14 Philadelphia Staples You Should Have Tried By Now
Philadelphians are serious about our food. We’ll argue to the death for the term “hoagie,” we’ll roll our eyes when you try to tell us you had a good cheesesteak in Wisconsin, and we’ll gladly try to explain water ice for an hour. When you spend enough time here, food becomes part of the who you are. If you’re new to the city, or if you’ve lived here your whole life, make sure you’ve tried the following classic Philly foods.
Center City Pretzel Co. took over where Federal Pretzel left off... and the best pretzels you'll find in the city come in nondescript brown bags, sold on the corners out of odd carts or in small street stands.
Yuengling is the nectar of the Philadelphia gods. America's Oldest Brewery still makes the best cheap beer around, and it's the perfect drink for a night in Philly.
Hershel's East Side Deli in the Reading Terminal Market is the best deli in Philly, hands down. Their fresh meats make for the best Reubens you'll ever have.
I scream, you scream, we all scream for Franklin Ice Cream! From the classic soda fountain atmosphere to the seriously out-of-this-world scoops of handmade ice cream (and all of the treats you can imagine in between), this classic sweet shop can't be beat.
Philadelphians tend to go right to 4th Street Cookie Company when we're looking for a sweet treat, but if you haven't tried the Pennsylvania General Store cookies at Reading Terminal, you're missing out. These are a hit with those in the know!
Kim Magaraci graduated Rutgers University with a degree in Geography and has spent the last seven years as a freelance travel writer. Contact: kmagaraci@onlyinyourstate.com
