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Diner ratings

  • food: 7.7
  • value: 7.4
  • service: 7.4
  • based on 59 ratings
  • toilets: 5.4
  • ambience: 7.1
  • recommend: 7.9
  • overall rating: 7.2 

Party & group booking

The two VIP rooms contrast with each other well - one is classic Victorian with original tiling (but Chinese decor) while the second is modern, with downlighting, disco lights, and tasteful Chinese art on the walls. Either is the perfect setting for Shanghai's famous karaoke nights that attract corporate bonders, mad partiers, and pre-wedding celebraters. A minimum of 15 people is required for the Karaoke menu, to secure a karaoke booking a £5 per person deposit is required in advance.

room information seating standing
Karaoke VIP Room 2 12 - 25 20 - 50
VIP Room 1 1 - 40 20 - 60
Main Restaurant 1 - 8 -

We say…

What a change from your usual local Chinese! Shanghai occupies the listed premises of a former East End pie and mash shop built when Victoria was on the throne, and the atmospheric old shopfront is still here, perfectly preserved. There are marble prep areas, long bar, original floor, oak booths to seat twenty, tiled walls and eel-motifed mirrors. However, the rear of the restaurant is a newly-built modern Chinese eaterie with oriental imagery filled with warm light from the stained glass ceiling windows. The menu is a combination of classic Chinese favourites complemented by Western -influenced versions of Eastern dishes. The absolute must-haves are the pork-filled fried dumpling starter, served with red vinegar and ginger strips, and main course of baked fresh lobster with ginger and spring onions. There are karaoke evenings to liven the place up even more. This is a place for everyone.

Sample dishes

  • Steamed Prawn Dumplings (Ha-Kau), £2.90
  • Chicken Fillets with Cashew Nuts in Yellow Bean Suace, £5.60
  • Toffee Apple/Banana, £2.10

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Snapshot

cuisine: Chinese
price: Under £25 | €28 | US$39
opening times:
Tue: 5:00pm - 11:00pm

Essential information

Please note that tables over 7 will be contacted directly by the restaurant to collect a non-refundable £5 per person deposit - this will be retained in cases of late cancellations or no-shows.

Diner reviews

Only users who have booked and dined through toptable can write reviews. Why are some reviewers foodies and others nibblers? Click here

21 Nov 2009

Reviewer DC  -  foodie

Shanghai is a great little place for some authentic dim sum in Dalston.

  • overall: 7.2
  • food: 8
  • value: 8
  • service: 7
  • toilets: 6
  • ambience: 7
  • recommend: 7

27 Oct 2009

Reviewer PG  -  foodie

Perfectly acceptable meal. Hot & sour soup a bit too thick/glutinous. Pork dumplings delicious, fresh and full of flavour. Crispy fried bief a bit too batter-heavy, but very crisp. More beef, less batter would be better. Chicken with cashew nuts tasty and fresh. I was worried about service in light of other reviews but the service was friendly, discrete and efficient (mind you it was a Monday evening so the restaurant was very quiet). I hope to go back and try the vast range of dim sum!

  • overall: 6.7
  • food: 6
  • value: 7
  • service: 8
  • toilets: 7
  • ambience: 6
  • recommend: 6

24 Oct 2009

Reviewer DC  -  foodie

Shanghai in Dalton is a great place for a family meal, do try the lobster with ginger and spring onion...

  • overall: 7.2
  • food: 8
  • value: 7
  • service: 7
  • toilets: 7
  • ambience: 7
  • recommend: 7

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