PhillyFoodGuys: Hittin’ the Streets for Underground Eats

 

 Lakeside Chinese Deli [11:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

If you’ve ever been told “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” the Lakeside Chinese Deli may be why. This inconspicuous storefront restaurant located in Philly’s Chinatown seems to fade into the neighborhood commotion, but we found the food, service and “atmosphere” to be excellent.

Continuing our adventure in Chinatown after our initial visit to Lee How Fook, we invaded the Lakeside Chinese Deli with a group of hungry explorers. Recommended by FoodGuy Tushar, Lakeside specializes in Dim Sum, however it is served a la carte versus from the traditional tableside cart. Our first impression wasn’t overwhelmingly positive; the exterior of the restaurant features a large picture window with the shades drawn and there’s also a big hole in the sign.

Ignoring the surface imperfections, we entered the dining room to be warmly greeted by the family that runs the restaurant. As we were seated, our hostess approached our table to offer us the several plates of Dim Sum that she held in her hands. It was like being welcomed into her home. Since we couldn’t say no, the five of us sampled three different types of dumplings: Crispy Taro Dim Sum, Crispy Triangle & Steamed Bean Curd. All were very light and tasty.

Munching on our dumplings, we found that the atmosphere in the dining room matched that of the exterior; clean yet Spartan. My favorite features include the “lazy susans” found on the large Formica tables and the mirrored wall covered with hand-written menu placards.  Although unconventional, I found the environment comfortable and charming.

The menu featured an overabundance of choices (218 + to be exact), so we opted to go with the “wait and see method:” order a few items and see what we felt like eating next. Thankfully, the slower time of day made this method possible. Here’s what we ended up with:

Steamed Shrimp Dumplings - Traditional steamed shrimp Dim Sum lightly flavored. 3 Stars
Fresh Fish Congee - Rice porridge with fresh fish (Tilapia?). Often flavored with a variety of condiments including flavored vinegars, hot sauces, soy, etc… 4 Stars
Spicy Beef  Satay - Broiled, not grilled, yet tender. Serverd with a unique chile-peanut sauce. 3 Stars
Baby Pak Choy in Garlic - Steamed and saueed baby Bok Choi with roasted garlic. Simple and delicious. 4 Stars
Triple Crispy Dressing - Hands down favorite. Lightly fried Scallops, Shrimp & Squid in a tempura-like batter. 5 Stars
Chicken with Lemon Sauce - Unique, lightly fried chicken with a flavorful, if not vividly yellow, lemon sauce. 3 Stars
Seafood Hot Pot - A mixture of veggies & seafood including Bok Choi, Shiitake mushrooms, onions, Tofu, Shrimp, Fish Balls and Cilantro in a fish stock. Served in a ceramic crock. 3.5 Stars

Concluding our meal, we were all full and very satisfied. Of course, Sue Z. had to point out all of the unique items that we didn’t get the opportunity to try, like: Cold Jelly Fish with Sesame and Duck Blood with Ginger & Scallion Dim Sum, or beverages like: Hot Coke with Lemon, Hot Milk with Egg and the always amusing Horlick. As you can tell, Lakeside Chinese Deli offers more traditional food items.

I never thought that “Chinese” and “Deli” could actually be combined, but Lakeside has shown that even the most disparate sounding terms can come together like “peanut butter and jelly.” We felt that the food items were well prepared and of high quality. The menu is extensive and the portion sizes are good; our check broke down to $15 each with tip. Furthermore, the staff made us feel like we were eating in their home; the service was excellent. We had a great experience at Lakeside Chinese Deli, which is definitely a hidden treasure in Chinatown. 
Lakeside Chinese Deli is located at 209 N. 9th St. Philadelphia, PA (215) 925-3288. They are closed on Thursdays; Hours are 11am - 8pm.

TAGS: Philadelphia, Philly, Chinatown, Chinese Food, Lakeside Chinese Deli, Podcast