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Category: Sandwiches [Edit]
Neighborhood: ChinatownMon-Sun. 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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So much hype once again. I thought I'd be disappointed, but that didn't happen. Amazing place...lines were a bit ridiculous, but at least I found parking in the lot in the back!
I had the beef dip with a side of macaroni salad. And if I had known, I would have gotten it double dipped! It was classic, simple and delicious. Especially with that ridiculously spicy mustard they have! The space is great as well. I'm glad they haven't changed it. The crowd is so mixed- rich old white people, Korean old people, groups of asian girls, business people, grandpas, tatted up gangsters, hipsters, USC students.....everyone loves it! So I love it!
Straight and to the point:
I was a Philippe's Virgin till the other day.
I really don't know why.
Finally decided to give them a try and I was not disappointed.
The nostalgia is great.
The location so close to both Olvera street and Chinatown is perfect.
The drive from my house is easy being that I took the carpool lane all the way down the #10 freeway to the Alameda exit.
Parking is great as long as it's not the lunch rush. We got there around 11:30 and by the time we left it was full.
The Sandwiches were so good. I tried 4 of them. Beef and pork at the restaurant. The lamb and turkey I took home for later. All of them with cheese. 2 sides including potato salad and macaroni. Overall the food was spot on. The sandwiches are a perfect size for a great meal. The sides were very traditional with lots of relish which my wife doesn't like, but I found to be fine.
I still can't believe that this was my first time here.
I will definitely be back real soon. Have to try the Chili at least once.
Keep up the good work Philippe's. May you be around for another 100 years.
Cheers~
I always get mixed up between Alameda Street and Alvarado Street.
but either way, you'll find two great sandwich places. Philippe being on Alameda by Union Station and Langers Deli being on Alvarado by MacArthur Park.
At Philippe, we got 2 beef french dip sandwiches with swiss cheese.
i normally don't order french dip, but feeling like everyone has tried this place but me, i wanted to see for myself. I wasn't blown away, but for what is, it's pretty darn tasty. the bread was really yummy, with the inside slopping up the dip juice, but not getting soggy. The cheese and meat combo was delicious!
Finding out that my mom had come here before i was born was pretty cool! The place probably hadn't changed a bit. It was still packed the day after thanksgiving!
I like this joint a lot, but if i'm choosing between the two places again, i'd probably pick the pastrami on Alvarado-although it's more expensive.
I know I'm in the minority on this one, but I thought this place was "just ok." The wife and I each had the roast beef, double dipped. We used the hot mustard & everything.
It tasted alright, not terrible, not great. But truthfully, I thought BJ's Brewhouse in OC had better tasting, and way more TENDER french dip sandwiches.
Again, I didn't hate the place, except for the long lines, but it's not the best french dip I've ever had.
Thumbs in the middle, tilting down slightly.
This is a great place to stop between Olvera Street and Chinatown--delicious and cheap sandwiches, cheap coffee (yes, it's 9 cents), and a wide variety of sides and breakfast items. Most people come here for the french dip. It's pretty damn good--I recommend the beef and cheddar, double-dipped.
However, what gives this that extra star for me is that nearly everything (the sandwiches, the potato salad, the cole slaw and even the coffee and pies) taste like the food my Grandma used to make when she was still alive. The atmosphere is nostalgic as well, with old phone booths lining one wall, vintage signs for the rail trains, and bench-style seating.
The only downside is the wait. I've waited up to an hour to order *(you get the food right after you order). I guess the upside to that is that there's plenty of time to decide on which pie to order (they're all delicious!). ALSO make sure to hit up the ATM or use the ATM on-site. CA$H ONLY.
So after seeing this place on the travel channel I thought hmmm... This could be good. Well to be honest and not trying to bash the place because there are some who like soggy stuff to eat like gold fish, pigs etc.
So any way my question to those who praise this place is.....
