I-Shanghai Delight, San Ramon

Reviewer: Foodnut.com

I-Shanghai

2416 San Ramon Valley Blvd 140

San Ramon, CA 94583

(925) 718-5233

I-Shanghai Website

I-Shanghai Delight, San Ramon

Why did we dine here? – We love dumplings and this one WOW’d us! I-Shanghai Delight is a Shanghainese Chinese restaurant in San Ramon. They also have locations in Fremont and Sacramento. We were dining here with friends who highly recommended this Chinese restaurant. Note: Only 3.5 stars on Yelp probably due to bad service.

They are known for XLB aka soup dumplings and also pan fried pork buns.

Insider Tip – 3 locations

Cuisine – Shanghai Chinese
Location – San Ramon, CA
Opened – 2019

Service – Service was Pandemic forgettable, nothing to write home about. This restaurant was shorthanded like most.
Verdict – I-Shanghai wowed us with unexpectedly good Shanghai food. Give it a try if you are near one of their 3 locations. The SF Bay Area has diversified away from just having Din Tai Fung Santa Clara with great soup dumplings!

Is this restaurant worth a 5 minute drive? Yes. 30 minute? Yes. 1 Hour? Maybe

I-Shanghai Signature Dishes – Steamed Soup Dumplings, Pan Fried Pork Buns

I-Shanghai’s Menu is not extensive and is clearly focused on Shanghainese Chinese food. No broccoli beef here!

Website I-Shanghai Menu

I-Shanghai Food Picks:

I Shanghai San Ramon Pork Dumplings

Pork dumplings ($10.95 for 8) are the signature dish, and surprisingly are very good. Wrapper wasn’t super thin, but fairly so. Lots of flavorful soup. Good pork flavor. We would rate these just a tick below Din Tai Fung, and perhaps above Dumpling home in San Francisco. 9/10

It is surprising that soup dumpling quality has improved markedly over the last several years in the SF Bay Area

Crab dumplings ($16.25 for 8) Are a nice variation, if you like crab. 8/10

Spicy pork dumplings ($12.95 for 8) We’re not very spicy, another nice change of pace. 8/10

I Shanghai San Ramon pan fried pork buns

Pan fried pork buns ($10.95 for 6) are also excellent. One of the best in this area, better than Dumpling Home. Hot, Lots of soup, very crunchy bottom. 9/10

A green onion pancakes ($7.95) are very thick, unusually for most restaurants. Unique and also very good. 8/10

I Shanghai San Ramon deep fried rice cakes

Deep fried rice cakes ($6.95 for 4) Shanghai style is a unique dish you don’t see very often. It’s deep fried and really good. You’re supposed to sprinkle sugar on them. 9/10

Mushrooms with Bok Choy ($10.95) Need our veggies, slightly over sauced, but cooked just right. 7.5/10

Chopped cucumbers ($6.95) in garlic sauce or a tad salty, Passable. 7.5/10

8 treasure rice ($9.95) is a huge portion and very dark colored, not photogenic. Well done, not too sweet. 9/10

OK: (Order if you like this dish)
None

Pans: (We would not reorder these dishes)
None

Do you agree with our review? Have you found other similar restaurants that are better?

Restaurant Map:


I-Shanghai Overall Rating: (Very Good 2.5)

Come Back?

Food Rating: (Excellent)
Service Rating: (Average)
Atmosphere Rating: (Good)
Value Rating: (Very Good)

Guide: 0 = poor, 1 = Below/Average, 2 = Good, 2.5 = Very Good, 3 = Excellent , 4 = Extraordinary

Alcohol:Beer, Wine
Attire:Casual
Parking:Street
Reservations:Yes

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