Shanghai Chinese Restaurant

My favorite spot for Dim Sum for alllll my years in Rochester (aka since I was born). Even coming from San Francisco it is hard to find affordable, good quality dim sum that comes on carts in the city! Food is delicious and hot. Waitstaff is attentive and friendly. I just witnessed one of the waiters entertaining a fussy kid with a trinket (cue awwwwws). This restaurant definitely feels like home and is must try especially for Saturday and Sunday dim sum service. I would share pics… but we ate it all too quick.

My family’s first time in the restaurant was also our last. Yesterday, when the server put down the plates, I noticed my daughter’s had particles of food on it. When mine was placed in front of me, not only did it also have particles of food on it, but then one of the particles SCURRIED ACROSS THE PLATE. It was a baby roach! The server took it back and apologized, ran to the kitchen where we overheard two men speaking frantically in another language. Then the server came back, took all the plates and brought a warm, cleaner stack.
But the damage had been done. My son could not eat his food after that, and neither could I. His meal was comp’d because he never touched it, but that was the extent of any compensation. The only reason we stayed was because we had already driven for forty minutes and this was the third restaurant we’d been to that was actually open at that time on a Sunday.
I love supporting local restaurants, especially those owned and run by people of color. It breaks my heart that this happened. And it was severely triggering on a personal level. Growing up impoverished, I’ve dealt with my share of roaches. When I take my family out to eat, I want it to be a healthy and positive experience.
Roaches in a restaurant are not only disgusting, but hazardous.

Terrible food quality. We ordered a type of duck which is a cold dish and it smells a bit sour! I told the servant, he responded that since the duck was treated with salt and pepper it’s impossible to go bad and the sour smell is the smell of pepper and salt. How ridiculously it that! Even though the servant is pretty courtesy, what he said is purely fooling us. How can salt and pepper smell sour! We feel so bad that we did not argue anymore.
And what’s adding to that, we ordered 8 treasure and tofu clay pot and the entire pot taste sour! That’s typical when the restaurant pre-​cook the dish and later on just heat it up to serve but did not store it properly so the food went bad. We did not even bother to complain about the clay pot because we were so disappointed about the duck already. Based on this clay pot, it’s most likely what happened to the duck is that the restaurant kept the duck for quite long time since nobody order it, and it went bad, and then we ordered it, we got a bad duck. All these things clearly show that Shanghai handles their food in bad way, serves non-​fresh or even bad food, and lie to their customers! For the sake of food safety, my health, and mood, I will never return to this restaurant, never

So a few friends and I usually go here on the weekends to eat, it’s become our usual place for authentic Chinese and most of the time this place is 4 star quality overall. Not today, today we were seated and no one greeted us for like 5 minutes, the place wasn’t full house but it seemed they didn’t have enough people on staff, this wasn’t a good sign. Finally we we were greeted and the waiter was trying to rush us and kept asking us what we wanted even though we didn’t figure it out yet, we needed time and I had a few friends who never came here and we’re surprised by the service of the waiter. Food and drinks came out fine after a while but the guy forgot the rice that came with our meal and we had to wait another 15 minutes for that. Eventually Things looked like it would work out ok despite the service provided so we asked for our tab. Upon paying out at the front, the same waiter saw us sign the tip and DARED TO TELL me that I wasn’t tipping enough and asked me to give him more tip. IM SORRY BUT EXECUSE ME? Are you serious, never have I been asked this in my life, I’ve worked in this profession before and I certainly know what’s appropriate and what’s not, I tip base on how well the service was, I guess this server is new or something because that certainly isn’t how you treat your customers, management should probably look into this guy. If you guys come here don’t get this guy, rude …

After 20 years of going to Shanghai, I had to the worst experience last week!!! I’ve always enjoyed their food especially their hot-​n-​spicy shrimp. The sauce is usually sweet and spicy with slices of zucchini, onions and peppers!!! It’s usually the same all the time. Last Thursday I get home with one of my favorite meals of all times, and it’s inedible!!! the sauce was tasteless and the shrimp was cooked beyond death!!! I now feel like I’m going through a horrible divorce!!! Oh well Shanghai thanks for 20 years.

