Tom and other Philly guys. ..Reading Terminal Market advice

[PSU87]

Never been and want to check it out this weekend.
Which day will be less crowded, Saturday or Sunday?
Will definitely hit Dinics for pork sandwich. Which place in the Market has best cheesesteak? Any other food in there a must do?
TIA

 

[demlion]

Any other food in there a must do?
TIA

beiler's donuts

 

[Tom McAndrew]

I'm not a fan of the cheesesteaks that are offered at the RTM. I'd pass on them, and try some of the other sandwiches offered there. Some of my favorites include (random order):

- Pastrami Reuben at Hershel's East Side Deli
- the Bavarian at Wursthaus Schmitz
- Oyster Sliders at Pearl's Oyster Bar
- Pulled Chicken Sandwich at Dienner's Bar-B-Q
- Boneless Rib Sandwich at The Rib Stand
- Corned Beef Special at Hatville Deli
- Somerset Grilled Cheese at Meltkraft (I rarely recommend a grilled cheese, but this is crazy good)
- Stuffin' Cranberry at The Original Turkey

If you wanted a cheesesteak, and also some RTM flare, I'd opt for a Train Wreck at Beck's Cajun Cafe. It's a cheesesteak with a Cajun twist. As I recall, it's a cheesesteak that also has sausage and salami in it.

I focused on sandwiches in the above list. A few other things you should consider:

- Fried Mac and Cheese Balls at Beck's Cajun Cafe
- Original Rotisserie Wings at Dienner's Bar-B-Q
- Chicken Pot Pit at Molly Malloy's
- Maple Bacon Donut at Beiler's Donuts
- Chocolate Chip Cannoli at Termini Bros Bakery

Even with the above suggestions, I'm leaving out a lot of great options. Many of the aforementioned locations have a number of tasty offerings.

Sunday would be less crowded. However, some of the stalls are closed on Sunday, so I hesitate to suggest one day as better than the other -- it depends on what it more important to you.

Have fun

 

[Peetz Pool Boy]

Sunday will be less crowded, but as Tom pointed out above, a LOT of the stalls will be closed. Since you've never been, I highly recommend getting there around 10:30 am on Saturday, stroll around and then grab an early lunch...before the families with strollers / rug rats show up.

 

[tboyer]

Best thing is to get there early on Saturday, figure out what you want to eat, and get in line well before 12. It is a total zoo by noon, you can hardly walk it's so crowded with tourists.

As for food, the pork sandwich is really the only thing that I would go out of my way for. Spitaro's makes a good cheesesteak but not particularly distinguished.

Outside of the market but not too far away, you might also consider: 1) Nomad Pizza -- really excellent wood fired pizza at a couple of locations downtown, and not expensive. 2) Jim's Steaks on South Street, which I think are best in Center City. 3) Paesano's -- really interesting and wonderful hot subs of various kinds. 4) Famous Fourth Street Deli -- great NY style Jewish deli -- biggest best pastrami sandwich I've ever seen, about 2 pounds of meat for $16. 5) Federal Donuts --- fried chicken -- they fry the chicken in the donut oil so it has a wonderful nutty flavor.

Finally -- Chinatown! Especially for Sunday, Dim Sum in one of the traditional Chinatown palaces is such a wonderful and fun experience. My favorite place is Ocean City Seafood on 9th at Vine. Not really a seafood restaurant, it's Huge Hong Kong style chinese food emporium with a giant dining room, you need to get there by 12 because it is packed. You have to be a little adventurous if you don't know Dum Sum, but if you like Chinese food you'll like it. The best thing is you can try a dish and if you like it, just wait till the cart comes around again and get more.

 

[cjrugger]

Beiler's is closed sundays

 

[70Sixers]

Go on Saturday. Enjoy the atmosphere and the crowds.

The Amish are home worshiping on Sundays.

 

[tgar]

we go there all the time, lots of good advice above. Herschels may have counter seats when everybody else is filled up and their brisket, turkey, pastrami and corned beef is to die for.

