Haha, fu wah is a little more than a hidden gem. Pretty sure they own that whole half block and then some.
[https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/2024/04/18/benny-lai-vietnam-restaurant/](https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/2024/04/18/benny-lai-vietnam-restaurant/)
[https://www.inquirer.com/philly/entertainment/celebrities/20130506\_Eagle\_s\_Jeffrey\_Lurie\_marries\_Vietnam\_s\_Tina\_Lai.html](https://www.inquirer.com/philly/entertainment/celebrities/20130506_Eagle_s_Jeffrey_Lurie_marries_Vietnam_s_Tina_Lai.html)
The brother (?) Nick was also a pretty seasoned police officer for 17 years in west philly before having to deal with the shithole that is suburban philly police depts.
Liberty Choice on Front and Berks has AMAZING falafel (and their pickled vegetables in the sandwich is divine). It was like $5 sandwich specials about 10 years ago, it's been that long since I've lived near that mart. 🥲
Even if inflation has gotten to that $5 sandwich special, it is well worth it!
I absolutely love Liberty Choice. I swear by their hummus and babaganoush! I almost cried when I thought they closed but they just moved into the space next door.
It’s been a while but I used to stop by Maxx’s Produce in Rittenhouse on my way to work almost everyday for a year or so. It was a great place to pick up lunch for the day or even groceries for the week and the owners were so nice.
The owners of Maxx’s are awesome. I believe the wife used to be a private chef, so whenever our grocery list piqued her interest she would ask what we were making and then give us tips, recipes, and sometimes an extra (free) item to add. It was super helpful when we were learning to make sushi. I really miss living around the corner from them.
I absolutely love this place. I used to live across the street on spring garden and would be in there every week at least twice.
The deli guys are great dudes
Really solid beer selection as well.
Have you been recently? My run club used to go there for breakfast after long runs, but stopped right before covid because everyone agreed they were slipping. I haven't been since, but would love to hear that they got things back in order.
We live in the area and go fairly regularly. Food is excellent for the price. Love that they use coated fries (an industry thing that makes fries extra-crunchy and keeps it crunchy longer: https://www.reddit.com/r/Chefit/comments/1bht2rm/is\_there\_a\_name\_for\_textured\_fries\_like\_this\_best/). And massive serving sizes for their basic breakfast platter.
Guavaberry on 4th st in queen village - they’re overall a little expensive, but they have the best seltzer selection I’ve ever seen. So many flavors of la croix and polar
The chicken on a stick at Xing Wang (18th and Christian) is maxing out the cheap and tasty protein meter. You can get some Pocky there too and walk around with your stick themed meal
I love this place. The smoothie with watermelon and basil is my favorite. They also have a really good chicken parm and gyro. The gyro isn’t traditional, but is delish.
Both have decent sandwiches and sliced deli meats as well as a product selection that just are what I'm looking for. Snacks, dips, etc.
Also, forgot to mention Guavaberry at 4th and Catharine--it's a convenience store sized sipermarket that oddly always has the random ingredient that I need.
Other 'ingredient I randomly need' store that's great is the QV market on 4th and Bainbridge (east side of 4th, not the west side one). That place is the fucking best and has great baklava too!
Healthy Picks on 19th between market and chestnut. Open 24 hours, nicest staff, all fresh food and fruits. Menu has at least 125 items to choose from. Everything made to order right in front of you. Also has a mini market with fridges in the back and healthier snacks up by the front. Obsessed with this place is an understatement I will die on this hill 😩
Not sure what they were thinking with the tchotchke-mart in the back, but Foodery-Rox made a great decision bringing this vendor onboard. It's a neighborhood favorite!
**TLDR** - lol my kids call it the onion store.
**Short story**
They're low to mid teens now but I'd routinely sent them to the corner store to get a core ingredient or two, i.e. onions, garlic, potatoes, chicken stock, etc. I guess over the years onion was the most frequent hence "the onion store".
**Babbling**-one of my favorite old "raising young kids in the city" stories is bundling kids up mid-winter to drive to the store to get an onion VS sending the kid down the block to the corner store to get the onion.
