Shanghai Stories 1938

Mediocre at best. I’ve had better xiao long baos. Not enough soup in soup dumplings and lacked flavor. Naming other restaurants would not be useful because they’re not in Australia.
The chicken with chili oil was not spicy at all and there was more breading on the chicken than there was chicken. Of the 6 dishes we ordered, the string bean with minced pork was the best. The streamed pork buns were good.
They have a creative menu; it was like looking through a magazine.

Shanghai Stories is a bit different than other Chinese restaurants, but that is mostly about the menu. As other reviewers have noted, it is beautifully laid out and deserves the «magazine» description. Since this is a Shanghainese restaurant, it serves dumplings along with other regionally typical dishes. Frankly, you are much better off going to a dedicated dumpling house than here — you’ll find better quality and lower prices. The other dishes were mostly very good with a couple of clear standouts including the black pepper beef and fish in chili oil. Very good service but nothing special from a décor standpoint, which belies the interesting restaurant name and beautiful menu. I was expecting something historical looking or like Mr. Wong’s in the CBD. Nope. All told, pretty good, but expensive for what it is with may better options right in the Chatswood area.

This place has the best Xiao Long Boas (shanghainese pork dumplings) hands down. I have been to Din Tai Fung, Shanghai Nights, Ashfield, everywhere bro. This place has the best ones and they are one of the cheapest, hands down.
And I’m from Shanghai so this is legit OG no BS, trust me. #NoRagrets

Awesome food a little high in cost but you won’t regret paying at the end of the meal. The dumplings were great even the spring rolls made me think what the hell was I served all these years. The menu was more like a magazine but all the favourites from China were there even the birdsnest dishes which I was advised was actually saliva collected from small birds — sounds Chinese to me — wasn’t game to try today but maybe next time.

No no no! It is so wrong on all fronts. Service, ordering, food. It’s just wrong!

Well I’ve read a few pretty average reviews about Shanghai Stories so I was a little hesitant about trying it out when I went with a friend last week.
Unlike others who seemed to have some poor experiences, mine was nothing but positive! I can however see how people can definitely have opposite views. This was highlighted when we first walked in. There were groups of people out the front waiting to be seated, but as soon as we walked up we were taken to a table instantly. I assume they were after bigger tables than us, but I don’t know for sure. What I do know was that I wouldn’t be so happy about seeing people rock up with no reservation and taken to a table instantly (without checking the list of groups waiting to be seated).
The service was very friendly but they were clearly rushed and struggling to keep up with demand. I think having so many small dishes of food makes life difficult for floor staff. I never saw a waiter/​waitress ever standing doing nothing, they were non stop.
The food was really lovely. We had something that was on special, and some of the staple dishes. All were tasty and fresh. The only real downside was that we received our desert the same time out entrée came out. So it had to sit on the edge of the table the entire meal. Not ideal, but not the end of the world either.
I can see how some people can possibly have not the best experience with Shanghai Stories (overworked floor staff, and waiting lists for tables), but I’m happy to say mine was great!

Dumplings!
I guess there’s some other stuff here, but it’s all really just entrée or desserts before the dumplings. Best I’ve found in Chatswood!