Down Home Diner

What a great little place in the Reading Terminal Market! Down Home Diner was hopping and full of energy. Blake was our server and even though she was super busy, she was incredibly attentive. Kudos to her for the great service. The food was awesome and truly felt like a home-cooked breakfast. The cheesesteak omelette was so tasty and the pancakes were excellent. Highly recommend stopping by!

I ate lunch here when visiting the market one day. The service was great. The server was nice and the order was brought quickly. I ordered a cheesesteak with macaroni and cheese. My friend got the same thing but with shoe string fries. The food wasn’t bad, but the cheesecake was not the best. If you want a Philly cheesesteak there are better options in the same market. This one is nice though since they do have a dining room and private bathroom.

Justin was an amazing server! Super friendly, easy to talk to, and had us laughing the whole time. He made our experience at Down Home Diner even better. You can tell he genuinely enjoys what he does and cares about the people. Hopefully you get Justin! (If you’re lucky enough) 😏🤍

Justin was an absolute blast! He was always coming around checking in and seeing if there was anything we needed. Gave us great recommendations for the city. We got breakfast here and it was delicious! Best blueberry pancakes I’ve ever had! Will definitely come back.

Having been to Down Home Diner in Reading Terminal Market, I can confidently say it's a solid choice for a casual meal. The atmosphere is exactly what you'd expect from a classic diner – bustling, friendly, and no-frills. The service was prompt and Justin seemed to genuinely enjoy his work, which always makes for a better experience. The food itself is comfort food at its finest. I went with a classic breakfast dish, and it was well-prepared, generous in portion size, and hit the spot. Everything tasted fresh and homemade.

Down Home Diner was a great spot. I have always passed it but never tried. Well, today I tried it and I was not disappointed. I got the Southwestern Omelet which came with their homemade salsa, potatoes and a biscuit. It was excellent. The only complaint is I should have asked for more salsa because it went perfectly with the Omelet. The price was good, portion sizes good. The waiter was excellent. Overall great experience, I would eat there again!

Who's looking for a nice breakfast place downtown, I decided to try this place in the Reading Terminal. I was greeted as soon as I walked in the door and seated. I ordered fish, cheese grits, some homemade biscuits and a cup of coffee. The food is okay (the grits were awesome nice and creamy, no extra salt or pepper needed. They offer homemade jelly for the biscuits, I was not a fan of the biscuits or the jelly. The fish was fried nicely, the batter had some flavor to it. Down home diner does give you somewhat of that down home feeling. My server was okay, however the person that greeted me was a lot more inviting. It's in a great location and can be gotten to buy SEPTA. Philadelphia public transportation.

FOOD Pretty good, not a 5 star though and barely a 4, would be a 3.5 IMO. According to locals however, not a bad Philly Cheesesteak for the area. I will say, I had a chocolate milk which may have been the best I’ve ever had which tipped me over to leaving the 4 stars…….seriously. SERVICE Kate the server was pleasant, but was obviously overwhelmed. She was serving people that had just sat down before others that had been there quite a while. ATMOSPHERE Crazy busy atmosphere located in the Reading Terminal Market. If you haven’t been there, you should definitely visit.

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!

Came here yesterday on a whim. Food is overrated. Cheesesteak was pathetically small, so greasy that the roll was soggy moments after serving it. The French fries served with it were shoe string fries that you get from McDonald's. My friend ordered a sandwich and never received her order so she left hungry. To make matters worse, the servers gave her an attitude when they got her order wrong and she wouldn't wait another 30 minutes for them to fix it. I watched the cooks in the back prepare food with no gloves. Eww. Not every place inside Reading Terminal Market deserves to be here.

There's a reason why I use Yelp more than Google. Google reviews let me down on this place. I looked at the star rating (4.6) and ran with it. I came here with one of my friends to have some breakfast as we just landed from our red eye from the west coast and checked into our hotel. The place has lots of tables and a counter. The servers here are friendly enough. Mimosas were more juice than bubbly. The food was atrocious. My friend ordered the barnyard platter, and I ordered the sawmill platter. We were both excited about the fresh made biscuits. When????? When were these biscuits fresh made? Last month? Because they were rock hard. The sausage was tough, thank goodness for the overabundance of gravy to actually soften the food. I don't think any other spices besides salt and pepper live in that kitchen. I was so upset I wanted to call the police! But then I saw at least 3 tables of them. I couldn't understand it! How were they enjoying their breakfast there?? My friends bacon was done at different temps, and one slice looked al dente while another slice looked burnt at hell. They only good thing was the fresh made cherry jam. I was then upset just to go into the marketplace and see 15 other places that would have been infinitely better than Down Home Diner. Avoid.