1. Where's the beef?
2. Where's the flavor?
I mean come on the meat has no friggin flavor what so ever, even the damn lamb had no flavor HOW!! So that's it I'm not going to go off and talk about how NY has the greatest meat blah blah blah I'm here now and looking for the world's greatest meat (don't get any nasty ideas)
Oh and the frigging cole slaw yikes let's just say it's lettuce with sweet milk poured on it yuck. I just think this place is over hyped and under flavored.
This place screams "vintage L.A." from a mile away. It has the feel of an old deli, and the mixed crowd of tourists, L.A. natives and homeless people gives it that one-of-a-kind atmosphere.
As you might expect - the french dip here is amazing. I haven't been to Cole's, so I can't compare, but the aus ju here is just so good - I'd recommend a "double dip" for the uninitiated.
The simple nature of this place is what makes it fun, and you get a lot of food for your money. One recommendation - order some pie! It's tasty, and often overlooked since everyone comes for the french dip.
Heard THIS was the place for French dip sandwiches, but whatever. The roast beef sandwich I got was begging to be inhaled and I was wondering where all the flavor was, what the fuss was about, like someone told me a joke with awesome build-up but left out the punchline.
My strongest memory of the place was my friend snorting the horseradish. Oh well.
I've only had the French Dip with roast beef, i loved it, especially with the horse radish like mustard, not only that but you can meet some interesting people to chat with.
I got the beef french dip sandwich, which was very filling and large. The beef is normal and a little dry, but the dryness is compensated with the bread soaked in french dip.
The restaurant is really busy during lunchtime as all the people who work in the area drop by. However, the lines go by quickly fast as you are expected to know what you want as soon as you get to the counter.
The restaurant has an old, cool vibe to it as the floor is covered in saw dust. The place is actually pretty big too with a back room and upstairs.
So they do have a free lot to park in the back...on a Saturday around 8 i had no problem finding a spot
hot mustard: got a kick and it's excellent
potato salad: pretty good but nothing special
beef french dip: not as moist as the pork but also good
pork french dip: melts in ur mouth delicious!!! so good i ordered another...warm and moist and omg it's s0o0o good
ambiance: got character...lots of knick knacks...run down but it's part of the charm
service: hit or miss depending on the cashier u get...all the cashiers look like they stepped back in time
food: amazing!!!
this place is really good. i got mine double dipped and still wish i had a side of sauce to dip it while i eat it. here's what i ate:
beef - very good
lamb - was my favorite
cole slaw - amazing. i love kfc cole slaw and it tasted very similar
potato salad - amazing. very different than any other i've ever had
I suppose at 900 reviews, another one doesn't really matter, but I wanted to write my "twin" review to the Cole's one I just made.
Remember the Sweet Valley High twins, Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield? One of the twins was more serious-minded, down to earth, practical, and had less glamorous friends. The other was more polished with better clothes, make-up, and ran around with richer and hotter friends.
Phillipe's is Elizabeth Wakefield. While Cole's is polished, better decorated, has a bar and servers in fedoras, Phillipe's is a bit more authentic and spunky. The iced tea is under 99¢. They have ginormous pickles in glowing green mason jars. Pigs feet bob as their next door neighbors. Middle aged women wear 50's waitress uniforms, deftly taking money, writing tickets, and grabbing your food in under a few minutes at the sprawling lunch counter (never mind that you just waited 30-45 minutes to get to the front- bring good company to chat whilst you wait). There are large cream pies of every variety in their refrigerated cases for you to order a healthy slab from.
Dude, this place is all about the authenticity and realness. You aren't going to spot some trendy young thing from a Fox network primetime show here, but you are probably going to share a booth with a hearty trucker from Minneapolis who's sweating into his coleslaw (delicious!) and beef double french dip. I love that! Sit me next to the real people that work hard for that dollar please. Save the hobnobbin' for the jerk offs.
