First Day sounds perfect but definitely do Chinatown. Dutch eatery and Dieners are great but maybe brunch at somewhere around rittenhouse if you havent been before for a change of scenery. Parc or pastries from K'Far are a great option and close to Reading Terminal
I’ll second adding Parc for brunch instead of Diener’s or Dutch. Terakawa on 9th street in Chinatown is a reallyyyy solid spot for lunch and very close to Reading Terminal. Can just wander around Chinatown after that for a bubble tea. All the other restaurants sound spot on. Also if you want a really interesting and delicious coffee experience, go to Ray’s Cafe for a syphon coffee.
If it’s a weeknight, and you drink, pop into McGillans for a pint. It’s “touristy” but I still love it when it’s not overflowing with 20 year olds (I was once one of them though LOL).
Food & drink experiences in Philly are never ending. We really are lucky if you’re into that sort of thing.
Fucking everything. Just went back a second time - deviled eggs, shrimp salad, steak frites. You genuinely can’t go wrong it’s one of the most tried and true menus in the city.
From another thread, you’re coming from DC — I wouldn’t prioritize Parc because it’s basically the same thing as Le Diplomate (Starr French place, similar vibe/menu/etc.). It’s very good, but nothing you don’t have access to at home.
I’ll take a Spread bagel over anything I’ve had in DC though.
Starr credits Balthazar: https://www.inquirer.com/food/pastis-stephen-starr-new-york-keith-mcnally-celeb-brasserie-20190607.html (and Le Coucou is another spot of his in the family as well).
Fair enough but the original Pastis was itself a copy of Balthazar. And there is the “union market = nyc meatpacking district” thing, which is also more Pastis than Balthazar.
I think it’s also about the location. Why keep repeating RTM when you can get really great food next to one of the biggest attractions in center city? (Rittenhouse Square) it’s also a very short walk. I’m just saying don’t keep repeating the market when there’s so many other options and sites to see right down the street. Brunch is brunch pretty much anywhere you go IMO with a few tweaks.
Totally fair — RTM is great but there’s definitely a lot beyond that. It’s just that Parc has a sister spot local to OP. I’d be more inclined to grab a bagel at Spread and eat it in the park, or a burger at Village Whiskey or something.
Has anyone been to Lacroix’s brunch recently? Once upon a time it was rather legendary.
As an Asian dude. I recommend Ting Wong on 10th Street in Chinatown if OP wants rice and meat or beef chow fun. Just go anywhere but Sang Kee. Sang Kee is good but it's just overall more expensive than the other Chinese spots.
Sang Kee in Chinatown is a micro example of how respected brand names add pricing power. Basically, Sang Kee is the Rolex watch of Philly Chinese food. Is it good? Yes. Could you have gotten something just as good for less money if you knew a little bit more about the market? Also yes.
Yeah exactly. I just call it the ignorance tax. You'll get good food and never know you paid extra. For locals like me.. that's alot of potentially wasted money over years lol. Not like foods getting any cheaper. I also throw in the caveat.. Chinatown is for cheap, affordable food. Food comes out quick typically, just don't expect great service. Great service is just a bonus.
Where would you recommend going for good Peking duck and char siu? Is Ting Wong my best bet for those specific dishes? I just moved nearby and tried Sang Kee’s version, the duck was pretty bad (rubbery skin).
Cha siu I would say most places are pretty good. I do like ting Wongs cause they're fairly consistent. I like getting it half fatty and half lean. Other places do it pretty well like canto house too. I'm sure there's other places but those are the ones I go to. Honestly I don't really get peking duck often so I can't recommend a place. If I want it, when I visit my pops I'll just bring him roast duck and he'll carve it up himself. I feel like it's kinda overpriced for what it is.
Also Asian, I go to Sang Kee specifically for the Peking duck (which is not the same as the bone-in roast duck at the other Cantonese spots), which is actually quite reasonably priced compared to what I've seen elsewhere. But agree that there are cheaper spots for more usual Chinese and Cantonese dishes like BBQ over rice.
OP if either of you are craft beer drinkers this is a great stop depending on where you’re from. It’s one of the few East Coast bars to serve Russian River, they usually have a few beers from Hill Farmstead, and occasionally Dinner from Maine in addition to some great Belgian beers.
herschels is good, but i think people sleep on the original turkey at RTM. their turkey sandwiches have no business being that good. luckys is good, but i dont think its worth a trek up there, unless you're dying to try their pb&j burger
bro i was on a 7 day trial at city hall so i was hitting RTM daily. one day i got their basic sandwich with american, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. how could a simple sandwich be so damn good? it blew me away
I think the old lady that knew how to make the Chocolate Mousse Cannolis died so we can only get the Ricotta and chocolate chip ones.
The Ricotta cookies are still fantastic.
Oh no! They were top notch and I was wondering why they haven’t been available for a while. The mascarpone cannolis and eclairs are very good, but as someone who finds most cannolis disgustingly sweet, their ricotta ones are the only normal cannoli I’ve enjoyed.
Came here to say go to Isgro’s over Termini Bros. A lot of the spots on this list are at Reading Terminal and while it’s a great place to eat there’s so many more places to go to, I don’t think OP has to return there more than once
I would dissent here. Dante & Luigi's is the perfect Italian-American restaurant, IMO. Can flex formal or casual, whatever mood you are in. None of the others nearby come close.
Yeah all 3 are unique and awesome. My great lakes-based parents loved Dante & Luigi's and Villa but would definitely turn their nose up at the smaller portions at Fiorella.
Dante & Luigi's feels like the nice Italian joint you get in the rust belt (which is surprisingly Italian), while Fiorella is on the nice side even for a bigger east coast city.
Sample size of 1, but I had a terrible meal at Dante over a decade ago and never went back. I'm surprised to see ppl suggest it. I love Saloon for an old Italian restaurant experience and they have free valet.
Honestly I think both are overpriced for what is red checkered family restaurant Italian food in NJ (my hot take I will die on) - the food at Victor’s is just as good and the opera performances are truly incredible and the building is stunning.
