Sesami — Restaurant in Lower Merion Township

One word, HOOK! Insanely addictive! 5 stars in every area - taste, freshness, portions(so much food in a bowl!!!!), variety of ingredients (wow can you mix and match whatever you like)!!! This is definitely a dinner or late lunch spot - of u want to go for lunch be ready to as for a doggie bag Bc the portion are suited as a medium/large and I’d even say for some maybe and a very strong maybe large/extra large size! It’s so worth every dollar! If this was in center city Philadelphia/Chinatown you’d probably be paying $2-$4 more per menu item.... All I ask is that you guys get Apple Pay for in store transactions and get bigger drink sizes for the tea, I’d love a 20oz/24oz cup of my favorite jasmine tea! AND LASTLY, more menu items - I’m sure u guys have tons up ur sleeves for us to try OR rotating seasonal menu!! They are FAST here, u order and literally it’s like it’s done! The wait is a pleasant on the odd occasion that you have to wait more than 10 mins! Oh and the quality of their “to go” packaging is 1st class, the best I’ve seen! Nothing spills and the containers are like a biodegradable paperboard that looks good and works so well with moisture!i don’t know the owners but boy have they earned my money and support! Keep up the fantastic work and superior food quality! The ppl are kind but often super busy so some customer service is lost Bc they are not so talkative - they greet u and right back to busy - Take ur order/payment, right back to busy - give u ur order good bye and right back to busy hahaha so I’d love q more social dynamic but that’s just a “nice to have”... I have not encountered an issue so I can not speak to what the customer service is like when needing a resolution... there’s also on site parking if you are not local, there’s about 12 parking spots and they are free and ONLY for patrons - it’s a well paved lot so no issue parking a nice car or motorcycle or...

Update Dec 28, 2020: went again and got the C-town bowl. Amazing friend rice bottom! And for parents of young children, if you plan on ordering the tater tots, be sure to ask them to hold the Sriracha aioli on the side, as that's a little bit spicy.

Excellent ambience, Covid protocols, food, and friendly service. Would definitely return! Our toddler loved the healthy-ish Sesame Tots with edamame, carrots, corn, and cheese. The night market chicken was also nice. Like Taiwanese popcorn chicken (though instead of fried basil leaves you get baby spinach). The sriracha aioli was fantastic!

I got the Bulgogi bibim bowl and the Sesame Chicken Flavor bomb. I loved the chicken bowl. Tender and juicy, flavored well. I also loved essentially everything about the bowl: the pleasantly acidic (rice vinegar?) House pickles, and the sauce on everything - the bottom of the bowl was steeped in a light vinegary sauce, but in a very pleasant way. The sauted mushrooms were fantastic in marinated taste and texture. The bean sprouts popped with flavor while still being refreshing and "neutral." Hard to explain.

The Bulgogi bowl was beautiful. That said, I preferred the chicken bowl. The Bulgogi pork was a tad drier than the chicken. The flavor was great, but overall, I'm a sucker for acidity. Portion sizes were generous. Would definitely want to come back soon! Kid approved and parent approved! Outdoor seating area was wide and beautiful. Great ambience (a good stewardship of the front area...to be fair, we enjoyed the outdoor area back when it was Lavi BYOB). The weather was fantastic, so that didn't hurt. Neither did the friendly staff or owners. People seemed ready to work and happy to be there!

Oh, and I forgot to mention: reduced plastic! Plant-based compostable bowls...

My first dining experience was during the height of the pandemic. My friend and I were coming back from a road trip and were craving some comfort food to round out the trip. We heard amazing reviews from our friends and had to try this out for ourselves. The first thing I appreciated was how they were set up for contact-less pick up to keep everyone safe.

We each ordered our own bowls (I got the Everything Spiced) and shared the Sesami Tots and Night Market Chicken. The portions were so generous for both the bowl and munchies that we were only able to finish half of our food. The Night Market Chicken definitely brought me back to all the times I've eaten through Taiwan's very own night markets. Their teas are a refreshing complement to the food and brewed from Taiwan's tea leaves.

Growing up in Queens, NY and being exposed to so many different cuisines, the closest comparison I could make to Sesami's cuisine would be Korilla BBQ or maybe even an Asian style Chipotle. You can pick pre-designed bowls that favor meat (All Meat, No Greens) or veggies (Super Green/Agedashi Bowl) lovers. If none of the preset bowls speak to you, you also have the flexibility of customizing your own.

If I lived closer, this place would be a local staple for me at least once a week for lunch or dinner. The food is fresh, has lots of variety and doesn't leave you feeling bloated after eating. Highly recommend you give this a shot if you're...