It isn’t easy to keep up with the line up at the Bellevue’s basement food court. They go through new restaurants like my sister goes through boyfriends, meaning the turnaround is real quick.
Fresco Tortilla replaced the corner spot occupied by Maui Dog’s. It features reasonably priced, semi-Americanized Mexican food- which is not necessarily a bad thing. The counter service is friendly and speedy. The menu features the usual suspects.
Photo Courtesy of Thrillist
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My mouth dropped open while passing through Philly’s Chinatown on the bus coming home from NYC this weekend when I saw a sign for a new restaurant- Xi’an Famous Food.
The bad news first, Xi’an occupies 902 Arch Street, meaning Szechuan Tasty House, one of the better restaurants in Chinatown, is no longer.
The good news- Xi’an food, cuisine from one of the oldest cities in China, is amazing and unique. I was first exposed to it in 2009 in my favorite dingy food court basement, Flushing’s Golden Mall, at NY’s now famous Xi’an Famous Foods. In the past few years the public has caught on, demanding for more access to the slippery noodles and cumin lamb burgers and resulting in 4 more outposts around the boroughs. Most recently, the original Midtown Lunch was lucky enough to get a Xi’an within its boundaries.
As for Philly, Happy Noodle Bar made some attempts at Xi’an food, but it wasn’t quite right.
So, I had to resort to repeatedly transporting noodles over state lines. Until now.
I was at Quizzo last week and a question came up about a food court in Old City with the same name as the stock exchange in Paris. My team looked at me, assuming my knowledge of local eating spots would get us the right answer. Instead, I had no clue. How embarrassing. But, that was how I learned that The Bourse is a thing.
Located between on the block between Market and Chestnut, with entrances on 5th and 4th street, The Bourse has candy stores, tourist shops, and a few places to grab food. Although I may not have known about it, the tourists certainly seem to, as there were many groups of small, sweaty children with name tags guided by chaperones in jean shorts.
Campo’s is a sandwich shop in Old City with a huge variety of sandwiches, including some allegedly decent cheesesteaks. I don’t know if its just me, but some days I like to gross myself out by ordering a meal I really shouldn’t. It just feels right to pick out something a cardiologist would be disgusted with. Usually this happens after a night of drinking or a night of having salad for dinner. Luckily, Campo’s make it easy.
Today Luncher John is at the new and improved Dapper Dog
One of the new trucks in the LOVE Park regular rotation this year is The Dapper Dog. Originating as a late weekend night hot dog cart in Northern Liberties, The Dapper Dog now has a full-fledged food truck with one regular weekly appearance at LOVE Park. You can easily spot it by the fantastic illustration on the left side of the red truck.
