Absolutely tasty, fresh and finger licking good!!!! The fried chicken and greens were sooooo good. I live 35 minutes away however, I will make that trip again for the chicken and green!!!! So good!! Marlene read more

Delicious food and taste fresh. Pleasant folks. My Sunny loves it and I tasted some of his Soooouuuul food delicioso!

We always need to get our soul food fix on when in Philly. ATMOSPHERE: Located in the Reading Terminal Market, they've taken over the spot of two other soul food eateries from the past, KeVen Parker's and Delilah's. They have a small 3-table dine-in area but the majority are takeaways. RESERVATIONS: None. PARKING: Street or nearby garages. MENU: Traditional soul food and sides. FOOD: Whiting entrée Two pieces (one fish, halved) of skin-on, mostly boneless tender white meat, breaded in corn meal and deep fried. Being a purist, no sauces were needed as it was perfectly seasoned. For my side I chose black eyed peas which was really tasty; savory and garlicky notes finished in a thick turkey-based gravy. The fish isn't made to order so it wasn't "hot out of the fryer" but was good nonetheless. I also tried their mac & cheese which was mainstream and collard greens which were fresh and tasty. SERVICE: Counter service was friendly and the line moves fairly quickly. TIP: Cash & cards accepted. OVERALL: Fair pricing and good food. read more

See all

Strolling through the terminal Sunday afternoon trying to make a decision. It's never really easy for me but always on the look out for what I haven't had before, my companion suggested Ma Lessie's. Line was long, true, but I am surprised to see all the complaints. It's a very busy food stall and from what I saw there were people in front of me ordering multiple platters. The people behind the counter were always moving, getting those orders out. I think we stood on line about 20 minutes. I however, was undeterred and remained steadfast because a shockingly huge, gleaming, orange glowing pile of fried chicken beckoned to me and I knew I had to have it. Period. Those turkey wings were conspiring in the background though. I had the fried wings with a side of Mac and cheese. And the catfish with potato salad. My wings were pretty huge. Sometimes that is a turn off for me but not today. The fry was perfection. Crispy, crackly, crunchy but definitely needed more seasoning there. It simply lacked salt. The catfish on the other hand was spot on. The mac and cheese was creamy and tasty. I can't fault it and the potato salad was okay. I prefer a bigger dice on the potato and someone put sugar in there where I'd also prefer a vinegary tang. Still, I was cool with this meal. My cousin gave into the turkey wings platter with mac and cheese, greens and yams. Looked good and very generous helping. He gave it the thumbs up. Definitely getting them next time. read more

See all

I love it that there's a soul food place in center city because it sure does make me stop when I smell fried chicken. Service-- The line is always long. With the food being readily prepared, you would think the line would move a little quicker, so it has probably been 6 months to a year before I've made my return recently. In Reading Terminal, it's noisy so it's somewhat difficult to call out what you want over the noise. Food-- The tea is really good and really sweet. They top it off with frozen fruit. The chicken is super greasy. I'm not a fan of the bionic sizes of chicken, but have no choice between huge a leg or huge wing . The collards are good. Sweet potatoes I had were overly sweet (this is coming from someone who has a sweet tooth). I did enjoy the crust on the Mac and cheese, but the taste is not memorable. They weren't bad and I'd definitely give them another try. I've been to the new location in the Fashion District twice in one month, & each time, my thought was undercooked/red/bloody in the middle. Really disappointing. read more

Ma Lessie's Chicken and Waffles - Waffles Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This little chicken shop was located inside of the Reading Terminal Market. I ordered the chicken and waffles with a side of mac'n'cheese and I must say, it was some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. Fresh out of the fryer, the steaming hot, crispy chicken was a delightful culinary experience and I know that next time I land in Philadelphia, this will for sure be a spot I come back to. read more

You owe it to yourself to join the line for some of Ma Lessie's soul food. The catfish is fried and seasoned perfectly! The mac and cheese is really good and the yams are outstanding!!! This definitely a feel good soul food meal ! You gonna try it. read more

See all

Finally made it thru the line here. Didn't on my previous trips but this is worth the wait! I ordered the fried wings and collard greens. Three big crispy chicken wings. Fully seasoned. About the best I've had out in a while. Greens were good amd and seasoned too. I see why people line up here. Next time I'll try the fish. read more

