Shangri-La Restaurant

Sadly, the wonderful deli is closed. Victim of greedy landlords. I miss it every day. I wish the family that ran it future success.

Going by just the prices I came to this restaurant. I had the buffalo chicken sandwich, what a mistake I went back home with more than I bargained for. I was sick throwing up and had a upset stomach for days after eating from here. Avoid this place at all cost.

Remember that eatery in «You cant do that on Television?» Yeah… Its like that. Grim.
The steamed carrots were ok

The food is pretty good considering the options in the neighborhood. Fresh veggies, quality slices meat sandwiches, lots of different snack and drink options.
The male manager really creeps me out though. He is always staring at me and smiling weirdly, also always finds an excuse to stand up next to me while I’m eating and look down my shirt. Only get food to go!

Great lunch spot in Washington Heights. I come here pretty often to grab a sandwich and I’m never disappointed. I’ve never tried anything from the hot buffet, but the food there usually looks good. Kind of expensive considering it’s a pretty typical deli, but they do make the best sandwiches. Worst part about this place is that if you stay inside for too long, you leave smelling like a fryer– so I recommend taking your food to go.

I’ve gone here a lot. A lot. Really too many times. For a while, I think most of my income was spent here for lunch. Shangri La is basically the best sandwich shop in the CUMC area. They have a lot of different kinds of sandwich specials that they rotate in and out depending on the day of the week and all of them are pretty good. I’ve never eaten at the buffet, so I can’t say anything about that.
They are very friendly and amazingly efficient for the rush that they deal with every day, but expect to wait a while, perhaps too long, for your food. The prices are a little too high, but I’d say it’s worth it.

This review is only for the sandwiches — they have a really solid (and cheap!) selection of sandwiches with specials that change every day. I got one once that had brie on it and it was BOMB. I usually stick with variations on a turkey sandwich, and everything is satisfying and fresh. It’s also pretty quick in the morning for coffee, muffins, sandwiches, etc.
Only 3 stars because: 1) It’s cash only which is always an inconvenience, but around Washington Heights thats pretty standard (unfortunately!). 2) It’s kind of dingy looking… I know it doesn’t mean the place is unclean but when you put some effort into the store’s appearance I feel like it goes a long way towards making a good impression on your customers.

Cheap, Healthy, and Convenient to the Hospital
What really pleased me about Shangri-​La was the seaweed. When I picked it out of the buffet, I thought it was some vegetable like kale. But it turned out to be perfectly cooked seaweed, healthy and yummy and a perfect compliment to the Chinese chicken and fried rice. The total? $ 4 and change. Not a huge platter for that amount, but really great prices, given that it’s Manhattan.
Nonetheless, I think we all need to take seriously the previous reports of Unilocalers that the food isn’t always fresh. It’s absolutely possible, given that it’s a buffet. For that reason, I’m holding off on four stars for Shangri La. *I* didn’t get sick, and I enjoyed my food immensely. But that doesn’t mean the place doesn’t mess up. The Health Department currently gives Shangri La an A rating.
Shangri La is on a corner near Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and the med school, less than five minutes from the entrance. It’s got a glassed-​in patio which looks out onto Washington Avenue. If you’re a student or professor, and feel like getting out of the maze-​like corridors and drab interior of the medical complex, Shangri La is really Shangri La. Given the salaries that academics make in New York, Shangri La restaurant is actually an option to restore oneself.
In the end, places like Shangri La make me wonder why there aren’t more buffet-​style restaurants in Manhattan. They obviously do very good business, and they provide an important service, which is to feed all the people who can’t afford to live in Manhattan, but work there. In a city full of half-​baked ideas of hipster cafes and weird food experiments, places like Shangri La provide an important resource: real food that the masses like, at low prices.
But of course, in a city with so many people trying to prove they’re better than the rest, few are going to just want to open a decent, normal restaurant. So kudos to you, Shangri La. In not trying to be something you’re not, you’ve created a little paradise in Washington Heights. Assuming that your food is fresh.

My food was not fresh. My salad was wilted and chicken rubbery.

