Chao Restaurant

Stopped here while driving through the area on the way from Massachusetts to NYC. Really excellent food and great service. The Gua Bao buns were wonderful– tried both pork and duck. The hot and sour seafood soup one of best I ever had. Cumin lamb excellent. Will definitely have to return.

Got take out there today.
I ordered a small order of the soup dumplings, which were good (and the only soup dumplings I’ve seen in the state) and gau bao, which I had never tried before.
The atmosphere is upscale has an Asian fusion vibe. Wait staff were helpful.
Granted, the prices are a bit pricier than NYC, but the food was pretty solid for New Haven.

Pretty fancy restaurant for Taiwanese/​Chinese/​Vietnamese cuisine. The restaurant atmosphere and layout is more American than Asian. And with that said, prices are higher than normal. The restaurant itself is not hard to find, but it is pretty dark inside.
I only went here because it’s pretty much the only place in CT that has xiao long bao (soup dumplings). The other restaurant that has xiao long bao in CT is closed (either temporarily or permanently).
The soup dumplings are smaller than at other restaurants I’ve tried, which means not as much soup in there. Oh, and way more expensive. Although the prices turned me off, the xiao long bao were pretty tasty. I also tried the beef roll, which was really good. But once again, very expensive for what it is. For these prices, I wouldn’t come back. It’s more worth it to find somewhere cheaper in Boston or New York.

Best Chinese food in New Haven! Soup dumplings, lettuce wraps, & spring onion & egg rice are must haves!!! Dine in and take-​out are both enjoyable experiences & their packaging for take-​out is done very well! Friendly staff a plus! Five stars!

My husband and I went on Christmas Day since we didn’t have our kids and there was no way I was cooking huge meal for two people! There is a small parking lot next door and even though there are signs that say permit parking only the staff told us that restaurant parking was allowed– which is great to find in New Haven. There are 2 floors, the top entrance appears to be the wine bar area and the restaurant entrance is down the stairs (very Boston-​esque). The ambiance is simple romantic– dimly lit and simple elegant décor. For an app we had the pork buns– they came with a sauce that was a perfect accompaniment. For dinner we ordered barbecue ribs and summer seafood which included shrimp, sea bass, and scallops in a white sauce. It came with a bowl of white rice, but we ordered an extra bowl since we were sharing it (it was only an extra$ 1.50). The summer seafood was good but the ribs were by far the best I’ve had– my husband couldn’t get enough of them. With the app and the extra rice It was definitely enough for both of us. I was disappointed there was only one dessert option– tiramisu which isn’t my thing– but the overall experience was great and the staff was very attentive. We will definitely be going back!
To Elaine/​Steve yes this was our first visit– looking forward to a 2^nd!

I really do not understand why I never went here before, seeing how I literally can walk here from work– my coworkers turned me onto this place today and we went in for a quick lunch. Our waiter was very prompt, polite and available. I ordered the chicken lettuce wraps, which were delish– I wish they had a sauce you could dip them in, but over all they were good. I also got the pot stickers, which were crispy on the outside but delish on the inside. It came with a delish sauce on the side that I actually used with the lettuce wraps, so hey it worked for me :) I love the ambiance of the place, very dark– but loved the music. It should be noted we sat downstairs not upstairs. My friends ordered the veggie plate w/​white rice and in a wine sauce– it looked so good. We saw several plates go by us– and it made me curious to know what they were because they all looked good!!! The prices are a little high, however the quality is where it should be for the price. I would have literally walked right by this place if i was not shown it by my friends from work. We also ordered hot tea, which was very good and quickly refilled after we drank it all. Great service, good food and nice ambiance– I will be back !!!

Yep, I was impressed. Great little place with a really authentic Chinese menu. With the main seating downstairs it is just right. Definitely a 4 or 5 star place with respect to the food and the service. The appetizers were wonderful, tried everyones in our group and liked them all. The entrees were superb and fresh, great flavors and a wide selection for everyone. We are about to become regulars here I expect.

