Through a door, passed a jewelry counter, down the stairs, and to the right of the grocery store is Tasty Place- serving cheap Chinese food. If you require a white table cloth to accompany your dining experience, this is probably not the place for you. I tried two dishes to feel the place out. I had no idea what to expect from the quality of the food here, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Photo Courtesy of Isaiah Thompson at City Paper
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Jean’s Cafe is an unassuming spot for freshly made sandwiches of quality ingredients. I can’t quite decide whether the menu is adorable, crazy, or slightly irritating, but with spelling errors and items such as “Cheesy Coo Coo Steaky Hog ,” (that translates to chicken cheesesteak) it will at least entertain you while you wait for your order. I went with The Gobler, a large sandwich with Boar’s Head sliced smoked turkey breast, melted Swiss, bacon, coleslaw, lettuce, tomato, and Russian dressing served warm. Look how big it is! Check out The Gobler unwrapped, after the jump…
While strolling down South St, a sign advertising Turkish lunch specials caught my eye. A quick glance at the menu made me thankful I stopped. Choices for lunch include a variety of kebabs, but there were four non-kebab items that really tempted me; stuffed cabbage, moussaka, zucchini pancakes, and most tempting of all: manti. Manti are little Turkish lamb dumplings that are topped with a minted yogurt sauce. Something about that combination is so tantalizing that this is often my go to dish at a Turkish restaurant, though I can’t say I have ever had it for lunch before. As soon as my eyes zoomed in on manti on the menu, I was sold.
Posted at 9:30 am, January 20th, 2010 under S&H Kebab House, South St- East of Broad, Turkish.
As will be customary here on 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 Earl, a former lawyer who has deli meat nightmares and is looking for a place to deliver some hot pho to further his noodle binge. Thanks for taking the plunge and being our first ever Philly Lunch profile!
Name: Earl
Age: 31
Occupation: Attorney/Grad student. More the latter than the former at present.
Where in Philly do you Work?: Last full time job was @ 16th and Market. These days, I mostly work from home in Center City.
Favorite Kind of Food: This depends on my mood, really. I’ll go through phases where I’ll eat one type of food for a while or cycle through a few different types of cuisine. I’m big on Asian foods- Korean, Indian, Malaysian, Vietnamese. I’m partial to intense, bold flavors, having grown up eating Korean food every day- my mom’s a kick ass cook. Currently, I’m in a noodle soup phase- mostly because it’s been way too cold. I like my pho from Pho Ha on 6th and Washington, and in Chinatown, I’ll hit up Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House (Race btw 9th and 10th St). I like to watch my noodles magically transform from a ball of dough to countless, thin, yummy strands of noodles before my eyes. I’ll I go through BBQ kicks now and again. My favorites are Tommy Gunn’s and Percy Street (burnt ends!) on 9th and South St. This summer, I went on a month long burger binge- I had to stop because I was getting fat. My 2 current faves are at Square 1682 (17th btw Walnut and Chestnut St) and Noble (Sansom btw 20th and 21st St). One of these days, I’ll have to try the Whiskey King. I also have an on and off, torrid affair with corn beef specials. I like mine from Kibitz Room (the whole, naturally) on Locust btw 15th and 16th and Hershel’s in Reading Terminal Market.
Least Favorite Kind of Food: Mac and cheese (unless it’s perfectly made), pasta with alfredo sauce, cold cuts. I don’t like cheese as a sauce. It makes a decent addition, but as the feature presentation, no. While I’m on that topic- no wiz on my cheesesteaks. I prefer melted American. That’s how I grew up eating them in the ghetto and that’s what a cheesesteak is to me. Also, both Pat’s and Geno’s are complete crap. As for deli meats, I’m disgusted with the whole idea and general spirit of cold cuts- I had a traumatic childhood with way too many Italian hoagies. Have you guessed? I am a Philadelphian.
Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: Crazy Falafel Guy- cart located on NE corner of 20th and Market. Look for the smoke coming from his charcoal grill. My order: Sandwich (please). You will reek of garlic and char grilled chicken for 2 days, but it is so worth it. His food is worth waiting 45 minutes in line, worth the $8 or whatever he charges now, worth standing in the cold, the rain, the snow, and worth not getting laid at least that night, because no one in their right mind would kiss someone that smells that strongly of garlic.
Honest Tom’s Taco truck- 33rd and Arch, across from the Drexel beach volleyball courts. $6 for 2 chicken tacos. Totally worth the time (at least 15 minutes to cook), the money, and the trip up there, if you’re taking the subway or biking, as I do. Definitely go for some french pressed Stumptown coffee. Believe the hype.
Reading Terminal Market- Hershel’s 1/2 corned beef special and cup of matzo ball soup can’t be beat. It’s a lot of home made, delicious food, and plus tip, about $9.
Beck’s Cajun Café opened inside Reading Terminal a few months ago serving as their main attraction… po boy sandwiches! Though Beck’s has so many great choices (gumbo! jambalaya! beignets!), it was all about the oyster po boy for me this trip. I came ready to indulge.
Posted at 10:00 am, January 18th, 2010 under Beck's Cafe, Reading Terminal, sandwiches.
