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    EMei

    4.3 (908 reviews)
    ModerateSzechuan, Noodles, Soup
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order EMei Takeout or Delivery

    EMei Photos

    Business Info

    EMEI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Hunan chicken and spicy eggplant
    Joy P.

    This restaurant was recommended by a work colleague. I ordered Hunan chicken, stir-fried spicy eggplant, homemade spring roll, and rice (not included with the entree). The food was delivered and warm on arrival. Everything looked great - colorful and nice-sized portion for the money. Unfortunately, everything lacked flavor. I mean, no seasoning, no heat/spice, and not even enough salt. The rice was gummy to boot. One item that had some flavor was the spring roll, however, it was nearly inedible because it was dripping oil. The spring roll rapper was surprisingly crispy, but I had to wrap it in several paper towels (this is not an exaggeration) to absorb the oil before I could eat it. To make my point, I poured nearly a tablespoon of oil out of the wax paper-like pouch it came in. My son said his was still too "greasy" to eat and threw it away. What a shame. We ate enough and have lots of leftovers that will likely end up in the trash.

    Beef Noodles / Rice Noodle in Spicy Sichuan Broth 川味牛肉面/米线
    Cheri S.

    I've come here before with a large group but I wanted to give it a go on my own! So I came here on Sunday midday expecting a huge crowd and I was actually seated immediately. I will say the service was a little slow and they did get one part of my order wrong but it was okay because they were really apologetic about it. The food is spicy and I LOVE SPICY! I tried to get some things I'm not used to getting and those things didn't disappoint. Will return

    Carmella G.

    I was a walk in and I was seated in less than 10 mins. I ordered a spicy dish that was definitely SPICY, if you don't like spicy stay away. The service was good and there was plenty of setting.

    Karlee B.

    Delivery arrived well packaged and hot. It felt a bit expensive for what we got but there were leftovers of the large portion of Lo mein (my favorite). The general tsos was cooked well but the portion was on the smaller side with lots of chilis etc to make it look larger. The shrimp roll was pretty tasty and the pork dumplings were good.

    Bok choy and mushrooms
    Iris Z.

    Have officially been here 12 times and counting! Their food is consistently good every time. Every. Single. Time. Whoever is cooking in the back is doing an amazing job.

    House Special Chow Fun with Chicken, Shrimp, & Pork 本楼河粉 hit the right consistency and flavor. The oil and fry were balanced and delectable.
    Jacob H.

    EMei is a bullseye for Szechuan cuisine. I went on a Saturday and found it packed with both Asians and other folks--a good sign that the food is all-around tasty. The dishes impressed me, and the chef hit the right notes with good frying, balanced seasoning, and the right amount of oil and heat. The interior is clean and has Chinese designs built into the floor design. I would highly recommend this restaurant for all folks--the discerning Chinese diner and the ones looking for a foray.

    Sandy L.

    Delicious! My friend happened to want Chinese food and we were close to Philly Chinatown so I went with her. We wanted to eat healthy and we got it at Emei! It was delicious as well. We got the famous pickled greens & white fish with vermicelli and baby boo choy with black mushrooms . Service was good. Food came fast and we had to leave for our next museum. Ambiance was busy but thankfully not packed.

    Tea Smoked Duck (Half) 樟茶鸭(半只)
    Kelly P.

    I've been remiss in posting this review. It was several months ago we visited on a Saturday evening after a matinee at WST. It was around 5pm. We did not have a reservation but they got us a table (next time I'll plan to reserve ahead of time). The place was lively, clean, and both warm and bright at the same time. I had the tea infused duck and it was delicious as well as the black mushrooms with bok choy with garlic. My niece had lo mein that she enjoyed. I will plan to come back for another visit next theater season.

    Fried Sticky Rice Cake with Brown Sugar Dipping Sauce 红糖糍粑
    Ryan K.