Along with the warm, welcoming and peaceful atmosphere, the food and service here are great. This authentic Chinese restaurant offers more for the customer and dining experience than your average local Chinese restaurant. You can come to this restaurant and expect delicious food and awesome service. The staff is friendly and respectful, will treat you like a regular, and the lunch deals and prices are unbeatable. 5 stars.

After so many years passing by Shanghai Chinese Restaurant on W. Henrietta Rd., we gave it a try on a Sunday afternoon. It was nearly empty except for two other patrons. Our waiter was very helpful. He answered all our questions and took care of us very kindly and patiently. We ordered egg rolls, and 3 dishes to share — please see pictures: Chuan Jiao chicken, Kung Pao Chicken and Shrimp Lo Mein. Egg rolls were oily but otherwise very good. Kung Pao Chicken was really — perhaps the best I have had in Rochester. Chuan Jioa Chicken was really good too with nicely cooked green beans. Not a big fan of their Lo Mein.
Prices are reasonable. Again, service was much better than normal in Chinese restaurants.
I love to go back and try one of their whole fish dishes.

My boyfriend and I stopped in recently for dinner and it definitely was amazing! We ordered the General Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, Scallion Pancake, and the Spring Rolls. I would definitely recommend any/​all of these dishes. The service was very good and quick. The food was tasty, and the portions were good sized. The also have the option to do take-​out, so definitely do that if you don’t have time to stop in (although sitting in is worth it!).

I used to frequent Shanghai many years ago. Ownership changes the past couple of years lead to very inconsistent foods and service. Went again last night and everything is phenomenal again like it’s glory days. The interior has been updated. The portions were great, the service was friendly! The flavors were perfectly balanced, they made our spicy dishes medium which is how we like it! We’re going to start frequenting this restaurant again. Their shrimp spring rolls were delicious, perfectly fried. Pro-​tip: dip the spring rolls in the duck sauce provided with the crispy noodles.

Better than most take out and delivery places but not as good as some other restaurants. Usually hard to order as communication is hard. Bring your Chinese friend along. Nice atmosphere though

My family took me here for Mother’s Day 2015 because they know I love Chinese food. For many years we frequented Kam Wah in Penfield twice weekly until it closed.
First, the good. An employee held the door for us as it was pouring rain when we arrived. He was friendly and helpful. Our server (whose name was never offered) was sweet and she was friendly. The pork shreds in garlic sauce and crispy beef (extra spic) were okay. The pork was a better dish overall. The beef was a touch too sweet but still decent. The little ones had fair sweet and sour shrimp and shrimp fried rice and were happy with their choices. Another had beef with scallions and cleaned the plate.
Unfortunately, the negative outweighed the positive. We ordered the beef in scallion pancakes and scallion pancakes for starters. Both were greasy and tough. Though I asked for chili garlic sauce with the fried noodles, I was given hot mustard. The chili garlic sauce may have helped cut the grease on the pancakes, but we can’t know for certain. They tasted as though they were reheated in a microwave and/​or cooked in oil that was old or the wrong temperature. The scallion pancakes were heavy, too. One son ordered the smoked fish clay pot. He’s a fairly adventurous eater but couldn’t get past the overwhelming quantity of eggplant in the pot. (It was funny however, that one of us got a fortune cookie with a lesson on how to say «eggplant» in Chinese after the meal!) There was very little of anything else and again, it was seriously heavy handed with the grease. Overall, the food was a mixed bag.
Major negatives go for the women’s bathroom cleanliness, though. The women’s sanitary bins were both so full the lids were propped open by the contents. And despite a female employee being in the bathroom when I entered, there were paper towels and toilet paper on the floor (which was wet all over.) Additionally, the lazy Susan in the center of our table was sticky to the touch, there was a significant amount of food under our table when we arrived, and the restaurant carpet was stained and frayed in many places (especially near the ladies restroom.) It wasn’t anywhere near closing time, so the amount of dirty in an unattended pile on the carpet near the bar was a little off putting, too.
I have to dock them a bit for ambiance, too, as they had Chinese music playing through the speaker system but it was drowned out at times by the karaōke that was playing at the bar. It clashed, making it tough to hear one over the other.

