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Shanghai Saloon

4.0 (385 reviews)
ModerateBars, Chinese
Closed Closed
Updated over 3 months ago

Order Shanghai Saloon Takeout or Delivery

Shanghai Saloon Photos

Business Info

SHANGHAI SALOON ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Trendy
Moderate noise
Good for kids

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Walnut Shrimp.  Wonderful!
Bob D.

Why did it take us so long to find Shanghai Saloon? Stopped in last night for dinner with friends and it was awesome. Service was excellent and the food was great. It was busy but not packed and there was no wait to be seated. Lively but not too loud. We will definitely be back.

Rachel M.

Pretty loud ambience on a Thursday evening during dinner rush, as far as portions they are large portions. Overall quick efficient service from the door to where we sat. Everything came piping hot, and had decent flavor. In my opinion the lamb chow mein was overly sauced. Fried calamari My favorite.

Lychee martini
Annie D.

No wait for dinner at 5pm on a Wednesday. Easily found street parking as well. Overall, great place for Chinese food but soup dumplings not as good as Din Tai Fung. Portions are generous. Service was good. Soup dumplings - 3/5 wrapper is too thick Beef broccoli - 5/5 didn't get to try but husband loved it Walnut shrimp - 5/5 shrimps are very big, crispy and light Shredded pork with green beans - 4/5 good flavor Garlic baked fish - 3/5 enjoyed the fish but didn't care for the bok choy Deluxe fried rice - 5/5 really delicious Lychee martini - 5/5 great flavor, cute presentation

Hao W.

This restaurant is definitely more of American Vietnamese/Chinese fusion than a traditional place. Their lunch menu is similar to what is served at Minh Ky which is great as this place is closer to my home. I enjoyed my bowl of crispy chicken noodle soup. Broth is light and that paired with the crispy chicken makes a great lunch. I was also surprised by the dumpling. Sometimes with restaurants this may taste like something you can make a home, this pan fried gyoza tasted fresh. The chef is COOKING. Service is. good, he was attentive and got Chinese vinegar for the gyozas. Parking can be hard, you really need to pay attention to the non covered parking slots (that's free for 2 hours).

Orange Chicken*
Laila S.

Amazing Asian food with incredible flavor, a great ambiance, and top-notch service. Everything was fresh and beautifully prepared, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the staff was friendly and attentive. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to! Definitely try the orange chicken!

Kentucky sunset
Nate C.

Made a quick stop here for a light lunch on a busy Sunday afternoon. I haven't been here in a few years but I used to visit here frequently. It was slightly busy so if you're coming with a large party it's best to call in advance or get here early to give them time to cater to your party. The parking in this lot is always terrible so unless you're trying to pay for parking in the garage I'd suggest looking for street parking near by. Everything is pretty much how I remembered. I normally only get a few rounds of the Xiaolongbao and some beers to wash it down. I'm my opinion, the quality is pretty good for the price. A lot of high-end Chinese restaurants charge almost double for what you're getting here. I believe it was about $13-$14 for a tray of Xiaolongbao. They used to have fried pig ears here that we're so good. I wish they would bring them back. I really don't have anything negative to say about this spot. Service was great, food was delicious, and prices are more than fair.

Caitlin N.

We ordered a good amount of food for a Saturday lunch and were seated + served so quickly! On top of that, we felt that we definitely got our money's worth. Despite it being easy, we still enjoyed how spacious the restaurant was and how quickly we were helped. The food was also great, I think this was one of my favorite walnut shrimps I've tried in a while. I will definitely be back!

Xia Long Bao, Soup Dumplings "XLB" (10)
David S.

Although parking can be a nightmare, it's worth a visit. The restaurant is pretty large and has a bar area. There is no happy hour but there are some specials depending on which day you come. The service was amazing. The server was constantly refilling drinks, and making sure empty plates were removed and cleared. The food comes in very large portions so definitely come hungry with multiple mouths to feed. The bao's were a little thick and somewhat on the large side but not bad if they were hot. Unfortunately the bok choy was over cooked. The rest of the food was good and you can't go wrong if anything you choose. With its central location right in convoy, go check it out.

Melissa S.

this place is FIRE! I vaguely remember trying it years ago but don't remember it being that good. We came around 845-9 on a Saturday night. There was no line, no wait and it was busy but not overly packed. Everything came out within 5-10minutes after we ordered and we loved everything! We tried the vegetable chow mein, kung pao seafood, vegetable fries rice and xiao long bao. The bao was the only thing that took a bit longer but they did give us a heads up to order that first! I was craving Chinese food so this deff got the spot. I was expecting the kung pao to be spicey but it was actually more on the sweet side. Not bad but I would want to try a spicy item next time. Will definitely be coming back!

Combination Deluxe Fried Rice
Nancy T.

Food is always great! Our server is a resident server and very serious and straight to business. He doesn't do small talk at all; but it could also be that he's just busy. It's always busy here and the tvs at the bar are always playing with current sports. Ambiance is casual and great for small or large parties. Drinks are always great.

Alexis M.

