Upon stepping into Reading Terminal Market, my attention was immediately drawn to Saami Somi's hand-rolled oversized soup dumplings. I chose the vegan option, the mushroom dumplings ($9.50 for three). The dumplings were generously filled with seared mushrooms and spinach, infused with the flavors of adjika spice. A helpful recommendation from the staff led me to pair the dumplings with a side of sunflower adjika oil ($1), which added an extra layer of richness to the dish. The adjika sunflower oil, traditionally crafted from red peppers, garlic, oil, and an array of aromatic herbs and spices, harmonized perfectly with the dumplings, elevating their taste to new heights. While the soup dumplings weren't as brothy as one might expect, I appreciated being forewarned about this fact before placing my order. The filling was fresh, but the heavy black pepper topping was overwhelming. What truly distinguished these dumplings was their savory, fresh filling and the delightful thickness of the dumpling skin, which added a satisfying texture to every bite. In addition to Saami Somi culinary offerings, they have a mini-store selling unique products, further adding to the charm of the visit. Also, the service was quick and friendly. Considering the overall experience, I would gladly return to Saami Somi the next time I find myself at Reading Terminal Market. *watch me eat & drink my vegan way through Philaldephia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE6cC8dOv2U&t=384s read more

See all

I got the Shakshuka Khachapuri with the hot honey sauce and it was so delicious! The bread was excellent with a nice outside crisp, but slightly doughy inside to pair well with the cheese, egg, and sauce. It was filling for one person, but I could see splitting one khachapuri and maybe ordering another appetizer to fill up two people. It's located in the back of reading terminal market and has a nice sidebar to sit at if you choose to. I came around 1pm and it was relatively busy, but there was still room to sit and everything was ready in about 10 minutes. I would recommend getting some sort of hot sauce to give the Khachapuri a kick, if you're not into spicy maybe just some sort of condiment to complement the cheese and bread! I will definitely be back to try the soup dumplings! read more

Saami Somi - Shakshuka Khachapuri with hot honey sauce - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I'm such a fan of this place - easily the best iteration of khachapuri I've had. What really makes it stand out is the use of sourdough for the bread base, which lends incredible depth of flavor to the dish. I fell in love with the mushroom khachapuri ($15.50) the first time I went, and loved it even more when one of the employees recommended I try it with the adjika sunflower oil ($1), a slightly spicy, slightly fruity pepper-based sauce. I've also ordered the oxtail khink'ali ($11.50), which I l enjoyed quite a bit, though they aren't "soup dumplings" in the way I, as a Chinese person, think of soup dumplings - the skin is thicker and absorbs a lot of the liquid inside, but the filling is very juicy and the dumpling as a whole is substantive and very tasty. Saami Somi also always has a rotating selection of very tempting pastries which I have not had the chance to try because the khachapuri is so filling. The hurdle that keeps me from going more often is that Saami Somi is not really a place that I can stop for a quick lunch, unless I actually plan ahead and order for pickup - but even that has complications, as the raw egg yolk has to be mixed into the hot cheese within a few minutes of serving. Each order is freshly prepared, so it can take quite a while (the shortest I've ever waited is 10 minutes; the longest I've waited was over 20 minutes). That being said, every time I open the box and smell the freshly baked khachapuri, I forget all about the wait! read more

We were wandering around the market and spotted this place. We ordered the shakshuka cheese boat and devoured the whole thing!! [[HIGHLIGHT]]There were a few bar stool seats.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Staff is nice. Will definitely have to come back next time we're in Philly. read more

Saami Somi - Shakshuka cheese boat - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

This place is a hidden gem. They serve unique dishes inspired by gerogian influences. The service is fast and the food is delicious. I highly recommend the shakshuka . The hot honey Brie also seemed like a crowd favorite. read more

Saami Somi - Shakshuka over fresh baked bread - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This was my first time having food from the country of Georgia and it was awesome! We got a dish that was called a "cheese boat" where they make fresh bread and put melted cheese and some egg inside and then you're suppose to dip the bread into the center. It tastes great! They gave a pickled chili sauce with it too. We also got some dumplings which were great! read more

