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Shanghai Chinese Bistro
Category: Restaurants Chinese Chinese [Edit]
1124 Alberni StreetVancouver, BC V6E 1A5
Neighbourhood: West End
(604) 683-8222
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 11 pm
Sat-Sun 11:30 am - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
21 reviews for Shanghai Chinese Bistro
Review Highlights
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"dungeness crab with black bean sauce was great but messy." In 2 reviews -
"Legit demonstration on making noodles." In 7 reviews -
"The Siu Mai, the Har Gow and dumplings are all excellent." In 3 reviews
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21 reviews in English
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Review from Lea Q.
Burnaby, BC
5/28/2011
When you walk in it's like an small Italian wedding. Big round tables, neatly set up with white table cloths, plates and cutlery. You can hear other people talking away but they aren't so close that's it's awkward but it's still a simple wedding style layout.
The food is above average. It's not overly greasy or salty.
Had the chicken chow mien with crispy noodles and black bean sauce. It was tasty.
The BBQ pork ribs were to die for and I'm not a pork fan. The sauce is excellent. Chicken fried rice was good too. Spring rolls were very good.
What blew me away was the awesome, timely, professional service. It wasn't annoying but just right.
Overall, very reasonably priced menu selection, good quality food and service. I will be back for more! -
Review from Herman E.
11/28/2011
For the number of years that I have been downtown and the number of times that I have been here, the math equates to a pretty big whole number.
This place is actually pretty good . Dim sum is ordered al la carte and they prepare and bring it to you.
Nothing terribly stand out but whatever they prepared was not bad.
Bad news is that I hear that they recently closed. I will go for a walk by to confirm. -
Review from Dan J.
Vancouver, BC
1/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Some of the best Dim Sum I've ever had.
I have a love / hate relationship with Dim Sum as a dining concept. I love (most of) the food, I hate waiting for a cart of the good stuff to roll by. I love the atmosphere, the commotion, the spirited conversations and yelling Gnay sooa gaaahh at noi pang yao in Cantonese without turning heads. I hate that the food is often cold when it comes around to you. I love that despite my full tummy I am usually shocked at the low price on the bill.
Shanghai has omitted some of the things I dislike as well as some of the aspects I like. It's quiet and subdued. I miss the chaos. But the food is superb. They don't offer cart service so the food is hot when it arrives and you order from a menu.
The Siu Mai, the Har Gow and dumplings are all excellent. Didn't care much for the soups.
Price is a tad higher than some Dim Sum places but the food is worth it. This is a great place if you want good service and excellent fresh and warm food. Wait -I thought we were talking about Dim Sum... -
Review from Eva B.
Updated - 10/16/2011
Shanghai Chinese Bistro has closed its door. So sad.
Listed in: Yelp's 30 Day Review Challenge
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/6/2010
I hate to review places I like to go on a regular basis as I am always afraid that next time I show… Read more »
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Review from Josh G.
2/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Been here a few times for Dim Sum, which was awesome!!
Brought the family for a birthday dinner, still good, but not great.
Very small dishes for the price, I found a lot of the flavors throughout the many dishes to be similar. The seafood dishes were tiny and very underwhelming; a whole assortment of seafood all cooked at the same time results in very chewy octopus..boo. The beef fillet strips in gold coin were fantastic, but the kung pao chicken wasnt even spicy; and George likes his chicken spicy!!
Crazy prices for the fresh lobster and prawn dishes, which is just a devastating tease and a shame because delicious fresh lobster always grabs an extra star. I would come back for dim sum any day but know of too many amazing dinner spots around town to come back after 3pm. -
Review from Ramon V.
Nestled between the BCLC and Tim Horton's on Alberni, and up the steps, it's easy to bypass one of my favourite dim sum restaurants in the downtown core.
After spending many years enjoying the cheaper, busier style dim sum establishments across town, I became accustomed to waiting for carts, lukewarm siu mai, and huddling in foyers like in a rush hour commuter train while waiting for my station to be yelled.
Sometimes you want to wake up on a Sunday and know that your 'Sum Run' can be both relaxing and delicious at the same time, without worrying about an extra friend or two tagging along for the feast.