As far as the food goes...I'm sorry. I like the french dip's at Cole's better. I hate that there is no au jus (is it REALLY a french dip without the meat drippings? i contest) to make my bread soggy, and the meat has always seemed a bit dry. Maybe i should try it with cheese, as some people do (but then it ceases to be authentic, my opinion) to get a little fat in there. Coleslaw is awesome with the meat and bread. I'm a fan of the pickle too, but find it superfluous if you order the coleslaw. Iced tea is awesome, basic, good brewed stuff like I had at grandma's.
Worth it for the experience, food is just okay.
Came here for a Saturday lunch and was really impressed! Though the ambiance is kind of similar to that of a cattle auction ranch, the food was fantastic and really affordable. I had a double-dip lamb sandwich, a side of potato salad, and a lemonade. The sandwich seemed kind of smallish, but maybe that was just because it was so great I wolfed it down quickly and considered getting in line for a second.
And yes, there is a line. Several, in fact. This is a popular place, and deservedly so. The guy in front of me in llne had been coming to Philippe's for more than 40 years. I wouldn't be surprised if that was a glimpse into my own future.
Seeing as I am on my french dip craze at the moment and that I spend quite a bit of time dreaming of Philippe's and LC's (Lion's Choice) sandwiches, I thought I should add this to my reviewed restaurants list.
Philippes is a gem. It's always hustle'n bustle inside, and the sandwiches, though not a hands down favorite, are pretty damn good. The place has been around for forever. It has character, and the crowd is diverse. The last time I stopped through, there were Dodger's fans everywhere. It's really tough to repeat this experience in other cities, so in my mind, this place kind of is LA. ...That is, the LA without the maddening glamour and glitz.
A little bit on Philippe's can be found in wikipedia...
Expect to wait in line at least 15 minutes. I've never seen this place empty.
Phillippe's is cheap. Don't go in there expecting some fancy meal. Your food is served on paper plates. It's also important to note that everyone orders the french dip sandwiches. It's their specialty.
If you're not a fan of french dip sandwiches, you'll probably dislike this place. And worse yet... You'll be like my friend who hates cheese but sometimes suggests pizza for lunch. ...her search to fulfill her appetite is destined to failure, if you ask me.
You should know what you're going to order before you get to the cashier, b/c you're in and out with your order very fast. ...It's all business when you're 1st in line.
Park across the street in the lot on the south/ west side. Or be a little healthy and walk from a few blocks away. It's def. worth it.
Out of 10 (10 being the best, 5 average)
Decor: 8 (it's a blast to the past)
Food: 8
Service: 4
FOOD:
1.) Turkey French Dipped Sandwich = Meh, I dunno. What is the rave about French Dipped. Not that big of a sandwich either.
SERVICE:
Order and get food at the counter like fast food.
ATMOSPHERE:
Kind of reminds me of a barn? coz there's confetti of hay on the ground?
4 Stars
I've NEVER.....EVER liked french dip sandwiches......................until today.
Had this place bookmarked for a while, so we stopped by on the way home from San Diego. The set-up was cool.....had a cafeteria feel to it. Service is hit or miss depending on who you get.
Ordered the Beef dip w/ american cheese, potato salad, and a cup of chili w/ beans; my girl ordered the beef dip w/ minestrone soup.
Started off w/ the chili........ohhhh noooo!!!! this was the worst chili I've ever had.....seriously! The meat felt like it had died a few times over before being cooked, and even then.....when I got it, it was barely more than room temperature!!!
Bad start.....but it was all uphill from there.
The Minestrone soup was good, Sandwich was off the hook!!!! (both the meat and the bread were perfect), and the potato salad is one of the best I've had in a long time.
The spicy mustard.....tasted like horseradish to me....nothing else.
I asked if I could order a side of the ajou for dipping, but the lady said they do not provide that and that they just dip the sandwich for us before giving it up.......that's a little strange, but who cares when the sandwiches are that good.....
