Entering The Tang Dynasty
Now that we’re back in Shanghai, it means we can once again take part in this lifestyle of the rich and famous that Shanghai seems to have become obsessed with. And very few places exude wealth and power better than the Tang Dynasty.
The Tang looks more like a hotel than a restaurant. Its huge lobby looks like the grand foyer of some five star hotel. The place is made almost entirely of imported marble and there’s enough staff running around to overwhelm even the pickiest guest. The menu is a 98 page full color book!
One thing for sure, you’ll never see a restaurant like Tang in the West. They wouldn’t be able afford the staff requirements. Because wages are so low in China, the restaurant can hire enough staff to make sure everyone receive top notch service. For example, the serving of food is performed with two waiters – one delivers the food to your table and another set it down on the table.
BTW – this was only lunch. We’re going to an even fancier place for dinner. To get rich really is glorious. 
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- Condo Shopping in Shanghai | John Chow dot Com - May 27, 2008 at 5:23 pm
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Always enjoy these tasty posts …
Me too!! hey john you make us hungry withthese posts
Mmm… suddenly I’m hungry. Thanks a lot John!
98 page book? My wife would never decide!
I get all flustered just going to the Cheesecake Factory with its enormous menu. But that doesn’t compare to this!
thanks God I’m not alone. My wife always makes me mad when we go out to have lunch or dinner because the fact she takes to much time deciding what she’s gonna get.
That is the most gorgeous menu I’ve ever seen! woah!!
Especially when most people are so used to ordering by Number. I’ll have the Number 1 please, coke with no ice
~Terry
Your content over the last week is just TOP NOTCH. You have opened my eyes about the new and the old in China and I’ve been there 3 times already. Maybe it’s time to go again.
Wow!!! My tummy is roaring… hate these pics.
Your food posts ALWAYS make me hungry for some real food. It seems like all there is over here in the US is McDonalds. I want some real food! Send me some food from China John!
Lol really? I live in the US and I eat amazing food all the time, just make it yourself!
Its becoming more and more annoying seeing your reviews on restaurants. Dude we come here read new stuffs on how to make money; could you get in real business.
Your entire site is a perfect ripoff of DP
You’re right. That looks a wee bit too much like DP. They do say that imitation is a form of flattery.
“Your entire site is a perfect ripoff of DP”.
Hah you must be color blind:) You even did not check the site as a whole–it got some features even DP does not have. Thank you for post is to mention one.
I looked at the homepage, saw it was DP with different colors and closed it. Show me a few differences and maybe I’ll take that back
You keep referencing America, when you live in Canada.
Good point. Perhaps a Freudian slip??
We all now know where he wishes he lived at
Very true..
But Canada including Mexico is also in The Americas…if thats what he meant.
May be majority of the visitors are from USA.
Most of my readership is from the USA. I used to list all prices in USD but since the CAD is equal to the USD, it doesn’t matter anymore.
He lives in North AMERICA.
Good I know now , when I come to Shangai I`ll take a beautiful girl out to dinner at the Tang Dynasty.
The food looks good. Not sure about the soup.
And the restaurant kind of reminds me of a buffet near here. The inside looks nothing like a restaurant either.
D E L Icious!
Gordon Ramsey says that if a menu has pictures of the food you should avoid the place at all costs, it looks tacky.
Gordon Ramsey wouldn’t be eating at any restaurants in China then. It’s standard business here to show photos of food.
I see you’re wearing shorts in a super high class restaurant there. I thought China would require at least a coat with your shorts.
There’s no dress code for lunch. Not sure about dinner.
I love it when they have pictures of the food. If you don’t know what the hell it is how are you supposed to order it?
I think Gordon’s point was that it makes it look like a McDonalds, from looking at John’s pictures I don’t think you could accuse the Tang Dynasty of being like that though
Haha yeah I know what he means. Unless it’s a 4 or 5 star restaurant though I actually prefer pictures, seems like people would try more dishes like that and not just order the one they know is good.
Having pictures makes it so much easier to decide. Being in a foreign country and not speaking the language can make deciding what to eat quite a challenge!
simply deliciouses post
by the way do they serve pure vegetarian food coz i cant eat only meat or fish i want something vege with it 
The menu is 98 pages. They’ve got you covered.
I really enjoyed the video. It shoew a side of china I have never seen before. With the low wages supplemental income from the internet is needed.
you made me all hungry now!
Oohhhhh…………….my……………..GOD
I like the post about fine dining…. the only problem is that I don’t eat this kind of food even though it looks amazing.
Very tasty mmmmm
that looks great man!
Agreed, the food looks lavish.
that looks Very tasty It make me hungry man !
In South America restaurants do have two waiters serving your food. But of course people also earn minimum wage for less than $150 a month.
I like the duck dish. Looks really appealing
Indeed, I’d like to indulge in some right now
John,
I think you should be concerned, have you done a comparison between your site and John cow’s site on Alexa? Your site has made a massive dip while John Cow is on a rapid increase.
No, I am not concern nor will I ever be concern about an Alexa ranking. I’m actually thinking of putting the blog on a secure page so Alexa would say “Not in the top 1,000,000.” Then imagine how many comments I’ll get!
John, what was the total bill?
I don’t know. I didn’t pay.
Did they figure you couldn’t afford pants and say it’s on the house?
~Terry
I wish there was a place that served great looking food like that in my town. Bummer…
John, My nephew Joe Birdsong worked at a small upscale restaurant in Covington, Louisiana where there was a server for each guest at each table. While everyone was eating the servers stood unobtrusively behind each quest ready to respond to any need or request. The food was amazingly delicious, and the service incredible. The price… a bit more than Ruth’s Chris steakhouse.
Maybe not as big or flashy as Tang Dynasty, but incredible food and service.
Is that the same Tang the astronauts took to the moon? lol!
Wow, looks like a nice restaurant. At other restaurants you could be done eating before you even get through the menu at the Tang!
Looks delicious. Maybe I missed it on the video, but how much did the whole meal cost?
You know what, seriously John, you really inspire… No joke, when I read this articles and see these photos I say that I can do that, too, and I can have that, too. The inspiration is real… no other word for it. Thanks.
Hmmm…somehow, my local take out place just won’t cut it anymore!
Actually in US also you can find places where there will be someone who takes the order and the person bringing the food will be different.
We had that in a Thai restaurant as well as in Mexican restuarant.
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BTW–John I guess the dress code is not mentioned.
As far as I know, there is no dress code for lunch. Not sure about dinner.
John,
It is glorious indeed – especially if you have $30,000 p.m. rushing in your bank account
Again, nice vid, John!
Cheers
woow.. sound like tasty foods..
John you should come to Spain, I’m sure you’d enjoy with our wonderful cuisine.
Cheers!
Shanghai, Ni Hou! Oh man John, those are genuine Shanghai traditional food we assume! What are those dishes’ names haha?
That sashimi looks yummy! I love the ideaof the menu book, even though it is insane!!!
We don’t see any sashimi?? Where??
I am such an indecisive person I could never cope with a menu that long – I would need a week to study it beforehand!! Seriously it was such a beautiful thing though – I cannot imagine anywhere in the UK having such a lovely menu.
i am feeling hungry after watching these dishes…..