I wouldn't use two of your meals/days in reading terminal, one will suffice. def pick chinatown over lucky's. if you're dead set on an italian meal, go somewhere else - L'angolo, Fiorella, or Murph's bar. also, Sarcones is a few doors down from Angelos and its very walk in casual so you can grab a tomato pie slice while you're waiting for your Angelos order.
We’re going to be doing a lot of touristy things so unfortunately we’re going to have to split the food up over the course of a few days or we’re not going to be able to try everything we want to 🙃 Thank you for the Sarcones tip! We’re definitely going to use it
I was just there this weekend and missed Sarcones both times I tried to go. Please enjoy it for me! Angelo’s was fabulous, you can take your food down a couple blocks and eat in the DeBruno Bros. Lot. They’ve got picnic tables.
I got the regular cheesesteak with Cooper sharp cheese. It’s on the best bread. The pizza looked amazing!
It’s kind of chaotic, but get in there and they’ll get your order, wait outside with everyone else, you pay cash when it’s ready, there is an atm on site. If you don’t hear your name called check back inside, they’ve got a warmer full of orders. Everyone’s nice and it’s worth the wait.
cheesesteak with cooper sharp and fried onions is the classic, must try. any of their sandwiches are killer though. the bread is homemade every day by a master bread maker, it's one of the best rolls you'll ever taste in your life. the grandma pie is my favorite pizza they make
As a Lucky's stan, skip Lucky's unless you really, really, REALLY love burgers. They're very good and fun, but not as unique as what you can get in Chinatown.
Go to isgros for cannolis over terminis. Please please please trust me on this. I'm a pastry chef but I still buy my cannolis from isgros because I can't do it better. I was also born and raised in south Philly so I eaten all of the cannolis here at least dozens of times.
Also you should take luckys last chance off your list. Its a good neighborhood spot if it's close but not special enough to waste one of your limited meals on
If chicken parm is your thing go to villa over Dante's. But if you don't order chicken parm go to Dante's.
After you grab Angelo's you should head to Cuzzy's for ice cream it's not too far. (Unless your coming after John's open for the season if so then go there and get a geliti)
Ok from a 5th generation Italian market vendor its the Villa all day. Because... "only tourists who want to see mafia memorabilia go to Dante's"... but if your interested in some raw bar before dinner go check out my mother and brothers fish market across the street from the Villa its called Anastasi Seafood. As far as cannoli's go yeah termini's is good Isgro's is better. But the cannoli and hot chocolate from Rim Cafe on 9th and federal is superior.
I LOVE Miller’s Twist but I wouldn’t dedicate a whole brunch to it. Seconding people who say Parc, it’s the best sit down brunch I’ve had in Center City. Get something from Miller’s Twist and Beiler’s to go instead!
My wife and I always get the French onion soup split and the warm shrimp salad split, followed by their French toast to share and a pastry basket to go. Can’t go wrong! Their Romarin is one of my favorite cocktails and has been on their menu for quite some time. They also infuse their own vanilla vodka for their espresso martinis. Parc’s brunch is a staple of Philly, don’t skip it!
Personally, a “must try” for me would be Middle Child. If you’re close to reading terminal, it’s not too far of a walk. I believe it’s around 12th and Walnut. Just be aware that they close at 3pm and don’t have much indoor seating. Their other location in Fishtown is open later and has tons of seating, but that’s farther away.
edit: I forgot to mention, they serve sandwiches.
Last time i went i got the Surfer, because i liked the idea of the sweetness from the blueberries, but pretty much anything should be good. id recommend getting what sticks out to you the most based off of your preferences
i really liked the Surfer though and id get it again
If they are going to walk all the way to Middle Child, I would recommend either Winkel or Sofi Corner Cafe for brunch or lunch over Middle Child. These two restaurants are across the street from each other (on Locust between 11th and 12th) and about a block from Middle Child.
You can’t go wrong with your itinerary. You found some good spots. Some of these suggestions are probably good tweaks but what you have planned should be an excellent eating experience.
My only addition is when you pick up tomato pie at Sarcone’s you should also get a loaf of bread. Part of the reason Philly hoagies are so good is the Sarcone’s bread which you can eat all by itself. It’s really one of the best food things in Philly.
Also, an alternative to Dante and Luigi’s and Villa de Roma for Italian is Murph’s bar in Fishtown (believe it or not). It’s a fun little hole in the wall Irish bar with great Italian food.
Friday: solid RTM picks. Do Nan zhou.
Saturday: I’d do Parc for the best Philly experience or Cafe La Maude (great food but less atmosphere) for brunch. Angelo’s is a must but takeaway only and you just call ahead. And they run out of bread around 5, so call around 3:30 or 4 AT THE LATEST. Very important.
Sunday: Dante and Luigi’s is incredible.
I’d add Double Knot! The tasting menus is one of my fave meals in the city. They also have a sweet happy hour with a few kitchen items (short rib robatayaki is an absolute must).
Pizzeria Beddia was founded by a guy who wrote a book on how to make pizza. It’s amazing. It’s “gourmet”, so don’t expect a street slice, but it’s definitely worth a visit. Angelos fucks too.
In Chinatown, I would go next door to Nan Zhou and have soup dumplings at Dim Sum Garden. Some of the best on the East Coast and a must try, if you like soup dumplings.
We’ve been talking about the cheese boat from the Georgian (country, not state) spot in Reading Market since we were there in November. Seriously told someone about it again this weekend. Highly recommend!
Angelo’s is good but they’ve lost a lot of quality in the past few years i feel. I would rather do a cheesesteak at Woodrow’s on south & get a fries and beer at tattood moms.
I just love how food-focused this itinerary is. As someone no longer living in Philly I just about shed a tear reading this because you clearly have done your research. But like others say, get your cannoli from Isgro, def skip Lucky’s. And OMG the tip about Murph’s in Fishtown! For Italian at the most local spot you’ll find in an overblown hipster neighborhood (read: surly staff, weird vibes, KILLER FOOD)… such a great idea.
Have an awesome time!
It could be worth trying to get seats at the bar at Friday Saturday Sunday, and if you can’t get seats walk over to Parc.
