Restaurants, Sandwich Shops, Traditional American Restaurants, French Restaurants, Soup Restaurants
$, Cheap Eats, Lunch Spot
Philippe The Original is one of the oldest and best known restaurants in Southern California. Philippe's was established in 1908 by Philippe Mathieu, who claimed the distinction of having created the "French Dipped Sandwich." Philippe's "French Dipped Sandwich" is the specialty of the house and consists of either beef, roast pork, leg of lamb, turkey or ham served on lightly textured, freshly baked French roll which has been dipped in natural gravy of the roast. We our also known for our breakfast, deli sandwiches, salad, soups, bake goods, drinks, wine and beer. So check out our menu!
So as my faithful readers know I am extremely wary of any place that is recommended to me as "Classic LA". This usually translates as "Classically Over-rated". So it was with great trepidation that I stepped into Philippe the Original Restaurant this weekend. I immediately wished I were 25 and drunk and it was 2am. That is what Philippe is perfect for. Cheap eats - French Dip Steak Ums and slaw and cheap beers and plenty of good cheap nasty bar sides. I treated my mother-in-law to a pickled egg and some pickled pig's feet. The pig's feet were only $1.80 which may be cheap or expensive depending on your point of view. Bottom line - I liked the space, hated the crowds and the food was good for what it was but not worth the trip to nowhere which is where it is located.
Was this review helpful to you?
Philipe French Dip sandwiches are good but they are not all that many say they are. I think the au-jus is a bit too salty and the bread quite flat in flavor. The prices are great for what one gets which makes the visit worth it. The macaroni salad is nice yet very simple as is the custard pudding.
I ordered a lamb sandwich and was not at all impressed, as it tasted greasy.
PROS: Great prices and service
CONS: salty au-jus
Was this review helpful to you?
I recently went to Phiippes with some co-workers after reading an article about them in the Los Angeles business Journal. I was not dissapointed! $5 bought me a huge french dip sandwich and it was so yummy! The bread was quite fresh. The pie is good as are the pickled eggs. The line structure was a little irritating as alot of people were 'cutting" so i didn't get to order untill 10 after my co-workers got their food, but it was a nice change of pace and theres free parking -- a big plus for downtown.
Was this review helpful to you?
You can enter in the rear door or front door and walk along the sawdust through the dining area to get to the three or four lines behind the glass counters where the sandwiches are prepared.
There is a decent selection for beer including draft starting at $1.10 as well as wine by the glass for $2.10 or by the carafe. Also on the menu is a beer that has no alcohol, plus domestic and imported beers. The big sellers seemed to be lemonade or iced tea for fifty cents. Also on the menu are colas, diet sodas, milk, tea, coffee or sparkling water.
While waiting in line you can see the various pies they offer for dessert or opt for cheesecake as I did. For children there is ice cream or puddings. During the season of October through June you can order the favorite Baked Apples selling at $1.60.
You have the option of getting sandwiches double dipped. The sandwiches available are beef, pork and ham for $4.15 with the lamb costing $4.45. Your next choice comes with the type of cheese you want, either swiss, american, jack or bleu cheese. I choose Jack for mine. Next time I am going for swiss and lamb double dipped in au jus. For the colder months I may go back and try their beef stew.
Philippe The Original is open from 6 am till 10 pm every day but Thanksgiving and Christmas. The breakfast menu looks tempting and is served from 6 am till 10:30 am. A Ham steak and two eggs goes for $6.50, oatmeal for $1.30, three homemade biscuits for seventy-five cents. A cheese omelet is only $4.05 or their short stack with bacon, sausage or hash for $4.70. I will have to check them out for the breakfast special french toast dipped in cinnamon egg batter!
I do not like the soup selections. The bus person takes your tray. There are tvs and radio playing. Bathrooms are decent. Booths are comfortable. They have wooden ceiling fans sometimes turned on or the A/C is on.
