Hello dear
Welcome To Jeff’s Kitchen
At Jeff’s Kitchen, culinary excellence meets authentic Shanghainese tradition. Nestled in Walled Lake, MI, Jeff and his wife curate a unique dining experience rooted in meticulous ingredient sourcing and exceptional service. Reservations are essential, as each dish is crafted from fresh, daily-selected ingredients, ensuring diners savor the highest quality dishes. Highlights include the renowned xiao long bao—dumplings bursting with rich broth—and the comforting salted pork bamboo shoot soup, a rare find outside Shanghai. Guests praise the charm of the service, the family-style dining, and the delightful flavors that transport you straight to Jiangzhe cuisine. A true gem for food lovers!
About
Jeff’s Kitchen
Welcome to Jeff’s Kitchen, a culinary gem nestled in Walled Lake, Michigan, that promises an authentic Shanghai dining experience. Known for its traditional Jiangzhe cuisine, this restaurant not only takes you on a gastronomic journey but ensures each dish is as fresh as possible. With a firm commitment to quality, the owners source their ingredients daily, resulting in meals that are bursting with flavor and authenticity.
Located at 1130 E West Maple Rd, Jeff’s Kitchen is designed to accommodate various dining needs. Whether you’re planning a family dinner, a casual lunch, or a group gathering, this charming kitchen has you covered. Reservations are a must, as walk-ins are not accepted due to their custom ingredient sourcing approach. Diners rave about the efficient and warm service provided by Jeff and his wife, who go the extra mile to ensure an unforgettable experience.
- Signature Dishes:
- Xiao Long Bao: These soup dumplings are rich and flavorful, acclaimed as some of the best outside of Shanghai.
- Salted Pork Bamboo Shoot Soup: A personal favorite, this dish is hard to find elsewhere and is executed perfectly here.
- Sheng Jian Bao: Fried dumplings with a deliciously juicy filling, although the breading may be thicker than some prefer.
- Lion's Head Meatball: Hearty and full of flavor, it’s a crowd-pleaser that embodies the essence of traditional Shanghainese cooking.
- Dining Atmosphere: Jeff’s Kitchen boasts a casual ambiance with moderate noise, making it suitable for a variety of dining occasions. With amenities like outdoor seating, Wi-Fi, and on-site parking, diners can enjoy a seamless experience.
In a world where quick meals dominate, Jeff’s Kitchen stands out by emphasizing the importance of a carefully curated dining experience. The feedback from patrons like Nate R. captures this essence vividly, highlighting not just the exquisite food but the connection to the roots of Shanghainese cuisine. From the rich flavors to the inviting atmosphere, Jeff’s Kitchen beckons those who appreciate food as a form of art.
Whether you're a connoisseur of Chinese cuisine or a curious foodie, make sure to call ahead and reserve your spot at Jeff’s Kitchen. You’ll find a culinary adventure waiting, wrapped in flavorful dishes that embody the heart and soul of Shanghai itself. So why wait? Dive into this rich tapestry of flavors at Jeff’s Kitchen, where every meal is a celebration of tradition.
