Grand Shanghai

Only rating Shanghai dishes, although they are not specifically marked on the menu. My favorite one was A29, Dry Bean Curd w. Green Minced Vegetable.

Sucks that fire destroyed this local Chinese eatery in late January. Hope the owner had insurance and could rebuild this place. They could use a décor update.
Dishes I like are the crab and normal pork soup dumpling. The scallion pan cakes are pretty good. Sushi is surprisingly good here, it used to so-​so but they must have hired a better sushi chef last year.
Don’t order the beef noodle soup, not even close to authentic.
Well, can’t post any other review since I’m now sure if this place will ever re-​open.

I’ve lived in the area for over a decade now and I’ve seen restaurants come and go at this location. But grand shanghai is the only one that stuck around, so that must mean something!
This place in general is on the expensive side of chinese food, but the food is not bad at all. I love their xiao long bao (XLB), they are perfectly steamed with the right amount of soup inside. They are also not small in size (when you put the bao in your soup spoon, it almost overflows). Each serving comes with 6 XLBs. The skin is «strong» enough that they don’t break when you pick them up. We usually order this in mass amount right when we sit down. :D
Last time i got the beef on sizzling pan. We ordered it because another table had it and it smelled really good. The beef was tender. It came in black sauce with onions. It’s a good dish for a family meal. The shanghai soup dumpling (aka lion’s head) was a bit blend. Their garlic snow pea leaves was a bit on the oily side, but i ate half of that dish anyways. My friends ordered the spicy beef cooked in red hot chili oil… I didn’t dare to try, but the portion came out in a large bowl. They didn’t have a problem finishing the dish and thought it not too spicy.
I think the best part about this place is that it has a sushi bar and it’s half-​priced (not sure when the discounts are) The sushi wasn’t the greatest, but it sure satisfied my sushi craving. The fact that I got to eat XLB and sushi in the same meal made me so happy!

Glen — «Have you ever had anything bad here?»
Sarah — «I’ve never had anything less then amazing here!»

an update from my recent visit:
Shao Long Bao (Juicy Buns) were good
regular entrees are much much smaller than before — made me feel like i got ripped off

Growing up in Central Jersey, this place was one of my Dad and Uncle’s favorite «authentic» Shanghai restaurants, so it was no surprise that we had our recent, technically pre-​mid-​Autumn festival family reunion there.
Echoing previous Unilocalers, this place is in a decorative time-​warp, looking exactly as I remember it 10 years ago (minus that new sushi bar they put in the back). That’s not necessarily a bad thing — I think it’s charming and nostalgic, but other diners might find it incongruous and fashionably-​challenged (especially the empty decorative liquor bottles in the windows — what’s up with that?)
The food is authentic, no question. The homemade xiaolongbao here are pretty good — they’ll hold their own against any other restaurant in the Edison or Central NJ area. The pork shoulder and braised whole fish are also pretty solid — they’re our usual go-to’s for larger meals. If you just want a light, dim-​sum brunch, plenty of great options too — though we were less than impressed with the juicy, pan-​fried dumplings (sheng jian bao) and fried crullers (youtiao) the last time we were here.

This place is like bizarro world… I came here for some xiao long bao, or soup dumplings. What I found was a strange Chinese restaurant that looked retro in a cool but kinda divey way.
We waited for like 15 minutes before I finally just flagged a waiter to order a drink. What I received was a double strength Mai tai ($ 8). In the spirit of brunch, I decided to try and get a good buzz going. the restaurant was playing some old school bad midi sounding techno for some strange reason… I went with it… for about 20 minutes while we waited for our food. The people sho sat down after us received their food before us, and that’s when even morning alcohol couldn’t suppress my ire towards these clueless servers.
The dumplings were supposed to be their specialty but what I found was a doughy, unremarkable mess. When I get fresh Xiao long bao at other places, they come out piping hot… delectable bites filled with a savory broth flavored by the fresh pork balls inside. These were lukewarm, they stuck to the paper, tearing way too easily, and the dough was way too thick. I was seriously disappointed… save your money, I dont understand why anyone still comes here.

