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So I ordered delivery food from this restaurant and I found a super moldy cauliflower in my food. So I contact the restaurant and ask for a refund just for this single dish I ordered. The other 3 dishes aren't very tasty either, but they are just simply not as tasty and nothing else goes wrong. Guess what they told me "we throw all our unhealthy ingredients, please PICK OUT the ingredients that seems not fresh and CONTINUE EATING" I don't know they said that to me because I ordered through delivery and can't give the rest of food back to them or they genuinely think cooked MOLD is edible. The delivery company felt super bad and refund me credits, but I feel bad for them because it's not even their responsibilities. Guys, open your eyes and run away from them, there are so many good Chinese restaurant around that provides better food and customer service. While this place needs a visit from the health department.
Updated: This place is going downwards. I dined here tonight and discovered it's no longer run by the previous owner. The service & management style has obviously changed, unfortunately on the down side. The food still tastes good, but both my partner and I experienced digestive discomfort a few hours after eating here. Since Szechuanese food is often heavy spiced, I can't tell if their ingredients are fresh enough. However, I suspect their kitchen quality control is going down with new management. I probably won't come back. ------------------- I was born in Chengdu, Szechuan and I can safe say that Szechuanese dim sum dishes here are authentic, like dandan noodles, honeyed garlic noodle, hot & sour noodles. However, other dishes here are among average in Chinatown. I talked to the Chef once and he is from Szechuan, too. The management of the restaurant need improvement, as they get swamped when there are too many customers.
Food tasted very bad. The ingredients were not fresh at all. I came here for the Tianjin pancake, and it was such a disappointment. Hardly any service either. The prices are high given that the food is of low quality. Will never come again.
3.5 stars There's something very homey about eating at a family-run Chinatown restaurant that turns out simple yet tasty plates of authentic Szechuan food. The "small eats" or appetizer-style dishes shared family-style are my favorite part of this mouth-numbing cuisine! We started with the Chengdu-style cold bean noodles, and the soft, slippery noodles were a great conduit for the slightly spicy chili sauce. The dan dan noodles with minced pork were a bit of a miss--the wheat noodles seemed a bit overcooked, and the sauce was rather flavorless. Similarly, the mapo tofu with ground meat was surprisingly bland and the sauce was way too soupy. The smashed cucumbers in vinegar/soy garlic sauce were tasty and refreshing, but the highlight dish here (also the owner's favorite dish) was the beef, tripe, and tendon in chili oil (fuqi feipian). The thin, cold slices of brisket and offal were tossed with a delicious chili sauce and had a great lean texture! Nice! Overall, all the dishes here had very clean flavors and were surprisingly mild for something branded as Szechuan cuisine (I barely got any of the characteristic numbing spice). However, this also meant that nothing was overly salty, and the great value food and friendly service made this an authentic, homey experience!
North Philly Chinese To-Go level food at high end Chinatown prices. $12.95 for broccoli and chicken? $3.50 fpor a small Wonton? My bill was$19 bucks! That's a 6.95 lunch special or $9.95 dinner at best for the food I received.
The restaurant is located in Chinatown, and closes at the arch. The food is very good, and the place is reasonable. We often buy at this restaurant.
JIAN BING ALERT!! I've been searching high and low for a Jianbing in Philly ever since I studied abroad in Shanghai last year. Thankful to have stumbled upon a very outdated blog post on the internet that mentioned an old restaurant used to make these, but the name was different back then. Luckily Delightful Garden has kept them on their menu. Decently priced for about $5 a piece, these are super close to what I had in Beijing (not the Shanghai crispy style with millet) but does the job. Please go here and try the most underrated street food item that people in America don't know about!
Sichuan Style Soft Tofu and House Noodles In Chili Oil at Delightful Garden (906 Arch St, Philadelphia). Stopping by this small restaurant in Chinatown for lunch after four hours of shopping was honestly the best thing I could have probably done. Aside from lacking descriptions in the menu, my experience was pleasant. The meal was hot and fresh. The flavors were impressive because there was dimension and spicy, but it did not become overpowering. The best part about this dish, however, would be the texture of the tofu. It was soft and decadent, melting into my mouth as I took each bite. That in combination with the always tasty house-made noodle, the crunchy seasoned peanuts, and the soupy base made this dish exactly what I needed after a long day out in chilly weather. Definitely a delightful meal.
Not going to lie i'm basing this review off service. We walked in and no one tended us. The food was great.. we loved our food. When we were ready to pay for everything I walked up to the counter to pay and I pulled out my mastercard and the lady kept saying cash cash. I asked her if she took card and she said yes but she refused to take my card and I had to end up paying with cash! Cash I was intending to use around the town! Be aware and bring cash just in case!
