About Us | Shanghai in Bristol

About the family

Xian Chen and his wife, Ying, opened the Shanghai Chinese Restaraunt in February 1996. It began as a tiny space in downtown Bristol, seating no more than 25 at a time. The Chens, along with their three young children, worked hard to create the friendliest space and serve the tastiest dishes. Through the years, the restaurant has been voted the best Chinese restaurant in Bristol.

A decade and a half later, the Shanghai Chinese Restaurant has expanded both our space and offerings. While we can seat more than a hundred now, it remains our promise to maintain the friendly, familiar atmosphere. We are big enough to serve you and small enough to know you!

We must thank the community of the Bristol and greater Tri-Cities region for the support they have shown the Shanghai Restaurant and the Chen family over the years. We hope to continue serving our community for the years to come!

From our customers

1

Beth, Review on Facebook

"You will have to go right to China itself to find better or more delicious food! My Hubby and I walked into this place 2 weeks ago and have been back 3 times since... It’s incredibly good w the pork dish Ants on Branch w rice noodles being his favorite already. I’m crazy about everything I’ve tried from the excellent hot mustard (which is like what restaurants USED to serve instead of the packets now being used) to the ubiquitous General’s Chicken to oriental dishes ranging from Indian curry to Ubon soup and found them all to be delicious and well made. Even the fried rice as a distinctly subtle flavor, so unlike the egg heavy overly browned rice we usually are served. The owner is a warm, friendly gentleman who presided over his restaurant happily willing to serve you himself while showing you pictures of his beautiful wife and family if you seem so inclined to see them. It’s a gem of a restaurant and we can hardly wait to go again; I think twice a week wouldn’t be enough for either of us! I think, hands down, it’s the BEST Chinese restaurant anywhere in VA/TN area."

2

Bill, Review on Facebook

"My family and I had a wonderful buffet lunch today at the Shanghai Restaurant! My wife is originally from Taiwan and it is very rare for her to find a Chinese restaurant that she enjoys here in the good ole USA! However Mr Chen and Ms. Wei (the owners) home make their restaurant and buffet dishes! Truly Homemade Chinese buffet restaurants are almost unheard of in the USA! We highly recommend their homemade chili sauce and hot and sour soup among Your the many delicious items that they homemake! Looking forward to our next trip that allows us to pass through Bristol to visit them! Thanks again! (非常感謝你們!)."

3

Susan, Review on Facebook

"We love eating here! We're pescatarians (eat fishes but not land or air animals), and they ALWAYS accommodate us if there aren't enough choices on the buffet by preparing a vegetable dish or a plate of vegetable egg fu yung just for us, no extra charge. I haven't ordered from the menu in a long time, but I used to love the moo shu vegetable. Just writing about it makes me want to order some! The renovation and re-decoration they have done is beautiful and makes dining here even more enjoyable. The Chens are a wonderful family and always ready with a smile and a hello. I'm grateful Bristol has this family-owned business downtown! What an asset to our city!"