Restaurant Details

Philadelphians are fortunate to have a wide spectrum of Chinese restaurants, from humble takeout spots on a second-floor walkup to extravagant dim sum halls with chefs and prep cooks by the dozen. Tai Lake, nestled on Chinatown’s main drag, sits in the happy medium — where one defaults to for a slightly luxurious weekday meal when their folks are in town. Specializing in Cantonese-style seafood (think whole fish and live shellfish), Tai Lake offers dishes that wouldn’t feel at all out of place in the middle of Hong Kong. The classic flounder is best enjoyed fried and gently dressed with scallions and sweet soy, while the lobster fried glutinous rice, marked intimidatingly on the menu as M.P. (market price), is shockingly affordable, and supremely satisfying. Not to be overlooked are the assortment of wok-fried greens and clay pot stews that demand to be shared and heaped onto one’s plate by a friend or overbearing relative.