Try the karaoke here! They have the most recent songs I've ever seen at a karaoke place, like "Blank Space" only a few months after it came out. And it's only $20pp for food and karaoke together! Their song selection is quite wide with a great variety of US Top 40 as well as some Chinese songs if that's your jam. Food was pretty good. Chicken meat was plentiful, and everything was cooked in an authentic Chinese style. The service wasn't the best, but I can understand not wanting to interrupt private rooms. Food came out pretty quickly and all at once though. We booked the 20-person room, which consisted of 2 round tables so a third of the people aren't facing the TV. The layout also means a lot of people are eating while you're karaoking, which gets surprisingly awkward. For some reason the room got really hot in the middle of our night... better than being really cold, I guess.
(4)
Dee M.
November -first week 2014 not 11/12/2014. I won a $20 gift certificate here at a Chinatown New years dinner and redeemed it this week. I have been to Chinatown many times and overlooked this place many times before. That is now over. As the saying goes " don't judge a book by its cover. " My dining companions who I dragged here were like kids in a candy shop. Eyes as big as saucers when we saw the number of seafood item available. Can only remember what 2 of us had: The clams which were tossed and dusted with something great and then returned to the shell and served that way. OMG it was GREAT. CONCH- steamed and tossed with Chinese vegetables. WOW! Shrimp Seafood rolls--- Nearly lost a finger when I reached for the last one. LOL. The storefront is an unassuming one on Race Street. The inside looks like you are eating in someone's basement. Again,,, "Never judge a book by its cover". If you do, you'd miss out on a food adventure.
(5)
Frank L C.
We really enjoyed an anniversary dinner here after an early movie. The eel was beautifully grilled, the scallops fresh and tender, the flounder flaky and perfect. There was a slightly noisy party in the upstairs room, and the atmosphere is not terribly romantic, but the food was some of the best Chinese pescetarian we have enjoyed in 40 years of Chinese anniversary dinners.
(4)
Tina K.
Went to Ken's with a group of 20 people, and it came down to $20 per person for food and karaoke. Really good deal. However, service was slow and not really friendly. The food was just okay, nothing remarkable whatsoever. Since the price per table is fixed for free karaoke, definitely more worth it the more people you have in a group. Otherwise, it would get pretty expensive.
(3)
Serena T.
The two times I've been here (once in December, then April) I've brought rowdy parties of 20ish people. The people here are true angels -- they've been helpful, friendly, and very kind in putting up with 20+ off-pitch karaoking. The karaoke/food deal here is the best you can get in Philly -- I believe it was around $200/table (I could be wrong, but it comes out to be ~$20 / person). Fresh lobster (literally, my friend and I got to pick our lobsters from the tank for our meal that night) and a good variety of Chinese food. Each time I come, I always seem to have leftovers. A night of karaoking with friends, good food -- you can't go wrong with Ken's. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Oakland S.
I was looking for some place to eat in Chinatown. I asked a few people, but no responses. When it dawned on me that they thought I was asking for spare change! I thought that was amusing since I buy donuts at federal donuts on a credit card . "See my previous review". Anyway, I finally decided to go to Ken's Seafood Restaurant. I walked in the door and to my left was a fish tank in the window. I realize this is strange, but I ordered chicken and broccoli with black bean sauce. They don't have this dish listed on the menu "which make sense hence the name Ken's Seafood", anyhow they were willing to make my special order. Decided to take it out instead of sitting in. So I waited while they prepared the food. While waiting I noticed they had a TV, and an upstairs area with karaoke. As I waited two patrons came in and ordered lobster which they took fresh from the tank! I thought that was cool and made a mental note to come back and try the lobster. Got my the food home and it was delicious! The sauce tasted fresh. There were pieces of black bean as well as fresh ginger. Not only was it good when I got home, it was just as delicious the next day. Looking forward to going back again. Next time I won't have to ask around Chinatown: "Can you tell me a good place to go?"
(5)
Leslie W.
I love Ken's! They are so accommodating and the service is great! We love the food! Fresh and authentic dishes. Their karaoke rooms are fun. You can bring your children and they can go crazy on the mic in a contained area. They don't have the nicest decor and it's pretty much no frills, but the fun is big! Great for birthday parties and get togethers. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Percy N.
One of the best places for fresh seafood in an area that seemed crowded with restaurants that claim to serve good seafood. Try the geoduck, scallops in XO sauce, or better yet, just ask Ken to have the kitchen whip up something for you using the seafood swimming in the tanks. I promise it will be delicious!!
(5)
Lisa Z.
