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Xiao Guan Garden
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 4:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Sat-Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 4:00 a.m.
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
5 reviews for Xiao Guan Garden
One of the top three Cantonese style restaurants in Chinatown. Their specialty here is the clay pot style cooking. Most of the time I come here its always for a late night meal with a big group of friends. I of course only ever order from the Chinese menu. That's where the tasty authentic dishes are! Its best if you can read and speak Chinese.
Dinner for the regulars always starts with some peanuts and their house soup and ends with a sweet dessert porridge which are all complimentary. My favorites are the Sa Jian Ji (Ginger Scallion Chicken), Ban Lan Bao (Fried Fish Fillets braised in a clay pot with tofu and vegetables, Jiao Yen San Bao (Fried Salt Pepper Three Treasures (Shrimp, Scallops, and Squid), Me Zai Ko Ro Bao (Chinese Bacon barised with Chinese Pickled Cabbage) and Qie Zi Niu Zai Gu (Eggplant and Beef Short Ribs in a clay pot)
Family style is the only way to eat here. Ask for a side of their green chile and soy sauce mix to add a little more flavor and kick to your meal. Talk about hitting the spot after a night of fun with your friends!
Xiao Guan Garden is simply delicious!
I think my friend and I are set on trying beef pan-fried noodles at every restaurant in Chinatown.
The noodles here were not so good - too much sauce made the noodles soggy and not crunchy. Also, the beef had this weird roast pork taste, like it had been cured or flavored.
The hot and sour soup was very tasty! And our dessert (which is apparently free) was delicious - red bean, mung bean, and taro tapioca soup. Or whatever that's called, it's warm and yummy.
My other friend (see Abby I. below) swears by this place so maybe I should go back with her and see what really goes down. Watch for updates!
Xiao Guan Garden for me is like church. I come here religiously. No lie.
Their seafood is very fresh and as the previous reviewer has mentioned, like all Chinese restaurants in Chinatown, the real deal is written in Chinese in the special Chinese menu. Yes, this is why you come with family. But of course I'm sure you could ask the super friendly waitstaff to assist you. The steamed crab is delicious over sticky rice and you can also get shrimp over e-mein noodles (or ho fun if you please). The waitstaff is very accommodating is it's quite the popular destination for major holidays. And by major holidays I mean Mother's Day and Chinese New Year's.
The chef really is superb. I don't think I've ever really had anything at Xiao Guan Garden I didn't really like. Oh and if you're not facing the TV, you will soon notice that you feel the whole world is staring at you. Not true. There is most likely a TV behind your head. Typical but that's what's so wonderful about it! OH I MIGHT ADD. I've also celebrated birthdays at Xiao Guan Garden and the TV monitor will change to Happy Birthday for karaoke. Just doesn't get any better!
This is a pretty above-average standard Cantonese seafood restaurant and certainly my favorite not-cheap Chinese place in Philly. The dinner menu here is pretty good, except of course the real menu is only in Chinese. I usually come here with my family whenever I visit them and we always order some or all of the soft shell crab, the fried frog or the steamed crab over sticky rice. All those are special items only available on the Chinese menu so you'll have to special order them from the waitstaff. I love their food although if you get seafood be prepared for a $15 to $20 per person bill, which is worth it. The waitstaff is pretty friendly and they play Chinese TV on mute in the back if you want to watch it.
I've been to Xiao Guan Garden twice for dinner: once in February, and just last night. I enjoyed both times!
Both times we had a party of 10+ people (the second time, we jammed about 15 people around a table). We ordered quite a few courses family style. Unfortunately I didn't do the ordering so I don't know the names of the dishes we had (except for the peking duck, which is tasty). One of my favorite dishes was a tender red pork dish. The crispy fish wasn't too shabby either! Also, like many Chinese restaurants, it won't put a dent in your wallet. Recommended!
The restaurant has quick and friendly service (proves that Chinese restaurants do not equate to bad service). Ken (the manager/owner?) worked hard to make sure we were having a good time.