for Chinese on the run. All of the chicken dishes are made with chicken breast which is a huge plus. Everything is plated well & cooked fresh, served hot. The sauces have good flavor & the portions are large. Definitely enough to share for two. It's overall the best Chinese in the area.

    Mapo tofu with a side of huge roach!

    Never order from this place. There was a whole ass huge roach in my food!! Thank God I checked before I ate. Shut this place down!!!

    General Tso Chicken (Left) Orange Chicken (Right)
    Robert S.

    I Used To Eat Here All The Time For Lunch. I've Had The Entire Lunch Menu. I Suggest The "Pressed Chicken w/ Fried Rice". The Prices Are Really Good, The Portions Are Very Large, And The Food Is Prepared Quickly. I Dined In Once, The Dine-In Experience Is Not As Good As The Takeout Experience. I Think The Good Even Taste Better Takeout. Dine-In The Food Seemed Rushed. Not To Mention They Have Cocktails On The Menu, But They Do Not Serve Cocktails. I Will Go To This Place A Thousand Times Again, But Only For Lunch.

    N4. Shanghai Inn Special Pan Fried Noodles N4. Shanghai Inn Special Pan Fried Noodles

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    3 months ago

    Person at the front was rude before we even had a moment to sit down. Sarcastic and condescending. Not a way to run a business.

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    8 months ago

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    6 months ago

    I thought the service was excellent, the place is like any old school Chinese restaurant. The food was really good. 2 thumbs up.

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    3 months ago

    Their pressed chicken is fabulous! Portions are super generous. The lunch specials can't be beat. The hostess is very welcoming.

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    8 years ago

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    1 year ago

    this food was terrible I threw up 3 times so every time I took a but do not order the beef and broccoli or sweet and sour pork.

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    4 years ago

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    Yihai W.

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    11 years ago

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    4 years ago

    The lunch special is delicious Great place to eat at and very nice service. I ordered chicken lo mein the noodles are good

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Ordered food and it was never delivered. Attempted to reach the driver, who had called me and didn't receive a response.

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    Yihai W.

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    5 years ago

    I've been going here for over 25 years and it has been delicious and one of the most consistent places I eat at.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Shanghai Inn

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    Viva Restaurant

    4.6(19 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    This restaurant is very consistent and never fails to impress me. The restaurant is clean and…read morespacious. The servers are attentive and friendly, and they make sure that your water glass is filled. The garlic butter chicken wings are simply spectacular! The chicken wings are ginormous, the batter is light and crispy and the garlic butter sauce pairs so well with chicken. The salt and pepper squid was piping hot and the batter was also light and airy, and the calamari was cooked perfectly. The beef was pricey but absolutely worth it! The waiter asked how we wanted the cook on the beef, and the beef was a perfect medium rare. The meat was so tender and flavorful with an excellent char and the sauce was so flavorful. I really appreciate the abundance of vegetables that come with each dish and the portion sizes are quite generous. My diagnosis: come here for perfectly executed Vietnamese staples!

    Wow I was very impressed. I'm sad that I didn't discover this restaurant until fairly recently, but…read moreI've been here twice and both times were great! The food can be a bit pricey ($35 for bo luc lac, for example) but flavors are great overall and the service is also really good! It's not super high end in terms of decor but certainly well above average and pretty nice compared to the standard Vietnamese restaurant. (For example, yes to white table cloths, but they are layers of plastic.) My quick rapid fire recommendations: 1. Chicken wings - they are absolutely ginormous, amazing flavor, and totally worth the price though they seem expensive on the surface. 2. Fried calamari salt and pepper - delicious! I can't quite describe it ... a hint of funnel cake batter flavor? There's something quite special about this one and it's quite tasty. 3. Shaking beef (bo luc lac) - amazing! Ask for the beef to be medium rare as opposed to medium. Dip those beef chunks into the lime dipping sauce and oh my... you're in heaven. The service is also top notch and not your standard Asian restaurant level. Located off West Little York, close to 290 - it's a hidden gem in Northwest Houston not too far from the city. The space is bigger than you would expect so it's also great for large parties if you can reserve the space. Enjoy!

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    Blue Harbor Seafood & Mariscos - Fried Fish Platter

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    4.2(29 reviews)
    6.1 mi

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    Ok, this is going to be painful because the waitress was so nice but the food is horrible…read more We were the only diners at 7 p.m. on a Friday. The fried mushrooms were awful. "Flat" breading. - The cod was rubbery. I could not eat. Sent it back for fried catfish. Fishy. - -Tartar sauce is served in a plastic squeeze bottle and is runny. -Salad was just a very basic bowl of iceberg with three tiny slices of tomatoes and cucumber topped with mixed cheese. Dressing was like water and in a plastic squeeze bottle. - hushpuppies were the best thing, but not in the shape of a ball, but a small dog turd. - on the seafood platter, the best thing were the fried oysters. - baked potato was not even good. Served in foil and plain. You are given one plastic tube of sour cream and some margarine in those tiny cups (like at Wendy's or other fast food). No crackers on table. Before tip, $63. Very sad. They will be closed by October at this rate.

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    Captain Tom’s Seafood & Oyster Bar

    4.0(713 reviews)
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    I've been a longtime customer of Captain Tom's Seafood & Oyster Bar and it's been one of my go-to…read morespots for seafood, so I was really looking forward to my recent visit after being away for a while. Unfortunately, I noticed a big change this time around. The breading on both the fish and shrimp tasted different--much saltier and kind of overpowered the flavor. Not sure if the recipe has changed, but I personally prefer the original breading. That light, well-seasoned coating was part of what made me keep coming back over the years. Hoping this was just an off day or that the original recipe makes a comeback soon

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    Captain Tom’s Seafood & Oyster Bar - FRESH seafood

    FRESH seafood

    Captain Tom’s Seafood & Oyster Bar - Dang- that was awesome!

    Dang- that was awesome!

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    Shanghai Inn - chinese - Updated May 2026

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