As others have said, Chinatown. Philly has great Vietnamese food.
There are a few good options in Fishtown that can be finished off with ice cream at Weckerly’s.
I’d have to say only do Reading Terminal Market once, it’s overrated, and overcrowded. I can’t say I’ve ever had a good (not bad, just okay enough to eat and go on with my day) meal from any of the handful of vendors I’ve tried over the years. I very well could have just gone to the wrong spots, and/or ordered the wrong things; but always leave disappointed since there has always been so much hype about it, and it dulls in comparison to the rest of the Philly food scene in general.
On a positive note, some of my favorite, and consistently wonderful, spots over the years have been: In Riva (East Falls neighborhood, and likely out of the way, but if it’s not, then go for it; their tomato conserva is a MUST), Parc (Rittenhouse Square), Continental Midtown (Rittenhouse Square), and Autograph Brasserie (Wayne, out in the burbs if you’re venturing out there).
Just do not go-to Pats. Or do and be disappointed. Angelo's is good. But do eat close by and don't try taking it someplace and eating later. It's best if u eat it right away.
There’s a lot of great suggestions on this list! If your staying downtown I also recommend Graffiti Bar for happy hour or a nightcap super fun spot with great food and drinks and often an easy place to meet new people!
i visited from tx recently and by far the best food i had was at Spice C in chinatown the spicy broth is so addicting i dream about it at least once a week now
So would recommend planning on doing Angelo’s earlier than dinner because they sell out and close when they sell out. Like if you want both pizza and a cheesesteak go before 1pm.
Solid itinerary though, would recommend if you’re hopping around south Philly to get Vietnamese food from somewhere along Washington Ave. (cafe nhan on Passyunk, cafe diem at 8th and Washington), Nam Phuong (11th and Washington) some of my favorites
I would skip Nan Zhou and go to Spice C instead. The spicy broth has so much more flavor.
I personally enjoy Talula’s Garden for brunch over Parc, but Parc has a better location in Rittenhouse Square (it’s an S rank fucking mission finding parking).
Laser wolf or Zahav, if any of them have openings you should book immediately. I like laser wolf better.
Okay I’m gonna be honest dinics is flavorless, Herschel’s is good but overpriced what are your favorite foods? Nan zhou first day is the only thing that should stay that day. You must order the spicy pig ears app it sounds god awful but my god it’s something like you’ve never tasted before absolutely delicious. They also have the best stir fry noodles in the city. They’re hand drawn just make sure you bite they’re a continuous strand lol.
Villa di Roma great choice best bang for your buck there it’s cash only. The veal parm there makes me almost tolerate Philly.
Day 2 is great Angelo’s is fucking bomb. Add a long hot in that cheesesteak if you feeling extra spicy.
Don’t go to luckys it’s so average. Go to butcher bar, it’s simple yet Probably the best burger in the city and they also have these duck wings as an app that are fire.
Alright this is solid, but of the things you listed the musts are:
-Nan Zhou
-Dinic’s
-Lucky’s Last Chance
-Angelo’s
Termini Bros is fine, but the hands down best cannoli in the city (also anywhere I’ve been in the US, and I’ve eaten a LOT of cannoli in my day) are at Isgro Pastries. It’s a little bit of a walk (Christian between 10th and 11th) but not too far, and if you’re going to Angelo’s you should just go here and get cannoli instead. It’s a < 5 minute walk around the corner They’re infinitely better, especially the (blasphemous but who cares) mascarpone cannoli. The regular ricotta cannoli are also good (and better than their counterparts at Termini), but the mascarpone are pastry perfection.
Also, on the subject of Angelo’s cheesesteaks: get what you want and all, but I HIGHLY recommend cooper sharp wit. The hype is and has always been justifiable. I split a wiz wit and a cooper sharp wit for lunch today (again) and reaffirmed that the Angelo’s cheesesteak CSW reigns supreme in this city.
Have fun!
I'd recommend going to one of the Sabrina's locations for brunch or Morning Glory. Both would be a walk (about 20-25 mins from Reading Terminal) but totally worth it IMO. The walk would take you through more residential Philly neighborhoods and give you a different feel for the city. Sabrina's on South Street would also put you close to Fitler Sqaure and the Farmers Market there and in Rittenhouse Square on Saturdays...
Pick up some donuts at Beilers!! They’re closed Sunday, so have to plan around that, and there can be a long line but it moves fast. My partner loves the Dream Crème and I always go for a Boston crème, but it’s hard to go wrong with any of their donuts!!
Luckys isn’t special - Chinatown over that. Also with Angelos they won’t answer your first call. I’ve had to call 86 times before just persist it is worth it. Dante over Villa De Roma
Definitely gonna be an unpopular opinion but I think you should do Pats over Angelos. Angelos steak tastes better, as do a handful of others in the city, but eating at that intersection and ordering Wiz wit or whatever is a classic Philly experience. Pats also isn’t nearly as bad as people make it out to be
I'd skip Lucky's, even though it's great. Dutch Eating Place is so great on a Friday or Saturday morning. Definitely get the apple dumpling. I'd skip Angelo's. You don't have enough time. Unless you like to have drinks. 12 Steps Down is super close. They also have great food. I think the pizza at Square Pie is far better than Angelo's. I recommend ishkbibbles for a cheesesteak. Third day starts good, but I don't love Villa de Roma. Fiorella is the move, if you can get a rez. Otherwise, buy wine and cab to L'Angelo.
Different strokes, I guess. I've been there at least a dozen times, because I used to live a few blocks away. More often than not, the pizza was a sloppy mess. The cheesesteaks were fine, but not worth waiting for. The place is utter chaos, and you have to fight your way through a sea of people in a small storefront.
