Weekend happy hours can be surprisingly hard to find, which makes them feel even more special when you come across a good one. I’ve always loved happy hour because it’s a great way to explore a restaurant’s menu without committing to a full dinner.
When I learned that Sampan in Center City Philadelphia offers a weekend happy hour—and that it had already been recommended by a friend—it quickly moved to the top of my list for my next trip to Philly.
Sampan focuses on Pan-Asian small plates, which makes it easy to try several dishes during a visit.
Quick Guide to Sampan
Location: Center City, Philadelphia
Cuisine: Pan-Asian small plates
Known for: weekend happy hour and shareable dishes
What to try: bao buns, dumplings, chow fun noodles, satay
Since the menu was full of tempting options, we decided to order dishes from several different sections to get a feel for what Sampan had to offer.
Sampan
Hot Chicken Bao Bun
We started with the Hot Chicken Bao Bun, which had just the right level of spice.
The soft bao bun had that pillowy texture that pairs perfectly with crispy chicken, and the heat made it a great way to kick off the meal. If you enjoy spicy dishes, this one is definitely worth trying.
Hot Chicken Bao
Korean BBQ Beef Satay
Next up was the Korean BBQ Beef Satay.
The beef was incredibly tender and almost fell off the skewer. It was the kind of dish that makes you briefly consider ordering a second round before the rest of the food even arrives.
Korean BBQ Beef Satay
Kung Pao Chicken Wings
I’m rarely able to resist ordering wings, so the Kung Pao Chicken Wings quickly made their way onto the table.
They had a crispy exterior, juicy interior, and a peanut-based sauce that gave them a rich, slightly spicy flavor.
King Pao Chicken Wings
Edamame Dumplings
The dish that stood out the most to me was the Edamame Dumplings.
They arrived in a warm sake broth that made the whole bowl feel incredibly comforting. On a colder day, this is exactly the kind of dish I’d want to settle in with.
Edamame Dumplings
BBQ Beef Chow Fun
No visit to a Pan-Asian restaurant feels complete without noodles, so we shared the BBQ Beef Chow Fun.
The wide rice noodles were silky and perfectly cooked, and the beef was packed with flavor. The jalapeño in the dish added a hint of heat but stayed mild enough that it didn’t overpower everything else.
BBQ Beef Chow Fun
Kobe Hot Dog
One of the more unexpected dishes on the menu was the Kobe Hot Dog, which immediately caught my attention.
The beef itself was excellent, but the smoked mustard was what really made the dish memorable. It added a depth of flavor that made this more than just a typical hot dog.
Kobe Hot Dog
Crispy Brussels Sprouts
To finish things off, we ordered the Crispy Brussels Sprouts.
The sprouts themselves were perfectly crisp, and the addition of puffed rice added a surprising bit of texture that made the dish even more interesting.
Crispy Brussel Sprouts
A Fun Happy Hour Spot in Philadelphia
Between the variety of small plates and the weekend happy hour, Sampan turned out to be a great place to try several dishes in one visit.
If you’re exploring Center City Philadelphia restaurants and enjoy sharing small plates with friends, Sampan is definitely worth adding to your list.
Sampan is located at 124 S 13th St, Philadelphia
If you enjoy discovering restaurants while traveling, you might also like some of the other food stops I’ve written about, including doughnuts in Santa Monica and Szechuan dishes in the San Gabriel Valley.
You can see where else my travels take me, here.
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Categories: Pennsylvania, Travel
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