It's almost hard to believe that only 10 minutes from campus, tucked inside an old train station downtown, is a culinary treasure that can rival any farmer's market in the country and put Penn's food cart collection to shame. Located at 12th and Arch streets, the Reading Terminal Market, the gastronomic gem of Philadelphia, contains over 80 food vendors, produce stands, meat markets and gift shops. Housed on the massive bottom floor of the former main terminal of the Reading Railroad (of Monopoly fame), the market occupies almost 100,000 square feet of space.
But really, it's the food that has brought the crowds to Reading Terminal Market for over a 100 years. Whether it's pad thai, pastrami or pistachio biscotti you're looking for, this place literally has a veritable United Nations of food. Besides the ethnic fare of almost every kind, fresh produce, seafood, meats, poultry, breads, dairy, ice cream, pastries, candies, gourmet spices, exotic teas and coffees, imported cheeses and wines are found in abundance.
Without a doubt, one of the main attractions starring at Reading Terminal are the several Amish vendors that do business here. Making the hour-long trek from their Lancaster County farms every Wednesday through Saturday, the Amish at Reading Terminal are known far and wide for their outstanding down-home cooking and out-of-this world pastries.
If hanging out in an old railroad station isn't cool enough for you, think about all the delicious food you can eat and Amish people you can scare over there. From showing them your cell phones (to which they will inquire, "what is this little phone?") to asking them about where they live ("so wait -- you're telling me you live in Intercourse, Pennsylvania?), both of you will learn so much.
