Chef Joseph Poon’s Tour of Chinatown

September 8, 2023

For over 40 years, Chef Joseph Poon has been an integral part of Chinatown’s culinary scene. During any given trip, visitors can spot the lively and energic Poon leading his Wok ‘N Walk Tours of Philadelphia Chinatown, showing the best spots in the neighborhood to eat. His enthusiasm and expertise earned him the opportunity to cook at James Beard House. And he appeared on The Tonight Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and the Food Network.

We asked Chef Poon to take us around Chinatown and share his picks for authentic, quick bites in Chinatown. Here are his nine picks for the best places to eat in Philadelphia’s Chinatown.

1. Yummy Yummy

Address: 52 N. 10th Street

A small hidden treasure of Chinatown, Yummy Yummy is known for its Bubble Waffle, voted Best Waffle by Philadelphia Magazine. The stuffed waffle is a common Hong Kong street food and comes in different flavors, from savory floss pork with seaweed to sweet chocolate Oreo. Yummy Yummy also serves hot dishes like five spice beef stuffed scallion pancakes and curry fish balls on a stick.

Signature dish: Besides the Bubble Waffle, another popular dish is the soft tofu with ginger syrup. This common, on the go dish has the flavor of warm oatmeal.  

A white sign with red lettering hangs off the side of a building. It reads Yummy Yummy, Tel. 215-625-9188. There is another sign shown beneath it. This sign is yellow with red and blue writing, also reading Yummy.

Yummy – Chinatown Tour. Photo by J. Ryan for the PHLCVB.

2. Heung Fa Chun Sweet House

Address: 112 N. 10th Street 

A small takeout shop, Heung Fa Chun Sweet House has a large selection of Chinese dishes for an affordable price. This Chinatown gem offers stuffed steamed buns, soft tofu pudding with ginger or spicy sauce, and sweet and savory soups. Not to mention, they also offer a large selection of stuffed sticky rice wrapped in a flat leaf.  

Signature dish: For a sweet treat, try their Pearl Drink — commonly known in America as Bubble Tea — in either their red bean or Mung bean flavor.

A storefront is shown. A red sign with white lettering reads Heung Fa Chun Sweet House. There are photo posters on the front door. one dish reads Salty Tofo, the one beneath it reads Sweet Tofo Dessert. The menu is written in white against a red background on the front window to the right of the door.

Heung Fa Chun Sweet House – Chinatown Tour. Photo by J. Ryan for the PHLCVB.

3. Mayflower Bakery

Address: 1008 Race Street

A longstanding staple of Chinatown, Mayflower Bakery is where you will find some of the best pastries in Chinatown. Head here for a nice selection of buns and cakes, Vietnamese Iced Coffee, milk drinks, and bubble teas. Not to missed is the moist and flakey coconut bun with coconut filling. For fans of savory flavors, the scallion bun is soft and buttery with ample pieces of green scallion. And the pork bun has is lightly browned and filled with rich and flavorful roasted pork. Visitors should know the seating is very limited and the bakery only takes payments in cash and through Venmo.

 Signature dish: One of Mayflower Bakery’s most popular pastries is their Egg Tart, a crumbly buttery shell filled with creamy egg custard.

A variety of bakery items are shown on display in a glass case. There are containers arranged on top of the case. There is a TV monitor off to the right behind the counter. The menu is hanging on the wall behind the glass case. There are brightly colored drinks shown portrayed on the menu. The items for sale are listed across.

Mayflower Bakery – Chinatown Tour. Photo by J. Ryan for the PHLCVB.

4. Canto House

Address: 941 Race Street 

Cantonese BBQ, or siu mei, is a method of roasting meats on spits or over an open wood fire.  One of the best Cantonese BBQ spots in Chinatown is Canto House. They are known for their selection of BBQ, roasted meats, and a wide selection of soups and noodle dishes. Savor the Three Treasures, which includes three meats -typically roasted duck, roasted pork, and soy chicken- served over white rice with Chinese greens. Canto House also offers Beef Lo Mein, Roast Pork Pan Fried Noodles, and Singapore Style Rice Vermicelli.

Signature dish: The roasted duck is a must have for anyone with an appetite for flavor. Chef Poon always tells his American friends to make sure they eat the crispy skin — it’s the best part of the meal.

There is a person standing off to the left in a doorway. They appear to me reading a menu taped to the glass. There is meat hanging behind a glass window. There are containers on a shelf beneath the counter.

Canto House – Chinatown Tour. Photo by J. Ryan for the PHLCVB.

