… DELICIOUS!
Back story: I live on a corner of downtown Manhattan that just might fall into 3 neighborhoods. It could be Little Italy (according to Snapchat geotags), Nolita (according to the broker we rented it from) or Chinatown (according to what I see when I look to the left). After 6 months of living in this apartment, I’ve finally explored to the left and boy did Chinatown deliver. Particularly, the infamous Joe’s Shanghai. Very happy I waited the hour for a table because this was an experience I would not want to miss.
Soup dumplings are a steamed bun filled with the meat offered and a gelatin that melts into the “soup,” and are then served in a warm, bamboo platter. Joe’s Shanghai came highly recommended as the go to for traditional and authentic Shanghai dumplings. Once you drench the dumpling with the soup from the inside (created from a melted gelatin), the coating becomes succulent and perfectly tender. The meat is well seasoned and the sauces that accompany the dish are a perfect touch. This was what I knew of soup dumplings coming into Joe’s. What I got out was what must be the most terrific soup dumpling known to Chinatown and potentially beyond. DELICIOUS. So much so that we ended up ordering another round, even with all of the other food on the table. The dough used to make the dumplings is perfectly chewy and they come just filled enough to make sure you have a flavor explosion with each bite but also they’re still edible with minimal mess. Pair with some soy sauce and a Shanghai beer and you are in another country enjoying absolutely delicious cuisine.
The fried rice and lo mein are noteworthy because they are not drenched in salt and sauce, like many restaurants tend to make Chinese food. I tried the pan fried shrimp lo mein on a separate trip and would prefer that to the regular lo mein, due to its’ interesting taste. The noodles come crunchy and without a sauce. The sauce is on the bottom of the dish and, once mixed with the noodles, creates the “spaghetti”-like noodle we are used to- definitely worth exploring if you’d like to add to your meal.
Offered on the menu is a plethora of traditional Chinese dishes including beef, chicken, and fish entrees with enough for 2-3 people to share. That’s what makes the experience at Joe’s so great. Everything comes to share, including the tables you are seated at with family style dining being the majority of the restaurant. You get to chat with your tablemates, see what others are enjoying, and really immerse in the experience.
All of Joe Shanghai’s Chinese dishes, along with the dumplings being my must get recommendation, create an authentic and utterly delicious Chinatown experience.