Seating is family style, but I have not seen any highchairs.
PROS: lots of selections, price, casual atmosphere
CONS: no ice for water, would like onions & peppers on sandwich
Was this review helpful to you?
I always get the turkey sandwich with a bowl of straight chili with a 50 cent glass of homemade lemonade. The lines can be long but they go by quite fast. I have never been there when it was not crowded, the business is great! They also have a candy stand near the front entrance with all kinds of goodies.
PROS: All the food is good!
CONS: Nothing
Was this review helpful to you?
Service is bad here.
One Saturday I had to wait more than 50 minutes to order my breakfast because our waitress(counter lady ) was too busy making sandwiches.
I would have gladly moved to another line if she had told us that she could not take other orders for a while...
Food is okay but not worth waiting in line for over 30-40 minutes average. I go there because my kids like to walk on saw dust and look at model trains.
Was this review helpful to you?
I used to live in Los Angeles and for years I came here to eat lunch or grab a snack. This place has some really tasty french dip sandwiches. The meal is kind of greasy but mostly drippy and juicy. The place is always crowded and the line is long but it goes by fast. Make sure to look for a table before ordering because then you'll be carrying your food tray up and down the stairs. If you're in the area you must stop here.
Was this review helpful to you?
This place has been here for as long as I can remember. I enjoy coming here when I make a rare trip into downtown Los Angeles for an errand. It usually makes the stress of traffic much more bareable and I tend to look forward to the homemade apple pie. Aside from the juicy sandwiches and cheap coffee (tastes cheap too) I love hunting for a "picnic style" table to dine at. Fun and enjoyable.
Was this review helpful to you?
From the sawdust on the floor to the old-timey uniforms of the waitresses, this place screams nostaligia and comfort. The french dip sandwiches are the best, though I prefer lamb over the beef. The cole slaw id delish, as is the pea soup. Follow it up with a slice of custard pie and you're in heaven. The candy/cigar concession will take you back to another time. The private booths lend a bit of private for those who wish to keep to themselves. I prefer the hussle and bussle of the elongated tables, where patrons sit alongside each other as they munch and break into conversation. The prices are affordable. Coffee is still a dime. Here's where you want to go for a solid meal with some history and without the pretension.
PROS: great cheap french dip sandwiches (to eat in or to go); good deli; great nostalgic feel
CONS: lines can get long, but they do move fast
Was this review helpful to you?
I would give this place an A+ for originality and style. The food is just not my style. If you enjoy roast beef and super soggy sandwich bread then this is the place for you. If you prefer good quality bread with lots of fresh vegetables inside than this isn't your fit. I think the coffee is super cheap and they've got beautiful slices of pie. Beware of the long lines and limited seating. Best to come off hours and try it out for kicks. A nice treat.
Was this review helpful to you?
One of the last historic one of the kind Los Angeles resturants. My great grandfather use to bring me here as a boy. Now I bring my son. Same Great prices. Same sawdust on the floors, paper plates and old style location.
Was this review helpful to you?
You cant visit downtown WITHOUT going here! Its a classic! Frech dip subs, purple eggs and 9 cent cups of coffee! The owners make you feel like friends not customers and the resturant is old, warm and cozy! Take a metro ride into grand central station and there you are!
Was this review helpful to you?
I went here only twice, but I loved it both times. The sawdust floors and open cafe-style seating really give the place character. The French dip sandwiches are of course the best in town.
Was this review helpful to you?
I love this place and like to take out of towners and friends there for a more unusual dining experience. A few years ago, I took the jury that I served with there when I was on jury duty at the Criminal Courts Building down the street. It was a unanimous verdict that they loved it. There is sawdust on the floor and bench-style seating. The food is inexpensive, but delicious. They serve dip sandwiches, variety of salads, pie, coffee & lemonade. My favorite meal there is the lamb dip (double dip), macaroni salad, lemonade and a pickle. Even better, the Gold Line has a stop near there so you don't even have to drive and look for parking. I highly recommend Philippe's.