Like this place a lot. No frills just good cheap food. The Thursday number one sandwich is good (chx guac salsa lett). Hot wings are real good, ribs are good. Only open for lunch tho

The hot food section of Shangri-​La is a hot mess. And I don’t mean in the good way. I filled up on a spinach lasagna/​cheese dish, and while chowing down, found a bit of steel wool in my mouth. Knowing where steel wool comes from (dirty kitchen sinks!) I was horrified, and feared for my digestive system. I started to wonder if I could get excused from exams the following day on account of projectile vomiting, or terrible diarrhea.
Luckily, I suffered no ill symptoms. Maybe it was brand new steel wool… which still has no place in my food. Sorry Shangri-​La, but I think I will stay away.

On the surface, a pretty average Korean deli. Hot food bar with the basics, and the sandwiches are pretty decent & reasonably priced.
What gives this place the biggest edge over the other delis in the area is the mysterious appearance of bulgogi and kimchi (only on Wednesdays)… in a sandwich! Also, I dare you to try the «PK Special.» Grilled kimchi and cheese on a wrap. Not for the weak-​hearted or you kimchi-​haters out there.

Considering the options nearby, Shangri-​La gets 3.5 stars — rounding up because I would totally go there again. The CUMC campus has awful food options, and Shangri-​La is a pretty solid one (especially after factoring time constraints and convenience). I’ve never gotten food from the buffet line — looks unhealthy! — but the sandwiches are pretty good. I’ve had the chicken parmesan, the turkey avocado, and the reuben; they’re large and very satisfying. I eat smaller portions than usual, so I was able to have one sandwich for two meals.
It’s definitely not somewhere to travel to for good food (please don’t!), but it’s acceptable for this area.

I admit that Shangri-​La is my go-​to place for a quick bite around here. Their buffet bar is my ticket to getting my daily vegetable intake out of the way, and actually has a good array of veggies, including kale, kimchi, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, and more.
Their sandwiches are also a great value, at under $ 6 each, and are always made with quality ingredients (soft, fresh rolls, Boar’s head deli meats, variety of cheeses like BRIE!!!, everything made to order). While I wish there was a better veggie-​to-​meat ratio (eat your veggies, people), I’m sure the abundance of protein stuffed in each sammie will please the majority as it’s really a bang for your buck. While no particular sandwich stood out for me, every one I’ve ordered have been very satisfying, so you can’t really go wrong. Their offerings of avocado (I refuse to call it guacamole as I’m from southern California, and guacamole doesn’t exist in WaHi) and pesto makes each ‘wich all the more exciting. Oh, and the Wednesday kalbi sandwich special is overrated; opt for the other choices instead.
My favorite part… they carry all my «bougy» drinks! They have Honest Tea, coconut water, POM, and a variety of «antioxidant-​rich» (whatever that means) drinks here. If you are/​will be living in Washington Heights for a while, Shangri-​La is a dependable eatery to add on to the list.
Tips:
— Call in your sandwich order if you’re in a hurry at noon, or you will be standing around forever.
— The array offered at the buffet ceases to exist around 2pm, so come earlier or you’ll be stuck with leftover meats and fried rice.
— The place closes at 6pm weekdays, and 4pm weekends, so only count on it if you’re having an early dinner.

…she swings at 4 with a handicap though because, let’s face it, lunchtime options around the hospital remain non-​existent.
Shangri welcomes you with open arms from the friendly wife-​owner who runs the cash register all day/​eeeeerrrrrday (who might just fudge on the credit card minimum (8 $) if she knows you and you are low on cash for the day), who maintains a savant rainman-​esque ability to remember your sandwich order (even just by voice on the phone), to the husband-​owner who grunts around barking orders to the workers in the back.
Breakfast: If you are a fan of breakfast sandwiches, they make an excellent one. You choose the carb (roll, or my preferred bagel) and add egg, cheese, and/​or meat. (Bagel, egg, cheese, bacon with spicy sauce. mmmm). If you are running late for work or getting of your on-​call shift, call in ahead and have the ‘wich waiting for you.
Lunch: they offer a phenom Asian/​American buffet bar and cold salad bar (with Kimchi!); do try the wings and korean-​ribs. The sandwiches are born of quality ingredients (Boar’s head, toasted rolls, fresh produce) and the guaranteed line at the sandwich counter is a testament to this. *SLOW TIP: Call in your order over the phone beforehand so it’ll be waiting for you.* My fave: prosciutto with Brie and arugula, roasted peppers and a dash of balsamic.
My friends rave about the Galbi sandwich they make on Wednesdays… i say it’s not one of the better.
Drinks: More than a supermarket selection! They have 3 complete walls dedicated to beverages with everything from vitamin water, coconut water, every soda imaginable and to my benefit, sugar-​free red bull.
Definitely the première deli en La Heights.