I can’t speak for the food as we didn’t get that far. I visited the restaurant at least two weeks in advance to make a reservation for Christmas eve dinner for our party of 8. I asked where we would be seated, as the area upstairs is quite small. The person at the front desk showed me a large table downstairs, where I felt there was enough room and the right ambiance for a family holiday meal, so I made the reservation.
When we arrived at the restaurant on Christmas eve, we were told the table I had been shown was reserved for another party. We were to be seated upstairs, at a large table crammed in along the front window and right next to the door. When I said I had been shown the table downstairs, the waitress said that my reservation hadn’t indicated the specific table I was promised. When I persisted, the owner told me the person who took my reservation wasn’t allowed to do so. Finally he told me that the party who got our table had reserved it at least a month in advance by table number. I’m not sure what the real story was but they all sounded like management issues to me – how would I know that the person taking my reservation wasn’t allowed to, or that he should have noted the specific table on my reservation, or that I should have known to reserve by table number?
During all this disruption, I did not receive an apology that reflected any genuine concern, or asked what they could do to make it right, or made any offer of compromise. Not only was our party’s merry holiday spirit thoroughly dampened, the vibe we were getting was downright hostile. I really didn’t feel like blowing several hundred dollars on a meal at a place where the owner clearly didn’t care about my patronage. So we got up and left, and we won’t be back.

In a nutshell: They have consistent delicious plates, the only downside being that some dishes are a little expensive.
We’ve come here a few times, and I’ve got to say…
1. I still don’t know what is the correct entrance (The upstairs one? Or the downstairs one?) since there isn’t a space for waiting in either entrance, and every time I go, I always have to wait at least 2 minutes, awkwardly standing at the door (next to already-​seated-​customers), to get a waiter’s attention.
2. I like that they have a broad range of dishes, from simple Taiwanese noodles, complete rice sets, to family style dishes, and they do all of them very well. (the only dishes I have not tried are the dim sum ones)
3. I think that when they first started, the service may have needed a little work, but I think that they’re doing better.
4. Whether you want to come for a nice evening to dine and sip some wine, to just come for a good homey meal, this place has got it.

Pretty decent Asian restaurant, certainly better than what I was expecting to find in New Haven! The cuisine is mostly Taiwanese but they also offer some Szechuan and Vietnamese dishes (phở, etc). The inside is quite spacious and trendy with dim mood lighting, which I enjoyed. Service was also excellent — food came out super fast and our waiter was very attentive in refilling our drinks.
In terms of food, it was overall pretty good. My friends and I split everything family-​style so we got to try a bunch of dishes:
— Soup dumplings (⁴⁄₅): pretty large and tasty, although not the most authentic-​tasting. They also only offer one type (crab and pork), so if you don’t like seafood, steer away from this.
— Shanghai pork buns (³⁄₅): filling wasn’t bad but it was a little oily. Also expensive for 3 for $ 8.
— Spring rolls (³⁄₅): tasted good but nothing remarkable.
— Wonton soup (⁵⁄₅): my favorite dish of the night! Broth was very flavorful and comforting and there was a good amount of yummy wontons. Definitely could have eaten a whole large bowl of this myself!
— Zhajiang mian (⁴⁄₅): quite a large bowl for only $ 10. The sauce mixed with the noodles was yummy but the actual pieces of pork were a bit too salty.
— Twice cooked pork (³⁄₅): unfortunately too spicy for me so I didn’t eat much of this — I wish you could tailor how spicy you want it. Looked like half of it was leeks. My friend thought it was just okay.
Overall, good meal for a reasonable price. Would recommend sharing things family style so you get to try more things!

