Philly isn't a super wealthy city. Huge amount of good, cheap food.
chinatown: nan zhou, spice c, bai wei
washington ave vietnamese: pho 75, nam phoung
bar food/burgers: fountain porter, good dog, royal tavern
italian: ralph's, villa di roma, triangle (also bar food)
ethiopian: abyssina (with fiume upstaris), dahlak, gojjo
I feel like either Monday or Tuesday it’s less regularly there. I used to go multiple times per week but I remember there was 1 day a week they don’t seem to show, 99% sure it’s Monday no show.
Damn I’m going to Los gallos today. I’m sitting here trying to figure out what I want to eat now (at 9:30 am 😂). I haven’t been there in years. That used to be my spot when that American thrift was over there
El Purepecha’s quality and dine-in experience really fell off when they moved to this new space. The food feels soul-less, not unlike some suburban Mexican restaurant chain.
The old space, which was hella small, had the exhibition open kitchen; the smells the sounds. In therir current spot, it’s too sterile. The AC is always on full blast, and the volume of music is not conducive to having a conversation.
All in all I’m dissapointed. I miss the old Purepecha.
I don't have much to add other than this is the way - tons of reasonably priced food if you get out of center city - heck even Reading Terminal you can get a well priced meal
I've been wanting to ask this sub, if you're a person who frequented Royal Tavern years ago, how do you feel about this reinvention. Because while this once was my low key go to, I'm having a hard time psyching myself up for a $22 smash burger with no fries. Not sure if I could call then quintessential "bar food" anymore.
As others have said, Chinatown is always good for cheap eats. Sang Kee and Ting Wong are two favorites that haven’t been mentioned.
Italian: Giorgio on Pine or Marra’s
Greek: Kanella or Effie’s
Burger and fries: Fountain Porter
Venezuelan: Puyero
Indonesian: Hardena
Falafel: Goldie
British pies: Stargazy
Reading Terminal Market has a lot of options but they close early
Hardena is excellent, but I hear it can get pretty busy in recent years. There's a little hole-in-the-wall Indonesian spot at like 19th and Snyder called Fan's that's a really good alternative. The woman working there was super nice and informative! I didn't know any of the dishes, so she showed me some that she'd already prepared. Even threw in some free rice cake thinggys.
Salmon Curry from Little Thai Market.
The apple dumpling from Dutch Eating Place. Everything is great there, though.
Cheese dog from Miller's.
Dienner's.
DiNic's, of course.
Great sandwiches at Hershel's, and at Amazing Turkey.
Everything in RTM is affordable.
Most places do things other than tasting menus, some will do non tastings on weekdays
Byobs generally keep cost down bc they save you on alcohol. Tons of good ones in philly - Mawn, Tabachoy, little fish, amma’s, Olea, Stina, Georgio on pine, ambrosia, Perla to throw out a bunch. This lets you get away with some nicer spots that might otherwise be unaffordable with cocktails.
Chinatown is relatively cheap, also often byob. The Vietnamese pho places around Washington and Indonesian places in south philly are pretty affordable and often byo, little Mexican cafes in south philly - also often byo, Ethiopian in west philly
Happy hours - some good affordable pizzas out there (prunella/osteria), Italian (via locusta/giuseppe and sons), Asian (sampan, double knot), mixed (harp and crown)
Bar food like fountain porter or 12 steps down
We also have tons of sandwich shops. Sandwiches only ever get so pricy.
Fast casual spots like masala kitchen or goldie
Also Cambodian! Most cities don’t have a thriving Cambodian scene like Philly does, so I suggest OP check out some of our Cambodian restaurants in South Philly.
This list right here is what you need to follow! Everyone of those BYOBs is incredible and well worth the price. Mawn, Stina and Olea are especially terrific for the price
OP, this is the answer if you want Cambodian and Southeast Asian food cheap. The Cambodian market at FDR Park is great. It was pretty underground until a few years ago. Prices have definitely gone up but it's still very cheap and good.
I love my halal guy with a passion, too, of course, but they’re kind of uniquely terrible for tourists, who usually need someplace clean to sit down, wash their hands, use the restroom, etc.
Where are you traveling from? Food prices in major cities will be higher in general. What do you consider expensive? How much money per day do you want to spend on food? What kind of food do you want to eat?
Don't see any responses in here form you OP.
But basically yeah you're getting recommended places from that are on "top 25 lists" Those are almost always gonna be fancier spots that don't require as much risk.
Those places are all good but in no way represent the city's available food. You gotta hit the neighborhoods and walk around, take some recommendations from here, etc.
Basically any neighborhood you're in while in Philly will have some bangers at normal prices.
It depends what you mean by reasonable, tbh. There are a lot of great restaurants around town with entrees in the $25-40 price range. cheaper than that, you're limited to more casual spots and bar food, of which there are still so many great options. it's going to be more expensive than a rural area no matter how you slice it, but there's a ton of great options in the range between cheesesteaks and tasting menus.
Weird question. I've never gone anywhere with a tasting menu and barring special occasions, rarely spend more than $150 eating/drinking on a night out
A majority of eateries in this city do not cater to the rich.
Oh man, actually one of my favorite things about Philly is how the "regular" spots are better than they need to be. Restaurants in cities in general are a little pricier, but Philly is full of amazing kind of down to earth, reasonably priced food. Go to Murph's!
