I am very passionate about Chinese food, grew up in the D.C. area, and this is my favorite Chinese restaurant in DC/Maryland! I love it. Delicious Kung Pao chicken, Peking Duck, and dumplings. Reliable and straightforward, tasty Chinese food for both dining in and takeout. Casual, draws a range of ages and families, and affordable especially for Bethesda. Service is typical of a Chinese restaurant, but you're going there for the food anyway :) Try it! (P.S. they are not open on Mondays).
(5)
Arnaud C.
Update: The Peking duck is still delicious. And I followed the advice of my fellow yelpers and tried the Mai Tai. OMG! Delicious!
(4)
George V.
Having been regulars here before moving to Charleston, SC several years ago, the dearth of real Chinese food in a city otherwise known for fine dining was truly worth a detour for us on a recent trip to DC. Walking in and seeing the daily specials, we were past thrilled to see soft shell crabs written on the board. Going in the kitchen to greet chef/owner Kwok he insisted on a visit to the walk-in to show off the live soft shells just in that day after an absence of some time. A sign from above that we had come to the right place! We began with his wonderful fried dumplings accompanied by a first-rate Mai Tai, and moved on to a perfect, tender crispy beef, just spicy enough with expert caramelization. Then those crispy critters with a special spicy scallion and ginger sauce Maestro Kwok devised some years ago. Quick fried to greaseless, crunchy perfection. Service was efficient and pleasant. We truly miss this man's superb cooking.
I wanted to try this restaurant before I bring my friends and family. I did not like food at all. Especially the fried wings. 6.25 +tax for 6 pcs of wings. And it was tiny tiny with more flour in a wings. I won't be going back again.
(1)
D Y.
Insider tip: Get the "SB" as an alternative to the Mai Tai. If they don't answer the phone it's only because they are so busy in which case there may be a wait.
(5)
Parker Y.
Really good standard Chinese food. The Kung pao chicken is my favorite dish, but the dumplings and Peking duck are also great. It's a local Bethesda favorite. It's reasonably priced quality food. The staff is usually friendly although I've had problems with them on the phone when they're busy. Worth a try if you live in the Bethesda area and are looking for a low key delicious Chinese experience.
(5)
Rosario C.
Best Chinese restaurant in Washington area! We will be sad when it closes. Owner is now 73 years old and is ready to retire! We will be going through withdraws.
(5)
Sherry H.
Thank you Yelpers! We had given up on Chinese, having had such mediocre or crappy food before but decided to take a chance. The promise of Peking duck was what prompted us to go and we were not disappointed! The duck was great, as were the Shrimp and Scallop in Garlic Sauce, the Egg Rolls and the BBQ ribs. Hot tea was good. Suffering Bastard was preferred iver the Mai Tai. Peachy Punch tasted like canned peaches with ice run through blender
(5)
M. C.
Rude and condescending manager who shorted me $$$$$ hung up the phone on me TWICE!!!! Pickup order - they forgot half the order. After calling twice they hung up on me and pretended they don't speak English. First the manager yelled saying "so what do you want me to do about this..." and then proceeded to tell me if I want the rest of the order then I should drive back. It is freezing rain and road conditions are not good. In short, they are rude, pretend not to speak english and basically shorted me $40 with no recourse! Be aware and check your order when picking up. She could simply have credited my credit card for the portion they forgot to give me. NEVER AGAIN going there.
(1)
Janet L.
Stopped by here again almost a year later and was surprised (in a good way). The great snow storm of 2014 in DC (okay, not really that great) caused many restaurants in the Bethesda area to be closed or closed by 8 PM. Shanghai Village stayed open and waited for us to finish eating before closing. As for the food - large portions! Singapore noodles - flavorful with a little kick! This was a LARGE portion. I felt like it could feed 3. I split it with my companion and still had enough noodles left to fill up a take-out box Orange Chicken - the chicken must have been dipped in a very light batter. The cut of meat was pretty good quality and cooked just right. I felt that the sauce was just a tad bit lacking. Spring rolls - A good version of this appetizer (larger than expected)
(3)
Jessica C.
Just tried to order over the phone from here. Whomever answers the phone really needs to learn about phone etiquette!! Was hung up on when I was told they cannot change an order. THIS WOMAN NEEDS TO LEARN MANNERS AND SHOULD NOT DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC! From now on I will be taking my business to City Lights of China that is just down the street, they also have MUCH BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!! I will never order from here again!! If I could leave a "0" rating, I WOULD!!!
(1)
Jon T.
I frequent this place for great Peking duck cut in front of us! Other favorites are softshell crab, shrimp and lobster sauce, and my favorite, salt and pepper shrimp. Service is good and consistent. My go to place if I need Chinese food within a 50 mile area!!
(5)
Andi C.
I have been going to Shanghai Village since the 1980's, when it was China Village located on Bethesda Row. Kwok Cheung, the owner, has been instrumental in the success of this restaurant. He always insists on using the freshest and best ingredients and is the keeper of many of the restaurant's secret recipes. By far the BEST Peking duck I have EVER had - you must go try this place!
(5)
Aviva S.
This place is ok the service was good but they didn't give me the right order. I had ordered chicken lo main with no vegetables and I got chicken lo main with vegetables. Ewww what a waist of time to pick out crap that you didn't ask for. The food was also very salty. I was only offered water once and been sitting for about 5 minutes or more to ask for more water. Over all this place is a hole in the wall. I haven't been so thirsty in a Chinese restaurant in a long time. The best place is in Tucson AZ its called Manderin grill. If your ever in Tucson AZ and want Chinese food remember the name "Manderin Grill"!
(2)
Antonio C.
I drive 1 hour each way just to get great food! Bbq Spareribs are to die for. I love seeing grown folks chewing away at their ribs. They have a tropical fruit punch that I have to order each time. This place has great food.
(5)
Dave M.
Waitress was rude and aggressive when we asked to sit by the window. She snapped at us that "I'm busy!!" even though the restaurant was nearly empty. One of the few times in my life that we actually sat down, were served waters and then walked right out of the place. Can't comment on the food, but based on the behavior of the staff there, I will never reward them with a dime of business, and hopefully this review will help others avoid a similarly unpleasant experience like we had.
(1)
Stefan N.
The food is excellent. The best Peking Duck in the area. Chicken with Walnut is terrific, as is the Crispy Beef. The specials are usually interesting including the use of lobster. The service, however, is indifferent and those charged with greeting and seating you can be actually rude. So much so, in fact, that we've considered not going back. But, as noted, it's the best Peking Duck in the area ...
(3)
Bill R.
I've seen that this restaurant has very mixed reviews, but the Peking Duck gets outstanding reviews. We decided to go here for my sons birthday as he loves Peking Duck. Unfortunately, this was not one of the better nights of this seemingly inconsistent restaurant. The service was indifferent to poor. (We would have thought we would have gotten more attentive service since at 8 persons, we were the largest party seated in the restaurant.) Cocktails were below average. I was not impressed with my hot and sour soup. My father got the Happy Family seafood dish and that was delicious. 6 of us had Peking Duck (we ordered 2 and 1/2 ducks). Sadly, the chef did not come out of the kitchen to carve the duck in front of us. The duck was decent, but not great. (My sons and I had just returned from a trip to Beijing and this restaurant couldn't even begin to come close to the awesome duck we had there!) What was really odd was the way the duck was served. First came out a half duck. It took another 20 minutes before we saw the next order of a full duck. 30 minutes went by before the last full duck came out. Everyone else was pretty much finished with their meals by the time the last couple started eating their Peking Duck. This would have been somewhat acceptable except the passive aggressive waitress would remove food from the table without checking to see if we were finished. The last duck was removed while it was still being eaten. We should have complained, but by the time we were feeling so dispirited by our experience that we just wanted to leave. The food was not terrible, but not worth the drive from upper Montgomery County where we could do just as well for a lower price. The service was abysmal. We will not be back.
(2)
David B.
Very good Chinese food in Bethesda. We got it to go. Everything was very good, especially the chicken with vegetables, in a light sauce. Only weak thing we had was the cashew chicken, which was too heavy, and had no vegetables in it. Fairly greasy.
(3)
Chris L.
Not bad as an Americanized Chinese. Everything is above average, including price. We spent over $60 for dinner for two. Portion is OK size! There are many better authentic Chinese in Rockville, Gaithersburg area. Will not go crazy about this place.
(3)
Ruth C.
Two and a half stars for a very Americanized lunch menu; I feel like I'm rounding up just to clarify between the fifty shades of "meh" on the lower gradients. I may have been better off with the Szechuan bean curd w/pork. I tried the roasted pork with snow peas, whose slices were stir fried in a heavy coating of generic brown sauce. Super basic white rice. Chow san shien gave me an MSG headache, and wonton soup may have been have had chewy dough but at least there were plenty of fried noodles. I think the nicest thing I can say is that the primary elements weren't particularly overcooked. I wouldn't return to this spot of my own volition, though the dinner menu shows more promise.
(2)
Ed J.
This is a great neighborhood Chinese place. We might've gone more than 50 times already. The food is always consistently good and the service consistently...unpredictable. But good Peking duck wins so we keep going back We highly recommend it
(4)
Micayla K.
All i can say is u people are crazy. Dog food is better then the shit they served me. Totally unedable. Go to NYC and figure out what good food is cuz this belongs in the trash, not my stomach
(1)
Helen S.
I've been craving Chinese food for the longest time, and this restaurant was the highest rated Chinese restaurant in Bethesda, so I stopped by for lunch with a friend the other day. You know the place is legit when the waiter speaks to you in Chinese, and there's workers cutting green beans on an empty table near the back of the restaurant. We started with some soup, so I got the egg drop and that was pretty decent. I wanted something spicy with beef so I asked for recommendations, and he told me that we could try something that wasn't listed on the menu, so I went for it. I have no idea what it is that I ordered, but it was beef strips deep fried in some sort of sweet sauce. It was tasty but too greasy for me, plus too sweet and not spicy enough. We asked whether it came with veggies and he said there were onions and carrots in the dish, but it our plate only had veggie garnishes. Overall, the food was okay but not great. It could satisfy my craving for Chinese food, and I can see myself returning soon for their peking duck.
(3)
Mark B.
Very good food. Charmless service. I just watched a waitress insist to a Jewish couple that they ordered pork, not chicken, and no, she could not correct the mistake.
(3)
Maja M.
Having a night in & not wanting to cook I took to yelp to find something to eat for dinner. I found this place, saw the pic of the Peking duck, & decided on here. I also got a side of their combination veggies to round out the meal. As a entered to pick up my order, I could not help but to notice the nice decor. It was simplistic, intimate, and inviting. I almost decided to eat in. The duck skin was crisp and well seasoned. The duck meat was tender and delicious. The veggies were well seasoned as well. The portion was large enough for a bit of left overs. Really good food, and most importantly a nice and welcoming staff. I look forward to going back to try some of their other dishes.
(4)
Joanne T.
I'm sorry to say this place should no longer be in business. Really. It's been there a long time and just isn't good anymore. It had been recommended to me so we got take out. Honestly, I don't think there are many good Chinese restaurants in the downtown Bethesda area but this one is really not good.
(1)
Andrew F.