Saami Somi - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

I haven't had this type of food before and was super excited to try it based on the reviews and pictures I had seen online. I ordered the traditional cheeseboat and classic dumplings. For starters, I think the bread itself wasn't cooked completely because while it was crispy on the outside, it was doughy (like a little translucent and gummy) on the inside. The cheese and egg was good tho especially when combined with the red sauce. Love that garlicky sauce!! As for the dumplings, absolutely recommend skipping. They were not good at all and way too doughy with little to no flavor. I don't know when I'd be back in Philly again, but would love to come back to this restaurant again since the bread was good; it just needed to be baked a bit more. read more

Saami Somi - Traditional cheeseboat - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

I was excited to see a Georgian stand at Reading Terminal Market, but then it made sense because this is seriously Americanized fare that's a pale version of the flavors it's supposed to be. The khachapuri may be good; I didn't try those. But the Borodino black bread is just Western rye bread, the sunflower oil adjika sauce doesn't even taste like sunflower oil, and the mineral water is possibly the blandest, most regular-seltzer-tasting Georgian mineral water you could get. I guess it tracks that the menu calls the adjika "intense traditional hot pepper paste" but you could basically eat it with a spoon like a soup. However: I'm giving it 4 stars because despite not being at all authentic tasting, on its own the food is quite good. The bread is delicious! For regular rye bread. It's excellent regular rye bread. The adjika is very tasty! As a general lightly spiced sauce. The dumplings are also very good--and had most of the actual flavor I was expecting. And the service was very friendly and helpful. It's basically a great place to get some really good food, it's just not really going to be Georgian food. read more

Saami Somi - Mushroom khinkali, adjika, and mineral water. - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I finally got to try kachapuri after hearing about it from Georgian friends. I also got the classic dumplings which were delicious. The spices were so flavorful and interesting, a different kind of dumpling than I've had before. Everything tasted so fresh too. read more

Saami Somi - Classic dumplings - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Not too much to say except their food is delicious. A little pricey, but wonderfully made with good ingredients. People that work there are great too. read more

Saami Somi - Khachapuri - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I finally was able to try this Georgian eatery inside the Reading Terminal. It has a very clean and spacious look, a long counter on the side with barstools if you want to eat there, and on one side they sell Georgian sweets, jams, potteries, etc. The service is warm and welcoming. I ordered mushroom khachapuri (cheeseboat), Pkhali Trio (red beet, spinach, and eggplant individually grinder with walnuts), and Penovani (phyllo dough pastry with plenty of different cheese). I think my favourite was the pkhali trio, if I can just eat that alone I will. It was very refreshing, and I especially like the eggplant. My only qualm is that the size was really tiny and expensive for the quantity. Mushroom khapapuri was delicious with wonderful flavour. I was ambitious and ate about 3/4, but with the bread, cheese (they had plenty), and an egg it got too rich and dense. Penovani was good, but if this was the only thing I ate it would have been okay, but after eating khachapuri it was too much. Overall, a wonderful experience. Just plan what you eat wisely. I ate around 4pm, I was not hungry until the next morning around 10am read more

See all

Absolutely delicious. The classic cheeseboat is SO cheesy and the egg mixes so well. The crispy/soft bread pairs great texturally with the eggy/cheesy filling. It's a great snack to split with one or two other people but I could see this being too much of the same salty/greasy flavor for one person. A must-stop at Reading Terminal! read more

Saami Somi - Classic Cheeseboat - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Great quality food! You order at the counter and then you can wait at the side counter for your food to be called. I got the traditional cheeseboat. When you mix the cheese and egg yolk all together, it becomes like a melty stringy gooey texture. The whole thing basically tastes like a richer cheese pizza. The crust was delicious and crispy and chewy. I would recommend getting one of the other flavors or a sauce/topping to pair with it, as the traditional got boring to eat for one person. read more

