Philadelphia - October 28, 2009

Something to Chu On

Chew Man Chu Restaurant Opens

General Tso pulled a fast one. (Nobody in China actually eats deep-fried chicken nuggets. Suckers.)

For a fresher take on Asian cuisine, stop by Chew Man Chu, Marty Grims’s (Big Red Management) noodle and dumpling joint opening today in the Symphony House.

The sexy cocoon is done up with orange tiles, wood paneling, and a purple wall bedecked with noodle bowls and koi. The lighted Lucite communal table turns the volume up on the vibe.

Chef Tyson Wong Ophaso’s (Lutece, Lotus, Chinatown Brasserie) studied execution and prime ingredients make everything fresh and grease free. Try perfectly crisp pork and shrimp pot stickers with housemade soy sauce or oxtail soup dumplings (blue crab, white wine, tarragon jus). Don’t miss the chicken chow mein (bean sprout, scallion, fried onion) served in a crunchy egg roll skin.

Complimentary just-baked donuts (chocolate and ricotta, honey, pistachio) are served instead of fortune cookies, so you can predict your own fate.

She who gorges will be deeply satisfied.

Chew Man Chu, 440 South Broad Street (215-735-8107 or chewmanchu.com).

  Cheap, Cheap Date, Foodies