Saami Somi Khachapuri & Georgian Cuisine

Finally made it to the Georgian boat place! I swapped my dumpling cravings for a mushroom cheeseboat (plus beef sausage), and it was a flavor explosion. The crust has that perfect Turkish pide-style pull—crispy yet chewy. The cheese is so bold and rich that it honestly stands on its own; I could have skipped the meat and still been in heaven. Is $25 a bit much for a single-serving "boat" with extra beef topping? Probably. But you’re paying for quality and, more importantly, kindness. The staff here are actually smiling and attentive—a stark contrast to the legendary rudeness at places like DiNic’s, Uncle Gus, or Hershel’s. It seems those guys think they’re sandwich-making angels descending from the heavens to do us a favor! I’ll take the "overpriced" boat and a friendly smile over a grumpy "angel" any day. One final note: these 'boats' deserve better than plastic. The bread is so beautifully resilient that a plastic knife simply can't handle it. I mentioned this to the staff and want to reiterate it here: this food needs metal utensils. I understand the logistical headache—more washing and the risk of 'lost' cutlery—but to truly enjoy the texture of that crust, you need a real knife. Let’s be fair to these boats; they’ve earned a proper grip!

We must’ve read all those glowing reviews too, BUT: I completely agree with the reviewer Karina Kim below — this place has nothing in common with real Georgian cuisine except the names! You could call them dumplings, but these are definitely NOT khinkali! The dough is thick and the flavor is all wrong. The khachapuri — wrong dough taste and wrong cheese! Plus the portions are tiny for the price! Way too expensive! On top of that, it’s not even a proper standalone restaurant — it’s just a spot in a food court, and the only seating is at the counter, right in the middle of the crowd. This is adapted to some other cuisine, but absolutely NOT to Georgian!!!

The mushroom dumplings are excellent!! Friendly staff, family quick service for a busy Sunday. Glad I stop to try them.

For about $17, I got a tomato and herbs cheese boat with hot honey sauce. Very delicious! The bread is soft, chewy and nicely toasted. The cheese was very savory and gooey. Hot honey sauce was sweet with a mild kick, but not too strong. I only wish the egg was presented a bit better as it was not as runny and looked like it had fallen to the side. Service was good. Lines weren't too long and servers were calm and professional.

First time trying out mushroom cheese boat, I would say the food taste amazing, I forgot what was the side of container they got me when I tried to taste test my nose started to like how u drink soda the gases like almost feel like idk how to explain it I almost tears up, definitely don’t do that I would say dip it with the mushroom cheese boat overall it was good, was crowded when I came there definitely should try it out of u haven’t!

Stumbling across **Sammi Soma's Ox Tail Soup Dumplings** at Reading Terminal Market was like uncovering a hidden treasure. As my first taste of Georgian-style food, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but the ox tail on the menu immediately caught my eye—it always does. The dumplings themselves were perfect, with a hearty noodle casing that held up beautifully to the savory, tender ox tail stew inside. They were incredibly easy to eat, making each bite effortless yet utterly satisfying. At first, the flavors reminded me of Indian cuisine, with their warmth and depth, but soon the uniqueness of the dish became clear, setting them apart entirely. The sunflower-based sauce they recommended was a delightful surprise. I started by dipping the dumplings, savoring the combination, but it didn’t take long for me to pour the rest of the sauce over. It was the perfect pairing, elevating each bite. The rich, savory flavors of the ox tail stew brought back memories of a favorite place I used to visit just for ox tail—a spot that left a lasting impression and set the bar high for this kind of dish. Sammi Soma's delivered on every front, reviving that love for well-prepared ox tail in an exciting new way. Add to that the warmth of the staff, who were friendly and eager to enhance my experience, and I walked away thrilled. Sammi Soma’s has easily become a new Philly favorite, and I can’t wait for my next visit.

Hear me out… we didn’t even know that we needed cheese boats in our life until we tried this place. These are absolutely AMAZING. They have the texture and chew of a thin brick oven pizza. When you mix the cheese, butter and egg, you can a calzone type of filling, but it’s incredibly flavorful. The only hard part is waiting to eat it until it cools off because it comes out HOT! This experience was nothing short of a life changing experience. It wasn’t our favorite thing at the terminal. Do not miss this!!!

Having had both khachapuri and khinkali in Georgia on multiple occasions, it was nice to try it in the US. Both were excellent. Particular kudos for the way they've crafted the khachapuri, definitely much lighter and almost pizza dough-like in comparison to the original you'll find in Georgia. That's neither right nor wrong, it's just well-adapted to the American market. Delicious. Definitely give it a shot if you've never had Georgian food: it's authentic.