I came in with high expectations but things started falling flat right after ordering. we came in for a late lunch at 230pm, so very few other customers, but our first dish took about 25 minutes to come out. Our first dish, the tofu w brown sauce (红烧豆腐）was fine. Standard, nothing fancy. However, after that, things started getting worse. The next thing that came out was the fish with preserved vegetables. There's no other way to say this, but the fish tasted rotten. And having tried this many many other times, I can say this is the worst version of the dish I have ever had. Next, we got the flat noodles with beef. The noodles themselves were just fine, but the beef also tasted rotten. Not sure if the refrigerator broke Or they just have general food, safety issues. Sadly, will not be coming back. read more

I came here to celebrate my sister's graduation and it was great! This is her and her boyfriend's favorite restaurant in Chinatown and we ordered their usual. The portion sizes were big and everything was delicious. We got braised pork belly and string beans as well but the fish is definitely my favorite! The restaurant was packed but we got seated very quickly. We don't usually come to this area often but I can definitely see myself coming back. read more

EMei - Beef Sliced Beef Shank and Tripe in Chili Oil, Crispy Sweet and Sour Sea Bass with Pine Nuts - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

emei in chinatown is an amazing restaurant experience with deliciously flavorful, authentic cuisine and great ambiance. the portions are also so huge for the price! this is a great place for larger parties for lunch/dinner, just make sure to reserve because it gets packed! read more

EMei - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I came with a group of eight (2 were kids) hence the ordering of such a tremendous amount of food. We had leftovers with this much if I were to redo it again I would skip the chicken and the squid. I'm not such a fan of fried foods personally, and I thought the squid was a little bit lacking in taste. The rest of the meal was very good. I think this gallium pancakes were too fried, but the flavor was very good and it was tasty after a couple of days in the fridge as well. The steamed fish with excellent it is a little bit on the pricier side coming in at $39 the eggplant and the pea shoots were great. The wood ear was also excellently flavored. I would definitely get the green beans again. I would also skip the Singapore noodles. It was nothing terribly special. I loved that the ice cream came on the house for the kids because the kids absolutely were overjoyed and it speaks to their service and attention. The ambience was also quite nice especially for the stereotype of Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. This is a place where you could take your in-laws and extended family because they did do a good job with interior decor. read more

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Believe the hype - this restaurant is the real deal. The Szechuan style delivers bold flavors with a kick (although the spice can be altered to your preference.) The mezcal cocktail is yum, and the smokiness complimented my dishes. To start, we ordered the Dan Dan noodles and they were flavorful and cooked perfectly. The veggie dumplings were fresh and homemade. The scallion pancake was delicious and the dipping sauce was a nice compliment. The portion size was much larger than we had anticipated. For main course, we had the spicy double fried mini beef skewers and this was my favorite item on the menu! If you can handle the spice at a 3/3, it's totally worth it. I imagine even a 2/3 would be great. Very flavorful!! We also loved the Chongqing Spicy White Fish and that had a great kick too. I would order any of the above again!!! They had a big menu, with a wide range of options for various preferences, including gluten free and vegetarian. The place fills up fast, so it's important to make a reservation. It's a bit loud, but to be expected on a Saturday evening. Even though they were busy, we didn't feel hurried. Overall, the portions were generous, the staff were knowledgeable and friendly (and their recommendations were spot on) and our dining experience was delightful. I am already thinking about what I would order next time... until then, I will recommend to others. read more

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We came 30 minutes after open on a weekend and there was no line. By the time we left, it was crowded and the party of two that just entered was told it's a 30 minute wait, so come early!! The food and service was great! Our waiter was very attentive in refilling our water and offered us hot tea. Very cozy inside and comfortable booth seating as well as round table seating. Mapo tofu - delicious Salt and pepper squid - delicious Dumplings with chili oil - okay TLDR- famous mapo tofu was probably the best! Attentive staff, good food! read more

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Portions are large and everything is very flavorful, leaning a liiittle bit on the salty side. I loved the Beef Shank and Tripe in Chili Oil, paired great with a steaming bowl of rice! It was the perfect amount of numbing spice. The mung bean noodles were okay, snappy and firm in texture. I personally prefer a bouncier, chewier noodle but the sauce was fragrant and plentiful. If you're a fan of spice I recommend trying EMei! read more

EMei - Spicy Sichuan Mung Bean Noodles, Sliced Beef Shank and Tripe in Chili Oil - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

EMei is easily one of the best spots in Chinatown if you're craving real Sichuan flavors. The food comes out fast, fresh, and super flavorful -- the kind of numbing-spicy that actually tastes good and not just "hot for no reason." Portions are generous and perfect for sharing. The dining room gets busy, but service is always friendly and efficient. Highly recommend the dry-fried green beans, the chili-oil dumplings, and anything with peppercorns. Great place to go with friends if you want a solid, authentic meal that never misses. read more

