Pat's King of Steaks ★ 4.5
Pat's King of Steaks in Philadelphia is the 1930 founder of the cheesesteak at 9th and Passyunk, an 11-dollar sandwich and one of the cheapest big-city food rituals you can do.
Try: Philly cheesesteak
The dishSoft pretzel with mustard
Location
Address: 816 Washington Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147
More budget eats in Philadelphia
Tommy DiNic's ★ 4.7
Tommy DiNic's in Philadelphia is the Reading Terminal Market counter that won America's best sandwich in 2013, a roast pork with rabe and sharp provolone for under 13 dollars.
Try: Roast pork sandwich
Pho 75 ★ 4.5
Pho 75 in Philadelphia is the Washington Avenue Vietnamese counter where a full bowl of beef pho with bean sprouts, basil and lime lands for under 13 dollars.
Try: Beef pho
Banh Mi Cali ★ 4.3
Banh Mi Cali in Philadelphia is the Chinatown banh mi counter at 9th and Arch, a six-dollar Vietnamese baguette sandwich that is the city's best one-bill lunch.
Try: Banh mi
Dim Sum Garden ★ 4.5
Dim Sum Garden in Philadelphia is chef Shizhou Da's Chinatown soup-dumpling room on Race Street, with a basket of xiao long bao for 8 dollars and noodle plates under 12.
Try: Xiao long bao
Kabobeesh ★ 4.4
Kabobeesh in Philadelphia is the University City halal Pakistani-Indian counter on Chestnut, with charcoal kebabs and biryani plates for 12 dollars and a quick service window.
Try: Chicken biryani