Excellent on all fronts. From the great decor and the atmosphere to delicious and authentic food, CHELI did not disappoint. The soup dumplings were the best I've had in a while and the fried eggplant was divine. They also don't baby the spice levels in the dishes. Most places tone down the spice for "general population", but not CHELI. I asked for it and I got exactly what I wanted. Will definitely be back!

Very delicious food!! Orders come out very quick. String beans are a must order!! Service was really great. Waiters are super nice and friendly!! Seafood fried rice was very tasty.

Food was exquisitely amazing and my mouth watered as each dish hit the table. Once you walk in the aroma of the food hits you and it is great. I would definitely recommend coming here as it is phenomenal! The staff were all friendly and attentive but at the same time not too invasive. Would come here again

Che Li has a very well-rounded menu and it’s easy to order a variety of things to make a balanced meal that won’t leave you feeling too bloated. My favorites were the braised veggies with egg tofu and sauerkraut fish soup. Also try the smoked fish (very classic must-try Shanghainese staple) and fun cocktails. Ryan helped us and was very attentive!

Absolutely perfect place to catch up with your friends while enjoying amazing food. The crab sauce noodles was a must, my friend also loved their special cocktails. Also shout out to Ryan for delivering super friendly service and elevating our night at Cheli.

🔥 Cheli – An Authentic Taste of Shanghai in Flushing! 🔥 Stepping into Cheli feels like being transported straight to Shanghai—the decor is stunning, and the vibe is just right. But the real showstopper? Their flaming Beggar’s Chicken—literally set on fire right at our table! With a huge and diverse menu, every dish was a masterpiece, both in presentation and flavor. Everything we tried was absolutely delicious, and we’re already planning our next visit! Don’t leave without trying the Chinese Brush Pastry—it’s as unique as it is tasty! Features: Tofu skin with mixed vegetables Crispy smoke fish. Osmanthus plum juice Song Dynasty Flaming Beggars chicken Black.pepper Beef Ribs Steamed egg and minced crab meat Chinese Brush Patry Jasmine Milk Pudding

+4

Great place, looks authentic. Free tea and pickled appetizers. Personnel is friendly!

+2

This place makes me feel like I traveled back time! The environment is great. Food is tasty and very flavored, and service is a plus too! Recommend it

Great experience at CheLi! The mapo tofu was the highlight—rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced with just the right amount of spice.

Very impressive dishes. Delicate plating and service. Ryan took care of us and provided great services. I recommended the braised pork belly and stirred prawns. The prawns tastes sweet and salty with green onion oil. Very authentic Shanghai cuisine. Boletus mushroom rice is my favorite dish overall.

great authentic shanghainese place! would recommend the braised pork belly, longjing shrimp, and pea shoots

+1

The food was super good, and the serving sizes were a great amount for our group of 4. The server ZZ was super sweet and very accommodating for my friend’s birthday. They sang her a birthday song and everything was just so fun. Loved the place, will definitely be back in the future!

Nice meal at CHELi. Every dish we ordered was beautifully prepared and thoughtfully done, especially the soup dumplings — delicate wrappers, rich broth, and great texture. The green beans were perfectly cooked and had good flavor, the wine chicken was comforting and balanced, and the pork belly was rich, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth. Even the fried rice was executed well and clearly made with care. That said, we did feel that many of the dishes could have benefited from a bit more seasoning — more salt, more spice, and that extra umami/MSG depth that really makes flavors pop. Everything was cooked properly and high-quality, but the flavors played a bit restrained for our taste. Overall, it’s an elevated, well-executed experience, and we’d still recommend it — especially for those who appreciate subtle, refined flavors.

Fantastic experience at CheLi. The beggar’s chicken is a must-order — incredibly tender, aromatic, and deeply flavorful. The rice with mushrooms is surprisingly amazing on its own, and the lobster dish is excellent as well. Honestly, everything we tried was great. Prices are very reasonable for the quality, and they have a great BYOB policy with just a $15 corkage, which is a big plus. Definitely a place worth coming back to.