First time visiting Terminal Reading Market. Saw the sign best cheesesteak at Down Home Diner. Unfortunately, the cheesesteak was not the best, not even close. The tiny bit of flavorless room temperature steak came in a small soggy sub roll. Had to add salt. The hot peppers weren't even spicy. It comes with overcooked home fries. You know it's not authentic when it comes in a styrofoam box. The best cheesesteaks I've had came wrapped in butcher paper. Extremely disappointing for a city known for its cheesesteak. Poor value. For authentic cheesesteaks, I would look elsewhere.

I ordered from the cheesesteak place, DH Cheesesteak, that operates in the same space there in the Reading Terminal Market. I ordered the cheesesteak with provolone cheese and it was fantastic! It was everything that I hoped for. Five stars!

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.

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. :/

This place has quick service and has tons of local regulars. I came the first day and sat at the counter. I was impressed with the waitress who knew all the regulars, theirs orders and how friendly everyone was. I got the French toast and it was AMAZING! I came back a second time before heading to the airport and sat in the "dining area". Again, the service was great and my food was served quickly and was great. I highly recommend.

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.

It was the worst experience. No integrity. My son and I have been going to reading terminal as an annual tradition the day before Thanksgiving and have breakfast, we usually have Amish breakfasts but this time we went too late and there was a long line - we decided to go to Down home diner remembering how good it was when it opened. We ordered chipped beef platter and a saw mill breakfast, the waitress was rude, not attentive.. she said there is no gravy and no biscuits - would be ok to have on a white toast, we said ok, when it came out, it was it looked horrible and unappetizing and they forgot the eggs.. over all, the experience was pretty bad and not eatable, I told her it's disappointing , she argued. I gave her 15% tip which I wish I didn't. No wonder it was empty when the other places had lines.. We felt insulted, never go back to that place again.

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.

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.

This was my first visit to the Down Home Diner and there were a few challenges but overall enjoyed my meal. I'm glad I was able to step out and try something new! I got the Sawmill Platter, I was truly craving biscuits & gravy; the dish itself was great! I did struggle with the amount of gravy for the small size portion of biscuit and really tough to chew sausage! I got the eggs on the side (and I'm glad I did). There were eggshells found in the scrambled eggs, and the staff/management were so kind and prompt with getting it handled. The staff and service were remarkable and it did give a classic feel to a relaxing diner! The jukebox directly near the bar/dining area adds an amazing touch! It really contributes to the overall ambiance of the diner. I would like to give this diner another try probably for their lunch/dinner options after 11am! Also to try their Bloody Mary!

This Diner is inside the Reading Terminal Market and they serve your typical American breakfast which includes pancakes, eggs, and a type of meat like sausage. I am giving 2 stars for great service because they were fast in seating us, taking our orders, and delivering our food. They were also friendly. I am giving 1 star for decent food with decent prices. It was our first time eating scrapple which is pork scraps in cornmeal that is found in Pennsylvania and it was good. It tasted kind of like spam. The eggs were fine also. The pancakes were edible but I thought it was undercooked. I really didn't mind that the pancakes were not great but I am docking off 2 stars because they had a sign that said I can get a cookie if I made a google review and so I did it because I would love a free cookie. I wrote my google review about this place meaning this is my opinion. I finished the google review and showed it to the server. I only gave 4/5 stars because I really thought the pancakes were undercooked and not great. The server said I could not get a cookie because I have to give 5/5 stars and she said I can change it so I can get a cookie. I declined because that is my review and opinion about the place. The sign needs to be changed to "get a cookie only if you give 5/5 stars in your google review" Overall, I don't think I'll be back just because the server really wanted me to give 5/5 stars on my google review for a cookie. No, thanks.

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

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!

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 :)

It was great for a place to sit in a very busy market but the food is sub par. Wait staff was pleasant.

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.

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.

Always sit at the counter. Delicious fresh ingredients, fast friendly service. Low prices. Just a great way to start the day!

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.

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.

Worse than your average diner, unfortunately. My boyfriend and I were on the hunt for a cheesesteak in Reading Terminal Market. We went on a Sunday, when a lot of the vendors were closed. We saw it on the menu at Down Home Diner and decided to give it a shot. The cheesesteak wasn't hot when it was served to us. Incredibly lackluster. We also tried the scrapple fries, which tasted good, but were served with a very overpowering side of apple butter. On the bright side, the service was good, but with so many good options for food nearby, going here is a mistake.

