Midtown Lunch

Midtown Lunch: L.A. wrote about a Jamaican food truck this week, so I figured it was about time to point out a Philly equivalent. Though University City gets all the love for their fab food truck scene, the Temple area has a few gems of its own, including the Irie Food Truck.

You will not walk away hungry after finishing your meal from the Irie Food truck. Staples like jerk chicken and oxtail are served in 3 different sizes: mini (comes with one side, $5.50), medium (with 2 sides, $7.50), and large (with 3 sides, $9).

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Le Bus is a small take-out place right by Rittenhouse Square with high quality pre-made soup, salads, and sandwiches to quickly grab for a lovely picnic in the Square, if you are lucky, or to hurry back to the office/classroom, if you are not so lucky. Le Bus is known for their baked goods; they sell a variety of loaves, rolls, and desserts to take home. The rotating sandwich selections run about $6, while the soup of the day is $4.

Daily specials are announced on a board outside;  the combination of nicer weather and a promise of gazpacho lured me in.

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As is customary at Philly Lunch, every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Philadelphia. This week it’s Susan, a lover of meat, starches, and pumpkin pie, just don’t ask her to join you at the salad bar.

Name: Susan

Age: 27

Occupation: Financial Analyst (aka Spreadsheet Wizard)

Where in Philly do you Work?: 13th and Market

Favorite Kind of Food: 1. I don’t think I’ve ever met a potato I didn’t love, 2. Indian food made by my mother, 3. Gelato, 4. Animal products and by-products, 5. Butter, 6. Fresh tacos with cilantro, 7. pumpkin pie, 8. steamed dumplings

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I don’t really like salads. On a side note, people who order salads as their meal basically each time they go out to eat really annoy me – probably because I am jealous of their will power and abs, but mostly because they are missing out on a world of exciting eating. Also, celery makes me gag and I never get slices of tomato on my sandwiches.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: If I’m in the mood for a quick burger and fries, I walk past the Wendy’s and go to Five Guys Burgers and Fries (on Chestnut between 15th and 16th). For some yummy ethnic cuisine close to Rittenhouse, I like Almaz Cafe (140 S. 20th Street). If you like lentils, order their Misir (but they also have regular cafe fare for the less brave).  If I crave soup, I run over to Grocery at 13th and Chestnut. Most of what they carry is overpriced and their staff is not particularly warm, but their soups run you about the same amount you would pay anywhere else, and they often have interesting options, like posole. The hommus with meat over at Sahara Grill (1334 Walnut) is delicious, along with their kabob sandwiches. And if you’re close to Chinatown, I would suggest stopping by Ray’s Café (141 N. 9th Street) and ordering the dumpling sampler. They’re also pretty popular for their beverages.

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It was Glatt Delights’  shady handwritten sign that intrigued me. The kosher restaurant formally known as Maccabeam is serving the same type of Israeli style meat platters, sandwiches, and vegetables as its predecessor. (In fact the menus still say Maccabeam on them) According to the chef Shaqil, Glatt Delight is the only place in Philly to get fresh baked laffa (think thick, chewy pita); behind the counter you can peek at the special laffa oven. Table service is available, or you can do what I did and get an order to go.

[Edit: As a reader points out, Zahav in Old City bakes up laffa as well]

A lunch special consisting of an entree and soup is offered, but it is a few dollars over the $10 mark, I instead went with the shwarma in laffa.

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Photo Courtesy of Mac & Cheese

• The pastrami at Delicatessen gets a seal of approval [Drawing for Food]
• The onion marmalade on Devil Alley’s veggie burger makes the burger a winner [Mac & Cheese]
• Discussion on Philly comfort food [Chow]
• Hoagie joint Gaetano’s opened earlier this month [Meal Ticket]
• Authentic Banh Mi for $3.25 only a few miles over the Ben Franklin Bridge [Philly.com]
• Bitar’s Market in South Philly has Lebanese sandwiches and ingredients for making your own creations [Meal Ticket]

I was more excited by the news of the opening of Maru Global than any other restaurant opening this winter; the prospect of fresh takoyaki in Center City made me squeal with joy.  The fried, octopus dough balls are one of my favorite foods. Since its shaky opening (they were open, then they weren’t, then they still weren’t…) the small establishment has been evolving and attempting to work out the kinks.

Inside, Maru has a few small tables, an open kitchen, and a selection of Japanese candy and drinks to go along with the Japanese menu. Just don’t expect any sushi. Fun, Japanese street food is served, with an emphasis on local and organic ingredients and a playful take on fusion flavors. Maru is also able to make accommodations for vegan diets and food allergies.

Surprisingly it was not the takoyaki that I was most taken with, it was actually the Curry Burrito Bento.

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Happy St. Patty’s Day people! Stuck at the office? At least your lunch can be festive. Just try not to fill up on beer. Philly has great options for corned beef sandwiches, here are just a few…

Pictured above is one of Philly’s deli version, from the Kibitz Room (1521 Locust btw 15th and 16th). A corned beef sandwich is one of the sandwiches offered for Kibitz Room’s weekday under $10 lunch special. Their sliced corned beef has the right combo of leanness and fattiness. The special includes a drink and fries and access to their amazing pickle bar.

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