I love the RTM, nothing on the planet comes close and I have been to many great markets.

 

[Ranger Dan]

Skip the cheesesteak. I believe that the roast pork must be amazing due to the line and MIL recommendation but can't keep from ordering the pastrami from the deli right beside the pork place. I am constantly trying to think of an excuse to go to philly, just so I can get a pastrami at reading terminal market. I've had pastrami all over including Manhattan and Long Island, but this has my vote as the best.

 

[mbahses]

Federal Donuts chicken is the best.

 

[LafayetteBear]

Awesome post, Tom. I frickin' LOVE Reading Terminal. Make it a practice to go there EVERY time I fly back to Philly to visit the in-laws.

 

[jerot]

Spataro's has the best cheesesteak in Philly, and it's not close.

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

I must say the market is full of quality in almost every establishment . You want good seafood and awesome giant cookies or a roasted chicken that will melt in your mouth then this is the place. The Pastrami is unreal at Herchel's and the roast pork is very good also. Can't think of the name of the place that has the cookies but they are big and good. It was a good suggestion to try Chinatown and avoid the cheese steaks at the terminal.

If you want to get the best cheese steak in Philly head to "Steve's Prince of Steaks" located at Bustleton Avenue and Saint Vincent street in the Northeast section of the city. The steaks are off the hook and they have the big jars filled with sliced pickles, whole hot peppers, dry hots and that brown sauce that is flaming hot available. You can eat in or take out.

 

[psu1969a]

Never been and want to check it out this weekend.
Which day will be less crowded, Saturday or Sunday?
Will definitely hit Dinics for pork sandwich. Which place in the Market has best cheesesteak? Any other food in there a must do?
TIA

bassat's ice cream

 

[PSUHusky]

If there is one thing you HAVE to eat it's...

DiNic's Roast Pork sandwich. People referenced the pork but this is what they're talking about.

Voted best sandwich in America. You won't be sorry.

 

[BowieLion]

OK, after leaving RTM and getting your roast pork at Di'Nics, head to Market Street and walk east towards the river. Between 6th and 5th is the Liberty Bell then down between 3rd and 2nd is Sonny's Cheesesteaks. Very enjoyable. Around the corner from Sonny's on 2nd street are a lot of neat restaurants/pubs including one of my favorites Nick's Roast Beef. If you stay on Market past 2nd you will run into The Franklin Fountain Ice Cream Parlor. Cheers!

 

[tgar]

I have no idea how this wasn't mentioned yet but if there is one thing you HAVE to eat it's...

DiNic's Roast Pork sandwich.

Voted best sandwich in America. You won't be sorry.

The big problem often with DiNics is the line and wait. Get there early. And if you are with someone, split the sandwich.

Follow it up with some Bassetts ice cream, I don't think that has been mentioned either.

 

[Victor E. Bell]

I have no idea how this wasn't mentioned yet but if there is one thing you HAVE to eat it's...

DiNic's Roast Pork sandwich.

Voted best sandwich in America. You won't be sorry.

The OP mentioned it in his original post. Only been there once and it was a Saturday but I can say this much, they keep things moving. Don't let a long line scare you, we got served pretty quickly and even scored 3 seats at the counter.

 

[LafayetteBear]

Bassat's Ice Cream or The Berkey Creamery; which is better?

 

[tgar]

Since you are chasing the holy grail, before you go to the market, head to Federal Donuts for a couple of donuts to get the day started. After the market put in an order at Sarcones, they close by 4. Get the sandwich with the italian Tina and red peppers, the roast beef and marinated asparagus, mix it up, you know the drill.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

Now THIS Q & A brings back fond memories of the GOOD OLD THREADS!

Way to go everyone.....way to go....makes me want to head east from Chicagoland on the Reading Railroad!

 

[AJP]

Bassat's Ice Cream or The Berkey Creamery; which is better?

Bassets is the oldest Ice Cream company in the USA and there Ice Cream in my opinion blows away
The Berkey Creamery. When I am in Philly to visit family I always stop at the terminal for a Roast Beef
sandwich and some Bassets Ice Cream.

