Grandma's Home 外婆家

Grandma’s Home in Chelsea has truly become our neighborhood staple — we’ve been here 20–30 times since it opened, and it never disappoints. It is the most authentic Shanghai/Hangzhou style Chinese restaurant in Manhattan. We usually order 3–4 dishes and everything comes out within 10-20 minutes. This most recent visit was a little different — the dishes came one at a time about 20 minutes apart. However, the managers Laura and Kailee(?) handled it with such professionalism and warmth. They immediately addressed the issue, took great care of us, and made sure we left happy. We’ll absolutely continue coming back — the food and hospitality keep us loyal. Highly recommend the crispy skin chicken and the crispy eggplants — must-order dishes every time.

The food and drinks were amazing. Our server was also so friendly and nice and on top of everything. Food is a bit pricey and portions are a little small especially if you go with a bigger group. Must orders are definitely the lotus root with sticky rice, the hong shao rou, and the crispy eggplant. The juju bao fish was good especially with the garlic however, for the price you pay, there wasn’t enough fish to enjoy

Upon arrival you’re introduced to Grandma’s Home with it’s beautiful and immersive decor honoring Chinese culture. The tableware is intentional as well, where the chopstick rests are carved to represent the 12 different animals from the Chinese zodiac. Their food is homey yet unique, all the classic dishes you would want with a modern twist. If you like century egg, I recommend that for appetizer. The sauce has a tanginess to it that contrasts the creaminess of the egg. My favorite was their seafood fried rice, each grain cooked to golden perfection. It’s hard to find good fried rice in nyc but they do it brilliantly. The black pepper, pork belly, and salted yolk were good as well. You can’t go wrong with any of the dishes to be honest. Lastly, we finish off our meal with coconut pudding with red bean paste and guava and coconut shaved ice. However, I do believe their dessert changes every so often. The servers could be slightly faster and more attentive but they make it up with the atmosphere and food.

very solid chinese food. the soup dumplings were fine. the mapo tofu was a bit different than the ones i’m used to. but the real star was the crispy eggplant dish. crispy with a sweet glaze, but hot and soft inside. very addictive.

This place is both good and bad. Starting with the good: the atmosphere is perfect. It feels very homey, authentic, and cozy, living up to the restaurant’s name and theme perfectly. The service is also amazing, with our food coming quickly. Now to the food. The food was frankly disappointing. The flavors felt muted and muffled, with the sting of the peppercorns being just enough to make it slightly uncomfortable. The shrimp, however, was absolutely delicious, and so were the dumplings and cucumbers. Don’t get me wrong, some dishes lived up to or even surpassed my standards. However, some just weren’t that excellent, like the pepper chicken and vegetable fried rice. I would love if the chefs would be bolder and more willing to take risks and play with flavors rather than keep them muted. And I’m not saying this place is bad—it just wasn’t exactly for me. If you enjoy mild, safe Chinese cuisine with a homey accent, this place is for you. But if you are a bold individual who enjoys strong and punchy flavors, maybe search for another Chinese place.