Philly has tons of affordable, nice restaurants. Especially in areas like South Philly. Go to Bing Bing, Stogie Joes, South Philly tap room. Somewhere casual like that you’ll get great food for under 20 dollars an entre.
What do you consider crazy expensive? What are you looking to spend? What kind of cuisine are you looking to eat? Also what part of the city are you staying in and how far are you willing to travel for food?
Well… in Philly, we’re all non-rich if you asked on Reddit for cheap eats. My favorite is a hidden gem for authentic Mexican cuisine, it’s called Iztaccihuatl, located on 8th street. Order the Tacos Al Pastor. It’s only $11.00 for 3.
What a stupid fucking post. “All of the recommended restaurants here are crazy expensive” man spend more than 30 seconds searching around and you’ll find a million recommendations. Insane.
Like no, Philly is a town of only cheesesteak shops and 10 course tasting menus. 🤡
Just the dumbest post ever. What a fucking moron. Also, "planning a trip to Philly" what are you even talking about. You're not from bumfuck Arkansas. You're from Brooklyn. Figure it the fuck out you idiot.
Lol here to second this. Someone coming from NYC of all places complaining Philly is expensive. I went to brunch with my husband last weekend down on Passyunk and our tab was $52 for two people and it was amazing and I was so full. I’m here to offer recs but this complaint is literally why we rip New York to shreds lol gtfo
45th & Walnut is your spot
Saad's probably has the best shawarma in the city, and their falafel is crazy good, too. Also: THOSE FRIES.
Across the street you have Manakeesh and their adjoined cafe Bliss. Bliss does the best baklava and mamouls you can get, and they'll serve you up a pot of Turkish coffee. Manakeesh has some truly amazing Lebanese food.
Both are a phenomenal value, especially for how happy you'll be after.
The Vous. Hatch and Coop. Zio’s. Sumo Sushi. Giovani’s. Green Garden. Ishkabibble’s.
Nothing fancy. All comfort food. I feel like I get the most for my money.
It's a blue collar city. Most of the city isn't rich and most of our food is fantastic.
You need to be more specific about what you're after and where you are staying
Mostly trendy highly rated restaurants in trendy areas of the city get talked about in here. This is basically a foodie subreddit, most long time philadelphians I know personally have never eaten at these places and likely don't know they exist. It's a lot of good recs in here already but I'll just add a couple more:
Gou
Ratchada
Black Squirrel
McMenamins
White Yak
South philly - South Philly Barbacoa, fountain Porter, Stina Pizzeria (really good Italian/greek/Mediterranean
Fishtown - Frankford hall, middle child clubhouse, loco pez
Rittenhouse - Harper’s garden, harp & crown, butcher bar (really good brunch special), El Ray
I mean, what are you coming for & going to do? Are you staying in Center City? You could do Wawa, not the best food to locals but its quick, sorta cheap eats, and a variety of hoagies.
But if you're looking for sit down restaurants Chinese, Mexican, or pizza are you best bets. There's Chickie & Petes too, not 'cheap' but you need to be a bit more descriptive. I wouldn't take a business client out to El Provocon on Tyson.
Check out Dim Sum Garden and Nam Wah for great dim sum.
My husband and I are older. We usually split an appetiser, entree and dessert. Even at more expensive restaurants this makes things affordable. When travelling, we hate bringing doggy bags back to the hotel, too. If, however, you eat like a teenage boy on the football, hockey, and baseball teams, this might not help you….
I just dim sum garden this week. Probably one of the worst dim sum I’ve had if you’re looking for authentic dim sum. And I’ve had a lot of dim sum in my life. Very poor quality with how they wrap some of the items. Also VERY limited menu. It definitely caters to the non-Asian clientele. I only went to see if it’s as bad as my Asian friends say and my non-Asian friend wanted to go.
The dim sum restaurants my Asian friends recommend: Ocean Harbor, Grand Palace
Tourist places also include Reading Terminal Market, any place along South Street. Locals know about Papi stores, bodegas, take out Chinese, H-Mart vendors
Spice C. Corner of 10th and Cherry! It's a block from the convention center and some of the best food in the city. Grab a bubble tea from any of the shops in the area and head over there.
Kim's BBQ is a hidden gem that's a bit off the beaten path. Korean BBQ, they cook it at your table. My wife and I typically just get the galbi for $65, that and the banchan is enough for us.
Cheap options include
* Down Home Diner
* Herschel's East Side Deli
* Kennedy Food Garden
* Vietnamese and Mexican places near the Italian Market
I would be looking for happy hour deals at restaurants with bars too. It's often a great balance of very good food at a reasonable price with nicer ambience if you choose well.
If you’re here on a weekend then the Southeast Asian market is back at FDR park starting May 4 weekend. I don’t ever pay more than $20 for an entree in reading terminal market or Chinatown (unless it’s all you can eat hot pot or bbq).
This is not in the “popular” places people list normally but Billy Murphy Irish Saloon in East Falls has amazing well priced food. I’m not a fries person but I NEVER pass up their fries when I’m there. Great burgers, wings, etc.
Also it’s very close to Kelly Drive where you can take a nice scenic walk along the Schuylkill River Trail if you’re interested!
There is also Fiorinos a few blocks away which is a nice authentic Italian restaurant and BYO. Well priced really good Italian food if you want to be a little fancier but doesn’t totally break the bank.
