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Hershel's East Side Deli

4.4 (971 reviews)
ModerateDelis, Sandwiches, Salad
Closed • 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

Hershel's East Side Deli Delis Restaurant Photos

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HERSHEL'S EAST SIDE DELI ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Loud
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Hershel's East Side Deli

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Hershel's Corned Beef
Makenzie O.

Ate at Redding Terminal Market location, lots of easy indoor seating. This place is NO JOKE, a HUGE sandwich you could easily split (and SO good!). + we liked the classic potato salad. Would easily love to order anything on this menu.

Pastrami Sandwich
Mihir P.

This was my first time having a Pastrami sandwich, and it was amazing. They provided so much meat and it was incredibly juicy. The cheese, slaw and dressing was incredible and went so well with a side of chips and a diet coke. The line moved very fast and they quickly packed everything up. I went on a off day at the Reading Market so the line wasn't too bad, but definitely be prepared to wait if you go on a Fri - Sunday. Otherwise its pretty tough to find somewhere to sit. Highly recommend this spot to anyone going to Reading Market! The ambiance was great as well.

Mike B.

Another visit, this time for a corned beef sandwich and matzo ball soup. As it was lunchtime, I got the combo - half a sandwich and a cup of soup...the perfect amount for lunch. Had to go with a Dr. Brown's Cream soda, just because. Corned beef is freshly sliced, piles high. Not as lean as it could have been, but still moist, tender and flavorful. Slathered with spicy mustard on fresh spongy rye bread.... This is the real deal. Matzo ball is firm, just like grandma used to make. Soup is hearty and piping hot with the requisite carrot, onion and celery. This soup is worthy of a bowl next time. This spot is a really good Jewish deli. Many places to try in Reading Terminal, but this one is a go-to.

sandwich assembly
Danielle G.

if you're at reading terminal market, I would highly recommend getting a pastrami or brisket sandwich here. You can see them making the sandwiches in line through the glass. They've truly perfected the art of making pastrami sandwiches. They get a big beautiful hunk of meat and slice it so carefully, use their hand to place it gently on the sandwich that has either sauerkraut or coleslaw on it and some special sauce they use. The meat was so delicious that we literally ate all the crumbs on the papers. It was so juicy and flavorful that I can still remember it in my head weeks later. Everything is so fresh there, toasted right before you get it. Absolute must try!

Happiness in creation
Chris C.

Don't go here unless you want to have the very best pastrami or corned beef sandwich. Seriously, this place has created a second to non recipe for juicy and flavorful brisket. The everything on (cheese, slaw, and dressing) and then pressed is truly delicious.

The Hershel's Pastrami
Nancy L.

We got the pastrami sandwich and it was solid. A load of pastrami piled high with mustard and pickles. Could have used more mustard and pickles with all that pastrami but now I know to ask for more next time.

Pastrami Rachel.   Good meat, decent bread but way too much dressing it was a wet and sloppy sandwich.
Tim S.

I had enough room in my stomach for one "entree" at the Market, and I decided to try out Hershel's. I'm always down with a pastrami sandwich. I went with the Pastrami Rachel (cole slaw, swiss, Russian dressing). They made it pretty quick, paid the nice lady my money and found a table to eat it at. How was it? Eh...it was ok. Pastrami Rachel- I love this style of sandwich. Whenever I am in LA, I always hit Langer's and their version, the #19 is by far and away the best representation of this sandwich. Often imitated, never duplicated. Same goes for here. I unwrapped the sandwich and noticed that it was just DRIPPING in Russian dressing. Like all over the damn bread, sides etc. I spent more time shoveling it in my mouth to finish it and wiping my hands with napkins, than I did enjoying it. Bread was just ok, pastrami was really good, slaw was ok, but that dressing overload messed it up. Would I come back? Probably, just ask for super light dressing, and then you may have a great sandwich. The one I got was 3 star worthy. Just OK. My Brother did like it more than me. Will there be a next time? We shall see.

Hershel's Pastrami with mustard and cheese on seeded rye
Krystal A.

I was thoroughly influenced by an Instagramer to visit Hershel's on my way through Philadelphia. This was my first time at Reading Terminal, so I was curious about many of the businesses. You can easily get overwhelmed by the numerous options, so was glad to have a few 'must try' spots. I love pastrami sandwiches and heard the one at Hershel's was worth trying. I had the Pastrami Sandwich with mustard and cheese on seeded rye, which was a little over $17. Ordering was easy, and I was served quickly. The staff was friendly and happy to answer my questions. This is one of the pastrami sandwiches I've ever had. The pastrami was tender and flavorful, and paired well with the complimentary pickle. The portion is hefty, so I recommend sharing if you plan to try more than one restaurant. I would definitely return next time I'm in the area.

Pastrami reuben
Christin M.

