Sampan is probably my favorite spot in Philly for happy hour. The restaurant itself has such a cool…read moreatmosphere, with dimly lit seating, two bars inside, and a back graffiti bar that has a completely different vibe with a more open and lively feel. I come here for happy hour every now and then because the prices are really great, and both the food and drinks are delicious. We started with the specialty cocktail and the Thai Punch, and both were really good. They had fruity undertones, and the alcohol wasn't overpowering at all -- I could easily have a few of these. For food, we got a few orders of the kung pao chicken wings. They were perfectly crispy with a really flavorful glaze. The portion size was also very generous, especially for the happy hour price. These are a great example of Asian-style fried chicken wings done right. I definitely want to come back and try their full dinner menu since I've only been here for happy hour so far. Luckily, it's not too far from where I live in the city, so I'll definitely be back!

Amazing Pan-Asian restaurant in Center City that specializes in small shareable bites. Every time…read moreI'm in Philly, I try something new here. Place is super trendy with an open concept kitchen and dark lighting. I might be getting old because I find myself wanting more lighting lol Service is spectacular and if it's your first time here they'll fully explain their menu and recommendations. This time our server explained the tasting course, but we decided to order a la carte. A refreshing Ming Mule came out first and it was just what I needed after being inside of a stadium on a 100 degree day. We also ordered an order of the pork bao which was so tasty. You can never go wrong with a pork belly appetizer and each order comes with two. The shrimp pad Thai had all the flavors you expect from a classic pad Thai but with their own twist. The Szechuan chicken was crispy and had sweet notes. Definitely two great picks. Opted out from dessert because we were so stuffed but they have a great ice cream cone option if you are in the mood.

Made dinner ressys here as I was visiting Philly for the first time and heard so many good things…read moreabout the famous edamame dumplings. Parking was easy to find outside, and I was welcomed and greeted nicely upon entering. They provided me with a veggie menu upon seating me, which I really appreciated. I also had the pleasure of being waited on by the very handsome Vinny. He checked in on me often and made sure I was enjoying my meal. The edamame dumplings were pretty good! I had imagined whole edamame beans, but they were mashed inside, which was definitely a surprise. Also had the wasabi mashed potatoes, which had a very unique flavor that I hadn't had before. Overall my dining experience went very well. I accidentally dropped one of my chopsticks, and a gentleman picked it up immediately and got me a new one. Inside the ambiance was relaxing and the lights were dim, but I was still able to take nice pics of my meal. Highly recommend if you're in the area :)

We used to go to Buddakan in Atlantic City, but it was permanently closed during COVID, so I was…read morereally happy to see they have a location in Philly. We made a reservation for 5:30 tonight and were seated toward the back near the bar. Service: 5 stars. Our server, Ryan F., was excellent. He was very personable, attentive, and extremely knowledgeable about the menu. He had the entire menu memorized and was able to explain the ingredients and dishes in detail. His level of service definitely added to the experience. Drinks: We started with the Honor cocktail, which was citrusy, refreshing, and a nice way to start the evening. Later, I ordered the lychee martini, one of my favorites, and it was just as good as I remembered. Food: For appetizers, we shared the tuna tartare spring rolls, yellowtail sashimi, and shrimp dumplings. The tuna tartare spring rolls and yellowtail were both very good and flavorful. The shrimp dumplings, however, were just okay and didn't really stand out. We've had better elsewhere. For our mains, I ordered the miso cod and crab fried rice, and both were absolutely delicious. The miso cod was flavorful and satisfying, and the crab fried rice was one of the highlights of the meal. Both brought back the flavors I remembered from our past visits. Hubby ordered the wok cashew chicken, which he found just okay and not particularly memorable. Overall: A very good dining experience, but not everything was a home run. The service was outstanding, and the miso cod, crab fried rice, and lychee martini were the highlights for me. A couple of the dishes were less impressive, especially considering the prices. Still, it was great to revisit Buddakan in Philly. There are several other dishes I'd like to try, so I'm looking forward to another dinner here.

They give miso soup with lunch specials as an option or as a stand alone. For an Asian takeout,…read morethis miso soup aint bad! It has the seaweed and tofu and a miso flavor. If it's made from powder or the miso pouches, I wouldn't be surprised, but I wouldn't mind getting it next time with a combo or meal! The fried Szechuan wontons were okay. It was a lot of chewy/tough dough, which wasn't fun with only bits of meat. The sauce was pretty oily so I think it was a lot of chili oil. Eh it was okay, I wouldn't get this again though.

Great food every item we ordered was outstanding, very clean and fast delivery. Would highly…read morerecommend and clear soup as good as any hibachi

I went last week for the first time, I found it to be delicious. I got takeout, service was quick…read moreand very friendly. The restaurant is very pretty inside too. I only got green curry chicken but it was superb. I'm picky and I loved in Thailand for a bit. The curry was delicate and luscious and almost slightly brothy, exactly how it should be. I also loved the eggplant addition, I always need to request it at other places. It was so good I forgot to take a picture Can't wait to try more things on the menu!