This Bethesda, Avenue restaurant is a bit out of the way, on the "wrong side" of Arlington Road, opposite the more well-known strip of Bethesda Row. But the owners are no stranger to Bethesda, having operated the venerable and always excellent China Village for years and years (next to Parker's in the space taken over by City Lights and then some Asian grill I haven't visited). After years of impressive service they lost their lease and while leaving the space and the name, opened up a new shop across the road near the Drink More Water store. I won't get into details about most of the excellent menu, but I've been eating the owner and chef's food since I was a little kid, and I've never had a bad meal there or at its predecessor. But I will recommend you try the egg rolls and wonton soup. Every Chinese place I go to, I always judge those two items compared to Shanghai / China Villiage. No matter what you order, you'll enjoy it -- and the staff, many of whom have worked for the owner for years and years, will make sure you do.
(5)
Douglas P.
I have been going there since the first day the restaurant (then the China VIllage ) opened in the early 1980s. We have had a family tradition for over 30 years of bringing a huge group at Christmastime and ordering Suffering Bastards, incredibly spare ribs, Peking duck that Kwouk carves at the table, and an amazing number of other dishes. I love Shanghai Village and just wish I live closer
(5)
Le C.
Not sure how this place has four stars. The four stars and pictures of Peking duck drew me in. Ordered half a peking duck, hot and sour soup, and a special called Mongolian lamb. First, the soup was 3.50 and it was the smallest bowl of soup. It didn't taste hot or sour. Next the duck came. Duck was standard. Not that bad, but it wasn't hot and no one came out to carve it. If I pay 20.95 for half a duck someone better come out and carve it for me. Last, the most disappointing dish, the Mongolian lamb. What they gave us was what initially looked like beef with a bunch load of green onion. I doubted it was lamb but wasn't sure, until the check came. Somehow they ended up giving us beef with green onion. That answered my question why the Mongolian lamb tasted like beef chow foon without the chow foon. Usually Mongolian lamb has a good amount of cumin, but this dish had none. Probably some fault of mine for not notifying them about it, but the waitress who took our order also didn't say anything after she dropped our dish off. Guess she hoped we would not notice. At the end I got out as fast as possible, not a good Chinese restaurant experience. Would not recommend!
(1)
Tanya G.
Psssssssttt it's time to hear a secret of Bethesda, a time to walk a little bit off the beaten path. . . To the other side of Arlington Rd. Away from Bethesda Row and downtown Bethesda with all the fancy manicured restaurants?!?! Outrageous I know. . . This place shakes up all sorts of expectations. Shanghai Village sits not even a stone throw's away from the intersection of Arlington Rd. and Bethesda Ave, even providing free parking to lucky patrons. I know there is only three parking spots, but still that is more than any other restaurant offers in the area!!! Authentic Chinese food?!? Not quite but delicious, fresh, and worth rinsing and repeating all the same. They are famed for peking duck and walnut chicken, both dishes lived up to my very high expectations. Peking duck - served crispy, thinly sliced with piping hot crepes/pancakes, hoisin sauce and scallions. The remainder of the meat is prepared just the way Tanya likes it, without any fixings. Plain duck meat that is not too greasy or dry. Walnut chicken - what's this and where's the creamy mayo sauce?!?! No, their version is chicken, vegetables and cruncy walnuts in a sweet, tangy and salty sauce. A change but a lovely and most welcomed change. The chef is seen greeting tables and is super cute!! Not quite the hot celebrity of choice cute but the Asian version of the grandpa in Disney Pixar's Up cute. . . Endearing :-)
(4)
Moshe A.
I was really impressed with the taste of their food... The portions were large, the shrimp was fresh, the sesame chicken was seasoned well & very tasty with great chicken flavor & texture. The egg rolls were crispy & yummy and the shrimp tempura was surprisingly crisp for carry out We ordered for carry out as they were all booked for reservations for the night - even when we called at 1pm...but it was Christmas night - their busiest day of the year. They took our order early on the phone to be ready at 6:30 after our movie. The reason I only have given them 4 stars is because the food was not ready & we had to wait 40 minutes for the carry out , but the lady up front was kind and helped us stay patient w/ all the rest that were also waiting We will definitely come again to try to eat in and/ or carry out and I am guessing that there will not be the timing problem
(4)
Mark N.
I remembered this place because it was right next to Penang but I really never ventured in here for reasons now unknown. So I hear from a friend of a friend that this place serves some good Peking duck. Having tried Peking Gourmet Inn in Arlington and Marks Duck House, the wife and I were hoping that this would be just as good since we live in Maryland and the trip to Arlington is way too far for us. Also, I've had the original Peking duck in Beijing so I know what I'm talking about. Nothing will compare to Beijing but I tell you one thing, Shanghai Village sure comes mighty close. I'll talk about the duck since that was our main reason for going, not that the rest of the food wasn't superb. The owner, who is a cute old man actually comes out and carvea up the duck in front of you. I wouldn't want to be the one dating his daughter with those handy skills! He carves the duck the right way, cutting out the crispy skin and fat. The pancakes are perfect as well as the sauce and spring onions. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! I would say if you are in the Maryland area this is a must eat place! Although the food is excellent, the service is friendly to boot. I normally do not like Mai Tais, but with the recommendation from my friend, I reluctantly tried it. Boy, was I glad I did. Not only one of the best Mai Tais I ever tasted, it is one of the best cocktails I've had in a while. Overall, If you love a great place that has great Chinese food, especially the duck, you HAVE to stop by. Tell em I sent you!
(5)
Martin H.
The other reviewers have said it all pretty well, so there isn't much I can add. Having eaten here at least a dozen times, this place is just delicious, I have never had a bad dish here, not once. The Peking Duck here is a must for me whenever I'm back home visiting DC, as well as a couple rounds of SB's (Suffering Bastards, or Suffering Bartenders, depending on how sensitive your ears are). Quoc, the owner and head chef, is a great guy, hilarious, and an awesome cook. If you are in Bethesda and want food, there is no better place than this.
(5)
Paul L.
Great Chinese food in Bethesda. Most of the meals I have had are at lunch, but the food is great. I have many different things on the menu and have not been disappointed. The best part is that when you are short on time, you can still get a great meal at a great price.
(5)
A S.
Eh. I'd really say 2.5 stars, but given that I've only been here once, I decided to cut them some slack and round up instead of down (I should note, though, that my SO's been here three times and says that the food this time was pretty much par for the course). Four of us went here the other night, splitting three dishes and an appetizer. The dumplings were good. However, the fried rice was incredibly bland, and there was no soy sauce, etc., on the table that we could use to give it some flavor. The fried rice also had two small pieces of egg in the entire dish, which struck me as bizarre. I couldn't figure out if we were supposed to get egg but didn't, or if we were supposed to get no egg but did. And though the menu mentioned that the garlic sauce was spicy and though we were told by others that anything in the garlic sauce is amazing, it didn't have any kick whatsoever and, while not *bad*, was also a letdown. What's more, while most of the staff was attentive, our waitress seemed to want us out of there from the second we walked in. She was constantly bugging us to order (in the 10 minutes before we ordered, she came over three times), and seemed to be annoyed with us the entire time. In the middle of our appetizers, she came over, saw one dumpling left in the steamer, snapped "do you want this?" and then snatched the steamer away the instant my friend took the last dumpling. The restaurant was only about half full, too, so it's not as if she wanted to turn our table over quickly. All in all...pretty odd. It's a bit removed from the hustle and bustle of Bethesda Row, which is nice. And the prices are reasonable. But between the bland food and the odd service, I'm not in any hurry to go back.
(3)
Cathy P.
Went to Shanghai Village after I read the reviews on the Peking Duck. If this is your first visit, I definitely recommend ordering the whole duck. The chef comes out and carves it table side. The duck is cooked perfectly with the crispy skin and moist meat. The chef does take the carcass away, so if you are into picking all the meat off the bones I would tell him ahead of time. We also ordered the ribs - they were cooked very well. Bok Choy was good, but we took the leftovers home and it had a strong garlic taste the day after. Sinapore noodles were on the dry side. I will definitely return here for duck and we will need to try other dishes.
(4)
Kim E.
The clientele is decidedly made up of devoted regulars many.most of whom can remember when it was a few blocks to the center of Bethesda, now on an edge across from Euromotors and the legendary Beth. Crab House. You can understand why, this is American-Chinese cooking at its absolute best. The chicken wing appetizers, the spare ribs, the soups all great. The half Peking Duck at $19,95 can feed three and like everything else is cooked to perfection. Closed on Mondays except for holidays.
(5)
Dylan K.
Best chinese in bethesda hands down? Anything in "hot garlic sauce" is fantastic. The peking duck is great and its a pleasure to watch the chef come out and carve it right at the table. Affordable at dinner and great lunch specials. The peking duck is 5 stars, everything else 4-4.5 stars. Has open tables every time i have gone and has a convenient take out counter. 4.499999 stars. Doesn't feel right giving this place 5 even if it is the best in bethesda. Nothing really knocks your socks off except the duck.
Shanghai Village is as okay as Chinese food gets. Several people wrote about the hot garlic sauce so I ordered shrimp and scallops in hot garlic sauce. Whoop whoop, the sauce tastes like I made it. It's so toned down to the point where it's neither hot nor is it garlicky. In fact, I would not believe it was hot garlic sauce, but for the fact I saw and ordered it from the menu. The sauce actually tastes okay (okay for take out Chinese), but it's nothing I would order again. The walnut chicken is also okay. The candied walnuts taste fantastic. It's too bad someone threw them in the rest of the dish of chicken, cut-up veggies, and some generic, bland sauce. The lemon chicken is okay too. It's so okay that it makes me feel very okay. Three okay dishes get an A-OK rating. Come here for okay food, else go elsewhere, okay?
(3)
James G.
The man who runs this has been cooking heavenly Chinese food that makes the high brow fare like Tao or Mr. Chow's seem bland for decades. While this location is relatively new, my father used to bring dates to his old restaurant when he was my age. Almost 30 years ago. Needless to say we have averaged about two visits a month for as long as I can remember and I cannot ever remember a time I wasn't completely satisfied with the food. Pro tip: the Mai tai's, the barbecue spare ribs, and the Peking duck are ALWAYS amazing. Don't believe me? Fine. Your loss. I go to school in Dallas now, and that city is woefully short on even decent Chinese food-- oh the thing's I'd do to get that duck down there...
(5)
Nick F.
STAY AWAY. The only thing you can count on is getting WORST service ever!!! Only 2 other tables had customers and still horrible service. Been there 5 or 6 times because the food used to be good - quality definitely going downhill. Waiters have BAD attitudes and stand around doing nothing while your food is getting cold in the kitchen. Once the old man owner was shouting at his wife and making a scene in the restaurant, made everyone very uncomfortable. Found another place up the road called Mei Wah in Chevy Chase, consistently great food and great service!
(1)
Mike S.
If I were to rate Shanghai Village solely on the food, I would absolutely give it 4 or 4.5 stars. The food is pretty amazing, especially given a lack of options in this area. The peking duck is crispy and delicious, the crispy beef is damn tasty and you can't go wrong with any of the dishes in black bean sauce. The problems here are pricing and service. They have raised the prices recently so half a Peking duck will cost you $19 and the other dishes are in the $11-14 range. The service is another big problem, as in we had to order our dumplings four times and it still took 45 minutes to get them. If you are impatient or get frustrated easily, then absolutely do not come here. If you don't mind waiting, definitely check out Shanhai Village.
(3)
Y T.
The place was very busy. Everyone was running around and the phone was ringing off the hook. So there are definitely people who like it. My family did not. The food was bland and the atmosphere dingy.
(2)
Beth J.