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

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.

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.

We had a great first breakfast in Philly at Down Home Diner. The restaurant is located in the historic Reading Terminal, and has a lot of the charm of old school diners. We loved the food and found the staff to be very kind and attentive.

Super delicious french toast with hot syrup on the side. We sat at the bar and the service was very efficient. Our food came within 10 minutes of ordering and everything was fresh. Plenty of seating at the bar and a lot of tables/ booths in the dining area.

The food was good and the service was great!!!! I had the cheesesteak and my daughter had breakfast (which they have all day!!!).

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!

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.

I visited the Reading Terminal and found this spot. Def crowded in the dining area but seemed to move fast. I sat at the bar, and my server was great (Jenny, according to my receipt). Very attentive, the food is official diner food. Good ole sliced cheese in the omelet... on point.

Delicious and great service! In the Reading Marker at lunchtime it's hard to find a place to sit down and enjoy your meal. Here there's table service to accompany your wonderful meal. I enjoyed the salad with lettuce, chicken, beets and cooked sweet potato. My touring companion had his first Philly cheese steak, but ordered it without cheese. Wonderful servers wearing overalls for atmosphere

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.

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!

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.

Mediocre food, but our server was very nice and capable. One disappointment was the chicken pot pie. It was just chicken chowder over slices of bread. The chicken sandwich was a little dry, but the eggs and home fries were tasty.

The Down Home Diner is a fantastic breakfast spot nestled along the side of the Reading Terminal Market. They have a short but interesting menu. Whatever you choose to order will be delicious. They serve farm fresh eggs, yummy pancakes, and organic breakfast meats. Not only that, they make the best biscuits I've found in the northeast part of the country. The biscuits are served with homemade jam! The service is attentive but non-intrusive. The servers seat you, bring you your food, and leave you to enjoy your meal. The place is always super busy, but the wait for a table is never terribly long. The ambiance is basic farm-diner vibe. They have a big neon sign on the wall that says "Save the Farm." I definitely recommend the Down Home Diner to anyone seeking breakfast at the Reading Terminal Market.

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!

I had Philly Cheesesteak but maybe this is not the place to have it. Sat on a counter. The service was pleasant. Typical Reading Terminal market ambiance. A cup of coffee is $3.49.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Amazing good food, spicy ham is yummy and just enough heat!! Angie was amazing server with a smile

Don't even try eating here. I got the food poisoning ended up in hospital. Worst service in town. Just run away from this place.

Happy Friday, Yelpers! I really was in the mood for Breakfast for Lunch today and knew only of Mollys which I've been to a few times in the Reading Terminal Market, or to try the Down Home Diner also in the RTM. Today, my friend and I went to the Down Home Diner. The diner has been in the RTM for what seems like forever, and unfortunately the look of the diner also seems quite run down and uninviting. Booths line the outsides of the space, tables in the middle, and the kitchen is across the corridor for customers to enter and exit the RTM. There's also some counter seating on that side. We were seated quickly after the staff checked the bent silverware for spots, and gave us the paper menus which I posted. When our orders were taken, we were told only one side of the menu was available. DHD has all your breakfast favorites like pancakes, eggs, bacon, and some nice lunch selections like cheesesteak and fried chicken sandwich. Lots of sides and desserts are available. I went with the scramble bowl which has two eggs, sausage, peppers, melted cheddar, onion, and what they say is hash browned potatoes, but were really potato pieces. I really enjoyed it. Quite filling. I asked for the potatoes to be well done, and they were not. The biscuit was excellent! My friend had the crispy chicken sandwich and subbed her regular fries for the bacon ranch fries which were listed as a separate choice on the menu. They were the shoestring fries with an ok amount of bacon and their homemade ranch dressing. She said it tasted pretty good but definitely not worth the upcharge of a few dollars for the amount received. Additionally, the fried chicken sandwich was also just ok and seemed like two chicken fingers put on a roll. She said it was quite dry. They also gave her some lettuce and tomato on the side. Service was friendly but not too outgoing. Very soft spoken and almost couldn't understand her in the somewhat loud restaurant. $31 not including tip for two entrees with an upgrade to the side of fries, and two homemade unsweetened iced teas. $3 each for them but unlimited refills. Not too sure I'd come back, but I'd recommend a total renovation for the dining room to make it more dynamic and exciting.

10 out of 10- highly recommend. It's inside the Reading Terminal Market but opens at 7 so it's perfect for early mornings before work. Their bread and jams are made from scratch and don't get me started on the fish and grits. The price point is also amazing.