PHLReview
photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo
China Gourmet
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You can find good dim sum all over Chinatown, but even with all the classic choices, China Gourmet is the first place we think of when we’re in the mood for dumplings. The Mayfair restaurant has all the markers of a classic Chinese banquet hall—glistening chandeliers, pink tablecloths, and enough room for several weddings to take place at once. It’s the setting for Philly’s best dim sum staples, served up on oversized tables packed with large families and groups of friends.
photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo
Test the limits on lazy Susans with countless orders of delicately wrapped shu mai, aromatic chicken feet, and the creamy yellow egg tarts that whiz by on roaming carts, along with slippery rice noodle rolls and crispy fried shrimp balls.
There is a menu full of traditional Cantonese dishes, but if you’re there for dim sum (9:30am-3pm) it’s easy to overlook. That would be a mistake, because the crispy lobster with minced pork is a must-order.
photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo
Even if there’s a crowd waiting in the bustling entryway or parking lot of this Northeast Philly spot (and on the weekends, there will be), China Gourmet's service and turnover is remarkably fast, so buckle down with your in-laws and their in-laws, your friends, the kids, or your entire bowling league. Coming here is always worth the wait.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo
Crispy Lobster With Minced Pork
photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo
Pork Shu Mai
photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo
Crispy Shrimp Balls
photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo
Salt And Pepper Squid