south philly eats

Circles. Take-out Thai. 1516 Tasker St.

My friends love Circles so much, they wrote a (really cute) song about it. And then they recorded it. I wonder if I could figure out how to post it on here.. Anyway, I finally tried Circles and I have to agree. They make a great tofu pad thai. Be sure to order with no fish sauce and no egg. They know the drill. At $10, it isn't as cheap as you'd expect from a takeout-only corner Thai place, but the portion is generous and filling. Worth it.

Loving Hut. 742 South St.

Loving Hut is the new all-vegan fast food restaurant located right on South St. The most exciting part about this place, for me, is the bubble tea. It can be hard to find vegan bubble tea, as many bubble tea mixes contain "non-dairy creamer" that is not at all dairy-free. I will never understand that. Loving Hut's version involves soy milk, tapioca pearls, and a strawberry syrup. It is sweet, creamy, and delicious.

I can also recommend the Golden Cheesy Bread as a decadent bad-day snack. You will get four small slices of baguette, slathered in a creamy and tangy mayo/cheese/bacon spread and then toasted. It is good, it is unhealthy, and I probably won't want one again once Blackbird Pizzeria opens around the corner.

I must warn you about Loving Hut's desserts. Blended tofu plus sugar does not equal dessert. Oh dear.

Royal Tavern. 937 E. Passyunk Ave.

Tempeh Club Tempeh Club Tempeh Club. Royal tavern is capable of making a very good tempeh club sandwich. The tempeh is marinated, layered with tomato, lettuce, tempeh bacon, and basil aioli. I've probably had this sandwich a dozen times. Unfortunately, the last time I had it, I was not at all impressed. The tempeh tasted like it wasn't marinated at all. The sandwich seemed uneven and hastily assembled. I hope it was an isolated incident, because this sandwich is one of the best deals in town. EIGHT DOLLARS for a huge sandwich and a side of fries with a killer vegan mayo dipping sauce.

Royal also serves a few other vegan sandwiches and salads that I have yet to try. Vegan items are clearly marked on the menu. They also have Vegan Treats desserts.

-beka