Black Dragon Takeout

It’s impossible to miss Black Dragon Takeout, and not just because of the hypnotizing scent of fried chicken wafting from the West Philly shop. There’s the colorful mural, an electric line with someone blasting Luther Vandross, and classic Chinese menu pictures that will make deciding your order near-impossible. But once you sit down on your couch or the few tables out front and taste the crispy cheesesteak egg rolls and jumbo shrimp drenched in spicy, slurpable General Roscoe sauce, you’ll know why the Black American Chinese spot is a must-try. The menu is a handshake between two worlds—oxtail and mac and cheese here, rangoons and lo mein there. For the most part, the combination works—outside of some noodles and fried rice that could use more flavor. But we’ll be back for more—for the gloriously sweet fresh juices, saucy wings, and curry-spiced lamb skewers that we’ve been dreaming of since our first visit. But also to dance in line with a few strangers to Luther.