We've been to Ray's a handful of times. We recently went after having not been for a couple of years (we're often in the area on Sunday, when they are closed). On our most recent visit we had a lychee smoothie and a fresh squeezed lemonade to drink and both were oh-so-good. My husband had the chicken fried rice and I had the buckwheat noodle soup. We also had sides of cucumber salad and cabbage/carrot salad. Everything was great. As we were eating we discussed how the food has a home cooked taste, as opposed to a restaurant taste. This may not be for everyone but we certainly enjoy it. The woman who runs the shop is just as sweet as she can be, which only makes me want to try to frequent this little cafe more often.
(5)
P E.
I have been coming to Ray's off and on for the past 20 years for coffee and Taiwanese food. We haven't been back in a while but it is always a nostalgic experience. The decor is a little tired - the Formica on the counter is chipped, the tables have cardboard shims under the legs, and the wallpaper is separating at the seams. The coffee still drips from the elaborate set ups on the counter and the siphons are readied to make you the freshest cup of coffee. The chalkboard still lists the specials and the owner and son run the place. We arrived around 5 on Saturday night. We ordered our 20 year old favorite - the dumpling sampler which was served with the traditional dumpling sauce as well as a hot pepper sauce. It includes 2 traditional pork and napa cabbage dumplings, plus 2 pork and leek dumplings, one shrimp, and one vegetable dumplings--all pan fried. In addition you get 2 deep fried chicken curry dumplings. All were plump and delicious, but tepid. While our dumplings were ready to serve, the waiter opted to write and get payment for another table. We ordered two entees to share, the young chow fried rice and the General Tso's chicken. Both tasted great but the fried rice came out before we finished the dumplings and way before the chicken. The fried rice is light and different from anything else you have tasted. Our plates were filled with dumpling sauce but we weren't offered fresh plates for the entree. When our server cleared our dinner plates, he asked if we wanted anything else. We responded yes. And he said, I'll get you your check! We told him we wanted to order coffee, and so we did. For $6.50, you can get the best cup of Yemen mocha, siphon prepared. It's freshly ground, smooth, and the perfect temperature served with fresh cream and a sweet cookie. The food and coffee are great. The service is poor and the place needs a renovation. If you pay by credit card, there is a one dollar surcharge. For that reason it's three stars out of five for Ray's
(3)
Sean O.
Ray's is incredible. I just ordered a 9 dollar cup of coffee(the jamaican blue mountain) and it was worth every penny. Ok maybe thats not true, that could be the caffeine telling me so, but it was a damn fine cup of coffee nonetheless, maybe the best I've ever had. As a coffee fan, if you're gonna tell me that there is some rare coffee bean that is only grown on some small part of a mountain range in Jamaica and is extremely difficult to export to the states, you better believe I'll pay nine bucks. They apply the siphon filter method of brewing here, which beats hand pour and drip or any other method of brewing in my opinion. The menu of coffee here was extensive, you're not just dealing with regular or decaf. They also have boba drinks, and I may have to come back here for the ice coffee with boba. Please, and thank you. Definitely a must stop for the coffee fanatic in Philadelphia.
How thrilling, I thought, that a cute cafe that took credit cards was so conveniently close to work!! How charming, I mused, as I listened to cheesy music and gazed upon the homey diner-esque decor! How much less charming, I thought, after waiting 35 minutes for my lunch take-out.... How extremely less charming, I grumbled, as I ate Taiwanese Rice Noodles & Pork of a quality on par with a cheap Chinese take-out place. How abysmal, I reflected, as I ate dish that purportedly had a variety of vegetables that actually only contained a few shreds of carrot, a smattering of cabbage scraps, a moderate morsel of mushrooms and a few bland bean sprouts. How very unlikely, I muttered, would it be that I would ever return for more.
(2)
Annie M.
Amazing how the place I've had the best milk tea also seems to be one of the worst. When the guy that works there makes it, it is perfect! When the woman does.... it tastes like water... There's not enough sugar, not enough tea.... I'd hate to see such a lovely place lose customers because different employees make it so differently. Will only get milk tea here now if I can see who's in the shop.
(2)
Jake F.
Best coffee, Best fried rice, Best spring rolls! Love this place. The employees are nice and always smiling. fried wonton is amazing here. Wish i knew about this place sooner!!!!
(5)
Bill M.
I thought that I knew amazing Chinese restaurants. I thought I knew the coffeehouses that used the best preparation methods. And I thought that I would never see a Chinese restaurant combined with a coffeehouse vibe that could actually be good. But one stop here for lunch has single handedly taught me otherwise. I met up with Eric F. and Aaron O. for some lunch and I can honestly say that it was an one of the most uplifting experiences in coffee drinking that I've ever had. I was tempted to go for all and try the Jamaican Blue Mountain, but just saying Brazilian Bourbon Santos rolled off my tongue and into my tastebuds, so it was an easy sale. It was easily the strongest yet smoothest cup I've ever had, and the tray and cup, and delicious butter cookie that it came with would make any tea set collector jealous. and lets just say that siphoning system is a sight that you need to see for yourself. The food is delicious in it's own right too. I went with the chow fun fried rice which was ripe with chicken, shrimp, egg, onion, and peas (pork for you if you want it but none for me.). The service was also perfect in every detail, especially when they bought out the complimentary fruit at the end. I'm sold!
(5)
Fred C.
Had I not read favorable reviews, I would never have chanced visiting this small non-descript restaurant. Thank goodness for yelp's enlightenment! The hot and sour soup was the best I've ever tasted . . .admirably spicy with some crunchie vegetables. Having been weaned to spicy tastes by my West African aide (I am a paraplegic), I couldn't resist trying an extra appetizer . . the cabbage salad. It was a real sizzler and most enjoyable. My entre was billed as Hot & Spicy Chicken (or something like that). It was not as hot as the previous dishes, but very tasty. The server was very willing and anxious to please, but too quick. I had to give him a parting lecture on the virtue of slowing down, with particular emphasis on NEVER having two courses on the table at the same time. He received the criticism graciously. All in all, as you can see from my rating, I liked this restaurant very much, and plan to return in the near future.
(5)
Jeff B.
I ONLY drink coffee from Ray's... I don't make it at home, I don't go to Starbucks, etc. This coffee is smooth, nutty, almost chocolatey. Was buying my morning (and afternoon and evening) coffee there for years before I decided to give the food a try -- something about the combination coffee shop/chinese restaurant seemed weird to me, but WOW do I regret not trying the food sooner. I highly recommend the Sesame Chicken lunch special. It's pan fried, not deep fried like most Sesame Chic. dishes, perfectly spiced (a little hot, the way I like it). Long story short -- go for the coffee, stay for the food. P.S. Grace, the woman that works the counter is a total sweet heart. I told her my name ONCE for a take out order and she's welcomed me to the shop by name ever since.
(5)
Jessica S.
Stopped in for dumplings and coffee, as were recommended by Yelpers. The dumpling sampler was fantastic, handmade, plump and piping hot, and a great variety. The coffee was good -- not being a coffee connoisseur, it was a bit pricey for my taste, but perhaps someone more knowledgeable would have appreciated it more. Tangent: the cups and saucers were lovely. Overall it was a good experience. I liked the small, family-business vibe (it was clear that some of the patrons were regulars), and the atmosphere was quiet and calm... great to drop in just for coffee, a bite of lunch, and intimate enough for a casual date. Definitely would drop by again!
(4)
Mike S.
Obviously people love this place... People coming in and out for coffee and teas. I came with an Amiga for lunch (lunch specials b/w $11-$14 dollars w/app and drink). It was good but I thought. Bit pricey for what you get. Maybe j should stick to the awesome drinks I've heard about. If the meal special were $7.99 or $8.99 it'd be better...
(3)
Fay H.
The best iced coffee I've ever had. Seriously, it's the highlight of my day. I work around the corner, and when that 2-3 pm crash rolls in, I head over for a treat. I've never had iced coffee make me so happy.
(5)
Danan R.
I love coming here. It's a quaint little cafe on the edge of Chinatown that serves you amazing siphon coffee in a mug - complete with a doily underneath and a little pastry on the side. The dumpling sampler is a must-try, for sure. They have quite a variety of lunch specials and noodle soups, although I always tend to stick with the dumplings and beef noodle soup because I'm a creature of habit (I know, I know...I will get around to trying everything eventually but my tried and true dishes never disappoint!). But don't leave without having a cup of coffee! Definitely better than Starbucks, Dunkin, or Peet's. It is so good that I'm considering investing in my own siphon, although I'm not sure how I'll be able to use it in a dorm. Oh well, in the meantime, I'll just be stopping by Ray's every time I'm home even though it's still an hour-long drive from where I live.
(4)
anne s.
This is a gem in Philadelphia's Chinatown! Wonderful food - fresh, interesting soups and dumplings and great service. The coffee, tea and cookies are excellent as well. The service is friendly and thoughtful. Definitely worth a visit!
(5)
Matt B.
jamaican blue mountain siphoned coffee... this is a 5 star cup of joe. wanted to try green tea but they were out. Chinese offerings generally solid. Dumpling sampler was excellent, pan fried curry chicken all his brothers and sisters didn't disappoint
(4)
Rose N.
I would have to say this is my FAVORITE cafe in all of Philly b/c... Its absolutely adorable. It's small and there's always like two people working there. It provides a great selection of local and worldly coffee. The way they present is the coffee is so cute! It's served on a little platter, doily underneath the cute cup, with a petite ramekin for the creme (looks it belongs in a doll house) and a little madeleine cookie on the side. I love to come here and relax. I come for the coffee, not the food, but when I'm hungry, the food does not disappoint. I mean, its not great, but its satisfying. I love the dumplings here.
(5)
Nirav B.
Came to Philadelphia for a conference last week. Coming from San Francisco, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to find amazing coffee here. Did a search for siphon and Philadelphia and found Ray's. And what a find! Grace is super friendly, and has been brewing coffee at Ray's (her family name) for 24 years. She and her staff make siphon brewing look easy. I brought a group of friends here and she cranked out siphon coffees efficiently. Oh, and how was the coffee? Outstanding. Just what you would expect from someone who has skill, a high-quality flat-burr grinder, great coffee, a siphon, and a cloth filter: clean, smooth coffee with great body, great aroma, and a perfect balance of fruit and deeper coffee tones. Yummy down to the last sip, hot or cold. And with a complexity that changes as it cools. I got the Jamaica Blue Mountain. Had it black, although it comes with a side of cream and sugar on the plate if you must, along with a small biscuit of some sort. Others had the Sumatra and Brazilian. Definitely come here, and if you want to chat, stand at the counter and sip your coffee instead of sitting, and you'll get some history on changes in Philadelphia roasters over the past couple of decades.
(5)
Eileen B.
It might be easy to walk right by this little cafe, but if you're looking for great food and even better coffee, you should certainly stop into Ray's. My son and I went for lunch during the week, and everything was terrific. The food was fresh and delicious. I had the shrimp with asparagus and won ton soup and he had the walnut and mushroom (vegetarian) lunch special. Both meals were very tasty and the portion size was just right for lunch. I consider myself a coffee connoisseur and I must say,the coffee was superb! Although the lovely cup, saucer, and charming little pitchers make a great presentation, the cup size was a little too small for my liking- not to worry though, as the staff is more than happy to provide refills. I would certainly recommend Ray's Cafe and go back there the next time I am in center city.
(5)
Cassie T.
So glad I finally got the chance to come here after a couple times of unsuccessfully trying to come and finding out that they are closed. My friend and I went for dinner, and we got a beef noodle soup and the vegetarian buckwheat noodle soup, both of which were super delicious! (reasonably priced, $6.95 each) I had the buckwheat noodle soup and it came with some really tasty baby bok choy, bamboo, and slices of some meat substitute that was quite good. The broth was flavored with ginger which made it really fragrant and yummy. I really like how all the bowls they use are unique with different patterns and colors, and care in the presentation of the food is taken. The inside is really cozy and quaint and the service is friendly and attentive without being annoying. I am definitely planning on coming back to try some of the coffees and other drinks, that looked like they were made with love. Also the dumpling sampler, which I saw a bunch of people having, looked really awesome. Hopefully they will be open!
(5)
Samantha S.
This is not your typical Chinatown restaurant. If you are looking for MSG, greasy standards, you are at the wrong place. Ray's is a cozy cafe that I visit at least once a week. They serve a variety of dishes in REASONABLE portions. The lady that works there is so nice, and ensures that when I go with my boyfriend he gets the masculine blue dishes, while I get the flowery feminine dishes. It's the details like that that make Ray's my favorite place to go.
(5)
Lauren H.
This is a great place. The siphon coffee is awesome and looks like a chemistry experiment. Expensive, but worth it. The lunch selections are great - I recommend the dumpling sampler! The staff is always so friendly, and they give you a free cookie with your coffee. :)
(4)
Ashley A.
Such a unique experience. Their bubble tea was like nothing I've ever tasted. The dumplings sampler was great as advised...great casual place to eat in Chinatown.
(5)
Will P.
My favorite lunch place near Fed Ct when I lived in Philly. They used to have a crispy walnut-eggplant special that was to die for. If it is still on the menu give it a try!
