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Has Anyone Actually Eaten Any of The Inquirer’s “76 Most Iconic Dishes in Philly”?
By Matt Schultz
Published:
The Inquirer is rattling off a list of The 76 Most Iconic Dishes in Philly. It’s a six-person effort divided into four parts, and they’ve only released half the list so far, but rest assured, there are already some real gems in there. I’m going to run through some of my favorites so far.
And remember: Iconic. That’s what the Inky says these are. These foods are supposed to be Philadelphia icons, like the Rocky statue, or the Liberty Bell. Okay, here we go:
Khachapuri at Gamarjoba
Everyone in Philadelphia knows about Khachapuri at Gamarjoba. You’re not from here if you didn’t eat this as a kid. I remember sneaking some in the mornings before school. My mom would always get so mad: “Stop filling up on Khachapuri from Gamarjoba! Eat your toast!” But I didn’t want toast. I’d give the toast to the dog. I just wanted Khachapuri at Gamarjoba. It’s iconic.
Galette de Crabe from Le Bec-Fin
This one is special to me. Galette de Crabe. Of course. Yes. I know what this is. If you asked me to draw this dish, I could do that easily. I know what color this is. And shape. It’s iconic. For my money, I always thought it was the Galette that separates this dish from other de Crabe in the city. I know what this is.
Milan salad
Describe Philly in one word. You said “salad,” didn’t you? Or maybe you said “Milan.” It’s a tough choice, between those two words.
The BBQ Platter at Vietnam Restaurant and Vietnam Cafe
Whenever I have friends in from out of town, I take them directly to the Vietnam Cafe. I don’t care what time it is. I don’t care if they’re closed. I’ll bang on the windows and doors in desperation, calling out to anyone who might hear me, “Please… I need the BBQ Platter right now… I eat this all the time personally, but I have guests here… They need to experience this iconic Philly dish…”
Banh Chow Salad at Mawn
I remember stopping in at Mawn as a kid with my dad on our way to Phillies games. “What are we doing at Mawn?” I’d ask. “Getting an iconic dish, son. It’s not a Phillies game without Banh Chow Salad,” he’d reply with a wink. Countless folks in Philadelphia share this same memory, I’m sure: Seeing their old man sneak Banh Chow Salad into the Vet under his jersey. Pulling out two silver forks from his pocket he brought from home. Hearing the good-natured chirps from nearby fans: “I can’t even focus on the game, that salad from Mawn smells so damn good!” “Let me get a bite!” “You’re hogging all the Banh Chow!” Iconic.
Jollof rice at Lè Mandingue
I love rice.
Plov at Uzbekistan
Me and my buddies have a rule: if you’re eating plov, you must take a picture and send it in the group text. Then we all slam a heart reaction on the plov photo. We wish we could react with a plov emoji, but somehow, there isn’t one yet. It’s so frustrating.
Dmitri’s Octopus
My favorite part is the suction part of the tentacles. I keep a Ziploc bag of them in my center console for when I’m stuck in traffic. But as all Philly natives know, they’re dangerous! Once you start eating them, you can’t stop. “Get these away from me!” I’ll say alone in my car, stuffing the Ziploc bag back into the center console, munching on one last handful of suction parts.
Mussels at Monk’s Cafe
My parents surprised me at my tenth birthday party by getting me Mussels from Monk’s instead of a birthday cake. I remember blowing out the candles jammed into the little shells and making my wish: “More mussels from Monk’s.”
Pomegranate lamb shoulder at Zahav
To me, the taste of Christmastime in Philly is shoulder.
Rutabaga Fondue at Vedge
My little brother was a picky eater as a toddler, and the only thing he’d tolerate was Rutabaga Fondue from Vedge. I remember him throwing Cheerios on the floor from his high chair and babbling in his baby-talk, “I demand Rutabaga Fondue from Vedge. I command you to get in your car and only return when you’ve gotten me Rutabaga Fondue from Vedge.” Not that my family complained! That just meant more Rutabaga Fondue from Vedge for us.
Tibs at Abyssynia
I’m eating tibs right now. I’ve been eating tibs this whole time. The Philly icon of tibs.
Matt Schultz is a comedy and sports writer from Philadelphia. He’s written extensively for ClickHole, The Onion, and Conan O’Brien’s Team Coco. His work has been featured in Vulture, Deadspin, The A.V. Club, Paste Magazine, and other publications. Much of his sports journalism can be found on college basketball websites that don’t exist anymore (PhilaHoops Heads rise up…) email: M.Schultz@sportradar.com