5. Heng Fa Food Market

Address: 130 N. 10th Street

A perfect place to pick up produce, seafood, meats, and dry goods, Heng Fa Food Market is a community staple. Outside the market are many Asian fruits and vegetables like dragon fruit, rambutans, longans, and persimmons. Inside, you will find many different types of seafood. The meat section includes black “silk” chickens, organ meat like liver and tripe, Chinese sausage, and a wide variety of thinly sliced meat for making a hot pot at home.

Signature dish: The basement level of the market has nonperishable goods like sauces, packaged snacks, dried noodles, and sweets that are hard to find in America.

There are four people shown. A woman with short hair, wearing a blue and teal printed dress stands off to the left. In the center of the group, there is a man with black hair, wearing a white shirt, giving a thumbs up as he looks at the two men standing to the right. The two men to the right are taller. They are looking at the foods in front of them. One man appears to be zipping up a backpack as he holds it in front of him. He is wearing a navy blue shirt and tan shorts. The backpack is navy blue and brown. The man standing next to him is wearing a black and white printed shirt and maroon shorts. He is also wearing glasses. The group is outside at a sidewalk market.

Heng Fa Food Market – Chinatown Tour. Photo by J. Ryan for the PHLCVB.

6. Asianfresh Food Market

Address: 142-144 N. 10th Street 

Asianfresh Food Market is a two-story Asian food market that offers various fruits and vegetables. At the outside stands, vendors sell oranges, durian, melons, and leche fruits. Inside is where you can find greens and vegetables. There are also tanks full of live seafood, a wide selection of meats, and a good supply of hot pot ingredients and cooking tools. 

A man with black hair, wearing a light blue mask, and a white shirt is shown pointing with his right hand to food along the left. Another man, wearing a black mask and a navy blue shirt stands to the right looking at the food the other man is pointing to. There are inside of a shop. There are other people shown shopping for their meat and produce.

Asianfresh – Chinatown Tour. Photo by J. Ryan for the PHLCVB.

7. Sang Kee Peking Duck House

Address: 238 N. 9th Street

Sang Kee Owner and Executive Chef Michael Chow has been perfecting the art of roast duck since the early eighties. Their menu features half and whole options for Sang Kee Style Peking Duck, served with an in-house sauce. They also offer other duck fusion foods such as duck rolls and a shredded duck stir fry with green beans.

Signature dish: Sang Kee Peking Duck House was the first to bring their famous Peking Duck to Philadelphia in 1980. They roast their ducks daily, so you always get a fresh meal.

A man with black hair, wearing a white shirt is shown holding up noodles with chopsticks. He stands to the left of another man who is shown wearing a navy blue shirt. That man is smiling and has his phone in his hand, about to take a photo or video. There is food on the table in front of the two men. There appear to be soup bowls and a tower of colorful food.

Sang Kee Peking Duck House – Chinatown Tour. Photo by J. Ryan for the PHLCVB.

8. Moon Flower House

Address: 225 N. 11th Street

One of Chinatowns newest eateries, Moon Flower House has a chic, modern look. The menu features spicy chicken sandwiches, with a choice of white or dark meat, served on a sesame seed bun. Also on the menu are burgers, fries, and an extensive snack menu including mozzarella sticks, popcorn chicken, and Tokoyati Balls. 

 Signature dish: An American classic with an Asian twist, the Chicken Rice burger has a juicy and fresh chicken patty served on a rice bun.

A storefront is shown. Above the front window there is a sign that reads Moon Flower House with a cartoon to the left. The cartoon appears to be a small moon child eating a turkey leg while holding a flower in its other hand. There is a menu with pictures of dishes taped to the front window. The front door is off to the right with the restaurant's hours taped onto the glass.

Moon Flower House – Chinatown Tour. Photo by J. Ryan for the PHLCVB.

9. QT Vietnamese Sandwich

Address: 48 N. 10th Street 

QT Vietnamese Sandwich is a small Vietnamese sandwich shop. They make dishes like bun rieu, a rice noodle soup with ground pork, dried shrimp, crab, and egg. The banh mi sandwiches come in many varieties, from BBQ pork and ham to fishball banh mi.

Two hands are shown holding a sandwich. The sandwich appears to have meat, cheese, and vegetables such as shredded orange carrots throughout.

QT Vietnamese Sandwich – Chinatown Tour. Photo by J. Ryan for the PHLCVB.

Visit our Chinatown neighborhood guide for more things to do in the area.

Convention Center/Chinatown
Food & Drink
Neighborhoods

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