Chef Zhu

"Owners of old Double Happiness Del Mar opened this new Shanghainese restaurant. We’ve tried both dine in and takeout multiple times, and the food quality and service have been awesome. Every time we take friends and family to dine here, we feel confident that our guests can have the best experience. Our favorite dishes are braised pork with preserved veg, braised meatball, house special soup pot, and shepherd’s purse rice cake, but we ordered something different this time: hot and sour soup, preserved veg with bean curd sheet, kong pao chicken. I’m a vegetarian, and the restaurant was very accommodating, and even offered to cook a sautéed vegetables dish rather than the regular braised version for me. So considerate! We’ll return for sure!"

"A Welcome Addition to Torrey Highlands: A Review of [Restaurant Name] The recent addition of Chef Zhu to the Torrey Highlands shopping center has been met with much excitement, and after my visit, I can confidently say that it's a worthy addition to the culinary landscape. Despite initial reservations about its proximity to Joyee's dumplings, I'm delighted to report that Chef Zhu holds its own. Arriving on a leisurely Sunday afternoon, I was pleased to find ample parking available in the center, making access a breeze. The restaurant itself has undergone a stylish redesign from its previous incarnation as a BBQ joint, boasting an inviting interior that sets the stage for a memorable dining experience. While the customer service initially left something to be desired – perhaps due to a focus on online orders – the staff proved to be friendly and accommodating once we garnered their attention. Despite being the only patrons at the start of our meal, we found ourselves waiting longer than expected for assistance. However, once attended to, our orders were taken promptly and accurately. As for the food, it did not disappoint. We opted for the Chicken Lo Mein and Orange Chicken, both of which arrived as generous portions bursting with flavor. The Lo Mein, in particular, stood out with its delightful smoky undertones and perfectly cooked noodles. Meanwhile, the Orange Chicken boasted a delightful balance of sweetness and crunch, leaving us eager to explore more of the menu offerings. Overall, Chef Zhu offers excellent value for money, delivering ample portions of high-quality Chinese cuisine in a pleasant setting. While there may be room for improvement in terms of service efficiency, the delicious food more than makes up for any minor shortcomings. I look forward to returning to sample more of their enticing menu offerings."

"Known for Shanghainese Chinese cuisine. We love it and have been there couple of times. Often have to wait but totally worth it. The meatballs have great flavor, subtle spices and melt in the mouth. Have also tried the hot n sour chicken, lamb scallions which are really flavorful. Must try place."

"The best Asian food in San Diego! I've followed chef Zhu for the past 20+ years. He kept raising the bar of authentic Shanghai dish. My favorite are the ribs, soup, cold dish, duck and dessert - I know that sounds like all of them but trust me, you will love all of them. Reservations could be made for table 8+. Easy to park in this new location, which is another plus to me."

"This place is super authentic Shanghainese food, I’m impressed! We ordered from Hungry Panda APP, and got the food delivered at my door. The whole meal is just very delicious. Everyone enjoyed it. The quantity is pretty big. I order $120 food with tips, and we four just finished a little bit more than half. I totally feel this place is very worthy to give a try if you would love to check out some very authentic Shanghai style food. I highly recommend Lion’s head meatballs and sweet & sour pork ribs, also the scallion oil noodles are pretty tasty as well."