ChifaBest Meals of the YearBack for third visit to Chifa (second time in a month). Meal was simply outstanding and one of the best I have had all year. Pacing was perfect and the small plates were grouped in logical order. The cerviche (oyster and yellowtail) were real standouts as was the 5 spiced pork shoulder.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful Tasting MenuThe tasting menu is not to be missed, the variety and number of courses (10!) was outstanding. Ours crescendo'd with a smoked pork shoulder that was savory and just wonderful.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMEast meets S. America - great comboExcellent variety of Tapas combining Asian and Peruvian cuisines. Great mix. The pulpo (octopus) is one of the best preparations we have ever had. The Chifa chicken is a must. Try the Albariño with your meal. Wonderful!5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome Birthday DinnerA few friends and I had a birthday dinner here for my roommate and it was awesome! Wonderful place for a group dinner and fantastic service! Get the duck tacos, 5 Spice Pork, and Lomo Saltado! Delicious!5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat for a big group!We went with a party of 9 after my graduation and it was perfect! It was so tough to chose becuause everything looked delicious. We chose a bunch of the dim sum items and the portions were small but rich and actually great to share -- there were lazy susans in the middle of the table for just that purpose. It was difficult to judge how much food we'd need, but we ended up ordering an entire second round which came out very quickly, so it wasn't a problem at all. The chicken wings were some of the best I've ever had -- at any type of restaurant, and the pork buns were incredible!5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome food and atmosphereI chose Chifa for my graduation specifically because I wanted my family from out of town to try the food. The Peruvian Ceviche was our favorite dish, along with the Yuca fries. I would recommend ordering around four to five dishes for a group of four. Skip the large entrees, the small 'tapas' dishes are much tastier.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulousThis place is what restaurants are all about. Trying new things that you won't see anywhere else. Absolutely delicious.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is the fourth time weThis is the fourth time we have eaten her in several years. Always excellent. Love the Chicha Morada drink.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMfrom Peruenjoyed the overall experience. It was little too noisy, we had a large group of 10 and ended up seated in the middle of the room. Food was fun, new to almost all of us, well presented, and with excellent service.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AManother Garces treasureAnother Garces treasure among the many. The duck taco with the kimichi is not to be missed.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous. You must try!Great menu! Great service and the setting is unique!5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMA shouldn't miss restaurant!Been away too long. Chifa us so special. Every dish was better than I remembered. Each dish was beyond delicious. The pol belly buns & a rye manhattan are a perfect combo, & they made both perfectly. People who don't eat here are missing a real treat. The staff are thoughtful & caring & the management also visited our table & made our experience another Chifa night to remember!5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMHidden Gem!!!I booked Chifa for a business dinner for seven because I'm familiar with many of the Peruvian "Chifa" restaurants in Lima (delicious!).
From the outside, not much to write about, but inside, the place was very nicely decorated. It had that "in" feel to it.
The food and drink was extraordinary. The pisco sour cocktail is one that everyone that visits should try at least once. Wow! The Peruvian ceviche, duck tacos, pork belly buns, mussels, and smoked pork were all mouthwatering and distinct enough from each other, that each dish brought with it a wonderfully different taste sensation. The yucca fries and free bread were also delicious.
I hope to return to taste a few more of Chifa's dishes and another party in my mouth! :-)4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything we had was impeccable,Everything we had was impeccable, and the server was knowledgeable, energetic, and attentive without hovering or making you feel uncomfortable. We had a wonderful experience. It was our last night in Philadelphia before our move, and the dinner was very memorable- exactly what we had hoped for. We'd definitely recommend the fried rice with edamame and mango, and the five spice pork was so good we couldn't stop eating it. For tapas, they can be quite filling!4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMOur waitress Amanda was soOur waitress Amanda was so nice, she knew the menu very well and made the experience just perfect.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMFastastic! Second visit andFastastic! Second visit and loved it even more than our first. The pork bao bun and the lobster bowl were the highlights. Even the coffee was remarkable.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMfood delicious, imaginative,food delicious, imaginative, unusual, very tasty, but a bit disappointed in the margarita, a bit sweet4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMMemorableMemorable food, unexpected and totally delicious combinations, tasting menu recommended, service very efficient and attentive, a bit fast perhaps, so much food cannot be digested this fast.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMThey don't really do birthdaysThey don't really do birthdays in a very special way, but the service is very professional and the atmosphere very nice.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMThe service was friendly andThe service was friendly and responsive without hovering and the food was just wonderful. We enjoyed the smaller servings of a variety of well-presented and delicious dishes. They all blended well and the sauces were somewhat unique and perfectly complemented each serving. The red curry dish was my favorite. Very nice wine list as well.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThis place is amazing! IfThis place is amazing! If you've never dined at a Garces restaurant, it is a must! Everything is delicious, the service is amazing, and the ambiance is fun.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMRecommended for those whoRecommended for those who appreciate latin/asian fusion cuisine. The only problem is the greeting staff. Four people looking lost. The blond young lady guides us to a table in the bar area while we reserved for main dining room and special occasion. When I ask if we can be seated in main dining area she gives me the cold look of a strict schoolteacher.
However, as soon as we get seated in a cozy booth in the dining area everything turns out great. The waitress is very pleasant and helpful. The tapas style food is brought at the right pace, it is creative and delicious. Great bad buns, duck tacos and ceviche to die for.
