Rangoon

Rangoon
112 North 9th Street
Philadelphia
(Between Arch & Cherry Streets)

What are you doing for dinner tonight in Philadelphia? Drop your plans and head on down to Chinatown and check out Rangoon.

I wasn't sure what Burmese food was when I went into the restaurant. Burma is between Thailand and China. Was it a mix of the two cuisines? I wasn't sure about Burmese food the same way that I wasn't sure about Philippine food. What on earth is that? I don't think I've ever seen another Burmese restaurant and I don't think I've seen a Philippine restaurant.

But enough about cuisine limitations. On with the review. Rangoon is a bit out of the way in that it's not where the row of restaurants are in Chinatown but come over one more street and it's right there. The setting is very nice with some artifacts from Burma. The service is fast and they leave a whole pitcher of water for you at the table. I think that's because some of the food can be quite spicy.

I started out with the "festival fish noodle soup." I wasn't sure what the festival was but this was a fantastic dish and I think it was my favorite. The fish is all minced and is mixed in with the broth and rice noodles. You get a scent of lemon grass, ginger, and wonderful amounts of minced and fried or toasted garlic. Seasonings include lime, cilantro, and some amazing little peppers that are really red hot. Try just a little bit because those chillies have a heck of a kick.

My companion started out with a pumpkin soup. Now, that may sound traditionally American but it wasn't. This pumpkin soup probably had ten different spices in it. The ingredients made it rich, different, and a great way to start the meal. Toasted garlic (and onion?) topped off this tasty dish.