Photo credit: @quananhtrann
This year’s Guide to Philly features neighborhood guides written by students and recent grads. In this mini-guide to Chinatown, we cover things to do, places to eat and everything YOU need to know to enjoy the neighborhood!
As told by Chloe Tubbs, Temple 2025
I’m Chloe! I study advertising with a concentration in Brand Strategy and Research and a minor in Public Relations at Temple University. I really enjoy tap dancing, and I recently just joined the Temple Tappers tap club. I also enjoy reading and writing, and hanging out with my girlfriend and friends.
Chinatown is one of my favorite places in Philly—not only is it super accessible by subway, but in my opinion, they also have the best places to eat. Some of my all time favorites are Mango Mango, Bubblefish, Bonchon, and Prince Tea House. There’s so much variety of all types of foods ranging from Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Korean cultures, all with different price ranges that accommodate college students.
Along with great places to eat, there’s also so many cool and unique shops to check out! My all time favorite beauty store in Chinatown is the K-Beauty Outlet. They have products ranging from Korean skincare to popular items that are sold at Sephora, along with a wide variety of hair dye made specifically for people with dark Asian hair types.
A place I highly recommend checking out is the Chinatown Friendship Gate, located on Arch Street and North 10th Street. Not only is it a great photo-op, but it’s also located right at the entrance of the neighborhood to create a welcoming environment.
The locals in Chinatown are super friendly and it’s a great way to explore new places as well as connecting with the locals and getting acclimated to city life.
Some student discounts I love include:
- $2 off the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival in the summer months
- The African American Museum in Philadelphia is $10 with your student ID
- The Fabric Workshop and Museum is free, with a suggested donation of $5!
Some of my favorite hidden gems:
Intern’s note: Hi! Helen here. You can also check out Students for the Preservation Of Chinatown (SPOC) to learn more about saving this community and space amidst threats of development. In their educational slideshow, SPOC writes “The 76ers are planning to build an arena called ’76 Place’ from Market to Filbert and 10th to 11th streets. [The] arena will seat 18,500 people.” The predicted construction will go on for at least six years and contribute to the national depletion of Chinatowns, making Philadelphia’s even more important!
