Xiao Guin Garden

[brescd01]

I tried this 3 year-old restaurant between 8th and 9th on Race. Ubelievably fine Cantonese. Warning: we ordered off the menu with the help of our waiter Ken. The best Cantonese meal I have had in Philadelphia. $30/person with driniks, tax, and tip.

[etalanian]

What did you have to eat? Any pics?

Eileen

[dagordon]

[KatieLoeb]

What the hell is that??

[Tim Dolan]

Wow you got balls man. Good for you.

[Andrew Fenton]

What the hell is that??

I think I saw that scene in a Hieronymus Bosch painting once...

[Diann]

What the hell is that??

←

it's a duck's head silly!

hey dagordon, how was the meal?

[dagordon]

What the hell is that??

←

it's a duck's head silly!

hey dagordon, how was the meal?

←

Excuuuuuuuuse me, it's a pigeon head.

The meal was delicious. Ken took care of us, though next time we need to convince him that we're up for more adventurous stuff. (We actually ordered the squab at the end of the meal when we saw them bringing out to the table across from us.) I'll post more details soon.

[mattohara]

sounds like my kind of place. i'll be expecting a call next time.

[brescd01]

We were there for the third time: this is no fluke. Provided you have Ken choose for you or you read Chinese or are extremely knowledgeable about Chinese cuisine (we used method #1), I guarantee excellent Chinese food. Mixed seafood with yellow onions, steamed scallops with X/O sauce, and Chinese snowpees with garlic (none on the menu) were all wonderful. A meat dish from the menu, beef ribs in pepper sauce (or something like that) was good but not great.

You know, last night was the first time I realized just how ignorent I am of Cantonese cuisine. I have always ignored this in favor of the more exotic and hard-to-find varieties, but it is complex and I need to learn its possibilities.