I have been going here since i was 3 and it was in a different location! The chef is a talented man dedicated to providing some of the best chinese food i have ever had! Seriously i can not express to you how amazing, flavorful, and high quality this food is. Some of the best things there: Eggrolls, spring rolls, steamed pork dumplings, PORK WITH GREEN ONIONS, crispy beef, sesame chicken, lo mein, peking duck... there are more but i can't type that much! try anything, you'll LOVE IT!!!!!
(5)
A. J.
Two Words: Walnut Chicken That is all I had and that is all I will ever get when I return. When you find something this good and unusual, there is no need to try anything else. To me Shanghai Village might as well be named Walnut Chicken.
(4)
R S.
Good Americanized Chinese food Parking is a pain, but its well worth it once u get inside Food is very good and you get a lot of bang for your buck Recommend General Tso's chicken
(4)
Leon Y.
Overall, it's an Americanized Chinese food. I was here because of the name "Shanghai", thinking maybe they have some Shanghai-ness specialty. Anyway, for Americanized Chinese food, it's decent. Just not my cup of tea that's all. I'd rather head over to Penang next door.
(3)
Abby C.
Food/Price: (3) Came last Friday for dinner with friends. For a table of 6 (2 girls, 4 guys) we started with two appetizers: Hot Hacked Chinese Cabbage ($5.50), BBQ Pork ($4.50). For the main course, we ordered 2 whole Peking Ducks ($30/each) that come with 10 pancakes each, Shanghai Bok Choy ($9.75), Shrimps & Scallops with Hot Garlic Sauce ($15.96). Some of my table ordered drinks (I didn't but they sounded really good on the menu and looked really good when they came out.) So how shall I put this? The Peking Duck was good; the appetizers were satisfactory; everything else was bleh. I'll start with the duck. The duck meat was pretty good -- juicy, perfectly cooked. The skin was average -- it was not crispy enough and didn't melt in my mouth like good skins are apt to do. The pancakes that came with the duck were slightly thicker and larger than I'm used to, but they were tasty, so I'm not complaining. Overall the Peking Duck was good -- not great, but decently good. If I was only reviewing the duck (and taking into account this is in the DC area) I would have given the food a 4 rating. But then we get to the non-duck dishes. The scallop dish tasted fishy, as if the scallops were not fresh enough. In addition, the scallops were not cooked property; instead, they came out a bit rubbery and tough. The bok choy was underseasoned and slightly undercooked -- too much of a crunch. The bean curd that came with the bok choy was also lacking as they felt empty as if the interior had been fried away. I'm not sure if they make the bean curd themselves, or if they purchase it pre-made, but something needs to change. The food may have been more than passing for a dinky Chinese fast food joint, but for the amount these dishes cost, I expect more. Ambiance: (3) They need to redecorate in here. The furniture and wall coverings are definitely well-loved. Our table was shaky such that we'd have to be careful when lifting out arms off the table. In addition, their disposable napkins do nothing for the overall feel of the restaurant. They should probably use cloth lap napkins and also provide paper napkins for patrons. Location: (3) This place is metro-able; it's a relatively short 7 minute walk from the Bethesda Metro stop. There's also some parking available around the restaurant, which is good for those who drive. The restaurant itself is located on the fringe of activity, across from a car dealer and next to another restaurant. It's also a street down from the Bethesda Row Shopping Complex, which is filled with nice restaurants and shops. Service: (3) The waiters and waitresses here were decently helpful. They refilled our waters every 10 minutes, were very good about changing plates and whisking away empty plates. As is common for Chinese establishments, they don't come around to ask you how the food is, so you'll have to wave down restaurant personnel yourself if you need anything. Overall: (3) This place is alright. If I had only gotten the duck, I would have boosted the rating to 4, but the other, disappointing foods combined with the mediocre atmosphere, service, and overall experience knocked it down to a three star rating for me.
(3)
Josh R.
My first visit was quite pleasant! I initially went shopping at Bloomingdales in Chevy Chase and got the munchies for some good Chinese. I was sick of the sub par food at Mei Wah and PF Changs. I came across Shanghai Village through the mobile Yelp app. I'm very pleased with my discovery.
(5)
Lucy B.
So, I must tell you why we tried this place.. it was the only place with parking available right in front. Lame, I know. But, I peeped it on yelp and it had decent reviews so we gave it a shot.. and I am so happy we did. Frankly, I could care less what the food tasted like after I saw the owner (I think) greet practically every table and address each patron by name. He is quite possibly my most favorite human there is. ADORBS. I read the other reviewers comment about him, it is SPOT ON. He is SO FRIENDLY and wonderful and I just want to hug him. We saw him slicing up some Peking duck table side for the people behind us and we had to try it. It was really like an art! I told him it was our first time there and he helped me make my first pancake! UH. so cute. Even went as far as to tell me not to use too much sauce.."too salty, no good!" LOVE. We also had the steamed dumplings which were delish and had the combo fried rice to go. All good. Then the owner went to a table of regulars and brought them something special he had made to take home and try and told them to let him know next time if they liked it. Seriously? Hug me? He literally knew everybody! I one day hope to be one of the people he greets with a giant smile and by name. SO FUN!
(5)
Morris S.
One of the better Chinese restaurants in Bethesda (which if you are a Chinese food maven you know isn't saying much, actually). They have my favorite Peking Duck in the DC area, its a clean and high quality family restaurant, and its close, all in their favor. But its a little pricey - typical Bethesda -- for what it is, and is often so busy that its little kitchen can't keep up with the flow of traffic. Great for takeout, but make sure to call a half hour ahead of time.
(4)
Jeanne F.
This is the best chinese food in the area. Everything on the menu is great!
(5)
Lauren H.
The reason I like Shanghai Village is because their food is well made. I lived in China for four months and I can tell a homemade sauce when I taste one. They use whole pieces of white meat chicken for their orange chicken and lightly fry it with minimal breading so it still tastes good but is actually somewhat healthy
(4)
Simone B.
This is our 2nd visit to SV. The eggplant w/ garlic sauce was very tasty and soft. I asked for black mushrooms instead of white in the chicken with mushrooms and snow peas dish. For an extra $2 they agreed to do that. The mushroom were cooked well and tasted wonderful. We were told that today's fish is grouper. I do not know how expensive is this fish, but 5-6 small nuggets of deep fried fish for $17, that was way too expensive. I noticed that only when I got the bill. Since I was the host, I was not about to ask for the price, if my guest wanted fish. Lesson learned: in the future I will ask how it is prepared. That would give me a clue. I thought this would be a whole fish prepared chinese style. Another thing we noticed this time. The serving plates are smaller and the portion are smaller than in other chinese restaurants. I also expect hot tea served with a Chinese meal and they do not offer tea, unless you ask for it. Being in such a high rent area, maybe they try to cut expenses. All in all our guest, who has not been there before, enjoyed the experience and so did we.
(4)
Aindrea C.
Do NOT believe any of the bad reviews - they must be confusing Shanghai Village with another restaurant. My family and I have been going here ever since I can remember and I have never eaten anything that wasn't absolutely mouth-watering. First, you MUST try their Mai Tai - it is the best you will ever have. It has a couple different rums added to their own home made blend of juices (in all honesty I have no idea what is in the mix, but it is fantastic!) and served over crushed ice. Warning: if you are a light weight, do NOT drive after having one of these - they are STRONG. My family and I usually start off with crab rangoon and szechwan chicken wings. You can actually taste the crab and the wonton is perfectly golden and crispy. The chicken wings small, but all meat with crispy and tasty skin. They're dressed with sauteed scallions, garlic and jalapeno peppers. Not too spicy, but they definitely pack a nice little kick. For the main course we usually go with Peking Duck, Beef Chow Foon, Shrimp with Mixed Vegetables (we request it to be prepared spicy) and General Tso's Chicken. The duck always comes out first - if you order the whole duck Kwok (the owner and head chef) carves it table side. (I would order the whole at least once just so you can meet Kwok. He and the staff are wonderful, friendly people who really strive to make your experience the best they can.) The meat is moist and flavorful and the skin is crispy, juicy and delicious! It comes with slivered scallions, a brown sauce (don't know what kind, but do know its delish!) and rice pancakes. The beef chow foon is also phenomenal and full of flavor. Its a little on the greasy side, but not too greasy. The spicy shrimp with mixed vegetables has nice crisp veggies (snow peas, water chestnuts, carrots, broccoli and baby corn) and jumbo, succulent shrimp. One of the great things about Shanghai Village is they don't over-batter their food. The general tso's chicken has a thin, crispy layer surrounding the moist, deliciously flavorful white meat chicken. Another dish that really makes this place stand out is their Singapore Style Fried Rice Noodles. Noodles, curry, scallions, egg, shrimp, chicken & beef - what's not to love? If you want great Chinese food in the D.C. area this is the place.
(5)
J R.
I love this place. I went there for the first time with my family last Sunday. We had the chicken with walnuts and it was excellent. We also had the hunan beef which was very good. I was really impressed with the quality of the food. I can't wait to go back.
(4)
Alexandra K.
I came here yesterday with a friend after a long metro ride. It was fairly good, even comparable with some of the Chinese restaurants in New York. The lo mein was surprisingly thick for a lo mein noodle. The tofu was cooked really nicely. The server was friendly. Pop (or soda) was inexpensive. Overall, I was satisfied and would come back if in the Bethesda area.
(4)
Simon W.
I have tried pretty much everything in the area at the same price. and keep coming back here. I think there are better places in DC (and London!) but this beats the likes of PF Chang etc. Crispy duck is very good.. Long wait for carryout but for a good reason.
(4)
Andrew K.
I give this place 5 stars on Peking duck alone. That is their specialty and you have to get it. If you get the whole peking duck which costs about $30 and can feed about 3 people, the head chef chinese man comes out and carves the duck carefully at your table. It tasted so good with the hot steaming pancakes and hoisin sauce. The duck is amazing and it was the least greasiest duck I've had. We also ordered the pan fried beef noodles which was pretty good, the spicy jumbo shrimp which were huge and tasy and the garlic sauce eggplant which was also good. I like the crispy eggplant version better but this was also really good. We were stuffed by the end of the meal. I will definitely come back here for the Peking duck.
(5)
Bonnie W.
This is our reliable, going out to eat chinese restaurant in the Trader Vic polynesian tradition. Which makes sense, since the ever present owner was once a Trader's bartender in his youth - thus the killer MaiTai, made with the real ingredients. Some of the hors d'oevres, like crab rangoon & BBQ ribsare also from that menu. The key thing here is that the food is all freshly made and the chef is literally whipping them up in the back, when he's not out front carving the fabulous, crispy Peking duck. My fav is having the crab rangoon and half Peking duck with a Maitai or 2... Fortunately for me, the other half enjoys Kirin beer and will drive me home after he has been working his way through the menu. Looking at the wide range of folks here, from young to old, to couples and huge families, this is a local favorite and you won't break the bank.
(5)
John H.
Great, fresh and a cut above the rest. Chef is a master of sauces and also makes the best Mai Tai on the east coast. Only topped by Trader Vics in London and San Francisco. Ask for the large size, comes in a pint glass. Peking Duck is wonderful, crispy skin, moist meat and carved tableside. Check out the specials, any crispy fish, whole rockfish when available and the Filet with mixed vegetables is great.
(5)
Beth L.
The Crab Rangoon is good here, as is the Peking Duck. Their Mai Tais are very good and strong. Decor is okay, although some of the furniture could be replaced. Prices are high and service can be slow during peak times. Portion sizes are good.
(4)
Frank F.
