Rays Cafe & Tea House in Philadelphia
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Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, US
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Site: http://rayscafephilly.com/
- Monday:8AM–5PM
- Tuesday:8AM–5PM
- Wednesday:8AM–5PM
- Thursday:8AM–5PM
- Friday:8AM–5PM
- Saturday:11:30AM–5PM
- Sunday:Closed
I would go to Rays coffee all the time when I lived in Philadelphia. I have moved away and continue to order their coffee and tea, because their coffee and tea quality is unmatched. Once or twice they did not have the tea I ordered and the wonderful staff handled the refund quickly and swapped it out with some other delightful items to try. If you live in Philly, go to Rays. If you do not, order it!
I came in the mood for tea, and the tea is lovely, but I am definitely going to return to try some of the varieties of coffee here. Dreaming of pairing some of the handmade sweets with siphon coffee on a pleasant spring afternoon soon...I also got a dumpling sampler and WOW, every single one was delicious! To top it off, the staff seemed really personable and friendly. Very glad I took a walk over here today!
Coffee is on point and strong!Many blends to choose from but philly blend is 💪, and the veggie dumplings are😋 along with their little cookies you get with your special coffee!.Their Siphon brewing method is so unbelievably accurate (The first place in Philly to ever have a cold brew & siphon method at that 33years ago!!) tastes so great, I am someone who adds good amount sugar and creamer to my coffee but here I barely add any!Hands down what I believe and know to be the BEST and cozy family owned coffee shop in PhiladeIphia!!
This is a real gem. The coffee isnt just good its incredible. You pay $11 or so for a perfectly brewed single source coffe with taking notes served in a porcelain cup on a small tray with a tiny jug of cream and a single cookie. It will be the coffe by which you measure all other coffees and they will be found wanting. Theres a Japanese vibe to the whole beauty of the preparation and presentation. The foods good too but this is my new destination for the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy perfect coffee. Those of you who have read the book will know it was tea but you get my meaning and everything thing else will taste less than youve had here.
Holy cats this place is good.Stopped in to get Milk Tea and wait for my ride (which was DELICIOUS), but the owner was so friendly I didnt notice my order was done at first.They do a really cool setup with both siphon and cold brew coffee thats totally worth checking out.This place is a MUST STOP!
If you are in Philly and like great coffee or Chinese food you absolutely have to go to Rays Cafe &Tea House.They are all about the details. Every coffee is ground and siphon brewed for the freshest taste. The coffee is beautifully arranged on mini trays and a paper doiley.Each coffee is served with a homemade Italian cookie from a bakery in NJ which they get fresh every morning. The selection of coffees is superb with around 20 different roasts from around the world.Its off the beaten path and the decor is reminiscent of the time when diner style colorful formica tabletops were popular, but there food is authentic, portions large and reasonably priced.Those who think great coffee is Starbucks probably wont like it and thats fine by me because they dont truly understand great coffee. But if your open minded and love to try something new, make sure you visit them!
Rays has been a staple in Chinatown and Philadelphia since 1989. Its a small family owned and operated shop with some of the best coffee and tea youll ever have.While the siphon coffee may be a bit on the expensive side, you can travel all over the world and be hard pressed to find coffee as well prepared as the siphon coffee from Rays.If the price is a turn off for any reason, or if youre in a rush, the standard drip coffee is also fantastic. I highly recommend the house blends.On top of some of the best coffee you can find, the food and the service are both excellent. Rays Cafe is a true gem in this city.
Rays Cafe is the friendliest and most hospitable establishment in Chinatown. The cafe has a wide selection of teas and coffees to choose from, along with a menu of delicious snacks and dishes. The pork and leek dumplings at Rays is my favorite, with juicy tender fillings and home-made dumpling skins.
My friend took me here while visiting in Philly. Such amazing coffee. Had the japanese charcoal roasted coffee and it literally put me in coffee heaven. Its such a homey warm coffeeshop in the middle of Chinatown. They also make the most delicious and juicy dumplings and authentic beef noodle soup. Went home with a pack of their house roasted beans to enjoy ♡
My kids and I love this place! They say it’s the best of all time. We lived nearby for a short season while I was doing a rotation at Jefferson Hospital. The staff quickly became my kid’s favorite people in Philly. They were always welcoming as they remembered our names, asked about our lives, and served amazing food and drinks. It was like a warm hug in an unfamiliar place last winter.
