Style File: China Town

WSVN -- In a city without a real China Town, you can still get good Chinese food. Especially now. Famed chef Philippe Chow, formerly of Mr. Chow's in NYC, has just opened up shop in South Beach with his latest restaurant Philippe-Miami.

Stratis Morfogen: "We're all about great food and great service and fun atmosphere."

A lot of that fun comes from Philippe's open kitchen, which gives guests a front row seat to watch these talented chefs put on an incredible noodle show.

Stratis Morfogen: "When Wai Ming Cheng starts his karate moves, everybody look out!"

But, make no mistake about it, the real show-stopper is Chow's signature dishes, which have quite a following all over the world.

Stratis Morfogen: "We do have about 60 to 80 items on the menu, but, literally, there is about 10 items that. You know his following is like a cult-like following for the last 30 years, and it's because of the chicken satay, the chicken lettuce wraps, the crispy beef, the Beijing chicken."

It may not be an ancient Chinese secret, but some of the best dim sum in South Florida is hidden in a shopping center near Tropical Park.

Mei Yu: "We've been here forever, 25 years."

Dim Sum is a Chinese cuisine which involves a wide range of light dishes. At Tropical Chinese, they do the real deal, push-cart dim sum, where carts are rolled around with more than 200 items to pick and choose from.

Mei Yu: "If you go to Hong Kong or if you go to China this is the only way it's served, with the carts rolling by your table, and you pick out the things you want to eat."

Some of the restaurant's biggest sellers are the pork shumai or shrimp dumplings, and for the really brave, chicken feet.

Andres Korba: Definitely the food, it's the first reason I come back. It's always consistently good, a lot of variety."

Looks like the future fortune of Chinese in this city is bright.

A dim sum brunch is done daily at Tropical Chinese from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. You can also get dim sum at Philippe. It's offered all day and all night.

FOR MORE INFO:

Philippe
2305 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-674-0235

Tropical Chinese Restaurant
7991 SW 40th St.
Miami, FL 33155
(305) 262-1552