They had a table without a reservation on a Saturday night, which was nice. I'm a big fan of duck…read moreand rarely have it, so I was excited for the Crispy Duck with Tamarind Sauce (crispy half duck, fried sweet potatoes and Chinese eggplant, kiwi, glazed tamarind sauce). The duck itself was fine. The problem is that everything on the plate is sweet. The tamarind sauce is sweet, and the sweet potatoes and eggplant are buried under the duck in the same sauce, so the whole thing lands one note. Midway through I'm like, wait, where are the sweet potatoes and eggplant? Then, oh. They're under the duck, same color, same consistency, because of the sauce. The rice was perfect and cut some of the sweetness. The kiwis were thankfully sour, so they cut it too, though I forgot they were there until the end. Service is good. The duck was very mid.

The restaurant has two sections: The upstairs is a low light lively eating area with the bar. The…read moredownstairs has the sushi bar and a more intimate dining area that is more dimly lit. It gives a very nice date night feeling. I ordered the Chef's tasting menu, it includes a total of 13 items. The only confusing bit is that you choose the items from the menu and the entire party will share (that part makes sense of an "omakase" feeling). It is nice that you get to choose as there are some premium items that ate included, making the $78 well worth it IMO. Service was quick and we were checked on throughout the meal without feeling overbearing or interrupting. The food was filling and portions werent skimped, we wound up taking the rice and brazino to go before the final dish - desert. After the meal they ask if you'd like anything else, just in case (we did). I highly recommend the wagyu plate, we got it done rare and it was like butter. Absolutely amazing.

P tried on multiple SHEIN tops to go with her high-waisted Levi's before dinner. This was a Monday…read morehappy hour and she didn't want to overdress. She wore heels anyway. Left 25 minutes later than planned. [Fast forward: the guy next to us was wearing a full suit.] We arrived at 5:30 and were told the wait for a walk-in was 20 minutes, so we went to Graffiti Bar next door. P wanted a marg, which was not on the cocktail menu, so the bartender asked what kind of tequila. P said Patrón. We started our happy hour evening with $45 cocktails. The wait was actually only 10 minutes, but they give you a 10-minute grace period once they text you, so we had to chug nevertheless. There is a pipe that says "warm" as you walk in. Touch at your own risk. Now at Double Knot. We ordered the tuna roll and salmon rolls. Good, but not that good. J wanted the yaki soba and liked it. P liked the pork potstickers. J ordered a Sapporo and an argument ensued about how to pronounce "a" in Japanese and/or other Asian languages. A professional woman once scolded J for mispronouncing Wang. We then played odds to determine whether J would turn his Sapporo into a sake bomb using P's sake. Both guessed 5. The sake did in fact "bomb," erupting all over the table and causing a scene. The wait staff did not notice because the ambiance, while "lit," is actually pretty dark. Coast clear. For revenge, we played odds again. P lost and was forced to put soy sauce in her sake and chug it. She took it like a champ. The waitress complimented P's top as we left. Margs at the pourover bar next door: $45. Rolls at Double Knot happy hour: $8. A compliment on a $3.69 top after arriving 36 minutes later than planned: priceless. 7/10.

Excellent service and food was served promptly and of very good quality . I asked for extra spicy…read moreand the kitchen delivered as asked. The restaurant gets very busy and has a lively atmosphere .

Yeah, so I forgot to take any pictures, but I was here twice this week with colleagues when we had…read morean offsite meeting nearby. Everything was delicious, from the apps to the dishes, and definitely very healthy portions! Service was pretty good as well, with attentive staff despite there not being a whole lot of them. The food is Korean-inspired with some fusion elements, and all of it was nicely executed. Fried chicken bites were a pretty big hit, and the pork buns were good as well - crispier than usual, but still really good. Toppoki was nice too, and have to say that calling it rice gnocchi is pretty smart to make it easier to understand outside the Asian POV. Kimchi paella was essentially kimchi fried rice, but tasty and filling, and the scrape off parts at the bottom, that's rice gold right there. I don't always eat rice, but when I do, I prefer slightly burnt at the bottom of a stone pot. Second visit, I went with fire chicken, which is tasty and has some kick. I did notice that my not Asian colleague was asked if he was sure about the three fire symbols, but I was not :P Space is pretty nice inside too, a nice combination of old and new; the bathroom was nice and clean, and the general feel inside is casual but elegant. I wouldn't be opposed to returning, but would need to know much more about allergy protocols and awareness, which admittedly isn't always a strong point in Asian cuisine.

Lovely experience...we had the tasting menu…read more Appetizers...loved the dumplings and chive rice cakes...we ordered oysters as well (those were not as successful) The prawns were delicious...I recommend using the spoon to get all the flavors in a bite. The ground pork curry was my favorite...sublime. I am going to have lots of leftovers tomorrow and I'm pretty happy about that. Dessert...I don't generally like tiramisu...this will change anyone's mind. The shaved ice...I can't...it's glorious. Anyway...go. The parking is easy on a Sunday...not sure about the weekend.

best thai food experience ever. opened up my palate to go beyond tom yup and yellow curry…read more great service, great food. food is thai spicy, so be aware of the classifications. any place which does not have free refills for diet coke, gets one star less, so apologies. but greatest thai food in US for sure.

This place is a go-to for me when I stay in downtown Philly. Flavors are good and the baos are…read morefilling without breaking the bank. Orders turnover quickly, so it's also a good option on the go. Their trios are a good way to try out different baos.

The Brussel sprouts are greasy and acidic and SO good yet mid. I like the crispy rice on top. It's…read moredefinitely a random craving I get (often), but not the best Brussels in the city by any means I never see anyone else eating in the store when I go and there is always a cleaning supply smell. I'll be back for the Brussels though don't you worry