Philadelphians are obsessed with food – but who can blame us? We invented the root beer float, we can take credit for the hoagie, and we are home to some of the finest restaurants in the United States. That’s one reason it’s hard for us to leave our city – if we’re away too long, we find ourselves missing these iconic Philadelphia foods oh so much.
- Hoagies
Flickr / Plan Philly Philadelphia created the hoagie, originally called a hog island sandwich. Since then, we’ve perfected the italian hoagie, combining the best of our city’s bakery breads with the freshest deli meat around.
- Soft Pretzels
Flickr / Carl R Jr. Nobody else makes soft pretzels like Philadelphians. Auntie Ann’s just isn’t even close.
- Water Ice
Flickr / Michael Kramer The one food worth getting a brain freeze for! No, it’s not Italian ice. No, it’s not a snow cone. It’s water ice, and I’d love to have some right now.
- Irish Potatoes
Flickr / Melody Joy Kramer Confession: I had no idea these were a Philly food, because they’ve always been around me! I lived in South Carolina for a short while and I couldn’t find them anywhere!
- Scrapple
Flickr / EssGee51 Uhh… I suppose some people would miss scrapple. Those are the people who manage to forget what it’s made from.
- Herrs Snacks
Flickr / Megan Morris Herr’s Snacks are regional, so you can’t find the best BBQ chips or fake popcorn outside of our area.
- Tastykakes
Flickr / SJU Admissions Tastykakes… the fact that people can’t get Tastykakes outside of Philly just seems cruel. There’s no better buttery, frosted pastry on the market.
- Wawa Iced Tea
Facebook / Brooklawn Shoprite Wawa iced tea is an iconic Philadelphia drink! There’s just something about how much better it tastes than Snapple, Gold Leaf, or Lipton. How do they do it?!
- Panzarotti
Facebook / Napoli Pizza The Panzarotti is an iconic Philadelphia food that’s hard to explain. No, it’s not a calzone or a turnover. It’s crispy, steamy, cheesy goodness, and I miss it when I travel for too long.
- Drakes Cakes
Facebook / Drakes Cakes I have no idea how people live without Yodels! Yankee Doodles, Ringdings, and Devil Dogs were such a huge part of my childhood, and I am so glad they’re easy to find in Philadelphia.
- Cheesesteaks
Facebook / Jims Steaks You just can’t find a good cheesesteak outside of Philadelphia! I saw a sign for a “Philadelphia Cheesesteak” in the Las Vegas airport and had to stifle my laughter… no, that’s not what that is at all.
- Good pizza
Facebook / Lorenzo and Sons Pizza It’s hard to find good pizza outside of the Philly / New York area. I’m not saying it doesn’t exist, but at least in Philadelphia you can be sure that nearly any place you walk into is going to serve you a great slice.
Do you consider yourself an expert on Philadephia cuisine? If all of these foods are on your shopping list every week, maybe it’s time to branch out a little… and by branch out, I mean, make sure you’ve tried these 12 Dishes You Have To Eat In Philadelphia Before You Die.
Flickr / Plan Philly
Philadelphia created the hoagie, originally called a hog island sandwich. Since then, we’ve perfected the italian hoagie, combining the best of our city’s bakery breads with the freshest deli meat around.
Flickr / Carl R Jr.
Nobody else makes soft pretzels like Philadelphians. Auntie Ann’s just isn’t even close.
Flickr / Michael Kramer
The one food worth getting a brain freeze for! No, it’s not Italian ice. No, it’s not a snow cone. It’s water ice, and I’d love to have some right now.
Flickr / Melody Joy Kramer
Confession: I had no idea these were a Philly food, because they’ve always been around me! I lived in South Carolina for a short while and I couldn’t find them anywhere!
Flickr / EssGee51
Uhh… I suppose some people would miss scrapple. Those are the people who manage to forget what it’s made from.
Flickr / Megan Morris
Herr’s Snacks are regional, so you can’t find the best BBQ chips or fake popcorn outside of our area.
Flickr / SJU Admissions
Tastykakes… the fact that people can’t get Tastykakes outside of Philly just seems cruel. There’s no better buttery, frosted pastry on the market.
Facebook / Brooklawn Shoprite
Wawa iced tea is an iconic Philadelphia drink! There’s just something about how much better it tastes than Snapple, Gold Leaf, or Lipton. How do they do it?!
Facebook / Napoli Pizza
The Panzarotti is an iconic Philadelphia food that’s hard to explain. No, it’s not a calzone or a turnover. It’s crispy, steamy, cheesy goodness, and I miss it when I travel for too long.
Facebook / Drakes Cakes
I have no idea how people live without Yodels! Yankee Doodles, Ringdings, and Devil Dogs were such a huge part of my childhood, and I am so glad they’re easy to find in Philadelphia.
Facebook / Jims Steaks
You just can’t find a good cheesesteak outside of Philadelphia! I saw a sign for a “Philadelphia Cheesesteak” in the Las Vegas airport and had to stifle my laughter… no, that’s not what that is at all.
Facebook / Lorenzo and Sons Pizza
It’s hard to find good pizza outside of the Philly / New York area. I’m not saying it doesn’t exist, but at least in Philadelphia you can be sure that nearly any place you walk into is going to serve you a great slice.
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