    Came here for my birthday last week. I heard a lot about Emei. The location contained a young Philly crowd. Somewhere between formal and casual dining. These guys sell alcohol. There is a $20 table corking fee if you bring your own. We started off with the pickled wood ear mushrooms and cucumbers. The mushrooms were a cold dish intense in flavor. Strong Szechuan chili and standard chili flavors my personal favorite of the night. The cucumber dish had the same taste but milder in flavor. They had the added benefit of being a cucumber which promoted some sort of refreshing note. I'm still partial to the mushroom. The dumplings were fine. I probably wouldn't get them again. Good dumplings but I might be in the same tier as Mrs. T's pierg There was the crispy chicken pieces that was fine as a texture on the side. A little crispier than a Chick-fil-A nugget but a lot of them. A lot of folks at the table liked this. I preferred the other main dishes. Mapo tofu was exceptional. My personal favorite main dish. This was a week ago at this point so I cannot say specifics but if there was one main dish would get at this location it was the mapo tofu. Flavorful, decadent, velvety. The fish soup was also nice. Tender fish with veggies and noodles. Light and delicious. There was a hot pot beef order that the waiter suggested that I was not incredibly impressed with. The rice cakes and brown sugar sauce were nice. Gelatinous feel and the sauce wasn't too intense in flavor. I would appreciate them more if I wasn't so full at the end of the night

    Dan dan noodle Dumpling in chili oil
    Uyen N.

    Green beans seasoning is good but texture is not crunchy at all. Chongqing chicken is good, like deep fried chicken w some seasoning. I asked for mild spicy level and it is not spicy at all. On the on the hand, mapo tofu is still pretty spicy, and I don't really like the seasoning of this dish here. They forgot to put in my order for green beans and I had to wait a long time, and they didnt do anything about forgetting to order my plate :/

    Michelle E.

    Flavorful pork and bamboo shoots. Lots of spicy dishes and sichuan specialties. A lot of seating and comfortable lighting and ambiance.

    Lamb W. Cumin
    Rohan N.

    I make it a priority to come back to EMei when I'm in Philly and I'm never disappointed. We walked in at noon on a Sunday and were seated immediately. The restaurant had a good amount of people and was crowded by the time we left. The ambiance is always warm and pleasant, nothing felt out of place during this visit. Ordered the Dry-Fry Wok with Lamb which comes with lotus root, cauliflower, potato, onion, and green onion. The ma la/Sichuan peppercorn flavor from this dish was excellent and they were also kind enough to reduce the number of chilis in the dish so we could focus on the numbing spice. My friend's mind was blown by the flavors and we both enjoyed how well cooked everything was, especially the lamb which wasn't chewy at all and the potatoes which weren't too raw or too soft. Really excellent dish and a must try. We also ordered the White Fish & Green Peppercorn Pot with Mung Bean Noodles. This one doesn't provide as much of numbing sensation but it was excellent and great for balancing out the more intense flavors of the lamb dish. The noodles were perfectly cooked, as was the soft fish. Always happy to be back here and looking forward to next time.

    Beef & Vegetable Chow Fun Noodles
    Mary C.

    Clean interior with tasty food! The interior is more fancy than your typical restaurant in Chinatown. A lot of our friends recommended Emei so my fiance and I went to go scope it out as a potential wedding welcome dinner venue. We taste tested several dishes including the Dan Dan noodle, cumin lamb, potato slivers, and beef chow fun. All were very yummy (if not spicy for the Dan Dan noodle and cumin lamb!! The three chili peppers on the menu are actually very very spicy!) We ultimately were able to make a large reservation in advance a few months out to hold around 50 seats for our guests. Daisy from Emei was very communicative during the whole process and was able to answer a lot of questions about it specific dietary restrictions (we have some guests who are Celiac so required gluten free food prep). Unfortunately the day of, I didn't take any photos of the food! But, we added on several dishes given wide dietary preferences of guests--popular ones were the Dan Dan noodle, Mapo tofu, Cumin lamb (all three very very spicy). As well as the sea bass and pork belly over mushrooms. I liked the egg drop soup as well. Dessert wise, we picked the mango ice cream which was super yummy!!! Perfectly creamy without being overbearing.

    Sliced beef shank and tripe in chili oil tasted

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    18 days ago

    Great food...dumpling was good. General Tao chicken good. So many maps around us looked good!! Wanted to try all.

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    Some of the best Dan Dan noodles w/ pork I've had in a while. The mapu tofu / pork was excellent too. Highly recommended.

