Tale of the Tape: Sampan

Michael Schulson’s Sampan has opened on 13th Street near Sansom. The celebrity chef is bringing small plates of Asian inspiration to Midtown Village.

The Chef

• Owner Michael Schulson
  • Experience
    • Executive Chef of Pod
    • Opened Buddakan NYC
    • Owner and executive chef of Izakaya in Atlantic City.
    • Has worked for Georges Perrier and Susanna Foo
  • TV Star
    • Pantry Raid
    • Ultimate Cake Off
  • Has his own line of prepared foods, ApetizersToGo.com
  • Adjectives
    • Sexy
    • Charismatic
  • On Twitter at @michaelschulson

The Space

• Designed by Philadelphia’s Sparks Design and UrbanSpaceDevelopment
• 80 seats
• Distressed metals
• Reclaimed timber
• Open Kitchen
• Wall panels with backlit images of trees
• There is an outdoor space that will be ready for Spring
• Audio of famous movie quotes in the restrooms via PhillyChitChat

The Food

• Asian small plates meant for sharing
• Highlights Include:
  • Edamame Dumplings, with black truffles, onion sprouts and sake
  • Tuna Tataki Summer Roll with ponzu gelee, somen noodles and chiles
  • Skate Wing Sandwich with oshinko, arugula and tartar sauce
  • Steak and Eggs, braised short rib with egg and Asian pear
  • Veal Tonkatsu Burger with panko, kimchee and katsu sauce; Young Fried Rice with shrimp, golden chives and congee
  • Crispy Frog Legs with Chinese celery and blue cheese.
  • Soy chocolate soft-serve ice cream
• Full Menu (PDF)
• Price range is from $7 to $29

The Drinks

• Sake
  • Available by the half and whole caraffe plus by the bottle
  • $9 – $14 for a half caraffe
• Wine
  • 8 available by the glass
  • $8-$10
• Beer
  • 4 Asian Beers plus PBR, Brooklyn Lager and Sly Fox Lager
  • $4 to $8
• Cocktails
  • Thai Iced Tea – Rum, lychee and lime
  • Chili Sake Soda – Sake, basil, lime
• The Scorpion
  • Serves up to 4
  • Pomegranate Scorpion bowl served with rum, gin, white wine, fruit
  • $24
• Drinks Menu
• Wine List (PDF)

Sampan
124 S 13th St, Philadelphia, PA
215-732-3501

More on Sampan

First Look at Sampan [The Insider]
Play It Again, Sampan [Thrillist]
Michael Schulson’s Philadelphia Diet [Grub Street]
Chef Michael Schulson’s Sampan Restaurant [PhillyChitChat]