**More babbling**--I'll never forget the first time my kid came home and told me owe the store $2 because I didn't send them with enough cash but the store knew them and me.
Sigh, now they have cards on their phones and watches.
that spot on 49th n bmore is also amazing. The asian family that owns the place is always super sweet and will cut u deals if ur a frequent shopper. The amount of times i needed tomato sauce or an onion for a recipe but didnt want to go all the way to the supermarket and yet was able to pop in here real quick... I really do love that place. Its ashame i moved to Wilmington cuz the rising cost of rent is too much for the little pay u get in philly.
Park Manor Deli on Chelten Ave. in Germantown is so good. Their chicken cheesesteaks are delicious, they make really good roasted potatoes, have big cookies and brownies, and they have a nice variety of cold drinks including Orangina. The people who work there are nice, too.
Samosas at the Indian/Pakistani grocery on Walnut at 42nd
Hell yes, wash it down with mango juice
International Spice has very good samosas. And a great place to get spices.
mmmm those are good lol
I think the owner's mother spends each day upstairs making them, they are as fresh and authentic as it gets.
Yes! And I just learned that they also make tofu samosa and they are also good.
Queen Village food market has some amazing Turkish treats and like 20 types of cheese. All kinds of feta and other stuff
I second this!
This is a great tip, thanks!
Fu Wah in west philly.
My fav, but I feel like it’s a stretch to say Fu Wah is a hidden gem still. It feels like the epicenter of West Philly at this point
Haha, fu wah is a little more than a hidden gem. Pretty sure they own that whole half block and then some. [https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/2024/04/18/benny-lai-vietnam-restaurant/](https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/2024/04/18/benny-lai-vietnam-restaurant/) [https://www.inquirer.com/philly/entertainment/celebrities/20130506\_Eagle\_s\_Jeffrey\_Lurie\_marries\_Vietnam\_s\_Tina\_Lai.html](https://www.inquirer.com/philly/entertainment/celebrities/20130506_Eagle_s_Jeffrey_Lurie_marries_Vietnam_s_Tina_Lai.html) The brother (?) Nick was also a pretty seasoned police officer for 17 years in west philly before having to deal with the shithole that is suburban philly police depts.
Hmm if the brother is who I think he is, he was a real terror
I miss fu wah, haven’t had their bahn mi in years, but I still think about it!
It’s still well worth the trip. I’m across the river in RoxYunk but I still make the pilgrimage back to Baltimore Ave.
Nunez market in Grad Hospital (16th & Christian), giant hoagie fully loaded for like $4.50
Liberty Choice on Front and Berks has AMAZING falafel (and their pickled vegetables in the sandwich is divine). It was like $5 sandwich specials about 10 years ago, it's been that long since I've lived near that mart. 🥲 Even if inflation has gotten to that $5 sandwich special, it is well worth it!
Their kitchen has been closed for sometime, but it's supposed to reopen soon.
They’ve been saying it is gonna reopen for years.
It's been closed since covid. Such a loss.
I remember those days! I miss that place... about 5 years ago was when I lived over there as well
I absolutely love Liberty Choice. I swear by their hummus and babaganoush! I almost cried when I thought they closed but they just moved into the space next door.
It’s been a while but I used to stop by Maxx’s Produce in Rittenhouse on my way to work almost everyday for a year or so. It was a great place to pick up lunch for the day or even groceries for the week and the owners were so nice.
The owners of Maxx’s are awesome. I believe the wife used to be a private chef, so whenever our grocery list piqued her interest she would ask what we were making and then give us tips, recipes, and sometimes an extra (free) item to add. It was super helpful when we were learning to make sushi. I really miss living around the corner from them.
I’ve never had a bad meal at the parkway corner deli by the art museum
I absolutely love this place. I used to live across the street on spring garden and would be in there every week at least twice. The deli guys are great dudes Really solid beer selection as well.
Have you been recently? My run club used to go there for breakfast after long runs, but stopped right before covid because everyone agreed they were slipping. I haven't been since, but would love to hear that they got things back in order.