EMei - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

As a huge fan of szechuan food, this place is 5/5 fantastic. We stopped by for dinner on a Sunday night and it was packed! The wait for 2 was about 20 minutes. We order 2 drinks (botanical mix cocktail and shot through the heart cocktail). Botanical mix had a really nice lychee flavor. Shot through the heart was also good! Nothing too special about these drinks but both were tasty. For appetizers we ordered the homemade dumplings in hot chili oil, sliced pork belly with garlic, chiles, and soy sauce, and the Dan Dan noodles with pork. The dumplings were so good and the wrapper was thick and chewy. The chili oil had a slight numbing spice. The pork belly was delicious. This was maybe my favorite dish. The sauce was not that spicy but the flavor was so good. Dan dan noodles were the least favorite of the apps but only because the noodles were a little over cooked and a little mushy. These still tasted amazing. For entree we ordered the chongqing spicy chicken. This doesn't come with white rice so we had to order that on the side. The chicken also had a numbing spice but not too much. And it was so crispy!! We had leftovers and took some chicken home in a to-go box and the next day it was still crispy! I will definitely be coming back again read more

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The ambiance is beautiful and the service is attentive. Plus, they offer service in Chinese! The dishes are delicious, especially the Boiled Pork Slices which are tender and refreshing. The Squirrel Fish is fresh and tasty, and the Preserved Egg with Eggplant and Chili is simply flavorful and mouth-watering. read more

The service was average and it was rather busy. Forks and the bill were long time coming. The location is fairly contemporary yet be prepared to hear the conversation beside you as you sit pretty closely. The food earned it the three stars since I have had an improved food. read more

Visited on a Saturday evening, and it's clear why the restaurant was full already at 6:00 PM for dinner. EMei offers authentic Szechuan recipes in their menu, located in the heart of Chinatown off Arch Street. We ordered and split four dishes family-style, and each were flavorful and complemented each other well. The portions were massive--we had enough between a party of two for multiple leftover meals. The shrimp were large, the pork belly had a good level of spice, and there was plenty of bok choy to share. While I veered towards more non-spicy dishes, I'd be excited to try their signature ones with more dried chilis mixed in. Being picky, the only drawback is needing to ask for rice manually as the dishes didn't come with it. Service was also great; we were provided water and tea immediately upon seating. Food also came quickly, and made great banter with the staff. The prices are higher compared to other Chinatown locations, so I recommend saving this for a good date night or dinner outing. But, do note that the cost is worth it for the higher quality and sizeable portions. Definitely worth the try and revisit! read more

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It was a fascinating experience for me and my mother. She really wanted some good, authentic Chinese food and we were definitely not disappointed. Amazing food, amazing service! read more

Good good, service and ambiance. All good. Dish is delicious. The fish is amazing! The beef is very soft!

Tremendous Szechuan restaurant with great food, the service is amazing, the menu is very inspiring lots of traditional dishes and very plentiful portions. Love the Szechuan spice and the tingling on the tongue. They did everything very very well. read more

Had such a wonderful dinner here with so many GF options. I got the Dan Dan noodles (so much flavor on the pork) and the walnut shrimp (cooked perfectly, fluffy batter, couldn't believe it was GF and the pineapple pieces were a nice touch of freshness). Plus the bartender was super attentive and made it a great experience overall. read more

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Decent dan dan noodles. The beef chow fun was really greasy even compared to other places but flavor overall was not bad otherwise. Food was prepared quickly and was ready for pickup at the stated time. There is a good amount of seating available in the restaurant as well for those dining in. Casual and relaxed atmosphere. read more

EMei - Dan dan noodles and chow fun - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Delicious and amazing service, too! I loveeeee wood ear mushrooms - this one had quite too many toppings that weren't the best texture wise so I had to push them aside. The Dan Dan noodles were way better than I expected. The pork wasn't mushy and had a crisp to it which was ideal for texture. The fresh green onion and numbing peppers made it a very dimensional dish. The wontons were good but weren't super exciting. The three dishes alone filled me up but I would have loved to try more as the dishes everyone had around me look delicious. So much flavor here and didn't disappoint read more

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Delicious sczechuan food in Philly. I had a coconut milk for my drink and hot and sour soup, and sweet and spicy fried fish. Love the classic family style set up and unique menu offerings. Service was expedient and staff was attentive. read more

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Walked in on a Sunday night and the restaurant was moderately busy but the hostess ignored us and avoided eye contact with me and then seated the party behind us even though they didn't have a reservation. When we finally were seated we ordered the dandan noodles and homestyle tofu and both were disappointing. Portion sizes were small and both dishes lacked flavor. Dandan noodles were dry and tofu was too salty. Restaurant was big but limited on vegetarian options and they also make you buy rice separately? Definitely wouldn't come back read more

