Shangri-La

No, no, no… The worst Phở I’ve ever had. The broth had no flavor, no hoisin sauce and no basil leaves :(.

It’s been a little bit less than a month since I was here getting my drank on with some boozy boba teas. And since then, I’ve probably eaten more tapioca balls than a bus full of Asian teenage girls at Quickly.
I’m guessing this is not good for my overall health. But…
Little. Black. Balls. Of. Chewy. Goodness. Mixed. With. Alcohol. You cannot go wrong. And if you are super nice to Mei, the lovely owner of said creation, she might even make you a POG boozy boba. (Fly Hawaiian and you’ll discover the deliciousness that is pog, not pawg. But pawg is pretty nice too.) Also, wangs. As in chicken wings. Get em’.

The o fries are a must try because it taste like the okonomiyaki. The bubble tea boozy drinks are fantastic and is a new fusion that is surprisingly good. Customer service is was great. ¹⁰⁄₁₀

You’ve got to come to this restaurant and try the food and drinks. Every dish is amazing. I’m addicted to the chicken wings there, cannot find another place as good as theirs. Another great addictive dish is their salmon linguine, don’t know how the chef makes it so delicious but it’s magic. Their boozy bubble tea is another thing to die for. Nowhere else has it or makes it as good as them. They’ve definitely perfected the recipe. The atmosphere is relaxing, you can be there for hours w/​o realizing time flew by. This is definitely my go-​to restaurant whenever i want to relax, eat yummy food and get my drink on.

Love this tiny spot in Chelsea. Previously a Thai restaurant, now re-​vamped into a cozy, intimate, mid-​price point fusion restaurant. Great specialty drinks! I had a tequila old fashion (forgot the name of it now) and it was tasty with a kick. The owner and chef came out and greeted us personally. She then returned with a scotch egg appetizer she has been experimenting with for us to try, which was delish! Thanks Mei for your hospitality. Must re-​visit again in the near future.

Very disappointed with the service and the food. Definitely do not recommend.
Here’s what earned the place 1 star:
— Ordered a white sangria that was bitter and had a very bad after taste. Couldn’t drink it and had to send it back. They mixed it with orange juice and some other liquor. Shouldn’t have been called a sangria.
— Fried vegetable dumplings. When are dumplings fried? If going to go out of your way to do that at least mention it on the menu
— Dirty appetizer plates
— Never got our water refilled. My friend joined us later and the waiter walked over to our table and completely ignored her and didn’t ask her if she wanted anything to drink
— Asked for steamed tofu and got fried tofu
— Bland tasting food
The only positive here was the bubble tea cocktail.
Upset that I wasted time and money here.

The 2 stars are for service, I guess?
We were sat promptly, and received our food and drinks at a nice pace.
We ordered the guac with mango and pineapple, I guess for $ 11 I expected more that canned pineapple and mango topped guac.
The empanadas were either stale or microwaved, very rubbery.
A while later it dawned on me, from the cliente that we were basically at Applebees. A Chelsea «cool» version of Applebees, weird smell, mediocre food and watered down drinks.

Was walking down 7^th looking for a spot to eat outdoors. This one didn’t have much customers (yet). stopped in & am glad I did. Definitely going back

The food was amazing! I was with a large group and we ate family so I got to try alot of dishes. They were all amazing. The drinks were well made and boozy bubble tea’s were amazing! Depending on the time it’s has a nice classy feel and when the lights are dimmed it provides a much more cozy and romantic feel. The bar is fully stocked and I heard from the owner who was there also cooking they will be adding to it. THe have these amazing fries with sauces that are horrible if you’re on a no carbs diet because you will curse the day you went on it if you miss them!

This place has bubble tea cocktails, and they’re delicious! I got the basic milk tea cocktail with Malibu instead of regular rum, and it was amazing! It tastes just like a coconut milk tea. The bubble tea base tasted really good (unlike the oversteeped «teas» you get at subpar tea shops). You could tell that the chef paid attention to the flavors to achieve a tea of the perfect sweetness. I strongly recommend this cocktail. The owner (Mei) personally made my and my friend’s drinks the first time I went, and she is really skilled. I also really like the thai iced tea, (during my second visit) which is also available without alcohol. Again, this drink had the perfect level of sweetness, and didn’t have the harsh tannins like other thai iced teas I’ve tried.
The spring rolls are also good. They outside is fried to a perfect crisp, and the inside is filled with fresh, delicious vegetables.
But the true star appetizer is the O-​fries. They are french fries that have been cooked in Vegetarian okonomiyaki sauce, and topped with bits of seaweed. Japanese/​American fusion at its finest. I strongly recommend this dish.
The second time I went was for a family-​style meal, and my experience was just as good, if not better. My favorite dish was the tofu steak. It was tofu cooked in a chinese-​style sauce, with vegetables. The tofu was cooked really well, without any water dripping from the bottom, but also without being too dry. The sauce and the vegetables went together really well, without one flavor overpowering the other. It was a perfect balance.
I found out later that the organizer contacted Mei in advance, and they were able to arrange a full several-​course meal within a certain price range. I have kept this in mind for the next time I want to do a big event.
The ambience is ideal for a date: dim lighting and good lounge-​style music. It’s also a fun place to go to with friends.
This restaurant has become one of my go-​to spots.

I ordered their special of the day which was the Claypot duck and it was delicious. Service was great and out drinks were always filled.