I ordered half a Peking duck with my cousin and it was pretty good. This would be the best restaurant if you are in Chinatown for a nightlife. But this area is pretty much dead. unless you go to bars and such. I'd come here for mid-night snacks when I'm in Philly at least once or twice a week, it also has karaoke rooms that are available. This place is opened from 5PM-3-5AM? I'm not sure but my dad basically owns this place. So that's why I'm always here. I personally wouldn't really give it 5 stars but for sure its a 4 stars. P.S. It's a 5 stars because I know the person.
(5)
Ginger S.
Not horrible but definitely not amazing. Can't say much about karaoke but it's dining setup was crowded and not very welcoming to non-chinese. We even asked for recommendations from the manager (I think, he didn't even check up on us he just catered to the Chinese patrons) and he plainly said "everything good. Try fried fish" nothing out of the ordinary yet it's still pretty pricey. If you or a friend speak Chinese hit it up, otherwise venture elsewhere for better and more reasonable deals.
(2)
Sarah C.
As if I did not learn my lesson the first time, I went with my friends tonight. We had 8 people and ordered 80~90 dollars of food. Everything was still horrible and the microphones failed again! The bill they gave us had no prices next to the dishes. The only price we saw on the bill was a $180 smack in the middle. They said it was $150 minimum charge and they tacked on 20% tips to it when they did not deserve one penny. They could have told us the minimum charge at the beginning and tell us we should order more to reach $150, but they decided not to. They didn't say anything, they didn't allow us to get anything else too. They made us pay TWICE the amount we should have paid. They were so rude after we paid the bill. They literally rushed us right out of the room by shutting off the karaoke machine and pushing the chairs in. They promised us the room from 4:30 til 7:30, but kicked us out at 7:00 after we paid. The waitress who said 7:30 at the beginning was arguing with us when we asked her about it. She kept saying she knows what she said and that she said 7:00, but every single one of us knew she said 7:30 at the beginning. That was the end of the night.... Getting kicked out of a restaurant after getting charge twice the amount we ordered and arguing with the waitress for a half an hour of karaoke.
(1)
Michael V.
Add the BYOB and how accommodating they were to supply ice it I say I'll add a star.
(4)
Jonas O.
I love Ken's Seafood. Everything I've had here has been excellent. The scallops in particular are something special. Ken himself came to our table and talked to us about the food. He said that the trick with the scallops is not as much the preparation as getting the best quality scallops. As far as I can tell, he is doing that. I recommend the salt-baked scallops, but I'm sure they are delicious other ways. I had a whole fish once that was delicious, selected right from a tank in the window. I have also had shrimp fresh from the window tank, prepared the way our server suggested, with raw bodies and separately deep-fried heads. Really good. The clams in black bean sauce were excellent as well. The prices are medium-high, as you might expect. I still consider the value-for-the-money to be very good. I've never been upstairs, where I assume the Karaoke takes place. That's a whole different matter, I suppose.
(5)
Jamie S.
Ken's is legit. Do order: dumplings, crispy chicken, salt and pepper squid, peking pork chops. Plus they stay open super late, just don't be surprised if people are smoking inside. Another warning- Ken pours a stiff drink.
(4)
Joshua V.
A decent 3rd string QB to go to just in case your stars are a bit pre-occupied (I'm pointing at you David and Rising Tide). Especially in the late nite when all the hungry drunks come out of the woodwork, this place will get the job done. A very nice gentleman (I'm assuming Ken?) visits patrons from table to table asking if the meal was up to standard. Sleep easy Ken, you did just fine; and he definitely loves serving up the seafood. Me and the drunk party asked for opinions from the waiter about some good choices, and all of them came out seafood. Despite any suspicions that seafood may not be able to get the job done to fill the pits of empty stomachs, we all came out happy. A bit slow on the service, but I understand that multiple drunk clientele and the delicate art of cooking seafood make for a waiting game. In any other city, Ken stands a chance at being a starting QB.
(3)
Rachel S.
Everything about this place was amazing!!! The owner the food...If you do not come here you are missing out!! This is a must go to restaurant for fresh seafood and great company!
(5)
Kay H.
Super updated Karaoke system, delicious food, a big fun party in a private room so you can be crazy and dance and have fun - hours of fun that came out to $25 a person (with loooots of food left over!) Yep, I love this place. The food is far better than Yakitori boy so if you are looking for a karaoke room and want to pay for food instead of hourly, this comes out to the same price or cheaper. Yeahh~~ Can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Khanh V.
Ken's Seafood has good food, you just got to know what to order. Their walnut shrimp is quite good. And yes do try out the seafood here. Besides food, they offer karaoke rooms, which I was there for a birthday party. Again, you need to talk it out with the people there and know what you're doing before you book and order food. They open real late so it's a plus. Overall, one of the most popular food places in Chinatown.
