Let’s face it: while Beijing offers Chinese food, it doesn’t really tap into China’s authentic culinary culture. Among glasses of booze, Beijing tables are often strewn with stereotypical dishes prepared the way most Westerners like it, stir-fried with plenty of oil, salt and soy sauce.
However, there are delightful alternatives just a short trip away. Philly’s Chinatown is filled with restaurants catering to those of us who prefer more traditional options, and Sang Kee Peking Duck House is one of the stand-outs. While the inside is bare and uninviting, what is lacking in decorum is soon made up for in taste.
Predictably, our group began with the roast duck ($29.50), which is served in two stages. The first plate consists of succulent breast slices with crunchy skin to be wrapped in pancakes. The second is a mix of shredded duck meat and vegetables. Forgetting our childhood love for Donald, we found ourselves fighting for every last morsel, reveling in the meat’s tenderness and loaded flavors.
In keeping with our aves mindset, our next selection was the bird’s nest ($14.95). What is this, you ask? Using crunchy noodles instead of twigs, a shell (the nest) is carefully constructed and filled with steamed seafood and vegetables. This aesthetically pleasing dish also caters to the palate, as the shell perfectly complements the delicious pieces of fish and shrimp inside.
While the menu is large and overwhelming, here are some other dishes that we enjoyed. The steamed Shanghai juicy buns ($5.75) are a great choice for an appetizer, but be careful — they are delicate. Don’t puncture them with your chopsticks, or you will let out the juice inside, a perfect amalgamation of spicy, sweet and salty flavors. The shredded pork in XO sauce noodle dish ($9.99) was also good, though less interesting than our other options, as the sauce could have benefitted from a little added spice.
If there was one thing we didn’t like, it was the steamed whole flounder ($15). We unfortunately got a pregnant fish, filled with countless eggs that detracted from the overall taste and gave the meat a bumpy, unappetizing texture. Many at the table were too freaked out to even try it.
While Sang Kee does offer Americanized selections such as General Tso’s chicken, we suggest taking advantage of the more exotic dishes that you can’t get anywhere on campus. This restaurant is best appreciated with a larger group, as it allows you to sample many dishes and provides an excuse for ordering that extra plate of duck. And, at Chinatown prices, you can’t go wrong.
Sang Kee Peking Duck House 238 North 9th St. (215) 925-7532 Don’t Miss: The duck. Duh. Skip: Steamed whole fish Bottom Line: Great traditional Chinese food at Chinatown prices.