Went here Sunday Eve.. not many people there..I was the only one Cash only Service was ok...I ordered 2 apps.. One was in Chinese..no America name.. It was kind of like an English muffin with meat inside..it was good but kind of dry... I also had dumplings on schezuan sauce...these were ok...I liked...but I wasn't impressed..just average and somewhat disappointing.. Just fair at best imo 2 stars due to the very past expiation date table tops. The Formica worn completely off, and greasy sticky.. I expected better
Ironically, our plan was to walk over to 3rd & Chestnut after taking care of a few things in Chinatown. The original destination was Han Dynasty in Old City so we could sample what was reputed to be among the best Szechuanese in Philly. But, as John Lennon so cuttingly observed, "Life's what happens while you're busy making other plans..." On our way down Arch we saw the sign for Szechuan Dim Sum Restaurant. We had been looking forward to a brisk after rain walk, but on seeing this convenient alternative, we wordlessly took each other's hand, made a hard right and jaywalked directly to their front door. Not much traffic on this Saturday afternoon, or we might have been less impulsive. We walked in to an almost empty house, with seven wood top tables and a mirrored wall. There were two servers, also acting as hosts. The young woman shepherded us to a table mid-shop, and dropped off two menus. She asked what we wished to drink, and brought a nice aromatic hot black tea moments later. The set up of fork, spoon and sticks was wrapped in a heavy paper nap with a rose printed on the right spot for the package to appear perfectly placed for casual elegance. Nice touch. The menu was bilingual so my companion had an easy time with descriptions and photo captions. She went quickly to the Spicy Crisp Intestine, and left the rest of the ordering to me. Up for the challenge, I opted for the Szechuan Style Spicy Chicken (basically, salt/pepper dry pot chicken), and Spicy Eggplant in Garlic Sauce. Wasn't in the mood for DanDan, Wonton, nor Mapo. They arrived in that sequence, with about 5 minutes between each delivery. All were very good to excellent. The Intestine was thin cut, lightly fried, and loaded with Red Chili, Scallions, Celery and Peanuts. Good heat, but not a conflagration, as I did not see any Szechuan Black Peppercorns in the mix; thus no anesthetic effect. It took you to the edge of the fire, burned your eyelashes, but did not throw you in. The Chicken dish was a variation of Salt/Pepper Dry Pot Style Chicken morsels, well dusted in a spicy ensemble, and flash fried twice so there was little oily residue. Tender meat with more Red Chili, Peanuts, Scallions, and a sprinkling of Sesame Seed on top. The heat quotient was perhaps a few degrees higher than the Intestines, with more spice during and after cooking. Very tasty, but perhaps the weakest link in our dinner chain. The biggest and best surprise was the Eggplant. It was sliced into lengths of a four/five inches, skinned, and somehow wok-ked to give a mild crispiness. How did they do that? It was a neat trick, and it was piled high on a deep dish that created an island surrounded by red, shining, heat vapored, sauce. The heart of the nightshade remained soft and contained a hint of sweetness. This combo tag team between the Red Chili flame and unexpected sugar underneath was delicious and fun. We thoroughly enjoyed this repast. If asked to compare with other hot houses in Ctown, it would fall somewhere just below Emei (across the street), on the same plane as Four Rivers and Spice C, and above Traditional Szechuan. It really reminded me of the old Chili Szechuan on Baltimore Avenue, before it moved to larger digs and lost its edge. Gotta say that this block of Arch Street has it going on! Han Dynasty will just have to wait.
Do not go there if you are Black. I went there and sat for at least 10 morning bites before I received service. There were two different Asian couples that came in after me and received service before me. The racism was so obvious that I could not eat there in good conscience. I'd rather be hungry than compromise my dignity. When I complained, they didn't even acknowledge my complaint- so I left. In fact, I'm writing this review outside the restauran
Average. We walked in on a Saturday afternoon and sat on one of the few available tables. Service was pleasant, but slow. We ordered the house special soft tofu, the dumplings in chili sauce, dan-dan noodles and the chili chicken. The order in which the food came was all wrong: first we got the chicken, then the tofu, then the dumplings. The dan-dan noodles never came, and yet they tried to charge us for them. True, the chicken was scrumptious and I would return for more. The tofu was ok, and the dumplings were passable. But given the wait, the haphazard way in which the food was brought to us, and the mistake with the dan-dan noodles, and the fact that e mei is across the street and has much better everything, I think I won't be coming back. Sorry...
