Midtown Lunch

Today, we are getting a report from profiled luncher Stephanie about a colorful dumpling platter and secret spot for coffee in Chinatown.

Tucked away at the edge of Chinatown on 9^th Street is a little eatery called Ray’s Cafe and Tea House. Unassuming and charming, Ray’s Cafe has been a neighborhood establishment since 1989, serving up delicious Taiwanese food, carefully curated teas, and a selection of truly remarkable coffee.

Scanning the menu for options, including standard lunch specials and a few enticing Taiwanese staples, I noticed that Ray’s Cafe leaned more towards home-cooked dishes you would find at an aunt’s house rather than restaurant fare. In fact, proudly printed on the menu was a health-conscious blurb that read: “No MSG and 0G Trans Fat!” — a practice more Taiwanese restaurants should implement.

When I noticed a section devoted to dumplings, my taste buds began to salivate. The simple dumpling often gets overlooked at restaurants, disguised as an appetizer or accompanying side. However, in Taiwanese cuisine, dumplings are much regarded as a meal in itself – and an especially auspicious food choice during Chinese New Year! I ordered the dumpling sampler, an assortment of ten handmade dumplings, featuring five different flavors, for $8.50.

A short while later, a rainbow platter of dumplings was placed before me, a feast for the eyes and the stomach! Adjacent to my dumplings were two dipping sauces – a sweet soy-vinegar concoction and a fiery chili oil blend, both of which are made in-house.

I relished in discovering the flavors hidden within these little treasure pockets and took my first bite into the green, spinach-extract-tinged, vegetarian dumpling. The flaky consistency of taro and the subtle hints of mushroom, tofu, and green bean vermicelli were juxtaposed by the succulent, mustard-flavor of the napa. As for the dough, it was thicker than what I was accustomed to, but delightfully chewy in the way that only a hand-rolled dumpling skin could be.

Next, I tried the deep-fried, curry chicken dumpling. The crispy half-moon was flavorful enough, bold but not pungent.  Together with the fried dough, the combination was exactly reminiscent of an Indian samosa. So far two for two, and my tastebuds were craving more.

A sip of water to clear the palate and it was on to the pink, shrimp dumpling. More subtly sweet than savory, this delicate dumpling featured a combination of freshly minced shrimp garnished with green onions. In a way, the shrimp dumpling rather tasted like a Japanese shrimp shumai, a most welcome comparison!

Fourth on the list was the pork and napa dumpling, possibly the most basic of my dumpling repertoire. I was pleasantly greeted by a juicy filling that was neither too salty nor too greasy. It was dumpling perfection, just like the ones Mom used to make!

Finally, there was the yellow, pork with Chinese leek dumpling. I saved this for last, as I was apprehensive about the notorious garlicky aftertaste of Chinese leek. I quickly found my fears unfounded, however, as I greeted by a mild leek flavor that was still pronounced without masking the porky goodness.

The dumpling platter left me full, satisfied, and happy, but I felt the need to order a cup of coffee. After all, Ray’s Cafe offered siphon coffee – a rare find in Philadelphia!

With a plethora of choices to choose from, I opted for the House Blend. It was a splurge at a $4.50 a cup (– take-out prices for the same coffee were significantly cheaper at $2.25 for a 16 ounce cup). Nevertheless, the presentation of the complexly rich coffee in an artisan teacup decorated with friendly bunnies, alongside a sprinkle-frosted sugar cookie made for a lovely coffee experience and a happy ending to my meal at Ray’s Cafe.

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

• Delicious, home-cooked Taiwanese food with no added MSG.
• Brews a spectacular cup of coffee!
• Cozy and friendly atmosphere, ideal location for afternoon-lounging.

THE – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

• Beverages can be slightly pricey (but do consider take-out options for better value).
• Closed on Sundays and at 6PM on Wednesdays.

Ray’s Cafe and Tea House, 141 North 9th Street, 215-922-5122