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    EMei Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - EMei

    Do you have any lunch specials? :)

    Thank you for asking! At the moment, we don’t have specific lunch specials, but our full menu is available all day, offering a wide variety of dishes to enjoy. Options like Dan Dan Noodles, Dumplings, and other Small Plates are perfect for lunch. We… 

    We have a large vehicle. What are the parking options on a Friday night?

    The restaurant has no parking. There is a pay parking lot directly across the street and another over by the fire house that we were able to accommodate a Ford Explorer. Bigger than that gets to be a challenge.

    Is there a Gluten Free options?

    Yes,we have a lot of Gluten Free options

    Are there many vegan options? Specifically, is the hot and sour soup vegan friendly? Thank you!

    Hi Chelsea, The hot and sour soup has egg white, tofu, bamboo shoot, and wood ear mushroom. There is a section of vegetable in the menu. Kindly let the server know that you… 

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Dan Dan

    Dan Dan

    4.0
    (1.1k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    We've been coming here for a number of years and enjoy it consistently. The menu is extensive from…read morenoodle dishes, to Sechuan, and Taiwanese selections. The homemade DanDan noodles were our favorite, which are served with ground pork in a spicy peanut sauce. We also got the three cup chicken which was so good, with a sweet, licorice-like glaze. Some other favorites were the black pepper chicken and the long hot chicken, if you enjoy spice. We had the ginger and scallion dish and was not our favorite, as the chicken had a unique consistency and was quite limp. Overall, good service and a relaxing ambiance in a bustling city.

    The spouse had a great meal here in the past, so it was one less place I had to research for…read moredinner. ATMOSPHERE: Intimate spot with a small loft, soft music and big windows for people watching. Takeout and deliveries seemed to be the majority of the business. RESERVATIONS: Not needed on this particular Monday night. PARKING: Street or garage. MENU: Sichuan & Taiwanese dishes. No dim sum. BEVERAGE: Lychee Martini Perfectly chilled and balanced, complete with a whole lychee garnish. FOOD: Dan Dan Noodles We got it plain but proteins were available. Thicker noodles coated in a thick peanut-flavored sauce with a little kick of heat. Very good but I'd definitely add either chicken or tofu to break up the carbs. Dry Pot Dish Served in a steel wok, we opted for chicken which was super tender. Very flavorful dish but it wasn't presented sizzling as the menu stated. Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup If you're a ramen fan and want something different, I think you'll love this as much as I did. A generous amount of thick noodles (available hand-ripped flat noodles are a $1 option), chunky slices of tender and fatty beef swimming in a savory and slightly sour dark-hued broth. Forgot to nix the cilantro but it wasn't overly loaded. Total yum. SERVICE: Greeting was immediate and friendly. Male server was knowledgeable but there was no follow up. OVERALL: A very enjoyable alternative to traditional Asian cuisine.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Dan Dan Noodles
    Dan Dan Noodles
    Dan Dan

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    Han Dynasty

    Han Dynasty

    4.1
    (1.6k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    This place was sooooo good. Super spicy and delicious Chinese food! Service was friendly and…read moreattentive.

    I used to be a big fan of the Han Dynasty in University City when I lived in that area, and when I…read morewas in the Penn's Landing area recently I decided to eat at the Old City Han Dynasty for old time's sake. However, I found that the meal didn't live up to what I remembered at the UCity Han Dynasty or the Sichuan food I've had at other spots. My partner and I ordered the dan dan noodles and double cooked pork belly to share, our longtime regular order. The portions were generous and prices were affordable, but both dishes fell short in some ways. The dan dan noodle sauce was mostly sesame-based with little of the chili heat I remembered, and there was only a bit of the ground pork topping. It left me wondering whether they hold off on the spice at this location due to the clientele, whether they changed the recipe, or whether it was just an off day. The pork in the double cooked pork was overcooked and tough, and the dish didn't have enough of the veggie components (leeks and peppers) to balance it out. Another minor nitpick - there was a World Cup game going on while we ate and the multiple downstairs TVs had the game on. The second floor where we were seated also had a nice big TV, yet it seemed to be left on a screensaver slideshow of random landscape photos. Would have been nice to watch the game! I was overall left feeling pretty meh about the meal. I'd give the UCity location another shot, but don't think I'd come back to the Old City one.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Dry Pot Style tilapia
    Dry Pot Style tilapia
    Han Dynasty