#1 hidden gem in Philadelphia! Rays has the best quality coffee and tea in town and their food is just as good! I recommend their slow drip house blend coffee with an egg and cheese brioche sandwich for breakfast but their full takeout menu is incredible as well. The family that runs this cafe is so sweet and will make sure that every customer has an enjoyable experience. Anyone that lives in Philly or is visiting MUST stop by and give Rays a try. These guys are DOING IT RIGHT and worth every penny!
This is absolutely a hidden gem in Philly Chinatown. Cant believe I didnt get to this place until now. The Taiwanese dishes here are SUPER on-point. This is coming from someone who recently came back from Taiwan, so its supposed to be a HUGE compliment. I had the house special noodles大滷麵 and it literally made me feel like Im still in Taiwan. The owner/chef is from Taiwan and shes very proud of the dishes she serves- and she has every reason to be proud! Cant wait to go there again and try all the other dishes from this place.
Good coffee is a hobby of mine and this place serves it! For the best cup of the year, try their Japanese Sumiyaki.I also had their steamed pork dumplings, also a favorite food of mine, and theirs are some of the best Ive ever had.Great food, and even better people. 😊
Rays has a number of outstanding coffee blends including Jamaica Blue Mountain, and the house blend. I usually need a touch of cream in my coffee, but liked both blends here black. Very smooth without the typical bite that most coffees have. Even my wife was able to drink the coffees black. Prices were higher than other places but well worth it for the quality. They sell a variety of beans as well. We will certainly be coming back.
My girlfriend wanted really good, authentic tea so we stopped by this tiny tea house. Both myself and her (a bit of a tea expert) were blown away by the high quality teas and pork scallion dumplings. The coffee looked incredible too, but we swore wed try it when we return. Family owned, great service, and authentic tea/coffee/dumplings makes this our now GO-TO tea house in the city. Stop by and you will not be disappointed.
Ive been coming here for 15 years and it is literally one of the best places for tea and especially coffee in Philly. That being said their food is also superb! A small place for a great stop!!!! Btw If you are a vegetarian/vegan you MUST have the spicy Walnut delight. This is an incredible meal!
Great food. Good, convenient coffee to go. Nice small resturant with great service.Ive been going to Rays for years to get a coffee to go. Just started ordering food to go and their lunch boxes are great. Soups are good too.This is a nice spot to sit in or grab something to go in the heart of china town.The prices are reasonable too.Grab some lunch and enjoy the city!
This is the greatest coffee shop in Philadelphia. The Jamaican Blue Mountain was the best cup of coffee I have had to date, and trust me I drink a lot of coffee. The preparation method is fascinating to watch and definitely makes the coffee taste rich and very smooth. When compared to the coffee Starbucks and dunkin donuts puts out this coffee tastes the best. The atmosphere of this cafe is very clean and pleasant. The service was great and very nice. Overall great experience. There is no reason why you shouldnt go and support this local cafe.
This is a gem hidden in plain sight. The lady is very friendly and the atmosphere very inviting and comfortable. I only had a coffee, but it was perfectly brewed and served in a porcelain cup on a matching platter. I highly recommend this over a hectic chain location. Its a great spot for a solo experience or a casual break with a friend.
I will be back. I was traveling through town and needed an afternoon pick me up. I loved their selection of beans and have a cup of delicious siphon coffee made just for me. The two people with me order espresso and cold brew drinks and everyone agreed that this was a perfect place to stop. The service was fantastic and I wish we could have stayed for dinner.
Rays is one of the best and most homely coffee places that Ive ever been to. I had the Puerto Rico coffee (Yauco) and the dumpling platter. Im partial to the Pork-Napa dumpling and the curry dumpling (reminded me of the Samosas in India). The coffee was absolutely delicious, with just the right amount of bitter that was perfectly harmonious with thr crumbly butter cookie. The ambiance is very much like home, and everything is just on point. 10/10 would recommend!
