Hey friends! I’ve been here, there, and everywhere lately eating dang near every single thing I can get my hand on from New Orleans, north to Philadelphia. This week I’ve been in Philadelphia where I’ve found GOOD everywhere I’ve gone: good people, good coffee, seriously good bagels, good donuts, and what might be one of my favorite places in the country: The Reading Terminal Market.
The Reading Terminal Market is Philadelphia’s indoor public market, packed to the gills with fresh produce, local meats and fish, Amish baked goods, quality coffee, cannolis like whoa, and the best roast pork sandwich is all the land. I love the Reading Terminal Market because the quality and range of food is bonkers… I can nerd out about food around every corner of this market… but the people that fill the stalls, aisles, and countertops are free of food-person pretensions (eye roll) and just there because they know what’s good. It’s the most wonderful place.
Here’s a look inside:
Every countertop has people gathered. Dutch Eating Place for lunch ooorrr the best Roast Pork Sandwich with broccoli rabe and peppers from DiNic’s Roast Pork and Beef. Seriously with that sandwich… outta control.
Fresh fried donuts at Beiler’s Donuts and Salads. To the right of those donuts is a giant hot oil bath for the dough. This is my kind of beauty.
So many Amish donuts to choose from. The Apple Fritter! Don’t go without it.
Every juice you could ever imagine from Lancaster County Dairy.
What are we going to do with all this fish?
Every single cut and chop and link at L Halteman Family Country Foods.
Roasting coffee at Old City Coffee. I dream of having a coffee roaster like this in my basement. Also, I dream of having a basement.
They take their grilled cheese and olives very seriously at Valley Shepard Creamery and Meltkraft Grilled Cheese.
The bread at Metropolitan Bakery is gorgeous, and they also know a thing or two about homemade fig bars and canneles!
As a west coast girl, I can safely say that I don’t know enough about cannolis. Thank you Termini Brothers Bakery for the education. I’ll never be the same.
Roast pork. Cannolis. Loaves of bread. Fresh fried donuts. Coffee. Ice cream and candy and juice and meat and fish and every-dang-thing. What’s really nice is the gathering. The way people sit and chat and hold their babies and take a moment to eat and be while the world bustles around them. The Reading Terminal Market is special.
I hope your day is great!
xo Joy
84 Responses
Great story! I found this story on the RTM yesterday. https://wheretophilly.com/a-working-persons-guide-to-reading-terminal-market/
Thank you for this wonderfully insightful post, Joy! I’m from NJ and I go there at every chance I get!
my hometown lovin’ from JTB, awesome :)
You’re making me miss Philly! I lived there for two years and went to Reading Terminal Market AT LEAST once a week. The Lancaster County Dairy was my favorite. I lovingly referred to him as “the Juice Guy” to anyone and everyone who would listen. Oh and Metropolitan Bakery, how I miss thee!
I’m glad you liked it there! Beiler’s and those cannolis at Termini Bros are the best!
I live near the Reading Terminal Market, so the article title definitely caught my eye! I hope you enjoyed your stay in Philly! If you ever come back, don’t forget to go to the art museums and Chinatown. Also, Flying Monkey Bakery in Reading Terminal is AMAZING.
Beautiful photos of one of my favorite places in Philly! Just a quick tip, being photographed is against the Amish religion. When I was there last I was told that they believe it goes against the “make no graven image” commandment, and it’s a big no-no for tourists to take pics of their faces. But thank you for an overall lovely post about a great place!
I’m so sad I missed you Joy! Let me know next time you’re in Philly. I’ll show you some more fun places like amazing Pho, dim sum, cheesesteaks, water ice, and hot pretzels straight from the line.
I just ate a cannoli there today!!! So yummy.
My mother always used to tell me that I was going to the reading terminal before I was born. She worked down the street from there, so it was always a special place. When I got older, I got a job at Metropolitain bakery, and would work at their stand in the terminal every once in a while. Such a special special place. You hit some key spots, but if you haven’t tried it yet, get a fruit juice smoothie right across from Le Bus bakery…my absoulute favorite after a nice big DiNics sandwich! Loved seeing your photos of my fav place.
