Midtown Lunch

I haven’t dabbled much in the culinary offerings of the Chinatown tea joints that have popped up in the past few years. I walked by the newer branch of Tea Talk, the one located in Market East as opposed to Chinatown, and noticed the food menu in the window was pretty substantial. And ever better, I saw an item on the menu I have been searching for since I moved to Philly.

When I was a youngster growing up in Queens, my family and I had many Chinese restaurants in our rotation. Pings was one of them. And our favorite dish was jumbo shrimp in a Kewpie mayo sauce with fried milk balls on the side. We were obsessed with these fried, sweet custard  balls. Until now, this was the only place I had ever seen them. You can only imagine how happy I was to see  “crispy deep fried milk” on Tea Talk’s menu. I knew I was going to be reunited with the long lost childhood friend to my mouth. An order comes with five pieces for $5.50.   They were less creamy than the one’s from Pings, but it was comforting to have the familiar crunch and sweet center. Its a bit like a Chinese beignet. Five might be overkill as an appetizer for one person because of the sweetness, so bring a friend.

Besides the fried snack part of the menu, you can get a full meal meal, complete with your choice of salad or fruit. I really wanted the beef stew with carrot, but they were out. I went with the homemade spicy sauce with fish on rice (B1, $7.25).  The fish was spicy and light, a good option for a healthy lunch, though I have a feeling I would have enjoyed a hearty beef stew a little more.

I am curious, have you had milk balls before?  Or seen them on the menu anywhere else?

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

• Loads of tea styles and a quirky food menu
• You can try the elusive milk ball

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

• I wanted some beef stew

Tea Talk,  12 S 10th St, 215 592-0889