Got a slice of apple pie and a coffee for the road. The pie was really good, and the coffee was fine.....kept me awake for a little while.
Other things I noticed is that this place is environmentally conscious and they do what they can to contribute to a better environment.....they also had "splash pads" in the urinals......which I had never seen before.
You have to check this place out......just leave the nasty chili alone.
I stumbled across Philippe's while in search of the Tamale Festival that I never found.
My boy friend was complaining that if he is not going to eat a damn Tamale, then he would settle for a sandwich covered with au jus.
After j walking across Alameda St. and almost getting hit my a Dash bus we entered the restaurant.
For the most part this place looks totally untouched from the 1900's minus the color TV. The floor is covered with wood shavings and the style of the lines would remind you of the long ride at Six Flags.
After my 20 minute wait I ordered my Beef sandwich for $5.55 and a Lemonade for 75 cent. The lady at the register asked me what I wanted for my side while pointing down at the cold case and ewwwwwwwwww!. Never should coleslaw and potato salad look so: 1. white, 2. bland and 3.EXTRA wet. I played it safe and went with the bag of potato chips. When my food arrived I was a little worried if my sandwich would be any good.
About 5 minutes into our search for a table I was able to take my first bite while walking and I was totally pleased. The meat was covered in juice and the spicy mustard was just right.
I give Philippe's 2 start for a few reasons: parking is really bad with China Town and Olivera St. both next door, the chairs have no back which shows how bad my posture really is, I feel like I could get a sandwich like that at some other place and with bland white or a liquor store bag of chips as my side options it's not that serious people.
As a pro this is a good place to watch a football game with nice folks.
Definitely one of the better French Dips I've had. The meat was super tender, the bread was nice and fresh, and the dip itself was great. I only wish I had gotten the double dip, but I definitely don't fault them for my not asking for that. The mustard they have at the table is...wow. I LOVED it. Delicious in itself and a great compliment to the sandwich. I also loved the way it's run. Order at the counter and get your food in a minute. Very quick and efficient.
The only thing that keeps them from getting that 5th star is the fact that I thought it was a bit pricey for its size. As delicious as I thought it was, $5.50 for a sandwich that small is just a bit on the pricey side since it'll probably cost me $11 to actually fill up there.
THIS PLACE IS BUSY AS HELL!!!!!!!!!
We waited in this line/group that felt like we were at a concert trying to push our way to the front to see the band in this case delicious sandwiches. I tryed the lamb dip and my girlfriend had the pork dip. We had the macaroni salad potato salad and coleslaw to try what they offered. The sides were nothing much but the sandwiches were really good my lamb was very tasty and moist. We had some fruit pie slice but it was overly sweet tasted like jelly. The staff there are ladies dressed in old diner uniforms making the sandwiches to order at this tall counter it was quite the experience!!!!!
Love, Love, Love Phillipes...
First of all for the nostalgic surroundings, the carving stations and the glass displaying all the desserts is spectacular to me.
This place holds sentimental value to me as my family have been going here for decades and decades.
I am still very fond of the beef dip sandwich. Many people complain about the increase of the sandwich price but at that moment when your biting into the sandwich it is so worth it. I think of it as paying a small fee to be inside a historic landmark.
I love their lemonade, chili, beef stew, pies, tapioca pudding but my favorite dessert item is their baked apple.
What can I say, I have been a fan for as long as I can remember and will remain a fan for as long as I am able to remember.
I'm rounding up here, but I gave this place a 4.5!! The long wait is a bit of a turn off, but well worth the wait. The bf and I decided to come here after watching the Food Network's Man vs. Food. We both ordered the Beef French Dip (double dipped!), 2 lemonades each, and shared the beef stew. potato salad, and cole slaw. AMAZING!
The business had been around for a century! They have perfected the french dipped sandwich and the restaurant has plenty of space for seating. The ladies working behind the counter are efficient and I love their outfits! It's so retro and I felt as if I went back in time, just like the old times.