I visited this spot at 906 Arch Street and was thoroughly impressed. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere felt welcoming and authentic. The flavors are absolutely incredible--every dish we tried was seasoned to perfection and served fresh. It is clear that the kitchen takes great pride in their craft. Whether you are looking for a quick lunch or a sit-down dinner with friends, this place delivers a high-quality experience every time. The service was attentive and friendly, making the meal even more enjoyable. If you are in the area and craving top-tier Chinese cuisine, do not pass this place up. I will definitely be coming back! read more
2 years ago
Delicious, underrated family-owned restaurant in Chinatown! Every dish was fresh and authentic, speaking as a family from Sichuan. Highly recommend the homemade pumpkin pancakes, incredibly light and fragrant. Definitely check out this hole-in-the-wall! read more
1 year ago
5 years ago
So I ordered delivery food from this restaurant and I found a super moldy cauliflower in my food. So I contact the restaurant and ask for a refund just for this single dish I ordered. The other 3 dishes aren't very tasty either, but they are just simply not as tasty and nothing else goes wrong. Guess what they told me "we throw all our unhealthy ingredients, please PICK OUT the ingredients that seems not fresh and CONTINUE EATING" I don't know they said that to me because I ordered through delivery and can't give the rest of food back to them or they genuinely think cooked MOLD is edible. The delivery company felt super bad and refund me credits, but I feel bad for them because it's not even their responsibilities. Guys, open your eyes and run away from them, there are so many good Chinese restaurant around that provides better food and customer service. While this place needs a visit from the health department. read more
2 years ago
7 years ago
Updated: This place is going downwards. I dined here tonight and discovered it's no longer run by the previous owner. The service & management style has obviously changed, unfortunately on the down side. The food still tastes good, but both my partner and I experienced digestive discomfort a few hours after eating here. Since Szechuanese food is often heavy spiced, I can't tell if their ingredients are fresh enough. However, I suspect their kitchen quality control is going down with new management. I probably won't come back. ------------------- I was born in Chengdu, Szechuan and I can safe say that Szechuanese dim sum dishes here are authentic, like dandan noodles, honeyed garlic noodle, hot & sour noodles. However, other dishes here are among average in Chinatown. I talked to the Chef once and he is from Szechuan, too. The management of the restaurant need improvement, as they get swamped when there are too many customers. read more
4 years ago
Food tasted very bad. The ingredients were not fresh at all. I came here for the Tianjin pancake, and it was such a disappointment. Hardly any service either. The prices are high given that the food is of low quality. Will never come again. read more
3.5 stars There's something very homey about eating at a family-run Chinatown restaurant that turns out simple yet tasty plates of authentic Szechuan food. The "small eats" or appetizer-style dishes shared family-style are my favorite part of this mouth-numbing cuisine! We started with the Chengdu-style cold bean noodles, and the soft, slippery noodles were a great conduit for the slightly spicy chili sauce. The dan dan noodles with minced pork were a bit of a miss--the wheat noodles seemed a bit overcooked, and the sauce was rather flavorless. Similarly, the mapo tofu with ground meat was surprisingly bland and the sauce was way too soupy. The smashed cucumbers in vinegar/soy garlic sauce were tasty and refreshing, but the highlight dish here (also the owner's favorite dish) was the beef, tripe, and tendon in chili oil (fuqi feipian). The thin, cold slices of brisket and offal were tossed with a delicious chili sauce and had a great lean texture! Nice! Overall, all the dishes here had very clean flavors and were surprisingly mild for something branded as Szechuan cuisine (I barely got any of the characteristic numbing spice). However, this also meant that nothing was overly salty, and the great value food and friendly service made this an authentic, homey experience! read more
5 years ago
North Philly Chinese To-Go level food at high end Chinatown prices. $12.95 for broccoli and chicken? $3.50 fpor a small Wonton? My bill was$19 bucks! That's a 6.95 lunch special or $9.95 dinner at best for the food I received. read more
5 years ago
The restaurant is located in Chinatown, and closes at the arch. The food is very good, and the place is reasonable. We often buy at this restaurant. read more
6 years ago
3 years ago
6 years ago
JIAN BING ALERT!! I've been searching high and low for a Jianbing in Philly ever since I studied abroad in Shanghai last year. Thankful to have stumbled upon a very outdated blog post on the internet that mentioned an old restaurant used to make these, but the name was different back then. Luckily Delightful Garden has kept them on their menu. Decently priced for about $5 a piece, these are super close to what I had in Beijing (not the Shanghai crispy style with millet) but does the job. Please go here and try the most underrated street food item that people in America don't know about! read more
