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EMei, Philadelphia, PA

EMei

4.6 (368)
$30 and under
Sichuan
915 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2404

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 22 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for groups
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Lively
Since 2011, EMei has emerged as one of Philadelphia's premier dining destinations, celebrated for its authentic Chinese cuisine curated by Master Chef Zhao and a team of 6 wok chefs that born and trained in the Sichuan region of China.
Boasting over 50 years of expertise in mastering Sichuan cuisine, Chef Zhao skillfully infuses dishes with bold chili oils, aromatic peppercorns, and expertly seasoned cuts of fish, meat, and produce.
Situated conveniently in Chinatown, EMei diligently procures fresh ingredients daily. With a menu featuring 120 items, including house-made egg rolls and dumplings, we take pride in crafting everything in-house. This commitment not only ensures quality but also enables us to offer a wide selection of gluten-free and vegetarian options.
Highlights:
* 76 Most Vital Restaurants – The Inquirer, 2024
* 50 Best Restaurants – Philadelphia Magazine, 2023/24
* Philly’s Best Sichuan Restaurant – Craig LaBan & The Inquirer
* #1 Chinese by UPenn Students – The DP, 2025

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Sichuan, Cocktail Bar, Vegetarian
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00 am–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    YongCheng Zhao
  • Catering
    Elevate your events with EMei's exquisite catering menu. From corporate gatherings to celebrations, our offerings are crafted to infuse every occasion with the distinctive flavors of Asia. Contact us at hello@emei.restaurant for more details.
  • Private party facilities
    Discover the charm of our two private rooms at EMei. These versatile spaces feature a removable wall, allowing us to combine them into one venue for your special occasions. For more details, reach out to us at hello@emei.restaurant.
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Chinatown
  • Cross street
    at the right side of Arch street, between 9th and 10th St
  • Parking details
    There are many street parking at Chinatown, and there are two public parking lot right cross the street. There is also a garage parking lot at 45 N 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, which is very close and cost friendly.
  • Public transit
    Jefferson station is the stop for SEPTA trains.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Concierge
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What 368 people are saying

EMei reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.2Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
EMei offers an exceptional dining experience with "great szechuan food," especially the "best dan dan noodles." The restaurant caters well to gluten-free diners, offering "amazing gluten free Chinese food." Guests appreciate the "friendly staff" and "generous portions," though the space can be "crowded and loud."

368 Reviews
  1. Susan

    Philadelphia22 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    The highest rating on sound was not “energetic”, it was just so loud it was impossible to hear each other. The table we were at was so close to others that I had to keep pulling my chair in so the waiter could get by to serve other guests. Food was served so quickly that we were in and out in an hour. Not exactly a relaxing experience. The food was good but if there’s a next time, I’ll do take out.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Miranda

    New Orleans1 review

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lived up to its reviews. Our server was so knowledge.
    EMeiResponded today
    Thank you for the great review! We're glad to hear your experience lived up to expectations and that your server took good care of you. Hope to see you again soon! Warm regards, EMei

    Is this helpful?

  3. Anais

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was amazing! Wonderful food and service, and great value for money. We got stuck in a storm and were delayed, but they were very kind and accommodated us. Will come back and recommend it to everyone!!
    EMeiResponded today
    Thank you so much for your kind words! We're happy we could make your visit comfortable despite the weather. It means a lot to hear you enjoyed the food, service, and value — we look forward to welcoming you back soon! Warm regards, EMei

    Is this helpful?

  4. Randi

    Philadelphia9 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Excellent food especially if you are gluten free. So many delicious options Amazing service - everything is so good. Service is great. Very noisy.
    EMeiResponded 1 day ago
    Thank you so much for your feedback! We're glad you enjoyed the gluten-free options and appreciated the service. The noise issue is indeed a bit challenging, but we will continue looking for ways to improve the dining environment. Thank you for your support—hope to welcome you back again soon! Warm regards, EMei

    Is this helpful?

  5. Jess VIP

    Los Angeles3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Delicious food, but pretty noisy. Services was good and everyone was nice.
    EMeiResponded 1 day ago
    Thank you for the kind words! We’re so glad you enjoyed the food and had a positive experience with our team. We understand the noise can be a bit much during busy hours, and we’ll continue exploring ways to improve it. We appreciate your understanding and hope to welcome you back again soon! Warm regards, EMei

    Is this helpful?

  6. Rob

    Philadelphia6 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on April 27, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 1
    Too noisy and tables packed too close. The waiter asked us to move our chairs to different positions so she could get by, but even then I was frequently subjected to bumps by the wait staff as they tried to get to another table, significantly detracting from my experience. Not coming back!
    EMeiResponded 7 days ago
    Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. I sincerely apologize that your recent experience did not meet your expectations. We strive to create a comfortable and enjoyable environment for every guest, and I'm truly sorry that we fell short during your visit. We take comments like yours very seriously, and your experience has already prompted us to review our table spacing and traffic flow to ensure that our guests and staff have more room to move comfortably. Your comfort is important to us, and we are actively making adjustments to improve. Thank you again for your honest feedback — it’s only through guests like you that we can improve. Sincerely, Manager at EMei

    Is this helpful?

  7. Shari

    Philadelphia2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 19, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Friendly staff, great cocktails and everything we had was delicious. The portions were quite generous!
    EMeiResponded on April 22, 2025
    Thanks for the great review! We're so happy to hear you enjoyed the dishes, drinks, and warm service. Generous portions are what we aim for—can’t wait to have you back again! Warm regards, EMei

    Is this helpful?

  8. Peter

    Dallas2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 18, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Didn’t get seated until 15 min after our reservation. Extremely loud inside. Food is top notch, service is a bit slow.
    EMeiResponded on April 22, 2025
    Thank you for your feedback. We’re glad you enjoyed the food—your comments have been noted and shared with our team. We appreciate your patience and look forward to serving you again next time! Warm regards, EMei

    Is this helpful?

  9. Julie VIP

    New York City12 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great szechuan food - best dan dan noodles I've ever had
    EMeiResponded on April 22, 2025
    We’re glad you had a great experience! Thank you for your review. Looking forward to welcoming you again! Warm regards, EMei

    Is this helpful?

  10. Leslie VIP

    Philadelphia5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic food and great gluten free choices. As a celiac, I felt very safe eating here and did not get sick after. We will be going back.
    EMeiResponded on April 10, 2025
    Thank you for sharing your experience! We're so glad you enjoyed the food. Your trust means a lot, and we can’t wait to have you back again soon! Warm regards, EMei

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

EMei offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (215) 627-2500.

EMei is rated 4.6 stars by 368 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Philadelphia County
  4. Philadelphia
  5. Chinatown

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 22 times today
Google Map for EMei

915 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2404

Additional information

  • Cross street
    at the right side of Arch street, between 9th and 10th St
  • Neighborhood
    Chinatown
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00 am–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Sichuan, Cocktail Bar, Vegetarian
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    There are many street parking at Chinatown, and there are two public parking lot right cross the street. There is also a garage parking lot at 45 N 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, which is very close and cost friendly.
  • Public transit
    Jefferson station is the stop for SEPTA trains.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    YongCheng Zhao
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    Elevate your events with EMei's exquisite catering menu. From corporate gatherings to celebrations, our offerings are crafted to infuse every occasion with the distinctive flavors of Asia. Contact us at hello@emei.restaurant for more details.
  • Private party facilities
    Discover the charm of our two private rooms at EMei. These versatile spaces feature a removable wall, allowing us to combine them into one venue for your special occasions. For more details, reach out to us at hello@emei.restaurant.
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