Archive for 'dumplings'

I-Green Frozen Yogurt and Kitchen’s Secretly Awesome Dim Sum

I-Green opened in the summer of 2012 and has managed to stay open despite its confusing identity. While it used to only serve vegetarian food, that is no longer the case. Is it a froyo joint? A generic Chinese food restaurant? Where to get bubble tea? A  sushi spot? A place to get a cheesesteak? A place for vegetarian mock meat? It is all of those things, yes, but those things are irrelevant. Because in the kitchen (located in the back, behind the whole froyo set up), you can score some fresh dim sum all day. At $6, I-Green’s lunch combo is almost tempting, but the basic choices are not thrilling. Instead, bring a friend, and share some plates from the dim sum section.

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The Search for for Happiness Eventually Pays off at Happy Noodle Bar

Happy Noodle Bar opened last month in the space formally occupied by Nan Zhou. The small spot serves Chinese small bites and soups from various regions of China including Yunan and Xi’an. Then to round it out, the Happy people threw in Korean food and… a bloomin onion (not a joke! it is the first appetizer on the menu though not available when I visited).  Our foray into Happy Noodle Dining was not a continuous happy time.  Please have some patience by reading through the sad, the bland, and the ugly before you come to the good stuff.

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Classic Jiz Biz and Other Lamb Dishes from Feasterville’s Uzbeki Dining Palace Samarkand

For a while now Uzbekistan has been my spot to trek to for my Uzebeki food cravings and yes I do often enough  have cravings that only Uzbeki food can satisfy. A while back Craig LaBan recommended Samarkand, a bit farther and fancier than Uzbekistan, but offering a very similar menu and comparably affordable prices.

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Roast Beef “Bing” Sandwiches and Dumplings from Yang Yang Express


I am officially obsessed with the Upper Darby Terminal Square area. It is such an unexpectedly diverse block. The pupusas from El Sabroso rocked my world last week. Next, I had to try the dumplings that were named Best of Philly 2012 by Philly Mag at Yang Yang Express next door to El Sabroso.

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A Trip to the New Location of Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House

Its downright crazy that  I have only eaten at Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle once and that the one time was 2 years ago AND before the move to the bigger location. Silly me. Last time I dug into the braised oxtail hand pulled noodle soup. I applaud my past self for choosing something a little funkier. For this visit, I had to pick a different version of the soup, plus I had to explore the menu a lot more.

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Life is a Wiggle: Your First Look at Asian Fusion Garden Thai & Noodle Bar

This weekend Asian Fusion Garden Thai & Noodle Bar opened in Washington Square with a Chinese and Thai menu. I tried out some appetizers and a whole bunch of noodles, and have some recommendations if you are planning on getting over there. Plus, a happy discovery- soup dumplings!

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Tale of an Uzbeki Feast at Uzbekistan

I hope to impress you with the fact that I ate practically half the menu of Uzbekistan, a restaurant located in the area I believe is considered the far northeast.  Yes, it is out of the way for Center City folk, but there is no CC equivalent and it’s a bit quicker than a flight to Eastern Europe. Check out where Uzbekistan is located on a map. Its geography is reflected in the cuisine, especially the influence of multiple ethnicities. The common theme on an Uzbek menu is hearty food.  Sometimes a girl has gotta feast, and this is the place to it.

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