This is more of a 3.5 stars for me, which is to say that while I wouldn’t go again, I wouldn’t protest if someone insisted I go with him/​her. The food was good, but some of the dishes we got were very oily and high in sodium. That said, the atmosphere is that of an upscale asian fusion restaurant and many people there were drinking wine with their dinner (very weird to me). And when I say asian fusion, I mean that the menu is a fusion of various asian dishes; you’ll find many traditional taiwanese dishes, alongside popular mainland chinese, vietnamese, thai, and japanese dishes. This was really confusing to me, but it seemed to work judging from the many other people who were there that night.
Service was pretty good. It took a few minutes for the host to seat us and when they did, they were kind enough to pour us some warm water. This was very appropriate since the weather was cold outside that day. The service throughout the night was very good. We kept getting water refills at appropriate times and the food was very quick in coming out too.
As far as the food, the flavor of the food was hit or miss. We ordered quite a bunch of food: soup dumplings (Large), shanghai pork buns, spring rolls, wonton soup (large), Zhajiang mian, and twice cooked pork. This turned out to be just a little too much for the three of us. We went home with some take out, but given my aversion to the oiliness, I insisted my friend take it home.
Food quality wise, I was most impressed by the wonton soup. The broth was rather clear and there was a good ratio of green veggies to wontons to soup. The soup dumplings were also pretty good, reminding me of some of the ones I had in NYC. The rest of the dishes, however, fell short. The twice cooked pork turned out to be a lot spicier than we expected for the dish and was very salty and oily. The shanghai pork buns, which my girlfriend liked, were only okay to me. The zhajiang mian was a little bland compared to what I’m used to, but I guess that worked well with the overly spicy/​salty twice cooked pork. That said, it still retained the high level of sodium/​oil that is typical of the the dish. The spring rolls, we probably shouldn’t have ordered — the filling just wasn’t very impressive.
Overall, I think this was an okay restaurant. It’s mix of an upscale atmosphere with a blend of Asian cuisines makes it very unique. They were able to pull off some dishes in a manner almost comparable to places in Chinatown, NYC. That said, I probably don’t see myself going back.

Super solid Asian option on campus. I’ve been here many times and the food is consistently good. In terms of style, it’s a mix of Taiwanese and Asian fusion. They have some Szechuan options on the menu, but if you’re looking for spicy options, you’re better off with somewhere like Taste of China. Most of the dishes here have a noticeable tinge of sweetness, which is very typical of northern Chinese/​Taiwanese food. I especially like their Three Cup Chicken Casserole (a pretty traditional dish) and string beans. They also have dim sum and lunch specials. Overall a lot of variety to choose from.
They have upstairs and downstairs seating. The main entrance is upstairs but you can also enter via the door leading to the basement seating. Service is fairly efficient and both the prices and portions here are very reasonable. The environment is also trendy and nice but casual. If you’re going to come here with a bigger group, definitely make reservations beforehand, especially if you’re coming on a weekend or for dinner.

Greatest soup dumplings I have try New York City joe Shanghai but this place tops it! Highly recommend for Chinese style food as well I think it’s a hidden kitchen best in the area.

Review for visit on Sunday, August 30, 2015
Party of two upstairs near the windows.
I moved from Los Angeles, CA a few weeks ago. Before I moved away, I worked at a Taiwanese restaurant in the Silverlake area. During my time there I was introduced to pet of this country’s cuisine. Since then, it has quickly become a favorite of mine. Being on the opposite end of the country, I’m now on the hunt for a Taiwanese restaurant that will satiate my withdrawals. I heard of Chao through a classmate of mine, who said the food was decent. The other day I stumbled upon Chao on my way back to main campus and thought I’d give it a try!
I ordered the Dan Dan Mian and 5 Spice Beef Roll.
Dan Dan Mian – (2/​5) I enjoyed the firm texture of the noodles, but found the dish overall to be underwhelming. There was a piece of shrimp that garnished the top, which wasn’t that fresh. The ground meat (which was my first, as I’ve only had Dan Dan served vegetarian) was a bit dry (even with the dark brothy sauce) and the disappointing part was the lack of peanut flavoring. I hardly tasted any, that I had to check back with the waitress and confirm I didn’t order Zhajiang Mian.
Five Spice Beef Roll – (1/​5) I’m sorry but I really didn’t enjoy this. The scallion pancake wrapping was a bit soggy on the inside, I questioned if it was cooked enough. The meat was dry, sparse and did not have much flavor to it. Same goes for the use of shredded iceberg or romaine lettuce inside.
Service was about above average. Our waitress was accommodating.
I noticed Chao’s menu has a variety of Asian dishes from Chinese, Taiwanese and Vietnamese to Thai. Perhaps with their focus spread out amongst various styles, flavors and recipes, some dishes fall through the cracks and lack the specificity which makes that dish unique and delicious. I also take responsibility in the fact that I am still exploring Taiwanese cuisine and there may very well be different ways in which my favorite dishes are prepared and served.
I’m hesitant to come back but I think it’s only to fair to give it a chance again in the future.