Shangri-​La? More like Shangri-​LAME. Nestled on the corner of a bustling 7^th and 22^nd, this small lounge takes traditional Asian dishes and takes a massive shit on all of them. Do you like cheap, flavorless, rubbery, knockoffs? I ain’t talking about your wife. These dishes will turn even the strongest of stomachs.
Shangri-​La has long been used in reference to a place of fantasy and paradise. Well, their idea of paradise must be a truck stop glory hole. NO THANKS. I will say, however, the lounge does have a nice quiet ambience. Perfect for blowing your brains out all over their ugly décor.
Talk about a swing and a miss with this one!

You enter and you’re transfixed on the cool modern oriental décor. The bar has an intricate design and is back lit so much so that at night would make a perfect «bar scene»
My favorite part of the décor was the beautiful chandeliers with red lanterns at their base… really cool look.
Drink– Strong alcoholic deliciousness! Try their Specialty Cocktails!!! Trust me!!!
Food: The chef is amazing!!! Every dish is mouth watering good! There wasn’t one dish that was over or under cooked… And she’s perfected the cooking of duck!!!
Verdict: Go and experience food heaven!

The food here is great and has a good selection of cocktails. The fried chicken dumplings were really tasty and the rendang was very flavorful and the right amount of juicy.
I specially loved the bubble tea cocktails. Tried the classic milk bubble tea and the more fruity coconut bubble tea. Loved them both.
A good place for casual hangout with friends. Will be back again.

The place looked run-​down, even in the dim lighting. The décor was a uncohesive mix of red curtains, rattan chairs, long purple sofa chair, paper lanterns randomly hung and brown brick wall.
The shrimp and jalapeño dumplings were pretty good, the fried outer shell was rather hard, but the inner filling of shrimp was good (not much jalapeño flavor.)
The beef rendang (with a bowl of purple rice) was soft and nicely cooked (not too dry). It had a good flavor. This dish was reminiscent of eating rice with beef curry.
The two dishes tried were both good, though one-​dimensional (meaning it only had one taste to it.)
The boozy bubble tea tastes like cheap alcohol (vodka) mixed with a weak watery bubble tea (not much tea in it.)
Service was inconsistent, waitresses disappeared for periods at a time.

I was upset I couldn’t eat more. I had the salmon with black caviar in cream linguine and it was amazing. The portion was huge and the plate was in the shape of a fish. A large piece of salmon and bits of salmon in the pasta. The tempura nibs added a nice touch. Will be back for the beef tendon soup, mapo tofu and crab soup dumplings. This place has everything I love.
Drinks are also delicious. Bubble tea for adults.

Food was excellent and staff members are super sweet and nice. Definitely recommend this place.

The rice and peppers were amazing. The spiciness was slight but very flavorful, not enough to burn your mouth but enough to give you a taste of the whole dish. The soup was awesome, somewhat like phở, a Vietnamese dish, but the udon in it and soaked in all the flavor that made the soup light but condensed with flavor. The dumplings that came right in the beginning were incredible, the sauce that came with made it all the more connected to the taste it provides. The rice and meat had mango in it, and a taste of spiciness that meshed well with the other ingredients.

Very warm atmosphere, with the best mellow music. The food here is great and I never had anything like it. The staff was always welcoming and friendly. I would definitely continue coming here.

Very friendly atmosphere from help to owners. They all greet you and make you feel welcome. Pork dumplings, soups, salads, dinners have all been great across the board. Sadly, as someone likes to complain I have nothing to say negative. Will certainly return for a 3^rd time

A quaint little spot. Perfect spot for a date, with upbeat music played lightly through the restaurant. The hostess, in a cute qipao styled dress to fit the décor (and name) of the establishment, greeted us and asked if we preferred a table or the bar. With only 2 of us, we agreed sitting side by side at the bar would be a nice change of pace. We were informed that drink tasting was happening and offered several to try and we pondered over the very varied menu. With multiple cultures being fused all across the menu, we had a difficult time choosing what to have and where to begin! Luckily, we were given a few solid suggestions to share as to try as much as we could.
Service was quick and poignant, all smiles around as everyone enjoyed being there despite the pressures that I’ve come to know in a restaurant environment. I had the beef tenderlion noodle soup, a traditional Chinese dish but upon viewing it’s delivery, fusion elements slowly shown through. Served in a pretty big bowl, the tendon was melt in your mouth but with atypical season to your usual tendon noodle soup. Noodles were perfectly cooked, just enough give for a satisfying slurp and chew. Three spoons of additional garnishes were provided to layer further flavors on top of your current experience. Finally, the broth that held the bowl together was not heavy, just enough oil to provide flavor but not a thick stock that would hold you in a food coma when you finished. All in all, a bowl worthy of warming the soul for these wintery NYC nights.
As small and reserved this restaurant can be perceived, don’t count it out for a subtle space to wind down with a drink, relax and enjoy a rich and delicious meal with a friend or two.

Came in for a menu tasting around opening day with two friends. Food was fantastic, on point for what Asian fusion should be, flavors from different regions and cuisines combined while also highlighting one specific region or culture to tell a story with food.
We had soup dumplings with crab/​caviar, seared tuna soba, lamb cigars, curryish beef fried noodles, red snapper fried steamed and tin foiled, and a beef tenderloin soup noodle that really hit the spot on a cold winter day. Might be the best 牛腩麵 I’ve had in nyc, better than Chinatown, no hard to chew tendons.
Service was timely, there when we need them, not there when we were deep in convo.
Heard this place might add some creative sushi options soon — fried, conveyer belt, puréed? Looking forward to the second encounter. Pictures to come.

The hostess was super friendly, ordered a few dishes and drinks and and the owner offered dessert and a few more drinks on the house because it was a cold night out.
Flavors were vibrant and really energetic, hit the palette strong. Heard the chef graduated from some fancy culinary program and worked at Brushstroke for a while, the menu definitely had quality and well thought out.
Will def return!
O, and the waiters were kinda cute!