Inside Reading Terminal Market, Dutch Eating Place serves Pennsylvania Dutch breakfast and lunch from a compact diner-style counter. Come hungry: portions are generous, and the menu ranges from pancakes, eggs and scrapple to chicken pot pie and pork with sauerkraut. For something sweet, the apple dumpling pairs a baked apple with flaky pastry and cream. Counter seating keeps the meal casual, and the kitchen turns out orders quickly. It gets busy, so arrive early if you want a seat without a long wait.
A Pennsylvania Dutch counter in Reading Terminal Market
Dutch Eating Place is a counter-service restaurant inside Reading Terminal Market, at 1136 Arch St. Its menu draws on Pennsylvania Dutch home cooking, with breakfast and lunch plates built around familiar diner staples. You can sit at the counter and watch the grill, or order food to take away.
The choices span pancakes, French toast, omelettes and eggs with meat, alongside lunch dishes such as chicken pot pie. Scrapple, a Pennsylvania Dutch specialty made with pork, flour and cornmeal, is one of the breakfast sides. The cooking is hearty, and portions can be large, so sharing a plate is a useful option if you want to leave room for something sweet.
What to order
Blueberry pancakes are a specialty, and apple cinnamon French toast is another breakfast pick. For a more substantial plate, pair eggs with scrapple, bacon or sausage. Home fries are another side; one preparation described on the menu is seasoned with curry powder.
At lunch, look for Pennsylvania Dutch comfort food such as chicken pot pie, pork and sauerkraut, hot roast beef or chicken and waffles. Some dishes are weekly specials, so availability can depend on the day. The chicken pot pie is a gravy-rich dish with chicken and noodle dumplings, rather than a pastry-topped pie.
Save space for the apple dumpling. A baked apple sits inside a buttery, flaky crust, with cream served on top. Shoofly pie is another traditional sweet option, known for its sticky, sweet filling. The menu also includes fresh-squeezed juice, and a pineapple juice blend with apple, sea moss, turmeric and ginger has been noted as a refreshing choice.
Seating, pace and planning your stop
The setup is small, with counter seating around the grill, and the restaurant can fill quickly. Weekend mornings are particularly busy, so an early arrival gives you a better chance of finding a seat. If the counter is full, takeout is an alternative. Orders are cooked to order, and the kitchen is known for moving them along efficiently, though a line can still form.
This is a practical stop if you want a substantial meal while exploring Reading Terminal Market. Plan for a short meal rather than a long, leisurely restaurant visit. The space is casual and suited to solo diners as well as groups willing to share counter seating. Coffee is available, but if you have a strong preference, consider bringing your own.
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Where is Dutch Eating Place?
It is inside Reading Terminal Market at 1136 Arch St, Philadelphia.
What should I order at Dutch Eating Place?
Try blueberry pancakes or apple cinnamon French toast for breakfast, or look for chicken pot pie at lunch. The apple dumpling with flaky pastry and cream is a popular dessert choice.
Does Dutch Eating Place have table seating?
The restaurant has a small counter-seating setup. Takeout is also available.
When is the best time to visit?
Go early, especially on weekends, when the counter can get busy and seating is limited.
