First time at Su Xing the other day after passing it time after time. Finally had a free day to park and stop in, and I must say, it was well worth the visit. I had the hot and sour soup which was bar none the best hot and sour soup I've ever had. Most h+s soups are over gelatinous, where as this dish was a perfect blend of consistency and brought each respective element of hot, sour, and sweet to the bowl. For my entree I had the Sesame Seitan, which I had chose on a recommendation from another user. I was pretty impressed with both the quality and quantity. A little on the crispy side but not too much where I couldn't cut or bite into. Served over a bed of steamed broccoli for a nice finishing touch. Definite recommendation. My roommate had the Broccoli and Garlic sauce, which essentially is one enormous plate of broccoli. The sauce is, well, garlicky and has a bit of a spicy tang to it. Quite delicious, however I would recommend sharing with someone (it's a lot of broccoli!). I can't wait to go back. So excited there is an all vegetarian Chinese restaurant that exists. I love that I can go through the menu no problem and literally pick anything and have it be veggie friendly.
(4)
Emily T.
Came here with a friend on a weekend in Philly, lured by the intriguing premise of a vegetarian Chinese restaurant. As two Asian girls raised on stir-fried beef, pork, and chicken, we were both a little confused as to how a Chinese place could sustain itself without meat. The answer: by cooking damn good food. We ordered the scallion pancakes, the spicy tofu, and a curry dish. Everything was delicious, hot and speedy, they provide ample portions of rice, and we had enough to bring home for lunch the next day, but one thing and one thing only completely blew our minds: the scallion pancakes. I could've eaten 100 of them on my own. The appetizer portion is more than enough for an actual meal, the soy sauce that comes with it is just perfect, they're cooked to a perfect crisp and arrived hot and fresh from the oil. Amazing. Would return, meat be damned. Side note: it's actually a really nice place on the inside, with two separated seating areas, and the waitstaff is efficient, if a little sassy. A bit on the pricey side for Chinese food, at 8 bucks a dish, but hey, this isn't Chinatown.
(4)
Gale S.
The price point per portion size here is riDONKulous. You get so much food, it's a sure bet you'll leave filled to the gills. I judge most Chinese joints by the merits of its hot n' sour soup, and unfortunately, I deem Su Xing's hot n' sour to be sub-par. However, the rest of the components here are SOLID. The menu can get a little confusing for those who aren't totally familiar with terms such as "glutinous", "soy nuggets", "puffed gluten", "puffed protein", etc., but these are just terms for veggie equivalents of meat that are referred to at most places as mock blah blah blah. But the menu is HUGE, the service is tight, and however you want your meal prepared will be how you get it. They're great. The only reason I'm not over the moon about Su Xing is because for some reason it doesn't feel like home to me. Not that it isn't a good atmosphere, it really is just a personal thing - I can't explain. But MAN, it is way way way about time that there's a totally vedge (and totally affordable) option in center city. When Su Xing came on the scene so many years ago, I was psyched, but to see it has become a staunch resident on Sansom Street fills me with hope for vegetarians and vegans everywhere.
(4)
Mo M.
For a lunch at $7-$8 you can stuff your face with soup, spring roll, and main platter that will delight even the staunchest meat eater. I love the hot and sour soup more than any I've ever tried. I am usually torn between ordering the general tso's tofu, general tso's veg., sesame seitan, and sweat and sour tofu.
(5)
mishel c.
I can't speak highly enough of Su Xing. I used to work next door, and when they opened, I pretty much went there at least 3x's a week for lunch. First, let's talk about how amazingly nice the servers are. They are. Amazingly. Nice. The perfect blend of extremely accommodating (your tea + water never runs out) and respectful of your dining experience (not swarming around every 10 seconds). If you're there alone, they pretty much leave you be (love it). Next, decor. For a fairly inexpensive restaurant, it's very pretty inside -- nice wood accents, heavy booths, and sparkly lighting. It definitely doesn't feel like a worn down, veggie Chinese place (I'm looking at you, Kingdom of Vegetarians + New Harmony). Last, and most importantly: the food. I have tried almost the entire menu and have never had anything I either didn't really like or that wasn't prepared well, despite my tastes not aligning. The spring rolls are perfect. The miso soup, perfect. My favourite dish, the Chen-Tu Vegetables, are completely delectable. I've eaten mushrooms here that are rich + succulent and feel illegal. For lunch, you can get a side, soup + entree for under $7, and often you'll have leftovers for dinner or a snack. It's like heaven! I almost didn't leave my last job because it meant not being able to come here for lunch anymore. Seriously, if such hasnt become evident, I truly love Su Xing. They are by far the best veggie Chinese in Philadelphia, and maybe anywhere.
(5)
Samantha M.
S-L-O-W on the service, and the bubble tea is seriously watery and lacking in foamy goodness. The portions for lunch were decent just everything is over sauced to death. If you order anything just request the bottle of sauce on the side.
(2)
Liz H.
I love the sesame tofu with broccoli for lunch. A delicious, healthy bargain!
(4)
Derik M.
Best veg Gen Tso's. Mostly soy chicken- not a dough ball with a marble-sized piece of TVP at the center... and the sauce is always perfect. I eat here more often than anywhere when I want to hide away and decompress from a stressful morning. I aldo dig how they add some protein to Mei & Chow Fun (veggie ham or chicken).
(5)
Robert S.
I was visiting Philly and was rather tired after a full day. I didn't want to venture too far from my hotel, and wanted something easy on my wallet, so I decided to eat here after stumbling across it in what seemed like a sketch neighborhood at night. I had the scallion pancakes for my appetizer, and the spicy Szechuan style tofu. Delicious. So delicious, in fact, I returned two more times during my several day stay. The television going on in the corner is always set on something strangely entertaining. Go for it!
(4)
Erin F.
Today my fortune reads "Good things ar ecoming to you in due course of time." Here is what did not come to me in due course of time today: my #21 Broccoli w/Garlic Sauce lunch special from Su Xing, ordinarily my second favorite vegetarian Chinese food place in town. Waited 20 minutes for a menu, the hostess had to take our order, waited another 25 minutes for food and by the time it got to our table, it was 12:55 and I had to be back at my desk by 1:00. It is 1:16 now and I quickly consumed 2/3rds of the lukewarm contents of my sad styrofoam-housed to-go lunch that was meant to be eaten over laughs and chuckles with my friend Stephen S and tossed the rest in the trash. It's sad when somewhere you like drops the ball. A bonus star to the perma-hostess who was apologetic and also someone I just happen to like, but come on Su Xing. You're better than that.
(2)
Vanessa W.
I was looking for some good, inexpensive food close to the Academy of Music, enter Su Xing House. I am not a vegetarian, but loved this place. I had my first positive tofu experience here, after having it before and hating it. I got the veggie lo mein and it was delicious. The place was busy on Sunday night but not packed. Seemed to be several locals, so I could tell I was in a good place. A great middle of the road/casual option in an upscale area. Two thumbs up!
(5)
Nicey J.
Delish , the tea and water kept flowing , the food ( sesame tofu & schezuan? Tofu) was delish also tried the singapore noodles.. ... All in all everything was tasty I went 2 days in a row after bikram which def means I'll be back being a non meat eater I can appreciate the vast amounts of vegetarian fare
(4)
Suzanne H.
Fantastic little local find; I wouldn't have even noticed it if friends hadn't brought me. Amazing, fresh, flavorful vegetarian food (loved the sauteed eggplant), funky chinese-kitzchy atmosphere, great decor, and packed at lunch. Well worth it when downtown, whether you're a veggie or not. PS went again 2 weeks ago; it was again fabulous - the seaweed cakes were bland but interesting. I love that they serve brown rice - so rare. And as I was eating alone this time, I really appreciated the chef's flexibility in mixing up a couple of the ingredients so I could get a whole healthy meal, with the dark greens, shitaake mushrooms and tofu I was craving.
(4)
Caver B.
Excellent vegetarian Chinese food. And it's not often you get to say "vegetarian Chinese food". The menu is varied, although unlike a similar place in Hong Kong it doesn't have quite as many sea vegetables, other than a few different seaweeds. It does have a lot of different mushrooms, and they are all delicious. I had the #22, Dried Bean Curd w. Spiral Seaweed, my Wife had the #10 As You Wish, Bean curd skin filled golden mushroom, black mushroom, dried bean curd and Chinese celery served w. water chestnut and asparagus. Both were great, although in this case I think my Wife won. The restaurant itself is very nice and surprisingly low key and upscale looking. A great, inexpensive find.
(5)
Lauren H.
Praise: 1). Great selection of decadent fried food and nutritious tofu hot pots. The scallion pancakes are tasty (though not the best I've ever had), the spring rolls are awesome, and the sesame tofu and sweet and sour soy nuggets are wonderful. Their tofu/soy protein meals are breaded and fried, so they are super crispy. The vegetable wrap and hot pots are recommended for guests who enjoy milder dishes without a lot of sauce. If you want better vegetarian Chinese food (consistently, with variety), you'll have to hoof it to Chinatown. 2) Love the lunch special. Best deal in the surrounding area for a heaping load of vegetarian food (one soup, one appetizer, and a medium-sized entree with brown rice). Caveats: 1). Since most of the tofu and soy protein dishes are dusted with flour/corn-starch and fried before adding to a thick sauce, this is a dangerous place to get takeout from (the breading will soften and lose its crispiness). Moreover, reheating tends to ruin the dish. Thus, this is best used as an eat-in restaurant. 2). Weirdly, the last two times I have gone there, the food/service hasn't been as good as it once was. Less than responsive service, cold spring roll with the lunch special (they're normally freshly fried), and the spring roll served with the entree (so that it started to soak up the other sauce). Not great. They also have sent us the wrong dish in the past, but I had forgiven that until recently since the food is usually so tasty.
(4)
Rebecca C.
This place is amazing!!! It's a favorite stop for mine and the lunch special is a great deal! Soup, entree and a side dish for under $10!!! it doens't get much better than that in Center City! My favorite is their Seitan dishes, always tasty! this Afternoon, i was greeted with a smile, seated in a lovely booth, and immediately brought water and tea! -A fantastic start... Followed by Miso Soup, General Tso's Seitan (Veg) and an eggroll! One word of caution...the place is vegetarian...so if you, like the guys in the booth behind ours are looking for meat or fish...you might want to go elsewehere...of course you could try something new and discover that this food is tastier! and they have bubble tea!
(5)
Anpan W.
Great vegetarian options, inexpensive lunch options, good service.
(5)
Rick D.
Stopped in recently for a quick lunch while in the neighborhood. Great meal! Really big menu, with lots of standard side dish options. My lunch was served VERY quickly & was quite good. Plus, it was super cheap (entree, soup, brown rice and side was about $8). I'd recommend Su Xing House to anyone looking for a high quality, inexpensive vegan option in Center City.
(4)
Jing G.
3.5.. Met with a friend for a lunch date. It's a vegetarian spot that unlike many other vegetarian Chinese spots aren't too big on making soy products fit the bill of being meat. Look, if I don't eat meat, it probably has something to do with the fact that I don't like the taste of it, either. Why one would try to make soy taste like beef or anything else is beyond me. Anyway, besides my mini-rant there, this spot is pretty good. I liked the hot and sour soup here. Good, creative vegetarian dishes, but alas, like many a Chinese joint, can be very oily.
(3)
Urban L.
I'm very disappointed to give only 2 stars to a vegetarian restaurant. But I am also disappointed because my meal was mediocre. I had high hopes of loving the food at this restaurant which is so close to my hotel -- and had to give up the imagined future of eating there often during the week I'm in Philly. I ordered the tofu and eggplant hotpot. In a word, it was bland. There's something strange that happens when my brain sees a sauce that looks flavorful (rich brown color, bubbling away) but my taste buds are left waiting for the flavor. It had no taste at all. The waitress never asked me about spiciness, so I wonder if they assessed my palate at a zero? Or is this dish always devoid of flavor? On the good side, the ingredients were fresh and plentiful -- tofu, eggplant, green peppers, mushrooms. The sauce...might as well have not been there. Service was fine. More efficient than friendly. I am grateful that I was able to order w/o worrying about non-veg ingredients. When I lived in Boston, that would have been enough. After more than a decade in Seattle, my expectations for flavorful vegetarian food are high.
(2)
Christopher R.
I have no idea how I have gone this long without visiting Su Xing. With the delicious food and unbeatable price of the lunch special (under $7.50 including tax), I may be returning on a weekly basis. The hot & soup soup had a fantastic kick. It cleared out my sinuses immediately. I cannot be certain if it was the best I've had, but it was certainly far above average. The spring roll was, however, about average. What did stand out was the rich, earthy flavor of the mushrooms inside. For my main dish I had potato and cauliflower in yellow curry. The vegetables were very tender. The flavor of the curry was delicate, with a subtle spice. Excellent. Very good first impression from Su Xing. I think it could easily get a fifth star after I have had the opportunity to try a few more dishes.
(4)
Susanna K.
I got the sesame seitan lunch special to go. The portions were huge (enough for 2 lunches), although I would've liked a bit more broccoli, and as other people have said, the seitan was a little too crispy. But, overall, it was delicious (as were the braised mushrooms). At $8.00 for an entree, soup and a side that will last you two meals, it can't be beat.
(4)
Tofu Robo T.
Chinese vegetarian is not a new idea by far, but it's nice to see one outside of the Chinatown bubble. Su Xing is nestled in between avenue of the arts and Rittenhouse on offbeat Sansom St, which is almost the perfect place, really. All of the food is vegetarian, of course. Vegans will appreciate that the menus were annotated by hand to indicate which dishes also contain chicken eggs but I would say 90% or more of the menu is totally vegan. Get ready to try something new! Some of the dishes will sound familiar as the menu features the classics... but most of the dishes are creative originals. The words "chicken", "ham", or "faux" do not appear on the menu. They call it like it is so you better know your stuff. Seitan is only named once... most of the dishes are called gluten this way, gluten that way, sliced soy protein loaf, etc. but only the brave will try "Sliced Jelly w/ Fresh Mushroom". This reviewer is usually less courageous, but maybe i will get there someday! It's worth pointing out that it is a great bargain at lunch time with soup, appetizer, & entree under $10 including tax & tip!
(4)
rachel k.
This is still our go-to Chinese restaurant and is by far my favorite vegetarian Chinese place in the city. The food is wonderful and rarely greasy, I can easily decipher what I'm eating (unlike some of the we-deep-fry-everything places in China Town) and the servers are attentive and kind. Since my last review, I've brought many non-vegetarians here and they've had nothing but good things to say (between bites, that is).
(5)
jennifer c.
To be honest, I thought this place did not live up to the hype. I ordered the vegetables, tofu & glass noodles in a hot pot and it was a little bland. The portion size was large for the price, but the flavor was flat. The server was very attentive and the staff was friendly, and you get free tea.
(3)
Jason L.
Fantastic vegetarian food joint. General Tsao's was a sweet tasty delight. Veggie Rolls were also great. Will definitely go back again when I don't feel like eating meat~
(4)
cc c.
I wonder if anyone on here remembers Harmony, before it became New Harmony a few years ago. If you miss the old Harmony then you'll want to go to Su Xing. If you don't, you'll still want to go to Su Xing because it's the best veggie Chinese food in Philly. Or New York. Or anywhere else for that matter. I eat here all the time. Some of my favorites are the triple shredded in garlic sauce, the steamed dumplings, the tofu skin with two kinds mushroom (this takes longer but is so yummy). I also love the seaweed salad but it's not the Japanese style. The atmosphere is surprisingly upscale considering that the food is cheap and fast. Which includes being clean. No bugs, no old food on the floor, no filthy bathrooms. Sad that I have to mention that but, well... Hint: get one of the booths upstairs by the window if you can.
(5)
Erin G.
I've wanted to visit Su Xing House, a Chinese vegetarian restaurant, since it opened on Sansom street almost a year ago. Today was the first time I was nearby and hungry! The restaraunt itself is lovely with two tastefully decored floors (and one sparkly chandelier), both dimly light and quiet. The absence of jangly music was almost offputting in it rairity, but I enjoyed it. I ordered the slightly ominous sounding Triple Stredded in Garlic, a combination of crispy thinly sliced tofu, crispy vegetable protien, and straw mushrooms. I would have prefered a more flavorful mushroom, and it certainly didn't warrant the spicy chili indication it held on the menu. I did like the addition of red pepper ribbons and fresh sprouts, the sauce that was both sweet and salty, and the great textures in the dish. My friend Beth ordered the sweet and sour soy nuggets, deep fried, pillowy balls with red and green peppers, swimming in sweet and sour sauce. I didn't get a nibble, but she (omnivour that she is) thought it was tasty. Su Xing has lovely service, and extensive menu based on traditional chinese vegetarian foods (rather than vegetarian orange "beef" etc.) and they offer brown rice - a plus with me. I'll be back to this dimly lit oasis in the middle of hectic downtown.
(4)
Sofia S.
Great place, great food! I love the ambiance and I frequent this place almost every week. You get tons of food for such a small price too!! The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because the servers could use a little more help in customer service.
(4)
Stephanie P.
I was traveling to Philadelphia for an overnight and I was looking for a new place to eat. I saw these reviews and thought I'd give Su Xing House a try. I am so glad I did! I actually ended up ordering from here twice - once to take home. The food is truly delicious. I got the Sesame tofu the first time. I ordered it with Hot and Sour soup and a spring roll. The soup was pretty good and the spring roll was a typical spring roll. The Sesame tofu however was fabulous! Absolutely the best tofu dish I had ever had. The second time I ordered the Gen Tso tofu and was equally impressed. The only issue I had was when I got home I was eating my soup and there was metal in it! An actual piece of metal the size of a staple. I have no idea why or what happened, and it's the only reason this restaurant didn't get five stars. Even WITH this unfortunate incident I would still eat there again. Truly a fantastic meal. I'm not a vegetarian, but I am usually not a fan of Chinese meat. This was a perfect substitute!
(4)
Kate C.
Su Xing is my favorite lunch spot in center city, and a contender for my favorite Chinese vegetarian restaurant in Philly (yes, there are actually quite a few -- ah, the modern luxury of choice.) For $6 or $7 at lunch, you get: *your choice of approximately twenty entrees (I am drawn to the seitan options, myself) *choice of soup (love the hot and sour) *choice of side (options include spring roll, seaweed, corn, and a bunch of other stuff) *abundant brown rice, and *endless refills of jasmine tea (which tastes like perfume to me, but lots of people love it). The amount of food for the price is, frankly, ridiculous. And then, if that wasn't good enough, Su Xing is actually pretty attractive inside with lots of dark wood...and since they knocked down a wall and opened up the dining room, there's plenty of seating too. Oh, and the staff is friendly. Really, what more could you ask for?
(5)
Abhijit G.
I debated between 2 and 3...2.5 would be appropriate The decor is ok...but they face a parking lot...so guess what u see out the windows...cars and blue neon signs! The spring rolls and sea weed pancakes were good...although the pancakes were dripping oil by gallons,, The triple shredded in garlic was ok...but after a while I couldn't take the soy flavor anymore...the genereal tso's vege...well, we barely touched it..and didn't bother to get a box...go figure Everyone else seems to love this place..may be you will...and may be if u r a vegetarian..this is IT....but if u like ur meat..get real...u can do better than Su Xing...MUCH better!
(3)
Josh L.
Good service, and it would have been better (for our likings) if they left the teapot on our table than coming back (in time) often to refill our cups. The veggie food was not bad, but a lit too western style - nothing wrong about this but we were looking for oriental buddhism inspired veggie food. Price was not bad and they would deliver within at least center city area.
(3)
Lan G.
This is the place I go to when I have a crave for healthy Chinese food. My coworkers and I have been ordering their lunch special over the last couple of years. The quality of their food is outstanding, plus they give you a lot of food! I always make 2 meals out of 1 lunch order! My favorite is definitely the Asparagus with Wheat Gluten in Brown Sauce
(4)
Ck P.
We eat lunch here a few times a month. The owner is very professional and this place has received several business awards. We generally go after 1:30 to miss the lunch crowd and we've never had a problem with service. We prefer the upper room and it's great If you can get one of two booths by the window to watch the street scene. They have lunch specials from $6.50 - $8.25 which include soup (my favorite is Miso...& it's not very salty!), side dish (lots of choices, but I get a spring roll -not greasy) and white or brown rice (brown, of course!) plus your entree! It's a deal. Everything we've ordered has been fresh, tasty and well prepared. Just had the Sesame Seitan, which comes with broccoli and it was delicious (as usual). They are open for dinner and this would be great place to eat before going to the Wilma Theater or the Academy of Music (even Susanne Roberts Theater, but that's a few blocks further). Note: Lunch time is very crowded, so I'd suggest going at 11:30 or after 1:30 during the day. Also, this is good, comfortable place for singles to eat. There are some tables on the upper room that we see singles in all the time. We've even seen singles in booths when we ate during the off hours for a late lunch after 2:00. Even if you're not a vegetarian, this is good place to season your palette with some good vegetarian food. Love it!
(4)
Suzy G.
The first time I was here, it was with a large group. Service was terrific, and everyone was intrigued by all the choices. I ordered the Sesame seitan which is soybean protein with a sweet brown sauce and sesame seeds, it was incredibly delicious! Second time I went, I ordered the lunch special As-You-Wish, which was basically bean curd skin filled with golden mushrooms, black mushrooms, dried bean curd and Chinese celery served w. water chestnut and asparagus. The lunch special also comes with a side soup, and rice and a choice of side dish for a really cheap price. The As-You-Wish was delicious and different. Being a fan of mushrooms, I also ordered a side of braised mushrooms too. You can also order brown rice, instead of just plain white rice too. I'm not a vegetarian by any means, but if I had to become one, I would go here all the time!
(5)
Lauren D.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I was a vegetarian. Actually, that's a lie. It was about 2 years ago and I was living in Philadelphia but still. I feel like I might as well have been kept prisoner on the Death Star considering yesterday was my first excursion to this amazing vegetarian oasis. First of all, the decor is reallllly pretty. I was kind of surprised because it's unassuming from the outside. Lots of flowers, gold, and a fair amount of tables to choose from. In terms of the menu? It's huge. My friend (who has been there countless times) and I took at least 10 minutes analyzing and trying to pick our meal. As appetizers, I went with the seaweed salad and him the spring roll. The seaweed salad wasn't what I was expecting, that's for sure. It actually looked like real seaweed, as opposed to the typical translucent kind found in most Asian restaurants. It also wasn't in a ginger dressing but instead contained cilantro. It was different, but in a good way (although I do remain partial to what I can only assume is the less healthy variety). For the main dish, I chose the As-You-Wish (fried bean curd skin filled golden mushroom, black mushroom, dried bean curd and Chinese celery) with sauteed pea pod leaves. The portion was HUGE and super tasty. The pea pod leaves had just the right amount of garlic and didn't look too oily. My friend ordered the Vegetable Heaven (stir-fried string beans, braised tofu and Chinese eggplant in a garlic sauce) and was also a fan. I managed to snag a piece of the eggplant and a string bean so I can also confirm the yumminess, although I think mine was the winner of the meal. No dessert due to being full of delicious food, but I will make it a point to try some next time. We didn't turn down the blood oranges that came with the bill, though :D Service was extremely attentive, although almost to the point of being overly so. The complimentary hot tea was never lacking, and our water glasses were constantly being refilled. We never wanted for anything, although we did have to ask for chop sticks. Prices were extremely fair, too. It averaged out to be about $16 a person, which I can't complain about for a huge good meal in Rittenhouse. I will definitely be back here sooner than later
(5)
Mallory P.
I fell in love with this place when I worked down the street and could spend a relaxing, hour long lunch break with my $6 lunch special. Seriously, my dessert island, all time favorite meal might just be hot and sour soup, a veggie spring roll, and general tso's tofu. On top of the excellent food and prices, the place is a legitimately nice restaurant. The decor, staff, and atmosphere are all great. It's probably best that I don't work nearby anymore, because I might ruin it for myself. It's such a delightful treat whenever I'm in Rittenhouse.
(5)
Anne H.
So glad to find another restaurant as awesome as Kingdom of Vegetarians/New Harmony, and closer, too! Dating a vegetarian now less annoying. This all vegetarian place was the perfect place to have lunch on a Sunday. We were the only ones there. The boyfriend got a spring roll which was crispy and delicious. That was followed by Singapore noodles and General Tso's tofu. The tofu was PERFECT! Crispy on the outside, pillow-soft on the inside. Both dishes could have been a little spicier, but were delicious nonetheless. I can tell this will be a new favorite spot for years to come. Will enjoy trying every item on their meu. Low price range is also a plus.
My first time at Su Xing. I'm not a vegetarian, but am vegetable/soy friendly. It was a pretty awesome lunch, and for $10 a person (incl tax, tip and more water and hot tea than I could shake a stick at), an amazing deal. I had the General Tso's Veg. with brown rice, hot/sour soup and spring roll. I'm not sure what "veg." meant exactly, but it was very tasty. Seitan maybe? The spring roll, was, as other reviewers have written, exactly as one would expect. The veg. was spicy and crispy. I'm still thinking about it, and lunch was a few days ago. It's not exactly healthy since it's fried. Maybe next time I'll try something unfried. Sam had the tofu and eggplant with garlic sauce. Also delicious, though extremely hot (temperature hot, not spicy hot) when it first arrived. Service was as good as everyone says and I will definitely be back. If only there were such varied/awesome vegetarian options at more establishments, I might consider giving up the meat.
(4)
Michelle W.
Good place for vegetarian!
(4)
Josh F.
Loved every meal I have ever had here! Brought a few co-workers in, whom have not had too much vegetarian fare, and they were very impressed by the mock dishes.
(4)
Secret V.
Of the 6 or 7 veg Chinese restaurants in Philly, Su Xing is the most different: they're a totally vegan establishment but don't do the fake meat thing. Lunch specials are filling and interesting--they've got some really unique items--but your best bet is to go with a big group for family-style so that everybody can try a bunch of different stuff.
(4)
Rashada S.
Great place, great food its been about 5 years since weve been indulging at su xing. Weve had parties, meetings etc its great every time. My kids absolutely love it. Our favs are singapore noodles, general tsos veg, veggie, spring rolls, veg heaven, eggplant with tofu, soups, sauteed green beans & kale I could go on and on. You will be amazed vegetarian or not. Bubble tea is great too. Now Ii have the taste after this review I just may go for lunch, who cares about the 30 minute drive. Hehe
(5)
Eran M.
(vegetarian / vegan review) LOVE IT. :-) Tasty food, large portions, huge selection, attentive service - and cheap! I ate there with two hungry friends - we ordered two appetizers (steamed pot stickers and fried tofu with cashews) and two entres (chow mei fun Singapore style and tofu kung pao) along with brown rice, and although the food was delicious, we didn't finish it all. The whole thing cost less than $30 (before tip). This really is a vegetarian's heaven (well, assuming it's a vegetarian who enjoyed Asian-style food). Even non vegetarians seem to enjoy themselves here. And they have bubble tea! Really, what more could I ask for? :-)
(5)
Casey K.
definitely coming back to this place, and dragging a few friends with me. what a fun find on a street riddle with douchey looking clubbers. this place does legit vegetarian fare and in generous portion sizes. the food is good and relatively authentic (not so much chinese, as chinese american). the service is decent the prices are average and but the whole experience was just simply more than i expected. thanks su xing!
(5)
Jen A.
I love this place. The food is excellent! You will not be disappointed!
(5)
Marc B.
I am a carnivore to the bone, and usually don't like vegetarian dishes that try to act meaty, but Su Xing House is changing all that. Their General Tso's "chicken" is far superior in flavor and texture than real Gen. Tso's chicken at most Chinese restaurants. If you're trying to convert a meat-eater, this should be your ground zero. There's a wide selection of "meat" and "fish" dishes that'll convince even the most die-hard carnies that veggie based foods can constitute a real meal. The portions are huge, and the leftovers reheat well.
(5)
Brittany M.
I've ordered from here enough times in the past few weeks to consider myself an expert in Su Xing cuisine. It's tough to find a better deal for the quality of food they offer. Their veggie lo-mein is a hit with me -- a huge portion that doesn't skimp on the veggies. Their General Tso's tofu is also delicious, and I don't even like tofu all that much. Last night I ordered the As-You-Wish, which, while stuffed with mushrooms, felt a bit chewy. Maybe that's how bean curd tastes in general - don't know, never tried before - but I have a feeling that the steam from the delivery container made this happen. Also ordered the cauliflower and potato curry, which was fan-freakin-tastic and steaming hot when delivered. As other reviewers have mentioned, their lunch deals are a steal.
(4)
Chris H.
I have always enjoyed everything I've ordered at Su Xing House. I most often visit to get take-away, but I also find the staff friendly and the service prompt when I dine in. I especially enjoy the seitan dishes (which are also relished by the omnivores among my friends) and the eggplant tofu in garlic sauce. BYOB.
(4)
petra l.
This is one of the best places to eat at if you are downtown. I make a point of going at least twice a month and love it every single time! Its prices are absolutely convenient, the quality of food is excellent and the amount is actually very generous. Did I say love it, Love It, LOVE IT!!!?
(5)
Mia D.
Maybe it's the forever-smiling staff or the gargantuan painting of wading horses on the wall, but Su Xing House is really special. Please do yourself a favor and try the fried rice cake appetizer. I have daydreams about its sticky sweetness. The menu here is pretty huge, and usually I find that to be a bit daunting, but everything I've sampled is amazing. Whether you're into tofu, fresh vegetables or seitan, Su Xing will definitely have something for you.
(5)
Lulu B.
The "As You Wish" dish is the BEST, if you like mushrooms and tofu!!!! Delicious. And they offer it for lunch special too.
(5)
Karen B.
i've only had good experiences here, and this is my little family's go-to place for takeout, even though we're not vegetarians. love the chen-tu vegetables, "dragon and phoenix" and "ebony and ivory." bonus points for staying open during the multiple blizzards of 2010 and for having staff that didn't give my posse the stink-eye for tracking snow through the restaurant and draping our wet gear all over the place. su xing gets the kb seal of approval.
(4)
Devon R.
Delishhhh veg chinese. Go before three on weekdays for the lunch special, which could easily be two complete meals for under $8. The staff is the sweetest, and super attentive so your cup is never empty. There is never a wait, so you'll likely get a huge booth whenever you come.
(5)
Stevie S.
I absolutely love Su Xing! It is my absolute favorite lunch spot in center city and I usually eat there 3 or 4 times a month. Su Xing is a cozy, 100% vegeterian Chinese resturant with a shockingly inexpensive lunch menu. Nowhere have I had tofu cooked as wonderfully! I really can't say enough good things about this restaurant. The staff is very kind, there is plenty of seating (no wait!) and unlimited free hot tea! The dinner menu is a bit more expensive so I would recommend an introductory lunch trip if possible.
(5)
Ben Y.
Very quick and friendly service. The food was quite tasty, especially the Hot and Sour soup. And it's nice to have a Chinese place just for Vegetarians. My one recommendation is NOT to over order. After we got a cup of soup, the onion cakes and sesame noodles (which we thought was a side), we were already completely full. And that was before our two entrees came. We ended up eating only about half of our food. The Mango Tea Tapioca is excellent.
(4)
Lauren O.
I was in desperate need of a bubble tea...picture Philadelphia as the Sahara and me in search of a rumored oasis complete with tapioca pearls. My fiance and I walked in mid-day so it was totally empty and I was able to have a much-coveted bubble tea in my hands within 5 minutes. I got mango and it was pretty good but definitely not life-altering. I'll give them another try and I'll give the menu a whirl next time too...looks promising
(3)
Dana B.
I had wanted to try Su Xing for months since I had passed by it numerous times while walking down Sansom Street. One day after work, I met up with two friends who readily agreed to give it a try with me. The menu is entirely vegetarian and has plenty of options to satisfy anyone, and even though I am a carnivore, I REALLY enjoyed my sesame tofu. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Ali J.
Conveniently located at 15th and Sansom, its one of the few, if not only vegetarian Chinese restaurant in this part of town, in case you don't feel like making the hike to Chinatown on your lunch break. Their lunch special is a pretty good deal. Soup, side, entree, and rice for $7.50, but choose your sides wisely because it comes in those styerfoam to- go containers, you know the ones that have little pockets for each side and stuff can get mixed around. Don't order the "Veg. salad" because its literally iceberg lettuce, one slice of tomato and two slices of cucumbers that fall into your entree and then you're left with a warm salad dipped in General Tso's sauce. I should have got the spring roll. The white rice is ok, not sticky though. Maybe next time I'll get the brown. I also got miso soup, but you really can't go wrong with that, its pretty standard. The General Tso's Veg. is actually pretty good. Its fried gluten but its not the doughy kind of fried, its just lightly battered. The sauce is good, but I was expecting it to be hotter since it had a chili pepper next to it on the menu. It has actual chili's in it, but they really make no difference. So if you're in the mood for Chinese, but don't want to make the hike or have to worry about what surface its cooked on (since it's all vegetarian), try Su Xing House. But don't expect to be blown away. Its not amazing, but not terrible either.
(3)
michael j.
I'm not a vegetarian but their General Tso's Tofu is more delicious than the chicken variety at other places. No matter what your dietary default is I bet you'll like this place.
(5)
Kathryn M.
I stored this place in the back of my head a while ago and finally had the opportunity to get dinner here with a friend. We were too late for the lunch special, but it is an amazing bargain. I am another omnivore who can attest to delectable collection of foodstuffs that is veggie Chinese. I ordered their sesame seitan with broccoli dish. My friend ordered their veggie lo mein. The portions are extremely generous and delicious. I especially enjoyed the thick and successfully spiced brown sauce that drenched my mock meat. It's a little more costly than neighboring veggie Chinese spots, but well worth it.
(4)
Milk W.
Excellent Chinese Veg in the heart of Center City. You cannot beat the lunch specials, which are priced well and all come with soup and side dish. The kale with dried tofu is killer!! Dinner is quite good as well!
(4)
Kori M.
I stumbled upon this place by accident. I was hungry one day in between classes and randomly chose to roam down Sansom. I saw Su Xing and stopped to peak at their menu. I was very excited to find an all vegetarian Chinese place. I had the garlic eggplant with brown rice and a side of fruit. I was totally surprised by the lovely green tea that was included with it. I was very satisfied and happy for the $8 I spent. I sat there and read a book and enjoyed my meal. I had this adorable older gentleman as my server who was super cute and friendly and polite. I have yet to find a chance to go back, but I I can soon
(5)
yu s.
this place does have fantastic lunch specials, i get the general tso's veg, miso soup, spring roll and a side of rice for under ten bucks. the waitstaff is really friendly and they're wonderfully manical with the tea-filling (great jasmine tea too by the way), i never have an empty cup. plus their veggies are always fresh and they give great portions. one thing i do want to note, if you're getting takeout, you'll definitely have to wait at least twenty minutes (especially if you're getting mock), so be prepared to wait a bit...i'm always staring at that horse painting on the wall with the little lite-brite bulbs in it...semi-fascinating.
(4)
Dawn S.
In town for a training course and this place was recommended by local. Ordered the hot & sour soup when I normally always get miso at other places. AWESOME! Spicy and yummy and very fresh ingredients. I'm big on crunchy texture so when the springroll came and it was PERFECT in color and hot and CRUNCHY this girl was in HEAVEN. Last I ordered the sesame tofu... did I mention this place is vegetarian? I'm SO far from being a Vegan. But this dish knocked my socks off! They serve it on a bed of broccoli with this light orangy sauce. It wasn't even an issue that there was no meat. THE TEXTURE OF THE TOFU IS AMAZING!! Crunchy, yummy and covered with sesame seeds. It comes with brown or white rice... the brown was sticky in the BEST way. HUGE servings. I'm here for 2 weeks. I will be back.
(5)
Meredith K.
Today was my first time at Su Xing, and it definitely will not be my last. When I entered the restaurant, I found it to be a little dark and not very atmospheric; however, my mind was completely changed when I was led by the waitress into the back dining room. It was beautiful, with tasteful decor and furnishings. The large windows on either side of the room provided a generous amount of warm light, which complemented the marigold-colored (hooray for Crayola!) walls beautifully. I was seated in a comfortable booth by the front window and was immediately served hot green tea, ice-cold water, and a menu. I read through the menu while I waited for my friend and found a plethora of lunch specials on the back. When my friend arrived, we ordered (it's his favorite vegetarian Chinese restaurant, so he was very clear about what he was going to order). I got the Home-Style Bean Curd Lunch Special, which came with choice of white or brown rice, soup, and side... a ton of food for $6.95! I chose brown rice, hot and sour soup, and a spring roll. My friend ordered the Sesame Tofu with the same sides. Our soup was delivered a few minutes later, and it was the best Hot and Sour soup I've had yet. I'm not usually a fan of Hot and Sour, but since my boyfriend loves it I decided to give it another try. It was thick, spicy, and flavorful. Really yummy. About seven minutes after that, we got our meals. I bit into the spring roll, which was served with delicious duck sauce (my favorite), and it was like a taste of heaven. It was crispy, without the usual grease that you get at most Chinese places, and amazingly delicious. I might even go as far as to say it was the best spring roll I've had in years. My entree, though not as spicy as I usually like, was very tasty. The large pieces of bean curd were served with sauteed carrots, snow peas, and squash in a brown gravy. Although I enjoyed my meal, I tried some of my friend's and wished that I ordered that. It was easily the best tofu I've ever had. It was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. I was jealous. The food was delicious, but probably the best part of the meal was when we got the check... less than $15 for two of us. And we left stuffed. I would highly recommend this place before any of the other veggie restaurants in Chinatown.
(5)
Laura S.
I ordered delivery the other day, and it was great. The food came quickly, it was inexpensive, and very good. I especially like the General Tso's tofu and the cold sesame noodles.
(4)
Elliot R.
There are veggie Chinese places that make up fake meat dishes out of tofu and protein; Yuck! Yawn! Then there is Su Xing. They have dozens of dishes without meat or fake meat. They have the best lunch specials in town: something like 8 bucks gets you soup, a springroll and a substantial main dish. the Schezwan tofu is amazing! The kale and dried bean curd as well. Take a friend and get a few dishes, you won't regret it. (p.s. the only bad dish I've had there has been seaweed. everything else: great)
(5)
Kathy L.
I thought the food was really good. We ordered take out. Based on the reviews of other yelpers, we ordered the asparagus & gluten, and as-you-wish. Both were good, but we thought the homestyle tofu was the most delicious dish we ordered. We also got the scallion pancakes. I've had plenty of tsong-yo-bing in Taiwan. These were a little dry - and not very doughy/flaky - but ok. This totaled $40. I think they increased prices a little since updating their website menu, but otherwise good (relatively healthy) food option. And of course they deliver!
(4)
Arthur D.
Surprisingly faithful to "Chinese" in the name, but not as well done as the reviews led me to expect I went there for lunch by myself, because my friends can't live without meat for even one meal. That's fine. The first thing that struck me was how almost detailed the interior was, which I did not expect for a Sansom St establishment. It was atmospheric, but too dark for lunch - I even had trouble reading the menu, and I noticed another patron, a man in his early 30s, struggling a little as well (surprisingly many other single diners here). The soup was fairly quick and I was struck by the lotus root, which while a bit thinner than my mom makes it is almost perfectly traditional without shocking the average American diner. The string bean/bean curd entree was only fair. It reveals the clientele is probably very similar to that of the average "American" Chinese restaurant. It was dry but covered in a ton of oyster sauce. The portion is not big enough by itself, but the side dish of seaweed makes up for it. Maybe you can ask for the sauce on the side, or light? Picking the lunch special proved the right choice, or I'd have gone hungry. Well, a few hours later, I guess I am. At $9 including tips, it's very reasonable for a downtown sit-down, but I value my health and won't be back often. Note: I keep changing the rating, so I'll stop. The food is quite good and lets you experience some traditional Chinese cooking, so just expect not too big a meal, and tell them to lay off the sauce if you want a healthy meal.
(3)
Jessica W.
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! Although, I must say- it's better to eat at the restaurant than to have it delivered. It's still good when it's delivered, but not quite AS good. I always get Spring Rolls and Vegetable Lo Mein or Pan Fried Noodles. My boyfriend loves the General Tso Tofu. The food is always super hot and definitely satisfies that Chinese food craving. We aren't even vegetarian and we love this place.
(4)
Aaron S.
Dude... Seriously... Best Vegan Chinese food I've had in the city and its affordable!!! My fiance and I go here at least once a week and we never get tired of their amazing food. I'm usually easy to please when it comes to chinese so every time I go I get their Sesame Seitan. I HIGHLY recommend it! My fiance likes a bit of a variety she usually gets either the Hot Pot, Chow Mei Fun Singapor Style, and Soy Protein with Broccoli and Brown Sauce. She recommends these highly! Also for an app get the spring rolls or the vegetable dumplings. Dine in or eat out the food is amazing! Also their delivery is FAST!
(5)
Hayley E.
Wow! This place Rocks! Almost everything is vegan and it is in center city! No need to go into China town, which is nice because it's slightly closer to everything else. It was a semi formal mini restaurant. Very dark and quiet, but cute. The service was nice. They weren't up in your face bothering you, constantly asking you how your meal was, which is appealing for me at least. Sometimes once I get my food, I like to enjoy it in peace. They were still very good with their service though. As soon as I sat down,vey were serving me a cup already filled with hot tea. As soon as I was out of tea, they were filling it up again. I was amazed by the service speed of the food. Once I made my order, I was getting myself organized at my table and was about to open up my book when the soup came out. It was really hot, so I played with it to cool it Down and took two bites. As soon as I took my third bite out soup, my main course was ready. Some people may not like to have it all out at once, but I like it that way. I was amazed by how fast they were. And the quality of the food was great too! They didn't just rush through it to give me crappy food. I got the Setian Sesame, and it was out of this world! It was so crispy and delicious! I got the lunch portion, which seemed like a dinner portion to me....but hey, I'm not complaining. For he amount I got, it was dirt cheap. I would most definitely come here again! I wobbled out with no regrets! That was the best vegan go to Chinese restaurant I've been to so far!
(5)
Vicki H.
This place has an awesome lunch special. Expect to get a great meal for under $7 (plus tip). I've had both the lotus root and hot and sour soups and both are tasty. I found the hot and sour to be a bit more flavorful (peppery, as another reviewer noted), but I found it to be a little bit thick, which I wasn't expecting. I've had the stir fried green beans, and the general tso's veggies. The green beans were excellent, very flavorful. The general tso's veggies, at least in my order, came with seitan, as well. Definitely had that great deep-fried feel you want from a general tso's dish (diet food this is not). I like that there seem to be a breadth of things, from lighter fare to the deliciously deep-fried items. Service is attentive, and I appreciate that the meal comes with brown/white rice, spring roll, and hot tea!
(4)
Asma K.
Best Chinese Vegetarian place I have ever been to! I am a vegetarian and have been to many Chinese vegetarian restaurants in DC and none come even close to this one. Whenever I am in Philly I go there to eat. My favorites are the garlic eggplant and tofu and the sesame seitan. I even took my meat lover father and cousins there and they loved it. I wish they would expand and open up more restaurants. As for the service, I've never had bad service they have always been nice and no issues. However it is just the standard they have never done anything amazing to stand out.
(5)
Aria S.
I am obsessed with this place. My favorite vegetarian Chinese place in Chinatown, Singapore, closed down, so I gave this place a try. The first time I ordered the steak for dinner and it was delicious. I went for lunch the other day and the special was $6.75 and came with rice (no extra $ for brown), a side (spring rolls, salad, fruit), AND a soup (miso, hot & sour). All of that amazing food for $6.75! I got the kung pao tofu with peanuts and it was delicious. My friend got the "as-you-wish" which was like tofu sushi looking things? They looked amazing. Service is quick and friendly. I would order pick up about 30min ahead to stay on safe side because it's all freshly made I'm pretty sure. The interior is standard Chinese restaurant, spacious with booths. Nothing glamorous.
(5)
Hagana K.
This place is absolutely fantastic. The lunch specials are a ridiculous value if you're in the area around lunch time - 7 or 8 bucks for soup, entree and side. I always get the hot and sour soup, which isn't all that spicy, but very peppery - like lots of white pepper in the recipe. Still fantastic, just really clears out your sinuses. You really can't order anything wrong here, at least in my experience. If you're into the Americanized Chinese food, the general tsos tofu is ridiculous - beautifully deep-fried little pillows of soft tofu. The kung pao dried tofu is my favorite, although the shredded bean curd in garlic sauce is awesome too. About 1 in 3 times I get the chow mei fun singapore style, which is a curry-flavored thin noodle stir-fry with soy-protein chicken substitute. The soy-substitute chicken is... I'm not crazy about it, but I guess i'm happy it's there for the sake of complete nutrition? It certainly doesn't detract from the dish. The fried rice is really good too. For cheap, quick, Chinese vegetarian takeout, doesn't get any better in Center City.
(5)
Min P.
Meh. Not bad not great.
(3)
Emily H.
Love their lotus root soup.. unlimited tea! classy dining setup doesn't hurt either.
(4)
Douglas M.
The servers are nice but the General Tso's Veg is pretty awful. I'll try something else the next time I'm here.
(3)
Eve B.
We ate here this evening. The food was really good and the wait staff attentive. I am a vegetarian so was delighted to find this restaurant. It's very reasonably priced.
(5)
Danan R.
We came back for lunch and it was great as always. My mushroom delight with the seaweed salad and hot and sour soup was very good and I really liked the touch of sesame in the sauce. The "as you wish" rolls were fantastic with a great balance of shiitake, golden mushrooms, bean curd, and celery wrapped in a bean curd sheet, then roasted and seasoned. This is a must try here! The home style bean curd was great as well! It is made with fried tofu as an FYI. Service was great and our tea was refilled consistently.
(4)
Omnom N.
I really liked the food - especially the golden feather Knishes. We also ordered spicy tofu but u wish it was spicier. The portion sizes here are decent - definitely to be shared. Nice ambience as well. I really disliked the service though. The waitress seemed to be in a haste, grabbing menus and plates off our hands. There wasn't even a huge turnover / people waiting to even justify almost shooing us out.
(3)
Kathy Y.
I am a lifelong vegetarian and I love this place! We were visiting Philly for the weekend and was pleasantly surprised by this place. The good was delicious and the location was great. It was very reasonably priced and the service was top notch. We may have to find excuses to take the two-hour drive just to eat at this place again.
(5)
Jennifer C.
Perfect inexpensive lunch place. I always get the lunch special with the miso soup, spring roll, and either the lo mein or the sesame seitan. This time I got the hot and sour soup and seitan. Lovely large meal for a really great price. They're a little heavy handed with the corn starch in both of these items, so it's a little goopy, but everything tastes amazing. Hot and sour soup is quite spicy. I'll stick to my miso soup from now on!
(4)
Kenneth G.
We are from Reading, PA and it seems we must travel to get really great vegan food. iCreate in Pottstown, SuXing House in Philly. This little restaurant is, hands down, the best Asian food we have experienced in a long time. We were able to bring our own wine (no charge for doing so) and shared 4 entrees and 3 appetizers with friends. Every one was out of this world. Their spring rolls were nice but we especially loved the miso soup with tofu. Utterly divine. The sesame seitan with broccoli was my favorite, probably all of ours, but the other 3 entrees were also excellent. We relaxed with good friends and good food and a wine of our choosing. Perfect! The final wonderful surprise was their bill for the wonderful food, service and atmosphere! We couldn't believe the price for all this was sooo low. We just can't wait to come back!!
(5)
Cassie Z.
Delicious food! And I have meat with every meal. Tastes like authentic Chinese cooking that my mom makes. No wait, and really fast food service. Tea was awesome as well.
(5)
Sylvia O.
I didn't even know this place was vegetarian until I got a few bites in. The food is delicious! Great for lunch and huge portions. Of all of the places in Philly, their menu is the most unique and will satisfy both carnivores and vegetarians alike.
(5)
Laura L.
Food is awesome! Price is unbelievably low! Best vegetarian restaurant that I have ever been! Good to learn that they even have lunch specials on Saturday. Recommend: Pepper veggie steak - taste like real steak!! Hope they could deliver to University City too...
(5)
Laura Jill S.
YUM! Why did it take me so long to come here? Vegan Chinese food & closer to my house than New Harmony. That's a win! (Except that I think I like New Harmony better.) Our waitress seemed to either hate her job or hate us, so I made it a point to be extra super effusive: "Thank you SOOO much, I LOOOOVEEEE the soup, etc, etc." Eventually, she cracked a smile, that's also a win. I had the hot & sour soup (hotter than New Harmony's, NH's is more sour...I prefer NH's). We also had dumplings (SO good--I didn't want to share) and spring rolls. I ordered curry potatoes + peas + cauliflower (I combined 2 dishes because I wanted peas AND cauliflower, she made sure I understood they'd be charging me an extra $1 GASP!) and my dining companion ordered the General Tso's tofu. I liked his better, he liked mine better: we traded. For dessert, I had the chocolate sorbet. Good food and actually comical how angry our waitress was. I'll go back again for sure!
(4)
Sam G.
As good as vegetarian food gets. 1. Vegetarian 2. Chinese food I'm not even vegetarian! I don't care for that tbh. But this place was good. It was good. There was such creativity in the foods (for an omnivore such as myself). Mapo Tofu, some fake oyster dish, and some rice dish. I forget. Look at the photos. The prices are pretty cheap for the area. It's a steal, actually.
(4)
Ernesto Hideyokidz C.
We came here recently as a party of seven eating family style. The appeal of this place is that it was vegetarian, kosher, BYOB, and local. Sometimes when you order vegetarian dishes from non-veg Chinese places, they come out sort of lackluster, tasteless, or ugly. I liked that they made an effort to make the dishes look like meat dishes. Service was good, food came out steadily, and everything ended up being around $130 not including tip. I would recommend this place if you're having a large party (they have a separate room and you can save money with BYOB). Their menu caters to all types of eating habits. Even those who weren't huge fans of eating vegetarian or tofu meals were really impressed by the food here. Here is a breakdown of some of what we got. Appetizers: A few different soups Pan fried dumplings - have little cubes of tofu inside Potato croquettes - look like a chicken nuggets, prefect with a little salt and ketchup 2 Plates of Vegetable Stick with BBQ sauce - corn, mushroom, peppers, etc., with some kind of protein (looked like veggie sausage) Fried vegetable balls - similar to the croquettes but not breaded. I loved these Edamame - came out salted to perfection Entrees: Vegetable Lo Mein - plate is huge, don't get this for just one person General Tso Tofu - loved the sauce, got it on the side for other dishes Sesame Tofu - came with broccoli, also large enough for sharing Veg Heaven - maybe one of the less popular dishes we ordered Golden Rings - spicy and crispy, deceptively shaped like shrimp but veg obviously 2 Plates Sesame Seitan - similar to the general tso tofu, crispy and flavorful Veggie Steak - well loved at our table I obviously would recommend this place. Just a note to the management about the potato paste based dishes. Of the dishes that had this (croquettes, golden rings, etc.) the paste was a little heavy/gummy/sticky which made it difficult to chew and swallow. If it could be a little fluffier and easier going down, those dishes would have been my favorite
(5)
Becca D.
Standard Chinese cuisine, but with a vegetarian focus. The food wasn't amazing, but it definitely was good! And really, the price can't be beat. Wasn't super busy on a weekday lunch so service was quick. Definitely will be back!
(3)
Judy C.
I had dinner here and I made the mistake of ordering an appetizer AND an entree. BY the time I was done with the scallion pancakes, I was pretty much full. I ordered the Taro potato knishes as an entree. For vegetarian food, it was really cheap and they gave me a huge portion I couldn't finish. BY the time I was done, I felt like a starchy knish myself. The flavor was ok. It was like any other fast food Chinese place - laden with orange sauce. I didn't really taste any taro since everything was deeply fried. The scallion pancakes were a bit stale and hard and the sauce was boring. I would go here again if I was craving vegetarian Chinese food, but Philly has so many kinds of food I want to try, that it might take me a while to come back to Su Xing.
The Pros: The food was really good, and it was way cheap. You can seriously get stuffed here for around 15 dollars. The vegetarian prawn and vegetables was phenomenal. The Cons: The other two dishes that my friends got were just ok. Our waitress was kind of stern. Every time she came over I felt like she was going to yell at us. Maybe she was just having a bad day? I would return, the menu is so large that I want to try more things before I make up my mind completely about Su Xing House. Plus, it's so cheap, even if you don't like what you got, you don't feel like you wasted a lot of money.
(3)
Joyce T.
Spring rolls are fried to order! The sesame tofu is fantastic. The atmosphere and the lighting of the restaurant are on the weird side.
didn't miss the meat at all... scallion pancake was super-fried and a little harder than I enjoy. flavorful but a but greasy. general tso's tofu wasn't as spicy as I expected, but overall not bad. the texture of the tofu was nice, and didn't leave me wishing I'd had chicken instead. the sauce had a lot of whole peppers in it, so pay attention when you eat to avoid a mouthful of fire! vegetable my shu was flavorful and has a good mix of veg. I've typically had mu shu served with the pancakes on the side so I could assemble myself.... here they do it table-side for you. one order = 4 chinese burritos. noms. the price point is super reasonable, and this place is a nice alternative for vegetarians and those who keep kosher... and the meat-eaters won't have anything to complain about.
(3)
Dhara M.
The food here is just delicious! It is an authentic Chinese restaurant, AND it's vegetarian! Which is a very surprising and pleasant deal. I eat here every time I'm in Philly. Love this restaurant!
(5)
Lei Y.
Very good veg!!! So yummy. I believe the tofu here is a must-have. Also love the glass noodle in hot pot. I'll try more for next time going!
(5)
Cat N.
Ate here tonight with a good friend - neither of us are vegetarians, but nothing was lacking! We ordered spring rolls, the sesame seitan with broccoli, and the As-You-Wish dish. Spring rolls were delicious, but the sesame seitan was the star! SO good! The As-You-Wish was very good, as well. Very attentive with the tea and water. All in all, a solid 4 - EXCEPT... the portions (HUGE, we had lots of leftovers), the price (TOTALLY reasonable!), and the fact that there were at least 5 other dishes that I want to try! Bumped it up to a 5, and I will be BACK!
(5)
Colleen M.
I can typically find something on any menu to meet my needs. This talent comes from necessity and the overwhelming disdain for those preachy-type vegetarians. As the only non-meat eater in a group of meat loving foodies, I have adapted. So, when one of those friends decided to pick this place because I am always "so good about going with to any meat-fest in town" I was extremely excited (and a little nervous that she wouldn't be happy with the selection). Let me tell you, this place didn't disappoint. I had never heard of Su Xing House but I could not have been happier with the service, the menu selection or the food. The General Tso was amazing. The scallion pancakes were to die for. My friend was equally happy with the food and even took her left overs home for another taste. I can't wait to go back to try more of the menu options. So many were mouth watering I had trouble narrowing down my options.
(5)
Vinny P.
The food at Su Xing House will not blow your mind. What is great about it is that you are able to have all those wonderful feelings of eating chinese food (from your childhood) but without the meat. Most (if not all) of their stuff seems to be vegan. Perhaps they throw in some egg or butter somewhere but for the most part, you're good. The price point is insanely low for this section of the city. There aren't many places with a lunch special like this one. For a low price, you get soup, entree, rice and a spring roll, with all the tea and duck sauce you can drink. On a recent trip, I was pleasantly surprised by the lotus root soup. I doctored it up with a bit of white pepper and it was nearly perfect. I'm partial to the homestyle bean curd but I haven't ever gotten them to prepare me something "spicy" I feel like each time I ask for it they just sort of chuckle and never actually do it. So, I've eaten here a number of times and will continue to. It's an inexpensive lunch option and the food is tasty, in that "I want to feel guilty about eating chinese" way.
(3)
Josh H.
I've had their food three times now, and gotten the same dish each time. The first time, it was four star-worthy, perfection the second time (dine-in), but on the third try, I came away very disappointed. The sauce was more gelatinous than it was on previous occasions, and my girlfriend, who was previously very happy with their food, found hers only semi-edible. I will give them another chance, at some point, but for now, I'll give them three stars.
(3)
Stephanie S.
I think this review deserves 3.5. Su Xing has been on my bookmark list for months, since its an all-vegetarian restaurant. I came here for lunch with some co-workers, and it was really good. Certainly better restaurants in the area, but they did a good job with what they have. The inside was cute and decorated nicely, there's additional seating upstairs which is nice. The waitresses are VERY attentive. She filled up our hot green tea every 5 minutes. We arrived during a busy lunch hour, but the kitchen did a great job getting the food out quickly. We probably only waited 5 minutes before the soup came out, then another 10 for the meals. Very fast! I had the sesame siatian, which is like soy-"chicken" with sweet sesame sauce covered on top. It has a crunchy coating, and served with rice, broccoli, and I had seaweed as my other side item. Everything was very good. My coworkers had the "beef" which was soy-steak, it was also very good, had a ginger sort of flavor. They had a spring roll on the side. Everyone enjoyed their meals, and the service was speedy. Not the best meal ever, but I do recommend this for vegetarians, and I will go back.
(3)
Daniel L.
My wife and I love this place! They are all vegetarian and I'm a protein guy but I absolutely love this place. They also have brown rice on request for those watching GI. They give generous portions especially for the price. Nothing tastes greasy so you don't leave this place feeling like a disgusting blob. Definitely worth checking out!
(5)
Denise K.
Service was amazing and the food overall was tasty and decent. Pancake scallions, veg prawn with walnuts and general tso's veg were all just a little too over done/fried to the point of being chewy. Maybe I didn't try the right menu items to really enjoy it properly.
(3)
Ashley S.
The General Tso's is really all that! My family came for dinner the other night and ordered a little of everything to share. The soy protein steak tasted oddly like fish (I really enjoy fish so I loved it!), the "beef" with broccoli had a great sauce, the As-You-Wish tofu was nicely crisp, and the Triple Shredded in Garlic Sauce was tasty. I definitely prefer this to traditional Chinese food! Can't wait to be back for the lunch special!
(5)
Yun W.
Came here with a large party and they sat us in a back room. The service was prompt with tea, water, and food, given our large party size. Came out to roughly $17/person after tax & tip for a great meal. Highly recommended if you don't mind going all-vegetarian. Tried a bunch of dishes. My rankings: APPETIZERS - Sesame Cold Noodles - 5 stars - these were delicious, highly recommended Pan Fried Dumplings - 4 stars - flavorful despite being vegetarian Scallion Pancake - 3.5 stars - your typical scallion pancakes, slightly on the oily side for me, but pretty good Sweet Candied Walnut - 3 stars - these were good but I felt it could have been paired with something else instead of an entire plate of walnut s DISHES - Spicy Szechuan Style Tofu - 4 stars - a standard dish and right level of spiciness Moo Shu Vegetables and Tofu - 4 stars - this was quite good, I would pick it over the real Moo Shu Pork dish. Recommended. Black Mushroom w/ Asparagus and Green - 3.5 stars - good presentation and flavorful black mushrooms. asparagus and greens were less flavorful but still decent. this was a standard veggie dish and would get 4 stars except it was definitely on the pricey side for veggies. Veggie Lo Mein - 3.5 stars - the tofu pieces add an interesting "meat" flavor, but other than that it's a pretty standard dish. Taro Croquettes w/ Cashew in Sweet and Sour Sauce - 3.5 stars - this was an interesting dish, it reminded me of Sweet and Sour Chicken, but the taro pieces were kind of small and coated with a lot of fried batter Veggie Prawn w/ Walnut - 3 stars - another interesting dish. The fake prawns were huge (battered and fried), and covered in mayonnaise like sauce with walnuts and honeydew (somewhat random). I understood what they were trying to do here but unfortunately it lagged pretty far behind the actual prawn dish.
(4)
Shashank G.
Nice VEGETARIAN Chinese place. Some vegan friends enjoy this place as well (as is heard) Close to center city and a lot of parking (paid) and subways! A BYOB. Friendly / accommodating staff. Honestly, a last minute place to satisfy your most peculiar friends who have a vendetta against plants - doesn't get more convenient than this. And you can be a loud bunch as well - I don't really think people mind it if you ;) liven ;) the place up .. Plus they have put a good amount of time on making tofu. Which I like. Real soft nice tofu - tip - please don't fry it. You will finally get 'nice' tofu here!
(4)
Alex M.
Great food, friendly staff. The golden runs are unabashedly not imitation meat, and one of the better things I've had here.
(5)
Erica T.
I JUST WANT TO SCREAM WITH JOY WHEN I THINK ABOUT EATING HERE 1. I'm not a vegetarian. 2. If you think you need to be a vegetarian to appreciate vegetarian food, you are probably very bad at eating and enjoying food. 3. I don't know why I'm making a list, this seems hella dumb now. Anyway, Su Xing is amazing because the food is AMAZING and insanely cheap. Two people can easily stuff themselves for less than 20 bucks. I live in the midwest and all I hear about is how expensive east coast everything is, but there isn't a single place I've been to in the midwest that is as high quality and inexpensive as Su Xing. I know it seems kind of generic given that their menu is so huge, but I opted for the sesame tofu twice because I've had it at so many places and this was the best sesame tofu I've ever had in my entire life and this includes ses tofu I've probably spent twice as much on ok!! It's glorious They also give you complimentary tea that I think is delish ok! I'm just gonna give you a list of things that are really delicious. Sesame Tofu Spicy Szechuan Style Tofu Fried Banana As-You-Wish Golden Rings Please keep in mind that I live 800 miles away and therefore don't get a lot of chances to eat here. i just want to come to Philly once a week so I can eat here! Considering how cheap it is, it's actually not a bad idea...
(5)
Carrie C.
My friend and I were a little cautious to walk in because the restaurant was EMPTY, however, we decided to give it a shot anyway because my vegetarian friend wanted Chinese food. We were so pleasantly surprised by our experience here. The service was actually pretty fast and friendly, and the food was surprisingly delicious. We ordered the sesame seitan as well as a sticky rice wrap. Both were a tad bit oilier than I would have liked, but they were both so flavorful, and I would definitely recommend them both. Also, the sesame seitan was delicious as leftovers the next day!
(4)
Abhi K.
We got delivery from here and were disappointed. Everything was very average, but based on these Yelp reviews, we thought we were going to get something exceptional. First of all, the delivery was not at all fast. We got our food an hour after we ordered. Secondly, the food was fine, but they forgot part of our order and as this was a delivery, we couldn't get that back. It was only a large side of rice, oh well. The portions are gigantic, so you do get a lot of food for the money that you put in. Fried bananas: mushy and overripe bananas. Shakes: More watery than milky (could be due to delivery on a cold night) Creamy corn soup: It's like egg drop soup with corn -- delicious. Tofu Eggplant in garlic sauce: Generous portion, the tofu tasted good. Large strips of tofu that were fried and marinated in the garlic sauce along with the eggplants. I recommend this dish. Maybe the dining experience is better when you dine-in?
(3)
S. H.
The fragrant floral cup of tea served with the meal was a nice touch. For a $6.95 lunch, you get a reasonable, light meal. I ordered eggplant and tofu with garlic sauce. I chose white rice, seaweed, and a miso soup. The miso soup was okay. The seaweed was better than I expected. The eggplant and tofu tasted good, but had too much sauce on the plate. The portion of rice was unexpectedly small. With so much sauce, a little more white rice may have helped mop that up. Overall, Su Xing House is fine for a quick, affordable, light, vegetarian lunch, but you might want to walk around the corner and look for an ice cream shop after you finish here.
(3)
Tyler R.
I'm giving this update on my previous experience 5 stars. The service was quick and snappy. The food came out quickly and was executed very well. When I finished I was completely full, but I wasn't weighed down at all. I walked in around 12:45p and asked for the lunch special #1 (the "As You Wish") to go. The woman at the front counter was courteous and completed my transaction quickly. She immediately placed the order, and I received my food in a matter of minutes. The food was delicate, well flavored and delicious. My biggest issues in the first review dealt with the saltiness of the food and the slowness of the service. Those two things were remedied during this visit, so 5-Stars is a must. Bottom line: This is definitely a lunch spot that I will frequent. Let me know if you're going to be there-- I'll congratulate you on making a great choice.
(5)
Ben D.
Suitable for carnivores, even though there is no meat. Tastes delicious. Great bang for the buck.
(4)
Tanya C.
I came here for lunch with my husband after I checked into our hotel. It was next to our hotel and the reviews on Yelp made it sound heavenly and it sure was. Initially we were the only customers in the restaurant but that changed soon enough. After looking at their menu I ordered the potato and cauliflower curry and my husband ordered the General Tso's tofu, both the lunch special. For appetizer we ordered the scallion pancakes. The pancakes were great. Nice and fried and came with a dipping sauce. My lunch special was okay. I much preferred my husband's and I wished I also ordered it. The potato and cauliflower was a bit bland while his tofu was crispy and delicious. The hot and sour soup and spring roll that I had with the lunch special was also delicious. Overall great place. I would definitely come again when I'm in PA. I didn't even tell my husband till the end that this was a vegetarian restaurant and he said that he didn't even miss the meat! Service was decent, especially for a Chinese restaurant. Tons of seating!
(4)
Michael G.
I always forget how absolutely delightful this place is. Their lunch special is killer: you have a broad selection of different main dishes, accompanied by a soup, white or brown rice, and a side. Their tofu skin and wheat gluten preparations are both traditional and scrumptious. I've steered clear of some of the more boring Chinese-American hybrid stuff (e.g., sesame tofu), so I can't speak to how good that is. But the friendly staff are delivering authentic, well prepared Chinese vegetarian cuisine for a great price.
(5)
Minh C.
Great place to grab vegetarian Chinese food on the cheap. I've only come into Su Xing for a sit down a couple times, but have mostly ordered delivery. First thing is first, Su Xing's delivery is FAST, so don't go hopping in the shower! Two faves: black pepper steak (I don't see this on the menu, but that's what I always say I want) and soybean nugget szechuan style. These are a must! I'll elevate this to five stars once I get more opportunities to go in for a sit-down, since some Yelpers here say the service isn't that good. I've only been in a couple times, and can't say it was bad though...
(4)
Kaneisha G.
Sesame tofu is MY LIFE right now. Writing this AS I eat. Wish I had come here with a friend so we could split this and an appetizer as I can't eat it all by myself. Tasty jasmine tea too! Enjoying the lively Mandarin chatter among the waitresses.
(5)
Ceasar B.
Had lunch here. Food is very cheap, filling, comes out fast, and is decent. Tea and water were refilled regularly. My biggest complaint is that the menu was hard to decipher as the dishes are missing description (e.g. one item is just "Mushroom Delight" without an explanation). I had a lunch special: eggplant, brown rice, tofu, seaweed, and miso soup. I didn't think anything was particularly great, but measured as a cheap lunch spot to satisfy hunger, this spot is hard to beat.
(3)
Maria R.
I love and miss this restaurant so much. It's heaven for vegetarians. Also super good service and the ambiance is great!
(5)
Anna H.
We came for an early dinner. The service was so great. Really attentive and the food came out really quick! It was really nice to eat Chinese food that was not heavy or greasy( the 10 treasure hot pot was delicious and actually full is shiitake mushrooms) sliced oranges and fortune cookies at the end ! I wish we had this place in Boston.
(5)
Ross L.
So, I'm not a vegetarian. Not even close. Still, this is my go-to spot for Chinese food in Center City. Even if you're a meat eater, you won't miss the meat at all. Prices are very reasonable, portion size is good, and it's generally ready very quickly. I placed an order today, and by the time I got to Su Xing from my office at 16th and Chestnut (like, a block and a half away), it was ready and waiting for me. One word of caution. The hot and sour soup - *VERY* spicy. I guess since they can't use chicken stock, they make up for it by making the soup extremely spicy. Personally, I'm a huge fan of spicy food, so it's fine by me - just don't order the hot and sour soup and expect it to be like your local Chinese take out place.
(5)
Ambi C.
I think we found our new go to take out Chinese place. Let's just say, we will be visiting you guys a lot. :) Good size portions, healthy options and flavorful dishes--you really can't go wrong.
(4)
Ari N.
I had the lunch special here which is pretty generous. It's all vegetarian and I was interested in a degustation of it. I ordered the sesame seitan and hot & spicy soup. It seemed like a chewy type of chicken, taste was good. I didn't care for how chewy it was, it made it taste like it wasn't as fresh as it could have been. Overall an OK experience. Meal comes with free tea.
(3)
Slip S.
You step inside this gloomy interior with its outdated, but attractive furnishings and feel like you could be in Hong Kong circa 1960. Now this is an interesting, even eccentric, restaurant. Not everything was great, but it is hard not to like a place that offers hearty Chinese vegan dishes at low prices. Some of the items are definitely out of the ordinary - it is not all steamed cauliflower and broccoli here. I had a lotus root soup with steamed peanuts, and a deep fried, sweet sesame tofu dish with a side of firm, shredded seaweed (wakame, I think). The service is not especially charming, but where else can you find a lunch like this for under $10?
(4)
Scott S.
This place blew my mind. It is very clean with a great atmosphere. everything and everyone is veg, so the clients are cool and nice. The food was incedible. We ordered zuchini, three colored veg, veg lo mein, gen tso tofu, scallion pancakes - all amazing. I want to eat here all the time. What a find!
(5)
Shenita S.
Ok so I am going in here. I love Su Xing House. If could afford to have lunch here everyday for the rest of my life...or dinner for that matter...I would die the happiest vegetarian death! I see some people rated the restaurant pretty low, which I don't get. The service is good. The servers are attentive to your glasses and pop in for refills which is awesome. They take your money/card when you're ready to go. They answer questions. I just love this place. Now to the food: I am someone that if it's not broke don't fix it, so I stick to what I know...The General Tso's Veg. Tastes like chicken. I love the broccoli (steamed but not soggy but not extremely raw)! Spring roll. Love.gov The Veggie Steak and Onion...the texture and consistency is just out of this world. To each his/her own, but Su Xing is BY FAR my fave restaurant right now...oh and it's not ridiculously expensive.
(5)
Sheri H.
Although I've been a vegetarian for decades, I have never appreciated fake meat that too commonly dominates vegetarian restaurants. This is why I LOVE Su Xing. They pay close attention to each vegetable, no dish seems to be slapped together without thought. Servings are huge and very reasonably priced. I love their Ebony and Ivory, Stir Fried Peapods, Seaweed Salad, I could go on and on. They also deliver until 11PM on weekends which is rare around these parts. It always hits the spot beautifully.
(5)
Leah Y.
love this veggie chinese food, flavorful and over all health for me
(5)
Adam P.
Stopped by here for a quick lunch one day and left pretty content with my experience. I got the General Tso's tofu w/braised mushrooms and brown rice, which was only about $8 or so. Huge portion, tasty sauce (maybe a touch too sweet), and came out piping hot. They serve complimentary tea too, which I always enjoy. Oh! And my ridiculously cheap lunch also came with a cup of soup. Service was friendly enough and very attentive (love when my glass of water never gets empty). I'm far from a vegetarian, but I liked the food and would definitely recommend as an affordable dining option if you're in the city and craving Chinese food.
(4)
Nora C.
On a cold night, I decided to eat in. So I looked on Yelp and found this place that had some good reviews. Which at this point I think they wrote themselves. So be warned, the positive reviews here are bogus. I was told that my order would take 45 minute to deliver. At 50 minutes, I called and asked where my order was. I was told they forgot about my order and it was going into the kitchen now. 1 hour and 45 minutes later my order arrived. No discount. No excuse. Just here is your order. I was so hungry that I dug in. But it turns out that the food is worse than the service. Do not eat, or order from this place, if you like food. Don't believe the good reviews. I am betting they were written by the restaurant and the employees. This place is Terrible.
(1)
Julia C.
It's been awhile since I've been to this little gem of a restaurant. It's still very good. I went for lunch. The service is prompt, friendly ....the food is delicious, healthy and vegetarian. Today I had Braised Wheat Gluten with Zucchini and Mushrooms in a brown sauce. Yum. This meaty dish is tasty and dense. you cannot even tell it's vegetarian protein. I had hot n sour soup and spring roll. Lunch specials are really a good deal.
(5)
Jenna F.
I'm not a vegetarian and this place was fantastic!!!! Tried something new I wouldn't normally eat (vegetable heaven) and loved it. Also, the scallion pancakes are a great choice for an appetizer... 3 bucks and pretty filling! Will definitely be back and definitely recommend (plus its BYOB)
(3)
Weifei Z.
My experience here was mixed. Starting with the bad, the green onion pancake was way too thick and tasted more like egg roll skin than any green onion pancake I've had anywhere. Honestly, the frozen green onion pancake I buy at grocery stores tasted better. The eight treasure hot pot was good though it was more of a saucy mix than a hot pot. The "As you wish" dish was also good, but the tofu skin seems to have lost some of its natural flavor due to frying. Why do that to a good thing?
(3)
Aruna A.
I love all veg food. Veg chicken, beef, and other fake meats usually all taste the same to me unless they are seasoned well, which is definitely hard to find. Not at Su Xing - where they make a variety of well made tofu and other soy protein based foods are definitely all season well and tasty. I've tried a number of their options from scallion pancakes to sesame tofu to general tso's tofu - all great. A tad expensive for what it is for dinner - but open late - I recommend it if you are around, but I don't know that I'd ever find myself craving their food stuffs, or travelling across the city to get to it!
(4)
Kim C.
I am a creature of habit. I like getting same dishes every time I order here. Consistence in food is one of important factors that I use when I judge a restaurant. Their taro bubble tea is amazing and I get that all the time! I love their General Tso's Tofu and Mixed Vegetables with Szechuan sauce. But sometimes chef made them taste differently. I guess head chef's off or they have changed chef. When their food is not consistent sometimes, I rather not take the chance to order. I will visit again to try different dishes though.