Saami Somi - Traditional cheeseboat - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

tl;dr Reading Terminal's new Georgian food stall whips up a can't-miss khachapuri alongside other delightful accompaniments Donna and Mike Kolodesh opened Saami Somi just last week as an homage to their Georgian roots. It's no small feat to stand out among the Reading Terminal Market classics, but that's just what Saami Somi aims to do with its trim menu of khachapuri and supra. Nestled toward the back of the Market, the stall is pleasantly removed from the otherwise suffocating hustle and bustle of RTM's more congested aisles. The airy booth is deep-set into the space, with a marble counter on one side and a small store of shelf-stable provisions and cookware along the other. Twinkle lights and globe bulbs hang from the ductwork, and the light-wood walls are sparingly decorated with Kartuli posters and houseplants. My partner and I arrived for weekday lunch, and Saami Somi boasted a full bar and a solid queue. Before we ordered, an enthusiastic staff member walked us through samples of shotis puri (Georgian sourdough), compote, pkhali, pickles, and sauces -- all of which were available to accompany our meal or fill our pantry. Our appetites sufficiently whetted, we wasted no time ordering the staff member's recommendation: a Traditional Cheeseboat (aka khachapuri). We were quoted a 10-minute wait, during which time we browsed the pantry selection and scoped out bar seats. Soon, we were handed a cardboard tray with our hefty, freshly baked khachapuri, stuffed with ooey-gooey suluguni and imeruli cheeses (likened to mozzarella and feta) and finished with a dollop of butter and a runny egg. We tore off chunks of the bread, and we couldn't help but smile as each marvelous cheese pull was backed up by a tantalizing array of rich and salty flavors. The sun-dried tomatoes were an enjoyable accompaniment, but the adjika (chili paste) was phenomenal -- I could easily envision myself buying a full jar of it to go. At $18 (after tax and tip) for the khachapuri and a side, Saami Somi is no bargain. Nonetheless, after accounting for the samples, this single portion was reasonable to split between the 2 of us. Novel and delicious, this stall is a welcome addition to the Reading Terminal lineup, I have little doubt that I will be craving it again in the near future. read more

Saami Somi - Traditional Cheeseboat - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Inside Reading Terminal Market -- made to order Georgian cheese boats (bread bowls with cheese) plus dumplings and other items. Highlights: - traditional cheese boat: bread is so soft and works perfectly with the cheese/egg mixture -- mix the yoke right away so it blends with the warm cheese. Get the side dipping sauce for a little kick Less enthused: - oxtail dumplings: they are larger sized, comes 3 in a order. Wish it came with a dipping sauce, had a good amount of meat but flavor was a bit lacking -- not something I would order again It's a small spot so not ideal for groups -- there's a counter with standing room or try to snag a table in the main dining area. Def worth checking out for the cheese boats - delicious -- I would go back just for those. read more

Saami Somi - Traditional cheese bread with recommended oil dipping sauce - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Hot Honey Brie Khachapuri is delicious. The combination of melted brie, honey and these toasted walnuts, so good. Best with tzatziki sauce on the side. With added sauces it's not cheap, but worth it. Nice service. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Can be a bit busy, since on the way to the bathroom[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. read more

This is my first in having a cheese boat and my mind exploded! I've always wanted to try Saami Somi but I always ended up coming in late with a full stomach. This time, I traveled with a friend and we were able to share one. We had the Honey Brie without an egg as my friend is allergic to. Let's talk about the bread first, it's crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside. Paired with the cheesy brie, honey and walnut, delightful. I WAS IN HEAVEN. I can totally imagine going with an egg on top, and will definitely come back and try other options. read more

Saami Somi - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

My favorite spot for Georgian food in Center City! I got the mushroom cheeseboat, khinkali (soup dumplings), and pkhali trio which were all fresh and flavorful. The staff was friendly and recommended sauces to pair with my selections. Will be back to try the cheeseboat special next! read more

Saami Somi - Mushroom cheeseboat, khinkali, pkhali trio - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Wow! It looked interesting and we are so glad we stopped. We had the mushroom cheese boat and added a beet horseradish side which was amazing. One of the owners was manning the register and she was so proud of the place she and her brother created and was happy to share her family history and how the place was created It's a MUST STOP at the market !!! read more

