Don’t Sleep on These 7 Reading Terminal Market Dishes
Everyone knows the standby dishes at Reading Terminal Market — the roast pork, the fried chicken, the doughnuts. Here's what to eat next.
Reading Terminal Market / Photograph courtesy of Visit Philadelphia
You could lose years of your life wandering Reading Terminal Market trying to decide what to eat. The crowds, the smells, and the onslaught of options make it hard to choose a dish, even if you already know which stall you want to go to. That’s why we’ve built this list of seven of the market’s most delicious dish — from a Philly cheesesteak to Peking duck, the market is full of classic Philly dishes if only you know where to look.
Pupusas from El Merkury
El Merkury owner Sofia De Leon opened a brick-and-mortar space in Rittenhouse Square in 2018. In 2021, she opened a stall in Reading Terminal Market, bringing her epically cheesy pupusas to the market. They do regular specials, like a cheesesteak pupusa, but I’m partial to the classic bean and cheese one, which comes with salsa, pickled onions, and a bright, crunchy curtido made with cabbage and lots of lime juice.
Egg and cheese bialy at Kismet Bialy
Kismet is best known for their bagels, but they make bialys for their Reading Terminal Market stall — and I’m of the opinion that the bialys are even better than the bagels. Get the egg and cheese, which is made by cracking an egg into the dip in the center of the bialy and baking it to molten-centered perfection. It’s topped with cheese and a drizzle of spicy schug for a kick. It’s the best version of eggs and toast you can get in the market.
Lumpia and pancit from Tambayan
Philadelphia doesn’t have a ton of Filipino food, which is why it’s particularly exciting that Tambayan now has a stall at Reading Terminal. Their menu has a lot of sweets on it, but I’m partial to the lumpia, which are stuffed with pork and fried until crisp (they also do a nice vegetarian version), and their pancit, a super-savory and comforting bowl of chewy wheat noodles with your choice of pork or shrimp, plus hard-boiled eggs and fresh vegetables.
Peking duck at Sang Kee. / Photograph by Michael Persico
Peking Duck from Sang Kee Peking Duck
There are many ways to enjoy Sang Kee’s duck, but in my opinion, the simplest way is best. Get the duck and vegetable platter, which comes in a generous portion (for $14) over rice with gently steamed greens alongside. Eat it, and you’ll understand why Sang Kee is a Philadelphia staple.
Cheesesteak at Uncle Gus’ Steaks
No list of dishes at Reading Terminal Market would be complete without a cheesesteak recommendation — go to Uncle Gus’s for the latest addition to the market. This stall is operated by Joe Nicolosi of DiNic’s Roast Pork & Beef and Dave Braunstein from Pearl’s Oyster Bar, as well as Danny DiGiampietro, owner of Angelo’s Pizza in South Philly, which happens to have one of the best (and most popular) cheesesteaks in the city. DiGiampietro is making the rolls, which is arguably the most important part of the experience. Get a 12-inch steak with peppers, onions, and Cooper Sharp.
Pretzel cheese dog at Miller’s Twist
You might not enter Reading Terminal Market thinking you want to eat a hot dog stuffed into a soft pretzel, but once you try Miller’s Twist’s pretzel dog, you’ll never be able to walk within a four-block radius of the market without at least considering having one. They wrap an all-beef hot dog with cheese and pretzel dough, then bake it until it’s hot and crispy, full of melted cheese and juicy sausage.
Gator Gumbo at Beck’s Cajun Cafe
When you’re craving Cajun food, there’s nowhere better than Beck’s. While the po’boys and fried dishes are delicious, I’m a particular fan of the chicken and andouille gumbo, which comes in a generous portion over white rice. The roux is darkened just to the edge, and there’s a nice spicy kick to cut the richness — both signs of a great gumbo.