Was this review helpful to you?
The Original Since 1908 (veritably prehistoric by Los Angeles terms) Philippe's has been all about sawdust on the floor, ceiling fans above, paper plates on your tray and history in the air. Old school all the way. Sit down and wait for a waitress? Getcomfy 'cause it'll be a long wait or get your ass up in line with the rest of us. When you're finally up in front of the server, get yourself one of their famed French Dip sammiches. What the hell's a "French Dip?" Legend has it that back in 1918 while Philippe was preparing a sammich for a cop who was a regular customer, he dropped the sliced french roll into the drippings of a roasting pan. The beat cop liked the results so much he came back the next day with some friends and ordered theirs "dipped" in the meat pan.
Me, I'm partial to a double-dipped lamb sammy ($4.90) with bleu cheese (30 cents - not dressing, the real deal), side of coleslaw (85 cents), kosher dill pickle (75 cents), and a couple lemonades (60 cents each). The other sammic
Was this review helpful to you?
This place is classic. I think they still serve $0.09 cups of coffee!
Was this review helpful to you?
plenty of parking- the Roast Beef dip with cheese is a real treat!!! the only problem I have with the place is most of the time you get a rude or snotty sandwich clerk. I keep getting the tall blonde that has an attitude- I gotta stop standing in her line!! LOL other than that!!! THE DIPS ROCK!!!!
I went for the first time yesterday, and it was really, really good. Just yum. Everyone hates on the beef dip, but I had that-- I think asking for "double dip" is a must-- and it was really good. The lamb was also good, but it was a little salty for my taste. Of all the sides, I found the cole slaw to be good, but the potato salad to be better. I say go. You'll like it.
Pros: Bustling, lots of people, good sandwiches and sides
Cons: Parking could be tough sometimes. Also, some people won't like the lines/crowd.
not traditional as it was back in the day, small two slices roast beef with bread, did they pay food network off to show a large back in the day sandswich? big joke, go to chinatown right behind restaurant
Pros: tradition
Cons: people getting cheated for the money value, don't go...go to pinks hotdog still the same value
Their sandwiches aren't that filling by themselves, but they are fairly good. Maybe a little too expensive (OK, 9 cent coffee is nice). Tasty hot mustard on the tables. Worth it once in a great while to eventually make your way to the counter when it's busy to order.
The atmosphere is beautiful and reminiscent of times gone by, and I love eating upstairs where it is nice and quiet, or if I want to turn up the volume a notch downstairs is also cool, and they have this cute little museum place. Phillipe's offers free parking which is good.
I ordered a ham sandwich which was $6. I got 2 pickles for a $1, and a brownie for $2.10. I'm not sure what all the raving about a gravy dipped sandwich is all about. The prices are way extreme for a sandwich and a very small brownie.
Now, if I want to Jon's market I would get a 25 cent roll, and 3 slices of ham for a $1 make it $1.25 for a whole sandwich! And I could make my own gravy at home for pennies. PLUS, the fact that you have to give a tip--just doesn't make sense, because it's like a fast food joint with the stuff allready prepared, and the waitress just puts the stuff on your plate like Mc Donalds. Thanks, but will not visit again.
Pros: Great Environment, Free Parking. Great Historical Landmark
Cons: High Priced Sandwiches, and Dessert.
I've been there many times in the last 5 years and this place's food is so great comparing to the price I've spent. The sandwiches always come with big sizes and the dessert is super generous. The only cons is the service but I don't make it bother me because all I need is good food and good dessert!!.
Pros: good food at reasonable price
Cons: a bit bad service
Phillipe's is the best french dip sandwich place is all of the country. The bread is so fresh and the mustard they use is amazing. I would definitely recommend this place to everyone.
Unless you have to go, just to say "I've been there" steer clear of this tourist trap.
