Must try dumplings and beef noodle soup. Small little coffee place with cozy decor. Mrs. Chen service is your Asian auntie that wants to make sure you're well fed with good food and leave with a smile. Her homemade cheesecake is also delicious. Must try when in Chinatown Philly.
I'm so glad I found this quaint teahouse in Philly Chinatown! I only ordered siphon coffee and spring rolls, but I they both were delicious! The coffee was served in a beautiful cup and saucer with a small creamer pitcher and a cookie. The spring rolls were mouth-watering! I didn't feel rushed, even though there wasn't a lot of space in the restaurant. The service was good and the atmosphere was laid-back. I highly recommend visiting this restaurant!
Best cup of coffee I have ever had. I had a Japanese Sumiyaki vacuum siphon. Incredible. This place has been open since the 80s and was probably the first place in the US to have Japanese vacuum siphon coffee back when coffee was 60 cents at a diner. I talked to the owner and her son. Amazing story about starting the place. They personally import coffee beans from Japan (and other places) for the coffee here. You won't find some of the beans anywhere else in the US. Awesome place!
Lovely, cozy family establishment with delicious homemade food! We had the tomato chicken fried rice, sweet and sour soup, and veggie dumplings. Everything was amazing and the dumplings are the best I've ever had. You can really taste the love!
The dumplings and drinks were amazing! I audibly swore after the first bite, they were that good.
And of course the food is the most important part, but the rest was just as good! The cafe was comfortable and clean. Service was exceptional and the presentation of everything was impressive, the best combination of practical and pretty. What a nice spot! I’ll be craving those dumplings for years to come and definitely hope to be a repeat customer. Can’t wait to try more!
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As a Taiwanese American, finding Ray’s cafe has been such a blessing and well-worth the over one hour drive. Upon entering the cafe, you’ll see that it’s a perfect blend of the Asian American experience ranging from the food options to the atmosphere. Sprinkled throughout the cafe, there are so many little things that remind me of home—the organic tea imported directly from Taiwan, the smell of fresh Taiwanese beef noodle soup lingering in the air (a MUST TRY), and the most lovely owner, Grace and family who will host you like they’re your own. Ray’s cafe even offers organic oolong tea directly imported from Alishan. For those unaware of Taiwanese tea, Taiwan is known for its oolong! And while I do not drink coffee myself, my family was incredibly impressed with the wide range of coffee varieties that the cafe carries ranging from Jamaican Blue Mountain to coffee from Sulawesi. They also offer siphon coffee!! Onto the menu, you’ll see quite a stark contrast between the “typical” American breakfasts that are offered and the really traditional Taiwanese meals that they provide ranging from the methodically stewed Taiwanese beef noodle soup that is so incredibly flavorful to the staple egg and tomato dish! Also a must try are the desserts. We ordered the matcha and chocolate cheesecake and its so lovely—very light, fluffy, rich, and strikes the perfect level of sweetness. I am so incredibly thankful that we found Ray’s cafe and I look forward to continually visiting my little cafe that reminds me of my island and all that I love about Taiwan.
This place is a hidden local gem in Philly Chinatown!! The place is small & crowded but it’s a family owned restaurant and all the food are prepared in real-time, so be aware of going for lunch during the busy time! But it was worth it to wait for freshly prepared food! The sesame shrimp was freshly fried and the sauce was a perfect combination of sweet & saltiness. Taiwanese beef noodle soup broth was a bit salty and didn't really had that herbal broth taste to me, but the beef & noodle were perfectly cooked! I was surprised by their “fried rice noodle” because it really had that taiwanese night market taste in it!! Will come back to try more their other dishes (other rice noodles) soon!
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My friend accidentally discovered this nice place during our short stay in Philadelphia.
We were amazed the second we walked in the door, nice decor with the superior snell from the freshly brewed coffee.
Both of had the beef noodle stew dish and happened to be the last two for the day (we were there at 5pm). It tells me how good and popular it is.
