When talking about the luscious and juicy taste of cheesesteaks and flavour-packed hoagies, the mind can only picture the beautiful streets of Philadelphia where flavours come to life. In this city, you will get to see how emotional people are when it comes to the authentic taste of their homeland. In the midst of all cultural extravaganza, you will find people celebrating diversity and sharing food as a form of love.
Picturing this might give you a gist of what the city truly values the most. Folks, food, culture and diversity truly describe the vibrant and lively spirit of the city. This is what is reflected in the street food delicacies too.
There are long-standing establishments like Pat’s, who are known for being the progenitor of the iconic Philly Cheesesteak and there are some noteworthy on-the-wheel hotspots known for whipping up tastiest hoagies and sandwiches. There is no shortage of flavours in this city, all you need to do is look in the right direction. Here are the seven best places that you can start with.
7 Best Spots For Street Food In Philadelphia
1) Pat’s King of Steaks
Image Credit: Pat’s King of Steaks
The self-proclaimed progenitors of Philly’s iconic cheesesteaks grab all the attention with their amusing spices and flavours in every dish. What was once a little sandwich stand back in the 1930s has now grown into one of the most famous cheesesteak hot spots in the world. Despite the 24-hour operation work time, you will often find a bustling crowd waiting outside to get their hot and fresh cheesesteaks. Apart from cheesesteaks, you might also catch customers ordering Whiz Wit and fries with extra cheese.
Location: 1237 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Open Hours: Open 24/7
Must Try: Philly Cheesesteak, Whiz Wit, Fries
Price for 2: $20 approx.
2) Bui's Lunch Truck
Image Credit: Angela X via Google Maps
Showcasing their flair in the flourished empires of the old-time champions, Bui's Lunch Truck stands out for their creative twists in the dishes. This humble family-owned food truck has been in operation since 1988 and since then it has been a revered spot by students and officers alike. The best dish you should try here is the hoagie with fresh ingredients and delectable sauces. Bacon egg and cheese is also a good option on the menu worth trying for a wholesome midday meal.
Location: 298 S University Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Open Hours: Mon-Sun: 8 am–2 pm
Must Try: Hoagie, Bacon Eggs
Price for 2: $20 approx.
3) John’s Roast Pork
Image Credit: Tony Grodzki via Google Maps
In the world of famous foods in Philadelphia, the juicy roast pork is often in tough competition with Philly cheesesteak for the first place. While Philly’s roast pork sandwich doesn't have a worldwide prominence, the locals sure know its value. Highlighting this emotion of true Philadelphians, John’s Roast Pork brings the most authentic taste in their sandwiches that gets excitingly overwhelming with every bite. This iconic hotspot has become a landmark for the best roast pork sandwiches in the city.
Location: 14 E Snyder Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148
Open Hours: Sun-Mon: Closed; Tue-Sat: 10 am–5 pm
Must Try: Roast Pork Sandwiches
Price for 2: $20 approx.
4) Morrone’s Water Ice
Image Credit: Morrone’s Water Ice
Pronouncing water ice might seem funny at first, but believe it or not, it is one of the most beloved treats of Philadelphians, who call it “wooder ice” rather than “vaw tuh ise.” Morrone’s Water Ice is one of the big names in the city best known for this particular treat. Apart from water ice, you will also see many people munching on the pizza pretzels, cheese pretzels and funnel cake in front of the store. Try the different flavours of water ice to experiment with what you really like the most.
Location: 200 N 63rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19139
Open Hours: Sun-Thu: 11:30 am–11 pm; Fri-Sat: 11:30 am–11:30 pm
Must Try: Water Ice, Pretzels
Price for 2: $20 approx.
5) The Crepe Truck
Image Credit: The Crepe Truck
Crepes are another highlight of iconic street foods in Philadelphia. And no other place does it better than The Crepe Truck located in Temple University. This place is known for the best handmade crepes in the city and the extensive menu truly takes the experience to the next level. From sweet to savoury, you will get so many options to try in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian variations. For a slice of heaven, order up the creamy strawberry crepes laced with chocolate strings. Also, try the stir-fried vegetable crepes and meatball crepes for a fun experience.
Location: 1291 W Norris St, Philadelphia, PA 19122
Open Hours: Sat-Sun: Closed; Mon-Fri: 11 am–6 pm
Must Try: Strawberry Crepes
Price for 2: $20 approx.
6) Stargazy
Image Credit: Stargazy
For the taste of authentic British oven-baked pies, head straight to Stargazy at East Passyunk Avenue and savour freshly baked pies immersed with flavours. This place is known for the best Sausage rolls in the city in which you get a crispy and flaky crust wrapped around a juicy and savoury meat filling. Try meat and onion pie, scotch egg and sticky toffee pudding to taste the true flavours of this joint. Also, look for Large Banoffee Pie on the menu for a wholesome bite. You will also find several vegetarian options on the menu.
Location: 1838 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148
Open Hours: Mon-Wed: Closed; Thu: 9 am–4 pm; Fri: 9 am–7 pm; Sat-Sun: 9 am–4 pm
Must Try: Sausage Roll, Meat And Onion Pie, Scotch Egg And Sticky Toffee Pudding
Price for 2: $30 approx.
7) Reading Terminal Market
Image Credit: Reading Terminal Market
If you are looking for a perfect place where flavours of all Philadelphia mingle, Reading Terminal Market is the destination for you. In the middle of local shops and souvenir markets, you will see delicious dishes being whipped up in the food stalls. It is one of the best places to try food from several vendors while exploring the market. Vendors like Beiler's Donuts, Famous Franks and Sang Kee Peking Duck along with several others make it a perfect spot to hang out with family and explore the farmers market. The best dishes you can try here are cheesesteaks, doughnuts, cornered meat, provolone, whoopie pies and oyster bar.
Location: 1136 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Open Hours: Mon-Sun: 8 am–6 pm
Must Try: Cheesesteak, Doughnut, Cornered Meat, Provolone, Whoopie Pies And Oyster Bar
Price for 2: $40 approx.
When you're in Philly, try these amazing street food places to enjoy the time of your life in the city. Try the amusing taste of Philly's iconic cheesesteak that everyone has been talking about or look for some unique findings to make your tale special and different from others.