(5)
Mr. Met s.
If you stop by Philadelphia's Chinatown then you must drop by Ray's Cafe & Teahouse. Sporting an elegant, cozy seating environment (something like Starbucks minus the couches) - they offer the best coffee I have ever had to date. (Much much better than those franchise coffee places) Their coffee is bred to perfection as you literally taste every drop that goes through your mouth. When you are done, you feel so energized and satisfied that you will probably order another one. I had the Hawaiian (their top of their line coffee aka the "King" of coffee) served very elegantly in small tray which also comes with a delicious cookie. Wow, halfway through it my mind just lit up and I could not stop smiling. I also ordered a regular ice coffee which was very delicious, and ice coffee with vanilla ice cream which was just as great. But it is their hot coffee which shines the most. One drawback is you will pay a price - it is very expensive. The Hawaiian cost 7 dollars for a mere cup. (literally, a cup) But, if you make this an occasional trip - it won't hurt you but only give you instant satisfaction. Their ice coffee runs about 5 dollars and you won't get much either but to me it was worth the experience for a traveler. One more thing I highly recommend as your are sipping their delicious coffee. Actually, two. First, I highly recommend you to try their Dumpling Sampler - which 5 different sets of delicious dumplings. I mean - these aren't your regular asian dumplings - they are made to literal perfection and when combined with their two different sauces - only pushes it beyond perfection.The Dumpling Sampler includes 2 Veggies(very very good), 2 fried curry chicken (very good and crispy), 2 chicken ( the most average ) , 2 pork with leek (very good), and one more which I forgot. They are also beautifully served in a traditional chinese dish, and a marvel because all come in different colors! Again, you pay the price because it cost $7.50 for 10 dumplings. Second, try their smoothies! I had a mango smoothie and I was stunned that they also produce smoothies as good as their coffee! Remember to visit when in Philly! I'll add pictures of their food and storefront soon. P.S - They take credit cards on orders 15 dollars and over combined. Also, I saw many people did not leave tips because they feel they are at a Starbucks environment; but please leave tips because you are being served. This is not Starbucks.
(5)
Daniel G.
This place is cozy and cute. At first, I thought this place must be having an identity crisis - is it a cafe or a Chinese food restaurant? I just had to open my mind to discover you can have both. I got some standard drip stuff, but some day I'd like to sample the famous "eight dollar coffee" I keep hearing about. Great service, really tasty treats. Unfortunately, never open when I try to go. I thought I just had really bad timing 'cause it took me four attempts before I finally caught them on a day they were open, but it seems like other people on yelp are in agreement, this place has weird hours.
(4)
michael j.
A friend recommended this place for the great coffee. It does have great coffee, but the food is equally wonderful. Be ready for smaller portions. Not tiny but smaller. The great service and delicious food makes up for the small servings. You should check it out.... they serve your coffee in adorable tea cups.
(4)
Jessica D.
Living right next door it was one of the first places I came to rely on. Staff is clearly all family and are very attentive to the business. They have an absolutely astounding collection of random beverages from teas to coffees to well more tea and coffee. Drinks are a little pricey when you think about it, but they learn how you take yours and they always taste perfect. I can see why some people don't like the food. It isn't frozen, prepacked trash. Everything they cook is real food. Vegetables are actually crisp, the meat is actually meat. People looking for the usual Chinese food fair should stay a block west where everything gets bought from the same warehouse. I've also noticed people do the whole BYOB thing at times.
(5)
Kenneth C.
We first found this cafe back in the mid '90's when we lived in Philly. We recently visited the city and went back. The place hasn't changed and remains a wonderful place to hang out. Let me start with a quick reality check. The main dishes are small and more expensive than other restaurants. That being said, the Chicken Tomato Rice was unexpectedly flavorful. If going for main courses, there are better restaurants. No, the reason we love this place is what we term, "The Triple Threat." 1) Siphon coffee - we get the house blend...great coffee! 2) Dumpling sampler - still fantastic after all of these years. 3) The chocolate truffle cake - delicious. Sure, it's a good restaurant. But it's a great cafe. Do try it.
(4)
Chrissy R.
Wow. I really like this place. I only got an iced green tea. I just love that it doesn't feel all stereotypical and chinatown-y and that they were playing pearl jam when I came in. The iced green tea was really good too.
(4)
Andrea M.
I was in Philadelphia for a conference a week or so back, and I picked this place as a non-tourist eatery for a lunch meeting based on the Yelp reviews, and I'm very glad I did. Go go gadget Yelp! The menu goes on for miles and miles, with many different Chinese cuisine options. We were there for lunch, so I had the dumpling sampler lunch special. Lunch began with an adorable plate holding a tea cup and a little cookie, (much like the little dipped-and-sprinkled cookies you get in Italian bakeries), which I saved for last. This was followed by a cutie little cup of fabulous vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup (I was surprised there was so much egg in the soup, perhaps it's a south-of-NY thing?). The dumplings are not small, and it's a really nice variety of chicken, pork, and veggie dumplings. The chicken curry dumplings were deep fried, the rest were the standard doughy pan-fried style, and all of them were yummy delish *and* filling. A lovely dish carrying two sweet and decorative cups of dipping sauces -- one hot saucy and the other more the dark soy sauce style -- which were really a nice accompaniment to the dumplings. The service was quite good, and very sweet. An older woman took the order, while a very tall younger woman stood beside her; for the rest of the meal, the younger woman did most of the dish carrying. We wanted for nothing our entire meal, and they seemed nicely sensitive to our conversation when it came to food delivery. For lunchtime place, I'd highly recommend it. The next time I'm in Philly, I'll definitely go back. :)
(4)
Jing G.
Well, I went back to give this place another chance, but it wasn't much better than last time. In terms of coffee, it's good. Service, alright. Cute decor and overall atmosphere. But the part that really brings down the ratings is that the food really is just not that good. This time I got the vegetarian rice noodle entree. The description said it was rice noodles with snow peas, carrots, bean sprouts, scallions, cabbage. Except when it came, it didn't have one snow pea in sight and only decoration slivers of carrots. A bland dish, I hardly finished half. Lord knows I am no fan of greasy Chinese food, so being not-so-greasy didn't figure into me not liking the food.. I do know what I want when I'm out for Taiwanese food. This place is billed as a Taiwanese-style cafe, but having visited Taiwan just last winter and having grown up eating Taiwanese food (that's half of my family) this place is really lacking in comparison. If you go to this place, perhaps skip any entrees and just stick with the beverages. Though, I did like the vegetarian hot and sour soup here too.
(2)
w k.
Only been here once for lunch, and really looking forward to to making it a regular. Pan fried wide noodles "covered with vegetable" lunch I had was fresh and delicious - although there were no green vegetables. Just carrots, onions, cabbage, that sort. My friend got the Triple Green - have to be honest, didn't look spectacular to me. But will update on the food when I have gathered more data. I'm getting sick of Penang. In terms of coffee, had the house to go. Very sweet with cream. But delicious with a cookie and will just ask for less sugar next round. The siphon coffee machines are beautiful to look at and one day will try a splurge!
(4)
Erik W.
Ok atmosphere. However, the dumpling sampler was amazing, and the coffees were quite good. I had the Brazillian Santos and I tried the House.
(4)
Cherie C.
Spectacular coffee made through a "24-hour drip" process. A must-try for coffee lovers.
(5)
Alan R.
The iced coffee is fantastic.
(5)
Joyce W.
I first came across this coffee shop just wondering around chinatown and wanted a cup of coffee. I got the mochachino and it was great. After reading all the reviews on yelp, i wanted to go back and try their dumplings. I cant say its the best dumplings ive had but it does serve my dumpling cravings. I do like the curry chicken dumpling and the different colors of the different dumplings. I also tried their beef noodle soup and its yummy. Of course i couldnt have gone w/o ordering another cup of coffee and again i was satisfied =) their coffee is really good!!!! i like it better than regular starbucks for sure.
(4)
Eddie P.
Has there been a place that you find completely amazing, yet few people know of...so it feels almost like your own special secret? This is how Ray's feels to me. Few times have I visited while other people were there. I feel like its location amidst the sea of thousands of Chinese food restaurants in Chinatown has kept it a secret. I love coffee...and thought I was well-versed and somewhat of a connoisseur, yet I knew nothing of the siphon coffee they prepare at Ray's. They have a bunch of specialty blends (like the $8.50/cup Jamaican Blue Mt), and also a bunch of their own blends (like the "Philadelphia" and "New York" blends). Each coffee on the menu highlights a different attribute in the bean/blend (acidity, smoothness...) so there is something for everyone! So here's the process: A specific amount of the whole bean of the blend/bean of your choice is weighed out, then ground, and placed in what looks like a vacuum filter from a chemistry lab. A flask with water is then placed over a flame with the vacuum filter (containing the coffee) placed on top of it. When the water in the flask boils it travels up into the filter, mixing with the coffee. They stir with what looks like a paintbrush, and when the flame is turned off the now-brewed coffee travels back down into the flask! It's about a 5 minute affair, and what comes out is perfection. Served in a beautiful cup, with a tiny pail of heavy cream and delicious cookie, it is heaven. I'm not done yet! The food is friggin AWESOME! I ALWAYS order the shrimp curry rice noodles because it's sooo gooooood! I've eaten some of my friends tofu dishes they ordered and they were delish as well. It tastes so clean and simple, like you're getting a home cooked Taiwanese meal. There's always a bunch of young guys working there and they just hang out, which makes me think they're a family. That is great :' ) You can buy the coffee beans there too, and I would insanely recommend buying the Ray's House blend. It is easily one of the most delicious coffees. It is extremely fragrant but delicate, and has good hints of caramel and hazelnut. Seriously amazing, I would actually prefer their blend to the Jamaican Blue Mountain! I WORK in a coffee place and am heading there tomorrow to buy a bag-o-beans! Check it out, but PLEASE don't make it a trendy hipster hot spot. No V-necks allowed.
(5)
David C.
I always stop by Ray's Cafe if I'm in Chinatown. Their siphon coffee is the best way to start a day. You've heard about their dumpling sampler. Delicious. You also have to try their Young Chow Fried Rice and Grace's Special Beef Noodle Soup. The latter is my favorite hangover cure. The service is always great. If you're like me and support family owned and operated little places, I highly recommend Ray's Cafe & Teahouse.
(5)
Linda S.
We checked this place out because it was known to serve taiwanese food. There wasn't much of a selection, a few good beef/seafood noodle soup dishes and that's about it. They have these elegant siphon cofee makers that drip slowly to make the smoothest, richest cofee you'll ever have. Mmmmmm. Definitely check this place out if you love coffee.
(3)
Pla' F.
I usually come here to get a green milk tea smoothie with bubbles. That drink is always good. The green tea is just perfect. I also used to get green tea with bubbles once. It's good but still the green milk tea smoothie is the best. Yesterday I went to have lunch there for the first time. The dumpling samplers is the best! The house special fried noodle is very yummy as well! My friend also got the ray's recipe noodle soup one. The soup is perfect for the people who like the light soup. The beef is super soft. Over all is yummier than I expected.
(5)
Hoang T.
Coffee review only 4.5 stars I saw Ray's Cafe on the top 10 coffee spots in philly. I actually been here for food and tea years ago and it was a really great experience then (yes, i remember). I wasn't a big coffee fan back then, but now, i'm on a mission to try the best of the best in philly. The first day i went, it was rainy and a hot cup of coffee was called for. Never being here, i didn't know what to expect or how to proceed. The multiple menus (outside windows and inside right whenyou walk in) was a bit overwhelming. I felt a bit awkward starting a conversation with the owner about coffee ...My traditional Asian side came out, you order stuff and don't ask questions, particularly when speaking to older asians. I was under the impression they served exclusively siphon'd coffee. So i asked for a coffee, black. I wondered, "where's the magic that Bill M. wrote about???" It was basically their house brew. The coffee itself was actually pretty good. A lot of flavors and smooth finish. That was already positive despite not being what i intended. The next day, i came back and was on a mission to read the menu and order the correct coffee. I found the area on the menu that said siphon'd coffee. The first 5-8 coffees were out of my budget for the day, so i opted for the $5 house blend. Then the MAGIC began! The preparation and execution of brewing coffee this method is definitely pretty cool seeing. Its almost like a novelty but a necessary science to achieve a different type of brewed coffee. THe description of the house blend did say it would have hazelnut flavors.. but i didn't realize how strong it would be. I'm not really into flavored coffee. The finished product was a nice cup of coffee, but not my preference. I may try another flavor out when i return. Compared to their regular house brew, i prefer that. I do strongly suggest coffee lovers to try the siphon coffee out at least once! It is a pretty cool experience.
This is still the best cup of coffee I've had anywhere, even after living in NY for two years. The coffee jelly is also really good! And the ambience cannot be beat. Grace is the best.
(4)
David A.