The service in this location is excellent with much better decor and service than the one at St Mark. The food here is exquisite and impressively presented especially their “beggar chicken” with flame and “clay like” wrapping. This is an ancient dish for the emperor in China The chicken inside was moist, soft and flavorful due to its slow cooking method. I also love their longing shrimp presentation with ice smoke coming out and it pairs really well with sake due to its subtle flavor. I can’t wait to go back to Flushing location for another royal feast.

+6

Stepping into Cheli feels like entering a hidden gem where tradition meets artistry. The decor is unlike any other Chinese restaurant I’ve visited—rich in character, with thoughtful details that spark curiosity and admiration at every turn. The food? Absolutely delicious. Every dish was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor, from the delicate dim sum to the bold, savory entrées. You can tell the kitchen takes pride in both authenticity and creativity. Our server was incredibly friendly and attentive, striking the perfect balance between professionalism and warmth. It made the whole experience feel personal and welcoming. Highly recommend Cheli for anyone seeking a memorable dining experience that delights all the senses.

All was amazing , variety of food plates, magic ancient atmosphere, excellent service ! The steaming prawns with rice noodle below was yummy juicy. The moonlight vegetables was delightful with the vegetables that I lov. The Chinese brush pastry was pretty nice, presentation, crunchy outside n smooth creamy inside.

+1

Amazing place for family and friends. Experience unique dishes. Favorite was the crispy duck, braised pork! It’s ours 2nd time and would definitely recommend

Wonderful, cozy and softly lit restaurant showcasing some of Shanghai / Jiangnan finest cuisine, with excellent reimagined presentation and impeccable service. Always one of the top places recommended to friends.

Everything is super good!!!! Highly recommend the eel and mushroom over rice (not in pics cuz it so good n we finished fast). The waitress is super sweet and professional too😃

The atmosphere is very cool. They are very good at getting you seated even with consistent business. The soup dumplings are a highlight. Never too hot. We asked for extra chili oil and they have everything ready upon request. The prawns are well done with garlic and split for ease. Tea is great. Make sure they have the candle lit so it stays hot.

i love the atmosphere and the service is amazing. we were laughing so hard that we were crying, and the servers were very kind to give us extra napkins. the food is great

We celebrated my birthday here and we had the best time! The food is very good and the service was incredible. They are especially great with the kids, free menu and high chairs. We’ll be back

Lovely atmosphere and very welcoming when you have kids offering their own placemats and free kids menu 😍 super rare in NY. The food is absolutely delicious - i would recommend the eggplants starter, the whole chicken and black ribs. We will be coming back for sure.

Great ambiance and wonderful presentation of their signature clay chicken. The portions are great we were too full to try an additional dessert and drink but will definitely be back.

Great spot for authentic and traditional Chinese food! The beef with chili and cilantro was super tender, and the veggie dish with okra and edamame was really fresh. Big shout out to our server Ryan for his amazing service, he made the meal even better：）Definitely recommend!👍

This place is amazing! Everything we tried was so good! Their specialty chicken is definitely worth getting - it is delicious and the presentation is really cool!

Been coming here for years, their menus has changed a bit over time but still great food. And the service has gotten way better. The lamb rib was so good even my picky 2-yo loved it. Had a small issue with the spiciness of the soup but was corrected promptly. Friendly waitresses and staff. Definitely on the repeat list.

+3

Really delicious food, of course we ordered too much. Group favorite was the crispy lava egg buns! The fire around the pepper beef was so fun and really excellent

I’ve always by pass here but today finally came here. Food was delicious and portion size is good. Can’t really go wrong with any food that you ordered here

Just had the most amazing meal here! The braised pork with quail eggs is insanely good, the crab roe tofu is silky smooth, and the soup is so flavorful.

Ending up staying in the Flushing district due to a canceled flight home, and this restaurant made up for that huge inconvenience. We absolutely loved everything about our dinner. Servers were so attentive and the food presentation and flavors were on point. Would highly recommend.

Chose this spot for my birthday and I’m so glad I did! The service was amazing, everyone was super friendly and attentive. The food was bussin’ — every dish came out fresh and flavorful. They even asked if it was okay to sing the birthday song, which I thought was really sweet and thoughtful. Overall, such a great experience — definitely a place I’d come back to! 🎉🍴

Beautiful restaurant. It feels so relaxing. Tried several dishes, and they were all delicious. Service was fast and courteous. Only issue is that there's a small flight of stairs just inside the front door, so it's not accessible if you need a wheelchair or walker. ETA (since I can't reply): Staff did not offer to help with my walker. Just told me to leave it parked in the atrium. Luckily I was able to make do with a cane that day.

