Midtown Lunch

Today, Luncher Steph is reporting on some far-out options from Ho Sai Gai.

At the center of Philly Chinatown, hovering over the southwest corner of 10th and Race, looms the bright red signage for Ho Sai Gai. I’ve walked past Ho Sai Gai a hundred times, merely taking it for another “tourist-friendly” Chinese eatery. However, while roaming Race Street in search of my next lunch, a picture hanging in the restaurant window caught my eye. What I had construed as brilliantly green shumai, Ho Sai Gai captioned as “Avocado Puff.” Suffice it to say, I was intrigued and decided to find out what was in store for my taste buds.

I was pleased to discover that Ho Sai Gai offered a wide range of lunch specials, ranging anywhere from $6.95 to $13.95. (An added bonus for those with erratic work schedules; the bargains are offered seven days a week, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.!) Feeling adventurous, I ordered the Strawberry Chicken with White Rice, Vegetable Spring Roll, and Hot & Sour soup, while my lunch buddy opted for the Honey Coconut Pineapple Chicken. And of course, we added an order of Avocado Puffs ($4.95) to share.

Within minutes, our friendly waiter brought over our Hot & Sour soups. The soup was surprisingly enjoyable, albeit a little florescent in color. More sweet than sour with just a hint of vinegar and spice, the Hot & Sour soup was flecked with hearty cubes of tofu, wood ear, bamboo, and green scallion garnish. Unlike other obligatory lunch special soups, this particular Hot & Sour soup from Ho Sai Gai tasted extremely fresh.

Next to arrive were our Avocado Puffs. Six in all, the order also came with a ginger/garlic/scallion dipping sauce. Crispy on the outside and mushy on the inside, the little green pockets of avocado mash were texturally pleasant to eat. According to the owner, the wrappers were naturally made in-house, utilizing spinach for the green tinge. As for the filling, it was a proprietary blend of avocado, celery, broccoli, and a hint of cilantro. Overall, the Avocado Puffs were delightful as a vegetarian novelty, but not quite the pockets of guacamole I had secretly envisioned.

The entrees came next. My Strawberry Chicken featured tender pieces of fried breast meat and strawberries in a savory syrup. Echoing a faint sweetness, the syrup suggested the presence of real strawberries rather than artificial substitutes. The combination was delicate yet flavorful, making for a matrimonial blend of fruit, soy sauce, and chicken.

The Honey Coconut Pineapple Chicken was also a hit at our lunch table. Coconut-coated pieces of crunchy fried chicken and pineapple, covered in coconut milk and honey, this dish was guiltily scrumptious. Although the use of coconut shavings and honey were reminiscent of Thai coconut shrimp, the addition of fresh pineapple added another dimension to the winning combination. Even for my more traditional palate (read: general dislike of intensely sweet foods), I found the Honey Coconut Pineapple Chicken to be quite mellow and on the savory side.

I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch experience at Ho Sai Gai. The culinary offerings, while “tourist-friendly” and on the fusion side, were satisfying and definitely worth trying. And as added bonuses, the restaurant was exceptionally clean and the staff overwhelmingly charming. I will definitely be back for more lunch specials, and maybe even on a Sunday afternoon!

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

• Lunch specials are available seven days a week.
• Quality ingredients, freshly-prepared food.
• Clean restaurant in Chinatown, friendly wait staff.

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

• Cuisine tends to be Pan-Asian, rather than traditionally Chinese.

Ho Sai Gai, 1000 Race Street, 215 9224930