I’ve passed by Wong Wong a million times without thinking much about it. I needed a quick lunch in Chinatown and wanted to go somewhere I have never been before. Wong Wong advertised lunch specials, so I went in.
It is a fairly often occurrence that I realize I need a fast and moderately healthy lunch. Vietnamese food can usually get that job done. On 11th St, Vietnam Palace and Vietnam Restaurant across from each other, leaving you with a serious decision (snd I would love to know which you prefer). However, this lunch time decision was made up for me, only Vietnam Palace was open. The menu is pretty affordable and the small lunch menu is a list of things from the regular menu, only cheaper. I was going to go with the grilled pork over vermicelli for $6 but was told that taking it to go during lunch resulted in a surcharge. When I asked how much that surcharge would be I was told it might be about a dollar. That seemed annoyingly random and I thought “screw that.” Instead, for $9, I got the fully loaded bún. I think my math makes sense.
Posted at 10:24 am, November 7th, 2011 under Chinatown, Vietnamese, noodles.
Recently Zinc advertised their 2 course duck preparation for 2 and it sounds insane; seared duck breast carved table side followed by grilled legs and wings. This will set you back $85. Not exactly Midtown Lunch friendly. So I wanted to find an affordable version. At Sang Kee in Chinatown, 1/2 a duck, also served 2 ways (take that Zinc) is a mere $20. Leave it to Sang Kee, to allow us to feel a little fancy and filled with duck for $10 a person.
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.
At Xiao Guan Garden, things are efficient: boom- you are seated, boom- your menus, tea, and peanuts are on your table, boom- they give you unnecessary forks. No nonsense is enjoyable every so often. When I realized other tables were getting a different menu I wondered what I was missing out on. But I will never know since the menu was all in Chinese characters. When the “white people” menu has frog on it, you can’t feel too bad about ordering from it. And I managed to have a nice little meal regardless.
Chinatown has a ton of bakeries selling similar delicious baked good and drinks, plus a few with specialties like Yummy Yummy with their waffles and New Harmony with their “pop” smoothies. Cube Cafe has both, along with a menu of food that is… Pan-Asian inspired? Really though, the photo menu on the counter covers food from Vietnam, Malaysia, Korea, and China. Plus breakfast and dessert.
