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About the Business
A charming, yet cozy restaurant offering delicious and traditional banquet-style Chinese/Cantonese cuisine, seafood, and dim sum. Private dining rooms equipped with karaoke equipment are also available.
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- Jan 11, 2024Updated review
Our first time back at Jade Harbor in seven years, but it may not be our last visit as we have family friends who have moved into this lower Bustleton Avenue ever expanding Asian neighborhood. It looks the same except for gradual aging of the facility. No dim sum available on a Wednesday late afternoon, so we ordered off the regular menu.
The five of us ordered:
1. Hot & Sour Soup - A large bowl for serving the table, full of mushrooms, sprouts, bits of pork and heavy dose of vinegar. It was quite good, but perhaps a little too salty.
2. Salt/Pepper Pork (my interpretation) - Crisply wok fried chunks of lightly breaded on the bone pork with green garnish. Pretty good, but it would have been less work and mess to have it in the form of pork chops.
3. Grouper in Fujianese Sauce - I forgot that Fuzhou cuisine is even sweeter than Cantonese, so these fillets were coated and deep fried into a yellow golden platter, that while very tasty, had some of us concerned about sugar intake.
4. Short Ribs in Garlic Sauce - By the fact that most of this beef dish was consumed before we left, it was the most popular choice on our table lazy susan. Bone in, it was a bit of a challenge to work the morsels of meat off the bone, but the savory garlic sauce and tenderness of the star attraction made it worthwhile.
5. General's Chicken - There may never have been a General Tso in Chinese history, but his namesake dish was well interpreted by this kitchen. Large chunks, lightly breaded and wokked with a nice semi fruity/pepper dark amber sauce, with heavy broccoli garnish, it was an easy tasty choice, without bones or other impediments to enjoyment.
6. Eggplant in Garlic Sauce - Always a favorite veggie dish, this one came with a mix of other veggies. It was soft and pungent and delicious. It was exactly what was expected.
Sliced oranges with the bill is always a nice touch.
We enjoyed our family feast. The food definitely contributed significantly to our enjoyment.Helpful 25Thanks 4Love this 32Oh no 0Nov 11, 2016Previous reviewThe 6800 block neighborhood of Bustleton Avenue, Northeast Philly, has been reborn as a satellite Asian center now that both Chinatown and Washington Avenue have maxed out with markets, restaurants, sundry shops and boutiques that are very popular and have little room for growth, and almost nothing for more parking.
This community has two dim sum houses. We decided to try Jade Harbor first, and were able to park right behind the kitchen in the alley (please don't tell anyone else). This Guangdong emporium has a few dining rooms on the first and second floors. The tables in each are packed tight to squeeze in as many customers as possible, and the narrow trail from the rear kitchen to the front of the house is often clogged with people moving around to get to their seats or restrooms. Actually, that is something of a good thing, as it forces the carts to navigate slowly or at full stop next to your table to allow a close inspection of the goodies, and to ask the women handling them for more information.
We were seated behind the entry door to one of the dining rooms. Three chairs, but really room for only two. At least we did not have to wait. Hot tea arrived quickly, followed by the first of many cart visits. We asked questions and snagged seven dishes from Shrimp Shumai and Beef Meatballs to Watercress Dumplings and Sticky Rice Balls with Lotus for dessert. Everything was good to nearly best of breed. Special mention for the Sticky Rice Pork Dumplings that were sweet on the outside and savory within. They were a first for me.
As Bustleton is closer to home than a trip downtown, we will no doubt find our way back here with some regularity when the dim sum bug hits us. That I was the only "foreigner" in a house full of Chinese families suggests that this place may actually be as authentic as the banquet halls on Race Street. Jade Harbor certainly seemed that way to me and my beautiful Chinese companion.
Will explore the other dim sum shop down the street and get back to you. - Nov 24, 2022Updated review
Notes: (1) Street parking (2) Bring cash or you will pay an additional fee - 3% for cards (3) Limited English Spoken (4) Ask for itemized receipt, they charge you depending how they're feeling like that day.