Easily one of the best Chinese restaurants in NY. Great ambience, service and food! The restaurant takes you back in time to ancient China! The chicken is flavorful and falls off the bone!

The food is delicious and authentic Chinese. The place is super beautiful! Love the background music, too. Recommend!

Actually came here about 2 weeks ago and totally forgot to leave a review until now 😅. The food was so good — fresh and flavorful. Ryan, our server, was awesome! Super chill, super friendly, and the dishes he recommended were spot on. Definitely a place I’ll come back to！

It's delicious, has great wok hei (wok aroma), and is very reasonably priced. I'll definitely come again!

I've been coming here for a long time ever since 2023, and it has been one of my favorite restaurants that I recommend to everyone. It has a great atmosphere and the servers here especially Bryan are incredibly accommodating! You'll never regret coming here, I love their wine chicken and their osmanthus cake!

+4

The vibes here are absolutely adorable!!! it really feels like stepping into a little Jiangnan village, with flowing water and classic wooden décor✨Loved the calm, cozy atmosphere. The food was on the lighter side, super clean and fresh, but still packed with flavour. And the sour plum juice is an absolute 10/10!!So refreshing and balanced Alsooo!!Big shoutout to the front desk staff, Kang ✨she was so warm and welcoming. Her energy really set the tone for an amazing dining experience. Thank you for kicking off our food journey with such good vibes!

One of the best Shanghaine style restaurant I had in NYC. The restaurant is beautifully designed and super clean. Our waiter was super attentive and friendly. The beggar's chicken and braised pork belly was extremely tender, melts in your mouth. The Kaofu was perfectly done, unlike many places where it's overwhelmed by a sugary sauce, here it was perfectly balanced and subtly sweet. Also got the pumpkin with salted egg yolk based off another review and it delivered. Crispy, flavorful and smooth with no grainy texture. The best part was I didn't feel extremely bloated after eating so much. Highly recommend this restaurant if you're in the area.

+1

Amazing food, service, and atmosphere. You do need to flag them down if you need anything, like a traditional Chinese restaurant, but they are super responsive, and always replenishing the table with napkins, which my parents loved 😂. They were also very kind to ask my father again whether the food was suitable for him since he has a hard time chewing chewier things. So kind of them to remember that and show concern.

The best experience of Shanghai cuusine in flushing. Exquisite food, service and ambiance. Definite orders should be the beef stir fry which stole our hearts and so did the truffle soup dumpling. The chicken in wine, eggplant, and braised pork belly with quail eggs blew our mind. The presentation of the beggars chicken was outstanding. The wait time on a Saturday afternoon was a bit long but the experience was worth the wait..if you're in flushing and you decide to go for a heart meal, this is the place for you.

+6

Been here many times and I have to say the food never disappoints. The atmosphere and decor is great and it feels like I’m in China. I really like their braised pork and fried eel! The waitress was very nice and service was great. Would come back again.

We take the kid here to celebrate his birthday. Great food as always. Kids love the Che Li's Pork Belly, which is his favorite dish we order everytime. The Hot Stone Braised Rice is a new dish we tried this time, also really tasty. Eva was super nice and helpful!

Dec 2025! Back again! Crispy duck… soup dumplings… green beans… Shanghai noodles… all amazing as always. Also had the flaming chicken and friend pumpkin (nice together). A family fave. July 2025: This place is like magic… the food is so good and the atmosphere is busy fun and inviting. Great service and a large menu with plenty of great options. My favorites were the crispy duck and the soup dumplings (crab). Can’t wait to go back!

