EMei might be the best Chinese restaurant in Philadelphia, I am not alone in this thought. I was excited to visit and left thrilled to return. I got a friendly welcome and sat at the bar with no wait even on a busy Friday. The bartender was a joy and happy to talk to me about the Area since I just moved in. The place has a modern aesthetic with some lovely touches that ring in a love for their cuisine. Very clean and welcoming. The Chongqing Chicken is a must have unless your doctor said spicy food will harm you. It is delicious, perfectly cooked and complex. Be warned though, once you have it it will be hard not to order it every time. Pro tip: It also reheats well. The Stir-Fried Spicy Eggplant with Garlic Sauce: So yummy, the eggplant was so tender. It had a sweet tang to the delightful glaze that I normally wouldn't prefer, but it paid perfectly with the chicken. They have a lovely drink list, but this is the only place I found that has China's best Liquor Baiju. it has a robust funky flavor that makes my weak tummy able to eat more. Eat here as OFTEN AS POSSIBLE. PS: Don't forget to order White rice to go with, It's not automatic, but it is steamed to perfection.

One of my new favorite spots in Philly. Not far from Reading terminal market. Emei is putting out some fantastic Chinese food. I had to splurge for a couple appetizers both the scallion pancakes, and the Dan Dan noodles were absolutely phenomenal. The start of the show though was Chongquig Spicy Chicken. It's probably the crispiest chicken I've ever had in my life. Give me a delicious crunchy crispy bite with each bite-size piece of chicken. I tasted. The Szechuan peppercorns in the dish were an awesome element as well. Looking forward to coming back to have this

Since our hotel was within walking distance of Chinatown, we were eager to find a great spot for dinner for the 3 of us. This restaurant exceeded our expectations, and we left completely satisfied. The ambiance inside was both elegant and casual, making it an excellent choice for a date night or a relaxed gathering with family and friends. The atmosphere allowed for easy conversation while enjoying exceptional food and outstanding service. The staff was attentive and ensured we had everything we needed, especially as we explored the menu. Every dish we tried was absolutely delicious, and we would highly recommend this restaurant. Our meal included: * Classic Egg Drop & Pork Wonton Soup * Pork Dumplings in Hot Chili Oil * Dan Dan Noodles with Pork * Tea Smoked Duck (Half) * Three sides of White Rice * Sweet and Sour Crispy Fish * Hot Sake * Handcrafted Honey Lemon Tea

Amazing food, prompt service, and great ambiance. You may have to wait to be seated, but they will take your number and text you. Initially my plan was a cold appetizer, mapo tofu, eggplant and a main meat dish. The server clarified that they serve family-style, so I skipped the cold app and ordered mapo tofu (with pork) and the garlic eggplant and some rice, with full intention to take some time deciding between the duck, fish, or cumin beef. But my dining partner and I could barely get through half of what we ordered. I'll have to go back to try other dishes.

The menu was clearly labeled with what was naturally gluten free and what could be made gluten free. And also was clearly labeled with spice levels! The menu is massive but I ended up deciding to get the sesame chicken which was delicious and perfectly flavored. My friend got the small plate Dan Dan noodles which ended up being a full meal with leftovers. The prices are super reasonable for the amount of food you get! I enjoyed very much!

We came 30 minutes after open on a weekend and there was no line. By the time we left, it was crowded and the party of two that just entered was told it's a 30 minute wait, so come early!! The food and service was great! Our waiter was very attentive in refilling our water and offered us hot tea. Very cozy inside and comfortable booth seating as well as round table seating. Mapo tofu - delicious Salt and pepper squid - delicious Dumplings with chili oil - okay TLDR- famous mapo tofu was probably the best! Attentive staff, good food!

Visited on a Saturday evening, and it's clear why the restaurant was full already at 6:00 PM for dinner. EMei offers authentic Szechuan recipes in their menu, located in the heart of Chinatown off Arch Street. We ordered and split four dishes family-style, and each were flavorful and complemented each other well. The portions were massive--we had enough between a party of two for multiple leftover meals. The shrimp were large, the pork belly had a good level of spice, and there was plenty of bok choy to share. While I veered towards more non-spicy dishes, I'd be excited to try their signature ones with more dried chilis mixed in. Being picky, the only drawback is needing to ask for rice manually as the dishes didn't come with it. Service was also great; we were provided water and tea immediately upon seating. Food also came quickly, and made great banter with the staff. The prices are higher compared to other Chinatown locations, so I recommend saving this for a good date night or dinner outing. But, do note that the cost is worth it for the higher quality and sizeable portions. Definitely worth the try and revisit!

had high expectations but a little disappointed on the dishes. Not as good as promoted. But overall is good. The staff was busy. Need more staff. Not very spicy.

Delicious and amazing service, too! I loveeeee wood ear mushrooms - this one had quite too many toppings that weren't the best texture wise so I had to push them aside. The Dan Dan noodles were way better than I expected. The pork wasn't mushy and had a crisp to it which was ideal for texture. The fresh green onion and numbing peppers made it a very dimensional dish. The wontons were good but weren't super exciting. The three dishes alone filled me up but I would have loved to try more as the dishes everyone had around me look delicious. So much flavor here and didn't disappoint

Amazing restaurant and I can't wait to return and take more people! Great spot to go with a group. My friends and I ordered a few dishes to share and everything was outstanding! We ordered the Dan Dan noodles, dry fried green beans, pork wontons in hot chili, homemade scallion pancakes, stir fried spicy eggplant, and spicy lamb with cumin. Each dish was flavorful and plenty. My favorites were the Dan Dan noodles and green beans. Highly recommend! They have a full bar, but I'm not sure if they do happy hour. Will definitely be back soon to try more dishes!