Definitely coming back to grab a few more bites. FTW: cheap and very filling.
Maybe because I am not a huge fan of french dips I don't find this place all that great like people state it is. I've come her many times over the years but I only come because it is a landmark and for out of town visitors who have heard of this place from far away places.
I guess I find the french dip to be just dry and no mater how much au jus you dip into it it still tastes dry. Their is really no flavoring period in my taste buds to grasp the goodness of the sandwich.
I guess next time I will have to try the lamb because I can't say it all sucks but just what I have had.
Yum this place was great! The sandwich might be too small if you're a big eater so think about getting two sandwiches.
Can't go wrong with a beef french dipped sandwich. I would not recommend getting it with Blue Cheese unless you know you will like this combination. I wish I could try everything on the menu but it was my first and only time I will probably go here so I wanted to try what the restaurant is known for.
There's a parking lot in the back so you don't need to pay for parking. I hear this place gets pretty crowded so it's nice that I went at a non-rush hour. The ladies working were also very nice.
Good sandwich joint to grab a tasty lunch!
I almost never eat alone at dining establishments but after watching an episode of Man vs. Food LA about Philippe the day before, I couldn't resist stopping at Philippe while driving through Chinatown on the way home.
The last time I went to Philippe, it was probably about 7 years ago. I don't think anything has changed at all here in the 7 years. Heck, nothing probably has changed here in the 100 years or so it has been open.
I ordered the beef dipped sandwich, a bowl of chili, and a cup of the 75c lemonade to wash down all the food. You would be hard pressed to find a french dipped sandwich anywhere which taste better. The chili was very ordinary and of course you can't expect too much out of lemonade that cost 75c. Don't forget to try the spicy mustard if you like mustard. I really enjoyed that with my dip.
It won't take 7 years for me to visit this place again, that's for sure. 4.5 stars if I could give half stars but for now, I will leave it at 4.
Decided to stop by because I was apartment hunting in LA and lunch was in order. Remembered seeing this place on Man vs. Food and said "heck yea, let's try it."
Got luck with parking given that it was a weekend and they have a nice little lot out back. But once I stepped into the restaurant it was a different story. The lines were Looooooong, probably from all the Travel Channel promo.
Ordered the lamb double french dip, a side of slaw, and an ice tea. The lamb was tender and dipping the roll twice made a major difference flavorwise. The slaw was fresh but nothing spectacular. Ice tea was refreshing and dirty cheap at under $1. Also, tried mom's turkey which turned out really dry and bro's beef but it didn't top the lamb.
The real winner and reason I would go back is the Phillipe's spicy mustard. It is a most potent condiment and you can definitely feel the horsradish doing it's work. I bought a jar and it jazzes up all of my sandwiches at home now.
I may give it another try when I run out of mustard. All in all, Philippe's made for a decent lunch.
Philippe's Is the Crème de la crème of French dip sandwiches!
Wow, I am really impressed with their sandwich. It was super Delicious, that I wish I would have ordered another.
I got the Beef Dip with a side of pickles. Yummm!
I originally was not going to order the beef dip, I was going to order the turkey because I am not much of a beef fan I hate too much meaty flavor, but since this is the Taj Mahal of all beef dips and, this is what they are famous for I decided, why the hell not?
I must say Philippe's is pretty damn amazing. Not too beefy, but tasty, not overly soggy but drenched in the perfect amount of dip.
The only thing that sucks Is the seating, you have to walk up stairs(because the downstairs is packed) with your big ass trays of food, not very pleasant if your a clumsy person like me.
Philippe's stole my heart away, It is now going to be hard for me to consume other sandwiches without trying to compare them to Philippe's!
What can you say about Philippe's that hasn't been said already? The place is a Los Angeles landmark. A restaurant/diner of yesteryear that continues to draw people from all walks of life who come in to enjoy the French dips, pies, and the ambiance.