+6

Che Li – Our Weekly Tradition & the Perfect Place to Celebrate the Mooncake Festival Che Li in Flushing is more than just a restaurant to us — it’s our favorite weekly dinner spot and a place we’ve come to truly love. We dine here once a week, and each time we’re reminded why we keep coming back. The food is consistently outstanding, the service is warm and attentive, and the experience is always memorable. Tonight, we celebrated the Mooncake Festival at Che Li, and it was nothing short of perfect. First, the food — and there’s so much to rave about. Our all-time favorite dish is the truffle soup dumpling. It’s luxurious and fragrant, with that incredible truffle aroma hitting you the moment it arrives. The dumpling skin is delicate, and the soup inside is rich and flavorful. It’s hands down one of the best soup dumplings we’ve had in the city — and a must-order every time. The braised pork is another standout. It’s incredibly tender, with layers of flavor that melt in your mouth. The sauce is perfectly balanced — slightly sweet, savory, and so satisfying. It pairs beautifully with rice or noodles and has become our go-to comfort dish. We also love the vegetarian duck, which is flavorful, crispy, and unbelievably satisfying — even for meat eaters. It’s one of those dishes that surprises people with how good vegetarian food can be. The texture is spot on, and the seasoning is rich without being heavy. To celebrate the Mooncake Festival, Che Li gifted us a complimentary mooncake, which was such a thoughtful and festive touch. It was beautifully presented, not overly sweet, and the perfect way to honor the holiday. It felt very special to enjoy it in a place that clearly values tradition as much as flavor. We also had their pan-fried pork buns, which were golden and crispy on the bottom, soft and fluffy on top, with juicy, flavorful pork inside. Another favorite — so comforting and expertly done. And then came a surprise highlight of the evening: the dessert pear. This was truly something special — lightly sweet, refreshing, and so delicately prepared. It wasn’t just a dessert — it was a beautiful palate cleanser and a perfect end to the meal. Elegant, subtle, and unforgettable. Che Li always delivers, but tonight reminded us just how much care they put into their food and hospitality. Even as regulars, we continue to be impressed — not only by the menu but by the experience. The restaurant itself has a stylish yet traditional atmosphere, and the staff always make us feel welcome. If you’re looking for authentic, high-quality Chinese cuisine in Flushing — whether for a special occasion like the Mooncake Festival or just a weekly dinner you look forward to — Che Li is the place. We feel lucky to be regulars and can’t wait for next week’s dinner.

+3

Everything about our experience at CheLi Flushing was unbelievably wonderful, especially while celebrating a birthday occasion. The food was especially delicious and the service was absolutely wonderful. I could not recommend this place enough for anybody looking for some quality cooking.

One of my favorite restaurants in Flushing! A lot of the menu items are not unique but they execute these dishes really well. For example, I don’t really like salted egg yolk breaded items because they can be pretty grainy and soggy but their salted egg yolk pumpkin was sooo good! The ambiance is great and the staff are polite and professional. Pricing is not bad at all compared to a lot of other restaurants in Flushing. Wait times can be a little longer especially during the weekends but I always stroll around the area so it never feels like I’m waiting too long.

A larger variety of food with very beautiful presentation. The dishes are on the sweeter side. Good price and quality! Recommend the garlic shredded eel, flaming beggar’s chicken, and the hot stone braised rice. The beggar’s chicken takes an hour to prepare after ordering. The place is popular so recommend making reservations ahead of time.

+1

I had a great experience at Che Li in Flushing. The food is authentic, thoughtfully prepared, and clearly made with high-quality ingredients. Every dish felt balanced and flavorful without being overly heavy or greasy, which really sets it apart from many other Chinese restaurants. If you’re looking for authentic Chinese cuisine in Flushing that feels elevated yet still comforting, Che Li is absolutely worth a visit.

This place feels like I’m in China. It’s so beautifully decorated like a village inside, and the food is exceptional. The staff is so kind & Josie along with Kai and the other staff have given us the best service. They are so attentive and really made sure that we enjoyed ourselves.

Fun old-style decor with koi fish pond! The dishes are well plated and they are a fresher variation of the traditional soy sauce heavy Shanghainese cuisine. They do spicy Sichuan well too with moderate numbing peppercorn. Definitely worth a try!

Amazing atmosphere, truly well themed with unique and delicious dishes. They payed great attention to each dish, and the depth of flavor makes even the simplest vegetables dishes a delightful experience. Excellent decor, matching music and attentive service. Even if this is your first time here.

Amazing restaurant for some authentic food. The mushroom and peppers fried rice was very tasty, and so were the black truffle pork dumplings and flaming beggars chicken. The milk tea was the perfect sweetness with tasty jelly as well.

