Comment from ben
Time: July 8, 2008, 11:20 am

With out a doubt, the best place for lunch in Philly is the Reading Terminal Market. Dozens of different food vendors selling everything from Amish baked goods to Pad Thai. Speaking of which, the Thai stall is my favorite there. Last time I was there (3 years ago) $5 bought you a LARGE filet of grilled salmon over rice and steamed broccoli with your choice red or yellow curry sauce to top it off. But there are so many great choices there you can’t go wrong.

My other favorite is El Fuego at 7th and Walnut. Huge Mission style burritos for about $7. They’re what Chipotle and Qdoba aspire to be but never quite can be.

Comment from ak
Time: July 8, 2008, 11:27 am

Agreed on Reading Terminal.

Otherwise, all I know is that since I left Philly, I haven’t been able to walk inside another Cosi, I was so sick of the place. Philly is/was oversaturated with Cosi.

Comment from Za Jiang Mein
Time: July 8, 2008, 11:36 am

Za Jiang Mein - 짜장면 - go to Hyo Dong Gak (효동각) at 35th st., between 5th and 6th. Don’t get the regular but get the loaded one. I think it’s under $10.

Comment from Stu
Time: July 8, 2008, 11:40 am

Long Tan, in Park Slope (196 Fifth Avenue, between Union & Berkley) does something they call “Broad Noodle w/Beef and Coriander” and describe as being like a Thai Spaghetti Bolognese. It’s rather different than what you’re describing, but it’s pretty good, regardless.

Comment from Za Jiang Mein
Time: July 8, 2008, 11:40 am

With respect to Hagi, i remember i used to go there around 5 years ago when it would be empty on Friday evenings. Now, after being featured on Bourdain’s show, it’s impossible to get seats, even on weekdays past midnight, and the prices have doubled. If you can get seats there, order the Satsuma Shoju (bottle) - it’s what the Japanese employees there order for themselves - it’s under $20 and enough for 2 people. Plus if you don’t finish, you can have the place keep the bottle for you.

Comment from JustNancy
Time: July 8, 2008, 11:43 am

Can’t wait to hear if any Lunch’ers have suggestions for decent Chinese zha jiang mian around here - Midtown or anywhere in the 5 boroughs, for that matter.

Comment from AL@1PP
Time: July 8, 2008, 11:57 am

@JustNancy:

Did you try the Egg Custard King in China town (Mott and Canal).
I’m pretty sure they have it there, though my memory might be faulty.

It’s pretty easy to get that at almost any noodle shop.

Comment from Vegetarianka
Time: July 8, 2008, 12:47 pm

Thirding Reading Terminal Market. You could eat there at every meal for a year without repeat., and it would all be delicious. Philly has a decent Chinatown, but the only place I know of is a tiny vegetarian place (Cherry St. or King St. Vegetarian, maybe?), that as of 2 years ago had an all you can eat dim sum lunch for $10. There’s a food court near UPenn that’s okay, and the UPenn area is also famous for street carts.

Comment from noodles
Time: July 8, 2008, 1:12 pm

agreed - shanghai mong is quite good.

Comment from BIG BRI
Time: July 8, 2008, 1:25 pm

As for the zha jiang mein, I’ve had a decent version many years ago at the hole in the wall chinese place on 32nd between 7th and 6th, right next to the Blarney Stone. I don’t even know if the restaurant is still there.

Comment from Craig
Time: July 8, 2008, 1:29 pm

If you’re moving to Philly for a few years, I’m guessing you’ll probably be out by Wharton or Penn Law in University City. For lunches out that way, you can’t beat the trucks. There’s a Chinese truck at 38th & Locust that is outstanding (you can even call ahead to avoid the long waits), a vegetarians cart at 34th & Walnut that is surprisingly good, a falafel guy at 40th & Locust who is very very good.

Beyond the trucks, check out Koch’s Deli at 43d & Locust for amazing sandwiches and surly service. There’s an Indian buffet that was supposed to be very good somewhere around 40th & Chestnut, but I never went.

If you’re living in Center City, Reading Terminal at 11th & Filbert is amazing, as is APJ Texas Wieners on 13th Street just north of Market. Forget the crappy and over-hyped Pats and Genos for cheesesteaks — Jim’s on South Street is good, but the best is John’s Roast Pork all the way down on Snyder Avenue. Also good at John’s Roast Pork: The roast pork.

