Great, authentic Chinese restaurant. I saw some outlier reviews that were low, but I think those might be a result of people expecting the flavors/consistencies of Chinese American food. I'm not a Chinese food expert by any means but I grew up in a Chinese neighborhood in the US and lived in China for a few years. I highly recommend the dumplings, the baozi, the vegetable noodles, and the spicy fish. Dough for all of the above is handmade.
Robert H.
It wasn't terrible...it wasn't great. Sorta like a sick restaurant that has it's moments, but is obviously not feeling okay. Veggie of the day in my Kung Pao chicken was celery. Lots and lots (and lots!) of celery. The cheapest, most flavorless thing on the planet. If there's a celery shortage, I know why... Mediocre service, mediocre food, no reason to go back. Ever.
Deanne Q.
Picked up some beef and onion dumplings yesterday. I have to say they were the best dumplings ever! Can't wait to go back for a full meal. The restaurant was very nice inside.
Miao N.
Definitely the best Chinese restaurant in town. We ordered 5 dishes. They all taste authentic. I will highly recommend this restaurant to those who are craving for Chinese food.
carolyn s.
Thank God, some actual Chinese food in NOLA. The jiaozi are good and the salt and pepper fish is delicious! My family was so happy we found this place. The kids devoured the shrimp fried rice. We took the leftover baozi home for breakfast the next morning. The dry fried green beans were so good, too (northern Chinese style with lots of dried chili). We are definitely going to be back soon.
Sam Z.
Hotpot here is Ultra disgusting DO NOT VISIT here Recommending this place to others is no different than a crime
Lulu R.
came here with some friends on a recommendation and i'm already looking forward to the next visit. i got the spicy beef noodle soup and it was a+. the broth was so rich and the beef was so incredibly tender. my friend got the salt and pepper fried pork tenderloin and let me try and piece and it absolutely melted in my mouth. i know exactly what i'm getting next time and it's definitely the pork tenderloin. make sure you also try the pork belly! i haven't had better pork belly in town yet. parking is kind of rough but it's worth the hassle. hands down the best chinese food in the city.
Andi F.
I noticed pictures of this place on several forms of social media and knew I needed to stop by. My first visit, I had the chicken and corn dumplings steamed, and beef fried rice. Both were very delicious. The second visit I tried the beef fried noodles, and that was amazing. Everything is neat and clean inside, though the smell of incense on the first visit was quite overwhelming when no one is moving around, the second time they were either not burning the incense or the smell was not as intense. The employees were all friendly. I look forward to coming back. I am so very glad I went back for a second visit before finishing this review. The parking is quite strange. There are only spots in the front, and 18th Avenue is quite busy, so backing out can be tricky. You have to time it just right.
John Nguyen
Tried this place out because of the amount of positive reviews. Left disappointed. We tried ordering a little bit of everything to really experience it.Hotpot: I've had worst, but this wasn't really that great either.Pork Dumplings & Beef Dumplings: Probably the best dish we tried, although the beef Dumplings came a little charredFried Combination Noodles: decent dish...not seasoned enough and the beef tasted weirdHandmade Eggrolls: reminded me of lumpia because of it's thinness...not memorableBeef & Broccoli: Beef was oversaltedI can understand seasoning mistakes if the place was in the middle of a dinner rush, but we were one of two tables in the whole restaurant. Doubt I'd come back.
Luis Zepeda
Delicious hot pot and authentic Chinese dishes! Definitely for anyone looking for authentic Chinese cuisine instead of American-Chinese food. I highly recommend the spicy broth (we did mild spicy and still very flavorful), and the shrimp and fish balls were so good in it (we ordered brisket too but got the shrimp and fish at the owners recommendation). Friendly staff too. It’s so hard to find good and authentic Chinese in New Orleans, so this place makes the trip to Metairie so worth it!
What a gem! My partner and I dined at YuYan Kitchen and were blown away. They serve authentic Chinese food and the passion is in every dish. All of the bao and dumplings are house made and the hot pot was just so delicious (pro tip: get the traditional and spicy broth and don’t sleep on the house made shrimp balls.) The best part was chatting with owner; she is so warm and hospitable and is eager to share the flavors of her childhood in China with her guests. Service was top notch. Go with a crowd so you can try all of the things - the servings are plentiful. We will be back to try more of the entrees; YuYan has a forever fan in me.