Poor quantity (sandwiches are very small)
Poor quality ( I tasted the bread, remeber the old "where's the beef?!?!")
(pickled eggs arent really pickled, they are merely colored and slightly flavored)
Poor value (Too expensive for a sandwich)
Pros: Coffee.
Cons: Everything except the coffee.
this place is tasty & addicting, You really can't go wrong here. service is fast, just have your cash ready. I love the roast beef double dipped!!!
Pros: good
This place is Great I have been coming here since I was little they have the greatest french dip sandwiches out there. Also you must try their chili it is so good. The place is in the middle of downtown LA so if you want to avoid the crowds don't go at lunch time on the weekdays, but if not in a hurry it is well worth the wait.
Pros: Great deli style food
Cons: can be crowded depending on the time you go.
Apparently this is the original creator of the French Dip Sandwich. WHether or not that legend is true, the food is SO cheap (coffee is 9 cents!) and decent. The only downside is that they don't give you any au jus to dip it in!! They do that for you, and it never seems "dipped" enough for my soggy tastes. Also, crowds can be a nightmare on weekends, and there is saw dust on the floor - sort of funny, but also sort of gross.
A great bargain for your buck. Their legendary french dip sandwiches are the best this side of town!
Pros: Great sandwiches, value
Husband and kids got the French dip, just ok.... not much meat at all. I got the turkey dip and it was just ok as well. The potato salad on the other hand was awesome! The kids were totally grossed out by the pickled pigs feet for the first time. Soup was really good. Parking is crazy. We parked on the street up a few blocks in Chinatown and it was not to bad of a walk. If you have small kids do not go at peak lunchtime. The lines are crazy and finding a place to sit can be hard. If you have to sit upstairs getting the food upstairs alone while the kids are with hubby can be a challenge. I'm sure they would have someone help you if you asked though. Overall it was a cool experience for us. The kids got a kick out of the writing on the brick walls upstairs. We all wondered what the heck the small amount of sawdust was on the floor for? To absorb spills?
Pros: POTATO SALAD
Cons: Parking/ French Dip
When I was a kid it was a very special treat, we were poor, to have Dad bring home sandwiched from Phillpe's. No after having grown up and able to cook myself I have found that I can make a much better sandwich at home.
Pros: Can't think of any.
Cons: The food.
Wow, what a great spot. This is the real LA, like something out of an old Perry Mason episode. Sawdust on the floor, counter ladies in retro uniforms. A candy and newspaper counter. The lamb dip sandwich is fantastic, and incredibly cheap. It's cut off a real lamb roast (the turkey and beef look like "rolled" deli roasts, though I didn't have one, so I can't say for sure), and costs around $6. Plenty of meat, too. If you think these sandwiches are too small or don't have enough meat, or are not a good deal, you must eat a lot of supersized fast food. For "real" food, they're a good deal. Service is fast if you don't go at lunch rush. Parking is ample, too, if you don't go right at 12:00 PM. Lots of cheap and tasty sides, plus cheap drinks (sixty cent iced tea and lemonades, one dollar for a can of coke). Worth going out of your way for at least once.
Pros: Cheap tasty dip sandwiches, cheap beverages, nice nostalgic atmosphere
Cons: None, though be prepared to wait if you go at lunch rush
I love trying new items everytime I visit a restaurant, but I never fail to get the same thing every time I visit here: French dip with coleslaw. Mix the slaw and spicy mustard into the sandwich, and voila. Instant satisfaction.
Pros: Food, value
I've been to Phillippe's over 10 times and it's far away. It's worth the drive! I have always gotten the french dip sandwhiches, but recently tried the tuna salad sandwhiches....they are to die for. The best tuna salad ever! It's flavorful and not bland at all. I strongly recommend it along with the best potato salad and coleslaw ever! I love this place.