(3)
Kevin Y.
Best place to go to for Chinese karaoke! My friends and I are regulars here at Ken's, and we wouldn't even think about choosing somewhere else to go to for a fun night of karaoke. If you buy over $150 of food and drink, you get 3 hours of karaoke free. That's a pretty damn good deal if you think about how much food and karaoke you get for $50 an hour (split by however many people you have in your party). While the food here definitely isn't the best you can get in Chinatown, the dishes are the perfect solution to a late night hunger. Greasy and filling, any dish you order will go good with karaoke and beer. If you really want a dish recommendation, go for the walnut shrimp. Gigantic shrimp lathered in a sweet coconut sauce with walnuts. Hot, sweet, and savory. Ken's is a pretty popular place for Chinatown karaoke, so make sure to book your room a few days in advance. Pro tip: If you don't want to use the sole bathroom on the 3rd floor because it's been frequented by too many drunk customers, there's a hidden, clean bathroom next to the kitchen that the staff will let you use.
(4)
Sang B.
In my one experience here, this place overbooked on reservations so there were two other parties besides ours waiting for the same room. When we got there, the manager told us that they had too many reservations, so when I complained he finally gave in and gave us the room, but at the expense of his other guests. The manager was extremely rude when we left, and I advise those who go here to check out other places.
(1)
Joanne T.
I have only experienced 2 other karaoke place in chinatown (rising tide and yakatori). I would have to choose this place over rising tide. They are much more cleaner. The space looks much better. The food is so much more decent. The bathroom is not as disgusting. The song selection is more up to date. I'm glad that our karaoke party was moved from rising tide to here. We spent $300 for about 3 hours. Not so terrible at all. Plus it's byob. I would definitely choose this place for the next karaoke outing.
(3)
Jeffrey X.
Not a stranger to Philly but I've always been one to turn my nose at the 'authentic' Chinese food that dotted Philly's Chinatown. This place definitely changed my mind with everything they offered, at a reasonable price no less. We got the seafood nest, fried pork intestines, among other dishes. Everything is spot on, the pork intestines was crunchy but juicy on the inside, the seafood basket was very generous in regards to portions. Only shame is this place didn't look like it got much business, everything wasn't as super fresh as it could have been but it still tasted delicious. Definitely going to be my go-to spot in Philly when I'm around for Chinese food.
(4)
Fransisca M.
Pretty good for groups (came here as a group of 15), food is OK, and we had dessert as a bonus. There's karaoke room too upstairs.
(3)
Calvin H.
An update on their karaoke rooms: - Drinks are as stiff as ever. We weren't sure if our whiskey and gingers had any ginger ale at all! - Don't order water. It looked like they went to the store and got bottles of Poland Spring for us (they even brought it in the plastic bag!). - The stairs are super narrow. Proceed with caution.
(3)
Ida G.
Couldn't decide what we wanted, so ordered some kind of seafood-duck-pork concoction to go. It tasted awful and made the house smell like burnt tires so we threw it out. Two stars because we only tried the one thing and probably they serve other items less reminiscent of burning rubber.
(2)
Stephanie Y.
The food is only so-so, but they have many floors. The top floors have the party rooms with karaoke, which is great for parties and huge gatherings. They allow us to bring our own alcohol, so we can keep the cost low. We like to come here for birthday dinners and invite 30 people to take up the room. They even give us a mahjong table for those that come earlier to play. It's convenient and the lobster was HUGE. I do think it's interesting that for a seafood restaurant, the fried chicken was amazingly juicy and savory. For $35/person, we got a 8 course meal in a karaoke room all to ourselves for about 4 hours.
(2)
Paul L.
I'm trying to be fair here. My friends really like to come to this place for birthday parties and we kinda patronize the place year round since the manager who works there was a classmate to my friend or something like that. So usually when we come here we get a room to ourselves on the second floor and we sing karaoke and play mahjong and such. But despite the relationship, we're not treated as VIP. Yes, we do have our own room, but the food here is expensive. The shabu-shabu meal we had here last month cost about $50 a person and the portion is small, two giant plates of vegetable, one small plate of beef, one small plate of various seafood, one small plate of tofu, meatballs and fish balls shared amongst 10 people. We were still hungry afterwards and ended up complaining to the manager. Tonight, we went for another birthday dinner in which 12 of us shared about 10 dishes and we each had to pay more than $40 each, which comes to about more than $30~40 a plate of food, for Chinese food that's really outrageous. On top of that the food usually takes quite a bit of time to get here upon ordering, this two times I went, it took about 30 minutes and the staff is not really responsive. The quality of the food is alright, nothing spectacular, decor is so-so. It's a meh for me. If I'm paying $50 a person, I would much rather go for something else.