(3)
Amaryllia L.
This is a vegetarian restaurant. I'm throwing that up there because it's important and I know not everyone will read full reviews and pick up on it...yes, I'm talking about myself of course. I placed a delivery order from the Latham Hotel (0.2 mi away) at 9:43 on a Wednesday night based on the glowing reviews for this place. The lady on the phone had an accent that was very hard to understand but she was super nice. 20 minutes later, I received my food from a rain-drenched, and understandably unhappy, delivery guy. Despite what the lady on the phone told me, the delivery guy did NOT take credit cards. I lucked out though because I had enough cash on hand. * House Special Mei Fun Soup ($7.50) - I ordered this because another reviewer had said that it tasted like pho and there's really nothing better than hot noodle soup on a cold rainy night, am I right? Unfortunately, besides the fact that this is noodle in hot broth, there is no similarity to pho in terms of ingredients or flavor. I thought it tasted extremely bland (like hot water with some oil floating on top) and had a hard time liking the slices of fake meat/spam-like things. In retrospect, now that I know it's a vegetarian restaurant, I guess it's not terrible, but I certainly would never order this again either. * Deep Fried Chinese Rice Cake ($3.50) - I got this purely out of curiosity and was pleasantly surprised at how much it reminded me of rice cake that my mom would make for Chinese New Year. The only differences are that these were cut up, breaded, deep-fried, and then served with crushed peanut powder and sugar...all good things! They were more stale/chewy than crispy because I got them as delivery but I could imagine them being extra yum if served fresh. This is the only reason why I'm giving them 2 stars instead of 1. * Milk Tea with Tapioca ($3.05) - Tasted like instant milk tea powder with refrigerated (i.e., cooked in the morning and now hard) tapioca pearls. This was another impulse order because I had never seen bubble tea available on a delivery menu before. It turned out to be almost the worst bubble tea I've ever had so, yes, I learned my lesson.
(2)
Michael H.
Asked for brown rice, got white. Meals contain almost no veggies; about 85% tofu, which is overly sweet. I wouldn't go back.
(2)
Sam H.
Everything I ate here was delicious, and I ordered quite a few things because there was so much that I wanted to try! One of the best vegetarian restaurants I've eaten at, and I can't wait to go back. Our waiter was extremely friendly and made sure to answer all of our questions and recommend his favorites. Some of the typical Chinese dishes (with replacement fake meat) are offered, as well as some unique dishes that I hadn't seen before. There is definitely something for everyone here!
(5)
Cindy F.
Hidden gem, sort of. It is tucked away in an alley by Ladder 15. It's open late and has the best food! Like the other Yelpers said, the food is so fresh that you leave feeling satisfied rather than stuffed. Seriously you need to check this place out. It was surprisingly that delicious!
(5)
Scott W.
I have gone to this restaurant a couple of time because my partner is vegan. He loves this place and so do I. Everything is very well done and tastes delicious. I often go for the eggplant in garlic sauce or peapod leaves. Nothing has ever been oily or overly spiced. They offer brown and white rice and also have noodle dishes if you prefer. Service has always been great and well deserving of a good tip. At the end of a meal we usually get a plate of oranges. I'm assuming this is with all dinner patrons but am not sure. Prices are excellent especially given the large portions. This is one of those places that will definitely become a regular hangout for us.
(5)
Shakalohana A.
Just want to chime in to all the great reviews! We keep coming back here for the excellent food. Great quality, super fresh, and super good feeling after you eat. Their flavors are truly delicious and you feel really good after eating here. A note to veggie lovers like me - you can order dishes *without* all the protein and mean substitutes to make it more your style. It took me a while to figure this out, but now I feel really satisfied with all my orders and don't have to feel weighed down by fried tofu or gluten (not that they aren't delicious). My favorite is the Eight Treasure Hot Pot (without fried tofu or imitation ham) - served as is - lava hot yum! It can also be super romantic. Now, I am not talking some dark hole in the wall romantic... I am just thinking that some of the best conversations and really good times really just being with my guy were at a nice booth window at Su Xing. We have talked about everything there, really intense things, life et al... and the meal and ambiance definitely made that happen. Thanks! Just excellent, consistently, for years - and the flavors just keep getting better and better. And affordable enough to treat yourself and friends often! (p.s. I also have terrible allergies to fish - so this place is very super safe for me)
(5)
Bridget G.
This place is fantastic for vegetarians (and carnivores alike). You get a ton of food for a good price and it's all fresh and yummy. My favorite is the sesame noodles and the sesame seitan, plus they have all sorts of bubble tea treats. Servers are always sweet and I always leave with leftovers that are somehow better the next day.
(4)
Peter K.
Tasty. The 6th borough brings the veggie Chinese like none of the other 5 as far as I've seen. (Though there's probably somewhere amazing in Queens that I'll never hear about.) Su xing has a soothing interior, an intimidatingly large menu, and low-ish prices. Service was a touch slow, but otherwise good. The kale and tofu dish rocked my mouth and duly cleaned out my insides. Win-win. Go for the lunch specials--they run until 3pm.
(4)
Celia B.
Excellent service, excellent food! We were so surprised to find a vegetarian restaurant so close to our hotel. It is really hard to find Chinese food without meat, and here we didn't even have to think about it! I ordered the eggplant with basil dish and my partner ordered a "chicken" (soy protein) veggie stir fry that came with peanuts. I can't remember what it was called, but I am thinking the schezwan dish. My sister ordered the curry noodles. Everything was fantastic. They had miso soup as well, which we enjoyed. My only complaint was that the springrolls were a bit greasy, but aren't they always? The food was resonabley priced and the service was fast. The food came very quickly! We will return when we are in town next year, and I highly recommend this place for vegetarians and meat eaters a like. Their fake "meat" (tofu, soy protein, whatever it is) is super tasty and great texture and the other dishes were all fantastic.
(4)
Jenny S.
I came for lunch with a friend on a rainy Saturday. The service was attentive but that could because there wasn't much customers in the restaurant. Nonetheless I was was very satisfied with the service. Our orders came very fast. We both had the lunch specials. She had the general tso and I had the soy nuggets. The sauce was tasty and texture of the Seitan was a little chewy. We both thought it tasted very much like real meat. I have been to two other Chinese vegetarian restaurants ( Veggie lover and and New Harmony) and this by far is the best. I am definitely going come back to dine in or take out. Another plus is that the free tea was very fragranced and tasted great.
(5)
N. K.
As per previous recommendations, we decided to hit the lunch special which ended up being as cheap as stated, $20 for two people and we left stuffed. Hot and sour soup- may be a bit spicy for some, but absolutely perfect and delicious for me Lotus root and peanut soup- a little bland and watery like miso soup, but interesting flavor Sesame seitan- fried and crispy little nuggets covered in a sweet sauce and sesame seeds. Love! Crispy steak- I preferred the more crispy texture of the sesame seitan, but my husband preferred this because he thought the sesame seitan was "chewier" Spring rolls- Had tofu/glass noodles/seaweed inside. a bit bland for me but still very good. Overall the food was excellent and we will be back. They also deliver within Center City. The service was good and fast, although maybe a bit abrupt and not overly friendly, but that may be a cultural thing and fine with us. Highly recommended for vegheads and non-veggies both.
(4)
Shaun O.
My roomies dragged me out for a Sunday night dinner, as they had a craving for Mu Shu (vegeterian kind). Since I am a adventurous type, I decided to take them up on their offer for vegeterian chinese. One tip-its totally worth it to wait for an upper level table. We waited a few extra minutes, and were able to get a large table for the 4 of us. We order 5-6 different plates of Chinese Cuisine which had some outlandish names like "Dragon and Phoenix". I found that to be pretty tasty dish (black mushrooms, spinach, soy beans), with the Golden Feather Knishes to be a great complement to that plate. We overdid it with the ordering, as we had more than enough to take home. I also found that the price tag to be pretty affordable, and well within the range of what I like to spend for a dinner out. The service was pretty solid too, as the server almost started to dish out the food for us, before we stopped her. Still, pretty good service.
(4)
David C.
Great lunch special. Food is flavorful and non greasy.
(4)
Carlos V.
Really good for a good price - and nice atmosphere. The area around there is kind of gross - at least on a Saturday night - crazy, drunken, party, nonsense. I had the general veg chicken, which was crispy, sweet, but not too sweet, and had just the right amount of richness. Plus, like, 15 pieces of steamed broccoli. As someone who has ordered vegetarian food from almost every Chinese place in San Francisco: Philly is lucky.
(4)
Weef B.
I got there early, about 10 minutes before normal opening time. The hostess didn't give me any hassle and took my order quickly. She was very attentive and refilled my tea a few times even though I lingered for awhile. Great service. Food was excellent. I got the hot and sour soup and seasame seitan and holy cr*pola, delicious. The seitan was perfectly crispy and had the best texture I could possibly imagine. Only negative is that there are no lunch specials on Sunday, but it was mentioned on the menu so I can't take away a star for that.
(5)
Luis N.
The food is great. Tea tastes fresh. Service is very fast. Place is beautiful inside; not so nice looking outside.
(4)
Har D.
Had gone here for dinner several times. Need more attentive staff BUT the food makes up for it :). Wanted to go to Philly Chutney ( Vegetarian Sthn Indian ) on 1628 Sansom st next block for lunch today but they were closed for repairs and landed on SuXing for lunch. Loved the Hor fun and the noodle soup, tasty and not too much soya sauce. The sesame chicken was great and Gen Taos Chicken was brilliantly prepared. Many items on lunch menu and we were able to choose several dishes for below $8. Had the sweet sour Chicken and fried rice as well. There were 5 of us and service was slightly slow. The luch items came with a soup and spring roll 7/10 for SR. Will be back.
(4)
Zack L.
Healthful, Vegetarian, Ample Portions, and hooray. This place is wonderful. It is obsessively clean, has 8 different colors of lights in any of their room, and has the approval of Martin Yan from Yan Can Cook for being a great healthy Chinese Restaurant. I am not a vegetarian, and this place still rocks the boat. Hooray.
(5)
Kelsey G.
My new favorite Chinese food place in Philly. Their sesame tofu is addicting and delicious. I can't wait to try more food from them.
(4)
Edward M.
Su Xing House is my favorite Chinese vegetarian restaurant in Phillly (so far...). They have a great lunch special where, for well under $10, you get soup, a side, rice (your choice of brown or white) and an entree. It's best when shared with friends (or even mere acquaintances), that way you can sample different dishes and make your own combos. This is particularly useful since some of the dishes may be either a bit too greasy (yeah, I'm talking to you, delicious General Tso's veggies) or dry (that would be the otherwise awesome as-you-wish) on their own. So a shared meal here would qualify as an example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. The only disappointing items I've tried were the curry dishes. Speaking of parts, after trying the various soup and side options I've settled on the hot and sour soup and the seaweed. Some might find the hot and sour soup too spicy; there, you've been warned. Service is friendly and the staff keeps your water glass and tea mug full.
(5)
Sunny P.
Every time I go here it's with the same group of friends. Typically, we will order one or two different dishes that we have yet to try. The service is pretty good, tea is refilled regularly. The restaurant had a traditional Chinese feel.
(4)
Rosalie R.
I was on a vegan cleanse. I needed real food. Enter Su Xing House. I had the Sesame Abalone Mushroom (see photo) it was divine. Granted, I was hungry and desperate but it really was delicious. I have also had the fried brown rice and it was also very good. We have only really been there after matinee theater so the place has never really been crowded. The decor is dark, cozy and the place is really clean. I would recommend this place for a quick and quiet weekend lunch.
(4)
Sara P.
This is a terrific restaurant. It has a diverse menu with lots of vegetarian and vegan options. You can have a lot of vegetables and a lot of faux meats too. I especially enjoyed the seseme seitan and the lotus root and peanut soup so much that I made them at home soon after I tried them at Su Xing. We also really like the service. The entire time we ate, we got many refills on water and jasmine tea. What a delicious tea it was too. The location is great if you are on wheels or legs, but parking near 15th and Sansom is not the easiest (although there is a garage across the street from the restaurant. Prices are excellent, as a lunch special is less than 8 bucks. What a healthy, environmentally friendly and inexpensive place to have lunch in center city. I am so glad that this restaurant is there!
(5)
Nadia M.
I ordered the Vegetable Lo Mein as part of the lunch menu-it was the most lackluster meal I have had in Center City. There was hardly any vegetables to speak of and no flavor - None. The Hot and Sour soup had burnt pieces on it-I had to throw it out. Also, I ordered soup but they included no spoon. The portions were plentiful-maybe they should concentrate on giving a little less quantity but more quality. I will not be visiting this establishment again.
(1)
Cici B.
I think I might stop eating meat if I could have Su Xing cater all my meals. Are you sure there is no meat in the Sesame Seitan? What sorcery is this?! I swear this dish tastes exactly like there is meat. I could not tell a difference, doubt any meat eater would either. I loved this entree; the sauce, broccoli florets, and "meat" were delicious. Another winner was the Eight Treasure Hot Pot. It was a broth of an interesting medley of vegetables and a questionable ingredient that resembled ham but tasted nothing like it. Of course this dish was overshadowed by the Seitan (pronunciation: satan??), but I still enjoyed it immensely. The only thing I didn't like was the deep fried Chinese rice cake appetizer, which my boyfriend happily responded, "YAY! more for me!" Su Xing definitely exceeded all my expectations. I actually expressed high doubts in regards to the caliber of food at a vegetarian Chinese restaurant. I was thoroughly impressed! I will be coming back, and perhaps I might become vegetarian (for a week or two).
(5)
Meg S.
Is it bad that I find Panda Express (that of mall food) a tastier option? My sesame seitan was so one-note. It was way too fried and the goo it lived in...ergh, I was scraping it off with my fork. I liked it marginally better cold (as I do most fried foods), it was cheap and there was a huge portion, so two stars. If I was vegetarian, I could see this being more of an option (it did taste like I was eating meat...just completely bland, flavorless meat...); as it stands, I think I'll pass.
(2)
Elizabeth M.
Whenever I have a vegetarian or vegan friend in town, this is where I take them! I love this place. They cook tofu and seitan so well that even a meat-loving omnivore like myself prefers these dishes. Whenever we go, we order different things. They're always amazing. I encourage you to try something different - the only average dish I've ever tasted here was a veg lo mein. Seasame seitan is one of my favorites, of course. The vegan food here is 4 times better than the typical food you'd get in Chinatown, with a similar price and similar portions. BYOB.
(5)
Lauren B.
My first trip to Su Xing House was used as an initial form of torture. My co-worker was incessantly nagging me to go to lunch, and told me I could pick the spot. SO, I did what any thoughtful colleague would do, and selected a place with a menu that had virtually no meat. We were both pleasantly surprised! This place makes me so happy. I'm not a vegetarian, and so I won't pretend to be a pretentious vegan, but this place rocks! There is no meat in sight on the menu, and my male co-worker did not even mind. In fact, this was probably his first tofu experience. We had the sesame tofu and the kung pow tofu. It was absolutely satisfying, delicious, and affordable. I recommend this place to everyone, vegans and meat-eaters alike. Job well done. I'll be back.
(5)
Marc R.
I dined here over the weekend, a vegetarian friend recommended it. There's not a whole lot to say, the look of the place is pretty run of the mil for a Chinese restaurant. The table are oddly far away from the seats, would be great for a very large person. The menu felt limited to me. I have eaten at many veggie\vegan Chinese places so I kind of expected more. The server was just kind of there, no smile, no personality. The app took a long time to arrive and the dumplings were just not that good. They were mushy and not full of flavor. The main entree arrived shortly after the appetizers were cleared. A lot of breading and a lot of frying to give the sesame chicken more of a real meat kind of texture. It was good, but a little too fried, it was kind of hard. The other entree was only had a splattering of brocoli, should have been more. Overall, I would rate it 2.5 stars if I could, but I can't and it just doesn't deserve a 3rd star.
(2)
Shannon J.
Su Xing is nothing short of magical. 1.) Everything is vegetarian, the entire, enormous, well-rounded menu. The joy of ordering whatever you want is something every vegetarian can get excited about. 2.) The food is DELICIOUS. After at least ten visits, I've never tasted anything that I didn't like. The General Tsao's Veg is my forever favorite, I recommend it to everyone. 3.) The service is excellent. Your water glass (and little cup of tea) will never be empty. I don't know how they do this, but the waitresses at Su Xing should teach the rest of the planet how to be so gloriously efficient and super. 4.) The portions are enormous. If you love leftovers, come here! You will eat for days off of one meal, I swear. 5.) The prices! Very reasonable, especially considering the quality, the flavor, the service, and the quantity of food. Seriously, magical.
(5)
A N.
I really like this place. The food was great, service was good and pretty quick. I have a lot of things I would still like to try-their menu is so extensive. Desert was great too.
(5)
Andi S.
I ordered an asparagus dish which was a complete ripoff. The asparagus were cut in half LENGTHWISE, in order to make it LOOK like there were a lot. ALso, the asparagus had no flavor, and neither did anything else on my plate. Overcooked and flavorless. The service was rude and inept. I don't know how this place stays in business. It is HORRIBLE.
(1)
Jay D.
i can't get over the service. they take and bring your order fast, and seem to have some kind of ESP to know when you'ved sipped a little tea or water, because they come right over and top it off. that's nice, but wish they would leave the pot or pitcher at the table. sometimes i won't sip anything to keep them at bay. you also get your check, orange slices, and fortune cookie before you're finished or ask for it, and then you don't see them again to get change. i'm still here all the time though. the miso soup is what's up. also seitan with asparagus in brown sauce (you can swap out the veggie for any other though, like broccoli if you'd like.)
(4)
Travis L.
I am blown away by how wonderful this vegetarian place is. Very unique space with a raised upper level that has a number of booths. Comfortable family dining. I almost didn't notice it next to the other bars and restaurants on Sansom. I'm really glad to see vegetarian Chinese food with such quality and popularity here in Philly. The food: Spring Roll - Very crisp, light veggies. Can't really go wrong. Good to have with the lunch specials. Potato Croquettes- Simple appetizer, though the breading is rather heavy, which makes it hard to bite through. Could be lighter and less heavy. Reminds me of Japanese korokke but it's just a bit too hard on the outside. Scallion Pancake- Honestly, at $3.25, this is one of their best appetizers. Very flaky and not too oily. Really features the flavors of the scallions and perfect for sharing. 1. Lotus Root and Peanuts Soup - Very unexpected. Surprisingly clear and light. Love it before heavier dishes. 2. Miso Soup - Decent and not too salty. Feels a bit out of place at a Chinese restaurant but nonetheless, it's okay. 3. Hot and Sour Soup - Strong flavor and good balance. Chow Mei Fun Singapore Style - One of my personal favorites, and the curry flavor is just right. The noodles, I felt, could have been thinner and drier. I needed more of that fried noodle flavor. Eight Treasure Bean Curd Hot Pot - Great clay pot dish with a simmering broth that goes great with rice. Love that it really balances all the different "treasures" and each veggie tastes great. A saucier hot pot. As-You-Wish Bean curd skin filled golden mushroom, black mushroom, dried bean curd and Chinese celery served w. water chestnut and asparagus. - kind of like the dim sum item but very clean and light. Not oily at all and very large portions. Filled to the brim, but not exactly the most flavorful. Sesame Abalone Mushroom Fried fresh abalone mushroom in tomato and five spice sauce, serve with asparagus and water chestnut. -One of the best dishes here and such a unique way of cooking abalone mushroom. Fried and glazed and really imitates the texture and consistency of meat. The wonders of vegetarian substitutes!
(4)
Shereen C.
Ordered delivery once. Food was edible, but a caricature of Chinese food. Had Golden Feather Knishes - taro was all right, but sweet and sour sauce was pretty disgusting. Overly sweet. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing, but I seriously have to question why they would serve that dish that way at all.
(2)
Dave H.
Su Xing House is an OUTSTANDING Chinese vegetarian restaurant near Rittenhouse Square. Their rear dining room is elegantly decorated, paneled with Chinese prints, and amazingly handled my friends's party of ~18, but their dishes weren't the quickest to come out. For the smaller parties in the main dining room (including mine), our server brought our dishes with a minimum of hassle. I'm unsure she liked us since my friend and I kept asking her to repeat her name (it sounded like "siu mai"). Su Xing House's cooking is where they shine. Their hot and sour soup was a stand out, with a healthy kick. Get their vegetable lo mein! A friend ordered it spicy and so it had with a wonderful tang, with a perfectly even, noodlely texture. The broccoli with garlic sauce was as good as it sounds - heavenly. Speaking of heaven, we also shared the vegetarian heaven string beans, cooked until crispy, in a tasty sauce. I will definitely return. If I lived close enough, I'd order takeout too. Recommended!
(4)
Chris L.
Su Xing has wonderful, cheap, vegetarian take-out that is super close to work. I used to think of greasy, heart clogging food when I thought of Philly, but this place (and Yelp, of course) is helping me to revise my opionion. I do not think all of their dishes are created equal, though. If every one of them was as delicious as General Tso Tofu I would probably give this place 5 stars, because that was one of the most amazing fried tofu experiences of my life. Alas, the Singapore Chow Mei Fun didn't live up to my expectations. It wasn't bad, but I wonder if maybe they were running short on curry today. It was just bland. They have a pepper next to this item on the menu, but it was anything but spicy. I may try it again and ask them for extra curry or perhaps just go back to the tofu. Of course, it was still a ton of food for just $7, but it really needed something. I'm also still not sure how I feel about the Hot and Sour soup. To be honest, having had it twice I still can't find that there's much sour in it at all. I don't seem to be able to taste much of anything beyond the hot, but it is hot in such a good way that I can't seem to stop eating it. I actually broke a sweat from their soup. So, I'm torn. I really think they could make a better soup, but yet when I get it I can't stop eating it. It's very mysterious. Finally, though this isn't probably that important. Maybe it's cause I'm so incredibly white, but they don't give me chopsticks unless I specifically ask for them.
(4)
Meghan C.
I know...me? At a vegetarian restaurant? I had to have a lunch meeting and I was over ruled and since I didn't have any better ideas I figured I'd give it a shot. The food is incredible! The service is incredible! The portion sizes are insane...I left full and happy...I can't say this is the best it gets because I did miss having some form of living creature with hair on my plate, but I would definitely go back if someone asked me to.
(4)
Susie R.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Philly. I especially love the mu shu. The lunch specials are so well-priced and the portions are quite generous. I also love the bubble tea. The restaurant is also kosher, which is a huge plus. Definitely recommend.
(5)
Ben S.
There aren't many exclusively vegetarian Chinese restaurants. Granted most Chinese restaurants offer a fair amount of vegetarian options, they are usually a variation on the same things. This restaurant takes classical meat dishes and interprets them in a very unique and vegetarian way. My boyfriend and I loved it. I value his opinion the most, being that he is Chinese and actually from China. The dining room is very well decorated, with good use of space. The sectioning of the restaurant assures a combination of privacy and a sense of openness. The lighting was perfect, and the noise level was minimal. No music though. The portions are large, and I loved that they offered brown rice. The sauces were not overly salty, and were not oily in the least (my usual complaints about Chinese restaurants). The food was well seasoned and had great flavor. My boyfriend got the "as you wish roll" with peapod leaves, and I got the dried bean curd with spiral seaweed. My only disappointment was that there were no other vegetables in the stir fry, but it was so tasty it didn't really matter. There are almost too many options, also very typical of Chinese restaurants. It's almost better to ask yourself what you feel like, and then see if they have it, because chances are they do.
(5)
Thomas K.
Abalone mushroom soup, a medicinal brew with winter melon sliced thinly and floating in the broth. With goji berries and julienned ginger, this soup hit the spot. Next up: Taro croquettes with cashews and sweet & sour sauce was absolutely fantastic! Smaller than thumb-sized dumplings made from taro...that starchy, sometimes purple-ish root were lightly fried, stir fried with some bell pepper, and finished with a more sour than sweet sauce thickened with cornstarch. More than enough for one, just perfect for two. Singapore Mai fun was excellent, also, without an overwhelming wafting of curry powder. It smaller and tasted perfect, with veggies scattered throughout. Kale and dried tofu...an odd item to see on a Chinese menu. I've never seen kale used before. When the dish arrived, I saw that it wasn't kale at all, but choi sum, a leafy green vegetable popular in traditional Chinese gastronomy. Forget about the confused name...just know that this was a super-light dish bursting with vibrant green color, subtle soy and sesame rounding out the plate. Service was fine, yet a bit cold. As I've reviewed other Chinese establishments before...that's just par for the course. Eat it and beat it! If I'm in the Philly area again, I'll definitely make this place a part of my visit. Vegetarian or not...try it out.
(4)
Hazel S.
This is a perfectly good restaurant, but not a stand-out based on my experience. The service is good and friendly. The dining room isn't beautifully decorated but it is clean and cozy. The food was nicely prepared but a bit on the bland side. Like many restaurants that cater to an American clientele, the sauces seemed a little bit sweeter than they should. The veggies and tofu I had were very well prepared, but nothing special. If you just want a nice, cozy filling meal of vegetarian comfort food, this is a good choice.
(3)
Natalie H.
Alas, yelpers, the food here is OK - but the service and delivery leaves much to be desired. We placed an order and were told that it would be at our home in 45 minutes - an hour passed and still no food. We called and were told "we're very busy." Finally, a full 1 1/2, and several phone calls after we ordered our food arrived - cold, and without chopsticks. In a city with fantastic cuisine, I would recommend eating elsewhere.
(2)
Jaclyn B.
Sesame tofu I had here recently was awesome! I also tried one of their "milkshakes"...they taste more like blended ice milk, but I think they are vegan? Anyway, the milkshake thing I got was so good, even the next day frozen. The shakes come with cute extra wide straws and containers with figures on them. I went with the coconut flavor; it's taste and texture were pretty much my perfect virgin piña colada. Shakes come in the following flavors: strawberry, mango, and coconut...I could have missed one? They have great lunch specials, too. Only vegan Chinese I'll eat. Super fast delivery+++
(5)
Kemi A.
Wow a full blown veggie Chinese restaurant? whowouldathunkit? Anyway, happy i tried it. Had the lunch special "sesame seitan". Now it's not the best thing since sliced bread (I'll reserve that for "vegetarian palate" in brooklyn, NY...wha?wha?) but it wasn't bad at all. I liked the decor of the place. It's pretty much hidden being on samson but once you walk in you'll be surprised by the interior. Would recommend and like to go back to try other things on the menu.
(4)
Lucie T.
So I am a big fan of chinese food. Authentic at that. So when I was told by my friends who live in Philadelphia that if you want vegetarian chinese, you want to come here.. and so we went. I have to say that the scallion pancake along with the lotus peanut soup were not half bad. But the best was General Tsao's chicken aka the veggie meat. Service very attentive, love the fact you can hang up your coat in the closet (maybe this is normal outside of NYC, down here we hold on to our coats unless its inside of a coatcheck being guarded by a pretty girl who is looking for your next dollar as a tip) as well as having an upstairs and a downstairs. Decor very warm. If I am in mood for veggie chinese. I am coming back here.
(3)
Cindy S.
Best. Chinese. Ever. My man and I walked in and didn't realize it was vegetarian. But I was thrilled to see the menu. It wasn't full of fried substitutions, it was simply no meat Chinese. I loved it. I didn't feel totally disgusting at the end of the meal. General Tsos? YES. Loves it. Also a big fan of the potatoes and cauliflower in curry. OMGGGG. Also, I must admit, after my initial encounter with this place I went back the next day and had lunch there....and they day after that and got take out. So I recommend. I plan on trying everything on the menu.
(5)
christina g.
AMAZING! There were quite a few options on the menu. The 'General Tso's Vege' was so chicken-like, I spat out the first bite and had to ask if it was meat or not. I don't really remember what chicken tastes like, but it sure looked like chicken, was tougher than some seitan and my boys were convinced it was chicken. It also came with delicious fresh broccoli. Also, they have bubble tea. Su Xing would be a great place to take your meat-eaters to, as long as they're into trying non-meat food. Otherwise, you could just trick them and get carry-out. mwahahaha We also ordered the stir-fried zucchini, which tasted really good, but made a squeaking sound in my mouth when being chewed. That part was...strange? The prices were decent and the staff were very friendly and attentive. They were pretty amused when we asked if the food was meat or not. Also, it's not just one of those, we have fake meat asian places. The food was very flavorful and fresh tasting. I can't wait to go back and try more of their dishes! There appeared to be a decent amount of dessert options, but I was way to stuffed to even look at them. Why are you still reading this and not on your way there??
(5)
Jackie N.
Loved this place! Great service and HUGE selection of vegetarian items to choose from. Seriously didn't know you could make that much stuff from tofu!
(4)
Juls B.
This place is heaven for vegetarian and a pleasant surprise for the omnivores. Choices range from more typical vegetarian asian fair (General Tso's tofu), to meat-mimics that pass the similarities test (sesame seitan), to more unusual meals like the feather taro knish. All of it was astounding.
(5)
Lindsey T.
God, what a disappointment. My first visit here was hit-or-miss. The bubble tea, as other reviewers have pointed out, was extremely watery and oddly powdery. YUCK. I got out my phone and immediately began to draft a one-star review. The hot and sour soup came out next, promptly enough, but unfortunately tasted like a bowl of liquid black pepper. Beyond unpleasant. However, the entree I ordered-- eggplant with tofu in garlic sauce (and I asked for some spinach with it as well)-- was DELICIOUS. SO. SO. GOOD. I have never before or since seen eggplant cooked so perfectly, nor had such a yummy garlic sauce or such sweet spinach. Total hit. Made up entirely for the crappy tea and soup. After this great experience, I wanted to bring my boyfriend so he could experience what I had, so we went to Su Xing to catch the lunch special yesterday. When I told our first waitress that I needed a few more minutes to decide what I wanted, she literally turned around without a word, walked a few steps away from our table, and stomped her feet like a two-year-old before continuing across the restaurant. I wish I was making this up. We should've left then. The boyfriend ordered the exact dish I had last time, and it came out looking completely different, AND this time they tried to charge us an extra $2 for adding spinach. The eggplant was scant and overcooked, the dish was swimming in mediocre sauce, and the spinach wasn't nearly as beautiful as I remembered. I ordered the braised gluten with mushrooms and zucchini and just could not eat it. The zucchini? Undercooked. The mushrooms? Crappy white mushrooms, also totally undercooked. The gluten? Straight from a can, plopped carelessly in some strange, bland brown sauce. I apologetically informed our waitress (the second one we had that day) that the dish was just inedible, and I wanted to exchange it for the dish my boyfriend had. Big mistake, apparently. The waitress informed me that my request was "unacceptable" because "a lot of customer LOOOVE this dish" and the kitchen "would not accept it." Hokay. Argumentative customer service? No thanks. Shit just kept getting weirder until she decided to call the cops on us because we would not pay for a disgusting plate of food I didn't eat. No officer showed up after we sat at the restaurant for half an hour (no shit!) waiting to politely state our case, and eventually an older woman came to our table to ask us what happened and offer us a discount. Hilarious. Meanwhile, our waitress has been screaming in Chinese to the kitchen staff, from inside the kitchen and from inside the dining area itself-- WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS PRESENT. The older woman eventually let the matter drop, and stopped arguing so we could leave. Basically, we paid for what we ate (and then some), did not bother tipping our waitress (who was holding the phone, dialing the cops again, pleading for us to talk to the police on the phone while the older woman more or less told her to cut the crap as we walked out the door), we left, and got a great story out of it. Needless to say, we won't be back. And any diner who finds their inconsistent food inedible-- beware.
(1)
Lauren H.
I will never go here again, or ever recommend this place to anyone. The short: - Extremely rude waitresses - Food was nothing to write home about - Pressured to eat quickly because they closed at 11, we got there at 8:30. - EYELASH IN ONE OF THE DISHES The long: I went here for a birthday dinner for someone that is on a Vegan diet. I'm not vegan, or anywhere close, so I was worried about finding a dish I'd like. She had reservations for 8:30 for 8, but two of our party were stuck in traffic and got there an hour late. The rest of us started with appetizers and drinks while we waited. Our waitress came in (at 9:30) to tell us that we should order because the restaurant closes at 11. We wanted to wait for the last two people before ordering entrees, and told her. They walked in 10 minutes later, and our waitress came in 2 minutes later to ask us if we were ready to order. THEY JUST GOT HERE. We told her no, we'd need a few minutes. She asked if the rest of us wanted to order, and we said NO WE NEED A FEW MINUTES. She came back in 5, and we still weren't ready. Everyone else at the table was unfamiliar with a vegan/vegetarian diet, and we were all trying to decide what to order. GIVE US A MINUTE. She came back in another 5, and we were like fine, fine, we'll order. THIS WOMAN STARTS SAYING "NEXT!" (LOUDLY) AFTER EACH PERSON SAID WHAT THEY WANTED. Is this McDonald's??? What kind of restaurant says NEXT to patrons?? I was COMPLETELY annoyed by this time, and if it hadn't been for a birthday dinner, I would have left. Whatever. We get our food, and I wasn't impressed. The best items were the General Tso's Veg (meat-like texture), the spring rolls, dumplings, and sesame noodles. The dinner items were nothing I'd order again. AND THERE WAS AN EYELASH IN ONE OF THE DISHES. So fine. When we were done eating (at 10:30 incidentally), the waitress comes out with the check. We give it back to her with the card, she comes back. As we're standing up and leaving, she ASKS THE CARDHOLDER IF HE SIGNED THE CHECK!!! So rude. I will never go back.
(1)
Grant B.
Good food with quick service. Must Haves: -General Tso's Pros: -Lots of seating -Big Portions Cons: -Too much corn starch in their sauces. Quick Tips: -Great place to come and meet up with friends Their food is pretty good. However, it does fall into the Chinese American category, rather than Chinese. They use a bit too much corn starch for my liking, but the taste is solid. I definitely frequent this place when I am hankering for some good Chinese American food. I love walking here for some good Chinese food that is pretty healthy.
(4)
Karen F.
Not bad - but not great either. The best part? The super cheap price for the generous lunch special. Mine came with Mediocre Miso, a tasty entree (Tofu with Eggplant in garlic sauce) and brown rice. For a side I chose green salad (bad idea, and I should have known better) which was iceberd with 2 tomato slices and 1 cucumber slice. Lame-o! Next time (if there is one) I'll try the mushrooms. Service was fine - efficient and quick. Water was refilled promptly without asking (score). OK, Maybe this place is 4 star foor/service but the 2 star decor needs a refresher pronto!
(3)
John F.
Go here for Lunch. Lunch specials are awesome! Strolled here during a lunch break to check out all the hype. Wow, who knew vegetarian Chinese could be so good! I ordered the Hot and Sour soup which is one of my staple discriminators for a Chinese restaurant. Not only was it the best I've ever had, it didn't leave that "burning goopy grease" feeling or taste in the back of my throat. I woofed down a huge plate of Singapore noodles that were perfectly cooked. I was pressed for time to get back to biz but I just couldn't stop eating. I can't wait to return where I can sit while not on a lunch crunch and really trench in for some good ol' fashioned "me so stuffed on Chinese food" time.
(5)
Marissa C.
I am not a vegetarian (as can be seen by meat-focused previous reviews) but I highly recommend Su Xing House anyway. It's that good. Their lunch special is a great deal - for about $8 you get soup, a choice of a side (fruit, spring roll, etc.), rice, and an entree. The sesame tofu is great, and I am totally obsessed with the Chow Fun. Everything is flavorful not too greasy and I suppose as healthy as Chinese can probably be.
(3)
Mark S.
I know it's a cliche to praise a vegetarian place by saying you can barely tell it's vegetarian, but since I eat a wide range of cuisines and sometimes have to help veggie friends order off omnivorous menus, it's nice to be able to tell omnivores that they'll sincerely enjoy anything they try, as much as if meat were involved. Never been proved wrong! Personal entree favorites: Eight Treasure Hotpot and the Dragon and Phoenix. I like to top the meal off with a mango milk shake. Lunch specials are good too, but I usually come slightly before or after the rush, so somewhere between 11 and one.
(5)
Jen L.
Food was a 2. Processed ham is pretty much the only ingredient in the Peking noodles. Service was a 1 The owner was really mean.
(1)
Jes S.
I have started going to Su Xing on a regular basis and am not vegetarian. The hot and sour soup is a favorite, as is the General Tso's Vegetable. The General Tso's Vegetable and not Tofu was recommended by the waitress as her favorite dish. I have tried Kingdom of Vegetarians near Chinatown before, and Su Xing is better. Su Xing stays true to Chinese recipes so that even if you aren't vegetarian, the food is recognizable and just as delicious. The textures of the "meat" dishes are not far off from the real deal for those who like meat. The service is wonderful and they try hard to accommodate requests. (We asked for warm bubble tea, as it was cold out. They heated up the bubble tea despite their confusion since no one had asked for it like that before.) Su Xing is also very comfortable inside with booths and tables and lots of space. :)
(5)
Sue A.
I was staying just a few blocks away from here and really bummed because the meeting I was attending had TERRIBLE TERRIBLE food. (Who serves cold cuts?!) Then I found Su Xing House, and ate there for dinner every night I was in town. Great service - super quick, very polite. and the food was amazing and totally affordably priced. I had the scallion pancake and the sesame tofu the first night. HUGE portions of delicious food. I was bummed that I was staying in a hotel with note place to reheat the food or I would have taken my leftovers for breakfast the next morning. I also got take out from here to bring back to my room the following night (working while eating is easier at a hotel desk than a dimly lit restaurant), and the food was still super-hot by the time I got back to my room 10-15 minutes after pick up. The fried tofu was still super-crisp, and the sauce was just the same texture/flavorfulness it would have been at the restaurant. If I return to philadelphia, I'll definitely go back.
(5)
Al E.
Needed a place that could take 7 folks on a Saturday night. Chose it b/c of 4 stars and 1 $. Good for a group if you don't want to deal with a crowd and just get seated and served on late notice. Cheap. The scallion pancakes were really good. There's a lot of seitan, tofu, or fake meat on the menu, which I wasn't really interested in, so I had chow mei fun - thin rice noodle with shredded veggies. It was good, not greasy or soysaucey but was SO much food. We all ordered too much, we should have shared. At least 2 of us could have shared each huge plate, if not 3 of us. Was weird for serious meat-eaters.
(2)
Angela Z.
I've come here twice - dinner and lunch. Both visits were delicious. Me and my friends ordered completely dishes every time and they were all good. Great reviews all around. Really great flavorful and aromatic tea that they are very generous with.
(5)
Darryl D.
We took the advice of other reviewers and must say thank you. We got the steamed dumplings to start, they were tasty, but not favourites. We ordered two entrees, the general tso's vegetable and the chow mei fun. Both were surprisingly good. While the chow mei fun looked a bit boring the flavour was really good. Regarding general tso's vegetable, if you had not told me there was no chicken I would have never known! Portions were very large, and we easily could have just ordered one entree to share. I would definitely recommend this place, and plan on coming back again!
(4)
Sarah G.
Heaps of delicious vegetarian food at completely reasonable prices. Meat-eaters will not feel like they're missing anything. Faves: Scallion pancakes General Tsos Tofu Tofu with Eggplant
(4)
M H.
Not a fan. I thought I liked it at first. but later I changed my mind. Nothing special.
(2)
Flor P.
I'm no vegetarian, but I love this place. Warm woods, blue neon ceiling lights, *serene* (no music in the background), and free *bottomless* delicious jasmine tea. The first time I ate here, I had an unexciting plate of vegetables. Second time around I ordered better: golden rings! Both times I left feeling warm and happy.
(5)
Laura T.
Stopped in for dinner with the girls. All vegetarian, byob. For appetizers, we got delicious seaweed salad, amazing scallion pancakes, and the steamed dumplings. All were delicious, tasty, and cooked well. For dinner, I got the pan seared noodles with mixed veggies. I loved the noodles, they were slightly seared and flavored well. I did not like the mixed veggies! I think the sauce was too thin so they came out a little flavorless. My friends all got eggplant and tofu with garlic sauce. I admit to being picky with garlic sauce, and theirs was exceptionally good. Choice of brown or white rice. Tiny booths. Unmanned coat closet on the second floor, use this! I think their lunch specials would be a good option. Service was awful, everyone was nice but they were incredibly slow. I had to ask for more water several times. Way way too long! At the end, I liked the apps WAY more than the meal, so I'd return and probably get apps and soup.
(3)
Rose B.
I only had one meal here but I thoroughly enjoyed it and would go back in a heartbeat if in the neighborhood. At first I was having a hard time finding something I could eat because of all my allergies and the waitress did not seem all that interested in taking a special order. Seemingly determined to find something I could eat without her needing to ask the cook to do something special she made many suggestions. That is when I noticed they had "stir fried peapod leaves" on the menu. I almost missed it since where I am from it is usually listed on the menu as "pea vine greens in garlic sauce" which is one of my favorite if not my favorite dishes. She then seemed willing to make some adjustments and it was ordered with just a bit of tofu and brown rice (yea brown rice!!!). It was delicious but I could not eat it all. I got it to go and took it back to my hotel room to put in the ice bucket (wrapped in a baggie) over night. I am positive I had the best breakfast than any of my fellow conference goers the next day!
(4)
Camila B.
This is one of the best vegetarian restaurants that I ever been! The food is awesome - I suggest the sesame seitan and the fried tofu with cashew nuts. The price is very good, good amount of food, and I also love the jasmine with green tea that they serve with water. The service is good and friendly. They also deliver very fast. The restaurant has a good decoration and it is very clean. I've been in Philly for only 1 month and already went there about 5 times!
(5)
King T.
I had never had vegetarian food before, and I was really really weary of eating any. But after gorging on Philly cheesesteaks, fries, burgers, and other countless heart-attack meals, we figured it might be time to try something a little healthier. There weren't a lot of people when we walked in for dinner. The service was quick, and polite. But onto the food. We ordered a few vegetarian meat dishes that I can't recall now. But I can remember that the food was REALLY good. The "meat" tasted almost like the real thing. They give you pretty big portions too, so we had to take a bunch back to our hotel. This place was really the catalyst for me exploring the world of vegetarian food. If I ever make it back to Philly again, I would definitely come back.
(5)
Nicole W.
There is a lot of variety for vegetarians. I'm a tried and true meat eater, but even I love the veggies, and this is a cheap place to go to for lunch. However, I prefer not to eat tofu, so that eliminated many lunch options, so I settled for something I knew. The waitress was...there. I recall that she didn't even ask if we wanted anything to drink. I felt like everyone else in the restaurant was also just drinking the water that they had brought to the table. But water is good. And free. So I'm okay with water. I had the vegetarian fried rice lunch special, which came with miso soup and a spring roll. It was pretty bland so I had to add soy sauce. That is a huge pet peeve of mine. If you're going to make fried rice, make it right. The miso soup was good. A bit too watery for my taste but not bad. The spring roll was ok. Nothing spectacular. Definitely needed the duck sauce. I was full. And I had good company, so I will some it up with an ok. $9 (including tip) for a mediocre meal is a bit off putting but I may come here again with the right incentive.
(3)
Brian D.
Great food! Best Chinese I've had in awhile.
(5)
Kimba Z.
Su Xing is much nicer than your average Chinese Vegetarian, not that there is anything NOT nice about them in general -- it's just that they are not meant to be fancy. But Su Xing is the most upscale one I've been to in Philly, with nice low lighting and is cozy with wooden booths and an upper level. It could actually kind of be romantic. I love that it is BYOB. The menu is huge, with a long list of Chinese standards, just all vegetarian. The Chef's Specialties can be tricky to picture from the descriptions -- until you discover the pictures on another page of the menu. Still, deciding takes a very long time, because it all looks so unique and good. We were crazy for the black seaweed pancakes and asked for a second order. I like that they have seitan and cook with plenty of varieties of mushrooms. Once drawback is that there are not many table choices for parties larger than 4. I think there is one large table, so our group of 5 was placed at a booth with a chair and small table on the end, which kind of isolated the 5th person, because he could not hear us. If you have a bigger group, reserve the large table. I will be back for affordable, unusual, quite delicious vegan offerings. I saw vegan because I did not detect any cheese or egg, though I could be wrong. We had leftovers too, nice portions! Plenty of omnivores in my circles love to eat this way, no guilt. I think it is great to show people that creative wonderful dishes can be made from simple vegetables, that vegetarian eating can be a cuisine and not just a meal with all the fun parts taken out. You won't miss the meat, and you can eat healthfully, unless you order 2 servings of fried seaweed pancakes like we did. :-)
(4)
Bill M.
This five star review is based on the flipping sweet lunch specials they have during the week. I was able to gorge myself on veggie General Tso's Chicken, brown rice, a mushroom appetizer, and a huge cup of miso soup. and this veggietacular feast cost just under $8! can you get any better? I'm also pretty happy to find an awesome Veggie Chinese spot that's outside of Chinatown. It also hooks up a good assortment of bubble and fruit teas and does BYOB! Zang!
(5)
Stephanie P.
#111 DEEEEEElicious! On one of our first adventures in Philly, my friends and I decided we were desperate for Chinese food. However, being 2 vegans and 1 vegetarian, we were a bit hesitant to just walk up to any Chinese restaurant around. So, after searching around on Yelp, we found Su Xing House. Plus, it was right around the corner from where we were standing! What luck! Walking in, the place was much classier than most Chinese restaurants I've been to back in SoCal. Their menu was so extensive and we were eager to order everything, but of course we had to settle down and ended up ordering about 3 dishes. I got the Eggplant Tofu in Garlic Sauce, as well as the Scallion Pancake. They were absolutely delicious and, with brown rice, more than enough to satisfy my hunger. I actually ended up having to take more than half of everything back with me. Since then, I've ordered take-out more often than I'd like to admit from Su Xing. On those lazy days, after a long day at work, all I crave is their Scallion Pancakes and Veggie Lo Mein. They are generous with their helping of veggies, their sauce is tasty but not too salty, and their noodles are chewy. Even their fake meat tastes great. They're not at all textured like meat, but they taste slightly sweet and serve as perfect substitutes for meat in their dishes. The boyfriend and I became such fans of their Scallion Pancake that he learned how to make them on his own. =)
(4)
Phil T.
I have introduced a couple of vegetarians to this place and they have been going back regularly ever since. While I'm not a a vegetarian, I get the General Tso's Tofu all the time with sweet and sour soup, brown rice, and braised mushrooms. It's only about $7 and you get enough food for two lunches. The food is quite tasty and always well prepared. I never thought I would say this, but I prefer their tofu to most chicken I would get at other Chinese restaurants. They prepare high quality, delicious, vegetarian Chinese food quickly and economically. Tough to beat.
(4)
Rebecca G.
I had the hot and sour soup along with the black and white mushroom dish with bok choy. The food was good, but nothing memorable. I have no desire to eat here again.
(3)
Cameron Y.
I got the as-you-wish and sesame seitan lunch specials and both tasted delicious. The spring rolls that came with our orders were crispy and light, unlike the over-fried and doughy spring rolls that most Chinese restaurants offer. The portions were also huge for the price. There are still so many things we want to try on the menu - can't wait to come back again.
(5)
Steven S.
This place offers an excellent selection of all-vegetarian Chinese food. The General Tso's was so good I could hardly tell it was tofu. All the dishes are huge and the free tea is a nice touch. The price is spot on for the portions and the decor is very unique. Definitely worth a visit.
(4)
Ellena S.
Just picked up a large hot and sour soup from here. Ate in a week or two ago, got the lunch special (hot and sour soup, mushroom special). Was pretty good, a size-able amount of food, but New Harmony is where it's at! Interior is nice, clean and BYO. Delivery area is limited however. I live in University City and they won't deliver to me. C'mon, I'm not THAT far from Rittenhouse!
(4)
Jeffrey N.
Beautiful little place on a quieter street. The food was just okay. We had a tofu dish that tasted it had just been sauteed with big-brand simmering sauce. Also, we weren't served what we expected and our server didn't offer to fix the dish or take it back. As a warning, the "vegetable noddle" dish doesn't have vegetables and noodles. It has noodles made out of vegetables. (Admittedly, this was in part our mistake, but we felt the situation was not handled well by the server).
(3)
Shawna B.
Lovingggggg IT! This place is one of my all-time favorite veg*n Asian restaurants. I'd loved the Greens in Brooklyn Heights, but sadly it seems to have closed (at least according to Yelp), so I'm relieved to say that Su Xing rivals the Greens in variety and flavor. I've been there twice (the second time on my one-year wedding anniversary!) and left both times very satisfied and looking forward to my next visit. The dishes have a wide range of ingredients, all veg and all delicious. I'd definitely recommend the edamame as an appetizer, followed by several dishes to try (share with someone!), and several orders for take-out :)
(5)
nico t.
returning from a trip to china, i'm surprised by how many vegetarian chinese restaurants there are in america. it was impossible to be be vegetarian in china. "just eat!" they told me. i'm a sucker for general tso's "chicken". i admit it. this is the best i've found in philly. maybe the best anywhere, but that's a bold statement and i'm kind of a timid dude. (not really) the other dish i highly recommend is the sesame garlic noodles. not quite the jing jing dan dan noodles of palo alto, but good enough to coat my esophagus. no 5th star because service is often slow, but again, compared to restaurants in china, this place is on the ball. don't get me wrong, i love china and the chinese people were wonderful, but without tipping, what do they have to work for? certainly not high wages!
(4)
JJ G.
Spectacular. Bubble tea and the sesame tofu are awesome. They don't accept American Express -- Visa + Mastercard only.
(5)
Heman P.
I went to this restaurant yesterday for dinner.. I liked this restaurant for two reasons 1) Food is awesome and also you get plenty of variety to chose from, 2) It is open till 10:30 pm when most of the restaurants are closed, it is good for me coz I generally have dinner late. It is good to see that you get Chinese "VEG" food with number of variety this place has. Overall its good restaurant to try if you like Chinese food and must go if you are vegetarian and like Chinese food. You might have to repeat yourself if you want something specific in your food as english is lil difficult there.. Hope you enjoy your food there as I did. Take care..
(5)
Karen M.
I pretty much love this restaurant. I eat here as often as I can and I take advantage of their amazing lunch special deal and price more often than I should. Their dinner is a huge portion that I never finish, but surprisingly, my leftovers taste just as good when I reheat them the next day (I'm serious!). The service is really nice and the location itself is very clean and tidy. Whenever we have friends come to visit us from out of town, my boyfriend and I always bring them here whether they eat meat or not and they always seem to enjoy it as much as we do. You should definitely make a trip here one day if you haven't already.
(5)
Dame V.
I agree with most of the other reviews - this is a very good restaurant! The staff is pleasant, the food is excellent, and the price is right. They have recently remodeled, and the place looks better than ever. I especially recommend the Dragon and Phoenix, but there are many other good dishes, as well.
(4)
B H.
My favorite Vegan/Vegetarian Chinese resturant in the city. They make the best General Tso "chicken". Veggie dumplings are also a hit! I prefer to eat in, but they do delivery and takeout.
(5)
alexis g.
We got take-out from Su Xing for Chinese New Year's and it was awesome. I was looking for a place with a large selection of noodles and Su Xing had everything -- Singapore-style Chow Mein, Chow Fun, and panfried egg noodles (and a bunch of other stuff). We also took a chance on their "Golden Feather Knishes." I love taro, but I'm not a huge fan of sweet-and-sour and I wasn't quite sure what a 'feather knish' was. So what's a feather knish? Delicious. We ate our noodles and veggies and then finished off with the knishes. They were almost dessert-like. We're definitely going back to this place again. Update: We actually didn't go back to Su Xing for a while... We discovered Square and Square and that became our go-to Chinese place (points for being a few blocks closer to home). But... lately we've gone to Su Xing for all of our take-out Chinese needs, branching out from the noodles-only menu from New Year, and we have not been disappointed. The texture on the black bean tofu is nothing short of amazing. I realize this probably involves lots of frying, but I have to say.. frying + tofu = freakin' miraculous. I'm definitely looking forward to trying more of the stuff on their menu, but I also have to say this: it's going to be hard to branch out to any other veggie dishes beyond the basil eggplant. When I opened up the little plastic take-out container the smell of basil sauce was overwhelming -- in a good way. I can't even describe it. If you order it and hate it, it's only $9.. and let me know. I'm happy to take it off your hands.
(4)
charlotte g.
i've never eaten there, but we do delivery from here all the time. they are really quick with delivery. all the food is delicious and fresh. Favorites: mashed BBQ tofu on nori veggie dumpling tofu and veggie soup veggie moo shu golden hot pot
(5)
Kathleen T.
so good. so very, very good. the portions are ridiculously large, the food delicious, and it's vegan! woohoo! okay, so i'm not vegan. but, i AM veggggggggietarryan, so it still jibed with my eating. el buggo digs the croquettes the most, while i am partial to the peas, potatoes and curry sauce. did i mention how very good this is?
(5)
mary g.
I love this place! I order from here all the time and they even deliver to me, a good 15 blocks East.. The fried mushroom strips are deeeelish. The sesame seitan is yummy as well. I think my fav is the tofu/vegetable soup. I don't know what's in that broth but it's quite addictive. One of my other fav things about this place is the lack of "chicken this" and "beef that." I hate ordering something that is called chicken, gross, but seitan all the way. It's comforting to know that they are 100% vegetarian and I don't have to worry about some bird falling into my fried rice. Like most Chinese food, don't wait too long to re-heat things - you'll be sorry to have wasted such delectable foods!
(4)
Stacey B.
I got take out at this place while visiting Philly. I needed something healthy, and I ordered a vegetable tofu dish off the chef's specialties menu. It had baby corn and tofu and mushrooms and lots of other vegetables. The portion was very large; I only ate half, if that. I was able to get brown rice with it, which was great.
(5)
Siobhan C.
I've never been to Su Xing for dinner, but the lunch specials are a tasty deal. I absolutely love the tofu with eggplant in garlic sauce and pretty much never order anything else. Lunch take-out typically takes about 10 minutes, but if you call ahead you can avoid flipping through Glamour magazines in the dimly lit waiting area. Would definitely recommend to meat-eaters looking for a place to take veggie friends and family. You will not be disappointed!
(4)
Joey K.
Very very good vegetarian Chinese. A good substitute to Cherry St. (which has closed ). Su Xing is a small restaurant with limited seating but a pretty nice ambiance as well. I ordered the General Tso's and let me tell you if I didn't know it wasn't chicken I would not have known, it was prepared great, and very fresh broccoli. I will go back.
(4)
Jennifer C.
My one-star rating is based on delivery service alone. I placed my order at ~9pm and did not receive my food until an hour later. The driver called 3 times saying that he was lost and could not find the address (I was staying at a major hotel by City Hall). The restaurant also called asking for the address to the hotel and then notified me that I can not pay via credit card (when I already confirmed at the time of order). My food finally came and when I opened up the bag, I realized that it was not the food that I ordered! A perfect ending to an awesome delivery experience.
(1)
Davin B.
I've been here twice- disliked it the first time and actually threw my takeout in the trash the second time. I'm only giving it 2 stars (rather than the -2 I think it deserves) because it seems that everyone else loves this place! Maybe I caught them on bad days. The first time I went was shortly after they opened, The portions were small and pricey for what they were, and the overall feeling at the table was that things were either too gelatinous or too dry. The second time I ordered broccoli and garlic sauce to go (how do you even mess that up?!), and what I got was overcooked-to-the-point-of-mush broccoli that somehow absorbed none of the flavor of the way-too-spicy garlic sauce. They are higher-end than most other Chinese places, but the food certainly didn't warrant the price hike- especially for take out. I'd rather order through bullet proof glass at a generic "number #1 Chinese and American food", pay $4, and get something delicious.
(2)
Tracey M.
The food here is so good. I was previously partial to New Harmony in Chinatown but after trying Su Xing House, they have won me over. Try to go at lunch time when you get far more for your money. Their lunch specials are a great value.
(5)
D K.
This is my first time trying Su Xing House and I'm pretty impressed. They have a great tofu menu - not the usual two or three options consisting of either just tofu and sauce or with one vegetable. I ordered the mu shu vegetables (yep, with tofu) and the tofu with mixed vegetables. Both were pretty tasty, and the vegetables were not too finely chopped and still had a hint of crunch. The price was right and the delivery was really fast: 15 minutes at most. I'll definitely be trying them again and checking out some of their other dishes.
(4)
Terri M.
This restuarant made me go vegetarian. No,I'm serious. The week before I ate here, I was telling friends that I could not imagine not eating steak. Well, here I am making a hypocrite out of myself. One year and many vegetarian meals later, I am still living without steak. Oh, this is a review..ok here goes...the General Tso's tofu is delicious and it is here where I tried seitan, sesame style. They have a great lunch special,meals ranging between six and seven dollars, and you get a great deal of food. For dessert, you MUST try the fried bananas. I have yet to try the bubble tea, but I'm up for the challange. The dim lighting and peaceful music create this soothing atmosphere, The only bad side is that there are very few servers, so service is kinda slow. But good food is worth the wait. Enjoy:)
(4)
Amanda F.
The food was good, but the service was a little strange. My boyfriend and I went a few months ago for the lunch special, but our friends were a little late, though they told us to grab a table anyway. It was hard to explain that we wanted to wait to order, even though I felt bad about holding things up, the tables weren't entirely full. We explained, but then approximately five different workers asked us, in quick succession, if we'd like to order. I'd probably only go back with one other person and if they were RIGHT there. Other than that, no complaints. Once our whole party was there and we did order, everything came out promptly and it was pretty tasty, and the cheapness can't be beat.
(3)
Jacquelin K.
Su Xing offers vegetarian Chinese. It's a pretty small restaurant that gets most of its business during the weekday lunch hour. Their lunch special is a great value--you get a soup, a side, and an entree for $7. I've had better vegetarian Chinese, but their mushrooms are really hearty. Their taro bubble tea is pretty funky (in a good way). I really don't have much to say about the food. The decor is pretty lackluster as well. It's really dark inside because they have no overhead lighting.
(3)
Peter C.
My girlfriend and I have frequented this spot ever since our friend brought us here last fall (2007). Compared to regular "meat" serving chinese places in center city, this place has beaten them all in quality and service. I usually get the Sesame Seitan or tofu and its always good. Their drinks are also very refreshing and fun. The lunch special is by far the best deal there but the dinner portions are a bit bigger. They've only screwed our order up once and that was getting take out.
(5)
y r.
hands down, the best chinese veg restaurant in philadelphia. well worth the few dollars extra (compared to the competition in chinatown). i had the hot and sour soup which was more than adequate. the bean sprout rolls appetizer was delicious. sprouts were fresh, the sauce light and tasty, and the quantity surprising (4 large rolls in total--enough for a small lunch!). for the main, we ordered the kale and hot pepper (was actually a chinese broccoli, but still delicious nonetheless), the tofu skin with 2 kinds of mushroom, and the vegetable chow fun. the tofu skin was tasty and well prepared, the mushrooms absolutely scrumptious. the chow fun noodle seemed to be homemade. very surprising! and delicious. all the vegetables were extremely fresh and not overcooked. flavors were savory and light. two thumbs up.
(5)
Evan H.
Su Xing is hands down the best Chinese food we've had in the city. Our perspective may be skewed because we're vegetarians, but this place is pretty marvelous when contrast with greasy, seedy, strange places such as Kingdom of Vegetarians in Chinatown (which does have an amazing Jetsons-like metal dumbwaiter thing from which your food appears). The atmosphere is clean and calm, and the service is very good. When we want Chinese we leave West Philly and its handful of cheap crummy places to visit Su Xing House. And if we lived in Center City we'd eat here more often.
(4)
Emma B.
this is far and away my most frequently visited lunch place, mostly because of the braised mushrooms (side dish) and hot and sour soup. get them.
(4)
Dave S.
Friendly service, a great selection of specials and more than reasonable prices. I don't think you could ask for anything more. I was a bit hesitant to go to vegetarian only Chinese restaurant but after enjoying a wonderful lunch feast (hot and sour soup, spring roll, and broccoli w/garlic sauce) I can definitely say that I will be going back. Oh yeah, my meal totaled a little over $6.50. Who could ask for more?
(5)
Sharon G.
Best vegetarian (vegan) Chinese restaurant in Philly for sure. No fake shrimp, fake pork and so on. Just food that is what it is - fresh and yummy. A favorite. They deliver too!
(5)
M. D.
Delicious! The lunch specials are great for the money, and the portions are huge. The employees are friendly and the food is always delicious, not to mention a great value. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Be brave and experiment with something new because you are sure to be rewarded.
(5)
Hannah K.
As a vegetarian, I wish every restaurant I go to could be like this! So many delicious options for me, and even my boyfriend (who eats meat) thought it was good. The decor is very nice, and we were quickly seated without a reservation. Our waiter was helpful in suggesting popular dishes from the rather long menu. We ended up ordering the moo shoo vegetables and tofu, which was good, and the sesame tofu, which came with broccoli and was amazing!! My boyfriend said it was the best tofu he had ever had, and I would have to agree. I will definitely be coming back here, can't wait to continue exploring the menu!!
(5)
Rupal P.
The staff seems miserable. Their favorite ingredients seem to be oil and sugar. I'm a Gujarati, and I thought the entrees were too sweet...my Indians, you know what that means... -_- Tip: the scallion pancakes are not all that. In fact they're just all fat.
(3)
Anrenee R.
Kale and bean curd with brown rice and a spring roll I came here for lunch and ordered the kale and bean curd at the hostess' recommendation. It was okay. It wish it had had more flavor. The texture and vegetable component was great, and I liked the lotus root and peanut soup. The spring roll was also great. If I returned, I would probably order something else.
(3)
Nelly M.
We're so delightful that we chose this place for our dinner while in Philly. After a long walk from the Philladephia Museum of arts, we were starving and wanted to have dinner around the 17th street and Chestnut (we stayed at the Club quarter). The restautant didn't look that attractive from outside. We were welcomed by a middle-aged woman, looking so much as someone with an authority aka the owner, and were seated. There were two other couples having their dinner. Thanks to other yelpers, we didn't have to spend too much time on deciding on the menu. For appetizers, we had the potato croquette and scallion pancake. The scallion pancake tasted so good, while the croquette was just okay. Hubby and I shared the sesame tofu that came with a choice of rice. This sesame tofu was just too good! We loved it. Our friend had her noodle and she liked it so much. If only we got to spend more time in Philly, I know I would come to have another dinner at this place. People in Philly, you are so lucky to have a very decent vegetarian restaurant in town. I envy you!
(5)
Sangita S.
I can believe I haven't reviewed this place yet. I love it and crave it often. They have the best lunch special deal. Under $9 for soup, entree with rice and a side! I'm obsessed with their sesame tofu which is weird because I'm not usually a tofu person (which is terrible as a vegetarian) but it's so good here. My friend always gets the seitan dishes and those are amazing if you like the mock meat texture. I would recommended to even non vegetarians!
(5)
Katherine L.
Surprisingly haven't written a review for this restaurant though I've been here before. Maybe it's a good thing, since I was not impressed before, but now, I'm pretty content. This is standard Chinese vegetarian food with a menu overflowing with mock meats, but if you dig deep, you can find some more traditional Chinese food. That's the stuff I look for at a Chinese restaurant, vegetarian or not. Mock meats are fine, but, do you ever really know what's in them? At least if you order tofu, you know it's just soy with some solidifying chemicals... I digress. Great choices on the menu are traditional seaweed and cucumber salads - I tend to order these just about everywhere and anywhere. To me, it's like having a bread basket with olive oil at a nice Italian restaurant. Anyhow, there are also fried things like spring rolls and scallion pancakes. The appetizer portions are quite generous. All the mock meat dishes that people ordered looked great - plentiful, delicious, sizzling, piping hot and full of lots of goodies. However, I am not the biggest fan of them. The noodles are good here, whether you are eating wheat or rice noodles. They have pan fried and noodle soup. Fried rice if you're so inclined. Lunch specials abound during the week. In my experience, vegetarian Chinese restaurants tend to cater to a more vegetarian palate rather than a more Chinese palate. So, I was glad that they had some traditional Chinese dishes like glutinous rice, turnip, tofu skin, bamboo shoots, pea shoots, black mushrooms (i.e. dried and reconstituted for depth of flavor and texture), Chinese broccoli/ kale, lotus root and glass noodles. OH, and bubble tea??? Those options makes this place top notch in my opinion. In addition, nothing was too salty by my standards, which can be a downfall of many a Chinese eatery. The lack of 5 stars is because of the lack of Chinese greens - they only had 2 fresh Chinese greens, one of which I hate (water spinach)... restaurants stock what will sell, so, yeah. They also had American/ western desserts that were vegetarian, but not vegan... bummer. The concept of gluten-free also seems somewhat challenging here...also, no tea on the table or "free rice," as in traditional Chinese restaurants... but, they had deep fried Chinese rice cakes for a dessert, YES!!!!!!!!!! The hot tea was also fabulous. I will be back... because there are many more dishes I wish to try... no mock meats for me, though, sorry. Keeping it to ingredients that I can identify by sight. Yum!
(4)
Jared J.
This place is a vegetarian hot spot. Meat lovers you will be surprised how well the food tastes here. Make sure to try Szechuan Seitan nuggets, a really good option. Sit down, shut up, and eat.
(4)
William E.
Great food here. Singapore Rice Noodles were the best I've had. Very nice staff. I also got scallion pancakes and a spring roll.....I was hungry. I wish I lived closer to this place as I really want to explore the menu a bit more.
(4)
Eunni C.
I am meat eater who likes go to vegetarian restaurant. I actually like flavor of soy protein. I had hight hope about this place. This place was always packed with people and known as their affordable price. I went there and I got my favorite Chinese menu. Sesame seitan. It came with brown rice and two side veggies. I got corn and steamed broccoli. And vegetarian spring roll. I did not expect gourmet meal for $10 but food did not reach my expectation at all even I considered their amazing price. I did not like my sesame chicken's sauce at all. Way too sweet and lack of flavor beside the sweetness. Side veggies were just sad, they threw couple pieces of steamed veggies and canned corn. Was lame... When I almost finished my meal, I realized they forgot my spring roll. Didn't bother to call them or go back. Boo.
(3)
Priya R.
Su Xing is essentially a really cool concept because it's like a typical takeout chinese place but everything is vegetarian! If thats not the life you're about, that's okay, but personally I think you are missing out on a very enjoyable experience. Like many people who frequent here, I am not a vegetarian but still absolutely love getting takeout from here. Some of my favorites include: 1) The sesame seitan is just yum. For vegetarians, I think this is cool because most places don't really know how to do seitan in a way that is flavorful and yummy. I feel like a problem a lot of vegetarians may also be that they like vegetarian food but not necessarily the "fake meat" flavor or texture most veg places offer. I can confidently say you do not have to worry about that here. 2) Scallion Pancakes 3) Golden Rings So far I've only ever gotten delivery, but I hear nice things about the restaurant and hope to go sometime soon!
(4)
Jessica S.
Su Xing is still my go-to for vegetarian comfort food. They offer a wide variety of dishes -- some breaded and deep fried, others steamed or braised -- and prepare faux meat well (never rubbery). I love to order the hot and sour soup when I'm coming down with a cold. My other favorites are the Soy Bean Nugget Szechuan style (sans peanuts) and the Triple Shredded in Garlic Sauce (tofu, soy protein strips, and enoki mushrooms). Props to Su Xing for offering brown rice at no additional charge. Su Xing's lunch specials are a real deal. Monday through Saturday, 11:00 to 3:00, lunch specials come with your choice of soup, side, and rice. Platters vary in cost, but tend to hover around $7 and top out around $9. Free delivery starts at 2:00, and my guilty pleasure is to place a delivery order between 2:00 and 3:00 pm on Satuday to get the lunch special deals. My only complaint is that all of Su Xing's dishes lack heat. Chili oil is definitely needed to kick the dishes up a notch.
The food was great. It came on two plates because we had ordered two dishes. One was different than the other. I believe one dish was a curry dish and the other. There were potatoes, which were soft and cooked. The size and weight of the rice bowls was pleasing. I wasn't sure why they gave me three spoons and just one fork. The shower I took after getting home from this meal was one of the most pleasing showers I've had due to the meal. I did not get hungry once while in the shower afterwards. They gave us oranges which tasted like lemons.
(4)
Kim L.
Self-proclaimed meat lover, here. I know what you're thinking. "Vegetarian Chinese? Sounds less-than-tasty and unsatisfying." Well, you're wrong. This place is legit. One of the best and cheapest lunch spots in the area. What you get for your money is absolutely ridiculous! For $6.95 + tax & tip, I got: -hot tea, filled to the brim pretty much every time I took a sip -a spring roll with duck sauce -miso soup -heaping portion of brown rice -enough General Tso's tofu to last me two days for lunch Speaking of the General Tso's tofu - I'm talking crispy, delicious, pillows of guilt-free goodness. My dining partner got the General Tso's veg and loved it just as much. Servers can be a little hard to flag down during the lunch rush, but once you get their attention, they'll bring whatever you need in a flash: carry-out boxes, the check, etc. Go here!
(4)
Jane P.
This place is great. I haven't been there in a while but from the ratings it must be the same. I had meat lovers fall in love with this place. I'm not a huge fan of Chinese but this is where I love to go when I do have it!
(5)
Dawn S.
Our meal was very tasty. Fried tofu, spring rolls, potato cauliflower curry, vegetable heaven, and Saitan sesame. We all enjoyed what we ate. The hot tea served with the meal was very good and the server kept the cups full which was nice. We would certainly recommend this to vegans looking for some variation to their routine.
(4)
Lisa L.
Delicious, quality food. It's everything you would want for Chinese takeout, and it's all veggie!!! The lunch special is a great deal with soup, entree, side, and rice for under $10 and it came put fast. I chose hot & sour soup, general tso's seitan, and mushrooms-all were great and I can't wait to try some more dishes.
(5)
Dennis B.
Tasty and inexpensive. I often go here from lunch even though I am not a vegetarian - because the food is good, the service is very good and responsive, and you never have to wait for a table. I particularly like the lunch special version of General Tso's tofu.
(4)
C C.
I stopped by for lunch with my parents over the weekend. The interior of the restaurant was dimly lit but I liked the atmosphere. As soon as we sat down, we were brought water and tea, both of which were constantly refilled. We each got a different lunch special, which includes your choice of soup, side, and rice with the entree, all for under eight dollars (most were about six or seven dollars). The lotus root peanut soup was delicious, though there wasn't much lotus root. I got the veggie steak in black pepper sauce, which was pretty good; my only complaint is that there was too much sauce. The side of seaweed was also good. I got my meal with brown rice. My dad's General Tso's tofu was fantastic, as many reviews have mentioned. I've never had tofu fried like that. However, he asked for white rice but got brown. He didn't mind too much and didn't ask the waitress to change it. All in all, a great discovery in the city. I look forward to going back sometime.
(4)
Grace P.
This place is amazing. I'm not a vegetarian and normally would have never even tried tofu but they've got me hooked. Best sesame/general tso's anything I've ever had. It beats out most other actual meats too. Loved their miso soup as well and is hands down, also the best Miso I've ever had. Which is saying a lot... As for pricing, super great. Huge proportions for what you pay and if you're looking for a good filling but not super expensive meal, I highly suggest going here with a friend or two and splitting some of the main dishes. So great. Highly highly recommend to anyone, even my fellow meat-eater carnivore red meat loving fellows. Seriously, just do it.
(5)
M K.
This place is fantastic! First things first, I can usually find parking nearby which is a magical and unusual event in Center City. Arriving there I am greeted by the lovely hostess who is always smiling and friendly. I have not been there during lunch hour so I don't have anything to say about their famed specials but for under $30 or so I get two entrees, soup, and a drink for my husband and I. There are always plenty of leftovers to have later on. Regarding the food, I have yet to find anything that beats their delicious General Tso's tofu. Whenever I go there I generally get one of that + one other entree to try. The triple shredded in garlic sauce is wonderful. I found the Kung Pao tofu lacking but that's just my opinion. Their three mushroom soup is to die for. All in all, wonderful place for a low-key date!
(5)
Jessie J.
Apparently my previous visit was a fluke. Went for lunch today, and the service was blazing fast this time. We were served everything back-to-back. I tried the steak w/mushrooms and onions, and it was really tasty. The gravy is so good, I sopped up my side of tofu with it. Updating from 3 to 5 stars.
(5)
Hannah K.
As a vegetarian, I wish every restaurant I go to could be like this! So many delicious options for me, and even my boyfriend (who eats meat) thought it was good. The decor is very nice, and we were quickly seated without a reservation. Our waiter was helpful in suggesting popular dishes from the rather long menu. We ended up ordering the moo shoo vegetables and tofu, which was good, and the sesame tofu, which came with broccoli and was amazing!! My boyfriend said it was the best tofu he had ever had, and I would have to agree. I will definitely be coming back here, can't wait to continue exploring the menu!!
(5)
Rupal P.
The staff seems miserable. Their favorite ingredients seem to be oil and sugar. I'm a Gujarati, and I thought the entrees were too sweet...my Indians, you know what that means... -_- Tip: the scallion pancakes are not all that. In fact they're just all fat.
(3)
Anrenee R.
Kale and bean curd with brown rice and a spring roll I came here for lunch and ordered the kale and bean curd at the hostess' recommendation. It was okay. It wish it had had more flavor. The texture and vegetable component was great, and I liked the lotus root and peanut soup. The spring roll was also great. If I returned, I would probably order something else.
