Had a great breakfast at Down Home Diner. We were sat right away upon arrival. The French toast was delicious and could definitely be split between two people. I was happily surprised to see grits on the menu- ordered them and they were as good as the grits I eat in TThe servers pass around a large basket with pastries. I couldn't resist and had a chocolate croissant! Overall the experience was great and I left full and satisfied. read more

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This diner was a huge disappointment. I was in a rush and it was the only spot within RTM with available seating - that should have spoken volumes to me. My cheesesteak had a hair on the plate and the fries were soggy. I reeeeally dislike leaving one-star reviews but it is what it is - lesson learned. :/ read more

The name is very much the game at the Down Home Diner. We went on a Sunday mid-morning. It was busy but not overflowing, and we got seated pretty well immediately. Service took a hot minute, probably due to the rush, but the waiter was very polite. The ambiance was exactly what you'd expect from a little diner, with a side of Reading Terminal Market concrete and dim lighting. A noteworthy combo. The food, I'm sorry to say, was a little on the subpar side. There was nothing overtly WRONG with it, it just...wasn't great. That being said, everything arrived hot and the price was about right. We had fun with the scrapple, which was an unexpected highlight of the meal. It went really well with the provided applesauce. Possibly their more southern foods are better? read more

My homegirl and I were looking for some Sunday Brunch and stumbled upon this place inside of Reading Terminal. While it may not have been the "best breakfast I've ever had." I enjoyed my food and our waitress was super friendly; moreover, this place definitely isn't as horrible as some of the other reviews would have you believe. I asked for "Whatever Down Home Diner was known for." and our waitress told me it was their biscuits and gravy and the cheesesteak omelet, so I had to order boffum (along with loaded home fries). Everything came out pretty delicious. I really enjoyed the omelet actually, but if I had to give a critique about the food, the biscuit was a little dry and the gravy was a tad thicker than what I prefer personally but still good nonetheless. I would also like to add that my whole experience here was fairly quick. In and out in less than an hour. I'd try them out again if I find myself staying near Reading Terminal again. read more

Down Home Diner - Cheeseteak Omelete with loaded homefries and a biscuit. - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Out of the way of the hustle and bustle, we had a group of seven for breakfast. We passed it up at first glance to see our options. We returned with some trepidation after reading reviews. It was awesome! Our server, Blake was attentive, polite, and kind. The food arrived hot, and as ordered. The biscuit was tasty.coffee hot and plentiful. More than enough for all. If I lived here it would be a solid choice to go to without all the tourists and instagrammers. read more

Friendly service. The only place in Reading Terminal Market that has its own (separate) dining area. They also have counter/bar service. Reasonable diner prices. The menu has diner type food. Everything was cooked well and delicious. The only thing I wish is that they offered vegetarian meat options. read more

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Really liked this spot inside reading terminal! It was a little break away from the lines and the madness. The cheesesteak and fries were perfect for a hangover. My friend got the scrapple burger and fries which he loved. read more

Down Home Diner - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Unfortunately this place is terrible. I ordered the uncle something breakfast which was 2 eggs two pancakes and sausage and added toast for dipping...eggs were over cooked. No dipping could be done. Pancakes were rubbery and sausage was crazy dried out. I was very disappointed. My son's scramble didn't look bad though. read more

Great breakfast! I would give it ten starts if I could. It is inside the Reading Market. Great food and great service. They also have Mimosas :) read more

Down Home Diner - Southern Omelette, I chose toast instead of the biscut - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Fine for an emergency stop. Three egg omelette was small. Service was okay. There is a lot of traffic between the sit down area and the counter area. read more

Down Home Diner - Menu - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I wet for breakfast. I had a pancake, it was from scratch and had a great slight hint of cinnamon. I also had two eggs scrambled, a sausage patty, a biscuit, again from scratch and delicious, and the cherry jam that they make there. The jam was delicious on the biscuit. The service was excellent and how can you go wrong with the terminal market ambiance. read more

