Shanghai River Chinese Restaurant

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2700 W Anderson Ln
Austin, TX 78757

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(512) 458-9598
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Reviews
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( 6 )

Best

It is my personal belief (and I could be wrong) that the people who wrote bad reviews about Shanghai are meat-eaters. I believe this because when they found out we were vegan, th...

Worst

Although they do have a wide selection (including many vegetarian items), most of the menu items are plain and uninspired with half of them tasting basically identical to one anot...

Are they really gone? Yayyyyyy! 8/6/2007

Horrible food, horrible staff. If they're really gone then good riddance. Customers wont come back when the food is bad and the service worse. Pros: as if! lol Cons: bad food, bad staff more
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RIP Shanghai River 6/30/2007

As of last night, Saturday, June 30, 2007, Shanghai River is closed. I went to the restaurant last night, around 6 p.m., and it was locked up and dark inside. The furniture and steam tables were gone. There was no forwarding address.\r \r I last ate at Shanghai River on the night of June 13. It was very good that night. I think that it was due to timing. I got there around 6 pm and they were putting fresh hot food on the buffet. I especially enjoyed the steamed fish and the vegetarian spinach with ginger dish. Not many Chinese buffets have steamed fish.\r \r One thing that I did not like about Shanghai River in the past was that the food was often lukewarm. I used to complain about it. They claimed that the AC cooled the food and that I needed to stir the food up before serving myself. One time I went to the restaurant at 2:30. Big mistake, the food at that time was not fresh, and they made no apologies about it.\r \r This is the third Chinese buffet restaurant to close in the immediate neighborhood area. The closest Chinese buffet is now the one at Sea Dragon at 8776 Research Blvd --lunch buffet only. more
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Absolutely Wretched 6/26/2007

Food was awful. Tasted like rubber socks. Cold. Out of date.\r \r Read the positive reviews and see if you dont think theyre all wirtten by the same person. Probably someone that works there. Cons: I should have been paid to eat here. more
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Bad Experience - We Wont Be Back 6/26/2007

Friday June 15th, about 6pm: I dont know if we caught them on a bad day, but the buffet food was cold had had the look of having been left under the lights since the lunch hour. The seafood was especially 'unfresh'. My wife and I left after just a few bites--and paying 'halfa price' of course.\r \r I did some research and found that th latest available inspection score was 56 (out of 100, with 70 the pass/fail line) I just filed a complaint with the department of TX that inspects food establishments (the name is not allowed in these reviews.) Pros: Close to Adobe Cons: Food was awful - unhealthy in my opinion more
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Consistently Outstanding --update: Now chocolate vegan soft serve-- 5/4/2007

It is my personal belief (and I could be wrong) that the people who wrote bad reviews about Shanghai are meat-eaters. I believe this because when they found out we were vegan, the owners catered to us hand and foot. They had everything we asked for. The food is always hot and fresh. My boyfriend and I look forward to coming here once a week. Above it says it isn't romantic, but heck we are swept off of our feet by the food everytime we go. It's definately a trip.We only eat the vegan items off of the veggie buffet so that's all we can speak for. But, damn it's really great.. We always go when we're ridiculously hungry and everytime we get defeated by our mountain of yummy yummy food-but we leave in a daze... maybe they put something in the food. It's too good.\r OH ALSO, THERE'S VEGAN SOFT SERVE!! !! !! !! Pros: food--price-service-soy ice cream. It's way better than ""buffet"" food should be. Cons: I can't think of any. None. more
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Vegetarian Heaven! 2/9/2007

I am surprised to see any negative comments below--my experiences at Shanghai River have always been excellent. Granted, there are some days when they're a bit overwhelmed and need to bring new stuff out to the buffet. They're a family owned restaurant and are more than happy to bring fresh food not only out to the buffet, but to your table as well. \r \r Some of the best things fresh include their spring rolls, their general tso's tofu b alls (haha, citysearch won't let me write b a l l s), and their chinese fried donuts--they are absolutely devine!\r \r While they always have an extension collection of veggie foods (including soy ice cream!), on certain days (I think Wed, Fri and Sun?) they have even more vegetarian specialties!\r \r Definitely worth trying! Pros: vegetarian buffet every day of the week! Cons: not closer to my house! more
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I Felt Robbed 1/19/2007

This place was so lousy that I had to write a review. Unidentifiable meat, cold soup and flavorless greasy sauces. I really felt like we were robbed to pay for that food, if you could call it that. We will not be going back. more
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great for vegetarians! 9/28/2006

This is my fave Chinese food spot in town--Wednesdays is Vegetarian/Vegan night and my friends and I go almost every week. The family that owns this restaurant is like our second family--they know our fave foods and always bring out new spring rolls, green beans (really, the best green beans on earth!)\r \r They have awesome bubble tea too! And, to top of all this yumminess, they have soy ice cream--yum!!!!\r \r See you Wednesday! more
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Too greasy! 9/9/2006

They left a menu on my apartment door, so I decided to try them out. I ordered take out and was not impressed. The food was dripping in grease to the point that it made me feel queasy. I won't be going back. Pros: Staff seemed friendly Cons: dripping in grease more
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Great vegan cuisine 8/21/2006