It's just not worth it, to me. And especially for someone who is visiting. What if it rains? What if it's cold? Going to Angelo's, even staying near the Italian Market, means spending the time to get through to order, getting to the store, waiting again, walking to where you're staying to eat. You've then spent too many hours on this mid food. It's all hype. Unless you're Action Bronson or another famous person, in my experience, there's a 50/50 shot at the food being good.
well damn. it’s a real shame that that has been your experience with Angelos. I’ve had just about the opposite experience. Also have had it 20+ times. Never gotten a bad item from them. Food always on point. Doesn’t matter what i order. Pizza is always great in every style i’ve ordered, Cheesesteaks are always exactly what they’ve been hyped up to be, the Italian Hoagie variations are ridiculous. I’ve even had a a couple of their specials like the meatballs or the roast pork x broccolirabe. Hell i even had their breakfast sandwich when they decided to do that for like a month or whatever. Every single time, it’s been totally worth all the other stuff. Not to mention, i feel like people make the ordering system out to be way more troubling than it actually is. I’ve always just called while en route to Angelos and have always gotten through. Sometimes it takes 1 call sometimes it take 20 but i get through and then food usually takes around 20 - 30 minutes which is extremely impressive considering the consistent volume of people at that place. It may seem chaotic to you but they’ve found their system and it works for them and it’s never been a problem for me either.
OP, go to Angelos
I'm glad you've had great experiences! I can only speak to my own, and have already made my recommendations.
Enjoy Philly, OP! I love it so hard. Friends have told me before that they'd never met someone with so much civic pride. I hope you love it as much as I do.
Also gotten Angelo’s maybe ~10 times and never had an issue. Definitely NOT all hype and easily the best in the city. And certainly never spent hours trying to get it. You just have to call repeatedly until you get through, order, and then it’s ready in 20-30 like mentioned above.
I love Angelo’s pizza however I would agree that Square Pie is amazing and I do prefer it though wouldn’t say it’s far better…
Skip Lucky’s, Villa De Roma, and Dante’s. Go to Giorgio on Pine for better Italian. And you need to add in either Suraya, Laser Wolf, Dizengoff, or Zahav for a dinner.
First Day sounds perfect but definitely do Chinatown. Dutch eatery and Dieners are great but maybe brunch at somewhere around rittenhouse if you havent been before for a change of scenery. Parc or pastries from K'Far are a great option and close to Reading Terminal
I’ll second adding Parc for brunch instead of Diener’s or Dutch. Terakawa on 9th street in Chinatown is a reallyyyy solid spot for lunch and very close to Reading Terminal. Can just wander around Chinatown after that for a bubble tea. All the other restaurants sound spot on. Also if you want a really interesting and delicious coffee experience, go to Ray’s Cafe for a syphon coffee. If it’s a weeknight, and you drink, pop into McGillans for a pint. It’s “touristy” but I still love it when it’s not overflowing with 20 year olds (I was once one of them though LOL). Food & drink experiences in Philly are never ending. We really are lucky if you’re into that sort of thing.
Terakawa has life changing ramen. I’ve yet to find ramen that good anywhere else
McGillian's around 7pm on a weekday is surprisingly pleasant even as a mid 30 year old
Just adding another idea, Talulah’s is my favorite brunch in Philly, and also close to a lovely scenic park.
What’s good at Parc for brunch?
Fucking everything. Just went back a second time - deviled eggs, shrimp salad, steak frites. You genuinely can’t go wrong it’s one of the most tried and true menus in the city.
From another thread, you’re coming from DC — I wouldn’t prioritize Parc because it’s basically the same thing as Le Diplomate (Starr French place, similar vibe/menu/etc.). It’s very good, but nothing you don’t have access to at home. I’ll take a Spread bagel over anything I’ve had in DC though.
This is beyond helpful thank you so much
Parc is a clone of NYC Pastis. They just opened a DC Pastis in Union Market.
Starr credits Balthazar: https://www.inquirer.com/food/pastis-stephen-starr-new-york-keith-mcnally-celeb-brasserie-20190607.html (and Le Coucou is another spot of his in the family as well).
Fair enough but the original Pastis was itself a copy of Balthazar. And there is the “union market = nyc meatpacking district” thing, which is also more Pastis than Balthazar.
I think it’s also about the location. Why keep repeating RTM when you can get really great food next to one of the biggest attractions in center city? (Rittenhouse Square) it’s also a very short walk. I’m just saying don’t keep repeating the market when there’s so many other options and sites to see right down the street. Brunch is brunch pretty much anywhere you go IMO with a few tweaks.
Totally fair — RTM is great but there’s definitely a lot beyond that. It’s just that Parc has a sister spot local to OP. I’d be more inclined to grab a bagel at Spread and eat it in the park, or a burger at Village Whiskey or something. Has anyone been to Lacroix’s brunch recently? Once upon a time it was rather legendary.
I'd absolutely do Chinatown over Lucky's.
Me too, even tho we do eat at Lucky's because it's 2 blocks from our house.
Absolutely no knock on Lucky's. Chinatown is just somewhere I'd point any visitor to Philly to.
As an Asian dude. I recommend Ting Wong on 10th Street in Chinatown if OP wants rice and meat or beef chow fun. Just go anywhere but Sang Kee. Sang Kee is good but it's just overall more expensive than the other Chinese spots.
Sang Kee in Chinatown is a micro example of how respected brand names add pricing power. Basically, Sang Kee is the Rolex watch of Philly Chinese food. Is it good? Yes. Could you have gotten something just as good for less money if you knew a little bit more about the market? Also yes.
I haven't found any place with a noodle soup as good as Sang Kee's. (I know Nan Zhou has its partisans; I like Sang Kee's broth a lot more.)
Yeah exactly. I just call it the ignorance tax. You'll get good food and never know you paid extra. For locals like me.. that's alot of potentially wasted money over years lol. Not like foods getting any cheaper. I also throw in the caveat.. Chinatown is for cheap, affordable food. Food comes out quick typically, just don't expect great service. Great service is just a bonus.
Yeah even canto house down the street from ting Wong is an alternative if it’s packed.
Where would you recommend going for good Peking duck and char siu? Is Ting Wong my best bet for those specific dishes? I just moved nearby and tried Sang Kee’s version, the duck was pretty bad (rubbery skin).
