Vietnamese hidden gem in back of la Maison on RT 30 in Ardmore. To find them, take a right hand turn before the McDonald's, while traveling west on Route 30. They are in the parking lot behind the French restaurant. Now onto our dining experience. Fresh fresh fresh. Great pho! Not sure what the earlier reviews were complaining about, for eight dollars I got a large bowl of fresh pho with plenty of cilantro, nice soft but chewy noodles, several large pieces of pork, lots of ground pork, and two extra large shrimp. While some people may decide that's not enough food for eight dollars, I was pretty satisfied. The bbq pork on broken rice is also great. No complaints there, the barbecue pork was delicious. I have to say for sheer satisfaction the king of the dinner tonight were the fresh bbq pork rolls with mint and rice wrapper around noodle. As many others have mentioned, service is great. Absolutely no complaints....we plan to frequent this place!!
(4)
Amanda G.
We came here for lunch while my car was getting an oil change. It took forever to find this place because it's on the other side of the businesses that face Lancaster Ave. They have a parking lot, which I wish we knew about in advance. Anyway, we walk in and there are no customers and no staff. So we ended up walking back to the kitchen and finding someone. Needless to say, that was a little weird, but things got better. The man who waited on us was suuuuper nice. He seemed to be waiting on all the tables (two more groups came in after us, and someone else came in for take-out) and he was also running the register. That multi-tasker was quick, though, and our food came out promptly. The meal didn't blow my socks off, but I didn't order that much since it was lunch time. My husband wanted pho because he was sick, and it hit the spot for him. Overall, this place was OK but the service was great.
(3)
Christy S.
I've eaten here about 4 times (because they are so close home) and each time was hoping that I would find what keeps this restaurant open. The food is average American Chinese that is just one step up from the Chinese food stands at the mall. The Vietnamese is better than expected but still not remarkable. The waitress is always friendly and she handles the entire restaurant by herself--amazing job!. However, of the 8 dishes I've tried (between my husband and I) I always walk away full but unimpressed. BYOB.
(3)
Sir A.
this is a Pho review only! to be exact, we ordered take out Pho w/eye round & veggie Pho w/chicken. the lady who took and put our order together was super nice and this was our first time ordering from this restaurant. I could write and tell you about the places we've been and the Vietnamese soups we've eaten but I won't. in my wife's words, '.....you've known me for twenty years, when have I ever complained?' needless to say, I suspect a college student on a ramen noodle budget would have a difficult time consuming what we brought home. having said all that, the rest of the menu could be phenomenal but as it goes for the Pho....you've been warned fellow yelper
(1)
Abby I.
I recently went to check out Szechuan Garden Inn after reading reviews about the Vietnamese menu offering. I think what Szechuan Garden Inn has to offer is a parking lot and location that's not in the city. Convenience! I had the Vietnamese spring rolls (2 per order), beef pho (pho tai), and beef bun. I can't say that anything was spectacular, just average. The noodles were clumped together and not soft enough and there weren't many pieces of beef in the pho. I hate giving a 3 stars because the owner was so nice but to give an honest review everything was just average. The music was off when we came in and the owner turned it on a few minutes later and noticed she turned it back off as we were exiting. Verdict- wouldn't go out of my way to come here. Maybe if I were in the area.
(3)
Wes L.
There isn't many places to get vietnamese food outside of the city, so when I found this place across the street from my job I was stoked. The food is just ok though, Im not fond of szechuan style cooking so I haven't tried much from that menu but the vietnamese food is not bad but not great, it satisfies a craving when stuck in ardmore. I understand why the flavors aren't bold, outside of the city because you have to appeal to everyone to strong a flavor can turn certain people off. You dont get real broken rice its just a long grain used by every other chinese restaurant, so if you can overlook these things you will get a1 service from the owner and a decent offering from the vietnamese menu.
(3)
Michael M.
