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EMei, Philadelphia, PA

EMei

4.6
4.6
176 Reviews
$30 and under
Chinese (Sichuan)
Top Tags:
Since opening in 2011, EMei has become one of Philadelphia's most highly sought out restaurant destinations, renowned for our authentic Szechuan cuisine led by Master Chef Zhao. Chef Zhao has dedicated almost four decades to mastering Sichuan cuisine, and he incorporates heat-packed chili oils, aromatic peppercorns, and expertly seasoned cuts of fish, meat, and produce into our wide range of dishes.

At EMei, our customers come to indulge in our classical dishes with original spices and adventurous sensory flavors. Our menu stands up to the scrutiny of native palettes, earning EMei the reputation as the premier destination for Chinese locals seeking authentic and flavorful Sichuan cuisine.

EMei’s Recent Award Highlights：
#19 on Philadelphia Magazine's 50 Best Restaurants;
Listed on OpenTable's 22 Restaurants That Define Philadelphia Dining;
Named Philly's Best Szechuan Restaurant by Craig Laban & The Inquirer;
One of the Best Three Resta

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 35 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Chinese (Sichuan), Vegetarian / Vegan
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00 am–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (215) 627-2500
  • Website
    https://www.emeiphilly.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Owned/operated by
    Asian and Pacific Islander, Women
  • 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.
  • Location
    915 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2404
  • 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
    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

What 176 people are saying

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
  • 4.3Service
  • 4.3Ambience
  • 4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

176 Reviews

  1. Don1

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    The service was very nice and attentive but not bothersome and the fish was excellent.

    Is this helpful?

  2. AlmaG

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing food and cocktails. Definitely a highlight to our Philly trip!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Oneanddone

    Jacksonville

    71 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    71 reviews

    Dined on November 29, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A group of us on business in Philadelphia ate here last night and it was outstanding! Service and food were excellent! We will be back again on our next trip to Center City Philadelphia. We highly recommend!

    Is this helpful?

  4. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 28, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always an amazing experience!! Food and services is always amazing!! Highly recommended this restaurant

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  5. Tammie

    Philadelphia

    7 reviews

    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on November 28, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We ordered the sweet and sour bass without sauce. It needed a little salt otherwise very good. The cumin lamb is delish. Garlic sting beans are tasty. We visited during the week and noise level was low. The QR menu is a tad overwhelming for me. The waiter assisted in placing my order.

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on November 27, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The wait staff accommodated our group of 12 older folks for lunch very efficiently and in a friendly and caring manner. We had people with canes and hard of hearing. We will be back. We particularly liked the private space that seats 12 comfortably around one round table with lazy susan.

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  7. TinaA

    New York Area

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 25, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was incredible. Very vegan / vegetarian friendly. Simply loved it!

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  8. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    16 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on November 25, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    All dinner items were great. Recommend hot and sour soup to start.

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  9. MarkAllenStuart

    Philadelphia

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on November 25, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The best Chinese in the east coast. Hot spicy chicken bowl, cold spicy noodles, cumin chicken - all sublime.

    EMeiResponded on November 27, 2023

    Thank you for the incredible review! We're thrilled you enjoy our dishes. It means a lot that you travel from Valley Forge just to dine with us. We can't wait to have you back!

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  10. Wendy

    Philadelphia

    20 reviews

    5.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    EMei never fails to impress. We ordered a number of dishes new to us and enjoyed them all. Our server was super and the food outstanding. Particularly noteworthy this trip was the Hunan Chicken, on the spicy side, and the pork egg roll, which my husband claims was the best he's had to date. The restaurant was very busy, but we were served in very good order. And the price cannot be beat!

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  11. JohnN

    New York Area

    5 reviews

    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    The food was the best part of the evening, which I guess is the point. But the service was lacking. I don’t think ordering through the online portal works properly. Our entrees arrived before the appetizers did. And 2 out 3 drinks were messed up. We got the cocktail first, but the other 2 (a small house sake and an ice tea) towards the end of the meal. And this was after we reminded them twice that it was missing. But the food was the highlight and very delicious. It came out quick and expertly made. And delicious enough that I will certainly be back there. And even overlook the service on that evening. Maybe they were just short staffed on a busy night.