Our stop at Hershel's Deli in Reading Terminal Market was spur of the moment and done without much thought or research so I was incredibly surprised to stumble upon the best reuben I've ever had in my life. No exaggeration! A pastrami reuben will set you back approximately $20 BUT it's a massive sandwich with a generous amount of tender, juicy and flavorful pastrami. The russian dressing was just enough to add a little something but didn't overpower the other flavors at play. The sauerkraut works really well with the meat and cheese and the grilled rye is not only a hardy vessel but offers it's best efforts to sponge up all the extra juices. Grab extra napkins, it's a messy meal but oh so worthwhile. You can dine at the counter, very casual.

Pastrami
Bing G.

I stopped by Herchel's East Side Deli on a Monday morning just before 11am--only two people ahead of me in line, which felt like a small win given how crowded Reading Terminal can get in the afternoon. I ordered the Pastrami, and cheese (not sure what kind). They press it hot and crisp on the grill, then wrap it up tight with a pickle spear on the side. The sandwich is huge--heavy, warm, and absolutely loaded with pastrami. The pastrami itself is excellent. Thick-cut, smoky, super tender, and piled on generously. It's got that nice peppery crust on the edges and a deep, meaty flavor without being overly salty. The coleslaw adds a bit of crunch and tang, and the melted cheese + Russian dressing pull the whole thing together. Be warned: this is not a dainty sandwich. It soaked through one layer of the wrapper and left my hands a little greasy, but that kind of comes with the territory. You don't eat this with manners--you eat it with napkins. I made it through less than half. Definitely big enough to split or save for later. Staff were friendly and efficient--no fuss, just good energy behind the counter. If you're at Reading Terminal and not sure where to start, this is a good one. The ambiance at Reading Terminal Market is very vibrant.

Hershel's Pastrami Rachel
Miles A.

Well known spot for their sandwiches and they live up to it. This place gets busy quick, so get there early or expect a wait. Had the pastrami Rachel, very tasty. Sandwich was absolutely loaded up, the bread could barely contain it. Pastrami itself was very tender and melted in your mouth. Also comes with a pickle spear. Ordered the potato salad and that was okay, but the sandwich had the spotlight. Great sandwich in RTM, worth a wait.

Herschel's Pastrami on rye with slaw. Delicious and filling ate a half for lunch.
John M.

I've been to all the great pastrami sandwich shops in the country and this one is a top favorite. Less pricey, less hassles, quicker on a weekday I just walked up and got a fantastic sandwich that melted in my mouth and I would go back the next day. I even like it better than Dinic's which is great. Lived in Philly for 5+ years and love coming here every year. That's my Magma Moment.

Singi D.

The pastrami Rachel was interesting on a pastrami sandwich, I really liked the coleslaw twist. Sandwich was huge for $18. Wish they sold half or smaller portion as it was more like 3 meals for me. Highly recommend it if you are near the Reading terminal market. It could get busy and form a line during lunch.

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19 days ago

Called inquiring about catering for shiva platters for a date 8 days in advance. They didn't know what shiva was? SMH

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honeygrow

honeygrow

3.5(65 reviews)
1.7 mi•Templetown, Avenue of the Arts North
•$

Tidy restaurant lots of busy hardworking staff. My chicken kale salad was magnificent. Delicious…read more, fresh and colorful. I was going to an event across the street. Service was excellent. I would definitely eat here again.

This review, unlike others is going to be takes more time than it did for two to finish metals…read more Fitting for the meal from a restaurant whose name consist of the two words I kept saying to each entrée before it was opened, "honey-grow"! Let's start with stirfry. Unless you're desperate and there's absolutely no Chinese restaurant available there is no reason to order stir fry from this chain restaurant, that's mind-boggling how it's been successful between the small portion with mostly noodles and a taste, which I was searching to find, it is definitely one of the three worst stir fry dishes I've had in over 40 years. Aside from the above, one of the problems with both the vegetables utilized in the stir fry as well as the salads, is that for a restaurant chain, that you would assume, focuses on healthy ingredients, as opposed to other fast food chains that mostly all utilize preserves, and the dirty dozen of vegetables, 95% of the ingredients are not organic, and are known vegetables high in pesticides and other carcinogens- simply look at the very resourceful website ewg.org, which will greatly benefit your health, as well as anyone that you care about. If the ingredients utilized by Honeygrow were organic, and did not include anything toxins, and there was an assurance of no preservatives, I could try to substantiate quality over quantity, but, still compromise taste. But, that doesn't apply here. The salad, can include organic spinach, if that's what you choose as your base. For the rest of the ingredients, I will went with safest (aside from carrots) choosing the edamame, snow peas, chickpeas, Mediterranean herbs, along with the grilled chicken. As the order was delivery, I can't comment on the casual ambiance. Honeygrow does have items, very limited, to accommodate people with gluten allergies. Otherwise, if someone were to suggest ordering from Honeygrow again, my answer will simply be, "honey no!"