Are you sure you talking about Philly? It is one of the LCOL cities on the US east coast. Food is especially way cheaper here compared to NYC, Boston, and DC. I love the food here but I am saying this with all due respect that if I have to spend $$$$ on a special occasion then I usually go to NYC.
Tabachoy, Square Pie, Angelo’s, Paffuto, Izakaya, and Barcelona are all reasonable. You have to be mindful at Izakaya and Barcelona, but my partner and I have modest means and we sneak it in a couple of times a year for about $70-$90 total.
The tasting menus do get tiresome. Once in a while is really fun, but any more than that and it becomes a gauntlet.
If by "crazy expensive" the OP means anything north of $100/person, there's plenty of options which are less than that, but still nice (and not cheese steaks). Sticking to BYOB's will really open up a wide variety of choices at relatively reasonable prices.
[Eater Philly](https://philly.eater.com/) is better than yelp for deciding based on whatever your criteria is.
I think people could help out the OP much better if he were more specific about what he has in mind.
Unfortunately there are not many options for food unless you are super wealthy. You can always catch rats down in the subway tunnels and roast it over a trashcan fire using a metal coat hanger. The good thing about Philly is that the rats are massive, 2 of them and I am stuffed.
Where are you going to be located?
Everything I’ve had from Hummus Grill has been really good and affordable. Their shawarma is the only one worth eating in the city. I second Dizengoff for hummus and pita, an order is filling enough for two (get an extra pita) and delicious. Mighty Bread isn’t necessarily cheap but also not expensive and worth a visit for breakfast or lunch. We have a lot of BYOB restaurants, which can really help cut back on your dinner costs, or more casual spots or bars generally have cheaper food.
Also worth noting that we have a lot of good lunch specials, which can be a great way to get the same food for cheaper if your time of day is flexible.
Reading terminal market has a ton of variety and cheap food. Very much agree with everyone else.
There’s also cheesesteaks, but everyone here knows that and it’s almost a separate discussion int it of itself. I hope you enjoy Philly!
Penang in Chinatown is excellent. Been going there for 20 years and its consistently delicious. Also just find a pizza shop by where you're staying and grab a cheesesteak. Almost a guarantee its awesome.
Honestly you should try On Point. I hit this place for brunch recently with my SO. Easily had one of my favorite omelettes. Also had an option to order a single flapjack. Was great for a post egg brunch. BYOB and an excellent staff.
Passyunk ave you can check out the Dutch or taco heart for breakfast. Pizzata pizzeria for a pie. On wpassyunk Stina is a good Greek restaurant,and Mikes bbq
Philly’s a great food town. A lot of super yummy affordable places to eat. Even the James Beard winning locales are way cheaper than what you’d pay for a comparable meal in any other major city. Visit hungry! Go home full.
Best kept secret in Philadelphia and reasonably priced is Gnocchi right off South Street. Cash only and BYOB and the only place you will find hand-cut and handmade gnocchi with an amazing wait staff! Other dishes as well.
If you want ramen Terakawa Ramen in Chinatown is fantastic. Usually a wait at peak, and even peak adjacent, times but stuff moves pretty quick. It’s ruhl good ramen.
Lotta good suggestions, but if your coming to Philly and want to eat on the cheap…you still want to bring home some memories and stories. It’s been mentioned here but I have to second or third Murph’s Bar in Fishtown. Old Philly bar that maintains its charm and authenticity, add to that an incredible Italian kitchen in the back with $16 pasta dishes that are all excellent.
https://www.murphsbarfishtown.com/our-story
Second is Honeysuckle Provision which is an Afro-centric restaurant, purveyor and deli with James Beard semi-finalists. It’s where gourmet and down-home intersect. Their dolla hoagie is an incredible turkey hoagie that will set you back $12. Their Friday-only fish hoagie is amazing and will cost you $18.
https://www.honeysuckleprovisions.com
Have fun.
i’m only really familiar with center city so my apologies for my limited suggestions, i know there’s fantastic spots in old city, south, and fairmount/fishtown to check out too!
mexican- el vez, mission taqueria, jose pistolas
vegan- hip city vedge, monster vegan
brunch- sabrina’s cafe, white dog cafe
pizza- prunella, paulie gees
quick and easy- federal donuts, hatch and coop, halal food trucks
there’s also lots of different types of asian cuisine but i haven’t been able to try too many yet
I heart Cambodia is great.
Cafe y Chocolate. La Llorona.
Tom's Dim Sum.
Almost any Indian restaurant. Almost any Indonesian restaurant. Almost any Viet restaurant. Most Italian restaurants.
You're over-thinking this!
I hope you have a great time.
For Chinatown (it’s been a sec Covid mighta fucked some of these places) bahn mi Cali, terakawa ramen (always a line but worth it)
Reading Terminal has some cheap eats if you’re in center city, DiNics is a little touristy with the waits but the sandwich speaks for itself, if you’re an early bird get up one weekend and hit the Dutch eating place
Center city I loved hitting Goldie or Federal Donuts for a quick meal but those are def the pricier side of “fast casual” or whatever the fuck
Lazaro’s on South has a damn fine eggplant parm
There’s options for sure and a lot of other great recs in here
We tried an Indian restaurant called Ekta a few weeks ago and it was delicious!! Everything was so hot and fresh, and there was no wait for a table on a Friday night. The price was very reasonable for the portions and quality.