8 years ago
Sichuan Style Soft Tofu and House Noodles In Chili Oil at Delightful Garden (906 Arch St, Philadelphia). Stopping by this small restaurant in Chinatown for lunch after four hours of shopping was honestly the best thing I could have probably done. Aside from lacking descriptions in the menu, my experience was pleasant. The meal was hot and fresh. The flavors were impressive because there was dimension and spicy, but it did not become overpowering. The best part about this dish, however, would be the texture of the tofu. It was soft and decadent, melting into my mouth as I took each bite. That in combination with the always tasty house-made noodle, the crunchy seasoned peanuts, and the soupy base made this dish exactly what I needed after a long day out in chilly weather. Definitely a delightful meal. read more
7 years ago
Not going to lie i'm basing this review off service. We walked in and no one tended us. The food was great.. we loved our food. When we were ready to pay for everything I walked up to the counter to pay and I pulled out my mastercard and the lady kept saying cash cash. I asked her if she took card and she said yes but she refused to take my card and I had to end up paying with cash! Cash I was intending to use around the town! Be aware and bring cash just in case! read more
5 years ago
4 years ago
Went here Sunday Eve.. not many people there..I was the only one Cash only Service was ok...I ordered 2 apps.. One was in Chinese..no America name.. It was kind of like an English muffin with meat inside..it was good but kind of dry... I also had dumplings on schezuan sauce...these were ok...I liked...but I wasn't impressed..just average and somewhat disappointing.. Just fair at best imo 2 stars due to the very past expiation date table tops. The Formica worn completely off, and greasy sticky.. I expected better read more
Ironically, our plan was to walk over to 3rd & Chestnut after taking care of a few things in Chinatown. The original destination was Han Dynasty in Old City so we could sample what was reputed to be among the best Szechuanese in Philly. But, as John Lennon so cuttingly observed, "Life's what happens while you're busy making other plans..." On our way down Arch we saw the sign for Szechuan Dim Sum Restaurant. We had been looking forward to a brisk after rain walk, but on seeing this convenient alternative, we wordlessly took each other's hand, made a hard right and jaywalked directly to their front door. Not much traffic on this Saturday afternoon, or we might have been less impulsive. We walked in to an almost empty house, with seven wood top tables and a mirrored wall. There were two servers, also acting as hosts. The young woman shepherded us to a table mid-shop, and dropped off two menus. She asked what we wished to drink, and brought a nice aromatic hot black tea moments later. The set up of fork, spoon and sticks was wrapped in a heavy paper nap with a rose printed on the right spot for the package to appear perfectly placed for casual elegance. Nice touch. The menu was bilingual so my companion had an easy time with descriptions and photo captions. She went quickly to the Spicy Crisp Intestine, and left the rest of the ordering to me. Up for the challenge, I opted for the Szechuan Style Spicy Chicken (basically, salt/pepper dry pot chicken), and Spicy Eggplant in Garlic Sauce. Wasn't in the mood for DanDan, Wonton, nor Mapo. They arrived in that sequence, with about 5 minutes between each delivery. All were very good to excellent. The Intestine was thin cut, lightly fried, and loaded with Red Chili, Scallions, Celery and Peanuts. Good heat, but not a conflagration, as I did not see any Szechuan Black Peppercorns in the mix; thus no anesthetic effect. It took you to the edge of the fire, burned your eyelashes, but did not throw you in. The Chicken dish was a variation of Salt/Pepper Dry Pot Style Chicken morsels, well dusted in a spicy ensemble, and flash fried twice so there was little oily residue. Tender meat with more Red Chili, Peanuts, Scallions, and a sprinkling of Sesame Seed on top. The heat quotient was perhaps a few degrees higher than the Intestines, with more spice during and after cooking. Very tasty, but perhaps the weakest link in our dinner chain. The biggest and best surprise was the Eggplant. It was sliced into lengths of a four/five inches, skinned, and somehow wok-ked to give a mild crispiness. How did they do that? It was a neat trick, and it was piled high on a deep dish that created an island surrounded by red, shining, heat vapored, sauce. The heart of the nightshade remained soft and contained a hint of sweetness. This combo tag team between the Red Chili flame and unexpected sugar underneath was delicious and fun. We thoroughly enjoyed this repast. If asked to compare with other hot houses in Ctown, it would fall somewhere just below Emei (across the street), on the same plane as Four Rivers and Spice C, and above Traditional Szechuan. It really reminded me of the old Chili Szechuan on Baltimore Avenue, before it moved to larger digs and lost its edge. Gotta say that this block of Arch Street has it going on! Han Dynasty will just have to wait. read more
8 years ago