Well, when the first two pages of the menu are given over to umbrella-festooned cocktails, and you need to ask for chopsticks, you know what you're in for: Americanized Chinese food. For what it is, it's not bad. The chicken in hot garlic sauce was not quite as cloying as it would be other places and the bok choi was actually passable. And to be fair, we didn't have the house specialty, Peking Duck. You could certainly do much worse, but still, with Penang right next door and real Chinese food right down Arlington Road at the underrated North China Restaurant, why bother?
(3)
Allison L.
A good Mai Tai and excellent crab rangoon, but the Szechuan chicken was too dried out for my taste. Slightly disinterested but effective service. Nice family-oriented atmosphere. The head chef seems like a sweet character.
(3)
Sarah K.
My family has been coming here since before it was called Shanghai Village! It's always our go-to for Chinese food in the area and now it's the place we go every time I'm visiting from Boston. We're rarely disappointed by any dish but our standbys are the walnut chicken and the crispy grouper. It's away from the most frequented Bethesda streets but it's better than most of the more popular restaurants!
(5)
Tom D.
I have often wondered about this place having passed it many times on my way to Penang or LA Express. Finally stopped in for lunch. Service was prompt and attentive. The food was decent too -- as good as any Chinese I have had in the Bethesda area (which is not saying much -- despite what you may have read about China Bistro....5 stars?!?). Not exactly a memorable experience but satisfying and reasonable prices for lunch. Would return.
(3)
Lee T.
My cousin wanted crabs, so a couple of us headed on over to the Bethesda Crab House. Well we didn't get crabs, because they ran out of crabs. How a crab house runs out of crabs is beyond me, I guess reservations are in order for the next trip. Then we tried Steamers, only to be told they are out of crabs also.... So this place was the consolation prize. It wasn't bad, and it wasn't good, so a typical 2 star, Chinese-American restaurant. I gave the third star for a 4 person drink I ordered, Hurricane I think the name was. For $11.95, this 1/2 gallon mixed drink can turn any frown upside down.
(3)
Eugene H.
The peiking duck here is pretty good but all the chinese food here is quite expensive, but I guess it matches the area. Everything else we got was just about average for what you pay for.
(3)
M. P.
Decent place. Food is always consistent and good. Nice people as well. No complaints.
(3)
Jaime C.
Last Friday night, my fiancee and I were looking for somewhere different in Bethesda to try. We are regulars at Penang's (next door) and saw the reviews for Shanghai Village were pretty good so we decided to try it out. I ordered a hot and sour soup and Five Spices (not 100% sure of name but five something) Shrimp. My fiancee order egg drop soup and Walnut Chicken. I think we both chose poorly because neither of us were overly satisfied with our meal. For me the hot and sour soup was missing something. The Shrimp turned out to be tempura shrimp with a sweet and sour tasting sauce, not what I expected from the menu description. The Walnut chicken was about 60% HUGE walnuts leaving little room for the other ingredients and the sauce that came with it was just OK. The place was packed (mostly with families with small, energetic children) so the service was less attentive than we needed (empty water glasses, chasing down the waitress to place our order and check). I do think we will go back again though. The prices were reasonable and we saw some other diners food that looked way more interesting than what we had, so I am hopeful we just picked two duds from the menu.
(3)
Pinki P.
We came just to try the peking duck since there were such great reviews about it. Also, we always drive to northern Virginia for Peking Gourmet Inn and this is alot closer, so if it's good, we'd have a closer place to satisfy our Peking duck cravings! The restaurant is small, and parking can be hard to find, but we parkead in the garage down the street. The service was pretty decent for a Chinese restaurant- we were greeted, got our order taken promptly, and got water and hot tea. We ordered a whole Peking duck and chicken fried rice (for two of us, which was too much food). A while duck was a bit under $40, which is standard. The chef brought out the duck approximately a half hour later and carved it in front of us. He did an excellent job removing the fat, and slicing the skin and meat thinly. I am pretty picky when it comes to this, but the Peking duck was up to my standards so I was happy. The pancakes are a but bigger and slightly thicker than what I am used to, but I liked it. The fried rice was a bit bland, but with the strong flavor of the hoisin sauce from the Peking duck, the rice was perfect for my palate. Overall, I enjoyed the food, and I will most likely be back for the duck.
(4)
Raymond W.
Shanghai Village has delivered the best Chinese meal I've had in Bethesda. After a few failed visits due to crowds, I came here at 9pm with friends and were seated immediately. We ordered the crab and asparagus soup to start, half a Peking duck, chicken with snow peas, and Szchuan string beans. All dishes held their own. The duck was served with thicker pancakes rather than the preferable man tou, which our waitress did not understand when we asked. The duck was also conveniently served separated from the skin with both being cut to small pieces to fill our pancakes with. Another visit is in order.
(5)
Alice L.
After reading some of the other comments, I decided to bring my parents and try out their food. Not what I expected. I thought there would be some authentic chinese entrees, but mostly americanize chinese food. And that night there was only one other chinese group other than us. I guess if you really like crispy walnut and general tso chicken, this place would be great, but not to the palate of a traditional chinese person. The service was good though, and the place was busy enough, but I just don't think I'll come back.
(3)
Jason J.
Far and away the best Chinese in the Bethesda area -- and among the best in the entire DC area. This place is heads and shoulders above the over-hyped Meiwah and City Lights. Every dish we've tried has been excellent, especially the Peking Duck, pork dumplings, shrimp fried rice (very fresh shrim) and Szechuan pork. The atmosphere is a bit on the retro side, and the service is somewhat slow. But it's also child-friendly.
(5)
Harry H.
How many Chinese restaurants are there in DC? One! Shanghai Village! I have lunch there every tuesday and bring my family whenever they are in the mood for chinese. I agree with Andrew K about the duck! Kwok, the owner, carves it in front of you when he can....and for chinese restaurant, very healthy, he never uses MSG and doesn't cheat you with lots of salt......so it is one of the few places I know I won't get a bad feeling afterwards.....ONE!
(5)
Justin W.
Great chinese food- probably second to Meiwah in the area. The chef and his wife are very personable and they make you want to dine in rather than taking out. Chef will even come over and cut the delicious Peking Duck for you.
(4)
Aram T.
Wow, this place is incredible. I went for lunch based on a recommendation from a friend and, having eaten at most of the "better" chinese restaurants, I have finally found one that stands out. We ordered the Peking Duck and the Grouper in Black bean Sauce. The duck came out first and was really moist and tasty. You get "pancakes" and scallions and sauce to make little duck tacos. So good. The grouper, though, was the real treat. Honestly, I could have drank the black bean sauce. The ginger was extremely fresh and the fish itself was simply delicious. The decor is nice. No cliche tacky chinese items, just tasteful decorations. The wait staff were friendly and extremely attentive. I think my water glass was filled 10 times over the course of the meal. As I left I was examining other peoples dishes and I got excited to return to try more. Definitely a good find!
(5)
Evin B.
Shanghai Village in Bethesda has amazing steamed vegetable dumplings. They used to not even be on the menu, but if you ask for them, they'll make them. From what I know, the owner himself makes them so if they don't have them on a certain day, that's why. I crave these and have been going to this restaurant and its predecessor (China Village) for over 20 years. Authentic and like nothing I've ever tasted. There is no going back to places that use frozen dumplings after enjoying these. The rest of their menu is also wonderful. String beans, chicken pan-fried noodles, and so many more have become favorites.
(5)
David F.
Shanghai Village is by far my favorite Chinese food restaurant in the DC area. I've been many times and have never had a bad experience. I especially like their Kung Pow Chicken, and Peking Duck. Anytime I happen to be in Bethesda I find an excuse to stop by Shanghai Village.
(5)
Jonathan E.
Some of the worst, least flavored Chinese food I ever had. My Sunday night is ruined after eating here. Do yourself a favor and don't waste your time, money, and evening. You were warned. Terrible!!!
(1)
Michael F.
This is good food. I especially like the kung pao chicken. I usually get carry out but the service looks good and its a small cozy restaurant. The people are very friendly there and I always get a good solid meal. It is not 5 stars for a reason, Its not "the best" but its in the top couple and its hard to find better. This is a great place.
(4)
Frank M.
Tolerable, not fresh Chinese food. Will likely not return.
(2)
Christopher G.
Without a doubt THE best Chinese food in the Bethesda - quite possibly the Washington metropolitan area. The Peking duck is superb, as are the Szechuan ribs and chicken wings, and the restaurant features hands down the best Kung Pao Chicken that you will ever have. Unfortunately, the service stinks. The proprietor previously ran China Village located further down Bethesda Avenue, which was deservedly known as THE place to go for quality Chinese food. The service there was excellent featuring a waitstaff that was courteous, efficient and very friendly. The proprietor closed that restaurant and about a year later opened Shanghai Village in its present location, but failed to bring the majority of the old wait staff with him. When you arrive you will be very pleasantly greeted by the ladies behind the bar. Enjoy it, as that will be the last pleasant greeting you will get. Watch out for the owner/head chef who often makes the rounds of the restaurant and pushes his nightly specials. He is a nice man, but fails to understand the meaning of the phrase "no thank you" and you may well find yourself with a meal you did not especially desire at a steep price of $40, which he describes as reasonable. If you go in a group, you will find that the kitchen often cannot get the food out within a reasonable timeframe, with some people waiting forever for their dishes to emerge while others are finished eating. One evening we waited forever for crab rangoon appetizer, only to discover that the chef had run out and had to run across to the Giant for the ingredients! What really ruins the restaurant is the wait staff. They have one young waiter who is quite pleasant, but the remainder of the wait staff is rude, surly and downright obnoxious. They offer no suggestions, slam plates on the table, walk away from customers when they are in the middle of giving their order and completely ignore you when you try to get their attention. They sometimes charge for refills of drinks that you did not order and refuse to remove them from the bill. One Father's Day, one of the wait staff stuck his feet up on one of the tables and went to sleep in full view of the customers. They are often out of a lot of things. On my last visit (which will indeed be my last visit), the waitress returned to inform me that they were out of crab rangoon. I selected spare ribs, only to be huffily informed that they were out of those as well. I made two more selections (both out), before I finally suggested she point to me on the menu exactly what they did have in for appetizers. She became even surlier if that was possible. She slammed things down on the table, threw the chop sticks at us, walked away when members of my party were attempting to ask her questions, and pointedly ignored us when we tried to flag her down for the bill. That visit was the final straw. Definitely great food, but their service is really for the birds and I would not recommend it for that reason alone.
(2)
kahlil g.
I am doing this from the restaurant. So far service is not so good. They seem to fawn over you if they know you. We are being ignored. The food does not blow me away. But it is good quality food at a good price. I would like to give it 3.5 stars but I can't.
(3)
Catherine H.
A good Bethesda standby from the folks that formerly ran China Village. Their garlic chicken is the best I've ever had, period.
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Sarah L.
I am very passionate about Chinese food, grew up in the D.C. area, and this is my favorite Chinese restaurant in DC/Maryland! I love it. Delicious Kung Pao chicken, Peking Duck, and dumplings. Reliable and straightforward, tasty Chinese food for both dining in and takeout. Casual, draws a range of ages and families, and affordable especially for Bethesda. Service is typical of a Chinese restaurant, but you're going there for the food anyway :) Try it! (P.S. they are not open on Mondays).
(5)Arnaud C.
Update: The Peking duck is still delicious. And I followed the advice of my fellow yelpers and tried the Mai Tai. OMG! Delicious!
(4)George V.
