Vegetarian Chinese at Su Xing!
Su Xing
1508 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Rating: 4.5/5.
Ideal for: Family Gathering, Outing with Friends.
Price: Mid-Price.
Somehow, Su Xing became my go-to for family gatherings or outing with my friends who are strictly kosher. Su Xing is one of the only vegetarian and vegan Chinese restaurants in the Philadelphia area, and it’s location is right in the center of the city.
The restaurant is pretty big, and has a room that holds 20 people which is perfect for parties and celebrations. Most of the tables are booths, and the lights are usually dimmed. The atmosphere, although a little noisy, makes it a good place to get your Chinese fix.
I usually go for the vegetables nuggets and potato crockets for appetizer. I swear those nuggets taste as if they were made out of real chicken, although the texture is similar to those of McDonald’s. The crockets are deep fried mashed potato balls accompanied by ketchup. It is the perfect combination for those who are picky eaters, or for those who are craving something other than Chinese food. We also ordered the vegetable dumplings and oh my, how good were they! The dough is chewy enough, and the filling was the perfect combination of vegetables and spices.
Although my appetizer is not-so-Chinese, I like my entree to be typical. My favorite is sweet-and-sour chicken, and I ask white rice on a side. I’ve had my fair share of sweet-and-sour chicken in the past, and I swear you can not tell this one is made out of soy. The portion can easily feed two to three people, so make sure to share!
And that is the best thing about Su Xing. As any other Chinese place, the portions are meant to be shared. We usually get one or two portions of each thing, and put them in the middle of the table. We also shared the sesame seitan with brown sauce and sesame seeds and again, you can’t tell the difference between this plate and one that is made out of real chicken. The tofu in teriyaki sauce with purple potatoes was to die for, even if I am not a big fan of tofu.
Lastly, the bao buns. I have never tried pork in my life, so comparing them to the real thing is not feasible. Yet, I adored these. The texture of the filling was just like real meat, and the buns were quite delicious. I personally would stick to my sweet-and-sour chicken with white rice, but having all these options doesn’t hurt!
Jewtina Tips: bring your own alcohol! Su Xing is one of the many BYOB in the city!