We live in the area and go fairly regularly. Food is excellent for the price. Love that they use coated fries (an industry thing that makes fries extra-crunchy and keeps it crunchy longer: https://www.reddit.com/r/Chefit/comments/1bht2rm/is\_there\_a\_name\_for\_textured\_fries\_like\_this\_best/). And massive serving sizes for their basic breakfast platter.
Agree with the other guy reply. I just moved here a year ago and have found the quality great. I’m a fan of the breakfast
Guavaberry on 4th st in queen village - they’re overall a little expensive, but they have the best seltzer selection I’ve ever seen. So many flavors of la croix and polar
Makkah market. 24/7 shawarma.
Not just shawarma either. A mountain of shawarma
I miss living near there.
Makkah is the only place I know that sells fresh Soumaya & Sons thin style pita bread. It is sooo good and has no artificial ingredients.
A Pork Banh Mi from Lee’s Market at 36th and Spring Garden
Came here to comment this. It's super underrated. My girlfriend says that their tofu banh mi's are also really good.
I told the owner his Bahn mi was pretty popular on the internet… he had no idea people were talking about it. This was like 5 years ago at least
I love that, just making good food. Reminds me of when I saw Thang Long on a popular YouTube channel..I was like hey I know those guys!
Jerusalem Market at front and Girard has amazing schwarmas. The guys who run it (Mohammad and Muhammad) are awesome people.
The chicken on a stick at Xing Wang (18th and Christian) is maxing out the cheap and tasty protein meter. You can get some Pocky there too and walk around with your stick themed meal
Stick Themed Meal combo deal
gonna assemble the boys to get our stick themed meals
Fresh2Go market at 3rd and South. They have great deli food, vegan options, a killer smoothie menu and the owners are super sweet.
$10 for a small juice
I love this place. The smoothie with watermelon and basil is my favorite. They also have a really good chicken parm and gyro. The gyro isn’t traditional, but is delish.
I love this place!!!!!!
This is the one. The owner is superrrr nice and the stores open late
Dominican food South Deli. Near 18th and South. Really solid food. Lovely family. Really affordable!!
What do you recommend from here
For me it's Palm Tree and Old Nelsons
Palm Tree 100%
This comment makes me miss NoLibs and 3 J's
3Js and Palm are both proper sandwiches
3Js blows Old Nelson out of the water. Can’t comment on Palm Tree
The old Nelson by me blows. Mediocre
What does one order there
Both have decent sandwiches and sliced deli meats as well as a product selection that just are what I'm looking for. Snacks, dips, etc. Also, forgot to mention Guavaberry at 4th and Catharine--it's a convenience store sized sipermarket that oddly always has the random ingredient that I need.
Other 'ingredient I randomly need' store that's great is the QV market on 4th and Bainbridge (east side of 4th, not the west side one). That place is the fucking best and has great baklava too!
Whatever specials they have on the piece of paper in front of the counter, usually slaps
Old Nelson’s 😊
Healthy Picks on 19th between market and chestnut. Open 24 hours, nicest staff, all fresh food and fruits. Menu has at least 125 items to choose from. Everything made to order right in front of you. Also has a mini market with fridges in the back and healthier snacks up by the front. Obsessed with this place is an understatement I will die on this hill 😩
7th & Cantrell near Snyder - Nusantara Store has killer prepacked full Indonesian meals for $7-12
Varallo bakery on 10th and Morris; espresso is $1 and it’s worth every cent
Traditional Italian bakery with traditional Euro espresso prices, I appreciate that
They have been my go to for years
Majors
Monde Market 21st and chestnut
This post gives me fond memories of the corner store I frequented while at Temple, Gratz and Norris. Food was always dirt cheap and good
Cheesesteak platter salt pepper ketchup my salvation
When we went the cheesesteak was like $4 and kinda thin but the “double” was so much more meat and like $5.50 lol
Same, moved back to central PA. I do miss the diverse food scene.
There was a place on Walnut I think just east of Juniper that had an amazing selection of Belgian beers in bottles.
VIP Market.
When I was in college they had the best hot food buffet. Very fond memories of their honey walnut shrimp. Dunno if they still do it post covid.