Quite frankly one of the worst Chinese dining experiences I've ever had. Maybe I'm spoiled by the restaurants in Chinatown in Center City Philadelphia. My wife and I were in Ardmore and had a taste for Szechuan food, and thought we'd give this place a try. The Szechuan offerings on the menu were meager at best, and tilted towards American palates (I'm caucasian, but I've grown accustomed to more authentic Chinese food). The Chao Thom was mealy and had *way* too much flour and very little shrimp paste, and the General Tso chicken was undercooked, bland and sugary sweet, rather than sharp and spicy. The one token hot pepper placed at the top of the dish was more for show than flavor, I think. Not recommended, there are better places out there.
(2)
Summer G.
I love the Szechuan Garden Inn the owner is super sweet and very attentive no matter how short or rude people are to her she is always very kind, My family and I have started a Christmas tradition to go to Szechuan Garden Inn so please be mindful and kind if you also go on Christmas this is a family owned business and sometimes you will need to wait a little longer.
(5)
Adrienne P.
Vietnamese food! This is a purely selfish review. I am writing in the interest of preserving my supply, because I think this may be the only place to get good Vietnamese food on the Main Line. I do not want to go to Philly, so please do the right thing and help keep a good thing going!
(5)
Steve A.
This lil' Chinese gem hidden off of route 30 is an absolute find. Amongst all the crappy suburban chinese food that exists in the world, Szechuan Garden Inn manages to put out heroically delicious food day after day. All the classics are spot on -- delicious dumplings, crunchy egg rolls, and some chicken with broccoli that will literally knock your pants off. If you are feeling extra-adventurous, I highly recommend the giving the chi-yang chicken or shrimp a try. Pretty sure no one else in the country does the 'chi-yang' style dishes so you can brag to all your friends about how worldly you are. Add in the fact that the owner is one of the nicest women in Ardmore and you have yourself a go-to Chinese spot.
(5)
Regina B.
SHHH...the BEST kept secret in Ardmore for amazing Vietnamese food is a "Chinese" restuarant tucked away behind Lancaster Avenue (turn at light by McDonalds off Lancaster, then turn right into parking lot - surprise!!). The restaurant decor is OK, kinda tacky-chinese-resturant but comfy and clean and the service is good. The Chinese is standard fare. The Vietnamese is very, very good. I had a summer roll that was fresh, full of veggies and yummy. My dining partner had the spring rolls which were delicions too. We both got the vermicelli bowls with different meats on them - SO good. Very fresh and very flavorful. A great local spot for fresh, top quality Vietnamese. Discover Szechuan Garden Inn!
(4)
Alex P.
Its a Chinese restaurant, but I go there for their Vietnamese food. Their pho is pretty good, although, I think their noodles are sometimes a bit harder than I like. The service is very quick and its inexpensive. Its close to Suburban Square and right next to Zoom bike shop and Subway.
(4)
Chris G.
I couldn't count how many times I have been, but it has been a pleasure each time. The food is consistently good, and the staff is very homey and gracious. The prices are more than reasonable.
(4)
Eric B.
This restaurant is easy to miss driving along Lancaster Ave as the entrance isn't directly facing the street, but nestled in the parking lot behind Subway and Human Zoom. Walking in though you will find a pleasant atmosphere with roomy booths and tables that can accommodate larger groups. The food is delicious and well portioned. You can tell they use fresh ingredients and care about food quality. Come in before 3pm for very reasonably priced, yummy lunch specials. They recently added Vietnamese cuisine to their menu. I tried the beef, shrimp and spring roll over vermicelli, and it was on par with anything I'd find at a strictly Vietnamese restaurant. Next time I'll try the pho. I like that there are many options for both lunch and dinner. This is a great place to bring your friends or family for lunch or dinner, and the new menu supports repeat visits with its variety of tasty options. I've been here about a dozen times and am always pleased with the friendliness and great service from the owner who is often the server at lunch time. She takes the time to explain the menu and offer suggestions. Most recently I saw her reading books on all sorts of cuisine, Japanese, Korean and others. When someone in my party asked about it, she said she liked cooking a variety of food at home. She is obviously passionate about her business and food in general. Overall, great hidden gem in Ardmore. Dining room is moderately sized and restaurant is BYOB. The one time I bought a large to go order it was exceptionally well packaged and ready promptly.
