Last updated: October 29, 2026
If you are searching for the LJ Shanghai menu, you are looking for one specific thing first: soup dumplings. This small, family-run Shanghainese restaurant at 3142 Superior Avenue in Cleveland’s AsiaTown has built a citywide following on handmade xiao long bao, springy noodle soups and a short list of Shanghai classics. It is cash only, it takes no reservations, and it closes on Mondays.
LJ Shanghai is run by owners LJ and Edmond Tsui, cooking family recipes, and the reputation has travelled: Cleveland Magazine includes it in its 50 Best Restaurants list, and LoveFood has named it the best Chinese restaurant in Ohio. None of that has changed the format — the menu stays small, prices stay in neighbourhood territory, and the room fills up, which is why the practical details in this guide matter as much as the dishes.
One honest warning before the menu itself: prices for this restaurant are reported inconsistently all over the internet, and some websites using its name are not the restaurant at all. We have verified what can be verified and flagged the rest.
A note on prices in this guide: The prices we print are the most recent figures published by a credible local source — Cleveland Magazine’s current 50 Best Restaurants reporting, checked in October 2026. Where no current, corroborated price exists for a dish, we list the dish without a price rather than guess. Older opening-era reports put the soup dumplings at $5 for six; a lookalike website currently lists them at $14; the most recent local reporting says $8. We use $8 — and because the restaurant is cash only, it is worth confirming prices in the room before you order.
LJ Shanghai Menu at a Glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Cuisine | Shanghainese — soup dumplings, noodle soups, Shanghai classics |
| Signature dish | Xiao long bao (soup dumplings) — $8 in the latest local reporting |
| Format | Small, casual dining room; short, curated menu; family-run |
| Payment | Cash only (reinstated at the start of 2025) — no cards as standard |
| Reservations | None — first come, first served |
| Hours | Tuesday–Sunday 11:15am–8:00pm; closed Mondays |
| Address | 3142 Superior Ave, AsiaTown, Cleveland, OH 44114 |
| Phone | (216) 400-6936 |
| Parking | Free street parking nearby |
| Takeout | Yes — by phone is the reliable route |
| Price level | $ — most recently reported dishes run $1–$17 |
The Full LJ Shanghai Menu
The menu is deliberately small: dumplings and small plates, a noodle and soup section that does most of the heavy lifting, a handful of Shanghai mains and sides, and tea. Nearly everything is made in house, and the kitchen would rather do fewer dishes properly.
Dumplings, Wontons & Small Plates
| Dish | What it is | Price (latest verified) |
|---|---|---|
| Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings) | The signature: delicate handmade wrappers around seasoned pork and a spoonful of rich, hot broth, steamed in a bamboo basket and served with ginger-infused black vinegar | $8 |
| Spicy Chaoshou | Silky wontons folded into a very spicy, garlicky chilli oil with sesame and scallion — the dish regulars call the hidden gem of the menu | — |
| Pan-Fried Pork Dumplings | Dumplings with a caramel-crisped bottom, praised in local reporting for exactly that crust | — |
| Shanghai Shrimp & Pork Wonton Soup | Plump shrimp and pork wontons in a clear, rich broth lifted with tiny dried shrimp, scallion and seaweed | — |
| Shanghai Pork & Veggie Wonton Soup | The pork and vegetable version of the wonton soup — lighter, and the gentlest bowl on the menu | — |
| Shanghai Smoked Fish | A true Shanghai classic: fried fish steeped in a sweet-savoury dark glaze, served cool — order it as a starter, not a side | — |
| Cold Pig Ear Salad | A texture dish for the adventurous: sliced pig ear in a punchy dressing, singled out by local critics | — |
| Garlic Cucumbers | Smashed cucumber with garlic — the cold, sharp reset every rich table needs | — |
| Sweet & Sour Ribs | Tender, glossy ribs that reviewers order again and again | — |
| Seaweed Salad | A light, briny cold starter, recommended alongside the dumplings | — |
| Scallion Pancake | Crisp, layered flatbread from the small-plate section | — |
| Edamame | Simply prepared and made to snack on while the steamers land | — |
A dash (—) means exactly what the note above says: the dish is on the menu, but no current price for it appears in a source we trust, so we have not printed one.
