PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (Amazing America) — One of the best ways to experience Philadelphia is to eat your way through it, so we tried to do just that. From a can’t-miss breakfast sandwich and Filipino cuisine at Reading Terminal Market to a hidden speakeasy and unforgettable pasta, our culinary journey through Philly proved that the City of Brotherly Love has much more to offer than cheesesteaks.
To start off the day on the right note, we began with a breakfast sandwich at Middle Child. Two pieces of toasted rye bread stuffed with fluffy scrambled eggs, melty sharp cheddar cheese, and house-made corned beef make up the sandwich that won “Best Breakfast in America” on Good Morning America — and we just might have to agree with that verdict.
Next up, it was time to browse the iconic Reading Terminal Market. More importantly, it was time to try out some of the fantastic food stalls they have there. Caffeine was desperately needed, so we stopped by Old City Coffee for a double shot of espresso. The barista told us we had to visit Tambayan, which is actually the first Filipino restaurant in Reading Terminal Market.
While enjoying some tapsilog (a popular Filipino breakfast dish consisting of marinated beef, fried rice, and a runny egg), we chatted with owner & chef Kathy Mirano, who kindly kept feeding us more delicious dishes like the ube leche flan and pandesal, a slightly sweet yeasted bread roll.
We didn’t come close to trying all of the amazing eateries at the Market, so we will definitely have to return. For a complete list of eateries at Reading Terminal Market, click here.
Recommended by folks at Reading Terminal Market, Giuseppe and Sons proved to be the perfect pre-dinner spot. We lingered over beers and fresh mozzarella prepared tableside before moving on to our server’s suggestion, Vita.
After indulging in some of Vita’s heavenly vanilla gelato, it was time for the real fun. The secret phrase we received via text message (“I’m here to cheat on my New Year’s resolution”) gained us entry to the speakeasy that’s hidden behind a bright red door. We dug into tagliatelle bolognese and relished the cozy ambience.
This delicious day proved that dining in Philadelphia is as much about the people and the memories as it is about the food itself. Strangers become guides, menus become maps, and every stop has a story. Like any great culinary adventure, this one left us already planning a return trip, confident that there will be many more recommendations waiting for us around each corner.
We know there are plenty of other stories of culinary destinations and cultural experiences in all corners of the USA, and we’re making it our mission to find and highlight them. If you know of one, we’d love to hear about it. Send a DM to @amazingamericatv on Instagram!
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