(5)
Catherine A.
Ordered both Chinese and Vietnamese food multiple times here. The Vietnamese chicken curry had no chicken, the broth was not really flavorful but had a lot of potatoes. It seemed like they were giving me the scraps of their pot. Their vermicelli dish was decent but not the best I've had. My brother says their crispy sesame beef was also decent. Overall, decent food but not the greatest.
(3)
Renee H.
I was there a few days ago for the Chinese food. I was in the neighborhood with a coworker and we wanted Chinese food. I'm not an expert or connoisseur and tend to go for simple dishes. I had the Sweet 'n Sour Chicken combination platter. I had the Wonton, egg roll and pork fried rice as the sides. The rice options included white rice, and egg and vegetable fried rice, but I really like pork fried rice. I asked for the pork and was told the options were egg and vegetable. I asked if they came with peas (which I can't stand - eeewww) and was told all of the the fried rice options come with peas. I opted for the vegetable fried rice figuring I would pick out the peas. When my dish came, it included pork fried rice and there were NO peas! Yippee!! The chicken pieces were tender and cooked perfectly. The sauce was delicious and the accompanying vegetables were fresh and crisp. The Wonton and egg roll were also very tasty. The portions were more than sufficient to fill me up and I had to ask for a doggie bag. Even when reheated the next day, the food was delicious. Overall, I had a very good experience. If I'm back in the neighborhood and craving Chinese food, I will definitely stop in.
(4)
T H.
I used to go to the Washington square area for pho etc. A bit of dive. This is a good alternative. I think this is the only place in the Main Line area where you can get Vietnamese stuff. I hope they stay in business!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
D T.
Vietnamese hidden gem in back of la Maison on RT 30 in Ardmore. To find them, take a right hand turn before the McDonald's, while traveling west on Route 30. They are in the parking lot behind the French restaurant. Now onto our dining experience. Fresh fresh fresh. Great pho! Not sure what the earlier reviews were complaining about, for eight dollars I got a large bowl of fresh pho with plenty of cilantro, nice soft but chewy noodles, several large pieces of pork, lots of ground pork, and two extra large shrimp. While some people may decide that's not enough food for eight dollars, I was pretty satisfied. The bbq pork on broken rice is also great. No complaints there, the barbecue pork was delicious. I have to say for sheer satisfaction the king of the dinner tonight were the fresh bbq pork rolls with mint and rice wrapper around noodle. As many others have mentioned, service is great. Absolutely no complaints....we plan to frequent this place!!
(4)Amanda G.
We came here for lunch while my car was getting an oil change. It took forever to find this place because it's on the other side of the businesses that face Lancaster Ave. They have a parking lot, which I wish we knew about in advance. Anyway, we walk in and there are no customers and no staff. So we ended up walking back to the kitchen and finding someone. Needless to say, that was a little weird, but things got better. The man who waited on us was suuuuper nice. He seemed to be waiting on all the tables (two more groups came in after us, and someone else came in for take-out) and he was also running the register. That multi-tasker was quick, though, and our food came out promptly. The meal didn't blow my socks off, but I didn't order that much since it was lunch time. My husband wanted pho because he was sick, and it hit the spot for him. Overall, this place was OK but the service was great.
(3)Christy S.
I've eaten here about 4 times (because they are so close home) and each time was hoping that I would find what keeps this restaurant open. The food is average American Chinese that is just one step up from the Chinese food stands at the mall. The Vietnamese is better than expected but still not remarkable. The waitress is always friendly and she handles the entire restaurant by herself--amazing job!. However, of the 8 dishes I've tried (between my husband and I) I always walk away full but unimpressed. BYOB.