(3)
Nelly M.
We're so delightful that we chose this place for our dinner while in Philly. After a long walk from the Philladephia Museum of arts, we were starving and wanted to have dinner around the 17th street and Chestnut (we stayed at the Club quarter). The restautant didn't look that attractive from outside. We were welcomed by a middle-aged woman, looking so much as someone with an authority aka the owner, and were seated. There were two other couples having their dinner. Thanks to other yelpers, we didn't have to spend too much time on deciding on the menu. For appetizers, we had the potato croquette and scallion pancake. The scallion pancake tasted so good, while the croquette was just okay. Hubby and I shared the sesame tofu that came with a choice of rice. This sesame tofu was just too good! We loved it. Our friend had her noodle and she liked it so much. If only we got to spend more time in Philly, I know I would come to have another dinner at this place. People in Philly, you are so lucky to have a very decent vegetarian restaurant in town. I envy you!
(5)
Sangita S.
I can believe I haven't reviewed this place yet. I love it and crave it often. They have the best lunch special deal. Under $9 for soup, entree with rice and a side! I'm obsessed with their sesame tofu which is weird because I'm not usually a tofu person (which is terrible as a vegetarian) but it's so good here. My friend always gets the seitan dishes and those are amazing if you like the mock meat texture. I would recommended to even non vegetarians!
(5)
Eunni C.
I am meat eater who likes go to vegetarian restaurant. I actually like flavor of soy protein. I had hight hope about this place. This place was always packed with people and known as their affordable price. I went there and I got my favorite Chinese menu. Sesame seitan. It came with brown rice and two side veggies. I got corn and steamed broccoli. And vegetarian spring roll. I did not expect gourmet meal for $10 but food did not reach my expectation at all even I considered their amazing price. I did not like my sesame chicken's sauce at all. Way too sweet and lack of flavor beside the sweetness. Side veggies were just sad, they threw couple pieces of steamed veggies and canned corn. Was lame... When I almost finished my meal, I realized they forgot my spring roll. Didn't bother to call them or go back. Boo.
(3)
Priya R.
Su Xing is essentially a really cool concept because it's like a typical takeout chinese place but everything is vegetarian! If thats not the life you're about, that's okay, but personally I think you are missing out on a very enjoyable experience. Like many people who frequent here, I am not a vegetarian but still absolutely love getting takeout from here. Some of my favorites include: 1) The sesame seitan is just yum. For vegetarians, I think this is cool because most places don't really know how to do seitan in a way that is flavorful and yummy. I feel like a problem a lot of vegetarians may also be that they like vegetarian food but not necessarily the "fake meat" flavor or texture most veg places offer. I can confidently say you do not have to worry about that here. 2) Scallion Pancakes 3) Golden Rings So far I've only ever gotten delivery, but I hear nice things about the restaurant and hope to go sometime soon!
(4)
Katherine L.
Surprisingly haven't written a review for this restaurant though I've been here before. Maybe it's a good thing, since I was not impressed before, but now, I'm pretty content. This is standard Chinese vegetarian food with a menu overflowing with mock meats, but if you dig deep, you can find some more traditional Chinese food. That's the stuff I look for at a Chinese restaurant, vegetarian or not. Mock meats are fine, but, do you ever really know what's in them? At least if you order tofu, you know it's just soy with some solidifying chemicals... I digress. Great choices on the menu are traditional seaweed and cucumber salads - I tend to order these just about everywhere and anywhere. To me, it's like having a bread basket with olive oil at a nice Italian restaurant. Anyhow, there are also fried things like spring rolls and scallion pancakes. The appetizer portions are quite generous. All the mock meat dishes that people ordered looked great - plentiful, delicious, sizzling, piping hot and full of lots of goodies. However, I am not the biggest fan of them. The noodles are good here, whether you are eating wheat or rice noodles. They have pan fried and noodle soup. Fried rice if you're so inclined. Lunch specials abound during the week. In my experience, vegetarian Chinese restaurants tend to cater to a more vegetarian palate rather than a more Chinese palate. So, I was glad that they had some traditional Chinese dishes like glutinous rice, turnip, tofu skin, bamboo shoots, pea shoots, black mushrooms (i.e. dried and reconstituted for depth of flavor and texture), Chinese broccoli/ kale, lotus root and glass noodles. OH, and bubble tea??? Those options makes this place top notch in my opinion. In addition, nothing was too salty by my standards, which can be a downfall of many a Chinese eatery. The lack of 5 stars is because of the lack of Chinese greens - they only had 2 fresh Chinese greens, one of which I hate (water spinach)... restaurants stock what will sell, so, yeah. They also had American/ western desserts that were vegetarian, but not vegan... bummer. The concept of gluten-free also seems somewhat challenging here...also, no tea on the table or "free rice," as in traditional Chinese restaurants... but, they had deep fried Chinese rice cakes for a dessert, YES!!!!!!!!!! The hot tea was also fabulous. I will be back... because there are many more dishes I wish to try... no mock meats for me, though, sorry. Keeping it to ingredients that I can identify by sight. Yum!
(4)
Jared J.
This place is a vegetarian hot spot. Meat lovers you will be surprised how well the food tastes here. Make sure to try Szechuan Seitan nuggets, a really good option. Sit down, shut up, and eat.
(4)
William E.
Great food here. Singapore Rice Noodles were the best I've had. Very nice staff. I also got scallion pancakes and a spring roll.....I was hungry. I wish I lived closer to this place as I really want to explore the menu a bit more.
(4)
Jessica S.
Su Xing is still my go-to for vegetarian comfort food. They offer a wide variety of dishes -- some breaded and deep fried, others steamed or braised -- and prepare faux meat well (never rubbery). I love to order the hot and sour soup when I'm coming down with a cold. My other favorites are the Soy Bean Nugget Szechuan style (sans peanuts) and the Triple Shredded in Garlic Sauce (tofu, soy protein strips, and enoki mushrooms). Props to Su Xing for offering brown rice at no additional charge. Su Xing's lunch specials are a real deal. Monday through Saturday, 11:00 to 3:00, lunch specials come with your choice of soup, side, and rice. Platters vary in cost, but tend to hover around $7 and top out around $9. Free delivery starts at 2:00, and my guilty pleasure is to place a delivery order between 2:00 and 3:00 pm on Satuday to get the lunch special deals. My only complaint is that all of Su Xing's dishes lack heat. Chili oil is definitely needed to kick the dishes up a notch.
The food was great. It came on two plates because we had ordered two dishes. One was different than the other. I believe one dish was a curry dish and the other. There were potatoes, which were soft and cooked. The size and weight of the rice bowls was pleasing. I wasn't sure why they gave me three spoons and just one fork. The shower I took after getting home from this meal was one of the most pleasing showers I've had due to the meal. I did not get hungry once while in the shower afterwards. They gave us oranges which tasted like lemons.
(4)
Kim L.
Self-proclaimed meat lover, here. I know what you're thinking. "Vegetarian Chinese? Sounds less-than-tasty and unsatisfying." Well, you're wrong. This place is legit. One of the best and cheapest lunch spots in the area. What you get for your money is absolutely ridiculous! For $6.95 + tax & tip, I got: -hot tea, filled to the brim pretty much every time I took a sip -a spring roll with duck sauce -miso soup -heaping portion of brown rice -enough General Tso's tofu to last me two days for lunch Speaking of the General Tso's tofu - I'm talking crispy, delicious, pillows of guilt-free goodness. My dining partner got the General Tso's veg and loved it just as much. Servers can be a little hard to flag down during the lunch rush, but once you get their attention, they'll bring whatever you need in a flash: carry-out boxes, the check, etc. Go here!
(4)
Jane P.
This place is great. I haven't been there in a while but from the ratings it must be the same. I had meat lovers fall in love with this place. I'm not a huge fan of Chinese but this is where I love to go when I do have it!
(5)
Dawn S.
Our meal was very tasty. Fried tofu, spring rolls, potato cauliflower curry, vegetable heaven, and Saitan sesame. We all enjoyed what we ate. The hot tea served with the meal was very good and the server kept the cups full which was nice. We would certainly recommend this to vegans looking for some variation to their routine.
(4)
Lisa L.
Delicious, quality food. It's everything you would want for Chinese takeout, and it's all veggie!!! The lunch special is a great deal with soup, entree, side, and rice for under $10 and it came put fast. I chose hot & sour soup, general tso's seitan, and mushrooms-all were great and I can't wait to try some more dishes.
(5)
Dennis B.
Tasty and inexpensive. I often go here from lunch even though I am not a vegetarian - because the food is good, the service is very good and responsive, and you never have to wait for a table. I particularly like the lunch special version of General Tso's tofu.
(4)
C C.
I stopped by for lunch with my parents over the weekend. The interior of the restaurant was dimly lit but I liked the atmosphere. As soon as we sat down, we were brought water and tea, both of which were constantly refilled. We each got a different lunch special, which includes your choice of soup, side, and rice with the entree, all for under eight dollars (most were about six or seven dollars). The lotus root peanut soup was delicious, though there wasn't much lotus root. I got the veggie steak in black pepper sauce, which was pretty good; my only complaint is that there was too much sauce. The side of seaweed was also good. I got my meal with brown rice. My dad's General Tso's tofu was fantastic, as many reviews have mentioned. I've never had tofu fried like that. However, he asked for white rice but got brown. He didn't mind too much and didn't ask the waitress to change it. All in all, a great discovery in the city. I look forward to going back sometime.
(4)
Grace P.
This place is amazing. I'm not a vegetarian and normally would have never even tried tofu but they've got me hooked. Best sesame/general tso's anything I've ever had. It beats out most other actual meats too. Loved their miso soup as well and is hands down, also the best Miso I've ever had. Which is saying a lot... As for pricing, super great. Huge proportions for what you pay and if you're looking for a good filling but not super expensive meal, I highly suggest going here with a friend or two and splitting some of the main dishes. So great. Highly highly recommend to anyone, even my fellow meat-eater carnivore red meat loving fellows. Seriously, just do it.
(5)
Asma K.
Best Chinese Vegetarian place I have ever been to! I am a vegetarian and have been to many Chinese vegetarian restaurants in DC and none come even close to this one. Whenever I am in Philly I go there to eat. My favorites are the garlic eggplant and tofu and the sesame seitan. I even took my meat lover father and cousins there and they loved it. I wish they would expand and open up more restaurants. As for the service, I've never had bad service they have always been nice and no issues. However it is just the standard they have never done anything amazing to stand out.
(5)
M K.
This place is fantastic! First things first, I can usually find parking nearby which is a magical and unusual event in Center City. Arriving there I am greeted by the lovely hostess who is always smiling and friendly. I have not been there during lunch hour so I don't have anything to say about their famed specials but for under $30 or so I get two entrees, soup, and a drink for my husband and I. There are always plenty of leftovers to have later on. Regarding the food, I have yet to find anything that beats their delicious General Tso's tofu. Whenever I go there I generally get one of that + one other entree to try. The triple shredded in garlic sauce is wonderful. I found the Kung Pao tofu lacking but that's just my opinion. Their three mushroom soup is to die for. All in all, wonderful place for a low-key date!
(5)
Jessie J.
Apparently my previous visit was a fluke. Went for lunch today, and the service was blazing fast this time. We were served everything back-to-back. I tried the steak w/mushrooms and onions, and it was really tasty. The gravy is so good, I sopped up my side of tofu with it. Updating from 3 to 5 stars.
(5)
Hayley E.
Wow! This place Rocks! Almost everything is vegan and it is in center city! No need to go into China town, which is nice because it's slightly closer to everything else. It was a semi formal mini restaurant. Very dark and quiet, but cute. The service was nice. They weren't up in your face bothering you, constantly asking you how your meal was, which is appealing for me at least. Sometimes once I get my food, I like to enjoy it in peace. They were still very good with their service though. As soon as I sat down,vey were serving me a cup already filled with hot tea. As soon as I was out of tea, they were filling it up again. I was amazed by the service speed of the food. Once I made my order, I was getting myself organized at my table and was about to open up my book when the soup came out. It was really hot, so I played with it to cool it Down and took two bites. As soon as I took my third bite out soup, my main course was ready. Some people may not like to have it all out at once, but I like it that way. I was amazed by how fast they were. And the quality of the food was great too! They didn't just rush through it to give me crappy food. I got the Setian Sesame, and it was out of this world! It was so crispy and delicious! I got the lunch portion, which seemed like a dinner portion to me....but hey, I'm not complaining. For he amount I got, it was dirt cheap. I would most definitely come here again! I wobbled out with no regrets! That was the best vegan go to Chinese restaurant I've been to so far!
(5)
Vicki H.
This place has an awesome lunch special. Expect to get a great meal for under $7 (plus tip). I've had both the lotus root and hot and sour soups and both are tasty. I found the hot and sour to be a bit more flavorful (peppery, as another reviewer noted), but I found it to be a little bit thick, which I wasn't expecting. I've had the stir fried green beans, and the general tso's veggies. The green beans were excellent, very flavorful. The general tso's veggies, at least in my order, came with seitan, as well. Definitely had that great deep-fried feel you want from a general tso's dish (diet food this is not). I like that there seem to be a breadth of things, from lighter fare to the deliciously deep-fried items. Service is attentive, and I appreciate that the meal comes with brown/white rice, spring roll, and hot tea!
(4)
Aria S.
I am obsessed with this place. My favorite vegetarian Chinese place in Chinatown, Singapore, closed down, so I gave this place a try. The first time I ordered the steak for dinner and it was delicious. I went for lunch the other day and the special was $6.75 and came with rice (no extra $ for brown), a side (spring rolls, salad, fruit), AND a soup (miso, hot & sour). All of that amazing food for $6.75! I got the kung pao tofu with peanuts and it was delicious. My friend got the "as-you-wish" which was like tofu sushi looking things? They looked amazing. Service is quick and friendly. I would order pick up about 30min ahead to stay on safe side because it's all freshly made I'm pretty sure. The interior is standard Chinese restaurant, spacious with booths. Nothing glamorous.
(5)
Hagana K.
This place is absolutely fantastic. The lunch specials are a ridiculous value if you're in the area around lunch time - 7 or 8 bucks for soup, entree and side. I always get the hot and sour soup, which isn't all that spicy, but very peppery - like lots of white pepper in the recipe. Still fantastic, just really clears out your sinuses. You really can't order anything wrong here, at least in my experience. If you're into the Americanized Chinese food, the general tsos tofu is ridiculous - beautifully deep-fried little pillows of soft tofu. The kung pao dried tofu is my favorite, although the shredded bean curd in garlic sauce is awesome too. About 1 in 3 times I get the chow mei fun singapore style, which is a curry-flavored thin noodle stir-fry with soy-protein chicken substitute. The soy-substitute chicken is... I'm not crazy about it, but I guess i'm happy it's there for the sake of complete nutrition? It certainly doesn't detract from the dish. The fried rice is really good too. For cheap, quick, Chinese vegetarian takeout, doesn't get any better in Center City.
(5)
Min P.
Meh. Not bad not great.
(3)
Emily H.
Love their lotus root soup.. unlimited tea! classy dining setup doesn't hurt either.
(4)
Douglas M.
The servers are nice but the General Tso's Veg is pretty awful. I'll try something else the next time I'm here.
(3)
Eve B.
We ate here this evening. The food was really good and the wait staff attentive. I am a vegetarian so was delighted to find this restaurant. It's very reasonably priced.
(5)
Danan R.
We came back for lunch and it was great as always. My mushroom delight with the seaweed salad and hot and sour soup was very good and I really liked the touch of sesame in the sauce. The "as you wish" rolls were fantastic with a great balance of shiitake, golden mushrooms, bean curd, and celery wrapped in a bean curd sheet, then roasted and seasoned. This is a must try here! The home style bean curd was great as well! It is made with fried tofu as an FYI. Service was great and our tea was refilled consistently.
(4)
Omnom N.
I really liked the food - especially the golden feather Knishes. We also ordered spicy tofu but u wish it was spicier. The portion sizes here are decent - definitely to be shared. Nice ambience as well. I really disliked the service though. The waitress seemed to be in a haste, grabbing menus and plates off our hands. There wasn't even a huge turnover / people waiting to even justify almost shooing us out.
(3)
Kathy Y.
I am a lifelong vegetarian and I love this place! We were visiting Philly for the weekend and was pleasantly surprised by this place. The good was delicious and the location was great. It was very reasonably priced and the service was top notch. We may have to find excuses to take the two-hour drive just to eat at this place again.
(5)
Jennifer C.
Perfect inexpensive lunch place. I always get the lunch special with the miso soup, spring roll, and either the lo mein or the sesame seitan. This time I got the hot and sour soup and seitan. Lovely large meal for a really great price. They're a little heavy handed with the corn starch in both of these items, so it's a little goopy, but everything tastes amazing. Hot and sour soup is quite spicy. I'll stick to my miso soup from now on!
(4)
Kenneth G.
We are from Reading, PA and it seems we must travel to get really great vegan food. iCreate in Pottstown, SuXing House in Philly. This little restaurant is, hands down, the best Asian food we have experienced in a long time. We were able to bring our own wine (no charge for doing so) and shared 4 entrees and 3 appetizers with friends. Every one was out of this world. Their spring rolls were nice but we especially loved the miso soup with tofu. Utterly divine. The sesame seitan with broccoli was my favorite, probably all of ours, but the other 3 entrees were also excellent. We relaxed with good friends and good food and a wine of our choosing. Perfect! The final wonderful surprise was their bill for the wonderful food, service and atmosphere! We couldn't believe the price for all this was sooo low. We just can't wait to come back!!
(5)
Cassie Z.
Delicious food! And I have meat with every meal. Tastes like authentic Chinese cooking that my mom makes. No wait, and really fast food service. Tea was awesome as well.
(5)
Sylvia O.
I didn't even know this place was vegetarian until I got a few bites in. The food is delicious! Great for lunch and huge portions. Of all of the places in Philly, their menu is the most unique and will satisfy both carnivores and vegetarians alike.
(5)
Laura L.
Food is awesome! Price is unbelievably low! Best vegetarian restaurant that I have ever been! Good to learn that they even have lunch specials on Saturday. Recommend: Pepper veggie steak - taste like real steak!! Hope they could deliver to University City too...
(5)
Laura Jill S.
YUM! Why did it take me so long to come here? Vegan Chinese food & closer to my house than New Harmony. That's a win! (Except that I think I like New Harmony better.) Our waitress seemed to either hate her job or hate us, so I made it a point to be extra super effusive: "Thank you SOOO much, I LOOOOVEEEE the soup, etc, etc." Eventually, she cracked a smile, that's also a win. I had the hot & sour soup (hotter than New Harmony's, NH's is more sour...I prefer NH's). We also had dumplings (SO good--I didn't want to share) and spring rolls. I ordered curry potatoes + peas + cauliflower (I combined 2 dishes because I wanted peas AND cauliflower, she made sure I understood they'd be charging me an extra $1 GASP!) and my dining companion ordered the General Tso's tofu. I liked his better, he liked mine better: we traded. For dessert, I had the chocolate sorbet. Good food and actually comical how angry our waitress was. I'll go back again for sure!
(4)
Sam G.
As good as vegetarian food gets. 1. Vegetarian 2. Chinese food I'm not even vegetarian! I don't care for that tbh. But this place was good. It was good. There was such creativity in the foods (for an omnivore such as myself). Mapo Tofu, some fake oyster dish, and some rice dish. I forget. Look at the photos. The prices are pretty cheap for the area. It's a steal, actually.
(4)
Ernesto Hideyokidz C.
We came here recently as a party of seven eating family style. The appeal of this place is that it was vegetarian, kosher, BYOB, and local. Sometimes when you order vegetarian dishes from non-veg Chinese places, they come out sort of lackluster, tasteless, or ugly. I liked that they made an effort to make the dishes look like meat dishes. Service was good, food came out steadily, and everything ended up being around $130 not including tip. I would recommend this place if you're having a large party (they have a separate room and you can save money with BYOB). Their menu caters to all types of eating habits. Even those who weren't huge fans of eating vegetarian or tofu meals were really impressed by the food here. Here is a breakdown of some of what we got. Appetizers: A few different soups Pan fried dumplings - have little cubes of tofu inside Potato croquettes - look like a chicken nuggets, prefect with a little salt and ketchup 2 Plates of Vegetable Stick with BBQ sauce - corn, mushroom, peppers, etc., with some kind of protein (looked like veggie sausage) Fried vegetable balls - similar to the croquettes but not breaded. I loved these Edamame - came out salted to perfection Entrees: Vegetable Lo Mein - plate is huge, don't get this for just one person General Tso Tofu - loved the sauce, got it on the side for other dishes Sesame Tofu - came with broccoli, also large enough for sharing Veg Heaven - maybe one of the less popular dishes we ordered Golden Rings - spicy and crispy, deceptively shaped like shrimp but veg obviously 2 Plates Sesame Seitan - similar to the general tso tofu, crispy and flavorful Veggie Steak - well loved at our table I obviously would recommend this place. Just a note to the management about the potato paste based dishes. Of the dishes that had this (croquettes, golden rings, etc.) the paste was a little heavy/gummy/sticky which made it difficult to chew and swallow. If it could be a little fluffier and easier going down, those dishes would have been my favorite
(5)
Becca D.
Standard Chinese cuisine, but with a vegetarian focus. The food wasn't amazing, but it definitely was good! And really, the price can't be beat. Wasn't super busy on a weekday lunch so service was quick. Definitely will be back!
(3)
Judy C.
I had dinner here and I made the mistake of ordering an appetizer AND an entree. BY the time I was done with the scallion pancakes, I was pretty much full. I ordered the Taro potato knishes as an entree. For vegetarian food, it was really cheap and they gave me a huge portion I couldn't finish. BY the time I was done, I felt like a starchy knish myself. The flavor was ok. It was like any other fast food Chinese place - laden with orange sauce. I didn't really taste any taro since everything was deeply fried. The scallion pancakes were a bit stale and hard and the sauce was boring. I would go here again if I was craving vegetarian Chinese food, but Philly has so many kinds of food I want to try, that it might take me a while to come back to Su Xing.
The Pros: The food was really good, and it was way cheap. You can seriously get stuffed here for around 15 dollars. The vegetarian prawn and vegetables was phenomenal. The Cons: The other two dishes that my friends got were just ok. Our waitress was kind of stern. Every time she came over I felt like she was going to yell at us. Maybe she was just having a bad day? I would return, the menu is so large that I want to try more things before I make up my mind completely about Su Xing House. Plus, it's so cheap, even if you don't like what you got, you don't feel like you wasted a lot of money.
(3)
Joyce T.
Spring rolls are fried to order! The sesame tofu is fantastic. The atmosphere and the lighting of the restaurant are on the weird side.
didn't miss the meat at all... scallion pancake was super-fried and a little harder than I enjoy. flavorful but a but greasy. general tso's tofu wasn't as spicy as I expected, but overall not bad. the texture of the tofu was nice, and didn't leave me wishing I'd had chicken instead. the sauce had a lot of whole peppers in it, so pay attention when you eat to avoid a mouthful of fire! vegetable my shu was flavorful and has a good mix of veg. I've typically had mu shu served with the pancakes on the side so I could assemble myself.... here they do it table-side for you. one order = 4 chinese burritos. noms. the price point is super reasonable, and this place is a nice alternative for vegetarians and those who keep kosher... and the meat-eaters won't have anything to complain about.
(3)
Dhara M.
The food here is just delicious! It is an authentic Chinese restaurant, AND it's vegetarian! Which is a very surprising and pleasant deal. I eat here every time I'm in Philly. Love this restaurant!
(5)
Lei Y.
Very good veg!!! So yummy. I believe the tofu here is a must-have. Also love the glass noodle in hot pot. I'll try more for next time going!
(5)
Cat N.
Ate here tonight with a good friend - neither of us are vegetarians, but nothing was lacking! We ordered spring rolls, the sesame seitan with broccoli, and the As-You-Wish dish. Spring rolls were delicious, but the sesame seitan was the star! SO good! The As-You-Wish was very good, as well. Very attentive with the tea and water. All in all, a solid 4 - EXCEPT... the portions (HUGE, we had lots of leftovers), the price (TOTALLY reasonable!), and the fact that there were at least 5 other dishes that I want to try! Bumped it up to a 5, and I will be BACK!
(5)
Colleen M.
I can typically find something on any menu to meet my needs. This talent comes from necessity and the overwhelming disdain for those preachy-type vegetarians. As the only non-meat eater in a group of meat loving foodies, I have adapted. So, when one of those friends decided to pick this place because I am always "so good about going with to any meat-fest in town" I was extremely excited (and a little nervous that she wouldn't be happy with the selection). Let me tell you, this place didn't disappoint. I had never heard of Su Xing House but I could not have been happier with the service, the menu selection or the food. The General Tso was amazing. The scallion pancakes were to die for. My friend was equally happy with the food and even took her left overs home for another taste. I can't wait to go back to try more of the menu options. So many were mouth watering I had trouble narrowing down my options.
(5)
Vinny P.
The food at Su Xing House will not blow your mind. What is great about it is that you are able to have all those wonderful feelings of eating chinese food (from your childhood) but without the meat. Most (if not all) of their stuff seems to be vegan. Perhaps they throw in some egg or butter somewhere but for the most part, you're good. The price point is insanely low for this section of the city. There aren't many places with a lunch special like this one. For a low price, you get soup, entree, rice and a spring roll, with all the tea and duck sauce you can drink. On a recent trip, I was pleasantly surprised by the lotus root soup. I doctored it up with a bit of white pepper and it was nearly perfect. I'm partial to the homestyle bean curd but I haven't ever gotten them to prepare me something "spicy" I feel like each time I ask for it they just sort of chuckle and never actually do it. So, I've eaten here a number of times and will continue to. It's an inexpensive lunch option and the food is tasty, in that "I want to feel guilty about eating chinese" way.
(3)
Josh H.
I've had their food three times now, and gotten the same dish each time. The first time, it was four star-worthy, perfection the second time (dine-in), but on the third try, I came away very disappointed. The sauce was more gelatinous than it was on previous occasions, and my girlfriend, who was previously very happy with their food, found hers only semi-edible. I will give them another chance, at some point, but for now, I'll give them three stars.
(3)
Stephanie S.
I think this review deserves 3.5. Su Xing has been on my bookmark list for months, since its an all-vegetarian restaurant. I came here for lunch with some co-workers, and it was really good. Certainly better restaurants in the area, but they did a good job with what they have. The inside was cute and decorated nicely, there's additional seating upstairs which is nice. The waitresses are VERY attentive. She filled up our hot green tea every 5 minutes. We arrived during a busy lunch hour, but the kitchen did a great job getting the food out quickly. We probably only waited 5 minutes before the soup came out, then another 10 for the meals. Very fast! I had the sesame siatian, which is like soy-"chicken" with sweet sesame sauce covered on top. It has a crunchy coating, and served with rice, broccoli, and I had seaweed as my other side item. Everything was very good. My coworkers had the "beef" which was soy-steak, it was also very good, had a ginger sort of flavor. They had a spring roll on the side. Everyone enjoyed their meals, and the service was speedy. Not the best meal ever, but I do recommend this for vegetarians, and I will go back.
(3)
Daniel L.
My wife and I love this place! They are all vegetarian and I'm a protein guy but I absolutely love this place. They also have brown rice on request for those watching GI. They give generous portions especially for the price. Nothing tastes greasy so you don't leave this place feeling like a disgusting blob. Definitely worth checking out!
(5)
Denise K.
Service was amazing and the food overall was tasty and decent. Pancake scallions, veg prawn with walnuts and general tso's veg were all just a little too over done/fried to the point of being chewy. Maybe I didn't try the right menu items to really enjoy it properly.
(3)
Ashley S.
The General Tso's is really all that! My family came for dinner the other night and ordered a little of everything to share. The soy protein steak tasted oddly like fish (I really enjoy fish so I loved it!), the "beef" with broccoli had a great sauce, the As-You-Wish tofu was nicely crisp, and the Triple Shredded in Garlic Sauce was tasty. I definitely prefer this to traditional Chinese food! Can't wait to be back for the lunch special!
(5)
Yun W.
Came here with a large party and they sat us in a back room. The service was prompt with tea, water, and food, given our large party size. Came out to roughly $17/person after tax & tip for a great meal. Highly recommended if you don't mind going all-vegetarian. Tried a bunch of dishes. My rankings: APPETIZERS - Sesame Cold Noodles - 5 stars - these were delicious, highly recommended Pan Fried Dumplings - 4 stars - flavorful despite being vegetarian Scallion Pancake - 3.5 stars - your typical scallion pancakes, slightly on the oily side for me, but pretty good Sweet Candied Walnut - 3 stars - these were good but I felt it could have been paired with something else instead of an entire plate of walnut s DISHES - Spicy Szechuan Style Tofu - 4 stars - a standard dish and right level of spiciness Moo Shu Vegetables and Tofu - 4 stars - this was quite good, I would pick it over the real Moo Shu Pork dish. Recommended. Black Mushroom w/ Asparagus and Green - 3.5 stars - good presentation and flavorful black mushrooms. asparagus and greens were less flavorful but still decent. this was a standard veggie dish and would get 4 stars except it was definitely on the pricey side for veggies. Veggie Lo Mein - 3.5 stars - the tofu pieces add an interesting "meat" flavor, but other than that it's a pretty standard dish. Taro Croquettes w/ Cashew in Sweet and Sour Sauce - 3.5 stars - this was an interesting dish, it reminded me of Sweet and Sour Chicken, but the taro pieces were kind of small and coated with a lot of fried batter Veggie Prawn w/ Walnut - 3 stars - another interesting dish. The fake prawns were huge (battered and fried), and covered in mayonnaise like sauce with walnuts and honeydew (somewhat random). I understood what they were trying to do here but unfortunately it lagged pretty far behind the actual prawn dish.
(4)
Shashank G.
Nice VEGETARIAN Chinese place. Some vegan friends enjoy this place as well (as is heard) Close to center city and a lot of parking (paid) and subways! A BYOB. Friendly / accommodating staff. Honestly, a last minute place to satisfy your most peculiar friends who have a vendetta against plants - doesn't get more convenient than this. And you can be a loud bunch as well - I don't really think people mind it if you ;) liven ;) the place up .. Plus they have put a good amount of time on making tofu. Which I like. Real soft nice tofu - tip - please don't fry it. You will finally get 'nice' tofu here!
(4)
Alex M.
Great food, friendly staff. The golden runs are unabashedly not imitation meat, and one of the better things I've had here.
(5)
Erica T.
I JUST WANT TO SCREAM WITH JOY WHEN I THINK ABOUT EATING HERE 1. I'm not a vegetarian. 2. If you think you need to be a vegetarian to appreciate vegetarian food, you are probably very bad at eating and enjoying food. 3. I don't know why I'm making a list, this seems hella dumb now. Anyway, Su Xing is amazing because the food is AMAZING and insanely cheap. Two people can easily stuff themselves for less than 20 bucks. I live in the midwest and all I hear about is how expensive east coast everything is, but there isn't a single place I've been to in the midwest that is as high quality and inexpensive as Su Xing. I know it seems kind of generic given that their menu is so huge, but I opted for the sesame tofu twice because I've had it at so many places and this was the best sesame tofu I've ever had in my entire life and this includes ses tofu I've probably spent twice as much on ok!! It's glorious They also give you complimentary tea that I think is delish ok! I'm just gonna give you a list of things that are really delicious. Sesame Tofu Spicy Szechuan Style Tofu Fried Banana As-You-Wish Golden Rings Please keep in mind that I live 800 miles away and therefore don't get a lot of chances to eat here. i just want to come to Philly once a week so I can eat here! Considering how cheap it is, it's actually not a bad idea...
(5)
Carrie C.
My friend and I were a little cautious to walk in because the restaurant was EMPTY, however, we decided to give it a shot anyway because my vegetarian friend wanted Chinese food. We were so pleasantly surprised by our experience here. The service was actually pretty fast and friendly, and the food was surprisingly delicious. We ordered the sesame seitan as well as a sticky rice wrap. Both were a tad bit oilier than I would have liked, but they were both so flavorful, and I would definitely recommend them both. Also, the sesame seitan was delicious as leftovers the next day!
(4)
Abhi K.
We got delivery from here and were disappointed. Everything was very average, but based on these Yelp reviews, we thought we were going to get something exceptional. First of all, the delivery was not at all fast. We got our food an hour after we ordered. Secondly, the food was fine, but they forgot part of our order and as this was a delivery, we couldn't get that back. It was only a large side of rice, oh well. The portions are gigantic, so you do get a lot of food for the money that you put in. Fried bananas: mushy and overripe bananas. Shakes: More watery than milky (could be due to delivery on a cold night) Creamy corn soup: It's like egg drop soup with corn -- delicious. Tofu Eggplant in garlic sauce: Generous portion, the tofu tasted good. Large strips of tofu that were fried and marinated in the garlic sauce along with the eggplants. I recommend this dish. Maybe the dining experience is better when you dine-in?
(3)
S. H.
The fragrant floral cup of tea served with the meal was a nice touch. For a $6.95 lunch, you get a reasonable, light meal. I ordered eggplant and tofu with garlic sauce. I chose white rice, seaweed, and a miso soup. The miso soup was okay. The seaweed was better than I expected. The eggplant and tofu tasted good, but had too much sauce on the plate. The portion of rice was unexpectedly small. With so much sauce, a little more white rice may have helped mop that up. Overall, Su Xing House is fine for a quick, affordable, light, vegetarian lunch, but you might want to walk around the corner and look for an ice cream shop after you finish here.
(3)
Tyler R.
I'm giving this update on my previous experience 5 stars. The service was quick and snappy. The food came out quickly and was executed very well. When I finished I was completely full, but I wasn't weighed down at all. I walked in around 12:45p and asked for the lunch special #1 (the "As You Wish") to go. The woman at the front counter was courteous and completed my transaction quickly. She immediately placed the order, and I received my food in a matter of minutes. The food was delicate, well flavored and delicious. My biggest issues in the first review dealt with the saltiness of the food and the slowness of the service. Those two things were remedied during this visit, so 5-Stars is a must. Bottom line: This is definitely a lunch spot that I will frequent. Let me know if you're going to be there-- I'll congratulate you on making a great choice.
(5)
Ben D.
Suitable for carnivores, even though there is no meat. Tastes delicious. Great bang for the buck.
(4)
Tanya C.
I came here for lunch with my husband after I checked into our hotel. It was next to our hotel and the reviews on Yelp made it sound heavenly and it sure was. Initially we were the only customers in the restaurant but that changed soon enough. After looking at their menu I ordered the potato and cauliflower curry and my husband ordered the General Tso's tofu, both the lunch special. For appetizer we ordered the scallion pancakes. The pancakes were great. Nice and fried and came with a dipping sauce. My lunch special was okay. I much preferred my husband's and I wished I also ordered it. The potato and cauliflower was a bit bland while his tofu was crispy and delicious. The hot and sour soup and spring roll that I had with the lunch special was also delicious. Overall great place. I would definitely come again when I'm in PA. I didn't even tell my husband till the end that this was a vegetarian restaurant and he said that he didn't even miss the meat! Service was decent, especially for a Chinese restaurant. Tons of seating!
(4)
Michael G.
I always forget how absolutely delightful this place is. Their lunch special is killer: you have a broad selection of different main dishes, accompanied by a soup, white or brown rice, and a side. Their tofu skin and wheat gluten preparations are both traditional and scrumptious. I've steered clear of some of the more boring Chinese-American hybrid stuff (e.g., sesame tofu), so I can't speak to how good that is. But the friendly staff are delivering authentic, well prepared Chinese vegetarian cuisine for a great price.
(5)
Minh C.
Great place to grab vegetarian Chinese food on the cheap. I've only come into Su Xing for a sit down a couple times, but have mostly ordered delivery. First thing is first, Su Xing's delivery is FAST, so don't go hopping in the shower! Two faves: black pepper steak (I don't see this on the menu, but that's what I always say I want) and soybean nugget szechuan style. These are a must! I'll elevate this to five stars once I get more opportunities to go in for a sit-down, since some Yelpers here say the service isn't that good. I've only been in a couple times, and can't say it was bad though...
(4)
Kaneisha G.
Sesame tofu is MY LIFE right now. Writing this AS I eat. Wish I had come here with a friend so we could split this and an appetizer as I can't eat it all by myself. Tasty jasmine tea too! Enjoying the lively Mandarin chatter among the waitresses.
(5)
Ceasar B.
Had lunch here. Food is very cheap, filling, comes out fast, and is decent. Tea and water were refilled regularly. My biggest complaint is that the menu was hard to decipher as the dishes are missing description (e.g. one item is just "Mushroom Delight" without an explanation). I had a lunch special: eggplant, brown rice, tofu, seaweed, and miso soup. I didn't think anything was particularly great, but measured as a cheap lunch spot to satisfy hunger, this spot is hard to beat.
(3)
Maria R.
I love and miss this restaurant so much. It's heaven for vegetarians. Also super good service and the ambiance is great!
(5)
Anna H.
We came for an early dinner. The service was so great. Really attentive and the food came out really quick! It was really nice to eat Chinese food that was not heavy or greasy( the 10 treasure hot pot was delicious and actually full is shiitake mushrooms) sliced oranges and fortune cookies at the end ! I wish we had this place in Boston.
(5)
Ross L.
So, I'm not a vegetarian. Not even close. Still, this is my go-to spot for Chinese food in Center City. Even if you're a meat eater, you won't miss the meat at all. Prices are very reasonable, portion size is good, and it's generally ready very quickly. I placed an order today, and by the time I got to Su Xing from my office at 16th and Chestnut (like, a block and a half away), it was ready and waiting for me. One word of caution. The hot and sour soup - *VERY* spicy. I guess since they can't use chicken stock, they make up for it by making the soup extremely spicy. Personally, I'm a huge fan of spicy food, so it's fine by me - just don't order the hot and sour soup and expect it to be like your local Chinese take out place.
(5)
Ambi C.
I think we found our new go to take out Chinese place. Let's just say, we will be visiting you guys a lot. :) Good size portions, healthy options and flavorful dishes--you really can't go wrong.
(4)
Ari N.
I had the lunch special here which is pretty generous. It's all vegetarian and I was interested in a degustation of it. I ordered the sesame seitan and hot & spicy soup. It seemed like a chewy type of chicken, taste was good. I didn't care for how chewy it was, it made it taste like it wasn't as fresh as it could have been. Overall an OK experience. Meal comes with free tea.
(3)
Slip S.
You step inside this gloomy interior with its outdated, but attractive furnishings and feel like you could be in Hong Kong circa 1960. Now this is an interesting, even eccentric, restaurant. Not everything was great, but it is hard not to like a place that offers hearty Chinese vegan dishes at low prices. Some of the items are definitely out of the ordinary - it is not all steamed cauliflower and broccoli here. I had a lotus root soup with steamed peanuts, and a deep fried, sweet sesame tofu dish with a side of firm, shredded seaweed (wakame, I think). The service is not especially charming, but where else can you find a lunch like this for under $10?
(4)
Scott S.
This place blew my mind. It is very clean with a great atmosphere. everything and everyone is veg, so the clients are cool and nice. The food was incedible. We ordered zuchini, three colored veg, veg lo mein, gen tso tofu, scallion pancakes - all amazing. I want to eat here all the time. What a find!
(5)
Shenita S.
Ok so I am going in here. I love Su Xing House. If could afford to have lunch here everyday for the rest of my life...or dinner for that matter...I would die the happiest vegetarian death! I see some people rated the restaurant pretty low, which I don't get. The service is good. The servers are attentive to your glasses and pop in for refills which is awesome. They take your money/card when you're ready to go. They answer questions. I just love this place. Now to the food: I am someone that if it's not broke don't fix it, so I stick to what I know...The General Tso's Veg. Tastes like chicken. I love the broccoli (steamed but not soggy but not extremely raw)! Spring roll. Love.gov The Veggie Steak and Onion...the texture and consistency is just out of this world. To each his/her own, but Su Xing is BY FAR my fave restaurant right now...oh and it's not ridiculously expensive.
(5)
Sheri H.
Although I've been a vegetarian for decades, I have never appreciated fake meat that too commonly dominates vegetarian restaurants. This is why I LOVE Su Xing. They pay close attention to each vegetable, no dish seems to be slapped together without thought. Servings are huge and very reasonably priced. I love their Ebony and Ivory, Stir Fried Peapods, Seaweed Salad, I could go on and on. They also deliver until 11PM on weekends which is rare around these parts. It always hits the spot beautifully.
(5)
Leah Y.
love this veggie chinese food, flavorful and over all health for me
(5)
Adam P.
Stopped by here for a quick lunch one day and left pretty content with my experience. I got the General Tso's tofu w/braised mushrooms and brown rice, which was only about $8 or so. Huge portion, tasty sauce (maybe a touch too sweet), and came out piping hot. They serve complimentary tea too, which I always enjoy. Oh! And my ridiculously cheap lunch also came with a cup of soup. Service was friendly enough and very attentive (love when my glass of water never gets empty). I'm far from a vegetarian, but I liked the food and would definitely recommend as an affordable dining option if you're in the city and craving Chinese food.
(4)
Nora C.
On a cold night, I decided to eat in. So I looked on Yelp and found this place that had some good reviews. Which at this point I think they wrote themselves. So be warned, the positive reviews here are bogus. I was told that my order would take 45 minute to deliver. At 50 minutes, I called and asked where my order was. I was told they forgot about my order and it was going into the kitchen now. 1 hour and 45 minutes later my order arrived. No discount. No excuse. Just here is your order. I was so hungry that I dug in. But it turns out that the food is worse than the service. Do not eat, or order from this place, if you like food. Don't believe the good reviews. I am betting they were written by the restaurant and the employees. This place is Terrible.
(1)
Julia C.
It's been awhile since I've been to this little gem of a restaurant. It's still very good. I went for lunch. The service is prompt, friendly ....the food is delicious, healthy and vegetarian. Today I had Braised Wheat Gluten with Zucchini and Mushrooms in a brown sauce. Yum. This meaty dish is tasty and dense. you cannot even tell it's vegetarian protein. I had hot n sour soup and spring roll. Lunch specials are really a good deal.
(5)
Jenna F.
I'm not a vegetarian and this place was fantastic!!!! Tried something new I wouldn't normally eat (vegetable heaven) and loved it. Also, the scallion pancakes are a great choice for an appetizer... 3 bucks and pretty filling! Will definitely be back and definitely recommend (plus its BYOB)
(3)
Weifei Z.
My experience here was mixed. Starting with the bad, the green onion pancake was way too thick and tasted more like egg roll skin than any green onion pancake I've had anywhere. Honestly, the frozen green onion pancake I buy at grocery stores tasted better. The eight treasure hot pot was good though it was more of a saucy mix than a hot pot. The "As you wish" dish was also good, but the tofu skin seems to have lost some of its natural flavor due to frying. Why do that to a good thing?
(3)
Aruna A.
I love all veg food. Veg chicken, beef, and other fake meats usually all taste the same to me unless they are seasoned well, which is definitely hard to find. Not at Su Xing - where they make a variety of well made tofu and other soy protein based foods are definitely all season well and tasty. I've tried a number of their options from scallion pancakes to sesame tofu to general tso's tofu - all great. A tad expensive for what it is for dinner - but open late - I recommend it if you are around, but I don't know that I'd ever find myself craving their food stuffs, or travelling across the city to get to it!
(4)
Kim C.
I am a creature of habit. I like getting same dishes every time I order here. Consistence in food is one of important factors that I use when I judge a restaurant. Their taro bubble tea is amazing and I get that all the time! I love their General Tso's Tofu and Mixed Vegetables with Szechuan sauce. But sometimes chef made them taste differently. I guess head chef's off or they have changed chef. When their food is not consistent sometimes, I rather not take the chance to order. I will visit again to try different dishes though.
(3)
Amaryllia L.
This is a vegetarian restaurant. I'm throwing that up there because it's important and I know not everyone will read full reviews and pick up on it...yes, I'm talking about myself of course. I placed a delivery order from the Latham Hotel (0.2 mi away) at 9:43 on a Wednesday night based on the glowing reviews for this place. The lady on the phone had an accent that was very hard to understand but she was super nice. 20 minutes later, I received my food from a rain-drenched, and understandably unhappy, delivery guy. Despite what the lady on the phone told me, the delivery guy did NOT take credit cards. I lucked out though because I had enough cash on hand. * House Special Mei Fun Soup ($7.50) - I ordered this because another reviewer had said that it tasted like pho and there's really nothing better than hot noodle soup on a cold rainy night, am I right? Unfortunately, besides the fact that this is noodle in hot broth, there is no similarity to pho in terms of ingredients or flavor. I thought it tasted extremely bland (like hot water with some oil floating on top) and had a hard time liking the slices of fake meat/spam-like things. In retrospect, now that I know it's a vegetarian restaurant, I guess it's not terrible, but I certainly would never order this again either. * Deep Fried Chinese Rice Cake ($3.50) - I got this purely out of curiosity and was pleasantly surprised at how much it reminded me of rice cake that my mom would make for Chinese New Year. The only differences are that these were cut up, breaded, deep-fried, and then served with crushed peanut powder and sugar...all good things! They were more stale/chewy than crispy because I got them as delivery but I could imagine them being extra yum if served fresh. This is the only reason why I'm giving them 2 stars instead of 1. * Milk Tea with Tapioca ($3.05) - Tasted like instant milk tea powder with refrigerated (i.e., cooked in the morning and now hard) tapioca pearls. This was another impulse order because I had never seen bubble tea available on a delivery menu before. It turned out to be almost the worst bubble tea I've ever had so, yes, I learned my lesson.
(2)
Michael H.
Asked for brown rice, got white. Meals contain almost no veggies; about 85% tofu, which is overly sweet. I wouldn't go back.
(2)
Sam H.
Everything I ate here was delicious, and I ordered quite a few things because there was so much that I wanted to try! One of the best vegetarian restaurants I've eaten at, and I can't wait to go back. Our waiter was extremely friendly and made sure to answer all of our questions and recommend his favorites. Some of the typical Chinese dishes (with replacement fake meat) are offered, as well as some unique dishes that I hadn't seen before. There is definitely something for everyone here!
(5)
Cindy F.
Hidden gem, sort of. It is tucked away in an alley by Ladder 15. It's open late and has the best food! Like the other Yelpers said, the food is so fresh that you leave feeling satisfied rather than stuffed. Seriously you need to check this place out. It was surprisingly that delicious!
(5)
Scott W.
I have gone to this restaurant a couple of time because my partner is vegan. He loves this place and so do I. Everything is very well done and tastes delicious. I often go for the eggplant in garlic sauce or peapod leaves. Nothing has ever been oily or overly spiced. They offer brown and white rice and also have noodle dishes if you prefer. Service has always been great and well deserving of a good tip. At the end of a meal we usually get a plate of oranges. I'm assuming this is with all dinner patrons but am not sure. Prices are excellent especially given the large portions. This is one of those places that will definitely become a regular hangout for us.
(5)
Shakalohana A.
Just want to chime in to all the great reviews! We keep coming back here for the excellent food. Great quality, super fresh, and super good feeling after you eat. Their flavors are truly delicious and you feel really good after eating here. A note to veggie lovers like me - you can order dishes *without* all the protein and mean substitutes to make it more your style. It took me a while to figure this out, but now I feel really satisfied with all my orders and don't have to feel weighed down by fried tofu or gluten (not that they aren't delicious). My favorite is the Eight Treasure Hot Pot (without fried tofu or imitation ham) - served as is - lava hot yum! It can also be super romantic. Now, I am not talking some dark hole in the wall romantic... I am just thinking that some of the best conversations and really good times really just being with my guy were at a nice booth window at Su Xing. We have talked about everything there, really intense things, life et al... and the meal and ambiance definitely made that happen. Thanks! Just excellent, consistently, for years - and the flavors just keep getting better and better. And affordable enough to treat yourself and friends often! (p.s. I also have terrible allergies to fish - so this place is very super safe for me)
(5)
Bridget G.
This place is fantastic for vegetarians (and carnivores alike). You get a ton of food for a good price and it's all fresh and yummy. My favorite is the sesame noodles and the sesame seitan, plus they have all sorts of bubble tea treats. Servers are always sweet and I always leave with leftovers that are somehow better the next day.
(4)
Peter K.
Tasty. The 6th borough brings the veggie Chinese like none of the other 5 as far as I've seen. (Though there's probably somewhere amazing in Queens that I'll never hear about.) Su xing has a soothing interior, an intimidatingly large menu, and low-ish prices. Service was a touch slow, but otherwise good. The kale and tofu dish rocked my mouth and duly cleaned out my insides. Win-win. Go for the lunch specials--they run until 3pm.
(4)
Celia B.
Excellent service, excellent food! We were so surprised to find a vegetarian restaurant so close to our hotel. It is really hard to find Chinese food without meat, and here we didn't even have to think about it! I ordered the eggplant with basil dish and my partner ordered a "chicken" (soy protein) veggie stir fry that came with peanuts. I can't remember what it was called, but I am thinking the schezwan dish. My sister ordered the curry noodles. Everything was fantastic. They had miso soup as well, which we enjoyed. My only complaint was that the springrolls were a bit greasy, but aren't they always? The food was resonabley priced and the service was fast. The food came very quickly! We will return when we are in town next year, and I highly recommend this place for vegetarians and meat eaters a like. Their fake "meat" (tofu, soy protein, whatever it is) is super tasty and great texture and the other dishes were all fantastic.
(4)
Jenny S.
I came for lunch with a friend on a rainy Saturday. The service was attentive but that could because there wasn't much customers in the restaurant. Nonetheless I was was very satisfied with the service. Our orders came very fast. We both had the lunch specials. She had the general tso and I had the soy nuggets. The sauce was tasty and texture of the Seitan was a little chewy. We both thought it tasted very much like real meat. I have been to two other Chinese vegetarian restaurants ( Veggie lover and and New Harmony) and this by far is the best. I am definitely going come back to dine in or take out. Another plus is that the free tea was very fragranced and tasted great.
(5)
N. K.
As per previous recommendations, we decided to hit the lunch special which ended up being as cheap as stated, $20 for two people and we left stuffed. Hot and sour soup- may be a bit spicy for some, but absolutely perfect and delicious for me Lotus root and peanut soup- a little bland and watery like miso soup, but interesting flavor Sesame seitan- fried and crispy little nuggets covered in a sweet sauce and sesame seeds. Love! Crispy steak- I preferred the more crispy texture of the sesame seitan, but my husband preferred this because he thought the sesame seitan was "chewier" Spring rolls- Had tofu/glass noodles/seaweed inside. a bit bland for me but still very good. Overall the food was excellent and we will be back. They also deliver within Center City. The service was good and fast, although maybe a bit abrupt and not overly friendly, but that may be a cultural thing and fine with us. Highly recommended for vegheads and non-veggies both.
(4)
Zack L.
Healthful, Vegetarian, Ample Portions, and hooray. This place is wonderful. It is obsessively clean, has 8 different colors of lights in any of their room, and has the approval of Martin Yan from Yan Can Cook for being a great healthy Chinese Restaurant. I am not a vegetarian, and this place still rocks the boat. Hooray.
(5)
Kelsey G.
My new favorite Chinese food place in Philly. Their sesame tofu is addicting and delicious. I can't wait to try more food from them.
(4)
Edward M.
Su Xing House is my favorite Chinese vegetarian restaurant in Phillly (so far...). They have a great lunch special where, for well under $10, you get soup, a side, rice (your choice of brown or white) and an entree. It's best when shared with friends (or even mere acquaintances), that way you can sample different dishes and make your own combos. This is particularly useful since some of the dishes may be either a bit too greasy (yeah, I'm talking to you, delicious General Tso's veggies) or dry (that would be the otherwise awesome as-you-wish) on their own. So a shared meal here would qualify as an example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. The only disappointing items I've tried were the curry dishes. Speaking of parts, after trying the various soup and side options I've settled on the hot and sour soup and the seaweed. Some might find the hot and sour soup too spicy; there, you've been warned. Service is friendly and the staff keeps your water glass and tea mug full.
(5)
Sunny P.
Every time I go here it's with the same group of friends. Typically, we will order one or two different dishes that we have yet to try. The service is pretty good, tea is refilled regularly. The restaurant had a traditional Chinese feel.
(4)
Rosalie R.
I was on a vegan cleanse. I needed real food. Enter Su Xing House. I had the Sesame Abalone Mushroom (see photo) it was divine. Granted, I was hungry and desperate but it really was delicious. I have also had the fried brown rice and it was also very good. We have only really been there after matinee theater so the place has never really been crowded. The decor is dark, cozy and the place is really clean. I would recommend this place for a quick and quiet weekend lunch.
(4)
Sara P.
This is a terrific restaurant. It has a diverse menu with lots of vegetarian and vegan options. You can have a lot of vegetables and a lot of faux meats too. I especially enjoyed the seseme seitan and the lotus root and peanut soup so much that I made them at home soon after I tried them at Su Xing. We also really like the service. The entire time we ate, we got many refills on water and jasmine tea. What a delicious tea it was too. The location is great if you are on wheels or legs, but parking near 15th and Sansom is not the easiest (although there is a garage across the street from the restaurant. Prices are excellent, as a lunch special is less than 8 bucks. What a healthy, environmentally friendly and inexpensive place to have lunch in center city. I am so glad that this restaurant is there!
(5)
Nadia M.
I ordered the Vegetable Lo Mein as part of the lunch menu-it was the most lackluster meal I have had in Center City. There was hardly any vegetables to speak of and no flavor - None. The Hot and Sour soup had burnt pieces on it-I had to throw it out. Also, I ordered soup but they included no spoon. The portions were plentiful-maybe they should concentrate on giving a little less quantity but more quality. I will not be visiting this establishment again.
(1)
Cici B.
I think I might stop eating meat if I could have Su Xing cater all my meals. Are you sure there is no meat in the Sesame Seitan? What sorcery is this?! I swear this dish tastes exactly like there is meat. I could not tell a difference, doubt any meat eater would either. I loved this entree; the sauce, broccoli florets, and "meat" were delicious. Another winner was the Eight Treasure Hot Pot. It was a broth of an interesting medley of vegetables and a questionable ingredient that resembled ham but tasted nothing like it. Of course this dish was overshadowed by the Seitan (pronunciation: satan??), but I still enjoyed it immensely. The only thing I didn't like was the deep fried Chinese rice cake appetizer, which my boyfriend happily responded, "YAY! more for me!" Su Xing definitely exceeded all my expectations. I actually expressed high doubts in regards to the caliber of food at a vegetarian Chinese restaurant. I was thoroughly impressed! I will be coming back, and perhaps I might become vegetarian (for a week or two).
(5)
Meg S.
Is it bad that I find Panda Express (that of mall food) a tastier option? My sesame seitan was so one-note. It was way too fried and the goo it lived in...ergh, I was scraping it off with my fork. I liked it marginally better cold (as I do most fried foods), it was cheap and there was a huge portion, so two stars. If I was vegetarian, I could see this being more of an option (it did taste like I was eating meat...just completely bland, flavorless meat...); as it stands, I think I'll pass.
(2)
Elizabeth M.
Whenever I have a vegetarian or vegan friend in town, this is where I take them! I love this place. They cook tofu and seitan so well that even a meat-loving omnivore like myself prefers these dishes. Whenever we go, we order different things. They're always amazing. I encourage you to try something different - the only average dish I've ever tasted here was a veg lo mein. Seasame seitan is one of my favorites, of course. The vegan food here is 4 times better than the typical food you'd get in Chinatown, with a similar price and similar portions. BYOB.
(5)
Lauren B.
My first trip to Su Xing House was used as an initial form of torture. My co-worker was incessantly nagging me to go to lunch, and told me I could pick the spot. SO, I did what any thoughtful colleague would do, and selected a place with a menu that had virtually no meat. We were both pleasantly surprised! This place makes me so happy. I'm not a vegetarian, and so I won't pretend to be a pretentious vegan, but this place rocks! There is no meat in sight on the menu, and my male co-worker did not even mind. In fact, this was probably his first tofu experience. We had the sesame tofu and the kung pow tofu. It was absolutely satisfying, delicious, and affordable. I recommend this place to everyone, vegans and meat-eaters alike. Job well done. I'll be back.
(5)
Marc R.
I dined here over the weekend, a vegetarian friend recommended it. There's not a whole lot to say, the look of the place is pretty run of the mil for a Chinese restaurant. The table are oddly far away from the seats, would be great for a very large person. The menu felt limited to me. I have eaten at many veggie\vegan Chinese places so I kind of expected more. The server was just kind of there, no smile, no personality. The app took a long time to arrive and the dumplings were just not that good. They were mushy and not full of flavor. The main entree arrived shortly after the appetizers were cleared. A lot of breading and a lot of frying to give the sesame chicken more of a real meat kind of texture. It was good, but a little too fried, it was kind of hard. The other entree was only had a splattering of brocoli, should have been more. Overall, I would rate it 2.5 stars if I could, but I can't and it just doesn't deserve a 3rd star.
(2)
Shannon J.
Su Xing is nothing short of magical. 1.) Everything is vegetarian, the entire, enormous, well-rounded menu. The joy of ordering whatever you want is something every vegetarian can get excited about. 2.) The food is DELICIOUS. After at least ten visits, I've never tasted anything that I didn't like. The General Tsao's Veg is my forever favorite, I recommend it to everyone. 3.) The service is excellent. Your water glass (and little cup of tea) will never be empty. I don't know how they do this, but the waitresses at Su Xing should teach the rest of the planet how to be so gloriously efficient and super. 4.) The portions are enormous. If you love leftovers, come here! You will eat for days off of one meal, I swear. 5.) The prices! Very reasonable, especially considering the quality, the flavor, the service, and the quantity of food. Seriously, magical.
(5)
A N.
I really like this place. The food was great, service was good and pretty quick. I have a lot of things I would still like to try-their menu is so extensive. Desert was great too.
(5)
Andi S.
I ordered an asparagus dish which was a complete ripoff. The asparagus were cut in half LENGTHWISE, in order to make it LOOK like there were a lot. ALso, the asparagus had no flavor, and neither did anything else on my plate. Overcooked and flavorless. The service was rude and inept. I don't know how this place stays in business. It is HORRIBLE.
(1)
Jay D.
i can't get over the service. they take and bring your order fast, and seem to have some kind of ESP to know when you'ved sipped a little tea or water, because they come right over and top it off. that's nice, but wish they would leave the pot or pitcher at the table. sometimes i won't sip anything to keep them at bay. you also get your check, orange slices, and fortune cookie before you're finished or ask for it, and then you don't see them again to get change. i'm still here all the time though. the miso soup is what's up. also seitan with asparagus in brown sauce (you can swap out the veggie for any other though, like broccoli if you'd like.)
(4)
Travis L.
I am blown away by how wonderful this vegetarian place is. Very unique space with a raised upper level that has a number of booths. Comfortable family dining. I almost didn't notice it next to the other bars and restaurants on Sansom. I'm really glad to see vegetarian Chinese food with such quality and popularity here in Philly. The food: Spring Roll - Very crisp, light veggies. Can't really go wrong. Good to have with the lunch specials. Potato Croquettes- Simple appetizer, though the breading is rather heavy, which makes it hard to bite through. Could be lighter and less heavy. Reminds me of Japanese korokke but it's just a bit too hard on the outside. Scallion Pancake- Honestly, at $3.25, this is one of their best appetizers. Very flaky and not too oily. Really features the flavors of the scallions and perfect for sharing. 1. Lotus Root and Peanuts Soup - Very unexpected. Surprisingly clear and light. Love it before heavier dishes. 2. Miso Soup - Decent and not too salty. Feels a bit out of place at a Chinese restaurant but nonetheless, it's okay. 3. Hot and Sour Soup - Strong flavor and good balance. Chow Mei Fun Singapore Style - One of my personal favorites, and the curry flavor is just right. The noodles, I felt, could have been thinner and drier. I needed more of that fried noodle flavor. Eight Treasure Bean Curd Hot Pot - Great clay pot dish with a simmering broth that goes great with rice. Love that it really balances all the different "treasures" and each veggie tastes great. A saucier hot pot. As-You-Wish Bean curd skin filled golden mushroom, black mushroom, dried bean curd and Chinese celery served w. water chestnut and asparagus. - kind of like the dim sum item but very clean and light. Not oily at all and very large portions. Filled to the brim, but not exactly the most flavorful. Sesame Abalone Mushroom Fried fresh abalone mushroom in tomato and five spice sauce, serve with asparagus and water chestnut. -One of the best dishes here and such a unique way of cooking abalone mushroom. Fried and glazed and really imitates the texture and consistency of meat. The wonders of vegetarian substitutes!
(4)
Shereen C.
Ordered delivery once. Food was edible, but a caricature of Chinese food. Had Golden Feather Knishes - taro was all right, but sweet and sour sauce was pretty disgusting. Overly sweet. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing, but I seriously have to question why they would serve that dish that way at all.
(2)
Dave H.
Su Xing House is an OUTSTANDING Chinese vegetarian restaurant near Rittenhouse Square. Their rear dining room is elegantly decorated, paneled with Chinese prints, and amazingly handled my friends's party of ~18, but their dishes weren't the quickest to come out. For the smaller parties in the main dining room (including mine), our server brought our dishes with a minimum of hassle. I'm unsure she liked us since my friend and I kept asking her to repeat her name (it sounded like "siu mai"). Su Xing House's cooking is where they shine. Their hot and sour soup was a stand out, with a healthy kick. Get their vegetable lo mein! A friend ordered it spicy and so it had with a wonderful tang, with a perfectly even, noodlely texture. The broccoli with garlic sauce was as good as it sounds - heavenly. Speaking of heaven, we also shared the vegetarian heaven string beans, cooked until crispy, in a tasty sauce. I will definitely return. If I lived close enough, I'd order takeout too. Recommended!
(4)
Chris L.
Su Xing has wonderful, cheap, vegetarian take-out that is super close to work. I used to think of greasy, heart clogging food when I thought of Philly, but this place (and Yelp, of course) is helping me to revise my opionion. I do not think all of their dishes are created equal, though. If every one of them was as delicious as General Tso Tofu I would probably give this place 5 stars, because that was one of the most amazing fried tofu experiences of my life. Alas, the Singapore Chow Mei Fun didn't live up to my expectations. It wasn't bad, but I wonder if maybe they were running short on curry today. It was just bland. They have a pepper next to this item on the menu, but it was anything but spicy. I may try it again and ask them for extra curry or perhaps just go back to the tofu. Of course, it was still a ton of food for just $7, but it really needed something. I'm also still not sure how I feel about the Hot and Sour soup. To be honest, having had it twice I still can't find that there's much sour in it at all. I don't seem to be able to taste much of anything beyond the hot, but it is hot in such a good way that I can't seem to stop eating it. I actually broke a sweat from their soup. So, I'm torn. I really think they could make a better soup, but yet when I get it I can't stop eating it. It's very mysterious. Finally, though this isn't probably that important. Maybe it's cause I'm so incredibly white, but they don't give me chopsticks unless I specifically ask for them.
(4)
Meghan C.
I know...me? At a vegetarian restaurant? I had to have a lunch meeting and I was over ruled and since I didn't have any better ideas I figured I'd give it a shot. The food is incredible! The service is incredible! The portion sizes are insane...I left full and happy...I can't say this is the best it gets because I did miss having some form of living creature with hair on my plate, but I would definitely go back if someone asked me to.
(4)
Susie R.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Philly. I especially love the mu shu. The lunch specials are so well-priced and the portions are quite generous. I also love the bubble tea. The restaurant is also kosher, which is a huge plus. Definitely recommend.
(5)
Ben S.
There aren't many exclusively vegetarian Chinese restaurants. Granted most Chinese restaurants offer a fair amount of vegetarian options, they are usually a variation on the same things. This restaurant takes classical meat dishes and interprets them in a very unique and vegetarian way. My boyfriend and I loved it. I value his opinion the most, being that he is Chinese and actually from China. The dining room is very well decorated, with good use of space. The sectioning of the restaurant assures a combination of privacy and a sense of openness. The lighting was perfect, and the noise level was minimal. No music though. The portions are large, and I loved that they offered brown rice. The sauces were not overly salty, and were not oily in the least (my usual complaints about Chinese restaurants). The food was well seasoned and had great flavor. My boyfriend got the "as you wish roll" with peapod leaves, and I got the dried bean curd with spiral seaweed. My only disappointment was that there were no other vegetables in the stir fry, but it was so tasty it didn't really matter. There are almost too many options, also very typical of Chinese restaurants. It's almost better to ask yourself what you feel like, and then see if they have it, because chances are they do.
(5)
Thomas K.
Abalone mushroom soup, a medicinal brew with winter melon sliced thinly and floating in the broth. With goji berries and julienned ginger, this soup hit the spot. Next up: Taro croquettes with cashews and sweet & sour sauce was absolutely fantastic! Smaller than thumb-sized dumplings made from taro...that starchy, sometimes purple-ish root were lightly fried, stir fried with some bell pepper, and finished with a more sour than sweet sauce thickened with cornstarch. More than enough for one, just perfect for two. Singapore Mai fun was excellent, also, without an overwhelming wafting of curry powder. It smaller and tasted perfect, with veggies scattered throughout. Kale and dried tofu...an odd item to see on a Chinese menu. I've never seen kale used before. When the dish arrived, I saw that it wasn't kale at all, but choi sum, a leafy green vegetable popular in traditional Chinese gastronomy. Forget about the confused name...just know that this was a super-light dish bursting with vibrant green color, subtle soy and sesame rounding out the plate. Service was fine, yet a bit cold. As I've reviewed other Chinese establishments before...that's just par for the course. Eat it and beat it! If I'm in the Philly area again, I'll definitely make this place a part of my visit. Vegetarian or not...try it out.
(4)
Hazel S.
This is a perfectly good restaurant, but not a stand-out based on my experience. The service is good and friendly. The dining room isn't beautifully decorated but it is clean and cozy. The food was nicely prepared but a bit on the bland side. Like many restaurants that cater to an American clientele, the sauces seemed a little bit sweeter than they should. The veggies and tofu I had were very well prepared, but nothing special. If you just want a nice, cozy filling meal of vegetarian comfort food, this is a good choice.
(3)
Natalie H.
Alas, yelpers, the food here is OK - but the service and delivery leaves much to be desired. We placed an order and were told that it would be at our home in 45 minutes - an hour passed and still no food. We called and were told "we're very busy." Finally, a full 1 1/2, and several phone calls after we ordered our food arrived - cold, and without chopsticks. In a city with fantastic cuisine, I would recommend eating elsewhere.
(2)
Jaclyn B.
Sesame tofu I had here recently was awesome! I also tried one of their "milkshakes"...they taste more like blended ice milk, but I think they are vegan? Anyway, the milkshake thing I got was so good, even the next day frozen. The shakes come with cute extra wide straws and containers with figures on them. I went with the coconut flavor; it's taste and texture were pretty much my perfect virgin piña colada. Shakes come in the following flavors: strawberry, mango, and coconut...I could have missed one? They have great lunch specials, too. Only vegan Chinese I'll eat. Super fast delivery+++
(5)
Kemi A.
Wow a full blown veggie Chinese restaurant? whowouldathunkit? Anyway, happy i tried it. Had the lunch special "sesame seitan". Now it's not the best thing since sliced bread (I'll reserve that for "vegetarian palate" in brooklyn, NY...wha?wha?) but it wasn't bad at all. I liked the decor of the place. It's pretty much hidden being on samson but once you walk in you'll be surprised by the interior. Would recommend and like to go back to try other things on the menu.
(4)
Lucie T.
So I am a big fan of chinese food. Authentic at that. So when I was told by my friends who live in Philadelphia that if you want vegetarian chinese, you want to come here.. and so we went. I have to say that the scallion pancake along with the lotus peanut soup were not half bad. But the best was General Tsao's chicken aka the veggie meat. Service very attentive, love the fact you can hang up your coat in the closet (maybe this is normal outside of NYC, down here we hold on to our coats unless its inside of a coatcheck being guarded by a pretty girl who is looking for your next dollar as a tip) as well as having an upstairs and a downstairs. Decor very warm. If I am in mood for veggie chinese. I am coming back here.
(3)
Cindy S.
Best. Chinese. Ever. My man and I walked in and didn't realize it was vegetarian. But I was thrilled to see the menu. It wasn't full of fried substitutions, it was simply no meat Chinese. I loved it. I didn't feel totally disgusting at the end of the meal. General Tsos? YES. Loves it. Also a big fan of the potatoes and cauliflower in curry. OMGGGG. Also, I must admit, after my initial encounter with this place I went back the next day and had lunch there....and they day after that and got take out. So I recommend. I plan on trying everything on the menu.
(5)
christina g.
AMAZING! There were quite a few options on the menu. The 'General Tso's Vege' was so chicken-like, I spat out the first bite and had to ask if it was meat or not. I don't really remember what chicken tastes like, but it sure looked like chicken, was tougher than some seitan and my boys were convinced it was chicken. It also came with delicious fresh broccoli. Also, they have bubble tea. Su Xing would be a great place to take your meat-eaters to, as long as they're into trying non-meat food. Otherwise, you could just trick them and get carry-out. mwahahaha We also ordered the stir-fried zucchini, which tasted really good, but made a squeaking sound in my mouth when being chewed. That part was...strange? The prices were decent and the staff were very friendly and attentive. They were pretty amused when we asked if the food was meat or not. Also, it's not just one of those, we have fake meat asian places. The food was very flavorful and fresh tasting. I can't wait to go back and try more of their dishes! There appeared to be a decent amount of dessert options, but I was way to stuffed to even look at them. Why are you still reading this and not on your way there??
(5)
Jackie N.
Loved this place! Great service and HUGE selection of vegetarian items to choose from. Seriously didn't know you could make that much stuff from tofu!
(4)
Juls B.
This place is heaven for vegetarian and a pleasant surprise for the omnivores. Choices range from more typical vegetarian asian fair (General Tso's tofu), to meat-mimics that pass the similarities test (sesame seitan), to more unusual meals like the feather taro knish. All of it was astounding.
(5)
Lindsey T.
God, what a disappointment. My first visit here was hit-or-miss. The bubble tea, as other reviewers have pointed out, was extremely watery and oddly powdery. YUCK. I got out my phone and immediately began to draft a one-star review. The hot and sour soup came out next, promptly enough, but unfortunately tasted like a bowl of liquid black pepper. Beyond unpleasant. However, the entree I ordered-- eggplant with tofu in garlic sauce (and I asked for some spinach with it as well)-- was DELICIOUS. SO. SO. GOOD. I have never before or since seen eggplant cooked so perfectly, nor had such a yummy garlic sauce or such sweet spinach. Total hit. Made up entirely for the crappy tea and soup. After this great experience, I wanted to bring my boyfriend so he could experience what I had, so we went to Su Xing to catch the lunch special yesterday. When I told our first waitress that I needed a few more minutes to decide what I wanted, she literally turned around without a word, walked a few steps away from our table, and stomped her feet like a two-year-old before continuing across the restaurant. I wish I was making this up. We should've left then. The boyfriend ordered the exact dish I had last time, and it came out looking completely different, AND this time they tried to charge us an extra $2 for adding spinach. The eggplant was scant and overcooked, the dish was swimming in mediocre sauce, and the spinach wasn't nearly as beautiful as I remembered. I ordered the braised gluten with mushrooms and zucchini and just could not eat it. The zucchini? Undercooked. The mushrooms? Crappy white mushrooms, also totally undercooked. The gluten? Straight from a can, plopped carelessly in some strange, bland brown sauce. I apologetically informed our waitress (the second one we had that day) that the dish was just inedible, and I wanted to exchange it for the dish my boyfriend had. Big mistake, apparently. The waitress informed me that my request was "unacceptable" because "a lot of customer LOOOVE this dish" and the kitchen "would not accept it." Hokay. Argumentative customer service? No thanks. Shit just kept getting weirder until she decided to call the cops on us because we would not pay for a disgusting plate of food I didn't eat. No officer showed up after we sat at the restaurant for half an hour (no shit!) waiting to politely state our case, and eventually an older woman came to our table to ask us what happened and offer us a discount. Hilarious. Meanwhile, our waitress has been screaming in Chinese to the kitchen staff, from inside the kitchen and from inside the dining area itself-- WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS PRESENT. The older woman eventually let the matter drop, and stopped arguing so we could leave. Basically, we paid for what we ate (and then some), did not bother tipping our waitress (who was holding the phone, dialing the cops again, pleading for us to talk to the police on the phone while the older woman more or less told her to cut the crap as we walked out the door), we left, and got a great story out of it. Needless to say, we won't be back. And any diner who finds their inconsistent food inedible-- beware.
(1)
Lauren H.