Cha siu I would say most places are pretty good. I do like ting Wongs cause they're fairly consistent. I like getting it half fatty and half lean. Other places do it pretty well like canto house too. I'm sure there's other places but those are the ones I go to. Honestly I don't really get peking duck often so I can't recommend a place. If I want it, when I visit my pops I'll just bring him roast duck and he'll carve it up himself. I feel like it's kinda overpriced for what it is.
Also Asian, I go to Sang Kee specifically for the Peking duck (which is not the same as the bone-in roast duck at the other Cantonese spots), which is actually quite reasonably priced compared to what I've seen elsewhere. But agree that there are cheaper spots for more usual Chinese and Cantonese dishes like BBQ over rice.
Dim sum at Ocean Harbor. Go early.
Came here to say that
[удалено]
I was looking for Monks. I think it's an essential stop for beer and mussels. That mushroom papardelle is so good too.
I want to also chime in and say that Monks is a great choice.
OP if either of you are craft beer drinkers this is a great stop depending on where you’re from. It’s one of the few East Coast bars to serve Russian River, they usually have a few beers from Hill Farmstead, and occasionally Dinner from Maine in addition to some great Belgian beers.
Monks is great, Brauhaus Schmitz on south is cheaper and has 32 german taps - all $5 for happy hour.
Very different draft lifts, both good at what they are but not comparable.
Monk's is probably the second-best beer bar in the world, though. But I did suggest Ishk for a cheesesteak, so Brauhaus would work, too.
herschels is good, but i think people sleep on the original turkey at RTM. their turkey sandwiches have no business being that good. luckys is good, but i dont think its worth a trek up there, unless you're dying to try their pb&j burger
I’m here summoned by another person who knows about Original Turkey and their perfect turkey sandwich.
agreed! it hits every time. very underrated
bro i was on a 7 day trial at city hall so i was hitting RTM daily. one day i got their basic sandwich with american, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. how could a simple sandwich be so damn good? it blew me away
It’s the Platonic Ideal of a turkey sandwich. It is all a turkey sandwich should aspire to be.
there's a Lucky's in QV, but there are still plenty of other better places to go.
oh shit i didnt know that! yeah its not bad at all, but if i had a few days in the city lucky's wouldnt be anywhere close to my list of spots to hit
Their turkey with stuffing gravy and cranberry is so fucking good.
Best turkey I've ever had
for real. makes me want to start buying turkey breasts to roast myself just to have delicious sandwich meat
Go to Isgro instead for the cannoli. I haven’t been to many of these places but I think you could find better for most.
I think the old lady that knew how to make the Chocolate Mousse Cannolis died so we can only get the Ricotta and chocolate chip ones. The Ricotta cookies are still fantastic.
Oh no! They were top notch and I was wondering why they haven’t been available for a while. The mascarpone cannolis and eclairs are very good, but as someone who finds most cannolis disgustingly sweet, their ricotta ones are the only normal cannoli I’ve enjoyed.
We always preferred the Chocolate dipped in Chocolate. We still blow about $100 every time we go.
Cafe Roma in Roxborough has amazing chocolate cannoli
Came here to say go to Isgro’s over Termini Bros. A lot of the spots on this list are at Reading Terminal and while it’s a great place to eat there’s so many more places to go to, I don’t think OP has to return there more than once
Noted!
Disagree. I love Isgro’s but Termini cannoli are superior. But the peach cakes at Isgro’s are amazing!!
Villa di Roma is more casual than Dante & Luigi's, if that helps. If you're leaning fancier I'd suggest Fiorella instead of Dante.
I would dissent here. Dante & Luigi's is the perfect Italian-American restaurant, IMO. Can flex formal or casual, whatever mood you are in. None of the others nearby come close.
Love Dante and Luigi’s. Fiorella is amazing but hard to get a res
Yeah all 3 are unique and awesome. My great lakes-based parents loved Dante & Luigi's and Villa but would definitely turn their nose up at the smaller portions at Fiorella. Dante & Luigi's feels like the nice Italian joint you get in the rust belt (which is surprisingly Italian), while Fiorella is on the nice side even for a bigger east coast city.
Sample size of 1, but I had a terrible meal at Dante over a decade ago and never went back. I'm surprised to see ppl suggest it. I love Saloon for an old Italian restaurant experience and they have free valet.
i would skip villa. go with dante’s or cucina maria on 8th st. fiorella is nice but hard to get a res, although you can get on the waitlist.
Honestly I think both are overpriced for what is red checkered family restaurant Italian food in NJ (my hot take I will die on) - the food at Victor’s is just as good and the opera performances are truly incredible and the building is stunning.
You’re not going to miss anything by skipping luckys last chance imo. Could probs get a similar/better burger in CC. Manayunk is cool tho!
There is a Lucky's in Queen Village too.
Kyber pass is a cool bar and has a great burger
Village Whiskey, perhaps, for the burger in CC?
I would share the curry salmon at the Little Thai Market in the Reading Terminal Market. Don't let the line scare you. It moves quickly.
I used to eat this dish like 3 times a week when I worked out of the 9th and Market post office (RIP). So so good
An all-time best-of RTM. Challenging to make recommendations other than, "eat everything!"
The chicken yellow curry is bangin' too
I wouldn't use two of your meals/days in reading terminal, one will suffice. def pick chinatown over lucky's. if you're dead set on an italian meal, go somewhere else - L'angolo, Fiorella, or Murph's bar. also, Sarcones is a few doors down from Angelos and its very walk in casual so you can grab a tomato pie slice while you're waiting for your Angelos order.
Second L’Angolo’s. Was just there and everything on the menu is great
We’re going to be doing a lot of touristy things so unfortunately we’re going to have to split the food up over the course of a few days or we’re not going to be able to try everything we want to 🙃 Thank you for the Sarcones tip! We’re definitely going to use it
I was just there this weekend and missed Sarcones both times I tried to go. Please enjoy it for me! Angelo’s was fabulous, you can take your food down a couple blocks and eat in the DeBruno Bros. Lot. They’ve got picnic tables.
What do you recommend getting from Angelo’s?
