With the overwhelming admiration for brunch and the filling nature of breakfast, lunch is often sidelined for other meals. That’s not the case in Philadelphia. Satisfying lunch options are widely available here, from sandwiches to cheesesteaks, to pho, to bao buns – you name it. Philly’s Reading Terminal Market is a venue for limitless lunch options, all under one roof. And if you’re looking for something to satisfy your mid-day craving, Here are 15 restaurants where you can enjoy the best lunch in Philly.
1. Salam Cafe
5532 Greene St
Philadelphia, PA 19144
(215) 660-9780
Located in Germantown, Salam Cafe is open every day except Sunday. Their lunch specialties include chicken kebabs, Ethiopian platters with injera, and beef stew marinated in berbere. They also offer a handful of appetizers to entice your palate.
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2. Max’s Steaks
3653 Germantown Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19140
(215) 229-9048
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A cheesesteak is a perfect lunch and sometimes the best and only option for a busy weekday. Don’t you agree? At Max’s, you can order a cheesesteak at any time of the day, up until 1 a.m. That means the national sandwich of Philadelphia is never hard to find.
3. Down North Pizza
2804 W Lehigh Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19132
(215) 377-9787
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Down North is relatively new, yet it’s already a Philly institution. It offers amazingly crispy and cheesy Detroit-style pizzas and delicious wings, all in sizes big enough for sharing.
4. Zorba’s Tavern
2230 Fairmount Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 978-5990
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Enjoy the large lunch platters at Zorba’s Tavern served with rice, potatoes, mixed vegetables or french fries, and tzatziki sauce. Every platter is huge and filling. Everything ranging from gyros to roasted lamb to charcoaled chicken, stuffed pita sandwiches are available at affordable prices.
5. Honey’s Sit’n Eat
800 N 4th St
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 925-1150
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Although it is a traditional breakfast spot, Honey’s Sit’ n Eat’s lunch options should not be taken for granted. The turkey club is the friendly diner classic, and Buttermilk chicken fingers are also the best.
6. Jezabel’s Argentine Café & Catering
206-208 S 45th St
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 554-7380
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If you prefer empanadas for lunch, Jezabel’s cafe in West Philly has the best to offer. The spicy lentil vegan option is delightful — and be sure to pick up some alfajores and medialunas for a post-lunch sweet treat.
7. bāo • logy
1829 John F Kennedy Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 999-2263
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Judy Ni’s Baology is located in the heart of Center City. It is the preferred spot for Taiwanese dishes on the go.
8. Reading Terminal Market
51 N 12th St
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 922-2317
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Reading Terminal Market has been where downtown workers go for breakfast, lunch, and early dinner during breaks. The options range from oysters to ice cream to sushi to samosas. At Reading Terminal Hall, you’ll taste all the world’s best foods in a bustling and lively food hall.
9. Franklin’s Table Food Hall
University of Pennsylvania, 3401 Walnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 558-6422
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There is a long list of lunch options in University City, making it perfect for the college students. If you’re looking for a few options all in one place, the Franklin’s Table Food Hall features a few more choices to satisfy lunch cravings.
10. Huda
32 S 18th St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(445) 544-8025
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Huda’s bestsellers are sandwiches made of fluffy, soft milk bread buns with an assortment of toppings to choose from, plus the special Huda sauce. The salads and sides are a lovely pairing to the flavorful sandwiches.
11. Middle Child
248 S 11th St
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(267) 930-8344
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At Middle Child, you can preorder online, pick up your sandwich, sit in the park and enjoy a satisfying mid-day meal.
12. The Breakfast Den
1500 South St
Philadelphia, PA 19146
(267) 758-6008
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The Breakfast Den is not only for the morning crowd. The selection of Vietnamese sandwiches, Bánh mì, and salads is worthy of lunch time.
13. Sky Cafe
1122 Washington Ave B
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 271-1983
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Here’s another option for the best lunch in Philly. Sky Café has large platters of great Indonesian food on their lunch menu, with homemade egg noodles and coconut rice and some appetizers.
14. Pho Ha
600 Washington Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 599-0264
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Don’t miss out on one of the best lunch options in Philly. Pho Ha on Washington Avenue is open all day and it’s a local go-to for an array of pho options, as well as spring rolls, vermicelli dishes, and broken rice.
15. Café y Chocolate
1532 Snyder Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19145
(267) 639-4506
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The bestseller at Cafe Y Chocolate on Snyder Avenue is the cheesesteak a la Mexicana. The huaraches, flautas, and enchiladas are popular choices, too.
There you go. We’re done walking you through the 15 most popular restaurants geographically located within Philadelphia. You can bookmark this page for future reference.
And for other stories about Philly, read more here in Owner’s Mag!