As I drove by the Grand Shanghai restaurant the sign out front «Rated by Zagat, Best Asian Restaurant in town» caught my attention. Wow, That’s is a bold statement considering the large Asian population within the Edison area. I pulled over and headed in.
The restaurant is rustic, the décor is basic but the food and service is superb. The half price sushi rolls are a great bargain.
This is not your «local» Chinese takeout place with pork fried rice and chicken wing combinations. The fair is from Chinese authentic, Shanghai regional cuisine to a very good Sesame Chicken. Bring your appetite, leave full and with a doggy bag. I strongly recommend this place.

Came here on a friend’s recommendation. Tried the shanghai juicy dumplings, which I’m told are made fresh when ordered! Also had the spicy fish fillet, which was perfectly cooked, well-​seasoned, and visually appealing. The fish was very moist on the inside. Last, I tried the stir-​fried noodles. This was good, too.
Since I went at lunch, there was also complimentary soups and appetizers. Everything was reasonably priced and service was also swift. The interior décor is a bit dated, but clean and simple.

While you wait:
Free soups: hot and sour, egg drop, chicken rice, beef lobo (radish/​daikon)
Free green onion pancakes.
Flounder excellent. Marinated in soy sauce and wine, fresh.
Xiao long bao are good and juicy, sweet and salty.
Beef noodle soup uses udon, slightly tangy and spicy. Probably wouldn’t get this again.
Many choices of tea, including delicious Chrysanthemum tea.
Very well priced.

sorry for throwing in a bad review. but I am spoiled by real good Chinese food in NYC! everything here was mediocre with some below mediocre!
We had the spicy green peppers with sliced beef, tofu with fish casserole, stewed beef in brown sauce and sliced beef wrapped in sesame pancake
the green pepper with slice beef was ok, but I think I can make better dish than that with the same ingredients!
The tofu and fish casserole and the sliced beef in sesame pancake were especially disappointing. the tofu casserole tasted like the chief didn’t put in much thought into making it, just randomly put in some tofu and pieces of hard fried fish. The flavor was super bland
The beef in sesame pancake took over 40 mins to arrive, the amount of beef they put in there was just sad, and the pancake was too sweet, and soft, and the sauce they put in there tasted off
The stewed beef tasted a bit bland, although the beef was cooked pretty tender
Also, the service here was bad. The waiters were all taking breaks and eating at the time we were there. And gave us nasty attitude when we waved at them for service. One dude even slammed the bill down
Don’t think I would come here again

Recommended by my co-​workers from China.
Decent Shangainese food with a liquor license. They had beverages such as Shaoxing rice wine and maotai. You could make the whole meal out the soup dumplings (xiao long bao). Other hits: pork shoulder, stir fried rice cakes, potstickers.
Meh were the lion’s head meatball.
Good service, though it probably helped that I spoke Mandarin (no one else in our group did, however) and stuck with typical Shanghainese dishes.

I don’t recall the dish names so I’ll use their descriptions:
1. braised pork whole thick leg with brown sauce: and not just brown sauce; so soft, so lovingly tender and stewed for such a long time as is so much easier to get at a restaurant than at home
2. green cucumber-​like veggies with sea sponge-​like in a white sauce: a personal favorite dish, I wish I knew this dish’s translation because I’m doing it no service but if you can use the photographic menu to find it, do have it
3. white fish in brown sauce: again, I’m butchering and disservicing the restaurant by not remembering this dish’s name & I can’t even steer you to it, but suffice it to say, I re-​purposed that sauce when I got home because it was so sweet and salty both, a delicious combination.
The service was very attentive though going at 5p helped to give us more attention. I’m Taiwanese but the Shanghaiese food here makes me want to visit Shanghai and its surrounding area. The servers’ attitude is so appreciative and caring that it made the already great food even better.
There’s karoke available in the main dining room featuring Mandarin songs, of course. Locals and local friends have raved about its sushi though I’ve yet to try it. Judging by the crowds in the sushi eating area (which is in addition to the sushi bar and separate from the main dining room), I’d say they’re right.
I’ll certainly return to eat here and hope you do, too.