I will never go here again, or ever recommend this place to anyone. The short: - Extremely rude waitresses - Food was nothing to write home about - Pressured to eat quickly because they closed at 11, we got there at 8:30. - EYELASH IN ONE OF THE DISHES The long: I went here for a birthday dinner for someone that is on a Vegan diet. I'm not vegan, or anywhere close, so I was worried about finding a dish I'd like. She had reservations for 8:30 for 8, but two of our party were stuck in traffic and got there an hour late. The rest of us started with appetizers and drinks while we waited. Our waitress came in (at 9:30) to tell us that we should order because the restaurant closes at 11. We wanted to wait for the last two people before ordering entrees, and told her. They walked in 10 minutes later, and our waitress came in 2 minutes later to ask us if we were ready to order. THEY JUST GOT HERE. We told her no, we'd need a few minutes. She asked if the rest of us wanted to order, and we said NO WE NEED A FEW MINUTES. She came back in 5, and we still weren't ready. Everyone else at the table was unfamiliar with a vegan/vegetarian diet, and we were all trying to decide what to order. GIVE US A MINUTE. She came back in another 5, and we were like fine, fine, we'll order. THIS WOMAN STARTS SAYING "NEXT!" (LOUDLY) AFTER EACH PERSON SAID WHAT THEY WANTED. Is this McDonald's??? What kind of restaurant says NEXT to patrons?? I was COMPLETELY annoyed by this time, and if it hadn't been for a birthday dinner, I would have left. Whatever. We get our food, and I wasn't impressed. The best items were the General Tso's Veg (meat-like texture), the spring rolls, dumplings, and sesame noodles. The dinner items were nothing I'd order again. AND THERE WAS AN EYELASH IN ONE OF THE DISHES. So fine. When we were done eating (at 10:30 incidentally), the waitress comes out with the check. We give it back to her with the card, she comes back. As we're standing up and leaving, she ASKS THE CARDHOLDER IF HE SIGNED THE CHECK!!! So rude. I will never go back.
(1)
Grant B.
Good food with quick service. Must Haves: -General Tso's Pros: -Lots of seating -Big Portions Cons: -Too much corn starch in their sauces. Quick Tips: -Great place to come and meet up with friends Their food is pretty good. However, it does fall into the Chinese American category, rather than Chinese. They use a bit too much corn starch for my liking, but the taste is solid. I definitely frequent this place when I am hankering for some good Chinese American food. I love walking here for some good Chinese food that is pretty healthy.
(4)
Karen F.
Not bad - but not great either. The best part? The super cheap price for the generous lunch special. Mine came with Mediocre Miso, a tasty entree (Tofu with Eggplant in garlic sauce) and brown rice. For a side I chose green salad (bad idea, and I should have known better) which was iceberd with 2 tomato slices and 1 cucumber slice. Lame-o! Next time (if there is one) I'll try the mushrooms. Service was fine - efficient and quick. Water was refilled promptly without asking (score). OK, Maybe this place is 4 star foor/service but the 2 star decor needs a refresher pronto!
(3)
John F.
Go here for Lunch. Lunch specials are awesome! Strolled here during a lunch break to check out all the hype. Wow, who knew vegetarian Chinese could be so good! I ordered the Hot and Sour soup which is one of my staple discriminators for a Chinese restaurant. Not only was it the best I've ever had, it didn't leave that "burning goopy grease" feeling or taste in the back of my throat. I woofed down a huge plate of Singapore noodles that were perfectly cooked. I was pressed for time to get back to biz but I just couldn't stop eating. I can't wait to return where I can sit while not on a lunch crunch and really trench in for some good ol' fashioned "me so stuffed on Chinese food" time.
(5)
Marissa C.
I am not a vegetarian (as can be seen by meat-focused previous reviews) but I highly recommend Su Xing House anyway. It's that good. Their lunch special is a great deal - for about $8 you get soup, a choice of a side (fruit, spring roll, etc.), rice, and an entree. The sesame tofu is great, and I am totally obsessed with the Chow Fun. Everything is flavorful not too greasy and I suppose as healthy as Chinese can probably be.
(3)
Mark S.
I know it's a cliche to praise a vegetarian place by saying you can barely tell it's vegetarian, but since I eat a wide range of cuisines and sometimes have to help veggie friends order off omnivorous menus, it's nice to be able to tell omnivores that they'll sincerely enjoy anything they try, as much as if meat were involved. Never been proved wrong! Personal entree favorites: Eight Treasure Hotpot and the Dragon and Phoenix. I like to top the meal off with a mango milk shake. Lunch specials are good too, but I usually come slightly before or after the rush, so somewhere between 11 and one.
(5)
Jen L.
Food was a 2. Processed ham is pretty much the only ingredient in the Peking noodles. Service was a 1 The owner was really mean.
(1)
Jes S.
I have started going to Su Xing on a regular basis and am not vegetarian. The hot and sour soup is a favorite, as is the General Tso's Vegetable. The General Tso's Vegetable and not Tofu was recommended by the waitress as her favorite dish. I have tried Kingdom of Vegetarians near Chinatown before, and Su Xing is better. Su Xing stays true to Chinese recipes so that even if you aren't vegetarian, the food is recognizable and just as delicious. The textures of the "meat" dishes are not far off from the real deal for those who like meat. The service is wonderful and they try hard to accommodate requests. (We asked for warm bubble tea, as it was cold out. They heated up the bubble tea despite their confusion since no one had asked for it like that before.) Su Xing is also very comfortable inside with booths and tables and lots of space. :)
(5)
Sue A.
I was staying just a few blocks away from here and really bummed because the meeting I was attending had TERRIBLE TERRIBLE food. (Who serves cold cuts?!) Then I found Su Xing House, and ate there for dinner every night I was in town. Great service - super quick, very polite. and the food was amazing and totally affordably priced. I had the scallion pancake and the sesame tofu the first night. HUGE portions of delicious food. I was bummed that I was staying in a hotel with note place to reheat the food or I would have taken my leftovers for breakfast the next morning. I also got take out from here to bring back to my room the following night (working while eating is easier at a hotel desk than a dimly lit restaurant), and the food was still super-hot by the time I got back to my room 10-15 minutes after pick up. The fried tofu was still super-crisp, and the sauce was just the same texture/flavorfulness it would have been at the restaurant. If I return to philadelphia, I'll definitely go back.
(5)
Al E.
Needed a place that could take 7 folks on a Saturday night. Chose it b/c of 4 stars and 1 $. Good for a group if you don't want to deal with a crowd and just get seated and served on late notice. Cheap. The scallion pancakes were really good. There's a lot of seitan, tofu, or fake meat on the menu, which I wasn't really interested in, so I had chow mei fun - thin rice noodle with shredded veggies. It was good, not greasy or soysaucey but was SO much food. We all ordered too much, we should have shared. At least 2 of us could have shared each huge plate, if not 3 of us. Was weird for serious meat-eaters.
(2)
Angela Z.
I've come here twice - dinner and lunch. Both visits were delicious. Me and my friends ordered completely dishes every time and they were all good. Great reviews all around. Really great flavorful and aromatic tea that they are very generous with.
(5)
Darryl D.
We took the advice of other reviewers and must say thank you. We got the steamed dumplings to start, they were tasty, but not favourites. We ordered two entrees, the general tso's vegetable and the chow mei fun. Both were surprisingly good. While the chow mei fun looked a bit boring the flavour was really good. Regarding general tso's vegetable, if you had not told me there was no chicken I would have never known! Portions were very large, and we easily could have just ordered one entree to share. I would definitely recommend this place, and plan on coming back again!
(4)
Sarah G.
Heaps of delicious vegetarian food at completely reasonable prices. Meat-eaters will not feel like they're missing anything. Faves: Scallion pancakes General Tsos Tofu Tofu with Eggplant
(4)
M H.
Not a fan. I thought I liked it at first. but later I changed my mind. Nothing special.
(2)
Flor P.
I'm no vegetarian, but I love this place. Warm woods, blue neon ceiling lights, *serene* (no music in the background), and free *bottomless* delicious jasmine tea. The first time I ate here, I had an unexciting plate of vegetables. Second time around I ordered better: golden rings! Both times I left feeling warm and happy.
(5)
Laura T.
Stopped in for dinner with the girls. All vegetarian, byob. For appetizers, we got delicious seaweed salad, amazing scallion pancakes, and the steamed dumplings. All were delicious, tasty, and cooked well. For dinner, I got the pan seared noodles with mixed veggies. I loved the noodles, they were slightly seared and flavored well. I did not like the mixed veggies! I think the sauce was too thin so they came out a little flavorless. My friends all got eggplant and tofu with garlic sauce. I admit to being picky with garlic sauce, and theirs was exceptionally good. Choice of brown or white rice. Tiny booths. Unmanned coat closet on the second floor, use this! I think their lunch specials would be a good option. Service was awful, everyone was nice but they were incredibly slow. I had to ask for more water several times. Way way too long! At the end, I liked the apps WAY more than the meal, so I'd return and probably get apps and soup.
(3)
Rose B.
I only had one meal here but I thoroughly enjoyed it and would go back in a heartbeat if in the neighborhood. At first I was having a hard time finding something I could eat because of all my allergies and the waitress did not seem all that interested in taking a special order. Seemingly determined to find something I could eat without her needing to ask the cook to do something special she made many suggestions. That is when I noticed they had "stir fried peapod leaves" on the menu. I almost missed it since where I am from it is usually listed on the menu as "pea vine greens in garlic sauce" which is one of my favorite if not my favorite dishes. She then seemed willing to make some adjustments and it was ordered with just a bit of tofu and brown rice (yea brown rice!!!). It was delicious but I could not eat it all. I got it to go and took it back to my hotel room to put in the ice bucket (wrapped in a baggie) over night. I am positive I had the best breakfast than any of my fellow conference goers the next day!
(4)
Camila B.
This is one of the best vegetarian restaurants that I ever been! The food is awesome - I suggest the sesame seitan and the fried tofu with cashew nuts. The price is very good, good amount of food, and I also love the jasmine with green tea that they serve with water. The service is good and friendly. They also deliver very fast. The restaurant has a good decoration and it is very clean. I've been in Philly for only 1 month and already went there about 5 times!
(5)
King T.
I had never had vegetarian food before, and I was really really weary of eating any. But after gorging on Philly cheesesteaks, fries, burgers, and other countless heart-attack meals, we figured it might be time to try something a little healthier. There weren't a lot of people when we walked in for dinner. The service was quick, and polite. But onto the food. We ordered a few vegetarian meat dishes that I can't recall now. But I can remember that the food was REALLY good. The "meat" tasted almost like the real thing. They give you pretty big portions too, so we had to take a bunch back to our hotel. This place was really the catalyst for me exploring the world of vegetarian food. If I ever make it back to Philly again, I would definitely come back.
(5)
Nicole W.
There is a lot of variety for vegetarians. I'm a tried and true meat eater, but even I love the veggies, and this is a cheap place to go to for lunch. However, I prefer not to eat tofu, so that eliminated many lunch options, so I settled for something I knew. The waitress was...there. I recall that she didn't even ask if we wanted anything to drink. I felt like everyone else in the restaurant was also just drinking the water that they had brought to the table. But water is good. And free. So I'm okay with water. I had the vegetarian fried rice lunch special, which came with miso soup and a spring roll. It was pretty bland so I had to add soy sauce. That is a huge pet peeve of mine. If you're going to make fried rice, make it right. The miso soup was good. A bit too watery for my taste but not bad. The spring roll was ok. Nothing spectacular. Definitely needed the duck sauce. I was full. And I had good company, so I will some it up with an ok. $9 (including tip) for a mediocre meal is a bit off putting but I may come here again with the right incentive.
(3)
Brian D.
Great food! Best Chinese I've had in awhile.
(5)
Kimba Z.
Su Xing is much nicer than your average Chinese Vegetarian, not that there is anything NOT nice about them in general -- it's just that they are not meant to be fancy. But Su Xing is the most upscale one I've been to in Philly, with nice low lighting and is cozy with wooden booths and an upper level. It could actually kind of be romantic. I love that it is BYOB. The menu is huge, with a long list of Chinese standards, just all vegetarian. The Chef's Specialties can be tricky to picture from the descriptions -- until you discover the pictures on another page of the menu. Still, deciding takes a very long time, because it all looks so unique and good. We were crazy for the black seaweed pancakes and asked for a second order. I like that they have seitan and cook with plenty of varieties of mushrooms. Once drawback is that there are not many table choices for parties larger than 4. I think there is one large table, so our group of 5 was placed at a booth with a chair and small table on the end, which kind of isolated the 5th person, because he could not hear us. If you have a bigger group, reserve the large table. I will be back for affordable, unusual, quite delicious vegan offerings. I saw vegan because I did not detect any cheese or egg, though I could be wrong. We had leftovers too, nice portions! Plenty of omnivores in my circles love to eat this way, no guilt. I think it is great to show people that creative wonderful dishes can be made from simple vegetables, that vegetarian eating can be a cuisine and not just a meal with all the fun parts taken out. You won't miss the meat, and you can eat healthfully, unless you order 2 servings of fried seaweed pancakes like we did. :-)
(4)
Bill M.
This five star review is based on the flipping sweet lunch specials they have during the week. I was able to gorge myself on veggie General Tso's Chicken, brown rice, a mushroom appetizer, and a huge cup of miso soup. and this veggietacular feast cost just under $8! can you get any better? I'm also pretty happy to find an awesome Veggie Chinese spot that's outside of Chinatown. It also hooks up a good assortment of bubble and fruit teas and does BYOB! Zang!
(5)
Stephanie P.
#111 DEEEEEElicious! On one of our first adventures in Philly, my friends and I decided we were desperate for Chinese food. However, being 2 vegans and 1 vegetarian, we were a bit hesitant to just walk up to any Chinese restaurant around. So, after searching around on Yelp, we found Su Xing House. Plus, it was right around the corner from where we were standing! What luck! Walking in, the place was much classier than most Chinese restaurants I've been to back in SoCal. Their menu was so extensive and we were eager to order everything, but of course we had to settle down and ended up ordering about 3 dishes. I got the Eggplant Tofu in Garlic Sauce, as well as the Scallion Pancake. They were absolutely delicious and, with brown rice, more than enough to satisfy my hunger. I actually ended up having to take more than half of everything back with me. Since then, I've ordered take-out more often than I'd like to admit from Su Xing. On those lazy days, after a long day at work, all I crave is their Scallion Pancakes and Veggie Lo Mein. They are generous with their helping of veggies, their sauce is tasty but not too salty, and their noodles are chewy. Even their fake meat tastes great. They're not at all textured like meat, but they taste slightly sweet and serve as perfect substitutes for meat in their dishes. The boyfriend and I became such fans of their Scallion Pancake that he learned how to make them on his own. =)
(4)
Phil T.
I have introduced a couple of vegetarians to this place and they have been going back regularly ever since. While I'm not a a vegetarian, I get the General Tso's Tofu all the time with sweet and sour soup, brown rice, and braised mushrooms. It's only about $7 and you get enough food for two lunches. The food is quite tasty and always well prepared. I never thought I would say this, but I prefer their tofu to most chicken I would get at other Chinese restaurants. They prepare high quality, delicious, vegetarian Chinese food quickly and economically. Tough to beat.
(4)
Rebecca G.
I had the hot and sour soup along with the black and white mushroom dish with bok choy. The food was good, but nothing memorable. I have no desire to eat here again.
(3)
Cameron Y.
I got the as-you-wish and sesame seitan lunch specials and both tasted delicious. The spring rolls that came with our orders were crispy and light, unlike the over-fried and doughy spring rolls that most Chinese restaurants offer. The portions were also huge for the price. There are still so many things we want to try on the menu - can't wait to come back again.
(5)
Robert S.
I was visiting Philly and was rather tired after a full day. I didn't want to venture too far from my hotel, and wanted something easy on my wallet, so I decided to eat here after stumbling across it in what seemed like a sketch neighborhood at night. I had the scallion pancakes for my appetizer, and the spicy Szechuan style tofu. Delicious. So delicious, in fact, I returned two more times during my several day stay. The television going on in the corner is always set on something strangely entertaining. Go for it!
(4)
Suzy G.
The first time I was here, it was with a large group. Service was terrific, and everyone was intrigued by all the choices. I ordered the Sesame seitan which is soybean protein with a sweet brown sauce and sesame seeds, it was incredibly delicious! Second time I went, I ordered the lunch special As-You-Wish, which was basically bean curd skin filled with golden mushrooms, black mushrooms, dried bean curd and Chinese celery served w. water chestnut and asparagus. The lunch special also comes with a side soup, and rice and a choice of side dish for a really cheap price. The As-You-Wish was delicious and different. Being a fan of mushrooms, I also ordered a side of braised mushrooms too. You can also order brown rice, instead of just plain white rice too. I'm not a vegetarian by any means, but if I had to become one, I would go here all the time!
(5)
Michael James M.
First time at Su Xing the other day after passing it time after time. Finally had a free day to park and stop in, and I must say, it was well worth the visit. I had the hot and sour soup which was bar none the best hot and sour soup I've ever had. Most h+s soups are over gelatinous, where as this dish was a perfect blend of consistency and brought each respective element of hot, sour, and sweet to the bowl. For my entree I had the Sesame Seitan, which I had chose on a recommendation from another user. I was pretty impressed with both the quality and quantity. A little on the crispy side but not too much where I couldn't cut or bite into. Served over a bed of steamed broccoli for a nice finishing touch. Definite recommendation. My roommate had the Broccoli and Garlic sauce, which essentially is one enormous plate of broccoli. The sauce is, well, garlicky and has a bit of a spicy tang to it. Quite delicious, however I would recommend sharing with someone (it's a lot of broccoli!). I can't wait to go back. So excited there is an all vegetarian Chinese restaurant that exists. I love that I can go through the menu no problem and literally pick anything and have it be veggie friendly.
(4)
Emily T.
Came here with a friend on a weekend in Philly, lured by the intriguing premise of a vegetarian Chinese restaurant. As two Asian girls raised on stir-fried beef, pork, and chicken, we were both a little confused as to how a Chinese place could sustain itself without meat. The answer: by cooking damn good food. We ordered the scallion pancakes, the spicy tofu, and a curry dish. Everything was delicious, hot and speedy, they provide ample portions of rice, and we had enough to bring home for lunch the next day, but one thing and one thing only completely blew our minds: the scallion pancakes. I could've eaten 100 of them on my own. The appetizer portion is more than enough for an actual meal, the soy sauce that comes with it is just perfect, they're cooked to a perfect crisp and arrived hot and fresh from the oil. Amazing. Would return, meat be damned. Side note: it's actually a really nice place on the inside, with two separated seating areas, and the waitstaff is efficient, if a little sassy. A bit on the pricey side for Chinese food, at 8 bucks a dish, but hey, this isn't Chinatown.
(4)
Shaun O.
My roomies dragged me out for a Sunday night dinner, as they had a craving for Mu Shu (vegeterian kind). Since I am a adventurous type, I decided to take them up on their offer for vegeterian chinese. One tip-its totally worth it to wait for an upper level table. We waited a few extra minutes, and were able to get a large table for the 4 of us. We order 5-6 different plates of Chinese Cuisine which had some outlandish names like "Dragon and Phoenix". I found that to be pretty tasty dish (black mushrooms, spinach, soy beans), with the Golden Feather Knishes to be a great complement to that plate. We overdid it with the ordering, as we had more than enough to take home. I also found that the price tag to be pretty affordable, and well within the range of what I like to spend for a dinner out. The service was pretty solid too, as the server almost started to dish out the food for us, before we stopped her. Still, pretty good service.
(4)
David C.
Great lunch special. Food is flavorful and non greasy.
(4)
Carlos V.
Really good for a good price - and nice atmosphere. The area around there is kind of gross - at least on a Saturday night - crazy, drunken, party, nonsense. I had the general veg chicken, which was crispy, sweet, but not too sweet, and had just the right amount of richness. Plus, like, 15 pieces of steamed broccoli. As someone who has ordered vegetarian food from almost every Chinese place in San Francisco: Philly is lucky.
(4)
Weef B.
I got there early, about 10 minutes before normal opening time. The hostess didn't give me any hassle and took my order quickly. She was very attentive and refilled my tea a few times even though I lingered for awhile. Great service. Food was excellent. I got the hot and sour soup and seasame seitan and holy cr*pola, delicious. The seitan was perfectly crispy and had the best texture I could possibly imagine. Only negative is that there are no lunch specials on Sunday, but it was mentioned on the menu so I can't take away a star for that.
(5)
Luis N.
The food is great. Tea tastes fresh. Service is very fast. Place is beautiful inside; not so nice looking outside.
(4)
Har D.
Had gone here for dinner several times. Need more attentive staff BUT the food makes up for it :). Wanted to go to Philly Chutney ( Vegetarian Sthn Indian ) on 1628 Sansom st next block for lunch today but they were closed for repairs and landed on SuXing for lunch. Loved the Hor fun and the noodle soup, tasty and not too much soya sauce. The sesame chicken was great and Gen Taos Chicken was brilliantly prepared. Many items on lunch menu and we were able to choose several dishes for below $8. Had the sweet sour Chicken and fried rice as well. There were 5 of us and service was slightly slow. The luch items came with a soup and spring roll 7/10 for SR. Will be back.
(4)
Gale S.
The price point per portion size here is riDONKulous. You get so much food, it's a sure bet you'll leave filled to the gills. I judge most Chinese joints by the merits of its hot n' sour soup, and unfortunately, I deem Su Xing's hot n' sour to be sub-par. However, the rest of the components here are SOLID. The menu can get a little confusing for those who aren't totally familiar with terms such as "glutinous", "soy nuggets", "puffed gluten", "puffed protein", etc., but these are just terms for veggie equivalents of meat that are referred to at most places as mock blah blah blah. But the menu is HUGE, the service is tight, and however you want your meal prepared will be how you get it. They're great. The only reason I'm not over the moon about Su Xing is because for some reason it doesn't feel like home to me. Not that it isn't a good atmosphere, it really is just a personal thing - I can't explain. But MAN, it is way way way about time that there's a totally vedge (and totally affordable) option in center city. When Su Xing came on the scene so many years ago, I was psyched, but to see it has become a staunch resident on Sansom Street fills me with hope for vegetarians and vegans everywhere.
(4)
mishel c.
I can't speak highly enough of Su Xing. I used to work next door, and when they opened, I pretty much went there at least 3x's a week for lunch. First, let's talk about how amazingly nice the servers are. They are. Amazingly. Nice. The perfect blend of extremely accommodating (your tea + water never runs out) and respectful of your dining experience (not swarming around every 10 seconds). If you're there alone, they pretty much leave you be (love it). Next, decor. For a fairly inexpensive restaurant, it's very pretty inside -- nice wood accents, heavy booths, and sparkly lighting. It definitely doesn't feel like a worn down, veggie Chinese place (I'm looking at you, Kingdom of Vegetarians + New Harmony). Last, and most importantly: the food. I have tried almost the entire menu and have never had anything I either didn't really like or that wasn't prepared well, despite my tastes not aligning. The spring rolls are perfect. The miso soup, perfect. My favourite dish, the Chen-Tu Vegetables, are completely delectable. I've eaten mushrooms here that are rich + succulent and feel illegal. For lunch, you can get a side, soup + entree for under $7, and often you'll have leftovers for dinner or a snack. It's like heaven! I almost didn't leave my last job because it meant not being able to come here for lunch anymore. Seriously, if such hasnt become evident, I truly love Su Xing. They are by far the best veggie Chinese in Philadelphia, and maybe anywhere.
(5)
Samantha M.
S-L-O-W on the service, and the bubble tea is seriously watery and lacking in foamy goodness. The portions for lunch were decent just everything is over sauced to death. If you order anything just request the bottle of sauce on the side.
(2)
Liz H.
I love the sesame tofu with broccoli for lunch. A delicious, healthy bargain!
(4)
Derik M.
Best veg Gen Tso's. Mostly soy chicken- not a dough ball with a marble-sized piece of TVP at the center... and the sauce is always perfect. I eat here more often than anywhere when I want to hide away and decompress from a stressful morning. I aldo dig how they add some protein to Mei & Chow Fun (veggie ham or chicken).
(5)
Erin F.
Today my fortune reads "Good things ar ecoming to you in due course of time." Here is what did not come to me in due course of time today: my #21 Broccoli w/Garlic Sauce lunch special from Su Xing, ordinarily my second favorite vegetarian Chinese food place in town. Waited 20 minutes for a menu, the hostess had to take our order, waited another 25 minutes for food and by the time it got to our table, it was 12:55 and I had to be back at my desk by 1:00. It is 1:16 now and I quickly consumed 2/3rds of the lukewarm contents of my sad styrofoam-housed to-go lunch that was meant to be eaten over laughs and chuckles with my friend Stephen S and tossed the rest in the trash. It's sad when somewhere you like drops the ball. A bonus star to the perma-hostess who was apologetic and also someone I just happen to like, but come on Su Xing. You're better than that.
(2)
Vanessa W.
I was looking for some good, inexpensive food close to the Academy of Music, enter Su Xing House. I am not a vegetarian, but loved this place. I had my first positive tofu experience here, after having it before and hating it. I got the veggie lo mein and it was delicious. The place was busy on Sunday night but not packed. Seemed to be several locals, so I could tell I was in a good place. A great middle of the road/casual option in an upscale area. Two thumbs up!
(5)
Nicey J.
Delish , the tea and water kept flowing , the food ( sesame tofu & schezuan? Tofu) was delish also tried the singapore noodles.. ... All in all everything was tasty I went 2 days in a row after bikram which def means I'll be back being a non meat eater I can appreciate the vast amounts of vegetarian fare
(4)
Suzanne H.
Fantastic little local find; I wouldn't have even noticed it if friends hadn't brought me. Amazing, fresh, flavorful vegetarian food (loved the sauteed eggplant), funky chinese-kitzchy atmosphere, great decor, and packed at lunch. Well worth it when downtown, whether you're a veggie or not. PS went again 2 weeks ago; it was again fabulous - the seaweed cakes were bland but interesting. I love that they serve brown rice - so rare. And as I was eating alone this time, I really appreciated the chef's flexibility in mixing up a couple of the ingredients so I could get a whole healthy meal, with the dark greens, shitaake mushrooms and tofu I was craving.
(4)
Caver B.
Excellent vegetarian Chinese food. And it's not often you get to say "vegetarian Chinese food". The menu is varied, although unlike a similar place in Hong Kong it doesn't have quite as many sea vegetables, other than a few different seaweeds. It does have a lot of different mushrooms, and they are all delicious. I had the #22, Dried Bean Curd w. Spiral Seaweed, my Wife had the #10 As You Wish, Bean curd skin filled golden mushroom, black mushroom, dried bean curd and Chinese celery served w. water chestnut and asparagus. Both were great, although in this case I think my Wife won. The restaurant itself is very nice and surprisingly low key and upscale looking. A great, inexpensive find.
(5)
Lauren H.
Praise: 1). Great selection of decadent fried food and nutritious tofu hot pots. The scallion pancakes are tasty (though not the best I've ever had), the spring rolls are awesome, and the sesame tofu and sweet and sour soy nuggets are wonderful. Their tofu/soy protein meals are breaded and fried, so they are super crispy. The vegetable wrap and hot pots are recommended for guests who enjoy milder dishes without a lot of sauce. If you want better vegetarian Chinese food (consistently, with variety), you'll have to hoof it to Chinatown. 2) Love the lunch special. Best deal in the surrounding area for a heaping load of vegetarian food (one soup, one appetizer, and a medium-sized entree with brown rice). Caveats: 1). Since most of the tofu and soy protein dishes are dusted with flour/corn-starch and fried before adding to a thick sauce, this is a dangerous place to get takeout from (the breading will soften and lose its crispiness). Moreover, reheating tends to ruin the dish. Thus, this is best used as an eat-in restaurant. 2). Weirdly, the last two times I have gone there, the food/service hasn't been as good as it once was. Less than responsive service, cold spring roll with the lunch special (they're normally freshly fried), and the spring roll served with the entree (so that it started to soak up the other sauce). Not great. They also have sent us the wrong dish in the past, but I had forgiven that until recently since the food is usually so tasty.
(4)
Rebecca C.
This place is amazing!!! It's a favorite stop for mine and the lunch special is a great deal! Soup, entree and a side dish for under $10!!! it doens't get much better than that in Center City! My favorite is their Seitan dishes, always tasty! this Afternoon, i was greeted with a smile, seated in a lovely booth, and immediately brought water and tea! -A fantastic start... Followed by Miso Soup, General Tso's Seitan (Veg) and an eggroll! One word of caution...the place is vegetarian...so if you, like the guys in the booth behind ours are looking for meat or fish...you might want to go elsewehere...of course you could try something new and discover that this food is tastier! and they have bubble tea!
(5)
Anpan W.
Great vegetarian options, inexpensive lunch options, good service.
(5)
Rick D.
Stopped in recently for a quick lunch while in the neighborhood. Great meal! Really big menu, with lots of standard side dish options. My lunch was served VERY quickly & was quite good. Plus, it was super cheap (entree, soup, brown rice and side was about $8). I'd recommend Su Xing House to anyone looking for a high quality, inexpensive vegan option in Center City.
(4)
Jing G.
3.5.. Met with a friend for a lunch date. It's a vegetarian spot that unlike many other vegetarian Chinese spots aren't too big on making soy products fit the bill of being meat. Look, if I don't eat meat, it probably has something to do with the fact that I don't like the taste of it, either. Why one would try to make soy taste like beef or anything else is beyond me. Anyway, besides my mini-rant there, this spot is pretty good. I liked the hot and sour soup here. Good, creative vegetarian dishes, but alas, like many a Chinese joint, can be very oily.
(3)
Mo M.
For a lunch at $7-$8 you can stuff your face with soup, spring roll, and main platter that will delight even the staunchest meat eater. I love the hot and sour soup more than any I've ever tried. I am usually torn between ordering the general tso's tofu, general tso's veg., sesame seitan, and sweat and sour tofu.
(5)
Urban L.
I'm very disappointed to give only 2 stars to a vegetarian restaurant. But I am also disappointed because my meal was mediocre. I had high hopes of loving the food at this restaurant which is so close to my hotel -- and had to give up the imagined future of eating there often during the week I'm in Philly. I ordered the tofu and eggplant hotpot. In a word, it was bland. There's something strange that happens when my brain sees a sauce that looks flavorful (rich brown color, bubbling away) but my taste buds are left waiting for the flavor. It had no taste at all. The waitress never asked me about spiciness, so I wonder if they assessed my palate at a zero? Or is this dish always devoid of flavor? On the good side, the ingredients were fresh and plentiful -- tofu, eggplant, green peppers, mushrooms. The sauce...might as well have not been there. Service was fine. More efficient than friendly. I am grateful that I was able to order w/o worrying about non-veg ingredients. When I lived in Boston, that would have been enough. After more than a decade in Seattle, my expectations for flavorful vegetarian food are high.
(2)
Christopher R.
I have no idea how I have gone this long without visiting Su Xing. With the delicious food and unbeatable price of the lunch special (under $7.50 including tax), I may be returning on a weekly basis. The hot & soup soup had a fantastic kick. It cleared out my sinuses immediately. I cannot be certain if it was the best I've had, but it was certainly far above average. The spring roll was, however, about average. What did stand out was the rich, earthy flavor of the mushrooms inside. For my main dish I had potato and cauliflower in yellow curry. The vegetables were very tender. The flavor of the curry was delicate, with a subtle spice. Excellent. Very good first impression from Su Xing. I think it could easily get a fifth star after I have had the opportunity to try a few more dishes.
(4)
Susanna K.
I got the sesame seitan lunch special to go. The portions were huge (enough for 2 lunches), although I would've liked a bit more broccoli, and as other people have said, the seitan was a little too crispy. But, overall, it was delicious (as were the braised mushrooms). At $8.00 for an entree, soup and a side that will last you two meals, it can't be beat.
(4)
Abhijit G.
I debated between 2 and 3...2.5 would be appropriate The decor is ok...but they face a parking lot...so guess what u see out the windows...cars and blue neon signs! The spring rolls and sea weed pancakes were good...although the pancakes were dripping oil by gallons,, The triple shredded in garlic was ok...but after a while I couldn't take the soy flavor anymore...the genereal tso's vege...well, we barely touched it..and didn't bother to get a box...go figure Everyone else seems to love this place..may be you will...and may be if u r a vegetarian..this is IT....but if u like ur meat..get real...u can do better than Su Xing...MUCH better!
(3)
Tofu Robo T.
Chinese vegetarian is not a new idea by far, but it's nice to see one outside of the Chinatown bubble. Su Xing is nestled in between avenue of the arts and Rittenhouse on offbeat Sansom St, which is almost the perfect place, really. All of the food is vegetarian, of course. Vegans will appreciate that the menus were annotated by hand to indicate which dishes also contain chicken eggs but I would say 90% or more of the menu is totally vegan. Get ready to try something new! Some of the dishes will sound familiar as the menu features the classics... but most of the dishes are creative originals. The words "chicken", "ham", or "faux" do not appear on the menu. They call it like it is so you better know your stuff. Seitan is only named once... most of the dishes are called gluten this way, gluten that way, sliced soy protein loaf, etc. but only the brave will try "Sliced Jelly w/ Fresh Mushroom". This reviewer is usually less courageous, but maybe i will get there someday! It's worth pointing out that it is a great bargain at lunch time with soup, appetizer, & entree under $10 including tax & tip!
(4)
rachel k.
This is still our go-to Chinese restaurant and is by far my favorite vegetarian Chinese place in the city. The food is wonderful and rarely greasy, I can easily decipher what I'm eating (unlike some of the we-deep-fry-everything places in China Town) and the servers are attentive and kind. Since my last review, I've brought many non-vegetarians here and they've had nothing but good things to say (between bites, that is).
(5)
jennifer c.
To be honest, I thought this place did not live up to the hype. I ordered the vegetables, tofu & glass noodles in a hot pot and it was a little bland. The portion size was large for the price, but the flavor was flat. The server was very attentive and the staff was friendly, and you get free tea.
(3)
Jason L.
Fantastic vegetarian food joint. General Tsao's was a sweet tasty delight. Veggie Rolls were also great. Will definitely go back again when I don't feel like eating meat~
(4)
cc c.
I wonder if anyone on here remembers Harmony, before it became New Harmony a few years ago. If you miss the old Harmony then you'll want to go to Su Xing. If you don't, you'll still want to go to Su Xing because it's the best veggie Chinese food in Philly. Or New York. Or anywhere else for that matter. I eat here all the time. Some of my favorites are the triple shredded in garlic sauce, the steamed dumplings, the tofu skin with two kinds mushroom (this takes longer but is so yummy). I also love the seaweed salad but it's not the Japanese style. The atmosphere is surprisingly upscale considering that the food is cheap and fast. Which includes being clean. No bugs, no old food on the floor, no filthy bathrooms. Sad that I have to mention that but, well... Hint: get one of the booths upstairs by the window if you can.
(5)
Erin G.
I've wanted to visit Su Xing House, a Chinese vegetarian restaurant, since it opened on Sansom street almost a year ago. Today was the first time I was nearby and hungry! The restaraunt itself is lovely with two tastefully decored floors (and one sparkly chandelier), both dimly light and quiet. The absence of jangly music was almost offputting in it rairity, but I enjoyed it. I ordered the slightly ominous sounding Triple Stredded in Garlic, a combination of crispy thinly sliced tofu, crispy vegetable protien, and straw mushrooms. I would have prefered a more flavorful mushroom, and it certainly didn't warrant the spicy chili indication it held on the menu. I did like the addition of red pepper ribbons and fresh sprouts, the sauce that was both sweet and salty, and the great textures in the dish. My friend Beth ordered the sweet and sour soy nuggets, deep fried, pillowy balls with red and green peppers, swimming in sweet and sour sauce. I didn't get a nibble, but she (omnivour that she is) thought it was tasty. Su Xing has lovely service, and extensive menu based on traditional chinese vegetarian foods (rather than vegetarian orange "beef" etc.) and they offer brown rice - a plus with me. I'll be back to this dimly lit oasis in the middle of hectic downtown.
(4)
Sofia S.
Great place, great food! I love the ambiance and I frequent this place almost every week. You get tons of food for such a small price too!! The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because the servers could use a little more help in customer service.
(4)
Stephanie P.
I was traveling to Philadelphia for an overnight and I was looking for a new place to eat. I saw these reviews and thought I'd give Su Xing House a try. I am so glad I did! I actually ended up ordering from here twice - once to take home. The food is truly delicious. I got the Sesame tofu the first time. I ordered it with Hot and Sour soup and a spring roll. The soup was pretty good and the spring roll was a typical spring roll. The Sesame tofu however was fabulous! Absolutely the best tofu dish I had ever had. The second time I ordered the Gen Tso tofu and was equally impressed. The only issue I had was when I got home I was eating my soup and there was metal in it! An actual piece of metal the size of a staple. I have no idea why or what happened, and it's the only reason this restaurant didn't get five stars. Even WITH this unfortunate incident I would still eat there again. Truly a fantastic meal. I'm not a vegetarian, but I am usually not a fan of Chinese meat. This was a perfect substitute!
(4)
Kate C.
Su Xing is my favorite lunch spot in center city, and a contender for my favorite Chinese vegetarian restaurant in Philly (yes, there are actually quite a few -- ah, the modern luxury of choice.) For $6 or $7 at lunch, you get: *your choice of approximately twenty entrees (I am drawn to the seitan options, myself) *choice of soup (love the hot and sour) *choice of side (options include spring roll, seaweed, corn, and a bunch of other stuff) *abundant brown rice, and *endless refills of jasmine tea (which tastes like perfume to me, but lots of people love it). The amount of food for the price is, frankly, ridiculous. And then, if that wasn't good enough, Su Xing is actually pretty attractive inside with lots of dark wood...and since they knocked down a wall and opened up the dining room, there's plenty of seating too. Oh, and the staff is friendly. Really, what more could you ask for?
(5)
Josh L.
Good service, and it would have been better (for our likings) if they left the teapot on our table than coming back (in time) often to refill our cups. The veggie food was not bad, but a lit too western style - nothing wrong about this but we were looking for oriental buddhism inspired veggie food. Price was not bad and they would deliver within at least center city area.
(3)
Lan G.
This is the place I go to when I have a crave for healthy Chinese food. My coworkers and I have been ordering their lunch special over the last couple of years. The quality of their food is outstanding, plus they give you a lot of food! I always make 2 meals out of 1 lunch order! My favorite is definitely the Asparagus with Wheat Gluten in Brown Sauce
(4)
Ck P.
We eat lunch here a few times a month. The owner is very professional and this place has received several business awards. We generally go after 1:30 to miss the lunch crowd and we've never had a problem with service. We prefer the upper room and it's great If you can get one of two booths by the window to watch the street scene. They have lunch specials from $6.50 - $8.25 which include soup (my favorite is Miso...& it's not very salty!), side dish (lots of choices, but I get a spring roll -not greasy) and white or brown rice (brown, of course!) plus your entree! It's a deal. Everything we've ordered has been fresh, tasty and well prepared. Just had the Sesame Seitan, which comes with broccoli and it was delicious (as usual). They are open for dinner and this would be great place to eat before going to the Wilma Theater or the Academy of Music (even Susanne Roberts Theater, but that's a few blocks further). Note: Lunch time is very crowded, so I'd suggest going at 11:30 or after 1:30 during the day. Also, this is good, comfortable place for singles to eat. There are some tables on the upper room that we see singles in all the time. We've even seen singles in booths when we ate during the off hours for a late lunch after 2:00. Even if you're not a vegetarian, this is good place to season your palette with some good vegetarian food. Love it!
(4)
Secret V.
Of the 6 or 7 veg Chinese restaurants in Philly, Su Xing is the most different: they're a totally vegan establishment but don't do the fake meat thing. Lunch specials are filling and interesting--they've got some really unique items--but your best bet is to go with a big group for family-style so that everybody can try a bunch of different stuff.
(4)
Rashada S.
Great place, great food its been about 5 years since weve been indulging at su xing. Weve had parties, meetings etc its great every time. My kids absolutely love it. Our favs are singapore noodles, general tsos veg, veggie, spring rolls, veg heaven, eggplant with tofu, soups, sauteed green beans & kale I could go on and on. You will be amazed vegetarian or not. Bubble tea is great too. Now Ii have the taste after this review I just may go for lunch, who cares about the 30 minute drive. Hehe
(5)
Lauren D.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I was a vegetarian. Actually, that's a lie. It was about 2 years ago and I was living in Philadelphia but still. I feel like I might as well have been kept prisoner on the Death Star considering yesterday was my first excursion to this amazing vegetarian oasis. First of all, the decor is reallllly pretty. I was kind of surprised because it's unassuming from the outside. Lots of flowers, gold, and a fair amount of tables to choose from. In terms of the menu? It's huge. My friend (who has been there countless times) and I took at least 10 minutes analyzing and trying to pick our meal. As appetizers, I went with the seaweed salad and him the spring roll. The seaweed salad wasn't what I was expecting, that's for sure. It actually looked like real seaweed, as opposed to the typical translucent kind found in most Asian restaurants. It also wasn't in a ginger dressing but instead contained cilantro. It was different, but in a good way (although I do remain partial to what I can only assume is the less healthy variety). For the main dish, I chose the As-You-Wish (fried bean curd skin filled golden mushroom, black mushroom, dried bean curd and Chinese celery) with sauteed pea pod leaves. The portion was HUGE and super tasty. The pea pod leaves had just the right amount of garlic and didn't look too oily. My friend ordered the Vegetable Heaven (stir-fried string beans, braised tofu and Chinese eggplant in a garlic sauce) and was also a fan. I managed to snag a piece of the eggplant and a string bean so I can also confirm the yumminess, although I think mine was the winner of the meal. No dessert due to being full of delicious food, but I will make it a point to try some next time. We didn't turn down the blood oranges that came with the bill, though :D Service was extremely attentive, although almost to the point of being overly so. The complimentary hot tea was never lacking, and our water glasses were constantly being refilled. We never wanted for anything, although we did have to ask for chop sticks. Prices were extremely fair, too. It averaged out to be about $16 a person, which I can't complain about for a huge good meal in Rittenhouse. I will definitely be back here sooner than later
(5)
Mallory P.
I fell in love with this place when I worked down the street and could spend a relaxing, hour long lunch break with my $6 lunch special. Seriously, my dessert island, all time favorite meal might just be hot and sour soup, a veggie spring roll, and general tso's tofu. On top of the excellent food and prices, the place is a legitimately nice restaurant. The decor, staff, and atmosphere are all great. It's probably best that I don't work nearby anymore, because I might ruin it for myself. It's such a delightful treat whenever I'm in Rittenhouse.
(5)
Anne H.
So glad to find another restaurant as awesome as Kingdom of Vegetarians/New Harmony, and closer, too! Dating a vegetarian now less annoying. This all vegetarian place was the perfect place to have lunch on a Sunday. We were the only ones there. The boyfriend got a spring roll which was crispy and delicious. That was followed by Singapore noodles and General Tso's tofu. The tofu was PERFECT! Crispy on the outside, pillow-soft on the inside. Both dishes could have been a little spicier, but were delicious nonetheless. I can tell this will be a new favorite spot for years to come. Will enjoy trying every item on their meu. Low price range is also a plus.
My first time at Su Xing. I'm not a vegetarian, but am vegetable/soy friendly. It was a pretty awesome lunch, and for $10 a person (incl tax, tip and more water and hot tea than I could shake a stick at), an amazing deal. I had the General Tso's Veg. with brown rice, hot/sour soup and spring roll. I'm not sure what "veg." meant exactly, but it was very tasty. Seitan maybe? The spring roll, was, as other reviewers have written, exactly as one would expect. The veg. was spicy and crispy. I'm still thinking about it, and lunch was a few days ago. It's not exactly healthy since it's fried. Maybe next time I'll try something unfried. Sam had the tofu and eggplant with garlic sauce. Also delicious, though extremely hot (temperature hot, not spicy hot) when it first arrived. Service was as good as everyone says and I will definitely be back. If only there were such varied/awesome vegetarian options at more establishments, I might consider giving up the meat.
(4)
Michelle W.
Good place for vegetarian!
(4)
Josh F.
Loved every meal I have ever had here! Brought a few co-workers in, whom have not had too much vegetarian fare, and they were very impressed by the mock dishes.
(4)
Eran M.
(vegetarian / vegan review) LOVE IT. :-) Tasty food, large portions, huge selection, attentive service - and cheap! I ate there with two hungry friends - we ordered two appetizers (steamed pot stickers and fried tofu with cashews) and two entres (chow mei fun Singapore style and tofu kung pao) along with brown rice, and although the food was delicious, we didn't finish it all. The whole thing cost less than $30 (before tip). This really is a vegetarian's heaven (well, assuming it's a vegetarian who enjoyed Asian-style food). Even non vegetarians seem to enjoy themselves here. And they have bubble tea! Really, what more could I ask for? :-)
(5)
Casey K.
definitely coming back to this place, and dragging a few friends with me. what a fun find on a street riddle with douchey looking clubbers. this place does legit vegetarian fare and in generous portion sizes. the food is good and relatively authentic (not so much chinese, as chinese american). the service is decent the prices are average and but the whole experience was just simply more than i expected. thanks su xing!
(5)
Jen A.
I love this place. The food is excellent! You will not be disappointed!
(5)
Marc B.
I am a carnivore to the bone, and usually don't like vegetarian dishes that try to act meaty, but Su Xing House is changing all that. Their General Tso's "chicken" is far superior in flavor and texture than real Gen. Tso's chicken at most Chinese restaurants. If you're trying to convert a meat-eater, this should be your ground zero. There's a wide selection of "meat" and "fish" dishes that'll convince even the most die-hard carnies that veggie based foods can constitute a real meal. The portions are huge, and the leftovers reheat well.
(5)
Brittany M.
I've ordered from here enough times in the past few weeks to consider myself an expert in Su Xing cuisine. It's tough to find a better deal for the quality of food they offer. Their veggie lo-mein is a hit with me -- a huge portion that doesn't skimp on the veggies. Their General Tso's tofu is also delicious, and I don't even like tofu all that much. Last night I ordered the As-You-Wish, which, while stuffed with mushrooms, felt a bit chewy. Maybe that's how bean curd tastes in general - don't know, never tried before - but I have a feeling that the steam from the delivery container made this happen. Also ordered the cauliflower and potato curry, which was fan-freakin-tastic and steaming hot when delivered. As other reviewers have mentioned, their lunch deals are a steal.
(4)
Chris H.
I have always enjoyed everything I've ordered at Su Xing House. I most often visit to get take-away, but I also find the staff friendly and the service prompt when I dine in. I especially enjoy the seitan dishes (which are also relished by the omnivores among my friends) and the eggplant tofu in garlic sauce. BYOB.
(4)
petra l.
This is one of the best places to eat at if you are downtown. I make a point of going at least twice a month and love it every single time! Its prices are absolutely convenient, the quality of food is excellent and the amount is actually very generous. Did I say love it, Love It, LOVE IT!!!?
(5)
Mia D.
Maybe it's the forever-smiling staff or the gargantuan painting of wading horses on the wall, but Su Xing House is really special. Please do yourself a favor and try the fried rice cake appetizer. I have daydreams about its sticky sweetness. The menu here is pretty huge, and usually I find that to be a bit daunting, but everything I've sampled is amazing. Whether you're into tofu, fresh vegetables or seitan, Su Xing will definitely have something for you.
(5)
Lulu B.
The "As You Wish" dish is the BEST, if you like mushrooms and tofu!!!! Delicious. And they offer it for lunch special too.
(5)
Karen B.
i've only had good experiences here, and this is my little family's go-to place for takeout, even though we're not vegetarians. love the chen-tu vegetables, "dragon and phoenix" and "ebony and ivory." bonus points for staying open during the multiple blizzards of 2010 and for having staff that didn't give my posse the stink-eye for tracking snow through the restaurant and draping our wet gear all over the place. su xing gets the kb seal of approval.
(4)
Devon R.
Delishhhh veg chinese. Go before three on weekdays for the lunch special, which could easily be two complete meals for under $8. The staff is the sweetest, and super attentive so your cup is never empty. There is never a wait, so you'll likely get a huge booth whenever you come.
(5)
Stevie S.
I absolutely love Su Xing! It is my absolute favorite lunch spot in center city and I usually eat there 3 or 4 times a month. Su Xing is a cozy, 100% vegeterian Chinese resturant with a shockingly inexpensive lunch menu. Nowhere have I had tofu cooked as wonderfully! I really can't say enough good things about this restaurant. The staff is very kind, there is plenty of seating (no wait!) and unlimited free hot tea! The dinner menu is a bit more expensive so I would recommend an introductory lunch trip if possible.
(5)
Ben Y.
Very quick and friendly service. The food was quite tasty, especially the Hot and Sour soup. And it's nice to have a Chinese place just for Vegetarians. My one recommendation is NOT to over order. After we got a cup of soup, the onion cakes and sesame noodles (which we thought was a side), we were already completely full. And that was before our two entrees came. We ended up eating only about half of our food. The Mango Tea Tapioca is excellent.
(4)
Lauren O.
I was in desperate need of a bubble tea...picture Philadelphia as the Sahara and me in search of a rumored oasis complete with tapioca pearls. My fiance and I walked in mid-day so it was totally empty and I was able to have a much-coveted bubble tea in my hands within 5 minutes. I got mango and it was pretty good but definitely not life-altering. I'll give them another try and I'll give the menu a whirl next time too...looks promising
(3)
Dana B.
I had wanted to try Su Xing for months since I had passed by it numerous times while walking down Sansom Street. One day after work, I met up with two friends who readily agreed to give it a try with me. The menu is entirely vegetarian and has plenty of options to satisfy anyone, and even though I am a carnivore, I REALLY enjoyed my sesame tofu. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Ali J.
Conveniently located at 15th and Sansom, its one of the few, if not only vegetarian Chinese restaurant in this part of town, in case you don't feel like making the hike to Chinatown on your lunch break. Their lunch special is a pretty good deal. Soup, side, entree, and rice for $7.50, but choose your sides wisely because it comes in those styerfoam to- go containers, you know the ones that have little pockets for each side and stuff can get mixed around. Don't order the "Veg. salad" because its literally iceberg lettuce, one slice of tomato and two slices of cucumbers that fall into your entree and then you're left with a warm salad dipped in General Tso's sauce. I should have got the spring roll. The white rice is ok, not sticky though. Maybe next time I'll get the brown. I also got miso soup, but you really can't go wrong with that, its pretty standard. The General Tso's Veg. is actually pretty good. Its fried gluten but its not the doughy kind of fried, its just lightly battered. The sauce is good, but I was expecting it to be hotter since it had a chili pepper next to it on the menu. It has actual chili's in it, but they really make no difference. So if you're in the mood for Chinese, but don't want to make the hike or have to worry about what surface its cooked on (since it's all vegetarian), try Su Xing House. But don't expect to be blown away. Its not amazing, but not terrible either.
(3)
michael j.
I'm not a vegetarian but their General Tso's Tofu is more delicious than the chicken variety at other places. No matter what your dietary default is I bet you'll like this place.
(5)
Kathryn M.
I stored this place in the back of my head a while ago and finally had the opportunity to get dinner here with a friend. We were too late for the lunch special, but it is an amazing bargain. I am another omnivore who can attest to delectable collection of foodstuffs that is veggie Chinese. I ordered their sesame seitan with broccoli dish. My friend ordered their veggie lo mein. The portions are extremely generous and delicious. I especially enjoyed the thick and successfully spiced brown sauce that drenched my mock meat. It's a little more costly than neighboring veggie Chinese spots, but well worth it.
(4)
Milk W.
Excellent Chinese Veg in the heart of Center City. You cannot beat the lunch specials, which are priced well and all come with soup and side dish. The kale with dried tofu is killer!! Dinner is quite good as well!
(4)
Kori M.
I stumbled upon this place by accident. I was hungry one day in between classes and randomly chose to roam down Sansom. I saw Su Xing and stopped to peak at their menu. I was very excited to find an all vegetarian Chinese place. I had the garlic eggplant with brown rice and a side of fruit. I was totally surprised by the lovely green tea that was included with it. I was very satisfied and happy for the $8 I spent. I sat there and read a book and enjoyed my meal. I had this adorable older gentleman as my server who was super cute and friendly and polite. I have yet to find a chance to go back, but I I can soon
(5)
Meredith K.
Today was my first time at Su Xing, and it definitely will not be my last. When I entered the restaurant, I found it to be a little dark and not very atmospheric; however, my mind was completely changed when I was led by the waitress into the back dining room. It was beautiful, with tasteful decor and furnishings. The large windows on either side of the room provided a generous amount of warm light, which complemented the marigold-colored (hooray for Crayola!) walls beautifully. I was seated in a comfortable booth by the front window and was immediately served hot green tea, ice-cold water, and a menu. I read through the menu while I waited for my friend and found a plethora of lunch specials on the back. When my friend arrived, we ordered (it's his favorite vegetarian Chinese restaurant, so he was very clear about what he was going to order). I got the Home-Style Bean Curd Lunch Special, which came with choice of white or brown rice, soup, and side... a ton of food for $6.95! I chose brown rice, hot and sour soup, and a spring roll. My friend ordered the Sesame Tofu with the same sides. Our soup was delivered a few minutes later, and it was the best Hot and Sour soup I've had yet. I'm not usually a fan of Hot and Sour, but since my boyfriend loves it I decided to give it another try. It was thick, spicy, and flavorful. Really yummy. About seven minutes after that, we got our meals. I bit into the spring roll, which was served with delicious duck sauce (my favorite), and it was like a taste of heaven. It was crispy, without the usual grease that you get at most Chinese places, and amazingly delicious. I might even go as far as to say it was the best spring roll I've had in years. My entree, though not as spicy as I usually like, was very tasty. The large pieces of bean curd were served with sauteed carrots, snow peas, and squash in a brown gravy. Although I enjoyed my meal, I tried some of my friend's and wished that I ordered that. It was easily the best tofu I've ever had. It was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. I was jealous. The food was delicious, but probably the best part of the meal was when we got the check... less than $15 for two of us. And we left stuffed. I would highly recommend this place before any of the other veggie restaurants in Chinatown.
(5)
Laura S.
I ordered delivery the other day, and it was great. The food came quickly, it was inexpensive, and very good. I especially like the General Tso's tofu and the cold sesame noodles.
(4)
Elliot R.
There are veggie Chinese places that make up fake meat dishes out of tofu and protein; Yuck! Yawn! Then there is Su Xing. They have dozens of dishes without meat or fake meat. They have the best lunch specials in town: something like 8 bucks gets you soup, a springroll and a substantial main dish. the Schezwan tofu is amazing! The kale and dried bean curd as well. Take a friend and get a few dishes, you won't regret it. (p.s. the only bad dish I've had there has been seaweed. everything else: great)
(5)
yu s.
this place does have fantastic lunch specials, i get the general tso's veg, miso soup, spring roll and a side of rice for under ten bucks. the waitstaff is really friendly and they're wonderfully manical with the tea-filling (great jasmine tea too by the way), i never have an empty cup. plus their veggies are always fresh and they give great portions. one thing i do want to note, if you're getting takeout, you'll definitely have to wait at least twenty minutes (especially if you're getting mock), so be prepared to wait a bit...i'm always staring at that horse painting on the wall with the little lite-brite bulbs in it...semi-fascinating.
(4)
Dawn S.
In town for a training course and this place was recommended by local. Ordered the hot & sour soup when I normally always get miso at other places. AWESOME! Spicy and yummy and very fresh ingredients. I'm big on crunchy texture so when the springroll came and it was PERFECT in color and hot and CRUNCHY this girl was in HEAVEN. Last I ordered the sesame tofu... did I mention this place is vegetarian? I'm SO far from being a Vegan. But this dish knocked my socks off! They serve it on a bed of broccoli with this light orangy sauce. It wasn't even an issue that there was no meat. THE TEXTURE OF THE TOFU IS AMAZING!! Crunchy, yummy and covered with sesame seeds. It comes with brown or white rice... the brown was sticky in the BEST way. HUGE servings. I'm here for 2 weeks. I will be back.
(5)
Kathy L.
I thought the food was really good. We ordered take out. Based on the reviews of other yelpers, we ordered the asparagus & gluten, and as-you-wish. Both were good, but we thought the homestyle tofu was the most delicious dish we ordered. We also got the scallion pancakes. I've had plenty of tsong-yo-bing in Taiwan. These were a little dry - and not very doughy/flaky - but ok. This totaled $40. I think they increased prices a little since updating their website menu, but otherwise good (relatively healthy) food option. And of course they deliver!
(4)
Jeffrey N.
Beautiful little place on a quieter street. The food was just okay. We had a tofu dish that tasted it had just been sauteed with big-brand simmering sauce. Also, we weren't served what we expected and our server didn't offer to fix the dish or take it back. As a warning, the "vegetable noddle" dish doesn't have vegetables and noodles. It has noodles made out of vegetables. (Admittedly, this was in part our mistake, but we felt the situation was not handled well by the server).
(3)
Arthur D.
Surprisingly faithful to "Chinese" in the name, but not as well done as the reviews led me to expect I went there for lunch by myself, because my friends can't live without meat for even one meal. That's fine. The first thing that struck me was how almost detailed the interior was, which I did not expect for a Sansom St establishment. It was atmospheric, but too dark for lunch - I even had trouble reading the menu, and I noticed another patron, a man in his early 30s, struggling a little as well (surprisingly many other single diners here). The soup was fairly quick and I was struck by the lotus root, which while a bit thinner than my mom makes it is almost perfectly traditional without shocking the average American diner. The string bean/bean curd entree was only fair. It reveals the clientele is probably very similar to that of the average "American" Chinese restaurant. It was dry but covered in a ton of oyster sauce. The portion is not big enough by itself, but the side dish of seaweed makes up for it. Maybe you can ask for the sauce on the side, or light? Picking the lunch special proved the right choice, or I'd have gone hungry. Well, a few hours later, I guess I am. At $9 including tips, it's very reasonable for a downtown sit-down, but I value my health and won't be back often. Note: I keep changing the rating, so I'll stop. The food is quite good and lets you experience some traditional Chinese cooking, so just expect not too big a meal, and tell them to lay off the sauce if you want a healthy meal.
(3)
Jessica W.
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! Although, I must say- it's better to eat at the restaurant than to have it delivered. It's still good when it's delivered, but not quite AS good. I always get Spring Rolls and Vegetable Lo Mein or Pan Fried Noodles. My boyfriend loves the General Tso Tofu. The food is always super hot and definitely satisfies that Chinese food craving. We aren't even vegetarian and we love this place.
(4)
Aaron S.
Dude... Seriously... Best Vegan Chinese food I've had in the city and its affordable!!! My fiance and I go here at least once a week and we never get tired of their amazing food. I'm usually easy to please when it comes to chinese so every time I go I get their Sesame Seitan. I HIGHLY recommend it! My fiance likes a bit of a variety she usually gets either the Hot Pot, Chow Mei Fun Singapor Style, and Soy Protein with Broccoli and Brown Sauce. She recommends these highly! Also for an app get the spring rolls or the vegetable dumplings. Dine in or eat out the food is amazing! Also their delivery is FAST!
(5)
Steven S.
This place offers an excellent selection of all-vegetarian Chinese food. The General Tso's was so good I could hardly tell it was tofu. All the dishes are huge and the free tea is a nice touch. The price is spot on for the portions and the decor is very unique. Definitely worth a visit.
(4)
Ellena S.
Just picked up a large hot and sour soup from here. Ate in a week or two ago, got the lunch special (hot and sour soup, mushroom special). Was pretty good, a size-able amount of food, but New Harmony is where it's at! Interior is nice, clean and BYO. Delivery area is limited however. I live in University City and they won't deliver to me. C'mon, I'm not THAT far from Rittenhouse!
(4)
Shawna B.
Lovingggggg IT! This place is one of my all-time favorite veg*n Asian restaurants. I'd loved the Greens in Brooklyn Heights, but sadly it seems to have closed (at least according to Yelp), so I'm relieved to say that Su Xing rivals the Greens in variety and flavor. I've been there twice (the second time on my one-year wedding anniversary!) and left both times very satisfied and looking forward to my next visit. The dishes have a wide range of ingredients, all veg and all delicious. I'd definitely recommend the edamame as an appetizer, followed by several dishes to try (share with someone!), and several orders for take-out :)
(5)
nico t.
returning from a trip to china, i'm surprised by how many vegetarian chinese restaurants there are in america. it was impossible to be be vegetarian in china. "just eat!" they told me. i'm a sucker for general tso's "chicken". i admit it. this is the best i've found in philly. maybe the best anywhere, but that's a bold statement and i'm kind of a timid dude. (not really) the other dish i highly recommend is the sesame garlic noodles. not quite the jing jing dan dan noodles of palo alto, but good enough to coat my esophagus. no 5th star because service is often slow, but again, compared to restaurants in china, this place is on the ball. don't get me wrong, i love china and the chinese people were wonderful, but without tipping, what do they have to work for? certainly not high wages!
(4)
JJ G.
Spectacular. Bubble tea and the sesame tofu are awesome. They don't accept American Express -- Visa + Mastercard only.
(5)
Heman P.
I went to this restaurant yesterday for dinner.. I liked this restaurant for two reasons 1) Food is awesome and also you get plenty of variety to chose from, 2) It is open till 10:30 pm when most of the restaurants are closed, it is good for me coz I generally have dinner late. It is good to see that you get Chinese "VEG" food with number of variety this place has. Overall its good restaurant to try if you like Chinese food and must go if you are vegetarian and like Chinese food. You might have to repeat yourself if you want something specific in your food as english is lil difficult there.. Hope you enjoy your food there as I did. Take care..
(5)
Karen M.
I pretty much love this restaurant. I eat here as often as I can and I take advantage of their amazing lunch special deal and price more often than I should. Their dinner is a huge portion that I never finish, but surprisingly, my leftovers taste just as good when I reheat them the next day (I'm serious!). The service is really nice and the location itself is very clean and tidy. Whenever we have friends come to visit us from out of town, my boyfriend and I always bring them here whether they eat meat or not and they always seem to enjoy it as much as we do. You should definitely make a trip here one day if you haven't already.
(5)
Dame V.
I agree with most of the other reviews - this is a very good restaurant! The staff is pleasant, the food is excellent, and the price is right. They have recently remodeled, and the place looks better than ever. I especially recommend the Dragon and Phoenix, but there are many other good dishes, as well.
(4)
B H.
My favorite Vegan/Vegetarian Chinese resturant in the city. They make the best General Tso "chicken". Veggie dumplings are also a hit! I prefer to eat in, but they do delivery and takeout.
(5)
alexis g.
We got take-out from Su Xing for Chinese New Year's and it was awesome. I was looking for a place with a large selection of noodles and Su Xing had everything -- Singapore-style Chow Mein, Chow Fun, and panfried egg noodles (and a bunch of other stuff). We also took a chance on their "Golden Feather Knishes." I love taro, but I'm not a huge fan of sweet-and-sour and I wasn't quite sure what a 'feather knish' was. So what's a feather knish? Delicious. We ate our noodles and veggies and then finished off with the knishes. They were almost dessert-like. We're definitely going back to this place again. Update: We actually didn't go back to Su Xing for a while... We discovered Square and Square and that became our go-to Chinese place (points for being a few blocks closer to home). But... lately we've gone to Su Xing for all of our take-out Chinese needs, branching out from the noodles-only menu from New Year, and we have not been disappointed. The texture on the black bean tofu is nothing short of amazing. I realize this probably involves lots of frying, but I have to say.. frying + tofu = freakin' miraculous. I'm definitely looking forward to trying more of the stuff on their menu, but I also have to say this: it's going to be hard to branch out to any other veggie dishes beyond the basil eggplant. When I opened up the little plastic take-out container the smell of basil sauce was overwhelming -- in a good way. I can't even describe it. If you order it and hate it, it's only $9.. and let me know. I'm happy to take it off your hands.
(4)
charlotte g.
i've never eaten there, but we do delivery from here all the time. they are really quick with delivery. all the food is delicious and fresh. Favorites: mashed BBQ tofu on nori veggie dumpling tofu and veggie soup veggie moo shu golden hot pot
(5)
Kathleen T.
so good. so very, very good. the portions are ridiculously large, the food delicious, and it's vegan! woohoo! okay, so i'm not vegan. but, i AM veggggggggietarryan, so it still jibed with my eating. el buggo digs the croquettes the most, while i am partial to the peas, potatoes and curry sauce. did i mention how very good this is?
(5)
mary g.
I love this place! I order from here all the time and they even deliver to me, a good 15 blocks East.. The fried mushroom strips are deeeelish. The sesame seitan is yummy as well. I think my fav is the tofu/vegetable soup. I don't know what's in that broth but it's quite addictive. One of my other fav things about this place is the lack of "chicken this" and "beef that." I hate ordering something that is called chicken, gross, but seitan all the way. It's comforting to know that they are 100% vegetarian and I don't have to worry about some bird falling into my fried rice. Like most Chinese food, don't wait too long to re-heat things - you'll be sorry to have wasted such delectable foods!
(4)
Stacey B.
I got take out at this place while visiting Philly. I needed something healthy, and I ordered a vegetable tofu dish off the chef's specialties menu. It had baby corn and tofu and mushrooms and lots of other vegetables. The portion was very large; I only ate half, if that. I was able to get brown rice with it, which was great.
(5)
Siobhan C.
I've never been to Su Xing for dinner, but the lunch specials are a tasty deal. I absolutely love the tofu with eggplant in garlic sauce and pretty much never order anything else. Lunch take-out typically takes about 10 minutes, but if you call ahead you can avoid flipping through Glamour magazines in the dimly lit waiting area. Would definitely recommend to meat-eaters looking for a place to take veggie friends and family. You will not be disappointed!
(4)
Joey K.
Very very good vegetarian Chinese. A good substitute to Cherry St. (which has closed ). Su Xing is a small restaurant with limited seating but a pretty nice ambiance as well. I ordered the General Tso's and let me tell you if I didn't know it wasn't chicken I would not have known, it was prepared great, and very fresh broccoli. I will go back.
(4)
Jennifer C.
My one-star rating is based on delivery service alone. I placed my order at ~9pm and did not receive my food until an hour later. The driver called 3 times saying that he was lost and could not find the address (I was staying at a major hotel by City Hall). The restaurant also called asking for the address to the hotel and then notified me that I can not pay via credit card (when I already confirmed at the time of order). My food finally came and when I opened up the bag, I realized that it was not the food that I ordered! A perfect ending to an awesome delivery experience.
(1)
Davin B.
I've been here twice- disliked it the first time and actually threw my takeout in the trash the second time. I'm only giving it 2 stars (rather than the -2 I think it deserves) because it seems that everyone else loves this place! Maybe I caught them on bad days. The first time I went was shortly after they opened, The portions were small and pricey for what they were, and the overall feeling at the table was that things were either too gelatinous or too dry. The second time I ordered broccoli and garlic sauce to go (how do you even mess that up?!), and what I got was overcooked-to-the-point-of-mush broccoli that somehow absorbed none of the flavor of the way-too-spicy garlic sauce. They are higher-end than most other Chinese places, but the food certainly didn't warrant the price hike- especially for take out. I'd rather order through bullet proof glass at a generic "number #1 Chinese and American food", pay $4, and get something delicious.
(2)
Tracey M.
The food here is so good. I was previously partial to New Harmony in Chinatown but after trying Su Xing House, they have won me over. Try to go at lunch time when you get far more for your money. Their lunch specials are a great value.
(5)
D K.
This is my first time trying Su Xing House and I'm pretty impressed. They have a great tofu menu - not the usual two or three options consisting of either just tofu and sauce or with one vegetable. I ordered the mu shu vegetables (yep, with tofu) and the tofu with mixed vegetables. Both were pretty tasty, and the vegetables were not too finely chopped and still had a hint of crunch. The price was right and the delivery was really fast: 15 minutes at most. I'll definitely be trying them again and checking out some of their other dishes.
(4)
Terri M.
This restuarant made me go vegetarian. No,I'm serious. The week before I ate here, I was telling friends that I could not imagine not eating steak. Well, here I am making a hypocrite out of myself. One year and many vegetarian meals later, I am still living without steak. Oh, this is a review..ok here goes...the General Tso's tofu is delicious and it is here where I tried seitan, sesame style. They have a great lunch special,meals ranging between six and seven dollars, and you get a great deal of food. For dessert, you MUST try the fried bananas. I have yet to try the bubble tea, but I'm up for the challange. The dim lighting and peaceful music create this soothing atmosphere, The only bad side is that there are very few servers, so service is kinda slow. But good food is worth the wait. Enjoy:)
(4)
Amanda F.
The food was good, but the service was a little strange. My boyfriend and I went a few months ago for the lunch special, but our friends were a little late, though they told us to grab a table anyway. It was hard to explain that we wanted to wait to order, even though I felt bad about holding things up, the tables weren't entirely full. We explained, but then approximately five different workers asked us, in quick succession, if we'd like to order. I'd probably only go back with one other person and if they were RIGHT there. Other than that, no complaints. Once our whole party was there and we did order, everything came out promptly and it was pretty tasty, and the cheapness can't be beat.
(3)
Jacquelin K.
Su Xing offers vegetarian Chinese. It's a pretty small restaurant that gets most of its business during the weekday lunch hour. Their lunch special is a great value--you get a soup, a side, and an entree for $7. I've had better vegetarian Chinese, but their mushrooms are really hearty. Their taro bubble tea is pretty funky (in a good way). I really don't have much to say about the food. The decor is pretty lackluster as well. It's really dark inside because they have no overhead lighting.
(3)
Peter C.
My girlfriend and I have frequented this spot ever since our friend brought us here last fall (2007). Compared to regular "meat" serving chinese places in center city, this place has beaten them all in quality and service. I usually get the Sesame Seitan or tofu and its always good. Their drinks are also very refreshing and fun. The lunch special is by far the best deal there but the dinner portions are a bit bigger. They've only screwed our order up once and that was getting take out.
(5)
y r.
hands down, the best chinese veg restaurant in philadelphia. well worth the few dollars extra (compared to the competition in chinatown). i had the hot and sour soup which was more than adequate. the bean sprout rolls appetizer was delicious. sprouts were fresh, the sauce light and tasty, and the quantity surprising (4 large rolls in total--enough for a small lunch!). for the main, we ordered the kale and hot pepper (was actually a chinese broccoli, but still delicious nonetheless), the tofu skin with 2 kinds of mushroom, and the vegetable chow fun. the tofu skin was tasty and well prepared, the mushrooms absolutely scrumptious. the chow fun noodle seemed to be homemade. very surprising! and delicious. all the vegetables were extremely fresh and not overcooked. flavors were savory and light. two thumbs up.
(5)
Evan H.
Su Xing is hands down the best Chinese food we've had in the city. Our perspective may be skewed because we're vegetarians, but this place is pretty marvelous when contrast with greasy, seedy, strange places such as Kingdom of Vegetarians in Chinatown (which does have an amazing Jetsons-like metal dumbwaiter thing from which your food appears). The atmosphere is clean and calm, and the service is very good. When we want Chinese we leave West Philly and its handful of cheap crummy places to visit Su Xing House. And if we lived in Center City we'd eat here more often.
(4)
Emma B.
this is far and away my most frequently visited lunch place, mostly because of the braised mushrooms (side dish) and hot and sour soup. get them.
(4)
Dave S.
Friendly service, a great selection of specials and more than reasonable prices. I don't think you could ask for anything more. I was a bit hesitant to go to vegetarian only Chinese restaurant but after enjoying a wonderful lunch feast (hot and sour soup, spring roll, and broccoli w/garlic sauce) I can definitely say that I will be going back. Oh yeah, my meal totaled a little over $6.50. Who could ask for more?
(5)
Sharon G.
Best vegetarian (vegan) Chinese restaurant in Philly for sure. No fake shrimp, fake pork and so on. Just food that is what it is - fresh and yummy. A favorite. They deliver too!
(5)
M. D.
Delicious! The lunch specials are great for the money, and the portions are huge. The employees are friendly and the food is always delicious, not to mention a great value. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Be brave and experiment with something new because you are sure to be rewarded.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Michael James M.
First time at Su Xing the other day after passing it time after time. Finally had a free day to park and stop in, and I must say, it was well worth the visit. I had the hot and sour soup which was bar none the best hot and sour soup I've ever had. Most h+s soups are over gelatinous, where as this dish was a perfect blend of consistency and brought each respective element of hot, sour, and sweet to the bowl. For my entree I had the Sesame Seitan, which I had chose on a recommendation from another user. I was pretty impressed with both the quality and quantity. A little on the crispy side but not too much where I couldn't cut or bite into. Served over a bed of steamed broccoli for a nice finishing touch. Definite recommendation. My roommate had the Broccoli and Garlic sauce, which essentially is one enormous plate of broccoli. The sauce is, well, garlicky and has a bit of a spicy tang to it. Quite delicious, however I would recommend sharing with someone (it's a lot of broccoli!). I can't wait to go back. So excited there is an all vegetarian Chinese restaurant that exists. I love that I can go through the menu no problem and literally pick anything and have it be veggie friendly.
(4)Emily T.
Came here with a friend on a weekend in Philly, lured by the intriguing premise of a vegetarian Chinese restaurant. As two Asian girls raised on stir-fried beef, pork, and chicken, we were both a little confused as to how a Chinese place could sustain itself without meat. The answer: by cooking damn good food. We ordered the scallion pancakes, the spicy tofu, and a curry dish. Everything was delicious, hot and speedy, they provide ample portions of rice, and we had enough to bring home for lunch the next day, but one thing and one thing only completely blew our minds: the scallion pancakes. I could've eaten 100 of them on my own. The appetizer portion is more than enough for an actual meal, the soy sauce that comes with it is just perfect, they're cooked to a perfect crisp and arrived hot and fresh from the oil. Amazing. Would return, meat be damned. Side note: it's actually a really nice place on the inside, with two separated seating areas, and the waitstaff is efficient, if a little sassy. A bit on the pricey side for Chinese food, at 8 bucks a dish, but hey, this isn't Chinatown.
(4)Gale S.
