by Hillary Marshall

Created on: April 21, 2008   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

Budget food is done best in Philly, the city is packed with places where you can get first class food for less. More importantly, you can still sample the local fare without breaking the bank. Part of the charm of visiting Philly is getting a taste of the mouth watering foods and the city is at no shortage of great places, serving the cities favorite foods for reasonable prices.

You have to start you Philly food sampling with an authentic Philly cheesesteak. Step off your plane or train, do not pass go and head directly to 9th St for either a Pat's or Geno's steak. Order a cheesesteak with fried onions. Both places have reasonable prices, you can get a cheesesteak for between $6 to $8 dollars depending on what you order and which place you choose. To tell you which place I like better would only start an internet debate, because this is a hot topic in Philly.

Another place to stop in for good food is the Reading Terminal Market. There is a great place there called DicNic's Roast Beef and Pork and they make an excellent roast pork sandwich. The sandwich comes with slow roasted pork and juice, provolone cheese, roasted peppers and greens. Dicnic's also sells hot sausage and hot roast beef sandwiches among other items. The Reading Terminal Market is also home to the Dutch Eating Place. This place makes great breakfast food and the most delicious blueberry pancakes you have ever tasted. They also have mouth watering apple dumplings. You can get three blueberry pancakes for slightly over $3 dollars and an apple dumpling for less than that. Yum!

If you are into good Italian food you have to go to the Italian Market. The market is home to one of the oldest family operated Italian restaurants in the country called Ralph's Italian Restaurant. This place is heaven and you can actually sit down for a nice meal without paying an arm and a leg. Order the pasta with gravy or the lasagna, you won't be disappointed. The portions are generous and you can get either for between $5 and $10 dollars.

If you like chinese food, head on down to China Town for some delicious inexpensive eats. Lee How Fook Tea House is a great place to start. They have extremely reasonable prices and out of this world food. The hot and sour soup is fantastic and so are the oyster hot pots. Best of all you can easily eat here for under $10 dollars.

This guide only encompasses a sampling of the great food Philly has to offer, but it will have you eating food that is both delicious and inexpensive.

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