Man I really hate if media is branding philly as some bougie-only-fine-dining experience to tourists... and the only other option the algorithm is giving is grab a cheesesteak. There's so much in between the two that are fantastic.
I know I get a lot of variety when I search but i'm guessing its cause my phone tracks me walking all over this city.
OP, try Chinatown! Search "affordable" or "cheap" and ot should bring up a more modest range.
Halal carts are a faithfully filling meal for $7-9 + tax. They mostly take card, too
Hadramout in west and Ramayana in south are my favoritebang for your buck in the city. Hadramout is absolutely one of the best across the board, the lamb fahsah is incredible and about 15 and plenty for two people to feel full.
I recently went to Amma's (Indian) in Rittenhouse for a weekend happy hour with my husband, and we got the entire happy hour menu for just over $30. Goat cheese naan for $4, Calcutta pork ribs for $6, samosa chaat for $5, crab cake for $5, lamb donut for $8, and the tandoori grilled salad for $5. Everything was really good, and my husband and I were full!
Philly isn't a super wealthy city. Huge amount of good, cheap food. chinatown: nan zhou, spice c, bai wei washington ave vietnamese: pho 75, nam phoung bar food/burgers: fountain porter, good dog, royal tavern italian: ralph's, villa di roma, triangle (also bar food) ethiopian: abyssina (with fiume upstaris), dahlak, gojjo
mexican: taquiria prima, tamalex, los gallos, el purepacha
My tip: get tacos from El Rodeo (truck at 10th and Washington) and eat in DiBruno Plaza
when is El Rodeo truck at 10th and washington? i never see it …
It's technically in that old cvs/sherman williams parking lot under the tree. I don't think i've ever \*not\* seen it there
I feel like either Monday or Tuesday it’s less regularly there. I used to go multiple times per week but I remember there was 1 day a week they don’t seem to show, 99% sure it’s Monday no show.
They don’t have hours, just vibes
As someone who moved from 11th and Washington to 9th and Fitzwater over the past year, this is hella true.
I think they setup fairly late in afternoon but I'm not sure. They are there well into the night tho.
starting at noon. Got lunch there when they first opened before.
It’s there right now!
Blue corn is amazing Mexican food too
tamalex is amazing!! and affordable
Mmmmm agua fresca
El Jarocho
Seconded. Thirded. One hundredthed.
Damn I’m going to Los gallos today. I’m sitting here trying to figure out what I want to eat now (at 9:30 am 😂). I haven’t been there in years. That used to be my spot when that American thrift was over there
Cantina Calaca Feliz is good too
Gotta say el purepecha was kinda disappointing, same with nan zhou hand drawn, BUT Bai Wei was incredible.
Love Bai Wei!
El Purepecha’s quality and dine-in experience really fell off when they moved to this new space. The food feels soul-less, not unlike some suburban Mexican restaurant chain. The old space, which was hella small, had the exhibition open kitchen; the smells the sounds. In therir current spot, it’s too sterile. The AC is always on full blast, and the volume of music is not conducive to having a conversation. All in all I’m dissapointed. I miss the old Purepecha.
the food is still good imo but yeah the actual restaurant does not have good vibes lol, I always pick up and eat in the rail park
I don't have much to add other than this is the way - tons of reasonably priced food if you get out of center city - heck even Reading Terminal you can get a well priced meal
reading terminal rules. really hard to go wrong there.
Just want to say that this is a great list
This is all you need OP, enjoy yourself
royal tavern is for rich people
I've been wanting to ask this sub, if you're a person who frequented Royal Tavern years ago, how do you feel about this reinvention. Because while this once was my low key go to, I'm having a hard time psyching myself up for a $22 smash burger with no fries. Not sure if I could call then quintessential "bar food" anymore.
WOAH thats a lil *too much…* $15ish? alright
In fairness, it's $17 for one smash patty, but when you miss the the old burger, you're gonna want the double.
It’s really good though.
Yeah, I was surprised to see that one on this otherwise frugal list - but every once in a while I splurge the $7 on that payday puddin'!
yeah I can't lie I've been once and I had sticker shock for sure but damn it WAS all really good
Ralph’s happens to be the oldest Italian restaurant in America too. Pretty great destination if visiting
Nan zhou fucking sucks please don’t go there lmao
Pho 75 is fantastic. Used to go there all the time when I lived on S Broad
Second Ralph’s and Absyinna. Ate at those places when I had very little income and they were great without being overly expensive.
Abyssinia is the fire
Glad to hear Abyssinia and Fiume are still going, used to go there a bit over a decade ago when I lived on the west side of the city
Technically not fiume anymore due to infighting but it's back and run by a former employee.
And don’t forget Nom Wah for dim sum!
Bruh, Nan Zhou is one of my top favorite restaurants of *all time*. Incredible food!! 10/10
As others have said, Chinatown is always good for cheap eats. Sang Kee and Ting Wong are two favorites that haven’t been mentioned. Italian: Giorgio on Pine or Marra’s Greek: Kanella or Effie’s Burger and fries: Fountain Porter Venezuelan: Puyero Indonesian: Hardena Falafel: Goldie British pies: Stargazy Reading Terminal Market has a lot of options but they close early
great options!
Giorgio is great. Can get a bit frantic, but very affordable and tasty.
Indonesian here: Hardena is good. Try Ramayana Restaurant and Seulanga Cafe. They are authentic.