A must-visit for anyone who loves elevated Chinese cuisine. Every dish was packed with flavor, from the spicy stone-pot beef to the tender chicken. Great atmosphere and the service was excellent—especially the table-side prep!

Great food with real attention to detail. The shrimp is fresh and tender, the braised dish is rich but well balanced, and the greens are perfectly cooked and full of flavor. Simple dishes done right, elegant presentation, and a comfortable atmosphere. Definitely worth coming back.

Absolutely stunning restaurant with food to match. The aesthetic is 10/10 and the Shanghainese dishes are some of the best I’ve had in the city. Highly recommend the pork belly and the dim sum options and crab noodles.

The ambiance of this restaurant is super nice and gives off very traditional vibes. The menu is huge and very creative. My favorite appetizers was the Crispy Smoked Fish and Wine-soaked Chicken. The fish had soft bones that could be chewed through and was almost candied-like. Recommended by a friend and would also recommend myself!

We’ve been coming to Zheli for years, but today we tried something new — the Ancient-Style Beggar’s Chicken 🍗 Rich, flavorful, and deeply traditional. The rabbit meat was a pleasant surprise too.

The atmosphere of Cheli is gorgeous with the food’s taste and presentation being superb. It was easy to order food and the staff was extremely helpful whether it was describing the food’s flavor profiles or changing our plates multiple times as we ate shrimp and very attentive to our party’s allergies. I will definitely return here.

Beautiful decor and delicious food. After trying several dishes, I don't think you can go wrong with any order here. I really enjoyed the Hot Stone Braised Rice (boletus mushroom and green pepper). Unfortunately the flaming beggars chicken sold out but I will be back to try it, as well as their fish dishes.

Had a fabulous dinner here on a Saturday night. We arrived right before the dinner rush and got seated right away. I do recommend making reservations if you can. Food: -Che li’s pork belly 10/10, loved the texture and flavor -Crispy smoked fish 8/10, fish was crispy and flavorful -Hot stone braised rice 10/10, loved the toasted rice texture -Flaming beggars chicken 8/10, loved how they presented the dish Service: 10/10. Waiter was attentive and welcoming. Atmosphere: 10/10. Beautiful decor and loved the walkway path.

This restaurant absolutely impressed me from start to finish. The decor was fantastic the moment you step in, and every dish was not only beautifully presented but packed with flavor. The beggar’s chicken definitely lived up to its hype. It was SOOOO tender and juicy, soaked in a rich, savory sauce that had the perfect balance of sweetness and depth. Unwrapping it felt like opening a gift. The sizzling beef dish arrived dramatically over open flames. The meat was perfectly cooked, tender with just the right amount of char, and paired beautifully with peppers and onions. The presentation made it exciting, but the flavor with its subtle black peppers is what really stood out. And the seasonal dessert was almost too cute to eat! Light and tangy, it was the perfect ending to a satisfying meal. You can tell a lot of care goes into both the presentation and flavor here. It’s a wonderful gem in the heart of flushing!

Very good point to have a satisfying experience for Chinese dishes, we ordered calm and eggplant sautéed which me and my sisters love most, the paste very goes well with rice , beggar chicken is good to have experience about their presentation , tastes great too, we so much fell in love their garlic lobster dish, the texture was perfect , for the soup, we weren’t big fan. The dessert was extremely good at presentation but prefer the jasmine milk pudding more. Will definitely go back again. Their restaurant decoration makes me feel that we were having dinner in China. Love that vibe.

Amy Han Meng

High recommend Che Li! Excellent service with wonderful staff members and amazing food. Another plus is the gorgeous interior, inspired by the Song Dynasty and with Chinese classical and pop music. We got the string beans, pumpkin with egg yolk, and Mapo Tofu for a table of two. Very fresh and tasty, and the dishes came quickly.

+1

O R

The food and service was amazing. Our server, Ryan was so sweet and helpful and also very accommodating! Definitely recommend coming here to try the food and hospitality again! Also the decor inside was impecable! I felt like I was transported to another place. We also got the sake cocktails, would not recommend and the dessert was okay, the cookies were amazing though! The savory part of the dinner and the star of the show were definitely the dinner plates.