Pros: great food, cheap, different ambiance
Cons: crowded sometimes
Unless you don't like French Dip sandwiches or chili, don't come here. I can't believe this place got a bad review. I come here at least once a month and I love it. Gotta get the lamb with blue cheese. It's a great place to get a view of old L.A.!
I went to Phillipe and Cole's for a little Au Jus showdown. While Phillipe serves a great French Dip, my vote that day went to Cole's. The only reason, is that Cole's gave me a side of Au Jus, so I was able to dip to my taste buds' delight! Without the extra au jus, Cole's is a bit dry. This is where Phillipe's reigns supreme. They always get it right! The location is great, next to historic Olvera Street/Plaza, Union Station (where they happened to be filming the day I went), and Chinatown. The overall value is great, everything is cheap!
Pros: Location, Great Beef Sandwhich, Inexpensive
Cons: Crowded, No side of au jus
This places embodies LA in all its history and glory. Inside and out, it is a true representation of LA past and present. Inside you'll find LA history on the walls and in the customers. After a few minutes inside you will feel the true Angelino spirit--people of every ethnic background lining the sawdust covered floors for The Original dipped sandwich. For even more flavor, ask for your sandwich double dipped. Add a side of potato salad and a beer, then sit down and soak in the history of the place as families and downtown workers alike enjoy The Original alongside you. Careful with the mustard on the table--it WILL clear your sinuses. For even more LA history in the area, walk down Alameda to Olvera Street, then take a glance inside the majestic Union Station across the street.
Pros: THE place for dips, Historic LA, ample parking
I ate at the restaurant for the first time, and I was pleasantly surprised. First, parking was not a problem, so I was happy about that. Next, the food was delicious! I had their infamoun French Dip! Yummy stuff. I would definitely recommend trying this place.
Pros: Parking, Food, French Dip
Cons: Average Service, High Prices, Long Lines
The beef dip is good, but the lamb is outstanding. I cannot see adding their mustard and changing the already outstanding taste. The buns crunch on top, but the double dipping keeps the inside moist. I am a potato salad and cole slaw "maven" and theirs are the only ones I like other than my own. My husband says the same about the macaroni salad. It is sad, but one can no longer visit after an evening theater performance as they no close around 10:00. It is a great place to take out of town visitors.
Pros: great food, consistently good, ample parking
Cons: long lines at lunch.
For all you mustard lovers out there, Philippe's has an excellent spicy mustard that perfectly complements their french-dipped sandwiches. The sandwiches are already dipped for you, so the only thing that could have made this experience better was if they would have given us a small bowl of juice so that we could dip the sandwiches ourselves. Overall, the atmosphere is charming (complete with sawdust on the floor) and you can appreciate the history of this restaurant and read more about it with the info/pictures they've posted on the walls. I'd definitely go back again!
Pros: yummy food, very affordable
It's hard to beat the value and the feeling that you've stepped back to a time when patrons probably wore suits and dresses to dine at this legendary 1908 sandwich shop. About 8 of us recently arrived at Phillipes via the Metro and for ~$50 we all enjoyed the infamous french dip sandwiches, pickles, and sides. It's hard to beat that price! Definitely partake in the ultra spicy but delicious mustard. In case you think this place is only for meat eaters and sandwich lovers, even the vegetarian had options, the soup looked like it was worth a repeat visit, and the pecan pie caused quite a stir at our table.
Pros: Great Sandwiches, Bargain
Been going to Philippe's since the mid 1970's, and have brought countell friends to this unique food counter. What the place lack's in frill's, it makes up for with fantastic chow. Great French Dip's, wonderful potato salad, ice cold brewskie's, and baked apples . . . . highly recommended if you want to see a real cross section of L.A. life and people, any time you stop by.
