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Budget
Budget
$
Tacos Don Memo
38th Street, between Walnut and Chestnut Streets
+1 610 529-2039
$2-$6
University City, across from the 7-Eleven
Some of the best burritos and tortas in the area actually come out of this tiny, blink-and-you'll-miss-it taco truck on traffic-heavy 38th Street. Unfortunately, there will be quite a long waitâabout a half hour or soâduring the lunch rush, and despite their popularity, their presence is not always reliable though you can now follow their Twitter account for updates.
Budget
$
Saad's Halal Restaurant
4500 Walnut St
+1 215 222-7223
$4-$15
M-Th 11AM-9PM; F-Sa 11AM-10PM
Mediterranean restaurant.
Budget
$
Bobby's Burger Palace
3925 Walnut Street
+1 215 387-0378
$6-$8
University City
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay's first "fast casual" burger joint in a major city, featuring "Crunchified" burgersâpotato chips between the meat and the bun.
Budget
$
Kaffa Crossing Cafe
4423 Chestnut St
+1 215 386-0504
Su-F 9AM-9PM; Sa 9AM-10PM
Cross between fair trade coffee shop and Ethiopian restaurant. Vegan friendly.
Budget
$
Kim's Oriental Food
37th and Walnut Streets
$3-$6
M-F 11AM-8PM, Su Noon-8PM
in the plaza next to the Pottruck Gym
Food truck that's immensely popular amongst college students, because it's cheap, tasty, extremely fast, and is one of the few food trucks that feels like it's always open.
Budget
$
Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant
229 S 45th St
+1 215 387-2424â
Daily 9AM-midnight
Good, affordable Ethiopian food, if you can stand the poorly rated service and long wait times. Vegan friendly.
Budget
$
Pho Cafe Saigon
4248 Spruce St
+1 215 222-6800
Cheap Vietnamese food.
Midrange
Midrange
$$
Dahlak
4708 Baltimore Ave
+1 215 726-6464
$8-$14
M-Su 4PM-10:30PM
Economical Ethiopian/Eritrean fare, one of the original and best east African restaurants in the neighborhood. Lovely traditional decor.
Midrange
$$
Tandoor India Restaurant
106 S 40th St
+1 215 222-7122
M-Th, Su 11:30AM-2:30PM, 4PM-10PM; F-Sa 11:30AM-2:30PM, 4PM-10:30PM
University City
Vegan friendly.
Midrange
$$
Satellite Cafe
701 S 50th St
Local and organic coffee shop.
Midrange
$$
Mokas
3505 Lancaster Ave
+1 215 222-4410
University City/Powelton Village
Greek restaurant.
Midrange
$$
Koreana Restaurant
3801 Chestnut St
+1 215 222-2240â
$7-$10
M Closed, Tu-Su 11:30AM-10PM
University City
You'd never know it was there, since it's tucked behind Abner's Cheesesteaks and a Chili's, but the Korean college students will tell you it's some of the best Korean food in the city.
Midrange
$$
The Greek Lady
222 S 40th St.
+1 215 382-2600
University City
Greek food.
Midrange
$$
New Delhi Indian Restaurant
4004 Chestnut St
+1 215 386-1941
$10-$15
Su, Tu-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F-Sa 11:30AM-11PM, M Closed
University City
Vegan friendly.
Midrange
$$
Vientiane Cafe
4728 Baltimore Ave
Thai/Laotian Restaurant. Vegan friendly.
Midrange
$$
Rx
4443 Spruce St
+1 215 222-9590
Great food, with somewhat slow service.
Midrange
$$
Sang Kee Noodle House
3549 Chestnut Street
+1 215 387-8808
$7-$16
Su-Th 6:30AM-10:30AM, 11:30AM -11:00PM; F-Sa 6:30AM-10:30AM, 11:30AM-Midnight
Midrange
$$
Sitar India Cuisine
60 S 38th St
+1 215 662-0818
W-Sa 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5PM-9:30PM; Su-Tu Closed
Vegan friendly.
Midrange
$$
White Dog Cafe
3420 Sansom St
+1 215 386-9224
$15-25
M-Th 5:30PM-10PM F-Sa 5:30PM-11PM, Su 5PM-10PM
University City
One of the pioneers of the "buy local" movement in Philadelphia, the White Dog uses products from local farmers, and serve beers from local breweries. As a result, prices are higher. The food is mostly American/Continental style, with pub grub served at the bar.
Midrange
$$
Metropolitan Bakery
4013 Walnut Street
+1 215 222-1492
M-F 7:30AM-7PM; Sa-Su 8AM-7PM
University City
Locally-based artisan bakery with several stores throughout Philadelphia.
Midrange
$$
Allegro Pizza & Grill
3942 Spruce Street
+1 215 382-8158
$8-$15
Su-W 11AM-midnight; Th-Sa 11AM-3:30AM
University City
A staple of the college student's late-night delivery repertoire.
Top end
Top end
$$$
Zocalo
3600 Lancaster Ave
+1 215 895-0139
$10-$25
M-F 12PM-3PM & 5PM-10PM, Sa 5PM-11PM, Su 5PM-9PM
University City
Contemporary upscale Mexican cuisine.
Top end
$$$
Distrito
3945 Chestnut Street
+1 215 386-1072
$5-$35
Su-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F-Sa 11:30AM-11PM
University City
"Modern Mexican" food by local restaurateur Jose Garces.
Top end
$$$
Pod
3636 Sansom Street
+1 215 387-1803â
$10-$30
M-Th 11:30AM-10PM; F 11:30AM-11PM; Sa 5PM-11PM; Su 5PM-10PM
University City
Stephen Starr's Asian fusion restaurant in a funky, nightclub-like decor.
Top end
$$$
Marigold Kitchen
501 S. 45th St.
+1 215 222-3699
$25+
Su, Tu-Th 5:30PM-9:30PM; F-Sa 5:30PM-10:30PM, M Closed
Top end
$$$
MidAtlantic
3711 Market Street
+1 215 386-3711
$5-$30
M-F 11:30AM-2PM, 4:30PM-10PM, Sa 5PM-10PM, Su Closed
Modern reinterpretation of Mid-Atlantic and traditional Philadelphian food.
West Philadelphia boasts one of the largest and most varied concentrations of ethnic restaurants outside of Center City. However, more familiar chain restaurants, from McDonald's to Boston Market, aren't hard to find for the less-adventurous palate. Food trucks are also popular around the university areas, leading several Penn students to start a website cataloguing and mapping all the local trucks (http://pennfoodtrucks.com/), with a handy filter for only trucks that are currently open.