Not the greatest takeout Chinese food in the city but does it for me in a pinch and delivery is quick. If you're looking for 'authentic' (which sometimes you just want takeout Chinese) - this isn't the place. But even as takeout, I'd say you can do better. They have lunch specials, which is nice - and the staff are all friendly and the food comes quickly but honestly, not my go-to. read more

Just moved back to Philly from DC and was craving some Chinese. Wanted something semi-close as was being delivered so chose Golden Empress Garden. Was impressed by quite a few things: (1) offered combos outside of just lunch hours. The combos let you choose either spring or egg roll (spring roll was very good) AND BROWN RICE DIDN'T COST EXTRA! I got the chicken w/garlic sauce with large chicken pieces & not a lot of "filler" vegetables (just broccoli, which was fresh). Also got the Happy Family which was very good and a generous portion. (2) choice of free items if you spend over $10 (! - refreshing) (3) they use Beyond for delivery ($3), meaning the restaurant's own drivers vs. who knows w/other services with multiple orders VERY IMPRESSED! May be a new customer, but I'll be a repeat one! read more

Ordered Beef with garlic string beans - mild spicy. Beef was very tough and clearly sliced with the grain not against it. Pieces of meat were big could have been cut smaller. No real garlic taste and not spicy at all. read more

Golden Empress Garden - Large pieces of meat. Should be cut smaller and manageable. Also might have helped with the toughness. - Chinese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

"Mediocre" is too kind a word to use. The chicken with cashews was just plain awful--bland, a couple of slices of chicken in a mush made up mostly of chopped up broccoli spears. Also the nickel-and-dime pricing (35¢ "processing fee," on top of $2.90 delivery fee, plus tip (for the poor guy schlepped it here in the rain). NO MORE! read more

My go-to spot for Chinese delivery. I love their shrimp fried rice and chicken lo mein. So tasty! Always very quick and friendly delivery. I'm about to order again right now... read more

If it helps I feel like my overall consensus on this restaurant is that it got the job done. I wasn't overly impressed with anything or displeased, and I think my friends would say the same. I remember it taking a bit long for our food to arrive, but my friend who goes a little more often says that's not necessarily what happens on the usual, so not sure how to feel about that one ‍ The food was pretty good and there were lengthy of vegetarian options on the menu. I'd have nothing against going back and might drop by in the future read more

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Our go to for Chinese food - vegetarian version. Always Consistent and when an order was messed up they gave us credit for our next order.

Happy to say I've finally found my nearby, affordable hole-in-the-way good Chinese food. Offers takeout and delivery. Will definitely be going back! read more

One again this long time favorite has taken a serious nose-dive in food quality. This evening I did a pick up as opposed to my usual delivery order. The truly dreadful, tasteless, leather-like pork dish was incorrect. They did apologize and home delivered a truly awful chicken low mein, totally overcooked noodles, almost like a mush, with super bland bits of chicken. The whole dish was devoid of seasoning and flavor. This is the worst food I have had from this establishment in 25 years! Cooks come and go in these type of restaurants but I I think I'll give this place a permanent pass for now. Such a pity. read more

We ordered well in advance Food was to be ready between 7:20 and 7:40 It is now 7:50 and they still respond "not ready" "not ready" We really should have done our home work prior to trying this place While waiting outside we have had a chance to look and the place more carefully Too bad we already paid because this place is FILTHY oh well we will try it and if we don't die we win read more

Golden Empress Garden - Yuck - Chinese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

just visit or oder from them. you'll be happy. best for take out or delivery. limited seating and not inviting ambiance.

Good food and good portion sizes. Quick pick up for order and clean restaurant. Will return for another meal

Great spare ribs and vegetables. Also good sautéed tofu. Good service.fast and accurate. Home made noodles better than anywhere else.

I had some of the most bland and nasty Chinese food here out of the many other places I've tried throughout Philadelphia. It is very overpriced (not for south street I suppose), but I wouldn't recommend eating here. The quality of the ingredients were very bad; the chicken I was served was some of the most rubbery and dry chicken I've tasted. Their service and cleanliness of the restaurant are the only ups about this place. read more

I ordered delivery and was about halfway through my meal when I noticed a bug in my tofu and broccoli. This ruined the meal for me and I couldn't continue. For the record, the food tasted good up until that point and that's why I went with two stars instead of one. It just had about six legs too many. read more

Golden Empress Garden - Chinese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Ugh no. Was not good guys. Most of my order is in the trash. Sesame chicken should always have somewhat of a crispy outer. It came soggy and tasted horrible. The sweet and sour chicken was very high dough to chicken ratio. Didn't enjoy. Only thing that was standard and I ate, was Lo mein. I don't recommend at all. read more

