Tucked away in a small plaza off Lancaster Avenue in Wynnewood is one of the best Chinese restaurants you’ll find in the area. As you open your car door and slip out, your eyes lock onto the reddish orange text against the black wall: SANGKEE asian bistro.
Stationed next to the restaurant name is the Chinese character representing the restaurant itself, with the white character on a red background outlined by a white box. The spacing of the sign leads you to believe that Sang kee is one word. Google, and the restaurant’s Instagram page, says otherwise. Maybe they want to keep the restaurant a hidden gem.
To the left of the entrance, a giant poster on one of the windows promotes its wide variety of dim sum. The red makeshift box acts as the gateway to tastebud heaven, and the sight of all the happy customers enjoying their food is like a heat-seeking missile.
Once you’re inside this small, laid-back restaurant, you’ll notice Sangkee’s wide open space, tables for any group size, and unique red Chinese lanterns amongst other decorations. Sangkee is family friendly, always lively, with great, quick service, and open 365 days a year! As the “Bistro” in its name implies, however, this is not your typical Chinese “take-out” food: They have big portions and diverse options to choose from. Sangkee isn’t exactly fancy dining either, but it’s definitely an upgrade from Panda Express.
As you sit down at your table, you pop open the menu. Every dish looks so appetizing that you’re practically drooling.
You order the dishes, and they do not disappoint. They look just as filling and delicious as the images on the menu. I’d recommend the Chicken Chow Fun, Chicken Fried Rice, and Peking Duck as the three best, each for a different reason.
In the world of Chinese food, fried rice is the standard, so what could be so special about another fried rice from another Chinese restaurant? Sang kee’s Chicken Fried Rice ($16), soft with small strips of white chicken, fills up both the plate and your tastebuds. The rice is topped with finely sliced pieces of scallions and onions, and the plate is topped with a few small green peas. Your spoon scoops up the fried rice, and when you put it into your mouth, it’s full of such savory goodness that you chew quickly and shovel the next bite in without skipping a beat.
The Chicken Chow Fun ($17) consists of soft, thin, flat brown rice noodles. For those unfamiliar with chow fun, these noodles aren’t the typical cylindrical pasta shape, with its noodles coming in very long strands and about an inch wide. For me, it’s the perfect vessel to carry the light brown sauce and other ingredients. It’s accompanied by thin, soft, and savory chicken and, on the inside, roasted scallions and cooked bean sprouts. You can hear the squelch of the noodles and chicken when you dig your chopsticks into the dish, and your mouth waters. Your tongue explodes in flavor: the noodles are soft and savory, with a subtle hint of sweetness, and the chicken is easily bitten through, revealing the soft steaming white meat inside. You can hear the soft, faint crunch of your teeth chewing on the cooked vegetables that complement the chicken and noodles.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, though, the Peking Duck ($19.50) is undoubtedly a classic. Sangkee has been making this dish in the Philadelphia area for almost 45 years, and for good reason: their version of Peking duck strikes the perfect balance of savory and sweet, tender and crisp. The duck has a soft, pinkish brown inside with reddish crispy skin as thin as paper, possessing a hint of sweetness while bursting with flavor. You hear the soft duck meat faintly moving against the chopsticks as you take a bite and let yourself bask in its incredible flavor. The skin might come off as you eat the duck, but it, too, is crispy and savory, so don’t skip it. On its sides are a helping of white rice and a few pieces of roasted bok choy, soft yet crunchy and salty.
Regulars know a few things when they get a craving for good Chinese. Lunch and dinner—regardless of the day—are almost always busy, so I’d suggest booking a reservation earlier than 5 o’clock for dinner.
As delicious as Sangkee is, it can be difficult to get a seat if you don’t plan. Regulars know a few things when they get a craving for good Chinese. Lunch and dinner—regardless of the day—are almost always busy, so I’d suggest booking a reservation earlier than 5 o’clock for dinner. For lunch, I’d go just after the rush hour when there’s plenty of peace and open tables everywhere.
Despite the few hoops you may have to jump through, I can’t recommend Sangkee Asian Bistro enough. It’s casual and easy-going, you always leave full, and it won’t break the bank. Plus, it’s less than two miles away from Haverford, so no excuses unless the sun glare gets in your eye.