Noodles & Soups
This is the second half of the restaurant’s identity. Noodle styles vary — springy thin noodles, thick pan-fried noodles and hand-cut daoxiao — so read the descriptions, not just the dish names.
| Dish | What it is | Price (latest verified) |
|---|---|---|
| Pan-Fried Beef Daoxiao Noodle | Thick, springy knife-cut noodles pan-fried with beef, soy and scallion — one of the most praised dishes in recent local reporting | $17 |
| Beef Curry Soup | A warming, curry-spiced beef soup that appears on the newest local must-order lists | $10 |
| Chongqing Spicy Beef Noodle Soup | The big winter bowl: thick, chewy noodles, tender braised beef and baby bok choy in a lip-tingling, spicy-savoury Chongqing-style broth | — |
| Shredded Pork & Salted Vegetable Noodle Soup | Thin, bouncy noodles in chicken broth under chopped pickled greens with hot pepper and shredded pork — bright, sharp and quietly fiery | — |
| Pork Belly Noodle Soup | A milder, soothing broth with pork belly — the comfort order on a cold day | — |
| Shanghai-Style Scallion Noodles | The austere classic: noodles dressed with nothing but soy and roasted scallion oil. Staff may warn you how simple it is; that simplicity is the dish | — |
| Shanghai Pan-Fried Flat Noodles | Flat noodles with a sweet-savoury Shanghai gloss, a regular customers’ favourite | — |
| Fried Rice Cake | Chewy rice cakes stir-fried Shanghai-style, ordered by regulars alongside the dumplings | — |
Mains, Meatballs & More
| Dish | What it is | Price (latest verified) |
|---|---|---|
| Lion’s Head Meatballs | Large, tender Shanghai-style pork meatballs — the dish reviewers describe with the word “great” most often after the chaoshou | — |
| Soy-Braised Duck | A long-standing favourite from the earliest local coverage: duck braised in soy until deeply savoury | — |
| Spicy Duck Neck | A snack-style plate for chilli lovers, listed among the restaurant’s specialities by Destination Cleveland | — |
Drinks
| Drink | What to know | Price (latest verified) |
|---|---|---|
| Tea | Cups of tea are part of the ritual here — and at the price below, the easiest yes on the menu | $1 |
That is not a typo. Beyond tea, expect a minimal drinks offer: no alcohol menu is published anywhere for LJ Shanghai — see the Practical section below.
What to Order First at LJ Shanghai
Start with the soup dumplings — and eat them properly. Xiao long bao are Shanghai’s famous xiaolongbao: little steamed basket dumplings whose filling of pork and gelled broth turns to soup as they steam. The technique, which illustrated instructions on the tables walk you through, is the one Cleveland Magazine recommends: eat them in two bites. Move a dumpling to your spoon without tearing the skin, puncture it and slurp the soup first — it is scalding — then add a dab of soy sauce and the ginger-infused black vinegar before the second bite. Bite straight in and you will wear the soup; everybody messes it up the first time, according to the owner himself.
Then order the dish regulars rank beside it: the spicy chaoshou. If the xiao long bao are the famous order, the chaoshou are the insider one — silky wontons in a genuinely fiery, garlicky chilli oil. Reviewers who have eaten across the menu call them its gem. Spice here is not decorative, so speak up when ordering if that is a problem.
Add one noodle bowl and one cold starter. The pan-fried beef daoxiao is the current critics’ pick ($17); the Chongqing spicy beef noodle soup is the bowl for a cold Cleveland day. Balance them with the smoked fish or garlic cucumbers — one cool, sharp plate stops the table feeling heavy.
