This place is AMAZING (worthy of every single cap)!!!! They have 4 chefs from Szechuan, Canton, Beijing (?) and Shanghai (?), who specialize in their own regional cuisine. Each dish is perfectly and authentically done. Ingredients are of the very highest quality. Even friends who regularly get sick after eating out, reported that the food here did not make them sick. Best Chinese food in the area (yes even compared to Philly), and comparable to New York!
I found this place shortly before Imperial Inn in Philadelphia closed. I was so ornery and upset at the news, but I have to admit having better quality dim sum (although slightly less variety), only a 15 minute drive away with no Chinatown parking games, really assuaged my hurt feelings.
Furthermore, Christine, the manager, is very helpful and kind, as is all of her staff, making this transition much easier.
All of the food, from their vegetarian offerings, to the spicy Szechuan dishes, to their dim sum is beyond delicious. Some must tries are:
1. Soup dumplings - we (friends and I) actually believe these are better than at the famed Dim Sum Gardens. It has less ginger for those of us (ahem strange Chinese - me) overwhelming the taste. Usually their dipping sauce is a very special vinegar (more potent than regular American vinegar) and shavings of ginger, but one does not taste the ginger as much, as it has been pickled in the vinegar.
2. Scallion Pancake - small but so deliciously fried. One of the best I have tasted anywhere.
3. Twice Fried Pork Belly - It was better than the other (will remain unnamed) famous Szechuan restaurant in the area. Frankly, all the Szechuan dishes are better here, which is interesting because they handle at least 4 styles of Chinese food v. the other restaurant's one.
4. Mongolian Beef - I introduced 2 new friends to this dish. Everyone ate all of it every time. It is so fragrant and full of umami. I wish I could describe it better, but seriously, just have it.
5. Vegetable Fried Rice - I have a Vegetarian friend, who allows me to filch bites off her plate, so I know even the vegetarian dishes here are superior. The fried rice was very fragrant and delicious.
6. Garlic Eggplant - Holy Hannah!!!! We ate this dish first and I had cravings for a week for it. This is a delicious vegetarian dish.
7. Garlic Pea Shoots - My vegetarian friend is an extremely picky eater (sorry!, you know you are!) and even she loved all the dishes she tasted here. Including the pea shoots. As she puts it "most leafy green cooked vegetables smell and taste like butt (sorry), but this is actually good". Hold the presses folks! She actually liked it! Ms. Picky Pants herself!
8. Citron Honey Tea - warm tea, slightly sweet, citrusy deliciousness.
Even if a dish was not mentioned, it is probably extremely good. These are just the ones I remember the names of that stuck out in my mind. We, collectively, have not had a single bad dish here. The "worse" dish was significantly above average, just did not make it to a level of 8.5/10!
I am a little sad that now I will probably need reservations to eat here now, however, I would be a very, very awful and selfish person to not share this place with everyone. Stop laughing! Try it and see that I am correct. I ate here about 4 times before their official opening, and regularly at least once a week. So, come enjoy, help me make this place a success! Maybe someday they will have a direct deposit program, where you can just deposit your paycheck into your Mama Wong's account. read more