No longer must you fear finding the meat of resident rodents snuck into your food -- at this vegan Chinatown dive, the dishes are all made of soy or wheat gluten, not Fluffy or Spot. Cherry Street Chinese Restaurant is not just for your average hippie and weight watcher. The savory mock meat dishes taste authentic and can be satisfying, even to the manliest man.
I, myself, am a Vegetarian and Chinese restaurant-phobic. Cherry Street has been my savior since arriving at Penn. Although it is most convenient to order in groups (a minimum delivery order must be $25), I am ashamed to admit that there have been a few pathetic nights when my craving for their General Tso's "chicken" was so overwhelming I had to order it myself -- it is just that good.
So what is this phony meat? The wonder food, soy, substitutes for beef, pork and seafood. The poultry is made of wheat gluten in a process that takes up to two days to complete. The adaptability of soy and gluten mask the flavor of what they're cooked in, disguising themselves as delicious animal carcasses.
But if you're not looking for door-to-door service, visit Philly's mecca of everything red, gold and dirty, and you'll find a restaurant that is actually clean and simple. Pale walls are scattered with generic Oriental paraphernalia, and synthetic flowers are placed ever so elegantly on every table. The restaurant's vibe is incredibly bland, and if not for the chick talking about her pothead ex who really wasn't her soul mate, there might be no excitement at all.
Manager Kit Lee said that because of the kosher certified menu, nearly 80 percent of customers are usually Jewish -- but, hey, that's not too different from Penn. The menu also accommodates for fish and shrimp allergies by offering soy alternatives.
The combination steamed dumplings ($5.95) combine the essences of jade and rose and make for a filling starter. Aside from my General Tso weakness ($8.50), the Sweet and Sour Chicken ($7.25) and Lemon Duck ($7.95) are also textured and flavored so precisely that they taste real.
Two years ago my boyfriend and I received a lucky fortune from them and we've been together ever since. So be wary of who you share this yummy secret with -- you may be stuck with them for a while.