Stopped by for a quick lunch and went for sweet and sour chicken lunch special. The staff was very nice and the food came out quickly. What I got was a large serving of white rice along with chunks of battered and fried white chicken, along with a bare minimum of large chunky vegetables - a few pieces of onion, green pepper and carrots. The sauce was in a separate container. I had asked for an egg roll which was an extra cost. Overall, it was purely Americanized, simple and a fast lunch. For the future, I will not expect not much more than that. read more

I just had the new Pad Thai with shrimp and it was delicious!!!! It was not overpowering or too spicy

There are scores of Chinese takeout places to choose from in Philadelphia, and I tried lots of them. For my money, Golden Empress Garden is among the very best. By this, I don't mean they serve gourmet food. I do mean their food is always fresh and well-prepared. When you get it delivered (which I often do), it arrives piping hot and faster than you can believe it's possible. One of my pet peeves with Chinese takeout food is that the vegetables arrive limp and overcooked, and the sauces are thick and gooey. Not so with Golden Empress. The vegetables always have the bright color and snap they're supposed to, and the sauces are flavorful without overwhelming the other ingredients. If that weren't enough, their dishes are inexpensive and they have more vegetarian options than any place I've ever seen. I give Golden Empress Gardens two thumbs up and would give them more if I could. read more

It's been awhile since the GF and I have had Americanized Chinese takeout so after a run, we decided to order in from Golden Empress Garden via Grubhub. Not to be confused with Empress Garden on 10th Street, this is the "golden" version on 5th. Egg Roll ($1.25) Since our order was at least $15, Empress Garden included a pair of egg rolls gratis (not just one - score!). The egg rolls were crispy and laden with shredded, braised cabbage and bits of roast pork too. Crab Rangoon ($3.75) Crab rangoon at American Chinese takeout places are pretty commonplace. A somewhat thick wonton wrapper with cream cheese and artificial crab innards - this was a fairly standard iteration, yet still hit the spot. This is nothing fancy, but paired with the sweet and sour dipping sauce, it provided a satisfying bite. No shame here! Chicken Lo Mein ($6.50) The GF was itching for some lo mein and this was a decent interation. The noodles were lusciously coated with the salty brown sauce and the chicken chunks were juicy. Sometimes you just need the greasy, salty goodness that Chinese takeout can offer. Sesame Chicken ($9.50) Of course, the epitome of Americanized Chinese food is General Tso's or sesame chicken. We went with the latter. Unfortunately, the sauce was really soupy and the chicken was not crispy, as was advertised on the menu. Still, the chicken was incredibly succulent and the broccoli was nicely al dente. Overall, if you're looking for decent Chinese takeout, I wouldn't hesitate to order from Golden Empress Garden. Delivery costs only $1 and they get the job done for the most part. Nothing wrong with a little grease and salt in your diet every once in awhile. Right? read more

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For what this place is, it is truly as good as it gets. This is my go to spot when I have a craving for chinese food (basically every day of my life). It's reasonably priced, no-frills chinese food. Delivery is quick and online ordering is a breeze. Perfect meal for a lazy day on the couch. Their wonton soup is my FAVORITE of all time. They also make a solid hot and sour soup if that's your thing. Scallion pancakes are great - hot or cold. Hunan chicken delivers on some heat but if you want more they'll deliver chili oil on the side. They also have so many vegetarian options that it practically doubles their menu. Love this place. read more

Very good fresh vegan friendly staff. Extensive vegan menu gives vegans a lot of choices

I love all of the options they have for vegetarians. Food is made quickly, delivered on time, and hot! I usually ask for my food spicy but it never fulfills my spicy needs. read more

They continue to be the best spot for Chinese take out in Philly. Everything is always fresh and delicious, and they have an exceptional abundance of options for everyone including vegetarians and vegans. The Must Haves: *Szechuan Wontons in Hot Oil (vegetarian) *Garlic Chicken (vegetarian) substituted with Tofu *Wonton Soup (vegetarian) *Crispy Fried Noodles with Duck Sauce My friends also like the: Sesame Chicken (vegetarian) General Tso's Chicken (vegetarian) Crab Rangoon (vegetarian) Chicken and Broccoli Fried Chicken Wings Shrimp Egg roll read more

Per my spouse because I do not eat Chinese food, spot is clean and food was average. They are on South St and have take out, dine in, and delivery. Beverages come in plastic bottles not cups. Venue is small. Only 7 tables and 1 unisex restroom. read more

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One of my fave chinese places in philly! Love the shrimp and broccoli, lo mein, and general Tso chicken! Don't listen to the other reviews - I don't know what they are talking about but I'm really glad I gave this place a chance!! read more

Good, solid food for when you are looking for a viable Chinese option. This is my go to in a pinch, and it's a reliable source of delivery on the weekend when the last thing I want to do is put on pants and leave the house. If you can identify, from this place you must buy! read more

Went to this restaurant the other night and now I'm highly jealous I can't find anything like it in Raleigh, NC. Ordered sweet and sour "chicken" and General Tso's "chicken", as well as veggie dumplings and spring rolls - absolutely amazing. I've been craving sweet and sour chicken but no longer eat meat so this was the perfect substitute with seitan instead. The waitress was extremely friendly and food came out fast. read more

