Midtown Lunch

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 Hayley who is pho really serious about noodles.

Name: Hayley

Age: 28

Occupation: Attorney/Founder of Pho Real Asian Food Club http://phorealclub.wordpress.com & twitter: @PhoRealClub

Where in Philly do you Work?: Market East/Chinatown.

Favorite Kind of Food: Tough question – I have so many! I love Asian food, especially Vietnamese, Korean and Thai. My last meal on earth would be a big bowl of pho with extra Sriracha sauce. I even started an Asian food club so that I could take group trips to restaurants and try more dishes. My other favorite would have to be Italian; I’ve never met a plate of seafood pasta that I didn’t like. A toasted pumpernickel bagel with lox, cream cheese, and cucumbers is pretty high up on the list, as are pickles, hummus and fresh fruit from the farmers market. Last but certainly not least is grilled cheese, the ultimate comfort food (especially my dad’s version on an inside out bagel!)

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Olives, all kinds. Yuck.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: work right next to the Reading Terminal Market and Chinatown, so I have a bunch of options for quick, inexpensive lunches.

I frequent Pho Cali (1000 Arch Street) the most often. They have awesome summer rolls, and will make you tofu pho when you’re in the mood for a lighter meal.

I also really like the eggplant in garlic sauce at Szechuan Tasty House (902 Arch Street). Service is fast here, and they’ll substitute brown rice for white without an extra charge or a hassle.

The beef noodle soup at Nanzhou Hand Drawn Noodle House (927 Race Street) is like pho’s rustic cousin, and the noodles are amazing!

For group lunches, Rangoon (112 N. 9th Street) is a great option because they have large tables and a huge menu. My favorites are the jungle tofu (green curry) and the spicy rice sticks.

As for the Reading Terminal Market my top three stops are Sang Kee, for soup with dumplings and bok choy (ask for #8), Little Thai Market for pad thai (don’t be intimidated by the line – it’s long, but it moves fast) and Beck’s Cajun Café for their daily soups (especially pumpkin bisque in the fall). For dessert, I’ll usually swing by the Fair Food Farmstand for some produce, but sometimes I get sucked in by the vanilla cupcake display at Termini Brothers Bakery.

Also, I have to mention Seo Ra Bol (5734 N. Old 2nd St), because I think they make the best Korean food in Philadelphia. During the summer of 2007, I worked for a law firm in North Philly, and I would go there almost every day for their bulgogi and sushi bento boxes. And for anyone who works in Olde City, try the beef and scallions lunch special at Han Dynasty (108 Chestnut Street) – you won’t be disappointed.

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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 Michaelangelo, a Philly blogaholic and sandwich guy.

Name: Michaelangelo (though, commonly known as Mikey)

Age: varies between 16 to 73 depending on gullibility

Occupation: Web/tech jack of all trades, with a focus on design and a love for social media. Blogger & picture taker for Uwishunu, Geekadelphia and Unbreaded.

Where in Philly do you Work?: The parts of the internet that represent the Philly region and market.

Favorite Kind of Food: My day-to-day consists of standard American pub fare plus cheesesteaks, burgers (any kind of loosely defined “sandwich” really). I live for anything spicy with preferential treatment for anything buffalo [sauce], the spicy, delicious nectar of the gods

Least Favorite Kind of Food: bivalvia mollusca

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: Regardless of innumerable world travels and countless years lived, a life without ever having consumed Paesano’s edible sandwich artwork is one barely lived. It’s an incredible bargain considering even their most expensive sandwiches are still roughly the same price as a tourist-trap cheesesteak. You know what places I’m talking about. They’ve got two spots but I prefer the Italian Market location (901 Christian St.) for their Meatball Parmesan or their “Bolagnese” [sic] – crispy fried lasagna sandwich. Rustica Pizza (903 N. 2nd St.) in Northern Liberties is definitely the place to go to for a cheap (if you somehow manage spending over $10, then you’ve got an appetite that’s even greater than my own) quick, delicious gourmet slice. My favorite (when available) is the Bistecc del Tartufo. Yes, that’s steak with truffle oil and it’s phenomenal.