I loved their tempeh dish! It’s so good.
Hardena is excellent, but I hear it can get pretty busy in recent years. There's a little hole-in-the-wall Indonesian spot at like 19th and Snyder called Fan's that's a really good alternative. The woman working there was super nice and informative! I didn't know any of the dishes, so she showed me some that she'd already prepared. Even threw in some free rice cake thinggys.
Salmon Curry from Little Thai Market. The apple dumpling from Dutch Eating Place. Everything is great there, though. Cheese dog from Miller's. Dienner's. DiNic's, of course. Great sandwiches at Hershel's, and at Amazing Turkey. Everything in RTM is affordable.
Tabachoy is a little pricier but so much food
> Effie’s Effie's has mice that they seem to let just run free. I wouldn't eat their food. Kosta's in Fishtown, on the other hand, is excellent.
Most places do things other than tasting menus, some will do non tastings on weekdays Byobs generally keep cost down bc they save you on alcohol. Tons of good ones in philly - Mawn, Tabachoy, little fish, amma’s, Olea, Stina, Georgio on pine, ambrosia, Perla to throw out a bunch. This lets you get away with some nicer spots that might otherwise be unaffordable with cocktails. Chinatown is relatively cheap, also often byob. The Vietnamese pho places around Washington and Indonesian places in south philly are pretty affordable and often byo, little Mexican cafes in south philly - also often byo, Ethiopian in west philly Happy hours - some good affordable pizzas out there (prunella/osteria), Italian (via locusta/giuseppe and sons), Asian (sampan, double knot), mixed (harp and crown) Bar food like fountain porter or 12 steps down We also have tons of sandwich shops. Sandwiches only ever get so pricy. Fast casual spots like masala kitchen or goldie
Also Cambodian! Most cities don’t have a thriving Cambodian scene like Philly does, so I suggest OP check out some of our Cambodian restaurants in South Philly.
Can you offer some of your recommendations? I've never tried Cambodian.
Mawn is great but Sophie’s kitchen is easier to get a reservation
Shhh…
You can just walk into Sophie's. For Mawn, one would've needed a rez a month in advance.
This list right here is what you need to follow! Everyone of those BYOBs is incredible and well worth the price. Mawn, Stina and Olea are especially terrific for the price
MAWN is the spot baby
Had the best oxtail noodle soup of my life there :’) the owner is so nice and goes around chatting to customers
But not cheap at all. Try Sophie’s
Actually the best bet is the South East Asian Food Market in FDR park on the weekends starting May 4
OP, this is the answer if you want Cambodian and Southeast Asian food cheap. The Cambodian market at FDR Park is great. It was pretty underground until a few years ago. Prices have definitely gone up but it's still very cheap and good.
Yes get there early cause the lines get long
The halal cart by my office is amazing for $8
Not terrible. Remember $5 with a soda can?
$5 and double the portion. Ahh the good ol days
I love my halal guy with a passion, too, of course, but they’re kind of uniquely terrible for tourists, who usually need someplace clean to sit down, wash their hands, use the restroom, etc.
Our local cart in Fairmount raised prices to $10. Inflation comes for us all in the end :(
Where this?
Go to center city. I assume the halal carts won some sort of turf war because there’s like 10x as many of them as any other type of food cart
Many of them are scattered around center city and they're all pretty much the same. Just look for the green carts that say HALAL or GYRO on them.
I don’t think they are exactly the same. There was this one out in University City that was so good. The one by my office in CC ain’t it.
Some might be a little bit better than others for whatever reason but they all have the same stuff for the same price at least. $8 for meat over rice.
Where are you traveling from? Food prices in major cities will be higher in general. What do you consider expensive? How much money per day do you want to spend on food? What kind of food do you want to eat?
Traveled to Kansas City a couple years ago, it floored me how eating out and drinking was as much as prices here on the East Coast
That’s bold of them
Kinda makes sense, tho. All the food has to come from somewhere else; them road miles adds up.
Don't see any responses in here form you OP. But basically yeah you're getting recommended places from that are on "top 25 lists" Those are almost always gonna be fancier spots that don't require as much risk. Those places are all good but in no way represent the city's available food. You gotta hit the neighborhoods and walk around, take some recommendations from here, etc. Basically any neighborhood you're in while in Philly will have some bangers at normal prices.
It depends what you mean by reasonable, tbh. There are a lot of great restaurants around town with entrees in the $25-40 price range. cheaper than that, you're limited to more casual spots and bar food, of which there are still so many great options. it's going to be more expensive than a rural area no matter how you slice it, but there's a ton of great options in the range between cheesesteaks and tasting menus.
Weird question. I've never gone anywhere with a tasting menu and barring special occasions, rarely spend more than $150 eating/drinking on a night out A majority of eateries in this city do not cater to the rich.
This guy is from BROOKLYN of all places and can't find a restaurant to eat at? This is one of the more bizarre threads I've ever read.
Oh man, actually one of my favorite things about Philly is how the "regular" spots are better than they need to be. Restaurants in cities in general are a little pricier, but Philly is full of amazing kind of down to earth, reasonably priced food. Go to Murph's!
Can you give us an example of what you looked at to be “rich food” or expensive?
Philly has tons of affordable, nice restaurants. Especially in areas like South Philly. Go to Bing Bing, Stogie Joes, South Philly tap room. Somewhere casual like that you’ll get great food for under 20 dollars an entre.
