Shanghai Lounge — Restaurant in Washington

Shanghai Lounge is a hidden gem in DC’s Georgetown neighborhood, offering some of the most authentic and fiery Chinese cuisine in the DMV area. Just a few blocks from Georgetown’s bustling main streets, the restaurant exudes traditional Chinese charm, with decor rich in vibrant colors, intricate artwork, and decorative accents that evoke a sense of heritage.

On this visit, we indulged in a selection of spicy dishes, each showcasing Shanghai Lounge’s skill in balancing heat with nuanced flavors. We began with the Spicy Beef Tendon, a standout appetizer with a perfectly tender texture and robust, chili-infused flavor that makes it a must-try for spice lovers.

Next, the Scallion Pancake surprised us with its uniquely crisp layers and distinctive flavor—better than average, with a crunch that elevates the familiar dish. The Steamed Pork Soup Bun was a delightful palate cleanser, though the filling leaned toward the sweet side, and the dumpling skin was slightly thicker than that of more delicate varieties.

For something more adventurous, we tried the Duck’s Blood Cake with Beef Tripe in Spicy Chili Soup. The broth was rich and deeply flavorful, and although they had run out of duck’s blood cake, a mix of duck and pig’s blood cake made a satisfying alternative. Lastly, the Grilled Whole Seabass with Spicy Chili Sauce was a masterpiece, perfectly cooked with tender flesh and a spice-laden sauce that added depth without overpowering the fish.

Service was attentive and welcoming, enhancing the experience in this cozy spot. Shanghai Lounge has rightfully earned its place among the best for spicy Chinese fare in the area, and we’ll undoubtedly return to explore more of its bold and expertly crafted dishes.

11-17-24. ### Shanghai Lounge: A Second Szechuan Revelation After my first encounter with this fiery Szechuan restaurant in Georgetown, I found myself irresistibly drawn back, my craving for authentic Szechuan spice growing stronger with each passing day. Today’s revisit to this hidden gem only solidified its place in my culinary heart.

Here’s what graced our table: Boiled Duck Blood Curd Szechuan Style Spicy Boiled Fish Filets Dry Pot Spicy Beef Spicy Beef Tendon Pan-Fried Chicken Dumplings

The Boiled Duck Blood Curd, much like my initial tasting, delivered the same velvety texture and bold flavors that left me enamored. It was a pleasure to find the Spicy Boiled Fish Filets equally stellar—silky fish paired with a broth bursting with numbing heat and fragrance. The Dry Pot Spicy Beef was a revelation, each bite offering a masterful balance of spice, umami, and smokiness.

Meanwhile, the Spicy Beef Tendon stood out with its chewy, satisfying texture and expertly seasoned spice profile. To round off the meal, the Pan-Fried Chicken Dumplings provided a comforting contrast, golden-crisp on the outside and juicy within.

Each dish reaffirmed the kitchen's dedication to authentic Szechuan cooking, its boldness and depth of flavor evident in every bite. I’m already planning my next visit, eager to explore the menu further. Shanghai Lounge is, without a doubt, a must-visit for anyone chasing the thrill of true...

Yay, another place to get soup dumplings (xiao long bao, XLB) besides Bob's Shanghai in Rockville! I heard of Shanghai Lounge through Yelp and through a particularly serendipitous chance, I was in Georgetown last night with my boyfriend, his parents, and some family friends. The hostess/server, Florence, greeted us and engaged in conversation with us throughout the course of our dinner. She suggested a few dishes and we ended up getting two orders of XLB, sea-salt prawns, mapo tofu, spicy braised fish, "sad eggplant," cumin lamb, and bok choy.

The XLB were authentic although there was not that much soup and the skin is a little thicker than traditional Shanghai XLB. A good XLB should have thin skin, tender/slightly loose pork inside, and the broth should be rich and porky. Still, not too bad for Georgetown and at least there's a second place I know I can get authentic XLB other than Rockville. I still prefer the XLB at Bob's Shanghai though.

The spicy braised fish was unfortunately not up to my spice level, as the other people in our party were not as enthusiastic about spice as I was so we asked for mild. I am a huge lover of spicy food and especially Sichuan food. My favorite Sichuan dish is actually this spicy braised fish, so I was looking forward to trying it and comparing it to the other spicy braised fish I've had in the area. Since it wasn't spicy, it lost a lot of its flavor, but I will say the fish fillets were very tender. Same with the mapo tofu, it wasn't spicy so it lost a lot of its unique flavor but overall it was decent. The cumin lamb was surprisingly tasty and next to the the XLB, the two dishes were my favorite of the evening.

One thing that bugged me is that they charge for tea. I feel like that's just wrong for Chinese restaurants. In my books, tea and rice are a given. Usually, restaurants won't charge for tea or rice but there's always the occasional one that wants to nickel and dime you. A little disappointing that this place charges for tea (even though I understand that running a business is not easy, especially in expensive Georgetown). At least they warn you on their menu that they will charge for tea, because a lot of places that do charge for tea won't say anything until you get the bill.

Overall, I'd say a solid 3.5 stars for food. There are definitely authentic dishes on the menu. The restaurant is small but it's off of the main roads in Georgetown so there's more parking than M or Wisconsin Street. This place is certainly worth a try if you're around and craving...

Used to come here often because we loved it, loved the soup dumplings, and loved the service, especially Flo. After not coming here for months, we went back last week and we were sad to learn the atmosphere is not the same and Flo is no longer there. :(

The soup dumplings were still pretty good, but the rest of our lunch was ok. The fried rice and lo mein were good, but we can tell other items were different. The menu selections were slightly different too with a new looking menu. Overall food was pretty good, but some items just didn’t seem the same to me and it seemed like some menu items were missing.

Not having Flo there was definitely not the same. She knew us by name and knew we loved the soup dumplings (xiao long bao) and would get our order for that right away—usually ordering 4-5 orders at a time for the 3 of us. It takes longer to cook, so that is why some people get it later in their meal. They no longer tell you that, so people should be prepared that it could take a while for the soup dumplings to arrive.

Flo was the friendliest person there and gave us the best service, even if she was super busy. Always took the time to chat with us and was one of the reasons why we loved coming there. It was our favorite place for us to celebrate our special occasions, including birthdays and a graduation celebration meal. We used to eat so many soup dumplings (or xiao long bao) that we had our picture on the Xiao Long Bao Wall of Fame (or XLB Wall of Fame) there in the dining room.

We went back last week for the first time in months (since the early spring) and saw that our picture is no longer on the wall (all are gone), Flo is no longer there; other servers we know are no longer there; our server that we had that day was not as fast, attentive, or friendly; and the food was just ok. The xiao long bao still tastes delicious, but the overall atmosphere was not the same. We will go back, mostly for the soup dumplings, but not sure how often.

If anyone happens to know where Flo is now, can you please let me know? Would be great to see her again. I truly regret not going there since earlier this year, especially since we used to be...