So i'm new to the area since my new position in my career. I looked up frantically where to get a good espresso. I was told that Ray's is the place to go. my second day in the area and I go to Ray's to try their espresso and sadly i'm not a fan. I've had a lot better and since I've found another place that's named after somewhat after a country..hint it's "Columbia" My co-worker seems to love Ray's coffee, I remember when I went to Ray's I saw an extensive coffee list and saw a coffee for $10 and the cheapest $5, well the house blend is $3. I said what the... really ? Anyway, on my way into work I found a spot near Ray's and thought I'd like to try this coffee I keep reaping reading about. I walk in and take a look, I want try a $5 coffee, figure whats the big deal. I ask for the Colombian. The nice owner reaches up to the marked container and put fresh beans in the grinder. Next the water in the syphon what looks to be scientific, I guess after all if you want great coffee it's all about science. I watched in amazement how this works. I was asked cream and sugar, sure I said but not to sweet, I want to taste the coffee. to my first sip, I was shocked at how great coffee can be. the flavors popped and my taste buds were alive. Dunkin who ? wawa what ? starbucks, really ? This place has gotten me wanting to try all the beans offered. It's that pronounced of flavor and taste. Ray's may not be good for espresso (to my liking) but the coffee, WOW ! i'll be back. I also hear that the food is good as well. i'll have to try that soon too. Enjoy your coffee and don't be scared to pay the money, it'll be well worth it, I'm glad I did and now I know what good coffee is.
(5)
Bobby L.
Found this place via Yelp and was not disappointed. I only wanted a snack so only had the dumpling sampler, it was a great choice. The flavors great! The pork and veg dumplings were my favorite. Next time I gotta try out the full menu. Great small place for 2-3 friends!
(4)
John C.
The best independently owned stand alone coffee shop in Philadelphia. They are masters of their craft and lack all of the pretentiousness that sometimes comes with independent coffee shops in the city. The unassuming outside and the disarray of the interior (there are boxes and supplies on chairs and tables) shows that 100% of their work goes into their food and coffee; they don't strive to be flashy or hip. The food and coffee speaks for itself, and it is delicious. If you have never visited this place, definitely add it to the top of your philly restaurant list.
(5)
Amy C.
A great little coffee shop! The owner Grace is very friendly and welcoming. If you have any questions or are interested in the brewing process she's very helpful. They have siphon coffee and iced coffee that goes through a 12 hour process. They also provide food. A great little place for a small bite and some coffee. The drinks are more expensive but definitely worth it! And I love their presentations. The drinks come out on a little tray with a doily. Depending on the drink they could come with a tiny cream pitcher, syrup, or a butter cookie. The Japanese Charcoal Roasted Coffee is a great choice. If you're not a fan of coffee they also have great bubble tea smoothies. They have some great Taiwanese dishes. Their cold sesame noodles have a thicker peanut sauce. The only downside is their hours which can be unpredictable. I also wouldn't recommend this place for large groups.
(5)
Kate S.
I went to Rays with a small group who wanted to do something different. We all had drinks (coffee, bubble tea) and a dumpling sampler and sesame noodles. The food was quite good but the real reason to come is the coffee. Many different kinds are on offer and the descriptions are pretty helpful in choosing. The coffee machine (instrument?) is very cool and the owners were nice enough to explain the physics to us. The owner and waiter were incredibly nice and made the experience even better. The coffee is expensive (5-10$) but it was exceptionally good. The floral notes came through beautifully and it was delicious. It's a little pricey for every day coffee but it's a terrific destination coffee shop. Loved the coffee and the people. The food was good too but not the main reason to go I think although we sampled only two things.
(4)
Dennis B.
This is down right the best coffee.........unequaled......they have been around before the coffee boom......and Grace was ahead of it......you can drive by and miss it....... the best coffee anywhere.....
(5)
Justin M.
Got the green milk tea smoothie made by the guy who works here. Wow super jasminey but super good actually. It's different and refreshing. I just happened to park across from here. Lucky me. Haha wish I had time to try the coffee everyone raves about but oh well happy with the tea
(4)
Denise K.
Such a cute little coffee shop in China town. I got an iced latte which came with whip. My husband got the Ethiopian blend which he though was just ok. It's very quaint inside.
(4)
krista b.
Work right across street, so have been coming here off and on for years. Definitely pricey but also very tasty fresh food. Coffee is delish and smoothies are to die for...
(4)
Susan M.
Very tasty place, but the hours make it difficult to find a time to go. Great options for coffee and tea, and excellent lunch specials. Small environment and seems to be run by a family.
(4)
Frank P.
They're drip iced coffee is best ever. Like O face level good! Haven't a place in the world that matches the deep roast flavor.Now can I get an of this?
(4)
C W.
Great dumplings! Especially the leek dumplings. Had original milk and green milk bubble tea-boba was soft and chewy, tea was not too sweet. Very nice owners and wait staff, accomodated our last minute changes in our order.
(5)
Smrithi D.
A delightful little cafe with.... wait for it: slowly dripped, siphon-style coffee! The owner Grace is very sweet and always remembers my co-workers and I. The lunch special is very much worth the price,you can get a spring roll, with an entree (noodles or soup), followed by coffee which is served with a little cup of creamer and a dipped cookie. This meal can save as drabby friday afternoon when you want a week to end and just want to treat yourself to some amazing coffee.
(5)
Erin C.
It was late night on a weekday and we needed to kill some time. After Yelping nearby cafes, we decided on Ray's for some tea -- didn't want to mess with our chances of getting beauty sleep. At first, we were underwhelmed. The decor was a little cluttered, the furniture rickety, and glancing over their menu, we realized they weren't serving the kind of tea we were hoping for (cheaper and non-caffeinated). But, being amiable adventurers, we made peace with trying out their coffee instead. Despite having already consumed an unreasonable amount of caffeine earlier that day, COFFEE WAS WORTH IT. Ray's and co take coffee seriously, like they import that special Japanese charcoal blend straight from Japan. We ordered three different blends under the siphon option, and all were great, but the charcoal blend really stood out. I had hearts in my eyes when the coffee came out on the colorful trays, with tiny spoons, baby pitchers of cream, and chocolate-dipped butter cookies with sprinkles. I can't really speak on the rest of the menu, but I do know that if I'm ever in the area again and desiring a unique cuppa experience at the starting price of Starbucks, Ray's'll be worth the trip!
(4)
Rebecca G.
Coffee is essential after a big midday meal. So naturally, after finishing ours at M Kee, my friend and I headed here for a cup. Sampling a Siphon-made one for the first time, I selected the Ethiopian bean for the brew. Sun-dried, but darker than I would have liked (I prefer light roasts), it nonetheless was well-prepared, and tasted slightly of berries. And of course aided with digestion!
(4)
Ula C.
This is one eclectic restaurant - a mix of authentic Taiwanese food, americanized Chinese food, and coffee shop. I recommend the beef tomato fried rice, beef noodle soup and wide pan-fried noodles. The food here is not as oily as the one you get at a regular Chinese restaurant. The coffee is excellent as well, very smooth, and they all come with a little cookie snack. The restaurant is family owned and has a homey quality. The owner Grace is super nice. I frequented this place when I live in Philly. This is one place I miss after moving away.
(4)
Anita S.
I enjoyed the fresh squeezed lemonade I ordered as well as the dumpling sampler- my personal favorite was the curried chicken, but they were all good. Sesame noodles had a stronger peanut flavor than I was expecting, but were a nice treat.
(4)
Joe W.
Saw the great reviews on Yelp and decided to check this place out. The atmosphere was enjoyable and the tea was tasty. Service was attentive and made sure that we had everything we needed. We got Jasmine tea and the dumpling sampler. I echo previous reviews that it is definitely worth getting when you go there. I don't know if I'd buy a $10 cup of Blue Mountain Coffee, I'm sure its good though!!
(4)
Erin B.
My husband has lived in Chinatown for 25+ years and has never tried Ray's cafe, although he rationalizes that it must be good, b/c of how long it's been around! I've lived in Chinatown for four years and have never tried Ray's Cafe before yesterday. Although I just had tea - I was impressed and will definitely be back. I met up with a new friend (who recently moved to the neighborhood) for coffee & tea. Instead of going for the usual Starbucks, we decided to go for a hometown staple! I ordered the ginger tea and she ordered an iced coffee. My ginger tea was delish and rivaled the home-made tea that my father-in-law makes especially for me. My friend also raved about her iced coffee. I would definitely be interested to go back and try some of the meal options (especially the leek dumplings, which I love from the local dim sum spot)! Maybe I can even bump my 4 stars up to 5.
(4)
Sarah P.
Get the dumpling sampler, hot tea with a cookie, and the siphoned coffee. Even their cheap coffee is great. Really great customer service.
(4)
maj s.
Yemen Mocha. Dumpling sampler. I don't know what drugs they put into those two delightful items, but I end up craving them multiple times a week. Everything about this place is lovely. From the woman owner, who is sweet as pie. To the sugar cookie that comes on the side of your tea or coffee. To the adorable doily the cookie sits on. To the unique plates and mugs your order is served with. Just.... adorable.
(5)
Joshua J.
I'm not one to usually spend 10 dollars on coffee, but after walking in and seeing how sophisticated the brewing apparatus was, I gladly ponied up for the Jamaican, my girlfriend got the Japanese charcoal roast. They were both absolutely fantastic and even though they were very strong, I didn't have a jittery feeling all day long, not sure if that says something about the quality, but it seems so. I was really curious about how the cold brew siphons worked since I've never seen them before, and even though it was an extremely busy Saturday morning, the owner, Grace gladly stepped aside with me and eagerly explained how it worked, and that won me over. I haven't tried the food but everything coming out of the kitchen looked amazing.
(5)
Kerry A.
Another place I forgot to review in the moment; visited here last Saturday after the amazing beef brisket soup at Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House. I forget how much I have loved this place over the past decade and then forget to visit it more often. Hands-down, THE BEST FRIGGIN CUP OF COFFEE you will ever drink. It is smooth. Done in a siphon. It's elegant to watch the brewing process and even better to savor. What blows my mind is that we were the only people in the place on a Sat evening. It's such a gem, I wonder if the bleak block of 9th St. where it resides finds people simply by-passing it ... I won't stay away too long in between visits !
(5)
Sovanny B.
I came because of all the good reviews I've read. I was kind of disappointed by the service and the tea that I have brought. I haven't tried their coffee (which the reviews said was great) but I don't think I'll give it a second try. It was just awkward when I went in, and not very friendly.
(3)
Tom I.
When I lived in Philadelphia before, Ray's Cafe and Teahouse was a reliable go-to spot for food, tea and coffee. Once, well over a year ago, when my girlfriend and I were in Philly to visit, we stopped at Ray's for some coffee but we hadn't gotten back during the year-plus since we've moved here. We finally got back yesterday and I was curious to find out if it's still the awesome Taiwanese restaurant it had always been. I happy to report it lives up to my fond memories. For lunch, we ordered two of my favorite dishes: the leek boxes for an appetizer and the sesame shrimp with broccoli for an entree. The leek boxes are similar to pan-fried dumplings and are stuffed with egg, glass noodles, and, of course, leeks. We also shared a bowl of beef noodle soup. As I remembered, everything was fresh and nicely prepared. Most dishes at Ray's are pretty simple and I mean that as a compliment. Nothing is overly fancy and the care of preparation shines. We finished our meals with a couple of siphon coffees. An argument could be made that this is the best coffee in the city. The coffee always comes in a unique mug and is accompanied by a small cookie. A nice touch. I'm glad after several years that Ray's is a good as I remembered it to be and won't be waiting too long to get back.
(5)
Ron H.
The only place in Philadelphia to get authentic Hawaiian Kona or Jamacian Blue. Don't be afraid to try something new, the Japanese charcoal blend is actually better than the kona! Coffee here is done right, perfectly brewed with a vacuum type system.
(5)
Nora S.
I have a serious soft spot for Ray's and try to go there whenever I'm in Chinatown. Grace is sweet as pie and the coffee is fantastic. It is the best iced coffee I've ever had--tastes like chocolate. When you dine in they give you an adorable mini pitcher of cream and a mini cookie on a little platter. The dumplings are great too, but my favorite is really the iced coffee or lattes. One of my favorite Philly spots.
(5)
Grant T.
Nice little place with very nice staff. The service is what earns the stars for my review. Tried the Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee...meh. I think I had reasonable expectations, but was underwhelmed (no exciting flavors or aromas that I detected, typical body). Tried the dumplings; they were good and nicely presented. Could improve the pastry options, which are out of house made muffins and cookies.
(4)
Victoria V.
I love this little gem in Chinatown. The owner, Grace, is a really sweet lady and remembers you if you're a returning customer. They always present with their teas and coffees in cute Japanese/Chinese style cups and spoons, with a little cup for cream...all neatly laid out on a little tray. You can tell they are very keen and pride themselves in presentation and quality. Their coffees are slowly dripped, siphon-style..so the taste is very dense and rich. If you're a coffee lover, you would definitely appreciate this. Lastly...Their Walnut Delight dish is amazing. It's a vegetarian dish where the mushroom is made to taste very similar to general Tso's chicken. The texture and taste was so similar to chicken, I had to ask Grace if it really was mushrooms in there. Best "mock" chicken I've had.
(5)
Adam T.