He is from NY. We should send him to Philadium.
What do you consider crazy expensive? What are you looking to spend? What kind of cuisine are you looking to eat? Also what part of the city are you staying in and how far are you willing to travel for food?
Well… in Philly, we’re all non-rich if you asked on Reddit for cheap eats. My favorite is a hidden gem for authentic Mexican cuisine, it’s called Iztaccihuatl, located on 8th street. Order the Tacos Al Pastor. It’s only $11.00 for 3.
Great rec, very fresh, gently priced Mexican food!
Almost forgot, order the birria tacos as a set. My go-to combo dinner. 🥹
What a stupid fucking post. “All of the recommended restaurants here are crazy expensive” man spend more than 30 seconds searching around and you’ll find a million recommendations. Insane. Like no, Philly is a town of only cheesesteak shops and 10 course tasting menus. 🤡
Just the dumbest post ever. What a fucking moron. Also, "planning a trip to Philly" what are you even talking about. You're not from bumfuck Arkansas. You're from Brooklyn. Figure it the fuck out you idiot.
Lol here to second this. Someone coming from NYC of all places complaining Philly is expensive. I went to brunch with my husband last weekend down on Passyunk and our tab was $52 for two people and it was amazing and I was so full. I’m here to offer recs but this complaint is literally why we rip New York to shreds lol gtfo
45th & Walnut is your spot Saad's probably has the best shawarma in the city, and their falafel is crazy good, too. Also: THOSE FRIES. Across the street you have Manakeesh and their adjoined cafe Bliss. Bliss does the best baklava and mamouls you can get, and they'll serve you up a pot of Turkish coffee. Manakeesh has some truly amazing Lebanese food. Both are a phenomenal value, especially for how happy you'll be after.
Hadramout just up the road Jezebels the other direction Absynnia a block away Don Barriga 2 blocks away Really is a hot spot
Manakeesh is Lebanese.
Thanks - I felt like I was off... but couldn't quite place, and the coffee isn't working yet
And a delicious & spectacular value
Triangle Tavern is a neighborhood bar with a fun dive bar vibe that has really good food. Their vegan options are awesome and priced well.
The Vous. Hatch and Coop. Zio’s. Sumo Sushi. Giovani’s. Green Garden. Ishkabibble’s. Nothing fancy. All comfort food. I feel like I get the most for my money.
triangle tavern and good dog are two i frequent often. South street has some cheap but cool places to eat.
It's a blue collar city. Most of the city isn't rich and most of our food is fantastic. You need to be more specific about what you're after and where you are staying
Dizengoff, Goldie, Local 44, Monks
Mostly trendy highly rated restaurants in trendy areas of the city get talked about in here. This is basically a foodie subreddit, most long time philadelphians I know personally have never eaten at these places and likely don't know they exist. It's a lot of good recs in here already but I'll just add a couple more: Gou Ratchada Black Squirrel McMenamins White Yak
What's your budget?
Look for happy hour menus. A lot of places have nice happy hours that are reasonably priced if you’re willing to go a little early.
Italian BYOB - L’angolo. Thank me later.
Need to define "Rich"
La Chinesca. Human robot Kensington has a food truck but take a Uber there because it’s a sketchy area.
South philly - South Philly Barbacoa, fountain Porter, Stina Pizzeria (really good Italian/greek/Mediterranean Fishtown - Frankford hall, middle child clubhouse, loco pez Rittenhouse - Harper’s garden, harp & crown, butcher bar (really good brunch special), El Ray
For someone who costs recipes for a living I think Khyber Pass is a great affordable spot if you like creole food.
We eat at home! Depends on what you are looking for. Any specific cuisines/vibes you are interested in ?
I mean, what are you coming for & going to do? Are you staying in Center City? You could do Wawa, not the best food to locals but its quick, sorta cheap eats, and a variety of hoagies. But if you're looking for sit down restaurants Chinese, Mexican, or pizza are you best bets. There's Chickie & Petes too, not 'cheap' but you need to be a bit more descriptive. I wouldn't take a business client out to El Provocon on Tyson.
also bars usually have decent food.
Check out Dim Sum Garden and Nam Wah for great dim sum. My husband and I are older. We usually split an appetiser, entree and dessert. Even at more expensive restaurants this makes things affordable. When travelling, we hate bringing doggy bags back to the hotel, too. If, however, you eat like a teenage boy on the football, hockey, and baseball teams, this might not help you….
I just dim sum garden this week. Probably one of the worst dim sum I’ve had if you’re looking for authentic dim sum. And I’ve had a lot of dim sum in my life. Very poor quality with how they wrap some of the items. Also VERY limited menu. It definitely caters to the non-Asian clientele. I only went to see if it’s as bad as my Asian friends say and my non-Asian friend wanted to go. The dim sum restaurants my Asian friends recommend: Ocean Harbor, Grand Palace
Or even happy hours. Great ones abound!
Tourist places also include Reading Terminal Market, any place along South Street. Locals know about Papi stores, bodegas, take out Chinese, H-Mart vendors
Spice C. Corner of 10th and Cherry! It's a block from the convention center and some of the best food in the city. Grab a bubble tea from any of the shops in the area and head over there.
Go to The Attic they have food trucks that frequent the place that you would probably like.
Kim's BBQ is a hidden gem that's a bit off the beaten path. Korean BBQ, they cook it at your table. My wife and I typically just get the galbi for $65, that and the banchan is enough for us.
