I went looking for chicken balls. That was the whole plan. The place that came up was a low, grey-block building you could miss if you weren't actively looking for it. I almost drove past. But I'm glad I didn't. Inside, there's a moon gate, latticed and circular. You step through and the room opens up: floral wallpaper, faded to a soft yellow. On the walls, gold, red, and black double happiness crests. In the center of the room, a red velvet wall with a pair of gold-painted dragons on either side. You can see where wedding signage has been hung and re-hung over the years. The marks are still faintly visible. The tables are set with round-backed black bistro chairs, red pleather upholstery, the legs tipped in gold. They're worn in a way that feels honest. The owner mentioned that the floors used to be carpeted in crimson. I tried to picture it. The whole room a little warmer, a lot more regal. This place has been here over fifty-eight years. You feel that, not in a heavy way, just in the quiet details: the way the light falls, the slight creak of the chairs, the smell of the stale white pepper, the sense that generations of families have sat in this room for celebrations and ordinary Tuesday nights alike. So as we dine, there's a rhythm. The waitress dots about the room, moving between tables with easy familiarity. The door heaves open and closed, letting a constant stream of takeout orders in and out. I like it here. Places like this are being forgotten. They're being pushed aside by commercial franchises, by mass production that values speed over soul. These family legacy businesses need protecting. We'll miss them when they're gone. And the food? Good. Really good. The chicken balls were crisp, the sauce tangy, exactly what I'd hoped for. But honestly, I'd come back just to sit in that room again.
Highlights from 99 Google reviews
We were looking for the food flavour from the Dragon Gate on Highbury, which closed two years ago. It is the closest thing we have found to that Dragon Gate flavour here in the city of London. We ordered eight dishes in total and were pleasantly surprised by all eight dishes. They were all excellent and the flavour was really tasty and we will definitely be coming back to the Shanghai restaurant from now on for our Chinese food!!!!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Great experience! The portions were big and everything was fresh and delicious. The staff were all amazing, friendly, attentive, and made us feel welcome. Excellent value for the money, and we still leftovers to take home. We’ll definitely be back!
Great place, it gives you an old school Chinese Canadian feel. It's like going back in time with the 1960s decor and washroom. The food is flavourful. One of the best Chinese Canadian restaurants in London. Check it out if you love Chinese food.
My family has gone to this restaurant for 40+ years and the food has always been excellent with generous portions. I would definitely recommend!
Amazing quality food in large portions. Lovely dining room for hosting activities and events! Been coming here for 30 years.