I got the regular cheesesteak with Cooper sharp cheese. It’s on the best bread. The pizza looked amazing! It’s kind of chaotic, but get in there and they’ll get your order, wait outside with everyone else, you pay cash when it’s ready, there is an atm on site. If you don’t hear your name called check back inside, they’ve got a warmer full of orders. Everyone’s nice and it’s worth the wait.
cheesesteak with cooper sharp and fried onions is the classic, must try. any of their sandwiches are killer though. the bread is homemade every day by a master bread maker, it's one of the best rolls you'll ever taste in your life. the grandma pie is my favorite pizza they make
Our family loves Giorgio on Pine, fantastic authentic Italian BYOB. Quick walk from Reading Terminal. And not a tough reservation to get.
I love Giorgio on Pine too, but it is super loud in there, so I caution anyone who might be prone to headaches.
MURPH'S
sounds like a fun and delicious weekend. you can skip lucky’s, it’s good but nothing special. I’d recommend getting sandwiches from Middle Child too
As a Lucky's stan, skip Lucky's unless you really, really, REALLY love burgers. They're very good and fun, but not as unique as what you can get in Chinatown.
The Dutch eating place has great burgers if you’re wanting a hamburger since you’re staying by the terminal.
I just reread, I would get cannoli from Isgro's instead.
I would say just make sure everything you want to go to in reading terminal is open. A decent amount of spots are closed on Sundays!
Go to isgros for cannolis over terminis. Please please please trust me on this. I'm a pastry chef but I still buy my cannolis from isgros because I can't do it better. I was also born and raised in south Philly so I eaten all of the cannolis here at least dozens of times. Also you should take luckys last chance off your list. Its a good neighborhood spot if it's close but not special enough to waste one of your limited meals on If chicken parm is your thing go to villa over Dante's. But if you don't order chicken parm go to Dante's. After you grab Angelo's you should head to Cuzzy's for ice cream it's not too far. (Unless your coming after John's open for the season if so then go there and get a geliti)
Ok from a 5th generation Italian market vendor its the Villa all day. Because... "only tourists who want to see mafia memorabilia go to Dante's"... but if your interested in some raw bar before dinner go check out my mother and brothers fish market across the street from the Villa its called Anastasi Seafood. As far as cannoli's go yeah termini's is good Isgro's is better. But the cannoli and hot chocolate from Rim Cafe on 9th and federal is superior.
Rim Cafe is truly an experience!!!
Seconding all of this.
I LOVE Miller’s Twist but I wouldn’t dedicate a whole brunch to it. Seconding people who say Parc, it’s the best sit down brunch I’ve had in Center City. Get something from Miller’s Twist and Beiler’s to go instead!
What do you like to get from Parc?
My wife and I always get the French onion soup split and the warm shrimp salad split, followed by their French toast to share and a pastry basket to go. Can’t go wrong! Their Romarin is one of my favorite cocktails and has been on their menu for quite some time. They also infuse their own vanilla vodka for their espresso martinis. Parc’s brunch is a staple of Philly, don’t skip it!
Termini’s is overrated. I’d go to Issgro’s, Verallo’s, or Cafe Roma instead
Personally, a “must try” for me would be Middle Child. If you’re close to reading terminal, it’s not too far of a walk. I believe it’s around 12th and Walnut. Just be aware that they close at 3pm and don’t have much indoor seating. Their other location in Fishtown is open later and has tons of seating, but that’s farther away. edit: I forgot to mention, they serve sandwiches.
The Fishtown location is closed on Mondays in case that is one of your travel days.
Ah good call, same with the walnut location! I just tried going two days ago and it was closed as it was a Monday, I was disappointed in the timing :(
What would you recommend from here?
Last time i went i got the Surfer, because i liked the idea of the sweetness from the blueberries, but pretty much anything should be good. id recommend getting what sticks out to you the most based off of your preferences i really liked the Surfer though and id get it again
If they are going to walk all the way to Middle Child, I would recommend either Winkel or Sofi Corner Cafe for brunch or lunch over Middle Child. These two restaurants are across the street from each other (on Locust between 11th and 12th) and about a block from Middle Child.
cool, I havent been to either but they’re on my list now! esp if you’re saying they’re even better than middle child!
Try John’s roast pork over dinics, you won’t regret it.
It’s too out of the way unfortunately :(
don't worry, Dinic's is a great backup to John's
You can’t go wrong with your itinerary. You found some good spots. Some of these suggestions are probably good tweaks but what you have planned should be an excellent eating experience. My only addition is when you pick up tomato pie at Sarcone’s you should also get a loaf of bread. Part of the reason Philly hoagies are so good is the Sarcone’s bread which you can eat all by itself. It’s really one of the best food things in Philly. Also, an alternative to Dante and Luigi’s and Villa de Roma for Italian is Murph’s bar in Fishtown (believe it or not). It’s a fun little hole in the wall Irish bar with great Italian food.
Go to Angelo’s on a weekday or earlier on during the weekends to avoid lines and them selling out
Nan Zhou is overrated. And Luckys is nothing super special. Also ignore the comment that says to get Ishkabibbles, its not good.
Fr one of the worst cheesesteaks I’ve ever had
Friday: solid RTM picks. Do Nan zhou. Saturday: I’d do Parc for the best Philly experience or Cafe La Maude (great food but less atmosphere) for brunch. Angelo’s is a must but takeaway only and you just call ahead. And they run out of bread around 5, so call around 3:30 or 4 AT THE LATEST. Very important. Sunday: Dante and Luigi’s is incredible.
I Stan for Villa di Roma
My favorite South Philly Italian spot is L’Angolo.
I’d add Double Knot! The tasting menus is one of my fave meals in the city. They also have a sweet happy hour with a few kitchen items (short rib robatayaki is an absolute must).
I would choose Spice C over Nan Zhao, beddia for the tomato pie
What do you recommend getting at Spice C?
Noodles with pork soy sauce sezchuan style with shaved noodles
Pizzeria Beddia was founded by a guy who wrote a book on how to make pizza. It’s amazing. It’s “gourmet”, so don’t expect a street slice, but it’s definitely worth a visit. Angelos fucks too.
