Black Dragon Takeout has opened at 5260 Rodman St. (Black Dragon Takeout Instagram photo)

UPDATE (8/30/2024): Due to the overwhelming support for their grand opening on Thursday, Black Dragon Takeout will be closed on Friday, Aug. 30 to “regroup” and “stock up for more fantastic meals.” The restaurant will reopen on Saturday, Aug. 31 at Noon. Follow their Instagram page for updates (@blackdragontakeout).

If you’d like to try Chinese food with an innovative twist, check out Black Dragon Takeout, a “Black American Chinese” restaurant that has just opened on South 53rd Street near Cedar Avenue (5260 Rodman St). The restaurant, led by chef and community activist Kurt Evans, offers a fusion of Asian and soul food with some American/Philly staples, including such unconventional Chinese restaurant menu items as Collard Green and Cheesesteak Egg Rolls, Mac & Cheese and Jerk Chicken Dumplings, Oxtail Lo Mein, Sweet Potato Sour Chicken, and more.

The concept for the restaurant was born after Evans saw a “troubling trend” of many local Chinese takeout restaurants closing down in recent years, especially in Black communities where many residents had relied on them for quickly served hot meals. While seeing this opportunity, Evans also wanted to “innovate and bring something new to the table,” according to the Black Dragon website.

The new business is dedicated to “providing nutritious, culturally significant dishes that celebrate Black culinary traditions, all while maintaining the beloved look and feel of Chinese takeout.”

The business also believes in uplifting and strengthening the community by prioritizing local hiring and offering a second chance to individuals who have faced incarceration. Building trust and lasting relationships with customers is another main goal. The business strives to “create a welcoming environment where customers can enjoy high-quality meals without the traditional barriers of Plexiglas windows.”

Evans was featured in a 2023 Philly Mag article where he talked about his vision for Black Dragon Takeout, which is now a reality!

Black Dragon Takeout has officially opened today, serving customers from 12-9 p.m.

For more info about the restaurant, visit their website (blackdragontakeout.com). Also check them out on Instagram.