Having been regulars here before moving to Charleston, SC several years ago, the dearth of real Chinese food in a city otherwise known for fine dining was truly worth a detour for us on a recent trip to DC. Walking in and seeing the daily specials, we were past thrilled to see soft shell crabs written on the board. Going in the kitchen to greet chef/owner Kwok he insisted on a visit to the walk-in to show off the live soft shells just in that day after an absence of some time. A sign from above that we had come to the right place! We began with his wonderful fried dumplings accompanied by a first-rate Mai Tai, and moved on to a perfect, tender crispy beef, just spicy enough with expert caramelization. Then those crispy critters with a special spicy scallion and ginger sauce Maestro Kwok devised some years ago. Quick fried to greaseless, crunchy perfection. Service was efficient and pleasant. We truly miss this man's superb cooking.
(5)Judi G.
Typical good family run Chinese restaurant. While I am not big on egg rolls, these large babies are good for a starter along with pan seared dumplings. Soft shell crab in May when it is fresh and in season is a treat. Typically they serve them fried but ask them for sautéed, both come with a side sauce you can mix a little hoisin into. Peking duck while not the best was enjoyable, best part is the chef that has worked in the business for over 40 years, first starting as a busboy at Trader Vic's. Fun cocktails a throw back to the 1970's and 80's.
(3)christine g.
I wanted to try this restaurant before I bring my friends and family. I did not like food at all. Especially the fried wings. 6.25 +tax for 6 pcs of wings. And it was tiny tiny with more flour in a wings. I won't be going back again.
(1)D Y.
Insider tip: Get the "SB" as an alternative to the Mai Tai. If they don't answer the phone it's only because they are so busy in which case there may be a wait.
(5)Parker Y.
Really good standard Chinese food. The Kung pao chicken is my favorite dish, but the dumplings and Peking duck are also great. It's a local Bethesda favorite. It's reasonably priced quality food. The staff is usually friendly although I've had problems with them on the phone when they're busy. Worth a try if you live in the Bethesda area and are looking for a low key delicious Chinese experience.
(5)Rosario C.
Best Chinese restaurant in Washington area! We will be sad when it closes. Owner is now 73 years old and is ready to retire! We will be going through withdraws.
(5)Sherry H.
Thank you Yelpers! We had given up on Chinese, having had such mediocre or crappy food before but decided to take a chance. The promise of Peking duck was what prompted us to go and we were not disappointed! The duck was great, as were the Shrimp and Scallop in Garlic Sauce, the Egg Rolls and the BBQ ribs. Hot tea was good. Suffering Bastard was preferred iver the Mai Tai. Peachy Punch tasted like canned peaches with ice run through blender
(5)M. C.
Rude and condescending manager who shorted me $$$$$ hung up the phone on me TWICE!!!! Pickup order - they forgot half the order. After calling twice they hung up on me and pretended they don't speak English. First the manager yelled saying "so what do you want me to do about this..." and then proceeded to tell me if I want the rest of the order then I should drive back. It is freezing rain and road conditions are not good. In short, they are rude, pretend not to speak english and basically shorted me $40 with no recourse! Be aware and check your order when picking up. She could simply have credited my credit card for the portion they forgot to give me. NEVER AGAIN going there.
(1)Janet L.
Stopped by here again almost a year later and was surprised (in a good way). The great snow storm of 2014 in DC (okay, not really that great) caused many restaurants in the Bethesda area to be closed or closed by 8 PM. Shanghai Village stayed open and waited for us to finish eating before closing. As for the food - large portions! Singapore noodles - flavorful with a little kick! This was a LARGE portion. I felt like it could feed 3. I split it with my companion and still had enough noodles left to fill up a take-out box Orange Chicken - the chicken must have been dipped in a very light batter. The cut of meat was pretty good quality and cooked just right. I felt that the sauce was just a tad bit lacking. Spring rolls - A good version of this appetizer (larger than expected)
(3)Jessica C.
Just tried to order over the phone from here. Whomever answers the phone really needs to learn about phone etiquette!! Was hung up on when I was told they cannot change an order. THIS WOMAN NEEDS TO LEARN MANNERS AND SHOULD NOT DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC! From now on I will be taking my business to City Lights of China that is just down the street, they also have MUCH BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!! I will never order from here again!! If I could leave a "0" rating, I WOULD!!!
(1)Jon T.
I frequent this place for great Peking duck cut in front of us! Other favorites are softshell crab, shrimp and lobster sauce, and my favorite, salt and pepper shrimp. Service is good and consistent. My go to place if I need Chinese food within a 50 mile area!!
(5)Andi C.
I have been going to Shanghai Village since the 1980's, when it was China Village located on Bethesda Row. Kwok Cheung, the owner, has been instrumental in the success of this restaurant. He always insists on using the freshest and best ingredients and is the keeper of many of the restaurant's secret recipes. By far the BEST Peking duck I have EVER had - you must go try this place!
(5)Aviva S.
This place is ok the service was good but they didn't give me the right order. I had ordered chicken lo main with no vegetables and I got chicken lo main with vegetables. Ewww what a waist of time to pick out crap that you didn't ask for. The food was also very salty. I was only offered water once and been sitting for about 5 minutes or more to ask for more water. Over all this place is a hole in the wall. I haven't been so thirsty in a Chinese restaurant in a long time. The best place is in Tucson AZ its called Manderin grill. If your ever in Tucson AZ and want Chinese food remember the name "Manderin Grill"!
(2)Antonio C.
I drive 1 hour each way just to get great food! Bbq Spareribs are to die for. I love seeing grown folks chewing away at their ribs. They have a tropical fruit punch that I have to order each time. This place has great food.
(5)Dave M.
Waitress was rude and aggressive when we asked to sit by the window. She snapped at us that "I'm busy!!" even though the restaurant was nearly empty. One of the few times in my life that we actually sat down, were served waters and then walked right out of the place. Can't comment on the food, but based on the behavior of the staff there, I will never reward them with a dime of business, and hopefully this review will help others avoid a similarly unpleasant experience like we had.
(1)Stefan N.
The food is excellent. The best Peking Duck in the area. Chicken with Walnut is terrific, as is the Crispy Beef. The specials are usually interesting including the use of lobster. The service, however, is indifferent and those charged with greeting and seating you can be actually rude. So much so, in fact, that we've considered not going back. But, as noted, it's the best Peking Duck in the area ...
(3)Bill R.
I've seen that this restaurant has very mixed reviews, but the Peking Duck gets outstanding reviews. We decided to go here for my sons birthday as he loves Peking Duck. Unfortunately, this was not one of the better nights of this seemingly inconsistent restaurant. The service was indifferent to poor. (We would have thought we would have gotten more attentive service since at 8 persons, we were the largest party seated in the restaurant.) Cocktails were below average. I was not impressed with my hot and sour soup. My father got the Happy Family seafood dish and that was delicious. 6 of us had Peking Duck (we ordered 2 and 1/2 ducks). Sadly, the chef did not come out of the kitchen to carve the duck in front of us. The duck was decent, but not great. (My sons and I had just returned from a trip to Beijing and this restaurant couldn't even begin to come close to the awesome duck we had there!) What was really odd was the way the duck was served. First came out a half duck. It took another 20 minutes before we saw the next order of a full duck. 30 minutes went by before the last full duck came out. Everyone else was pretty much finished with their meals by the time the last couple started eating their Peking Duck. This would have been somewhat acceptable except the passive aggressive waitress would remove food from the table without checking to see if we were finished. The last duck was removed while it was still being eaten. We should have complained, but by the time we were feeling so dispirited by our experience that we just wanted to leave. The food was not terrible, but not worth the drive from upper Montgomery County where we could do just as well for a lower price. The service was abysmal. We will not be back.
(2)David B.
Very good Chinese food in Bethesda. We got it to go. Everything was very good, especially the chicken with vegetables, in a light sauce. Only weak thing we had was the cashew chicken, which was too heavy, and had no vegetables in it. Fairly greasy.
(3)Chris L.
Not bad as an Americanized Chinese. Everything is above average, including price. We spent over $60 for dinner for two. Portion is OK size! There are many better authentic Chinese in Rockville, Gaithersburg area. Will not go crazy about this place.
(3)Ruth C.
Two and a half stars for a very Americanized lunch menu; I feel like I'm rounding up just to clarify between the fifty shades of "meh" on the lower gradients. I may have been better off with the Szechuan bean curd w/pork. I tried the roasted pork with snow peas, whose slices were stir fried in a heavy coating of generic brown sauce. Super basic white rice. Chow san shien gave me an MSG headache, and wonton soup may have been have had chewy dough but at least there were plenty of fried noodles. I think the nicest thing I can say is that the primary elements weren't particularly overcooked. I wouldn't return to this spot of my own volition, though the dinner menu shows more promise.
(2)Ed J.
This is a great neighborhood Chinese place. We might've gone more than 50 times already. The food is always consistently good and the service consistently...unpredictable. But good Peking duck wins so we keep going back We highly recommend it
(4)Micayla K.
All i can say is u people are crazy. Dog food is better then the shit they served me. Totally unedable. Go to NYC and figure out what good food is cuz this belongs in the trash, not my stomach
(1)Helen S.
I've been craving Chinese food for the longest time, and this restaurant was the highest rated Chinese restaurant in Bethesda, so I stopped by for lunch with a friend the other day. You know the place is legit when the waiter speaks to you in Chinese, and there's workers cutting green beans on an empty table near the back of the restaurant. We started with some soup, so I got the egg drop and that was pretty decent. I wanted something spicy with beef so I asked for recommendations, and he told me that we could try something that wasn't listed on the menu, so I went for it. I have no idea what it is that I ordered, but it was beef strips deep fried in some sort of sweet sauce. It was tasty but too greasy for me, plus too sweet and not spicy enough. We asked whether it came with veggies and he said there were onions and carrots in the dish, but it our plate only had veggie garnishes. Overall, the food was okay but not great. It could satisfy my craving for Chinese food, and I can see myself returning soon for their peking duck.
(3)Mark B.
Very good food. Charmless service. I just watched a waitress insist to a Jewish couple that they ordered pork, not chicken, and no, she could not correct the mistake.
(3)Maja M.
Having a night in & not wanting to cook I took to yelp to find something to eat for dinner. I found this place, saw the pic of the Peking duck, & decided on here. I also got a side of their combination veggies to round out the meal. As a entered to pick up my order, I could not help but to notice the nice decor. It was simplistic, intimate, and inviting. I almost decided to eat in. The duck skin was crisp and well seasoned. The duck meat was tender and delicious. The veggies were well seasoned as well. The portion was large enough for a bit of left overs. Really good food, and most importantly a nice and welcoming staff. I look forward to going back to try some of their other dishes.
(4)Joanne T.
I'm sorry to say this place should no longer be in business. Really. It's been there a long time and just isn't good anymore. It had been recommended to me so we got take out. Honestly, I don't think there are many good Chinese restaurants in the downtown Bethesda area but this one is really not good.
(1)Andrew F.
This Bethesda, Avenue restaurant is a bit out of the way, on the "wrong side" of Arlington Road, opposite the more well-known strip of Bethesda Row. But the owners are no stranger to Bethesda, having operated the venerable and always excellent China Village for years and years (next to Parker's in the space taken over by City Lights and then some Asian grill I haven't visited). After years of impressive service they lost their lease and while leaving the space and the name, opened up a new shop across the road near the Drink More Water store. I won't get into details about most of the excellent menu, but I've been eating the owner and chef's food since I was a little kid, and I've never had a bad meal there or at its predecessor. But I will recommend you try the egg rolls and wonton soup. Every Chinese place I go to, I always judge those two items compared to Shanghai / China Villiage. No matter what you order, you'll enjoy it -- and the staff, many of whom have worked for the owner for years and years, will make sure you do.
