Chinatown Philly?

[GiselaGatzemeier]

Hi, Chowhoundists: Any recommendations for Chinatown in Philly? Probably around the Fourth of July. I have friends coming in from out of town, so I want to show them the best. Thanks very much. GG

[bigmackdaddy]

There's a noodle place that's pretty good. I had an excellent beef stew stewed with noodle soup. I don't remember the name. I do know that it's on the right side of 9th street, when you head towards South Philly and has huge plate glass windows. The interior is very sparse. Does anyone know what I'm referring to? Maybe it's on 8th Street. It's about a block or two or three past the bus station.

[bluehensfan]

Sounds like Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodles

[jessicheese]

If there's a counter at the entrance and ducks hanging in the window, I know exactly which place you're talking about. I don't know the name of the place, but my mother came across it one day. We were literally the only people there that weren't Asian, and there's no decor whatsoever- almost cafeteria style. It was some of the best noodles I've ever had!

The place I'm referring to is on 10th St between Race and Arch, halfway down on the righthand side, if you're heading south.

[joypirate]

yeah, it's either the place called, "chinese restaurant" (seriously), or Empress Garden.

[bentley1530]

Lakeside Deli and Lee How Fook get most of my business but I think Lee How Fook is closed this week.

[truman]

I second CPaul's vote for Ocean City.

[gina]

Vietnam is excellent, as is Banana Leaf (Malaysian). Rangoon is also very good.

[cwdonald]

For Dim Sum, Lakeside Deli. For Szechuan, Szechuan Tasty House. Personally I prefer Vietnam Palace over Vietnam, but your mileage may vary (they are across the street from each other.)

[malkazanie]

Does Lakeside Deli do steam carts or do you have to order dim sum from a list? I'm a dim sum junkie, and I usually go to Ocean Harbor, which is very very good.

[saturninus]

Order from a list

[antepiedmont]

I have not tried Vietnam but I had a nice lunch at Vietnam Palace, as recommended by our Vietnamese cabdriver. He says that Vietnam is run by Chinese, which I know may not be a bad thing, but anyway we had nice cha gio (served with plenty of greenery!) and broken rice with grilled chicken and wonton with roast pork soup. The one shrimnp wonton was much more delicious than the other three pork wontons but anyway...

[sailbadthesinner]

Lee How Fook, Sang Kee, VIetnam - can't go wrong at any of these

[Bigley9]

Definitely search the board, but also Rangoon on 9th between Arch and Race is wonderful burmese food

[CPaul]

Ditto what they said (board search). Otherwise Ocean City on 9th is excellent and Harmony (vegetarian, very small place) also on 9th, is fantastic. I think it's called New Harmony now. If you don't mind a super-casual, fast-food atmosphere, Sang-Kee has been around forever and has some of the greatest duck around. Vietnam and Vietnam Palace on 11th St are wonderful if you like Vietnamese.

There's a great dim sum place on the north side of Race st btw 9th and 10th, but I don't know the name...when I go I just recognize it by the fish tanks and the way the tables are configured.

[Dib]

You will probably get better answers if you are more specific about your question. Everyone has different ideas about what 'the best' is. Which Chinese cuisines do you like, what restaurants have you been to before and liked, do you need a large space, how much do you want to spend, etc.