    EMeiResponded on November 27, 2023

    Thank you for sharing your experience. We're thrilled you enjoyed our delicious food but deeply apologize for the service hiccups you encountered. We're actively addressing the issues you mentioned regarding the online ordering system and service timing to ensure a smoother experience in the future. Your understanding amidst a potentially busy night means a lot to us. We're committed to improving and look forward to the opportunity to serve you even better on your next visit!

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  12. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Incredible food. The sliced pork belly appetizer was one of the best preparations I’ve ever had.

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  13. OpenTable Diner

    Greater Boston

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 22, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The most spectacular Chinese food we’ve ever experienced!

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  14. Hann

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 18, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Fast service, food was hot and fresh, and restaurant is clean. It was a little too warm inside but that wouldn't stop me from returning

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  15. Nikolas

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 18, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The price was so cheap for the amount of food you get! The food was delicious as well. Made for great leftovers.

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  16. Babs

    Philadelphia

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    EMei has become, and dare say, a family staple. Whenever we feel happy, have a celebration, just need comfort food- it’s our go to place. Always delicious and I’m sure we have yet to scratch the surface of all the dining delicacies available here. That’s good, so the culinary experiences have no end in sight!

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  17. EugeneE

    Washington DC

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent, high quality food. Very courteous, helpful and professional service. Looking forward to enjoying this restaurant again.

    EMeiResponded on November 13, 2023

    We’re very happy to hear that you had a great experience with us!We’ll make sure to pass your great comments to the chef as well as the host, Along with all the staff. We do our utmost to make every guest feel welcomed every time they come to our restaurant, So we’re pleased to see you enjoyed the food and the ambience. Hope to see you again!

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  18. ScottR

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 10, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Great food. Appetizers came out the same time as the meal. Otherwise flawless. Give yourself time to find parking too.

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  19. JillG

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 10, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    We had an excellent meal. The only down side was needing to ask for bowls, serving spoons or small plates to go along with some of the dishes. It would have been nice for them to come out with the food.

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  20. John

    Philadelphia

    28 reviews

    5.0

    28 reviews

    Dined on November 4, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    What a great find. The experience lived up to the reviews. We went early, which is a good ideal on Saturday night. First get the stir fry green beans. Perfectly cooked a little crispy to the bite with a marvelous flavor enhanced with a touch of sesame oil. We also ordered a crispy shrimp. The beautiful presentation was only surpassed my the taste. I think it is a tempora. The shrimp roll got high marks and included big chunks of shrimp. The Dan Dan appetizer was fine but didn't live up to the other dishes. Still I'm looking forward to the left overs. The family style dinner was more than the two of us could finish

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  21. Babs

    Philadelphia

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on November 3, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The food is wonderful. Everything is delicious! Since 2 of our family cannot eat gluten, we are often here as EMei can make the food gluten free without compromising taste. They also play great music. Can’t wait to visit again.

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  22. OpenTable Diner

    Fort Lauderdale

    2 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 21, 2023

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Ordering was done via QR table side. 10 minutes after placing our order the bar tender came up to us and was the first person to acknowledge us. The food came out at different times and the tea was cold. We asked for more tea and the second serving was cold as well. As with ordering, you pay through the “Toast” app. We had to flag a server down to adjust our bill as we were never served the drinks we ordered. The final employee said that he asked 3 other servers if we were their table of which none said they were. Food was bland. Ordered dumplings, orange chicken, chicken and broccoli and chicken fried rice. Only orange chicken had flavor.

    EMeiResponded on October 23, 2023

    We apologize for your unpleasant experience. We unfortunately had 4 Front of House staff (including our full time bartender, his wife delivering a baby at Jefferson) called out on the day of your visit. Your feedback is highly valuable for us, I have shared this with our manager, and we'll reemphasize and provide rigorous training to our staff. Customer satisfaction is our utmost goal. Thank you once more for your feedback. EMei looks forward to welcoming you back again!

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  23. SamK

    Philadelphia

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on October 21, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Really good food and service. Lots of gluten free and veg options.

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  24. LaNae

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on October 20, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    It good, hit & quick. Super loud but clearly beloved staple of Philly.

