Shanghainese restaurant

Joe's Shanghai

ChinatownManhattan

4.2· 6,107 reviewsClosed now
Joe's Shanghai — shanghainese restaurant — in Chinatown — Manhattan — NYC
Joe's Shanghai interior — Chinatown

Chinatown

Manhattan

The brief

About Joe's Shanghai

Popular Chinatown eatery famed for its soup dumplings and other Shanghai dishes in a spare setting.

Community Rating

4.2

out of 5

6,107 community reviews

Rating aggregated from community reviews across platforms. Read full reviews on Google or Yelp for detailed diner experiences.

Community-sourced rating

Reviews

What diners say about Joe's Shanghai

15 verified Google reviews · 6 with owner responses

4.5

15 reviews

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Deschaud JulieLocal guide
a month ago

The food was absolutely incredible.<br>The pork soup dumplings were some of the best ones I have ever had<br>Would absolutely recommend the beef scallion and the chicken sesame they were incredible!!!!

Response from the owner

Thank you so much for your amazing feedback! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the pork soup dumplings, beef scallion, and sesame chicken. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again soon!

Benjamin LawLocal guide
2 months ago

Soup dumplings are great here! A bit different style compared to Ding Tai Fung but delicious in their own way.<br><br>** FYI they only take cash though **

Response from the owner

Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We’re glad you enjoyed the soup dumplings and appreciate you noticing their unique style. It means a lot to hear you still found them delicious in their own way. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back again soon!

Felipe Aguilera
3 months ago

Have you tried the best dumplings in New York City?<br><br>This weekend I went to Joe’s Shanghai in Manhattan. The restaurant was busy, but the service was good and fast.<br><br>We ordered soup dumplings, beef with string beans, and shrimp fried rice. The soup dumplings were amazing. They were hot, juicy, and full of flavor. The beef with string beans was very tasty, and the shrimp fried rice was fresh and delicious.<br><br>The restaurant has a lively atmosphere. Many people come here to enjoy good Chinese food.<br><br>I recommend this restaurant if you want to try great dumplings in New York City. I will come back again.

Maddie HardingLocal guide
3 months ago

Good spot in Chinatown for a no frills meal with friends! Food was good and portion sizes were quite large. It was also busy so atmosphere was good. Note that it’s cash only but they have an ATM in the restaurant

Tctgb1Local guide
3 months ago

Joe’s Shanghai is one of those Chinatown spots that lives up to its reputation — especially if you love soup dumplings. Their xiao long bao (soup dumplings) are the real highlight, with rich, savory broth and tender fillings that burst in your mouth (that first bite is worth the hype).<br><br>The restaurant itself has a lively, bustling vibe — it’s casual and a bit noisy, but that just adds to the experience of eating classic Shanghainese food in NYC. A few non-dumpling dishes we tried were solid too, and there’s plenty to explore beyond the signature dumplings.<br><br>Fair warning: it can get pretty busy at peak times, so be ready for a wait (especially if you go with a group). Overall, it’s a fun, delicious stop if you’re craving soup dumplings and classic Chinese flavors while exploring Chinatown.

ShannonLocal guide
Edited 3 months ago

Stopped here for the soup dumplings, and they did not disappoint! They were incredibly delicious and full of flavor. The service was quick and friendly. This place is very popular, so there was a bit of a wait—but it was definitely worth it. They only take cash, but no worries, there are ATMs on site. That being said, you absolutely have to stop here for the soup dumplings! The General Tso’s chicken is also fantastic—just a little heat with a perfectly sweet, crunchy bite. I would definitely come back!

Rajarshi DasLocal guide
4 months ago

It’s a tradition to eat at Chinatown during the lunar new year celebrations and this place unfailingly always makes every visit memorable. Awesome Chinese food and the best people and service. Can’t really go wrong with anything. This time we got schezwan fish and crispy chicken and they were amazing.

Response from the owner

Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re honored to be part of your Lunar New Year tradition and thrilled you enjoyed the food and service — we look forward to welcoming you back for many more celebrations! 😊

KimberliLocal guide
Edited 5 months ago

Standard American Chinese food. Cash only and kind of sus that they have 2 little ATMs right at the entrance so they can get a cut from both the ATM and not having to report cash income lol. Food came out very hot but broccoli was cold - not because it was out but because it was served raw.<br><br>Wasn't a fan of the waiters standing right next to us and hovering over us. Overly attentive for no reason as the drinks are canned (no refills) and there's nothing for you to really need except for your food and maybe an extra set of utensils if you dropped yours. Chili oil was great. Nice looking restaurant tho.<br><br>Bathrooms need help. 2 of the 3 toilets were dirty.<br><br>And yes, standard 18% tip. You pay in cash and the waiters still ask "do you want your change?" YES. I do want my change, you already charged the tip so why would I tip again for subpar service?