(2)
Chantul D.
Food is pretty good and I always have a good time when I come here. I love the karaoke they have upstairs and the drinks are usually real strong too. I guess it also helps that I know the owner and my bff is a waiter here lol
(5)
Awry D.
I came here for a birthday party. We rented a karaoke room, it was pretty great. Not too expensive for how long we had the room, and also were able to order some food. My favorite is the fried shrimp with mayo. Great stuff. I haven't tried too many other things there besides the lobster, that was good too. Overall, it's a decent place to stop by and eat.
(4)
Bruce B.
Ken's Seafood is located in Chinatown and they are known for their fresh Seafood. Most of the offerings on the Seafood menu are still swimming! Fish, Shrimp, Crab, Lobster and frogs are in tanks dying to be cooked up for you next meal. Chinatown has a secret, well maybe not a secret but a trick to finding the best of the best Chinese food in town. This bit of knowledge keeps frequent diners coming back for more and never getting bored with searching for a great dinning experience. And I will share this tidbit with you. later. Ken's is a nice clean spot with friendly servers and the clientele are mostly Asian, but don't let that deter you because Kens has a lot of choices that are Gringo friendly, so they have Egg rolls, Shrimp Fried Rice, Chicken Broccoli etc. Which brings us to the secret...Every restaurant in Chinatown is famous for at least one dish that they do better that anyone else and I'll give you a few examples:The Dungeness Crab (called "Big Crab") at Shao Lin Kung, the Roti and Prawns at Penang, the Pu Pu platter at Imperial, the Salt Baked Spare Ribs at Lee How Fook and believe me I can go on all day!!! But to me, I love a dish my friend Kelly (pronounced "Kel-we in Chinatown) turned me on to from Ken's. Its a dish called "Bo Bo Rice". It's a baked dish so order it when you first get there and it's rice and various meats or /and veggies baked in it's own little ceramic pot. Bo Bo Rice is very filling and just what your Mom ordered to fight off the winter elements. Ken's also has a few rooms with Karaoke that you can rent for a super event.
(4)
Yohann S.
Went there last New Years Eve with my co-workers. Real quick review.. it's the same Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. I don't really feel wow-ed or disappointed by it. We ordered bunch of stuffs and ate it together as a group. No personal experience whatsoever. Thus the A-OK rating so far. But we did have a good time there -even though I believe that it's partly because of the influence from one of my friend's wife; she spoke Chinese fluently.. so it made things easier haha. The food arrived very late though. We were feed peanuts for close to one hour - and for a moment I almost believed that we were either monkeys or elephants.
(3)
Yo J.
great beef pepper with beans the way they make it is awesome
(4)
Shirley Y.
Yummy cantonese food... must do family style to get the most variety! Came here last weekend with a group. Seafood soup, mayo walnut shrimp, peking pork chops, braised short ribs, salt&pepper seafood... all good. You can reserve rooms upstairs to have dinner included with karaoke. Best state of the art karaoke machine I've seen anywhere in chinatown with touch screens and includes newer recent music. We were there for a few hours but eventually got kicked out for being there too long and not spending enough money on drinks... understandable, since we were karaokeing for free with dinner.
(4)
Lay M.
Private room available with big round tables seating 10-12 people. If you spent $100 per table you get karaoke free for 3 hours
(4)
Herb L.
Good place, food's better than a lot of the other places with karoake rooms around Chinatown. Stayed here 5 hours last time we had dinner. I guess it helps that I know the owner. Well worth it anyway, all things considered.
(4)
Polly X.
I love this place. They have great food and private karaoke rooms upstairs to hang out. My favorite dishes are the Walnut Prawns, Calamari, Ginger Scallion Lobster, Salt and Pepper Crab, House Special Fried Rice, and the Clams :)
(4)
Rocky P.
Great for the private karaoke party rooms. One of a few restaurants with karaoke that actually has up to date songs. You just have to make sure you get there early. However food quality can be better.
(3)
C H.
If I could give this place zero stars I would. That is how bad this restaurant was. The service was HORRIBLE. I had made reservations the day before and was promised a room. We got there and sat for over an hour. We would have left but it was late and we were out for a friend's birthday. The food was ok but everything was way too salty. To top off our fabulous night the owner, Ken, kept coming into our room and pretty much was trying to flirt and hug everyone. He was very drunk and incoherent. Please go with men if you do want to eat here. Oh and the place needs to be cleaned up because it was very dirty especially the bathroom.