+1

Micahella Jane Merencilla

Amazing food and service. Don’t miss out on ordering the soup dumplings, Longjing shrimp (this was such a treat flavor-wise), and the Beggar’s chicken. The dumplings were very flavorful and balanced. The chicken was literally falling off the bones—insanely tender, juicy, and delicious. Their fried rice and soup selections were great, too. We got the Yan Du Xian soup which was a combination of pork, tofu skin, and bamboo shoots—basically a pork bone broth soup that’s very hearty. The Longjing shrimp was our favorite. The steamed shrimp was ridiculously soft, juicy, and savory sweet, then it danced so well with the tea sauce. It’s a treat to get for your photos, too. Don’t miss out on Cheli if ever you’re in Flushing. Josie and the rest of the staff were very attentive and helpful. It was a delight dining here.

+1

Hunter Huang

The atmosphere is top-notch, a must-see in flushing. You walk in and you’re immediately greeted with a night stall. There’s jars of alcohol sitting on the shelves for decoration just like in the C dramas. We sit down, and we’re immediately greeted with the nicest servers who sit us down and are very sweet. Last but not least, the food: It was spectacular. The type of smack-dab good that we could’ve licked our fingers, but chopsticks stood in the way. We became beggars and kings in the same breath, peasants who flew through the blackened chicken so fast it barely had time to live in its clay pot. The plate turned into nothing: meat vanished, skin surrendered, and what remained were bones laid in their final burial. The blossoming sweet-and-sour bass bloomed like fireworks. Lastly, desserts arrived, snow glistened on top. They’re definitely meant for those who enjoy “not too sweet desserts”. And the crispy duck quacked at us. Overall, a cool spot with solid service and food that definitely delivers. 太好。真的太好。 我来了。 我还会再来。

Bill Druc

Was terribly disappointed in the signature dish the Beggars Chicken! Supposedly moist and delicious the chicken came out cool and dry. As if it was sitting around for hours. I should have sent it back or requested a refund. We were pressured by the hostess to leave an excellent review and in return, we would get a free dessert. So we did it and the dessert they brought out was very mediocre. My partner said that it was the worst dessert that he ever had in his entire life. And, this dinner was expensive for what it was. We have high hopes that perhaps the management will see this review and realize that they can’t get away with serving their signature dish at a very below par offering. The waiters were pushy and all the food came out super fast with no real time to leisurely enjoy the meal. All in all a disappointing experience.

+1

Ruobin Hu

I had a wonderful experience at Cheli and was extremely satisfied overall. The dishes were beautifully presented and tasted excellent, and the service was especially attentive , the team paid great attention to details and made the whole meal feel very well taken care of. I highly recommend the Crisp Smoked Fish, it was outstanding and easily the highlight of the meal. The Longjing Shrimp was also fantastic: very tender, delicate, and flavorful. The Braised Pork Belly was well-seasoned and deeply savory, but the texture wasn’t quite as soft and melt-in-your-mouth as I expected. I’d love to see it cooked a bit more tender in the future.

Min Kim

Very impressed by the atmosphere, the service, and of course the food. From the first moment you walk in, you immediately notice the interior design of the restaurant. The service was excellent as they checked in on you to make sure you were having a good dining experience. The food was all excellent as well. I highly recommend the garlic steamed prawn and wine-soaked chicken. Both were very delicious and memorable. Looking forward to visiting again and try more of their menu items. Highly recommend!

Sandy Shen

Absolutely love CHELI FLUSHING! Very authentic Zhejiang cuisine. The wine-soaked chicken and crab are must-tries, and every dish we ordered was delicious. The Longjin milk tea was amazing, and even the complimentary radish with edamame tasted great. The service was also excellent. Highly recommended!

kate lu

We had a wonderful experience at Cheli Restaurant! The food was absolutely delicious, especially the soup dumplings, which were perfectly juicy and flavorful. The crab roe tofu was rich and comforting, and the sweet and sour pork had a great balance of tangy and savory without being overly sweet. Our waitress, Shijia, made the experience even better. She was attentive, friendly, and made sure everything came out perfectly timed. Her service was warm and professional, which really elevated our meal. Overall, Cheli delivers both amazing food and excellent service. We’ll definitely be coming back!