Welcome to Philly! Hope you had a great time exploring the city. RTM is an amazing place with so many great vendors. Definitely the place to be for visitors and residents! Hope we’ll hear more about other places you visited :)
One of my all time favorite eating spots in the world (Temple owl here). The pretzels, OH THE PRETZELS. Other must eat/drink places in Philly: The Merose Diner, Dirty Frank’s bar, and I have to shout out for my friend’s incredible Italian restaurant Le Virtu.
I remember going there years ago and thinking i was in food heaven, I had my first philly cheese steak there. when i told the guy at the counter it was”my first time” (for a cheese steak)he looked at me like i was crazy!
I don’t know, those cannoli shells look a little dark to this New Yorker!
Oh my, you should definitely head down to the Italian Market next. The original Termini Market is down there on 8th street, just down from the Italian Market, and they sell (in addition to cannoli and other treats found at Reading Terminal) my favorite Amaretti cookies. If you go, please mail me some! It is one of the places I didn’t get to visit one final time before we moved from PA to AL two weeks ago!!!
I am also in love with that sandwich! Good choice!
1) donuts+ salad is a fantastic idea.
2) I also dream of a basement. my husband doesn’t understand this dream, and thinks I’m kinda crazy because of it. Luckily, he loves when I make pickles so I just tell him that it’s necessary for pickle storage.
Canneles!! Yum. I would fly there just for those!
I’m so happy you had the apple fritter! I think its one of the best kept foodie secrets in Philly. Everyone knows about cheesesteaks and pretzels. Some people know about DiNic’s and Termini’s (way better than cheesesteaks). But nobody seems to know about those outta control Amish Apple Fritters!
Reading Terminal Market is one of my favorite places! I’ve never tried the roast pork sandwich but definitely will the next time I go.
I’m soooooo jealous! I love this place in Philly and miss it so much. We have nothing like it in SW Florida, not even close. Glad you got to experience it. Termini Bros is the best!
My absolute favorite sandwich EVER came from Molly Maloy’s in Reading Terminal, the “Not Your Mama’s Grilled Cheese” ….goat cheese, black pepper fennel onion jam, sautรฉed spinach, sliced brioche (except mine had tomato jam instead of onion)! Seriously divine!
(PS- I think you need an excursion over to Houston, and explore the food here! Especially the food trucks – there are some serious eats on food trucks! My current fave is Texas Wokker Ranger for the best Texas Asian food you can imagine….)
Joy,
Do you ever think your travels will lead you to Pittsburg, PA? We have a strip district that has foods of all ethicity, and good foodie spots all around!
xx
Trista
That looks fabulous. Termini Brothers has the most amazing pignoli and amaretti! I would have had to bring a separate piece of empty luggage just to stuff with cookie tins…
man i miss philly, thanks joy!! What about the cheesesteaks?? Go to Jims on South St if you’re still there, you will not be sorry
Have you tried the cannoli at Angelo Brocato’s, yet? (on Carrollton Ave. near Canal St.)
Oh…we loved that place when we lived in Lancaster! So nice to see it again!
Went there on a couple layovers… What a happy and foodie galore place to be! Highly recommend anyone to go pay a visit if your passing through…
My favorite place on the planet, my son went to graduate school at UPenn, every visit included a stop at Reading
I lived in Philly a few years ago and I spend so many time here… Love this place for all the amazing food we can find there and of course for the cheesesteaks ^^
(sorry for my english, I’m french but always an active reader of your blog, I don’t comment really often because of my language mistakes and Philly was an obligation!)
I am going to be in Philadelphia soon so can’t wait to visit. Great recommendation.
Sophie xx
http://Www.sophieblunt.com
I love Reading Terminal. Isnโt it silly that people compare it to the Farmers Market on Fairfax? No competition. Also, I hope youโre eating some soft pretzels and wooter ice!
Who is watching TronCat while you are out running around the country? My wife has volunteered to cat-sit, since she is enamored with your cat.
You have to go to federal donuts!!!
Crazy about Reading Terminal Market! Love the fresh produce there. Side note: my daughter and now son-in-law had their first date there. The rest is history.
Wow! If on your way back south you stop in Louisville be sure to hit me up for some must stop stops. Looks lovely, safe travels!
