Now, they have multiple TVs so they can also support a lot of different sports at once. “We show Formula One and Premier League soccer, two very different groups of people in the morning, but can still serve both. The ability for us to use our space to host so many different groups is important.”
“I’m Korean, but have been to China four separate times and one thing that struck me was there’s these huge sculptures of lions in front of buildings. I always appreciated that and thought they looked cool. As a cat lover myself, it always stuck out for me,” he said. “ ‘Lion’ is memorable and approachable to people in general. Also Ding Teng Feng was hard to remember and pronounce. Lion is short and sweet.”
Also sweet is the menu, which combines classic Chinese American restaurant items with classic sports bar offerings like burgers, wings, and fish and chips — a menu headed by Ding Teng Feng’s executive chef, Wang, formerly of Susanna Foo’s — plus combinations, like corn “ribs” and General Tso’s Nachos, that “are a great representation of how we’re trying to mirror American Chinese food, but with a sports bar flair.”
Similarly, Ting Ting’s Cafe opened in January with EMei’s Tsao at the helm, in the space formerly filled by More Sugar, an all-day brunch spot that shared owners with popular Japanese eatery Bubblefish.
“I wanted to bring a Hong Kong-style café to Philly Chinatown because it represents such a unique and special part of Chinese culture that has been missing here,” said Tsao. “Cha chaan tengs are more than just cafés—they’re vibrant, welcoming spaces where people gather to enjoy comforting, nostalgic dishes that blend East and West.”
An example of that East-West combo? Spicy Kimchi Spaghetti, gluten-free combo Baked Creamy Seafood Over Fried Rice, Hong Kong-style French Toast, Matcha Cheese Tiramisu, Cheese Baked Macaroni & Bolognese, and that Philly necessity: wings, either soy glazed or five spice.
Tsao, who also runs newspaper Metro Chinese Weekly and launched a food delivery service called Rice Van that helped Philly Chinatown businesses stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic by bundling grocery and takeout orders to customers living in other neighborhoods and the suburbs, said that opening another business in the neighborhood came organically.
Dan Tsao with Chef Wei Wen at Ting Ting’s Cafe. (Heather J. Chin/Billy Penn) Community strength amid economic uncertainty
The ability for Philly’s Chinatown to attract new businesses while maintaining a committed customer and entrepreneur base is key to its vibrancy and economic strength, said Haoyi Shang, commercial corridor manager with the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC).
That’s particularly so following the successive challenges of the COVID-19 lockdown, anti-Asian discrimination, a battle with the city and real estate developers over the proposed 76ers sports arena, and, now, the Trump administration’s escalating tariffs and attacks against immigrants.
Lion’s Chen noted that “much higher tariffs have impacted us, but we are still fortunate and are able to give good value to customers because we want customers to come in and enjoy. We have a good price, good reputation, and good employees.”
According to PCDC’s latest survey in April of local business owners , there are major concerns about the impact of federal policies on their operations: 71% cited concerns about the impact of immigration enforcement on their businesses, employees and customers, 53% stated that tariffs have already negatively impacted their businesses, and 24% stated that although they haven’t felt the impact, they are concerned about it.
The survey also found that business owners sought support via language-accessible policy information (81%), more access to funding or grant programs (69%), policy advocacy and representation (38%), legal or immigration assistance (31%), and help with paperwork or compliance (31%).
Annie Chi, Jack Chen, Mark Prinzinger, and Kenny Poon at Lion Sports Bar on Arch Street. (Heather J. Chin/Billy Penn) Diversifying the food and entertainment offerings — like having sports on TV and a $5 happy hour — is also key to warding off an uncertain economic climate, noted Prinzinger.
“I think it’s super important, especially for Asian Americans, for people to have a place to go and know they can support local businesses. In this day and age, with many diversity initiatives being cut, it’s so important to have a community where you [can] stay true to your heritage,” he said.
“It would have been a massive loss to the city if the Sixers arena would have come in and we would have lost the vast majority of Chinatown,” he said. “I would like to think that, yes, Lion Sports would work elsewhere in the city, but I think it would have been more of a challenge to do it.”
“People walking into a sports bar in Chinatown? It makes sense to have that combination. And when there’s more bars in an area, more people are also going to come to the area.”
Between new businesses and the upcoming Chinatown Stitch I-95 cap park, residents and visitors alike are hopeful that the neighborhood will thrive.
“There’s a lot of new businesses, but lots are franchised,” said PCDC’s Shang. They have their first stores in NYC and then choose Philadelphia or New Jersey to expand their market.”
“People do see potential and a strong customer base here. Compared to other commercial corridors, there are not a lot of vacancies,” she added. “It has a small, but regularly connected business community and tight network.”