A. Wong

I have to say, there are very few times I am impressed with a Chinese restaurant in Flushing. Either a place has good food but lousy service or vice versa. This place had no weaknesses. The staff training had to be superb because customer service was excellent. Soup (crab) dumplings were tasty and not greasy like other places. Ham casserole fried rice rocked my world (doesn't normally happen with just fried rice). I was pleasantly surprised that the price is not that bad either.

+1

Connie H

We visited New York for our Christmas holiday and stayed in Flushing. CheLi Restaurant immediately caught our attention, and we dined there with friends. The food was excellent, the atmosphere was welcoming, and the service was outstanding. Our server, Eva, was incredibly sweet—we loved her so much and she made the experience even more enjoyable. We will definitely be back.

+1

huo P

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ CheLi Flushing is a must-visit for authentic Shanghai cuisine in Queens. The flavors are rich, balanced, and incredibly authentic—everything tastes like it came straight from Shanghai. Their signature dishes, especially the braised pork belly, is perfectly executed with deep, comforting flavors. The atmosphere is clean and modern while still feeling warm and welcoming, making it great for both family dinners and gatherings with friends. Service is attentive and efficient, even during busy hours. Portions are generous and well worth the price. If you’re looking for real Shanghainese food in Flushing, CheLi is absolutely one of the best choices. Highly recommended!

Diana Pang

We had a wonderful experience at this restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious — beautifully prepared, full of flavor, and clearly made with high-quality ingredients. Every dish we tried exceeded expectations and was served hot and fresh. The beggars chicken was really special and the star of the night. A simple vegetable dish like water spinach was flavorful and seasoned just right. The crispy duck offers a nice take on the classic Peking Duck and the fried rice was beautifully prepared. Needless to say, we would happily return and look forward to our next meal here!

+8

Marielle

We had such a wonderful experience. The staff was incredibly nice, welcoming and very mindful about our celebration from the moment we sat down until the moment we left. They even prepared a gift bag, greeting card and a dessert to celebrate my birthday, which I am very thankful. The food was also exceptional, especially the flaming beggars chicken. We for sure will come back.

Michael Grieco

Came into Flushing to try out Cheli and I was not disappointed. My friend and I waited about 20 minutes for a table on a Saturday evening, but the food and atmosphere was worth the wait. The ambiance of the restaurant was amazing, it really had the Chinese styling throughout and all esthetics were superb. As far as the food, all dishes were delicious. I also enjoyed the fact that all dishes came to be shared, it was a great place to check out and enjoy with a date. I would definitely love to return to this restaurant to sample more of their menu.

+4

Manu Gomez

We came on a Tuesday, so it was easy to get a table. Star dishes: black truffle pork soup dumplings, spicy lobster and the jasmine pudding. Also delicious: duck, which was cooked to a crispy perfection and snow pea shoots in wine sauce. We weren’t as impressed by the eel but it’s probably a matter of not being used to this way of cooking it. The osmanthus rice drink was super refreshing and would recommend it either alcoholic or not, a good way to cut the spice. The seasonal drinks are very pretty and not sweet.

+5

Food is different and pretty good. The fried duck is a bit dry but the other dishes such as soup dumplings, veggies, puddings are all good. The salty lava egg sticky ball was tasty but too sugary. Would return again.

The service here is absolutely top tier- I'd give it 5 stars without hesitation. From the warm greetings to the attentive table service (especially at their Flushing location), the staff truly elevates the dining experience. The ambiance earns a solid 4 stars with its vibrant atmosphere, though it can get overwhelmingly crowded. Now the food... this is where things get complicated. While visually appealing, nearly every dish suffers from excessive sweetness and heavy-handed saucing that overpowers other flavors. As someone who's dined here twice hoping for improvement, I've realized the flavor profiles just aren't for me. Combine this with dinner wait times that regularly hit 60+ minutes (pro tip: arrive before 6 PM), and it becomes a dealbreaker despite the excellent service. Final verdict? 5 stars for service, 4 for ambiance, and 3 for the food - but personally, I won't be returning.