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I could cry, I was so happy to find a Chinese restaurant that offered gluten-free options! EMei is an incredible spot in Philly. Relatively casual with quick service, EMei offers nearly everything on their menu as a gluten free option. I had the General Tso's chicken, which was perfectly fried and coated in a deliciously sweet sauce. (They also offer this with tofu, so very vegetarian friendly!) I also had to try the spicy eggplant, and WOW, I could eat that every day. The eggplant was tender and the sauce was to die for. For dessert, I had the crispy rice cakes that are served with a brown sugar sauce. The cakes had a super unique texture and were the perfect level of sweetness. I wish I lived in Philly so I could try everything on the menu! read more

EMei - Fried Sticky Rice Cake with Brown Sugar Dipping Sauce - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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What a feast we enjoyed at E Mei post Flower Show. Hot and Spicy Bowl with flounder was fun to share, Dan Dan noodles were a bit lighter and better than we've had before, wontons in chili oil had so much flavor and melted in your mouth. The only let down was the chongqing chicken as the pieces were too small and mostly coating. The food was Sichuan numbing spicy but not overwhelmingly so, our server said the food was prepared "medium" so you can go up or down from there. Can't wait to go back and dive deeper into the menu. read more

had high expectations but a little disappointed on the dishes. Not as good as promoted. But overall is good. The staff was busy. Need more staff. Not very spicy. read more

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The chongquing spicy chicken is my personal favorite, I order it almost every time I visit Philly. The portion sizes for takeout is pretty hefty too. read more

The chili oil dumpling appetizer and chilled beef and tendon dishes are excellent, very authentic Szechuan flavor, as is the pork and stir fried green beans, however, the mapo tofu was very disappointing. I found only 2 peppercorn in the dish (generous portion though, probably 5-6 servings) from eating half of it, and there was hardly any numbing spice, just regular hot spice. I'll be willing to go back to try other dishes in case it's just the mapo tofu that's lacking, but Szechuan food should ale your mouth numb read more

In one word: WOW....! Walking inside I was taken aback by the lovely décor answer calming atmosphere; hip music played to soothe the weary and hungry customers . I told myself 'if the food is anything like the magnificent décor, I'm in heaven!!!' Needless to say I was not disappointed; from the homemade scallion pancakes and Dan Dan noodles to the 'piece de resistance' Crispy Sweet and Sour Sea Bass, it was an epicurean delight!!!!!! Service was top notch and professional; never overbearing and courteous. HIGHLY RECOMMEND !!! read more

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Amazing restaurant and I can't wait to return and take more people! Great spot to go with a group. My friends and I ordered a few dishes to share and everything was outstanding! We ordered the Dan Dan noodles, dry fried green beans, pork wontons in hot chili, homemade scallion pancakes, stir fried spicy eggplant, and spicy lamb with cumin. Each dish was flavorful and plenty. My favorites were the Dan Dan noodles and green beans. Highly recommend! They have a full bar, but I'm not sure if they do happy hour. Will definitely be back soon to try more dishes! read more

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Ordered on DoorDash. Took a bit longer likely because it was a Friday night. The food was delicious and well worth the wait. Good packaging and care. Will go back. read more

EMei - Pork Wontons in Hot Chili Oil (8pc) - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Very yummy, one of the best you can find out here. (+) all their food was pretty authentic. I didn't need to see the menu to order, they had all of the selections you would find in a Szechuan place if not even more. (+) love the tribes, popcorn chicken, and pork with garlic / pepper (forgot what these exact names were but you can see them in the picture) (+) we had kids with us so appreciated the clean high chair, plastic utensils, and the changing table in the bathroom. (-) I felt like they weren't spicy enough, possibly to cater to non spice eaters, so I would specify to them that you can handle spice for them to go all in and a better taste (-) the fish could have been better if they use live fish (-) the cabbage can also be improved, the flavor lacked umami. Overall love it, will definitely come back again! read more

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The Mapo Tofu is great with a good amount of heat to it. The side of rice is fairly small, but the main portion is huge. Service was quick, and at 3pm there was a small late lunch crowd. read more

This is my absolute favorite restaurant in Chinatown. Really good Szechuan food that's spicy but not outrageously, inedibly spicy. There are so many good menu options to choose from, but I highly recommend: chongquin spicy chicken, Dan Dan noodles, dry-fried spicy lamb slices, mapo tofu, and stir fried eggplant. If it isn't clear from this long list, it's best to go with a group and order family style! read more

Absolutely fantastic restaurant delivering outstanding flavors, warm hospitality, and inviting atmosphere. The team's attention to detail transformed a simple meal into a special, memorable experience worth repeating anytime for everyone. read more

