By Ava Watson
Photo by Sophia DeFraites
Located on Magazine Street, Miss Shirley’s is a true gem among New Orleans’ Chinese restaurant offerings. Miss Shirley’s used to be called The Royal China, located in Metairie. Shirley and her husband, Tang, owned the restaurant for 44 years before deciding to retire, but that didn’t last long. A year exactly was how long Shirley and her husband Tang were retired before the name was changed to Miss Shirley’s and the restaurant was reopened Uptown, where it has remained for about two years. This cozy restaurant has left the best impression on me. From the kindness of the staff to the delicious dishes, Miss Shirley’s is a must-visit.
As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by a delicious smell and a warm, friendly atmosphere. It was around dinner time, but the place was not too packed. However, I would be aware that Miss Shirley’s does not take any reservations, so it’s first come, first served. The restaurant itself was nicely decorated, with lanterns hanging over the bar and a big fish tank in the front, behind the hostess stand.
Once we were seated, we were given a complimentary fried pork dumpling, which was packed with delicious flavor. After that, it was time to order. I heard that they were known for their shrimp dim-sum, so I started with that. Then I ordered the chicken lettuce wraps for my main course. I was accompanied by my friend Sophia, who ordered the wonton soup and the boneless fried chicken. As we waited for the food to arrive, we were also given a complimentary cucumber salad, although neither Sophia nor I enjoyed this one. There was not much flavor, and the texture was also a bit off.
Then, appetizers came out soon after. The shrimp dim-sum didn’t have much flavor, but the shrimp tasted incredibly fresh. The wonton soup is a must-try, all of the flavors mixed together really well, and the dumplings that come in the soup are just as wonderful. “Best soup I have had in a while,” Sophia said.
While we were waiting for our main dishes to come out, Miss Shirley came to the table to check on us. She was so sweet and even let me get a picture with her, too. Then the main dishes came out soon after. I thought the presentation of the food could have been better, but, overall, not too bad. My main dish, the chicken and lettuce wraps, came with a small compact head of lettuce that was really hard to pull apart. The sauce that came on the side was delicious and made the meal that much better. My friend Sophia ordered the boneless fried chicken, and it was amazing. The outside was nice and crispy, and it was seasoned perfectly. For anyone who is a fan of spice, the chicken came with a really spicy tomato sauce that was also pretty good.
Once we were finished with our meal, the waiter brought out a complimentary plate of mini-beignets. They were absolutely delicious and just the right thing to end our meal.
I would recommend Miss Shirley’s to anyone who asks. Our waiter was incredibly kind and patient throughout the whole meal. You can really tell that the staff cares about your experience dining with them. Miss Shirley was very nice and welcoming and made the place feel more like home. The price point is definitely on the higher side–nothing crazy, but something to definitely keep in mind if you’re planning on trying Miss Shirley’s. Overall, I would rate Miss Shirley’s a 4.5 out of 5 stars. The things that weren’t to my liking were relatively minor. If you’re looking to try somewhere new, Miss Shirley’s should definitely be on the list.
