Down Home Diner, Reading Terminal Market
11 people recommend, 4 warn against itvia r/philadelphia, r/philly17 comments cited below
What people say, in short
Many people recommend Down Home Diner, the Reading Terminal Market stall. For breakfast, one says it is the order to get there, one calls the biscuits and gravy very good, one rates the French toast as top-tier and one says the chipped beef is among the best they have had in years. Not everyone agrees: one diner who once loved it found the biscuits and gravy off on a recent visit, several others call the food average or poor, and one found only the scrapple fries good.
Address
Down Home Diner, Reading Terminal Market, 51 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
At a glance
- Best for
- Breakfast
- Opinions divided
- Yes
Nearby on this map
Other places on this map closest to Down Home Diner, Reading Terminal Market, as the crow flies.
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Recommendsu/yoter88 in r/philadelphia · Oct 2025
Ordered a breakfast special with pancakes, eggs and ham and liked it; would recommend it for a hearty meal.
- Recommendsu/k_rh in r/philadelphia · Mar 2024taste
Thinks the place serves traditional fare and prepares it very well.
- Mixedu/NorthernLitUp in r/philadelphia · Apr 2025taste
Once loved it, but last visit felt underwhelming and the biscuits and gravy seemed off.
- Recommendsu/DameyJames in r/philadelphia · Apr 2025taste
Says the biscuits and gravy are very good.
- Recommendsu/Cobey1 in r/philadelphia · Mar 2024value
Makes breads, pastries and smoked meats in house; affordable for Center City.
- Recommendsu/BurnedWitch88 in r/philadelphia · Apr 2025taste
Says the home fries are the order here.
- Recommendsu/JeffWingrsDumbGayDad in r/philadelphia · Mar 2024taste
Says the chipped beef here is among the best they have had in years.
- Caveatu/Sudden-Yogurt6230 in r/philadelphia · Apr 2025
Visited roughly a month back, found it average at best, and wonders if new management took over.
Show all 17 cited comments
- Caveatu/ykkl in r/philadelphia · Apr 2025taste
First-time visitor found the food awful, including poor chili and mac and cheese.
- Recommendsu/baldude69 in r/philly · Oct 2024ambience
Thinks Down Home Diner in RTM meets the classic diner checklist.
- Recommendsu/noscrubphilsfans in r/philadelphia · Apr 2025consistency
Has eaten there several times and says it is always good.
- Caveatu/shagarag in r/philadelphia · Apr 2025taste
Doesn't see the praise and says they aren't a biscuits-and-gravy fan.
- Recommendsu/lbc0383 in r/philadelphia · Apr 2025
Agrees that breakfast is the order to get there.
- Recommendsu/sonnycirico215 in r/philadelphia · Apr 2025taste
Rates its French toast as top-tier.
- Mixedu/LMW1301 in r/philadelphia · Apr 2025taste
Found the scrapple fries good but the rest underwhelming.
- Recommendsu/I_Miss_My_Beta_Cells in r/philly · Oct 2024ambience
Agrees with the parent that Down Home Diner meets the classic diner criteria.
- Caveatu/snazzypantz in r/philadelphia · Apr 2025taste
Says the food is poor in any setting and not worth a visit when better food is nearby.
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Freshness
Details last checked 13 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.