Amazing food, prompt service, and great ambiance. You may have to wait to be seated, but they will take your number and text you. Initially my plan was a cold appetizer, mapo tofu, eggplant and a main meat dish. The server clarified that they serve family-style, so I skipped the cold app and ordered mapo tofu (with pork) and the garlic eggplant and some rice, with full intention to take some time deciding between the duck, fish, or cumin beef. But my dining partner and I could barely get through half of what we ordered. I'll have to go back to try other dishes. read more

EMei - Mapo Todu - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I love this restaurant. But I feel like you need to lean in to what they do best - szechuan peppercorns. Ive been multiple times and anything marked spicy is going to be better. Bad/OK: The fish in sweet and sour - not good. Not inedible, but disappointing. Hot and sour soup - I liked! Fiancé said too much pepper. (I liked that) Tea duck - I liked more than HK style roast duck at neighboring places. Very flavorful. It's ok. Id rather have Peking. Good: The sizzling pots!! And the noodles and lamb. The sesame noodles arent spicy but still have a little mala numbing. The lamb chops are so so good. Just get something with spice and you'll be happy. Ambience is nice. Cute restaurant :) read more

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Back again to say we looooove E Mei!! Even though they were so busy for Thanksgiving everything was great and the staff as always so attentive and nice. Kevin was our server and was so nice and fun! Even wore the birthday hat we gave him through the night :) read more

we make a two hour drive just to come here. The food is great and it's always an amazing experience. read more

EMei - Dan Dan Noodles - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Amazing food, great service, and a very clean and pleasant ambiance. Would highly recommend this place to anyone in Philly!! read more

EMei - Black Mushrooms and Bok Choy in Garlic 冬菇菜心, Cucumber with Garlic Sauce 蒜泥黄瓜, Famous Sichuan Kung Pao Chicken 宫保鸡丁 Amazing!!!!!!! - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I came by for dinner with a friend on a weekday; we had reservations but around 5:30 there were still plenty of tables available. (It did fill up a bit more as we ate, but I don't think the queue/wait time would have been too long regardless.) We ordered a bunch to share: - chongqing spicy chicken 重慶辣子雞: oh man this was so good. My friend said that we must order this, and for good reason - and now this is definitely my top rec here, too haha. The chicken was so flavourful and the spices were super authentic - really and truly numbing (very hot!) throughout. All in all just a very delicious dish, and it was enough for us to both take some home as leftovers as well. - dandan noodles 擔擔麵: a bit of a mixed bag here. I know it's not common for the sauce to be mixed in (it's part of the fun to do it yourself), but as a consequence the noodles were kind of all stuck together in a blob when it was served (and given that, the bowl was not exactly big enough for us to mix it easily). The ground pork sauce was deliciously savoury and considerably spicier than expected, but it was just (physically) rather hard to eat well. (Ironically, this was much easier to do when reheated at home LOL) - stir fried cabbage with dried chillies 手撕包菜: I always find cabbage to hit or miss in restaurants; usually it's pretty meh, but when the chef knows what they're doing, it's fantastic. Fortunately, this dish fell into the latter category. I loved how well the fresh, slightly sweet cabbage paired with the slightly savoury and spicy flavours throughout, and it was a great lighter complement to the spicy-spicy-spicy other dishes we ordered. I would say that the cabbage (especially the stem-my pieces - is that the word?) could generally have been cut smaller since it was sometimes difficult (again, physically) to chew the harder, non-leafy parts (or maybe it wasn't cooked long enough to soften sufficiently. either way,) - wok simmered pork with crispy white rice cake 鍋巴肉片: nothing about this dish came anywhere close to how we envisioned it, and I mean that in terms of composition, not quality. The pork was really tender and served in slightly. sweet, mostly savoury, thick/"soup"-y sauce (very Cantonese flavour) along with a bunch of veggies (OK, the veggies were probably not that notable). The crispy rice cakes were yummy at first but because it's sitting in the sauce, it gets soggy and unappetising quite quickly. Still, a lovely dish overall (and it's a great non-spicy option). Portion sizes were big, too! We both took home enough for ~one more meal each. All in all, the food was great, and at such an excellent price point. Shame that I'm not in Philadelphia ordinarily, but I could imagine myself coming back often if I did haha read more

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Food was very good, service was fast and friendly. Dishes are served family style so we got a couple of things. The table really liked the tea duck, the Dan dan noodles and the spicy chicken. Bok Choy was okay, worked as a good way to lighten up the meal. Would come back and recommend read more

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Got the Dan Dan noodles and Pork Wontons in chili oil, both were incredibly delicious! read more

EMei - Dan Dan noodles - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania