Where to eat near the Philadelphia Flower Show

It's a lot of work, taking in all those flowers.

The thousands of Philadelphia Flower Show attendees and vendors have to eat.

Sure, there's Reading Terminal Market and its wonderful selections.

Here are a dozen or so dining ideas within a few blocks.

Yes, we included the "chain restaurant row" along Filbert Street, across from Reading Terminal and the Convention Center Marriott. It may not be highfalutin' food representative of this food-obsessed town, but it's popular. Lines are long at Maggiano's, The Melting Pot, and Chili's.

Inside the Marriott is 13, a serviceable hotel restaurant with a wide menu. On the other corner is the Hard Rock Cafe. The same Hard Rock that you'll find anywhere else in the world.

You can be daring and cross Broad Street for the elegant Amuse, a French brasserie inside Le Meridien hotel, the fanciest restaurant within a few blocks of the Convention Center.

Or you can take those few steps into Chinatown, where we've assembled our can't-miss picks, alongside Inquirer critic Craig LaBan's roundup of Chinatown.

Sakura Mandarin, which serves Chinese and Japanese dishes.

Dim Sum Garden, whose soup dumplings are divine. (You get to choose which Dim Sum Garden - the original at 59 N. 11th St. or the swanker, break-away version at 1020 Race St.)

Nan Zhou Hand-Drawn Noodle House, where you can eat like a king for under $5 a person.

David's Mai-Lah Wah, which not only keeps late hours - closing around the time your morning glories are waking up - but does the basics beautifully.

M Kee, a peerless duck house with sweet, helpful staff.

Vietnam and Vietnam Palace, two polished Vietnamese restaurants across the street from each other.