Unlike most places in downtown, the parking at Philippe's is terrific. Behind the restaurant, there is a small lot that fits about 10-15 cars. In addition, they also have a lot across the street that fits about 20-30 cars, and they usually have a parking lot attendant present. At lunch time it gets pretty packed, but each of the times I've gone, I've been able to find a spot.
One of the things that gives Philippe's its ambiance is its 1920's interior and exterior. Once you walk in, you'll notice the long silver counter-top where the carvers take your order. If you're new, you'll appreciate the menus that are posted above the counter tops. When you order you can do no wrong. Everything that I've ordered in the past has been delicious and fulfilling. The French rolls are soft, flavorful, and they have just the right amount of au jus or "beef broth." If you want, ask the carver to double dip the roll....for extra beef flavor. The beef, lamb, turkey all have their distinct tastes and textures...but all the meats are well prepared and quite tasty. However, I definitely recommend the beef dip and the lamb dip.
Although they have sides such as macaroni salad, cole saw, and potato salad...I usually have enough with just 2 sandwiches and dessert.
If you like homemade pies, this is your place. Apple, cheery, blueberry, lemon meringue, cheesecake...they're all prepared in house and every day. I've never had the lemon meringue, but if its like the rest of the pies...you'll love it. To drink, you can choose fountain drinks that come in a can or good coffee. But I recommend 2 glasses of lemonade....definitely hits the spot.
Once you've ordered, find yourself a spot at any of the tables inside the restaurant. While you're eating you may notice a few things about Philippe's that you'll never see anywhere else. For starters, near the main entrance you'll see a small convenience/candy stand where you can buy candy, batteries, and other small things (Phillippe's memorabilia as well). On the walls, you'll notice old Los Angeles picture's depicting famous people, your everyday professions, landmarks, and memorable events. Looking at those photos is like taking a tour of LA through Philippe's windows.
The carvers themselves are great, sweet women. They take your order as fast as possible, their polite, very sweet, and exceptional professional given the number of people they have to serve.
Couple of final points, if you want water, don't order water at the counter top...around the corner across from the main entrance there's an old school water fountain surrounded by numerous glasses where you can serve yourself (although the water has a very strong tap flavor). If there's no spaces available at the long wooden tables or back room booths, there's a set of secret dining rooms...one in the back near the rear entrance and the other one is on the second floor (you take the steps near the rear entrance).
If you think the lunch and dinner selections are great, go there for breakfast and you'll be amazed by all the things you can order, among them: pancakes, eggs, sausage, baked apples, and much more.
Philippe's is an amazing restaurant that adds so much flavor and history to this ever changing city of ours. Philippe's is a true landmark where you can enjoy a French Dip (after all they invented it, regardless of what Cole's claims), take in the ambiance, and appreciate living history within the walls of its 1920's building.
this place is so cheap, so yummy, and so spacious.
try the potato salad !! its really good, one of the best ive ever had, which was especially weird because i am not a huge potato salad fan.
the tapioca is also worth a try, i really enjoyed it!
i wasn't too hungry, so i had some of my friends beef french dip with swiss cheese and it was good.....really good, i just wish it saucier.
the service isn't the best. we got a mean lady that didn't seem to want to talk, but another line had a really nice cashier. so i suppose it depends. but wait in line for a nice lady if you're looking for recommendations!!
ill definitely come back again when im in the area. OH, i want to come back for breakfast, it looked good!!!
I have no idea why this place is so famous. In fact, it is hard to believe it has been in business for longer than a month.
The beef French dip was a measley portion of mediocre roast beef on your run of the mill deli roll. The girl behind the counter dipped it in what they call au jus, rather than giving me a side of it, as is customary.
What I wound up eating was a soggy vending machine quality sandwich because the jus had no flavor whatsoever.
Philippe's makes its own mustard, which is a little weird for French dips, but something had to give this sandwich some flavor, so I tried it. Their mustard is so strong that the only way to actually taste it is to burn the hell out of your sinuses. I am not shy with spicy foods, either.