I have already reviewed the food here and a recent visit was a repeat of the delicious entrees available for lunch. This rating is to concentrate on the service we received from our waiter, John. First, he’s such a cheerful fellow, but his ability to anticipate our needs was amazing. My husband ordered his Sesame Chicken entrée extra spicy and after the first bite was just telling me he wished it was a bit hotter when John arrived with hot pepper oil. Mind you, this was without being asked. After we finished our meal he brought us a plate of orange segments to freshen our palates. I doubt that he’ll always have the time to be so attentive, but you can hope to get one of his tables on your next visit to Shanghai.

This is hands down the best Chinese food I’ve ever had. The meal starts out with crispy noodles and a sweet sauce, tea, and a basic soup. Free of charge. The rest of your meal, chosen from a huge menu, will only increase in deliciousness. The atmosphere is what you’d expect of a Chinese restaurant, the family is incredibly friendly, and their takeout delivery is fast as all heck. Great date night restaurant and my favorite place to go in the area.

I’m a bit worried that when I went for take-​out on Friday night, only a few tables were occupied in the rather large dining room. Multiple changes of ownership (although I’m told they are related) over the last few years has taken it’s toll on both food quality and service. I hope Shanghai survives as after the Wockery had closed, it’s one of the only full-​service Chinese restaurants left in this area. Lots of other Asian choices.
I think the loyal patrons had left when things went downhill and didn’t come back. We still find the food of good quality, but not consistent in preparation. If you have a «spicy» dish, watch for the peppers that are left to deliver the heat, but not meant to be eaten.
Menu is extensive and contains both Chinese and Thai entrees. I’ve always found the service to be friendly and the owners are usually manning the register and can see the whole room, so they «should» be available if there is a service problem. I have to attribute the bad service reviews to a fluke..

I used to come here frequently for a few authentic dishes, despite the inconsistent quality, recipes, and purely sad service.
It is under new management now and I was pleasantly surprised with the refined menu and excellent authentic dishes (ask for the Chinese home style menu). While the typical items remain mixed of fried meats and tofu in «brown» sauce, the authentic dishes are outstanding. I loved the Chengdu style chicken – it was just like I had in Chengdu years back. The service is a huge upgrade. The place is clean, brighter, and now had more foot traffic. I’m looking forward to my next visit.

One of my favorite places. As with «Chris L“‘s review, my views may be slightly skewed as I too believe I may or may not be given extra food with meals. Who knows!
Also keep in mind however, this place is getting a 4 star AFTER I’ve been here roughly 100 or so times. I’ve never had a single problem with anything in this establishment.
ALSO to note: Not everything I’ve eaten here is on the ‘menu’ per say. That being said I’ve also eaten many things that ARE on the menu. The thing I order the most is the Beef Noodle Stew. This is basically my «noodle» restaurant.
Pros —
FREE TEA.
+The noodles are made perfectly, just like mother always made them. If you were lucky enough to be raised by my mother, which, you probably weren’t, so you should eat here to see what you missed out on.
+The meats are always perfectly cooked, regardless of what you order. I’ve never had something dried out that wasn’t meant to be.
+The noodles.
+The have TONS of entrees to suit your taste. Mostly americanized stuff but there’s a few authentic things that are good.
+The noodles.
+The Dim Sum is ACTUALLY good here. Seriously.
+The noodles.
+The service is amazing. The staff take extra care to make sure you enjoy your stay. I can honestly say it’s one of only maybe 3 or 4 establishments I’ve ever eaten in that I liked every single worker I met.
+…Yeah…the noodles.
The CONS —
–Some of the more «Americanized» dishes are lacking, I tried some of what my friend ordered, thus the lowered 5.0 to 4, but if you order the Beef Noodle Stew it’s still very excellent.