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sweetgreen - Healthy Salads, Wraps, and Bowls

sweetgreen - Healthy Salads, Wraps, and Bowls

4.0(249 reviews)
0.6 mi•Penn Center, Rittenhouse Square
•$$

Another 5 star review for Sweetgreen! The new Chicken Cauli Plate, a special this season, is a…read morewinner. The carmelized onions are sooo good! The cauliflower is cooked so well... it has a nice bite to it without being a raw crunch. I've also tried all of the other seasonal plates over the summer and early fall. Sweetgreen always adds several new feature items to its array of options each season. We get to experience items like mozzarella balls, heirloom tomatoes, maple glazed brussel sprouts, jammy tomatoes, and more all for a reasonable price. The salads and bowls are all well thought out combinations, but I like to mix it up a little bit by adding my favorites and subtracting other items. The beautiful thing is the total transparency of the price right on the app. As you build your salad or bowl, your final price is updated continuously. The app is great! My favorite meat protein is the roasted chicken. It is done REALLY WELL. Like... they deserve a prize of some kind for the chicken... at least for the Sweetgreen on 18th and Chestnut. I'm not as fond of the salmon or the garlic steak, but your mileage may vary. You might really like them. Every veggie is always super fresh. And service is always with a smile. Whoever is hiring the current crew is doing a great job because the food is always prepared really well and the servers are always really nice. Thank you, Sweetgreen, for your continued excellence!

5/25/25 Ate List: Hot…read moreHoney Chicken - 7.1 I dont do well with the kale, quinoa, bean sprout "stuff." The grainy and grassy are not flavors or components I desire in a meal especially as the star. My fiancée was craving Sweetgreen so I saught out the item that I "could" enjoy most. Hot honey chicken bowl. Remove the sweet potatoes, swap the quinoa for a rice, and give me somethings that would provide different compliment for this bowl and it'd be a rockstar. For now, its fine. It's manageable but not cravable. It's an oddity on a menu that isn't tailored to my taste buds. So for that, its a win - not an amazing one but a serviceable one.

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Saladworks

Saladworks

2.7(3 reviews)
1.8 mi•Templetown

3 or 4 people working in the front and none of them knew how to respect customers. My friend has a…read moreproblem with them too. Ik it's busy but learn how to talk to customers. First of all, I wanna say my order was odd. I didn't ask for a base, I simply just wanted pasta with Buffalo chicken and ranch dressing. It's not that hard to understand. The lady putting my food together looked at me like if I was stupid and didn't know what I ordered. The packaging lady was disrespectful, she asked me in a rude tone "this is all you want?!" I said yes and she gave me a dirty ass look. Like it's not my fault y'all working minimum wage at Saladworks and you don't like your job. Learn how to treat customers with dignity and respect. Saladworks is a big food chain and this just makes the company look bad. Idk if it was the area I was in but the staff gotta go.

I've been to a few different Saladworks locations, and as far as the actual food goes this location…read moreis my favorite. The employees at the Temple location never fail to confuse me though. The difference between the day shift and the later night shift is crazy. The people working during the day are consistently rude to me, give smaller portions, and no matter what I do (and I notice it's with everyone not just me) they always act like they hate us lol. The people working later, I'd say past 6pm, are generally a LOT nicer, give much better portions, and are just super sweet and treat you the way you'd assume you'd be treated. So, food is good, just beware of the employees if you're going for lunch

CAVA

CAVA

3.7(197 reviews)
0.6 mi•Penn Center, Rittenhouse Square

Cava is definitely one of the best fast casual lunch spots in the city. It is like a better,…read morefresher, and Mediterranean version of Chipotle. The food here is absolutely delicious. My go-to order is their grilled chicken with brown rice because their flavors work together perfectly. The chicken was tender and charred nicely without being overly dry. The toppings definitely make this bowl stand out though. The pickled onions help cut through the richness of the feta and hummus perfectly. It definitely is a solid and reliable meal that can be customizable through their build your own bowls with lots of different options for sauces to change up the flavors. I would definitely be back to try their build your own options! During peak lunch rush hours, they can get pretty packed. So I would probably try my luck next time during off-peak hours to avoid the crowds.

Im late to the party however, I'm officially a CAVA convert. Think Mediterranean Chipotle but way…read moremore flavorful. I ordered the chicken and rice bowl packed with super greens, corn, spicy broccoli, cucumber , pickled onions and a side of tzatziki. I also opted for both the feta and hummus. I know this is giving big back energy at this point but just load that bowl right on up lol. Everything is fresh and super delicious. The cucumber mint lime drink and the spicy harissa pita chips are a hit too. Service was super fast and the space is clean and modern. Bowls are on the pricier side but worth it. I can eat this everyday.

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Hershel's East Side Deli - delis - Updated May 2026

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