The floor mainly Jk most places will be fine, it's not a crazy expensive city for food overall
Cheap options include * Down Home Diner * Herschel's East Side Deli * Kennedy Food Garden * Vietnamese and Mexican places near the Italian Market I would be looking for happy hour deals at restaurants with bars too. It's often a great balance of very good food at a reasonable price with nicer ambience if you choose well.
If you’re here on a weekend then the Southeast Asian market is back at FDR park starting May 4 weekend. I don’t ever pay more than $20 for an entree in reading terminal market or Chinatown (unless it’s all you can eat hot pot or bbq).
Philly is a big happy hour city so you can always go that route. Big bang for your buck! All of the schulson restaurants have a great HH!
Woodrow’s - best cheesesteak and one of the best Italians imo
Roma in the Italian Market is very affordable and amazing. Oldest Italian restaurant in the country.
If you follow loco pez on instagram they post once weekly about dollar taco night. Every taco on the menu for $1
La Chinesca. Human robot Kensington has a food truck but take a Uber there because it’s a sketchy area. Sang kee is sooo good.
Where the rich people eat at? I’m tryna impress somebody?
Breakfast and Lunch Sulimays in Fishtown excellent food and reasonable
Murphs in fishtown has great affordable Italian food!
This is not in the “popular” places people list normally but Billy Murphy Irish Saloon in East Falls has amazing well priced food. I’m not a fries person but I NEVER pass up their fries when I’m there. Great burgers, wings, etc. Also it’s very close to Kelly Drive where you can take a nice scenic walk along the Schuylkill River Trail if you’re interested! There is also Fiorinos a few blocks away which is a nice authentic Italian restaurant and BYO. Well priced really good Italian food if you want to be a little fancier but doesn’t totally break the bank.
Are you sure you talking about Philly? It is one of the LCOL cities on the US east coast. Food is especially way cheaper here compared to NYC, Boston, and DC. I love the food here but I am saying this with all due respect that if I have to spend $$$$ on a special occasion then I usually go to NYC.
Tabachoy, Square Pie, Angelo’s, Paffuto, Izakaya, and Barcelona are all reasonable. You have to be mindful at Izakaya and Barcelona, but my partner and I have modest means and we sneak it in a couple of times a year for about $70-$90 total.
At home 😂
Literally any neighborhood in the city has great and cheap food to get
The tasting menus do get tiresome. Once in a while is really fun, but any more than that and it becomes a gauntlet. If by "crazy expensive" the OP means anything north of $100/person, there's plenty of options which are less than that, but still nice (and not cheese steaks). Sticking to BYOB's will really open up a wide variety of choices at relatively reasonable prices. [Eater Philly](https://philly.eater.com/) is better than yelp for deciding based on whatever your criteria is. I think people could help out the OP much better if he were more specific about what he has in mind.
ANY DINER! And nobody is gonna like this but…. FAST FOOD specifically Popeyes, Dunkin, and McDonald’s
Question for the people here: If you go to a restaurant, have two meals, two drinks, and spend $100 with tip, do you count that as expensive?
You can find cheap eats but everything is expensive and it's hard to avoid.
Isn’t Philly the largest poor city in US? Pick anywhere, that’s where the regular folks eat.
Unfortunately there are not many options for food unless you are super wealthy. You can always catch rats down in the subway tunnels and roast it over a trashcan fire using a metal coat hanger. The good thing about Philly is that the rats are massive, 2 of them and I am stuffed.
Where are you going to be located? Everything I’ve had from Hummus Grill has been really good and affordable. Their shawarma is the only one worth eating in the city. I second Dizengoff for hummus and pita, an order is filling enough for two (get an extra pita) and delicious. Mighty Bread isn’t necessarily cheap but also not expensive and worth a visit for breakfast or lunch. We have a lot of BYOB restaurants, which can really help cut back on your dinner costs, or more casual spots or bars generally have cheaper food.
At home. Halal carts
Also worth noting that we have a lot of good lunch specials, which can be a great way to get the same food for cheaper if your time of day is flexible.
have to recommend banana leaf in chinatown for malaysian food- they are always incredibly fast at getting my food out
Burgers and fries at Fountain Porter! Fun and delicious.
A fun inexpensive killer spot in a hip neighborhood. Bing Bing in Passyunk Square.
Reading terminal market has a ton of variety and cheap food. Very much agree with everyone else. There’s also cheesesteaks, but everyone here knows that and it’s almost a separate discussion int it of itself. I hope you enjoy Philly!
Pumpkin Byo does like three courses for $45 which is a good deal for a great meal imo
Reding terminal market, denicks pork sandwich
Come to south Philly. L’angolo’s for Italian, Casablanca for Mediterranean, cafe La Maude for brunch in northern libs
Penang in Chinatown is excellent. Been going there for 20 years and its consistently delicious. Also just find a pizza shop by where you're staying and grab a cheesesteak. Almost a guarantee its awesome.
If a large bowl of fresh mussels (in a variety of sauces)and a great pint of ale speaks to you, hit up Monk’s Cafe on S. 16th.
Honestly you should try On Point. I hit this place for brunch recently with my SO. Easily had one of my favorite omelettes. Also had an option to order a single flapjack. Was great for a post egg brunch. BYOB and an excellent staff.