Shanghai bistro is not cart-style, and the menu offers most of the usual dim sum fare with some interesting additions. The spicy steamed wontons are amazing, as are the noodles in broth.
What stands out for me is that everything is served amazingly fresh and hot. Yes, hot. Is that so wrong?
This place has class, and it shows in the respect of the waiters and other staff. Courteous and prompt service. It's not incredibly busy in there, at least not as busy as the similar-style Kirin down the street,
and this is part of the reason why I keep coming back.
Pricing is moderate. An adequate lunch for 4 usually sets us back about $20 each. -
Review from Jon L.
3/20/2010
Somewhat disappointed since I came to Vancouver expecting some incredibly delicious Chinese food, but oh well. For dim sum, this place was alrite but nothing special. First off, the prices are way expensive...like 5 bucks per plate? I don't think I've ever paid that much for dim sum, ever. Tastewise, things were decent, but really not worth the price, and nothing that I couldn't have gotten in NY. One dish that was really good was the turnip cake, which is often not done very well at dim sum restaurants.
Servers were friendly, and kept our waters filled which was nice.
I'm sure there are better and more affordable dim sum places elsewhere in the city. -
Review from Greg S.
Fonthill, ON
2/12/2010
A group of people from my church headed out for lunch, so I tagged along, and we ended up here. I'd never tried it before, but for those looking for Chinese food which isn't Cantonese (or Szechuan), I suppose it might offer a bit of variety.
I was pleased, when we were led to our table, to see that it came with a lazy Susan. I love that in a Chinese restaurant, because it allows a group to order a bunch of different dishes, and share them around. That is definitely the best way to eat Chinese.
Apparently, the lunch menu (which is what we got) is completely different from the dinner menu, so what I experienced would probably not apply to you if you're there for dinner.
The lunch menu is heavy on soup. Lots of choices, everybody seemed to like theirs, but assuming that you should order a bowl of soup for yourself is a strategic error. The soup comes in large bowls, like about a litre. So order one bowl between two or more people, and serve the soup from the big bowl it comes in into the little bowls which are already on the table.
As it happens, while I like wonton, I'm not generally a big soup fan, so I looked through the other dishes. I was kind of surprised, given the name of the place, that there were no dishes with Shanghai noodles listed. (Maybe that's a dinner-only offering. I don't know.)
I ended up having a crispy noodle dish that was good, but not significantly better than I've had at places which are much cheaper. I'm not sure if the rent on Alberni is particularly high, or if the restaurants around here count on being able to gouge the tourists who flock to Vancouver's downtown during cruise ship season.
Oh, the tea was good, but they charge extra for it. -
Review from Sonia C.
10/27/2009
Since Vancouver has Chinese food comparable to Hong Kong, I expected that the food here would be decent since there's so much competition.
It wasn't.
The soup dumplings (xiaolong bao) were devoid of soup. It was very disappointing to bite into one and not have the hot meat broth squirt out. The fried dough wrapped in glutinous rice (fantuan) was decent, though lacking in pickled vegetables. The soybean milk was ok too. The shrimp dumplings were ok - though filled with large, fresh, shrimp, the wrapper was overly thick and overcooked. Their signature hand-pulled homemade noodles had a great consistency, but the spicy meat sauce (zhajiang) that we got on it was goopy with cornstarch.
Wouldn't come here again. I suspect that many of their patrons (like us) had wanted to go to Kirin (a few stores down) for dim sum, but found that Kirin's closed for remodeling until January 2010. -
Review from Stephanie M.
Vancouver, BC
10/21/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Chinese food generally isn't my favourite type of cuisine, and a lot of it tends to have gluten (which I can't eat), but my boss chose this place after my suggested lunch spot was full, so we ended up here.
I have to say our lunch was very good. It also helps if you're with someone who can order for you in Cantonese, as we did. We shared the spicy fried rice with ham, crispy spicy green beans, shrimp dumplings and mango pudding. I normally don't like green beans, but prepared this way they were extremely tasty. Everything else was good and came out very quickly, even in the middle of a busy lunch rush. I also liked the light, airy atmosphere created by the huge windows.