We ended up at Shanghai Saloon while visiting San Diego since a lot of the other spots we had in mind had long waits. We had a group of six and were seated right away, which was nice. The restaurant is huge, with tons of space and seating. That said, the service was a bit lacking. As for the food, I thought it was just okay. I eat a lot of Asian food regularly, and this didn't really hit the mark for me. Probably wouldn't come back.

Genette D.

We actually had more food just didn't make it to the pics cause it was all gone haha that's how good the food is. Came here for dinner for a big family celebration and was pretty busy but seated within 20 mins, our server was very nice and patient with us. The decor was great! Felt like china town and the smell as soon as you walk in man it smelled good! Food is shareable they come a lot and very tasty.

Teeling L.

We were in the area looking for Shanghai style pan fried noodles. When we walked in it's like transported to old Shanghai era! Beautiful old fashioned Shanghainese style designs! We got seated right away. There's bar that you can order from and tables all around. Absolutely adores the atmosphere! Service was ok but not so attractive. Food is pretty traditional but not as tasty as I expected. Our pan fried noodles taste pretty good so we were happy with it. We didn't order any cocktails because nothing catches our eyes. Overall the place is decent and would recommend to anyone who wants some Shanghainese food :)

Honey Glazed Shrimp (Sweet & Tangy Honey Glaze)*

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2 months ago

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Business owner information

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Sandy T.

Lunch menu is from the previous owner of Minh Ky :)

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8 months ago

Food and service were great!!! The food is served family style and the portions were just right.

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Sandy T.

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9 months ago

The food is very consistent and great for families, it gets busy during weekends, so be prepared to wait, but nothing crazy so far.

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4 months ago

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Thank you Lulu! We appreciate you.

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Shanghai Saloon Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Shanghai Saloon

Do they take reservations or is it first come first serve?

It is basically first come first served. They do take reservations for large parties of 16 or more. Anything smaller than that is walk-in.

Do they have any gluten free options?

There are LOTS of items with flour/gluten -- noodles, dumpling wrappers, coatings/batters on fried items -- but there are some gluten free options. Definitely the ahi poke salad, and the different fried rice dishes that don't have battered/fried… Read more

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Favorite cocktail bar in San Diego! We make it a point to come here every time we visit. The inside…read moreis incredibly well-decorated and detail-oriented. It really feels like you've stepped onto another planet. The whole space-themed concept is so fun, from the drinks to the food. Every cocktail we've tried has been delicious and surprisingly strong. The cups are super cute too, and we somehow always end up buying one to take home. The staff are very friendly and helpful, especially if you can't decide what to order. It's a really casual and fun spot for date night or hanging out with friends.

I love a bar with a curated vibe, and Mothership is definitely it. My friend booked a reservation…read morehere and our table was ready when they said it would be! I got the Tracking Device, and my friends got the Mindkiller and Away Mission. The Tracking Device was zeroproof and a very delicious mocktail! The tang from the lime and floral taste from the hibiscus made it very pleasant to sip on as the night went on. The cocktails here are STRONG, so drink accordingly lol. My friend couldn't finish his entire Mindkiller drink because it was so strong, but he did enjoy it. The bathrooms are super cool, and the interior is very trippy and chic. I'm a big fan of how much effort and attention to detail the creators put into this location.

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Mothership - The bar area

The bar area

Mothership - Mindkiller

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False Idol - Isn't it gorgeous?!

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4.4(1.4k reviews)
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False idol is a tucked away Hawaiian themed speakeasy behind a restaurant. Reservations are…read morerequired so be mindful of that before going. Once inside seating is first come first served so the place is insanely crowded with people trying to get drinks. Service is a little confusing as the waiters will come up to you with a menu asking for your order instead of an order at the bar type of thing. Once we actually got a seat things were okay. The menu is mostly rum drinks since this is a rum bar however since I'm not the biggest fan I ordered the only thing with tequila on the menu. My drink was actually really good, it was refreshing, not too sweet or strong at all. I just wish there would be more variety.

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False Idol - Tiki themed decor

Tiki themed decor

False Idol - Rum barrel

Rum barrel

False Idol - Back bar rum selection

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If you're reading this, it's because you're desperately hunting for a place that lives up to (or…read moreoutlives) what you thought was your old favorite spot. We've done the rounds. Everywhere. And nothing touches this scene. Great drinks. Even better people. The kind of place where you walk in for "just one" and somehow look up three hours later wondering how you got so comfortable, so fast. Whether it's your first stop of the night or your last, you'll spend the entire time grinning like you're exactly where you're supposed to be and nowhere you're supposed to be. Pro tip: mention the name Lee at the door for free popcorn all night. (Okay, fine. The popcorn's already free. But now you've got an excuse to say Lee's name with confidence.) Get yourselves down here and plug into the energy. We're officially hooked. See you at Aero Club.

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Aero Club Bar
Aero Club Bar - After wedding tings

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Aero Club Bar - Outdoor bbq area

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Noble Experiment - Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail

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Noble Experiment - Spiced banana flip! Delicious!

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Noble Experiment - Bartenders creations.

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Realm of the 52 Remedies - Sitting area

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Realm of the 52 Remedies - Main dining area

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Forbidden Cove - Painkiller (left) and Mai Tai (right)

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Forbidden Cove - Tiki Key

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Shanghai Saloon - bars - Updated May 2026

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