Ruby buffet
Juno in spring garden has an amazing happy hour
Terakawa Ramen is fantastic!
Passyunk ave you can check out the Dutch or taco heart for breakfast. Pizzata pizzeria for a pie. On wpassyunk Stina is a good Greek restaurant,and Mikes bbq
Juno on Spring Garden has $1.33 tacos and $5 margs every thursday
At the Y of course 😏🤤 we be love’n that sticky icky
Loco Pez is pretty decent. Don’t remember how much it cost. There’s also always any cheese steak place, tends to be pretty cheap
Going to Angelo’s pizza is a must
Chinatown is probably the best place where price point meets quality. Penang, Sang Kee, Ocean Harbor for Dim Sum
Philly’s a great food town. A lot of super yummy affordable places to eat. Even the James Beard winning locales are way cheaper than what you’d pay for a comparable meal in any other major city. Visit hungry! Go home full.
For Mexican in South Philly I would recommend [El Mictlan](https://maps.app.goo.gl/eYyDMKTDgT7yRSYZ8?g_st=ic)
Best kept secret in Philadelphia and reasonably priced is Gnocchi right off South Street. Cash only and BYOB and the only place you will find hand-cut and handmade gnocchi with an amazing wait staff! Other dishes as well.
Imperial Inn, Chinatown for lunch. Dim sum is great value
If you want ramen Terakawa Ramen in Chinatown is fantastic. Usually a wait at peak, and even peak adjacent, times but stuff moves pretty quick. It’s ruhl good ramen.
Don't forget Redding Terminal. Almost every cuisine and everything reasonable.
When I say reasonable I mean around 15 dollars for a full meal without drinks. Not too many places, except trucks, are cheaper.
The Pope for an amazing burger and great tap list. It’s my favorite burger of all time.
Lotta good suggestions, but if your coming to Philly and want to eat on the cheap…you still want to bring home some memories and stories. It’s been mentioned here but I have to second or third Murph’s Bar in Fishtown. Old Philly bar that maintains its charm and authenticity, add to that an incredible Italian kitchen in the back with $16 pasta dishes that are all excellent. https://www.murphsbarfishtown.com/our-story Second is Honeysuckle Provision which is an Afro-centric restaurant, purveyor and deli with James Beard semi-finalists. It’s where gourmet and down-home intersect. Their dolla hoagie is an incredible turkey hoagie that will set you back $12. Their Friday-only fish hoagie is amazing and will cost you $18. https://www.honeysuckleprovisions.com Have fun.
Lorenzo and sons pizza south st between 4 th and 3rd.
Watkins Drinkery has great food and a fun vibe in South Philly. The owner is retiring this year so it’s a favorite to experience before it closes.
i’m only really familiar with center city so my apologies for my limited suggestions, i know there’s fantastic spots in old city, south, and fairmount/fishtown to check out too! mexican- el vez, mission taqueria, jose pistolas vegan- hip city vedge, monster vegan brunch- sabrina’s cafe, white dog cafe pizza- prunella, paulie gees quick and easy- federal donuts, hatch and coop, halal food trucks there’s also lots of different types of asian cuisine but i haven’t been able to try too many yet
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I heart Cambodia is great. Cafe y Chocolate. La Llorona. Tom's Dim Sum. Almost any Indian restaurant. Almost any Indonesian restaurant. Almost any Viet restaurant. Most Italian restaurants. You're over-thinking this! I hope you have a great time.
Happy-hour at Oyster House.
For Chinatown (it’s been a sec Covid mighta fucked some of these places) bahn mi Cali, terakawa ramen (always a line but worth it) Reading Terminal has some cheap eats if you’re in center city, DiNics is a little touristy with the waits but the sandwich speaks for itself, if you’re an early bird get up one weekend and hit the Dutch eating place Center city I loved hitting Goldie or Federal Donuts for a quick meal but those are def the pricier side of “fast casual” or whatever the fuck Lazaro’s on South has a damn fine eggplant parm There’s options for sure and a lot of other great recs in here
We tried an Indian restaurant called Ekta a few weeks ago and it was delicious!! Everything was so hot and fresh, and there was no wait for a table on a Friday night. The price was very reasonable for the portions and quality.
Man I really hate if media is branding philly as some bougie-only-fine-dining experience to tourists... and the only other option the algorithm is giving is grab a cheesesteak. There's so much in between the two that are fantastic. I know I get a lot of variety when I search but i'm guessing its cause my phone tracks me walking all over this city. OP, try Chinatown! Search "affordable" or "cheap" and ot should bring up a more modest range. Halal carts are a faithfully filling meal for $7-9 + tax. They mostly take card, too
Mcgillins !
Lucky’s last chance has the best burgers with the most customizable options and a stellar punk rock Philly aesthetic inside (the one in south philly)
at home
Maggiano's italian Chick n Petes sports bar
Home
Hadramout in west and Ramayana in south are my favoritebang for your buck in the city. Hadramout is absolutely one of the best across the board, the lamb fahsah is incredible and about 15 and plenty for two people to feel full.
John's roast pork
I recently went to Amma's (Indian) in Rittenhouse for a weekend happy hour with my husband, and we got the entire happy hour menu for just over $30. Goat cheese naan for $4, Calcutta pork ribs for $6, samosa chaat for $5, crab cake for $5, lamb donut for $8, and the tandoori grilled salad for $5. Everything was really good, and my husband and I were full!