I live about 45 minutes from Philly…I gotta take a little family day trip to the Terminal Market!!
Wow those cannoli look amazing! They are definitely my fave pastry. I’ll definitely have to go visit Termini Brothers!
Glad to see you are enjoying Philly, sad we are not eating donuts together.
Yum! That all looks and sounds so good! Thanks for sharing the info!
Laura
https://laurahager.blogspot.com
OMG I loved Metropolitan Bakery. They have darn good coffee at their cafe locations, too. Still reminisce about the fabulous baked goods they have there…mmm….
Joy! If you ever make your way to beautiful Cleveland, Ohio you would LOSE IT at the West Side Market. I advise visiting in the summertime when it’s warm and the sun is shining.
I’m writing this down! Thank you for sharing!
We lived for a while in Villanova, PA – about 20 minutes away from Philly and we LOVED Reading Terminal Market ! And when we lived in NYC, we used to frequent south Street Seaport. But the most amazing open market I ever visited was the one in Budapest, Hungry where the goose livers were almost as big as dinner plates. (Now I know why the goose livers get that big…. and I know many places in the U.S. will not allow geese to be force-feed any longer..) ++ If you have a second in your very-busy life, check out the ‘Great Hall Market – Budapest ! ; o ) https://www.budapestbylocals.com/great-market-hall.html
I love, love, love the Reading Terminal Market!! I used to frequent there when my boyfriend lived in Philly. SO many choices. It reminds me of a covered market I used to go to over in Oxford, England. I hope you tried a 4th street cookie!!
LOVE RTM! Have you made it to Federal Donut or Franklin Fountain? Rittenhouse Square has some great restaurants, too. Philly has wonderful food, especially when you go to places off the beaten track!
I’ve been there too! I was visiting a friend and we stopped in for breakfast. We picked crepes, which were delicious, but EVERYTHING looked amazing I wanted to try it all!
I used to live in Philly. I could spend hours wandering around in there.
Thanks for introducing this!!! Will definitely add it to one of the places to eat and visit. What was your favorite stand/item from here?
If you are still in Philadelphia, try Federal Donuts. You’ll love the original flavors. And let us know where you will be – we’d love to see you here!
I do recall quite a lot of deliciousness when I visited Philly. If you’re still there, I urge you to check out magpie in Rittenhouse Square. Delicious sweet and savory pies, and a gorgeous space that my BFF happened to help design :) https://www.iluvmagpie.com/ Happy eating!
Are you still in Philly? There is a little Vietnamese grocery store on the corner of 10th and Arch called Ding Ho, and on the counter is a rice cooker filled with the most delicious homemade rice noodles. You can get for $1 or $3 (for a large) a clamshell filled with noodles, which the woman (who can be unfriendly but who I love) will fill with noodles and top with sesame seeds and a few sauces. It is the most delicious thing in the world. Also, Reading Terminal Market is one of my favorite places to be. So jealous you are there! Enjoy your visit!
I’m one of the lucky people that the Terminal Market is not far away. I’m so glad you were able to see what it’s all about and enjoy the wonderful people watching. It truly is a remarkable place.
Are you still in Philly? I am so jealous, but if you have time, there is a little Vietnamese grocery store on the corner of 10th and Arch, and on the counter should be a rice cooker which is filled with the most delicious freshly made rice noodles. You can get a clamshell container for like $1 or $3 (for the large), and it gets topped very simply: sesame seeds and two sauces, which the woman (who can be a little unfriendly but I love her) will put on top or sometimes in two teensy vessels. It is the most delicious thing in the world. I so hope you have time to stop by! Also, Reading Terminal Market is one of my favorite places to be. Enjoy philly!
Nothing beats all of the amazing food options at Reading Terminal Market! I hope you’re enjoying our city : )
xx Allison @alwayseatdessert.com
I cannot believe this was your first experience at the market!!! You must come back soon! When my Dad and I go to Eagles games, we always take the subway into the city to stuff.our.FACES. Next time, make sure to grab the homemade sticky buns!!!
Seriously, DiNics. I’m a vegetarian and have been for more than half my life… However, every time we travel to Philadelphia I have a bite of my husbands. Worth it.