Down Home Diner - This in there breakfast menus. - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Hungry and on my way to the Septa Regional line. I decided to grab something in the Reading Terminal and I stumbled across Down Home Diner. Sad and funny but the decision maker? they have their own clean bathroom. My friend said this place is normally crowded today it was not. Decor, simple diner set up so no mystery here. It was clean and organized. The service was smooth, prompt and pleasant. My friend ordered the fried chicken platter with collard greens and potato salad. Is it like down home? I'm sure it's like someone's 'down home' as southern or soul food is not monolithic, it varies from region, families and definition of down home. But I must say this meal could be served at most homes that enjoy 'Down Home' style food. The collard greens were FRESH and TENDER, the potato salad had the right ingredients slightly too sweet for me but definitely acceptable. Most of all the chicken was fried to perfection with the right seasoning. My pancakes were huge and fluffy with eggs 1 large sausage patty and a good cup of coffee. Very good! Two meals one full breakfast and one full dinner with 3 pieces of chicken 2 sides. All for $30.++ tax included. Would I go back? ABSOLUTELY! read more

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The waiter was good, unfortunately the food was not. It's no wonder the place was empty. Another customer was relaying the same experience.

Good home cooking. Counter and dine in options available. Plentiful portions. Pleasant staff. read more

Down Home Diner - Scram Bowl Platter - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Practically inedible. Chewy chicken sandwich on boring bun w ice cold tom and lettuce and no sauce. Also small! Flavorless slaw. I feel like I should have just thrown $20 in the trash. read more

The Philly cheesesteaks were good. Customer service was decent. Plan on eating it elsewhere as trying to fight for seats is crazy.

Love Reading Terminal! Been there so many times and I've never seen Down Home Diner. It's tucked away in the corner of the market. We decided to try out the diner for breakfast. First and foremost, the waiter and other employees were really nice throughout the entire time. Ordered hot chocolate w/ whip cream, that later on, came with some good homemade marshmallows offered by one of the employees. Also, had the "Aunt Linda's Kitchen Sink", which came with scrambled eggs w/ cheese (two eggs any way), "seasoned" home fries, tasty grits, crispy & decent-sized crispy bacon, and a buttermilk pancake that tasted homemade. We were very impressed with how everything came out. I had to give kudos to the chef! I would definitely come back here for breakfast again! read more

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The pancake had a nasty after taste. The eggs were small. Not a good taste experience read more

Down Home Diner - Pancakes - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I love me a good diner, even if it is part of a bigger, bustling complex. I also love me some good meatloaf as well. I will always find a place to get me some, especially when I am on a road trip. When I was in Reading Terminal I followed my nose a bit until I figured out where it was coming from. I know it's a bit hard to consider this a diner being that it resides inside the market, but they attempt to drive home the fact that this is diner food and you are about to have a diner experience. They do actually succeed at making you feel like you are in a diner. The shaped the space to resemble a diner car and there are chrome accents throughout the space. It's also kind of cool to see the neon throughout. There is a counter to sit at if you are lucky to find a counter spot. Service was the only thing I had a gripe about. The servers were less than enthusiastic to be there and it felt like you are inconveniencing them. It took me a while to be seated, to have my order placed, for the food to arrive, and to receive any refill on a drink. I honestly can put all that aside because I wasn't expecting to get a performance from the staff here. I was interested in the food. And that did not disappoint. When I finally did get to put an order in I went with Granny's Meatloaf. This comes with Patty's Potato Salad and collard greens. Granny, Patty, and I are going to have to have a sit down, I'll tell you why. This meal rocked me. The meatloaf was some of the most flavorable I have ever had. It was cooked so well that it kind of fell apart once it hit your mouth. Usually when I get meatloaf I expect gravy or choose gravy to cover it. Not here however, this comes with a red sauce on it. The red sauce kind of pulls it all together. It also gives it a little bit of a kick in the flavor category as well. I made sure that none of this was left on the plate. Don't hate on me when I say this, but I have never had collard greens in my life prior to visiting here. It is just not something I grew up eating, nor available in abundance in my life. Plus I never learned to make it myself. So many reasons that really don't justify my negligence in trying this food. I honestly don't know how to describe them without saying that I have been missing something in my life. But the star, and I know I usually say this, were the potatoes of the dish for me. Patty's Potato Salad was some of the most amazing potato salad I have ever eaten. Patty, you and I are going to have to have a discussion and you are going to have to school me because I learned that sweet potatoes work so well in potato salad. I have been going about this so wrong for so many years. I now know the joy that is the addition of sweetness to a simple potato salad. Pairing all this with sweet tea definitely drives home the down home cooking. read more