Tried the classic dumplings here while on a day trip to Philly had never had Georgian food and wasn't sure what to expect . I really liked the way they seasoned the dumplings and was satisfied with the portions. I believe I paid about 10$ which I think was a fair price . The shop is really cute too with Jams and other thing you could buy as well as cute house wear trinkets. We knew we wanted to try several things while at Reading Market and im glad this was one of them! read more

I had one of the cheese boats. It was one of the most interesting and delicious things I have ever had at Reading terminal market! I did not know about Georgian food or that this particular type of thing existed and it was really amazing! I will absolutely be going back! read more

The cheese boat was so good that we came back the next day to have another one for breakfast! A highlight of our food experience on this trip and had us looking up Georgian food restaurants to try more. read more

Definitely something different! I had one of the cheese bread things with a raw egg on top and some delicious sauce. Very tasty, highly recommend! read more

Unbelievably good food! This was a delightful little surprise for us walking through Reading Terminal Market. They advertise their cheese boats (Khachapuri is the Georgian term for it) and I tried one that was listed among the specials, and had some pesto. It was SO, SO good!! Warm, crispy, melted cheese with amazing flavor, and the bread was so good. They also had free samples of some little snacks, one was a rose jam, which I cannot say enough amazing things about. The people who worked there were very nice, had helpful recs, and were very patient despite the long line! read more

Saami Somi - Khachapuri - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A MUST TRY. We were on vacation in new York and then Philadelphia and tried so many different foods but this one won on quality and taste. Delicious. read more

Saami Somi - The best place I've tried on our vacation. - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I can only speak for the cheese boat and it was incredible! Perfect warm bread, the best mix of crunchy and chewy + salty stringy cheese that wasn't too gooey or slimy + a mild spice from the adjika oil = perfection. I don't know where the garlic comes from but it tied it all together. I ate the whole thing and will be thinking about it all day. Well done! read more

Saami Somi - Clean and bright counter area for eating - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Two stars: One for the very tasty khachapuri, the other for the extraordinarily charming and pleasant young woman behind the counter. Three stars OFF for the flimsy plastic cutlery that MELTS and SNAPS when one attempts to cut the hot-cheese-laden chewy bread. The serrations on the plastic knife are not sharp enough, and the handle of the knife is so weak that it bent when I tried to cut the chewy bread. The hot cheese literally MELTED and BENT the tines of my plastic fork to the extent that one of the tines broke off... and I can't be sure I didn't swallow that small, sharp bit of plastic. Later, the pressure I had to use to hold the fork actually snapped the fork's head from its handle. The stand is clean, modern and cheerily decorated. Thank you. The staffer I met could not have represented your business better. Thank you. The food was great. Thank you. Now, please respect the safety and health of your guests enough to find some better (safer) disposable cutlery. Future guests will thank you. read more

Saami Somi - See the melted/bent plastic fork tines? And see the spot where one tine's tip snapped off? I may have swallowed that sharp point! - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ever since Saami Somi opened, I have been dying to try one of their cheese boats. I finally got a chance to stop by this past weekend. I am a vegetarian and they have a bunch of options but the honey brie cheese boat caught my eye. It took a couple minutes for them to make it, so you know it was freshly baked. I got it to go so it came in a pizza box. You also have the option to add some extra bread and toppings from the counter. I took my box outside and chowed down. The boat also had an egg which I appreciated but I just felt like this was too heavy for me. I guess what should I expect? But I am glad I tried it! The honey and cheese balanced great and the bread boat tasted fresh and delicious. Everyone should try this at least once but it's not something I can see myself getting again. I need to try the dumplings! read more

Saami Somi - honey and brie cheese boat - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My first time trying Georgian food and I enjoyed it! I got the shakshuka bread which was appetizing. It seemed like one of the less heavy ones compared to the other bread options. The dumplings I would skip, since it was just soggy and the flavors didn't stand out too much for me. Glad I tried! read more

Saami Somi - Shakshuka bread - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