(3)Sir A.
this is a Pho review only! to be exact, we ordered take out Pho w/eye round & veggie Pho w/chicken. the lady who took and put our order together was super nice and this was our first time ordering from this restaurant. I could write and tell you about the places we've been and the Vietnamese soups we've eaten but I won't. in my wife's words, '.....you've known me for twenty years, when have I ever complained?' needless to say, I suspect a college student on a ramen noodle budget would have a difficult time consuming what we brought home. having said all that, the rest of the menu could be phenomenal but as it goes for the Pho....you've been warned fellow yelper
(1)Abby I.
I recently went to check out Szechuan Garden Inn after reading reviews about the Vietnamese menu offering. I think what Szechuan Garden Inn has to offer is a parking lot and location that's not in the city. Convenience! I had the Vietnamese spring rolls (2 per order), beef pho (pho tai), and beef bun. I can't say that anything was spectacular, just average. The noodles were clumped together and not soft enough and there weren't many pieces of beef in the pho. I hate giving a 3 stars because the owner was so nice but to give an honest review everything was just average. The music was off when we came in and the owner turned it on a few minutes later and noticed she turned it back off as we were exiting. Verdict- wouldn't go out of my way to come here. Maybe if I were in the area.
(3)Wes L.
There isn't many places to get vietnamese food outside of the city, so when I found this place across the street from my job I was stoked. The food is just ok though, Im not fond of szechuan style cooking so I haven't tried much from that menu but the vietnamese food is not bad but not great, it satisfies a craving when stuck in ardmore. I understand why the flavors aren't bold, outside of the city because you have to appeal to everyone to strong a flavor can turn certain people off. You dont get real broken rice its just a long grain used by every other chinese restaurant, so if you can overlook these things you will get a1 service from the owner and a decent offering from the vietnamese menu.
(3)Michael M.
Quite frankly one of the worst Chinese dining experiences I've ever had. Maybe I'm spoiled by the restaurants in Chinatown in Center City Philadelphia. My wife and I were in Ardmore and had a taste for Szechuan food, and thought we'd give this place a try. The Szechuan offerings on the menu were meager at best, and tilted towards American palates (I'm caucasian, but I've grown accustomed to more authentic Chinese food). The Chao Thom was mealy and had *way* too much flour and very little shrimp paste, and the General Tso chicken was undercooked, bland and sugary sweet, rather than sharp and spicy. The one token hot pepper placed at the top of the dish was more for show than flavor, I think. Not recommended, there are better places out there.
(2)Summer G.
I love the Szechuan Garden Inn the owner is super sweet and very attentive no matter how short or rude people are to her she is always very kind, My family and I have started a Christmas tradition to go to Szechuan Garden Inn so please be mindful and kind if you also go on Christmas this is a family owned business and sometimes you will need to wait a little longer.
(5)Adrienne P.
Vietnamese food! This is a purely selfish review. I am writing in the interest of preserving my supply, because I think this may be the only place to get good Vietnamese food on the Main Line. I do not want to go to Philly, so please do the right thing and help keep a good thing going!
(5)Steve A.
This lil' Chinese gem hidden off of route 30 is an absolute find. Amongst all the crappy suburban chinese food that exists in the world, Szechuan Garden Inn manages to put out heroically delicious food day after day. All the classics are spot on -- delicious dumplings, crunchy egg rolls, and some chicken with broccoli that will literally knock your pants off. If you are feeling extra-adventurous, I highly recommend the giving the chi-yang chicken or shrimp a try. Pretty sure no one else in the country does the 'chi-yang' style dishes so you can brag to all your friends about how worldly you are. Add in the fact that the owner is one of the nicest women in Ardmore and you have yourself a go-to Chinese spot.
(5)Regina B.