For sit-down places, Philly’s got a great BYOB scene. My favorite was Dimitri’s at 3d & Catherine in Queen Village. They’ve got a Fitler Square location too at 24th & Pine which is pretty good, but the original is much better.

Comment from wayne
Time: July 8, 2008, 1:39 pm

Nathan, that pose works better in front of a riced Honda Civic with coffee can tailpipe, huge-ass “performance” spoiler and purple undercarriage lighting, boyeeeeee

Comment from DocChuck
Time: July 8, 2008, 1:48 pm

My dearest Nathan:

Allow an older man (with several PhD’s if that means anything) to give you a piece of free advice.

Many employers these days are “internet savvy.” They employ lower level flunctionaries to comb the internet in an effort to unearth unsavory information on those in their employ.

A photo of a young “financial analyst” happily giving “gang signs,” (so-called) would be a motherlode for such a flunctionary. There may even be a bonus it it for them.

For you, alas, perhaps no more bonus. Eating off filthy food carts because you have no other choice is no way to live your life.

Something to think about, young man.

By the way, I formally advise young people all the time in my capacity as a retired “educator.”

Comment from Rudy McBagel
Time: July 8, 2008, 2:05 pm

Chucky, At least young Nathan isn’t banned in the state of Arkansas from any usage of the internet whatsoever, as you are.Is that why you travel the country in your VW campervan?

You Dipshit grit eating no-neck fuckwit.

Oh, and thats not a gang sign, thats how Princeton post graduates count.

Comment from DocChuck
Time: July 8, 2008, 2:09 pm

For your information, Mr. “McBagel” (a pseudonym, I bet), my wife and I travel the country in a LUXURY MOTORCOACH.

I trust that it is more well-appointed than the basement you live in.

Cheers, Chuck

Comment from Yvo
Time: July 8, 2008, 2:12 pm

I have no idea where to get good jhajyungmyun anymore… but my understanding of the dish is that the Chinese (Shanghai I think) version is spicy while the Korean is not.
Oh well.

Comment from DDR
Time: July 8, 2008, 2:13 pm

One of those no-neck monsters hit me with a hot buttered biscuit!

Comment from Rudy MCBagel
Time: July 8, 2008, 2:25 pm

DDR, goodness, we’d heard gay superman had you shot.Welcome back to the loving MT fold.

Actually,Chucky,I Do own a basement in Chelsea,London.

I also own the 4 Floors above too.

I’ll let you, as an educator, work out the value of a 8 bedroomed Georgian Town House in a very fasionable part of London.

Ps. And a Shropshire 14th century Manor house.

Comment from Mamacita
Time: July 8, 2008, 2:33 pm

Rudy, can I be your best friend?

I’m a great cook, mix a good martini…. keep my mouth shut most of the time.. er, well, maybe not that.

Comment from mews ments
Time: July 8, 2008, 2:39 pm

troll fight!

Comment from Rudy McBagel
Time: July 8, 2008, 2:39 pm

Ahhhhh Mamacita, if only i was 8 years singular:)

Does anyone know how/if the MT ‘meet’ is/happened?

Comment from Bossman
Time: July 8, 2008, 2:40 pm

Whole lotta asset shaking go on……..

Comment from wayne
Time: July 8, 2008, 2:40 pm

Hey, how come CockChug hasn’t hit on Nathan yet? Cocky’s online profile clearly says he likes show tunes, swishy pirates, NAMBLA meetings and being pegged on rainy Saturday afternoons

Comment from Mamacita
Time: July 8, 2008, 2:42 pm

hey -email me Rudy & DDR
midtownlunchmeetup at gmail

Comment from Blondie
Time: July 8, 2008, 2:48 pm

you’re telling me Bossman. I’ve never been to Philly or eaten Za Jiang Mein, though it does sound frightfully delicious. There’s gotta be some place in Flushing that does it, both versions probs.

PS that’s so not a gang sign. That’s the “I love Journey.” or “Rock out, Morimoto.” sign.

Comment from DocChuck
Time: July 8, 2008, 2:55 pm

Mr “McBagel:”

How lovely for you.

Sadly, my wife and I (she is 20 years younger than me) have a considerable leg up on you in the real estate holding arena.

We own a rather spectacular 18 room mansion in the most upscale subdivision in Houston, Texas, as well as a small but handsome horse farm and commercial kitchen in Mountain Home, Arkansas and time shares in North Carolina and Mexico.