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“ Omgoodness. Absolutely delicious food and service is so charming and warm. We loved every bite and every minute we were here. Be warned though-- there is a whole process to the Jeff's Kitchen experience that you must follow, otherwise "no soup for you!" ”
“ Jeff and his wife run an amazing establishment. When I made my reservation, I described a dish I had in Shanghai on a business trip that I wanted my wife and friends to experience. Based on the picture I sent and my description Jeff knew the dish that I was talking about. Even though it wasn't on the menu, he got the ingredients needed and made it for us. Amazing service. The Xao Long Bao are simply amazing. Absolutely on par to the ones I remember in Shanghai, head and shoulders above all other US based offerings. It is definitely worth adding a few orders to your meal. ”
“ This place is always amazing. The food is the best traditional Chinese around. It is always fresh and hot, and served family style in courses. Remember to call ahead to reserve your dining experience - no walk-ins are allowed because they shop for ingredients the day of your reservation. This makes for the freshest and most delicious food. ”
“ Great place if you like Shanghai/Jiangzhe cuisine. Make sure you call to order before you go! ”
“ Make sure to call ahead to order as their menu is made fresh daily and they don't take walk in customers. Totally worth it as they serve very authentic traditional Shanghainese cuisine. Probably one of the best I've had outside of Shanghai. The owners are very efficient and they will recommend dishes and portion sizes. The xiao long bao was amazing and full of rich soup in each dumpling. The salted egg yolk tofu dish was a favorite for everyone. The lions head meatball was hearty and full of flavor. The sheng jian bao were fried well. The breading was a little thick for my taste but the meat inside was good. What I was most excited about was the salted pork bamboo shoot soup - Yan dun xian. It's my favorite and I've never found it outside of Shanghai and this restaurant made it very well. So satisfied! The sweet sour ribs was different than what I was expecting. It wasn't bad. Just wasn't what I wanted to order and a little dry. Unfortunately that dish was a miss for me but everything else was great! ”
“ Service at Jeff's Kitchen is a super straight forward and authentic Chinese restaurant. You need to book an appointment with them before you eat there. As you can read from other reviews, it is so he can prepare in advance by buying fresh groceries. When you call, know what time you would like to request and know what you would like to order. For a place with food on the pricier end, you'd expect a fairly fancy feel and design to the interior of the restaurant. But nope! It is your typical no frills, simple and functional designed Chinese restaurant. I didn't mind - as long as the seats, tables, and floor are clean, I'm a happy gal. We ordered the soup dumplings, lion head meatballs, braised pork belly (with eggs; you get to choose to have the pork belly with eggs or pancakes, so I decided to go for... more protein!), and the shredded pork/pan fried noodle. All these dishes, I would recommend. Soup dumplings - 6 Xiao long baos. they were so cute and plump! They were definitely the fattest XLBs I ever had. They came out piping hot. They were good! 4/5. They are clearly homemade. I've had more flavorful ones, but these were still really good. Braised pork belly- really good! The meat was pretty tender and had a good balance of meat and fat to it. The bok choi was really well cooked, and the eggs were great. Lion head meatballs - really good! Slightly on the salty side (but it's only personal preference to have if less so) but still soft. Each meatball was huge and is enough for one person. Noodles - good! Dish is on the heavier side, but if you don't mind slightly oily dish, this is worth a try. Noodles were nice and squishy and I liked the balance of the dish with the veggies. All that came out to around $114. So yeah, pricey. But I guess you are paying for the love and care that went into it. Jeff and the other waitress were super nice and friendly. A+ for customer service! ”
“ I have had great Chinese food and Jeff's Kitchen is up there with them. In terms of Detroit and Michigan, this is the best I've had and is on par with din tai fung in Vegas. The soup dumplings are extremely large and very well priced. (11$?). They are the best dumplings I've had with a unique taste to the soup. The remainder was good but not as amazing as the soup dumplings. Only complaints. It's pricy... But you pay for the quality. But they also didn't come with rice for the mapo tofu. It's mapo tofu , it needs rice. I'll be back but next time it'll be to splurge only on soup dumplings. ”
“ I read about 20 reviews and scoured the Internet for every food photo I could find before calling Jeff's Kitchen to make a reservation and also place my order. Jeff and the other woman who initially answered the phone were lovely and very accommodating, and setting up our dinner for the upcoming Saturday night was a breeze. When we arrived, we were seated promptly, served hot tea, and waited for the parade of food that would soon begin. Each dish was just as good as all previous reviewers had raved about! It was a truly enjoyable dining experience. I also noticed that about the time that my table was finishing up our meal, Jeff emerged from the kitchen and went around to talk to each group, asking them how everything was. I have no recommendations for my fellow Yelp readers, because every single item we ordered was fantastic and I'm guessing that's true for the whole menu! Will absolutely be back to find out. ”