SHHH...the BEST kept secret in Ardmore for amazing Vietnamese food is a "Chinese" restuarant tucked away behind Lancaster Avenue (turn at light by McDonalds off Lancaster, then turn right into parking lot - surprise!!). The restaurant decor is OK, kinda tacky-chinese-resturant but comfy and clean and the service is good. The Chinese is standard fare. The Vietnamese is very, very good. I had a summer roll that was fresh, full of veggies and yummy. My dining partner had the spring rolls which were delicions too. We both got the vermicelli bowls with different meats on them - SO good. Very fresh and very flavorful. A great local spot for fresh, top quality Vietnamese. Discover Szechuan Garden Inn!
(4)Alex P.
Its a Chinese restaurant, but I go there for their Vietnamese food. Their pho is pretty good, although, I think their noodles are sometimes a bit harder than I like. The service is very quick and its inexpensive. Its close to Suburban Square and right next to Zoom bike shop and Subway.
(4)Chris G.
I couldn't count how many times I have been, but it has been a pleasure each time. The food is consistently good, and the staff is very homey and gracious. The prices are more than reasonable.
(4)Eric B.
This restaurant is easy to miss driving along Lancaster Ave as the entrance isn't directly facing the street, but nestled in the parking lot behind Subway and Human Zoom. Walking in though you will find a pleasant atmosphere with roomy booths and tables that can accommodate larger groups. The food is delicious and well portioned. You can tell they use fresh ingredients and care about food quality. Come in before 3pm for very reasonably priced, yummy lunch specials. They recently added Vietnamese cuisine to their menu. I tried the beef, shrimp and spring roll over vermicelli, and it was on par with anything I'd find at a strictly Vietnamese restaurant. Next time I'll try the pho. I like that there are many options for both lunch and dinner. This is a great place to bring your friends or family for lunch or dinner, and the new menu supports repeat visits with its variety of tasty options. I've been here about a dozen times and am always pleased with the friendliness and great service from the owner who is often the server at lunch time. She takes the time to explain the menu and offer suggestions. Most recently I saw her reading books on all sorts of cuisine, Japanese, Korean and others. When someone in my party asked about it, she said she liked cooking a variety of food at home. She is obviously passionate about her business and food in general. Overall, great hidden gem in Ardmore. Dining room is moderately sized and restaurant is BYOB. The one time I bought a large to go order it was exceptionally well packaged and ready promptly.
(5)Catherine A.
Ordered both Chinese and Vietnamese food multiple times here. The Vietnamese chicken curry had no chicken, the broth was not really flavorful but had a lot of potatoes. It seemed like they were giving me the scraps of their pot. Their vermicelli dish was decent but not the best I've had. My brother says their crispy sesame beef was also decent. Overall, decent food but not the greatest.
(3)Renee H.
I was there a few days ago for the Chinese food. I was in the neighborhood with a coworker and we wanted Chinese food. I'm not an expert or connoisseur and tend to go for simple dishes. I had the Sweet 'n Sour Chicken combination platter. I had the Wonton, egg roll and pork fried rice as the sides. The rice options included white rice, and egg and vegetable fried rice, but I really like pork fried rice. I asked for the pork and was told the options were egg and vegetable. I asked if they came with peas (which I can't stand - eeewww) and was told all of the the fried rice options come with peas. I opted for the vegetable fried rice figuring I would pick out the peas. When my dish came, it included pork fried rice and there were NO peas! Yippee!! The chicken pieces were tender and cooked perfectly. The sauce was delicious and the accompanying vegetables were fresh and crisp. The Wonton and egg roll were also very tasty. The portions were more than sufficient to fill me up and I had to ask for a doggie bag. Even when reheated the next day, the food was delicious. Overall, I had a very good experience. If I'm back in the neighborhood and craving Chinese food, I will definitely stop in.
(4)T H.
I used to go to the Washington square area for pho etc. A bit of dive. This is a good alternative. I think this is the only place in the Main Line area where you can get Vietnamese stuff. I hope they stay in business!
(4)