Sample order for two: Xiao long bao → spicy chaoshou → pan-fried beef daoxiao noodle (or Chongqing spicy beef noodle soup) → garlic cucumbers → tea. On a second visit: shrimp and pork wonton soup, lion’s head meatballs, smoked fish and the scallion noodles.
How Much Does a Meal at LJ Shanghai Cost?
Honest answer, built only from figures we could verify: the four dishes with current published prices run $1 (tea) to $17 (the pan-fried beef daoxiao), with the signature soup dumplings at $8, and the restaurant sits in the $ price band everywhere it is listed. A typical order for two lands in modest neighbourhood-restaurant territory — which is why the cash-only rule (below) is manageable: this is not a meal that requires a large stack of bills, but it does require bills.
What we will not do is print a neat per-item price for every dish. The figures circulating online include opening-era prices from 2017–18 coverage and a full price list on a website that is not the restaurant’s — and they disagree by as much as $9 on the signature dish. Treat any complete, confident LJ Shanghai price list with suspicion: the newest credible local figure is $8, not $5 and not $14.
Vegetarian, Vegan & Gluten-Free at LJ Shanghai
Vegetarian diners can eat well if they order deliberately. The reliable building blocks are garlic cucumbers, seaweed salad, edamame and scallion pancake, plus the Shanghai-style scallion noodles, dressed simply with soy and roasted scallion oil. Listings do flag vegetarian and vegan options, but this is a pork-centred kitchen — confirm how a dish is made rather than assuming its broth or sauce is meat-free.
Vegan diners should build from the same cold starters and ask about soup bases before ordering a bowl: several famous soups are chicken- or meat-based. Gluten-free diners face the hardest version of this menu — the signatures are wheat through and through, and soy-based sauces run across the kitchen. There is no dedicated gluten-free menu; if gluten is a medical issue, call ahead on (216) 400-6936 and ask what can be prepared safely that day.
Practical Information: Cash, Waits, Parking & the Rules That Matter
This is the section most guides to LJ Shanghai skip — and the one that decides whether your visit is smooth. Almost everything below is a rule somebody learns the hard way once.
Cash only — really. LJ Shanghai reinstated its cash-only system at the start of 2025, according to Cleveland Magazine, to help keep rising food costs down. Cards are not the standard here. Bring enough cash for the meal and a tip, and do not build your plan around paying by card or phone: if you arrive with only a card, your dumpling run becomes an ATM run first.
Is there an ATM? No source we could check confirms an ATM inside the restaurant — plan as if there isn’t one. Take cash out before you get to Superior Avenue, not after you have sat down and ordered.
No reservations, and the wait is real. Seating is first come, first served, and the dining room is small. At peak hours — weekend evenings especially — expect to wait, and larger parties wait longest: recent diner reports suggest groups of four or fewer are seated fastest. Going early or on a weekday is the simplest way to shorten the queue. Most visits, once seated, run about an hour.
Hours, and why it is “closed” when you check. LJ Shanghai opens Tuesday to Sunday, 11:15am–8:00pm, and is closed every Monday — so if a Monday search tells you it is shut, nothing is wrong; that is the weekly schedule. Opening hours on holidays are not published in any source we found, so for days like Thanksgiving, call ahead instead of trusting a listing.
Parking and finding it. The restaurant sits at 3142 Superior Avenue in AsiaTown, east of downtown Cleveland, with free street parking nearby — one of the easier parts of the visit. It is a single location; there is no second LJ Shanghai to confuse it with, even though several similar-looking websites use its name.
Takeout, delivery and ordering ahead. Takeout is offered, and ordering by phone on (216) 400-6936 is the reliable way to use it. We found no official online ordering channel run by the restaurant itself — if a third-party page offers a slick online checkout in its name, treat it with the same suspicion as those price lists.
