Restaurant Review: Sang Kee Noodle Bowl

Restaurant:

Address: 4755 West Chester Pk., Newtown Square, PA 19073
Rating: (out of 5 stars): ★★★★
Style: Upscale Chinese restaurant
Food: Chinese-American specialties
Atmosphere: Brightly colored Asian themed decor
Parking: Lot
Service: Efficient and accommodating
Price Range: Affordable
Unique Feature: This place has lunch specials and vegetarian items.

Whenever my brother and sister-in-law visit from Charleston we have to go to Sang Kee at least once. "There is no Chinese food this good near us," they always lament. I too count myself a fan of the highly successful chain of Chinese eateries in the city and suburbs. While I prefer the Wynnewood outpost to the one in Philadelphia, I was curious what the Edgmont incarnation would be like. I met up with a friend for dinner (coincidentally, one of our last meals together had been at Sang Kee Wynnewood, awhile back).

We started off with the scallion pancakes and Shanghai juicy buns. The scallion pancakes were as good as I remembered. They never taste greasy and were wonderfully crisp along the edges and delicious enough to be enjoyed on their own. But the red vinegar dipping sauce added a tangy bite which paired well with the richly flavored cakes. The juicy buns take 15 minutes to prepared (we were warned) and they were bursting with pork flavor. Though not as juicy as I would have liked, they were comprised of delicate dumpling wrappers and well seasoned filling. These savory buns benefitted from the acidic contrast of the dipping sauce.

For our entrees we split a bowl of roast duck noodle soup with added roast pork and the General Tso’s chicken with brown rice. Some might consider double meat a bit of overkill but I would tell them I could care less. The duck was tender, juicy and delicious although some might find the numerous duck bones difficult to navigate. There is also no crispy duck skin as it’s all floating in hot broth. The pork was a tad chewy and overcooked but the flavors were right on point. There was a hint of sweetness in the pork but the dominant flavor was wonderfully salty. The thin egg noodles we chose for our soup had a nice firm texture and were not mushy. The fresh bok choy provided a nice crunch and visual appeal.

The General Tso’s chicken is some of the best around. The succulent white breast meat is high quality and the fried pieces do not taste heavy. The thick sauce walked a fine line between sweet and savory but was always tasty. The steamed green vegetables and brown rice on the side allow you to enjoy your dinner without feeling too guilty. It’s a perfect balance of healthy and not so healthy items.

We stuffed our faces and gave each other an earful of gossip. It’s a perfect evening in my book to have both great food and great conversation. The service was very good and we rarely had to ask for anything twice. My ice cold Tsingtao beer was the perfect pairing for my Chinese-American dinner. I’m happy to report that the Edgmont location is just as good as its sister locations. I wonder if the owners would ever expand to Charleston?