The price point per portion size here is riDONKulous. You get so much food, it's a sure bet you'll leave filled to the gills. I judge most Chinese joints by the merits of its hot n' sour soup, and unfortunately, I deem Su Xing's hot n' sour to be sub-par. However, the rest of the components here are SOLID. The menu can get a little confusing for those who aren't totally familiar with terms such as "glutinous", "soy nuggets", "puffed gluten", "puffed protein", etc., but these are just terms for veggie equivalents of meat that are referred to at most places as mock blah blah blah. But the menu is HUGE, the service is tight, and however you want your meal prepared will be how you get it. They're great. The only reason I'm not over the moon about Su Xing is because for some reason it doesn't feel like home to me. Not that it isn't a good atmosphere, it really is just a personal thing - I can't explain. But MAN, it is way way way about time that there's a totally vedge (and totally affordable) option in center city. When Su Xing came on the scene so many years ago, I was psyched, but to see it has become a staunch resident on Sansom Street fills me with hope for vegetarians and vegans everywhere.
(4)Mo M.
For a lunch at $7-$8 you can stuff your face with soup, spring roll, and main platter that will delight even the staunchest meat eater. I love the hot and sour soup more than any I've ever tried. I am usually torn between ordering the general tso's tofu, general tso's veg., sesame seitan, and sweat and sour tofu.
(5)mishel c.
I can't speak highly enough of Su Xing. I used to work next door, and when they opened, I pretty much went there at least 3x's a week for lunch. First, let's talk about how amazingly nice the servers are. They are. Amazingly. Nice. The perfect blend of extremely accommodating (your tea + water never runs out) and respectful of your dining experience (not swarming around every 10 seconds). If you're there alone, they pretty much leave you be (love it). Next, decor. For a fairly inexpensive restaurant, it's very pretty inside -- nice wood accents, heavy booths, and sparkly lighting. It definitely doesn't feel like a worn down, veggie Chinese place (I'm looking at you, Kingdom of Vegetarians + New Harmony). Last, and most importantly: the food. I have tried almost the entire menu and have never had anything I either didn't really like or that wasn't prepared well, despite my tastes not aligning. The spring rolls are perfect. The miso soup, perfect. My favourite dish, the Chen-Tu Vegetables, are completely delectable. I've eaten mushrooms here that are rich + succulent and feel illegal. For lunch, you can get a side, soup + entree for under $7, and often you'll have leftovers for dinner or a snack. It's like heaven! I almost didn't leave my last job because it meant not being able to come here for lunch anymore. Seriously, if such hasnt become evident, I truly love Su Xing. They are by far the best veggie Chinese in Philadelphia, and maybe anywhere.
(5)Samantha M.
S-L-O-W on the service, and the bubble tea is seriously watery and lacking in foamy goodness. The portions for lunch were decent just everything is over sauced to death. If you order anything just request the bottle of sauce on the side.
(2)Liz H.
I love the sesame tofu with broccoli for lunch. A delicious, healthy bargain!
(4)Derik M.
Best veg Gen Tso's. Mostly soy chicken- not a dough ball with a marble-sized piece of TVP at the center... and the sauce is always perfect. I eat here more often than anywhere when I want to hide away and decompress from a stressful morning. I aldo dig how they add some protein to Mei & Chow Fun (veggie ham or chicken).
(5)Robert S.
I was visiting Philly and was rather tired after a full day. I didn't want to venture too far from my hotel, and wanted something easy on my wallet, so I decided to eat here after stumbling across it in what seemed like a sketch neighborhood at night. I had the scallion pancakes for my appetizer, and the spicy Szechuan style tofu. Delicious. So delicious, in fact, I returned two more times during my several day stay. The television going on in the corner is always set on something strangely entertaining. Go for it!
(4)Erin F.
Today my fortune reads "Good things ar ecoming to you in due course of time." Here is what did not come to me in due course of time today: my #21 Broccoli w/Garlic Sauce lunch special from Su Xing, ordinarily my second favorite vegetarian Chinese food place in town. Waited 20 minutes for a menu, the hostess had to take our order, waited another 25 minutes for food and by the time it got to our table, it was 12:55 and I had to be back at my desk by 1:00. It is 1:16 now and I quickly consumed 2/3rds of the lukewarm contents of my sad styrofoam-housed to-go lunch that was meant to be eaten over laughs and chuckles with my friend Stephen S and tossed the rest in the trash. It's sad when somewhere you like drops the ball. A bonus star to the perma-hostess who was apologetic and also someone I just happen to like, but come on Su Xing. You're better than that.
(2)Vanessa W.
I was looking for some good, inexpensive food close to the Academy of Music, enter Su Xing House. I am not a vegetarian, but loved this place. I had my first positive tofu experience here, after having it before and hating it. I got the veggie lo mein and it was delicious. The place was busy on Sunday night but not packed. Seemed to be several locals, so I could tell I was in a good place. A great middle of the road/casual option in an upscale area. Two thumbs up!
(5)Nicey J.
Delish , the tea and water kept flowing , the food ( sesame tofu & schezuan? Tofu) was delish also tried the singapore noodles.. ... All in all everything was tasty I went 2 days in a row after bikram which def means I'll be back being a non meat eater I can appreciate the vast amounts of vegetarian fare
(4)Suzanne H.
Fantastic little local find; I wouldn't have even noticed it if friends hadn't brought me. Amazing, fresh, flavorful vegetarian food (loved the sauteed eggplant), funky chinese-kitzchy atmosphere, great decor, and packed at lunch. Well worth it when downtown, whether you're a veggie or not. PS went again 2 weeks ago; it was again fabulous - the seaweed cakes were bland but interesting. I love that they serve brown rice - so rare. And as I was eating alone this time, I really appreciated the chef's flexibility in mixing up a couple of the ingredients so I could get a whole healthy meal, with the dark greens, shitaake mushrooms and tofu I was craving.
(4)Caver B.
Excellent vegetarian Chinese food. And it's not often you get to say "vegetarian Chinese food". The menu is varied, although unlike a similar place in Hong Kong it doesn't have quite as many sea vegetables, other than a few different seaweeds. It does have a lot of different mushrooms, and they are all delicious. I had the #22, Dried Bean Curd w. Spiral Seaweed, my Wife had the #10 As You Wish, Bean curd skin filled golden mushroom, black mushroom, dried bean curd and Chinese celery served w. water chestnut and asparagus. Both were great, although in this case I think my Wife won. The restaurant itself is very nice and surprisingly low key and upscale looking. A great, inexpensive find.
(5)Lauren H.
Praise: 1). Great selection of decadent fried food and nutritious tofu hot pots. The scallion pancakes are tasty (though not the best I've ever had), the spring rolls are awesome, and the sesame tofu and sweet and sour soy nuggets are wonderful. Their tofu/soy protein meals are breaded and fried, so they are super crispy. The vegetable wrap and hot pots are recommended for guests who enjoy milder dishes without a lot of sauce. If you want better vegetarian Chinese food (consistently, with variety), you'll have to hoof it to Chinatown. 2) Love the lunch special. Best deal in the surrounding area for a heaping load of vegetarian food (one soup, one appetizer, and a medium-sized entree with brown rice). Caveats: 1). Since most of the tofu and soy protein dishes are dusted with flour/corn-starch and fried before adding to a thick sauce, this is a dangerous place to get takeout from (the breading will soften and lose its crispiness). Moreover, reheating tends to ruin the dish. Thus, this is best used as an eat-in restaurant. 2). Weirdly, the last two times I have gone there, the food/service hasn't been as good as it once was. Less than responsive service, cold spring roll with the lunch special (they're normally freshly fried), and the spring roll served with the entree (so that it started to soak up the other sauce). Not great. They also have sent us the wrong dish in the past, but I had forgiven that until recently since the food is usually so tasty.
(4)Rebecca C.
This place is amazing!!! It's a favorite stop for mine and the lunch special is a great deal! Soup, entree and a side dish for under $10!!! it doens't get much better than that in Center City! My favorite is their Seitan dishes, always tasty! this Afternoon, i was greeted with a smile, seated in a lovely booth, and immediately brought water and tea! -A fantastic start... Followed by Miso Soup, General Tso's Seitan (Veg) and an eggroll! One word of caution...the place is vegetarian...so if you, like the guys in the booth behind ours are looking for meat or fish...you might want to go elsewehere...of course you could try something new and discover that this food is tastier! and they have bubble tea!
(5)Anpan W.
Great vegetarian options, inexpensive lunch options, good service.
(5)Rick D.
Stopped in recently for a quick lunch while in the neighborhood. Great meal! Really big menu, with lots of standard side dish options. My lunch was served VERY quickly & was quite good. Plus, it was super cheap (entree, soup, brown rice and side was about $8). I'd recommend Su Xing House to anyone looking for a high quality, inexpensive vegan option in Center City.
(4)Jing G.
3.5.. Met with a friend for a lunch date. It's a vegetarian spot that unlike many other vegetarian Chinese spots aren't too big on making soy products fit the bill of being meat. Look, if I don't eat meat, it probably has something to do with the fact that I don't like the taste of it, either. Why one would try to make soy taste like beef or anything else is beyond me. Anyway, besides my mini-rant there, this spot is pretty good. I liked the hot and sour soup here. Good, creative vegetarian dishes, but alas, like many a Chinese joint, can be very oily.
(3)Urban L.
I'm very disappointed to give only 2 stars to a vegetarian restaurant. But I am also disappointed because my meal was mediocre. I had high hopes of loving the food at this restaurant which is so close to my hotel -- and had to give up the imagined future of eating there often during the week I'm in Philly. I ordered the tofu and eggplant hotpot. In a word, it was bland. There's something strange that happens when my brain sees a sauce that looks flavorful (rich brown color, bubbling away) but my taste buds are left waiting for the flavor. It had no taste at all. The waitress never asked me about spiciness, so I wonder if they assessed my palate at a zero? Or is this dish always devoid of flavor? On the good side, the ingredients were fresh and plentiful -- tofu, eggplant, green peppers, mushrooms. The sauce...might as well have not been there. Service was fine. More efficient than friendly. I am grateful that I was able to order w/o worrying about non-veg ingredients. When I lived in Boston, that would have been enough. After more than a decade in Seattle, my expectations for flavorful vegetarian food are high.
(2)Christopher R.
I have no idea how I have gone this long without visiting Su Xing. With the delicious food and unbeatable price of the lunch special (under $7.50 including tax), I may be returning on a weekly basis. The hot & soup soup had a fantastic kick. It cleared out my sinuses immediately. I cannot be certain if it was the best I've had, but it was certainly far above average. The spring roll was, however, about average. What did stand out was the rich, earthy flavor of the mushrooms inside. For my main dish I had potato and cauliflower in yellow curry. The vegetables were very tender. The flavor of the curry was delicate, with a subtle spice. Excellent. Very good first impression from Su Xing. I think it could easily get a fifth star after I have had the opportunity to try a few more dishes.
(4)Susanna K.
I got the sesame seitan lunch special to go. The portions were huge (enough for 2 lunches), although I would've liked a bit more broccoli, and as other people have said, the seitan was a little too crispy. But, overall, it was delicious (as were the braised mushrooms). At $8.00 for an entree, soup and a side that will last you two meals, it can't be beat.
(4)Tofu Robo T.
Chinese vegetarian is not a new idea by far, but it's nice to see one outside of the Chinatown bubble. Su Xing is nestled in between avenue of the arts and Rittenhouse on offbeat Sansom St, which is almost the perfect place, really. All of the food is vegetarian, of course. Vegans will appreciate that the menus were annotated by hand to indicate which dishes also contain chicken eggs but I would say 90% or more of the menu is totally vegan. Get ready to try something new! Some of the dishes will sound familiar as the menu features the classics... but most of the dishes are creative originals. The words "chicken", "ham", or "faux" do not appear on the menu. They call it like it is so you better know your stuff. Seitan is only named once... most of the dishes are called gluten this way, gluten that way, sliced soy protein loaf, etc. but only the brave will try "Sliced Jelly w/ Fresh Mushroom". This reviewer is usually less courageous, but maybe i will get there someday! It's worth pointing out that it is a great bargain at lunch time with soup, appetizer, & entree under $10 including tax & tip!
(4)rachel k.
This is still our go-to Chinese restaurant and is by far my favorite vegetarian Chinese place in the city. The food is wonderful and rarely greasy, I can easily decipher what I'm eating (unlike some of the we-deep-fry-everything places in China Town) and the servers are attentive and kind. Since my last review, I've brought many non-vegetarians here and they've had nothing but good things to say (between bites, that is).
(5)jennifer c.
To be honest, I thought this place did not live up to the hype. I ordered the vegetables, tofu & glass noodles in a hot pot and it was a little bland. The portion size was large for the price, but the flavor was flat. The server was very attentive and the staff was friendly, and you get free tea.
(3)Jason L.
Fantastic vegetarian food joint. General Tsao's was a sweet tasty delight. Veggie Rolls were also great. Will definitely go back again when I don't feel like eating meat~
(4)cc c.
I wonder if anyone on here remembers Harmony, before it became New Harmony a few years ago. If you miss the old Harmony then you'll want to go to Su Xing. If you don't, you'll still want to go to Su Xing because it's the best veggie Chinese food in Philly. Or New York. Or anywhere else for that matter. I eat here all the time. Some of my favorites are the triple shredded in garlic sauce, the steamed dumplings, the tofu skin with two kinds mushroom (this takes longer but is so yummy). I also love the seaweed salad but it's not the Japanese style. The atmosphere is surprisingly upscale considering that the food is cheap and fast. Which includes being clean. No bugs, no old food on the floor, no filthy bathrooms. Sad that I have to mention that but, well... Hint: get one of the booths upstairs by the window if you can.
(5)Erin G.
I've wanted to visit Su Xing House, a Chinese vegetarian restaurant, since it opened on Sansom street almost a year ago. Today was the first time I was nearby and hungry! The restaraunt itself is lovely with two tastefully decored floors (and one sparkly chandelier), both dimly light and quiet. The absence of jangly music was almost offputting in it rairity, but I enjoyed it. I ordered the slightly ominous sounding Triple Stredded in Garlic, a combination of crispy thinly sliced tofu, crispy vegetable protien, and straw mushrooms. I would have prefered a more flavorful mushroom, and it certainly didn't warrant the spicy chili indication it held on the menu. I did like the addition of red pepper ribbons and fresh sprouts, the sauce that was both sweet and salty, and the great textures in the dish. My friend Beth ordered the sweet and sour soy nuggets, deep fried, pillowy balls with red and green peppers, swimming in sweet and sour sauce. I didn't get a nibble, but she (omnivour that she is) thought it was tasty. Su Xing has lovely service, and extensive menu based on traditional chinese vegetarian foods (rather than vegetarian orange "beef" etc.) and they offer brown rice - a plus with me. I'll be back to this dimly lit oasis in the middle of hectic downtown.
(4)Sofia S.
Great place, great food! I love the ambiance and I frequent this place almost every week. You get tons of food for such a small price too!! The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because the servers could use a little more help in customer service.
(4)Stephanie P.
I was traveling to Philadelphia for an overnight and I was looking for a new place to eat. I saw these reviews and thought I'd give Su Xing House a try. I am so glad I did! I actually ended up ordering from here twice - once to take home. The food is truly delicious. I got the Sesame tofu the first time. I ordered it with Hot and Sour soup and a spring roll. The soup was pretty good and the spring roll was a typical spring roll. The Sesame tofu however was fabulous! Absolutely the best tofu dish I had ever had. The second time I ordered the Gen Tso tofu and was equally impressed. The only issue I had was when I got home I was eating my soup and there was metal in it! An actual piece of metal the size of a staple. I have no idea why or what happened, and it's the only reason this restaurant didn't get five stars. Even WITH this unfortunate incident I would still eat there again. Truly a fantastic meal. I'm not a vegetarian, but I am usually not a fan of Chinese meat. This was a perfect substitute!
(4)Kate C.
Su Xing is my favorite lunch spot in center city, and a contender for my favorite Chinese vegetarian restaurant in Philly (yes, there are actually quite a few -- ah, the modern luxury of choice.) For $6 or $7 at lunch, you get: *your choice of approximately twenty entrees (I am drawn to the seitan options, myself) *choice of soup (love the hot and sour) *choice of side (options include spring roll, seaweed, corn, and a bunch of other stuff) *abundant brown rice, and *endless refills of jasmine tea (which tastes like perfume to me, but lots of people love it). The amount of food for the price is, frankly, ridiculous. And then, if that wasn't good enough, Su Xing is actually pretty attractive inside with lots of dark wood...and since they knocked down a wall and opened up the dining room, there's plenty of seating too. Oh, and the staff is friendly. Really, what more could you ask for?
(5)Abhijit G.
I debated between 2 and 3...2.5 would be appropriate The decor is ok...but they face a parking lot...so guess what u see out the windows...cars and blue neon signs! The spring rolls and sea weed pancakes were good...although the pancakes were dripping oil by gallons,, The triple shredded in garlic was ok...but after a while I couldn't take the soy flavor anymore...the genereal tso's vege...well, we barely touched it..and didn't bother to get a box...go figure Everyone else seems to love this place..may be you will...and may be if u r a vegetarian..this is IT....but if u like ur meat..get real...u can do better than Su Xing...MUCH better!
(3)Josh L.
Good service, and it would have been better (for our likings) if they left the teapot on our table than coming back (in time) often to refill our cups. The veggie food was not bad, but a lit too western style - nothing wrong about this but we were looking for oriental buddhism inspired veggie food. Price was not bad and they would deliver within at least center city area.
(3)Lan G.
This is the place I go to when I have a crave for healthy Chinese food. My coworkers and I have been ordering their lunch special over the last couple of years. The quality of their food is outstanding, plus they give you a lot of food! I always make 2 meals out of 1 lunch order! My favorite is definitely the Asparagus with Wheat Gluten in Brown Sauce
(4)Ck P.
We eat lunch here a few times a month. The owner is very professional and this place has received several business awards. We generally go after 1:30 to miss the lunch crowd and we've never had a problem with service. We prefer the upper room and it's great If you can get one of two booths by the window to watch the street scene. They have lunch specials from $6.50 - $8.25 which include soup (my favorite is Miso...& it's not very salty!), side dish (lots of choices, but I get a spring roll -not greasy) and white or brown rice (brown, of course!) plus your entree! It's a deal. Everything we've ordered has been fresh, tasty and well prepared. Just had the Sesame Seitan, which comes with broccoli and it was delicious (as usual). They are open for dinner and this would be great place to eat before going to the Wilma Theater or the Academy of Music (even Susanne Roberts Theater, but that's a few blocks further). Note: Lunch time is very crowded, so I'd suggest going at 11:30 or after 1:30 during the day. Also, this is good, comfortable place for singles to eat. There are some tables on the upper room that we see singles in all the time. We've even seen singles in booths when we ate during the off hours for a late lunch after 2:00. Even if you're not a vegetarian, this is good place to season your palette with some good vegetarian food. Love it!
(4)Suzy G.
The first time I was here, it was with a large group. Service was terrific, and everyone was intrigued by all the choices. I ordered the Sesame seitan which is soybean protein with a sweet brown sauce and sesame seeds, it was incredibly delicious! Second time I went, I ordered the lunch special As-You-Wish, which was basically bean curd skin filled with golden mushrooms, black mushrooms, dried bean curd and Chinese celery served w. water chestnut and asparagus. The lunch special also comes with a side soup, and rice and a choice of side dish for a really cheap price. The As-You-Wish was delicious and different. Being a fan of mushrooms, I also ordered a side of braised mushrooms too. You can also order brown rice, instead of just plain white rice too. I'm not a vegetarian by any means, but if I had to become one, I would go here all the time!
(5)Lauren D.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I was a vegetarian. Actually, that's a lie. It was about 2 years ago and I was living in Philadelphia but still. I feel like I might as well have been kept prisoner on the Death Star considering yesterday was my first excursion to this amazing vegetarian oasis. First of all, the decor is reallllly pretty. I was kind of surprised because it's unassuming from the outside. Lots of flowers, gold, and a fair amount of tables to choose from. In terms of the menu? It's huge. My friend (who has been there countless times) and I took at least 10 minutes analyzing and trying to pick our meal. As appetizers, I went with the seaweed salad and him the spring roll. The seaweed salad wasn't what I was expecting, that's for sure. It actually looked like real seaweed, as opposed to the typical translucent kind found in most Asian restaurants. It also wasn't in a ginger dressing but instead contained cilantro. It was different, but in a good way (although I do remain partial to what I can only assume is the less healthy variety). For the main dish, I chose the As-You-Wish (fried bean curd skin filled golden mushroom, black mushroom, dried bean curd and Chinese celery) with sauteed pea pod leaves. The portion was HUGE and super tasty. The pea pod leaves had just the right amount of garlic and didn't look too oily. My friend ordered the Vegetable Heaven (stir-fried string beans, braised tofu and Chinese eggplant in a garlic sauce) and was also a fan. I managed to snag a piece of the eggplant and a string bean so I can also confirm the yumminess, although I think mine was the winner of the meal. No dessert due to being full of delicious food, but I will make it a point to try some next time. We didn't turn down the blood oranges that came with the bill, though :D Service was extremely attentive, although almost to the point of being overly so. The complimentary hot tea was never lacking, and our water glasses were constantly being refilled. We never wanted for anything, although we did have to ask for chop sticks. Prices were extremely fair, too. It averaged out to be about $16 a person, which I can't complain about for a huge good meal in Rittenhouse. I will definitely be back here sooner than later
(5)Mallory P.
I fell in love with this place when I worked down the street and could spend a relaxing, hour long lunch break with my $6 lunch special. Seriously, my dessert island, all time favorite meal might just be hot and sour soup, a veggie spring roll, and general tso's tofu. On top of the excellent food and prices, the place is a legitimately nice restaurant. The decor, staff, and atmosphere are all great. It's probably best that I don't work nearby anymore, because I might ruin it for myself. It's such a delightful treat whenever I'm in Rittenhouse.
(5)Anne H.
So glad to find another restaurant as awesome as Kingdom of Vegetarians/New Harmony, and closer, too! Dating a vegetarian now less annoying. This all vegetarian place was the perfect place to have lunch on a Sunday. We were the only ones there. The boyfriend got a spring roll which was crispy and delicious. That was followed by Singapore noodles and General Tso's tofu. The tofu was PERFECT! Crispy on the outside, pillow-soft on the inside. Both dishes could have been a little spicier, but were delicious nonetheless. I can tell this will be a new favorite spot for years to come. Will enjoy trying every item on their meu. Low price range is also a plus.
(5)JJ B.
If I was rating the food alone, I would assuredly give this place 5 stars- the food was simply amazing for vegetarians and not vegetarians alike! However, despite this absolutely amazing food, they lost a star and perhaps maybe should lose two stars given the fact that they are incredibly rude. The previous review about the waitress stomping her feet and/or pouting about customers not being ready to order immediately, is...true. Honest to goodness (not because I was with the other reviewer but because they did it to me too). The previous review about them being racist towards black people, I think is somewhat inaccurate. The staff appears to be incredibly unfriendly to everyone, and I noticed this from the diverse crowd that was in the place while we were. Mainly I noticed how they treated other people because I started to think the same thing about them disliking my fiancé and I because we were new or what have you. However, after paying attention for awhile I realized that they are just incredibly rude, it doesn't matter what race, gender, sexual orientation or what have you. It seems like if you are not part of their family then they don't like you, period. I find this to be quite sad considering the immense diversity within Philly, especially center city. Additionally, as a business establishment it's really unfortunate that they do not even feel compelled to be polite to their paying customers as if they feel it is unnecessary to do so. Bottom line...like everyone has said the General Tso's anything is amazing, the moo shu is delicious and hand wrapped for you and in front of you by the staff. I haven't had their food in 1 month and I am craving it desperately, that's how good it is. So, I will go back but it will be to pick up a takeout order, I have an interest in eating their food but do not have an interest in feeling uncomfortable when I do so. Until I find a place that has equally good veg chinese food and better hospitality, I will be ordering from here for takeout only and when I do find a better place- I'm gone.
(4)Dana L.
My first time at Su Xing. I'm not a vegetarian, but am vegetable/soy friendly. It was a pretty awesome lunch, and for $10 a person (incl tax, tip and more water and hot tea than I could shake a stick at), an amazing deal. I had the General Tso's Veg. with brown rice, hot/sour soup and spring roll. I'm not sure what "veg." meant exactly, but it was very tasty. Seitan maybe? The spring roll, was, as other reviewers have written, exactly as one would expect. The veg. was spicy and crispy. I'm still thinking about it, and lunch was a few days ago. It's not exactly healthy since it's fried. Maybe next time I'll try something unfried. Sam had the tofu and eggplant with garlic sauce. Also delicious, though extremely hot (temperature hot, not spicy hot) when it first arrived. Service was as good as everyone says and I will definitely be back. If only there were such varied/awesome vegetarian options at more establishments, I might consider giving up the meat.
(4)Michelle W.
Good place for vegetarian!
(4)Josh F.
Loved every meal I have ever had here! Brought a few co-workers in, whom have not had too much vegetarian fare, and they were very impressed by the mock dishes.
(4)Secret V.
Of the 6 or 7 veg Chinese restaurants in Philly, Su Xing is the most different: they're a totally vegan establishment but don't do the fake meat thing. Lunch specials are filling and interesting--they've got some really unique items--but your best bet is to go with a big group for family-style so that everybody can try a bunch of different stuff.
(4)Rashada S.
Great place, great food its been about 5 years since weve been indulging at su xing. Weve had parties, meetings etc its great every time. My kids absolutely love it. Our favs are singapore noodles, general tsos veg, veggie, spring rolls, veg heaven, eggplant with tofu, soups, sauteed green beans & kale I could go on and on. You will be amazed vegetarian or not. Bubble tea is great too. Now Ii have the taste after this review I just may go for lunch, who cares about the 30 minute drive. Hehe
(5)Eran M.
(vegetarian / vegan review) LOVE IT. :-) Tasty food, large portions, huge selection, attentive service - and cheap! I ate there with two hungry friends - we ordered two appetizers (steamed pot stickers and fried tofu with cashews) and two entres (chow mei fun Singapore style and tofu kung pao) along with brown rice, and although the food was delicious, we didn't finish it all. The whole thing cost less than $30 (before tip). This really is a vegetarian's heaven (well, assuming it's a vegetarian who enjoyed Asian-style food). Even non vegetarians seem to enjoy themselves here. And they have bubble tea! Really, what more could I ask for? :-)
(5)Casey K.
definitely coming back to this place, and dragging a few friends with me. what a fun find on a street riddle with douchey looking clubbers. this place does legit vegetarian fare and in generous portion sizes. the food is good and relatively authentic (not so much chinese, as chinese american). the service is decent the prices are average and but the whole experience was just simply more than i expected. thanks su xing!
(5)Jen A.
I love this place. The food is excellent! You will not be disappointed!
(5)Marc B.
I am a carnivore to the bone, and usually don't like vegetarian dishes that try to act meaty, but Su Xing House is changing all that. Their General Tso's "chicken" is far superior in flavor and texture than real Gen. Tso's chicken at most Chinese restaurants. If you're trying to convert a meat-eater, this should be your ground zero. There's a wide selection of "meat" and "fish" dishes that'll convince even the most die-hard carnies that veggie based foods can constitute a real meal. The portions are huge, and the leftovers reheat well.
(5)Brittany M.
I've ordered from here enough times in the past few weeks to consider myself an expert in Su Xing cuisine. It's tough to find a better deal for the quality of food they offer. Their veggie lo-mein is a hit with me -- a huge portion that doesn't skimp on the veggies. Their General Tso's tofu is also delicious, and I don't even like tofu all that much. Last night I ordered the As-You-Wish, which, while stuffed with mushrooms, felt a bit chewy. Maybe that's how bean curd tastes in general - don't know, never tried before - but I have a feeling that the steam from the delivery container made this happen. Also ordered the cauliflower and potato curry, which was fan-freakin-tastic and steaming hot when delivered. As other reviewers have mentioned, their lunch deals are a steal.
(4)Chris H.
I have always enjoyed everything I've ordered at Su Xing House. I most often visit to get take-away, but I also find the staff friendly and the service prompt when I dine in. I especially enjoy the seitan dishes (which are also relished by the omnivores among my friends) and the eggplant tofu in garlic sauce. BYOB.
(4)petra l.
This is one of the best places to eat at if you are downtown. I make a point of going at least twice a month and love it every single time! Its prices are absolutely convenient, the quality of food is excellent and the amount is actually very generous. Did I say love it, Love It, LOVE IT!!!?
(5)Mia D.
Maybe it's the forever-smiling staff or the gargantuan painting of wading horses on the wall, but Su Xing House is really special. Please do yourself a favor and try the fried rice cake appetizer. I have daydreams about its sticky sweetness. The menu here is pretty huge, and usually I find that to be a bit daunting, but everything I've sampled is amazing. Whether you're into tofu, fresh vegetables or seitan, Su Xing will definitely have something for you.
(5)Lulu B.
The "As You Wish" dish is the BEST, if you like mushrooms and tofu!!!! Delicious. And they offer it for lunch special too.
(5)Karen B.
i've only had good experiences here, and this is my little family's go-to place for takeout, even though we're not vegetarians. love the chen-tu vegetables, "dragon and phoenix" and "ebony and ivory." bonus points for staying open during the multiple blizzards of 2010 and for having staff that didn't give my posse the stink-eye for tracking snow through the restaurant and draping our wet gear all over the place. su xing gets the kb seal of approval.
(4)Devon R.
Delishhhh veg chinese. Go before three on weekdays for the lunch special, which could easily be two complete meals for under $8. The staff is the sweetest, and super attentive so your cup is never empty. There is never a wait, so you'll likely get a huge booth whenever you come.
(5)Stevie S.
I absolutely love Su Xing! It is my absolute favorite lunch spot in center city and I usually eat there 3 or 4 times a month. Su Xing is a cozy, 100% vegeterian Chinese resturant with a shockingly inexpensive lunch menu. Nowhere have I had tofu cooked as wonderfully! I really can't say enough good things about this restaurant. The staff is very kind, there is plenty of seating (no wait!) and unlimited free hot tea! The dinner menu is a bit more expensive so I would recommend an introductory lunch trip if possible.
(5)Ben Y.
Very quick and friendly service. The food was quite tasty, especially the Hot and Sour soup. And it's nice to have a Chinese place just for Vegetarians. My one recommendation is NOT to over order. After we got a cup of soup, the onion cakes and sesame noodles (which we thought was a side), we were already completely full. And that was before our two entrees came. We ended up eating only about half of our food. The Mango Tea Tapioca is excellent.
(4)Lauren O.
I was in desperate need of a bubble tea...picture Philadelphia as the Sahara and me in search of a rumored oasis complete with tapioca pearls. My fiance and I walked in mid-day so it was totally empty and I was able to have a much-coveted bubble tea in my hands within 5 minutes. I got mango and it was pretty good but definitely not life-altering. I'll give them another try and I'll give the menu a whirl next time too...looks promising
(3)Dana B.
I had wanted to try Su Xing for months since I had passed by it numerous times while walking down Sansom Street. One day after work, I met up with two friends who readily agreed to give it a try with me. The menu is entirely vegetarian and has plenty of options to satisfy anyone, and even though I am a carnivore, I REALLY enjoyed my sesame tofu. I will definitely be back!
(5)Ali J.
Conveniently located at 15th and Sansom, its one of the few, if not only vegetarian Chinese restaurant in this part of town, in case you don't feel like making the hike to Chinatown on your lunch break. Their lunch special is a pretty good deal. Soup, side, entree, and rice for $7.50, but choose your sides wisely because it comes in those styerfoam to- go containers, you know the ones that have little pockets for each side and stuff can get mixed around. Don't order the "Veg. salad" because its literally iceberg lettuce, one slice of tomato and two slices of cucumbers that fall into your entree and then you're left with a warm salad dipped in General Tso's sauce. I should have got the spring roll. The white rice is ok, not sticky though. Maybe next time I'll get the brown. I also got miso soup, but you really can't go wrong with that, its pretty standard. The General Tso's Veg. is actually pretty good. Its fried gluten but its not the doughy kind of fried, its just lightly battered. The sauce is good, but I was expecting it to be hotter since it had a chili pepper next to it on the menu. It has actual chili's in it, but they really make no difference. So if you're in the mood for Chinese, but don't want to make the hike or have to worry about what surface its cooked on (since it's all vegetarian), try Su Xing House. But don't expect to be blown away. Its not amazing, but not terrible either.
(3)michael j.
I'm not a vegetarian but their General Tso's Tofu is more delicious than the chicken variety at other places. No matter what your dietary default is I bet you'll like this place.
(5)Kathryn M.
I stored this place in the back of my head a while ago and finally had the opportunity to get dinner here with a friend. We were too late for the lunch special, but it is an amazing bargain. I am another omnivore who can attest to delectable collection of foodstuffs that is veggie Chinese. I ordered their sesame seitan with broccoli dish. My friend ordered their veggie lo mein. The portions are extremely generous and delicious. I especially enjoyed the thick and successfully spiced brown sauce that drenched my mock meat. It's a little more costly than neighboring veggie Chinese spots, but well worth it.
(4)Milk W.
Excellent Chinese Veg in the heart of Center City. You cannot beat the lunch specials, which are priced well and all come with soup and side dish. The kale with dried tofu is killer!! Dinner is quite good as well!
(4)Kori M.
I stumbled upon this place by accident. I was hungry one day in between classes and randomly chose to roam down Sansom. I saw Su Xing and stopped to peak at their menu. I was very excited to find an all vegetarian Chinese place. I had the garlic eggplant with brown rice and a side of fruit. I was totally surprised by the lovely green tea that was included with it. I was very satisfied and happy for the $8 I spent. I sat there and read a book and enjoyed my meal. I had this adorable older gentleman as my server who was super cute and friendly and polite. I have yet to find a chance to go back, but I I can soon
(5)yu s.
this place does have fantastic lunch specials, i get the general tso's veg, miso soup, spring roll and a side of rice for under ten bucks. the waitstaff is really friendly and they're wonderfully manical with the tea-filling (great jasmine tea too by the way), i never have an empty cup. plus their veggies are always fresh and they give great portions. one thing i do want to note, if you're getting takeout, you'll definitely have to wait at least twenty minutes (especially if you're getting mock), so be prepared to wait a bit...i'm always staring at that horse painting on the wall with the little lite-brite bulbs in it...semi-fascinating.
(4)Dawn S.
In town for a training course and this place was recommended by local. Ordered the hot & sour soup when I normally always get miso at other places. AWESOME! Spicy and yummy and very fresh ingredients. I'm big on crunchy texture so when the springroll came and it was PERFECT in color and hot and CRUNCHY this girl was in HEAVEN. Last I ordered the sesame tofu... did I mention this place is vegetarian? I'm SO far from being a Vegan. But this dish knocked my socks off! They serve it on a bed of broccoli with this light orangy sauce. It wasn't even an issue that there was no meat. THE TEXTURE OF THE TOFU IS AMAZING!! Crunchy, yummy and covered with sesame seeds. It comes with brown or white rice... the brown was sticky in the BEST way. HUGE servings. I'm here for 2 weeks. I will be back.
(5)Meredith K.
Today was my first time at Su Xing, and it definitely will not be my last. When I entered the restaurant, I found it to be a little dark and not very atmospheric; however, my mind was completely changed when I was led by the waitress into the back dining room. It was beautiful, with tasteful decor and furnishings. The large windows on either side of the room provided a generous amount of warm light, which complemented the marigold-colored (hooray for Crayola!) walls beautifully. I was seated in a comfortable booth by the front window and was immediately served hot green tea, ice-cold water, and a menu. I read through the menu while I waited for my friend and found a plethora of lunch specials on the back. When my friend arrived, we ordered (it's his favorite vegetarian Chinese restaurant, so he was very clear about what he was going to order). I got the Home-Style Bean Curd Lunch Special, which came with choice of white or brown rice, soup, and side... a ton of food for $6.95! I chose brown rice, hot and sour soup, and a spring roll. My friend ordered the Sesame Tofu with the same sides. Our soup was delivered a few minutes later, and it was the best Hot and Sour soup I've had yet. I'm not usually a fan of Hot and Sour, but since my boyfriend loves it I decided to give it another try. It was thick, spicy, and flavorful. Really yummy. About seven minutes after that, we got our meals. I bit into the spring roll, which was served with delicious duck sauce (my favorite), and it was like a taste of heaven. It was crispy, without the usual grease that you get at most Chinese places, and amazingly delicious. I might even go as far as to say it was the best spring roll I've had in years. My entree, though not as spicy as I usually like, was very tasty. The large pieces of bean curd were served with sauteed carrots, snow peas, and squash in a brown gravy. Although I enjoyed my meal, I tried some of my friend's and wished that I ordered that. It was easily the best tofu I've ever had. It was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. I was jealous. The food was delicious, but probably the best part of the meal was when we got the check... less than $15 for two of us. And we left stuffed. I would highly recommend this place before any of the other veggie restaurants in Chinatown.
(5)Laura S.
I ordered delivery the other day, and it was great. The food came quickly, it was inexpensive, and very good. I especially like the General Tso's tofu and the cold sesame noodles.
(4)Elliot R.
There are veggie Chinese places that make up fake meat dishes out of tofu and protein; Yuck! Yawn! Then there is Su Xing. They have dozens of dishes without meat or fake meat. They have the best lunch specials in town: something like 8 bucks gets you soup, a springroll and a substantial main dish. the Schezwan tofu is amazing! The kale and dried bean curd as well. Take a friend and get a few dishes, you won't regret it. (p.s. the only bad dish I've had there has been seaweed. everything else: great)
(5)Kathy L.
I thought the food was really good. We ordered take out. Based on the reviews of other yelpers, we ordered the asparagus & gluten, and as-you-wish. Both were good, but we thought the homestyle tofu was the most delicious dish we ordered. We also got the scallion pancakes. I've had plenty of tsong-yo-bing in Taiwan. These were a little dry - and not very doughy/flaky - but ok. This totaled $40. I think they increased prices a little since updating their website menu, but otherwise good (relatively healthy) food option. And of course they deliver!
(4)Arthur D.
Surprisingly faithful to "Chinese" in the name, but not as well done as the reviews led me to expect I went there for lunch by myself, because my friends can't live without meat for even one meal. That's fine. The first thing that struck me was how almost detailed the interior was, which I did not expect for a Sansom St establishment. It was atmospheric, but too dark for lunch - I even had trouble reading the menu, and I noticed another patron, a man in his early 30s, struggling a little as well (surprisingly many other single diners here). The soup was fairly quick and I was struck by the lotus root, which while a bit thinner than my mom makes it is almost perfectly traditional without shocking the average American diner. The string bean/bean curd entree was only fair. It reveals the clientele is probably very similar to that of the average "American" Chinese restaurant. It was dry but covered in a ton of oyster sauce. The portion is not big enough by itself, but the side dish of seaweed makes up for it. Maybe you can ask for the sauce on the side, or light? Picking the lunch special proved the right choice, or I'd have gone hungry. Well, a few hours later, I guess I am. At $9 including tips, it's very reasonable for a downtown sit-down, but I value my health and won't be back often. Note: I keep changing the rating, so I'll stop. The food is quite good and lets you experience some traditional Chinese cooking, so just expect not too big a meal, and tell them to lay off the sauce if you want a healthy meal.
(3)Jessica W.
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! Although, I must say- it's better to eat at the restaurant than to have it delivered. It's still good when it's delivered, but not quite AS good. I always get Spring Rolls and Vegetable Lo Mein or Pan Fried Noodles. My boyfriend loves the General Tso Tofu. The food is always super hot and definitely satisfies that Chinese food craving. We aren't even vegetarian and we love this place.
(4)Aaron S.
Dude... Seriously... Best Vegan Chinese food I've had in the city and its affordable!!! My fiance and I go here at least once a week and we never get tired of their amazing food. I'm usually easy to please when it comes to chinese so every time I go I get their Sesame Seitan. I HIGHLY recommend it! My fiance likes a bit of a variety she usually gets either the Hot Pot, Chow Mei Fun Singapor Style, and Soy Protein with Broccoli and Brown Sauce. She recommends these highly! Also for an app get the spring rolls or the vegetable dumplings. Dine in or eat out the food is amazing! Also their delivery is FAST!
(5)Hayley E.
Wow! This place Rocks! Almost everything is vegan and it is in center city! No need to go into China town, which is nice because it's slightly closer to everything else. It was a semi formal mini restaurant. Very dark and quiet, but cute. The service was nice. They weren't up in your face bothering you, constantly asking you how your meal was, which is appealing for me at least. Sometimes once I get my food, I like to enjoy it in peace. They were still very good with their service though. As soon as I sat down,vey were serving me a cup already filled with hot tea. As soon as I was out of tea, they were filling it up again. I was amazed by the service speed of the food. Once I made my order, I was getting myself organized at my table and was about to open up my book when the soup came out. It was really hot, so I played with it to cool it Down and took two bites. As soon as I took my third bite out soup, my main course was ready. Some people may not like to have it all out at once, but I like it that way. I was amazed by how fast they were. And the quality of the food was great too! They didn't just rush through it to give me crappy food. I got the Setian Sesame, and it was out of this world! It was so crispy and delicious! I got the lunch portion, which seemed like a dinner portion to me....but hey, I'm not complaining. For he amount I got, it was dirt cheap. I would most definitely come here again! I wobbled out with no regrets! That was the best vegan go to Chinese restaurant I've been to so far!
(5)Vicki H.
This place has an awesome lunch special. Expect to get a great meal for under $7 (plus tip). I've had both the lotus root and hot and sour soups and both are tasty. I found the hot and sour to be a bit more flavorful (peppery, as another reviewer noted), but I found it to be a little bit thick, which I wasn't expecting. I've had the stir fried green beans, and the general tso's veggies. The green beans were excellent, very flavorful. The general tso's veggies, at least in my order, came with seitan, as well. Definitely had that great deep-fried feel you want from a general tso's dish (diet food this is not). I like that there seem to be a breadth of things, from lighter fare to the deliciously deep-fried items. Service is attentive, and I appreciate that the meal comes with brown/white rice, spring roll, and hot tea!
(4)Asma K.
Best Chinese Vegetarian place I have ever been to! I am a vegetarian and have been to many Chinese vegetarian restaurants in DC and none come even close to this one. Whenever I am in Philly I go there to eat. My favorites are the garlic eggplant and tofu and the sesame seitan. I even took my meat lover father and cousins there and they loved it. I wish they would expand and open up more restaurants. As for the service, I've never had bad service they have always been nice and no issues. However it is just the standard they have never done anything amazing to stand out.
(5)Aria S.
I am obsessed with this place. My favorite vegetarian Chinese place in Chinatown, Singapore, closed down, so I gave this place a try. The first time I ordered the steak for dinner and it was delicious. I went for lunch the other day and the special was $6.75 and came with rice (no extra $ for brown), a side (spring rolls, salad, fruit), AND a soup (miso, hot & sour). All of that amazing food for $6.75! I got the kung pao tofu with peanuts and it was delicious. My friend got the "as-you-wish" which was like tofu sushi looking things? They looked amazing. Service is quick and friendly. I would order pick up about 30min ahead to stay on safe side because it's all freshly made I'm pretty sure. The interior is standard Chinese restaurant, spacious with booths. Nothing glamorous.
(5)Hagana K.
This place is absolutely fantastic. The lunch specials are a ridiculous value if you're in the area around lunch time - 7 or 8 bucks for soup, entree and side. I always get the hot and sour soup, which isn't all that spicy, but very peppery - like lots of white pepper in the recipe. Still fantastic, just really clears out your sinuses. You really can't order anything wrong here, at least in my experience. If you're into the Americanized Chinese food, the general tsos tofu is ridiculous - beautifully deep-fried little pillows of soft tofu. The kung pao dried tofu is my favorite, although the shredded bean curd in garlic sauce is awesome too. About 1 in 3 times I get the chow mei fun singapore style, which is a curry-flavored thin noodle stir-fry with soy-protein chicken substitute. The soy-substitute chicken is... I'm not crazy about it, but I guess i'm happy it's there for the sake of complete nutrition? It certainly doesn't detract from the dish. The fried rice is really good too. For cheap, quick, Chinese vegetarian takeout, doesn't get any better in Center City.
(5)Min P.
Meh. Not bad not great.
(3)Emily H.
Love their lotus root soup.. unlimited tea! classy dining setup doesn't hurt either.
(4)Douglas M.
The servers are nice but the General Tso's Veg is pretty awful. I'll try something else the next time I'm here.
(3)Eve B.
We ate here this evening. The food was really good and the wait staff attentive. I am a vegetarian so was delighted to find this restaurant. It's very reasonably priced.
(5)Danan R.
We came back for lunch and it was great as always. My mushroom delight with the seaweed salad and hot and sour soup was very good and I really liked the touch of sesame in the sauce. The "as you wish" rolls were fantastic with a great balance of shiitake, golden mushrooms, bean curd, and celery wrapped in a bean curd sheet, then roasted and seasoned. This is a must try here! The home style bean curd was great as well! It is made with fried tofu as an FYI. Service was great and our tea was refilled consistently.
(4)Omnom N.
I really liked the food - especially the golden feather Knishes. We also ordered spicy tofu but u wish it was spicier. The portion sizes here are decent - definitely to be shared. Nice ambience as well. I really disliked the service though. The waitress seemed to be in a haste, grabbing menus and plates off our hands. There wasn't even a huge turnover / people waiting to even justify almost shooing us out.
(3)Kathy Y.
I am a lifelong vegetarian and I love this place! We were visiting Philly for the weekend and was pleasantly surprised by this place. The good was delicious and the location was great. It was very reasonably priced and the service was top notch. We may have to find excuses to take the two-hour drive just to eat at this place again.
(5)Jennifer C.
Perfect inexpensive lunch place. I always get the lunch special with the miso soup, spring roll, and either the lo mein or the sesame seitan. This time I got the hot and sour soup and seitan. Lovely large meal for a really great price. They're a little heavy handed with the corn starch in both of these items, so it's a little goopy, but everything tastes amazing. Hot and sour soup is quite spicy. I'll stick to my miso soup from now on!
(4)Kenneth G.
We are from Reading, PA and it seems we must travel to get really great vegan food. iCreate in Pottstown, SuXing House in Philly. This little restaurant is, hands down, the best Asian food we have experienced in a long time. We were able to bring our own wine (no charge for doing so) and shared 4 entrees and 3 appetizers with friends. Every one was out of this world. Their spring rolls were nice but we especially loved the miso soup with tofu. Utterly divine. The sesame seitan with broccoli was my favorite, probably all of ours, but the other 3 entrees were also excellent. We relaxed with good friends and good food and a wine of our choosing. Perfect! The final wonderful surprise was their bill for the wonderful food, service and atmosphere! We couldn't believe the price for all this was sooo low. We just can't wait to come back!!
(5)Cassie Z.
Delicious food! And I have meat with every meal. Tastes like authentic Chinese cooking that my mom makes. No wait, and really fast food service. Tea was awesome as well.
(5)Sylvia O.
I didn't even know this place was vegetarian until I got a few bites in. The food is delicious! Great for lunch and huge portions. Of all of the places in Philly, their menu is the most unique and will satisfy both carnivores and vegetarians alike.
(5)Laura L.
Food is awesome! Price is unbelievably low! Best vegetarian restaurant that I have ever been! Good to learn that they even have lunch specials on Saturday. Recommend: Pepper veggie steak - taste like real steak!! Hope they could deliver to University City too...
(5)Laura Jill S.
YUM! Why did it take me so long to come here? Vegan Chinese food & closer to my house than New Harmony. That's a win! (Except that I think I like New Harmony better.) Our waitress seemed to either hate her job or hate us, so I made it a point to be extra super effusive: "Thank you SOOO much, I LOOOOVEEEE the soup, etc, etc." Eventually, she cracked a smile, that's also a win. I had the hot & sour soup (hotter than New Harmony's, NH's is more sour...I prefer NH's). We also had dumplings (SO good--I didn't want to share) and spring rolls. I ordered curry potatoes + peas + cauliflower (I combined 2 dishes because I wanted peas AND cauliflower, she made sure I understood they'd be charging me an extra $1 GASP!) and my dining companion ordered the General Tso's tofu. I liked his better, he liked mine better: we traded. For dessert, I had the chocolate sorbet. Good food and actually comical how angry our waitress was. I'll go back again for sure!
(4)Sam G.
As good as vegetarian food gets. 1. Vegetarian 2. Chinese food I'm not even vegetarian! I don't care for that tbh. But this place was good. It was good. There was such creativity in the foods (for an omnivore such as myself). Mapo Tofu, some fake oyster dish, and some rice dish. I forget. Look at the photos. The prices are pretty cheap for the area. It's a steal, actually.
(4)Ernesto Hideyokidz C.
We came here recently as a party of seven eating family style. The appeal of this place is that it was vegetarian, kosher, BYOB, and local. Sometimes when you order vegetarian dishes from non-veg Chinese places, they come out sort of lackluster, tasteless, or ugly. I liked that they made an effort to make the dishes look like meat dishes. Service was good, food came out steadily, and everything ended up being around $130 not including tip. I would recommend this place if you're having a large party (they have a separate room and you can save money with BYOB). Their menu caters to all types of eating habits. Even those who weren't huge fans of eating vegetarian or tofu meals were really impressed by the food here. Here is a breakdown of some of what we got. Appetizers: A few different soups Pan fried dumplings - have little cubes of tofu inside Potato croquettes - look like a chicken nuggets, prefect with a little salt and ketchup 2 Plates of Vegetable Stick with BBQ sauce - corn, mushroom, peppers, etc., with some kind of protein (looked like veggie sausage) Fried vegetable balls - similar to the croquettes but not breaded. I loved these Edamame - came out salted to perfection Entrees: Vegetable Lo Mein - plate is huge, don't get this for just one person General Tso Tofu - loved the sauce, got it on the side for other dishes Sesame Tofu - came with broccoli, also large enough for sharing Veg Heaven - maybe one of the less popular dishes we ordered Golden Rings - spicy and crispy, deceptively shaped like shrimp but veg obviously 2 Plates Sesame Seitan - similar to the general tso tofu, crispy and flavorful Veggie Steak - well loved at our table I obviously would recommend this place. Just a note to the management about the potato paste based dishes. Of the dishes that had this (croquettes, golden rings, etc.) the paste was a little heavy/gummy/sticky which made it difficult to chew and swallow. If it could be a little fluffier and easier going down, those dishes would have been my favorite
(5)Becca D.
Standard Chinese cuisine, but with a vegetarian focus. The food wasn't amazing, but it definitely was good! And really, the price can't be beat. Wasn't super busy on a weekday lunch so service was quick. Definitely will be back!
(3)Judy C.
I had dinner here and I made the mistake of ordering an appetizer AND an entree. BY the time I was done with the scallion pancakes, I was pretty much full. I ordered the Taro potato knishes as an entree. For vegetarian food, it was really cheap and they gave me a huge portion I couldn't finish. BY the time I was done, I felt like a starchy knish myself. The flavor was ok. It was like any other fast food Chinese place - laden with orange sauce. I didn't really taste any taro since everything was deeply fried. The scallion pancakes were a bit stale and hard and the sauce was boring. I would go here again if I was craving vegetarian Chinese food, but Philly has so many kinds of food I want to try, that it might take me a while to come back to Su Xing.
(3)Ama C.
I went here with a friend for a last minute, casual dinner. I had eaten earlier, so I opted for the scallion pancake and spring roll from the appetizer menu. I don't recall what my friend ordered. The spring rolls were hot and fresh, my friend's entrée was delicious but the pancake tasted like... it was perhaps not as fresh as possible. It wasn't terrible, but not as good as I was hoping. Service was polite, quick and fairly attentive, though a bit brusque (the server kept the tea coming though) and the prices were amazing. I would definitely try again, though perhaps a different item.
(4)Michelle S.
The Pros: The food was really good, and it was way cheap. You can seriously get stuffed here for around 15 dollars. The vegetarian prawn and vegetables was phenomenal. The Cons: The other two dishes that my friends got were just ok. Our waitress was kind of stern. Every time she came over I felt like she was going to yell at us. Maybe she was just having a bad day? I would return, the menu is so large that I want to try more things before I make up my mind completely about Su Xing House. Plus, it's so cheap, even if you don't like what you got, you don't feel like you wasted a lot of money.
(3)Joyce T.
Spring rolls are fried to order! The sesame tofu is fantastic. The atmosphere and the lighting of the restaurant are on the weird side.
(4)Nabi A.
I probably come to this place once a week. I have brought my vegan friends and my carnivore friends and they all love it! It is so cheap that we usually have leftovers. One meal can perfectly feed both me and my fiancée and there are leftovers. My favorite is the soy nuggets with sweet and sour sauce and the fried rice. YUM!!!!
(5)Amalia Y.
didn't miss the meat at all... scallion pancake was super-fried and a little harder than I enjoy. flavorful but a but greasy. general tso's tofu wasn't as spicy as I expected, but overall not bad. the texture of the tofu was nice, and didn't leave me wishing I'd had chicken instead. the sauce had a lot of whole peppers in it, so pay attention when you eat to avoid a mouthful of fire! vegetable my shu was flavorful and has a good mix of veg. I've typically had mu shu served with the pancakes on the side so I could assemble myself.... here they do it table-side for you. one order = 4 chinese burritos. noms. the price point is super reasonable, and this place is a nice alternative for vegetarians and those who keep kosher... and the meat-eaters won't have anything to complain about.
(3)Dhara M.
The food here is just delicious! It is an authentic Chinese restaurant, AND it's vegetarian! Which is a very surprising and pleasant deal. I eat here every time I'm in Philly. Love this restaurant!
(5)Lei Y.
Very good veg!!! So yummy. I believe the tofu here is a must-have. Also love the glass noodle in hot pot. I'll try more for next time going!
(5)Cat N.
Ate here tonight with a good friend - neither of us are vegetarians, but nothing was lacking! We ordered spring rolls, the sesame seitan with broccoli, and the As-You-Wish dish. Spring rolls were delicious, but the sesame seitan was the star! SO good! The As-You-Wish was very good, as well. Very attentive with the tea and water. All in all, a solid 4 - EXCEPT... the portions (HUGE, we had lots of leftovers), the price (TOTALLY reasonable!), and the fact that there were at least 5 other dishes that I want to try! Bumped it up to a 5, and I will be BACK!
(5)Colleen M.
I can typically find something on any menu to meet my needs. This talent comes from necessity and the overwhelming disdain for those preachy-type vegetarians. As the only non-meat eater in a group of meat loving foodies, I have adapted. So, when one of those friends decided to pick this place because I am always "so good about going with to any meat-fest in town" I was extremely excited (and a little nervous that she wouldn't be happy with the selection). Let me tell you, this place didn't disappoint. I had never heard of Su Xing House but I could not have been happier with the service, the menu selection or the food. The General Tso was amazing. The scallion pancakes were to die for. My friend was equally happy with the food and even took her left overs home for another taste. I can't wait to go back to try more of the menu options. So many were mouth watering I had trouble narrowing down my options.
(5)Vinny P.
The food at Su Xing House will not blow your mind. What is great about it is that you are able to have all those wonderful feelings of eating chinese food (from your childhood) but without the meat. Most (if not all) of their stuff seems to be vegan. Perhaps they throw in some egg or butter somewhere but for the most part, you're good. The price point is insanely low for this section of the city. There aren't many places with a lunch special like this one. For a low price, you get soup, entree, rice and a spring roll, with all the tea and duck sauce you can drink. On a recent trip, I was pleasantly surprised by the lotus root soup. I doctored it up with a bit of white pepper and it was nearly perfect. I'm partial to the homestyle bean curd but I haven't ever gotten them to prepare me something "spicy" I feel like each time I ask for it they just sort of chuckle and never actually do it. So, I've eaten here a number of times and will continue to. It's an inexpensive lunch option and the food is tasty, in that "I want to feel guilty about eating chinese" way.
(3)Josh H.
I've had their food three times now, and gotten the same dish each time. The first time, it was four star-worthy, perfection the second time (dine-in), but on the third try, I came away very disappointed. The sauce was more gelatinous than it was on previous occasions, and my girlfriend, who was previously very happy with their food, found hers only semi-edible. I will give them another chance, at some point, but for now, I'll give them three stars.
(3)Stephanie S.
I think this review deserves 3.5. Su Xing has been on my bookmark list for months, since its an all-vegetarian restaurant. I came here for lunch with some co-workers, and it was really good. Certainly better restaurants in the area, but they did a good job with what they have. The inside was cute and decorated nicely, there's additional seating upstairs which is nice. The waitresses are VERY attentive. She filled up our hot green tea every 5 minutes. We arrived during a busy lunch hour, but the kitchen did a great job getting the food out quickly. We probably only waited 5 minutes before the soup came out, then another 10 for the meals. Very fast! I had the sesame siatian, which is like soy-"chicken" with sweet sesame sauce covered on top. It has a crunchy coating, and served with rice, broccoli, and I had seaweed as my other side item. Everything was very good. My coworkers had the "beef" which was soy-steak, it was also very good, had a ginger sort of flavor. They had a spring roll on the side. Everyone enjoyed their meals, and the service was speedy. Not the best meal ever, but I do recommend this for vegetarians, and I will go back.
(3)Daniel L.
My wife and I love this place! They are all vegetarian and I'm a protein guy but I absolutely love this place. They also have brown rice on request for those watching GI. They give generous portions especially for the price. Nothing tastes greasy so you don't leave this place feeling like a disgusting blob. Definitely worth checking out!
(5)Denise K.
Service was amazing and the food overall was tasty and decent. Pancake scallions, veg prawn with walnuts and general tso's veg were all just a little too over done/fried to the point of being chewy. Maybe I didn't try the right menu items to really enjoy it properly.
(3)Ashley S.
The General Tso's is really all that! My family came for dinner the other night and ordered a little of everything to share. The soy protein steak tasted oddly like fish (I really enjoy fish so I loved it!), the "beef" with broccoli had a great sauce, the As-You-Wish tofu was nicely crisp, and the Triple Shredded in Garlic Sauce was tasty. I definitely prefer this to traditional Chinese food! Can't wait to be back for the lunch special!
(5)Yun W.
Came here with a large party and they sat us in a back room. The service was prompt with tea, water, and food, given our large party size. Came out to roughly $17/person after tax & tip for a great meal. Highly recommended if you don't mind going all-vegetarian. Tried a bunch of dishes. My rankings: APPETIZERS - Sesame Cold Noodles - 5 stars - these were delicious, highly recommended Pan Fried Dumplings - 4 stars - flavorful despite being vegetarian Scallion Pancake - 3.5 stars - your typical scallion pancakes, slightly on the oily side for me, but pretty good Sweet Candied Walnut - 3 stars - these were good but I felt it could have been paired with something else instead of an entire plate of walnut s DISHES - Spicy Szechuan Style Tofu - 4 stars - a standard dish and right level of spiciness Moo Shu Vegetables and Tofu - 4 stars - this was quite good, I would pick it over the real Moo Shu Pork dish. Recommended. Black Mushroom w/ Asparagus and Green - 3.5 stars - good presentation and flavorful black mushrooms. asparagus and greens were less flavorful but still decent. this was a standard veggie dish and would get 4 stars except it was definitely on the pricey side for veggies. Veggie Lo Mein - 3.5 stars - the tofu pieces add an interesting "meat" flavor, but other than that it's a pretty standard dish. Taro Croquettes w/ Cashew in Sweet and Sour Sauce - 3.5 stars - this was an interesting dish, it reminded me of Sweet and Sour Chicken, but the taro pieces were kind of small and coated with a lot of fried batter Veggie Prawn w/ Walnut - 3 stars - another interesting dish. The fake prawns were huge (battered and fried), and covered in mayonnaise like sauce with walnuts and honeydew (somewhat random). I understood what they were trying to do here but unfortunately it lagged pretty far behind the actual prawn dish.
(4)Shashank G.
Nice VEGETARIAN Chinese place. Some vegan friends enjoy this place as well (as is heard) Close to center city and a lot of parking (paid) and subways! A BYOB. Friendly / accommodating staff. Honestly, a last minute place to satisfy your most peculiar friends who have a vendetta against plants - doesn't get more convenient than this. And you can be a loud bunch as well - I don't really think people mind it if you ;) liven ;) the place up .. Plus they have put a good amount of time on making tofu. Which I like. Real soft nice tofu - tip - please don't fry it. You will finally get 'nice' tofu here!
(4)Alex M.
Great food, friendly staff. The golden runs are unabashedly not imitation meat, and one of the better things I've had here.
(5)Erica T.
I JUST WANT TO SCREAM WITH JOY WHEN I THINK ABOUT EATING HERE 1. I'm not a vegetarian. 2. If you think you need to be a vegetarian to appreciate vegetarian food, you are probably very bad at eating and enjoying food. 3. I don't know why I'm making a list, this seems hella dumb now. Anyway, Su Xing is amazing because the food is AMAZING and insanely cheap. Two people can easily stuff themselves for less than 20 bucks. I live in the midwest and all I hear about is how expensive east coast everything is, but there isn't a single place I've been to in the midwest that is as high quality and inexpensive as Su Xing. I know it seems kind of generic given that their menu is so huge, but I opted for the sesame tofu twice because I've had it at so many places and this was the best sesame tofu I've ever had in my entire life and this includes ses tofu I've probably spent twice as much on ok!! It's glorious They also give you complimentary tea that I think is delish ok! I'm just gonna give you a list of things that are really delicious. Sesame Tofu Spicy Szechuan Style Tofu Fried Banana As-You-Wish Golden Rings Please keep in mind that I live 800 miles away and therefore don't get a lot of chances to eat here. i just want to come to Philly once a week so I can eat here! Considering how cheap it is, it's actually not a bad idea...
(5)Carrie C.
My friend and I were a little cautious to walk in because the restaurant was EMPTY, however, we decided to give it a shot anyway because my vegetarian friend wanted Chinese food. We were so pleasantly surprised by our experience here. The service was actually pretty fast and friendly, and the food was surprisingly delicious. We ordered the sesame seitan as well as a sticky rice wrap. Both were a tad bit oilier than I would have liked, but they were both so flavorful, and I would definitely recommend them both. Also, the sesame seitan was delicious as leftovers the next day!
(4)Abhi K.
We got delivery from here and were disappointed. Everything was very average, but based on these Yelp reviews, we thought we were going to get something exceptional. First of all, the delivery was not at all fast. We got our food an hour after we ordered. Secondly, the food was fine, but they forgot part of our order and as this was a delivery, we couldn't get that back. It was only a large side of rice, oh well. The portions are gigantic, so you do get a lot of food for the money that you put in. Fried bananas: mushy and overripe bananas. Shakes: More watery than milky (could be due to delivery on a cold night) Creamy corn soup: It's like egg drop soup with corn -- delicious. Tofu Eggplant in garlic sauce: Generous portion, the tofu tasted good. Large strips of tofu that were fried and marinated in the garlic sauce along with the eggplants. I recommend this dish. Maybe the dining experience is better when you dine-in?
(3)S. H.
The fragrant floral cup of tea served with the meal was a nice touch. For a $6.95 lunch, you get a reasonable, light meal. I ordered eggplant and tofu with garlic sauce. I chose white rice, seaweed, and a miso soup. The miso soup was okay. The seaweed was better than I expected. The eggplant and tofu tasted good, but had too much sauce on the plate. The portion of rice was unexpectedly small. With so much sauce, a little more white rice may have helped mop that up. Overall, Su Xing House is fine for a quick, affordable, light, vegetarian lunch, but you might want to walk around the corner and look for an ice cream shop after you finish here.
(3)Tyler R.
I'm giving this update on my previous experience 5 stars. The service was quick and snappy. The food came out quickly and was executed very well. When I finished I was completely full, but I wasn't weighed down at all. I walked in around 12:45p and asked for the lunch special #1 (the "As You Wish") to go. The woman at the front counter was courteous and completed my transaction quickly. She immediately placed the order, and I received my food in a matter of minutes. The food was delicate, well flavored and delicious. My biggest issues in the first review dealt with the saltiness of the food and the slowness of the service. Those two things were remedied during this visit, so 5-Stars is a must. Bottom line: This is definitely a lunch spot that I will frequent. Let me know if you're going to be there-- I'll congratulate you on making a great choice.
(5)Ben D.
Suitable for carnivores, even though there is no meat. Tastes delicious. Great bang for the buck.
(4)Tanya C.
I came here for lunch with my husband after I checked into our hotel. It was next to our hotel and the reviews on Yelp made it sound heavenly and it sure was. Initially we were the only customers in the restaurant but that changed soon enough. After looking at their menu I ordered the potato and cauliflower curry and my husband ordered the General Tso's tofu, both the lunch special. For appetizer we ordered the scallion pancakes. The pancakes were great. Nice and fried and came with a dipping sauce. My lunch special was okay. I much preferred my husband's and I wished I also ordered it. The potato and cauliflower was a bit bland while his tofu was crispy and delicious. The hot and sour soup and spring roll that I had with the lunch special was also delicious. Overall great place. I would definitely come again when I'm in PA. I didn't even tell my husband till the end that this was a vegetarian restaurant and he said that he didn't even miss the meat! Service was decent, especially for a Chinese restaurant. Tons of seating!
(4)Michael G.
I always forget how absolutely delightful this place is. Their lunch special is killer: you have a broad selection of different main dishes, accompanied by a soup, white or brown rice, and a side. Their tofu skin and wheat gluten preparations are both traditional and scrumptious. I've steered clear of some of the more boring Chinese-American hybrid stuff (e.g., sesame tofu), so I can't speak to how good that is. But the friendly staff are delivering authentic, well prepared Chinese vegetarian cuisine for a great price.
(5)Minh C.
Great place to grab vegetarian Chinese food on the cheap. I've only come into Su Xing for a sit down a couple times, but have mostly ordered delivery. First thing is first, Su Xing's delivery is FAST, so don't go hopping in the shower! Two faves: black pepper steak (I don't see this on the menu, but that's what I always say I want) and soybean nugget szechuan style. These are a must! I'll elevate this to five stars once I get more opportunities to go in for a sit-down, since some Yelpers here say the service isn't that good. I've only been in a couple times, and can't say it was bad though...
(4)Kaneisha G.
Sesame tofu is MY LIFE right now. Writing this AS I eat. Wish I had come here with a friend so we could split this and an appetizer as I can't eat it all by myself. Tasty jasmine tea too! Enjoying the lively Mandarin chatter among the waitresses.
(5)Ceasar B.
Had lunch here. Food is very cheap, filling, comes out fast, and is decent. Tea and water were refilled regularly. My biggest complaint is that the menu was hard to decipher as the dishes are missing description (e.g. one item is just "Mushroom Delight" without an explanation). I had a lunch special: eggplant, brown rice, tofu, seaweed, and miso soup. I didn't think anything was particularly great, but measured as a cheap lunch spot to satisfy hunger, this spot is hard to beat.
(3)Maria R.
I love and miss this restaurant so much. It's heaven for vegetarians. Also super good service and the ambiance is great!
(5)Anna H.
We came for an early dinner. The service was so great. Really attentive and the food came out really quick! It was really nice to eat Chinese food that was not heavy or greasy( the 10 treasure hot pot was delicious and actually full is shiitake mushrooms) sliced oranges and fortune cookies at the end ! I wish we had this place in Boston.
(5)Ross L.
So, I'm not a vegetarian. Not even close. Still, this is my go-to spot for Chinese food in Center City. Even if you're a meat eater, you won't miss the meat at all. Prices are very reasonable, portion size is good, and it's generally ready very quickly. I placed an order today, and by the time I got to Su Xing from my office at 16th and Chestnut (like, a block and a half away), it was ready and waiting for me. One word of caution. The hot and sour soup - *VERY* spicy. I guess since they can't use chicken stock, they make up for it by making the soup extremely spicy. Personally, I'm a huge fan of spicy food, so it's fine by me - just don't order the hot and sour soup and expect it to be like your local Chinese take out place.
(5)Ambi C.
I think we found our new go to take out Chinese place. Let's just say, we will be visiting you guys a lot. :) Good size portions, healthy options and flavorful dishes--you really can't go wrong.
(4)Ari N.
I had the lunch special here which is pretty generous. It's all vegetarian and I was interested in a degustation of it. I ordered the sesame seitan and hot & spicy soup. It seemed like a chewy type of chicken, taste was good. I didn't care for how chewy it was, it made it taste like it wasn't as fresh as it could have been. Overall an OK experience. Meal comes with free tea.
(3)Slip S.
You step inside this gloomy interior with its outdated, but attractive furnishings and feel like you could be in Hong Kong circa 1960. Now this is an interesting, even eccentric, restaurant. Not everything was great, but it is hard not to like a place that offers hearty Chinese vegan dishes at low prices. Some of the items are definitely out of the ordinary - it is not all steamed cauliflower and broccoli here. I had a lotus root soup with steamed peanuts, and a deep fried, sweet sesame tofu dish with a side of firm, shredded seaweed (wakame, I think). The service is not especially charming, but where else can you find a lunch like this for under $10?
(4)Scott S.
This place blew my mind. It is very clean with a great atmosphere. everything and everyone is veg, so the clients are cool and nice. The food was incedible. We ordered zuchini, three colored veg, veg lo mein, gen tso tofu, scallion pancakes - all amazing. I want to eat here all the time. What a find!
(5)Shenita S.
Ok so I am going in here. I love Su Xing House. If could afford to have lunch here everyday for the rest of my life...or dinner for that matter...I would die the happiest vegetarian death! I see some people rated the restaurant pretty low, which I don't get. The service is good. The servers are attentive to your glasses and pop in for refills which is awesome. They take your money/card when you're ready to go. They answer questions. I just love this place. Now to the food: I am someone that if it's not broke don't fix it, so I stick to what I know...The General Tso's Veg. Tastes like chicken. I love the broccoli (steamed but not soggy but not extremely raw)! Spring roll. Love.gov The Veggie Steak and Onion...the texture and consistency is just out of this world. To each his/her own, but Su Xing is BY FAR my fave restaurant right now...oh and it's not ridiculously expensive.
(5)Sheri H.
Although I've been a vegetarian for decades, I have never appreciated fake meat that too commonly dominates vegetarian restaurants. This is why I LOVE Su Xing. They pay close attention to each vegetable, no dish seems to be slapped together without thought. Servings are huge and very reasonably priced. I love their Ebony and Ivory, Stir Fried Peapods, Seaweed Salad, I could go on and on. They also deliver until 11PM on weekends which is rare around these parts. It always hits the spot beautifully.
(5)Leah Y.
love this veggie chinese food, flavorful and over all health for me
(5)Adam P.
Stopped by here for a quick lunch one day and left pretty content with my experience. I got the General Tso's tofu w/braised mushrooms and brown rice, which was only about $8 or so. Huge portion, tasty sauce (maybe a touch too sweet), and came out piping hot. They serve complimentary tea too, which I always enjoy. Oh! And my ridiculously cheap lunch also came with a cup of soup. Service was friendly enough and very attentive (love when my glass of water never gets empty). I'm far from a vegetarian, but I liked the food and would definitely recommend as an affordable dining option if you're in the city and craving Chinese food.
(4)Nora C.
On a cold night, I decided to eat in. So I looked on Yelp and found this place that had some good reviews. Which at this point I think they wrote themselves. So be warned, the positive reviews here are bogus. I was told that my order would take 45 minute to deliver. At 50 minutes, I called and asked where my order was. I was told they forgot about my order and it was going into the kitchen now. 1 hour and 45 minutes later my order arrived. No discount. No excuse. Just here is your order. I was so hungry that I dug in. But it turns out that the food is worse than the service. Do not eat, or order from this place, if you like food. Don't believe the good reviews. I am betting they were written by the restaurant and the employees. This place is Terrible.
(1)Julia C.
It's been awhile since I've been to this little gem of a restaurant. It's still very good. I went for lunch. The service is prompt, friendly ....the food is delicious, healthy and vegetarian. Today I had Braised Wheat Gluten with Zucchini and Mushrooms in a brown sauce. Yum. This meaty dish is tasty and dense. you cannot even tell it's vegetarian protein. I had hot n sour soup and spring roll. Lunch specials are really a good deal.
(5)Jenna F.
I'm not a vegetarian and this place was fantastic!!!! Tried something new I wouldn't normally eat (vegetable heaven) and loved it. Also, the scallion pancakes are a great choice for an appetizer... 3 bucks and pretty filling! Will definitely be back and definitely recommend (plus its BYOB)
(3)Weifei Z.
My experience here was mixed. Starting with the bad, the green onion pancake was way too thick and tasted more like egg roll skin than any green onion pancake I've had anywhere. Honestly, the frozen green onion pancake I buy at grocery stores tasted better. The eight treasure hot pot was good though it was more of a saucy mix than a hot pot. The "As you wish" dish was also good, but the tofu skin seems to have lost some of its natural flavor due to frying. Why do that to a good thing?
(3)Aruna A.
I love all veg food. Veg chicken, beef, and other fake meats usually all taste the same to me unless they are seasoned well, which is definitely hard to find. Not at Su Xing - where they make a variety of well made tofu and other soy protein based foods are definitely all season well and tasty. I've tried a number of their options from scallion pancakes to sesame tofu to general tso's tofu - all great. A tad expensive for what it is for dinner - but open late - I recommend it if you are around, but I don't know that I'd ever find myself craving their food stuffs, or travelling across the city to get to it!
(4)Kim C.
I am a creature of habit. I like getting same dishes every time I order here. Consistence in food is one of important factors that I use when I judge a restaurant. Their taro bubble tea is amazing and I get that all the time! I love their General Tso's Tofu and Mixed Vegetables with Szechuan sauce. But sometimes chef made them taste differently. I guess head chef's off or they have changed chef. When their food is not consistent sometimes, I rather not take the chance to order. I will visit again to try different dishes though.