If I were with a group of people who wanted to do dim sum downtown, I would suggest this place. They have congee, too, which I would definitely come back to try. -
Review from Amy P.
Vancouver, BC
7/6/2009
Some friends of mine recommended Shanghai Chinese Bistro to me knowing that I've been on a quest to find good Chinese delivery in the city. The restaurant, located on the second floor of a building on Alberni, doesn't deliver but you can order take out. Close enough for me to try it!
Pros:
The food was actually good! I tried the pot stickers, the Mongolian Beef and the Singapore noodles. The pot stickers were well made (much better than Hon's), and the Mongolian beef was well spiced and crispy. The noodles were a tad dry, but they still had flavor - almost a bit curry like. From what I've seen in Vancouver so far, this is pretty darn good. They had a rather large menu, too.
The service was also very friendly. Since I didn't have a menu at home, I ordered at the restaurant and sat at the bar to wait for my food. I was set up with tea, and even though I was waiting for carry out they made sure that I wasn't ignored.
Cons:
I agree with the other review - the portion sizes weren't really relative to the amount I paid. For two entrees and an appetizer, my bill was around $40, and while I still have some leftovers it's not nearly as much as anticipated. They also do not accept debit, which can be a pain for some people.
Sorry folks, no delivery either. And while they do have take out, they didn't have any paper menus to take home...so I suppose you just have to guess what you want if you were to call ahead? *shrug*
Bottom line:
I finally found a spot to help me cure my Chinese food cravings. While overall I would consider it average-ish (definitely not high end, and not quite quick and cheap delivery), I will definitely be back for a fix in the future.
Food and Presentation (1-5): 3
Ambiance and Decor (1-5): 3
Quality of Service (1-5): 3
Favorite Menu Item: the pot stickers...mmmmm
Vegetarian Friendly? Yes
Recommend to a friend? Yes -
Review from Alaya C.
7/11/2010
This review.
Is all.
About the food :)
Imagine entering the restaurant through steps. A man opens the door for you and you are seated. About 5 minutes later, a nice waiter comes out. You order drinks. Yeah, the timing was a little weird, but worth it. Your Mongolian beef is perfectly seasoned and crispy, and your Sweet N Sour chicken is deliciously tangy. Good rice, and hot peanut cookies at the end. Yum. Made the 4 hour train ride from Seattle worth it. Coming back. Dim Sum? I think so!
Legit demonstration on making noodles. Yummeh! -
Review from H G.
5/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
SCB Was our second choice for dinner. Kiran was our first but they turned us down at the door, (in a snotty way too). Shanghai Chinese Bistro just down the block and was excellent! From the friendly service to the savory dishes we were served this place is great. The eggplant with pork was terrific. The Kung Pao Chicken was off the hook good. The Sweet and Sour soup was some of the best we have ever had. Pass up Kiran and do yourself a favor and eat at SCB. You will not be disapointed!
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Review from Paul R.
8/18/2010
Visited the Shanghai Bistro for dinner a few weeks ago and it was a very good experience. A little bright on the overhead lights but that's just a nit.
Seating was prompt as was the service. I asked our waiter for recommendations regarding a fish dish and to his credit he did not immediately begin highlighting the most expensive items on the menu. I settled on a shrimp theme while my wife went for the BBQ duck.
Both entrees were delicious. Mine was just under spiced but I took care of that. The duck was very good, according to my wife as evidenced by her clean plate.
We also had soup as an appetizer and what I really enjoyed was that we were not rushed between courses or subject to a long wait.
I agree with other posters that pricing is moderate but definitely a good value and we would return on our next visit to Vancouver... -
Review from Erik F.
6/7/2008
**NOTE: This is actually in Vancouver, BC...Yelp wouldn't take the Canadian address and made it Vancouver, WA for some reason.
1128 Alberni Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 1A5 . 604-683-8847
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My friend Calvin turned me on to this place. He is a lifelong food industry type and got the tip from a chef friend. A good tip.
Right off a major shopping district in the downtown. Slightly upscale. Everything was amazing, with subtle flavor variations.
The Peking Duck is served in several courses and one of the best I have had. I particularly like that they include a lettuce wrap course...meaning they bring out a plate of stir-fried duck and minced veggies and a neat pile of lettuce leaves. Put A in B and whammo a crunchy, clean refreshment to contrast the richer course of duck skin, hoisin and pancakes.
