Restaurants in Philadelphia's Chinatown | The 10 Best

Originally published on Trip Savvy

Philadelphia’s vibrant Chinatown area is a bustling, yet gritty neighborhood with a variety of great restaurants, most of which are unassuming. Located on the eastern side of Center City, Chinatown is a pocket of Philly that’s bordered to the north by Vine Street and to the south by Arch Street. It’s a fun dining destination all year long as there are plenty of diverse eateries that feature an array of specialties. Each restaurant offers a different choice of ambiance and offerings, and it’s not uncommon for this district to attract after-hours diners. Check out these favorites when you’re choosing a place for your next Chinatown meal.

Penang

ADDRESS

117 N 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA

PHONE +1 215-413-2531 WEB Visit website

Penang is a sprawling restaurant with an industrial feel and high-ceilings that serves up a wide variety of flavorful Malaysian-style specialties from the country’s northwest coast. With an open kitchen, lively crowd, and raucous ambiance, Penang is all about the quick service and sizzling hot food.

First-timers will appreciate the helpful servers who happily describe the different dishes and assist customers in making their meal decisions. A few popular items are the Penang fried chicken wings wrapped in pine leaves; beef satay; vegetable spring rolls; and their signature lobak, which features a succulent combination of spicy pork roll, shrimp, and tofu all in one dish.

Rangoon

ADDRESS

112 N 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2401, USA

PHONE +1 215-829-8939 WEB Visit website

As the only Burmese restaurant in Philadelphia, Rangoon attracts customers who return again and again for their unique, zesty, perfectly presented plates. Open for more than 25 years, this neighborhood staple has been serving up authentic dishes like their tangy firecracker lentil fritters, flavorful Burmese wontons, and overstuffed crabmeat dumplings. A big favorite that draws a lot of attention is their award-winning crispy watercress salad, which is tossed with a delectable dressing that intermingles flavors of Thai basil, fresh lemon juice, and coriander.