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner, Late Night Parking : Street Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Kimberly Y.
Try the karaoke here! They have the most recent songs I've ever seen at a karaoke place, like "Blank Space" only a few months after it came out. And it's only $20pp for food and karaoke together! Their song selection is quite wide with a great variety of US Top 40 as well as some Chinese songs if that's your jam. Food was pretty good. Chicken meat was plentiful, and everything was cooked in an authentic Chinese style. The service wasn't the best, but I can understand not wanting to interrupt private rooms. Food came out pretty quickly and all at once though. We booked the 20-person room, which consisted of 2 round tables so a third of the people aren't facing the TV. The layout also means a lot of people are eating while you're karaoking, which gets surprisingly awkward. For some reason the room got really hot in the middle of our night... better than being really cold, I guess.
(4)Dee M.
November -first week 2014 not 11/12/2014. I won a $20 gift certificate here at a Chinatown New years dinner and redeemed it this week. I have been to Chinatown many times and overlooked this place many times before. That is now over. As the saying goes " don't judge a book by its cover. " My dining companions who I dragged here were like kids in a candy shop. Eyes as big as saucers when we saw the number of seafood item available. Can only remember what 2 of us had: The clams which were tossed and dusted with something great and then returned to the shell and served that way. OMG it was GREAT. CONCH- steamed and tossed with Chinese vegetables. WOW! Shrimp Seafood rolls--- Nearly lost a finger when I reached for the last one. LOL. The storefront is an unassuming one on Race Street. The inside looks like you are eating in someone's basement. Again,,, "Never judge a book by its cover". If you do, you'd miss out on a food adventure.
(5)Frank L C.
We really enjoyed an anniversary dinner here after an early movie. The eel was beautifully grilled, the scallops fresh and tender, the flounder flaky and perfect. There was a slightly noisy party in the upstairs room, and the atmosphere is not terribly romantic, but the food was some of the best Chinese pescetarian we have enjoyed in 40 years of Chinese anniversary dinners.
(4)Tina K.
Went to Ken's with a group of 20 people, and it came down to $20 per person for food and karaoke. Really good deal. However, service was slow and not really friendly. The food was just okay, nothing remarkable whatsoever. Since the price per table is fixed for free karaoke, definitely more worth it the more people you have in a group. Otherwise, it would get pretty expensive.
(3)Serena T.
The two times I've been here (once in December, then April) I've brought rowdy parties of 20ish people. The people here are true angels -- they've been helpful, friendly, and very kind in putting up with 20+ off-pitch karaoking. The karaoke/food deal here is the best you can get in Philly -- I believe it was around $200/table (I could be wrong, but it comes out to be ~$20 / person). Fresh lobster (literally, my friend and I got to pick our lobsters from the tank for our meal that night) and a good variety of Chinese food. Each time I come, I always seem to have leftovers. A night of karaoking with friends, good food -- you can't go wrong with Ken's. Will definitely be back!
(5)Oakland S.
I was looking for some place to eat in Chinatown. I asked a few people, but no responses. When it dawned on me that they thought I was asking for spare change! I thought that was amusing since I buy donuts at federal donuts on a credit card . "See my previous review". Anyway, I finally decided to go to Ken's Seafood Restaurant. I walked in the door and to my left was a fish tank in the window. I realize this is strange, but I ordered chicken and broccoli with black bean sauce. They don't have this dish listed on the menu "which make sense hence the name Ken's Seafood", anyhow they were willing to make my special order. Decided to take it out instead of sitting in. So I waited while they prepared the food. While waiting I noticed they had a TV, and an upstairs area with karaoke. As I waited two patrons came in and ordered lobster which they took fresh from the tank! I thought that was cool and made a mental note to come back and try the lobster. Got my the food home and it was delicious! The sauce tasted fresh. There were pieces of black bean as well as fresh ginger. Not only was it good when I got home, it was just as delicious the next day. Looking forward to going back again. Next time I won't have to ask around Chinatown: "Can you tell me a good place to go?"
(5)Leslie W.
I love Ken's! They are so accommodating and the service is great! We love the food! Fresh and authentic dishes. Their karaoke rooms are fun. You can bring your children and they can go crazy on the mic in a contained area. They don't have the nicest decor and it's pretty much no frills, but the fun is big! Great for birthday parties and get togethers. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!
(5)Percy N.
One of the best places for fresh seafood in an area that seemed crowded with restaurants that claim to serve good seafood. Try the geoduck, scallops in XO sauce, or better yet, just ask Ken to have the kitchen whip up something for you using the seafood swimming in the tanks. I promise it will be delicious!!
(5)Lisa Z.