Pros: saw dust on floors, can be an adventure, come hungry
Cons: saw dust on floors, can be an adventure
The perfect LA experience. Take the metro rail, exit at Union Station, turn right and get ready to enjoy a truly delicious sandwich from this landmark restaurant. The sandwiches were simple but tasty, the iced tea was cool and the room was packed, with business people, tourists and even a plain clothes cop! What more could you ask for at lunch? Go if you haven't been and go again if you can't remember just how good it is.
The french dips have to be the best in the world & I have been my places.Overall
everything from soup to sewwts is really really GOOD
By far one of the best things about LA. When I lived in NY I would dream about this sandwich. I get hungry thinking about it now. I saw a bad review and decided that guy went to the wrong place. The best french dip in the world!!
Pros: cheap, delicious
Cons: crowded
I just went back today after reviewing all the complaints on here about the size of the sandwich. Trouble is, everyone's used to "SUPERSIZE ME" meals and the huge portions that restaurants serve nowadays. These sandwiches are normal sized with normal amounts of meat. I had a sandwich, potato salad, shared a piece of pie and was FULL! The food is awesome and the service is excellent. I request that everyone take an objective look at what a normal sandwich size is and the recommended dietary guidelines and find that Philippe's is right in line especially for the cheap price! Go to Jerry's or Canter's if you want to choke on 2 inches of meat and an $11 sandwich! Then check in for triple-bypass surgery.
Pros: Normal size portions, old-school atmosphere
Cons: parking, crowded at peak hours
I can't believe how grossly overrated this place is.
I've been a Los Angeleno since birth and I, for one, have not bought the hype of this place.
Save your money and head over to Pink's, Cronie's or The Hat.
After reading all the reviews about this place and hearing how it's the home of the French Dip...I felt obligated to check this place out. And that was pretty well much all it was worth. Sure there is a ton of nostalgia with the place given its location and rustic look. However, that charm can only last so long. The food is decent and the prices aren't anything to complain about. $5.75 got me a sandwich and a lemonade ( 60 cents for the drink seemed like a bargin but the glass is kiddie sized). The service from the counter lady seemed cold and uninterested to serve me. When I got my sandwich...I was dumbfounded to see (or not see) how little meat there was. So I guess I can say I've been there but probably won't come back.
Pros: ambiance, ample free parking
Cons: frugal servings, uninterested staff
Rub elbows with everyone from local celebrities, office workers, court jurors, and students. Everyone loves Philippe's. You too can stand in a long lunch line, have counter servers glare at you and snarl when you order incorrectly. It's a couple of levels down from the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld, but they still can intimidate the average human. The food is cheap, the sandwiches filling, and you can buy a decent cup of coffee for a reasonable price. Go at least once to say you did.
Pros: Great atmosphere, Lots of choices
Cons: Limited parking
I so love this place. There's nothing like a double dipped lamb. Lamb is the only one they hand cut, which makes all the difference. And double dipping doesn't make it soggy, it makes it delightful. Unlike a lot of French dip spots, they don't give you a tub of juice to dip the sandwich into. They do it themselves, either once or twice on the bread. Go for twice. The pickled eggs are yummy and the coleslaw is good too. Order it dry if you aren't crazy about mayo. Love the atmosphere: sawdust on the floor, train museum on the premises, everyone from cops to jurors to lawyers to random tourists as customers. Get there before noon or after 130pm on weekdays to avoid lunch rush.
Pros: great food, historic place, good deal
Cons: parking tough, long lunch wait, crowded
We decided to try Philippe because it's so well-known. Arriving at a busy time, we waited in line (rather, in the crowd - lines were not well defined) for about forty minutes, all the while looking forward to the food, since so many people in line were raving about it. A lot of them were out-of-towners who claimed to stop at Philippe every time in town.
Food-wise, the sandwiches are rather bland. The pies are pretty decent, as is the coleslaw. It's just another sandwich joint. Eat upstairs to avoid the crowd. Price-wise, it's mediocre. If you can go when there's no or little wait, and you only need a sandwich, then it's good for that.
Pros: laid-back
Cons: parking, wait, service
