Shang Hai River — Restaurant in Boardman

So I'd like to begin by saying that I am not a family member nor staff of this restaurant and no I have not been paid for this review. I've simply noticed there are a lot of trolls posting reviews solely to attempt to damage restaurant's names. To be honest the review posted by R D Olsen is just that. I read the review and decided its high time someone post the truth about this wonderful restaurant. First he states that the food is far from traditional, sorry you sir do not know of which you speak. I lived in china for over 12 years and to be honest no one should pay him any never mind in regards to taste from someone whom is tasteless. This store owner makes 100% authentic dishes as he is from Fujian China and as such you can taste the home styles of Fujian blended perfectly with an American/Chinese twist. I've spoken with the owner and he is a true gentleman and exceedingly honest about his work experience of over 20 years in the food industry. He is also very kind and willing to go the extra mile for his customers. For example. I was admitted to the hospital as my health was not very well. My wife whom is Chinese ( not American Chinese) at the time called around to many places to see if they would make a couple dishes that I used to eat while in China and they all turned her away stating, " what's on the menu is on the menu is all we are willing to serve.!" Not this place. The manager after hearing the scenario offered to cook the traditional dishes that she had requested and did not charge her a ridiculous fee to do so. To be honest, I do not think I would have made it out of the hospital without his home nostalgic cooking and for that I am eternally grateful to him as eating his food my health took a 360 turn for the better and I got well enough to go home. To show an example of the food this amazing restaurant makes I've posted a soup along with this review. It is pronounced Hong shao niu rou mian or in English Braised steak brisket and noodle soup or in traditional Chinese 红烧牛肉面. It is not directly on the menu, however can be ordered simply by pointing to the picture that is posted on the wall and he will make it for you. It is a traditional dish from the owners hometown and is simply to die for. The flavor profile you can taste strongly is the rich beef stock that has been stewed for hours before adding it to his homemade noodles, boiled egg, chives, parsley, and sirloin brisket to the dish in combination with traditional spices and vegetables making a truly authentic noodle dish that could be found solely in China and nowhere else in America that I've ever seen. I highly recommend others to give it a try. As for the staff, you would never be able to find more friendly and knowledgeable of every dish people any place else. I am disabled and do not move around well which tends to annoy people however they were patient with me and took care of my needs like they'd done it a thousand times. People have asked me is this place wheelchair friendly , yes, all areas are wide enough for you to move freely without issues like bumping into people or feeling awkward cause someone has to get up and move for you to be able to get through. To be honest my only complaint that I can think of about this place is that they open at 11am and I wish I could have them for breakfast, as in the hospital I ate here all 3 meals simply by getting the breakfast part ahead of time. In conclusion I love this restaurant, I love the owner, I love the food, I love the atmosphere and the feeling of nostalgia when eating his dishes, I love the effort, time and care put into every dish to ensure perfection, as well as being treated as family versus just a customer who is to be rushed and served flavorless non authentic fast food. If you'd like a memorable experience and you enjoy true Fujian/American Chinese food, or simply have a feeling of nostalgia and want that authentic taste of home but are unable to make it yourself, then you need look no further and need to come to Shanghai River . I promise you wont be disappointed...

My trip was on August 18th, 2025.

I am at a total loss for words. I read the reviews HOPING and PRAYING that this Chinese-American restaurant might be able to pull a rabbit out of a hat and be different from all the other chinese-american restaurants in the Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana county areas.

I was sadly mistaken.

Not only was the dish, Mongolian Chicken ordered medium spicy, flavorless and spice less but I don't think I could ever wrap my head around the idea that there were mushrooms, squash and red onions in the dish. This is absolutely unheard of where I come from. This dish is truly 2 ingredients, sans sauces: meat and scallions. That's it. The meat should also be flash fried in some type of starch, to give it a particular texture along with spices for a really delicious and unique flavor. None of that existed in this dish that I received. This dish was bland, visually unpleasing and just plain wrong!

This could have been Hunan chicken as far as I was concerned. Looks more like it just had no FLAVOR at all. None, nada.

If the first time at a new place is THIS bad, it serves no useful purposes to ever return.

I have got to find a way to introduce Youngstonians to what truly good Chinese American actually tastes like! I think you guys have been eating this crap for so long that you have no idea of what it's actually supposed to taste like. And...

I love this restaurant the food is usually very good . But I won't come back till they fix the restaurant. They simply out grew the building. I come from Austintown, I want to eat in the restaurant with out constant to go customers walking by me while I'm eating and want peaceful solitude. They have what always looks like an office at the back table makes me feel like the customers are not as important! I know that probably is not the case. I really miss them and the food. Another thing I don't like the tv! It seems like it is there for them 🤔 I don't like it. Please move so I can enjoy your restaurant I really miss you and your food!!!!!! You should get a restaurant with a drive threw window and a much larger dinning area no tv! 😃💖 I love you all !!! Oh something elce I won't eat any other Chinese food and I really love Chinese food! I don't enjoy taking the food home it's just not as good. Please fix the problem 😭😭😭 well I read other reviews and am shocked!!! They told that there is way better food and that they really don't seem to care about the problems . So I guess I will eat some where else thanks for the restaurant tips where...