I ordered half a Peking duck with my cousin and it was pretty good. This would be the best restaurant if you are in Chinatown for a nightlife. But this area is pretty much dead. unless you go to bars and such. I'd come here for mid-night snacks when I'm in Philly at least once or twice a week, it also has karaoke rooms that are available. This place is opened from 5PM-3-5AM? I'm not sure but my dad basically owns this place. So that's why I'm always here. I personally wouldn't really give it 5 stars but for sure its a 4 stars. P.S. It's a 5 stars because I know the person.
(5)Ginger S.
Not horrible but definitely not amazing. Can't say much about karaoke but it's dining setup was crowded and not very welcoming to non-chinese. We even asked for recommendations from the manager (I think, he didn't even check up on us he just catered to the Chinese patrons) and he plainly said "everything good. Try fried fish" nothing out of the ordinary yet it's still pretty pricey. If you or a friend speak Chinese hit it up, otherwise venture elsewhere for better and more reasonable deals.
(2)Sarah C.
As if I did not learn my lesson the first time, I went with my friends tonight. We had 8 people and ordered 80~90 dollars of food. Everything was still horrible and the microphones failed again! The bill they gave us had no prices next to the dishes. The only price we saw on the bill was a $180 smack in the middle. They said it was $150 minimum charge and they tacked on 20% tips to it when they did not deserve one penny. They could have told us the minimum charge at the beginning and tell us we should order more to reach $150, but they decided not to. They didn't say anything, they didn't allow us to get anything else too. They made us pay TWICE the amount we should have paid. They were so rude after we paid the bill. They literally rushed us right out of the room by shutting off the karaoke machine and pushing the chairs in. They promised us the room from 4:30 til 7:30, but kicked us out at 7:00 after we paid. The waitress who said 7:30 at the beginning was arguing with us when we asked her about it. She kept saying she knows what she said and that she said 7:00, but every single one of us knew she said 7:30 at the beginning. That was the end of the night.... Getting kicked out of a restaurant after getting charge twice the amount we ordered and arguing with the waitress for a half an hour of karaoke.
(1)Michael V.
Add the BYOB and how accommodating they were to supply ice it I say I'll add a star.
(4)Jonas O.
I love Ken's Seafood. Everything I've had here has been excellent. The scallops in particular are something special. Ken himself came to our table and talked to us about the food. He said that the trick with the scallops is not as much the preparation as getting the best quality scallops. As far as I can tell, he is doing that. I recommend the salt-baked scallops, but I'm sure they are delicious other ways. I had a whole fish once that was delicious, selected right from a tank in the window. I have also had shrimp fresh from the window tank, prepared the way our server suggested, with raw bodies and separately deep-fried heads. Really good. The clams in black bean sauce were excellent as well. The prices are medium-high, as you might expect. I still consider the value-for-the-money to be very good. I've never been upstairs, where I assume the Karaoke takes place. That's a whole different matter, I suppose.
(5)Jamie S.
Ken's is legit. Do order: dumplings, crispy chicken, salt and pepper squid, peking pork chops. Plus they stay open super late, just don't be surprised if people are smoking inside. Another warning- Ken pours a stiff drink.
(4)Joshua V.
A decent 3rd string QB to go to just in case your stars are a bit pre-occupied (I'm pointing at you David and Rising Tide). Especially in the late nite when all the hungry drunks come out of the woodwork, this place will get the job done. A very nice gentleman (I'm assuming Ken?) visits patrons from table to table asking if the meal was up to standard. Sleep easy Ken, you did just fine; and he definitely loves serving up the seafood. Me and the drunk party asked for opinions from the waiter about some good choices, and all of them came out seafood. Despite any suspicions that seafood may not be able to get the job done to fill the pits of empty stomachs, we all came out happy. A bit slow on the service, but I understand that multiple drunk clientele and the delicate art of cooking seafood make for a waiting game. In any other city, Ken stands a chance at being a starting QB.
(3)Rachel S.
Everything about this place was amazing!!! The owner the food...If you do not come here you are missing out!! This is a must go to restaurant for fresh seafood and great company!
(5)Kay H.
Super updated Karaoke system, delicious food, a big fun party in a private room so you can be crazy and dance and have fun - hours of fun that came out to $25 a person (with loooots of food left over!) Yep, I love this place. The food is far better than Yakitori boy so if you are looking for a karaoke room and want to pay for food instead of hourly, this comes out to the same price or cheaper. Yeahh~~ Can't wait to go back!!
(5)Khanh V.