Do not go there if you are Black. I went there and sat for at least 10 morning bites before I received service. There were two different Asian couples that came in after me and received service before me. The racism was so obvious that I could not eat there in good conscience. I'd rather be hungry than compromise my dignity. When I complained, they didn't even acknowledge my complaint- so I left. In fact, I'm writing this review outside the restauran read more
5 years ago
12 years ago
Average. We walked in on a Saturday afternoon and sat on one of the few available tables. Service was pleasant, but slow. We ordered the house special soft tofu, the dumplings in chili sauce, dan-dan noodles and the chili chicken. The order in which the food came was all wrong: first we got the chicken, then the tofu, then the dumplings. The dan-dan noodles never came, and yet they tried to charge us for them. True, the chicken was scrumptious and I would return for more. The tofu was ok, and the dumplings were passable. But given the wait, the haphazard way in which the food was brought to us, and the mistake with the dan-dan noodles, and the fact that e mei is across the street and has much better everything, I think I won't be coming back. Sorry... read more
12 years ago
There are so many Szechuan restaurant in Philly, but this one is really different and is my favorite one. No American style Szechuan food, but authentic taste from China. I tried many kinds of dim sum that I've never seen or tried before, all of them are delicious. Although I've waited a long time for bamboo leaf wrap rice, it tasted really good. Another interesting dish is the new kind of hotpot with skewers, interesting and delicious. I love spicy food, and this place is just what I expected it to be- VERY spicy! Though no fancy decorations, the food is fancy. I recommend everyone who loves spicy food to check it out! read more
9 years ago
Not Delightful but DISHONEST AND DECEITFUL! I was at the PA Conversation Center and went to have a quick lunch in Chinatown. I saw a big sign in front of Delightful Garden showing a list of dishes with "lunch special $6.95" at the end of the list. I asked the lady about the specials and ordered one from that list. The dish came fairly quickly and was served in a fairly small plate (clearly a lunch portion), but the bill came out $17.23 (with tax). I asked why was that much since she knew I ordered from their lunch special list, and her answer was, fasten your seat belt, $6.95 is for lunch specials but the dishes above were not lunch specials. I was here for a conference and was looking for a dinner place to entertain some conference goers. Obviously, Delightful Garden was not the place. read more
9 years ago
11 years ago
A very good authentic Chinese/Szechuan restaurant spotted in the old Chinatown in Philly. This place is totally not disappointed for someone like who has tasted known Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles and New York. Environment: very clean. Their napkin is of good quality compared to other Asian restaurants. Food: their dim sum style dishes are the most popular. Additionally, Fresh fish in boiled hot chili sauce is a must try - the whole fish well marinated within the hot sauce and the ingredients include different kinds of mushrooms. Service: those young waiters and waitresses are very friendly. In a nutshell, if you are a big fun of spicy food, don't miss out this place when you are in Philly! Hope it helps! xoxo, Q read more
5 years ago
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8 years ago
This is probably one of the best restaurant in Chinatown. I always eat there. Th food is delicious and their service is super nice! Definitely recommend! Ordered the Sichuan Style Roasted Whole Fish today and fried squid with cumin sauce for take out. Both are delicious!!! read more
6 years ago
This little place in Chinatown is definitely a haven for authentic Szechuan food. Places like Han Dynasty are delicious but after trying out some of the smaller places in Chinatown, I don't know if I'll be going back to now what seems like a softer and more western take on some seriously intense flavor when done right. Yes, it is spicy but it's the kind of spice that adds a rich texture to the palate. It's a small restaurant and very simple; certainly not one trying to propose a fancy ambiance or anything of the sort. The service is friendly and the main star is the food. I've had the hot and sour yam noodle soup, the wonton dumplings in garlic sauce and the mapo tofu. I have said that Emei has the best mapo tofu I have ever tasted but this place is a very very close second. The mapo tofu isn't as soft and gelatinous which is its downfall but the flavor is delightful! Emei's is more spicy and has a lot of minced pork. I know I'll be alternating between both! The takeout portion is huge and they gave me a whole other meal-sized portion of white rice when I asked for extra rice. We were once there late at night and they did not rush us even though it was nearly closing time. In fact, the staff all sat at a table and ate their dinner together and it gave a very comfortable sense of neighborhood and community. If you want to try Chinese food that's different from the mainstream, delve right into Chinatown and try this place! read more
This place gets better and better! Just recently tried their "Chinese hamburger". It was amazing. Also being as a mapo tofu afficionado I tried theirs finally-definitely my second favorite in the city (they could use more ground meat in it). read more
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