I got a chance to see the au jus up close because I got a to go order for my wife. The jus tasted like a mixture of soy sauce and tap water. The funny thing is that there did not appear to be any fat in the jus. The color and consistency was perfectly uniform and did not have that shiny film on the top that every liquid with even the slightest bit of grease has.
I think their jus is made from beef bouillon cubes, or straight out of a can.
AVOID!
Came here on Halloween night, and thankfully it was NOT busy. I saw the place on Man v Food and it was crazy busy. As soon as we walked in we just walked up to the counter and ordered. We shared the beef and the pork sandwiches and had sides of potato and macaroni salad. They were both very delicious and pretty filling. The potato salad seemed like it was mixed with coleslaw... I don't know if that's how it comes or if ours was just mixed with coleslaw but it was a good mix. There is a lot of seating area and it was pretty empty that night. I'm not sure how I would feel if I had to wait forever for this though, but from the experience we had, it was great.
Easy to get to downtown
Great roastbeef and lamb, like out of this world good.
Sides are terrific, this is old school folks, dont think gourmet.
I just love the staff, and they get it done fast.
Know what you want at the counter when you get there.
More please....
The majority of reviews for Philippe usually start out with, "I had a friend in from out of town..." And my story is no different.
DK was in town for a quick visit, so prior to his arrival, I sent him an eating agenda. On the list was Philippe, which he had heard of, but had never tried during previous trips to LA.
We had to be at the Rose Bowl for a soccer game, so we made this a stop along the way (because I don't drive the 110 towards Pasadena unless I HAVE TO.
I got a double french beef dip, I think he got the same with Swiss cheese, and we shared a mac salad. Since we were too hungry, it was the perfect snack-type meal. I hadn't been there in a couple of years, and it was just as good as I remembered it. He thought the flavor and the bread were perfect. I like the fact that the customers are made up of locals as well as tourists. Always a great stop on the way to/from Downtown LA or Chinatown. And a great place to take out-of-towners for a little bit of LA history.
********** (ten stars) Yee-haw! Better than "As good as it gets!"
As you can see by my past reviews, I am generous in my rating. You pretty much have to sexually harass me to get a star knocked off (you hear me YMCA membership). But, if I could give Philippe's 10 stars, I would. I've come to this place since I was a child. It has the feeling of a depression era sandwich deli. The floor are covered in saw dust, and the seating is on stools alongside elongated tables. The women (mostly Latina now) behind the counter, where you order, look like they are playing the part in a 1930's movie, with their little dixie cup hats, and long shirt-dresses. Coffee was 5 cents a cup while I was growing up. I went to 10 cents, and now, I think it is only 9 cents.
When they open the upstairs, there are rooms where you can sit, one of which has a red brick wall, in which my father carved my name and that of my sister, when we were babies. Our names have been obliterated by the subsequent memorializations of other names.
Best French dipped sandwiches EVER! The hard boiled eggs on the counter are pickled in a juice turned red by beets. Delish.
This place should be a historic landmark of the City of Los Angeles.
The food: the best
Philippe is good, but not as good as I thought it would be. I tried double dip beef and double dip lamb, IMO lamb is much better since it has more flavor. The beef is dry with not too much flavor. The au jus is amazingly flavorful, totally saved my beef. Next time I would ask them to not just dip the bread, but completely soak it lol I am going to give it another try since according to my bf, last time he was here, the beef wasn't that dry. So maybe we just went on a bad day.
The highlight of the night is their pickled pig feet, it is AMAZING!
Overall, we like the food, the carvers are nice and friendly and everything is reasonably priced. I wouldn't make a special trip for it, but I would definitely go there if I am in the area.
