Kelley Lee is the young, talented chef and mastermind behind some of Shanghai's most famous and well-loved eateries (The Alchemist, Boxing Cat Brewery, Cantina Agave). Not long ago, she expanded Mexican favorite Cantina Agave to Pudong and had a slew of new venues open up at the Sinan Mansions complex. A remarkably tenacious business woman, Shanghaiist gets her to open up on what constitutes a good meal, how a guy should impress her over dinner, and whether she has any more plans for world, excuse us, Shanghai domination. more ›

Timed just right to coincide with President Hu's visit to Washington, this new CNN report says foreigners, and in particular, Americans, are "falling" for a "rising Shanghai". Bringing back the neon are places like cabaret club Chinatown and people like Spencer Dodington, a 42-year-old restorer of Art Deco homes from Texas, and Kelley Lee, a young Chinese-American woman from South California who owns a mini empire of restaurants that will be familiar to most Shanghaiist readers -- including Cantina Agave, Boxing Cat and the Alchemist.
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The news that Gary Heyne, beloved co-owner of one of our favorite microbrew/food establishments in Shanghai, came as an incredible shock this weekend. Gary leaves his family - wife San San and daughter Gracie - behind. His family has requested that he be interred in Texas, so Boxing Cat Brewery is now holding a fundraiser to help with the funeral costs and offer assistance to his wife and child. more ›

It's almost as though Shanghai restaurateur Kelley Lee is reading our mind. First she opens Shanghai's best Mexican place, Cantina Agave, a short stroll from Shanghaiist headquarters (and she always has the flat screen tuned into classic NBA games). And now, we learn (from her) that she is opening a Boxing Cat Brewery almost next door to us. (If next Kelley takes over the Iranian consulate building and turns it into an art house movie theater, the wife may start to get suspicious.) more ›

The wait is over. We've finally found a Mexican restaurant that has satisfied our too-long simmering desires for big hearty burritos, soft fish tacos, chunky guacamole, and a selection of salsa both sharp and subtle. The new Cantina Agave, located on the Fumin side of the new Mansion complex on Changle Lu, has brought the California-style Mexican fare we fell in love with back home to Shanghai, wrapped up in reasonable prices and a much appreciated focus on authenticity. more ›

Shoka Reduxa: Back when little Shoka opened up as part of the Loft 98 trifecta early this year, most saw the restaurant as an attempt to move in on Haiku's turf. Specifically, upscale and modern sushi wrapped up in a trendy dining experience that attracts tons of business. Months later, with too many conspicuously empty tables, Shoka started offering an all-you-can-eat-and-drink special on certain days of the week to jump start business. Now, we've discovered, the special is an option on any day of the week. more ›

Kelley Lee and Eduardo Vargas have teamed up again to give us Closed Door. Well, not exactly all of us. Their new little wine bar and Italian restaurant is willing to share its coziness with only those who call ahead and reserve a table at this purposefully tiny and hidden place. And they seem pretty serious about this initial round of exclusivity; prospective diners are queried first through a sliding peep-hole in their large, inconspicuous front gate. more ›