Phillippe the Original Restaurant, Los Angeles

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Philippe The Original is the kind of place you expect to find in a small town (in my home Buffalo, NY you would be sure to visit the Anchor Bar for original chicken wings) but not in urbane and stylish LA. And, while it might not be worth fighting the LA rush hour to get there...it is certainly worth a visit if you are in the area.

Established (in a different location) in 1926, Philippe's is the home of the original French Dipped Sandwich. Food is ordered from a deli style counter and made fresh to your taste. The floor is covered with peanut shells and the tall, long tables and pull-up stools provide you with new instant lunch companions. The food is great but it's the atmosphere that you will take home with you.

You can learn more than you will ever hope to know about Philippe The Original at their web site below.

nothing but the name is french!
Simple sandwich without any enjoyment, very disappointing, rubbery bread, canteen atmosphere, no decoration, unpleasant staff even if there were few persons.
I so heard about this "restaurant" that i absolutely wanted to eat there.
it was downright bad, i eventually bought to eat in Mc Do.
My Friend didn't like it either, he had a stomach ache all evening long.
i think it's the worst restaurant of the city.
Otherwise, pleasantly surprised by the food in LA, it's good and really cheap!
I have to say the waitresses are very nicer than in France... =)

As a long time customer of Phillipe. I want to make a suggestion that the restaurant need to change to one line waiting systems .
the line should start a right hand around the water supply.
1. people with a large order,other customer don't have to wait so long.
2. customers don't get in their way when carry food out.
3.customers don;t have stand behind while other customers eating. it's noise and no privacy.

Favorite Dish: none

As a long time customer of Phillipe. I want to make a suggestion that the restaurant need to change to one line waiting systems .
the line should start a right hand around the water supply.
1. people with a large order,other customer don't have to wait so long.
2. customers don't get in their way when carry food out.
3.customers don;t have stand behind while other customers eating. it's noise and no privacy.

Favorite Dish: none

I've been slowly working my way through the list of LA iconic food, 1st I tried In and Out Burger and then a Tommy Burger and on this trip it was time for a French dip from Philippe's. I've still got Musso and Frank's, Pink's hot dogs and Apple Pan on the list...

It's said that the French dip originated here by accident when the owner, a Frenchman named Philippe Mathieu, dropped a French roll into the drippings of a roasting pan. The policeman who ordered it liked it so much he came back the next day and ordered another and a sandwich was born. Philippe opened the restaurant in 1908 and sold it in 1927 but the name stuck.

This is a low cost lunch, parking is free, you order at the counter, ice tea is 55 cents, lemonade is 65 cents. Seating is at communal tables, pull up a chair and eat your lunch.

Favorite Dish: I wish I had eaten my French dip sandwiches in a different order, after trying the $17 prime rib French dip from Houston's a few days before, poor Philippe's didn't have a chance. It was an OK sandwich, priced a bit more reasonably at $5.15 but my particular sandwich didn't have much meat and instead of giving you the au jus to dip it in, they dip it for you. Where's the fun in that? You can get it double dipped, maybe I should have tried that. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here except for perhaps the nostalgia factor. I did find it a little curious that the last "rave review" listed on their website was from 1993, resting on their laurels perhaps?

Ok, as everyone says, this is a diner with sawdust on the floor. Prices are low. Coffee is 9 cents a cup. What I like and it really takes me back is the wine list. They have outstanding wines here. My date and I last week had a glass of silver oak cab 2003 for 14 dollars a glass. If that same glass was at Spago it would be well over 25 dollars. They offer Plumbjack, CakeBread,Duckhorn, Culter-Sonmona and etc... by the glass. Some are offered at 6 dollars. A great price, believe me, I know wine prices. It was fun to be here drinking wine and watching the people.

Favorite Dish: Of course the wine. I like the side of beets with my 3.75 salad that was great.

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The restaurant is located one block from Olvera street. It is said to be where the French Dip Sandwich was invented. There is another restaurant Coles that says they invented it first, so who really knows.
Phillippe 's has been around for over 80 years and is a very popular place to go to. It is so popular infact that if you go during the week day, lunch hour, it will be a long wait. This place is also very popular because the food is very inexpensive. Alittle cheaper than the Pantry. Coffee is .09 cents, lemonade .60 cents, and ice tea .50 cents.
The food here is simple but delicious. The bread is fresh and the sandwiches are made right in front of you. Also try the chili and the tapioca pudding. The place is decorated with old train, dodger and city memorabilia. They are opened here at 6am for breakfast and close about 10:30 pm.

The last restaurant I reviewed was Coles, and they say they are the oldest in LA, but Phillippe's is almost that old...since 1908.

Now, Coles said they invented the French Dip sandwich, but Phillipe's also claims to be the inventor. Phillipe's say that Philippe Mathieu immigrated from France and invented it in his Deli in 1918. I don't know who was first, but they are both good.

When you arrive, you will find long lines leading up to the counter. While in line, check out the various menus, but mainly the big black menu on the side wall. Figure out what you want, although you may change your mind when you get to teh counter and see the pies and salads in the galss casing.

It is not a pretty restaurant, but it is fun!

Favorite Dish: French Dip - They serve lamb here, yum. You can also order all kinds of sides like maccaroni salad, pickled eggs, cole slaw, a wedge of pie, pickles, candies apples, and lots of other stuff. Coffee is $0.09!