Gabi V.
YuYan kitchen is the only place (that I am aware of) in the New Orleans area that is serving up the hot pot experience. I've had the chance to try many a hot pot. Not only is it TASTY but it's also such a fun way to share a meal with someone. It's different and I've missed it. I was happy to stumble upon this place on Yelp. Hang in there with me, it's a long one. Hot pot is everything I'm passionate about. It's broth, it's sauce, it's protein, it's delicious and I want y'all to have the info since I haven't seen a thorough review of the hot pot extravaganza here at YuYan. I want to acknowledge how sweet the staff is. Like sugar! Everyone took such great care of us and we appreciated the hospitality. We started the meal by ordering egg rolls and the pork and cabbage dumplings. The egg rolls were perfectly crisp and the filling was flavorful. The dumplings, however, had ZERO seasoning. The dough was definitely fresh and made in house but for a place that prides themselves in delicious, fresh dumplings, these were a bust. It's like the bus broke down in Bland City before it got to Flavor Town. Maybe it was just that batch, who knows, so I'm not knockin' it. I'd try other fillings in the future for redemption. Anyway! For those who haven't had hot pot before, let me break it down. It is a communal, cook-as-you-eat experience. There is an induction burner in the center of the table, which is where the pot is placed and brought up to a boil. There are three broth options and you can pick one or two at the same time, as the pot has a divider in it. We picked the spicy and the original. The broths were very subtle in taste and personally, I preferred the spicy as it had more complexity and just the right amount of kick. The glorious thing about hot pot (usually) is that you can choose your own adventure, from the ingredients you desire to cook to the sauces you use for dipping. For our main proteins we chose beef brisket and lamb, which are both sliced very thin and cook instantaneously when placed in the broth. We also ordered the fish balls, which are made in house, duck blood tofu, as well as tofu skins. Lastly, for the veggies, we picked Napa cabbage, lotus root, enoki and wood ear mushrooms and rice noodles for some carbs. I wish there were more meat options but what we did order tasted nice. Lastly, the sauces. From my previous experience, most hot pot restaurants have a sauce bar that is included in the price of the dinner. Usually, there is a plethora of ingredients that you can mix and match and personalize to your liking. Common options include sesame paste, sesame oil, chili oil, garlic, scallion, cilantro, soy sauce, vinegar and more. At YuYan, however, ONE sauce is included with the meal and additional sauce is $2.50. There is no sauce bar. There are only three sauce options available so we ordered all three. They're alright on their own but best mixed together with the addition of soy sauce. Overall, the ingredients were all fresh and I have no complaints about the quality. What got me was the pricing. All you can eat hot pot is usually $30 and under. I even yelped some hot pot places I've been to, to compare pricing. Chicago, Dallas, Houston. Even at one of the best rated New York hot pots, Liuyishou, all you can eat is under $40 per person WITH inflation pricing. I don't know y'all. I feel conflicted. For example, all veggies are $5.98 per order. I would imagine that an import like wood ear mushroom should cost more than potato, lettuce or cabbage. Why not price all ingredients according to their worth? Why does the head on shrimp cost as much as imitation crab? Or why do tripe and Australian lamb cost the same? The saying is "beggars can't be choosers." I was beggin', CRAVING, dreaming of hot pot. I got my fix at a steep price. I was satisfied for the most part, I just feel like I overpaid. BUT, they're the only place in town who has what I want. YuYan IS the monopoly, they set the pr
Stephen P.
YuYan Kitchen is the only place in the Greater New Orleans area that serves traditional Chinese food - and, it is terrific. The owner, from Tianjin, hand makes the dumplings and bao daily. Everything is made from scratch and you should plan to consume until you can't. If you've read this far and eat anywhere else, you are a fool.
Beibei L.
Very friendly staff. Other than the bland and mild Spicy Beef Soup, everything else was delicious. Home made dumplings and Jiang Bing that brought back childhood memories when I was in China.
Debbie White
What a hidden gem on 18th in Metairie. Handmade chewy noodles, and some if the best beef broth in my beefy noodle soup. The owner came out telling how she made each dish by hand with fresh ingredients. Hand made dumplings with pork, shrimp and egg. Jian Bing(Chinese pancake) was so delicious with a cracker like crunchy filling and special spices all made with love. You can tell she loves what she does and is proud that all is made by hand.