 

[PSU87]

All
Can't thank you enough for the detailed replies. Heading in tomorrow, gonna get there right when it opens. Four of us going so we're going to split everything 4 ways and sample as much as we can.

 

[PSU87]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! Had a great time...really neat place, will definitely make the trip every time I come home. Got there at about 9:15:Saturday morning and started eating by 10 and didn't have to wait for anything.
My thoughts. ..
Dinics roast pork. ....to die for. That cheese makes it, amazing sandwich
Bielers donuts. ...very good, but to be honest don't care for bacon on a donut. Loved the banana Creme.
Pastrami at Herschels. ...amazing
Somerset grilled cheese. ...wow, really good
Train wreck at Becks Cajun....just ok IMHO
Stuffin cranberry at Original Turkey. ...very good
Wings at Dieners....good not great, but I am the grill/BBQ master so my standards are incredibly high )
4th St cookie...excellent cookies

So much I didn't get to try! Next time.

 

[GringoStarr99]

Spataro's? Hardly. Never cared for them. John's Roast Pork in South Philly has the best cheesesteaks.

As for DiNic's....go for the Brisket Sandwich. It's my favorite and since I wrk next door to the terminal I have pretty much exhausted most spots in there

The fried chicken @ Kevan Parker's is really good too (even though Fed Donut's version is overrated)

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! Had a great time...really neat place, will definitely make the trip every time I come home. Got there at about 9:15:Saturday morning and started eating by 10 and didn't have to wait for anything.
My thoughts. ..
Dinics roast pork. ....to die for. That cheese makes it, amazing sandwich
Bielers donuts. ...very good, but to be honest don't care for bacon on a donut. Loved the banana Creme.
Pastrami at Herschels. ...amazing
Somerset grilled cheese. ...wow, really good
Train wreck at Becks Cajun....just ok IMHO
Stuffin cranberry at Original Turkey. ...very good
Wings at Dieners....good not great, but I am the grill/BBQ master so my standards are incredibly high )
4th St cookie...excellent cookies

So much I didn't get to try! Next time.

Wow, you had quite an experience. Glad you enjoyed yourself.

Pretty smart idea to go with 3 others, and split each item 4 ways. Had you been on your own, It would have taken a lot of visits to have sampled so many of the offerings at the RT Market.

Not surprised that you were pleased with the roast pork, the pastrami at Hershel's, of the Somerset grilled cheese at Meltkraft. Each are well worth the visit.

Good call on the 4th Street Cookies. There are a number of places like that at the Market that I didn't even mention.

Enjoy your future visits. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

Spataro's? Hardly. Never cared for them. John's Roast Pork in South Philly has the best cheesesteaks.

As for DiNic's....go for the Brisket Sandwich. It's my favorite and since I wrk next door to the terminal I have pretty much exhausted most spots in there

The fried chicken @ Kevan Parker's is really good too (even though Fed Donut's version is overrated)

Johns roast pork has very good steaks and they rival Steve's for best in Philadelphia. Chinks(now Joe's) steaks at Torresdale and Benner St. also rivals those other two for the best cheese steak in Philadelphia. Those three and Delesandro's are the unquestioned 4 best steaks in the Philadelphia area. Best donuts in the area are Suzy Joe donuts in Bridgeport PA near Conshohocken Pa.

 

[Ranger Dan]

best cheese steak in Philadelphia

That's like saying the most lukewarm water... Philly cheese steaks are so overrated. It's a grilled roast beef sandwich with some cheese on top.

 

[spydersabich]

While everyone is on the food topic. My daughter is moving to Manayunk at the end of June. Anyone have any recommendations for restaurants, craft brewery or specialty food stores in the area?

 

[flavorguy]

While everyone is on the food topic. My daughter is moving to Manayunk at the end of June. Anyone have any recommendations for restaurants, craft brewery or specialty food stores in the area?

Just walk up and down main street - plenty of great options.......