See all

I'm not quite sure what happened between Reading Terminal and "The Gallery" but I tried this the other day and this isn't it. It really felt like soul-food without soul! Two turkey wings (under seasoned) one side, and a bottle of water for $25!!! The price point, the seasoning (both in the turkey wings and the yams), all of it was just off. Really sorry to say that it wasn't worth the money read more

I didn't understand the hype of chicken and waffles till I had Ma Lessie's. For $16 the chicken and waffles till platter came with three pieces of immaculately seasoned and crispy fried chicken two slices of fluffy waffles and a side. Though the vinegar from the hot sauce really tied all the flavors together, it was not at all spicy. The Mac and cheese the cashier suggested was one of the best Mac's I've ever had. Even the next day just microwaving the left overs was delicious. I will have to try the fish and other sides next time. read more

If you're at the Reading Terminal Market and see a long line wrapped around Ma Lessie's, get on it. It's absolutely worth it! It's easily one of the best spots in the entire market. If you're looking for an introduction to soul food, this is the place. The fried chicken is perfectly seasoned and fried to crisp perfection (take a look at my photos if you need proof!), the mac and cheese is comforting, and the candied yams are sweet. Every bite tastes homemade and full of love. I was a little bummed that they were already out of waffles by 3pm (they open at 11am!), but that's just tells you how popular they are. When a place sells out like that, you know it's the real deal. Come hungry, come patient, and don't skip the chicken, mac and cheese and yams - you'll be glad you waited. read more

See all

Second visit: sides (black eyed peas and Mac n cheese) were good. Fried chicken was dry. Service was pleasant and efficient and the line of customers moved fairly quickly. It's a convenient option for soul food if in the Reading Terminal area. read more

See all

I walked around Reading Terminal looking for something to eat, and Ma Lessie's caught my eye. I ordered fried chicken wings with macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and a cornbread muffin. The food was phenomenal. I was in heaven. It was soooo good! The chicken was seasoned really well, the macaroni and cheese was flavorful. The cornbread muffin was sweet. The line to order food was longgg, but it was so worth it to me. I visited on a Saturday morning, Reading Terminal was bustling, not a lot of seating. You have to be patient, but it's worth checking out if you love soul food. read more

Ma Lessie's Chicken and Waffles - Fried chicken wings - Waffles Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Ma Lessie's is alright with me! If you're craving delicious soul food from a Black-owned business, this is the spot. Located inside Reading Terminal Market, it's a must-visit. We stopped by on a weekend, and I'm so glad we did. I had the fried catfish, cabbage, and potato salad -- five stars across the board. My friend had the fried chicken wings, collard greens, and candied yams -- also five stars. The peach molasses tea? Chef's kiss. Everything was cooked to perfection, seasoned just right, and priced reasonably. The collard greens swimming in pot liquor took me straight back to my grandmother's house down South. The chicken and catfish were fried crisp and flavorful, and the yams were sweet and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Pro tip: This is not grab-and-go food. It deserves a proper sit-down! I highly recommend finding a table and chairs first -- you'll want to savor every bite in comfort. My only regret? Not trying the mac and cheese -- but that just gives me the perfect excuse to come back. read more

See all

Found this spot located in Reading Terminal Market. It is located next to the Crepe spot (can't remember the name of it) I saw a few review and thought it was worth a visit. I went around 3pm on Tuesday and it was packed. There is a small seating area at the back of the restaurant. Tip: They do not accept cash app, Apple Pay or google pay The menu consist of the normal soul food items. They offer a one entree and side option. After waiting about 35 mins, it my chance to order. I ordered fried Catfish, there was a 10min wait. I order fried whiting, mac&cheese, yams and two chicken wings. Whiting -3/5 could've used more seasoning Mac & cheese -4/5 pretty good Yams- 3.5/5 I prefer my yams sweeter Chicken wings -4/5 tasty I received my food after waiting another 10mins. The service is good. Overall, the service was good and the food was decent. I would recommend checking it out for yourself. read more

See all

With our second attempt we were able to finally get to try the chicken and collards. I have to say it didn't disappoint. I was thankful that there wasn't a huge line. They have a small seating area where we were able to grab a table and enjoy the chicken. It was delicious. I am sure it is worth waiting in line but when we are only popping in for a very short visits it just hadn't worked out before. Happy it did this time! read more