Ken's Seafood has good food, you just got to know what to order. Their walnut shrimp is quite good. And yes do try out the seafood here. Besides food, they offer karaoke rooms, which I was there for a birthday party. Again, you need to talk it out with the people there and know what you're doing before you book and order food. They open real late so it's a plus. Overall, one of the most popular food places in Chinatown.
(3)Kevin Y.
Best place to go to for Chinese karaoke! My friends and I are regulars here at Ken's, and we wouldn't even think about choosing somewhere else to go to for a fun night of karaoke. If you buy over $150 of food and drink, you get 3 hours of karaoke free. That's a pretty damn good deal if you think about how much food and karaoke you get for $50 an hour (split by however many people you have in your party). While the food here definitely isn't the best you can get in Chinatown, the dishes are the perfect solution to a late night hunger. Greasy and filling, any dish you order will go good with karaoke and beer. If you really want a dish recommendation, go for the walnut shrimp. Gigantic shrimp lathered in a sweet coconut sauce with walnuts. Hot, sweet, and savory. Ken's is a pretty popular place for Chinatown karaoke, so make sure to book your room a few days in advance. Pro tip: If you don't want to use the sole bathroom on the 3rd floor because it's been frequented by too many drunk customers, there's a hidden, clean bathroom next to the kitchen that the staff will let you use.
(4)Sang B.
In my one experience here, this place overbooked on reservations so there were two other parties besides ours waiting for the same room. When we got there, the manager told us that they had too many reservations, so when I complained he finally gave in and gave us the room, but at the expense of his other guests. The manager was extremely rude when we left, and I advise those who go here to check out other places.
(1)Joanne T.
I have only experienced 2 other karaoke place in chinatown (rising tide and yakatori). I would have to choose this place over rising tide. They are much more cleaner. The space looks much better. The food is so much more decent. The bathroom is not as disgusting. The song selection is more up to date. I'm glad that our karaoke party was moved from rising tide to here. We spent $300 for about 3 hours. Not so terrible at all. Plus it's byob. I would definitely choose this place for the next karaoke outing.
(3)Jeffrey X.
Not a stranger to Philly but I've always been one to turn my nose at the 'authentic' Chinese food that dotted Philly's Chinatown. This place definitely changed my mind with everything they offered, at a reasonable price no less. We got the seafood nest, fried pork intestines, among other dishes. Everything is spot on, the pork intestines was crunchy but juicy on the inside, the seafood basket was very generous in regards to portions. Only shame is this place didn't look like it got much business, everything wasn't as super fresh as it could have been but it still tasted delicious. Definitely going to be my go-to spot in Philly when I'm around for Chinese food.
(4)Fransisca M.
Pretty good for groups (came here as a group of 15), food is OK, and we had dessert as a bonus. There's karaoke room too upstairs.
(3)Calvin H.
An update on their karaoke rooms: - Drinks are as stiff as ever. We weren't sure if our whiskey and gingers had any ginger ale at all! - Don't order water. It looked like they went to the store and got bottles of Poland Spring for us (they even brought it in the plastic bag!). - The stairs are super narrow. Proceed with caution.
(3)Ida G.
Couldn't decide what we wanted, so ordered some kind of seafood-duck-pork concoction to go. It tasted awful and made the house smell like burnt tires so we threw it out. Two stars because we only tried the one thing and probably they serve other items less reminiscent of burning rubber.
(2)Stephanie Y.
The food is only so-so, but they have many floors. The top floors have the party rooms with karaoke, which is great for parties and huge gatherings. They allow us to bring our own alcohol, so we can keep the cost low. We like to come here for birthday dinners and invite 30 people to take up the room. They even give us a mahjong table for those that come earlier to play. It's convenient and the lobster was HUGE. I do think it's interesting that for a seafood restaurant, the fried chicken was amazingly juicy and savory. For $35/person, we got a 8 course meal in a karaoke room all to ourselves for about 4 hours.
(2)Paul L.
I'm trying to be fair here. My friends really like to come to this place for birthday parties and we kinda patronize the place year round since the manager who works there was a classmate to my friend or something like that. So usually when we come here we get a room to ourselves on the second floor and we sing karaoke and play mahjong and such. But despite the relationship, we're not treated as VIP. Yes, we do have our own room, but the food here is expensive. The shabu-shabu meal we had here last month cost about $50 a person and the portion is small, two giant plates of vegetable, one small plate of beef, one small plate of various seafood, one small plate of tofu, meatballs and fish balls shared amongst 10 people. We were still hungry afterwards and ended up complaining to the manager. Tonight, we went for another birthday dinner in which 12 of us shared about 10 dishes and we each had to pay more than $40 each, which comes to about more than $30~40 a plate of food, for Chinese food that's really outrageous. On top of that the food usually takes quite a bit of time to get here upon ordering, this two times I went, it took about 30 minutes and the staff is not really responsive. The quality of the food is alright, nothing spectacular, decor is so-so. It's a meh for me. If I'm paying $50 a person, I would much rather go for something else.