Oh, and a pristine cottage in the UK.

Damn, I forgot my wife’s many clinics/salons. We own the real estate in approximately 75% of the locations.

Please feel free to view some great pictures of our many homes: http://profiles.aim.com/d0cchuck

Comment from Bossman
Time: July 8, 2008, 2:59 pm

Nice Hyundai

Comment from Mamacita
Time: July 8, 2008, 3:07 pm

Nathan, Nina will give you pointers on throwing signs for when you’re in Philly.

Looks to me to be more of the “chaka brua dude, surfs up” gesture.

totally

Comment from Rudy McBagel
Time: July 8, 2008, 3:09 pm

The Town House in Chelsea purchase price £9.8m in 2003

Now,even with the world markets in flux because of your Knuckleheaded monkey featured ‘president’, the Value is somewhat shy of £15m.

You have Equitable wealth of over $30m?…even including the VW Traveller?(here again avoiding the family home in shropshire…haven’t a bloody clue of it’s worth,mamacita/blondie, but it does have an heriditary title endowed on the freehold…which would make a possible future Mrs McBagel ‘Lady’.We’d never use it though, it’s sooo East Hamptons).

In Arkansas that would be a legally binding engagement promise.

Comment from Bossman
Time: July 8, 2008, 3:18 pm

Whoosh (wiping brow)… I’m just glad it wasn’t the accent.

Comment from Blondie
Time: July 8, 2008, 3:21 pm

Doc, does your horse farm smell like horse sh*t?

Comment from wayne
Time: July 8, 2008, 3:37 pm

Obvious Lesson: Comment on food blogs all day and before you know it you too will be a multi-millionaire

I can feel my equity soaring as I type

Comment from Rudy McBagel
Time: July 8, 2008, 3:41 pm

I don’t get out of bed for less than a DOH closure.

Comment from Swan
Time: July 8, 2008, 3:48 pm

Zha Jiang Mien is a Northern China dish. So any place that specializes in Beijing cuisine should make it well. Though, I can’t think of a good NYC restaurant that specializes in Northern Chinese food off the top of my head.

Comment from Rudy McBagel
Time: July 8, 2008, 3:49 pm

Oh, yes!! Nathan, forgot about him.:)

Face it, you’ll be in Philly you’ll be eating cheesesteaks for breakfast.

Comment from LC
Time: July 8, 2008, 3:53 pm

@Craig: I’m no veggie, but have to agree that the veggie truck at 34th & Walnut (the Magic Carpet, right?) is good. The UPenn area used to have a crepes truck that was amazing, but I remember it being shifted around post my time in Philly, and perhaps is no longer there? Also, I LOVED the Indian buffet at New Delhi (40th and Chestnut) but have heard quality not what it was. Not sure if I believe it, though.

Agree with everyone on Reading Terminal. :) Yum!

Comment from DDR
Time: July 8, 2008, 4:08 pm

Sorry Mamacita - would love to join the ML crew for a meet n’ eat, but there are too many crazies out there. As Rudy alluded, “Gay Superman’s” effete, epicene epigones would have me shot.

Comment from wayne
Time: July 8, 2008, 4:33 pm

DDR - CockChug is now a saint at ML so the ascension of Gay Superman can’t be too far behind

Unless of course he turns Bryant Park into a street meat chainsaw massacre

Comment from éclair
Time: July 8, 2008, 5:03 pm

Have to, like, 10th the Reading Market recommendation. Also, there’s a great vegetarian Indian buffet called Samosa at Walnut and 12th. Also, not really sure why no one has mentioned Pat’s (never Geno’s)…or maybe that’s because it’s better for a 3 a.m. weekend meal than for a workday lunch?

Comment from AL@1PP
Time: July 8, 2008, 5:25 pm

I feel bad for poor Nathan, He has to have his Midtown Lunch legacy mired by a retarded dick waving contest.

Sorry Nathan.

Comment from Rudy McBagel
Time: July 8, 2008, 5:36 pm

Yes, ive ruined nathan’s pulitzer.

Comment from JustNancy
Time: July 8, 2008, 6:00 pm

@ Ivo: Actually, they’re quite different with spiciness being only one of them. Korean: dark, bean based sauce/paste usually eaten w/ kim chee to cut the richness. Chinese: ground pork based, more like a spaghetti bolognese w/ cucumber, cilantro & carrots to cut the richness.