Response from the owner

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your experience did not fully meet expectations. Your comments regarding food temperature, service style, cleanliness, and overall experience have been noted and will be shared with our team so we can improve. We truly appreciate your honesty and hope to have the opportunity to serve you better in the future.

Jennifer ChambersLocal guide
5 months ago

Would recommend coming. Even With a long wait time(we didn't wait that long) as it'll be worth it. The food tasted so fresh. It comes piping hot. Great choices and will happily alter dishes to suit your taste(take out certain veggies or sauces). Quick and attentive service. The chicken and corn soup was incredible dont be fooled that its just a 'soup'. The crab and pork soup dumplings another top recommendation. Chow mein noodles were good but not overly 'wow'. The chicken in sesame *chefs kiss*.

Response from the owner

Thanks so much for your great review! We’re happy you enjoyed the fresh, hot food and loved the chicken and corn soup, crab and pork dumplings, and sesame chicken. We appreciate your kind words about our service and flexibility. Looking forward to having you back soon!

Seth WashburneLocal guide
5 months ago

18% mandatory gratuity on the before-tax amount. The Kung Pao Chicken and rice were dry and terrible. The Singapore Chow Mei Fun was the worst I have had. The Water Spinach not special. The crab meat with pork soup dumplings were tasteless. There is no atmosphere, just people jammed in. Waiters keep your water filled but are unfriendly and don't care about patrons. It is very unpleasant, and NOT worth it. Go anywhere else and you will have a happier evening.

Kevin DrostLocal guide
6 months ago

Joe’s Shanghai in Chinatown NYC absolutely lives up to its reputation for soup dumplings. We got the crab and pork soup dumplings, which are apparently what they’re famous for—and for good reason. They were fantastic, full of flavor, and easily the highlight of the meal.<br><br>I was honestly shocked when I first walked in. I’m used to seeing mostly locals eating at restaurants in Chinatown, but this place was packed with a very diverse crowd, all clearly there for the soup dumplings. That alone says a lot.<br><br>That said, not everything was a hit. I wouldn’t recommend the General Tso’s chicken—it tasted more like cheap boneless wings than a proper Chinese dish. We also ordered the seafood pan-fried noodles. It had a nice variety of seafood, but there were definitely more vegetables than meat. I’ve heard the pork version comes with a lot more meat, so I’d probably try that next time.<br><br>Overall, it’s still a fantastic place and absolutely worth visiting, especially for the soup dumplings. Just be warned: it fills up quickly because they’re famous, and pro tip—bring cash, because they don’t take credit cards.

Response from the owner

Thank you for the great review! We’re glad you enjoyed our famous soup dumplings and appreciate your honest feedback and helpful tips. Hope to see you again soon!

Khoa NgoLocal guide
6 months ago

I grew up in the Bay Area, so when I say this place has the best xiao long bao (pork soup dumplings) I have ever had, it is not a statement I make lightly. All of the food here is really delicious. The scallion pancake and salt & pepper pork were also highlights, but everything else we've tried here has been solid. It is CASH ONLY, so remember to bring some with you when you come here. But definitely come for the soup dumplings, and then stay and get stuffed on everything else!

Hayley Di NasoLocal guide
7 months ago

Super delicious and fast delivery!<br><br>I tried this restaurant as my coworker recommended it as he’s “favorite Chinese restaurant in NYC”, and I can definitely see why.<br><br>I ordered it for delivery to my hotel and the food was still steaming hot and well packaged to avoid spills.<br><br>The green beans and beef had a delicious sauce and the pork soup dumplings were encased in the most chewy and flavorful dough.<br><br>I was surprised that they included a warm sweet sesame ball with a flakey pastry.<br><br>All in all it was a great experience especially for a delivery experience.

Alexander KatsabanisLocal guide
7 months ago

FRIED PORK! Ok so apparently they are extremely known for their soup dumplings which we obviously ordered… and yes they were very good. However the fried pork entree which we split amongst 6 grown men, was by far the best pork I have eaten. The pork was served with a side of salt and sauce. Mouth watering and fried to perfection. The restaurant is very big and was packed which is always a good sign. I have nothing but amazing things to say. My one suggestion is to ask for a side of chili oil. Not too spicy but just enough kick.

marjon farzLocal guide
11 months ago

My husband has been wanting to come here since we arrived to NY.  We went this past Sunday night with two of our friends.  We arrived around 7pm and only had to wait about 15-20mins before they were able to seat us - considering this place is always busy and there's no way to reserve a table in advance it felt pretty quick to get a table.  We ordered a number of dishes to share, my favorites were the braised pork and the pork+crab soup dumplings.  We also tried the chicken fried rice, chow main noodles, more dumplings, and pancake.  This place is cash ONLY, so make sure you stop by the ATM first.  It was a rainy and cold Sunday in NY so this was the perfect warm and cozy meal.

Reviews sourced from Google. Displayed for informational purposes. Ratings reflect reviewer opinions at the time of posting.

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