I heard about the $10 blue mountain coffee (It's actually $9.50) from multiple Yelp reviewers, and had to go check it out. It was a great cup of coffee, and the siphon brewing method was fascinating to watch. Don't think it was really worth the price, but it was fun to judge. Ray's is a nice little Chinatown restaurant with lots of food on the menu, which I did not try. Their coffee selection is extensive, and I will definitely be back for more when I retu Philly.
(4)
Regina F.
Sure it's a bit tiny, but Ray's offers a variety of teas, many unbeknownst to Western kind. The pue-er is earthy and delicious, the exemplar of pue-ers everywhere. Served in a glass cup, with a small pitcher for a refill on the side, any tea connoisseur would be pleased at its flavor and presentation. As a sweet bonus, each cup of coffee or tea comes with a mini soft seashell cookie. My only gripe with Ray's is that us illiterate folk can't read the characters offering a more accurate description of the specialty teas, so we have to, in broken Mandarin, ask for a certain type of warm green tea.
(4)
Bre D.
Coffee was perfect! Try the Jamaican Blue Mountain. Staff was friendly. Will definitely be returning.
(4)
Laura F.
Ordered a latte. Service was quick and friendly. The prices are typical for a latte. Was a very good latte and woke me up! It is in a side street in the Chinatown area - I only found it because I searched on my phone. If I am in the area again, I will definitely be back for some quality caffeine.
(4)
Angie K.
I don't know why it took me so long to get here. I've stopped in for a green tea smoothie bubble tea after a failed run (oops), and once other to try the dumpling sampler. The green tea smoothie is better than any other I've had in this Chinatown. The sweetness varied the two times I had gotten it, but still, it was really good. My only (and pretty significant) complaint is that the bubbles are WAY overcooked. The dumpling sampler was really good. Even the gyoza skin was so chewy and perfect. I could drink the two sauces that come with it, even the chili one. The lady was kind enough the explain each kind that was on the plate. There was a veggie dumpling, and normally I hate those, but this one was actually pretty good. I will be back to try the coffee!
(4)
Holly T.
I used to live in Taiwan and am always homesick for Taiwanese food, first and foremost beef noodle soup (niu rou mien, NRM for short). Grace's special recipe at Ray's Cafe does not disappoint, with a rich beefy broth, delicious chewy noodles, and tender falling apart beef. It's not very spicy, like most of the renditions I had in Taiwan, but nonetheless so good I finished all the broth. Other than the food, the other reason to make Ray's a destination is their premier selection of coffee, prepared syphon style. If you have not had syphon coffee, you must give it a try. It is my favorite preparation of coffee, not just because it is so fascinating to watch, but because it tastes absolutely delicious. Ray's has a wonderful selection of roasts, including Jamaica Blue Mountain, Japanese Charcoal Roasted, and more. The tea selection also looks excellent, but I confess I haven't yet had tea here because I can't resist the coffee. I'm not sure why syphon coffee hasn't caught on more here, but this is one of the few places in Philly where you can get it. Don't get it to go - sit down and enjoy it. It comes on a tray with an elegant cup, a cute mini-pitcher of cream, and a cookie on the side. Finally, Grace is a wonderfully sweet person who remembers all her customers, and the service is fantastic.
(5)
Cathy M.
I love this place! It's really cozy and the owner Grace is very nice and efficient. The presentation of the drinks is really cute, usually you get a little cookie with the hot drinks. I get a bubble tea and the pork napa dumplings. They always taste fresh and they will fill you up.
(5)
Beth G.
two words: coffee and dumplings. It does not get any better. Coffee is made drop by drop and worth the wait and the price. The dumplings are like little pillows of heaven, try the shrimp and the vegetarian, and go ahead and get them pan fried.
(5)
Zeke F.
The world doesn't need more pizza joints or fast Chinese food restaurants. What we need are more Tea Houses like Ray's. Ray's Tea House serves a veritable cornucopia of fine coffees and teas, as well as great food; one can find anything from lo mein to leek dumplings on their menu. Ray's provides a relaxing and quiet atmosphere to convalesce from the rigors of city life, and serves as a pleasant oasis in the heart of Chinatown. With the beautiful syphon-coffee alembics and retorts displayed, I felt as if I were in an alchemist's lab. The food and drink are both contained in very nice dishes and cups. The service was quite good, despite being in Chinatown. Grace and her son are the kind of folks who will not forget a regulars face. The only criticism I really have is that the music is pretty bad. I suggest classical or jazz, or even Chinese instrumental. Overall, Ray's has been the best coffee house in Philadelphia I've experienced so far. Go there. You won't regret it.
(5)
Glen W.
Very cute and pleasant spot, with good dumplings, though the beef noodle soup was bland.
(4)
Yiwen S.
coffee siphons!! ok i am by no means a coffee connoisseur. in fact, i'm all the way at the other end of the spectrum, drinking coffee only a handful of times a year. but i think it's pretty awesome when a coffee shop has authentic equipment-- says something about the quality of the caffeine here. the coffee selection is fairly large, but i didn't recognize most of it. instead, i came for the milk tea. it is, after all, chinatown. my friend and i both ordered hot milk teas (hers green, mine black). i love the way milk tea is served here: two tea bags soaked in a cup of steaming hot milk. no sugar added. so simple and pure. because the milk tea isn't made from a powdery mix and boiling water, the drink itself is much more creamy and flavorful. although lipton (green tea) and english breakfast (black tea) aren't my teas of choice, it worked well in this case. since the drinks weren't overloaded with sugar, we were able to really appreciate the slightly bitter taste of the tea offset by the sweet taste of the milk. you can bet i'll be coming back soon!
(4)
Leonard N.
Great place for coffee. The service not as great.
(3)
D T.
I was excited to try this cafe based on all the reviews. I had ordered the bubble green milk tea. The tea was very diluted and the bubbles were very gummy and not chewy as it should taste. In comparison to a true bubble milk tea, this was very disappointing. China town needs a true Tiwanese tea cafe.
(1)
Dan F.
I never thought I'd give 5 stars for American Chinese, much less want to enter any establishment sponsoring this cuisine. However my fellow Yelpers and their glowing reviews, especially about the coffee, plus a need to pay my 23848374534th visit to the nearby PennDOT (see review - it's a scorcher) made it all come together. And so it was, today, that I took my thick-thighed strides up 9th Street, natty in my starch-fresh Lacoste, until I reached the door. Some environments just feel right from the moment you enter them, even if no one's inside, and Ray's is exactly that kind of place. I arrived at a weird off hour of 3 or 3:30pm for Saturday lunch and was greeted outside by a window display of innocent paper tulips. Inside, in the soft pink light, rested a handful of tables, two-tops and four; quiet, clean and expectant, menus upon them, all with good cheer. I hadn't had coffee all day, so first order of business was to ask for a glass of iced. The older woman who took my order looked upon me, placid and easy. For a moment I remembered how it felt to be in grandma's care. Call me sappy, but it's true. In short order she returned with my iced coffee, presented beautifully on a saucer with a teeny thimble of cream, and slightly larger beaker of liquid sugar, and then, a happy cookie tipped in red sprinkles. (See cameraphone photos.) It was delicious and extraordinary. My food was just as delightful. Shrimp spring roll for app, and Tso's for entree. Each piece of broccoli was perfectly green, fresh and bright. Each moment of chicken dazzled me with a glistening hot crackle, balanced nice by brown rice. (You can get white, too.) Every cell in my being joined up to form an electric smile. They've been around for over 20 years. Now I know why.
(5)
Charles K.
The owner, Grace and her family are so delightful. they remember your name and what you ordered so they start working on the strongest and best tasting coffee before you even ask for it. they have so many people come here, I do not understand how they can be able to know everyone's faces, greet them by name and recall their preferences. They always have a smile on their face. I moved out log Phily and I am gonna have a hard time finding a replacement.
(5)
Kai M.
I've been a fan of Ray's for years, though I never seem to go as often as I think I do: I've been in there maybe a handful of times in the last ten years or so, exclusively for their siphon-brewed coffee. It's expensive, and holy crap, it's GOOD. I think at some point, way back when, I tried a lunch dish or snack; maybe it's just a figment of my imagination. If I did, I must not have been wow-ed, but I'd been reading through Yelp reviews and saw that Ray's food was rated highly. When my gf and I showed up on Saturday, half-starved from a busy day of running around in the heat, we knew we wanted caffeine and food. Oh man, am I glad we stumbled into Ray's. We started with cucumber salad and mixed dumplings. For my main, I got beef with bok choy and she got faux-meat with walnuts (the faux meat balls were made with mushroom). The cucumbers arrived first: YUM. They were lightly pickled in rice vinegar and mirin, and disappeared so fast. Then came the dumplings, perfectly seared (NOT GREASY!), with home-made dough in a variety of flavors, and yummy sauces. So damn good. At this point we were totally stoked for the mains, and weren't disappointed. The "delightful walnut" or whatever it was called was so very tasty; my beef was seared and then tossed in a sauce, and the bok choy was perfectly cooked. The portions were just right. For dessert, I had the "best" green tea, which turned out to be a premium lightly-fermented oolong. Very nice, with a caramel and straw topnote, and a gently fruity finish. So delicious. She got the iced green tea with passionfruit bubbles: YUM. We shared the home-made red bean ice cream. YUM YUM YUM. Everything came out to around $40, only because we got pricey drinks. And everything tasted like Mom made it, if my mom knew how to make amazingly good Taiwanese food. This is definitely going to become a regular stop for us.
(5)
Linda T.
tiny coffee place owned by taiwanese lady. they have various kinds of coffees ranging from $9 a cup to $4. she uses the syphon coffee maker, which was cool to watch. coffee comes in a cute ceramic cup with a side of tiny cream, cookie, and spoon. the cup of cream was like the size of quarter. cute! not the best place to sit down and enjoy coffee since its pretty cramped up but the orientation of the coffee is nice.
(4)
Gerard Z.
If you're going to serve a 5 dollar cup of coffee, it better be pretty darn good and come with some pomp and circumstance! Well, I'm happy to say Ray's delivers. From the siphon, to the plate set it comes out on, to the cookie - it's perfect. The woman working will probably suggest getting the beans from Yemen. Take her advice, its the best. (They do have cheaper, quicker cups as well and their ice coffee is legit). The homemade green tea and red bean ice cream are amazing...you know its homemade when it comes out of a Tupperware container. The service is great. The employees are super nice and helpful. Great relaxing atmosphere. It doesn't get much better.
(5)
Winnie N.
When I think about siphon brewed coffee, images of handlebar mustaches, skinny jeans, and plaid come to mind. Chinatown? Not so much. I desperately needed a place to recharge, and since Yelp does not lie...into this cozy establishment we went. Ray's boasts an impressive line up of beans, including Jamaican Blue Mountain, Hawaiian Royal Kona, and a variety of blends. I selected the Japanese charcoal roast (sumiyaki) and spent the next 30 minutes in a state of caffeinated bliss. The cup and saucer! The chocolate/sprinkle dipped madeline cookie on a doily (sprinkles are key)! The eensy weensy cream pitcher! Here's the best part...the cream remained untouched because the coffee was that smooth. At $7.50 a cup, I wouldn't make this a daily habit, but for a pick-me-up experience it was worth every penny.
(5)
amanda a.
I've been to a few coffee houses in Philly and this is by far then best I have tasted. La Colombe has quite a monopoly on the drip house cup for most places in Philadelphia but I prefer small origin African/Asian coffees to Colombian. Ray's has an amazing selection of small origin specialty coffees. While you wait you can watch them use a vacuum siphon system to brew each individual cup. This process is an old technique that is becoming la mode in the new hipster joints. Not to mention each coffee is paired with cookies specially made for Rays by a local Italian bakery in NJ. Try their food too it's as delicious as the coffee. The service is delightful. You will always be welcomed as you go in or out the door and it's small enough that you'll quickly feel at home. It's just off the beaten path but deserves much more!!
(5)
Annie A.
The hub and myself stopped by this cute little cafe for Kona Coffee and Milk Green Tea Boba Tea..amazing! The Kona coffee was perfect and my Boba tea was delicious, but what surprised me was the Jasmine flavor in it as well. So glad we found this place!
(3)
Caitlin C.
I used to live near Ray's, and it became my favorite laundry time-killing/ reward-myself-for-being-a-functional-adult spot. Unassuming decor but killer chicken/ black bean lunch special. And the coffee! Like a 7th grade science project, served in mismatched china with a side cookie. I miss this place dearly and always recommend it to friends visiting.
Takes Reservations : Yes 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 : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No Good for Working : 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.
Tracey M.
We've been to Ray's a handful of times. We recently went after having not been for a couple of years (we're often in the area on Sunday, when they are closed). On our most recent visit we had a lychee smoothie and a fresh squeezed lemonade to drink and both were oh-so-good. My husband had the chicken fried rice and I had the buckwheat noodle soup. We also had sides of cucumber salad and cabbage/carrot salad. Everything was great. As we were eating we discussed how the food has a home cooked taste, as opposed to a restaurant taste. This may not be for everyone but we certainly enjoy it. The woman who runs the shop is just as sweet as she can be, which only makes me want to try to frequent this little cafe more often.