I had oolong green tea and cold sesame noodles. The prices are reasonable, the staff is nice and pretty attentive, the vibe is chill (but dont give them ten- or twenty-dollar bills from the 1960s, haha!). Its okay for parties of 1-4. There might be six tables or so.They have a full menu of real lunch food, as well as some sugary baked goods, and plenty of coffee and tea, hot or cold. I even saw dirty chai latte on a menu -- I didnt realize they had espresso drinks.The bathroom is a pretty normal, single person bathroom.
The coffee was amazing. They brew the coffee using a siphon method that leaves it fresh, strong, and delicious. The ambiance is a bit lacking, though what you might expect in Chinatown, and theres no wi-fi. However, if youre a coffee connoisseur at all, Id definitely recommend this place.
Not your typical Chinatown fare.Rays offers fresh, made-to-order Asian cuisine with a heavy Taiwanese influence.The quality of the ingredients and attention to detail in preparation result in an unparallelled dining experience.A favorite is the Beef Noodle Soup, with beef so delicious and tender - it melts in your mouth.Also a must try are the coffees; whether a high-end siphon brew ($7 - $9) or a regular cup ($2.25 for a medium)
Awful. The woman was nasty to a business associate and myself. I had to show something on a laptop and was told that it wasnt allowed and was told to leave.I dont know what kind of person treats paying customers like that but never again. Not exactly a solid business model to tell people to leave. It is just a cafe. Get over yourself!!
Disappointed, terrible and rude service attitude! Ordinary food, fancy equipment and good language skills do not make you a better personDisappointed, terrible/rude/impatient service attitude! The food is only general level. You are not a better guy though have the fancy equipment and good language.
Total reviews rating 4.7
166 Reviews for Rays Cafe & Tea House 2023:
Review №1
2022-04-06We love everything we ordered. Authentic Taiwanese beef noodle soup made us nostalgic for home. If you’re in the area you should definitely try!
Review №2
2022-06-25Excellent experience! Had the chicken curry dumplings they where fried and mixed with their house sauce was a great combination! Also the selection of tea and coffee was great! Staff was super nice and helpful! Almost forgot about the Macha cheese cake also hand made and good.
Review №3
2022-04-22I would move to philly just to have ray’s everyday. incredible coffee, amazing food. some of the best dumplings i’ve ever had, and definitely best general tsao’s.
Review №4
2022-05-23This cafe is very warm and welcoming! The employees are very friendly and treat you well! The presentation of how they serve their coffee is adorable and the food is delicious! It was my birthday and they gave me piece of cheese cake, sang to me, and gave me a bag of treats! If you’re looking for good coffee, food, and treats, definitely go here!
Review №5
2021-12-03Found this gem in Philly Chinatown. Lovely family-owned business with all the comfort foods and hospitality!All of their coffees & drinks are great! I tried the lattes, matcha latte, cold brew coffee (very smooth) & Siphon coffee - pricey but well worth it. Rare to find a place with Siphon coffee gear from Japan & I am happy to be supporting a small minority-owned business.I also LOVE their Rasberry Oat bar. They hv a delectable selection of breakfast muffins, cake slices, cookies etc.Meals - I tried their dumpling sampler. Awesome choice and love the homemade chili oil.The Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup was SO worth it. Again a bit on the pricey side I know BUT try it at least once! The soup is sooooo flavorful, the noodles smooth and soft but not soggy, plentiful veggies and the beef slices melt in your mouth. It’s also a good size bowl so I definitely had leftovers.Also, I was pleasantly surprised that Angela (owner’s daughter & expert barista) remembered me by my name on the second day I came back. ☺️
Review №6
2022-07-09The tea is amazing! The service is friendly, fast, and thorough. I will definitely visit the next time I am in Philly.
Review №7
2022-01-25I loved this place. To watch the siphon coffee being made is such a special experience. The coffee was fantastic, and I would have given 5 stars just for that - but we also really enjoyed the food too. Very fresh, housemade, and special. I cant recommend this place enough.
Review №8
2021-10-29If you’re in Philly you have to come here. Its a small family owned cafe with amazing dumplings and coffee from all over the world.
Review №9
2022-02-11Awesome place. Dumplings were homemade and delicious. Loved the beef and scallions. Nice pot of green tea as well. Definitely will be back and highly recommend.
Review №10
2021-08-09Hidden gem especially if you are a coffee lover. The place has nice options for food as well as their coffee and shakes. Friendly and helpful staffs. Definitely will come back to try other coffee on their list.