The Famous 4th Street Cookies….heavenly amongst many other things there!! :)
I was in Philadelphia a little over a year ago, and ate at the Reading Terminal Market everyday. Best apple fritter ever, and the Corned Beef Sandwich at Hatville Deli, yum!
South Jersey <3s Reading Terminal and joythebaker!
Just visited with 27 SoCal 8th graders as part of their East Coast U.S. History trip! Such a fun spot!
i love reading terminal and I miss it so!
Is the cookbook stand still there? Did you go? When I worked at 12th and Market we used the market as our cafeteria. It’s awesome!
I hope you made a pitstop (or five) at Bassetts for the best ice cream in all the land!
Contemplating a move to Philly in the next year or so and Reading Terminal is definitely a factor… yum! I love seeing things “through your eyes” and really appreciate you sharing your various adventures with readers! :) xo
So much good food in one place! I would definitely over eat there. Yum!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
How funny that I was just there on Monday after Easter and sadly Termini’s was closed. But for me, the Reading Terminal Market is not too far from home. So glad you got to experience the good that Philly has to offer!
If you loved the reading terminal you would adore the west side market in Cleveland! look it up if you are unfamiliar, you will not be disappointed!
I want to eat every photo. Starting with those donuts.
LOL! Joy, can I just tell you how I’d love to be with you right now?? My daughter just messaged me, saying you were there. She attends school in Philly, so whenever I visit we make it a point to go to the Market. Oh, my goodness, I could literally stay there the whole day eating, browsing, strolling and eating some more.
And Beiler’s… freaking awesome!
Enjoy your trip!!
I lived in philly for 7 years and loooooove Reading. It’s exactly like you say, amazing food without any of the uppity foodie mentality. The best!!
oh i’d love to go! the sour cherry and chocolate chip cookie caught my eye :D although i do quite fancy a fresh bagel right now!
https://trulyaddia.wordpress.com
I love that you are exploring Reading Terminal! Am a Philly girl and live in the Mt. Airy/Germantown section of the city. There are utter amazing gems all over. If you need some good meal or coffee recommendations off the beaten path, message me !
Reading Terminal is my happy place! Even in the middle of summer at noon on a Saturday when the “avenues” are crammed with double wide strollers, and I feel like I’m part the tourist attraction just picking out my sausages I am thankful that I have such a wonderful place to do my shopping.
PS. If you want to really enjoy RTM I suggest never going on a Saturday in the summer at noon. Unless you like double wide strollers filled with bags instead of children.
I also LOVE this place and I dream about Beilers–and just as an FYI, Amish/Mennonite folks aren’t big on having their pictures taken, so just something to think about in the future :)
EEK! You are in Philly and I can’t come hang out at Reading Terminal with you…GAH! RTM is a dream. I hope you got a crepe as well, those are fab. They have free crepe day in the summer and it is awesome! Please tell me you also had some Bassetts ice cream? It is pretty much impossible to NOT eat well in RTM. If only I didn’t have to drive in and find parking just to enjoy it :) Also…am now craving a cannoli. Thanks.
yes!!! you describe it all perfectly. loved this place when i was in philly!
xo welltraveledwife.com
one of my favorite parts of Philly! Happy to see you’re enjoying our city!
AAHHHHH YES The Reading Terminal Market is the bomb-dot-com. I should have gone there more when I was in Philly for college. They actually have some of the cheapest produce for broke college students. I can never go there when I’m hangry, though, because the obnoxious crowds of people are in between me and food and I can’t handle it. I usually get a smoothie and a bagel when I go (??? what is wrong with me….) and of course WAY too many cookies from Hope’s Cookies in the back. That grilled cheese place is also cray. I really need to get back there and explore some more … so glad you enjoyed it during your visit!
Beautiful Beautiful Post!!!
Beautiful Beautiful Post!!!!
oh man oh man, reading terminal market is a DREAM! i haven’t been there in years but i would love to go back and eat alllll the cannolis.
(p.s. i just got homemade decadence!!! wahhh i am so excited.)
Ate at the Terminal Market after the Philly Marathon last year — amazing place! My only regret is that I didn’t have more energy to explore!
hooray! one of my favorite places ever. the thai salmon from little thai market is a thing of legend.