(5)P E.
I have been coming to Ray's off and on for the past 20 years for coffee and Taiwanese food. We haven't been back in a while but it is always a nostalgic experience. The decor is a little tired - the Formica on the counter is chipped, the tables have cardboard shims under the legs, and the wallpaper is separating at the seams. The coffee still drips from the elaborate set ups on the counter and the siphons are readied to make you the freshest cup of coffee. The chalkboard still lists the specials and the owner and son run the place. We arrived around 5 on Saturday night. We ordered our 20 year old favorite - the dumpling sampler which was served with the traditional dumpling sauce as well as a hot pepper sauce. It includes 2 traditional pork and napa cabbage dumplings, plus 2 pork and leek dumplings, one shrimp, and one vegetable dumplings--all pan fried. In addition you get 2 deep fried chicken curry dumplings. All were plump and delicious, but tepid. While our dumplings were ready to serve, the waiter opted to write and get payment for another table. We ordered two entees to share, the young chow fried rice and the General Tso's chicken. Both tasted great but the fried rice came out before we finished the dumplings and way before the chicken. The fried rice is light and different from anything else you have tasted. Our plates were filled with dumpling sauce but we weren't offered fresh plates for the entree. When our server cleared our dinner plates, he asked if we wanted anything else. We responded yes. And he said, I'll get you your check! We told him we wanted to order coffee, and so we did. For $6.50, you can get the best cup of Yemen mocha, siphon prepared. It's freshly ground, smooth, and the perfect temperature served with fresh cream and a sweet cookie. The food and coffee are great. The service is poor and the place needs a renovation. If you pay by credit card, there is a one dollar surcharge. For that reason it's three stars out of five for Ray's
(3)Sean O.
Ray's is incredible. I just ordered a 9 dollar cup of coffee(the jamaican blue mountain) and it was worth every penny. Ok maybe thats not true, that could be the caffeine telling me so, but it was a damn fine cup of coffee nonetheless, maybe the best I've ever had. As a coffee fan, if you're gonna tell me that there is some rare coffee bean that is only grown on some small part of a mountain range in Jamaica and is extremely difficult to export to the states, you better believe I'll pay nine bucks. They apply the siphon filter method of brewing here, which beats hand pour and drip or any other method of brewing in my opinion. The menu of coffee here was extensive, you're not just dealing with regular or decaf. They also have boba drinks, and I may have to come back here for the ice coffee with boba. Please, and thank you. Definitely a must stop for the coffee fanatic in Philadelphia.
(5)Joe A.
How could this be? The best coffee in Philadelphia is in a hole-in-the-wall Teahouse in Chinatown. It's true, It's true. Their coffee blends and unique drip brewing contraptions make the rest of the coffee café's taste like sewage. Their blends are aromatic, richly flavored and intense without the overly burnt flavor of Starbucks or other so called "premium" places. I recently tried their iced coffee too and it was superb but I wish I they would let me regulate how much sugar goes into it. I don't like my iced coffee overly sweet. Otherwise, this place is a gem and they have pretty well prepared Chinese food too. Who would have figured that?
(5)Jazmin I.
How thrilling, I thought, that a cute cafe that took credit cards was so conveniently close to work!! How charming, I mused, as I listened to cheesy music and gazed upon the homey diner-esque decor! How much less charming, I thought, after waiting 35 minutes for my lunch take-out.... How extremely less charming, I grumbled, as I ate Taiwanese Rice Noodles & Pork of a quality on par with a cheap Chinese take-out place. How abysmal, I reflected, as I ate dish that purportedly had a variety of vegetables that actually only contained a few shreds of carrot, a smattering of cabbage scraps, a moderate morsel of mushrooms and a few bland bean sprouts. How very unlikely, I muttered, would it be that I would ever return for more.
(2)Annie M.
Amazing how the place I've had the best milk tea also seems to be one of the worst. When the guy that works there makes it, it is perfect! When the woman does.... it tastes like water... There's not enough sugar, not enough tea.... I'd hate to see such a lovely place lose customers because different employees make it so differently. Will only get milk tea here now if I can see who's in the shop.
(2)Jake F.
Best coffee, Best fried rice, Best spring rolls! Love this place. The employees are nice and always smiling. fried wonton is amazing here. Wish i knew about this place sooner!!!!
(5)Bill M.
I thought that I knew amazing Chinese restaurants. I thought I knew the coffeehouses that used the best preparation methods. And I thought that I would never see a Chinese restaurant combined with a coffeehouse vibe that could actually be good. But one stop here for lunch has single handedly taught me otherwise. I met up with Eric F. and Aaron O. for some lunch and I can honestly say that it was an one of the most uplifting experiences in coffee drinking that I've ever had. I was tempted to go for all and try the Jamaican Blue Mountain, but just saying Brazilian Bourbon Santos rolled off my tongue and into my tastebuds, so it was an easy sale. It was easily the strongest yet smoothest cup I've ever had, and the tray and cup, and delicious butter cookie that it came with would make any tea set collector jealous. and lets just say that siphoning system is a sight that you need to see for yourself. The food is delicious in it's own right too. I went with the chow fun fried rice which was ripe with chicken, shrimp, egg, onion, and peas (pork for you if you want it but none for me.). The service was also perfect in every detail, especially when they bought out the complimentary fruit at the end. I'm sold!
(5)Fred C.
Had I not read favorable reviews, I would never have chanced visiting this small non-descript restaurant. Thank goodness for yelp's enlightenment! The hot and sour soup was the best I've ever tasted . . .admirably spicy with some crunchie vegetables. Having been weaned to spicy tastes by my West African aide (I am a paraplegic), I couldn't resist trying an extra appetizer . . the cabbage salad. It was a real sizzler and most enjoyable. My entre was billed as Hot & Spicy Chicken (or something like that). It was not as hot as the previous dishes, but very tasty. The server was very willing and anxious to please, but too quick. I had to give him a parting lecture on the virtue of slowing down, with particular emphasis on NEVER having two courses on the table at the same time. He received the criticism graciously. All in all, as you can see from my rating, I liked this restaurant very much, and plan to return in the near future.
(5)Jeff B.
I ONLY drink coffee from Ray's... I don't make it at home, I don't go to Starbucks, etc. This coffee is smooth, nutty, almost chocolatey. Was buying my morning (and afternoon and evening) coffee there for years before I decided to give the food a try -- something about the combination coffee shop/chinese restaurant seemed weird to me, but WOW do I regret not trying the food sooner. I highly recommend the Sesame Chicken lunch special. It's pan fried, not deep fried like most Sesame Chic. dishes, perfectly spiced (a little hot, the way I like it). Long story short -- go for the coffee, stay for the food. P.S. Grace, the woman that works the counter is a total sweet heart. I told her my name ONCE for a take out order and she's welcomed me to the shop by name ever since.
(5)Jessica S.
Stopped in for dumplings and coffee, as were recommended by Yelpers. The dumpling sampler was fantastic, handmade, plump and piping hot, and a great variety. The coffee was good -- not being a coffee connoisseur, it was a bit pricey for my taste, but perhaps someone more knowledgeable would have appreciated it more. Tangent: the cups and saucers were lovely. Overall it was a good experience. I liked the small, family-business vibe (it was clear that some of the patrons were regulars), and the atmosphere was quiet and calm... great to drop in just for coffee, a bite of lunch, and intimate enough for a casual date. Definitely would drop by again!
(4)Mike S.
Obviously people love this place... People coming in and out for coffee and teas. I came with an Amiga for lunch (lunch specials b/w $11-$14 dollars w/app and drink). It was good but I thought. Bit pricey for what you get. Maybe j should stick to the awesome drinks I've heard about. If the meal special were $7.99 or $8.99 it'd be better...
(3)Fay H.
The best iced coffee I've ever had. Seriously, it's the highlight of my day. I work around the corner, and when that 2-3 pm crash rolls in, I head over for a treat. I've never had iced coffee make me so happy.
(5)Danan R.
I love coming here. It's a quaint little cafe on the edge of Chinatown that serves you amazing siphon coffee in a mug - complete with a doily underneath and a little pastry on the side. The dumpling sampler is a must-try, for sure. They have quite a variety of lunch specials and noodle soups, although I always tend to stick with the dumplings and beef noodle soup because I'm a creature of habit (I know, I know...I will get around to trying everything eventually but my tried and true dishes never disappoint!). But don't leave without having a cup of coffee! Definitely better than Starbucks, Dunkin, or Peet's. It is so good that I'm considering investing in my own siphon, although I'm not sure how I'll be able to use it in a dorm. Oh well, in the meantime, I'll just be stopping by Ray's every time I'm home even though it's still an hour-long drive from where I live.
(4)anne s.
This is a gem in Philadelphia's Chinatown! Wonderful food - fresh, interesting soups and dumplings and great service. The coffee, tea and cookies are excellent as well. The service is friendly and thoughtful. Definitely worth a visit!
(5)Matt B.
jamaican blue mountain siphoned coffee... this is a 5 star cup of joe. wanted to try green tea but they were out. Chinese offerings generally solid. Dumpling sampler was excellent, pan fried curry chicken all his brothers and sisters didn't disappoint
(4)Rose N.
I would have to say this is my FAVORITE cafe in all of Philly b/c... Its absolutely adorable. It's small and there's always like two people working there. It provides a great selection of local and worldly coffee. The way they present is the coffee is so cute! It's served on a little platter, doily underneath the cute cup, with a petite ramekin for the creme (looks it belongs in a doll house) and a little madeleine cookie on the side. I love to come here and relax. I come for the coffee, not the food, but when I'm hungry, the food does not disappoint. I mean, its not great, but its satisfying. I love the dumplings here.
(5)Nirav B.
Came to Philadelphia for a conference last week. Coming from San Francisco, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to find amazing coffee here. Did a search for siphon and Philadelphia and found Ray's. And what a find! Grace is super friendly, and has been brewing coffee at Ray's (her family name) for 24 years. She and her staff make siphon brewing look easy. I brought a group of friends here and she cranked out siphon coffees efficiently. Oh, and how was the coffee? Outstanding. Just what you would expect from someone who has skill, a high-quality flat-burr grinder, great coffee, a siphon, and a cloth filter: clean, smooth coffee with great body, great aroma, and a perfect balance of fruit and deeper coffee tones. Yummy down to the last sip, hot or cold. And with a complexity that changes as it cools. I got the Jamaica Blue Mountain. Had it black, although it comes with a side of cream and sugar on the plate if you must, along with a small biscuit of some sort. Others had the Sumatra and Brazilian. Definitely come here, and if you want to chat, stand at the counter and sip your coffee instead of sitting, and you'll get some history on changes in Philadelphia roasters over the past couple of decades.
(5)Eileen B.
It might be easy to walk right by this little cafe, but if you're looking for great food and even better coffee, you should certainly stop into Ray's. My son and I went for lunch during the week, and everything was terrific. The food was fresh and delicious. I had the shrimp with asparagus and won ton soup and he had the walnut and mushroom (vegetarian) lunch special. Both meals were very tasty and the portion size was just right for lunch. I consider myself a coffee connoisseur and I must say,the coffee was superb! Although the lovely cup, saucer, and charming little pitchers make a great presentation, the cup size was a little too small for my liking- not to worry though, as the staff is more than happy to provide refills. I would certainly recommend Ray's Cafe and go back there the next time I am in center city.
(5)Cassie T.
So glad I finally got the chance to come here after a couple times of unsuccessfully trying to come and finding out that they are closed. My friend and I went for dinner, and we got a beef noodle soup and the vegetarian buckwheat noodle soup, both of which were super delicious! (reasonably priced, $6.95 each) I had the buckwheat noodle soup and it came with some really tasty baby bok choy, bamboo, and slices of some meat substitute that was quite good. The broth was flavored with ginger which made it really fragrant and yummy. I really like how all the bowls they use are unique with different patterns and colors, and care in the presentation of the food is taken. The inside is really cozy and quaint and the service is friendly and attentive without being annoying. I am definitely planning on coming back to try some of the coffees and other drinks, that looked like they were made with love. Also the dumpling sampler, which I saw a bunch of people having, looked really awesome. Hopefully they will be open!
(5)Samantha S.
This is not your typical Chinatown restaurant. If you are looking for MSG, greasy standards, you are at the wrong place. Ray's is a cozy cafe that I visit at least once a week. They serve a variety of dishes in REASONABLE portions. The lady that works there is so nice, and ensures that when I go with my boyfriend he gets the masculine blue dishes, while I get the flowery feminine dishes. It's the details like that that make Ray's my favorite place to go.
(5)Lauren H.
This is a great place. The siphon coffee is awesome and looks like a chemistry experiment. Expensive, but worth it. The lunch selections are great - I recommend the dumpling sampler! The staff is always so friendly, and they give you a free cookie with your coffee. :)
(4)Ashley A.
Such a unique experience. Their bubble tea was like nothing I've ever tasted. The dumplings sampler was great as advised...great casual place to eat in Chinatown.
(5)Will P.