We have been coming here for a very long time, probably since I was 2 or 3 years old. My parents know the owners and we come here every so often for dinner.
So the location is at the corner of the Brighton Henrietta town line road and w Henrietta. It’s right next to the delta sonic.
Fairly busy section of town and parking can be a bit of a challenge when it’s snowy and slushy, but there is ample parking.
Their menu has changed a bit over the years. Currently it’s mainly Chinese with some other Asian cuisine like Thai, Indian, and Vietnamese. We don’t always order off of the menu though. Certain dishes are fairly common and us Asians know how to order them ;)
The service is pretty good. The waiters and waitresses are all Chinese but they so a decent job speaking English. They are attentive and friendly. The food varies in terms of how heavy handed they do flavoring and the way they cook the food, but overall it’s pretty decent. Recently we got some Asian veggies and we requested no salt and no flavorings, just stir fried. But it was still salted. I wasn’t too happy about that. However, they did my mu shu pork very nicely and the pancake wraps were fresh and doughy. Quite good.
Overall I think they could use some work on consistency but the quality and service is quite good. 3.5 stars.

Fine for those who want the usual fried Americanized Chinese food. If you’d like anything authentic, go elsewhere. No Shanghai foods on the menu!
It would only be possible in Rochester for a place like this to stay open for 30 years. Low expectations. :)

A cockroach there tried to eat ME!
I had to give an additonal star because my family knows the owner… hahaha

Before reading this review, please keep two things in mind:
1. I happen to be Asian. Though I am not fluent, or even conversational, in any Asian dialects, I use my appearance to my advantage in many situations, such as job interviews, to intimidate my peers in head-​to-​head mathematics competitions (middle school), and to seduce Asian History majors and animé enthusiasts alike (see my girlfriend). Gaining access to delicious food in Asian restaurants is no exception.
2. I, as well as my fellow dining companions, believed we were grossly UNDERcharged for our meal. Consequently, my rating for Shanghai may be slightly inflated due to the ridiculously low price we paid to eat our asses off.
Either way, I will undoubtedly be a regular at this establishment, thanks to James M.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
We arrived at noon on a Sunday. James M., A.B., and a friend had already been seated, so my girlfriend and I joined them at a round 5-​person table. Immediately, we were greeted by a smiling Chinese woman with a cart full of treasures.
Like so many dim sum experiences I’ve had in the past, I cannot recall all of the dishes I consumed. We had over a dozen different things, each one better than the last. On the other hand, unlike a lot of dim sum experiences I’ve had in the past, there wasn’t a single item that was improperly cooked or made me whisper to my girlfriend, «That was fucking gross.»
Every dish was, at the very least, good.
The sticky rice in banana leaf — great.
The stuffed snow crab claws — awesome.
The shrimp dumplings — as good as Wegmans (and y’all know how much I love those things).
The duck — the best duck I’ve had in a while.
The pork buns — fluffy and porky.
The chicken feet — surprisingly manageable, non-​crumbly (the worst), and slathered in a flavorful sauce.
The black pepper pork short ribs — delicious.
The tea — free!
The only thing I wouldn’t order again were the scallion pancakes, and even those were probably a 6 out of 10.
To finish, the table selected some coconut buns stuffed with peanuts and red bean buns with sesame seeds. Both were excellent, and although the red bean buns were different than the steamed ones I’ve had in the past, I liked them.
Now for the best part. We divided the bill five ways and it ended up being $ 7.56 per person! Mind you, I personally ate so much that I felt like I was going to vomit once I got outside and I couldn’t eat for another six hours. Moreover, I’m pretty sure that James actually did vomit in the bathroom (though mostly due to a night of heavy drinking, rather than copious amounts of food). We deliberated over the shockingly low cost of our meal and when no one could figure out how many dishes we actually ordered, we said «screw it» and each put in $ 10.
My only advice: pace yourselves. You’re gonna want to order at least 5 things from every cart, but I urge you to resist that temptation. Each cart brings new and exciting things, so get only the very best looking items and move on. Otherwise, you’ll be doubled over when a plate of freshly-​fried deliciousness rolls by.
Holy crap, I love this place.