Whole waiting, I noticed they offer many varieties of coffee and sell it as well, mostly comes with whole beans. (I later bought 2 bags of blue mountain).
Been noodle stew was absolutely amazing, I'm grew up having beef noodle stew from many different places and I can honestly say they are definitely one of the best, beef was nicely cooked, very tender, with home made chili sauce and pickled mustard green, it was a dish I have been craving for.
We happened to chat with the owner of the restaurant and she was very nice, talked about the story of the restaurant and how they run it as a small family business.
Gain lots of knowledge about coffee while we were there.
Conclusion, it's became my go to place while conducting business in Philadelphia. Love the environment and most importantly, the coffee and good will not disappoint you!
We had the Taiwanese beef noodle soup and the dumpling sampler. The soup is literally the best soup I've ever had. The depth of flavor is incredible. The tea and coffee are delicious. Service and presentation are great. I would go back any day!
This is truly a hidden local gem. Everything we tried was the best we’ve had from the noodles to the coffee. The beef noodle soup was the best I’ve tried (even from Taiwan). The oolong tea was brewed to perfection and they don’t skimp on the tea leaves. The curry shrimp noodles were also amazing! Ray was friendly and shared some history about the cafe with us. We loved the service, the food, the drinks, and the overall vibe. It is a tiny spot, but very busy. Some of the items skew more expensive, but that because they’re special and worth it. We will be back!
This is hands down my favorite coffee shop in Philly. They family running Ray’s has made incredible coffee since the 80’s. There where one of the first shops in the US to bring siphon coffee from Japan and they have truly mastered how to make great coffee. The food is also solid. Where else can you get exceptional coffee and dumplings at the same place? The little coffee shop has a lot of character and the experience every time is both authentic and magical. If you’re in Philly, you have to come to Rays’s Cafe.
Ray was so nice and welcoming and Zin was super polite also. really nice ambiance 10/10. Food was so delicious and coffee came with a little macroon. I got the dumpling sampler and taiwanese beef noodle soup. Def reccommend.
Fantastic siphon coffee. I was so excited because I had never had siphon coffee before, and it came out so smooth and clean. And the two coffees I tried, the Sumiyaki and 3 Hawaiian, were so gorgeous and flavorful. Thank you for such a pleasant experience!
When you walk in, you feel like you are stepping into a home, welcoming you in for a seat in their dining room. In one meal, you see just how much the people at Ray's cares about everyone who steps in their doors. It seems like every person is picking up on a conversation like they have known each other for years.
And the coffee and food are amazing! I get the 3-Day Beef Noodle Soup and in the words of many talking about bbq, it is a celebration of beef. Even the bok choy has flavor. Everything I have seen come out of the kitchen looks and smells amazing.
They do a lot of take-out, but if you find yourself over by there and want to just enjoy amazing food, coffee, and community, it's definitely worth the stop.
We went in for tea and a little food. We had the Lu Shan Oolong Black Tea, and it was delicious! We also had the dumpling sampler and some vegetable spring rolls. All delicious. Highly recommend!
The highlight of Rays is definitely their coffee and tea. The only place I know of in the city that serves Siphon coffee. The atmosphere is very cozy, it feels like your in someone's dining room and feels relaxed. Unfortunately the food was overpriced for me to regularly eat here. The ingredients were definitely high quality but the portion was small.
I am eternally grateful to work so close to Ray’s. The slow drip cold brew is a revelation and the dumplings are so fresh and tasty. On my nonprofit pay I can’t make daily visits, but every penny I’ve spent there has been worth it. I hope Grace can continue caffeinating and feeding the neighborhood for a long, long time.
Charming, cozy, colorful cafe with great selection of coffees. Soup that sticks to your bones. And delicious spring rolls. Can't wait to return!
We love everything we ordered. Authentic Taiwanese beef noodle soup made us nostalgic for home. If you’re in the area you should definitely try!
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