Down Home Diner - Granny's Meatloaf with potato salad and collard greens. - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This is typical diner food fare with LARGE pancakes and biscuits. Yesssss! This spot is located inside the Reading Terminal in downtown Philadelphia. Myself and two friends dined in. I started with a mimosa before ordering the Uncle Bobby's Breakfast Bargain with egg whites for an extra dollar, Turkey bacon, and two very large pancakes. The food came out fast and hot. It's typical tasting food that I enjoyed so I wouldn't mind coming back for another meal. TIP: bring extra money to do some shopping. They have places to buy fruit, fresh meats and seafood, cakes, cookies and other desserts as well as other vendors with products for the body. read more

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I visited Philadelphia for an event and had to leave home very early. I arrived at 10 AM and decided to have an early lunch at the Reading Terminal Market. I thought this would be a less busy time between breakfast and lunch. I was very wrong and the place was packed. I had to sit at the counter which is not so comfortable being next to the aisle from the cooking area where the staff passed in and out. The menu tends to the simple and non-gourmet. I had French toast and a glass of apple juice, both of which were satisfactory. The ambiance is somewhat like a traditional diner with formica tables. The male staff wears bib overalls for the "country" feel. The diner has it own seating area unlike most other places in the Market whose patrons must use the general food court seating---completely filled when I was there. read more

Stopped by for breakfast yesterday and had a pretty good experience. Wasn't the best breakfast I ever had, but the food is very filling, great deal and is satisfying. There's booths and tables inside so it's a nice spot if you're trying to get away from the hustle and bustle at reading terminal. Service was great here. Very kind and friendly. Ordered the Barnyard Platter and southern omelette. Biscuits were soft and fluffy, and came with homemade cherry jam. Again, not the best food inside RT and is pretty basic, but the prices are great and you will get a ton of food with it. You can't go wrong with this diner! read more

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Went here for breakfast on my birthday and it was AMAZING ! I had the fish and grits with a homemade biscuit (delicious) they have homemade strawberry jam that comes with. My boyfriend had the Uncle bunk ,2 eggs , 2 pancakes and bacon. Everything was outstanding and the prices are decent considering it's in the Reading Terminal. Our server, Ang said she just started working there and recommended the delicious biscuits. She wasn't lying! Service was great, the food was delicious and the atmosphere was busy and fun! We will definitely be back! read more

Decent breakfast. Nothing particularly special. It was described as using 'salty ham' and their materials talk up local producers but it tasted like just regular run of the mill store ham. I was also a little disappointed it seemed like grated orange cheddar and mostly on top rather than sliced cheese inside so it made it a little greasy. Overall it felt more like scrambled eggs with some ingredients mixed in rather than an omelet. Potatoes were ok. Didn't seem to be anything but potato--no onion, etc but we're well cooked. The biscuit was the most special part--with a wee homemade strawberry jam. I would eat here again. I don't know that I would go out of my way to come here for breakfast but if I was in the neighborhood and hungry I wouldn't avoid it. read more

Down Home Diner - Ham, mushroom and cheese omelet with potatoes. - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Justin was me and my partner's server and he was wonderful. We're new to philly and weren't sure where to go. He gave us wonderful recommendations to check out in Kensington (specifically the "K&A neighborhood"). Pat's and Geno's for the best cheesesteaks in philly. That new Steven Starr restaurant, Borromini. The wal mart on Columbus Ave in South Philly. Bleu Sushi and Fido were reccs as well! Can't wait to check out this amazing city!!!!! Thanks Justin!!!! read more

I have tried this establishment before and was very disappointed but I thought I would give it a second chance. This was a big mistake. I ordered an omelet (over $14) hash browns and toast. The omelet was cold. The hash browns were also cold (they tasted like there were sitting around for hours). Even the toast was ice cold. Only a person who was never at this place would go there. Avoid this tourist trap at all cost. You can find better hot food from one of the local food trucks. read more

I've been to a lot of city's and this has to be the worst breakfast ever. Slow service inside an empty diner. I just paid $9 for 3 eggs & $2 more for stale toast. Not worth $11 should have eaten off a food cart. read more

Down Home is downright great! This was located in the legendary Reading Terminal Market, so there was a certain level of expectation upon ordering here. The whole restaurant has a barnyard look going for it, which already sets it apart from the rest of the options and adds a bit of flair to a rather homogenized area. The food is focused primarily on southern eats, which did not disappoint at all; in fact, it was just the ticket and made me want to square dance to Dolly Parton playing off the jukebox. If hearty food is what you crave, look no further. The bottom line is that this is a fun little diner that does the trick when you might be overwhelmed by the amount of choices surrounding you and want some comfort food. Don't take my word for it; give it a poke and see for yourself! read more

