Shanghainese · Szechuan · Chinese
A Kearny Mesa Shanghainese/Szechuan spot Roger says has some of the best service of any Chinese restaurant in town, with a strong warning to order off the authentic "black menu" rather than the Americanized red one.
Start with xiao long bao or braised pork with preserved veggies, and check the restaurant’s current menu before you go.
Source-backed notes
Checked in 2 times on Yelp, most recently Feb 15, 2015. See the check-in log
“Whatever you do, please do not order from the red menu (this is the "white mans" menu).”
Recommends ordering from the black/authentic menu rather than the red Americanized one; praises the xiao long bao and handmade dumplings with dark vinegar-ginger sauce, and the braised pork with preserved veggies.
Stay in the neighborhood
A Convoy District spot Roger rated among the better local options for xiao long bao and pan-fried sheng jian bao, with better-than-typical service to match.
A Kearny Mesa Vietnamese spot Roger praised for freshly made, generous portions — nothing mass-ordered frozen — plus made-to-order coffee and wings he ranks among the only two worth ordering at an Asian restaurant in town.
A low-key Convoy-area grocery Roger called a one-stop shop for a Chinese household: herbal remedies, dried seafood, nostalgic HK/China/Taiwan sodas and whole-leaf teas, tucked in a warehouse half a block west of Convoy.
Keep exploring
Browse the Shanghainese page, or continue to another place with a matching cuisine.
Comforting Hong Kong-style cooking in Clairemont, with the kind of unfussy menu that makes repeat visits easy.
A Northern Chinese skewer spot Roger found overpriced for tiny portions, with slow vegetable dishes and a check-in discount it refused to honor.