(5)Douglas P.
I have been going there since the first day the restaurant (then the China VIllage ) opened in the early 1980s. We have had a family tradition for over 30 years of bringing a huge group at Christmastime and ordering Suffering Bastards, incredibly spare ribs, Peking duck that Kwouk carves at the table, and an amazing number of other dishes. I love Shanghai Village and just wish I live closer
(5)Le C.
Not sure how this place has four stars. The four stars and pictures of Peking duck drew me in. Ordered half a peking duck, hot and sour soup, and a special called Mongolian lamb. First, the soup was 3.50 and it was the smallest bowl of soup. It didn't taste hot or sour. Next the duck came. Duck was standard. Not that bad, but it wasn't hot and no one came out to carve it. If I pay 20.95 for half a duck someone better come out and carve it for me. Last, the most disappointing dish, the Mongolian lamb. What they gave us was what initially looked like beef with a bunch load of green onion. I doubted it was lamb but wasn't sure, until the check came. Somehow they ended up giving us beef with green onion. That answered my question why the Mongolian lamb tasted like beef chow foon without the chow foon. Usually Mongolian lamb has a good amount of cumin, but this dish had none. Probably some fault of mine for not notifying them about it, but the waitress who took our order also didn't say anything after she dropped our dish off. Guess she hoped we would not notice. At the end I got out as fast as possible, not a good Chinese restaurant experience. Would not recommend!
(1)Tanya G.
Psssssssttt it's time to hear a secret of Bethesda, a time to walk a little bit off the beaten path. . . To the other side of Arlington Rd. Away from Bethesda Row and downtown Bethesda with all the fancy manicured restaurants?!?! Outrageous I know. . . This place shakes up all sorts of expectations. Shanghai Village sits not even a stone throw's away from the intersection of Arlington Rd. and Bethesda Ave, even providing free parking to lucky patrons. I know there is only three parking spots, but still that is more than any other restaurant offers in the area!!! Authentic Chinese food?!? Not quite but delicious, fresh, and worth rinsing and repeating all the same. They are famed for peking duck and walnut chicken, both dishes lived up to my very high expectations. Peking duck - served crispy, thinly sliced with piping hot crepes/pancakes, hoisin sauce and scallions. The remainder of the meat is prepared just the way Tanya likes it, without any fixings. Plain duck meat that is not too greasy or dry. Walnut chicken - what's this and where's the creamy mayo sauce?!?! No, their version is chicken, vegetables and cruncy walnuts in a sweet, tangy and salty sauce. A change but a lovely and most welcomed change. The chef is seen greeting tables and is super cute!! Not quite the hot celebrity of choice cute but the Asian version of the grandpa in Disney Pixar's Up cute. . . Endearing :-)
(4)Moshe A.
I was really impressed with the taste of their food... The portions were large, the shrimp was fresh, the sesame chicken was seasoned well & very tasty with great chicken flavor & texture. The egg rolls were crispy & yummy and the shrimp tempura was surprisingly crisp for carry out We ordered for carry out as they were all booked for reservations for the night - even when we called at 1pm...but it was Christmas night - their busiest day of the year. They took our order early on the phone to be ready at 6:30 after our movie. The reason I only have given them 4 stars is because the food was not ready & we had to wait 40 minutes for the carry out , but the lady up front was kind and helped us stay patient w/ all the rest that were also waiting We will definitely come again to try to eat in and/ or carry out and I am guessing that there will not be the timing problem
(4)Mark N.
I remembered this place because it was right next to Penang but I really never ventured in here for reasons now unknown. So I hear from a friend of a friend that this place serves some good Peking duck. Having tried Peking Gourmet Inn in Arlington and Marks Duck House, the wife and I were hoping that this would be just as good since we live in Maryland and the trip to Arlington is way too far for us. Also, I've had the original Peking duck in Beijing so I know what I'm talking about. Nothing will compare to Beijing but I tell you one thing, Shanghai Village sure comes mighty close. I'll talk about the duck since that was our main reason for going, not that the rest of the food wasn't superb. The owner, who is a cute old man actually comes out and carvea up the duck in front of you. I wouldn't want to be the one dating his daughter with those handy skills! He carves the duck the right way, cutting out the crispy skin and fat. The pancakes are perfect as well as the sauce and spring onions. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! I would say if you are in the Maryland area this is a must eat place! Although the food is excellent, the service is friendly to boot. I normally do not like Mai Tais, but with the recommendation from my friend, I reluctantly tried it. Boy, was I glad I did. Not only one of the best Mai Tais I ever tasted, it is one of the best cocktails I've had in a while. Overall, If you love a great place that has great Chinese food, especially the duck, you HAVE to stop by. Tell em I sent you!
(5)Martin H.
The other reviewers have said it all pretty well, so there isn't much I can add. Having eaten here at least a dozen times, this place is just delicious, I have never had a bad dish here, not once. The Peking Duck here is a must for me whenever I'm back home visiting DC, as well as a couple rounds of SB's (Suffering Bastards, or Suffering Bartenders, depending on how sensitive your ears are). Quoc, the owner and head chef, is a great guy, hilarious, and an awesome cook. If you are in Bethesda and want food, there is no better place than this.
(5)Paul L.
Great Chinese food in Bethesda. Most of the meals I have had are at lunch, but the food is great. I have many different things on the menu and have not been disappointed. The best part is that when you are short on time, you can still get a great meal at a great price.
(5)A S.
Eh. I'd really say 2.5 stars, but given that I've only been here once, I decided to cut them some slack and round up instead of down (I should note, though, that my SO's been here three times and says that the food this time was pretty much par for the course). Four of us went here the other night, splitting three dishes and an appetizer. The dumplings were good. However, the fried rice was incredibly bland, and there was no soy sauce, etc., on the table that we could use to give it some flavor. The fried rice also had two small pieces of egg in the entire dish, which struck me as bizarre. I couldn't figure out if we were supposed to get egg but didn't, or if we were supposed to get no egg but did. And though the menu mentioned that the garlic sauce was spicy and though we were told by others that anything in the garlic sauce is amazing, it didn't have any kick whatsoever and, while not *bad*, was also a letdown. What's more, while most of the staff was attentive, our waitress seemed to want us out of there from the second we walked in. She was constantly bugging us to order (in the 10 minutes before we ordered, she came over three times), and seemed to be annoyed with us the entire time. In the middle of our appetizers, she came over, saw one dumpling left in the steamer, snapped "do you want this?" and then snatched the steamer away the instant my friend took the last dumpling. The restaurant was only about half full, too, so it's not as if she wanted to turn our table over quickly. All in all...pretty odd. It's a bit removed from the hustle and bustle of Bethesda Row, which is nice. And the prices are reasonable. But between the bland food and the odd service, I'm not in any hurry to go back.
(3)Cathy P.
Went to Shanghai Village after I read the reviews on the Peking Duck. If this is your first visit, I definitely recommend ordering the whole duck. The chef comes out and carves it table side. The duck is cooked perfectly with the crispy skin and moist meat. The chef does take the carcass away, so if you are into picking all the meat off the bones I would tell him ahead of time. We also ordered the ribs - they were cooked very well. Bok Choy was good, but we took the leftovers home and it had a strong garlic taste the day after. Sinapore noodles were on the dry side. I will definitely return here for duck and we will need to try other dishes.
(4)Kim E.
The clientele is decidedly made up of devoted regulars many.most of whom can remember when it was a few blocks to the center of Bethesda, now on an edge across from Euromotors and the legendary Beth. Crab House. You can understand why, this is American-Chinese cooking at its absolute best. The chicken wing appetizers, the spare ribs, the soups all great. The half Peking Duck at $19,95 can feed three and like everything else is cooked to perfection. Closed on Mondays except for holidays.
(5)Dylan K.
Best chinese in bethesda hands down? Anything in "hot garlic sauce" is fantastic. The peking duck is great and its a pleasure to watch the chef come out and carve it right at the table. Affordable at dinner and great lunch specials. The peking duck is 5 stars, everything else 4-4.5 stars. Has open tables every time i have gone and has a convenient take out counter. 4.499999 stars. Doesn't feel right giving this place 5 even if it is the best in bethesda. Nothing really knocks your socks off except the duck.
(4)Kay D.
Unfortunately, as an African American I am subject to receive the blunt end of appalling customer service in 'certain' restaurants, normally in areas consider high end and residential predominately Caucasian. However being a patron off the grid on Bethesda Rd at this quaint spot customer service was more than appalling it was dreadful. The number one rule is after 30 seconds of being seated in a restaurant a server should meet and greet the table, of course during peak hours timing can change but ultimately no longer than 5 minutes should you wait. At Shanghai Village we waited for more than 10 minutes for only two glasses of water, and silver wear basically thrown at us without a proper welcome and or drink order taken. The only reason for hesitating to dismiss ourselves was the rave reviews over the spring rolls and the famous walnut chicken; two of our dinner selections. We had already noticed how servers, hostesses, and possibly management completely ignored us, even after the universal sign of readiness placing our menus to the side. As we waited long enough to become anxious and indecisive about our dinner entrée, another couple (Caucasians) was seated right in front our table then eventually a third guest joined them. In disbelief I witnessed a server walk up to this newly sat table of Caucasians after less than 5 minutes and with a flip of notepad began taking their drink orders. It was seeing this blatant offensive gesture that we left IMMEDIATELY. Did I mention that on this evening we were the only customers of color at this high reviewed establishment? At this day and age this type of treatment should not be anticipated due to being out numbered. I hope that this places' staff read this review and realizes who we were that walked out, and understand the ignorance that lies in their service.
(1)Joe G.
Shanghai Village is as okay as Chinese food gets. Several people wrote about the hot garlic sauce so I ordered shrimp and scallops in hot garlic sauce. Whoop whoop, the sauce tastes like I made it. It's so toned down to the point where it's neither hot nor is it garlicky. In fact, I would not believe it was hot garlic sauce, but for the fact I saw and ordered it from the menu. The sauce actually tastes okay (okay for take out Chinese), but it's nothing I would order again. The walnut chicken is also okay. The candied walnuts taste fantastic. It's too bad someone threw them in the rest of the dish of chicken, cut-up veggies, and some generic, bland sauce. The lemon chicken is okay too. It's so okay that it makes me feel very okay. Three okay dishes get an A-OK rating. Come here for okay food, else go elsewhere, okay?
(3)James G.
The man who runs this has been cooking heavenly Chinese food that makes the high brow fare like Tao or Mr. Chow's seem bland for decades. While this location is relatively new, my father used to bring dates to his old restaurant when he was my age. Almost 30 years ago. Needless to say we have averaged about two visits a month for as long as I can remember and I cannot ever remember a time I wasn't completely satisfied with the food. Pro tip: the Mai tai's, the barbecue spare ribs, and the Peking duck are ALWAYS amazing. Don't believe me? Fine. Your loss. I go to school in Dallas now, and that city is woefully short on even decent Chinese food-- oh the thing's I'd do to get that duck down there...
(5)Nick F.
STAY AWAY. The only thing you can count on is getting WORST service ever!!! Only 2 other tables had customers and still horrible service. Been there 5 or 6 times because the food used to be good - quality definitely going downhill. Waiters have BAD attitudes and stand around doing nothing while your food is getting cold in the kitchen. Once the old man owner was shouting at his wife and making a scene in the restaurant, made everyone very uncomfortable. Found another place up the road called Mei Wah in Chevy Chase, consistently great food and great service!
(1)Mike S.