Service was great! Jackson was our waiter and he was terrific! God the low carb breakfast and spicy ham and mushroom omelette plus the scrapple fries - yum! My only complaint is my scrambled eggs weren't done as well as I like them. But that could be a "me" problem. read more

Down Home Diner - two plates of breakfast food - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Went with two friends - no bueno. Crispy Chicken sandwich was like two nuggets on a cold bun that seemed barely cooked with all cold ingredients. I took one bite then stopped. Friends didn't like theirs either but were hungry enough to eat their meals. Would not eat that chicken sandwich even if it was free read more

Down Home Diner - Crispy Chicken Sandwich - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Came here twice and the food is very comforting. Ordered the fish po boy and the scrapple fries during the lunch hour. Also came here before for breakfast and ordered their fried catfish and grits. If you're around the area and want a diner feeling, this is the spot because there's no other diner downtown unless you go to South Philly. read more

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In April, I accompanied my daughter to Philadelphia for her convention. My friend suggested we go to the Reading Terminal to eat. It was crowded, so we settled at the Down Home Diner. We both ordered the fish, which came back somewhat mushy. I had tartar sauce on mine, and she had ketchup on hers. The waitress took the food back and returned with the same fish deep-fried with tartar and ketchup on the same saucer. I asked if they dropped them back in the deep fryer. I was ready to leave. The waitress said she would only charge for the sides. We received a $5.00 reduction of the bill. The collard greens were very good, and I will concede that. read more

Down Home Diner - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This is not the first time that I've been here and it will not be the last time. The waitress (Wendi)was attentive and kind,even though the kitchen staff follow instructions the first time, she made sure to make it right. It was a hearty delicious meal for a fall cold day. I would happily come here again and would recommend it. Wendi, Thank you very much. read more

Down Home Diner - Meatloaf collards fries and coffee - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Love the atmosphere. Our waitress Katie was wonderful. Will come back! Fried pickles were good. read more

Down Home Diner - menu - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I haven't been here in years. Truth be told they were never my favorite diner. But a friend wanted to eat there so I obliged. And I have to say my opinion of them improved a little. I gave the fried chicken a shot. It had a good crisp and really juicy. It came with a biscuit and gravy where the biscuit was nice and soft and the gravy was hearty if not too flavorful. I mean, nothing overwhelmed me. But it was decent enough. And the price was right at under 10 bucks for the plate. So no major complaints here. There are so many other places I'd personally choose in the market over this. But I will no longer turn up my nose at the diner. read more

Down Home Diner - Fried chicken with biscuit and gravy. - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Nice breakfast spot with all the made to order breakfast favorites. Omelets are really good as well as the French toast. Giant portions and friendly service at reasonable prices. read more

Down Home Diner - Ham & Cheese omlet - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Decent prices, fast service - it lives up to the expectation of a greasy spoon diner. Both counter and sit-down service are provided. Located in Reading Terminal market. read more

Down Home Diner - Omelette - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Decided to give this place a try everyone in line was talking about the cheesesteak with homemade wiz.The bread was great the homemade wiz very good unfortunately the meat had no flavor or seasoning. The service very friendly and quick. The prices average.Nothing special here. read more

This review for DH Cheesesteaks only, which seems to be a completely different experience from ordering at the counter or sit-down restaurant. Cheesesteak ordering and grill area is adjacent to the diner. Order taken, very pleasantly, and ordered cooked in front of you very quickly. Had the cheesesteak with onions and provolone. This was my first cheesesteak in Philly and it was fantastic, Piping hot, beautifully melted cheese, on a fresh seeded bun that was built to handle a cheesesteak. Very generous portion, I was tempted to stop half way through (rare for me), but it was so good a had a few more bites. read more

Good Breakfast Spot in the Reading Terminal. They have GF Options too. Pancakes Waffles etc. friendly Service too. Tip: If you are inclined to tip please do it at the counter with the person helping you. The on-line option will more than likely NOT make it to the servers. Update: So I visited DHD again the next day and it might appear the later you go for breakfast might not be a great idea. My grits tasted burnt as if they'd been cooking all morning. The scrambled eggs were over done as well so specify ie. "soft" in the instructions section. read more