We ordered dumplings and cheese boat and both got food poisoning within an hour. Both dishes were served undercooked with raw dough. Do not recommend. read more

So delicious!! I highly recommend getting a cheese boat! We picked the mushroom and loved it! It came out piping hot and even the bread was so warm that pulling of a piece to dip was almost too hot for your fingers. Unfortunately we couldn't wait to dig in! Service was good and there is even a small seating area that is in a less busy part of the market, so lunch can be a bit more relaxing than being right in the busy mix. read more

Saami Somi - Mushroom! - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I headed to reading terminal after I saw the addition of this stall in the market. The experience here made me download Yelp just to write a review of how good this was! I ordered the cheeseboat special for the day which included caramelized pumpkin, garlic, dill, and honey. This was the best thing I have eaten in a really long time! The customer service was excellent, they were helpful and had a great way of educating customers to make them feel comfortable trying Georgian food for the first time. Will be going here again, thank you for such a great meal. read more

Saami Somi - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Wow! This was great! Such a cute shop! The folks there were super nice. I have been reading about Georgian cheesebread and was so excited to get to try it! The cheesebread comes out hot and freshly made and you swirl an egg into it. We got the special which was wild spring ramps with a pesto and it was phenomenal. It's a lot of bread and cheese so ideal to share. I will say it was on the pricier side, but was totally worth it. I am really looking forward to trying some of their other dishes and they have lots of vegetarian friendly options so I am definitely going to come back. read more

Saami Somi - After stirring in the egg - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

I ran into reading terminal today to grab a quick lunch, and I am so glad I stopped at Saami Somi. I got the traditional dumplings. They were phenomenal. The dill flavor made them unique from other soup dumplings I've had before. Great comfort food for a rainy day. I can't wait to go back and try a cheese boat. They samples of the bread and dips were all delicious too; I'll probably need to grab a couple loaves of sourdough for the road next time. read more

Saami Somi - Traditional dumplings - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Super cute Georgian (country, not the state) counter in the Reading Market. Clean, modern and well organized, it's a beautiful little "shop" and takeout place. Friendly service. I wasn't that knowledgeable about Georgian cuisine, but the curated menu provides all the details and makes choosing a breeze. They have 9 counter seats, so you can even eat right there. They make your dish when you order it, so give yourself some time (and be patient, it's worth it!). The food is so darn good, forget about calories and dig in! (And eat a cheese boat with your hands, don't use the knife!). Highly recommended. read more

Had to check this place out after seeing a few food blogs rave about it. I've never had Georgian food before so I don't have anything to compare this to, but I thought the traditional khachapuri was delicious. I got it with the adjika in sunflower oil per the recommendation of the woman at the counter and it did not disappoint. I wouldn't say the adjika was spicy, but it did add a nice, masala-y flavor to the khachapuri. The bread is so fresh and everything combined tastes delicious. It's like the ultimate comfort food. read more

Saami Somi - Traditional Khachapuri - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Must try the Khachapuri (cheese boat). We shared a mushroom khachapuri. It is made to order so bread was hot and fresh. Perfect crust with nice soft doughy inside. Cheese had right amount of garlic and salt. If we didn't eat lunch already right before, would have ordered more. Pair it with a refreshing Georgian soda from their fridge. Also was fun to see some other Georgian products that they sell on their side shelf. read more

Got the traditional cheeseboat and dumplings. The dipping sauce brings it all together. Really great food and service. read more

Saami Somi - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Perfect bite!!! Must try Georgian food in Philadelphia! Fresh ingredients, well made tasteful. Service is exemplary! 10 stars!!! read more

Saami Somi - Breakfast Boat - Georgian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

So once again, I was in Philly with my dad (shout out to Andrew G!) and I recommended this place. Neither of us had had Georgian food before, so we were both excited and a little nervous. They had a poster of the alphabet on the wall and we got there right before the lines. They were quite fast, and the letters on the floor were a sight to see. Then we ate the food. My god, my taste buds seemed like they had just taken the overnight flight to Tbilisi. It was good, and we plan to come back here sometime read more