+2

Ivy Zheng

The braised pork with quail eggs and the braised rice were really good. The pork soup dumplings were okay, the restaurant next door has bigger ones for the same price. The eel with the wrap was also just okay, not amazing. The dessert was really pretty and tasted good too. However, the drink (Coconut Jasmine Breeze) was disappointing. As you can see in the pictures, it looked nothing like the advertised drink. We ordered two because we expected it to be a pretty drink, so it was extra disappointing. These were placed on our table exactly like this, we didn’t mix them before taking the photo. The taste wasn’t great either. Service was amazing, though, the vibe of the restaurant was great, the interior was pretty, and the hot tea they serve (instead of water) was very nice, especially since we came on a very cold day.

+4

Food didn’t have any wow factor to it (taste wise). The crispy duck felt a little dry. The begger chicken was a bit juicer than the duck but flavor wasn’t anything special. Eggplant and mayo tofu was good - can’t really go wrong with those. I like the soup dumpling. Presentation was nice but taste overall was average.

+1

The environment and atmosphere are good, our waiter is also attentive and polite, but the front desk informed us of the last call because we arrived a little late. We also finished our meal within the stipulated time, but she made us feel unwelcome. The dishes were very average. We finished them, but there was nothing special. The ribs were cold and gave people a feeling of pre-made dishes. We will not come back after all, we have more and better choices.

+4

We visited Zheli for dinner as a party of three and ordered five dishes to share. The experience was just okay, but unfortunately, the food did not feel worth the price tag. While the dishes were edible, they lacked the freshness you expect at this price point; a few of the items actually tasted like prepackaged or reheated food rather than something made to order. Given the many dining options in Flushing, we expected higher quality preparation for the cost. It wasn't a terrible meal, but the value just wasn't there for u

Michelle Penafiel

I visited CheLi in Flushing, and the first thing that really stood out was the great décor of the restaurant. The ambiance is modern and visually appealing. I also liked that the menu is displayed on iPads, where you can see the dishes and place your order directly, which makes the experience more interactive and convenient. However, the dining flow was not ideal. We were served the main course before the appetizers, even though we had ordered pork dumplings to start. That took away from the overall experience. The Black Pepper Beef Breeze was underwhelming. The presentation was impressive, especially with the fire effect around the dish, but unfortunately, the flavor didn’t live up to the show. The duck was good, but not particularly memorable. As for dessert, the Blossom Mousse was decent but not spectacular; it felt like it was missing flavor. To finish the meal, I felt rushed. Before I had even finished my main course, the dessert was already served, which made me feel like they were trying to clear the table quickly. The waitstaff service was fine, polite and attentive. Overall, while the restaurant looks impressive, I don’t think the food is as good as it appears, especially for a place that is listed in the Michelin Guide.

Olivia Zhang

It pains me to write a bad review. Pleased with my past visits but disappointed with my most recent one. Photos attached show the lobster in July 2025, September 2025, and January 2026. The quality of the dish appears to decrease over the course of a half year. Did we order a different dish? Either way, we were disappointed, especially with the price. Similarly, the eggplant seemed to significantly decrease in quality. It was nice and purple in September 2025 and November 2025, but mush and void of color in January 2026? You can visibly see in the photos that the dishes are slacking. Such a noticeable decline in a short time span. We were served soup with no spoons. When we asked for spoons, we were given disposable plastic spoons. Which we also had to eat our xiaolongbao with. I have never been to a xiaolongbao restaurant that did not serve the appropriate spoons with it. We paid with card. When the waitress asked about the tip, we pointed out it was on the table in cash. She proceeded to look at the stack and quickly fan through the money on the table in front of us (??? we tipped 20%). Unprofessional. The front door is extremely heavy. Everyone was struggling to get inside. As customers who have patronized both Cheli and Jiang Nan, we are definitely disappointed.

+2

Nikki Mai

HAD TO REQUEST A SIDE OF SALT!! Shocked by the amount of good reviews. I went on my birthday and was so disappointed in the food, in a way I have not been but a restaurant in a really really long time. 7 out of the 8 dishes were ordered were straight misses. My entire party felt like the dishes were bland and lacked flavor. The beggars chicken is a flaming spectacle but not very good to eat.... unbelievable bland. The crispy duck was dry and tough and again, bland. The garlic eel looked promising but didn't taste garlicky at all.... just vaguely sweet which was weird. Even the osmanthus rice cakes for dessert had no trace of osmanthus aroma/fragrance.