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  25. suzannem

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on October 14, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    food was very good. Loved the dan dan noodles with pork and the scallion pancakes

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  26. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on October 13, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Food and drinks were excellent. Our server Fatima was very friendly and attentive, will be back soon!

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  27. AhanaM

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 7, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    nice portion sizes, and great recommendations. Crispy sweet and sour sea bass is a must have. Will be definitely going back some time soon.

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  28. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 7, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had such a great date night experience at EMei. The food was absolutely amazing, easily the best chinese food in the city. The service is outstanding; the staff was very helpful and polite and even catered to some dietary restrictions I have. I will definitely be going to eat there again, 12/10!

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  29. MelissaF

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on October 6, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and great service! Would definitely go back!

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  30. gtbouts

    New York Area

    28 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    28 reviews

    Dined on October 6, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    y wife and I are gluten-free (she has celiac disease) and this restaurant has several options that are gluten-free. It's difficult to find GF Chinese food. We were seated quickly and ordered from an electronic menu (on a tablet) which clearly specified meals that were gluten-free. We started with the cucumber app. It was cool (temperature) and refreshing. Then we shared the shrimp with brocoli and the beef with brocoli. Both were very good and the dinners came quickly. The restaurant was pretty busy which I took as a good sign. The decor was unremarkable but appropriate. Our only complaint was the music was too loud and 4-on-floor electronic which made for a very fast paced almost rushed meal. I'd recommend if you don't mind the ambiance but if you're looking for a more relaxed atmosphere you might try looking elsewhere.

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  31. Jelani

    New York Area

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on October 3, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing service food came out quickly, server was also outstanding 10/10 recommend. Food was also seasoned beautifully and tasty

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  32. CharvetteH

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 29, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    The food and ambience was awesome; however, at time for checkout the waiter took my card and walked away. As he felt me watching him he walked behind a wall. This made me leery because I saw other waiters giving the card reader directly to the customer. I will definitely be watching my bank account and will file a police report if anything suspicious occurs. Otherwise everything else was great!

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  33. mandy

    Western NC

    34 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    34 reviews

    Dined on September 26, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Their famous spicey chicken dish was too hot to eat for 5 of the 6 of us even though they supposedly toned it down. Walnut chicken and pork pot stickers were very good.

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  34. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    6 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on September 23, 2023

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    The food was great. However, the online menu went down which causes issues. We did not get all of our food and things came out at different times.

    EMeiResponded on September 25, 2023

    We apologize for your unpleasant experience. The preparation times for each dish vary, all in the effort to provide customers with freshly cooked meals. The issue with the online menu was due to our recent switch to a new system. It has been quickly resolved, and additional training has been conducted internally. EMei looks forward to serving you again!

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  35. ChadH

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 13, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    What a fantastic place. Clean with very attentive service. Food was amazing tons of variety. We will be back!

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  36. PamelaD

    Philadelphia

    11 reviews

    4.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on September 9, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    A thoroughly enjoyable experience. Delicious food, nice staff. A rarity these days. The noodles with pork sauce were yummy, as was the whole steamed fish with scallions and ginger.

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  37. hongpingt

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 8, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    They have really good food! Enjoy with family and friends.

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  38. CarolS

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 3, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Service was great. Good selection of gluten free items. My grandson who has Celiac disease, loved the food.

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  39. Fungroup

    Philadelphia

    15 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on September 1, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    the food was delicious and the portions were good. there was a little language barrier but we were given the option to order on our phones which was very helpful. overall a great experience and we will visit this restaurant again.

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  40. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 30, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I can’t wait to come back! The lamb chops were my favorite!

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available

  • Physical distancing

    • Distancing maintained in common areas

  • Protective equipment

    • Waitstaff wear masks

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
    • Staff is vaccinated
    • Staff temperature check required

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from EMei using the Order Online button. EMei also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (215) 627-2500.

EMei is rated 4.6 stars by 176 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 35 times today

Order delivery or takeout

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
    Chinese (Sichuan), Vegetarian / Vegan
  • 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
  • Owned/operated by
    Asian and Pacific Islander, Women
  • Executive chef
    YongCheng Zhao
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    https://www.emeiphilly.com/
  • Phone number
    (215) 627-2500
  • 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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