(3)Amaryllia L.
This is a vegetarian restaurant. I'm throwing that up there because it's important and I know not everyone will read full reviews and pick up on it...yes, I'm talking about myself of course. I placed a delivery order from the Latham Hotel (0.2 mi away) at 9:43 on a Wednesday night based on the glowing reviews for this place. The lady on the phone had an accent that was very hard to understand but she was super nice. 20 minutes later, I received my food from a rain-drenched, and understandably unhappy, delivery guy. Despite what the lady on the phone told me, the delivery guy did NOT take credit cards. I lucked out though because I had enough cash on hand. * House Special Mei Fun Soup ($7.50) - I ordered this because another reviewer had said that it tasted like pho and there's really nothing better than hot noodle soup on a cold rainy night, am I right? Unfortunately, besides the fact that this is noodle in hot broth, there is no similarity to pho in terms of ingredients or flavor. I thought it tasted extremely bland (like hot water with some oil floating on top) and had a hard time liking the slices of fake meat/spam-like things. In retrospect, now that I know it's a vegetarian restaurant, I guess it's not terrible, but I certainly would never order this again either. * Deep Fried Chinese Rice Cake ($3.50) - I got this purely out of curiosity and was pleasantly surprised at how much it reminded me of rice cake that my mom would make for Chinese New Year. The only differences are that these were cut up, breaded, deep-fried, and then served with crushed peanut powder and sugar...all good things! They were more stale/chewy than crispy because I got them as delivery but I could imagine them being extra yum if served fresh. This is the only reason why I'm giving them 2 stars instead of 1. * Milk Tea with Tapioca ($3.05) - Tasted like instant milk tea powder with refrigerated (i.e., cooked in the morning and now hard) tapioca pearls. This was another impulse order because I had never seen bubble tea available on a delivery menu before. It turned out to be almost the worst bubble tea I've ever had so, yes, I learned my lesson.
(2)Michael H.
Asked for brown rice, got white. Meals contain almost no veggies; about 85% tofu, which is overly sweet. I wouldn't go back.
(2)Sam H.
Everything I ate here was delicious, and I ordered quite a few things because there was so much that I wanted to try! One of the best vegetarian restaurants I've eaten at, and I can't wait to go back. Our waiter was extremely friendly and made sure to answer all of our questions and recommend his favorites. Some of the typical Chinese dishes (with replacement fake meat) are offered, as well as some unique dishes that I hadn't seen before. There is definitely something for everyone here!
(5)Cindy F.
Hidden gem, sort of. It is tucked away in an alley by Ladder 15. It's open late and has the best food! Like the other Yelpers said, the food is so fresh that you leave feeling satisfied rather than stuffed. Seriously you need to check this place out. It was surprisingly that delicious!
(5)Scott W.
I have gone to this restaurant a couple of time because my partner is vegan. He loves this place and so do I. Everything is very well done and tastes delicious. I often go for the eggplant in garlic sauce or peapod leaves. Nothing has ever been oily or overly spiced. They offer brown and white rice and also have noodle dishes if you prefer. Service has always been great and well deserving of a good tip. At the end of a meal we usually get a plate of oranges. I'm assuming this is with all dinner patrons but am not sure. Prices are excellent especially given the large portions. This is one of those places that will definitely become a regular hangout for us.
(5)Shakalohana A.
Just want to chime in to all the great reviews! We keep coming back here for the excellent food. Great quality, super fresh, and super good feeling after you eat. Their flavors are truly delicious and you feel really good after eating here. A note to veggie lovers like me - you can order dishes *without* all the protein and mean substitutes to make it more your style. It took me a while to figure this out, but now I feel really satisfied with all my orders and don't have to feel weighed down by fried tofu or gluten (not that they aren't delicious). My favorite is the Eight Treasure Hot Pot (without fried tofu or imitation ham) - served as is - lava hot yum! It can also be super romantic. Now, I am not talking some dark hole in the wall romantic... I am just thinking that some of the best conversations and really good times really just being with my guy were at a nice booth window at Su Xing. We have talked about everything there, really intense things, life et al... and the meal and ambiance definitely made that happen. Thanks! Just excellent, consistently, for years - and the flavors just keep getting better and better. And affordable enough to treat yourself and friends often! (p.s. I also have terrible allergies to fish - so this place is very super safe for me)
(5)Bridget G.
This place is fantastic for vegetarians (and carnivores alike). You get a ton of food for a good price and it's all fresh and yummy. My favorite is the sesame noodles and the sesame seitan, plus they have all sorts of bubble tea treats. Servers are always sweet and I always leave with leftovers that are somehow better the next day.
(4)Peter K.
Tasty. The 6th borough brings the veggie Chinese like none of the other 5 as far as I've seen. (Though there's probably somewhere amazing in Queens that I'll never hear about.) Su xing has a soothing interior, an intimidatingly large menu, and low-ish prices. Service was a touch slow, but otherwise good. The kale and tofu dish rocked my mouth and duly cleaned out my insides. Win-win. Go for the lunch specials--they run until 3pm.
(4)Celia B.
Excellent service, excellent food! We were so surprised to find a vegetarian restaurant so close to our hotel. It is really hard to find Chinese food without meat, and here we didn't even have to think about it! I ordered the eggplant with basil dish and my partner ordered a "chicken" (soy protein) veggie stir fry that came with peanuts. I can't remember what it was called, but I am thinking the schezwan dish. My sister ordered the curry noodles. Everything was fantastic. They had miso soup as well, which we enjoyed. My only complaint was that the springrolls were a bit greasy, but aren't they always? The food was resonabley priced and the service was fast. The food came very quickly! We will return when we are in town next year, and I highly recommend this place for vegetarians and meat eaters a like. Their fake "meat" (tofu, soy protein, whatever it is) is super tasty and great texture and the other dishes were all fantastic.
(4)Jenny S.
I came for lunch with a friend on a rainy Saturday. The service was attentive but that could because there wasn't much customers in the restaurant. Nonetheless I was was very satisfied with the service. Our orders came very fast. We both had the lunch specials. She had the general tso and I had the soy nuggets. The sauce was tasty and texture of the Seitan was a little chewy. We both thought it tasted very much like real meat. I have been to two other Chinese vegetarian restaurants ( Veggie lover and and New Harmony) and this by far is the best. I am definitely going come back to dine in or take out. Another plus is that the free tea was very fragranced and tasted great.
(5)N. K.
As per previous recommendations, we decided to hit the lunch special which ended up being as cheap as stated, $20 for two people and we left stuffed. Hot and sour soup- may be a bit spicy for some, but absolutely perfect and delicious for me Lotus root and peanut soup- a little bland and watery like miso soup, but interesting flavor Sesame seitan- fried and crispy little nuggets covered in a sweet sauce and sesame seeds. Love! Crispy steak- I preferred the more crispy texture of the sesame seitan, but my husband preferred this because he thought the sesame seitan was "chewier" Spring rolls- Had tofu/glass noodles/seaweed inside. a bit bland for me but still very good. Overall the food was excellent and we will be back. They also deliver within Center City. The service was good and fast, although maybe a bit abrupt and not overly friendly, but that may be a cultural thing and fine with us. Highly recommended for vegheads and non-veggies both.
(4)Shaun O.
My roomies dragged me out for a Sunday night dinner, as they had a craving for Mu Shu (vegeterian kind). Since I am a adventurous type, I decided to take them up on their offer for vegeterian chinese. One tip-its totally worth it to wait for an upper level table. We waited a few extra minutes, and were able to get a large table for the 4 of us. We order 5-6 different plates of Chinese Cuisine which had some outlandish names like "Dragon and Phoenix". I found that to be pretty tasty dish (black mushrooms, spinach, soy beans), with the Golden Feather Knishes to be a great complement to that plate. We overdid it with the ordering, as we had more than enough to take home. I also found that the price tag to be pretty affordable, and well within the range of what I like to spend for a dinner out. The service was pretty solid too, as the server almost started to dish out the food for us, before we stopped her. Still, pretty good service.
(4)David C.
Great lunch special. Food is flavorful and non greasy.
(4)Carlos V.
Really good for a good price - and nice atmosphere. The area around there is kind of gross - at least on a Saturday night - crazy, drunken, party, nonsense. I had the general veg chicken, which was crispy, sweet, but not too sweet, and had just the right amount of richness. Plus, like, 15 pieces of steamed broccoli. As someone who has ordered vegetarian food from almost every Chinese place in San Francisco: Philly is lucky.
(4)Weef B.
I got there early, about 10 minutes before normal opening time. The hostess didn't give me any hassle and took my order quickly. She was very attentive and refilled my tea a few times even though I lingered for awhile. Great service. Food was excellent. I got the hot and sour soup and seasame seitan and holy cr*pola, delicious. The seitan was perfectly crispy and had the best texture I could possibly imagine. Only negative is that there are no lunch specials on Sunday, but it was mentioned on the menu so I can't take away a star for that.
(5)Luis N.
The food is great. Tea tastes fresh. Service is very fast. Place is beautiful inside; not so nice looking outside.
(4)Har D.
Had gone here for dinner several times. Need more attentive staff BUT the food makes up for it :). Wanted to go to Philly Chutney ( Vegetarian Sthn Indian ) on 1628 Sansom st next block for lunch today but they were closed for repairs and landed on SuXing for lunch. Loved the Hor fun and the noodle soup, tasty and not too much soya sauce. The sesame chicken was great and Gen Taos Chicken was brilliantly prepared. Many items on lunch menu and we were able to choose several dishes for below $8. Had the sweet sour Chicken and fried rice as well. There were 5 of us and service was slightly slow. The luch items came with a soup and spring roll 7/10 for SR. Will be back.
(4)Zack L.
Healthful, Vegetarian, Ample Portions, and hooray. This place is wonderful. It is obsessively clean, has 8 different colors of lights in any of their room, and has the approval of Martin Yan from Yan Can Cook for being a great healthy Chinese Restaurant. I am not a vegetarian, and this place still rocks the boat. Hooray.
(5)Kelsey G.
My new favorite Chinese food place in Philly. Their sesame tofu is addicting and delicious. I can't wait to try more food from them.
(4)Edward M.
Su Xing House is my favorite Chinese vegetarian restaurant in Phillly (so far...). They have a great lunch special where, for well under $10, you get soup, a side, rice (your choice of brown or white) and an entree. It's best when shared with friends (or even mere acquaintances), that way you can sample different dishes and make your own combos. This is particularly useful since some of the dishes may be either a bit too greasy (yeah, I'm talking to you, delicious General Tso's veggies) or dry (that would be the otherwise awesome as-you-wish) on their own. So a shared meal here would qualify as an example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. The only disappointing items I've tried were the curry dishes. Speaking of parts, after trying the various soup and side options I've settled on the hot and sour soup and the seaweed. Some might find the hot and sour soup too spicy; there, you've been warned. Service is friendly and the staff keeps your water glass and tea mug full.
(5)Sunny P.
Every time I go here it's with the same group of friends. Typically, we will order one or two different dishes that we have yet to try. The service is pretty good, tea is refilled regularly. The restaurant had a traditional Chinese feel.
(4)Rosalie R.
I was on a vegan cleanse. I needed real food. Enter Su Xing House. I had the Sesame Abalone Mushroom (see photo) it was divine. Granted, I was hungry and desperate but it really was delicious. I have also had the fried brown rice and it was also very good. We have only really been there after matinee theater so the place has never really been crowded. The decor is dark, cozy and the place is really clean. I would recommend this place for a quick and quiet weekend lunch.
(4)Sara P.
This is a terrific restaurant. It has a diverse menu with lots of vegetarian and vegan options. You can have a lot of vegetables and a lot of faux meats too. I especially enjoyed the seseme seitan and the lotus root and peanut soup so much that I made them at home soon after I tried them at Su Xing. We also really like the service. The entire time we ate, we got many refills on water and jasmine tea. What a delicious tea it was too. The location is great if you are on wheels or legs, but parking near 15th and Sansom is not the easiest (although there is a garage across the street from the restaurant. Prices are excellent, as a lunch special is less than 8 bucks. What a healthy, environmentally friendly and inexpensive place to have lunch in center city. I am so glad that this restaurant is there!
(5)Nadia M.
I ordered the Vegetable Lo Mein as part of the lunch menu-it was the most lackluster meal I have had in Center City. There was hardly any vegetables to speak of and no flavor - None. The Hot and Sour soup had burnt pieces on it-I had to throw it out. Also, I ordered soup but they included no spoon. The portions were plentiful-maybe they should concentrate on giving a little less quantity but more quality. I will not be visiting this establishment again.
(1)Cici B.
I think I might stop eating meat if I could have Su Xing cater all my meals. Are you sure there is no meat in the Sesame Seitan? What sorcery is this?! I swear this dish tastes exactly like there is meat. I could not tell a difference, doubt any meat eater would either. I loved this entree; the sauce, broccoli florets, and "meat" were delicious. Another winner was the Eight Treasure Hot Pot. It was a broth of an interesting medley of vegetables and a questionable ingredient that resembled ham but tasted nothing like it. Of course this dish was overshadowed by the Seitan (pronunciation: satan??), but I still enjoyed it immensely. The only thing I didn't like was the deep fried Chinese rice cake appetizer, which my boyfriend happily responded, "YAY! more for me!" Su Xing definitely exceeded all my expectations. I actually expressed high doubts in regards to the caliber of food at a vegetarian Chinese restaurant. I was thoroughly impressed! I will be coming back, and perhaps I might become vegetarian (for a week or two).
(5)Meg S.
Is it bad that I find Panda Express (that of mall food) a tastier option? My sesame seitan was so one-note. It was way too fried and the goo it lived in...ergh, I was scraping it off with my fork. I liked it marginally better cold (as I do most fried foods), it was cheap and there was a huge portion, so two stars. If I was vegetarian, I could see this being more of an option (it did taste like I was eating meat...just completely bland, flavorless meat...); as it stands, I think I'll pass.
(2)Elizabeth M.
Whenever I have a vegetarian or vegan friend in town, this is where I take them! I love this place. They cook tofu and seitan so well that even a meat-loving omnivore like myself prefers these dishes. Whenever we go, we order different things. They're always amazing. I encourage you to try something different - the only average dish I've ever tasted here was a veg lo mein. Seasame seitan is one of my favorites, of course. The vegan food here is 4 times better than the typical food you'd get in Chinatown, with a similar price and similar portions. BYOB.
(5)Lauren B.
My first trip to Su Xing House was used as an initial form of torture. My co-worker was incessantly nagging me to go to lunch, and told me I could pick the spot. SO, I did what any thoughtful colleague would do, and selected a place with a menu that had virtually no meat. We were both pleasantly surprised! This place makes me so happy. I'm not a vegetarian, and so I won't pretend to be a pretentious vegan, but this place rocks! There is no meat in sight on the menu, and my male co-worker did not even mind. In fact, this was probably his first tofu experience. We had the sesame tofu and the kung pow tofu. It was absolutely satisfying, delicious, and affordable. I recommend this place to everyone, vegans and meat-eaters alike. Job well done. I'll be back.
(5)Marc R.
I dined here over the weekend, a vegetarian friend recommended it. There's not a whole lot to say, the look of the place is pretty run of the mil for a Chinese restaurant. The table are oddly far away from the seats, would be great for a very large person. The menu felt limited to me. I have eaten at many veggie\vegan Chinese places so I kind of expected more. The server was just kind of there, no smile, no personality. The app took a long time to arrive and the dumplings were just not that good. They were mushy and not full of flavor. The main entree arrived shortly after the appetizers were cleared. A lot of breading and a lot of frying to give the sesame chicken more of a real meat kind of texture. It was good, but a little too fried, it was kind of hard. The other entree was only had a splattering of brocoli, should have been more. Overall, I would rate it 2.5 stars if I could, but I can't and it just doesn't deserve a 3rd star.
(2)Shannon J.
Su Xing is nothing short of magical. 1.) Everything is vegetarian, the entire, enormous, well-rounded menu. The joy of ordering whatever you want is something every vegetarian can get excited about. 2.) The food is DELICIOUS. After at least ten visits, I've never tasted anything that I didn't like. The General Tsao's Veg is my forever favorite, I recommend it to everyone. 3.) The service is excellent. Your water glass (and little cup of tea) will never be empty. I don't know how they do this, but the waitresses at Su Xing should teach the rest of the planet how to be so gloriously efficient and super. 4.) The portions are enormous. If you love leftovers, come here! You will eat for days off of one meal, I swear. 5.) The prices! Very reasonable, especially considering the quality, the flavor, the service, and the quantity of food. Seriously, magical.
(5)A N.
I really like this place. The food was great, service was good and pretty quick. I have a lot of things I would still like to try-their menu is so extensive. Desert was great too.
(5)Andi S.
I ordered an asparagus dish which was a complete ripoff. The asparagus were cut in half LENGTHWISE, in order to make it LOOK like there were a lot. ALso, the asparagus had no flavor, and neither did anything else on my plate. Overcooked and flavorless. The service was rude and inept. I don't know how this place stays in business. It is HORRIBLE.
(1)Jay D.
i can't get over the service. they take and bring your order fast, and seem to have some kind of ESP to know when you'ved sipped a little tea or water, because they come right over and top it off. that's nice, but wish they would leave the pot or pitcher at the table. sometimes i won't sip anything to keep them at bay. you also get your check, orange slices, and fortune cookie before you're finished or ask for it, and then you don't see them again to get change. i'm still here all the time though. the miso soup is what's up. also seitan with asparagus in brown sauce (you can swap out the veggie for any other though, like broccoli if you'd like.)
(4)Travis L.
I am blown away by how wonderful this vegetarian place is. Very unique space with a raised upper level that has a number of booths. Comfortable family dining. I almost didn't notice it next to the other bars and restaurants on Sansom. I'm really glad to see vegetarian Chinese food with such quality and popularity here in Philly. The food: Spring Roll - Very crisp, light veggies. Can't really go wrong. Good to have with the lunch specials. Potato Croquettes- Simple appetizer, though the breading is rather heavy, which makes it hard to bite through. Could be lighter and less heavy. Reminds me of Japanese korokke but it's just a bit too hard on the outside. Scallion Pancake- Honestly, at $3.25, this is one of their best appetizers. Very flaky and not too oily. Really features the flavors of the scallions and perfect for sharing. 1. Lotus Root and Peanuts Soup - Very unexpected. Surprisingly clear and light. Love it before heavier dishes. 2. Miso Soup - Decent and not too salty. Feels a bit out of place at a Chinese restaurant but nonetheless, it's okay. 3. Hot and Sour Soup - Strong flavor and good balance. Chow Mei Fun Singapore Style - One of my personal favorites, and the curry flavor is just right. The noodles, I felt, could have been thinner and drier. I needed more of that fried noodle flavor. Eight Treasure Bean Curd Hot Pot - Great clay pot dish with a simmering broth that goes great with rice. Love that it really balances all the different "treasures" and each veggie tastes great. A saucier hot pot. As-You-Wish Bean curd skin filled golden mushroom, black mushroom, dried bean curd and Chinese celery served w. water chestnut and asparagus. - kind of like the dim sum item but very clean and light. Not oily at all and very large portions. Filled to the brim, but not exactly the most flavorful. Sesame Abalone Mushroom Fried fresh abalone mushroom in tomato and five spice sauce, serve with asparagus and water chestnut. -One of the best dishes here and such a unique way of cooking abalone mushroom. Fried and glazed and really imitates the texture and consistency of meat. The wonders of vegetarian substitutes!
(4)Shereen C.
Ordered delivery once. Food was edible, but a caricature of Chinese food. Had Golden Feather Knishes - taro was all right, but sweet and sour sauce was pretty disgusting. Overly sweet. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing, but I seriously have to question why they would serve that dish that way at all.
(2)Dave H.
Su Xing House is an OUTSTANDING Chinese vegetarian restaurant near Rittenhouse Square. Their rear dining room is elegantly decorated, paneled with Chinese prints, and amazingly handled my friends's party of ~18, but their dishes weren't the quickest to come out. For the smaller parties in the main dining room (including mine), our server brought our dishes with a minimum of hassle. I'm unsure she liked us since my friend and I kept asking her to repeat her name (it sounded like "siu mai"). Su Xing House's cooking is where they shine. Their hot and sour soup was a stand out, with a healthy kick. Get their vegetable lo mein! A friend ordered it spicy and so it had with a wonderful tang, with a perfectly even, noodlely texture. The broccoli with garlic sauce was as good as it sounds - heavenly. Speaking of heaven, we also shared the vegetarian heaven string beans, cooked until crispy, in a tasty sauce. I will definitely return. If I lived close enough, I'd order takeout too. Recommended!
(4)Chris L.
Su Xing has wonderful, cheap, vegetarian take-out that is super close to work. I used to think of greasy, heart clogging food when I thought of Philly, but this place (and Yelp, of course) is helping me to revise my opionion. I do not think all of their dishes are created equal, though. If every one of them was as delicious as General Tso Tofu I would probably give this place 5 stars, because that was one of the most amazing fried tofu experiences of my life. Alas, the Singapore Chow Mei Fun didn't live up to my expectations. It wasn't bad, but I wonder if maybe they were running short on curry today. It was just bland. They have a pepper next to this item on the menu, but it was anything but spicy. I may try it again and ask them for extra curry or perhaps just go back to the tofu. Of course, it was still a ton of food for just $7, but it really needed something. I'm also still not sure how I feel about the Hot and Sour soup. To be honest, having had it twice I still can't find that there's much sour in it at all. I don't seem to be able to taste much of anything beyond the hot, but it is hot in such a good way that I can't seem to stop eating it. I actually broke a sweat from their soup. So, I'm torn. I really think they could make a better soup, but yet when I get it I can't stop eating it. It's very mysterious. Finally, though this isn't probably that important. Maybe it's cause I'm so incredibly white, but they don't give me chopsticks unless I specifically ask for them.
(4)Meghan C.
I know...me? At a vegetarian restaurant? I had to have a lunch meeting and I was over ruled and since I didn't have any better ideas I figured I'd give it a shot. The food is incredible! The service is incredible! The portion sizes are insane...I left full and happy...I can't say this is the best it gets because I did miss having some form of living creature with hair on my plate, but I would definitely go back if someone asked me to.
(4)Susie R.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Philly. I especially love the mu shu. The lunch specials are so well-priced and the portions are quite generous. I also love the bubble tea. The restaurant is also kosher, which is a huge plus. Definitely recommend.
(5)Ben S.
There aren't many exclusively vegetarian Chinese restaurants. Granted most Chinese restaurants offer a fair amount of vegetarian options, they are usually a variation on the same things. This restaurant takes classical meat dishes and interprets them in a very unique and vegetarian way. My boyfriend and I loved it. I value his opinion the most, being that he is Chinese and actually from China. The dining room is very well decorated, with good use of space. The sectioning of the restaurant assures a combination of privacy and a sense of openness. The lighting was perfect, and the noise level was minimal. No music though. The portions are large, and I loved that they offered brown rice. The sauces were not overly salty, and were not oily in the least (my usual complaints about Chinese restaurants). The food was well seasoned and had great flavor. My boyfriend got the "as you wish roll" with peapod leaves, and I got the dried bean curd with spiral seaweed. My only disappointment was that there were no other vegetables in the stir fry, but it was so tasty it didn't really matter. There are almost too many options, also very typical of Chinese restaurants. It's almost better to ask yourself what you feel like, and then see if they have it, because chances are they do.
(5)Thomas K.
Abalone mushroom soup, a medicinal brew with winter melon sliced thinly and floating in the broth. With goji berries and julienned ginger, this soup hit the spot. Next up: Taro croquettes with cashews and sweet & sour sauce was absolutely fantastic! Smaller than thumb-sized dumplings made from taro...that starchy, sometimes purple-ish root were lightly fried, stir fried with some bell pepper, and finished with a more sour than sweet sauce thickened with cornstarch. More than enough for one, just perfect for two. Singapore Mai fun was excellent, also, without an overwhelming wafting of curry powder. It smaller and tasted perfect, with veggies scattered throughout. Kale and dried tofu...an odd item to see on a Chinese menu. I've never seen kale used before. When the dish arrived, I saw that it wasn't kale at all, but choi sum, a leafy green vegetable popular in traditional Chinese gastronomy. Forget about the confused name...just know that this was a super-light dish bursting with vibrant green color, subtle soy and sesame rounding out the plate. Service was fine, yet a bit cold. As I've reviewed other Chinese establishments before...that's just par for the course. Eat it and beat it! If I'm in the Philly area again, I'll definitely make this place a part of my visit. Vegetarian or not...try it out.
(4)Hazel S.
This is a perfectly good restaurant, but not a stand-out based on my experience. The service is good and friendly. The dining room isn't beautifully decorated but it is clean and cozy. The food was nicely prepared but a bit on the bland side. Like many restaurants that cater to an American clientele, the sauces seemed a little bit sweeter than they should. The veggies and tofu I had were very well prepared, but nothing special. If you just want a nice, cozy filling meal of vegetarian comfort food, this is a good choice.
(3)Natalie H.
Alas, yelpers, the food here is OK - but the service and delivery leaves much to be desired. We placed an order and were told that it would be at our home in 45 minutes - an hour passed and still no food. We called and were told "we're very busy." Finally, a full 1 1/2, and several phone calls after we ordered our food arrived - cold, and without chopsticks. In a city with fantastic cuisine, I would recommend eating elsewhere.
(2)Jaclyn B.
Sesame tofu I had here recently was awesome! I also tried one of their "milkshakes"...they taste more like blended ice milk, but I think they are vegan? Anyway, the milkshake thing I got was so good, even the next day frozen. The shakes come with cute extra wide straws and containers with figures on them. I went with the coconut flavor; it's taste and texture were pretty much my perfect virgin piña colada. Shakes come in the following flavors: strawberry, mango, and coconut...I could have missed one? They have great lunch specials, too. Only vegan Chinese I'll eat. Super fast delivery+++
(5)Kemi A.
Wow a full blown veggie Chinese restaurant? whowouldathunkit? Anyway, happy i tried it. Had the lunch special "sesame seitan". Now it's not the best thing since sliced bread (I'll reserve that for "vegetarian palate" in brooklyn, NY...wha?wha?) but it wasn't bad at all. I liked the decor of the place. It's pretty much hidden being on samson but once you walk in you'll be surprised by the interior. Would recommend and like to go back to try other things on the menu.
(4)Lucie T.
So I am a big fan of chinese food. Authentic at that. So when I was told by my friends who live in Philadelphia that if you want vegetarian chinese, you want to come here.. and so we went. I have to say that the scallion pancake along with the lotus peanut soup were not half bad. But the best was General Tsao's chicken aka the veggie meat. Service very attentive, love the fact you can hang up your coat in the closet (maybe this is normal outside of NYC, down here we hold on to our coats unless its inside of a coatcheck being guarded by a pretty girl who is looking for your next dollar as a tip) as well as having an upstairs and a downstairs. Decor very warm. If I am in mood for veggie chinese. I am coming back here.
(3)Cindy S.
Best. Chinese. Ever. My man and I walked in and didn't realize it was vegetarian. But I was thrilled to see the menu. It wasn't full of fried substitutions, it was simply no meat Chinese. I loved it. I didn't feel totally disgusting at the end of the meal. General Tsos? YES. Loves it. Also a big fan of the potatoes and cauliflower in curry. OMGGGG. Also, I must admit, after my initial encounter with this place I went back the next day and had lunch there....and they day after that and got take out. So I recommend. I plan on trying everything on the menu.
(5)christina g.
AMAZING! There were quite a few options on the menu. The 'General Tso's Vege' was so chicken-like, I spat out the first bite and had to ask if it was meat or not. I don't really remember what chicken tastes like, but it sure looked like chicken, was tougher than some seitan and my boys were convinced it was chicken. It also came with delicious fresh broccoli. Also, they have bubble tea. Su Xing would be a great place to take your meat-eaters to, as long as they're into trying non-meat food. Otherwise, you could just trick them and get carry-out. mwahahaha We also ordered the stir-fried zucchini, which tasted really good, but made a squeaking sound in my mouth when being chewed. That part was...strange? The prices were decent and the staff were very friendly and attentive. They were pretty amused when we asked if the food was meat or not. Also, it's not just one of those, we have fake meat asian places. The food was very flavorful and fresh tasting. I can't wait to go back and try more of their dishes! There appeared to be a decent amount of dessert options, but I was way to stuffed to even look at them. Why are you still reading this and not on your way there??
(5)Jackie N.
Loved this place! Great service and HUGE selection of vegetarian items to choose from. Seriously didn't know you could make that much stuff from tofu!
(4)Juls B.
This place is heaven for vegetarian and a pleasant surprise for the omnivores. Choices range from more typical vegetarian asian fair (General Tso's tofu), to meat-mimics that pass the similarities test (sesame seitan), to more unusual meals like the feather taro knish. All of it was astounding.
(5)Lindsey T.
God, what a disappointment. My first visit here was hit-or-miss. The bubble tea, as other reviewers have pointed out, was extremely watery and oddly powdery. YUCK. I got out my phone and immediately began to draft a one-star review. The hot and sour soup came out next, promptly enough, but unfortunately tasted like a bowl of liquid black pepper. Beyond unpleasant. However, the entree I ordered-- eggplant with tofu in garlic sauce (and I asked for some spinach with it as well)-- was DELICIOUS. SO. SO. GOOD. I have never before or since seen eggplant cooked so perfectly, nor had such a yummy garlic sauce or such sweet spinach. Total hit. Made up entirely for the crappy tea and soup. After this great experience, I wanted to bring my boyfriend so he could experience what I had, so we went to Su Xing to catch the lunch special yesterday. When I told our first waitress that I needed a few more minutes to decide what I wanted, she literally turned around without a word, walked a few steps away from our table, and stomped her feet like a two-year-old before continuing across the restaurant. I wish I was making this up. We should've left then. The boyfriend ordered the exact dish I had last time, and it came out looking completely different, AND this time they tried to charge us an extra $2 for adding spinach. The eggplant was scant and overcooked, the dish was swimming in mediocre sauce, and the spinach wasn't nearly as beautiful as I remembered. I ordered the braised gluten with mushrooms and zucchini and just could not eat it. The zucchini? Undercooked. The mushrooms? Crappy white mushrooms, also totally undercooked. The gluten? Straight from a can, plopped carelessly in some strange, bland brown sauce. I apologetically informed our waitress (the second one we had that day) that the dish was just inedible, and I wanted to exchange it for the dish my boyfriend had. Big mistake, apparently. The waitress informed me that my request was "unacceptable" because "a lot of customer LOOOVE this dish" and the kitchen "would not accept it." Hokay. Argumentative customer service? No thanks. Shit just kept getting weirder until she decided to call the cops on us because we would not pay for a disgusting plate of food I didn't eat. No officer showed up after we sat at the restaurant for half an hour (no shit!) waiting to politely state our case, and eventually an older woman came to our table to ask us what happened and offer us a discount. Hilarious. Meanwhile, our waitress has been screaming in Chinese to the kitchen staff, from inside the kitchen and from inside the dining area itself-- WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS PRESENT. The older woman eventually let the matter drop, and stopped arguing so we could leave. Basically, we paid for what we ate (and then some), did not bother tipping our waitress (who was holding the phone, dialing the cops again, pleading for us to talk to the police on the phone while the older woman more or less told her to cut the crap as we walked out the door), we left, and got a great story out of it. Needless to say, we won't be back. And any diner who finds their inconsistent food inedible-- beware.
(1)Lauren H.
I will never go here again, or ever recommend this place to anyone. The short: - Extremely rude waitresses - Food was nothing to write home about - Pressured to eat quickly because they closed at 11, we got there at 8:30. - EYELASH IN ONE OF THE DISHES The long: I went here for a birthday dinner for someone that is on a Vegan diet. I'm not vegan, or anywhere close, so I was worried about finding a dish I'd like. She had reservations for 8:30 for 8, but two of our party were stuck in traffic and got there an hour late. The rest of us started with appetizers and drinks while we waited. Our waitress came in (at 9:30) to tell us that we should order because the restaurant closes at 11. We wanted to wait for the last two people before ordering entrees, and told her. They walked in 10 minutes later, and our waitress came in 2 minutes later to ask us if we were ready to order. THEY JUST GOT HERE. We told her no, we'd need a few minutes. She asked if the rest of us wanted to order, and we said NO WE NEED A FEW MINUTES. She came back in 5, and we still weren't ready. Everyone else at the table was unfamiliar with a vegan/vegetarian diet, and we were all trying to decide what to order. GIVE US A MINUTE. She came back in another 5, and we were like fine, fine, we'll order. THIS WOMAN STARTS SAYING "NEXT!" (LOUDLY) AFTER EACH PERSON SAID WHAT THEY WANTED. Is this McDonald's??? What kind of restaurant says NEXT to patrons?? I was COMPLETELY annoyed by this time, and if it hadn't been for a birthday dinner, I would have left. Whatever. We get our food, and I wasn't impressed. The best items were the General Tso's Veg (meat-like texture), the spring rolls, dumplings, and sesame noodles. The dinner items were nothing I'd order again. AND THERE WAS AN EYELASH IN ONE OF THE DISHES. So fine. When we were done eating (at 10:30 incidentally), the waitress comes out with the check. We give it back to her with the card, she comes back. As we're standing up and leaving, she ASKS THE CARDHOLDER IF HE SIGNED THE CHECK!!! So rude. I will never go back.
(1)Grant B.
Good food with quick service. Must Haves: -General Tso's Pros: -Lots of seating -Big Portions Cons: -Too much corn starch in their sauces. Quick Tips: -Great place to come and meet up with friends Their food is pretty good. However, it does fall into the Chinese American category, rather than Chinese. They use a bit too much corn starch for my liking, but the taste is solid. I definitely frequent this place when I am hankering for some good Chinese American food. I love walking here for some good Chinese food that is pretty healthy.
(4)Karen F.
Not bad - but not great either. The best part? The super cheap price for the generous lunch special. Mine came with Mediocre Miso, a tasty entree (Tofu with Eggplant in garlic sauce) and brown rice. For a side I chose green salad (bad idea, and I should have known better) which was iceberd with 2 tomato slices and 1 cucumber slice. Lame-o! Next time (if there is one) I'll try the mushrooms. Service was fine - efficient and quick. Water was refilled promptly without asking (score). OK, Maybe this place is 4 star foor/service but the 2 star decor needs a refresher pronto!
(3)John F.
Go here for Lunch. Lunch specials are awesome! Strolled here during a lunch break to check out all the hype. Wow, who knew vegetarian Chinese could be so good! I ordered the Hot and Sour soup which is one of my staple discriminators for a Chinese restaurant. Not only was it the best I've ever had, it didn't leave that "burning goopy grease" feeling or taste in the back of my throat. I woofed down a huge plate of Singapore noodles that were perfectly cooked. I was pressed for time to get back to biz but I just couldn't stop eating. I can't wait to return where I can sit while not on a lunch crunch and really trench in for some good ol' fashioned "me so stuffed on Chinese food" time.
(5)Marissa C.
I am not a vegetarian (as can be seen by meat-focused previous reviews) but I highly recommend Su Xing House anyway. It's that good. Their lunch special is a great deal - for about $8 you get soup, a choice of a side (fruit, spring roll, etc.), rice, and an entree. The sesame tofu is great, and I am totally obsessed with the Chow Fun. Everything is flavorful not too greasy and I suppose as healthy as Chinese can probably be.
(3)Mark S.
I know it's a cliche to praise a vegetarian place by saying you can barely tell it's vegetarian, but since I eat a wide range of cuisines and sometimes have to help veggie friends order off omnivorous menus, it's nice to be able to tell omnivores that they'll sincerely enjoy anything they try, as much as if meat were involved. Never been proved wrong! Personal entree favorites: Eight Treasure Hotpot and the Dragon and Phoenix. I like to top the meal off with a mango milk shake. Lunch specials are good too, but I usually come slightly before or after the rush, so somewhere between 11 and one.
(5)Jen L.
Food was a 2. Processed ham is pretty much the only ingredient in the Peking noodles. Service was a 1 The owner was really mean.
(1)Jes S.
I have started going to Su Xing on a regular basis and am not vegetarian. The hot and sour soup is a favorite, as is the General Tso's Vegetable. The General Tso's Vegetable and not Tofu was recommended by the waitress as her favorite dish. I have tried Kingdom of Vegetarians near Chinatown before, and Su Xing is better. Su Xing stays true to Chinese recipes so that even if you aren't vegetarian, the food is recognizable and just as delicious. The textures of the "meat" dishes are not far off from the real deal for those who like meat. The service is wonderful and they try hard to accommodate requests. (We asked for warm bubble tea, as it was cold out. They heated up the bubble tea despite their confusion since no one had asked for it like that before.) Su Xing is also very comfortable inside with booths and tables and lots of space. :)
(5)Sue A.
I was staying just a few blocks away from here and really bummed because the meeting I was attending had TERRIBLE TERRIBLE food. (Who serves cold cuts?!) Then I found Su Xing House, and ate there for dinner every night I was in town. Great service - super quick, very polite. and the food was amazing and totally affordably priced. I had the scallion pancake and the sesame tofu the first night. HUGE portions of delicious food. I was bummed that I was staying in a hotel with note place to reheat the food or I would have taken my leftovers for breakfast the next morning. I also got take out from here to bring back to my room the following night (working while eating is easier at a hotel desk than a dimly lit restaurant), and the food was still super-hot by the time I got back to my room 10-15 minutes after pick up. The fried tofu was still super-crisp, and the sauce was just the same texture/flavorfulness it would have been at the restaurant. If I return to philadelphia, I'll definitely go back.
(5)Al E.
Needed a place that could take 7 folks on a Saturday night. Chose it b/c of 4 stars and 1 $. Good for a group if you don't want to deal with a crowd and just get seated and served on late notice. Cheap. The scallion pancakes were really good. There's a lot of seitan, tofu, or fake meat on the menu, which I wasn't really interested in, so I had chow mei fun - thin rice noodle with shredded veggies. It was good, not greasy or soysaucey but was SO much food. We all ordered too much, we should have shared. At least 2 of us could have shared each huge plate, if not 3 of us. Was weird for serious meat-eaters.
(2)Angela Z.
I've come here twice - dinner and lunch. Both visits were delicious. Me and my friends ordered completely dishes every time and they were all good. Great reviews all around. Really great flavorful and aromatic tea that they are very generous with.
(5)Darryl D.
We took the advice of other reviewers and must say thank you. We got the steamed dumplings to start, they were tasty, but not favourites. We ordered two entrees, the general tso's vegetable and the chow mei fun. Both were surprisingly good. While the chow mei fun looked a bit boring the flavour was really good. Regarding general tso's vegetable, if you had not told me there was no chicken I would have never known! Portions were very large, and we easily could have just ordered one entree to share. I would definitely recommend this place, and plan on coming back again!
(4)Sarah G.
Heaps of delicious vegetarian food at completely reasonable prices. Meat-eaters will not feel like they're missing anything. Faves: Scallion pancakes General Tsos Tofu Tofu with Eggplant
(4)M H.
Not a fan. I thought I liked it at first. but later I changed my mind. Nothing special.
(2)Flor P.
I'm no vegetarian, but I love this place. Warm woods, blue neon ceiling lights, *serene* (no music in the background), and free *bottomless* delicious jasmine tea. The first time I ate here, I had an unexciting plate of vegetables. Second time around I ordered better: golden rings! Both times I left feeling warm and happy.
(5)Laura T.
Stopped in for dinner with the girls. All vegetarian, byob. For appetizers, we got delicious seaweed salad, amazing scallion pancakes, and the steamed dumplings. All were delicious, tasty, and cooked well. For dinner, I got the pan seared noodles with mixed veggies. I loved the noodles, they were slightly seared and flavored well. I did not like the mixed veggies! I think the sauce was too thin so they came out a little flavorless. My friends all got eggplant and tofu with garlic sauce. I admit to being picky with garlic sauce, and theirs was exceptionally good. Choice of brown or white rice. Tiny booths. Unmanned coat closet on the second floor, use this! I think their lunch specials would be a good option. Service was awful, everyone was nice but they were incredibly slow. I had to ask for more water several times. Way way too long! At the end, I liked the apps WAY more than the meal, so I'd return and probably get apps and soup.
(3)Rose B.
I only had one meal here but I thoroughly enjoyed it and would go back in a heartbeat if in the neighborhood. At first I was having a hard time finding something I could eat because of all my allergies and the waitress did not seem all that interested in taking a special order. Seemingly determined to find something I could eat without her needing to ask the cook to do something special she made many suggestions. That is when I noticed they had "stir fried peapod leaves" on the menu. I almost missed it since where I am from it is usually listed on the menu as "pea vine greens in garlic sauce" which is one of my favorite if not my favorite dishes. She then seemed willing to make some adjustments and it was ordered with just a bit of tofu and brown rice (yea brown rice!!!). It was delicious but I could not eat it all. I got it to go and took it back to my hotel room to put in the ice bucket (wrapped in a baggie) over night. I am positive I had the best breakfast than any of my fellow conference goers the next day!
(4)Camila B.
This is one of the best vegetarian restaurants that I ever been! The food is awesome - I suggest the sesame seitan and the fried tofu with cashew nuts. The price is very good, good amount of food, and I also love the jasmine with green tea that they serve with water. The service is good and friendly. They also deliver very fast. The restaurant has a good decoration and it is very clean. I've been in Philly for only 1 month and already went there about 5 times!
(5)King T.
I had never had vegetarian food before, and I was really really weary of eating any. But after gorging on Philly cheesesteaks, fries, burgers, and other countless heart-attack meals, we figured it might be time to try something a little healthier. There weren't a lot of people when we walked in for dinner. The service was quick, and polite. But onto the food. We ordered a few vegetarian meat dishes that I can't recall now. But I can remember that the food was REALLY good. The "meat" tasted almost like the real thing. They give you pretty big portions too, so we had to take a bunch back to our hotel. This place was really the catalyst for me exploring the world of vegetarian food. If I ever make it back to Philly again, I would definitely come back.
(5)Nicole W.
There is a lot of variety for vegetarians. I'm a tried and true meat eater, but even I love the veggies, and this is a cheap place to go to for lunch. However, I prefer not to eat tofu, so that eliminated many lunch options, so I settled for something I knew. The waitress was...there. I recall that she didn't even ask if we wanted anything to drink. I felt like everyone else in the restaurant was also just drinking the water that they had brought to the table. But water is good. And free. So I'm okay with water. I had the vegetarian fried rice lunch special, which came with miso soup and a spring roll. It was pretty bland so I had to add soy sauce. That is a huge pet peeve of mine. If you're going to make fried rice, make it right. The miso soup was good. A bit too watery for my taste but not bad. The spring roll was ok. Nothing spectacular. Definitely needed the duck sauce. I was full. And I had good company, so I will some it up with an ok. $9 (including tip) for a mediocre meal is a bit off putting but I may come here again with the right incentive.
(3)Brian D.
Great food! Best Chinese I've had in awhile.
(5)Kimba Z.
Su Xing is much nicer than your average Chinese Vegetarian, not that there is anything NOT nice about them in general -- it's just that they are not meant to be fancy. But Su Xing is the most upscale one I've been to in Philly, with nice low lighting and is cozy with wooden booths and an upper level. It could actually kind of be romantic. I love that it is BYOB. The menu is huge, with a long list of Chinese standards, just all vegetarian. The Chef's Specialties can be tricky to picture from the descriptions -- until you discover the pictures on another page of the menu. Still, deciding takes a very long time, because it all looks so unique and good. We were crazy for the black seaweed pancakes and asked for a second order. I like that they have seitan and cook with plenty of varieties of mushrooms. Once drawback is that there are not many table choices for parties larger than 4. I think there is one large table, so our group of 5 was placed at a booth with a chair and small table on the end, which kind of isolated the 5th person, because he could not hear us. If you have a bigger group, reserve the large table. I will be back for affordable, unusual, quite delicious vegan offerings. I saw vegan because I did not detect any cheese or egg, though I could be wrong. We had leftovers too, nice portions! Plenty of omnivores in my circles love to eat this way, no guilt. I think it is great to show people that creative wonderful dishes can be made from simple vegetables, that vegetarian eating can be a cuisine and not just a meal with all the fun parts taken out. You won't miss the meat, and you can eat healthfully, unless you order 2 servings of fried seaweed pancakes like we did. :-)
(4)Bill M.
This five star review is based on the flipping sweet lunch specials they have during the week. I was able to gorge myself on veggie General Tso's Chicken, brown rice, a mushroom appetizer, and a huge cup of miso soup. and this veggietacular feast cost just under $8! can you get any better? I'm also pretty happy to find an awesome Veggie Chinese spot that's outside of Chinatown. It also hooks up a good assortment of bubble and fruit teas and does BYOB! Zang!
(5)Stephanie P.
#111 DEEEEEElicious! On one of our first adventures in Philly, my friends and I decided we were desperate for Chinese food. However, being 2 vegans and 1 vegetarian, we were a bit hesitant to just walk up to any Chinese restaurant around. So, after searching around on Yelp, we found Su Xing House. Plus, it was right around the corner from where we were standing! What luck! Walking in, the place was much classier than most Chinese restaurants I've been to back in SoCal. Their menu was so extensive and we were eager to order everything, but of course we had to settle down and ended up ordering about 3 dishes. I got the Eggplant Tofu in Garlic Sauce, as well as the Scallion Pancake. They were absolutely delicious and, with brown rice, more than enough to satisfy my hunger. I actually ended up having to take more than half of everything back with me. Since then, I've ordered take-out more often than I'd like to admit from Su Xing. On those lazy days, after a long day at work, all I crave is their Scallion Pancakes and Veggie Lo Mein. They are generous with their helping of veggies, their sauce is tasty but not too salty, and their noodles are chewy. Even their fake meat tastes great. They're not at all textured like meat, but they taste slightly sweet and serve as perfect substitutes for meat in their dishes. The boyfriend and I became such fans of their Scallion Pancake that he learned how to make them on his own. =)
(4)Phil T.
I have introduced a couple of vegetarians to this place and they have been going back regularly ever since. While I'm not a a vegetarian, I get the General Tso's Tofu all the time with sweet and sour soup, brown rice, and braised mushrooms. It's only about $7 and you get enough food for two lunches. The food is quite tasty and always well prepared. I never thought I would say this, but I prefer their tofu to most chicken I would get at other Chinese restaurants. They prepare high quality, delicious, vegetarian Chinese food quickly and economically. Tough to beat.
(4)Rebecca G.
I had the hot and sour soup along with the black and white mushroom dish with bok choy. The food was good, but nothing memorable. I have no desire to eat here again.
(3)Cameron Y.
I got the as-you-wish and sesame seitan lunch specials and both tasted delicious. The spring rolls that came with our orders were crispy and light, unlike the over-fried and doughy spring rolls that most Chinese restaurants offer. The portions were also huge for the price. There are still so many things we want to try on the menu - can't wait to come back again.
(5)Steven S.
This place offers an excellent selection of all-vegetarian Chinese food. The General Tso's was so good I could hardly tell it was tofu. All the dishes are huge and the free tea is a nice touch. The price is spot on for the portions and the decor is very unique. Definitely worth a visit.
(4)Ellena S.
Just picked up a large hot and sour soup from here. Ate in a week or two ago, got the lunch special (hot and sour soup, mushroom special). Was pretty good, a size-able amount of food, but New Harmony is where it's at! Interior is nice, clean and BYO. Delivery area is limited however. I live in University City and they won't deliver to me. C'mon, I'm not THAT far from Rittenhouse!
(4)Jeffrey N.
Beautiful little place on a quieter street. The food was just okay. We had a tofu dish that tasted it had just been sauteed with big-brand simmering sauce. Also, we weren't served what we expected and our server didn't offer to fix the dish or take it back. As a warning, the "vegetable noddle" dish doesn't have vegetables and noodles. It has noodles made out of vegetables. (Admittedly, this was in part our mistake, but we felt the situation was not handled well by the server).
(3)Shawna B.
Lovingggggg IT! This place is one of my all-time favorite veg*n Asian restaurants. I'd loved the Greens in Brooklyn Heights, but sadly it seems to have closed (at least according to Yelp), so I'm relieved to say that Su Xing rivals the Greens in variety and flavor. I've been there twice (the second time on my one-year wedding anniversary!) and left both times very satisfied and looking forward to my next visit. The dishes have a wide range of ingredients, all veg and all delicious. I'd definitely recommend the edamame as an appetizer, followed by several dishes to try (share with someone!), and several orders for take-out :)
(5)nico t.
returning from a trip to china, i'm surprised by how many vegetarian chinese restaurants there are in america. it was impossible to be be vegetarian in china. "just eat!" they told me. i'm a sucker for general tso's "chicken". i admit it. this is the best i've found in philly. maybe the best anywhere, but that's a bold statement and i'm kind of a timid dude. (not really) the other dish i highly recommend is the sesame garlic noodles. not quite the jing jing dan dan noodles of palo alto, but good enough to coat my esophagus. no 5th star because service is often slow, but again, compared to restaurants in china, this place is on the ball. don't get me wrong, i love china and the chinese people were wonderful, but without tipping, what do they have to work for? certainly not high wages!
(4)JJ G.
Spectacular. Bubble tea and the sesame tofu are awesome. They don't accept American Express -- Visa + Mastercard only.
(5)Heman P.
I went to this restaurant yesterday for dinner.. I liked this restaurant for two reasons 1) Food is awesome and also you get plenty of variety to chose from, 2) It is open till 10:30 pm when most of the restaurants are closed, it is good for me coz I generally have dinner late. It is good to see that you get Chinese "VEG" food with number of variety this place has. Overall its good restaurant to try if you like Chinese food and must go if you are vegetarian and like Chinese food. You might have to repeat yourself if you want something specific in your food as english is lil difficult there.. Hope you enjoy your food there as I did. Take care..
(5)Karen M.
I pretty much love this restaurant. I eat here as often as I can and I take advantage of their amazing lunch special deal and price more often than I should. Their dinner is a huge portion that I never finish, but surprisingly, my leftovers taste just as good when I reheat them the next day (I'm serious!). The service is really nice and the location itself is very clean and tidy. Whenever we have friends come to visit us from out of town, my boyfriend and I always bring them here whether they eat meat or not and they always seem to enjoy it as much as we do. You should definitely make a trip here one day if you haven't already.
(5)Dame V.
I agree with most of the other reviews - this is a very good restaurant! The staff is pleasant, the food is excellent, and the price is right. They have recently remodeled, and the place looks better than ever. I especially recommend the Dragon and Phoenix, but there are many other good dishes, as well.
(4)B H.
My favorite Vegan/Vegetarian Chinese resturant in the city. They make the best General Tso "chicken". Veggie dumplings are also a hit! I prefer to eat in, but they do delivery and takeout.
(5)alexis g.
We got take-out from Su Xing for Chinese New Year's and it was awesome. I was looking for a place with a large selection of noodles and Su Xing had everything -- Singapore-style Chow Mein, Chow Fun, and panfried egg noodles (and a bunch of other stuff). We also took a chance on their "Golden Feather Knishes." I love taro, but I'm not a huge fan of sweet-and-sour and I wasn't quite sure what a 'feather knish' was. So what's a feather knish? Delicious. We ate our noodles and veggies and then finished off with the knishes. They were almost dessert-like. We're definitely going back to this place again. Update: We actually didn't go back to Su Xing for a while... We discovered Square and Square and that became our go-to Chinese place (points for being a few blocks closer to home). But... lately we've gone to Su Xing for all of our take-out Chinese needs, branching out from the noodles-only menu from New Year, and we have not been disappointed. The texture on the black bean tofu is nothing short of amazing. I realize this probably involves lots of frying, but I have to say.. frying + tofu = freakin' miraculous. I'm definitely looking forward to trying more of the stuff on their menu, but I also have to say this: it's going to be hard to branch out to any other veggie dishes beyond the basil eggplant. When I opened up the little plastic take-out container the smell of basil sauce was overwhelming -- in a good way. I can't even describe it. If you order it and hate it, it's only $9.. and let me know. I'm happy to take it off your hands.
(4)charlotte g.
i've never eaten there, but we do delivery from here all the time. they are really quick with delivery. all the food is delicious and fresh. Favorites: mashed BBQ tofu on nori veggie dumpling tofu and veggie soup veggie moo shu golden hot pot
(5)Kathleen T.
so good. so very, very good. the portions are ridiculously large, the food delicious, and it's vegan! woohoo! okay, so i'm not vegan. but, i AM veggggggggietarryan, so it still jibed with my eating. el buggo digs the croquettes the most, while i am partial to the peas, potatoes and curry sauce. did i mention how very good this is?
(5)mary g.
I love this place! I order from here all the time and they even deliver to me, a good 15 blocks East.. The fried mushroom strips are deeeelish. The sesame seitan is yummy as well. I think my fav is the tofu/vegetable soup. I don't know what's in that broth but it's quite addictive. One of my other fav things about this place is the lack of "chicken this" and "beef that." I hate ordering something that is called chicken, gross, but seitan all the way. It's comforting to know that they are 100% vegetarian and I don't have to worry about some bird falling into my fried rice. Like most Chinese food, don't wait too long to re-heat things - you'll be sorry to have wasted such delectable foods!
(4)Stacey B.
I got take out at this place while visiting Philly. I needed something healthy, and I ordered a vegetable tofu dish off the chef's specialties menu. It had baby corn and tofu and mushrooms and lots of other vegetables. The portion was very large; I only ate half, if that. I was able to get brown rice with it, which was great.
(5)Siobhan C.
I've never been to Su Xing for dinner, but the lunch specials are a tasty deal. I absolutely love the tofu with eggplant in garlic sauce and pretty much never order anything else. Lunch take-out typically takes about 10 minutes, but if you call ahead you can avoid flipping through Glamour magazines in the dimly lit waiting area. Would definitely recommend to meat-eaters looking for a place to take veggie friends and family. You will not be disappointed!
(4)Joey K.
Very very good vegetarian Chinese. A good substitute to Cherry St. (which has closed ). Su Xing is a small restaurant with limited seating but a pretty nice ambiance as well. I ordered the General Tso's and let me tell you if I didn't know it wasn't chicken I would not have known, it was prepared great, and very fresh broccoli. I will go back.
(4)Jennifer C.
My one-star rating is based on delivery service alone. I placed my order at ~9pm and did not receive my food until an hour later. The driver called 3 times saying that he was lost and could not find the address (I was staying at a major hotel by City Hall). The restaurant also called asking for the address to the hotel and then notified me that I can not pay via credit card (when I already confirmed at the time of order). My food finally came and when I opened up the bag, I realized that it was not the food that I ordered! A perfect ending to an awesome delivery experience.
(1)Davin B.
I've been here twice- disliked it the first time and actually threw my takeout in the trash the second time. I'm only giving it 2 stars (rather than the -2 I think it deserves) because it seems that everyone else loves this place! Maybe I caught them on bad days. The first time I went was shortly after they opened, The portions were small and pricey for what they were, and the overall feeling at the table was that things were either too gelatinous or too dry. The second time I ordered broccoli and garlic sauce to go (how do you even mess that up?!), and what I got was overcooked-to-the-point-of-mush broccoli that somehow absorbed none of the flavor of the way-too-spicy garlic sauce. They are higher-end than most other Chinese places, but the food certainly didn't warrant the price hike- especially for take out. I'd rather order through bullet proof glass at a generic "number #1 Chinese and American food", pay $4, and get something delicious.
(2)Tracey M.
The food here is so good. I was previously partial to New Harmony in Chinatown but after trying Su Xing House, they have won me over. Try to go at lunch time when you get far more for your money. Their lunch specials are a great value.
(5)D K.
This is my first time trying Su Xing House and I'm pretty impressed. They have a great tofu menu - not the usual two or three options consisting of either just tofu and sauce or with one vegetable. I ordered the mu shu vegetables (yep, with tofu) and the tofu with mixed vegetables. Both were pretty tasty, and the vegetables were not too finely chopped and still had a hint of crunch. The price was right and the delivery was really fast: 15 minutes at most. I'll definitely be trying them again and checking out some of their other dishes.
(4)Terri M.
This restuarant made me go vegetarian. No,I'm serious. The week before I ate here, I was telling friends that I could not imagine not eating steak. Well, here I am making a hypocrite out of myself. One year and many vegetarian meals later, I am still living without steak. Oh, this is a review..ok here goes...the General Tso's tofu is delicious and it is here where I tried seitan, sesame style. They have a great lunch special,meals ranging between six and seven dollars, and you get a great deal of food. For dessert, you MUST try the fried bananas. I have yet to try the bubble tea, but I'm up for the challange. The dim lighting and peaceful music create this soothing atmosphere, The only bad side is that there are very few servers, so service is kinda slow. But good food is worth the wait. Enjoy:)
(4)Amanda F.
The food was good, but the service was a little strange. My boyfriend and I went a few months ago for the lunch special, but our friends were a little late, though they told us to grab a table anyway. It was hard to explain that we wanted to wait to order, even though I felt bad about holding things up, the tables weren't entirely full. We explained, but then approximately five different workers asked us, in quick succession, if we'd like to order. I'd probably only go back with one other person and if they were RIGHT there. Other than that, no complaints. Once our whole party was there and we did order, everything came out promptly and it was pretty tasty, and the cheapness can't be beat.
(3)Jacquelin K.
Su Xing offers vegetarian Chinese. It's a pretty small restaurant that gets most of its business during the weekday lunch hour. Their lunch special is a great value--you get a soup, a side, and an entree for $7. I've had better vegetarian Chinese, but their mushrooms are really hearty. Their taro bubble tea is pretty funky (in a good way). I really don't have much to say about the food. The decor is pretty lackluster as well. It's really dark inside because they have no overhead lighting.
(3)Peter C.
My girlfriend and I have frequented this spot ever since our friend brought us here last fall (2007). Compared to regular "meat" serving chinese places in center city, this place has beaten them all in quality and service. I usually get the Sesame Seitan or tofu and its always good. Their drinks are also very refreshing and fun. The lunch special is by far the best deal there but the dinner portions are a bit bigger. They've only screwed our order up once and that was getting take out.
(5)y r.
hands down, the best chinese veg restaurant in philadelphia. well worth the few dollars extra (compared to the competition in chinatown). i had the hot and sour soup which was more than adequate. the bean sprout rolls appetizer was delicious. sprouts were fresh, the sauce light and tasty, and the quantity surprising (4 large rolls in total--enough for a small lunch!). for the main, we ordered the kale and hot pepper (was actually a chinese broccoli, but still delicious nonetheless), the tofu skin with 2 kinds of mushroom, and the vegetable chow fun. the tofu skin was tasty and well prepared, the mushrooms absolutely scrumptious. the chow fun noodle seemed to be homemade. very surprising! and delicious. all the vegetables were extremely fresh and not overcooked. flavors were savory and light. two thumbs up.
(5)Evan H.
Su Xing is hands down the best Chinese food we've had in the city. Our perspective may be skewed because we're vegetarians, but this place is pretty marvelous when contrast with greasy, seedy, strange places such as Kingdom of Vegetarians in Chinatown (which does have an amazing Jetsons-like metal dumbwaiter thing from which your food appears). The atmosphere is clean and calm, and the service is very good. When we want Chinese we leave West Philly and its handful of cheap crummy places to visit Su Xing House. And if we lived in Center City we'd eat here more often.
(4)Emma B.
this is far and away my most frequently visited lunch place, mostly because of the braised mushrooms (side dish) and hot and sour soup. get them.
(4)Dave S.
Friendly service, a great selection of specials and more than reasonable prices. I don't think you could ask for anything more. I was a bit hesitant to go to vegetarian only Chinese restaurant but after enjoying a wonderful lunch feast (hot and sour soup, spring roll, and broccoli w/garlic sauce) I can definitely say that I will be going back. Oh yeah, my meal totaled a little over $6.50. Who could ask for more?
(5)Sharon G.
Best vegetarian (vegan) Chinese restaurant in Philly for sure. No fake shrimp, fake pork and so on. Just food that is what it is - fresh and yummy. A favorite. They deliver too!
(5)M. D.
Delicious! The lunch specials are great for the money, and the portions are huge. The employees are friendly and the food is always delicious, not to mention a great value. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Be brave and experiment with something new because you are sure to be rewarded.
(5)Hannah K.
As a vegetarian, I wish every restaurant I go to could be like this! So many delicious options for me, and even my boyfriend (who eats meat) thought it was good. The decor is very nice, and we were quickly seated without a reservation. Our waiter was helpful in suggesting popular dishes from the rather long menu. We ended up ordering the moo shoo vegetables and tofu, which was good, and the sesame tofu, which came with broccoli and was amazing!! My boyfriend said it was the best tofu he had ever had, and I would have to agree. I will definitely be coming back here, can't wait to continue exploring the menu!!
(5)Rupal P.
The staff seems miserable. Their favorite ingredients seem to be oil and sugar. I'm a Gujarati, and I thought the entrees were too sweet...my Indians, you know what that means... -_- Tip: the scallion pancakes are not all that. In fact they're just all fat.
(3)Anrenee R.
Kale and bean curd with brown rice and a spring roll I came here for lunch and ordered the kale and bean curd at the hostess' recommendation. It was okay. It wish it had had more flavor. The texture and vegetable component was great, and I liked the lotus root and peanut soup. The spring roll was also great. If I returned, I would probably order something else.
(3)Nelly M.
We're so delightful that we chose this place for our dinner while in Philly. After a long walk from the Philladephia Museum of arts, we were starving and wanted to have dinner around the 17th street and Chestnut (we stayed at the Club quarter). The restautant didn't look that attractive from outside. We were welcomed by a middle-aged woman, looking so much as someone with an authority aka the owner, and were seated. There were two other couples having their dinner. Thanks to other yelpers, we didn't have to spend too much time on deciding on the menu. For appetizers, we had the potato croquette and scallion pancake. The scallion pancake tasted so good, while the croquette was just okay. Hubby and I shared the sesame tofu that came with a choice of rice. This sesame tofu was just too good! We loved it. Our friend had her noodle and she liked it so much. If only we got to spend more time in Philly, I know I would come to have another dinner at this place. People in Philly, you are so lucky to have a very decent vegetarian restaurant in town. I envy you!
(5)Sangita S.
I can believe I haven't reviewed this place yet. I love it and crave it often. They have the best lunch special deal. Under $9 for soup, entree with rice and a side! I'm obsessed with their sesame tofu which is weird because I'm not usually a tofu person (which is terrible as a vegetarian) but it's so good here. My friend always gets the seitan dishes and those are amazing if you like the mock meat texture. I would recommended to even non vegetarians!
(5)Katherine L.
Surprisingly haven't written a review for this restaurant though I've been here before. Maybe it's a good thing, since I was not impressed before, but now, I'm pretty content. This is standard Chinese vegetarian food with a menu overflowing with mock meats, but if you dig deep, you can find some more traditional Chinese food. That's the stuff I look for at a Chinese restaurant, vegetarian or not. Mock meats are fine, but, do you ever really know what's in them? At least if you order tofu, you know it's just soy with some solidifying chemicals... I digress. Great choices on the menu are traditional seaweed and cucumber salads - I tend to order these just about everywhere and anywhere. To me, it's like having a bread basket with olive oil at a nice Italian restaurant. Anyhow, there are also fried things like spring rolls and scallion pancakes. The appetizer portions are quite generous. All the mock meat dishes that people ordered looked great - plentiful, delicious, sizzling, piping hot and full of lots of goodies. However, I am not the biggest fan of them. The noodles are good here, whether you are eating wheat or rice noodles. They have pan fried and noodle soup. Fried rice if you're so inclined. Lunch specials abound during the week. In my experience, vegetarian Chinese restaurants tend to cater to a more vegetarian palate rather than a more Chinese palate. So, I was glad that they had some traditional Chinese dishes like glutinous rice, turnip, tofu skin, bamboo shoots, pea shoots, black mushrooms (i.e. dried and reconstituted for depth of flavor and texture), Chinese broccoli/ kale, lotus root and glass noodles. OH, and bubble tea??? Those options makes this place top notch in my opinion. In addition, nothing was too salty by my standards, which can be a downfall of many a Chinese eatery. The lack of 5 stars is because of the lack of Chinese greens - they only had 2 fresh Chinese greens, one of which I hate (water spinach)... restaurants stock what will sell, so, yeah. They also had American/ western desserts that were vegetarian, but not vegan... bummer. The concept of gluten-free also seems somewhat challenging here...also, no tea on the table or "free rice," as in traditional Chinese restaurants... but, they had deep fried Chinese rice cakes for a dessert, YES!!!!!!!!!! The hot tea was also fabulous. I will be back... because there are many more dishes I wish to try... no mock meats for me, though, sorry. Keeping it to ingredients that I can identify by sight. Yum!
(4)Jared J.
This place is a vegetarian hot spot. Meat lovers you will be surprised how well the food tastes here. Make sure to try Szechuan Seitan nuggets, a really good option. Sit down, shut up, and eat.
(4)William E.
Great food here. Singapore Rice Noodles were the best I've had. Very nice staff. I also got scallion pancakes and a spring roll.....I was hungry. I wish I lived closer to this place as I really want to explore the menu a bit more.
(4)Eunni C.
I am meat eater who likes go to vegetarian restaurant. I actually like flavor of soy protein. I had hight hope about this place. This place was always packed with people and known as their affordable price. I went there and I got my favorite Chinese menu. Sesame seitan. It came with brown rice and two side veggies. I got corn and steamed broccoli. And vegetarian spring roll. I did not expect gourmet meal for $10 but food did not reach my expectation at all even I considered their amazing price. I did not like my sesame chicken's sauce at all. Way too sweet and lack of flavor beside the sweetness. Side veggies were just sad, they threw couple pieces of steamed veggies and canned corn. Was lame... When I almost finished my meal, I realized they forgot my spring roll. Didn't bother to call them or go back. Boo.
(3)Priya R.
Su Xing is essentially a really cool concept because it's like a typical takeout chinese place but everything is vegetarian! If thats not the life you're about, that's okay, but personally I think you are missing out on a very enjoyable experience. Like many people who frequent here, I am not a vegetarian but still absolutely love getting takeout from here. Some of my favorites include: 1) The sesame seitan is just yum. For vegetarians, I think this is cool because most places don't really know how to do seitan in a way that is flavorful and yummy. I feel like a problem a lot of vegetarians may also be that they like vegetarian food but not necessarily the "fake meat" flavor or texture most veg places offer. I can confidently say you do not have to worry about that here. 2) Scallion Pancakes 3) Golden Rings So far I've only ever gotten delivery, but I hear nice things about the restaurant and hope to go sometime soon!
(4)Jessica S.
Su Xing is still my go-to for vegetarian comfort food. They offer a wide variety of dishes -- some breaded and deep fried, others steamed or braised -- and prepare faux meat well (never rubbery). I love to order the hot and sour soup when I'm coming down with a cold. My other favorites are the Soy Bean Nugget Szechuan style (sans peanuts) and the Triple Shredded in Garlic Sauce (tofu, soy protein strips, and enoki mushrooms). Props to Su Xing for offering brown rice at no additional charge. Su Xing's lunch specials are a real deal. Monday through Saturday, 11:00 to 3:00, lunch specials come with your choice of soup, side, and rice. Platters vary in cost, but tend to hover around $7 and top out around $9. Free delivery starts at 2:00, and my guilty pleasure is to place a delivery order between 2:00 and 3:00 pm on Satuday to get the lunch special deals. My only complaint is that all of Su Xing's dishes lack heat. Chili oil is definitely needed to kick the dishes up a notch.
(4)Kevin P.
Definitely my favorite of the vegetarian Chinese restaurants in Philly. There are so many options on the menu and the prices are excellent given the quality of food. The restaurant is very clean and the décor is above average. The service is also excellent and you never have to wait very long for your food to arrive at the table. Su Xing is one of my go-to spots in Center City.
(4)Kevin B.
The food was great. It came on two plates because we had ordered two dishes. One was different than the other. I believe one dish was a curry dish and the other. There were potatoes, which were soft and cooked. The size and weight of the rice bowls was pleasing. I wasn't sure why they gave me three spoons and just one fork. The shower I took after getting home from this meal was one of the most pleasing showers I've had due to the meal. I did not get hungry once while in the shower afterwards. They gave us oranges which tasted like lemons.
(4)Kim L.
Self-proclaimed meat lover, here. I know what you're thinking. "Vegetarian Chinese? Sounds less-than-tasty and unsatisfying." Well, you're wrong. This place is legit. One of the best and cheapest lunch spots in the area. What you get for your money is absolutely ridiculous! For $6.95 + tax & tip, I got: -hot tea, filled to the brim pretty much every time I took a sip -a spring roll with duck sauce -miso soup -heaping portion of brown rice -enough General Tso's tofu to last me two days for lunch Speaking of the General Tso's tofu - I'm talking crispy, delicious, pillows of guilt-free goodness. My dining partner got the General Tso's veg and loved it just as much. Servers can be a little hard to flag down during the lunch rush, but once you get their attention, they'll bring whatever you need in a flash: carry-out boxes, the check, etc. Go here!
(4)Jane P.
This place is great. I haven't been there in a while but from the ratings it must be the same. I had meat lovers fall in love with this place. I'm not a huge fan of Chinese but this is where I love to go when I do have it!
(5)Dawn S.
Our meal was very tasty. Fried tofu, spring rolls, potato cauliflower curry, vegetable heaven, and Saitan sesame. We all enjoyed what we ate. The hot tea served with the meal was very good and the server kept the cups full which was nice. We would certainly recommend this to vegans looking for some variation to their routine.
(4)Lisa L.
Delicious, quality food. It's everything you would want for Chinese takeout, and it's all veggie!!! The lunch special is a great deal with soup, entree, side, and rice for under $10 and it came put fast. I chose hot & sour soup, general tso's seitan, and mushrooms-all were great and I can't wait to try some more dishes.
(5)Dennis B.
Tasty and inexpensive. I often go here from lunch even though I am not a vegetarian - because the food is good, the service is very good and responsive, and you never have to wait for a table. I particularly like the lunch special version of General Tso's tofu.
(4)C C.
I stopped by for lunch with my parents over the weekend. The interior of the restaurant was dimly lit but I liked the atmosphere. As soon as we sat down, we were brought water and tea, both of which were constantly refilled. We each got a different lunch special, which includes your choice of soup, side, and rice with the entree, all for under eight dollars (most were about six or seven dollars). The lotus root peanut soup was delicious, though there wasn't much lotus root. I got the veggie steak in black pepper sauce, which was pretty good; my only complaint is that there was too much sauce. The side of seaweed was also good. I got my meal with brown rice. My dad's General Tso's tofu was fantastic, as many reviews have mentioned. I've never had tofu fried like that. However, he asked for white rice but got brown. He didn't mind too much and didn't ask the waitress to change it. All in all, a great discovery in the city. I look forward to going back sometime.
(4)Grace P.
This place is amazing. I'm not a vegetarian and normally would have never even tried tofu but they've got me hooked. Best sesame/general tso's anything I've ever had. It beats out most other actual meats too. Loved their miso soup as well and is hands down, also the best Miso I've ever had. Which is saying a lot... As for pricing, super great. Huge proportions for what you pay and if you're looking for a good filling but not super expensive meal, I highly suggest going here with a friend or two and splitting some of the main dishes. So great. Highly highly recommend to anyone, even my fellow meat-eater carnivore red meat loving fellows. Seriously, just do it.
(5)M K.
This place is fantastic! First things first, I can usually find parking nearby which is a magical and unusual event in Center City. Arriving there I am greeted by the lovely hostess who is always smiling and friendly. I have not been there during lunch hour so I don't have anything to say about their famed specials but for under $30 or so I get two entrees, soup, and a drink for my husband and I. There are always plenty of leftovers to have later on. Regarding the food, I have yet to find anything that beats their delicious General Tso's tofu. Whenever I go there I generally get one of that + one other entree to try. The triple shredded in garlic sauce is wonderful. I found the Kung Pao tofu lacking but that's just my opinion. Their three mushroom soup is to die for. All in all, wonderful place for a low-key date!
(5)Jessie J.
Apparently my previous visit was a fluke. Went for lunch today, and the service was blazing fast this time. We were served everything back-to-back. I tried the steak w/mushrooms and onions, and it was really tasty. The gravy is so good, I sopped up my side of tofu with it. Updating from 3 to 5 stars.
(5)Hannah K.
As a vegetarian, I wish every restaurant I go to could be like this! So many delicious options for me, and even my boyfriend (who eats meat) thought it was good. The decor is very nice, and we were quickly seated without a reservation. Our waiter was helpful in suggesting popular dishes from the rather long menu. We ended up ordering the moo shoo vegetables and tofu, which was good, and the sesame tofu, which came with broccoli and was amazing!! My boyfriend said it was the best tofu he had ever had, and I would have to agree. I will definitely be coming back here, can't wait to continue exploring the menu!!
(5)Rupal P.
The staff seems miserable. Their favorite ingredients seem to be oil and sugar. I'm a Gujarati, and I thought the entrees were too sweet...my Indians, you know what that means... -_- Tip: the scallion pancakes are not all that. In fact they're just all fat.
(3)Anrenee R.
Kale and bean curd with brown rice and a spring roll I came here for lunch and ordered the kale and bean curd at the hostess' recommendation. It was okay. It wish it had had more flavor. The texture and vegetable component was great, and I liked the lotus root and peanut soup. The spring roll was also great. If I returned, I would probably order something else.
