Reading Terminal: 41 Restaurants/41 Experiences
I started working with a new client who is located near Reading Terminal. As a Philadelphia native, you can’t live in this city and never hear about the tourist attraction/trap that is Reading Terminal. Most of the time we Philadelphians only go to one place like Dinics or Beiler’s Donuts. On a whim, I decided to pursue trying every restaurant vendor for lunch in Reading Terminal.
This pursuit took me approximately four months from October 15th,2019 to January 9th,2020. Some days I tried multiple vendors, other days I only tried one. I did not include any of the produce vendors or juice vendors but kept this strictly about food.
Each of the restaurants are being rated on a 7 point scale. Given the number of restaurants that are being reviewed,I am providing three to five sentence long reviews. I was not able to get photos of each place, because you know phones die.
The Vendors of Reading Terminal
- Famous 4th Street Cookie Co.
These cookies deserve to be called Famous. Soft, Chewy and Crunchy is what comes to mind when it comes to 4th Street Cookies. I can’t indulge too much for the sake of my health, but I would definitely go back again. It’s a great place to go with friends or a loved one. Definitely check it out and the staff is friendly.
Rating: 6/7
2. Flying Monkey Bakery
This place was very forgetful, I had a brownie for breakfast and was very underwhelmed. If I go back again I will have to try something else.
Rating: 1/7
3. Old City Coffee
If you need a quick pick me up for discount coffee, old city will give you the right pour. Sometimes when I don’t want to deal with Dunkin or Starbucks lines I go here for a quick cold brew.
Rating: 4/7
4. Bassetts Ice Cream
The people at Bassett's were super kind, I almost forgot I was lactose intolerant, but the Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Ice Cream was a true dream. I’ll bring my Lactaid pills next time.
Rating 7/7
5. Umi Seafood and Sushi
I got a maguro tuna sushi wrap and was heavily disappointed. I also was disappointed to be surrounded by customers who were expecting to pay less for their sushi. One Gentleman was charged 25 dollars for a set of spicy tuna and salmon rolls. Would not return.
Rating: 1/7
6. Beilers Bakery
Sorry,Federal Donuts, Sorry Dotties Donuts, Beilers Bakery has hands down the best donuts in Philadelphia. Nothing else needs to be said.
Rating: 7/7
7. Dienners BBQ Chicken
Somehow this place is never crowded but has the best chicken deals whenever I walk into RTM. You can get a half or whole chicken with a side for under 14 bucks, don’t sleep on this deal. Its a vibe.
Rating: 6/7
8. Dutch Eating Place
I went here on an Okcupid date, and had the open faced turkey sandwich. Even though this place didnt lead me to a second date, I still enjoyed the sandwich. Not great for a business lunch,especially if you have a 1pm meeting, but great for catching up. Nice staff as well.
Rating: 6/7
9. Hatville Deli
Unfortunately the dryest sandwiches in all of Reading Terminal. I was throughly disappointed.
Rating: 2/7
10. Miller’s Twist
I am not a pretzel guy but Miller’s gave me a nice buttery flavor in their pretzels. I won’t go back , because well I am not a pretzel peter, but if you are a pretzel patty, then try try this out.
Rating: 4/7
11. Smuckers Meats and Grill
Don’t sleep on this place for breakfast. I repeat do not sleep on this place for breakfast. Very straight and to the point breakfast sandwiches. Arguably the best breakfast sandwiches of RTM.
Rating: 7/7
12. Glick’s Rib Shack
Similiar to Dienner’s BBQ Chicken they have rib rack deals that are very very good. Nothing more to say here, if you want the itis and love yourself some ribs with some homies, go here
Rating: 7/7
13. Beck’s Cajun Cafe
This place is on the pricier side of RTM, however, the food is definitely on my group of must have’s at RTM. I will say the staff definitely knows how to make a sale, my first time attending my friend got talked into ordering 24 dollars worth of food. He hated the price but loved the noms. I settled for a alligator gumbo with jambalaya. I would come back and yes, I did come back again and tried the Train Wreck.
Rating: 7/7
14. By George Pizza
By George is one of the first places you will see upon entering the Filbert Street entrance of RTM. The place is not too shabby, however I got a pizza with a hole in it, and I feel cheated. I do like how they did not charge extra for sauce. Minus the hole problem, I think I will give them a second chance with a lactaid pill.
Rating:4/7
15. Carmen’s Famous Italian Hoagies and Cheesesteaks
My most awkward experience in RTM happened at Carmen’s. The cashier was very friendly to everyone(everyone being non-black customers), asked patrons where they were from and how they enjoyed Philadelphia. When it was my turn to place my order he called me a “brotha” limited his communication and didn’t even wish me a good day. I felt profiled and isolated. I wasn’t a fan and despite the cheesesteak being moderately okay I felt,uncomfortable….
Rating: 1/7
16. Careda’s Carribean Cuisine
I don’t eat Carribean food as much as I should, but Careda’s opened my heart and soul. For 12 dollars I got a jerk chicken platter with rice, cabbage and curry on top and learned that I am a huge fan of Carribean. This place doesn't have long lines like other places, but I definitely will come back.
Rating: 7/7
17. Dinic’s
The most legendary sandwich place in RTM. Hands down the best place for sandwiches. Top tier bread quality, top tier roast beef, roast pork and meatball quality. The broccoli rabe will rob your soul and make you whole. On that note,you need to get a Dinic sandwich and eat it.
Rating: 7/7 X 7
18. Down Home Diner
The staff here is so kind and they are beyond accommodating. I would say the steak sandwich on rye reminded me of late nights after shows at diners in the middle of nowhere. I definitely will need to try this when I am with a group of friends.