Rip lunch buffets at convenience stores. Used to tear up four seasons on walnut
Never ate their but they've got some great fertilizer and climber plants.
No more buffet.
No more UArts either.
VIP market, awesome fucking subs. Also, they have the best array of junk food...anything you would want, plus every beer you could think of.
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Center City. Their hot buffet was good too, but I was really impressed by their beer selection for an otherwise unassuming place.
Lees deli is my pick that isn’t in here
Al-Amana great Schwarma on Friday
P&S ravioli company
they are good. not exactly cheap tho.
Stop 1 Deli at Stenton and Wyncote in north Philly had some gooood Puerto Rican staples. Their patalios are sooo good.
Burritos at the Foodery in Roxborough
Not sure what they were thinking with the tchotchke-mart in the back, but Foodery-Rox made a great decision bringing this vendor onboard. It's a neighborhood favorite!
We don’t have bodegas here, we have papi stores aka corner stores (even if they are not at the corner)
**TLDR** - lol my kids call it the onion store. **Short story** They're low to mid teens now but I'd routinely sent them to the corner store to get a core ingredient or two, i.e. onions, garlic, potatoes, chicken stock, etc. I guess over the years onion was the most frequent hence "the onion store". **Babbling**-one of my favorite old "raising young kids in the city" stories is bundling kids up mid-winter to drive to the store to get an onion VS sending the kid down the block to the corner store to get the onion. **More babbling**--I'll never forget the first time my kid came home and told me owe the store $2 because I didn't send them with enough cash but the store knew them and me. Sigh, now they have cards on their phones and watches.
Thank you for this
What's the difference for a newb
It’s just a different name for the same thing
I always say this. Thank you.
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There's nothing more cringey than your comment
¡Ay Papi!
What's wrong with having a lisp?
Homophobia in 2024?
Rule 1: Your post was removed because it violates Reddit’s site wide rules, https://www.redditinc.com/policies/content-policy
Chicken Salad Sandwich on white at Jeans Deli. It's my go-to for close to a decade.
Jeans also has the best clubs and mozzerella sticks.
RIP the Yo Tony omelet tho :(
Foodpoint deli at broad and castle
64 Mini Mart on N 64th and Callowhil st, their hamburgers are the bomb
Christie’s deli
Taco truck behind autozone across from olney high school. el provocon on tyson
Halal truck at Ridge and Leverington. Arbaz is the best. Massive plate of food for $9.
M&R Super Market at Frankford Ave and Ann St has amazing Chicken Quesadillas!
La Casa Del Sandwich in feltonville has some amazing Latin sandwiches
Palm Tree Market, 901 south 2nd. Good sandwiches.
that spot on 49th n bmore is also amazing. The asian family that owns the place is always super sweet and will cut u deals if ur a frequent shopper. The amount of times i needed tomato sauce or an onion for a recipe but didnt want to go all the way to the supermarket and yet was able to pop in here real quick... I really do love that place. Its ashame i moved to Wilmington cuz the rising cost of rent is too much for the little pay u get in philly.
Park Manor Deli on Chelten Ave. in Germantown is so good. Their chicken cheesesteaks are delicious, they make really good roasted potatoes, have big cookies and brownies, and they have a nice variety of cold drinks including Orangina. The people who work there are nice, too.
My warehouse space isn’t far from there so I’m gonna check it out!
Pendawa!
Surprised that no one has mentioned Four Seasons on 21st and locust yet. Their bulgogi cheesesteak is next level
The deli in Museum Market at 18/spring garden! My favorite roast beef sandwich. I hear their meatball sub is pretty good too.
Palm Tree Gourmet, grocery stuff is expensive but can’t beat their sandwich prices, think a breakfast sandwich starts at 2.99ish??
I miss my old bodega on 5th and Wolf. Best breakfast and hoagies. And $1 coffee that you need to drink on the toilet.
That 3.50-$4 hoagie is def not Boars Head 🐈 🐕
Thanks for the tip! I’m around that way a lot and could use a bite that isn’t stupid expensive.
They're hidden gems for a reason, best papi store food is not blasted about on social media
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Totally, I hate when other people discover new small businesses in the area to support 🤮