Alcohol and BYOB. No alcohol appears on the published menu, and tea ($1) is the documented drink. Do not assume you can bring your own bottle either — ask when you call; do not arrive with wine and hope.
LJ Shanghai FAQs
Is LJ Shanghai cash only?
Yes. Cash-only payment was reinstated at the start of 2025 to help keep food costs down, and every current listing for the restaurant confirms it. Bring cash for the meal and tip — do not count on paying by card.
How much are the soup dumplings at LJ Shanghai?
The most recent credible local reporting — Cleveland Magazine’s current 50 Best Restaurants list — prices the soup dumplings at $8. Be careful with other figures you will find online: $5 dates from opening-era coverage in 2017–18, and $14 appears on a website that is not the restaurant’s own. Prices can change, and the restaurant takes cash, so checking the menu in the room is always worthwhile.
Does LJ Shanghai take reservations?
No. There are no reservations at all — seating is first come, first served. Arrive early or off-peak to shorten the wait, and keep groups to four or fewer if you can: larger parties wait longest in the small dining room.
Does LJ Shanghai have an ATM?
No source confirms an ATM on the premises. Because the restaurant is cash only, take cash out before you arrive on Superior Avenue rather than relying on finding a machine inside.
Does LJ Shanghai serve alcohol — or can I bring my own?
No alcohol appears on the published menu; tea ($1 a cup) is the documented drink. BYOB is not confirmed anywhere either, so if it matters to your party, ask by phone on (216) 400-6936 before bringing a bottle.
Does LJ Shanghai do takeout?
Yes — takeout is offered, and ordering ahead by phone is the dependable way to arrange it. We found no official online ordering system run by the restaurant, so be wary of third-party pages claiming to be its checkout.
Why is LJ Shanghai closed?
Most likely because it is Monday: the restaurant closes every Monday and opens Tuesday–Sunday, 11:15am–8:00pm. Holiday hours are not published, so call ahead around public holidays rather than relying on a listing.
Where do I park for LJ Shanghai?
Free street parking is available near the restaurant at 3142 Superior Avenue in AsiaTown, Cleveland — parking is one of the easier parts of the visit.
When did LJ Shanghai open?
Local editorial coverage dates the restaurant’s opening to 2017 (the earliest reviews describe a two-month-old restaurant drawing crowds for soup dumplings). At least one website using its name says 2016 — one more reason to treat those lookalike sites carefully.
What should I order on a first visit?
The soup dumplings, eaten in two bites with black vinegar and ginger; the spicy chaoshou, if you like real heat; and one noodle dish — the pan-fried beef daoxiao ($17) or the Chongqing spicy beef noodle soup — with garlic cucumbers or smoked fish, and a $1 cup of tea.
Before You Go
- Take cash out first. Cash only is the restaurant’s headline rule, and no ATM on site is confirmed — this single step prevents the most common ruined visit.
- Do not go on a Monday. The restaurant is closed all day; it opens Tuesday–Sunday, 11:15am–8:00pm.
- Time it like a local. First come, first served, small room: early lunch, an early dinner or a weekday beats a Saturday-evening queue, and parties of four or fewer move fastest.
- Order the signatures. Soup dumplings (latest reported price $8), spicy chaoshou, one noodle bowl, something cold and sharp alongside — and eat the dumplings in two bites, soup first.
- Keep your price expectations honest. Current verified prices are the ones in this guide; if you see a complete LJ Shanghai price list online that includes $14 soup dumplings, it is not the restaurant talking.
- Call (216) 400-6936 for the unlisted things: holiday hours, takeout orders, BYOB questions and anything allergy-related are all phone questions at a restaurant this size.
LJ Shanghai rewards diners who plan one small thing in advance — cash — and then let a short, confident menu do the rest. This little AsiaTown room makes the strongest case in Cleveland that a bamboo steamer, a bowl of noodles and a $1 cup of tea, done properly, are enough.
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