(3)Nelly M.
We're so delightful that we chose this place for our dinner while in Philly. After a long walk from the Philladephia Museum of arts, we were starving and wanted to have dinner around the 17th street and Chestnut (we stayed at the Club quarter). The restautant didn't look that attractive from outside. We were welcomed by a middle-aged woman, looking so much as someone with an authority aka the owner, and were seated. There were two other couples having their dinner. Thanks to other yelpers, we didn't have to spend too much time on deciding on the menu. For appetizers, we had the potato croquette and scallion pancake. The scallion pancake tasted so good, while the croquette was just okay. Hubby and I shared the sesame tofu that came with a choice of rice. This sesame tofu was just too good! We loved it. Our friend had her noodle and she liked it so much. If only we got to spend more time in Philly, I know I would come to have another dinner at this place. People in Philly, you are so lucky to have a very decent vegetarian restaurant in town. I envy you!
(5)Sangita S.
I can believe I haven't reviewed this place yet. I love it and crave it often. They have the best lunch special deal. Under $9 for soup, entree with rice and a side! I'm obsessed with their sesame tofu which is weird because I'm not usually a tofu person (which is terrible as a vegetarian) but it's so good here. My friend always gets the seitan dishes and those are amazing if you like the mock meat texture. I would recommended to even non vegetarians!
(5)Eunni C.
I am meat eater who likes go to vegetarian restaurant. I actually like flavor of soy protein. I had hight hope about this place. This place was always packed with people and known as their affordable price. I went there and I got my favorite Chinese menu. Sesame seitan. It came with brown rice and two side veggies. I got corn and steamed broccoli. And vegetarian spring roll. I did not expect gourmet meal for $10 but food did not reach my expectation at all even I considered their amazing price. I did not like my sesame chicken's sauce at all. Way too sweet and lack of flavor beside the sweetness. Side veggies were just sad, they threw couple pieces of steamed veggies and canned corn. Was lame... When I almost finished my meal, I realized they forgot my spring roll. Didn't bother to call them or go back. Boo.
(3)Priya R.
Su Xing is essentially a really cool concept because it's like a typical takeout chinese place but everything is vegetarian! If thats not the life you're about, that's okay, but personally I think you are missing out on a very enjoyable experience. Like many people who frequent here, I am not a vegetarian but still absolutely love getting takeout from here. Some of my favorites include: 1) The sesame seitan is just yum. For vegetarians, I think this is cool because most places don't really know how to do seitan in a way that is flavorful and yummy. I feel like a problem a lot of vegetarians may also be that they like vegetarian food but not necessarily the "fake meat" flavor or texture most veg places offer. I can confidently say you do not have to worry about that here. 2) Scallion Pancakes 3) Golden Rings So far I've only ever gotten delivery, but I hear nice things about the restaurant and hope to go sometime soon!
(4)Katherine L.
Surprisingly haven't written a review for this restaurant though I've been here before. Maybe it's a good thing, since I was not impressed before, but now, I'm pretty content. This is standard Chinese vegetarian food with a menu overflowing with mock meats, but if you dig deep, you can find some more traditional Chinese food. That's the stuff I look for at a Chinese restaurant, vegetarian or not. Mock meats are fine, but, do you ever really know what's in them? At least if you order tofu, you know it's just soy with some solidifying chemicals... I digress. Great choices on the menu are traditional seaweed and cucumber salads - I tend to order these just about everywhere and anywhere. To me, it's like having a bread basket with olive oil at a nice Italian restaurant. Anyhow, there are also fried things like spring rolls and scallion pancakes. The appetizer portions are quite generous. All the mock meat dishes that people ordered looked great - plentiful, delicious, sizzling, piping hot and full of lots of goodies. However, I am not the biggest fan of them. The noodles are good here, whether you are eating wheat or rice noodles. They have pan fried and noodle soup. Fried rice if you're so inclined. Lunch specials abound during the week. In my experience, vegetarian Chinese restaurants tend to cater to a more vegetarian palate rather than a more Chinese palate. So, I was glad that they had some traditional Chinese dishes like glutinous rice, turnip, tofu skin, bamboo shoots, pea shoots, black mushrooms (i.e. dried and reconstituted for depth of flavor and texture), Chinese broccoli/ kale, lotus root and glass noodles. OH, and bubble tea??? Those options makes this place top notch in my opinion. In addition, nothing was too salty by my standards, which can be a downfall of many a Chinese eatery. The lack of 5 stars is because of the lack of Chinese greens - they only had 2 fresh Chinese greens, one of which I hate (water spinach)... restaurants stock what will sell, so, yeah. They also had American/ western desserts that were vegetarian, but not vegan... bummer. The concept of gluten-free also seems somewhat challenging here...also, no tea on the table or "free rice," as in traditional Chinese restaurants... but, they had deep fried Chinese rice cakes for a dessert, YES!!!!!!!!!! The hot tea was also fabulous. I will be back... because there are many more dishes I wish to try... no mock meats for me, though, sorry. Keeping it to ingredients that I can identify by sight. Yum!
(4)Jared J.
This place is a vegetarian hot spot. Meat lovers you will be surprised how well the food tastes here. Make sure to try Szechuan Seitan nuggets, a really good option. Sit down, shut up, and eat.
(4)William E.
Great food here. Singapore Rice Noodles were the best I've had. Very nice staff. I also got scallion pancakes and a spring roll.....I was hungry. I wish I lived closer to this place as I really want to explore the menu a bit more.
(4)Jessica S.
Su Xing is still my go-to for vegetarian comfort food. They offer a wide variety of dishes -- some breaded and deep fried, others steamed or braised -- and prepare faux meat well (never rubbery). I love to order the hot and sour soup when I'm coming down with a cold. My other favorites are the Soy Bean Nugget Szechuan style (sans peanuts) and the Triple Shredded in Garlic Sauce (tofu, soy protein strips, and enoki mushrooms). Props to Su Xing for offering brown rice at no additional charge. Su Xing's lunch specials are a real deal. Monday through Saturday, 11:00 to 3:00, lunch specials come with your choice of soup, side, and rice. Platters vary in cost, but tend to hover around $7 and top out around $9. Free delivery starts at 2:00, and my guilty pleasure is to place a delivery order between 2:00 and 3:00 pm on Satuday to get the lunch special deals. My only complaint is that all of Su Xing's dishes lack heat. Chili oil is definitely needed to kick the dishes up a notch.
(4)Kevin P.
Definitely my favorite of the vegetarian Chinese restaurants in Philly. There are so many options on the menu and the prices are excellent given the quality of food. The restaurant is very clean and the décor is above average. The service is also excellent and you never have to wait very long for your food to arrive at the table. Su Xing is one of my go-to spots in Center City.
(4)Kevin B.
The food was great. It came on two plates because we had ordered two dishes. One was different than the other. I believe one dish was a curry dish and the other. There were potatoes, which were soft and cooked. The size and weight of the rice bowls was pleasing. I wasn't sure why they gave me three spoons and just one fork. The shower I took after getting home from this meal was one of the most pleasing showers I've had due to the meal. I did not get hungry once while in the shower afterwards. They gave us oranges which tasted like lemons.
(4)Kim L.
Self-proclaimed meat lover, here. I know what you're thinking. "Vegetarian Chinese? Sounds less-than-tasty and unsatisfying." Well, you're wrong. This place is legit. One of the best and cheapest lunch spots in the area. What you get for your money is absolutely ridiculous! For $6.95 + tax & tip, I got: -hot tea, filled to the brim pretty much every time I took a sip -a spring roll with duck sauce -miso soup -heaping portion of brown rice -enough General Tso's tofu to last me two days for lunch Speaking of the General Tso's tofu - I'm talking crispy, delicious, pillows of guilt-free goodness. My dining partner got the General Tso's veg and loved it just as much. Servers can be a little hard to flag down during the lunch rush, but once you get their attention, they'll bring whatever you need in a flash: carry-out boxes, the check, etc. Go here!
(4)Jane P.
This place is great. I haven't been there in a while but from the ratings it must be the same. I had meat lovers fall in love with this place. I'm not a huge fan of Chinese but this is where I love to go when I do have it!
(5)Dawn S.
Our meal was very tasty. Fried tofu, spring rolls, potato cauliflower curry, vegetable heaven, and Saitan sesame. We all enjoyed what we ate. The hot tea served with the meal was very good and the server kept the cups full which was nice. We would certainly recommend this to vegans looking for some variation to their routine.
(4)Lisa L.
Delicious, quality food. It's everything you would want for Chinese takeout, and it's all veggie!!! The lunch special is a great deal with soup, entree, side, and rice for under $10 and it came put fast. I chose hot & sour soup, general tso's seitan, and mushrooms-all were great and I can't wait to try some more dishes.
(5)Dennis B.
Tasty and inexpensive. I often go here from lunch even though I am not a vegetarian - because the food is good, the service is very good and responsive, and you never have to wait for a table. I particularly like the lunch special version of General Tso's tofu.
(4)C C.
I stopped by for lunch with my parents over the weekend. The interior of the restaurant was dimly lit but I liked the atmosphere. As soon as we sat down, we were brought water and tea, both of which were constantly refilled. We each got a different lunch special, which includes your choice of soup, side, and rice with the entree, all for under eight dollars (most were about six or seven dollars). The lotus root peanut soup was delicious, though there wasn't much lotus root. I got the veggie steak in black pepper sauce, which was pretty good; my only complaint is that there was too much sauce. The side of seaweed was also good. I got my meal with brown rice. My dad's General Tso's tofu was fantastic, as many reviews have mentioned. I've never had tofu fried like that. However, he asked for white rice but got brown. He didn't mind too much and didn't ask the waitress to change it. All in all, a great discovery in the city. I look forward to going back sometime.
(4)Grace P.
This place is amazing. I'm not a vegetarian and normally would have never even tried tofu but they've got me hooked. Best sesame/general tso's anything I've ever had. It beats out most other actual meats too. Loved their miso soup as well and is hands down, also the best Miso I've ever had. Which is saying a lot... As for pricing, super great. Huge proportions for what you pay and if you're looking for a good filling but not super expensive meal, I highly suggest going here with a friend or two and splitting some of the main dishes. So great. Highly highly recommend to anyone, even my fellow meat-eater carnivore red meat loving fellows. Seriously, just do it.
(5)Asma K.
Best Chinese Vegetarian place I have ever been to! I am a vegetarian and have been to many Chinese vegetarian restaurants in DC and none come even close to this one. Whenever I am in Philly I go there to eat. My favorites are the garlic eggplant and tofu and the sesame seitan. I even took my meat lover father and cousins there and they loved it. I wish they would expand and open up more restaurants. As for the service, I've never had bad service they have always been nice and no issues. However it is just the standard they have never done anything amazing to stand out.
(5)M K.
This place is fantastic! First things first, I can usually find parking nearby which is a magical and unusual event in Center City. Arriving there I am greeted by the lovely hostess who is always smiling and friendly. I have not been there during lunch hour so I don't have anything to say about their famed specials but for under $30 or so I get two entrees, soup, and a drink for my husband and I. There are always plenty of leftovers to have later on. Regarding the food, I have yet to find anything that beats their delicious General Tso's tofu. Whenever I go there I generally get one of that + one other entree to try. The triple shredded in garlic sauce is wonderful. I found the Kung Pao tofu lacking but that's just my opinion. Their three mushroom soup is to die for. All in all, wonderful place for a low-key date!
(5)Jessie J.
Apparently my previous visit was a fluke. Went for lunch today, and the service was blazing fast this time. We were served everything back-to-back. I tried the steak w/mushrooms and onions, and it was really tasty. The gravy is so good, I sopped up my side of tofu with it. Updating from 3 to 5 stars.
(5)Hayley E.
Wow! This place Rocks! Almost everything is vegan and it is in center city! No need to go into China town, which is nice because it's slightly closer to everything else. It was a semi formal mini restaurant. Very dark and quiet, but cute. The service was nice. They weren't up in your face bothering you, constantly asking you how your meal was, which is appealing for me at least. Sometimes once I get my food, I like to enjoy it in peace. They were still very good with their service though. As soon as I sat down,vey were serving me a cup already filled with hot tea. As soon as I was out of tea, they were filling it up again. I was amazed by the service speed of the food. Once I made my order, I was getting myself organized at my table and was about to open up my book when the soup came out. It was really hot, so I played with it to cool it Down and took two bites. As soon as I took my third bite out soup, my main course was ready. Some people may not like to have it all out at once, but I like it that way. I was amazed by how fast they were. And the quality of the food was great too! They didn't just rush through it to give me crappy food. I got the Setian Sesame, and it was out of this world! It was so crispy and delicious! I got the lunch portion, which seemed like a dinner portion to me....but hey, I'm not complaining. For he amount I got, it was dirt cheap. I would most definitely come here again! I wobbled out with no regrets! That was the best vegan go to Chinese restaurant I've been to so far!
(5)Vicki H.
This place has an awesome lunch special. Expect to get a great meal for under $7 (plus tip). I've had both the lotus root and hot and sour soups and both are tasty. I found the hot and sour to be a bit more flavorful (peppery, as another reviewer noted), but I found it to be a little bit thick, which I wasn't expecting. I've had the stir fried green beans, and the general tso's veggies. The green beans were excellent, very flavorful. The general tso's veggies, at least in my order, came with seitan, as well. Definitely had that great deep-fried feel you want from a general tso's dish (diet food this is not). I like that there seem to be a breadth of things, from lighter fare to the deliciously deep-fried items. Service is attentive, and I appreciate that the meal comes with brown/white rice, spring roll, and hot tea!
(4)Aria S.
I am obsessed with this place. My favorite vegetarian Chinese place in Chinatown, Singapore, closed down, so I gave this place a try. The first time I ordered the steak for dinner and it was delicious. I went for lunch the other day and the special was $6.75 and came with rice (no extra $ for brown), a side (spring rolls, salad, fruit), AND a soup (miso, hot & sour). All of that amazing food for $6.75! I got the kung pao tofu with peanuts and it was delicious. My friend got the "as-you-wish" which was like tofu sushi looking things? They looked amazing. Service is quick and friendly. I would order pick up about 30min ahead to stay on safe side because it's all freshly made I'm pretty sure. The interior is standard Chinese restaurant, spacious with booths. Nothing glamorous.
(5)Hagana K.
This place is absolutely fantastic. The lunch specials are a ridiculous value if you're in the area around lunch time - 7 or 8 bucks for soup, entree and side. I always get the hot and sour soup, which isn't all that spicy, but very peppery - like lots of white pepper in the recipe. Still fantastic, just really clears out your sinuses. You really can't order anything wrong here, at least in my experience. If you're into the Americanized Chinese food, the general tsos tofu is ridiculous - beautifully deep-fried little pillows of soft tofu. The kung pao dried tofu is my favorite, although the shredded bean curd in garlic sauce is awesome too. About 1 in 3 times I get the chow mei fun singapore style, which is a curry-flavored thin noodle stir-fry with soy-protein chicken substitute. The soy-substitute chicken is... I'm not crazy about it, but I guess i'm happy it's there for the sake of complete nutrition? It certainly doesn't detract from the dish. The fried rice is really good too. For cheap, quick, Chinese vegetarian takeout, doesn't get any better in Center City.
(5)Min P.
Meh. Not bad not great.
(3)Emily H.
Love their lotus root soup.. unlimited tea! classy dining setup doesn't hurt either.
(4)Douglas M.
The servers are nice but the General Tso's Veg is pretty awful. I'll try something else the next time I'm here.
(3)Eve B.
We ate here this evening. The food was really good and the wait staff attentive. I am a vegetarian so was delighted to find this restaurant. It's very reasonably priced.
(5)Danan R.
We came back for lunch and it was great as always. My mushroom delight with the seaweed salad and hot and sour soup was very good and I really liked the touch of sesame in the sauce. The "as you wish" rolls were fantastic with a great balance of shiitake, golden mushrooms, bean curd, and celery wrapped in a bean curd sheet, then roasted and seasoned. This is a must try here! The home style bean curd was great as well! It is made with fried tofu as an FYI. Service was great and our tea was refilled consistently.
(4)Omnom N.
I really liked the food - especially the golden feather Knishes. We also ordered spicy tofu but u wish it was spicier. The portion sizes here are decent - definitely to be shared. Nice ambience as well. I really disliked the service though. The waitress seemed to be in a haste, grabbing menus and plates off our hands. There wasn't even a huge turnover / people waiting to even justify almost shooing us out.
(3)Kathy Y.
I am a lifelong vegetarian and I love this place! We were visiting Philly for the weekend and was pleasantly surprised by this place. The good was delicious and the location was great. It was very reasonably priced and the service was top notch. We may have to find excuses to take the two-hour drive just to eat at this place again.
(5)Jennifer C.
Perfect inexpensive lunch place. I always get the lunch special with the miso soup, spring roll, and either the lo mein or the sesame seitan. This time I got the hot and sour soup and seitan. Lovely large meal for a really great price. They're a little heavy handed with the corn starch in both of these items, so it's a little goopy, but everything tastes amazing. Hot and sour soup is quite spicy. I'll stick to my miso soup from now on!
(4)Kenneth G.
We are from Reading, PA and it seems we must travel to get really great vegan food. iCreate in Pottstown, SuXing House in Philly. This little restaurant is, hands down, the best Asian food we have experienced in a long time. We were able to bring our own wine (no charge for doing so) and shared 4 entrees and 3 appetizers with friends. Every one was out of this world. Their spring rolls were nice but we especially loved the miso soup with tofu. Utterly divine. The sesame seitan with broccoli was my favorite, probably all of ours, but the other 3 entrees were also excellent. We relaxed with good friends and good food and a wine of our choosing. Perfect! The final wonderful surprise was their bill for the wonderful food, service and atmosphere! We couldn't believe the price for all this was sooo low. We just can't wait to come back!!
(5)Cassie Z.
Delicious food! And I have meat with every meal. Tastes like authentic Chinese cooking that my mom makes. No wait, and really fast food service. Tea was awesome as well.
(5)Sylvia O.
I didn't even know this place was vegetarian until I got a few bites in. The food is delicious! Great for lunch and huge portions. Of all of the places in Philly, their menu is the most unique and will satisfy both carnivores and vegetarians alike.
(5)Laura L.
Food is awesome! Price is unbelievably low! Best vegetarian restaurant that I have ever been! Good to learn that they even have lunch specials on Saturday. Recommend: Pepper veggie steak - taste like real steak!! Hope they could deliver to University City too...
(5)Laura Jill S.
YUM! Why did it take me so long to come here? Vegan Chinese food & closer to my house than New Harmony. That's a win! (Except that I think I like New Harmony better.) Our waitress seemed to either hate her job or hate us, so I made it a point to be extra super effusive: "Thank you SOOO much, I LOOOOVEEEE the soup, etc, etc." Eventually, she cracked a smile, that's also a win. I had the hot & sour soup (hotter than New Harmony's, NH's is more sour...I prefer NH's). We also had dumplings (SO good--I didn't want to share) and spring rolls. I ordered curry potatoes + peas + cauliflower (I combined 2 dishes because I wanted peas AND cauliflower, she made sure I understood they'd be charging me an extra $1 GASP!) and my dining companion ordered the General Tso's tofu. I liked his better, he liked mine better: we traded. For dessert, I had the chocolate sorbet. Good food and actually comical how angry our waitress was. I'll go back again for sure!
(4)Sam G.
As good as vegetarian food gets. 1. Vegetarian 2. Chinese food I'm not even vegetarian! I don't care for that tbh. But this place was good. It was good. There was such creativity in the foods (for an omnivore such as myself). Mapo Tofu, some fake oyster dish, and some rice dish. I forget. Look at the photos. The prices are pretty cheap for the area. It's a steal, actually.
(4)Ernesto Hideyokidz C.
We came here recently as a party of seven eating family style. The appeal of this place is that it was vegetarian, kosher, BYOB, and local. Sometimes when you order vegetarian dishes from non-veg Chinese places, they come out sort of lackluster, tasteless, or ugly. I liked that they made an effort to make the dishes look like meat dishes. Service was good, food came out steadily, and everything ended up being around $130 not including tip. I would recommend this place if you're having a large party (they have a separate room and you can save money with BYOB). Their menu caters to all types of eating habits. Even those who weren't huge fans of eating vegetarian or tofu meals were really impressed by the food here. Here is a breakdown of some of what we got. Appetizers: A few different soups Pan fried dumplings - have little cubes of tofu inside Potato croquettes - look like a chicken nuggets, prefect with a little salt and ketchup 2 Plates of Vegetable Stick with BBQ sauce - corn, mushroom, peppers, etc., with some kind of protein (looked like veggie sausage) Fried vegetable balls - similar to the croquettes but not breaded. I loved these Edamame - came out salted to perfection Entrees: Vegetable Lo Mein - plate is huge, don't get this for just one person General Tso Tofu - loved the sauce, got it on the side for other dishes Sesame Tofu - came with broccoli, also large enough for sharing Veg Heaven - maybe one of the less popular dishes we ordered Golden Rings - spicy and crispy, deceptively shaped like shrimp but veg obviously 2 Plates Sesame Seitan - similar to the general tso tofu, crispy and flavorful Veggie Steak - well loved at our table I obviously would recommend this place. Just a note to the management about the potato paste based dishes. Of the dishes that had this (croquettes, golden rings, etc.) the paste was a little heavy/gummy/sticky which made it difficult to chew and swallow. If it could be a little fluffier and easier going down, those dishes would have been my favorite
(5)Becca D.
Standard Chinese cuisine, but with a vegetarian focus. The food wasn't amazing, but it definitely was good! And really, the price can't be beat. Wasn't super busy on a weekday lunch so service was quick. Definitely will be back!
(3)Judy C.
I had dinner here and I made the mistake of ordering an appetizer AND an entree. BY the time I was done with the scallion pancakes, I was pretty much full. I ordered the Taro potato knishes as an entree. For vegetarian food, it was really cheap and they gave me a huge portion I couldn't finish. BY the time I was done, I felt like a starchy knish myself. The flavor was ok. It was like any other fast food Chinese place - laden with orange sauce. I didn't really taste any taro since everything was deeply fried. The scallion pancakes were a bit stale and hard and the sauce was boring. I would go here again if I was craving vegetarian Chinese food, but Philly has so many kinds of food I want to try, that it might take me a while to come back to Su Xing.
(3)Ama C.
I went here with a friend for a last minute, casual dinner. I had eaten earlier, so I opted for the scallion pancake and spring roll from the appetizer menu. I don't recall what my friend ordered. The spring rolls were hot and fresh, my friend's entrée was delicious but the pancake tasted like... it was perhaps not as fresh as possible. It wasn't terrible, but not as good as I was hoping. Service was polite, quick and fairly attentive, though a bit brusque (the server kept the tea coming though) and the prices were amazing. I would definitely try again, though perhaps a different item.
(4)Michelle S.
The Pros: The food was really good, and it was way cheap. You can seriously get stuffed here for around 15 dollars. The vegetarian prawn and vegetables was phenomenal. The Cons: The other two dishes that my friends got were just ok. Our waitress was kind of stern. Every time she came over I felt like she was going to yell at us. Maybe she was just having a bad day? I would return, the menu is so large that I want to try more things before I make up my mind completely about Su Xing House. Plus, it's so cheap, even if you don't like what you got, you don't feel like you wasted a lot of money.
(3)Joyce T.
Spring rolls are fried to order! The sesame tofu is fantastic. The atmosphere and the lighting of the restaurant are on the weird side.
(4)Nabi A.
I probably come to this place once a week. I have brought my vegan friends and my carnivore friends and they all love it! It is so cheap that we usually have leftovers. One meal can perfectly feed both me and my fiancée and there are leftovers. My favorite is the soy nuggets with sweet and sour sauce and the fried rice. YUM!!!!
(5)Amalia Y.
didn't miss the meat at all... scallion pancake was super-fried and a little harder than I enjoy. flavorful but a but greasy. general tso's tofu wasn't as spicy as I expected, but overall not bad. the texture of the tofu was nice, and didn't leave me wishing I'd had chicken instead. the sauce had a lot of whole peppers in it, so pay attention when you eat to avoid a mouthful of fire! vegetable my shu was flavorful and has a good mix of veg. I've typically had mu shu served with the pancakes on the side so I could assemble myself.... here they do it table-side for you. one order = 4 chinese burritos. noms. the price point is super reasonable, and this place is a nice alternative for vegetarians and those who keep kosher... and the meat-eaters won't have anything to complain about.
(3)Dhara M.
The food here is just delicious! It is an authentic Chinese restaurant, AND it's vegetarian! Which is a very surprising and pleasant deal. I eat here every time I'm in Philly. Love this restaurant!
(5)Lei Y.
Very good veg!!! So yummy. I believe the tofu here is a must-have. Also love the glass noodle in hot pot. I'll try more for next time going!
(5)Cat N.
Ate here tonight with a good friend - neither of us are vegetarians, but nothing was lacking! We ordered spring rolls, the sesame seitan with broccoli, and the As-You-Wish dish. Spring rolls were delicious, but the sesame seitan was the star! SO good! The As-You-Wish was very good, as well. Very attentive with the tea and water. All in all, a solid 4 - EXCEPT... the portions (HUGE, we had lots of leftovers), the price (TOTALLY reasonable!), and the fact that there were at least 5 other dishes that I want to try! Bumped it up to a 5, and I will be BACK!
(5)Colleen M.
I can typically find something on any menu to meet my needs. This talent comes from necessity and the overwhelming disdain for those preachy-type vegetarians. As the only non-meat eater in a group of meat loving foodies, I have adapted. So, when one of those friends decided to pick this place because I am always "so good about going with to any meat-fest in town" I was extremely excited (and a little nervous that she wouldn't be happy with the selection). Let me tell you, this place didn't disappoint. I had never heard of Su Xing House but I could not have been happier with the service, the menu selection or the food. The General Tso was amazing. The scallion pancakes were to die for. My friend was equally happy with the food and even took her left overs home for another taste. I can't wait to go back to try more of the menu options. So many were mouth watering I had trouble narrowing down my options.
(5)Vinny P.
The food at Su Xing House will not blow your mind. What is great about it is that you are able to have all those wonderful feelings of eating chinese food (from your childhood) but without the meat. Most (if not all) of their stuff seems to be vegan. Perhaps they throw in some egg or butter somewhere but for the most part, you're good. The price point is insanely low for this section of the city. There aren't many places with a lunch special like this one. For a low price, you get soup, entree, rice and a spring roll, with all the tea and duck sauce you can drink. On a recent trip, I was pleasantly surprised by the lotus root soup. I doctored it up with a bit of white pepper and it was nearly perfect. I'm partial to the homestyle bean curd but I haven't ever gotten them to prepare me something "spicy" I feel like each time I ask for it they just sort of chuckle and never actually do it. So, I've eaten here a number of times and will continue to. It's an inexpensive lunch option and the food is tasty, in that "I want to feel guilty about eating chinese" way.
(3)Josh H.
I've had their food three times now, and gotten the same dish each time. The first time, it was four star-worthy, perfection the second time (dine-in), but on the third try, I came away very disappointed. The sauce was more gelatinous than it was on previous occasions, and my girlfriend, who was previously very happy with their food, found hers only semi-edible. I will give them another chance, at some point, but for now, I'll give them three stars.
(3)Stephanie S.
I think this review deserves 3.5. Su Xing has been on my bookmark list for months, since its an all-vegetarian restaurant. I came here for lunch with some co-workers, and it was really good. Certainly better restaurants in the area, but they did a good job with what they have. The inside was cute and decorated nicely, there's additional seating upstairs which is nice. The waitresses are VERY attentive. She filled up our hot green tea every 5 minutes. We arrived during a busy lunch hour, but the kitchen did a great job getting the food out quickly. We probably only waited 5 minutes before the soup came out, then another 10 for the meals. Very fast! I had the sesame siatian, which is like soy-"chicken" with sweet sesame sauce covered on top. It has a crunchy coating, and served with rice, broccoli, and I had seaweed as my other side item. Everything was very good. My coworkers had the "beef" which was soy-steak, it was also very good, had a ginger sort of flavor. They had a spring roll on the side. Everyone enjoyed their meals, and the service was speedy. Not the best meal ever, but I do recommend this for vegetarians, and I will go back.
(3)Daniel L.
My wife and I love this place! They are all vegetarian and I'm a protein guy but I absolutely love this place. They also have brown rice on request for those watching GI. They give generous portions especially for the price. Nothing tastes greasy so you don't leave this place feeling like a disgusting blob. Definitely worth checking out!
(5)Denise K.
Service was amazing and the food overall was tasty and decent. Pancake scallions, veg prawn with walnuts and general tso's veg were all just a little too over done/fried to the point of being chewy. Maybe I didn't try the right menu items to really enjoy it properly.
(3)Ashley S.
The General Tso's is really all that! My family came for dinner the other night and ordered a little of everything to share. The soy protein steak tasted oddly like fish (I really enjoy fish so I loved it!), the "beef" with broccoli had a great sauce, the As-You-Wish tofu was nicely crisp, and the Triple Shredded in Garlic Sauce was tasty. I definitely prefer this to traditional Chinese food! Can't wait to be back for the lunch special!
(5)Yun W.
Came here with a large party and they sat us in a back room. The service was prompt with tea, water, and food, given our large party size. Came out to roughly $17/person after tax & tip for a great meal. Highly recommended if you don't mind going all-vegetarian. Tried a bunch of dishes. My rankings: APPETIZERS - Sesame Cold Noodles - 5 stars - these were delicious, highly recommended Pan Fried Dumplings - 4 stars - flavorful despite being vegetarian Scallion Pancake - 3.5 stars - your typical scallion pancakes, slightly on the oily side for me, but pretty good Sweet Candied Walnut - 3 stars - these were good but I felt it could have been paired with something else instead of an entire plate of walnut s DISHES - Spicy Szechuan Style Tofu - 4 stars - a standard dish and right level of spiciness Moo Shu Vegetables and Tofu - 4 stars - this was quite good, I would pick it over the real Moo Shu Pork dish. Recommended. Black Mushroom w/ Asparagus and Green - 3.5 stars - good presentation and flavorful black mushrooms. asparagus and greens were less flavorful but still decent. this was a standard veggie dish and would get 4 stars except it was definitely on the pricey side for veggies. Veggie Lo Mein - 3.5 stars - the tofu pieces add an interesting "meat" flavor, but other than that it's a pretty standard dish. Taro Croquettes w/ Cashew in Sweet and Sour Sauce - 3.5 stars - this was an interesting dish, it reminded me of Sweet and Sour Chicken, but the taro pieces were kind of small and coated with a lot of fried batter Veggie Prawn w/ Walnut - 3 stars - another interesting dish. The fake prawns were huge (battered and fried), and covered in mayonnaise like sauce with walnuts and honeydew (somewhat random). I understood what they were trying to do here but unfortunately it lagged pretty far behind the actual prawn dish.
(4)Shashank G.
Nice VEGETARIAN Chinese place. Some vegan friends enjoy this place as well (as is heard) Close to center city and a lot of parking (paid) and subways! A BYOB. Friendly / accommodating staff. Honestly, a last minute place to satisfy your most peculiar friends who have a vendetta against plants - doesn't get more convenient than this. And you can be a loud bunch as well - I don't really think people mind it if you ;) liven ;) the place up .. Plus they have put a good amount of time on making tofu. Which I like. Real soft nice tofu - tip - please don't fry it. You will finally get 'nice' tofu here!
(4)Alex M.
Great food, friendly staff. The golden runs are unabashedly not imitation meat, and one of the better things I've had here.
(5)Erica T.
I JUST WANT TO SCREAM WITH JOY WHEN I THINK ABOUT EATING HERE 1. I'm not a vegetarian. 2. If you think you need to be a vegetarian to appreciate vegetarian food, you are probably very bad at eating and enjoying food. 3. I don't know why I'm making a list, this seems hella dumb now. Anyway, Su Xing is amazing because the food is AMAZING and insanely cheap. Two people can easily stuff themselves for less than 20 bucks. I live in the midwest and all I hear about is how expensive east coast everything is, but there isn't a single place I've been to in the midwest that is as high quality and inexpensive as Su Xing. I know it seems kind of generic given that their menu is so huge, but I opted for the sesame tofu twice because I've had it at so many places and this was the best sesame tofu I've ever had in my entire life and this includes ses tofu I've probably spent twice as much on ok!! It's glorious They also give you complimentary tea that I think is delish ok! I'm just gonna give you a list of things that are really delicious. Sesame Tofu Spicy Szechuan Style Tofu Fried Banana As-You-Wish Golden Rings Please keep in mind that I live 800 miles away and therefore don't get a lot of chances to eat here. i just want to come to Philly once a week so I can eat here! Considering how cheap it is, it's actually not a bad idea...
(5)Carrie C.
My friend and I were a little cautious to walk in because the restaurant was EMPTY, however, we decided to give it a shot anyway because my vegetarian friend wanted Chinese food. We were so pleasantly surprised by our experience here. The service was actually pretty fast and friendly, and the food was surprisingly delicious. We ordered the sesame seitan as well as a sticky rice wrap. Both were a tad bit oilier than I would have liked, but they were both so flavorful, and I would definitely recommend them both. Also, the sesame seitan was delicious as leftovers the next day!
(4)Abhi K.
We got delivery from here and were disappointed. Everything was very average, but based on these Yelp reviews, we thought we were going to get something exceptional. First of all, the delivery was not at all fast. We got our food an hour after we ordered. Secondly, the food was fine, but they forgot part of our order and as this was a delivery, we couldn't get that back. It was only a large side of rice, oh well. The portions are gigantic, so you do get a lot of food for the money that you put in. Fried bananas: mushy and overripe bananas. Shakes: More watery than milky (could be due to delivery on a cold night) Creamy corn soup: It's like egg drop soup with corn -- delicious. Tofu Eggplant in garlic sauce: Generous portion, the tofu tasted good. Large strips of tofu that were fried and marinated in the garlic sauce along with the eggplants. I recommend this dish. Maybe the dining experience is better when you dine-in?
(3)S. H.
The fragrant floral cup of tea served with the meal was a nice touch. For a $6.95 lunch, you get a reasonable, light meal. I ordered eggplant and tofu with garlic sauce. I chose white rice, seaweed, and a miso soup. The miso soup was okay. The seaweed was better than I expected. The eggplant and tofu tasted good, but had too much sauce on the plate. The portion of rice was unexpectedly small. With so much sauce, a little more white rice may have helped mop that up. Overall, Su Xing House is fine for a quick, affordable, light, vegetarian lunch, but you might want to walk around the corner and look for an ice cream shop after you finish here.
(3)Tyler R.
I'm giving this update on my previous experience 5 stars. The service was quick and snappy. The food came out quickly and was executed very well. When I finished I was completely full, but I wasn't weighed down at all. I walked in around 12:45p and asked for the lunch special #1 (the "As You Wish") to go. The woman at the front counter was courteous and completed my transaction quickly. She immediately placed the order, and I received my food in a matter of minutes. The food was delicate, well flavored and delicious. My biggest issues in the first review dealt with the saltiness of the food and the slowness of the service. Those two things were remedied during this visit, so 5-Stars is a must. Bottom line: This is definitely a lunch spot that I will frequent. Let me know if you're going to be there-- I'll congratulate you on making a great choice.
(5)Ben D.
Suitable for carnivores, even though there is no meat. Tastes delicious. Great bang for the buck.
(4)Tanya C.
I came here for lunch with my husband after I checked into our hotel. It was next to our hotel and the reviews on Yelp made it sound heavenly and it sure was. Initially we were the only customers in the restaurant but that changed soon enough. After looking at their menu I ordered the potato and cauliflower curry and my husband ordered the General Tso's tofu, both the lunch special. For appetizer we ordered the scallion pancakes. The pancakes were great. Nice and fried and came with a dipping sauce. My lunch special was okay. I much preferred my husband's and I wished I also ordered it. The potato and cauliflower was a bit bland while his tofu was crispy and delicious. The hot and sour soup and spring roll that I had with the lunch special was also delicious. Overall great place. I would definitely come again when I'm in PA. I didn't even tell my husband till the end that this was a vegetarian restaurant and he said that he didn't even miss the meat! Service was decent, especially for a Chinese restaurant. Tons of seating!
(4)Michael G.
I always forget how absolutely delightful this place is. Their lunch special is killer: you have a broad selection of different main dishes, accompanied by a soup, white or brown rice, and a side. Their tofu skin and wheat gluten preparations are both traditional and scrumptious. I've steered clear of some of the more boring Chinese-American hybrid stuff (e.g., sesame tofu), so I can't speak to how good that is. But the friendly staff are delivering authentic, well prepared Chinese vegetarian cuisine for a great price.
(5)Minh C.
Great place to grab vegetarian Chinese food on the cheap. I've only come into Su Xing for a sit down a couple times, but have mostly ordered delivery. First thing is first, Su Xing's delivery is FAST, so don't go hopping in the shower! Two faves: black pepper steak (I don't see this on the menu, but that's what I always say I want) and soybean nugget szechuan style. These are a must! I'll elevate this to five stars once I get more opportunities to go in for a sit-down, since some Yelpers here say the service isn't that good. I've only been in a couple times, and can't say it was bad though...
(4)Kaneisha G.
Sesame tofu is MY LIFE right now. Writing this AS I eat. Wish I had come here with a friend so we could split this and an appetizer as I can't eat it all by myself. Tasty jasmine tea too! Enjoying the lively Mandarin chatter among the waitresses.
(5)Ceasar B.
Had lunch here. Food is very cheap, filling, comes out fast, and is decent. Tea and water were refilled regularly. My biggest complaint is that the menu was hard to decipher as the dishes are missing description (e.g. one item is just "Mushroom Delight" without an explanation). I had a lunch special: eggplant, brown rice, tofu, seaweed, and miso soup. I didn't think anything was particularly great, but measured as a cheap lunch spot to satisfy hunger, this spot is hard to beat.
(3)Maria R.
I love and miss this restaurant so much. It's heaven for vegetarians. Also super good service and the ambiance is great!
(5)Anna H.
We came for an early dinner. The service was so great. Really attentive and the food came out really quick! It was really nice to eat Chinese food that was not heavy or greasy( the 10 treasure hot pot was delicious and actually full is shiitake mushrooms) sliced oranges and fortune cookies at the end ! I wish we had this place in Boston.
(5)Ross L.
So, I'm not a vegetarian. Not even close. Still, this is my go-to spot for Chinese food in Center City. Even if you're a meat eater, you won't miss the meat at all. Prices are very reasonable, portion size is good, and it's generally ready very quickly. I placed an order today, and by the time I got to Su Xing from my office at 16th and Chestnut (like, a block and a half away), it was ready and waiting for me. One word of caution. The hot and sour soup - *VERY* spicy. I guess since they can't use chicken stock, they make up for it by making the soup extremely spicy. Personally, I'm a huge fan of spicy food, so it's fine by me - just don't order the hot and sour soup and expect it to be like your local Chinese take out place.
(5)Ambi C.
I think we found our new go to take out Chinese place. Let's just say, we will be visiting you guys a lot. :) Good size portions, healthy options and flavorful dishes--you really can't go wrong.
(4)Ari N.
I had the lunch special here which is pretty generous. It's all vegetarian and I was interested in a degustation of it. I ordered the sesame seitan and hot & spicy soup. It seemed like a chewy type of chicken, taste was good. I didn't care for how chewy it was, it made it taste like it wasn't as fresh as it could have been. Overall an OK experience. Meal comes with free tea.
(3)Slip S.
You step inside this gloomy interior with its outdated, but attractive furnishings and feel like you could be in Hong Kong circa 1960. Now this is an interesting, even eccentric, restaurant. Not everything was great, but it is hard not to like a place that offers hearty Chinese vegan dishes at low prices. Some of the items are definitely out of the ordinary - it is not all steamed cauliflower and broccoli here. I had a lotus root soup with steamed peanuts, and a deep fried, sweet sesame tofu dish with a side of firm, shredded seaweed (wakame, I think). The service is not especially charming, but where else can you find a lunch like this for under $10?
(4)Scott S.
This place blew my mind. It is very clean with a great atmosphere. everything and everyone is veg, so the clients are cool and nice. The food was incedible. We ordered zuchini, three colored veg, veg lo mein, gen tso tofu, scallion pancakes - all amazing. I want to eat here all the time. What a find!
(5)Shenita S.
Ok so I am going in here. I love Su Xing House. If could afford to have lunch here everyday for the rest of my life...or dinner for that matter...I would die the happiest vegetarian death! I see some people rated the restaurant pretty low, which I don't get. The service is good. The servers are attentive to your glasses and pop in for refills which is awesome. They take your money/card when you're ready to go. They answer questions. I just love this place. Now to the food: I am someone that if it's not broke don't fix it, so I stick to what I know...The General Tso's Veg. Tastes like chicken. I love the broccoli (steamed but not soggy but not extremely raw)! Spring roll. Love.gov The Veggie Steak and Onion...the texture and consistency is just out of this world. To each his/her own, but Su Xing is BY FAR my fave restaurant right now...oh and it's not ridiculously expensive.
(5)Sheri H.
Although I've been a vegetarian for decades, I have never appreciated fake meat that too commonly dominates vegetarian restaurants. This is why I LOVE Su Xing. They pay close attention to each vegetable, no dish seems to be slapped together without thought. Servings are huge and very reasonably priced. I love their Ebony and Ivory, Stir Fried Peapods, Seaweed Salad, I could go on and on. They also deliver until 11PM on weekends which is rare around these parts. It always hits the spot beautifully.
(5)Leah Y.
love this veggie chinese food, flavorful and over all health for me
(5)Adam P.
Stopped by here for a quick lunch one day and left pretty content with my experience. I got the General Tso's tofu w/braised mushrooms and brown rice, which was only about $8 or so. Huge portion, tasty sauce (maybe a touch too sweet), and came out piping hot. They serve complimentary tea too, which I always enjoy. Oh! And my ridiculously cheap lunch also came with a cup of soup. Service was friendly enough and very attentive (love when my glass of water never gets empty). I'm far from a vegetarian, but I liked the food and would definitely recommend as an affordable dining option if you're in the city and craving Chinese food.
(4)Nora C.
On a cold night, I decided to eat in. So I looked on Yelp and found this place that had some good reviews. Which at this point I think they wrote themselves. So be warned, the positive reviews here are bogus. I was told that my order would take 45 minute to deliver. At 50 minutes, I called and asked where my order was. I was told they forgot about my order and it was going into the kitchen now. 1 hour and 45 minutes later my order arrived. No discount. No excuse. Just here is your order. I was so hungry that I dug in. But it turns out that the food is worse than the service. Do not eat, or order from this place, if you like food. Don't believe the good reviews. I am betting they were written by the restaurant and the employees. This place is Terrible.
(1)Julia C.
It's been awhile since I've been to this little gem of a restaurant. It's still very good. I went for lunch. The service is prompt, friendly ....the food is delicious, healthy and vegetarian. Today I had Braised Wheat Gluten with Zucchini and Mushrooms in a brown sauce. Yum. This meaty dish is tasty and dense. you cannot even tell it's vegetarian protein. I had hot n sour soup and spring roll. Lunch specials are really a good deal.
(5)Jenna F.
I'm not a vegetarian and this place was fantastic!!!! Tried something new I wouldn't normally eat (vegetable heaven) and loved it. Also, the scallion pancakes are a great choice for an appetizer... 3 bucks and pretty filling! Will definitely be back and definitely recommend (plus its BYOB)
(3)Weifei Z.
My experience here was mixed. Starting with the bad, the green onion pancake was way too thick and tasted more like egg roll skin than any green onion pancake I've had anywhere. Honestly, the frozen green onion pancake I buy at grocery stores tasted better. The eight treasure hot pot was good though it was more of a saucy mix than a hot pot. The "As you wish" dish was also good, but the tofu skin seems to have lost some of its natural flavor due to frying. Why do that to a good thing?
(3)Aruna A.
I love all veg food. Veg chicken, beef, and other fake meats usually all taste the same to me unless they are seasoned well, which is definitely hard to find. Not at Su Xing - where they make a variety of well made tofu and other soy protein based foods are definitely all season well and tasty. I've tried a number of their options from scallion pancakes to sesame tofu to general tso's tofu - all great. A tad expensive for what it is for dinner - but open late - I recommend it if you are around, but I don't know that I'd ever find myself craving their food stuffs, or travelling across the city to get to it!
(4)Kim C.
I am a creature of habit. I like getting same dishes every time I order here. Consistence in food is one of important factors that I use when I judge a restaurant. Their taro bubble tea is amazing and I get that all the time! I love their General Tso's Tofu and Mixed Vegetables with Szechuan sauce. But sometimes chef made them taste differently. I guess head chef's off or they have changed chef. When their food is not consistent sometimes, I rather not take the chance to order. I will visit again to try different dishes though.
(3)Amaryllia L.
This is a vegetarian restaurant. I'm throwing that up there because it's important and I know not everyone will read full reviews and pick up on it...yes, I'm talking about myself of course. I placed a delivery order from the Latham Hotel (0.2 mi away) at 9:43 on a Wednesday night based on the glowing reviews for this place. The lady on the phone had an accent that was very hard to understand but she was super nice. 20 minutes later, I received my food from a rain-drenched, and understandably unhappy, delivery guy. Despite what the lady on the phone told me, the delivery guy did NOT take credit cards. I lucked out though because I had enough cash on hand. * House Special Mei Fun Soup ($7.50) - I ordered this because another reviewer had said that it tasted like pho and there's really nothing better than hot noodle soup on a cold rainy night, am I right? Unfortunately, besides the fact that this is noodle in hot broth, there is no similarity to pho in terms of ingredients or flavor. I thought it tasted extremely bland (like hot water with some oil floating on top) and had a hard time liking the slices of fake meat/spam-like things. In retrospect, now that I know it's a vegetarian restaurant, I guess it's not terrible, but I certainly would never order this again either. * Deep Fried Chinese Rice Cake ($3.50) - I got this purely out of curiosity and was pleasantly surprised at how much it reminded me of rice cake that my mom would make for Chinese New Year. The only differences are that these were cut up, breaded, deep-fried, and then served with crushed peanut powder and sugar...all good things! They were more stale/chewy than crispy because I got them as delivery but I could imagine them being extra yum if served fresh. This is the only reason why I'm giving them 2 stars instead of 1. * Milk Tea with Tapioca ($3.05) - Tasted like instant milk tea powder with refrigerated (i.e., cooked in the morning and now hard) tapioca pearls. This was another impulse order because I had never seen bubble tea available on a delivery menu before. It turned out to be almost the worst bubble tea I've ever had so, yes, I learned my lesson.
(2)Michael H.
Asked for brown rice, got white. Meals contain almost no veggies; about 85% tofu, which is overly sweet. I wouldn't go back.
(2)Sam H.
Everything I ate here was delicious, and I ordered quite a few things because there was so much that I wanted to try! One of the best vegetarian restaurants I've eaten at, and I can't wait to go back. Our waiter was extremely friendly and made sure to answer all of our questions and recommend his favorites. Some of the typical Chinese dishes (with replacement fake meat) are offered, as well as some unique dishes that I hadn't seen before. There is definitely something for everyone here!
(5)Cindy F.
Hidden gem, sort of. It is tucked away in an alley by Ladder 15. It's open late and has the best food! Like the other Yelpers said, the food is so fresh that you leave feeling satisfied rather than stuffed. Seriously you need to check this place out. It was surprisingly that delicious!
(5)Scott W.
I have gone to this restaurant a couple of time because my partner is vegan. He loves this place and so do I. Everything is very well done and tastes delicious. I often go for the eggplant in garlic sauce or peapod leaves. Nothing has ever been oily or overly spiced. They offer brown and white rice and also have noodle dishes if you prefer. Service has always been great and well deserving of a good tip. At the end of a meal we usually get a plate of oranges. I'm assuming this is with all dinner patrons but am not sure. Prices are excellent especially given the large portions. This is one of those places that will definitely become a regular hangout for us.
(5)Shakalohana A.
Just want to chime in to all the great reviews! We keep coming back here for the excellent food. Great quality, super fresh, and super good feeling after you eat. Their flavors are truly delicious and you feel really good after eating here. A note to veggie lovers like me - you can order dishes *without* all the protein and mean substitutes to make it more your style. It took me a while to figure this out, but now I feel really satisfied with all my orders and don't have to feel weighed down by fried tofu or gluten (not that they aren't delicious). My favorite is the Eight Treasure Hot Pot (without fried tofu or imitation ham) - served as is - lava hot yum! It can also be super romantic. Now, I am not talking some dark hole in the wall romantic... I am just thinking that some of the best conversations and really good times really just being with my guy were at a nice booth window at Su Xing. We have talked about everything there, really intense things, life et al... and the meal and ambiance definitely made that happen. Thanks! Just excellent, consistently, for years - and the flavors just keep getting better and better. And affordable enough to treat yourself and friends often! (p.s. I also have terrible allergies to fish - so this place is very super safe for me)
(5)Bridget G.
This place is fantastic for vegetarians (and carnivores alike). You get a ton of food for a good price and it's all fresh and yummy. My favorite is the sesame noodles and the sesame seitan, plus they have all sorts of bubble tea treats. Servers are always sweet and I always leave with leftovers that are somehow better the next day.
(4)Peter K.
Tasty. The 6th borough brings the veggie Chinese like none of the other 5 as far as I've seen. (Though there's probably somewhere amazing in Queens that I'll never hear about.) Su xing has a soothing interior, an intimidatingly large menu, and low-ish prices. Service was a touch slow, but otherwise good. The kale and tofu dish rocked my mouth and duly cleaned out my insides. Win-win. Go for the lunch specials--they run until 3pm.
(4)Celia B.
Excellent service, excellent food! We were so surprised to find a vegetarian restaurant so close to our hotel. It is really hard to find Chinese food without meat, and here we didn't even have to think about it! I ordered the eggplant with basil dish and my partner ordered a "chicken" (soy protein) veggie stir fry that came with peanuts. I can't remember what it was called, but I am thinking the schezwan dish. My sister ordered the curry noodles. Everything was fantastic. They had miso soup as well, which we enjoyed. My only complaint was that the springrolls were a bit greasy, but aren't they always? The food was resonabley priced and the service was fast. The food came very quickly! We will return when we are in town next year, and I highly recommend this place for vegetarians and meat eaters a like. Their fake "meat" (tofu, soy protein, whatever it is) is super tasty and great texture and the other dishes were all fantastic.
(4)Jenny S.
I came for lunch with a friend on a rainy Saturday. The service was attentive but that could because there wasn't much customers in the restaurant. Nonetheless I was was very satisfied with the service. Our orders came very fast. We both had the lunch specials. She had the general tso and I had the soy nuggets. The sauce was tasty and texture of the Seitan was a little chewy. We both thought it tasted very much like real meat. I have been to two other Chinese vegetarian restaurants ( Veggie lover and and New Harmony) and this by far is the best. I am definitely going come back to dine in or take out. Another plus is that the free tea was very fragranced and tasted great.
(5)N. K.
As per previous recommendations, we decided to hit the lunch special which ended up being as cheap as stated, $20 for two people and we left stuffed. Hot and sour soup- may be a bit spicy for some, but absolutely perfect and delicious for me Lotus root and peanut soup- a little bland and watery like miso soup, but interesting flavor Sesame seitan- fried and crispy little nuggets covered in a sweet sauce and sesame seeds. Love! Crispy steak- I preferred the more crispy texture of the sesame seitan, but my husband preferred this because he thought the sesame seitan was "chewier" Spring rolls- Had tofu/glass noodles/seaweed inside. a bit bland for me but still very good. Overall the food was excellent and we will be back. They also deliver within Center City. The service was good and fast, although maybe a bit abrupt and not overly friendly, but that may be a cultural thing and fine with us. Highly recommended for vegheads and non-veggies both.
(4)Zack L.
Healthful, Vegetarian, Ample Portions, and hooray. This place is wonderful. It is obsessively clean, has 8 different colors of lights in any of their room, and has the approval of Martin Yan from Yan Can Cook for being a great healthy Chinese Restaurant. I am not a vegetarian, and this place still rocks the boat. Hooray.
(5)Kelsey G.
My new favorite Chinese food place in Philly. Their sesame tofu is addicting and delicious. I can't wait to try more food from them.
(4)Edward M.
Su Xing House is my favorite Chinese vegetarian restaurant in Phillly (so far...). They have a great lunch special where, for well under $10, you get soup, a side, rice (your choice of brown or white) and an entree. It's best when shared with friends (or even mere acquaintances), that way you can sample different dishes and make your own combos. This is particularly useful since some of the dishes may be either a bit too greasy (yeah, I'm talking to you, delicious General Tso's veggies) or dry (that would be the otherwise awesome as-you-wish) on their own. So a shared meal here would qualify as an example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. The only disappointing items I've tried were the curry dishes. Speaking of parts, after trying the various soup and side options I've settled on the hot and sour soup and the seaweed. Some might find the hot and sour soup too spicy; there, you've been warned. Service is friendly and the staff keeps your water glass and tea mug full.
(5)Sunny P.
Every time I go here it's with the same group of friends. Typically, we will order one or two different dishes that we have yet to try. The service is pretty good, tea is refilled regularly. The restaurant had a traditional Chinese feel.
(4)Rosalie R.
I was on a vegan cleanse. I needed real food. Enter Su Xing House. I had the Sesame Abalone Mushroom (see photo) it was divine. Granted, I was hungry and desperate but it really was delicious. I have also had the fried brown rice and it was also very good. We have only really been there after matinee theater so the place has never really been crowded. The decor is dark, cozy and the place is really clean. I would recommend this place for a quick and quiet weekend lunch.
(4)Sara P.
This is a terrific restaurant. It has a diverse menu with lots of vegetarian and vegan options. You can have a lot of vegetables and a lot of faux meats too. I especially enjoyed the seseme seitan and the lotus root and peanut soup so much that I made them at home soon after I tried them at Su Xing. We also really like the service. The entire time we ate, we got many refills on water and jasmine tea. What a delicious tea it was too. The location is great if you are on wheels or legs, but parking near 15th and Sansom is not the easiest (although there is a garage across the street from the restaurant. Prices are excellent, as a lunch special is less than 8 bucks. What a healthy, environmentally friendly and inexpensive place to have lunch in center city. I am so glad that this restaurant is there!
(5)Nadia M.
I ordered the Vegetable Lo Mein as part of the lunch menu-it was the most lackluster meal I have had in Center City. There was hardly any vegetables to speak of and no flavor - None. The Hot and Sour soup had burnt pieces on it-I had to throw it out. Also, I ordered soup but they included no spoon. The portions were plentiful-maybe they should concentrate on giving a little less quantity but more quality. I will not be visiting this establishment again.
(1)Cici B.
I think I might stop eating meat if I could have Su Xing cater all my meals. Are you sure there is no meat in the Sesame Seitan? What sorcery is this?! I swear this dish tastes exactly like there is meat. I could not tell a difference, doubt any meat eater would either. I loved this entree; the sauce, broccoli florets, and "meat" were delicious. Another winner was the Eight Treasure Hot Pot. It was a broth of an interesting medley of vegetables and a questionable ingredient that resembled ham but tasted nothing like it. Of course this dish was overshadowed by the Seitan (pronunciation: satan??), but I still enjoyed it immensely. The only thing I didn't like was the deep fried Chinese rice cake appetizer, which my boyfriend happily responded, "YAY! more for me!" Su Xing definitely exceeded all my expectations. I actually expressed high doubts in regards to the caliber of food at a vegetarian Chinese restaurant. I was thoroughly impressed! I will be coming back, and perhaps I might become vegetarian (for a week or two).
(5)Meg S.
Is it bad that I find Panda Express (that of mall food) a tastier option? My sesame seitan was so one-note. It was way too fried and the goo it lived in...ergh, I was scraping it off with my fork. I liked it marginally better cold (as I do most fried foods), it was cheap and there was a huge portion, so two stars. If I was vegetarian, I could see this being more of an option (it did taste like I was eating meat...just completely bland, flavorless meat...); as it stands, I think I'll pass.
(2)Elizabeth M.
Whenever I have a vegetarian or vegan friend in town, this is where I take them! I love this place. They cook tofu and seitan so well that even a meat-loving omnivore like myself prefers these dishes. Whenever we go, we order different things. They're always amazing. I encourage you to try something different - the only average dish I've ever tasted here was a veg lo mein. Seasame seitan is one of my favorites, of course. The vegan food here is 4 times better than the typical food you'd get in Chinatown, with a similar price and similar portions. BYOB.
(5)Lauren B.
My first trip to Su Xing House was used as an initial form of torture. My co-worker was incessantly nagging me to go to lunch, and told me I could pick the spot. SO, I did what any thoughtful colleague would do, and selected a place with a menu that had virtually no meat. We were both pleasantly surprised! This place makes me so happy. I'm not a vegetarian, and so I won't pretend to be a pretentious vegan, but this place rocks! There is no meat in sight on the menu, and my male co-worker did not even mind. In fact, this was probably his first tofu experience. We had the sesame tofu and the kung pow tofu. It was absolutely satisfying, delicious, and affordable. I recommend this place to everyone, vegans and meat-eaters alike. Job well done. I'll be back.
(5)Marc R.
I dined here over the weekend, a vegetarian friend recommended it. There's not a whole lot to say, the look of the place is pretty run of the mil for a Chinese restaurant. The table are oddly far away from the seats, would be great for a very large person. The menu felt limited to me. I have eaten at many veggie\vegan Chinese places so I kind of expected more. The server was just kind of there, no smile, no personality. The app took a long time to arrive and the dumplings were just not that good. They were mushy and not full of flavor. The main entree arrived shortly after the appetizers were cleared. A lot of breading and a lot of frying to give the sesame chicken more of a real meat kind of texture. It was good, but a little too fried, it was kind of hard. The other entree was only had a splattering of brocoli, should have been more. Overall, I would rate it 2.5 stars if I could, but I can't and it just doesn't deserve a 3rd star.
(2)Shannon J.
Su Xing is nothing short of magical. 1.) Everything is vegetarian, the entire, enormous, well-rounded menu. The joy of ordering whatever you want is something every vegetarian can get excited about. 2.) The food is DELICIOUS. After at least ten visits, I've never tasted anything that I didn't like. The General Tsao's Veg is my forever favorite, I recommend it to everyone. 3.) The service is excellent. Your water glass (and little cup of tea) will never be empty. I don't know how they do this, but the waitresses at Su Xing should teach the rest of the planet how to be so gloriously efficient and super. 4.) The portions are enormous. If you love leftovers, come here! You will eat for days off of one meal, I swear. 5.) The prices! Very reasonable, especially considering the quality, the flavor, the service, and the quantity of food. Seriously, magical.
(5)A N.
I really like this place. The food was great, service was good and pretty quick. I have a lot of things I would still like to try-their menu is so extensive. Desert was great too.
(5)Andi S.
I ordered an asparagus dish which was a complete ripoff. The asparagus were cut in half LENGTHWISE, in order to make it LOOK like there were a lot. ALso, the asparagus had no flavor, and neither did anything else on my plate. Overcooked and flavorless. The service was rude and inept. I don't know how this place stays in business. It is HORRIBLE.
(1)Jay D.
i can't get over the service. they take and bring your order fast, and seem to have some kind of ESP to know when you'ved sipped a little tea or water, because they come right over and top it off. that's nice, but wish they would leave the pot or pitcher at the table. sometimes i won't sip anything to keep them at bay. you also get your check, orange slices, and fortune cookie before you're finished or ask for it, and then you don't see them again to get change. i'm still here all the time though. the miso soup is what's up. also seitan with asparagus in brown sauce (you can swap out the veggie for any other though, like broccoli if you'd like.)
(4)Travis L.
I am blown away by how wonderful this vegetarian place is. Very unique space with a raised upper level that has a number of booths. Comfortable family dining. I almost didn't notice it next to the other bars and restaurants on Sansom. I'm really glad to see vegetarian Chinese food with such quality and popularity here in Philly. The food: Spring Roll - Very crisp, light veggies. Can't really go wrong. Good to have with the lunch specials. Potato Croquettes- Simple appetizer, though the breading is rather heavy, which makes it hard to bite through. Could be lighter and less heavy. Reminds me of Japanese korokke but it's just a bit too hard on the outside. Scallion Pancake- Honestly, at $3.25, this is one of their best appetizers. Very flaky and not too oily. Really features the flavors of the scallions and perfect for sharing. 1. Lotus Root and Peanuts Soup - Very unexpected. Surprisingly clear and light. Love it before heavier dishes. 2. Miso Soup - Decent and not too salty. Feels a bit out of place at a Chinese restaurant but nonetheless, it's okay. 3. Hot and Sour Soup - Strong flavor and good balance. Chow Mei Fun Singapore Style - One of my personal favorites, and the curry flavor is just right. The noodles, I felt, could have been thinner and drier. I needed more of that fried noodle flavor. Eight Treasure Bean Curd Hot Pot - Great clay pot dish with a simmering broth that goes great with rice. Love that it really balances all the different "treasures" and each veggie tastes great. A saucier hot pot. As-You-Wish Bean curd skin filled golden mushroom, black mushroom, dried bean curd and Chinese celery served w. water chestnut and asparagus. - kind of like the dim sum item but very clean and light. Not oily at all and very large portions. Filled to the brim, but not exactly the most flavorful. Sesame Abalone Mushroom Fried fresh abalone mushroom in tomato and five spice sauce, serve with asparagus and water chestnut. -One of the best dishes here and such a unique way of cooking abalone mushroom. Fried and glazed and really imitates the texture and consistency of meat. The wonders of vegetarian substitutes!
(4)Shereen C.
Ordered delivery once. Food was edible, but a caricature of Chinese food. Had Golden Feather Knishes - taro was all right, but sweet and sour sauce was pretty disgusting. Overly sweet. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing, but I seriously have to question why they would serve that dish that way at all.
(2)Dave H.
Su Xing House is an OUTSTANDING Chinese vegetarian restaurant near Rittenhouse Square. Their rear dining room is elegantly decorated, paneled with Chinese prints, and amazingly handled my friends's party of ~18, but their dishes weren't the quickest to come out. For the smaller parties in the main dining room (including mine), our server brought our dishes with a minimum of hassle. I'm unsure she liked us since my friend and I kept asking her to repeat her name (it sounded like "siu mai"). Su Xing House's cooking is where they shine. Their hot and sour soup was a stand out, with a healthy kick. Get their vegetable lo mein! A friend ordered it spicy and so it had with a wonderful tang, with a perfectly even, noodlely texture. The broccoli with garlic sauce was as good as it sounds - heavenly. Speaking of heaven, we also shared the vegetarian heaven string beans, cooked until crispy, in a tasty sauce. I will definitely return. If I lived close enough, I'd order takeout too. Recommended!
(4)Chris L.
Su Xing has wonderful, cheap, vegetarian take-out that is super close to work. I used to think of greasy, heart clogging food when I thought of Philly, but this place (and Yelp, of course) is helping me to revise my opionion. I do not think all of their dishes are created equal, though. If every one of them was as delicious as General Tso Tofu I would probably give this place 5 stars, because that was one of the most amazing fried tofu experiences of my life. Alas, the Singapore Chow Mei Fun didn't live up to my expectations. It wasn't bad, but I wonder if maybe they were running short on curry today. It was just bland. They have a pepper next to this item on the menu, but it was anything but spicy. I may try it again and ask them for extra curry or perhaps just go back to the tofu. Of course, it was still a ton of food for just $7, but it really needed something. I'm also still not sure how I feel about the Hot and Sour soup. To be honest, having had it twice I still can't find that there's much sour in it at all. I don't seem to be able to taste much of anything beyond the hot, but it is hot in such a good way that I can't seem to stop eating it. I actually broke a sweat from their soup. So, I'm torn. I really think they could make a better soup, but yet when I get it I can't stop eating it. It's very mysterious. Finally, though this isn't probably that important. Maybe it's cause I'm so incredibly white, but they don't give me chopsticks unless I specifically ask for them.
(4)Meghan C.
I know...me? At a vegetarian restaurant? I had to have a lunch meeting and I was over ruled and since I didn't have any better ideas I figured I'd give it a shot. The food is incredible! The service is incredible! The portion sizes are insane...I left full and happy...I can't say this is the best it gets because I did miss having some form of living creature with hair on my plate, but I would definitely go back if someone asked me to.
(4)Susie R.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Philly. I especially love the mu shu. The lunch specials are so well-priced and the portions are quite generous. I also love the bubble tea. The restaurant is also kosher, which is a huge plus. Definitely recommend.
(5)Ben S.
There aren't many exclusively vegetarian Chinese restaurants. Granted most Chinese restaurants offer a fair amount of vegetarian options, they are usually a variation on the same things. This restaurant takes classical meat dishes and interprets them in a very unique and vegetarian way. My boyfriend and I loved it. I value his opinion the most, being that he is Chinese and actually from China. The dining room is very well decorated, with good use of space. The sectioning of the restaurant assures a combination of privacy and a sense of openness. The lighting was perfect, and the noise level was minimal. No music though. The portions are large, and I loved that they offered brown rice. The sauces were not overly salty, and were not oily in the least (my usual complaints about Chinese restaurants). The food was well seasoned and had great flavor. My boyfriend got the "as you wish roll" with peapod leaves, and I got the dried bean curd with spiral seaweed. My only disappointment was that there were no other vegetables in the stir fry, but it was so tasty it didn't really matter. There are almost too many options, also very typical of Chinese restaurants. It's almost better to ask yourself what you feel like, and then see if they have it, because chances are they do.
(5)Thomas K.
Abalone mushroom soup, a medicinal brew with winter melon sliced thinly and floating in the broth. With goji berries and julienned ginger, this soup hit the spot. Next up: Taro croquettes with cashews and sweet & sour sauce was absolutely fantastic! Smaller than thumb-sized dumplings made from taro...that starchy, sometimes purple-ish root were lightly fried, stir fried with some bell pepper, and finished with a more sour than sweet sauce thickened with cornstarch. More than enough for one, just perfect for two. Singapore Mai fun was excellent, also, without an overwhelming wafting of curry powder. It smaller and tasted perfect, with veggies scattered throughout. Kale and dried tofu...an odd item to see on a Chinese menu. I've never seen kale used before. When the dish arrived, I saw that it wasn't kale at all, but choi sum, a leafy green vegetable popular in traditional Chinese gastronomy. Forget about the confused name...just know that this was a super-light dish bursting with vibrant green color, subtle soy and sesame rounding out the plate. Service was fine, yet a bit cold. As I've reviewed other Chinese establishments before...that's just par for the course. Eat it and beat it! If I'm in the Philly area again, I'll definitely make this place a part of my visit. Vegetarian or not...try it out.
(4)Hazel S.
This is a perfectly good restaurant, but not a stand-out based on my experience. The service is good and friendly. The dining room isn't beautifully decorated but it is clean and cozy. The food was nicely prepared but a bit on the bland side. Like many restaurants that cater to an American clientele, the sauces seemed a little bit sweeter than they should. The veggies and tofu I had were very well prepared, but nothing special. If you just want a nice, cozy filling meal of vegetarian comfort food, this is a good choice.
(3)Natalie H.
Alas, yelpers, the food here is OK - but the service and delivery leaves much to be desired. We placed an order and were told that it would be at our home in 45 minutes - an hour passed and still no food. We called and were told "we're very busy." Finally, a full 1 1/2, and several phone calls after we ordered our food arrived - cold, and without chopsticks. In a city with fantastic cuisine, I would recommend eating elsewhere.
(2)Jaclyn B.
Sesame tofu I had here recently was awesome! I also tried one of their "milkshakes"...they taste more like blended ice milk, but I think they are vegan? Anyway, the milkshake thing I got was so good, even the next day frozen. The shakes come with cute extra wide straws and containers with figures on them. I went with the coconut flavor; it's taste and texture were pretty much my perfect virgin piña colada. Shakes come in the following flavors: strawberry, mango, and coconut...I could have missed one? They have great lunch specials, too. Only vegan Chinese I'll eat. Super fast delivery+++
(5)Kemi A.
Wow a full blown veggie Chinese restaurant? whowouldathunkit? Anyway, happy i tried it. Had the lunch special "sesame seitan". Now it's not the best thing since sliced bread (I'll reserve that for "vegetarian palate" in brooklyn, NY...wha?wha?) but it wasn't bad at all. I liked the decor of the place. It's pretty much hidden being on samson but once you walk in you'll be surprised by the interior. Would recommend and like to go back to try other things on the menu.
(4)Lucie T.
So I am a big fan of chinese food. Authentic at that. So when I was told by my friends who live in Philadelphia that if you want vegetarian chinese, you want to come here.. and so we went. I have to say that the scallion pancake along with the lotus peanut soup were not half bad. But the best was General Tsao's chicken aka the veggie meat. Service very attentive, love the fact you can hang up your coat in the closet (maybe this is normal outside of NYC, down here we hold on to our coats unless its inside of a coatcheck being guarded by a pretty girl who is looking for your next dollar as a tip) as well as having an upstairs and a downstairs. Decor very warm. If I am in mood for veggie chinese. I am coming back here.
(3)Cindy S.
Best. Chinese. Ever. My man and I walked in and didn't realize it was vegetarian. But I was thrilled to see the menu. It wasn't full of fried substitutions, it was simply no meat Chinese. I loved it. I didn't feel totally disgusting at the end of the meal. General Tsos? YES. Loves it. Also a big fan of the potatoes and cauliflower in curry. OMGGGG. Also, I must admit, after my initial encounter with this place I went back the next day and had lunch there....and they day after that and got take out. So I recommend. I plan on trying everything on the menu.
(5)christina g.
AMAZING! There were quite a few options on the menu. The 'General Tso's Vege' was so chicken-like, I spat out the first bite and had to ask if it was meat or not. I don't really remember what chicken tastes like, but it sure looked like chicken, was tougher than some seitan and my boys were convinced it was chicken. It also came with delicious fresh broccoli. Also, they have bubble tea. Su Xing would be a great place to take your meat-eaters to, as long as they're into trying non-meat food. Otherwise, you could just trick them and get carry-out. mwahahaha We also ordered the stir-fried zucchini, which tasted really good, but made a squeaking sound in my mouth when being chewed. That part was...strange? The prices were decent and the staff were very friendly and attentive. They were pretty amused when we asked if the food was meat or not. Also, it's not just one of those, we have fake meat asian places. The food was very flavorful and fresh tasting. I can't wait to go back and try more of their dishes! There appeared to be a decent amount of dessert options, but I was way to stuffed to even look at them. Why are you still reading this and not on your way there??
(5)Jackie N.
Loved this place! Great service and HUGE selection of vegetarian items to choose from. Seriously didn't know you could make that much stuff from tofu!
(4)Juls B.
This place is heaven for vegetarian and a pleasant surprise for the omnivores. Choices range from more typical vegetarian asian fair (General Tso's tofu), to meat-mimics that pass the similarities test (sesame seitan), to more unusual meals like the feather taro knish. All of it was astounding.
(5)Lindsey T.
God, what a disappointment. My first visit here was hit-or-miss. The bubble tea, as other reviewers have pointed out, was extremely watery and oddly powdery. YUCK. I got out my phone and immediately began to draft a one-star review. The hot and sour soup came out next, promptly enough, but unfortunately tasted like a bowl of liquid black pepper. Beyond unpleasant. However, the entree I ordered-- eggplant with tofu in garlic sauce (and I asked for some spinach with it as well)-- was DELICIOUS. SO. SO. GOOD. I have never before or since seen eggplant cooked so perfectly, nor had such a yummy garlic sauce or such sweet spinach. Total hit. Made up entirely for the crappy tea and soup. After this great experience, I wanted to bring my boyfriend so he could experience what I had, so we went to Su Xing to catch the lunch special yesterday. When I told our first waitress that I needed a few more minutes to decide what I wanted, she literally turned around without a word, walked a few steps away from our table, and stomped her feet like a two-year-old before continuing across the restaurant. I wish I was making this up. We should've left then. The boyfriend ordered the exact dish I had last time, and it came out looking completely different, AND this time they tried to charge us an extra $2 for adding spinach. The eggplant was scant and overcooked, the dish was swimming in mediocre sauce, and the spinach wasn't nearly as beautiful as I remembered. I ordered the braised gluten with mushrooms and zucchini and just could not eat it. The zucchini? Undercooked. The mushrooms? Crappy white mushrooms, also totally undercooked. The gluten? Straight from a can, plopped carelessly in some strange, bland brown sauce. I apologetically informed our waitress (the second one we had that day) that the dish was just inedible, and I wanted to exchange it for the dish my boyfriend had. Big mistake, apparently. The waitress informed me that my request was "unacceptable" because "a lot of customer LOOOVE this dish" and the kitchen "would not accept it." Hokay. Argumentative customer service? No thanks. Shit just kept getting weirder until she decided to call the cops on us because we would not pay for a disgusting plate of food I didn't eat. No officer showed up after we sat at the restaurant for half an hour (no shit!) waiting to politely state our case, and eventually an older woman came to our table to ask us what happened and offer us a discount. Hilarious. Meanwhile, our waitress has been screaming in Chinese to the kitchen staff, from inside the kitchen and from inside the dining area itself-- WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS PRESENT. The older woman eventually let the matter drop, and stopped arguing so we could leave. Basically, we paid for what we ate (and then some), did not bother tipping our waitress (who was holding the phone, dialing the cops again, pleading for us to talk to the police on the phone while the older woman more or less told her to cut the crap as we walked out the door), we left, and got a great story out of it. Needless to say, we won't be back. And any diner who finds their inconsistent food inedible-- beware.
