Shun Lee West & Cafe
Welcome to Shun Lee West & Cafe, a renowned dim sum restaurant located in the heart of New York City. This restaurant offers a wide range of amenities, including reservations, delivery, takeout, and catering services. It is wheelchair accessible and accepts credit cards, making it convenient for all diners.
Customers rave about the fantastic food and service at Shun Lee West & Cafe. Reviews highlight the delicious dishes, such as orange chicken, shrimp dumplings, and spicy chicken with vegetables. The restaurant's elegant decor, punctual service, and comfortable seating create a pleasant dining experience for guests.
One visitor mentioned that Shun Lee is the perfect place to treat oneself and reconnect with loved ones. The generous portions and flavorful dishes, like General Tso's Chicken, leave guests satisfied and eager to return. The traditional Chinese-American appetizers and wide variety of teas and drinks add to the restaurant's appeal.
Overall, Shun Lee West & Cafe provides a memorable dining experience with its delectable food, welcoming atmosphere, and impeccable service. Whether you're a dim sum enthusiast or looking to try authentic Chinese cuisine, this restaurant is a must-visit destination in New York City.
Shun Lee West & Cafe Menu
Location
Address: 43 W 65th St New York, NY 10023
Phone: (212) 595-8895
Business info
- Takes ReservationsYes
- Offers DeliveryYes
- Offers TakeoutYes
- Wheelchair accessibleYes
- Accepts Credit CardsYes
- ClassyYes
- Moderate NoiseYes
- Offers CateringYes
- Good for GroupsYes
- Good For KidsYes
- Waiter ServiceYes
- Full BarYes
- TVYes
- Outdoor SeatingNo
- Wi-FiNo
- Bike ParkingNo
Last Reviews
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Author: James K.
Not sure what the deal is with some of the negative reviews. Food and service were fantastic and the drinks were tasty too. Been there 10 times and we'll be back.
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Author: Emma M.
I came with my friend after we saw the Barbie movie at the nearby AMC. I recommended this restaurant because I had been here plenty of times before with my grandparents. It was one of my grandpa's favorite restaurants in NYC. The restaurant was almost empty because we came at night, pretty late. We ordered scallion pancakes, shrimp dumplings, orange chicken, and a noodle dish. The food was really good, and it came in good time. The restaurant was beautiful and I loved the lighting. The seats were comfortable too, which added to the pleasant dining experience. My friend and I ended up not finishing it because they gave us so much food and neither of us could take it home, but we had a wonderful time and Shun Lee was the perfect place for us to reconnect and treat ourselves. I especially loved the sauce on the chicken and the flavor and texture of the noodles and dumplings. I believe the scallion pancakes could have been fluffier and not as crunchy, but they were still delicious. The restaurant is pricey, but I do believe that you get what you pay for and it's worth it.
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Author: Margo G.
Shun Lee West is the younger sibling of Shun Lee East. Founded in the 80's, it's right near Lincoln Center on The Upper West Side. It has a dimly lit decor that lights up with sculptural glowing dragons and monkeys which hang from the bar. As you enter, there is a red and black lacquer outer seating ring and a sunken dining space. It can get busier at dinner, but service is punctual. You can choose from a variety of Szechuan and non spicy food, duck, chicken, beef and pork with rice. A variety of oolong, green and black teas, alcoholic drinks, sake and herbal tonics. I ordered the spicy chicken with vegetables. Appetizers are mostly traditional Chinese -American and they have a sizzling rice soup, hot and sour or wonton soup. Desserts are a mixture of Asian and sweets such as; crème brûlée, chocolate lava cake, black and white mousse, lychees and ice cream.
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Author: Benson Y.
Years ago I saw the documentary "The Search for General Tso" and Shun Lee was one of the restaurants cited as having a good example of the dish. There is much to do made about what is "authentic" Chinese food and how Chinese take out in the United States is most certainly, NOT it. Perhaps since I was born and raised in the U.S. I don't take such a view. Instead, I see what we consider Chinese take-out as an evolution of cuisine from the Chinese mainland (and its surrounding areas) that has become its own entity over time. To that end, I have many favorites when it comes to take-out, and General Tso's Chicken is one of them. This made visiting Shun Lee a must. One Global Pandemic later, I was finally able to visit the West Side location of this restaurant to try out the acclaimed dish. I went a bit late on a weekday afternoon, so I was only one of about 10 customers in the place. The decor in this restaurant is definitely meant to grab your attention. There's a bit of "tourist trap" there with giant dragons lining the walls lit up, a giant dragon head at the entrance and a red and black color palette that really drives home an older Chinese restaurant aesthetic. Yet, nothing looks grungy or bad. Everything is very clean and tidy and the design of the dining room is very elegant, with an elevated section at the periphery and a sunken section in the middle. The staff was very polite with me. I also heard them talking extensively with other customers not just about the food, but also their day leading me to believe I was surrounded by regulars. Okay, what about the food? I ordered the General Tso's Chicken with rice. It was just me so this was MORE than enough food. You could easily feed two people with this dish. It comes with General Tso's Chicken in the center on a small bed of broccoli. Very traditional and it looks great. So, is this the best General Tso's Chicken ever? Well, no. It has great texture (crisp on the outside with a good chew on the inside). The chicken is still most under the crispy shell. The sauce is a nice mix of sweet and savory. The broccoli is nicely cooked and fresh. However, there's nothing particularly distinctive about the flavor. It is a good example of the dish, a solid B+ but it's not an "A". To get it there I would have liked a bit less sweetness and more leaning into the savory and spicy flavor profiles. However, if you lean towards sweet, then this dish will be very satisfying for you. I enjoyed my visit to Shun Lee and I would absolutely go back when I'm in the area again.