Comment from JustNancy
Time: July 8, 2008, 6:03 pm

Correction: @ Yvo. Sorry…

Comment from jp
Time: July 8, 2008, 7:18 pm

Does anyone know if University of Houston (where DocChuck got his PhDs) is an accredited university - I have never heard of it. I bet it is less prestigious than University of Phoenix.

Comment from Chip Beef
Time: July 8, 2008, 9:47 pm

Well, to his credit, the good doctor always does refer to himself as an “educator.” Perhaps the quotation marks say it all…

Comment from Brownie
Time: July 8, 2008, 10:00 pm

Reading Terminal Market all the way. So much deliciousness packed into that space. DiNic’s Roast Pork Italian…to amazing to describe. Here’s a link to my Reading Terminal Market flickr set:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nycblondieandbrownie/sets/72157603970799644/

Comment from Former philly pig
Time: July 8, 2008, 10:05 pm

Good luck in Philly, if you work near Chinatown/center city, there are a ton of places where I am sure you can find the chinese version of zha jian mein there. A particular favorite of mine back in the day (not sure if it’s still open) is Joe’s Peking Duck house, two bucks for an enormous and delicious bowl of the best hot and sour soup I’ve ever had. Incredible chow fun and moo shu pork. Peking Duck always came moist and juicy with a nice crispy skin and steamed buns instead of pancakes to wrap them in. Another Joe’s restaurant can be found outside Philly in Marlton, NJ about 15 minutes away.

Also near Penn was a whole strip of Indian places that all used to have excellent lunch buffets and were also awesome for dinner. Across the street from the Penn Law school is an awesome place called White Dog Cafe that tries to use locally raised ingredients.

I hope that was helpful, most of my suggestions were based on being a poor student in school down there but I think they’re all still solid choices.

Also don’t forget to pick a side in the great Pat’s vs. Geno’s vs. whatever debate as to the best cheesesteak in Philly. My decision was made up for me years ago, when I first arrived in Philly, I asked an overweight officer of the law where to go for a cheesesteak and he told me “No brainer, Pat’s.”

Comment from Michael
Time: July 9, 2008, 10:31 am

Univ. of Houston is an accredited institution. I went to law school there - it’s in the first tier. Their health law and intellectual property programs are consistently in the nation’s top 10.

Comment from d
Time: July 9, 2008, 10:58 am

you can get zha jiang mein at pretty much any shanghainese restaurant in chinatown, like green bo on bayard street, or shanghai cafe on mott street. the thing about this dish is that it’s often labeled as something else in english, i.e. at green bo, it’s called “spicy meat noodle”, whereas it’s “noodles w/ meat sauce (cha chiang mein)” at shanghai cafe.

Comment from Geo
Time: July 9, 2008, 2:31 pm

Za Jiang Mein

I’ve had pretty good Za Jiang Mein from the dollar “Dumpling House” on Eldridge Street in the LES. This was before the recent renovations but its worth a try.

Comment from Yvo
Time: July 9, 2008, 2:46 pm

@JustNancy: thanks! I’ve actually only had the Chinese version once (and cried because this was a long time ago, and didn’t expect it to be so spicy), while I first had the Korean version before that and liked it. Now I’m limited to the packaged crap if I’m in the mood.

PS You know, thanks for correcting that, I’m curious because you’re like, the millionth person to misspell it after seeing it in print only - does it look like an “I”? I just want to know if there’s a reason everyone thinks it’s Ivo… (it’s pronounced ee-vo)

Comment from Cindi
Time: July 9, 2008, 10:14 pm

the american health bar is great and open pretty late. i hate vegetables but this place manages to make them taste amazing…it’s kind of a miracle!

Comment from wayne
Time: July 9, 2008, 10:45 pm

That’s because it’s made of……. PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!

Comment from AL@1PP
Time: July 9, 2008, 11:17 pm

SOYLENT GREEN!

Comment from DocChuck
Time: July 10, 2008, 11:17 am

The University of Houston is one of the finest institutions of higher learning in Texas, if that excites you.

It did me.

Comment from wayne
Time: July 10, 2008, 11:38 am

CockChug is obviously referring to his U of H college fraternity initiation, when he “male bonded” by performing a double-reverse anal chug before the goat orgy

Comment from jane
Time: July 10, 2008, 11:55 am

born and raised in philly. philly has a great selection for food and it will feel SO cheap compared to NYC.

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