If I were to rate Shanghai Village solely on the food, I would absolutely give it 4 or 4.5 stars. The food is pretty amazing, especially given a lack of options in this area. The peking duck is crispy and delicious, the crispy beef is damn tasty and you can't go wrong with any of the dishes in black bean sauce. The problems here are pricing and service. They have raised the prices recently so half a Peking duck will cost you $19 and the other dishes are in the $11-14 range. The service is another big problem, as in we had to order our dumplings four times and it still took 45 minutes to get them. If you are impatient or get frustrated easily, then absolutely do not come here. If you don't mind waiting, definitely check out Shanhai Village.
(3)Y T.
The place was very busy. Everyone was running around and the phone was ringing off the hook. So there are definitely people who like it. My family did not. The food was bland and the atmosphere dingy.
(2)Beth J.
I have been going here since i was 3 and it was in a different location! The chef is a talented man dedicated to providing some of the best chinese food i have ever had! Seriously i can not express to you how amazing, flavorful, and high quality this food is. Some of the best things there: Eggrolls, spring rolls, steamed pork dumplings, PORK WITH GREEN ONIONS, crispy beef, sesame chicken, lo mein, peking duck... there are more but i can't type that much! try anything, you'll LOVE IT!!!!!
(5)A. J.
Two Words: Walnut Chicken That is all I had and that is all I will ever get when I return. When you find something this good and unusual, there is no need to try anything else. To me Shanghai Village might as well be named Walnut Chicken.
(4)R S.
Good Americanized Chinese food Parking is a pain, but its well worth it once u get inside Food is very good and you get a lot of bang for your buck Recommend General Tso's chicken
(4)Leon Y.
Overall, it's an Americanized Chinese food. I was here because of the name "Shanghai", thinking maybe they have some Shanghai-ness specialty. Anyway, for Americanized Chinese food, it's decent. Just not my cup of tea that's all. I'd rather head over to Penang next door.
(3)Abby C.
Food/Price: (3) Came last Friday for dinner with friends. For a table of 6 (2 girls, 4 guys) we started with two appetizers: Hot Hacked Chinese Cabbage ($5.50), BBQ Pork ($4.50). For the main course, we ordered 2 whole Peking Ducks ($30/each) that come with 10 pancakes each, Shanghai Bok Choy ($9.75), Shrimps & Scallops with Hot Garlic Sauce ($15.96). Some of my table ordered drinks (I didn't but they sounded really good on the menu and looked really good when they came out.) So how shall I put this? The Peking Duck was good; the appetizers were satisfactory; everything else was bleh. I'll start with the duck. The duck meat was pretty good -- juicy, perfectly cooked. The skin was average -- it was not crispy enough and didn't melt in my mouth like good skins are apt to do. The pancakes that came with the duck were slightly thicker and larger than I'm used to, but they were tasty, so I'm not complaining. Overall the Peking Duck was good -- not great, but decently good. If I was only reviewing the duck (and taking into account this is in the DC area) I would have given the food a 4 rating. But then we get to the non-duck dishes. The scallop dish tasted fishy, as if the scallops were not fresh enough. In addition, the scallops were not cooked property; instead, they came out a bit rubbery and tough. The bok choy was underseasoned and slightly undercooked -- too much of a crunch. The bean curd that came with the bok choy was also lacking as they felt empty as if the interior had been fried away. I'm not sure if they make the bean curd themselves, or if they purchase it pre-made, but something needs to change. The food may have been more than passing for a dinky Chinese fast food joint, but for the amount these dishes cost, I expect more. Ambiance: (3) They need to redecorate in here. The furniture and wall coverings are definitely well-loved. Our table was shaky such that we'd have to be careful when lifting out arms off the table. In addition, their disposable napkins do nothing for the overall feel of the restaurant. They should probably use cloth lap napkins and also provide paper napkins for patrons. Location: (3) This place is metro-able; it's a relatively short 7 minute walk from the Bethesda Metro stop. There's also some parking available around the restaurant, which is good for those who drive. The restaurant itself is located on the fringe of activity, across from a car dealer and next to another restaurant. It's also a street down from the Bethesda Row Shopping Complex, which is filled with nice restaurants and shops. Service: (3) The waiters and waitresses here were decently helpful. They refilled our waters every 10 minutes, were very good about changing plates and whisking away empty plates. As is common for Chinese establishments, they don't come around to ask you how the food is, so you'll have to wave down restaurant personnel yourself if you need anything. Overall: (3) This place is alright. If I had only gotten the duck, I would have boosted the rating to 4, but the other, disappointing foods combined with the mediocre atmosphere, service, and overall experience knocked it down to a three star rating for me.
(3)Josh R.
My first visit was quite pleasant! I initially went shopping at Bloomingdales in Chevy Chase and got the munchies for some good Chinese. I was sick of the sub par food at Mei Wah and PF Changs. I came across Shanghai Village through the mobile Yelp app. I'm very pleased with my discovery.
(5)Lucy B.
So, I must tell you why we tried this place.. it was the only place with parking available right in front. Lame, I know. But, I peeped it on yelp and it had decent reviews so we gave it a shot.. and I am so happy we did. Frankly, I could care less what the food tasted like after I saw the owner (I think) greet practically every table and address each patron by name. He is quite possibly my most favorite human there is. ADORBS. I read the other reviewers comment about him, it is SPOT ON. He is SO FRIENDLY and wonderful and I just want to hug him. We saw him slicing up some Peking duck table side for the people behind us and we had to try it. It was really like an art! I told him it was our first time there and he helped me make my first pancake! UH. so cute. Even went as far as to tell me not to use too much sauce.."too salty, no good!" LOVE. We also had the steamed dumplings which were delish and had the combo fried rice to go. All good. Then the owner went to a table of regulars and brought them something special he had made to take home and try and told them to let him know next time if they liked it. Seriously? Hug me? He literally knew everybody! I one day hope to be one of the people he greets with a giant smile and by name. SO FUN!
(5)Morris S.
One of the better Chinese restaurants in Bethesda (which if you are a Chinese food maven you know isn't saying much, actually). They have my favorite Peking Duck in the DC area, its a clean and high quality family restaurant, and its close, all in their favor. But its a little pricey - typical Bethesda -- for what it is, and is often so busy that its little kitchen can't keep up with the flow of traffic. Great for takeout, but make sure to call a half hour ahead of time.
(4)Jeanne F.
This is the best chinese food in the area. Everything on the menu is great!
(5)Lauren H.
The reason I like Shanghai Village is because their food is well made. I lived in China for four months and I can tell a homemade sauce when I taste one. They use whole pieces of white meat chicken for their orange chicken and lightly fry it with minimal breading so it still tastes good but is actually somewhat healthy
(4)Simone B.
This is our 2nd visit to SV. The eggplant w/ garlic sauce was very tasty and soft. I asked for black mushrooms instead of white in the chicken with mushrooms and snow peas dish. For an extra $2 they agreed to do that. The mushroom were cooked well and tasted wonderful. We were told that today's fish is grouper. I do not know how expensive is this fish, but 5-6 small nuggets of deep fried fish for $17, that was way too expensive. I noticed that only when I got the bill. Since I was the host, I was not about to ask for the price, if my guest wanted fish. Lesson learned: in the future I will ask how it is prepared. That would give me a clue. I thought this would be a whole fish prepared chinese style. Another thing we noticed this time. The serving plates are smaller and the portion are smaller than in other chinese restaurants. I also expect hot tea served with a Chinese meal and they do not offer tea, unless you ask for it. Being in such a high rent area, maybe they try to cut expenses. All in all our guest, who has not been there before, enjoyed the experience and so did we.
(4)Aindrea C.
Do NOT believe any of the bad reviews - they must be confusing Shanghai Village with another restaurant. My family and I have been going here ever since I can remember and I have never eaten anything that wasn't absolutely mouth-watering. First, you MUST try their Mai Tai - it is the best you will ever have. It has a couple different rums added to their own home made blend of juices (in all honesty I have no idea what is in the mix, but it is fantastic!) and served over crushed ice. Warning: if you are a light weight, do NOT drive after having one of these - they are STRONG. My family and I usually start off with crab rangoon and szechwan chicken wings. You can actually taste the crab and the wonton is perfectly golden and crispy. The chicken wings small, but all meat with crispy and tasty skin. They're dressed with sauteed scallions, garlic and jalapeno peppers. Not too spicy, but they definitely pack a nice little kick. For the main course we usually go with Peking Duck, Beef Chow Foon, Shrimp with Mixed Vegetables (we request it to be prepared spicy) and General Tso's Chicken. The duck always comes out first - if you order the whole duck Kwok (the owner and head chef) carves it table side. (I would order the whole at least once just so you can meet Kwok. He and the staff are wonderful, friendly people who really strive to make your experience the best they can.) The meat is moist and flavorful and the skin is crispy, juicy and delicious! It comes with slivered scallions, a brown sauce (don't know what kind, but do know its delish!) and rice pancakes. The beef chow foon is also phenomenal and full of flavor. Its a little on the greasy side, but not too greasy. The spicy shrimp with mixed vegetables has nice crisp veggies (snow peas, water chestnuts, carrots, broccoli and baby corn) and jumbo, succulent shrimp. One of the great things about Shanghai Village is they don't over-batter their food. The general tso's chicken has a thin, crispy layer surrounding the moist, deliciously flavorful white meat chicken. Another dish that really makes this place stand out is their Singapore Style Fried Rice Noodles. Noodles, curry, scallions, egg, shrimp, chicken & beef - what's not to love? If you want great Chinese food in the D.C. area this is the place.
(5)J R.
I love this place. I went there for the first time with my family last Sunday. We had the chicken with walnuts and it was excellent. We also had the hunan beef which was very good. I was really impressed with the quality of the food. I can't wait to go back.
(4)Alexandra K.
I came here yesterday with a friend after a long metro ride. It was fairly good, even comparable with some of the Chinese restaurants in New York. The lo mein was surprisingly thick for a lo mein noodle. The tofu was cooked really nicely. The server was friendly. Pop (or soda) was inexpensive. Overall, I was satisfied and would come back if in the Bethesda area.
(4)Simon W.
I have tried pretty much everything in the area at the same price. and keep coming back here. I think there are better places in DC (and London!) but this beats the likes of PF Chang etc. Crispy duck is very good.. Long wait for carryout but for a good reason.
(4)Andrew K.
I give this place 5 stars on Peking duck alone. That is their specialty and you have to get it. If you get the whole peking duck which costs about $30 and can feed about 3 people, the head chef chinese man comes out and carves the duck carefully at your table. It tasted so good with the hot steaming pancakes and hoisin sauce. The duck is amazing and it was the least greasiest duck I've had. We also ordered the pan fried beef noodles which was pretty good, the spicy jumbo shrimp which were huge and tasy and the garlic sauce eggplant which was also good. I like the crispy eggplant version better but this was also really good. We were stuffed by the end of the meal. I will definitely come back here for the Peking duck.
(5)Bonnie W.
This is our reliable, going out to eat chinese restaurant in the Trader Vic polynesian tradition. Which makes sense, since the ever present owner was once a Trader's bartender in his youth - thus the killer MaiTai, made with the real ingredients. Some of the hors d'oevres, like crab rangoon & BBQ ribsare also from that menu. The key thing here is that the food is all freshly made and the chef is literally whipping them up in the back, when he's not out front carving the fabulous, crispy Peking duck. My fav is having the crab rangoon and half Peking duck with a Maitai or 2... Fortunately for me, the other half enjoys Kirin beer and will drive me home after he has been working his way through the menu. Looking at the wide range of folks here, from young to old, to couples and huge families, this is a local favorite and you won't break the bank.
