The Cheesecake Factory! Opens April 13 in Shanghai's HKRI Taikoo Hui

Oh that’s right, folks. The Cheesecake Factory is opening in downtown Shanghai at HKRI Taikoo Hui on April 13. Time to put on your eating pants and indulge in some true blue ‘Murican food! More than 20 kinds of cheesecakes! Whut! Details below.

Located on the third floor of Shanghai HKRI Taikoo Hui, this marks the world-famous restaurant chain’s second Shanghai location. It comes a full five years since first opening at the Shanghai Disneytown.

About The Cheesecake Factory

The Cheesecake Factory is one of those beloved chains that command a fanfare frenzy that spans across continents. From the Mall of America to the city oasis of Saudi Arabia, from the heart of Mexico City to the shores of Shanghai, The Cheesecake Factory’s 200-plus locations worldwide beckon devotees to its doors. Shanghai chefs swear by their cheesecake and diners lose their minds just talking about them. The hype is real. The cheesecakes are legendary.

For those unfamiliar with The Cheesecake Factory and its menu, fair warning: it is a tome of more than 200 dishes, including the 20-plus varieties of cheesecake. If you order like me—ahem, "one of everything"—you’ll need an army to back you up. Not only is the selection diverse, but the portions are enormous. Gargantuan. Titanic. Bring friends, lots of them, and apologize to your waistline later.

The Food: What To Order

So what should you eat when you go? Here are some must-orders:

Cheeseburger Spring Rolls (¥88) – Exactly as what it sounds like. Ground beef, grilled onions and lots of cheese wrapped in a spring roll and deep-fried, served with secret sauce.

Impossible to not like.

Luau Salad (¥158) – I never order salads at restaurants—they’re usually passé—but this is one I’d eat again. An entire garden of vegetables, nuts and grilled chicken breast tossed in vinaigrette, then stacked into a three-story tower with massive sheets of crispy wonton skins.

Cuban Sandwich (¥128) – Slow-roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard and mayo on a grilled pressed roll. This is a two-person sandwich. It could, however, benefit from more mustard. Comes with fries or salad.

Smokehouse B.B.Q. Burger (¥138) – Smoked bacon and melted cheddar with crispy onion strings and B.B.Q ranch sauce. The thick strips of crispy caramelized bacon really shine through. Also comes with fries or salad.

Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo (¥158) – If I’m being honest, I was looking forward to trying this more than the cheesecake. The creole dish did not disappoint—it was fantastic. It’s shrimp, chicken and andouille sausage simmered in a buttery, Cajun cream sauce with garlic, onion, peppers and tomato.

Best enjoyed between spoonfuls of rice.

Chicken Madeira and Steak Diane (¥268) – This is a Factory Combo of two house specialties; the Chicken Madeira, sautéed chicken breast with asparagus, mozzarella and mushroom sauce, alongside the Steak Diane, 140g of beef with black peppercorn and mushroom wine sauce. Parting the meat sea is a wall of skin-on mashed potatoes.

Fish Tacos (¥148) – Choose between generously-sized grilled or crispy tempura fish, served on soft corn tortillas with avocado, tomato, chipotle sauce, onions and cilantro. Served with rice and beans.

Factory Burrito Grande (¥168) – Good lord. This dish manages to do its lofty menu description justice. “A monster burrito” with chicken, cheese, cilantro rice, onions and peppers served with guacamole, sour cream, salsa and black beans. It’s a foot-long burrito, enough to feed two people.

Size aside, it's one of the better burritos I’ve had in a while, and the smoky chipotle was delicious.

Bistro Shrimp Pasta (¥188) – Crispy battered shrimp with fresh mushrooms, tomato and arugula tossed with spaghetti and a zesty basil-garlic-lemon cream sauce. Surprisingly nuanced for a dish that looks like it should just be heavy cream.

The Cheesecakes

Let’s get real: some of you are only here for the cheesecake. Those who endeavor to consume a slice of cheesecake on your own… power to you! There’d be no judgment here. The Cheesecake Factory has more than 20 kinds of cheesecakes for you to luxuriate in, plus other specialty desserts.

Original Cheesecake (¥69) – The one that started it all! Creamy cheesecake with Graham Cracker cookie crust and sour cream topping.

Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake (¥78) – Layers of red velvet cake and cheesecake covered in cream cheese frosting, finished with white chocolate. Lovely balance of layers; the cheesecake manages to not overpower the red velvet.

Key Lime Cheesecake (¥76) – I’m a sucker for all things lemon and lime, and so, this is my favorite of the three I tried. Absolutely amazing and will be my rainy day go-to order once delivery is set up. Bright, silky smooth lime curd.

Oreo Milkshake (¥70), Frozen Iced Mango (¥78).

The Cheesecake Factory also has over a dozen specialty cocktails from ¥68, draft and bottle beer from ¥38, wines by the glass from ¥69 and bottles from ¥288.

In Summary: Exceeds Expectations

The Cheesecake Factory exceeded my expectations. It’s really quite good—I understand why some people gush about it at every opportunity. It’s an excellent dose of classic American calorific comfort food.

Favorites: Cheeseburger Spring Rolls, Luau Salad, Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo, Factory Burrito Grande, Key Lime Cheesecake.

The menu will be staying the same for the new opening. The HKRI Taikoo Hui location will also have a weekday lunch menu.

Mark your calendars: opens April 13.

Note: Cheesecakes and some dishes will be available via delivery in May/June.

---

The Cheesecake Factory @ HKRI Taikoo Hui
View the listing here.