Great, authentic Chinese restaurant. I saw some outlier reviews that were low, but I think those might be a result of people expecting the flavors/consistencies of Chinese American food. I'm not a Chinese food expert by any means but I grew up in a Chinese neighborhood in the US and lived in China for a few years. I highly recommend the dumplings, the baozi, the vegetable noodles, and the spicy fish. Dough for all of the above is handmade.
It wasn't terrible...it wasn't great. Sorta like a sick restaurant that has it's moments, but is obviously not feeling okay. Veggie of the day in my Kung Pao chicken was celery. Lots and lots (and lots!) of celery. The cheapest, most flavorless thing on the planet. If there's a celery shortage, I know why... Mediocre service, mediocre food, no reason to go back. Ever.
Picked up some beef and onion dumplings yesterday. I have to say they were the best dumplings ever! Can't wait to go back for a full meal. The restaurant was very nice inside.
Definitely the best Chinese restaurant in town. We ordered 5 dishes. They all taste authentic. I will highly recommend this restaurant to those who are craving for Chinese food.
Thank God, some actual Chinese food in NOLA. The jiaozi are good and the salt and pepper fish is delicious! My family was so happy we found this place. The kids devoured the shrimp fried rice. We took the leftover baozi home for breakfast the next morning. The dry fried green beans were so good, too (northern Chinese style with lots of dried chili). We are definitely going to be back soon.
Hotpot here is Ultra disgusting DO NOT VISIT here Recommending this place to others is no different than a crime
came here with some friends on a recommendation and i'm already looking forward to the next visit. i got the spicy beef noodle soup and it was a+. the broth was so rich and the beef was so incredibly tender. my friend got the salt and pepper fried pork tenderloin and let me try and piece and it absolutely melted in my mouth. i know exactly what i'm getting next time and it's definitely the pork tenderloin. make sure you also try the pork belly! i haven't had better pork belly in town yet. parking is kind of rough but it's worth the hassle. hands down the best chinese food in the city.
I noticed pictures of this place on several forms of social media and knew I needed to stop by. My first visit, I had the chicken and corn dumplings steamed, and beef fried rice. Both were very delicious. The second visit I tried the beef fried noodles, and that was amazing. Everything is neat and clean inside, though the smell of incense on the first visit was quite overwhelming when no one is moving around, the second time they were either not burning the incense or the smell was not as intense. The employees were all friendly. I look forward to coming back. I am so very glad I went back for a second visit before finishing this review. The parking is quite strange. There are only spots in the front, and 18th Avenue is quite busy, so backing out can be tricky. You have to time it just right.
Tried this place out because of the amount of positive reviews. Left disappointed. We tried ordering a little bit of everything to really experience it.Hotpot: I've had worst, but this wasn't really that great either.Pork Dumplings & Beef Dumplings: Probably the best dish we tried, although the beef Dumplings came a little charredFried Combination Noodles: decent dish...not seasoned enough and the beef tasted weirdHandmade Eggrolls: reminded me of lumpia because of it's thinness...not memorableBeef & Broccoli: Beef was oversaltedI can understand seasoning mistakes if the place was in the middle of a dinner rush, but we were one of two tables in the whole restaurant. Doubt I'd come back.
Delicious hot pot and authentic Chinese dishes! Definitely for anyone looking for authentic Chinese cuisine instead of American-Chinese food. I highly recommend the spicy broth (we did mild spicy and still very flavorful), and the shrimp and fish balls were so good in it (we ordered brisket too but got the shrimp and fish at the owners recommendation). Friendly staff too. It’s so hard to find good and authentic Chinese in New Orleans, so this place makes the trip to Metairie so worth it!
Restaurantji Recommends
What a gem! My partner and I dined at YuYan Kitchen and were blown away. They serve authentic Chinese food and the passion is in every dish. All of the bao and dumplings are house made and the hot pot was just so delicious (pro tip: get the traditional and spicy broth and don’t sleep on the house made shrimp balls.) The best part was chatting with owner; she is so warm and hospitable and is eager to share the flavors of her childhood in China with her guests. Service was top notch. Go with a crowd so you can try all of the things - the servings are plentiful. We will be back to try more of the entrees; YuYan has a forever fan in me.