(5)John H.
Great, fresh and a cut above the rest. Chef is a master of sauces and also makes the best Mai Tai on the east coast. Only topped by Trader Vics in London and San Francisco. Ask for the large size, comes in a pint glass. Peking Duck is wonderful, crispy skin, moist meat and carved tableside. Check out the specials, any crispy fish, whole rockfish when available and the Filet with mixed vegetables is great.
(5)Beth L.
The Crab Rangoon is good here, as is the Peking Duck. Their Mai Tais are very good and strong. Decor is okay, although some of the furniture could be replaced. Prices are high and service can be slow during peak times. Portion sizes are good.
(4)Frank F.
Well, when the first two pages of the menu are given over to umbrella-festooned cocktails, and you need to ask for chopsticks, you know what you're in for: Americanized Chinese food. For what it is, it's not bad. The chicken in hot garlic sauce was not quite as cloying as it would be other places and the bok choi was actually passable. And to be fair, we didn't have the house specialty, Peking Duck. You could certainly do much worse, but still, with Penang right next door and real Chinese food right down Arlington Road at the underrated North China Restaurant, why bother?
(3)Allison L.
A good Mai Tai and excellent crab rangoon, but the Szechuan chicken was too dried out for my taste. Slightly disinterested but effective service. Nice family-oriented atmosphere. The head chef seems like a sweet character.
(3)Sarah K.
My family has been coming here since before it was called Shanghai Village! It's always our go-to for Chinese food in the area and now it's the place we go every time I'm visiting from Boston. We're rarely disappointed by any dish but our standbys are the walnut chicken and the crispy grouper. It's away from the most frequented Bethesda streets but it's better than most of the more popular restaurants!
(5)Tom D.
I have often wondered about this place having passed it many times on my way to Penang or LA Express. Finally stopped in for lunch. Service was prompt and attentive. The food was decent too -- as good as any Chinese I have had in the Bethesda area (which is not saying much -- despite what you may have read about China Bistro....5 stars?!?). Not exactly a memorable experience but satisfying and reasonable prices for lunch. Would return.
(3)Lee T.
My cousin wanted crabs, so a couple of us headed on over to the Bethesda Crab House. Well we didn't get crabs, because they ran out of crabs. How a crab house runs out of crabs is beyond me, I guess reservations are in order for the next trip. Then we tried Steamers, only to be told they are out of crabs also.... So this place was the consolation prize. It wasn't bad, and it wasn't good, so a typical 2 star, Chinese-American restaurant. I gave the third star for a 4 person drink I ordered, Hurricane I think the name was. For $11.95, this 1/2 gallon mixed drink can turn any frown upside down.
(3)Eugene H.
The peiking duck here is pretty good but all the chinese food here is quite expensive, but I guess it matches the area. Everything else we got was just about average for what you pay for.
(3)M. P.
Decent place. Food is always consistent and good. Nice people as well. No complaints.
(3)Jaime C.
Last Friday night, my fiancee and I were looking for somewhere different in Bethesda to try. We are regulars at Penang's (next door) and saw the reviews for Shanghai Village were pretty good so we decided to try it out. I ordered a hot and sour soup and Five Spices (not 100% sure of name but five something) Shrimp. My fiancee order egg drop soup and Walnut Chicken. I think we both chose poorly because neither of us were overly satisfied with our meal. For me the hot and sour soup was missing something. The Shrimp turned out to be tempura shrimp with a sweet and sour tasting sauce, not what I expected from the menu description. The Walnut chicken was about 60% HUGE walnuts leaving little room for the other ingredients and the sauce that came with it was just OK. The place was packed (mostly with families with small, energetic children) so the service was less attentive than we needed (empty water glasses, chasing down the waitress to place our order and check). I do think we will go back again though. The prices were reasonable and we saw some other diners food that looked way more interesting than what we had, so I am hopeful we just picked two duds from the menu.
(3)Pinki P.
We came just to try the peking duck since there were such great reviews about it. Also, we always drive to northern Virginia for Peking Gourmet Inn and this is alot closer, so if it's good, we'd have a closer place to satisfy our Peking duck cravings! The restaurant is small, and parking can be hard to find, but we parkead in the garage down the street. The service was pretty decent for a Chinese restaurant- we were greeted, got our order taken promptly, and got water and hot tea. We ordered a whole Peking duck and chicken fried rice (for two of us, which was too much food). A while duck was a bit under $40, which is standard. The chef brought out the duck approximately a half hour later and carved it in front of us. He did an excellent job removing the fat, and slicing the skin and meat thinly. I am pretty picky when it comes to this, but the Peking duck was up to my standards so I was happy. The pancakes are a but bigger and slightly thicker than what I am used to, but I liked it. The fried rice was a bit bland, but with the strong flavor of the hoisin sauce from the Peking duck, the rice was perfect for my palate. Overall, I enjoyed the food, and I will most likely be back for the duck.
(4)Raymond W.
Shanghai Village has delivered the best Chinese meal I've had in Bethesda. After a few failed visits due to crowds, I came here at 9pm with friends and were seated immediately. We ordered the crab and asparagus soup to start, half a Peking duck, chicken with snow peas, and Szchuan string beans. All dishes held their own. The duck was served with thicker pancakes rather than the preferable man tou, which our waitress did not understand when we asked. The duck was also conveniently served separated from the skin with both being cut to small pieces to fill our pancakes with. Another visit is in order.
(5)Alice L.
After reading some of the other comments, I decided to bring my parents and try out their food. Not what I expected. I thought there would be some authentic chinese entrees, but mostly americanize chinese food. And that night there was only one other chinese group other than us. I guess if you really like crispy walnut and general tso chicken, this place would be great, but not to the palate of a traditional chinese person. The service was good though, and the place was busy enough, but I just don't think I'll come back.
(3)Jason J.
Far and away the best Chinese in the Bethesda area -- and among the best in the entire DC area. This place is heads and shoulders above the over-hyped Meiwah and City Lights. Every dish we've tried has been excellent, especially the Peking Duck, pork dumplings, shrimp fried rice (very fresh shrim) and Szechuan pork. The atmosphere is a bit on the retro side, and the service is somewhat slow. But it's also child-friendly.
(5)Harry H.
How many Chinese restaurants are there in DC? One! Shanghai Village! I have lunch there every tuesday and bring my family whenever they are in the mood for chinese. I agree with Andrew K about the duck! Kwok, the owner, carves it in front of you when he can....and for chinese restaurant, very healthy, he never uses MSG and doesn't cheat you with lots of salt......so it is one of the few places I know I won't get a bad feeling afterwards.....ONE!
(5)Justin W.
Great chinese food- probably second to Meiwah in the area. The chef and his wife are very personable and they make you want to dine in rather than taking out. Chef will even come over and cut the delicious Peking Duck for you.
(4)Aram T.
Wow, this place is incredible. I went for lunch based on a recommendation from a friend and, having eaten at most of the "better" chinese restaurants, I have finally found one that stands out. We ordered the Peking Duck and the Grouper in Black bean Sauce. The duck came out first and was really moist and tasty. You get "pancakes" and scallions and sauce to make little duck tacos. So good. The grouper, though, was the real treat. Honestly, I could have drank the black bean sauce. The ginger was extremely fresh and the fish itself was simply delicious. The decor is nice. No cliche tacky chinese items, just tasteful decorations. The wait staff were friendly and extremely attentive. I think my water glass was filled 10 times over the course of the meal. As I left I was examining other peoples dishes and I got excited to return to try more. Definitely a good find!
(5)Evin B.
Shanghai Village in Bethesda has amazing steamed vegetable dumplings. They used to not even be on the menu, but if you ask for them, they'll make them. From what I know, the owner himself makes them so if they don't have them on a certain day, that's why. I crave these and have been going to this restaurant and its predecessor (China Village) for over 20 years. Authentic and like nothing I've ever tasted. There is no going back to places that use frozen dumplings after enjoying these. The rest of their menu is also wonderful. String beans, chicken pan-fried noodles, and so many more have become favorites.
(5)David F.
Shanghai Village is by far my favorite Chinese food restaurant in the DC area. I've been many times and have never had a bad experience. I especially like their Kung Pow Chicken, and Peking Duck. Anytime I happen to be in Bethesda I find an excuse to stop by Shanghai Village.
(5)Jonathan E.
Some of the worst, least flavored Chinese food I ever had. My Sunday night is ruined after eating here. Do yourself a favor and don't waste your time, money, and evening. You were warned. Terrible!!!
(1)Michael F.
This is good food. I especially like the kung pao chicken. I usually get carry out but the service looks good and its a small cozy restaurant. The people are very friendly there and I always get a good solid meal. It is not 5 stars for a reason, Its not "the best" but its in the top couple and its hard to find better. This is a great place.
(4)Frank M.
Tolerable, not fresh Chinese food. Will likely not return.
(2)Christopher G.
Without a doubt THE best Chinese food in the Bethesda - quite possibly the Washington metropolitan area. The Peking duck is superb, as are the Szechuan ribs and chicken wings, and the restaurant features hands down the best Kung Pao Chicken that you will ever have. Unfortunately, the service stinks. The proprietor previously ran China Village located further down Bethesda Avenue, which was deservedly known as THE place to go for quality Chinese food. The service there was excellent featuring a waitstaff that was courteous, efficient and very friendly. The proprietor closed that restaurant and about a year later opened Shanghai Village in its present location, but failed to bring the majority of the old wait staff with him. When you arrive you will be very pleasantly greeted by the ladies behind the bar. Enjoy it, as that will be the last pleasant greeting you will get. Watch out for the owner/head chef who often makes the rounds of the restaurant and pushes his nightly specials. He is a nice man, but fails to understand the meaning of the phrase "no thank you" and you may well find yourself with a meal you did not especially desire at a steep price of $40, which he describes as reasonable. If you go in a group, you will find that the kitchen often cannot get the food out within a reasonable timeframe, with some people waiting forever for their dishes to emerge while others are finished eating. One evening we waited forever for crab rangoon appetizer, only to discover that the chef had run out and had to run across to the Giant for the ingredients! What really ruins the restaurant is the wait staff. They have one young waiter who is quite pleasant, but the remainder of the wait staff is rude, surly and downright obnoxious. They offer no suggestions, slam plates on the table, walk away from customers when they are in the middle of giving their order and completely ignore you when you try to get their attention. They sometimes charge for refills of drinks that you did not order and refuse to remove them from the bill. One Father's Day, one of the wait staff stuck his feet up on one of the tables and went to sleep in full view of the customers. They are often out of a lot of things. On my last visit (which will indeed be my last visit), the waitress returned to inform me that they were out of crab rangoon. I selected spare ribs, only to be huffily informed that they were out of those as well. I made two more selections (both out), before I finally suggested she point to me on the menu exactly what they did have in for appetizers. She became even surlier if that was possible. She slammed things down on the table, threw the chop sticks at us, walked away when members of my party were attempting to ask her questions, and pointedly ignored us when we tried to flag her down for the bill. That visit was the final straw. Definitely great food, but their service is really for the birds and I would not recommend it for that reason alone.
(2)kahlil g.
I am doing this from the restaurant. So far service is not so good. They seem to fawn over you if they know you. We are being ignored. The food does not blow me away. But it is good quality food at a good price. I would like to give it 3.5 stars but I can't.
(3)Catherine H.
A good Bethesda standby from the folks that formerly ran China Village. Their garlic chicken is the best I've ever had, period.
(4)