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
howard smith
Great story! I found this story on the RTM yesterday. https://wheretophilly.com/a-working-persons-guide-to-reading-terminal-market/
Jo
Thank you for this wonderfully insightful post, Joy! I’m from NJ and I go there at every chance I get!
Caitlin
my hometown lovin’ from JTB, awesome :)
Kaitlin
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!
Hannah
I’m glad you liked it there! Beiler’s and those cannolis at Termini Bros are the best!
Hope
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.
wendy
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!
lwallett
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.