My favorite lunch place near Fed Ct when I lived in Philly. They used to have a crispy walnut-eggplant special that was to die for. If it is still on the menu give it a try!
(5)Mr. Met s.
If you stop by Philadelphia's Chinatown then you must drop by Ray's Cafe & Teahouse. Sporting an elegant, cozy seating environment (something like Starbucks minus the couches) - they offer the best coffee I have ever had to date. (Much much better than those franchise coffee places) Their coffee is bred to perfection as you literally taste every drop that goes through your mouth. When you are done, you feel so energized and satisfied that you will probably order another one. I had the Hawaiian (their top of their line coffee aka the "King" of coffee) served very elegantly in small tray which also comes with a delicious cookie. Wow, halfway through it my mind just lit up and I could not stop smiling. I also ordered a regular ice coffee which was very delicious, and ice coffee with vanilla ice cream which was just as great. But it is their hot coffee which shines the most. One drawback is you will pay a price - it is very expensive. The Hawaiian cost 7 dollars for a mere cup. (literally, a cup) But, if you make this an occasional trip - it won't hurt you but only give you instant satisfaction. Their ice coffee runs about 5 dollars and you won't get much either but to me it was worth the experience for a traveler. One more thing I highly recommend as your are sipping their delicious coffee. Actually, two. First, I highly recommend you to try their Dumpling Sampler - which 5 different sets of delicious dumplings. I mean - these aren't your regular asian dumplings - they are made to literal perfection and when combined with their two different sauces - only pushes it beyond perfection.The Dumpling Sampler includes 2 Veggies(very very good), 2 fried curry chicken (very good and crispy), 2 chicken ( the most average ) , 2 pork with leek (very good), and one more which I forgot. They are also beautifully served in a traditional chinese dish, and a marvel because all come in different colors! Again, you pay the price because it cost $7.50 for 10 dumplings. Second, try their smoothies! I had a mango smoothie and I was stunned that they also produce smoothies as good as their coffee! Remember to visit when in Philly! I'll add pictures of their food and storefront soon. P.S - They take credit cards on orders 15 dollars and over combined. Also, I saw many people did not leave tips because they feel they are at a Starbucks environment; but please leave tips because you are being served. This is not Starbucks.
(5)Daniel G.
This place is cozy and cute. At first, I thought this place must be having an identity crisis - is it a cafe or a Chinese food restaurant? I just had to open my mind to discover you can have both. I got some standard drip stuff, but some day I'd like to sample the famous "eight dollar coffee" I keep hearing about. Great service, really tasty treats. Unfortunately, never open when I try to go. I thought I just had really bad timing 'cause it took me four attempts before I finally caught them on a day they were open, but it seems like other people on yelp are in agreement, this place has weird hours.
(4)michael j.
A friend recommended this place for the great coffee. It does have great coffee, but the food is equally wonderful. Be ready for smaller portions. Not tiny but smaller. The great service and delicious food makes up for the small servings. You should check it out.... they serve your coffee in adorable tea cups.
(4)Jessica D.
Living right next door it was one of the first places I came to rely on. Staff is clearly all family and are very attentive to the business. They have an absolutely astounding collection of random beverages from teas to coffees to well more tea and coffee. Drinks are a little pricey when you think about it, but they learn how you take yours and they always taste perfect. I can see why some people don't like the food. It isn't frozen, prepacked trash. Everything they cook is real food. Vegetables are actually crisp, the meat is actually meat. People looking for the usual Chinese food fair should stay a block west where everything gets bought from the same warehouse. I've also noticed people do the whole BYOB thing at times.
(5)Kenneth C.
We first found this cafe back in the mid '90's when we lived in Philly. We recently visited the city and went back. The place hasn't changed and remains a wonderful place to hang out. Let me start with a quick reality check. The main dishes are small and more expensive than other restaurants. That being said, the Chicken Tomato Rice was unexpectedly flavorful. If going for main courses, there are better restaurants. No, the reason we love this place is what we term, "The Triple Threat." 1) Siphon coffee - we get the house blend...great coffee! 2) Dumpling sampler - still fantastic after all of these years. 3) The chocolate truffle cake - delicious. Sure, it's a good restaurant. But it's a great cafe. Do try it.
(4)Chrissy R.
Wow. I really like this place. I only got an iced green tea. I just love that it doesn't feel all stereotypical and chinatown-y and that they were playing pearl jam when I came in. The iced green tea was really good too.
(4)Andrea M.
I was in Philadelphia for a conference a week or so back, and I picked this place as a non-tourist eatery for a lunch meeting based on the Yelp reviews, and I'm very glad I did. Go go gadget Yelp! The menu goes on for miles and miles, with many different Chinese cuisine options. We were there for lunch, so I had the dumpling sampler lunch special. Lunch began with an adorable plate holding a tea cup and a little cookie, (much like the little dipped-and-sprinkled cookies you get in Italian bakeries), which I saved for last. This was followed by a cutie little cup of fabulous vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup (I was surprised there was so much egg in the soup, perhaps it's a south-of-NY thing?). The dumplings are not small, and it's a really nice variety of chicken, pork, and veggie dumplings. The chicken curry dumplings were deep fried, the rest were the standard doughy pan-fried style, and all of them were yummy delish *and* filling. A lovely dish carrying two sweet and decorative cups of dipping sauces -- one hot saucy and the other more the dark soy sauce style -- which were really a nice accompaniment to the dumplings. The service was quite good, and very sweet. An older woman took the order, while a very tall younger woman stood beside her; for the rest of the meal, the younger woman did most of the dish carrying. We wanted for nothing our entire meal, and they seemed nicely sensitive to our conversation when it came to food delivery. For lunchtime place, I'd highly recommend it. The next time I'm in Philly, I'll definitely go back. :)
(4)Jing G.
Well, I went back to give this place another chance, but it wasn't much better than last time. In terms of coffee, it's good. Service, alright. Cute decor and overall atmosphere. But the part that really brings down the ratings is that the food really is just not that good. This time I got the vegetarian rice noodle entree. The description said it was rice noodles with snow peas, carrots, bean sprouts, scallions, cabbage. Except when it came, it didn't have one snow pea in sight and only decoration slivers of carrots. A bland dish, I hardly finished half. Lord knows I am no fan of greasy Chinese food, so being not-so-greasy didn't figure into me not liking the food.. I do know what I want when I'm out for Taiwanese food. This place is billed as a Taiwanese-style cafe, but having visited Taiwan just last winter and having grown up eating Taiwanese food (that's half of my family) this place is really lacking in comparison. If you go to this place, perhaps skip any entrees and just stick with the beverages. Though, I did like the vegetarian hot and sour soup here too.
(2)w k.
Only been here once for lunch, and really looking forward to to making it a regular. Pan fried wide noodles "covered with vegetable" lunch I had was fresh and delicious - although there were no green vegetables. Just carrots, onions, cabbage, that sort. My friend got the Triple Green - have to be honest, didn't look spectacular to me. But will update on the food when I have gathered more data. I'm getting sick of Penang. In terms of coffee, had the house to go. Very sweet with cream. But delicious with a cookie and will just ask for less sugar next round. The siphon coffee machines are beautiful to look at and one day will try a splurge!
(4)Erik W.
Ok atmosphere. However, the dumpling sampler was amazing, and the coffees were quite good. I had the Brazillian Santos and I tried the House.
(4)Cherie C.
Spectacular coffee made through a "24-hour drip" process. A must-try for coffee lovers.
(5)Alan R.
The iced coffee is fantastic.
(5)Joyce W.
I first came across this coffee shop just wondering around chinatown and wanted a cup of coffee. I got the mochachino and it was great. After reading all the reviews on yelp, i wanted to go back and try their dumplings. I cant say its the best dumplings ive had but it does serve my dumpling cravings. I do like the curry chicken dumpling and the different colors of the different dumplings. I also tried their beef noodle soup and its yummy. Of course i couldnt have gone w/o ordering another cup of coffee and again i was satisfied =) their coffee is really good!!!! i like it better than regular starbucks for sure.
(4)Eddie P.
Has there been a place that you find completely amazing, yet few people know of...so it feels almost like your own special secret? This is how Ray's feels to me. Few times have I visited while other people were there. I feel like its location amidst the sea of thousands of Chinese food restaurants in Chinatown has kept it a secret. I love coffee...and thought I was well-versed and somewhat of a connoisseur, yet I knew nothing of the siphon coffee they prepare at Ray's. They have a bunch of specialty blends (like the $8.50/cup Jamaican Blue Mt), and also a bunch of their own blends (like the "Philadelphia" and "New York" blends). Each coffee on the menu highlights a different attribute in the bean/blend (acidity, smoothness...) so there is something for everyone! So here's the process: A specific amount of the whole bean of the blend/bean of your choice is weighed out, then ground, and placed in what looks like a vacuum filter from a chemistry lab. A flask with water is then placed over a flame with the vacuum filter (containing the coffee) placed on top of it. When the water in the flask boils it travels up into the filter, mixing with the coffee. They stir with what looks like a paintbrush, and when the flame is turned off the now-brewed coffee travels back down into the flask! It's about a 5 minute affair, and what comes out is perfection. Served in a beautiful cup, with a tiny pail of heavy cream and delicious cookie, it is heaven. I'm not done yet! The food is friggin AWESOME! I ALWAYS order the shrimp curry rice noodles because it's sooo gooooood! I've eaten some of my friends tofu dishes they ordered and they were delish as well. It tastes so clean and simple, like you're getting a home cooked Taiwanese meal. There's always a bunch of young guys working there and they just hang out, which makes me think they're a family. That is great :' ) You can buy the coffee beans there too, and I would insanely recommend buying the Ray's House blend. It is easily one of the most delicious coffees. It is extremely fragrant but delicate, and has good hints of caramel and hazelnut. Seriously amazing, I would actually prefer their blend to the Jamaican Blue Mountain! I WORK in a coffee place and am heading there tomorrow to buy a bag-o-beans! Check it out, but PLEASE don't make it a trendy hipster hot spot. No V-necks allowed.
(5)David C.
I always stop by Ray's Cafe if I'm in Chinatown. Their siphon coffee is the best way to start a day. You've heard about their dumpling sampler. Delicious. You also have to try their Young Chow Fried Rice and Grace's Special Beef Noodle Soup. The latter is my favorite hangover cure. The service is always great. If you're like me and support family owned and operated little places, I highly recommend Ray's Cafe & Teahouse.
(5)Linda S.
We checked this place out because it was known to serve taiwanese food. There wasn't much of a selection, a few good beef/seafood noodle soup dishes and that's about it. They have these elegant siphon cofee makers that drip slowly to make the smoothest, richest cofee you'll ever have. Mmmmmm. Definitely check this place out if you love coffee.
(3)Pla' F.
I usually come here to get a green milk tea smoothie with bubbles. That drink is always good. The green tea is just perfect. I also used to get green tea with bubbles once. It's good but still the green milk tea smoothie is the best. Yesterday I went to have lunch there for the first time. The dumpling samplers is the best! The house special fried noodle is very yummy as well! My friend also got the ray's recipe noodle soup one. The soup is perfect for the people who like the light soup. The beef is super soft. Over all is yummier than I expected.
(5)Hoang T.
Coffee review only 4.5 stars I saw Ray's Cafe on the top 10 coffee spots in philly. I actually been here for food and tea years ago and it was a really great experience then (yes, i remember). I wasn't a big coffee fan back then, but now, i'm on a mission to try the best of the best in philly. The first day i went, it was rainy and a hot cup of coffee was called for. Never being here, i didn't know what to expect or how to proceed. The multiple menus (outside windows and inside right whenyou walk in) was a bit overwhelming. I felt a bit awkward starting a conversation with the owner about coffee ...My traditional Asian side came out, you order stuff and don't ask questions, particularly when speaking to older asians. I was under the impression they served exclusively siphon'd coffee. So i asked for a coffee, black. I wondered, "where's the magic that Bill M. wrote about???" It was basically their house brew. The coffee itself was actually pretty good. A lot of flavors and smooth finish. That was already positive despite not being what i intended. The next day, i came back and was on a mission to read the menu and order the correct coffee. I found the area on the menu that said siphon'd coffee. The first 5-8 coffees were out of my budget for the day, so i opted for the $5 house blend. Then the MAGIC began! The preparation and execution of brewing coffee this method is definitely pretty cool seeing. Its almost like a novelty but a necessary science to achieve a different type of brewed coffee. THe description of the house blend did say it would have hazelnut flavors.. but i didn't realize how strong it would be. I'm not really into flavored coffee. The finished product was a nice cup of coffee, but not my preference. I may try another flavor out when i return. Compared to their regular house brew, i prefer that. I do strongly suggest coffee lovers to try the siphon coffee out at least once! It is a pretty cool experience.
(5)Salvatore R.
I can't speak for the food at Ray's Café, but I can at least say that the siphon coffee here is the best in Philadelphia -- and this is coming from someone who has been to a number of coffee shops in almost every neighborhood in the city. Ray's Café has a homey, Mom-and-Pop feel and there is no coffee-house elitism to be found here. As can probably be seen in some of the photos on this page, the glass instrument that owner uses to make the siphon coffee looks like something out of a Medieval apothecary's cabinet, but don't be alarmed, it brews the best coffee in the city, hands down -- the sort of coffee that you dream about when you're having a coffee craving. It's very rich and, well, just go to Ray's Café and try a cup. You won't be disappointed. Cheers.