(2)Chantul D.
Food is pretty good and I always have a good time when I come here. I love the karaoke they have upstairs and the drinks are usually real strong too. I guess it also helps that I know the owner and my bff is a waiter here lol
(5)Awry D.
I came here for a birthday party. We rented a karaoke room, it was pretty great. Not too expensive for how long we had the room, and also were able to order some food. My favorite is the fried shrimp with mayo. Great stuff. I haven't tried too many other things there besides the lobster, that was good too. Overall, it's a decent place to stop by and eat.
(4)Bruce B.
Ken's Seafood is located in Chinatown and they are known for their fresh Seafood. Most of the offerings on the Seafood menu are still swimming! Fish, Shrimp, Crab, Lobster and frogs are in tanks dying to be cooked up for you next meal. Chinatown has a secret, well maybe not a secret but a trick to finding the best of the best Chinese food in town. This bit of knowledge keeps frequent diners coming back for more and never getting bored with searching for a great dinning experience. And I will share this tidbit with you. later. Ken's is a nice clean spot with friendly servers and the clientele are mostly Asian, but don't let that deter you because Kens has a lot of choices that are Gringo friendly, so they have Egg rolls, Shrimp Fried Rice, Chicken Broccoli etc. Which brings us to the secret...Every restaurant in Chinatown is famous for at least one dish that they do better that anyone else and I'll give you a few examples:The Dungeness Crab (called "Big Crab") at Shao Lin Kung, the Roti and Prawns at Penang, the Pu Pu platter at Imperial, the Salt Baked Spare Ribs at Lee How Fook and believe me I can go on all day!!! But to me, I love a dish my friend Kelly (pronounced "Kel-we in Chinatown) turned me on to from Ken's. Its a dish called "Bo Bo Rice". It's a baked dish so order it when you first get there and it's rice and various meats or /and veggies baked in it's own little ceramic pot. Bo Bo Rice is very filling and just what your Mom ordered to fight off the winter elements. Ken's also has a few rooms with Karaoke that you can rent for a super event.
(4)Yohann S.
Went there last New Years Eve with my co-workers. Real quick review.. it's the same Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. I don't really feel wow-ed or disappointed by it. We ordered bunch of stuffs and ate it together as a group. No personal experience whatsoever. Thus the A-OK rating so far. But we did have a good time there -even though I believe that it's partly because of the influence from one of my friend's wife; she spoke Chinese fluently.. so it made things easier haha. The food arrived very late though. We were feed peanuts for close to one hour - and for a moment I almost believed that we were either monkeys or elephants.
(3)Yo J.
great beef pepper with beans the way they make it is awesome
(4)Shirley Y.
Yummy cantonese food... must do family style to get the most variety! Came here last weekend with a group. Seafood soup, mayo walnut shrimp, peking pork chops, braised short ribs, salt&pepper seafood... all good. You can reserve rooms upstairs to have dinner included with karaoke. Best state of the art karaoke machine I've seen anywhere in chinatown with touch screens and includes newer recent music. We were there for a few hours but eventually got kicked out for being there too long and not spending enough money on drinks... understandable, since we were karaokeing for free with dinner.
(4)Lay M.
Private room available with big round tables seating 10-12 people. If you spent $100 per table you get karaoke free for 3 hours
(4)Herb L.
Good place, food's better than a lot of the other places with karoake rooms around Chinatown. Stayed here 5 hours last time we had dinner. I guess it helps that I know the owner. Well worth it anyway, all things considered.
(4)Polly X.
I love this place. They have great food and private karaoke rooms upstairs to hang out. My favorite dishes are the Walnut Prawns, Calamari, Ginger Scallion Lobster, Salt and Pepper Crab, House Special Fried Rice, and the Clams :)
(4)Rocky P.
Great for the private karaoke party rooms. One of a few restaurants with karaoke that actually has up to date songs. You just have to make sure you get there early. However food quality can be better.
(3)C H.
If I could give this place zero stars I would. That is how bad this restaurant was. The service was HORRIBLE. I had made reservations the day before and was promised a room. We got there and sat for over an hour. We would have left but it was late and we were out for a friend's birthday. The food was ok but everything was way too salty. To top off our fabulous night the owner, Ken, kept coming into our room and pretty much was trying to flirt and hug everyone. He was very drunk and incoherent. Please go with men if you do want to eat here. Oh and the place needs to be cleaned up because it was very dirty especially the bathroom.
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