Street Fare: Where to Find It

From our May 2007 issue: Philadelphia’s menu of iconic street foods is outdated. While we’re talking about cheesesteaks, pretzels and water ice, we’re eating falafel, churros and chapulines (yes, grasshoppers). And it makes sense: The original Philly-defining foods came from the tables of our Italian immigrants and the German-influenced recipes of Lancaster County’s Amish communities. As the face of the city has changed — the Once-Italian Market is now a vibrant combination of Italy, Mexico and Southeast Asia — so have our tastes. No, we’re not ready to renounce hoagies and Tastykakes, but we’re as likely to reach for Venezuelan arepas and wash them down with Asian bubble tea, reimagined in Philly-friendly flavors. Could one of these foods be the city’s next culinary calling card?

AREPAS
Sazon, 941 Spring Garden Street, 215-763-2500; sazonrestaurant.com.
Tierra Colombiana, 4535-37 North 5th Street, 215-324-6086; tierracolombianaphilly.com.

ASIAN CANDIES
H Mart, 1720 Marlton Pike, Cherry Hill, 856-489-4611; 1138 Bristol Oxford Valley Road, Levittown, 215-949-1003; 7320 Old York Road, Elkins Park, 215-782-1801; and 7050 Terminal Square, Upper Darby, 610-734-1001; hmart.com.

BANH MI
O Sandwiches, 1205 South 9th Street, 215-334-6080; osandwiches.com.

BEEF PATTIES
Golden Krust, 125 South 69th Street, Upper Darby, 610-352-5292, and 5600 North Broad Street, 215-224-8225; goldenkrustbakery.com.

BUBBLE TEA
Bubble House, 3404 Sansom Street, 215-243-0804; thebubblehouse.com.

BUREKAS
Café Zohar, 10186 Bustleton Avenue; 215-969-6003.
LaVa Cafe, 2100 South Street, 215-545-1508; lava-cafe.com.

CHAPULINES
Tequila’s, 1602 Locust Street, 215-546-0181; tequilasphilly.com.

CHURROS
Bar Ferdinand, 1030 North 2nd Street, 215-923-1313; barferdinand.com.
Café Apamate, 1620 South Street, 215-790-1620; cafeapamate.com.

CREPES
Pari Café Creperie, Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce Street; 215-222-6500.
The Crepewalk, street vendor on Spruce Street between 36th and 37th.

CUPCAKES
Brown Betty, Liberties Walk, 1030 North 2nd Street, unit 601, 215-629-0999; brownbettydesserts.com.
Grocery, 101-105 South 13th Street; 215-922-5252.

EMPANADAS
Good Dog Bar, 224 South 15th Street, 215-985-9600; gooddogbar.com.
Molcajete Mixto, 746 Christian Street, 215-413-0171; molcajetemixto.com.

FALAFEL
Falafel Expert, street vendor at 40th and Locust streets.
King of Falafel, street vendor at 16th Street and JFK Boulevard.
Mama’s Grill, 630 South Street; 215-922-0300.
Maoz Vegetarian, 248 South Street, 215-625-3500; maozveg.com.

GAUFRES
Bonté, 1315 Walnut Street, 215-732-3223, 922 Walnut Street, 215-238-7407, and 130 South 17th Street, 215-557-8510; bontewaffles.com.

GELATO
Capogiro, 119 South 13th Street, 215-351-0900, and 117 South 20th Street, 215-636-9250. For locations selling Capogiro gelato, see capogirogelato.com.

HOT CHOCOLATE
La Lupe, 1201 South 9th Street; 215-551-9920.
Rim Café, 1172 South 9th Street, 215-465-3515; rimcafe.com.

PANZORATTI
Ikea, 2206 South Columbus Boulevard, 215-551-4532, and 400 Alan Wood Road, Conshohocken, 610-834-1520; ikea.com.
Vincent’s Pizza, 17 West Park Avenue, Merchantville; 856-663-8879.

PÃO DE QUEIJO
Fogo de Chão, 1337 Chestnut Street, 215-636-9700; fogodechao.com.
Picanha Brazilian Grill, 6501 Castor Avenue; 215-743-4647.

POTATO CHIPS
Reading Terminal Market, 12th and Arch streets, 215-922-2317; readingterminalmarket.org.