Ma Lessie's Chicken and Waffles - Waffles Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

After many visits seeing the long lines, I jumped in today when it was a little shorter than normal. The chicken and waffles were most certainly worth any wait. I thought the chicken was really good. Maybe not best in the city but really good. The waffle surprised me. It was perfect. It definitely wasn't an afterthought. And the Mac and cheese was bursting with cheesy flavor. Got the house made sweet tea. Might be a little overly sweet for my taste. But nothing wrong with it. read more

Ma Lessie's Chicken and Waffles - Classic Chicken and Waffles - Waffles Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Yup I came for the chicken lol when I walked up and seen the golden crispy pile of chicken I told my fiancé this is what I came for. Line was long but went quick. It was around 11 so I called this brunch I went with the chicken and waffles and we got two sides collard greens and cabbage. We also got an ice tea and pink lemonade delish right along with the food. It was Saturday morning so yes it was packed inside the terminal but the aroma of all the food was amazing. read more

See all

So today I stopped by the location in Jefferson station ordered 2 platters which contain a meat and one side for 36 dollars. (only went back because my son asked for something). My first experience at this location was actually nice, food was okay but one server was hospitable and I requested to have my platters wrapped so that my 1.5 hr commute would be without an accident. I also offered to pay extra. He asked the owner (woman) in the back and she obliged. Today I attempted and the gentleman said I'll ask the owner came back out and said we don't do that. I stated it was done before but he pointed to the MAN owner. I said thank you but no thank you. it is a shame we cannot support OUR businesses because there is never any consistent customer support or help. I know remember why I wouldn't support their business in Reading Terminal Market. thank you I will go and support businesses who appreciate customers who choose to support read more

Quite a different experience for me. Truly, the only reason why I decided to stop at this restaurant after searching for something to eat was because the line was so long. Usually when the line is long, I retreat but this time I didn't. Something felt unique and special so I decided to try that. Me and my partner went here and tried it after waiting in line for 20 min. The food was certainly worth it, though, the chicken and fish were delicious and golden! The macaroni and cheese was creamy and good, the yams were the best, I don't know about the biscuit cause my partner didn't share but I'm going to assume it's good. The collard greens was quite good also. I was scared to order the tea because I thought it was just gonna be packed with sugar. But honestly, it was truly delicious, it was just easy on the tastebuds and you get an abundance of it. So overall a good experience. I know there's chicken spots like these all over America so I wouldn't go back to this one again unless I was in the area. But still a really good spot. read more

See all

Everything I ordered was the best version of the foods that I've had. The chicken wings had the perfect amount of crisp full with flavor that literally was falling off the bone. The sides were packed with the right amount of flavor. Everyone working was so nice & helpful. Great energy. The line was for sure a bit lengthy compared to other places in reading terminal but once you sit down for your first bite you realize how worth it that wait truly was. I will for sure be back! read more

Ma Lessie's Chicken and Waffles - Chicken wings & breast Mac & Cheese Collard Greens - Waffles Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My friends and I flew into town and decided to visit the market. We really wanted to support a black business so we decided to try this place. At first glance it looked appealing. There were 2 mountains of golden fried chicken with bright lights on them which lured us in. A long line of people waiting, etc. I wish we had kept walking. When we were finally able to approach the register, half of the items we wanted to order, we were told by the female cashier that they "didn't have". Mind you, we were at the start of the lunch hour. How are you suppose to be a Chicken & Waffles restaurant but you don't have any chicken wings??? Make it make sense. Since it was our first time we decided to try the chicken legs and the catfish. We were told it was going to be a 10 min wait on the fish. Several customers were served as we waited. Then I observed one of the cooks changing the oil... In the MIDDLE of a lunch rush. This severely extended our wait even further. When I approached the cashier to inquire about the wait time, I was brushed off and told "its cooking". I'm assuming the cook behind her heard our conversation and felt some kind of way because immediately after I stepped away, he leaned down and whispered something to her under his breath to which she responded with a chuckle. As a business this type of behavior is extremely uncalled for and lacks professionalism. Especially as a black business. If you're nice and welcoming BEFORE you get my money, I expect the same energy and follow thru AFTER you get my money. There were plenty of other restaurants in the market. We didn't have to support you. Show some respect. After waiting for 25 minutes our order was finally ready. The fried chicken, catfish, rice and gravy, collard greens were all unseasoned. No flavor at all. Unfortunately we threw it all in the trash. We were deeply disappointed with the food and customer service at this establishment. read more

