Shanghai's Noodle Bar

The Logbook — Real Guest Soundings

Depth Sounding: This is a composite account from multiple guest experiences, edited to our venue standards for clarity. Individual sailings vary by ship, itinerary, and crew.

Shanghai's Noodle Bar Review: Quick, Cheap, Reliable

Introduction. Shanghai's Noodle Bar (or Shanghai's Chinese Restaurant on some ships) is a complimentary Asian noodle venue found on select NCL ships. It serves a short menu of noodle soups, wok-fried noodles, and dumplings — all included in the cruise fare. It's a quick-service or small sit-down venue that fills the gap between the buffet and specialty dining.

Food & Drinks

The Wonton Noodle Soup is the best item — a clear, ginger-scented broth with delicate pork wontons and egg noodles. It's comforting and well-seasoned. The Stir-Fried Lo Mein is solid: egg noodles wok-tossed with vegetables and your choice of protein (chicken is the strongest option). The Pork Dumplings (steamed) are decent — thin wrapper, juicy filling, served with a soy-vinegar dip. Where it falls short: the Fried Rice is bland and greasy — it lacks the wok hei and seasoning that elevate fried rice from boring to craveable. The noodle soups can be inconsistent — some days the broth is flavorful, other days it's watery. The Kung Pao Chicken is sweet rather than spicy. The menu is small and doesn't change, so repeat cruisers will exhaust the options quickly.

Service

It's quick service — you order at the counter or from a server, and food arrives in 10-15 minutes. On ships with a sit-down format, the service is casual and efficient. The line can be long during lunch on sea days, but it moves fast. Staff are friendly and will adjust spice levels on request. It's the kind of venue you pop into for a quick meal, not a lingering dinner.

Atmosphere

The space is typically small — a counter with stools and a few tables, decorated with basic Asian motifs. Red lanterns, dark wood, maybe a mural. It's functional rather than atmospheric. On ships where it's near the buffet or pool deck, it catches walk-by traffic. The compact size means it fills up fast but also turns over quickly. Noise is moderate.

Conclusion

Rating: 3.5/5. Shanghai's Noodle Bar is a reliable free option for a quick Asian meal — the Wonton Soup and Lo Mein are solid, and you can't argue with complimentary. It loses points for the bland Fried Rice, inconsistent broth, and the limited menu. Tip: Order the Wonton Noodle Soup every time — it's the most consistently good item. Ask for chili oil or Sriracha on the side to punch up any dish.

Exploring more venues? Return to the Restaurants hub →