We went on a Sunday before watching a movie at the drafthouse. When the staff found out we were vegan they comlpetely catered to us. They brought out fresh tofu spring rolls (which were some of the best spring rolls I've ever had). All the items on the veg buffet were excellent. Instantly became one of my new favorite restaurants. Pros: service, vegan buffet Cons: eggs in fortune cookies more
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Visiting Doc 4/19/2006

While visiting Austin, a friend recommended the restaurant. The food was so good that I ate four heaping plates of food plus a vegan soy ice cream desert. I ate food only from the vegan area and there was a very good variety and all the food was great. Before going to the restaurant I read all nine reviews. Since all the reviews were either good or bad with nothing in between, I was concerned. I decided to take my friends advice and go anyway. I totally agreed with the positive reviews and almost totally disagreed with the negative reviews. The only negative review that I somewhat agreed with was the temperature of the food. Food on a buffet line can not be too hot or it will shortly over cook and thus it creates a lot of waste. The food was warm enough in my opinion. Great dining experience! Pros: Great Food, Great Value, Great Service Cons: Food could be warmer, n/a, n/a more
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Vegetarian Food 4/13/2006

I went and ate at this restaurant and so far I have no complaints about their foods. I am not vegetarian but I love their vegie dishes. This is a good place to eat before or after watching the movie @ the Alamo Drafthouse. more
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I don't think that was chicken. 4/6/2006

My husband and I tried this place and have honestly never been more disappointed with any other eatery. The staff was friendly, but the food was horrible, I'm afraid. The hot and sour soup was cold and tasted nothing like it should, they forgot our appetizer but the worst part was our entrees. We ordered two dishes with chicken in them and both of them were inedible. It tasted nothing like chicken so I'm assuming THE POULTRY HAD SPOILED. We never send things back, but we would have were we not afraid we would get something else that had turned bad. We just paid and left. I felt too sick to then go eat elsewhere. What a disappointment! Cons: food was spoiled more
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Delicious, Affordable, and Friendly Staff 1/6/2006

I've been eating at Shanghai River for over 5 years and I love it. The vegetarian hot and sour soup is such a treat and they even have soy ice cream. Do NOT miss the cream cheese wontons on the meat buffet side. The staff/management have always been super nice to me and the food has always been hot. They have punch cards too for frequent diners. Pros: Inexpensive, Good vegetarian, Quiet more
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Go to Shanghai River 11/19/2005

I have eaten twice at this establishment and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I have never eaten IN the restaurant itself, so I gave it average rating; I have only ordered delivery. I have ZERO complaints about the food, other than it's not free! If it were free, it'd be the the best. I would reccommend Shanghai River to anyone. Pros: Great food, No delivery charge, Great food Cons: Not open 24 hours, Food isn't free more
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Totally Excellent! 1/2/2005

everytime i'm in town i visit this place and it's always great. Especially satisfying for vegans and vegitarians. Pros: vegan buffet!!, vegitarian buffet!!, service more
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Nothing Memorable 10/12/2004

Although they do have a wide selection (including many vegetarian items), most of the menu items are plain and uninspired with half of them tasting basically identical to one another. Many of the steam trays were almost empty, they ran out of bowls, and I only received one fortune cookie for two people. I also prefer locations that have refills on sodas rather than in the can--may not be ""traditional"" but neither is iced tea. Pros: Selection Cons: , Service more
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Great Overall Value 7/6/2004

All of our experiences have been great at SR. We always get the buffet: the price is really good (plus a dollar off with alamo tix stub) and the selections on the buffet are always varied. I have several weirdo vegetarian friends, so it's a great compromise. The staff is enthusiastic and helpful to the point of ridiculousness...they were actually kind of getting on our nerves once by refilling our drinks after every sip. I've been going once every couple of months for a few years and never had a bad experience. Pros: Buffet Value, Great Staff, Variety Cons: , Popular w/ lrg groups more
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good vegetarian buffet 1/3/2003

I have been to Shanghai River several times, always on Friday nights because of the vegetarian buffet. I have never experienced cold food on the buffet, unless it was supposed to be chilled like salad. Every entree is tasty and vegetarian entrees are free of ""accidental meat contamination"". The cooks take a unique approch to Chinese and there are many new varities that are extremely good. I had been looking for a good chinese buffet and Shanghai River has become my favorite in town. Pros: unique, good vegetarian food, cheap Cons: parking can be prob more
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Cold food, rude management 10/13/2002

This place is bad. Even though there are a lot of varities, the buffet was absolutely cold. When I complained to the manager, she uttered something in Chinese which sounded derogatory. I just walked off at that time. Pros: Got no pros Cons: bad food, no parking (alamo), cold food more
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Menu for Shanghai River Chinese Restaurant


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Editorial

  • In Short
    The interior is dark and restful, the service is personable, and an elevated section in the back is conducive to private parties. After your meal, stroll around the watercourse...

  • 7/11/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Sun-Fri 11am-9:30pm; Sat 11:30am-9:30pm
  • Payments: Cash, Visa, Master Card, American Express, Diner's Club
  • Neighborhoods: North Shoal Creek
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