(5)David C.
This is still the best cup of coffee I've had anywhere, even after living in NY for two years. The coffee jelly is also really good! And the ambience cannot be beat. Grace is the best.
(4)David A.
So i'm new to the area since my new position in my career. I looked up frantically where to get a good espresso. I was told that Ray's is the place to go. my second day in the area and I go to Ray's to try their espresso and sadly i'm not a fan. I've had a lot better and since I've found another place that's named after somewhat after a country..hint it's "Columbia" My co-worker seems to love Ray's coffee, I remember when I went to Ray's I saw an extensive coffee list and saw a coffee for $10 and the cheapest $5, well the house blend is $3. I said what the... really ? Anyway, on my way into work I found a spot near Ray's and thought I'd like to try this coffee I keep reaping reading about. I walk in and take a look, I want try a $5 coffee, figure whats the big deal. I ask for the Colombian. The nice owner reaches up to the marked container and put fresh beans in the grinder. Next the water in the syphon what looks to be scientific, I guess after all if you want great coffee it's all about science. I watched in amazement how this works. I was asked cream and sugar, sure I said but not to sweet, I want to taste the coffee. to my first sip, I was shocked at how great coffee can be. the flavors popped and my taste buds were alive. Dunkin who ? wawa what ? starbucks, really ? This place has gotten me wanting to try all the beans offered. It's that pronounced of flavor and taste. Ray's may not be good for espresso (to my liking) but the coffee, WOW ! i'll be back. I also hear that the food is good as well. i'll have to try that soon too. Enjoy your coffee and don't be scared to pay the money, it'll be well worth it, I'm glad I did and now I know what good coffee is.
(5)Bobby L.
Found this place via Yelp and was not disappointed. I only wanted a snack so only had the dumpling sampler, it was a great choice. The flavors great! The pork and veg dumplings were my favorite. Next time I gotta try out the full menu. Great small place for 2-3 friends!
(4)John C.
The best independently owned stand alone coffee shop in Philadelphia. They are masters of their craft and lack all of the pretentiousness that sometimes comes with independent coffee shops in the city. The unassuming outside and the disarray of the interior (there are boxes and supplies on chairs and tables) shows that 100% of their work goes into their food and coffee; they don't strive to be flashy or hip. The food and coffee speaks for itself, and it is delicious. If you have never visited this place, definitely add it to the top of your philly restaurant list.
(5)Amy C.
A great little coffee shop! The owner Grace is very friendly and welcoming. If you have any questions or are interested in the brewing process she's very helpful. They have siphon coffee and iced coffee that goes through a 12 hour process. They also provide food. A great little place for a small bite and some coffee. The drinks are more expensive but definitely worth it! And I love their presentations. The drinks come out on a little tray with a doily. Depending on the drink they could come with a tiny cream pitcher, syrup, or a butter cookie. The Japanese Charcoal Roasted Coffee is a great choice. If you're not a fan of coffee they also have great bubble tea smoothies. They have some great Taiwanese dishes. Their cold sesame noodles have a thicker peanut sauce. The only downside is their hours which can be unpredictable. I also wouldn't recommend this place for large groups.
(5)Kate S.
I went to Rays with a small group who wanted to do something different. We all had drinks (coffee, bubble tea) and a dumpling sampler and sesame noodles. The food was quite good but the real reason to come is the coffee. Many different kinds are on offer and the descriptions are pretty helpful in choosing. The coffee machine (instrument?) is very cool and the owners were nice enough to explain the physics to us. The owner and waiter were incredibly nice and made the experience even better. The coffee is expensive (5-10$) but it was exceptionally good. The floral notes came through beautifully and it was delicious. It's a little pricey for every day coffee but it's a terrific destination coffee shop. Loved the coffee and the people. The food was good too but not the main reason to go I think although we sampled only two things.
(4)Dennis B.
This is down right the best coffee.........unequaled......they have been around before the coffee boom......and Grace was ahead of it......you can drive by and miss it....... the best coffee anywhere.....
(5)Justin M.
Got the green milk tea smoothie made by the guy who works here. Wow super jasminey but super good actually. It's different and refreshing. I just happened to park across from here. Lucky me. Haha wish I had time to try the coffee everyone raves about but oh well happy with the tea
(4)Denise K.
Such a cute little coffee shop in China town. I got an iced latte which came with whip. My husband got the Ethiopian blend which he though was just ok. It's very quaint inside.
(4)krista b.
Work right across street, so have been coming here off and on for years. Definitely pricey but also very tasty fresh food. Coffee is delish and smoothies are to die for...
(4)Susan M.
Very tasty place, but the hours make it difficult to find a time to go. Great options for coffee and tea, and excellent lunch specials. Small environment and seems to be run by a family.
(4)Frank P.
They're drip iced coffee is best ever. Like O face level good! Haven't a place in the world that matches the deep roast flavor.Now can I get an of this?
(4)C W.
Great dumplings! Especially the leek dumplings. Had original milk and green milk bubble tea-boba was soft and chewy, tea was not too sweet. Very nice owners and wait staff, accomodated our last minute changes in our order.
(5)Smrithi D.
A delightful little cafe with.... wait for it: slowly dripped, siphon-style coffee! The owner Grace is very sweet and always remembers my co-workers and I. The lunch special is very much worth the price,you can get a spring roll, with an entree (noodles or soup), followed by coffee which is served with a little cup of creamer and a dipped cookie. This meal can save as drabby friday afternoon when you want a week to end and just want to treat yourself to some amazing coffee.
(5)Erin C.
It was late night on a weekday and we needed to kill some time. After Yelping nearby cafes, we decided on Ray's for some tea -- didn't want to mess with our chances of getting beauty sleep. At first, we were underwhelmed. The decor was a little cluttered, the furniture rickety, and glancing over their menu, we realized they weren't serving the kind of tea we were hoping for (cheaper and non-caffeinated). But, being amiable adventurers, we made peace with trying out their coffee instead. Despite having already consumed an unreasonable amount of caffeine earlier that day, COFFEE WAS WORTH IT. Ray's and co take coffee seriously, like they import that special Japanese charcoal blend straight from Japan. We ordered three different blends under the siphon option, and all were great, but the charcoal blend really stood out. I had hearts in my eyes when the coffee came out on the colorful trays, with tiny spoons, baby pitchers of cream, and chocolate-dipped butter cookies with sprinkles. I can't really speak on the rest of the menu, but I do know that if I'm ever in the area again and desiring a unique cuppa experience at the starting price of Starbucks, Ray's'll be worth the trip!
(4)Rebecca G.
Coffee is essential after a big midday meal. So naturally, after finishing ours at M Kee, my friend and I headed here for a cup. Sampling a Siphon-made one for the first time, I selected the Ethiopian bean for the brew. Sun-dried, but darker than I would have liked (I prefer light roasts), it nonetheless was well-prepared, and tasted slightly of berries. And of course aided with digestion!
(4)Ula C.
This is one eclectic restaurant - a mix of authentic Taiwanese food, americanized Chinese food, and coffee shop. I recommend the beef tomato fried rice, beef noodle soup and wide pan-fried noodles. The food here is not as oily as the one you get at a regular Chinese restaurant. The coffee is excellent as well, very smooth, and they all come with a little cookie snack. The restaurant is family owned and has a homey quality. The owner Grace is super nice. I frequented this place when I live in Philly. This is one place I miss after moving away.
(4)Anita S.
I enjoyed the fresh squeezed lemonade I ordered as well as the dumpling sampler- my personal favorite was the curried chicken, but they were all good. Sesame noodles had a stronger peanut flavor than I was expecting, but were a nice treat.
(4)Joe W.
Saw the great reviews on Yelp and decided to check this place out. The atmosphere was enjoyable and the tea was tasty. Service was attentive and made sure that we had everything we needed. We got Jasmine tea and the dumpling sampler. I echo previous reviews that it is definitely worth getting when you go there. I don't know if I'd buy a $10 cup of Blue Mountain Coffee, I'm sure its good though!!
(4)Erin B.
My husband has lived in Chinatown for 25+ years and has never tried Ray's cafe, although he rationalizes that it must be good, b/c of how long it's been around! I've lived in Chinatown for four years and have never tried Ray's Cafe before yesterday. Although I just had tea - I was impressed and will definitely be back. I met up with a new friend (who recently moved to the neighborhood) for coffee & tea. Instead of going for the usual Starbucks, we decided to go for a hometown staple! I ordered the ginger tea and she ordered an iced coffee. My ginger tea was delish and rivaled the home-made tea that my father-in-law makes especially for me. My friend also raved about her iced coffee. I would definitely be interested to go back and try some of the meal options (especially the leek dumplings, which I love from the local dim sum spot)! Maybe I can even bump my 4 stars up to 5.
(4)Sarah P.
Get the dumpling sampler, hot tea with a cookie, and the siphoned coffee. Even their cheap coffee is great. Really great customer service.
(4)maj s.
Yemen Mocha. Dumpling sampler. I don't know what drugs they put into those two delightful items, but I end up craving them multiple times a week. Everything about this place is lovely. From the woman owner, who is sweet as pie. To the sugar cookie that comes on the side of your tea or coffee. To the adorable doily the cookie sits on. To the unique plates and mugs your order is served with. Just.... adorable.
(5)Joshua J.
I'm not one to usually spend 10 dollars on coffee, but after walking in and seeing how sophisticated the brewing apparatus was, I gladly ponied up for the Jamaican, my girlfriend got the Japanese charcoal roast. They were both absolutely fantastic and even though they were very strong, I didn't have a jittery feeling all day long, not sure if that says something about the quality, but it seems so. I was really curious about how the cold brew siphons worked since I've never seen them before, and even though it was an extremely busy Saturday morning, the owner, Grace gladly stepped aside with me and eagerly explained how it worked, and that won me over. I haven't tried the food but everything coming out of the kitchen looked amazing.
(5)Kerry A.
Another place I forgot to review in the moment; visited here last Saturday after the amazing beef brisket soup at Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House. I forget how much I have loved this place over the past decade and then forget to visit it more often. Hands-down, THE BEST FRIGGIN CUP OF COFFEE you will ever drink. It is smooth. Done in a siphon. It's elegant to watch the brewing process and even better to savor. What blows my mind is that we were the only people in the place on a Sat evening. It's such a gem, I wonder if the bleak block of 9th St. where it resides finds people simply by-passing it ... I won't stay away too long in between visits !
(5)Sovanny B.
I came because of all the good reviews I've read. I was kind of disappointed by the service and the tea that I have brought. I haven't tried their coffee (which the reviews said was great) but I don't think I'll give it a second try. It was just awkward when I went in, and not very friendly.
(3)Tom I.
When I lived in Philadelphia before, Ray's Cafe and Teahouse was a reliable go-to spot for food, tea and coffee. Once, well over a year ago, when my girlfriend and I were in Philly to visit, we stopped at Ray's for some coffee but we hadn't gotten back during the year-plus since we've moved here. We finally got back yesterday and I was curious to find out if it's still the awesome Taiwanese restaurant it had always been. I happy to report it lives up to my fond memories. For lunch, we ordered two of my favorite dishes: the leek boxes for an appetizer and the sesame shrimp with broccoli for an entree. The leek boxes are similar to pan-fried dumplings and are stuffed with egg, glass noodles, and, of course, leeks. We also shared a bowl of beef noodle soup. As I remembered, everything was fresh and nicely prepared. Most dishes at Ray's are pretty simple and I mean that as a compliment. Nothing is overly fancy and the care of preparation shines. We finished our meals with a couple of siphon coffees. An argument could be made that this is the best coffee in the city. The coffee always comes in a unique mug and is accompanied by a small cookie. A nice touch. I'm glad after several years that Ray's is a good as I remembered it to be and won't be waiting too long to get back.
(5)Ron H.
The only place in Philadelphia to get authentic Hawaiian Kona or Jamacian Blue. Don't be afraid to try something new, the Japanese charcoal blend is actually better than the kona! Coffee here is done right, perfectly brewed with a vacuum type system.
(5)Nora S.
I have a serious soft spot for Ray's and try to go there whenever I'm in Chinatown. Grace is sweet as pie and the coffee is fantastic. It is the best iced coffee I've ever had--tastes like chocolate. When you dine in they give you an adorable mini pitcher of cream and a mini cookie on a little platter. The dumplings are great too, but my favorite is really the iced coffee or lattes. One of my favorite Philly spots.
(5)Grant T.
Nice little place with very nice staff. The service is what earns the stars for my review. Tried the Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee...meh. I think I had reasonable expectations, but was underwhelmed (no exciting flavors or aromas that I detected, typical body). Tried the dumplings; they were good and nicely presented. Could improve the pastry options, which are out of house made muffins and cookies.
(4)Victoria V.