Rating: 5/7
19. Fox and Son Corndogs
I am a corny person if you can not tell from reading, but I am not into corn dogs. Fox and Son gives you a massive amount of french fries. I was not a fan of the corn dog or the fries, so I ate what I could and gave it to someone who was in need. I don’t know if I am the right person to be rating corn dogs, but I don’t think I will be coming back.
Rating: 4/7
20. Franks A Lot
Franks a lot is definitely a vibe, you can get a lot of food for under 10 dollars. Between the pierogies, to the chicken to the veggies, I don’t know what to choose what is best. Oddly enough I have not tried their hot dogs and have no plans to try their hot dogs.
Rating: 5/7
21. Hershel’s East Side Deli
Next to Dinic’s Hershel’s is the best place for sandwiches. I purchased a brisket on challah and fell in love.
Rating: 7/7 x 5
22. Hunger Burger
This was one of the first places I went to on my RTM challenge. The burger is like an upper level Five Guys which is a vibe. But nothing too special.
Rating: 5/7
23. Kamal’s Middle Eastern Specialties
The shwarma in the food trucks are better than the swharma at Kamal’s nothing more, nothing else to be said.
Rating: 3/7
24. Keven Parker’s Soul Food Cafe
Great sweet potatoes, but compared to my Grandma, Keven just does not do it. Keven needs some lessons from Grandma Joyce. I think a lot of families could agree if you grew up on soul food.
Rating: 2/7
25. Little Thai Market
There is a reason why this place has long lines that move fast, the food is good, heap and filling. If you want to keep it fast and straight forward head to Little Thai Market.
Rating: 6/7
26. Loco Lucho’s Latino Kitchen
It is a known fact that Philadelphia has great latin cuisine. Loco Lucho adds to the mix. I have visited this place multiple times before,during and still continue to go to this place as a common place to eat. Their empanadas are dope.
Rating: 7/7
27. Molly Malloy’s
Molly Malloy’s is extremely over rated, the hot chicken sandwich was not spicy, and it was very dusty. In fact I even got spice dust caught up in my glasses. I was not a fan.
Rating: 2/7
28. Nanee’s Kitchen Indian and Pakistani
When I get Indian I tend to get tika masala or tandoori chicken. My taste in Indian is extremely basic. I’ve even dabbled in a few samosas. This time I got chicken biryani and my taste for Indian expanded. Shout out to Nanee you aren't so bad.
Rating: 4/7
29. Olympia Gyro
I am not much of a gyro guy because it has tzatziki sauce. I hate white creamy sauces and tzatziki is definitely the creme de la creme of white sauces. I ordered the chicken souvlaki and ended up in an argument with the waitress that I didn't want any hummus or tzatziki. I was judged for wanting dry souvlaki. I am a fan of hummus but I also believe hummus doesn't belong in some places, and souvlaki is one of them.
Rating: 3/7
30. Pearl’s Oyster Bar
The nicest people I have met at RTM work at Pearl’s Oyster Bar. I got the chicken and waffles which was recommended to be by one of the waitresses there. The waffle had an outline of the Liberty Bell at the center of the Waffle which was really cool. It was also the best waffle I have had since being in the south while touring. I know I am rambling,but Pearl’s is a vibe.
Rating 7/7
31. Profi’s Creperie
I got a Nutella banana crepe , no extra words other than it tasted dope. I don’t crepe often, but if you wanna get a crepe eat their crepes. Profi’s is a vibe.
Rating 6/7
32. Sang Kee Peking Duck
Some of the worst Chinese food I have ever had.
Rating: 1/7
33. Shanghai Gourmet
I thought that Sang Kee was bad, but this is actually the worst.
Rating: 0
34. Spataro’s Cheesesteaks
It's not bad, it's not the best. I have gone here for breakfast as well as lunch. I would rank it as a standard entry-level Philadelphia cheesesteak.
Rating: 5/7
35. The Original Turkey
I ordered a standard thanksgiving meal, green beans, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and turkey. I would say its very middle of the road. I was neither impressed or underwhelmed. I take this perspective as a result of being spoiled by my grandma’s cooking in the south.
Rating: 4.5/7
36. Toostsie’s Hot and Cold Buffet
Overpriced and Overrated nothing more to say
Rating: 3/7
37. Luhv Vegan Deli
The most expensive meal I had at Reading Terminal was 19.00 and it was at a Vegan restaurant. I find this laughable given that Vegan food is often stereotyped as cheap ,that was not the case today. I got a bottle of kombucha, a black beaned burger an a vegan brownie/cookie. The food was alright, but definitely not worth 19.00.
Rating: 1/7 for the price.
38. Sweet Nina’s
I got a cup of banana pudding at Sweet Nina’s. It was a nutella banana pudding to be exact. It was rock solid, nothing more, nothing less to say .
Rating: 6/7
39. Mueller Chocolate
I didn’t really have to try a chocolate shop but I have a sweet tooth so why not? Mueller has great truffles and chocolate-covered marshmallows. Definitely check it out. They are known for a chocolate onion, but you won’t see me checking that out.
Rating: 5/7
40. Termini Brothers Bakery
I had their chocolate crumb cake and a coffee from old city coffee. It was okay, nothing too special.
Rating: 5/7
41. Metropolitan Bakery
Great danishes and brownies check it outtt
Rating: 6/7
I am not a food journalist, but it was a pleasure to share my experiences with you and you go out to check out Reading Terminal Market.
For those of you who didn’t wanna read all of this, just keep the following in mind.
The Chinese food in Reading Terminal sucks, most of the sandwiches are great and Dinic’s, Franks, Pearl’s and if you want to know more information, just read the damn blog entry
Have a happy new year y’all!