Deserts also very tasty, if you still have room, as two tacos per person fills you up good. WIll come back.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMOnly complaint was that itOnly complaint was that it was uncomfortably cold for our pre theater arrival.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMWe tried the Chef's tastingWe tried the Chef's tasting and it was really good. Great selection, plenty of food, and the server was extremely helpful with dietary restrictions. Very accomodating, and friendly place.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything I tried was deliciousEverything I tried was delicious (and with a group of ten at a tapas-style restaurant, that's a lot of things). Especially loved the ceviche, pork buns, and duck tacos. Will definitely go again!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMNothing like having a birthdayNothing like having a birthday celebration at a Garces restaurant. Last year Amada, this year Chifa. By far, Chifa was our favorite of the two. The oysters and pork belly plates were particularly delicious. We won't wait for another birthday to revisit.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome food... The spicyAwesome food... The spicy smoky Eggplant was amazing!!!... And the Chinese 5 spice pork literally melts in your mouth... Great food and drinks for 2 for less than $1003/29/2013 12:00:00 AMSecond visit to Chifa withSecond visit to Chifa with 2-3 companions and still excellent one year later. Dramatic flavors and very interesting and unusual dishes. Any of the ceviche are highly recommended. The lobster bowl is also a favorite. Wine prices start high. Professional and knowledgeable wait staff except the bus boy who tended to take things away brusquely without asking if you even looked like you might be finished. Quite noisy when crowded to the point of having to yell at our companions across the table with the result that everyone in the restaurant is speaking very loudly in order to be heard.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMbest tasting menu ive everbest tasting menu ive ever had! I wish I had a larger stomach!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AM2 Enthusiastic Thumbs UpI work across the street from Chifa but I would go there even if it weren't acorss the street, but across the city. The happy hour is a spectacular deal ($6 Passion Fruit Margaritas? Yes, please.) as was the lunch special, which I hope they bring back. But despite the cost, I love dining there, tapas-style, especially over the duck tacos, pork bao buns, 5-spiced pork, and chaufa. We celebrated my birthday there, and they made it a meal to remember with an excellent server, Mary, and the desserts she recommended. We'll be back...3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMWas having a bad day and decidedWas having a bad day and decided to head to Chifa for a good cheer me up meal. Chifa never disappoints. Everything I ate was hot, fresh and delicious. I love eating here. The food is amazing and the staff is great! They make you feel at home. My favorite items on the menu are the crispy chicken wings, the porkbelly bao buns, the yummy yuca fries, can't forget the chaufa and last but not least the pork shoulder roast with the tortillas and bibb lettuce. Go and indulge!!!! You also have to get dessert. At the moment there is this lemon dessert with shortbread which is heavenly.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent small plates, superbExcellent small plates, superb service, servers were very good at explaining the menu items in terms of taste and sive/share-ability. We were there on a not very busy evening, food arrived very promptly and was consistently excellent.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent!Overall great meal. Some slightly exotic things on the menu, but we felt adventurous, and had a great time. We all had the Chef's tasting menu and it worked out great. Pacing of the delivery of the food throughout the night was perfect. Very happy and would easily go again. Family style small bits make this place very fun as well!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went to this restaurantWe went to this restaurant to celebrate a special occasion. We selected it because our daughter travelled to Peru several years ago in high school and wanted to see if the restaurant had some of the dishes she remembered loving. Chifa did not disappoint!!! Our server suggested we order a wide assortment of dishes and eat them like tapas, so we shared about 12 items from the menu all of which were delicious. Our daughter was thrilled, we all had a wonderful time and excellent service.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMAbsolutely amazing food! WeAbsolutely amazing food! We ordered 8 small tapas plates for 4 people and that was just the right amount!3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThe most delicious food IThe most delicious food I have ever tasted in my life!!!! My meal took three hours because it was soooooo good that I wanted to savor every bite! I tried over 12 different dishes and they were all moan worthy! The flavor infusions come together in a climax on your tongue which sends you diving for more! The Chef is a genius of culinary dreams!3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Chifa Chicken was great.The Chifa Chicken was great. Even my wife, who generally thinks chicken is boring, loved this dish.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Best Jose Garces Place in Town!Been here several times. It is a favorite place to go for a fun evening. Did the Chef's Tasting Menu which is 8 to 9 plates decided by the chef. Great fun because you never know what is coming, next. By plate 7 we were done. By plate 9 we were edging on overload. This place is the best Garces restaurant in Philly. Highly recommend it.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food and ambienceThi sis the fith or 6 th time I've been there. Food was great. We did the chefs tasting and flight of wine (first time for me). First wine was like flat cava... but drinkable, second wine ... we sent back and received a very good wine in its place. Would probably do tasting again, but not the flight of wines. Waitrress was very pleansant and generallly very accomodating. Seating was great, a nice booth to the back of the restaurant with pillows.. a nice touch. Even though the large table in the center was occupied by a party of 12, we still felt like we had our own private space. A welcome change to many restaurants that tend to cram as many tables in per sq ft as they can.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome First Time!My first visit and I will be back. Started with great drinks at bar. Our Server was outstanding as she reccommended the sampling of the different foods. All I can say, that its a Latin and Asian fusion and the food was Perfect! I return to Philly often and this is on my List!3/13/2013 12:00:00 AM