Chung King Garden

Chung King Garden Restaurant brings the flavors of Szechuan (Chung King ) regional Chinese cuisine to Chinatown, Philadelphia. Master Chef was inspired by his deep knowledge of Szechuan cusines and his travel experience throughout China and the varieties of food he experienced. Other chefs also have extensive cooking experience with Szechuan cusine. The only goal of this restaurant is " to provide authentic Chinese food with no excuses".

Legend says that the Má Pó was a leprous widow who lived near the ancient Chinese city of Sichuan. Due to her condition, her home was placed on the outskirts of the city. By coincedence, it was near a road where goods carriers often passed. Although the rich merchants could afford to stay within the numerous inns of the prosperous city while waiting for their goods to sell, poor farmers would stay in cheaper inns scattered along the sides of roads on the outskirts of the ancient city.

It is said that the first people who tasted the Má Pó's cooking were a farmer and his son who arrived late to the city during a terrible rainstorm. They were forced to find shelter in the Má Pó's home having found that all of the inns were full.

Eager for the company, the Má Pó prepared them a meal out of her paulty larder, now know as Mápó dòufu. The dish was so delicious that soon each time the father and son passed the Má Pó's home they would stay for a meal. In this way, the Má Pó's reknown spread as other goods carriers joined the father and son in visiting and staying at the Má Pó's home. These visitors would often bring the ingredients for her dish so as not to burden the Má Pó's larder.

As time passed, the dish evolved. However, the core ingredients has always been: an ounce of ground pork, a few ounces of dòufu, and an ample amount of chili.