The food was excellent! The portions were great, and the baked chicken fell off the bones. The line was long but moved quickly, and the staff was friendly. read more

Went to Reading Terminal a couple of times during a recent trip, and finally on the last day was able to grab Ma Lessie's, and there was already a line before they opened. Lots of sides and options. The chicken was delicious and the sides flavorful, tried the Mac and cheese and the greens. read more

Insanely long line for insanely huge portions. Every time I come to RTM, I skip this place because with all the dining options, WHY stand in line for THIS place?!? Now I know why. Aside from the portions being huge, the flavors are on point. The fried catfish was cooked to perfection, the collard greens were tasty, and the mac & cheese had a little something special that made it stand out. All in all, a good choice at RTM with friendly service. I just wish the line moved faster but I get it, it's a tight spot and space for only so many people AND I wish they weren't so cheap with the condiments. I asked for condiments for that huge platter and they only gave me 3 tiny packets of hot sauce. read more

See all

Food is amazing. Not open on Mondays . Line is always long but you will always be satisfied read more

Ma Lessie's Chicken and Waffles - The food - Waffles Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

I approached thinking that I was gonna get a crispy and juicy chicken but I really did not like the chicken. But I would still rate 3 stars solely on how good their Mac and cheese was. Best Mac and Cheese in reading terminal don't get the chicken just a large Mac read more

This place had a constant wrapped around line. I was there later in the day and they were sold out of a lot of items already. The chicken I had was tender and the Mac was to die for! read more

Ma Lessie's Chicken and Waffles - Fried Chicken and Mac - Waffles Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

If you are not here right at when they open at 1130, you will be waiting in a line. Yes, this is a popular spot indeed. Located inside reading market and is pretty loud and crowded. This review is after we compared to couple other similar restaurants inside the reading market. Fried Chicken: white meat was a little dry, dark meat was not bad, batter and seasoning was tasty Sides: like the yam, collard green was OK, cabbage was better, mac & cheese was everyone's favorite. Jerked turkey wings: was ok. Service was effective. Good value for the amount of food in one order. read more

Ma Lessie's Chicken and Waffles - Waffles Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

It was good, just not special, especially for that line! Best cabbage I've ever had. Chicken was perfectly crunchy, and could have used extra seasoning. Yams were good. Fail on the waffles. I think they're meant to be savory, as they taste like cornbread waffles versus the light flaky pancake batter-kind. There's a small space for indoor dining, but the claustic space is covered by the incessant line. read more

See all

The is place has a really long line so the rating is taking into consideration the wait time too (ie, high expectations) I waited about 45 minutes and ordered the classic chicken and waffles which took another 10 minutes to come. The chicken fry was decent but a little dry. The waffle could have been crispier and would have liked the batter to be a little sweeter. Collared greens were delicious. Full leaf and not overly salty read more

Amazing food! Best fried chicken I've ever had. Yes the line is long but it was worth it! Order a crepe from across the aisle while you wait bc those were good too! read more

Waited over 45 mins only to get skimped Ordered chicken and waffles and asked for breast meat substitution instead of legs and thighs. Mfer gave me one small ass breast piece which i paid extra 2 dollars for. Insane. That plate looked so empty when i opened it So 20 bucks for one piece of chicken some spongey ass eggo waffle and shitty mac and cheese. You can probably source everything they sell at your local supermarket or fried chicken joint. Nothing stellar and it was mid at best. Thanks for rippin me off. Your line system sucks. Orders should be placed at the end of the line and paid for at the register not the other way around read more

Very nice staff! And loved that you are able to see the food. Clear menu and the chicken was to die for! Also loved the yams- not too sweet, as well as the greens ! read more

Ma Lessie's Chicken and Waffles - Chicken leg and wing. Yams. Greens - Waffles Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