(1)Lauren H.
I will never go here again, or ever recommend this place to anyone. The short: - Extremely rude waitresses - Food was nothing to write home about - Pressured to eat quickly because they closed at 11, we got there at 8:30. - EYELASH IN ONE OF THE DISHES The long: I went here for a birthday dinner for someone that is on a Vegan diet. I'm not vegan, or anywhere close, so I was worried about finding a dish I'd like. She had reservations for 8:30 for 8, but two of our party were stuck in traffic and got there an hour late. The rest of us started with appetizers and drinks while we waited. Our waitress came in (at 9:30) to tell us that we should order because the restaurant closes at 11. We wanted to wait for the last two people before ordering entrees, and told her. They walked in 10 minutes later, and our waitress came in 2 minutes later to ask us if we were ready to order. THEY JUST GOT HERE. We told her no, we'd need a few minutes. She asked if the rest of us wanted to order, and we said NO WE NEED A FEW MINUTES. She came back in 5, and we still weren't ready. Everyone else at the table was unfamiliar with a vegan/vegetarian diet, and we were all trying to decide what to order. GIVE US A MINUTE. She came back in another 5, and we were like fine, fine, we'll order. THIS WOMAN STARTS SAYING "NEXT!" (LOUDLY) AFTER EACH PERSON SAID WHAT THEY WANTED. Is this McDonald's??? What kind of restaurant says NEXT to patrons?? I was COMPLETELY annoyed by this time, and if it hadn't been for a birthday dinner, I would have left. Whatever. We get our food, and I wasn't impressed. The best items were the General Tso's Veg (meat-like texture), the spring rolls, dumplings, and sesame noodles. The dinner items were nothing I'd order again. AND THERE WAS AN EYELASH IN ONE OF THE DISHES. So fine. When we were done eating (at 10:30 incidentally), the waitress comes out with the check. We give it back to her with the card, she comes back. As we're standing up and leaving, she ASKS THE CARDHOLDER IF HE SIGNED THE CHECK!!! So rude. I will never go back.
(1)Grant B.
Good food with quick service. Must Haves: -General Tso's Pros: -Lots of seating -Big Portions Cons: -Too much corn starch in their sauces. Quick Tips: -Great place to come and meet up with friends Their food is pretty good. However, it does fall into the Chinese American category, rather than Chinese. They use a bit too much corn starch for my liking, but the taste is solid. I definitely frequent this place when I am hankering for some good Chinese American food. I love walking here for some good Chinese food that is pretty healthy.
(4)Karen F.
Not bad - but not great either. The best part? The super cheap price for the generous lunch special. Mine came with Mediocre Miso, a tasty entree (Tofu with Eggplant in garlic sauce) and brown rice. For a side I chose green salad (bad idea, and I should have known better) which was iceberd with 2 tomato slices and 1 cucumber slice. Lame-o! Next time (if there is one) I'll try the mushrooms. Service was fine - efficient and quick. Water was refilled promptly without asking (score). OK, Maybe this place is 4 star foor/service but the 2 star decor needs a refresher pronto!
(3)John F.
Go here for Lunch. Lunch specials are awesome! Strolled here during a lunch break to check out all the hype. Wow, who knew vegetarian Chinese could be so good! I ordered the Hot and Sour soup which is one of my staple discriminators for a Chinese restaurant. Not only was it the best I've ever had, it didn't leave that "burning goopy grease" feeling or taste in the back of my throat. I woofed down a huge plate of Singapore noodles that were perfectly cooked. I was pressed for time to get back to biz but I just couldn't stop eating. I can't wait to return where I can sit while not on a lunch crunch and really trench in for some good ol' fashioned "me so stuffed on Chinese food" time.
(5)Marissa C.
I am not a vegetarian (as can be seen by meat-focused previous reviews) but I highly recommend Su Xing House anyway. It's that good. Their lunch special is a great deal - for about $8 you get soup, a choice of a side (fruit, spring roll, etc.), rice, and an entree. The sesame tofu is great, and I am totally obsessed with the Chow Fun. Everything is flavorful not too greasy and I suppose as healthy as Chinese can probably be.
(3)Mark S.
I know it's a cliche to praise a vegetarian place by saying you can barely tell it's vegetarian, but since I eat a wide range of cuisines and sometimes have to help veggie friends order off omnivorous menus, it's nice to be able to tell omnivores that they'll sincerely enjoy anything they try, as much as if meat were involved. Never been proved wrong! Personal entree favorites: Eight Treasure Hotpot and the Dragon and Phoenix. I like to top the meal off with a mango milk shake. Lunch specials are good too, but I usually come slightly before or after the rush, so somewhere between 11 and one.
(5)Jen L.
Food was a 2. Processed ham is pretty much the only ingredient in the Peking noodles. Service was a 1 The owner was really mean.
(1)Jes S.
I have started going to Su Xing on a regular basis and am not vegetarian. The hot and sour soup is a favorite, as is the General Tso's Vegetable. The General Tso's Vegetable and not Tofu was recommended by the waitress as her favorite dish. I have tried Kingdom of Vegetarians near Chinatown before, and Su Xing is better. Su Xing stays true to Chinese recipes so that even if you aren't vegetarian, the food is recognizable and just as delicious. The textures of the "meat" dishes are not far off from the real deal for those who like meat. The service is wonderful and they try hard to accommodate requests. (We asked for warm bubble tea, as it was cold out. They heated up the bubble tea despite their confusion since no one had asked for it like that before.) Su Xing is also very comfortable inside with booths and tables and lots of space. :)
(5)Sue A.
I was staying just a few blocks away from here and really bummed because the meeting I was attending had TERRIBLE TERRIBLE food. (Who serves cold cuts?!) Then I found Su Xing House, and ate there for dinner every night I was in town. Great service - super quick, very polite. and the food was amazing and totally affordably priced. I had the scallion pancake and the sesame tofu the first night. HUGE portions of delicious food. I was bummed that I was staying in a hotel with note place to reheat the food or I would have taken my leftovers for breakfast the next morning. I also got take out from here to bring back to my room the following night (working while eating is easier at a hotel desk than a dimly lit restaurant), and the food was still super-hot by the time I got back to my room 10-15 minutes after pick up. The fried tofu was still super-crisp, and the sauce was just the same texture/flavorfulness it would have been at the restaurant. If I return to philadelphia, I'll definitely go back.
(5)Al E.
Needed a place that could take 7 folks on a Saturday night. Chose it b/c of 4 stars and 1 $. Good for a group if you don't want to deal with a crowd and just get seated and served on late notice. Cheap. The scallion pancakes were really good. There's a lot of seitan, tofu, or fake meat on the menu, which I wasn't really interested in, so I had chow mei fun - thin rice noodle with shredded veggies. It was good, not greasy or soysaucey but was SO much food. We all ordered too much, we should have shared. At least 2 of us could have shared each huge plate, if not 3 of us. Was weird for serious meat-eaters.
(2)Angela Z.
I've come here twice - dinner and lunch. Both visits were delicious. Me and my friends ordered completely dishes every time and they were all good. Great reviews all around. Really great flavorful and aromatic tea that they are very generous with.
(5)Darryl D.
We took the advice of other reviewers and must say thank you. We got the steamed dumplings to start, they were tasty, but not favourites. We ordered two entrees, the general tso's vegetable and the chow mei fun. Both were surprisingly good. While the chow mei fun looked a bit boring the flavour was really good. Regarding general tso's vegetable, if you had not told me there was no chicken I would have never known! Portions were very large, and we easily could have just ordered one entree to share. I would definitely recommend this place, and plan on coming back again!
(4)Sarah G.
Heaps of delicious vegetarian food at completely reasonable prices. Meat-eaters will not feel like they're missing anything. Faves: Scallion pancakes General Tsos Tofu Tofu with Eggplant
(4)M H.
Not a fan. I thought I liked it at first. but later I changed my mind. Nothing special.
(2)Flor P.
I'm no vegetarian, but I love this place. Warm woods, blue neon ceiling lights, *serene* (no music in the background), and free *bottomless* delicious jasmine tea. The first time I ate here, I had an unexciting plate of vegetables. Second time around I ordered better: golden rings! Both times I left feeling warm and happy.
(5)Laura T.
Stopped in for dinner with the girls. All vegetarian, byob. For appetizers, we got delicious seaweed salad, amazing scallion pancakes, and the steamed dumplings. All were delicious, tasty, and cooked well. For dinner, I got the pan seared noodles with mixed veggies. I loved the noodles, they were slightly seared and flavored well. I did not like the mixed veggies! I think the sauce was too thin so they came out a little flavorless. My friends all got eggplant and tofu with garlic sauce. I admit to being picky with garlic sauce, and theirs was exceptionally good. Choice of brown or white rice. Tiny booths. Unmanned coat closet on the second floor, use this! I think their lunch specials would be a good option. Service was awful, everyone was nice but they were incredibly slow. I had to ask for more water several times. Way way too long! At the end, I liked the apps WAY more than the meal, so I'd return and probably get apps and soup.
(3)Rose B.
I only had one meal here but I thoroughly enjoyed it and would go back in a heartbeat if in the neighborhood. At first I was having a hard time finding something I could eat because of all my allergies and the waitress did not seem all that interested in taking a special order. Seemingly determined to find something I could eat without her needing to ask the cook to do something special she made many suggestions. That is when I noticed they had "stir fried peapod leaves" on the menu. I almost missed it since where I am from it is usually listed on the menu as "pea vine greens in garlic sauce" which is one of my favorite if not my favorite dishes. She then seemed willing to make some adjustments and it was ordered with just a bit of tofu and brown rice (yea brown rice!!!). It was delicious but I could not eat it all. I got it to go and took it back to my hotel room to put in the ice bucket (wrapped in a baggie) over night. I am positive I had the best breakfast than any of my fellow conference goers the next day!
(4)Camila B.
This is one of the best vegetarian restaurants that I ever been! The food is awesome - I suggest the sesame seitan and the fried tofu with cashew nuts. The price is very good, good amount of food, and I also love the jasmine with green tea that they serve with water. The service is good and friendly. They also deliver very fast. The restaurant has a good decoration and it is very clean. I've been in Philly for only 1 month and already went there about 5 times!
(5)King T.
I had never had vegetarian food before, and I was really really weary of eating any. But after gorging on Philly cheesesteaks, fries, burgers, and other countless heart-attack meals, we figured it might be time to try something a little healthier. There weren't a lot of people when we walked in for dinner. The service was quick, and polite. But onto the food. We ordered a few vegetarian meat dishes that I can't recall now. But I can remember that the food was REALLY good. The "meat" tasted almost like the real thing. They give you pretty big portions too, so we had to take a bunch back to our hotel. This place was really the catalyst for me exploring the world of vegetarian food. If I ever make it back to Philly again, I would definitely come back.
(5)Nicole W.
There is a lot of variety for vegetarians. I'm a tried and true meat eater, but even I love the veggies, and this is a cheap place to go to for lunch. However, I prefer not to eat tofu, so that eliminated many lunch options, so I settled for something I knew. The waitress was...there. I recall that she didn't even ask if we wanted anything to drink. I felt like everyone else in the restaurant was also just drinking the water that they had brought to the table. But water is good. And free. So I'm okay with water. I had the vegetarian fried rice lunch special, which came with miso soup and a spring roll. It was pretty bland so I had to add soy sauce. That is a huge pet peeve of mine. If you're going to make fried rice, make it right. The miso soup was good. A bit too watery for my taste but not bad. The spring roll was ok. Nothing spectacular. Definitely needed the duck sauce. I was full. And I had good company, so I will some it up with an ok. $9 (including tip) for a mediocre meal is a bit off putting but I may come here again with the right incentive.
(3)Brian D.
Great food! Best Chinese I've had in awhile.
(5)Kimba Z.
Su Xing is much nicer than your average Chinese Vegetarian, not that there is anything NOT nice about them in general -- it's just that they are not meant to be fancy. But Su Xing is the most upscale one I've been to in Philly, with nice low lighting and is cozy with wooden booths and an upper level. It could actually kind of be romantic. I love that it is BYOB. The menu is huge, with a long list of Chinese standards, just all vegetarian. The Chef's Specialties can be tricky to picture from the descriptions -- until you discover the pictures on another page of the menu. Still, deciding takes a very long time, because it all looks so unique and good. We were crazy for the black seaweed pancakes and asked for a second order. I like that they have seitan and cook with plenty of varieties of mushrooms. Once drawback is that there are not many table choices for parties larger than 4. I think there is one large table, so our group of 5 was placed at a booth with a chair and small table on the end, which kind of isolated the 5th person, because he could not hear us. If you have a bigger group, reserve the large table. I will be back for affordable, unusual, quite delicious vegan offerings. I saw vegan because I did not detect any cheese or egg, though I could be wrong. We had leftovers too, nice portions! Plenty of omnivores in my circles love to eat this way, no guilt. I think it is great to show people that creative wonderful dishes can be made from simple vegetables, that vegetarian eating can be a cuisine and not just a meal with all the fun parts taken out. You won't miss the meat, and you can eat healthfully, unless you order 2 servings of fried seaweed pancakes like we did. :-)
(4)Bill M.
This five star review is based on the flipping sweet lunch specials they have during the week. I was able to gorge myself on veggie General Tso's Chicken, brown rice, a mushroom appetizer, and a huge cup of miso soup. and this veggietacular feast cost just under $8! can you get any better? I'm also pretty happy to find an awesome Veggie Chinese spot that's outside of Chinatown. It also hooks up a good assortment of bubble and fruit teas and does BYOB! Zang!
(5)Stephanie P.
#111 DEEEEEElicious! On one of our first adventures in Philly, my friends and I decided we were desperate for Chinese food. However, being 2 vegans and 1 vegetarian, we were a bit hesitant to just walk up to any Chinese restaurant around. So, after searching around on Yelp, we found Su Xing House. Plus, it was right around the corner from where we were standing! What luck! Walking in, the place was much classier than most Chinese restaurants I've been to back in SoCal. Their menu was so extensive and we were eager to order everything, but of course we had to settle down and ended up ordering about 3 dishes. I got the Eggplant Tofu in Garlic Sauce, as well as the Scallion Pancake. They were absolutely delicious and, with brown rice, more than enough to satisfy my hunger. I actually ended up having to take more than half of everything back with me. Since then, I've ordered take-out more often than I'd like to admit from Su Xing. On those lazy days, after a long day at work, all I crave is their Scallion Pancakes and Veggie Lo Mein. They are generous with their helping of veggies, their sauce is tasty but not too salty, and their noodles are chewy. Even their fake meat tastes great. They're not at all textured like meat, but they taste slightly sweet and serve as perfect substitutes for meat in their dishes. The boyfriend and I became such fans of their Scallion Pancake that he learned how to make them on his own. =)
(4)Phil T.
I have introduced a couple of vegetarians to this place and they have been going back regularly ever since. While I'm not a a vegetarian, I get the General Tso's Tofu all the time with sweet and sour soup, brown rice, and braised mushrooms. It's only about $7 and you get enough food for two lunches. The food is quite tasty and always well prepared. I never thought I would say this, but I prefer their tofu to most chicken I would get at other Chinese restaurants. They prepare high quality, delicious, vegetarian Chinese food quickly and economically. Tough to beat.
(4)Rebecca G.
I had the hot and sour soup along with the black and white mushroom dish with bok choy. The food was good, but nothing memorable. I have no desire to eat here again.
(3)Cameron Y.
I got the as-you-wish and sesame seitan lunch specials and both tasted delicious. The spring rolls that came with our orders were crispy and light, unlike the over-fried and doughy spring rolls that most Chinese restaurants offer. The portions were also huge for the price. There are still so many things we want to try on the menu - can't wait to come back again.
(5)Robert S.
I was visiting Philly and was rather tired after a full day. I didn't want to venture too far from my hotel, and wanted something easy on my wallet, so I decided to eat here after stumbling across it in what seemed like a sketch neighborhood at night. I had the scallion pancakes for my appetizer, and the spicy Szechuan style tofu. Delicious. So delicious, in fact, I returned two more times during my several day stay. The television going on in the corner is always set on something strangely entertaining. Go for it!
(4)Suzy G.
The first time I was here, it was with a large group. Service was terrific, and everyone was intrigued by all the choices. I ordered the Sesame seitan which is soybean protein with a sweet brown sauce and sesame seeds, it was incredibly delicious! Second time I went, I ordered the lunch special As-You-Wish, which was basically bean curd skin filled with golden mushrooms, black mushrooms, dried bean curd and Chinese celery served w. water chestnut and asparagus. The lunch special also comes with a side soup, and rice and a choice of side dish for a really cheap price. The As-You-Wish was delicious and different. Being a fan of mushrooms, I also ordered a side of braised mushrooms too. You can also order brown rice, instead of just plain white rice too. I'm not a vegetarian by any means, but if I had to become one, I would go here all the time!
(5)Michael James M.
First time at Su Xing the other day after passing it time after time. Finally had a free day to park and stop in, and I must say, it was well worth the visit. I had the hot and sour soup which was bar none the best hot and sour soup I've ever had. Most h+s soups are over gelatinous, where as this dish was a perfect blend of consistency and brought each respective element of hot, sour, and sweet to the bowl. For my entree I had the Sesame Seitan, which I had chose on a recommendation from another user. I was pretty impressed with both the quality and quantity. A little on the crispy side but not too much where I couldn't cut or bite into. Served over a bed of steamed broccoli for a nice finishing touch. Definite recommendation. My roommate had the Broccoli and Garlic sauce, which essentially is one enormous plate of broccoli. The sauce is, well, garlicky and has a bit of a spicy tang to it. Quite delicious, however I would recommend sharing with someone (it's a lot of broccoli!). I can't wait to go back. So excited there is an all vegetarian Chinese restaurant that exists. I love that I can go through the menu no problem and literally pick anything and have it be veggie friendly.
(4)Emily T.
Came here with a friend on a weekend in Philly, lured by the intriguing premise of a vegetarian Chinese restaurant. As two Asian girls raised on stir-fried beef, pork, and chicken, we were both a little confused as to how a Chinese place could sustain itself without meat. The answer: by cooking damn good food. We ordered the scallion pancakes, the spicy tofu, and a curry dish. Everything was delicious, hot and speedy, they provide ample portions of rice, and we had enough to bring home for lunch the next day, but one thing and one thing only completely blew our minds: the scallion pancakes. I could've eaten 100 of them on my own. The appetizer portion is more than enough for an actual meal, the soy sauce that comes with it is just perfect, they're cooked to a perfect crisp and arrived hot and fresh from the oil. Amazing. Would return, meat be damned. Side note: it's actually a really nice place on the inside, with two separated seating areas, and the waitstaff is efficient, if a little sassy. A bit on the pricey side for Chinese food, at 8 bucks a dish, but hey, this isn't Chinatown.
(4)Shaun O.
My roomies dragged me out for a Sunday night dinner, as they had a craving for Mu Shu (vegeterian kind). Since I am a adventurous type, I decided to take them up on their offer for vegeterian chinese. One tip-its totally worth it to wait for an upper level table. We waited a few extra minutes, and were able to get a large table for the 4 of us. We order 5-6 different plates of Chinese Cuisine which had some outlandish names like "Dragon and Phoenix". I found that to be pretty tasty dish (black mushrooms, spinach, soy beans), with the Golden Feather Knishes to be a great complement to that plate. We overdid it with the ordering, as we had more than enough to take home. I also found that the price tag to be pretty affordable, and well within the range of what I like to spend for a dinner out. The service was pretty solid too, as the server almost started to dish out the food for us, before we stopped her. Still, pretty good service.
(4)David C.
Great lunch special. Food is flavorful and non greasy.
(4)Carlos V.
Really good for a good price - and nice atmosphere. The area around there is kind of gross - at least on a Saturday night - crazy, drunken, party, nonsense. I had the general veg chicken, which was crispy, sweet, but not too sweet, and had just the right amount of richness. Plus, like, 15 pieces of steamed broccoli. As someone who has ordered vegetarian food from almost every Chinese place in San Francisco: Philly is lucky.
(4)Weef B.
I got there early, about 10 minutes before normal opening time. The hostess didn't give me any hassle and took my order quickly. She was very attentive and refilled my tea a few times even though I lingered for awhile. Great service. Food was excellent. I got the hot and sour soup and seasame seitan and holy cr*pola, delicious. The seitan was perfectly crispy and had the best texture I could possibly imagine. Only negative is that there are no lunch specials on Sunday, but it was mentioned on the menu so I can't take away a star for that.
(5)Luis N.
The food is great. Tea tastes fresh. Service is very fast. Place is beautiful inside; not so nice looking outside.
(4)Har D.
Had gone here for dinner several times. Need more attentive staff BUT the food makes up for it :). Wanted to go to Philly Chutney ( Vegetarian Sthn Indian ) on 1628 Sansom st next block for lunch today but they were closed for repairs and landed on SuXing for lunch. Loved the Hor fun and the noodle soup, tasty and not too much soya sauce. The sesame chicken was great and Gen Taos Chicken was brilliantly prepared. Many items on lunch menu and we were able to choose several dishes for below $8. Had the sweet sour Chicken and fried rice as well. There were 5 of us and service was slightly slow. The luch items came with a soup and spring roll 7/10 for SR. Will be back.
(4)Gale S.
The price point per portion size here is riDONKulous. You get so much food, it's a sure bet you'll leave filled to the gills. I judge most Chinese joints by the merits of its hot n' sour soup, and unfortunately, I deem Su Xing's hot n' sour to be sub-par. However, the rest of the components here are SOLID. The menu can get a little confusing for those who aren't totally familiar with terms such as "glutinous", "soy nuggets", "puffed gluten", "puffed protein", etc., but these are just terms for veggie equivalents of meat that are referred to at most places as mock blah blah blah. But the menu is HUGE, the service is tight, and however you want your meal prepared will be how you get it. They're great. The only reason I'm not over the moon about Su Xing is because for some reason it doesn't feel like home to me. Not that it isn't a good atmosphere, it really is just a personal thing - I can't explain. But MAN, it is way way way about time that there's a totally vedge (and totally affordable) option in center city. When Su Xing came on the scene so many years ago, I was psyched, but to see it has become a staunch resident on Sansom Street fills me with hope for vegetarians and vegans everywhere.
(4)mishel c.
I can't speak highly enough of Su Xing. I used to work next door, and when they opened, I pretty much went there at least 3x's a week for lunch. First, let's talk about how amazingly nice the servers are. They are. Amazingly. Nice. The perfect blend of extremely accommodating (your tea + water never runs out) and respectful of your dining experience (not swarming around every 10 seconds). If you're there alone, they pretty much leave you be (love it). Next, decor. For a fairly inexpensive restaurant, it's very pretty inside -- nice wood accents, heavy booths, and sparkly lighting. It definitely doesn't feel like a worn down, veggie Chinese place (I'm looking at you, Kingdom of Vegetarians + New Harmony). Last, and most importantly: the food. I have tried almost the entire menu and have never had anything I either didn't really like or that wasn't prepared well, despite my tastes not aligning. The spring rolls are perfect. The miso soup, perfect. My favourite dish, the Chen-Tu Vegetables, are completely delectable. I've eaten mushrooms here that are rich + succulent and feel illegal. For lunch, you can get a side, soup + entree for under $7, and often you'll have leftovers for dinner or a snack. It's like heaven! I almost didn't leave my last job because it meant not being able to come here for lunch anymore. Seriously, if such hasnt become evident, I truly love Su Xing. They are by far the best veggie Chinese in Philadelphia, and maybe anywhere.
(5)Samantha M.
S-L-O-W on the service, and the bubble tea is seriously watery and lacking in foamy goodness. The portions for lunch were decent just everything is over sauced to death. If you order anything just request the bottle of sauce on the side.
(2)Liz H.
I love the sesame tofu with broccoli for lunch. A delicious, healthy bargain!
(4)Derik M.
Best veg Gen Tso's. Mostly soy chicken- not a dough ball with a marble-sized piece of TVP at the center... and the sauce is always perfect. I eat here more often than anywhere when I want to hide away and decompress from a stressful morning. I aldo dig how they add some protein to Mei & Chow Fun (veggie ham or chicken).
(5)Erin F.
Today my fortune reads "Good things ar ecoming to you in due course of time." Here is what did not come to me in due course of time today: my #21 Broccoli w/Garlic Sauce lunch special from Su Xing, ordinarily my second favorite vegetarian Chinese food place in town. Waited 20 minutes for a menu, the hostess had to take our order, waited another 25 minutes for food and by the time it got to our table, it was 12:55 and I had to be back at my desk by 1:00. It is 1:16 now and I quickly consumed 2/3rds of the lukewarm contents of my sad styrofoam-housed to-go lunch that was meant to be eaten over laughs and chuckles with my friend Stephen S and tossed the rest in the trash. It's sad when somewhere you like drops the ball. A bonus star to the perma-hostess who was apologetic and also someone I just happen to like, but come on Su Xing. You're better than that.
(2)Vanessa W.
I was looking for some good, inexpensive food close to the Academy of Music, enter Su Xing House. I am not a vegetarian, but loved this place. I had my first positive tofu experience here, after having it before and hating it. I got the veggie lo mein and it was delicious. The place was busy on Sunday night but not packed. Seemed to be several locals, so I could tell I was in a good place. A great middle of the road/casual option in an upscale area. Two thumbs up!
(5)Nicey J.
Delish , the tea and water kept flowing , the food ( sesame tofu & schezuan? Tofu) was delish also tried the singapore noodles.. ... All in all everything was tasty I went 2 days in a row after bikram which def means I'll be back being a non meat eater I can appreciate the vast amounts of vegetarian fare
(4)Suzanne H.
Fantastic little local find; I wouldn't have even noticed it if friends hadn't brought me. Amazing, fresh, flavorful vegetarian food (loved the sauteed eggplant), funky chinese-kitzchy atmosphere, great decor, and packed at lunch. Well worth it when downtown, whether you're a veggie or not. PS went again 2 weeks ago; it was again fabulous - the seaweed cakes were bland but interesting. I love that they serve brown rice - so rare. And as I was eating alone this time, I really appreciated the chef's flexibility in mixing up a couple of the ingredients so I could get a whole healthy meal, with the dark greens, shitaake mushrooms and tofu I was craving.
(4)Caver B.
Excellent vegetarian Chinese food. And it's not often you get to say "vegetarian Chinese food". The menu is varied, although unlike a similar place in Hong Kong it doesn't have quite as many sea vegetables, other than a few different seaweeds. It does have a lot of different mushrooms, and they are all delicious. I had the #22, Dried Bean Curd w. Spiral Seaweed, my Wife had the #10 As You Wish, Bean curd skin filled golden mushroom, black mushroom, dried bean curd and Chinese celery served w. water chestnut and asparagus. Both were great, although in this case I think my Wife won. The restaurant itself is very nice and surprisingly low key and upscale looking. A great, inexpensive find.
(5)Lauren H.
Praise: 1). Great selection of decadent fried food and nutritious tofu hot pots. The scallion pancakes are tasty (though not the best I've ever had), the spring rolls are awesome, and the sesame tofu and sweet and sour soy nuggets are wonderful. Their tofu/soy protein meals are breaded and fried, so they are super crispy. The vegetable wrap and hot pots are recommended for guests who enjoy milder dishes without a lot of sauce. If you want better vegetarian Chinese food (consistently, with variety), you'll have to hoof it to Chinatown. 2) Love the lunch special. Best deal in the surrounding area for a heaping load of vegetarian food (one soup, one appetizer, and a medium-sized entree with brown rice). Caveats: 1). Since most of the tofu and soy protein dishes are dusted with flour/corn-starch and fried before adding to a thick sauce, this is a dangerous place to get takeout from (the breading will soften and lose its crispiness). Moreover, reheating tends to ruin the dish. Thus, this is best used as an eat-in restaurant. 2). Weirdly, the last two times I have gone there, the food/service hasn't been as good as it once was. Less than responsive service, cold spring roll with the lunch special (they're normally freshly fried), and the spring roll served with the entree (so that it started to soak up the other sauce). Not great. They also have sent us the wrong dish in the past, but I had forgiven that until recently since the food is usually so tasty.
(4)Rebecca C.
This place is amazing!!! It's a favorite stop for mine and the lunch special is a great deal! Soup, entree and a side dish for under $10!!! it doens't get much better than that in Center City! My favorite is their Seitan dishes, always tasty! this Afternoon, i was greeted with a smile, seated in a lovely booth, and immediately brought water and tea! -A fantastic start... Followed by Miso Soup, General Tso's Seitan (Veg) and an eggroll! One word of caution...the place is vegetarian...so if you, like the guys in the booth behind ours are looking for meat or fish...you might want to go elsewehere...of course you could try something new and discover that this food is tastier! and they have bubble tea!
(5)Anpan W.
Great vegetarian options, inexpensive lunch options, good service.
(5)Rick D.
Stopped in recently for a quick lunch while in the neighborhood. Great meal! Really big menu, with lots of standard side dish options. My lunch was served VERY quickly & was quite good. Plus, it was super cheap (entree, soup, brown rice and side was about $8). I'd recommend Su Xing House to anyone looking for a high quality, inexpensive vegan option in Center City.
(4)Jing G.
3.5.. Met with a friend for a lunch date. It's a vegetarian spot that unlike many other vegetarian Chinese spots aren't too big on making soy products fit the bill of being meat. Look, if I don't eat meat, it probably has something to do with the fact that I don't like the taste of it, either. Why one would try to make soy taste like beef or anything else is beyond me. Anyway, besides my mini-rant there, this spot is pretty good. I liked the hot and sour soup here. Good, creative vegetarian dishes, but alas, like many a Chinese joint, can be very oily.
(3)Mo M.
For a lunch at $7-$8 you can stuff your face with soup, spring roll, and main platter that will delight even the staunchest meat eater. I love the hot and sour soup more than any I've ever tried. I am usually torn between ordering the general tso's tofu, general tso's veg., sesame seitan, and sweat and sour tofu.
(5)Urban L.
I'm very disappointed to give only 2 stars to a vegetarian restaurant. But I am also disappointed because my meal was mediocre. I had high hopes of loving the food at this restaurant which is so close to my hotel -- and had to give up the imagined future of eating there often during the week I'm in Philly. I ordered the tofu and eggplant hotpot. In a word, it was bland. There's something strange that happens when my brain sees a sauce that looks flavorful (rich brown color, bubbling away) but my taste buds are left waiting for the flavor. It had no taste at all. The waitress never asked me about spiciness, so I wonder if they assessed my palate at a zero? Or is this dish always devoid of flavor? On the good side, the ingredients were fresh and plentiful -- tofu, eggplant, green peppers, mushrooms. The sauce...might as well have not been there. Service was fine. More efficient than friendly. I am grateful that I was able to order w/o worrying about non-veg ingredients. When I lived in Boston, that would have been enough. After more than a decade in Seattle, my expectations for flavorful vegetarian food are high.
(2)Christopher R.
I have no idea how I have gone this long without visiting Su Xing. With the delicious food and unbeatable price of the lunch special (under $7.50 including tax), I may be returning on a weekly basis. The hot & soup soup had a fantastic kick. It cleared out my sinuses immediately. I cannot be certain if it was the best I've had, but it was certainly far above average. The spring roll was, however, about average. What did stand out was the rich, earthy flavor of the mushrooms inside. For my main dish I had potato and cauliflower in yellow curry. The vegetables were very tender. The flavor of the curry was delicate, with a subtle spice. Excellent. Very good first impression from Su Xing. I think it could easily get a fifth star after I have had the opportunity to try a few more dishes.
(4)Susanna K.
I got the sesame seitan lunch special to go. The portions were huge (enough for 2 lunches), although I would've liked a bit more broccoli, and as other people have said, the seitan was a little too crispy. But, overall, it was delicious (as were the braised mushrooms). At $8.00 for an entree, soup and a side that will last you two meals, it can't be beat.
(4)Abhijit G.
I debated between 2 and 3...2.5 would be appropriate The decor is ok...but they face a parking lot...so guess what u see out the windows...cars and blue neon signs! The spring rolls and sea weed pancakes were good...although the pancakes were dripping oil by gallons,, The triple shredded in garlic was ok...but after a while I couldn't take the soy flavor anymore...the genereal tso's vege...well, we barely touched it..and didn't bother to get a box...go figure Everyone else seems to love this place..may be you will...and may be if u r a vegetarian..this is IT....but if u like ur meat..get real...u can do better than Su Xing...MUCH better!
(3)Tofu Robo T.
Chinese vegetarian is not a new idea by far, but it's nice to see one outside of the Chinatown bubble. Su Xing is nestled in between avenue of the arts and Rittenhouse on offbeat Sansom St, which is almost the perfect place, really. All of the food is vegetarian, of course. Vegans will appreciate that the menus were annotated by hand to indicate which dishes also contain chicken eggs but I would say 90% or more of the menu is totally vegan. Get ready to try something new! Some of the dishes will sound familiar as the menu features the classics... but most of the dishes are creative originals. The words "chicken", "ham", or "faux" do not appear on the menu. They call it like it is so you better know your stuff. Seitan is only named once... most of the dishes are called gluten this way, gluten that way, sliced soy protein loaf, etc. but only the brave will try "Sliced Jelly w/ Fresh Mushroom". This reviewer is usually less courageous, but maybe i will get there someday! It's worth pointing out that it is a great bargain at lunch time with soup, appetizer, & entree under $10 including tax & tip!
(4)rachel k.
This is still our go-to Chinese restaurant and is by far my favorite vegetarian Chinese place in the city. The food is wonderful and rarely greasy, I can easily decipher what I'm eating (unlike some of the we-deep-fry-everything places in China Town) and the servers are attentive and kind. Since my last review, I've brought many non-vegetarians here and they've had nothing but good things to say (between bites, that is).
(5)jennifer c.
To be honest, I thought this place did not live up to the hype. I ordered the vegetables, tofu & glass noodles in a hot pot and it was a little bland. The portion size was large for the price, but the flavor was flat. The server was very attentive and the staff was friendly, and you get free tea.
(3)Jason L.
Fantastic vegetarian food joint. General Tsao's was a sweet tasty delight. Veggie Rolls were also great. Will definitely go back again when I don't feel like eating meat~
(4)cc c.
I wonder if anyone on here remembers Harmony, before it became New Harmony a few years ago. If you miss the old Harmony then you'll want to go to Su Xing. If you don't, you'll still want to go to Su Xing because it's the best veggie Chinese food in Philly. Or New York. Or anywhere else for that matter. I eat here all the time. Some of my favorites are the triple shredded in garlic sauce, the steamed dumplings, the tofu skin with two kinds mushroom (this takes longer but is so yummy). I also love the seaweed salad but it's not the Japanese style. The atmosphere is surprisingly upscale considering that the food is cheap and fast. Which includes being clean. No bugs, no old food on the floor, no filthy bathrooms. Sad that I have to mention that but, well... Hint: get one of the booths upstairs by the window if you can.
(5)Erin G.
I've wanted to visit Su Xing House, a Chinese vegetarian restaurant, since it opened on Sansom street almost a year ago. Today was the first time I was nearby and hungry! The restaraunt itself is lovely with two tastefully decored floors (and one sparkly chandelier), both dimly light and quiet. The absence of jangly music was almost offputting in it rairity, but I enjoyed it. I ordered the slightly ominous sounding Triple Stredded in Garlic, a combination of crispy thinly sliced tofu, crispy vegetable protien, and straw mushrooms. I would have prefered a more flavorful mushroom, and it certainly didn't warrant the spicy chili indication it held on the menu. I did like the addition of red pepper ribbons and fresh sprouts, the sauce that was both sweet and salty, and the great textures in the dish. My friend Beth ordered the sweet and sour soy nuggets, deep fried, pillowy balls with red and green peppers, swimming in sweet and sour sauce. I didn't get a nibble, but she (omnivour that she is) thought it was tasty. Su Xing has lovely service, and extensive menu based on traditional chinese vegetarian foods (rather than vegetarian orange "beef" etc.) and they offer brown rice - a plus with me. I'll be back to this dimly lit oasis in the middle of hectic downtown.
(4)Sofia S.
Great place, great food! I love the ambiance and I frequent this place almost every week. You get tons of food for such a small price too!! The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because the servers could use a little more help in customer service.
(4)Stephanie P.
I was traveling to Philadelphia for an overnight and I was looking for a new place to eat. I saw these reviews and thought I'd give Su Xing House a try. I am so glad I did! I actually ended up ordering from here twice - once to take home. The food is truly delicious. I got the Sesame tofu the first time. I ordered it with Hot and Sour soup and a spring roll. The soup was pretty good and the spring roll was a typical spring roll. The Sesame tofu however was fabulous! Absolutely the best tofu dish I had ever had. The second time I ordered the Gen Tso tofu and was equally impressed. The only issue I had was when I got home I was eating my soup and there was metal in it! An actual piece of metal the size of a staple. I have no idea why or what happened, and it's the only reason this restaurant didn't get five stars. Even WITH this unfortunate incident I would still eat there again. Truly a fantastic meal. I'm not a vegetarian, but I am usually not a fan of Chinese meat. This was a perfect substitute!
(4)Kate C.
Su Xing is my favorite lunch spot in center city, and a contender for my favorite Chinese vegetarian restaurant in Philly (yes, there are actually quite a few -- ah, the modern luxury of choice.) For $6 or $7 at lunch, you get: *your choice of approximately twenty entrees (I am drawn to the seitan options, myself) *choice of soup (love the hot and sour) *choice of side (options include spring roll, seaweed, corn, and a bunch of other stuff) *abundant brown rice, and *endless refills of jasmine tea (which tastes like perfume to me, but lots of people love it). The amount of food for the price is, frankly, ridiculous. And then, if that wasn't good enough, Su Xing is actually pretty attractive inside with lots of dark wood...and since they knocked down a wall and opened up the dining room, there's plenty of seating too. Oh, and the staff is friendly. Really, what more could you ask for?
(5)Josh L.
Good service, and it would have been better (for our likings) if they left the teapot on our table than coming back (in time) often to refill our cups. The veggie food was not bad, but a lit too western style - nothing wrong about this but we were looking for oriental buddhism inspired veggie food. Price was not bad and they would deliver within at least center city area.
(3)Lan G.
This is the place I go to when I have a crave for healthy Chinese food. My coworkers and I have been ordering their lunch special over the last couple of years. The quality of their food is outstanding, plus they give you a lot of food! I always make 2 meals out of 1 lunch order! My favorite is definitely the Asparagus with Wheat Gluten in Brown Sauce
(4)Ck P.
We eat lunch here a few times a month. The owner is very professional and this place has received several business awards. We generally go after 1:30 to miss the lunch crowd and we've never had a problem with service. We prefer the upper room and it's great If you can get one of two booths by the window to watch the street scene. They have lunch specials from $6.50 - $8.25 which include soup (my favorite is Miso...& it's not very salty!), side dish (lots of choices, but I get a spring roll -not greasy) and white or brown rice (brown, of course!) plus your entree! It's a deal. Everything we've ordered has been fresh, tasty and well prepared. Just had the Sesame Seitan, which comes with broccoli and it was delicious (as usual). They are open for dinner and this would be great place to eat before going to the Wilma Theater or the Academy of Music (even Susanne Roberts Theater, but that's a few blocks further). Note: Lunch time is very crowded, so I'd suggest going at 11:30 or after 1:30 during the day. Also, this is good, comfortable place for singles to eat. There are some tables on the upper room that we see singles in all the time. We've even seen singles in booths when we ate during the off hours for a late lunch after 2:00. Even if you're not a vegetarian, this is good place to season your palette with some good vegetarian food. Love it!
(4)Secret V.
Of the 6 or 7 veg Chinese restaurants in Philly, Su Xing is the most different: they're a totally vegan establishment but don't do the fake meat thing. Lunch specials are filling and interesting--they've got some really unique items--but your best bet is to go with a big group for family-style so that everybody can try a bunch of different stuff.
(4)Rashada S.
Great place, great food its been about 5 years since weve been indulging at su xing. Weve had parties, meetings etc its great every time. My kids absolutely love it. Our favs are singapore noodles, general tsos veg, veggie, spring rolls, veg heaven, eggplant with tofu, soups, sauteed green beans & kale I could go on and on. You will be amazed vegetarian or not. Bubble tea is great too. Now Ii have the taste after this review I just may go for lunch, who cares about the 30 minute drive. Hehe
(5)Lauren D.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I was a vegetarian. Actually, that's a lie. It was about 2 years ago and I was living in Philadelphia but still. I feel like I might as well have been kept prisoner on the Death Star considering yesterday was my first excursion to this amazing vegetarian oasis. First of all, the decor is reallllly pretty. I was kind of surprised because it's unassuming from the outside. Lots of flowers, gold, and a fair amount of tables to choose from. In terms of the menu? It's huge. My friend (who has been there countless times) and I took at least 10 minutes analyzing and trying to pick our meal. As appetizers, I went with the seaweed salad and him the spring roll. The seaweed salad wasn't what I was expecting, that's for sure. It actually looked like real seaweed, as opposed to the typical translucent kind found in most Asian restaurants. It also wasn't in a ginger dressing but instead contained cilantro. It was different, but in a good way (although I do remain partial to what I can only assume is the less healthy variety). For the main dish, I chose the As-You-Wish (fried bean curd skin filled golden mushroom, black mushroom, dried bean curd and Chinese celery) with sauteed pea pod leaves. The portion was HUGE and super tasty. The pea pod leaves had just the right amount of garlic and didn't look too oily. My friend ordered the Vegetable Heaven (stir-fried string beans, braised tofu and Chinese eggplant in a garlic sauce) and was also a fan. I managed to snag a piece of the eggplant and a string bean so I can also confirm the yumminess, although I think mine was the winner of the meal. No dessert due to being full of delicious food, but I will make it a point to try some next time. We didn't turn down the blood oranges that came with the bill, though :D Service was extremely attentive, although almost to the point of being overly so. The complimentary hot tea was never lacking, and our water glasses were constantly being refilled. We never wanted for anything, although we did have to ask for chop sticks. Prices were extremely fair, too. It averaged out to be about $16 a person, which I can't complain about for a huge good meal in Rittenhouse. I will definitely be back here sooner than later
(5)Mallory P.
I fell in love with this place when I worked down the street and could spend a relaxing, hour long lunch break with my $6 lunch special. Seriously, my dessert island, all time favorite meal might just be hot and sour soup, a veggie spring roll, and general tso's tofu. On top of the excellent food and prices, the place is a legitimately nice restaurant. The decor, staff, and atmosphere are all great. It's probably best that I don't work nearby anymore, because I might ruin it for myself. It's such a delightful treat whenever I'm in Rittenhouse.
(5)Anne H.
So glad to find another restaurant as awesome as Kingdom of Vegetarians/New Harmony, and closer, too! Dating a vegetarian now less annoying. This all vegetarian place was the perfect place to have lunch on a Sunday. We were the only ones there. The boyfriend got a spring roll which was crispy and delicious. That was followed by Singapore noodles and General Tso's tofu. The tofu was PERFECT! Crispy on the outside, pillow-soft on the inside. Both dishes could have been a little spicier, but were delicious nonetheless. I can tell this will be a new favorite spot for years to come. Will enjoy trying every item on their meu. Low price range is also a plus.
(5)JJ B.
If I was rating the food alone, I would assuredly give this place 5 stars- the food was simply amazing for vegetarians and not vegetarians alike! However, despite this absolutely amazing food, they lost a star and perhaps maybe should lose two stars given the fact that they are incredibly rude. The previous review about the waitress stomping her feet and/or pouting about customers not being ready to order immediately, is...true. Honest to goodness (not because I was with the other reviewer but because they did it to me too). The previous review about them being racist towards black people, I think is somewhat inaccurate. The staff appears to be incredibly unfriendly to everyone, and I noticed this from the diverse crowd that was in the place while we were. Mainly I noticed how they treated other people because I started to think the same thing about them disliking my fiancé and I because we were new or what have you. However, after paying attention for awhile I realized that they are just incredibly rude, it doesn't matter what race, gender, sexual orientation or what have you. It seems like if you are not part of their family then they don't like you, period. I find this to be quite sad considering the immense diversity within Philly, especially center city. Additionally, as a business establishment it's really unfortunate that they do not even feel compelled to be polite to their paying customers as if they feel it is unnecessary to do so. Bottom line...like everyone has said the General Tso's anything is amazing, the moo shu is delicious and hand wrapped for you and in front of you by the staff. I haven't had their food in 1 month and I am craving it desperately, that's how good it is. So, I will go back but it will be to pick up a takeout order, I have an interest in eating their food but do not have an interest in feeling uncomfortable when I do so. Until I find a place that has equally good veg chinese food and better hospitality, I will be ordering from here for takeout only and when I do find a better place- I'm gone.
(4)Dana L.
My first time at Su Xing. I'm not a vegetarian, but am vegetable/soy friendly. It was a pretty awesome lunch, and for $10 a person (incl tax, tip and more water and hot tea than I could shake a stick at), an amazing deal. I had the General Tso's Veg. with brown rice, hot/sour soup and spring roll. I'm not sure what "veg." meant exactly, but it was very tasty. Seitan maybe? The spring roll, was, as other reviewers have written, exactly as one would expect. The veg. was spicy and crispy. I'm still thinking about it, and lunch was a few days ago. It's not exactly healthy since it's fried. Maybe next time I'll try something unfried. Sam had the tofu and eggplant with garlic sauce. Also delicious, though extremely hot (temperature hot, not spicy hot) when it first arrived. Service was as good as everyone says and I will definitely be back. If only there were such varied/awesome vegetarian options at more establishments, I might consider giving up the meat.
(4)Michelle W.
Good place for vegetarian!
(4)Josh F.
Loved every meal I have ever had here! Brought a few co-workers in, whom have not had too much vegetarian fare, and they were very impressed by the mock dishes.
(4)Eran M.
(vegetarian / vegan review) LOVE IT. :-) Tasty food, large portions, huge selection, attentive service - and cheap! I ate there with two hungry friends - we ordered two appetizers (steamed pot stickers and fried tofu with cashews) and two entres (chow mei fun Singapore style and tofu kung pao) along with brown rice, and although the food was delicious, we didn't finish it all. The whole thing cost less than $30 (before tip). This really is a vegetarian's heaven (well, assuming it's a vegetarian who enjoyed Asian-style food). Even non vegetarians seem to enjoy themselves here. And they have bubble tea! Really, what more could I ask for? :-)
(5)Casey K.
definitely coming back to this place, and dragging a few friends with me. what a fun find on a street riddle with douchey looking clubbers. this place does legit vegetarian fare and in generous portion sizes. the food is good and relatively authentic (not so much chinese, as chinese american). the service is decent the prices are average and but the whole experience was just simply more than i expected. thanks su xing!
(5)Jen A.
I love this place. The food is excellent! You will not be disappointed!
(5)Marc B.
I am a carnivore to the bone, and usually don't like vegetarian dishes that try to act meaty, but Su Xing House is changing all that. Their General Tso's "chicken" is far superior in flavor and texture than real Gen. Tso's chicken at most Chinese restaurants. If you're trying to convert a meat-eater, this should be your ground zero. There's a wide selection of "meat" and "fish" dishes that'll convince even the most die-hard carnies that veggie based foods can constitute a real meal. The portions are huge, and the leftovers reheat well.
(5)Brittany M.
I've ordered from here enough times in the past few weeks to consider myself an expert in Su Xing cuisine. It's tough to find a better deal for the quality of food they offer. Their veggie lo-mein is a hit with me -- a huge portion that doesn't skimp on the veggies. Their General Tso's tofu is also delicious, and I don't even like tofu all that much. Last night I ordered the As-You-Wish, which, while stuffed with mushrooms, felt a bit chewy. Maybe that's how bean curd tastes in general - don't know, never tried before - but I have a feeling that the steam from the delivery container made this happen. Also ordered the cauliflower and potato curry, which was fan-freakin-tastic and steaming hot when delivered. As other reviewers have mentioned, their lunch deals are a steal.
(4)Chris H.
I have always enjoyed everything I've ordered at Su Xing House. I most often visit to get take-away, but I also find the staff friendly and the service prompt when I dine in. I especially enjoy the seitan dishes (which are also relished by the omnivores among my friends) and the eggplant tofu in garlic sauce. BYOB.
(4)petra l.
This is one of the best places to eat at if you are downtown. I make a point of going at least twice a month and love it every single time! Its prices are absolutely convenient, the quality of food is excellent and the amount is actually very generous. Did I say love it, Love It, LOVE IT!!!?
(5)Mia D.
Maybe it's the forever-smiling staff or the gargantuan painting of wading horses on the wall, but Su Xing House is really special. Please do yourself a favor and try the fried rice cake appetizer. I have daydreams about its sticky sweetness. The menu here is pretty huge, and usually I find that to be a bit daunting, but everything I've sampled is amazing. Whether you're into tofu, fresh vegetables or seitan, Su Xing will definitely have something for you.
(5)Lulu B.
The "As You Wish" dish is the BEST, if you like mushrooms and tofu!!!! Delicious. And they offer it for lunch special too.
(5)Karen B.
i've only had good experiences here, and this is my little family's go-to place for takeout, even though we're not vegetarians. love the chen-tu vegetables, "dragon and phoenix" and "ebony and ivory." bonus points for staying open during the multiple blizzards of 2010 and for having staff that didn't give my posse the stink-eye for tracking snow through the restaurant and draping our wet gear all over the place. su xing gets the kb seal of approval.
(4)Devon R.
Delishhhh veg chinese. Go before three on weekdays for the lunch special, which could easily be two complete meals for under $8. The staff is the sweetest, and super attentive so your cup is never empty. There is never a wait, so you'll likely get a huge booth whenever you come.
(5)Stevie S.
I absolutely love Su Xing! It is my absolute favorite lunch spot in center city and I usually eat there 3 or 4 times a month. Su Xing is a cozy, 100% vegeterian Chinese resturant with a shockingly inexpensive lunch menu. Nowhere have I had tofu cooked as wonderfully! I really can't say enough good things about this restaurant. The staff is very kind, there is plenty of seating (no wait!) and unlimited free hot tea! The dinner menu is a bit more expensive so I would recommend an introductory lunch trip if possible.
(5)Ben Y.
Very quick and friendly service. The food was quite tasty, especially the Hot and Sour soup. And it's nice to have a Chinese place just for Vegetarians. My one recommendation is NOT to over order. After we got a cup of soup, the onion cakes and sesame noodles (which we thought was a side), we were already completely full. And that was before our two entrees came. We ended up eating only about half of our food. The Mango Tea Tapioca is excellent.
(4)Lauren O.
I was in desperate need of a bubble tea...picture Philadelphia as the Sahara and me in search of a rumored oasis complete with tapioca pearls. My fiance and I walked in mid-day so it was totally empty and I was able to have a much-coveted bubble tea in my hands within 5 minutes. I got mango and it was pretty good but definitely not life-altering. I'll give them another try and I'll give the menu a whirl next time too...looks promising
(3)Dana B.
I had wanted to try Su Xing for months since I had passed by it numerous times while walking down Sansom Street. One day after work, I met up with two friends who readily agreed to give it a try with me. The menu is entirely vegetarian and has plenty of options to satisfy anyone, and even though I am a carnivore, I REALLY enjoyed my sesame tofu. I will definitely be back!
(5)Ali J.
Conveniently located at 15th and Sansom, its one of the few, if not only vegetarian Chinese restaurant in this part of town, in case you don't feel like making the hike to Chinatown on your lunch break. Their lunch special is a pretty good deal. Soup, side, entree, and rice for $7.50, but choose your sides wisely because it comes in those styerfoam to- go containers, you know the ones that have little pockets for each side and stuff can get mixed around. Don't order the "Veg. salad" because its literally iceberg lettuce, one slice of tomato and two slices of cucumbers that fall into your entree and then you're left with a warm salad dipped in General Tso's sauce. I should have got the spring roll. The white rice is ok, not sticky though. Maybe next time I'll get the brown. I also got miso soup, but you really can't go wrong with that, its pretty standard. The General Tso's Veg. is actually pretty good. Its fried gluten but its not the doughy kind of fried, its just lightly battered. The sauce is good, but I was expecting it to be hotter since it had a chili pepper next to it on the menu. It has actual chili's in it, but they really make no difference. So if you're in the mood for Chinese, but don't want to make the hike or have to worry about what surface its cooked on (since it's all vegetarian), try Su Xing House. But don't expect to be blown away. Its not amazing, but not terrible either.
(3)michael j.
I'm not a vegetarian but their General Tso's Tofu is more delicious than the chicken variety at other places. No matter what your dietary default is I bet you'll like this place.
(5)Kathryn M.
I stored this place in the back of my head a while ago and finally had the opportunity to get dinner here with a friend. We were too late for the lunch special, but it is an amazing bargain. I am another omnivore who can attest to delectable collection of foodstuffs that is veggie Chinese. I ordered their sesame seitan with broccoli dish. My friend ordered their veggie lo mein. The portions are extremely generous and delicious. I especially enjoyed the thick and successfully spiced brown sauce that drenched my mock meat. It's a little more costly than neighboring veggie Chinese spots, but well worth it.
(4)Milk W.
Excellent Chinese Veg in the heart of Center City. You cannot beat the lunch specials, which are priced well and all come with soup and side dish. The kale with dried tofu is killer!! Dinner is quite good as well!
(4)Kori M.
I stumbled upon this place by accident. I was hungry one day in between classes and randomly chose to roam down Sansom. I saw Su Xing and stopped to peak at their menu. I was very excited to find an all vegetarian Chinese place. I had the garlic eggplant with brown rice and a side of fruit. I was totally surprised by the lovely green tea that was included with it. I was very satisfied and happy for the $8 I spent. I sat there and read a book and enjoyed my meal. I had this adorable older gentleman as my server who was super cute and friendly and polite. I have yet to find a chance to go back, but I I can soon
(5)Meredith K.
Today was my first time at Su Xing, and it definitely will not be my last. When I entered the restaurant, I found it to be a little dark and not very atmospheric; however, my mind was completely changed when I was led by the waitress into the back dining room. It was beautiful, with tasteful decor and furnishings. The large windows on either side of the room provided a generous amount of warm light, which complemented the marigold-colored (hooray for Crayola!) walls beautifully. I was seated in a comfortable booth by the front window and was immediately served hot green tea, ice-cold water, and a menu. I read through the menu while I waited for my friend and found a plethora of lunch specials on the back. When my friend arrived, we ordered (it's his favorite vegetarian Chinese restaurant, so he was very clear about what he was going to order). I got the Home-Style Bean Curd Lunch Special, which came with choice of white or brown rice, soup, and side... a ton of food for $6.95! I chose brown rice, hot and sour soup, and a spring roll. My friend ordered the Sesame Tofu with the same sides. Our soup was delivered a few minutes later, and it was the best Hot and Sour soup I've had yet. I'm not usually a fan of Hot and Sour, but since my boyfriend loves it I decided to give it another try. It was thick, spicy, and flavorful. Really yummy. About seven minutes after that, we got our meals. I bit into the spring roll, which was served with delicious duck sauce (my favorite), and it was like a taste of heaven. It was crispy, without the usual grease that you get at most Chinese places, and amazingly delicious. I might even go as far as to say it was the best spring roll I've had in years. My entree, though not as spicy as I usually like, was very tasty. The large pieces of bean curd were served with sauteed carrots, snow peas, and squash in a brown gravy. Although I enjoyed my meal, I tried some of my friend's and wished that I ordered that. It was easily the best tofu I've ever had. It was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. I was jealous. The food was delicious, but probably the best part of the meal was when we got the check... less than $15 for two of us. And we left stuffed. I would highly recommend this place before any of the other veggie restaurants in Chinatown.
(5)Laura S.
I ordered delivery the other day, and it was great. The food came quickly, it was inexpensive, and very good. I especially like the General Tso's tofu and the cold sesame noodles.
(4)Elliot R.
There are veggie Chinese places that make up fake meat dishes out of tofu and protein; Yuck! Yawn! Then there is Su Xing. They have dozens of dishes without meat or fake meat. They have the best lunch specials in town: something like 8 bucks gets you soup, a springroll and a substantial main dish. the Schezwan tofu is amazing! The kale and dried bean curd as well. Take a friend and get a few dishes, you won't regret it. (p.s. the only bad dish I've had there has been seaweed. everything else: great)
(5)yu s.
this place does have fantastic lunch specials, i get the general tso's veg, miso soup, spring roll and a side of rice for under ten bucks. the waitstaff is really friendly and they're wonderfully manical with the tea-filling (great jasmine tea too by the way), i never have an empty cup. plus their veggies are always fresh and they give great portions. one thing i do want to note, if you're getting takeout, you'll definitely have to wait at least twenty minutes (especially if you're getting mock), so be prepared to wait a bit...i'm always staring at that horse painting on the wall with the little lite-brite bulbs in it...semi-fascinating.
(4)Dawn S.
In town for a training course and this place was recommended by local. Ordered the hot & sour soup when I normally always get miso at other places. AWESOME! Spicy and yummy and very fresh ingredients. I'm big on crunchy texture so when the springroll came and it was PERFECT in color and hot and CRUNCHY this girl was in HEAVEN. Last I ordered the sesame tofu... did I mention this place is vegetarian? I'm SO far from being a Vegan. But this dish knocked my socks off! They serve it on a bed of broccoli with this light orangy sauce. It wasn't even an issue that there was no meat. THE TEXTURE OF THE TOFU IS AMAZING!! Crunchy, yummy and covered with sesame seeds. It comes with brown or white rice... the brown was sticky in the BEST way. HUGE servings. I'm here for 2 weeks. I will be back.
(5)Kathy L.
I thought the food was really good. We ordered take out. Based on the reviews of other yelpers, we ordered the asparagus & gluten, and as-you-wish. Both were good, but we thought the homestyle tofu was the most delicious dish we ordered. We also got the scallion pancakes. I've had plenty of tsong-yo-bing in Taiwan. These were a little dry - and not very doughy/flaky - but ok. This totaled $40. I think they increased prices a little since updating their website menu, but otherwise good (relatively healthy) food option. And of course they deliver!
(4)Jeffrey N.
Beautiful little place on a quieter street. The food was just okay. We had a tofu dish that tasted it had just been sauteed with big-brand simmering sauce. Also, we weren't served what we expected and our server didn't offer to fix the dish or take it back. As a warning, the "vegetable noddle" dish doesn't have vegetables and noodles. It has noodles made out of vegetables. (Admittedly, this was in part our mistake, but we felt the situation was not handled well by the server).
(3)Arthur D.
Surprisingly faithful to "Chinese" in the name, but not as well done as the reviews led me to expect I went there for lunch by myself, because my friends can't live without meat for even one meal. That's fine. The first thing that struck me was how almost detailed the interior was, which I did not expect for a Sansom St establishment. It was atmospheric, but too dark for lunch - I even had trouble reading the menu, and I noticed another patron, a man in his early 30s, struggling a little as well (surprisingly many other single diners here). The soup was fairly quick and I was struck by the lotus root, which while a bit thinner than my mom makes it is almost perfectly traditional without shocking the average American diner. The string bean/bean curd entree was only fair. It reveals the clientele is probably very similar to that of the average "American" Chinese restaurant. It was dry but covered in a ton of oyster sauce. The portion is not big enough by itself, but the side dish of seaweed makes up for it. Maybe you can ask for the sauce on the side, or light? Picking the lunch special proved the right choice, or I'd have gone hungry. Well, a few hours later, I guess I am. At $9 including tips, it's very reasonable for a downtown sit-down, but I value my health and won't be back often. Note: I keep changing the rating, so I'll stop. The food is quite good and lets you experience some traditional Chinese cooking, so just expect not too big a meal, and tell them to lay off the sauce if you want a healthy meal.
(3)Jessica W.
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! Although, I must say- it's better to eat at the restaurant than to have it delivered. It's still good when it's delivered, but not quite AS good. I always get Spring Rolls and Vegetable Lo Mein or Pan Fried Noodles. My boyfriend loves the General Tso Tofu. The food is always super hot and definitely satisfies that Chinese food craving. We aren't even vegetarian and we love this place.
(4)Aaron S.
Dude... Seriously... Best Vegan Chinese food I've had in the city and its affordable!!! My fiance and I go here at least once a week and we never get tired of their amazing food. I'm usually easy to please when it comes to chinese so every time I go I get their Sesame Seitan. I HIGHLY recommend it! My fiance likes a bit of a variety she usually gets either the Hot Pot, Chow Mei Fun Singapor Style, and Soy Protein with Broccoli and Brown Sauce. She recommends these highly! Also for an app get the spring rolls or the vegetable dumplings. Dine in or eat out the food is amazing! Also their delivery is FAST!
(5)Steven S.
This place offers an excellent selection of all-vegetarian Chinese food. The General Tso's was so good I could hardly tell it was tofu. All the dishes are huge and the free tea is a nice touch. The price is spot on for the portions and the decor is very unique. Definitely worth a visit.
(4)Ellena S.
Just picked up a large hot and sour soup from here. Ate in a week or two ago, got the lunch special (hot and sour soup, mushroom special). Was pretty good, a size-able amount of food, but New Harmony is where it's at! Interior is nice, clean and BYO. Delivery area is limited however. I live in University City and they won't deliver to me. C'mon, I'm not THAT far from Rittenhouse!
(4)Shawna B.
Lovingggggg IT! This place is one of my all-time favorite veg*n Asian restaurants. I'd loved the Greens in Brooklyn Heights, but sadly it seems to have closed (at least according to Yelp), so I'm relieved to say that Su Xing rivals the Greens in variety and flavor. I've been there twice (the second time on my one-year wedding anniversary!) and left both times very satisfied and looking forward to my next visit. The dishes have a wide range of ingredients, all veg and all delicious. I'd definitely recommend the edamame as an appetizer, followed by several dishes to try (share with someone!), and several orders for take-out :)
(5)nico t.
returning from a trip to china, i'm surprised by how many vegetarian chinese restaurants there are in america. it was impossible to be be vegetarian in china. "just eat!" they told me. i'm a sucker for general tso's "chicken". i admit it. this is the best i've found in philly. maybe the best anywhere, but that's a bold statement and i'm kind of a timid dude. (not really) the other dish i highly recommend is the sesame garlic noodles. not quite the jing jing dan dan noodles of palo alto, but good enough to coat my esophagus. no 5th star because service is often slow, but again, compared to restaurants in china, this place is on the ball. don't get me wrong, i love china and the chinese people were wonderful, but without tipping, what do they have to work for? certainly not high wages!
(4)JJ G.
Spectacular. Bubble tea and the sesame tofu are awesome. They don't accept American Express -- Visa + Mastercard only.
(5)Heman P.
I went to this restaurant yesterday for dinner.. I liked this restaurant for two reasons 1) Food is awesome and also you get plenty of variety to chose from, 2) It is open till 10:30 pm when most of the restaurants are closed, it is good for me coz I generally have dinner late. It is good to see that you get Chinese "VEG" food with number of variety this place has. Overall its good restaurant to try if you like Chinese food and must go if you are vegetarian and like Chinese food. You might have to repeat yourself if you want something specific in your food as english is lil difficult there.. Hope you enjoy your food there as I did. Take care..
(5)Karen M.
I pretty much love this restaurant. I eat here as often as I can and I take advantage of their amazing lunch special deal and price more often than I should. Their dinner is a huge portion that I never finish, but surprisingly, my leftovers taste just as good when I reheat them the next day (I'm serious!). The service is really nice and the location itself is very clean and tidy. Whenever we have friends come to visit us from out of town, my boyfriend and I always bring them here whether they eat meat or not and they always seem to enjoy it as much as we do. You should definitely make a trip here one day if you haven't already.
(5)Dame V.
I agree with most of the other reviews - this is a very good restaurant! The staff is pleasant, the food is excellent, and the price is right. They have recently remodeled, and the place looks better than ever. I especially recommend the Dragon and Phoenix, but there are many other good dishes, as well.
(4)B H.
My favorite Vegan/Vegetarian Chinese resturant in the city. They make the best General Tso "chicken". Veggie dumplings are also a hit! I prefer to eat in, but they do delivery and takeout.
(5)alexis g.
We got take-out from Su Xing for Chinese New Year's and it was awesome. I was looking for a place with a large selection of noodles and Su Xing had everything -- Singapore-style Chow Mein, Chow Fun, and panfried egg noodles (and a bunch of other stuff). We also took a chance on their "Golden Feather Knishes." I love taro, but I'm not a huge fan of sweet-and-sour and I wasn't quite sure what a 'feather knish' was. So what's a feather knish? Delicious. We ate our noodles and veggies and then finished off with the knishes. They were almost dessert-like. We're definitely going back to this place again. Update: We actually didn't go back to Su Xing for a while... We discovered Square and Square and that became our go-to Chinese place (points for being a few blocks closer to home). But... lately we've gone to Su Xing for all of our take-out Chinese needs, branching out from the noodles-only menu from New Year, and we have not been disappointed. The texture on the black bean tofu is nothing short of amazing. I realize this probably involves lots of frying, but I have to say.. frying + tofu = freakin' miraculous. I'm definitely looking forward to trying more of the stuff on their menu, but I also have to say this: it's going to be hard to branch out to any other veggie dishes beyond the basil eggplant. When I opened up the little plastic take-out container the smell of basil sauce was overwhelming -- in a good way. I can't even describe it. If you order it and hate it, it's only $9.. and let me know. I'm happy to take it off your hands.
(4)charlotte g.
i've never eaten there, but we do delivery from here all the time. they are really quick with delivery. all the food is delicious and fresh. Favorites: mashed BBQ tofu on nori veggie dumpling tofu and veggie soup veggie moo shu golden hot pot
(5)Kathleen T.
so good. so very, very good. the portions are ridiculously large, the food delicious, and it's vegan! woohoo! okay, so i'm not vegan. but, i AM veggggggggietarryan, so it still jibed with my eating. el buggo digs the croquettes the most, while i am partial to the peas, potatoes and curry sauce. did i mention how very good this is?
(5)mary g.
I love this place! I order from here all the time and they even deliver to me, a good 15 blocks East.. The fried mushroom strips are deeeelish. The sesame seitan is yummy as well. I think my fav is the tofu/vegetable soup. I don't know what's in that broth but it's quite addictive. One of my other fav things about this place is the lack of "chicken this" and "beef that." I hate ordering something that is called chicken, gross, but seitan all the way. It's comforting to know that they are 100% vegetarian and I don't have to worry about some bird falling into my fried rice. Like most Chinese food, don't wait too long to re-heat things - you'll be sorry to have wasted such delectable foods!
(4)Stacey B.
I got take out at this place while visiting Philly. I needed something healthy, and I ordered a vegetable tofu dish off the chef's specialties menu. It had baby corn and tofu and mushrooms and lots of other vegetables. The portion was very large; I only ate half, if that. I was able to get brown rice with it, which was great.
(5)Siobhan C.
I've never been to Su Xing for dinner, but the lunch specials are a tasty deal. I absolutely love the tofu with eggplant in garlic sauce and pretty much never order anything else. Lunch take-out typically takes about 10 minutes, but if you call ahead you can avoid flipping through Glamour magazines in the dimly lit waiting area. Would definitely recommend to meat-eaters looking for a place to take veggie friends and family. You will not be disappointed!
(4)Joey K.
Very very good vegetarian Chinese. A good substitute to Cherry St. (which has closed ). Su Xing is a small restaurant with limited seating but a pretty nice ambiance as well. I ordered the General Tso's and let me tell you if I didn't know it wasn't chicken I would not have known, it was prepared great, and very fresh broccoli. I will go back.
(4)Jennifer C.
My one-star rating is based on delivery service alone. I placed my order at ~9pm and did not receive my food until an hour later. The driver called 3 times saying that he was lost and could not find the address (I was staying at a major hotel by City Hall). The restaurant also called asking for the address to the hotel and then notified me that I can not pay via credit card (when I already confirmed at the time of order). My food finally came and when I opened up the bag, I realized that it was not the food that I ordered! A perfect ending to an awesome delivery experience.
(1)Davin B.
I've been here twice- disliked it the first time and actually threw my takeout in the trash the second time. I'm only giving it 2 stars (rather than the -2 I think it deserves) because it seems that everyone else loves this place! Maybe I caught them on bad days. The first time I went was shortly after they opened, The portions were small and pricey for what they were, and the overall feeling at the table was that things were either too gelatinous or too dry. The second time I ordered broccoli and garlic sauce to go (how do you even mess that up?!), and what I got was overcooked-to-the-point-of-mush broccoli that somehow absorbed none of the flavor of the way-too-spicy garlic sauce. They are higher-end than most other Chinese places, but the food certainly didn't warrant the price hike- especially for take out. I'd rather order through bullet proof glass at a generic "number #1 Chinese and American food", pay $4, and get something delicious.
(2)Tracey M.
The food here is so good. I was previously partial to New Harmony in Chinatown but after trying Su Xing House, they have won me over. Try to go at lunch time when you get far more for your money. Their lunch specials are a great value.
(5)D K.
This is my first time trying Su Xing House and I'm pretty impressed. They have a great tofu menu - not the usual two or three options consisting of either just tofu and sauce or with one vegetable. I ordered the mu shu vegetables (yep, with tofu) and the tofu with mixed vegetables. Both were pretty tasty, and the vegetables were not too finely chopped and still had a hint of crunch. The price was right and the delivery was really fast: 15 minutes at most. I'll definitely be trying them again and checking out some of their other dishes.
(4)Terri M.
This restuarant made me go vegetarian. No,I'm serious. The week before I ate here, I was telling friends that I could not imagine not eating steak. Well, here I am making a hypocrite out of myself. One year and many vegetarian meals later, I am still living without steak. Oh, this is a review..ok here goes...the General Tso's tofu is delicious and it is here where I tried seitan, sesame style. They have a great lunch special,meals ranging between six and seven dollars, and you get a great deal of food. For dessert, you MUST try the fried bananas. I have yet to try the bubble tea, but I'm up for the challange. The dim lighting and peaceful music create this soothing atmosphere, The only bad side is that there are very few servers, so service is kinda slow. But good food is worth the wait. Enjoy:)
(4)Amanda F.
The food was good, but the service was a little strange. My boyfriend and I went a few months ago for the lunch special, but our friends were a little late, though they told us to grab a table anyway. It was hard to explain that we wanted to wait to order, even though I felt bad about holding things up, the tables weren't entirely full. We explained, but then approximately five different workers asked us, in quick succession, if we'd like to order. I'd probably only go back with one other person and if they were RIGHT there. Other than that, no complaints. Once our whole party was there and we did order, everything came out promptly and it was pretty tasty, and the cheapness can't be beat.
(3)Jacquelin K.
Su Xing offers vegetarian Chinese. It's a pretty small restaurant that gets most of its business during the weekday lunch hour. Their lunch special is a great value--you get a soup, a side, and an entree for $7. I've had better vegetarian Chinese, but their mushrooms are really hearty. Their taro bubble tea is pretty funky (in a good way). I really don't have much to say about the food. The decor is pretty lackluster as well. It's really dark inside because they have no overhead lighting.
(3)Peter C.
My girlfriend and I have frequented this spot ever since our friend brought us here last fall (2007). Compared to regular "meat" serving chinese places in center city, this place has beaten them all in quality and service. I usually get the Sesame Seitan or tofu and its always good. Their drinks are also very refreshing and fun. The lunch special is by far the best deal there but the dinner portions are a bit bigger. They've only screwed our order up once and that was getting take out.
(5)y r.
hands down, the best chinese veg restaurant in philadelphia. well worth the few dollars extra (compared to the competition in chinatown). i had the hot and sour soup which was more than adequate. the bean sprout rolls appetizer was delicious. sprouts were fresh, the sauce light and tasty, and the quantity surprising (4 large rolls in total--enough for a small lunch!). for the main, we ordered the kale and hot pepper (was actually a chinese broccoli, but still delicious nonetheless), the tofu skin with 2 kinds of mushroom, and the vegetable chow fun. the tofu skin was tasty and well prepared, the mushrooms absolutely scrumptious. the chow fun noodle seemed to be homemade. very surprising! and delicious. all the vegetables were extremely fresh and not overcooked. flavors were savory and light. two thumbs up.
(5)Evan H.
Su Xing is hands down the best Chinese food we've had in the city. Our perspective may be skewed because we're vegetarians, but this place is pretty marvelous when contrast with greasy, seedy, strange places such as Kingdom of Vegetarians in Chinatown (which does have an amazing Jetsons-like metal dumbwaiter thing from which your food appears). The atmosphere is clean and calm, and the service is very good. When we want Chinese we leave West Philly and its handful of cheap crummy places to visit Su Xing House. And if we lived in Center City we'd eat here more often.
(4)Emma B.
this is far and away my most frequently visited lunch place, mostly because of the braised mushrooms (side dish) and hot and sour soup. get them.
(4)Dave S.
Friendly service, a great selection of specials and more than reasonable prices. I don't think you could ask for anything more. I was a bit hesitant to go to vegetarian only Chinese restaurant but after enjoying a wonderful lunch feast (hot and sour soup, spring roll, and broccoli w/garlic sauce) I can definitely say that I will be going back. Oh yeah, my meal totaled a little over $6.50. Who could ask for more?
(5)Sharon G.
Best vegetarian (vegan) Chinese restaurant in Philly for sure. No fake shrimp, fake pork and so on. Just food that is what it is - fresh and yummy. A favorite. They deliver too!
(5)M. D.
Delicious! The lunch specials are great for the money, and the portions are huge. The employees are friendly and the food is always delicious, not to mention a great value. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Be brave and experiment with something new because you are sure to be rewarded.
(5)