The best pork sandwich in Philadelphia costs $11 and is found inside the city's most iconic market
Gabi Stevenson
- I lived just outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for most of my life.
- In my opinion, a roast pork sandwich is one of the best foods you can get in the city.
DiNic's Roast Pork and Beef is a staple inside Philadelphia's famous Reading Terminal Market. The restaurant sits in the center of the market and serves up hot sandwiches to tourists and locals.
According to the restaurant's official website, Tommy DiNic's is now a fourth-generation family business. In 1918, Gaetano Nicolosi opened a butcher shop in South Philadelphia, where he worked alongside his family. His five sons took over the business and began selling pork and beef sandwiches in the garage behind the shop.
In the 1970s, Nicolosi's grandson Tommy and his cousin Franky DiClaudio joined their last names together to create DiNic's. Although the two cousins later split, Tommy moved his business into the Reading Terminal Market. He still runs the booth with his son Joey, expanding the menu and cementing the eatery as a Philly staple.
Although it's not as well-known as the cheesesteak or the hoagie, the roast pork sandwich is another fantastic option. Philadelphia Magazine even recommends ordering one instead of a cheesesteak. I fell in love with the tender pork and juice-soaked roll the first time I tried it a few years ago, so I was excited to return to the market for the first time since I moved to Grand Rapids.
DiNic's has a small menu of meaty sandwiches, all of which are under $15 (even with toppings).
DiNic's roast pork sandwich, roast beef sandwich, Italian sausage sandwich, and Italian-style pulled pork sandwiches all cost $11. The brisket of beef is sold at whatever the current market price is.
There are a few options for toppings: Sharp provolone, roasted peppers, and greens all cost $1. There's even some variety within the toppings, so you can specify what kind of greens or peppers you'd like. I always order my roast pork sandwich with sharp provolone and spinach.
Although it's tempting to order a sandwich and explore the market, the restaurant asks you to stay in line while you wait.
DiNic's takes orders by hand and employees walk along the customer line to take orders instead of at a register.
I arrived a little before the lunch rush to make sure I didn't have to wait, but as I did, a long line began to wrap around the corner. It appeared the restaurant asks patrons to stay put until they receive their food to avoid any confusion.
If you take a trip into the market for lunch, be prepared to wait a bit for a worthwhile sandwich. Because I arrived before the lunch rush, I only waited about five minutes.
Over the counter and through glass cases, you can immediately see the appeal of the slow-cooked meat at DiNic's.
One of my favorite parts of going to the Reading Terminal Market is watching the people working there masterfully prepare their products. This is no exception at DiNic's, and the best part is seeing (and smelling) the meat before it's cut up for sandwiches.
While you pay, you can look at the restaurant's branded T-shirts — next to a photo of "Man v. Food" host Adam Richman.
DiNic's has been featured on several food shows, according to the Reading Terminal Market website. Richman came to Philadelphia in 2009 for his Travel Channel show "Man v. Food," during which he explores food in different American cities and partakes in food challenges. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that year that Richman made stops at DiNic's, Tony Luke's, and Franklin Fountain for the episode.
Philadelphia Magazine reported in 2012 that Richman chose DiNic's roast pork sandwich as the best sandwich in America after visiting the major regions of the US for his search.
During one of his trips to the market, Richman took a photo with the owners of DiNic's that's still on display to this day.
When I asked a DiNic's employee how many roasted pork sandwiches they serve each day, he simply replied, "A lot."
DiNic's is most famous for its roast pork, but I heard people order all different combinations from the menu. Just like the rest of the Reading Terminal Market, DiNic's can get pretty busy throughout the day, even without counter seating.
My sandwich smelled incredible from the moment I opened its paper wrapping.
The stacks of delicious meat hid the gooey provolone melted in between. I liked that the spinach had almost been steamed by the heat of the sandwich, taking away some of the crunch and giving the sandwich a more uniform texture.
I ate my sandwich across the street from the market in another iconic location — City Hall.
I couldn't wait to dig into my sandwich for the first time in years. I was delighted that it was still exactly the way I remembered — the pork was succulent and juicy. The melted provolone added a buttery texture and a slight tang, and the spinach gave a little contrast to all the meat and dairy.
The roll tastes delicious when it's sopped in meat juice, and by the time I finished half of the sandwich, I was stuffed and happy. The next time I got back to DiNic's, I'm ready to try one of the tasty concoctions on the menu.
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