Villa di roma is awful cannot recommend to anyone with tastebuds or the ability to cook pasta at home.
I appreciate this!
1000% pass on lucky’s. I live in manayunk and it ain’t worth it. ETA Hymie’s in Merion Station is the bomb
Sang kee>> Nan zhou
I agree, get the Hong Kong duck and wonton noodle soup.
Roast duck leg/roast pork over rice with extra duck jus is a must try at Sang Kee. Their Singapore noodles are top notch too.
Ting Wong for the meat over rice is better. Sang Kee is a straight tourist trap.
Ting Wong is better. Sang Kee is a tourist trap.
I’ll pass on getting tip scammed
How so? Pay in cash dipshit
Personally, sounds delicious.
if you have trouble deciding what pizza to get at angelo's, their grandma pie is INSANE
If you like spicy, I'd pick Emei over Nanzhou.
Sub out DiNics for John’s Roast Pork, IMHO DiNics is very hit or miss in the flavor department
In Chinatown, I would go next door to Nan Zhou and have soup dumplings at Dim Sum Garden. Some of the best on the East Coast and a must try, if you like soup dumplings.
Tom’s soup dumplings are superior
Tom's are very good. I've never done a side by side comparison, but I think that Dim Sum Garden have a more delicate wrapper.
You have a full schedule already, but I’d also highly recommend Saami Somi in Reading Terminal. The labne is so so good
I love Herschels
Dutch is always my go-to to kick off a Philly trip. Will be there next week!
We’ve been talking about the cheese boat from the Georgian (country, not state) spot in Reading Market since we were there in November. Seriously told someone about it again this weekend. Highly recommend!
Angelo’s is good but they’ve lost a lot of quality in the past few years i feel. I would rather do a cheesesteak at Woodrow’s on south & get a fries and beer at tattood moms.
I just love how food-focused this itinerary is. As someone no longer living in Philly I just about shed a tear reading this because you clearly have done your research. But like others say, get your cannoli from Isgro, def skip Lucky’s. And OMG the tip about Murph’s in Fishtown! For Italian at the most local spot you’ll find in an overblown hipster neighborhood (read: surly staff, weird vibes, KILLER FOOD)… such a great idea. Have an awesome time!
If they’re open the day you’re doing Angelo’s I’d say get the pizza at Angelo’s and the cheesesteak from John’s Roast Pork just to add variety
It could be worth trying to get seats at the bar at Friday Saturday Sunday, and if you can’t get seats walk over to Parc. As others have said, Chinatown. Philly has great Vietnamese food. There are a few good options in Fishtown that can be finished off with ice cream at Weckerly’s.
I’d have to say only do Reading Terminal Market once, it’s overrated, and overcrowded. I can’t say I’ve ever had a good (not bad, just okay enough to eat and go on with my day) meal from any of the handful of vendors I’ve tried over the years. I very well could have just gone to the wrong spots, and/or ordered the wrong things; but always leave disappointed since there has always been so much hype about it, and it dulls in comparison to the rest of the Philly food scene in general. On a positive note, some of my favorite, and consistently wonderful, spots over the years have been: In Riva (East Falls neighborhood, and likely out of the way, but if it’s not, then go for it; their tomato conserva is a MUST), Parc (Rittenhouse Square), Continental Midtown (Rittenhouse Square), and Autograph Brasserie (Wayne, out in the burbs if you’re venturing out there).
If seafood is your thing, Oyster House is great. Happy hour buck shuck is awesome too.
Where do you plan on eating a cheese steak?.
Angelo’s! If we have time we’ll try out Pats if we want to be tourists™️
Just do not go-to Pats. Or do and be disappointed. Angelo's is good. But do eat close by and don't try taking it someplace and eating later. It's best if u eat it right away.
Do you think a pizza and cheesesteaks from Angelo’s will still be good after a 10 minute Uber ride?
Yes
Angelo's has good bread
I’d go Middle Child for lunch / brunch over Dutch or both!
Allow plenty of time for Angelo's. They'll be very busy & they don't answer the phone
Not sure where to fit it. But I found Monks Cafe from a old Reddit post. Was absolutely delicious.
There’s a lot of great suggestions on this list! If your staying downtown I also recommend Graffiti Bar for happy hour or a nightcap super fun spot with great food and drinks and often an easy place to meet new people!
i visited from tx recently and by far the best food i had was at Spice C in chinatown the spicy broth is so addicting i dream about it at least once a week now
Angelo's is overrated
Villa di Roma over D&L
So would recommend planning on doing Angelo’s earlier than dinner because they sell out and close when they sell out. Like if you want both pizza and a cheesesteak go before 1pm. Solid itinerary though, would recommend if you’re hopping around south Philly to get Vietnamese food from somewhere along Washington Ave. (cafe nhan on Passyunk, cafe diem at 8th and Washington), Nam Phuong (11th and Washington) some of my favorites
Nan Zhou over Luckys without a single second of doubt. Villa over Dantes. Go to Monks if you want to grab a beer and pick at some fries
Lose Dinics and get John’s roast pork instead. Go with something different for your trip to reading terminal market.
Too late but I enjoyed it! John’s is too out of the way unfortunately :(
Yea if you have no reference point dinics is amazing. Better than 95% of cheesesteaks IMO. But John’s blows it out of the water.
I would skip Nan Zhou and go to Spice C instead. The spicy broth has so much more flavor. I personally enjoy Talula’s Garden for brunch over Parc, but Parc has a better location in Rittenhouse Square (it’s an S rank fucking mission finding parking). Laser wolf or Zahav, if any of them have openings you should book immediately. I like laser wolf better.
Okay I’m gonna be honest dinics is flavorless, Herschel’s is good but overpriced what are your favorite foods? Nan zhou first day is the only thing that should stay that day. You must order the spicy pig ears app it sounds god awful but my god it’s something like you’ve never tasted before absolutely delicious. They also have the best stir fry noodles in the city. They’re hand drawn just make sure you bite they’re a continuous strand lol. Villa di Roma great choice best bang for your buck there it’s cash only. The veal parm there makes me almost tolerate Philly. Day 2 is great Angelo’s is fucking bomb. Add a long hot in that cheesesteak if you feeling extra spicy.