iHad to grab something quick before my visit to the Columbia University MSPH. We came here for a Sausage, Egg, Cheese In Poppy Seed Bagel.
For something quick, this was a good spot in the area!

I’ve been here two or three times in the past year, it’s pretty good. The sandwiches I’ve had were fresh and flavorful.
I am going to have to mention that the sandwich preparers were kinda arrogant. For some reason or another, I’ve noticed this same dickish attitude with short order cooks and sandwich prep guys in many locations throughout the boros. This place wasn’t too too bad but i still caught a little hint of douchery.
Has anyone else experienced this anywhere?

A great option if you’re in the heights (food desert) or on the go! Shangri-​La is like a traffic stop for strung-​out grad students and busybee doctors.
I’ve tried their vegetarian sandwich with avocado, tomato, and lettuce at an event that Shangri-​La catered, which didn’t stand out too much. The ingredients were fairly fresh, but you could easily make the sandwich on your own. I usually don’t say this about sandwiches, but they could be a bit bigger.
They have a cold/​hot «salad» bar that’s $ 5.99/lb. and serves a hodgepodge of dishes like chilled spinach (korean style), vinaigrette artichoke, pasta salad, grilled chicken, stir-​fried squash and carrots in butter, kimchi, chow mein, wheat berry salad, tofu stir fry with baby corn, etc. Hodgepodge, like I say. Nothing special, but when you’re hungry and need a quick bite, it gets the job done.

I come to Shangri-​La occasionally, since I started working by CUMC about a year ago. Unfortunately when it comes to getting some lunch, the choice around CUMC is rather disappointing. This place offer a hot/​cold buffet for $ 5.79/lb + tax which is ok. There is also a choice of 2 soups: noodle soup or NY clam chowder; neither one is particularly memorable.
What is worth here are the sandwiches. My favorite are:
1) Grilled chicken with guacamole, jack, lettuce, tomato, and salsa ($ 5.99)
2) Northern Italian, with salami, ham, provolone, lettuce, tomato, olive oil, and vinegar ($ 4.99)
3) Turkey delight, with turkey, avocado, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and light Italian dressing ($ 5.49)

Oh Washington Heights! How brave are the few that dare to operate a restaurant in your unnurturing embrace. Living in the CUMC vicinity, I was a frequent customer at Shangri-​La for both breakfast and lunch. For breakfast, they prepare a mean sausage, egg and cheese on a English muffin. For lunch, their sandwiches are, well, sandwiches. Nothing spectacular, nothing terrible. On Wednesday though, their sandwich #3 is not bad — a roll stuffed with Korean BBQ beef. I get my #3 without cheese, because I don’t feel that Korean BBQ and cheese go together that well.
The Korean American purveyors somehow manage to make it through the day every lunch. Sometimes I feel that the woman running the register and taking orders is going to start crying from the work overload, but somehow I always see her there the next day. I know I don’t have her resilience, so props 30-​ish year-​old Korean woman who keeps the Shangri-​La ship upright. Great drinks selection, Shangri-​La also operates a buffet-​by-​the-​pound that is pretty tasty, but can be expensive. When you’re doing sandwiches, the secret is to call a bit ahead the CUMC noon-​time rush, but you need to know exactly what you want when you call. Credit card only taken above $ 5.