Heard great things about this place. I hate going into a place with high expectations, because it'll never meet up to them. Unfortunately, this was one of those times. I mean, it was good. But that's it. This is supposed to be the mecca of French Dipitude! And it was....meh. The bread was great. That was the only positive thing that stood out. The long line and 20 min wait stood out to me as well. You don't get to dip it yourself either! What's that all about? They just splash the au jus on the bread and then hand you a soggy sandwich. Which is...fine. It still tasted...fine. But that's it. Lack of meat, lack of dipping action, long line represents the not so good qualities. Good prices and delicious bread, save this french dip pioneer.
So I went to Coles 2 days ago (see review) and today, I went to Phillipe for lunch after an appointment in downtown. I wanted to do a fair comparison while Coles was still in my intestines.
I have to say the Phillipe's still has a better tasting sandwich and a better sandwich roll. I usually go for dinner and it's not that crowded. The lunch business is booming and I believe the servers give more meat than the night shift. The cole slaw was pretty good. I also ordered their chili an even though it wasn't as thick as others, it was super tasty and with a little bit. The meat is shredded very much like the way Chasen's used to do it. Try the chili, you wont regret it. Also 10 cents for a good cup of joe is always a good thing.
Went here before a Clippers game and I guess I'm not the only Clipper fan with a hankering for a… Read more »
This is a great little dive to go to, though I agree with some others that it's not a to-die-for, drive-200-miles-for type of place. BUT, if you happen to be in L.A. you should definitely check it out.
I liked the double-dipped better than the single-dipped, but that's because it gave the sandwich a little more flavor. Eat it fast though, because the bread will get soggy.
I like the pork better than the beef dip, again because it had a little more flavor.
Potato salad and coleslaw were great standby sides though, again, not any knock-your-socks-off type stuff. Perfect fare for the environment, the place, and the price, though.
Don't worry that the lines are long, they move quickly, and there is actually tons of seating, even if in most of the restaurant you end up squished in between the lines of famished people when it's packed. Just be sure to guard your plate well if it's real busy in there - you'll find them salivating right over your shoulder onto your plate if you don't!
OH, and the hot mustard ... that stuff is KYA (Kick Your @$$!!) kind of stuff. We LOVED it! It's really mustard-flavored-horseradish, but man that stuff's good!
This place is freaking packed like crazy. The place looks and seems pretty cool though.. I got the lamb french dip.. It was okay, nothing to get excited about...
I think I should have tried the beef one since I like that better... Heh. But for now, a 3/5 is what I'm giving since it wasnt anything out of the world, just good/okay.
Overated.
After watching Man vs. Food LA, I wanted to try the infamous Philippe's ORIGINAL French dip sandwich. I was stoked when I came here for lunch because there was no line and I heard the line gets crazy in here. Waiting too long for food is sometimes rewarding but most of the time ANNOYING. I ordered a single dip Pork Dip with swiss cheese and a side of macaroni salad.
I like having my french dip with the dip on the side because it keeps the bread crunchy. But since this is a traditional/ original French Dip place, I decided to get it the way they serve it. The bread was soggy as I expected and there was just not enough flavor overall. I probably would've liked it better if I got the dip on the side so I can control the amount of dip to put on the sandwich. The macaroni salad tasted really bad. It was watery and sweet... I didn't like it at all but I unfortunately gobbled it down because I was still hungry after eating one sandwich -_-;
The whole restaurant is very old fashioned. The place looked like it has been kept the same since they opened, which was a 100 years ago. They serve everything on recycled paper plates.
I was pretty disappointed overall, but I will give this place 3 stars since they have been here for 100 years and they serve THE ORIGINAL French Dip sandwich. I guess being original doensn't make you the best, but I give them credit for being around for so long. Congratulations on the 100 year anniversary (soon to be 101 years in October).
Late Lunch Special
Neighborhood: Pasadena
Drink Specials+Half Dips…
Neighborhood: Downtown
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Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Westlake
Category: Delis
Los Angeles, CA
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Sandwiches
Neighborhood: Mid-City
Category: Barbeque
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