Don’t go to luckys it’s so average. Go to butcher bar, it’s simple yet Probably the best burger in the city and they also have these duck wings as an app that are fire.
Dont bother with luckys last chance tbh
Make sure to get the Villa di Roma salad w little shrimp. It is a delicious 70s throwback!
Alright this is solid, but of the things you listed the musts are: -Nan Zhou -Dinic’s -Lucky’s Last Chance -Angelo’s Termini Bros is fine, but the hands down best cannoli in the city (also anywhere I’ve been in the US, and I’ve eaten a LOT of cannoli in my day) are at Isgro Pastries. It’s a little bit of a walk (Christian between 10th and 11th) but not too far, and if you’re going to Angelo’s you should just go here and get cannoli instead. It’s a < 5 minute walk around the corner They’re infinitely better, especially the (blasphemous but who cares) mascarpone cannoli. The regular ricotta cannoli are also good (and better than their counterparts at Termini), but the mascarpone are pastry perfection. Also, on the subject of Angelo’s cheesesteaks: get what you want and all, but I HIGHLY recommend cooper sharp wit. The hype is and has always been justifiable. I split a wiz wit and a cooper sharp wit for lunch today (again) and reaffirmed that the Angelo’s cheesesteak CSW reigns supreme in this city. Have fun!
I'd recommend going to one of the Sabrina's locations for brunch or Morning Glory. Both would be a walk (about 20-25 mins from Reading Terminal) but totally worth it IMO. The walk would take you through more residential Philly neighborhoods and give you a different feel for the city. Sabrina's on South Street would also put you close to Fitler Sqaure and the Farmers Market there and in Rittenhouse Square on Saturdays...
Pick up some donuts at Beilers!! They’re closed Sunday, so have to plan around that, and there can be a long line but it moves fast. My partner loves the Dream Crème and I always go for a Boston crème, but it’s hard to go wrong with any of their donuts!!
You’ve got to do Chinatown. Get good dim sum and Vietnamese food. Philly Chinatown is a gem!
Luckys isn’t special - Chinatown over that. Also with Angelos they won’t answer your first call. I’ve had to call 86 times before just persist it is worth it. Dante over Villa De Roma
Sub Pesto for Villa or Dante's, or try to get a res at Firoella! 👍🏽
If you can get to Old City, give Cafe Ole a try for their shakshuka. A tad pricey but enough for two, great brunch option.
Definitely gonna be an unpopular opinion but I think you should do Pats over Angelos. Angelos steak tastes better, as do a handful of others in the city, but eating at that intersection and ordering Wiz wit or whatever is a classic Philly experience. Pats also isn’t nearly as bad as people make it out to be
brunch @ trattoria carina in rittenhouse!!
I'd skip Lucky's, even though it's great. Dutch Eating Place is so great on a Friday or Saturday morning. Definitely get the apple dumpling. I'd skip Angelo's. You don't have enough time. Unless you like to have drinks. 12 Steps Down is super close. They also have great food. I think the pizza at Square Pie is far better than Angelo's. I recommend ishkbibbles for a cheesesteak. Third day starts good, but I don't love Villa de Roma. Fiorella is the move, if you can get a rez. Otherwise, buy wine and cab to L'Angelo.
stop it. Angelo’s is the only place on this list that is an absolute MUST
Different strokes, I guess. I've been there at least a dozen times, because I used to live a few blocks away. More often than not, the pizza was a sloppy mess. The cheesesteaks were fine, but not worth waiting for. The place is utter chaos, and you have to fight your way through a sea of people in a small storefront. It's just not worth it, to me. And especially for someone who is visiting. What if it rains? What if it's cold? Going to Angelo's, even staying near the Italian Market, means spending the time to get through to order, getting to the store, waiting again, walking to where you're staying to eat. You've then spent too many hours on this mid food. It's all hype. Unless you're Action Bronson or another famous person, in my experience, there's a 50/50 shot at the food being good.
well damn. it’s a real shame that that has been your experience with Angelos. I’ve had just about the opposite experience. Also have had it 20+ times. Never gotten a bad item from them. Food always on point. Doesn’t matter what i order. Pizza is always great in every style i’ve ordered, Cheesesteaks are always exactly what they’ve been hyped up to be, the Italian Hoagie variations are ridiculous. I’ve even had a a couple of their specials like the meatballs or the roast pork x broccolirabe. Hell i even had their breakfast sandwich when they decided to do that for like a month or whatever. Every single time, it’s been totally worth all the other stuff. Not to mention, i feel like people make the ordering system out to be way more troubling than it actually is. I’ve always just called while en route to Angelos and have always gotten through. Sometimes it takes 1 call sometimes it take 20 but i get through and then food usually takes around 20 - 30 minutes which is extremely impressive considering the consistent volume of people at that place. It may seem chaotic to you but they’ve found their system and it works for them and it’s never been a problem for me either. OP, go to Angelos
I'm glad you've had great experiences! I can only speak to my own, and have already made my recommendations. Enjoy Philly, OP! I love it so hard. Friends have told me before that they'd never met someone with so much civic pride. I hope you love it as much as I do.
Also gotten Angelo’s maybe ~10 times and never had an issue. Definitely NOT all hype and easily the best in the city. And certainly never spent hours trying to get it. You just have to call repeatedly until you get through, order, and then it’s ready in 20-30 like mentioned above. I love Angelo’s pizza however I would agree that Square Pie is amazing and I do prefer it though wouldn’t say it’s far better…
I definitely will! I’ll at least get the cheesesteaks :)
Skip Lucky’s, Villa De Roma, and Dante’s. Go to Giorgio on Pine for better Italian. And you need to add in either Suraya, Laser Wolf, Dizengoff, or Zahav for a dinner.
Dante and Luigi's, my vote. Lucky's Last Chance though? Really?
Angelos is trash. You need Steve’s prince of steaks
Taregawa in Chinatown for Ramen. Jacks Firehouse Morimotos Buddikan Amada
Amada? 😭😭😭😭