I frequently work at the convention center in Philadelphia, right across from the Reading Terminal Market. I've explored nearly every food vendor within the market, but Ma Lessies consistently had lines stretching down the corridor. That level of popularity has to mean something special, yet due to my limited time, I never had the opportunity to wait in line--until yesterday. I can tell you now the hype is entirely real; Ma Lessies is nothing short of exceptional. The chicken is remarkably tender inside, boasting a delicious blend of flavors, and comes with a beautiful, crispy exterior. They fry basically everything--chicken, fish, cod, shrimp, and more--and each dish comes with a choice of one side. I've heard people saying that a single side is not enough, but for me, it was more than plenty. For my lunch, I got the chicken breast combo with their Mac and Cheese. Being a mac and cheese enthusiast, I can tell you that it was soooo good. I couldn't resist adding the cornbread to my order, and it lived up to my expectations--it's homemade, by the way, but be aware that it's an additional cost. Ma Lessies takes pride in crafting everything from scratch and preparing each plate to order, so be prepared for a bit of a wait during busy times. Nevertheless, I've learned a local's trick to avoid the long lines (which worked perfectly for me). The place opens at 11 AM, so arrive about 10 minutes early to secure your spot in line and get your food promptly. Despite not being a fan of an 11 AM lunch, the exceptional flavor of the food makes it entirely worthwhile. I'm eagerly looking forward to trying their Chicken and Waffles, which is, essentially, their signature dish. read more

See all

Zero stars. Waited in line for over an hour for them to tell me they can't sell me any of the chicken they had left. They had tons and just wanted to bring it home for themselves as I saw them pack it up to take home. Absolutely atrocious they need to be put out of business immediately. I was visiting my dad with cancer in the hospital and bringing him some chicken and that's how they chose to waste over an hour of my time. What an unfathomable experience read more

I go there for lunch a lot. I work down the street. Let me say, it just does not get much better than this place. Everything is good. Take your pick. Catfish, whiting, fried chicken. OMG. I like the cabbage the best. it's a great low-carb alternative. If you really want the down home southern food, try the black eyed peas and rice. The Mac and cheese is top notch. They are constantly cooking so if you want really moist fried chicken, get it right as it comes out of the fryer. The line gets long at times but that is to be expected. The people that wait on you are very pleasant and helpful. This place is what makes the Reading Terminal great!!! read more

I've had chicken and waffles at quite a few places but this spot is superior. Even though the line was long it was worth the wait. It moved pretty quickly, the staff seems to have an efficiently system down. I ordered the chicken and waffles plate with baked Mac n cheese. Ooooweeee that was some fire chicken! The crunch, the flavor, the texture was all great. I was worried the chicken would be dry but it was juicy and lovely. The Mac n cheese is some of the best I've ever had. I really want to know what seasoning was used because my taste buds were happy. The strawberry lemonade is very sweet but has a yummy berry flavor and it's pretty large too. They have a seating area next to it which is convenient. If you don't mind the noise of the market and walking traffic you'll appreciate the seating area. I'm so happy I tried this spot during my trip to Philadelphia. read more

See all

The food gets a 5/5, but the service may be a 2.5 or 3/5. The line wasn't that long, but I waited about 20mins before I got to the counter to order. It's a bit frustrating when you've been standing for 5 hours and will need to stand for 5 more. And it's in the terminal market that's right across from the convention center, so I'm sure that gets them a lot of business. By the time I got my food, my friends grabbed theirs throughout the market and were almost done eating. The staff is very friendly, it's just that the process of ordering drinks/making plates needs to be streamlined so that it doesn't take so long. I would definitely revisit during a time when it's not busy. read more

Ma Lessie's Chicken and Waffles - Yams, backed macaroni and cheese, and collard greens with smoked turkey - Waffles Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Being from the South I have eaten a lot of chicken and collards. My presumptuous thought when I saw 30 minute line told me this place must be worth the slow march. So the family and I did the 30 minute Philadelphia chicken mosey to the cashier. On this particular day they must have forgotten to add the herbs and spices to the chicken. Had to be a mistake. The greens were descent but lacked that seasoning and a hint of sweet southern cider spice. The staff were northern friendly and they are blessed. Opinions are opinions, and they all differ. Sorry, but not worth the wait on this day. read more

Ma Lessie's Chicken and Waffles - Thigh and leg platter with collards. Plus added my own Martins BBQ chips. - Waffles Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania