17 Foods to Try at Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market

Roast pork dripping into a roll, a pretzel still warm from the oven, and a doughnut for later: that is a very good start at Reading Terminal Market. But the choices extend well beyond Philadelphia’s familiar sandwiches. You can build lunch around Georgian cheese bread, roast duck over rice, or a vegan Reuben, then finish with sweet potato cheesecake.

This Philadelphia Reading Terminal Market food guide gives you 17 orders to consider, with the details that help narrow the choice: what comes in the dish, whether to eat it immediately, and which opening days can affect your plans. Pick a main meal and a couple of smaller tastes; save the remaining ideas for another visit.

Menus and visitor information checked October 2026. Individual stalls can change hours, flavors, prices, and availability.

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Choose your first few stops

• For a classic Philadelphia lunch: DiNic’s roast pork or Uncle Gus’ cheesesteak, followed by a shared Miller’s Twist pretzel.
• For a meal beyond sandwiches: Sang Kee’s roast duck, Little Thai Market’s salmon curry, or Saami Somi’s khachapuri.
• For a plant-based main: LUHV’s vegan Reuben. Its seitan filling contains gluten, so vegan does not mean gluten-free.
• For dessert now and a treat later: Bassetts ice cream now; a cookie or doughnut packed separately for later.

The market’s general hours are 8 a.m.–6 p.m. daily, but those are building hours. Pennsylvania Dutch merchants close on Sundays, DiNic’s also closes Sundays, and Dutch Eating Place closes Mondays as well. Check the official visitor hours and holiday calendar before choosing your day. Tuesday through Saturday gives you access to all the featured stalls’ usual opening days, although their daily hours still differ.

1. Roast pork with sharp provolone and broccoli rabe at DiNic’s

Make roast pork your first choice if you want a Philadelphia sandwich that gives the cheesesteak some competition. At DiNic’s, the pork, sharp provolone, and broccoli rabe combination brings meat, assertive cheese, and pleasantly bitter greens together in one roll. Specify the cheese and greens when ordering rather than assuming every roast pork sandwich includes them.

This is an eat-it-now order: the bread has a job to do catching the juices, and a long sightseeing detour will not improve it. If you are sharing, ask whether the sandwich can be cut and arrange your next food purchase afterward instead of letting the pork sit while someone joins another line.

Plan around: Stall B5. The market currently lists Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday visitors need another main.

2. A carved pastrami sandwich at Hershel’s East Side Deli

Choose Hershel’s if your idea of lunch is a generous deli sandwich built around the meat. The pastrami is cured in-house and carved to order. Corned beef and brisket are other possibilities, but pastrami is a straightforward place to start without adding another decision about a hot sandwich preparation.

Decide whether you want a simple pastrami sandwich or a Reuben before reaching the counter; they are different orders. For a tasting visit, split one sandwich rather than ordering a whole one per person and expecting to remain hungry for several more mains. This is also a useful Sunday alternative to DiNic’s, subject to the deli’s own hours.

Find it: B6. Hershel’s lists Sunday hours of 9 a.m.–5 p.m., later than the market’s opening time.

3. A Cooper Sharp cheesesteak at Uncle Gus’ Steaks

Uncle Gus’ makes its cheesesteak with thinly sliced ribeye, Cooper Sharp cheese, and a seeded roll from Angelo’s Baking Company. The market’s current description specifies a 10-inch roll. Treat older guides quoting another size as background, not the specification for today’s order.

Order the cheesesteak when melted cheese and griddled beef are what you actually want; choose DiNic’s when pork and greens sound better. You do not need both full sandwiches to have a worthwhile Philadelphia lunch. Settle your toppings before joining the final stretch of the queue, and check the board for their extra cost.

Plan around: A8; the listed opening time is 10 a.m. An 8 a.m. arrival at the building does not make this a cheesesteak breakfast stop.

If you would rather sample several foods with a guide, WeVenture’s Center City food tour includes a portion inside Reading Terminal Market and five tastings across the wider walk. It lasts about 2½ hours and meets at 1 North Broad Street, outside the Masonic Temple. This is a separate itinerary; Uncle Gus’ and the other merchants in this article are not guaranteed tasting stops. Check the selected ticket’s cancellation terms, not just a general “free cancellation” banner.

Explore the Center City Food Tour on Expedia

4. Roast duck over rice at Sang Kee

Sang Kee’s market counter is a good choice when you would prefer a hot rice meal to another bread-based order. Roast duck is the reason to stop; ask which rice combinations are available and whether you can add greens. The photograph shows one duck-and-rice order, rather than a promise that every plate comes with the same vegetables.

Expect a different eating experience from a boneless sandwich. Duck portions may include bones, so take your time and inspect pieces before offering bites to a child. Find a table and use utensils instead of trying to manage the container while walking through the aisles.

Choose carefully: Sang Kee has other Philadelphia locations. Use the Reading Terminal Market counter’s information when checking the menu and pickup location.

5. Salmon curry at Little Thai Market

The Little Thai Market salmon curry combines grilled fish, aromatic curry broth, broccoli, and rice. It makes sense for someone who wants a complete hot lunch with a vegetable component rather than a succession of snacks. The rice also gives you something to spoon the sauce over as you eat.

Ask about the day’s heat level and sauce ingredients before ordering, particularly if you avoid fish sauce, coconut, or another ingredient. A description such as “curry” does not establish a fixed level of spice or a complete allergen list. This is another meal best enjoyed seated, while the fish and rice are hot.

Plan around: B3. The market lists a 10 a.m. opening, with Sunday closing at 5 p.m.

6. Étouffée at Beck’s Cajun Cafe

When you want a saucy lunch instead of a sandwich, consider the étouffée at Beck’s Cajun Cafe. The counter serves Cajun and Creole dishes including gumbo, jambalaya, and étouffée. Ask what the current preparation contains and whether it can be served over jambalaya, as pictured, or what other base is offered that day.

That choice matters: adding jambalaya changes the meal, and you should not assume a sauce is vegetarian or free of shellfish because the ingredients are not obvious from the display. Confirm the protein, spice, and available portion before paying. For a group tasting, a spoonful each may be more manageable than adding another whole sandwich.

Find it: C8. The photographed cornbread is an example of a past order; check whether a side is included or sold separately.

7. Khachapuri at Saami Somi

Saami Somi’s menu describes its khachapuri as open-faced Georgian cheese boats made with house-kneaded sourdough. The traditional version includes Bulgarian feta, suluguni cheese, butter, and an egg yolk. It is a substantial cheese-and-bread meal, even when you are sharing.

Eat it hot and tear bread from the edges to scoop up the center. Give the filling a moment to cool before taking a large bite. If you avoid lightly cooked egg, ask about the preparation and possible adjustments before ordering.

The pictured cheeseboat is a seasonal butter-chicken adjaruli promoted by the business, not the traditional cheese version. Specials rotate, so use the current menu rather than an old social post to choose a specific topping.

8. A vegan Reuben at LUHV Vegan Deli

LUHV Vegan Deli’s Reuben uses homemade seitan corned beef, vegan provolone, 1000 island dressing, and sauerkraut on toasted rye. It is an option for someone who wants the familiar structure of a hot deli sandwich while keeping the meal plant-based.

The distinction worth making before you queue is that seitan and rye contain gluten. This order is not a gluten-free substitute for a conventional Reuben. Ask the team which other choices suit your requirements instead of simply swapping the bread around a gluten-containing filling.

Plan around: B8. The Reuben appeared on the operator’s current menu during research, but online stock was unavailable at that moment. Confirm availability if it is your reason for visiting; other deli sandwiches may be offered.

9. A soft pretzel at Miller’s Twist

A plain soft pretzel at Miller’s Twist is a useful small order between larger meals. These are hand-rolled, butter-dipped, Amish-style pretzels. Their tender style differs from the denser, chewier Philadelphia pretzels you may have encountered elsewhere.

Choose the plain version if you want a snack to tear and share. A stuffed breakfast pretzel or pretzel dog is a different, more filling purchase, so do not order one by accident when you are trying to save room. Eat your pretzel promptly if enjoying it warm is the point of the stop.

Plan around: B10. Closed Sundays; the listed Monday–Wednesday closing time is 3:30 p.m., earlier than the market building closes.

For a short introduction to the market itself, City Food Tours’ official tour lasts about 45 minutes. The Viator listing currently describes two snacks, while its overview also mentions a take-home-treat option; confirm the inclusions for the ticket you select. It is an orientation and tasting tour, not a full lunch or a guarantee of a Miller’s Twist pretzel. The meeting point is near the mailboxes between Herbiary and the Pennsylvania General Store; the listing asks guests to arrive 10 minutes early.