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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 Maria, a wine enthusiast whose schedule allows her to take advantage of lunches all around Philly.

Name: Maria

Age: Old enough to order a glass of wine! ;-)

Occupation: Freelance Writer, Wine Educator, World Traveler, and Blogger for Sips Bites and Sites

Where in Philly do you Work?: www.SipsBitesandSites.com
So really anywhere I want

Favorite Kind of Food: Latin/Spanish Food. I crave ceviche all of the time.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Button mushrooms, they are so boring. Why eat button mushrooms when you could eat an array of earthy wild mushrooms?

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: I’m lucky because my job doesn’t tie me down to just one location which leaves the whole city as my option for lunching. I have favorite spots in sections all over town. Here are just a few:

Argan Moroccan Cuisine (132 South 17th Street) for Slow Cooked Lamb stuffed into fuffy pockets of cornbread-like pita with peppers and onions.

The Arista Sandwich at Paesano’s in the Italian Market; pork and broccoli rabe are just the perfect Italian combination (901 Christian St)

I love the spiciness of the Chicken Adana Wrap at S & H Kebab House – the wrap platter which comes with a house salad AND a red lentil soup is only $8.95! (611 E Passyunk Ave, right off of South St)

The Grilled Artichoke, Spicy Tuscan Pepper, White Bean and Bulgarian Feta Panino ($8.50) at Tria in Rittenhouse, cures my craving for a veggie fix. (18th & Sansom Streets)

When I’m in Chinatown I stop in Sakura Mandarin for steaming hot Shanghai Pork Soup Dumplings – they call them juicy buns here (6 for $4.95) and I always add a side of scallion pancake ($2.50) to my order.

I love Latin food; for a quick burrito I hit Pico De Gallo (534 S 15th St) and order the sweet & savory #15- Sweet Plaintains, Roasted Pork and Black Beans ($8.25). I can usually only eat half of this monster!

And finally, Zavino (112 South 13th St) for the Spinach Pizza ($14), but ONLY when I have someone to share it with! And quite frankly, lunch is always more fun when you have someone to share it with.
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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 Eileen, who proves that age aint nothing but a number when it comes to knowing about good food. Check her out at Munchi Monster.

Name: Eileen

Age: 18

Occupation: College Student

Where in Philly do you Work?: Currently I have a summer internship at an immunology lab at Drexel

Favorite Kind of Food: I am a die-hard for dessert, in particular those made with chocolate or matcha green tea. I enjoy macarons, cupcakes, brownies, froyo, gelato, just to name a few. I also like eating freshly baked breads, scones, and muffins in the morning. As for cuisine, my favorite is Japanese although Malaysian is a close runner-up.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I always pick onions out of my food, can’t stand the smell of mutton, and boycott mayo. Oh, and I absolutely despise school cafeteria food and most processed meats.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: I can’t say I’ve been to enough places yet to deem a favorite. I really like eating Malaysian food at Banana Leaf and Lemongrass’s lunch specials are pretty good deals. I absolutely LOVE Naked Chocolate. Its sophisticated European hot chocolate beats out Max Brenner by far.

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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 Felicia, the former co-editor of Meal Ticket (which I love) and the brand new Community Manager for Yelp in Philadelphia (which I also love).  She certainly knows a thing or two about Philly lunches.

Name: Felicia

Age: 29

Occupation: Community Manager of Yelp.com here in Philly

Where in Philly do you Work?: Primarily out of my home office at 6th and Reed in South Philly, but I’m always out and about on my bike.

Favorite Kind of Food: Grandma food. My mom-mom, your Nana, that guy’s Tete — if a matriarch made it, that’s what I want.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Any sort of fermented fish-flake thing that people are always going to Penang to seek out, and this chick does not abide raw onions. They are kryptonite.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: The only time my inner carnivore quits whispering “bacon-wrapped cheeseburgers” in my ear is when I manage to get to Chickie’s Italian Deli (1014 Federal St.) before 3 p.m. or they run out of bread (whichever comes first) to score a Chickie’s Veggie Hoagie. Broccoli rabe sauteed with garlic, eggplant baked with tomato gravy, coarsely-ground provolone and roasted red and yellow peppers is just one of those alchemical admixtures that transcends its ingredients to achieve legendary levels of sandwich greatness.