This place is disgusting, and far more so than I remember it being. Noon, and no other diners in the room with me, no food going out on the delivery bike (that's in the dinning room btw.) Vegan chicken with broccoli came with white rice when i asked for brown. Looks like hospital food. Tastes super bland. Scent of the deep fried spring roll I ordered makes me want to vom. Open kitchen and heard phlegm hacking sounds 4 times now. Never again, I'll get a pretzel from Wawa if i need to be cheap. read more

Golden Empress Garden - Hospital food - Chinese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Best vegetarian take out option south of South st. Staff has always been friendly, veggies look nice and fresh (most times). Meatless 'meat' is done right and spice is nice. When dining in, don't expect crazy ambience. It's just good when your craving it. read more

Ahhh love this place. Got the house special lo mein (vegetarian) I love it. And got the vegetarian seasame chicken and vegetarian lemon chicken... both great. They cater to both vegetarians and non vegetarians. I do both and both are great. Cheap prices and super quick. My fav place to get vegetarian food is Golden Empress. Been going here since 1998. They deliver around South Philly as well. Their egg and pizza rolls are great as well. Give this place a go its so worth it. read more

This restaurant has moved to 618 South St. Nicer decor. Also the number has changed to 215-625-6688. Love their food, trying to help! read more

Was so excited to see such an expansive Vegetarian menu, yet I have never been so disappointed by a restaurant. While the food ordered was correct and on time, the flavors were absolutely disgusting. Just one bite made me literally gag - I have never experienced a reaction to food like this. It was greasy with some horrible after taste that I cannot even describe. I truly don't know if this food was safe to eat. It went right in the garbage. Extremely disappointed read more

Golden Empress is, like, the first ever place I ate in Philly when I was fifteen. It's getting close to a decade later and I'm still coming back. This place was heaven when I was a vegetarian, and it's been even better since I "broke veg" a few years back. The food is the perfect amount of NOT GREASY AT ALL and everything tastes great. I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to the pickled cabbage they put on your table, too. This is definitely some of the best Chinese food in the city. If you don't believe me, ask one of the many regulars sitting down to eat on any given night. It's great food and a beloved little establishment. read more

Strong variety on menu with affordable cost compared to prices in Chinatown. Quick and delicious for Chinese cravings definitely going back! read more

This place was my go-to Chinese, but the last several times, the food has been flavorless and the sauces watery. We ordered chicken w/ seasonal greens and house special Lo Mein. I'm not sure what has changed, but I'm now on the search for a solid Chinese spot in the zip code. read more

Look, let's just admit this place is really called "Sam's" and leave it at that. Sam runs the joint, he knows you by your order when you call in to pick up, and he's always ready to talk about what's going on. So yeah, this is The Sam's Golden Empress Garden Experience. Personally, I've never actually sat down and eaten here, but I do always get delivery or take out. Sam can make anything the way you like it, be it vegetarian or with meat. The Szechuan wontons in hot oils are my absolute fave. The rest is your standard Chinese goodness. Never had a bad meal from here, although I will say if you order a bottle of beverage with your delivery order, they tend to forget it. They've forgotten mine at least two or three times. Yet Sam was the man and made up for it and comped me some sodas to make up for the missing deliveries. Rockin'. I knew it you!!! read more

I'll say it... This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the city. I generally enjoy to eat in the restaurant because the owner is great, he is always fun to be around. The delivery is also great. Its always fast and it travels well, there isn't a noticeable difference in taste. Also, from what I remember, their delivery range is generous. The menu is mostly the general food that you'd find at a American-Chinese restaurant, but they are much more accommodating to your liking. Everything is flexible on the menu as long you ask. The vegetarian menu adds a lot more options for the non-carnivorous. I mistakenly ordered from the vegetarian menu (some how) and it was... of course, delicious. I highly suggest Golden Empress for your Chinese food cravings. read more

Golden Empress is my savior during late night study sessions. A 2 minute bike ride/5 minute walk from my house- it is extremely convenient for me. This is a good place to go if you are vegetarian and have meat-eating friends to vice versa- they have separate menus. Sam who works there is awesome. If you're vegan, ask before ordering- the hot and sour soup is NOT vegan. I love: 1) General Tso's Chicken 2) Honolulu Chicken 3) Seven Stars and a Moon 4) Mock Meat Ball Soup 5) Chinese Pizza read more

Whoa, I never reviewed this place? Faux Peking Duck in a wrap with green onion and Hoisin Sauce. Amazing. Delicious. I love meat and this thing was as good, if not better, than the real thing. I ordered this dish for delivery at least 5 times in a 2 month span. Most of their dishes are great, a few are pretty much the same as any other takeout joint. The veggie dishes really shine. Definitely recommended. read more