Extremely disappointed in this place as I've been coming here for years as it's more convenient than going to Chinatown. There are so many issues with this place now. If you're coming here for dim sum, GO ELSEWHERE. The last five times that I've been here, the food was cold and some were even bad. It was obviously leftovers as you can taste the freshness was lacking. As mentioned, PRICE, it's ridiculous how they decide to charge you a price and they don't itemize the receipt for dim sum. One day they charged me $30 for 5 dishes and next week it will be like $38 for the same dishes. There is another option around the area if you want dim sum and Chinese food, not sure how good they are but it cannot get worse than this.Helpful 3Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 2Jul 7, 2016Previous reviewI come here all the time when I visit Philly for dim sum and even dinner. A bit too much you would think? NOT! Instead of fighting for parking in Chinatown to eat at one of those restaurants, might as well go somewhere where the food is comparable and you don't have to stress out about parking. I'm picky about dim sum and this restaurant is just right! They are reasonably priced and service is quick. I like the food and the fact that you usually don't have to wait forever for a table. I also enjoy their dinners. Since I can't read the menu, I usually just pick one of the combo meals which is priced about $49.99 and can feed about 5 people. They also usually have specials for lobster which I always go for! You can't go wrong with lobster! For dinner, they provide unlimited rice and bring you fruits and dessert at the end of your meal. Overall, I am glad that they opened this place in the northeast!
- Sep 6, 2022Updated review
Loud, crazy and everything moving at lightening speed when we had lunch on Labor Day. The place was packed for dim sum. I was with my Chinese speaking Vietnamese friends, so they took control of the ordering my favorite Snow Pea Leaves with Garlic and selecting various dishes from the trollies. My favorite things were dumplings, shumai, fried rice.
Having been to China a few years ago, I can attest to the loud, frantic pace as being quite authentic. The food was really good, fresh and hot. If you can handle the craziness and noise, give it a try.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0Sep 14, 2014Previous reviewI was with a small group. We had a few dim sum items & then they ordered off the menu. I liked the spring rolls, bean paste buns & pork shumai from dim sum. They ordered a huge plate of steamed shrimp with heads on. The shrimp were tiny and did not appeal to me. Peking duck served with soft buns was good, but nowhere close to Sang Kee. Pan fried noodles with seafood was the final dish. I don't like those kind of noodles or the white sauce.
I'm sure if I'd stick with the dim sum or was able to order spicy favorites I would have enjoyed the meal. I hope to go again soon. - Margie E.Jenkintown, PA42123164Aug 8, 2023
My third time eating at this restaurant and the food has always been great. I prefer to dine in rather than take my food home. I enjoy the ambiance and the service. I enjoy talking to the servers. Even the other patrons are nice and friendly. It's a very relaxed atmosphere.
Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0 - Nov 28, 2022
Won't lie this spot was great to us. We had amazing food and loved the vibe inside. The seafood came right out of the tank in the back which was legendary! I definitely recommend coming by here with a group and stay eatin good!
Helpful 1Thanks 1Love this 0Oh no 0 - Andy L.Philadelphia, PA9860177Apr 22, 2023
Food was tasty and it came out in a timely manner! We had chicken on the house because the owner was friends with my uncle. Overall experience was pleasant and it was super busy on a weekend night.
Helpful 1Thanks 1Love this 0Oh no 0 - Jarvis L.Philadelphia, PA183877Oct 29, 2022
Came here multiple times and the menu price changes every time. Price seems to depends on what they feel like... doesn't seem to be based on market price as advertised.
I used to like this place but the other couple of times have been disappointing.Helpful 2Thanks 1Love this 2Oh no 0 - Ly T.North Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA035379Oct 5, 2022
Practically been going here since I was born. Family goes here for special occasions and Sundays. They have street parking and take out as well. We've always dined in. The boss knows the deal, everything is casual here if you've been coming for many years. Typical dim sum food and their shrimp balls are great. The tables are evenly spaced out so there's no risk in bumping into someone. All in all, I come here all the time and it's a great dim sum place.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Apr 21, 2021
Thank you, Pho Saigon, for being closed because if you weren't, I would never have discovered this culinary delight! Cantonese-style dim sum speaks to me on so many levels, especially when the stuffed tofu skins look and taste so good. I found myself sipping up all the soup from these tender morsels, which I have never done with the same dim sum dish at any other restaurant! The shrimp dumplings and shrimp shu mai were also very good. Lots of shrimp perfectly prepared with no shells or sand like other places. I will certainly be back!
Helpful 4Thanks 0Love this 4Oh no 0 - 2671652492Mar 17, 2021
My family and I used to frequent this spot whenever we were in Northeast Philly. They had $5 rice platters for lunch special. It included a free soup with the lunch special. It was honestly unbeatable price for the service. However, we visited a couple of days ago. The rice platters were $8 each. They no longer offer free soup. The rice portions was bigger and the meat portions were smaller. My go-to is usually beef and brocolli but they also changed up the cut of meat so the meat texture also went down a bit. I would still go but there are other options nearby.
Helpful 4Thanks 1Love this 4Oh no 0
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