Top Shanghai Cuisine is located in Richmond and I have made four visits since June. I have my "usual" dishes that I like to order and the service is generally decent. Some may complain about how busy the restaurant gets though, but the wait has never been an issue for me. Despite waiting thirty five minutes on my first visit… But the rest of my visits never required a wait and the restaurant was always pretty empty.
Top Shanghai Cuisine has a good amount of tables for groups larger than five, and a few tables for two to four people. Furthermore, the restaurant is categorized as a typical "not the cleanest and may experience dirty tables or table setting" Asian restaurant.
BRAISED FREE RUN CHICKEN WITH HUADIAO RICE WINE ($11.95).
The drunken chicken does not taste like it has been braised in wine and has a faint wine flavour. However, on former visits, the chicken usually has a more flavourful and stronger wine taste. The chicken also looks smooth and the meat has a nice stiffness, but could have tasted more tender.
HOT AND SOUR SOUP ($7.99).
Despite having the bare minimum ingredients of bamboo shoot, fungus and tofu, the soup lacks both the spicy and sour taste. The hot and sour soup tastes bland and very… average as well as too simple. On the previous visits, the soup has tasted a lot better with a tasty spicy and tangy taste.
QUICK FRIED SHRIMPS WITH OIL ($12.99).
The prawns taste very sweet (although may be a bit much for some) and have that nice caramelized brown sugar candy taste. This is my second time ordering the prawns and I like them.
DONGPO PORK, HANGZHOU STYLE ($14.99).
The fatty layer of the pork tastes soft, yummy, delicious, and melts in the mouth. However, the lean portion of the meat tastes chewy. The pork tastes like it was rushed and cooked on a high fast boil. Again, on previous visits, it has tasted better just like the hot and sour soup. As for the sauce, the flavour is very light and has a touch of sweetness. I still find Shanghai Wonderful's sauce much better, but the meat tastes better here.
STEAMED BUN FILLED WITH PORK NANXIANG STYLE, XIAO LONG BAOS ($4.99).
The xiao long bao has a nice thin layer of skin and tastes juicy, filled with smooth pork meat. The only complaint however, would be that the XLBs could have been steamed longer since the inside was only luke warm.
MOO SHU BEEF, SAUTEED BEEF, EGGS AND BLACK FUNGUS ($11.99).
The crepes do not taste damp or overly chewy, and has a nice elastic texture. As for the moo shu, the shredded sautéed beef tastes tender and the dish includes a good amount of green onion, beef, egg and fungus. Although the egg could have tasted more fluffy, the dish does not taste too salty nor oily.
PAN FRIED DUMPING FILLED WITH PORK ($5.99).
The first time I have ever tried the pan fried buns here, I did not know they were going to be juicy and the juice squired out onto me LOL. The pan fried buns taste juicy and the pork meat tastes very flavourful, not gritty. The only complaint is the burnt bottoms, which ruins the buns.- Average to above average eats, usually
- Service is usually fine (not attentive but friendly)
NEGATIVES
- Service may not be the most attentive
- Inconsistent considering the fourth visit was not as good compared to the others
- Dishes could have tasted better and has, but this is the first time having disappointments
LITTLE THINGS
- Photoframes from previous vista (see how we always order the same things! LOL)- Was a regular until I discovered Chen's Shanghai Kitchen!
- Out of the both of us, BF is usually the carefree and easy going person when it comes to service, like most males. However on this visit, he was pretty annoyed with the service. There are two older Chinese ladies who are always friendly and nice, and a younger Chinese man who tries his best to please customers and is attentive. But having said that, last night, there was an older Chinese man who we have never seen before. We were seated at a small table that was big enough to fit only three dishes and we asked to get a larger table considering the empty looking restaurant. The man said "no" really loud and walked way. Usually we do not expect service at certain Asian restaurants so it is not a big deal. But oddly enough, BF was shocked because of the way he said no and got annoyed when all the dishes came at once, since we had to change seats and move the dishes ourselves (usually I am the one that gets annoyed not him LOL)Food: 2.5/5 (usually a 3/5)
Service: 2/5 (usually a 2.5/5)
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