I love this little gem in Chinatown. The owner, Grace, is a really sweet lady and remembers you if you're a returning customer. They always present with their teas and coffees in cute Japanese/Chinese style cups and spoons, with a little cup for cream...all neatly laid out on a little tray. You can tell they are very keen and pride themselves in presentation and quality. Their coffees are slowly dripped, siphon-style..so the taste is very dense and rich. If you're a coffee lover, you would definitely appreciate this. Lastly...Their Walnut Delight dish is amazing. It's a vegetarian dish where the mushroom is made to taste very similar to general Tso's chicken. The texture and taste was so similar to chicken, I had to ask Grace if it really was mushrooms in there. Best "mock" chicken I've had.
(5)Adam T.
I heard about the $10 blue mountain coffee (It's actually $9.50) from multiple Yelp reviewers, and had to go check it out. It was a great cup of coffee, and the siphon brewing method was fascinating to watch. Don't think it was really worth the price, but it was fun to judge. Ray's is a nice little Chinatown restaurant with lots of food on the menu, which I did not try. Their coffee selection is extensive, and I will definitely be back for more when I retu Philly.
(4)Regina F.
Sure it's a bit tiny, but Ray's offers a variety of teas, many unbeknownst to Western kind. The pue-er is earthy and delicious, the exemplar of pue-ers everywhere. Served in a glass cup, with a small pitcher for a refill on the side, any tea connoisseur would be pleased at its flavor and presentation. As a sweet bonus, each cup of coffee or tea comes with a mini soft seashell cookie. My only gripe with Ray's is that us illiterate folk can't read the characters offering a more accurate description of the specialty teas, so we have to, in broken Mandarin, ask for a certain type of warm green tea.
(4)Bre D.
Coffee was perfect! Try the Jamaican Blue Mountain. Staff was friendly. Will definitely be returning.
(4)Laura F.
Ordered a latte. Service was quick and friendly. The prices are typical for a latte. Was a very good latte and woke me up! It is in a side street in the Chinatown area - I only found it because I searched on my phone. If I am in the area again, I will definitely be back for some quality caffeine.
(4)Angie K.
I don't know why it took me so long to get here. I've stopped in for a green tea smoothie bubble tea after a failed run (oops), and once other to try the dumpling sampler. The green tea smoothie is better than any other I've had in this Chinatown. The sweetness varied the two times I had gotten it, but still, it was really good. My only (and pretty significant) complaint is that the bubbles are WAY overcooked. The dumpling sampler was really good. Even the gyoza skin was so chewy and perfect. I could drink the two sauces that come with it, even the chili one. The lady was kind enough the explain each kind that was on the plate. There was a veggie dumpling, and normally I hate those, but this one was actually pretty good. I will be back to try the coffee!
(4)Holly T.
I used to live in Taiwan and am always homesick for Taiwanese food, first and foremost beef noodle soup (niu rou mien, NRM for short). Grace's special recipe at Ray's Cafe does not disappoint, with a rich beefy broth, delicious chewy noodles, and tender falling apart beef. It's not very spicy, like most of the renditions I had in Taiwan, but nonetheless so good I finished all the broth. Other than the food, the other reason to make Ray's a destination is their premier selection of coffee, prepared syphon style. If you have not had syphon coffee, you must give it a try. It is my favorite preparation of coffee, not just because it is so fascinating to watch, but because it tastes absolutely delicious. Ray's has a wonderful selection of roasts, including Jamaica Blue Mountain, Japanese Charcoal Roasted, and more. The tea selection also looks excellent, but I confess I haven't yet had tea here because I can't resist the coffee. I'm not sure why syphon coffee hasn't caught on more here, but this is one of the few places in Philly where you can get it. Don't get it to go - sit down and enjoy it. It comes on a tray with an elegant cup, a cute mini-pitcher of cream, and a cookie on the side. Finally, Grace is a wonderfully sweet person who remembers all her customers, and the service is fantastic.
(5)Cathy M.
I love this place! It's really cozy and the owner Grace is very nice and efficient. The presentation of the drinks is really cute, usually you get a little cookie with the hot drinks. I get a bubble tea and the pork napa dumplings. They always taste fresh and they will fill you up.
(5)Beth G.
two words: coffee and dumplings. It does not get any better. Coffee is made drop by drop and worth the wait and the price. The dumplings are like little pillows of heaven, try the shrimp and the vegetarian, and go ahead and get them pan fried.
(5)Zeke F.
The world doesn't need more pizza joints or fast Chinese food restaurants. What we need are more Tea Houses like Ray's. Ray's Tea House serves a veritable cornucopia of fine coffees and teas, as well as great food; one can find anything from lo mein to leek dumplings on their menu. Ray's provides a relaxing and quiet atmosphere to convalesce from the rigors of city life, and serves as a pleasant oasis in the heart of Chinatown. With the beautiful syphon-coffee alembics and retorts displayed, I felt as if I were in an alchemist's lab. The food and drink are both contained in very nice dishes and cups. The service was quite good, despite being in Chinatown. Grace and her son are the kind of folks who will not forget a regulars face. The only criticism I really have is that the music is pretty bad. I suggest classical or jazz, or even Chinese instrumental. Overall, Ray's has been the best coffee house in Philadelphia I've experienced so far. Go there. You won't regret it.
(5)Glen W.
Very cute and pleasant spot, with good dumplings, though the beef noodle soup was bland.
(4)Yiwen S.
coffee siphons!! ok i am by no means a coffee connoisseur. in fact, i'm all the way at the other end of the spectrum, drinking coffee only a handful of times a year. but i think it's pretty awesome when a coffee shop has authentic equipment-- says something about the quality of the caffeine here. the coffee selection is fairly large, but i didn't recognize most of it. instead, i came for the milk tea. it is, after all, chinatown. my friend and i both ordered hot milk teas (hers green, mine black). i love the way milk tea is served here: two tea bags soaked in a cup of steaming hot milk. no sugar added. so simple and pure. because the milk tea isn't made from a powdery mix and boiling water, the drink itself is much more creamy and flavorful. although lipton (green tea) and english breakfast (black tea) aren't my teas of choice, it worked well in this case. since the drinks weren't overloaded with sugar, we were able to really appreciate the slightly bitter taste of the tea offset by the sweet taste of the milk. you can bet i'll be coming back soon!
(4)Leonard N.
Great place for coffee. The service not as great.
(3)D T.
I was excited to try this cafe based on all the reviews. I had ordered the bubble green milk tea. The tea was very diluted and the bubbles were very gummy and not chewy as it should taste. In comparison to a true bubble milk tea, this was very disappointing. China town needs a true Tiwanese tea cafe.
(1)Dan F.
I never thought I'd give 5 stars for American Chinese, much less want to enter any establishment sponsoring this cuisine. However my fellow Yelpers and their glowing reviews, especially about the coffee, plus a need to pay my 23848374534th visit to the nearby PennDOT (see review - it's a scorcher) made it all come together. And so it was, today, that I took my thick-thighed strides up 9th Street, natty in my starch-fresh Lacoste, until I reached the door. Some environments just feel right from the moment you enter them, even if no one's inside, and Ray's is exactly that kind of place. I arrived at a weird off hour of 3 or 3:30pm for Saturday lunch and was greeted outside by a window display of innocent paper tulips. Inside, in the soft pink light, rested a handful of tables, two-tops and four; quiet, clean and expectant, menus upon them, all with good cheer. I hadn't had coffee all day, so first order of business was to ask for a glass of iced. The older woman who took my order looked upon me, placid and easy. For a moment I remembered how it felt to be in grandma's care. Call me sappy, but it's true. In short order she returned with my iced coffee, presented beautifully on a saucer with a teeny thimble of cream, and slightly larger beaker of liquid sugar, and then, a happy cookie tipped in red sprinkles. (See cameraphone photos.) It was delicious and extraordinary. My food was just as delightful. Shrimp spring roll for app, and Tso's for entree. Each piece of broccoli was perfectly green, fresh and bright. Each moment of chicken dazzled me with a glistening hot crackle, balanced nice by brown rice. (You can get white, too.) Every cell in my being joined up to form an electric smile. They've been around for over 20 years. Now I know why.
(5)Charles K.
The owner, Grace and her family are so delightful. they remember your name and what you ordered so they start working on the strongest and best tasting coffee before you even ask for it. they have so many people come here, I do not understand how they can be able to know everyone's faces, greet them by name and recall their preferences. They always have a smile on their face. I moved out log Phily and I am gonna have a hard time finding a replacement.
(5)Kai M.
I've been a fan of Ray's for years, though I never seem to go as often as I think I do: I've been in there maybe a handful of times in the last ten years or so, exclusively for their siphon-brewed coffee. It's expensive, and holy crap, it's GOOD. I think at some point, way back when, I tried a lunch dish or snack; maybe it's just a figment of my imagination. If I did, I must not have been wow-ed, but I'd been reading through Yelp reviews and saw that Ray's food was rated highly. When my gf and I showed up on Saturday, half-starved from a busy day of running around in the heat, we knew we wanted caffeine and food. Oh man, am I glad we stumbled into Ray's. We started with cucumber salad and mixed dumplings. For my main, I got beef with bok choy and she got faux-meat with walnuts (the faux meat balls were made with mushroom). The cucumbers arrived first: YUM. They were lightly pickled in rice vinegar and mirin, and disappeared so fast. Then came the dumplings, perfectly seared (NOT GREASY!), with home-made dough in a variety of flavors, and yummy sauces. So damn good. At this point we were totally stoked for the mains, and weren't disappointed. The "delightful walnut" or whatever it was called was so very tasty; my beef was seared and then tossed in a sauce, and the bok choy was perfectly cooked. The portions were just right. For dessert, I had the "best" green tea, which turned out to be a premium lightly-fermented oolong. Very nice, with a caramel and straw topnote, and a gently fruity finish. So delicious. She got the iced green tea with passionfruit bubbles: YUM. We shared the home-made red bean ice cream. YUM YUM YUM. Everything came out to around $40, only because we got pricey drinks. And everything tasted like Mom made it, if my mom knew how to make amazingly good Taiwanese food. This is definitely going to become a regular stop for us.
(5)Linda T.
tiny coffee place owned by taiwanese lady. they have various kinds of coffees ranging from $9 a cup to $4. she uses the syphon coffee maker, which was cool to watch. coffee comes in a cute ceramic cup with a side of tiny cream, cookie, and spoon. the cup of cream was like the size of quarter. cute! not the best place to sit down and enjoy coffee since its pretty cramped up but the orientation of the coffee is nice.
(4)Gerard Z.
If you're going to serve a 5 dollar cup of coffee, it better be pretty darn good and come with some pomp and circumstance! Well, I'm happy to say Ray's delivers. From the siphon, to the plate set it comes out on, to the cookie - it's perfect. The woman working will probably suggest getting the beans from Yemen. Take her advice, its the best. (They do have cheaper, quicker cups as well and their ice coffee is legit). The homemade green tea and red bean ice cream are amazing...you know its homemade when it comes out of a Tupperware container. The service is great. The employees are super nice and helpful. Great relaxing atmosphere. It doesn't get much better.
(5)Winnie N.
When I think about siphon brewed coffee, images of handlebar mustaches, skinny jeans, and plaid come to mind. Chinatown? Not so much. I desperately needed a place to recharge, and since Yelp does not lie...into this cozy establishment we went. Ray's boasts an impressive line up of beans, including Jamaican Blue Mountain, Hawaiian Royal Kona, and a variety of blends. I selected the Japanese charcoal roast (sumiyaki) and spent the next 30 minutes in a state of caffeinated bliss. The cup and saucer! The chocolate/sprinkle dipped madeline cookie on a doily (sprinkles are key)! The eensy weensy cream pitcher! Here's the best part...the cream remained untouched because the coffee was that smooth. At $7.50 a cup, I wouldn't make this a daily habit, but for a pick-me-up experience it was worth every penny.
(5)amanda a.
I've been to a few coffee houses in Philly and this is by far then best I have tasted. La Colombe has quite a monopoly on the drip house cup for most places in Philadelphia but I prefer small origin African/Asian coffees to Colombian. Ray's has an amazing selection of small origin specialty coffees. While you wait you can watch them use a vacuum siphon system to brew each individual cup. This process is an old technique that is becoming la mode in the new hipster joints. Not to mention each coffee is paired with cookies specially made for Rays by a local Italian bakery in NJ. Try their food too it's as delicious as the coffee. The service is delightful. You will always be welcomed as you go in or out the door and it's small enough that you'll quickly feel at home. It's just off the beaten path but deserves much more!!
(5)Annie A.
The hub and myself stopped by this cute little cafe for Kona Coffee and Milk Green Tea Boba Tea..amazing! The Kona coffee was perfect and my Boba tea was delicious, but what surprised me was the Jasmine flavor in it as well. So glad we found this place!
(3)Caitlin C.
I used to live near Ray's, and it became my favorite laundry time-killing/ reward-myself-for-being-a-functional-adult spot. Unassuming decor but killer chicken/ black bean lunch special. And the coffee! Like a 7th grade science project, served in mismatched china with a side cookie. I miss this place dearly and always recommend it to friends visiting.
(4)