Good magazine just published their list of America’s Tastiest Streets — and Philadelphia is nowhere to be seen on it.
The winners were Queens, New York’s Roosevelt Avenue (Korean-style fried chicken, tamales, Cuban food, Filipino cafeterias, northern Thai food and the esteemed Arepa Lady), Houston’s Travis Street (New Texan restaurant T’afia, Mexican standby Tacos A Go-Go, kitschy AM joint the Breakfast Klub and plenty of Vietnamese food), Seattle’s Fremont Avenue North (Thai, Greek, Japanese and Puerto Rican), Chicago’s Broadway (seafood restaurants, Thai bakeries and ethiopian cuisine) and quite a few more in Miami, Nashville and Los Angeles.
So that got us thinking… What are Philadelphia’s tastiest streets?
Our choices:
1) Bustleton Avenue
The Northeast does not nearly get the love it should. Just off the top of our head… Angelo’s Pizza Kitchen is a killer old school Philly-style pizzeria that for some reason has a healthy sideline in barbecue ribs. Cafe Zohar is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Israeli restaurant that’s so authentic that even their website is registered in Israel. Steve’s Prince of Steaks is the archetype of neighborhood Philly cheesesteak spots. And then there’s Stolovaya, a Russian shrine to all things deep-fried. Fried potato and deep fried chicken in garlic crust? Yes, please.
2) North Fifth Street
Yeah, we were thinking of that episode of Parking Wars where that parking inspector stops at a random corner in the Badlands to pick up grilled chicken sticks for a dollar from some Puerto Rican lady. We admit it. A drive (or SEPTA run) up North Fifth Street means a drive from San Juan to Santo Domingo to Mexico City to Seoul. Over by Girard Avenue, Taco Riendo bridges the gulf between Boricua and Mexicano with pork chop tacos. Further up, Porky’s Point keeps the faith with mofongo, tostones and PR-style roast pork sandwiches to go. Tierra Colombiana is an upscale restaurant whose menu combines South American and Caribbean items. Then as you get closer to the MontCo border, Korean restaurants like Jong Ja Jip suddenly pop up.
3) South Ninth Street
We’re saving the obvious choice for last. But for optimum deliciousness, this is the place to be. A fresh-baked Italian loaf or homemade broccoli rabe pizza from Sarcone’s Bakery. Chicken parmigiana from Villa di Roma. Pepperoni slices from Lorenzo Pizza. An Angelo Cataldi sandwich (extra Armenian cheese and grilled chicken, please) from Bitar’s. The heart-stopping La Lupe torta with beef milenesa, chorizo, roast pork, mozzarella cheese and American cheese (!) from La Lupe. A combo banh mi from O Sandwiches. A pain bagnat and cafe au lait from Rim Cafe. And a cheesesteak from Pat’s King of Steaks. Face it people, this one wins hands down.
Have a better idea for Philadelphia’s tastiest street? Let us know.
America’s Tastiest Streets [Good]
