| Joe's Shanghai | |
|---|---|
 Xiaolongbao from Joe's Shanghai | |
 Interactive map of Joe's Shanghai | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1995 (1995) |
| Owner | Joe Si |
| Previous owner | Barbara Matsumura |
| Head chef | Joe Si |
| Food type | Shanghai cuisine |
| Website | www |
Joe's Shanghai (simplified Chinese:鹿鸣春;traditional Chinese:鹿鳴春;pinyin:Lù Míng Chūn) is a chain of sevenShanghainese restaurants in theUnited States andJapan. The original location was opened byrestaurateur Mei Ping "Barbara" Matsumura andchef Kiu Sang "Joe" Si in 1995 inFlushing,Queens, followed by branches inManhattan Chinatown andMidtown Manhattan.[1] There are four locations in Japan, two inTokyo, one inOsaka and one inSendai. Ms. Matsumura has opened over a dozen restaurants in the New York City area, including the popular Harusushi chain, while Chef Si also opened Joe's Ginger one block from the Manhattan Chinatown location of Joe's Shanghai, building on the original concept but incorporating the influence of other Chinese cuisines, most notably fromHong Kong.[2]
The most famous dish at Joe's Shanghai is thepork orcrab meatxiaolongbao,[3] a type of smallChinese steam bun, in which thesoup is encased inside the dumpling. This is achieved by chilling a highlygelatinous soup and wrapping it in the dough whilesolid. When the buns are latersteamed, the solidsmelt back into liquid soup within the outer bun casing.[4]
In 1996,Ruth Reichl of theNew York Times gave Joe's Shanghai two stars out of four.[5]
Currently,Zagat gives it a food rating of 4.2 out of 5.[6]
In a friendly bet between New York City MayorMichael Bloomberg and Boston MayorThomas Menino over the outcome of the2003 American League Championship between theBoston Red Sox andNew York Yankees, Mayor Bloomberg wagered one of his favorite foods from each borough of New York City. For the borough of Manhattan, he chose two dozen soup dumplings from Joe's Shanghai.[7]
40°45′42.72″N73°49′49.35″W / 40.7618667°N 73.8303750°W /40.7618667; -73.8303750