Really great food. A Chinese friend recommended this as the best Chinese place in town, and it did not disappoint.
1) Atmosphere and service were great. Our waitress was very attentive and patient even though I was a bit clueless at times, and the atmosphere was generally pretty quiet and intimate.
2) Food was awesome. I had the double cooked pork and loved it, wife had the cured pork (did you know bacon was invented in China?) and it was great as well, and so was the sauce they were in. First time I eat all my rice just to get the sauce from the food. Our friends’ dishes were also good. The only down side I would say I wasn’t as excited about the dim sun we tried, however the entrees and everything else more than made up for it.

We arrived and were shown to our table downstairs, where granted it was as fellow Unilocalers had observed, dark and cavernous but I really liked the feel of it. It felt romantic and atmospheric. Having been here before I already knew exactly what I wanted.
1. Tangerine beef — it’s all about the tangy sauce for me!
2. Braised pork belly– soft succulent juicy pork with an accompaniment of rice and a hard boiled egg.
3. Double cooked green beans — mainly ordered to prevent the onset of meat sweats! I know you cooked em twice but $ 10 is a little excessive for such a simple dish.
4. Ribs — The four ribs were well seasoned. If the meat had been tender I may have been enticed by a second! I also wasn’t overly keen on the accompanying apple sauce!
We had a waitress who was only a few days into the job, though it seemed like she was an old pro. She was friendly, attentive and efficient.
It’s not the cheapest restaurant but the ambience, quality of food and service were pretty spot on.

Yummy authentic taiwanese food! i love coming here! been here many times, and always my fave spot when i visit new haven area. Price are reasonable too! They have family style dishes… to rice and noodle plates! Make sure to ask what their specials are when you come! Cus every season or festivals, they will have something to complement it. Their fried fish dishes are also VERY FRESH! Not your typical chinese food. def recommend! My fave are their xiao long bao, ha gao, and their fried fish of course! *i believe i had the red snapper*, and their minced pork noodles and rice are great as well!
And what more they have a good selection of wines! you would think that why would wine goes well with chinese food, you will find yourself surprise!

Very nice ambiance, and authentic Taiwanese food!
Out of the ten times I’ve been here, I almost always get the beef noodle soup. The portions are generous and the taste is very on point. I’ve gotten all my friends to try the beef noodle soup and they love it as well! Don’t bother getting the other noodle soups– I tried the Thai chicken noodle soup once, and it was very mediocre.
The three cup chicken is pretty good too. The pieces of chicken are large and well-​seasoned (almost onto the saltier side).
If you never had apple sidra, try it here! Basically carbonated apple juice :)

I have been here so many times that I have lost count. The lady owner is very friendly and their staff are very good. There is a non-​asian female waitress that speaks really good mandarin so that surprised me. For asians who can read mandarin, there is a food list behind that is extensive and all in Chinese characters. If you want a certain dish to be tailored, I would speak mandarin directly to the owner and she can do it for you. Some of my favorite dishes include the Taiwan beef noodle soup, dan dan noodles and a bunch of dishes that I don’t know what they are called in english.
The only thing I would say if I wished the lower level isn’t so dimly lit.

Chao Chao (now apparently a «wine café») occupies the middle seat in the trifecta of full-​service Chinese restaurants in New Haven, along with next-​door neighbor Great Wall and Taste of China on Chapel St.
Like Taste of China, the ambiance makes me uncomfortable, because Chinese food is supposed to be eaten in cheery, brightly lit halls, not the dim, candlelit underground space that Chao Chao occupies. The prices are also too high for my liking, partially a function of the «classier» atmosphere that the establishment strives for (again, wine café, really now, you’re a Chinese restaurant please act like one). Further oddities include the all-​white waitstaff contrasting with the presence of a house specials menu handwritten in Chinese at every table.
Despite these quirks, the food is surprisingly authentic. Chinese Yale grad students flock here in groups. Taiwanese and Sichuanese dishes are quite well-​made, and my usual order is the beef noodle soup, perhaps the best hangover cure available in this area. The broth has all the right flavors, with plentiful cubes of beef, along with passable noodles (usually overcooked and mushy).
Pork chop rice is also satisfying, and the Sichuan boiled beef is worth a try as well. Appetizers are generally the most overpriced items on the menu, but the sliced pork belly is often a tempting order.
One day I’ll have to see if I can meet the chef and find out his training and background. Quite intrigued by how he ended up in New Haven’s Chao Chao.