One of the Best Food Halls in Pennsylvania, This Spot Is a Must-Visit

Lancaster, Pennsylvania — best known as the Amish capital of the Keystone state — is getting an under-the-radar reputation as one of the best food towns in the region. Not only is it surrounded by small-town farmers' markets and Amish buffets, with a thriving downtown filled with an acclaimed reputation, but it's also home to what might be the best food hall in Pennsylvania. Located right on the main Queen Street downtown, less than half a mile from the town's central transportation hub, Southern Market isn't your ordinary food hall.

While Lancaster has a reputation for doing classic, homespun Amish treats better than anyone else, you won't find any of that here. Rather, Southern Market celebrates global cuisine, featuring over a dozen stands offering full menus. You can find an old favorite, explore a new cuisine for the first time, or mix-and-match at the neighboring food stands. I visited on my recent two-day visit to Lancaster, and I've barely scratched the surface of what this innovative food hall is offering.

Where This Food Hall Is and What Makes It Special

Located in a historic brick building, Southern Market looks like it's been a city institution like its neighbor, Lancaster Central Market. In reality, this innovative food hall only opened in 2022. Before that, it was an office building for more than forty years. However, in only a few years, it went on to become known as one of the best food halls in Pennsylvania — and even the country.

There's no theme here. No tired old chains. Instead, thirteen unique vendors have come together to create a culinary world tour. Most of them do not have their own brick-and-mortar stores elsewhere, making these stalls their pitch to the world. You're not getting a taste of an established business — you're getting a unique look into a restaurant's creative vision without the owners needing the seed money for a stand-alone place.

What It's Like to Visit

Your biggest challenge when arriving will be to choose from the array of inviting options. The current list of vendors includes New York deli, Jamaican, German schnitzel, Thai, Vietnamese, sushi, and pizza. I settled on a visit to Flavors of Morocco, one of my favorite cuisines that I sadly don't see as many restaurants for as I did when I was a kid.

I started with a plate of Moroccan samosas, featuring a mildly spicy potato filling accompanied by a yogurt sauce. These are pretty similar to the Indian samosas, but slightly smaller. I happily devoured all five of these as an appetizer (one did not survive to have a picture taken).

For my main course, I went with the chicken tagine, as traditional a Moroccan dish as you can find. Served over a bed of basmati rice, it features two chicken thighs slow-cooked in an olive-based sauce alongside a trio of Moroccan salads. It's flavorful, filling, and definitely one of the better buys at the market for the amount of food you'll get.

Tips for Visiting

In addition to the food stands, there's also a central bar serving mixed drinks and fine spirits, and a boutique coffee shop with seasonal offerings right by the entrance. The market is open five days a week and closed on Monday and Tuesday. I imagine I'll be back multiple times before I've tried all the offerings that intrigued me here. The food hall also regularly hosts events like meet-ups, kid-friendly get-togethers, and even immersive true-crime experiences.

Have you ever explored the diverse dining offerings at Southern Market in downtown Lancaster? If not, tell a friend with adventurous tastes about this article — the more people you dine with, the more stands you'll be able to try! You can see the full current roster of restaurants on the Southern Market website, and the Southern Market Facebook page will keep you updated on any changes and events being held here. This is just the start of your Lancaster dining adventure, though — you're only minutes away from Lancaster Central Market, the historic farmer's market featuring over fifty stands of small-batch foods. If you're up to a longer drive, the small town of East Earl is less than an hour away, featuring the world-famous Shady Maple Smorgasbord.

Looking for more unique dining experiences in the Keystone State? Check out Only in Your State's 12 Bucket List Restaurants in Pennsylvania You Must Try.