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    Sampan

    Sampan

    4.1
    (2.5k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$$

    Sampan is probably my favorite spot in Philly for happy hour. The restaurant itself has such a cool…read moreatmosphere, with dimly lit seating, two bars inside, and a back graffiti bar that has a completely different vibe with a more open and lively feel. I come here for happy hour every now and then because the prices are really great, and both the food and drinks are delicious. We started with the specialty cocktail and the Thai Punch, and both were really good. They had fruity undertones, and the alcohol wasn't overpowering at all -- I could easily have a few of these. For food, we got a few orders of the kung pao chicken wings. They were perfectly crispy with a really flavorful glaze. The portion size was also very generous, especially for the happy hour price. These are a great example of Asian-style fried chicken wings done right. I definitely want to come back and try their full dinner menu since I've only been here for happy hour so far. Luckily, it's not too far from where I live in the city, so I'll definitely be back!

    Amazing Pan-Asian restaurant in Center City that specializes in small shareable bites. Every time…read moreI'm in Philly, I try something new here. Place is super trendy with an open concept kitchen and dark lighting. I might be getting old because I find myself wanting more lighting lol Service is spectacular and if it's your first time here they'll fully explain their menu and recommendations. This time our server explained the tasting course, but we decided to order a la carte. A refreshing Ming Mule came out first and it was just what I needed after being inside of a stadium on a 100 degree day. We also ordered an order of the pork bao which was so tasty. You can never go wrong with a pork belly appetizer and each order comes with two. The shrimp pad Thai had all the flavors you expect from a classic pad Thai but with their own twist. The Szechuan chicken was crispy and had sweet notes. Definitely two great picks. Opted out from dessert because we were so stuffed but they have a great ice cream cone option if you are in the mood.

    Photos
    Bar
    Bar
    Kobe Beef
    Kobe Beef
    The perfect way to start your meal: crisp, flavorful spring rolls and a bright lime sauce that brings the whole thing to life! ⁠

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    The perfect way to start your meal: crisp, flavorful spring rolls and a bright lime sauce that brings the whole thing to life! ⁠
    Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House

    Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House

    4.2
    (2.5k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    I've been going to Nan Zhou for years now, and even as newer and flashier restaurants have opened…read morein Chinatown, Nan Zhou will always be a reliable stalwart. I got dinner here recently after not coming for a while and was reminded just how good it is. Really delicious, authentic, and affordable Northern Chinese food - my mom is from that region and always asks to come here whenever she visits. The noodle portions are huge and expertly hand-crafted and cooked for the perfect bouncy chewy texture. The dumplings are also lowkey the best in Chinatown, with a thicker chewy skin characteristic of Northern-style dumplings, a juicy filling bursting with flavor, and a perfect sweet soy sauce dip on the side. Service is quick and friendly, with the servers able to accommodate both Chinese and English speakers and happy to give recommendations. And you can tell from the clientele that this place is a hit with both Chinese and non-Chinese diners alike. It was packed on a Friday night! It's BYO too so you can even imbibe in some drinks with dinner without breaking the bank. FYI that they only accept cash and Venmo for payment.

    Lazy Sunday after an unsuccessful Memorial Day beach weekend. It was cold and rainy all weekend but…read morewe decided to hit up some beef noodle soup place to warm up. On this cold almost summer day, Nan Zhou was hustling and bustling. Separate parties at the same round table and clients coming in and out of the restaurant facade. Warm lighting and active banter. I received my bowl of beef noodle soup was pretty satisfied. Beef was tender with flavorful bites of fattiness. Somehow, the meat tastes beefier than beef. The cilantro had potent herbaceous flavor with some spinach(?) and mustard greens. Noodles were pleasantly chewy w variation in texture. Lowkey, everything else was alright. I like to be nice so I'll say no more. Cucumbers were fine

    Photos
    Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House
    Braised sliced beef noodle soup
    Braised sliced beef noodle soup
    Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House

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    EMei - szechuan - Updated August 2026

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