YuYan kitchen is the only place (that I am aware of) in the New Orleans area that is serving up the hot pot experience. I've had the chance to try many a hot pot. Not only is it TASTY but it's also such a fun way to share a meal with someone. It's different and I've missed it. I was happy to stumble upon this place on Yelp. Hang in there with me, it's a long one. Hot pot is everything I'm passionate about. It's broth, it's sauce, it's protein, it's delicious and I want y'all to have the info since I haven't seen a thorough review of the hot pot extravaganza here at YuYan. I want to acknowledge how sweet the staff is. Like sugar! Everyone took such great care of us and we appreciated the hospitality. We started the meal by ordering egg rolls and the pork and cabbage dumplings. The egg rolls were perfectly crisp and the filling was flavorful. The dumplings, however, had ZERO seasoning. The dough was definitely fresh and made in house but for a place that prides themselves in delicious, fresh dumplings, these were a bust. It's like the bus broke down in Bland City before it got to Flavor Town. Maybe it was just that batch, who knows, so I'm not knockin' it. I'd try other fillings in the future for redemption. Anyway! For those who haven't had hot pot before, let me break it down. It is a communal, cook-as-you-eat experience. There is an induction burner in the center of the table, which is where the pot is placed and brought up to a boil. There are three broth options and you can pick one or two at the same time, as the pot has a divider in it. We picked the spicy and the original. The broths were very subtle in taste and personally, I preferred the spicy as it had more complexity and just the right amount of kick. The glorious thing about hot pot (usually) is that you can choose your own adventure, from the ingredients you desire to cook to the sauces you use for dipping. For our main proteins we chose beef brisket and lamb, which are both sliced very thin and cook instantaneously when placed in the broth. We also ordered the fish balls, which are made in house, duck blood tofu, as well as tofu skins. Lastly, for the veggies, we picked Napa cabbage, lotus root, enoki and wood ear mushrooms and rice noodles for some carbs. I wish there were more meat options but what we did order tasted nice. Lastly, the sauces. From my previous experience, most hot pot restaurants have a sauce bar that is included in the price of the dinner. Usually, there is a plethora of ingredients that you can mix and match and personalize to your liking. Common options include sesame paste, sesame oil, chili oil, garlic, scallion, cilantro, soy sauce, vinegar and more. At YuYan, however, ONE sauce is included with the meal and additional sauce is $2.50. There is no sauce bar. There are only three sauce options available so we ordered all three. They're alright on their own but best mixed together with the addition of soy sauce. Overall, the ingredients were all fresh and I have no complaints about the quality. What got me was the pricing. All you can eat hot pot is usually $30 and under. I even yelped some hot pot places I've been to, to compare pricing. Chicago, Dallas, Houston. Even at one of the best rated New York hot pots, Liuyishou, all you can eat is under $40 per person WITH inflation pricing. I don't know y'all. I feel conflicted. For example, all veggies are $5.98 per order. I would imagine that an import like wood ear mushroom should cost more than potato, lettuce or cabbage. Why not price all ingredients according to their worth? Why does the head on shrimp cost as much as imitation crab? Or why do tripe and Australian lamb cost the same? The saying is "beggars can't be choosers." I was beggin', CRAVING, dreaming of hot pot. I got my fix at a steep price. I was satisfied for the most part, I just feel like I overpaid. BUT, they're the only place in town who has what I want. YuYan IS the monopoly, they set the pr
YuYan Kitchen is the only place in the Greater New Orleans area that serves traditional Chinese food - and, it is terrific. The owner, from Tianjin, hand makes the dumplings and bao daily. Everything is made from scratch and you should plan to consume until you can't. If you've read this far and eat anywhere else, you are a fool.
Very friendly staff. Other than the bland and mild Spicy Beef Soup, everything else was delicious. Home made dumplings and Jiang Bing that brought back childhood memories when I was in China.
What a hidden gem on 18th in Metairie. Handmade chewy noodles, and some if the best beef broth in my beefy noodle soup. The owner came out telling how she made each dish by hand with fresh ingredients. Hand made dumplings with pork, shrimp and egg. Jian Bing(Chinese pancake) was so delicious with a cracker like crunchy filling and special spices all made with love. You can tell she loves what she does and is proud that all is made by hand.