Check the Official Reading Terminal Market Tour

10. An apple dumpling at Dutch Eating Place

At Dutch Eating Place, an apple dumpling means a whole cored apple enclosed in pastry and baked. The market describes it served warm with cool heavy cream. It is closer to a substantial baked dessert than a small dumpling you might add casually to a sandwich lunch.

Share one if you want to try another sweet afterward, or make this your main dessert and let the cookies wait until later. The pastry, fruit, and cream are easier to enjoy with utensils than from a bag on the move. If this taste of regional cooking appeals, our guide to Pennsylvania Amish foods explains more Pennsylvania Dutch dishes to seek out on a country getaway.

Plan around: B11. Closed Mondays and Sundays; Tuesday–Wednesday hours are shorter than Thursday–Saturday hours.

11. A doughnut from Beiler’s

Beiler’s doughnut counter offers a broad range of hand-rolled doughnuts, from simpler choices to filled and decorated versions. Look at the current case, choose a first choice and a backup, then order. A long flavor list does not mean every variety will be waiting when you arrive.

Beiler’s Bakery and the doughnut-and-salads operation are sister businesses across the aisle. Check which counter and queue sells the item you want before committing to a wait. A pie display at the bakery is not the doughnut line.

Plan around: The doughnut counter is listed at A10 and closes Sundays. Buy a small selection for sharing rather than letting a tempting box replace the rest of your lunch plans. Ask how to transport and store filled varieties if you are taking them away.

12. A cannoli at Termini Brothers Bakery

For an Italian bakery finish, choose a cannoli at Termini Brothers. The market lists whipped ricotta, chocolate cream, and vanilla cream fillings. Specify which filling you want; “a cannoli” alone leaves an important part of the order undecided.

The shell-and-cream combination gives you a different texture from a doughnut or cake. It is also fragile. If you plan to carry it around Philadelphia, ask for protective packaging and the bakery’s refrigeration guidance. Do not put a boxed cannoli beneath a heavier lunch container in your bag.

Find it: B2. For a group with different sweet preferences, individual pastries let each person choose without committing everyone to a larger cake or pie.

13. A whoopie pie at Flying Monkey Bakery

A whoopie pie at Flying Monkey Bakery is a filled cake sandwich rather than a pastry-crusted pie. Chocolate is a sensible starting point if you want to understand the basic combination before exploring other flavors. The bakery’s menu also lists oatmeal, banana, and pumpkin families of whoopie pies, with several fillings.

Ask which individual flavors are available in the case. A bakery’s full order menu is not a promise that every variation is stocked for walk-up purchases, and whole-cake or bulk-order notice requirements are separate from buying a snack.

Plan around: C7. The bakery’s own current Reading Terminal menu says 8 a.m.–6 p.m., seven days a week. Check directly for a special trip, since the market’s descriptive text contains conflicting hours.

14. A chocolate chip cookie at Famous 4th Street Cookie Company

The chocolate chip cookie is the natural starting order at Famous 4th Street Cookie Company. It also solves a practical problem: you may want something sweet without choosing another dessert that needs a bowl, fork, or immediate attention.

Buy an individual cookie if you are still sampling, or ask for a few packed for later. Other flavors offer an easy way to cater to different tastes in a group, but check ingredients rather than assuming a cookie without visible nuts was prepared without nut contact.

Find it: A2. The company’s name refers to its origins; this recommendation is for its Reading Terminal Market stall, not a detour to another address.

15. Ice cream at Bassetts

Bassetts is the choice for a cold dessert after a hot lunch. The counter serves cups, cones, sundaes, and milkshakes, so decide on the format before getting absorbed in flavor choices. A cup is easier to set down while you organize bags; a sundae is a more substantial dessert commitment.

Choose a flavor from the current board rather than assuming the full advertised range is available. The pictured hot-fudge order is an example of a dressed-up option, while a simple scoop lets you focus on the ice cream itself. Eat it before buying takeaway bakery goods that require careful carrying.

Plan around: A6. Bassetts lists a 9 a.m. opening, one hour after the market’s general opening time.

