Gateway's Newest Restaurant Opens

It's not what you might think of when it comes to Chinese food. Ping Pong's co-owner Albert Ran says the Chinese restaurant is authentic Chinese food as you would get in a restaurant in China.

Ran and Ping Pong Chef/Co-owner Charlie Zhang have moved in to the space that was formerly Tokyo Fusion and have opened the doors to a world of entrees that, while not impossible to find outside Philadelphia, is far from the typical suburban Chinese restaurant.

Tomato and Fried Egg Soup, Scallion Pancake, Spicy Seaweed with Sesame, Cumin Flavored Beef with Chili Sauce, Twice Cooked Bacon with Spicy Sauce, Smoked Hit Green Pepper, Sliced Fish with Salted Mustard Cabbage Soup are just some of the items on the menu, along with more "American" Chinese cuisine like Won Ton Soup and General Tso's Chicken.

Ping Pong offers diners a chance to expand their Chinese food horizons while still featuring some of the old familiar stand-bys.

Ran says he was inspired to open Ping Pong after closing a restaurant in Malvern to return to China where he lived for four years operating a restaurant owned by his family. Upon returning home to the U.S. he says he was able to connect with Zhang and the idea for the new eatery in the Gateway Shopping Center was born.

The colorful and inviting dining room was completely gutted, redesigned and rebuilt. The restaurant is deceptively large. From the outside the location on a corner of the shopping center (a few doors down from Panera Bread) looks like it might be small but the doors open to reveal a very large dining room that goes back and is angled to fill a large space behind a neighboring store.

Ping Pong offers BYOB dine in, take out and catering. Hours are Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-9:30p.m. Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. and Sunday 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.. The phone number is 610-254-0281.