Best local eats in Philadephia, PA?
I'm doing an travel article for a publication on the best places to go in Philadelphia. Specifically, I would like local's opinions on the best Philly cheesesteaks, soft pretzels, hoagies, roast pork Italian sandwiches, and Wooder Ices in the city. If you have any other iconic foods that you can get while traveling in Philadelphia that should be mentioned, let me know!
Robin
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If you know of any bars or nightlife spots as well, feel free to include those too!
Frankford Hall is always really hopping. kind of a frat-fest but really good food at a german style beer garden, or whatever. fun, too -- they have ping pong and table games like truth-or-dare jenga.
Surprisingly incredible happy hour? La Colombe coffee shop in Fishtown. They distill their own rum! They also make an INCREDIBLE draught latte -- thats right, a draught latte. you just have to try it to experience it. their cold-brew coffee is also out of this world. and their food is great, too, but the best menu for that is around lunch time.
Fun night-life and bar? Barcade. of course.
Brasil's Nightclub - You can take a salsa lesson before the club actually gets going. It is so much fun and they pair you with people so don't worry if you don't have someone to bring with you. https://www.facebook.com/brasilsnightclub/?rf=116127571744749
Hey Robin,
Very cool that you have an interest in Philly, but have you ever been here? Those are the novelty foods associated with Philly, but not the stuff that people actually eat on a day-to-day basis. There's a TON of really really really good food here that's much more worthy of an article
Let me know if you want any other help!
Just to offer a counterperspective -- lots of people eat those things on a regular basis. There's a reason you can get a (cheese)steak or hoagie just about anywhere, including the neighborhoods that tourists never visit.
Definitely try the hoagies at Sarcone's Deli at 9th near fitzwater. Breakfast at Morning Glory Diner at 10th and Fitzwater, ice cream at a cool old fashioned style shop called Franklin Fountain on Market st. Near 2nd. Good luck, have fun and feel free to write me with any questions. (Can't help you with the cheesesteak bc i'm veg)
Hi Robin, For nightlife, karaoke at Tango in Chinatown is BAE:) Go to Jim's on South Street for cheesesteaks. So much more to list. Which publication will use this ??
If you want the very tourist-y approach -- you can try both Pat's and Geno's for philly cheesesteaks, they're across the street from each other in South Philadelphia (on E Passayunk Ave). My personal favorite for cheesesteaks happens to be Jim's on South Street. Reading Terminal Market (on 12th) is phenomenal and boasts a lot of impressive little shops/kiosks like Flying Monkey Bakery or Beiler's Donuts (you must try). A big Philadelphia thing is the food trucks (MacMart, Cucina Zapata, Foolish Waffles, The Cow and the Curd) so those are worth a mention. For ice cream, you can't beat Franklin Fountain as said above -- or Capogiro for delicious gelato (on 39th and Walnut I believe).
Hey Robin,
Well, Im glad you dont have to experience all our snow! I completely agree with Julia about what we consume on a daily diet and hope that you do include some great food cafes that travelers can dive into here in Philly. There are plenty of places for high end diners or those on a travel budget. However, having hosted many CSers in my house, many DO want to try a cheese steak, just to say they HAD one. I mean, who doesnt want to have a taco in LA, a coffee in Seattle, wine in France....
Near my house, a new place opened called Joes Steaks + Soda Shop. Its the best Ive had and one reason is - the bread is so good! Also free pickle-chips, the shakes are great, the meat seems very fresh, a clean café, and on Wednesday a full cheese steak is 7.00 (half off Im guessing ). You'll have to research this price because Im not sure on the price. Its in the area called Fishtown, across from Johnny Brenda's.(Fishtown is an interesting destination- tell your readers to walk Frankford
to experience old Philadelphia and the many new shops
in this area)
Johnny Brenda's is another place you might want to check; it's a Philly favorite café /bar that hosts live music events and has a reasonably priced menu.
Dont forget the varied food trucks here in Philly, many are on the University campuses.
So, when you come in person for your second write up, you can eat your way through Philly. Good luck with your writing.
Kim
Joe's steaks in Fishtown? Lots of people seem to be very dissatisfied with their steaks. I understand their location in NE is "classic" so perhaps it represents a particular approach to the sandwich,
For anyone reading this who is in Fishtown looking for a cheesesteak..., I highly recommend Les and Doreen's Happy Tap at Susquehanna + Thompson. (You can either order in the bar, or from the window on the sidwalk.) Then you can turn around and grab yourself some ice cream at Scoops, for a great livin-like-a-local experience and some truly good grub.
Robin, For cheesesteaks, go to dalessandro's on Henry Ave. in Roxborough. For roast pork and other Italian sandwiches go to Paesano's at 2nd and girard. My boy flami makes a mean Italian sandwich for an Albanian dood. Or John's roast pork. For chicken cutlet go to shank's on Colombus blvd. or tony lukes. You gotta get broccoli rabe and provolone on the chicken cutlet. For soft pretzels, don't go to the philly soft pretzel factory.
Also I think Julia is wrong. We eat sandwiches for days here in philly. It's what we do here. Especially hoagies. And also all other sandwiches. Lotta hipsters think the food culture is different now. Fuck that. Sandwiches always. When the person making your hoagie says "everything on it?" you say yes. This means lettuce tomato onion sweet peppers hot peppers pickles oil and mayo, salt pepper oregano. That's how to do it. Don't forget the sweet peppers. They're a philly classic. Most sandwiches are on Amorosso rolls which are very good. There is definately better rolls, but Amorossos are the standard. Because of this, you can't get a hoagie on a roll worse than them ( or else that place will go out of business very quickly). Let me know if you have more questions. Patrick
P.S. Don't go to Pats or Genos They both suck.
http://dalessandros.com/ Best Cheesesteak. Period.
Royal Tavern, Best Burger.
Copabanana. Best Margarita.
DO NOT GO TO PATS OR GINOS OR TONY LUKES
DO GO TO DELASSANDRO'S on henry ave. its a bit of a way out of center city but so worth it, any Philadelphian will tell you that. try to go at an unconventional time for a more relaxed service, otherwise the place will be PACKED and the seating will be slim. Also a big fan of "El Camino Real" in northern liberties. Its a crossover mexican american bar, and I think the best food of its kind in the city. Their salsa is great and just 1$ and the queso appetizer is the best thing on the menu. It is in the very hip area of "Northern Liberties", so definitely give yourself some time to explore the area when you go. Im a big fan of the street art around there. for dessert check out the Franklin Fountain old time ice cream parlor, it doesnt matter if its 40 degrees outside, ice cream is always in season.
Popular breakfast places are Sabrinas and The Green Eggs Cafe as well as Columbe Coffee, and all of these places can be found easily in center city, but that being said, definitely time your visit to avoid peak busy hours.
El Camino also has amazing half priced pitchers of margaritas from 5-7
TOMATO PIE! It's often helpful to plan ahead for these, as the best places close early and may even require you to order ahead of time.
If you're looking for great water ice, go to King's on 33rd and Cecil B. Moore across from the park. They also have amazing pizza pretzels!!!!!!!!!