I have seen them put on a very theatrical show of making handmade noodles in the dining area before. Very loud slamming is created by the long folding table they use for the show. The guy told me he studied for like 13 years in China to do that but I think he was bullshitting me. I do wonder how the first cook figured out how to do that though...I imagine so chef becoming one with the dough; realizing that it will stretch and stretch; and deciding it was a path to enlightenment.
Lots of good food in Vancouver of course but you can't go wrong here. 5 stars for the duck.
Thanks to the duck.
Duck Duck Duck -
Review from Brittany G.
Vancouver, BC
1/26/2011
Love this place! Moderately priced; but never a wait, and nicely tucked upstairs off the street. I always a great experience here! I order something different every time and have never had anything less than a fabulous meal.
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Review from Gladys M.
9/13/2008 2 photos
This is a restaurant that has been around for a long time and because of its location, you'll see a lot of foreign visitors going there. The restaurant is clean and quiet and the servers are carefully polite. The dishes are small for the price but they are tasty nonetheless.
Even though the name of the dishes they use in Chinese are of dishes normally used in grand Chinese restaurants, the dishes presented on the table are nothing close to their Chinese names. But upon re-reading the menu in English, we did get what were in the descriptions. For example, the Buddha's Delight usually comes with plenty of braised tofu, black mushrooms, black fungus and other good stuff. But their version is just brocolli, bak-choi, carrot, 1 black mushroom strategically placed on the top center of the dish, and canned baby corn and maybe even some snap peas. I was disappointed. They should have just called it Stir-Fried Vegetables. Similarly with another chicken dish which is famously named after a painter as it was his favorite Wunan dish. But it came nothing like how the dish is supposed to taste but again it's not bad in its own way.
It's not a tourist trap as my families who are local also go there from time to time, but somehow it feels like it's tailored to tourists with an expense account.
A 3.x star restaurant for me. -
Review from Janet J.
Vancouver, BC
3/27/2011
Shanghai Chinese Bistro (SCB) is definitely my favorite dim sum place in town. However, if you are looking for a cheap dim sum place just to grab a bite, them this is not your joint, there are way more places that would serve much cheaper dim sum than SCB.
My husband introduced me to this restaurant 5 years ago when we first met and I have been hooked ever since. He's been a 10 year customer with them.
Their food is top-notch, great quality and very authentic. Don't write them off just because they are in downtown Vancouver, but they sure beat many dim sum places in Richmond and other areas. A lot of the other places focuses on giving huge portions but neglect the overall quality, but SCB's portions are very reasonable and the quality is definitely there. I highly recommend their hot and sour soup and mango pudding, very very yummy.
Then, their service is phenomenal. They are cordial, speaks fluent English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, and are always filling our water glass or tea cups. Super attentive. Unlike some other Chinese restaurants, it really is nice not to be afraid that you may be yelled at if you ask for something, or feel that you may be troubling the waiter as with some of the other places, the waiters always look as if they are super busy. What makes them more special is that they really do remember their customers. For example, one time my husband and I told them that we are going on a vacation, the next time we went to the restaurant again, which was at least a month later, the waiter asked us how our vacation went.
The restaurant decor is clean and tidy. Nothing fancy but no complaints for sure.
When my husband and I want some comfort food, or after a few weeks of traveling, we very often visit SCB for some good old dim sum to welcomes ourselves back home.
Love this place, love their food, and love their people! -
Review from Greg B.
1/8/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Great take out!
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Review from Stephen R.
7/3/2010
dungeness crab with black bean sauce was great but messy.
very good food.
service was a tad slow, the timing of the food could have been better. meaning we got one entree after another so it was like 5 course meal instead of the entrees coming out together.
will try dim sum next -
Review from Andy V.
9/12/2010
Visting this place based on the reviews. It was a nice place, nice decor. The food is a liittle bite over price, but it is tasty and good. I don't really care about that. But the service here sucks. The waiter was rude. After the meal, the waitress chased me down to ask for more tips even though i gave her some already. I just tip base on how the servers treat me during the meal.