If it’s more of a leisurely day, Mr. Joe’s Cafe (1514 S. Eighth St.) serves lovely, tender gnocchi with glorious Bolognese, as well as other pasta dishes that are all handmade at Termini Bros. bakery across the street (same family). For $12 you are treated to a fresh salad, a pasta dish and dessert-y bite also made at Termini, plus a glass of complimentary jug wine in the bargain. Keep in mind this place is pure Italy jetted over and plunked down at 8th and Tasker — don’t go unless you have plenty of time to chill and really enjoy your meal. It’s the Anti-Express Lunch.

Now that my South Philly cred is indubitably established, I will say the Chick-Fil-A in the Ikea shopping center (2204 S. Columbus Blvd.) turns out some quality chicken boob strips, PLUS they have fountain Diet Dr. Pepper and the staff are probably the friendliest people in the 215. Sometimes they bring your order to your table! While smiling!

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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 Miriam, who has some great recommendations for Kosher lunches in Center City.

Name: Miriam

Age: 29

Occupation: Director of the Jewish Graduate Student Network for Hillel of Greater Philadelphia

Where in Philly do you Work?: My office is at Penn, but I work wherever I can get wireless, which usually means coffee shops all over Center City

Favorite Kind of Food:Philly is great for vegetarian food, and even though I keep a kosher kitchen at home (and don’t eat meat anyway), I do eat vegetarian food in non-kosher restaurants. I love fancy vegetarian food (read about Horizons below), but I’m usually equally happy to sit at home with a huge plate of pasta. As a category, Indian food is my favorite, especially chana masala. Center City could really use a vegetarian Indian restaurant! I am also a total sucker for potato chips and for dessert, and in the summer, I cannot get enough water ice.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Well, meat. I also hate mushrooms. Lots of veggie food has them, but I’ll do anything to avoid them.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: Su Xing House (15th and Sansom) is a vegetarian Chinese restaurant that only recently has become kosher certified, which is great news for everyone! I get the General Tso’s Veg (which is different than General Tso’s tofu and much better). Singapore Chinese (10th and Race) and New Harmony (135 N. 9th) are also kosher vegetarian Chinese places that are great. For Middle Eastern Kosher, I recommend Glatt Delight(128 S. 12th). They serve meat and don’t have a huge selection of vegetarian choices, but it’s a restaurant I really like to support, and for people looking for kosher meat, it’s one of the few options in Center City. Mama’s Vegetarian (20th b/t Chestnut and Market) has great felafel, but what really gets me there are the pickles, pickled carrots, and roasted cauliflower. Hamifgash(8th and Sansom) is another good kosher place with decent felafel. For non-kosher but vegetarian places, I love the chicken cheesesteak at Govinda’s to Go (Broad and South). The seitan curry at Mi Lah (218 S. 16th) is delicious, and though they’re not open for lunch, I can’t talk about vegetarian food without mentioning Horizons (7th and Kater). The BBQ seitan there is amazing, as is pretty much everything else on their menu.

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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 Andy, a lawyer who loves the bbq but isn’t afraid to grub around in Chinatown.

Name: Andy

Age: 31

Occupation: Attorney

Where in Philly do you Work?: Washington Square West

Favorite Kind of Food:I’m loving the barbecue renaissance in Philadelphia. Sweet Lucy’s (7500 State Road), Bebe’s (1017 South 9th Street) & Percy St. (600 South 9th Street) all satisfy my BBQ jones.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I had a roommate who made kimchi in our apartment and the smell is still baked into my mind in a bad way.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: Chili at the Coventry Deli (2000 Market Street), Platter from the truck at 22nd and Market, Falafel sandwich at Mama’s (18 South 20th Street), 500 Degrees bacon burger with spicy fries (124 S. 15th St.), Gustaio sandwich from Paesano’s (901 Christian Street), Bebe’s pulled pork sandwich, Breakfast Bomb from Honey’s(800 North 4th Street)…I’m a big proponent of breakfast for lunch

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