16. Churros with soft serve at El Merkury

El Merkury at the Market brings Central American street food into the mix. Its churros give you a different dessert from the neighboring bakeries; paired with soft serve, they combine a freshly prepared fried pastry with something cold. Ask which sizes, toppings, and combinations are currently offered.

This is a good dessert to share at a table. Eat it promptly rather than carrying the assembled combination through a long shopping circuit. The elaborate serving in the photograph illustrates one customer’s order, not the size or toppings included in every purchase.

Find it: B7. If you arrive hungry for a savory meal instead, check its pupusas and other Central American offerings before committing your entire appetite to dessert.

17. Sweet potato cheesecake at Sweet T’s Bakery

Sweet T’s Bakery builds a distinctive dessert selection around sweet potato. Its current business posts feature sweet potato cheesecake as well as the sweet potato pie that made the stall a destination. Choose the cheesecake if a creamy dessert sounds more appealing than another filled pastry.

Ask what portion sizes are being sold that day; a whole cheesecake and a single serving have very different roles in a market visit. If cheesecake is unavailable, inspect the pie and pound-cake choices instead of assuming the social-media item will always be in stock. Get storage advice before taking a chilled dessert back to a hotel or onto a train.

Plan around: C11, near the 12th and Arch Street entrance. The business currently advertises daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m. hours, unless it sells out.

Put together a visit you can actually enjoy

You do not need a tour ticket to enter. The market is free to explore, and food is bought separately from the merchants. A paid tour adds a guide and the stated tastings; it is optional. The market’s visitor FAQ recommends weekdays before 11 a.m. or after 2 p.m. for a generally quieter visit. Match that advice to your chosen stall: a late afternoon arrival can miss Miller’s Twist or Dutch Eating Place on their shorter days.

For a first visit, reserve roughly 90 minutes to two hours as a planning allowance, with more time if you want to browse or join several queues. This is not a predicted wait time. A single sandwich stop can be much quicker; a busy lunch period with a group can take longer.

Only have half an hour? Choose one available main and one easy takeaway sweet. If your preferred queue would use most of the time, switch to your backup instead of buying several foods you will have to rush. Leave time to collect the order and get back to your train or meeting.

Start by locating your one must-have meal on the current market map and directory. The letter-and-number references above are map locations, not street addresses. Check that stall’s hours, then decide whether to buy a hot snack before it or a dessert afterward. Do not send everyone to buy a different hot dish simultaneously unless you have agreed where to meet and are ready to eat.

A simple Tuesday–Saturday tasting plan

Choose DiNic’s or Hershel’s for a shared main, add a Miller’s Twist pretzel if you still have room, and finish with Bassetts or Dutch Eating Place. Get a cookie or doughnut boxed for later. If the apple dumpling is the priority, put Dutch Eating Place first on days when it closes early. Treat this as a menu of choices, not a compulsory route.

A Sunday plan

Build the visit around Hershel’s, Uncle Gus’, Sang Kee, Little Thai Market, Saami Somi, or LUHV after checking the chosen counter’s hours and stock. Finish with Bassetts, Termini, Flying Monkey, Famous 4th Street, El Merkury, or Sweet T’s. Save Beiler’s, Miller’s Twist, Dutch Eating Place, and DiNic’s for another day.

Budget for portions, seating, and the trip home

Set your food budget before browsing and price one main, one shared snack, and one dessert from the current boards. That is more useful than multiplying an old guide’s cheapest item by 17. Ask whether toppings, drinks, and sides cost extra. Bring a card plus some cash as a backup, and check a stall’s payment options before ordering.

Use common seating for takeaway meals; do not assume a seat at one merchant’s counter is available for food bought elsewhere. Carry fewer open containers at once, keep aisles clear, and pack cookies separately from anything hot or saucy. Ask sellers about refrigeration for meat sandwiches, cream fillings, and chilled desserts before planning hours of sightseeing with leftovers.

If allergies shape your visit, speak to each merchant about ingredients and cross-contact rather than relying on a cuisine label or a photo. Our food-allergy travel guide has more questions to prepare before eating out.

The visitor address is 1136 Arch Street. Regional Rail passengers can use Jefferson Station and follow signs toward the Convention Center and market. Drivers should check the official directions and parking-validation conditions before entering a garage; discounted parking applies to specified garages and requires a qualifying market purchase and merchant validation. Allow for that process when deciding how long to stay.