A very pleasant place for some quality Chinese & Japanese food. This place has a nice upscale feeling while also having reasonable prices.
The food really is very good. They do have some «normal» dinner plates for about $ 9 (like broccoli beef) if you’d like to save money, but they also have fancier things (maybe $ 12). Its more interesting/​exotic dishes that are still Americanized enough for everyone to enjoy.
And also a full suite of sushi/​Japanese food.

A typical conversation:
M: Where do you want to eat? You can choose anything you want!
F: How about (insert name of place here)?
M: Wouldn’t you rather have Chinese food?
It’s a lie. :[
So, this is one of few sit-​down Chinese sit-​down restaurants we could find. It was my first meal of the day and something like 2 – 3 p.m. (my mom doesn’t ever get hungry, apparently), so I was starving. The manager (??) stared at me for after I told him thank you in Mandarin.
F: ??
: Your mandarin’s better than your mom’s!
F: Oh hells no, not true. I’m really only good at saying thank you. Thanks though. :O
We ordered the roast beef roll with scallion, Shanghai sauted thick noodles, and the beef noodle soup. Since we can’t eat pork, we had the pork substituted for chicken in the thick noodle dish. The food was really good, although the Shanghai noodles were a bit oily (which I think is more characteristic of that particular dish than anything else). My only complaint is that the portions are pretty small for the prices they charge. (This is mostly for the beef roll, which I lovedddd, but it was so tiny. :[)
Service was very quick, attentive and friendly. :]

I’ve been here many times, mostly for the sushi.
They have great prices for their sushi, especially with the half price promo. Not all the sushi/​rolls are half price but the options are great.
The fish is always fresh and they are generous with the portion, even on the half-​price ones.
They also have delicious wontons and the shanghai dumplings (xiao long bao) are a must try!
The half price promo seems to be going on everyday, any time of day.
They have plenty of parking, the dining area is spacious with old Chinese furniture and the staff are friendly.

This place continues to be EXCELLENT.
A summary of tasty dishes:
— Cold sliced beef (appetizer): comes with a side of sweet and citrusy sauce, flavored with star anise
— «lion’s head»: three enormous pork meatballs. Crispy outer crust, tender center, accompanied by crisp baby bok choy and savory sauce
— Xiao long bao (steamed soup dumplings, with pork or crab): much better than Joe’s Shanghai. The soup in each dumpling is loaded with crab flavor, worth savoring every drop.
There is also a dish with edamame, bean curd, and shredded pork (the name escapes me). Simply put, it’s Awesome.
Will definitely be back.

Most of the dishes here are a little sweet for me, but I guess that’s how they do it, because Shanghainese put sugar in everything. Too bad they didn’t have any soy milk when I was here
Their shao long bao is pretty good though; both the pork and crab. Another good cold dish is their duck tongue in Chinese wine. The sauteed pea shoots was well cooked and not fibrous.
The freshwater eel and noodle soup was not very flavorful.

Decent chinese food, authentic as well. They strangely have sushi at the chinese restaurant but it was good (the Dragon roll).
Food: 5.5
Décor: 3
Service: 6
*ratings out of a 10

Came for weekend chinese brunch. The salty soy milk was more sour than salty. The serving was hit with a shrink ray compared to their local competition. Only 3 measely slices of oil stick.
Everything else was good. The crab meat xiao long bao was better than I remember. The egg wrap with beef was good, the sauce smothered it well, and the fried vegetable dumpling was as well.