Delilah’s At The Terminal

So sad they have closed down, I wasn’t a huge fan, but it’s sad to see them missing at the Reading Terminal Market! Delilah’s was a well known institution at the oldest farmer’s market in America.

I was here a few months ago and Delilah’s fried chicken was good.
Mac & cheese was okay, but disappointing — I was expecting better.

Had a quick Friday lunch here. Fried chicken breast/​wing with a side of mac and cheese. The fried chicken was a revelation, better than I remember from previous visits here. Insanely appealing, beautifully seasoned and crunchy breading surrounding a huge and super-​juicy chicken breast. So freaking delicious! I picked up the little pieces that fell off into the juices and ate them with gusto!
The mac and cheese was really good, but sadly lacked the crunchy bits I crave.
Still highly recommended!

One of my old favorites. Been going here for close to 15 years now.
The fried chicken is plump and delicious. The breading is not super crunchy– just tasty. The mac n cheese– well… its a revelation. I mean seriously, it was named the best in the country.
The strawberry lemonade is my favorite non-​alcoholic drink in the world.
So there.

We had heard great things about this place. We were told my multiple people to try the mac & cheese there, which turned out to be AMAZING — definitely one of the best I’ve had. Everything there looked amazing. There was one tub full of fried chicken marinating in gravy — looked so heart-​stoppingly good.
5 stars for the mac & cheese.

I will start off by saying this was my first time ever in Reading Terminal so I was completely overwhelmed!
I’m giving this place 2 stars because nothing other than their fried chicken looked appetizing especially their mac and cheese! I don’t how this place got such rave reviews for their mac and cheese, did you guys even taste it? It was bland and dry! My friend got a sandwich with pulled chicken I believe based on the girl behind the counter’s recommendation, I had a bite and it was just OK nothing special. The corn bread I got was OK as well but my fried chicken was delicious! Thankfully they got one thing right. I would give the fried chicken 4 stars because it could of used a tad bit more salt in the seasoning otherwise it was juicy and crispy! The only other thing this place had going was that it wasn’t too expensive I think my total was around 7 bucks so I was happy with that. There are so many other options at the Terminal I doubt I would come back to this place.

Having struck gold at Dutch Eating Place and Bassetts, I started thinking everything in Reading Terminal Market would be amazing. Then I went to Delilah’s.
I perused the menu and settled on a barbecue chicken sandwich.
«We don’t have that,» said the woman behind the counter who looked like I’d just interrupted her prayer for a swift death.
«Oh, uh… what other sandwiches do you have?»
«We can do a fried chicken sandwich.»
«I’ll do that.»
Then this woman’s coworker chucked half a fried chicken in a styrofoam container with two loose slices of white bread. Technically a sandwich, perhaps, aside from the matter of all the bones and connective tissue.
I ate the chicken solo. It was the blandest fried chicken I’ve ever tasted.
I also paid the $ 5 for the (very) small mac and cheese. While it was good, it was not worth five bucks.
Pass Delilah’s and head for the Amish section of the Market. That’s where you should allocate your precious stomach space.

How in the world did this place get so much hype for their mac and cheese? It’s not cheesy (supposed to have 7 cheeses?) and not warm. It is, however, small (2 spoonfuls), expensive ($ 5.40), greasy, and bland. Oh, the macaroni is way overdone, also.
The search for awesome macaroni and cheese continues…

I’d have to agree with those that weren’t that impressed with Delilah’s at the Terminal Market. Say the Throwdown with Bobby Flay and thought, the mac and cheese looks pretty good.
When I had it, it must have been sitting in the serving tray for a while. It was okay at best. It was dry and somewhat flavorful, but nothing like I thought as I saw on TV. I have definitely had much better mac and cheese, even at home.
The other Southern food was okay — but I’ve had much better.
I think this place is really a bunch of hype and was disappointed.

The Mac ‘n’ Cheese Review:
I admit it. I’m a celebrity chef/​food show/​cooking show/​reality cooking show/​food challenge fatso groupie. I wanna go any place they put on TV, just to see for myself.
Kinda wish I’d saved my $ 10 and skipped Delilah’s tho. Yes, that’s right. The mac ‘n’ cheese was TEN — DOLLARS. Granted, Moms and I got a large to split, but still. TEN BONES for a scoop of food with ten cent ingredients. Maybe Delilah fancies herself a super star now. She’d have to at those prices. And, well, I paid it, didn’t I?
The macs were overcooked. The whole dish had the same mushy consistency. There was no crust to be found, and that’s my favorite part of *any* casserole, let alone mac ‘n’ cheese. It was oily. Honestly, Moms makes better. And I’m not just saying that because she was there sampling with me and she’ll read this. She really does. Bobby Flay should come to her house, because she’d take him down.
I lurve mac ‘n’ cheese. You’d really have to eff it up for me not to eat it. So I ate this stuff, but it was *not* even remotely worth $ 10. On any planet. By any stretch of the imagination. Lord knows Oprah’s eaten enough food to have better standards.
[15 Minutes of Fame: «The Oprah Winfrey Show» and «Throwdown with Bobby Flay”]

Atmosphere:
Busy spot in the Reading Terminal Market. Small area to eat on the side of the kitchen.
Food:
Fried chicken — Awesome. Crispy, juicy & tender.
Collard greens — Awesome. Great flavor.
Mac & cheese — Okay. A bit mushy. My other half makes a better one, honestly.
Catfish — Very good. Crispy outside, flaky and moist inside.
Service:
Fast & semi-​friendly.

Delilah’s has got some tasty wings, and their Reading Terminal location serves them up fine.
Last I checked, it was a dollar a wing here (credit cards accepted). Wings are decently scrumptious: Not too greasy, with a delicious punch of flavor, they sport crispy skin, too. Get your soul food to go or sit in their dining area. Their chicken won’t change your life, but you’ll leave happy, and not much poorer. If only Reading Terminal was open for dinner… at least Crown Fried Chicken is around the corner.
I’ll be back for their famous macaroni and cheese.

What is the FUSS over this place about???
Oprah said this was one of the World’s Best Mac ‘N Cheese around. I took note of that and put it to the back of my mind until I kept on hearing Delilah’s Mac ‘N Cheese being talking about (Bobby Flay and etc.) I went to discover what was so great about this little southern food stand in the Reading Terminal Market…
Here’s my take:
If you want overpriced ($ 5 for a tiny cup) Mac ‘N Cheese that claims to have 7 different cheeses in it (i could only taste about 3) then go, but be warned that your food will be lukewarm, pretty bland and underwhelming.
The other fixin’s
Fried Chicken
more like drowned chicken. Improrper temperature controls for the frying oil is what makes and breaks fried chicken. THIS was clear indication of either being re-​fried (to reheat the item) or fried incorrectly… (personally, I think it was both) The flavor was only passable for a location that is supposedly synonymous with SOUTERN FOOD.
*see my review of Homeplace Restaurant in VA for the BEST fried chicken i’ve had.
Fried Whiting
This was one of the better items but probably because the fish was purchased fresh from one of the fresh fish stands…
Collard Greens
NO. it was ham hock laiden and needed a balance with more acidity.
The service was poor (rude and not friendly) and not efficient — the line took forever. The food was NOT hot… and it is overpriced.
Instead of going here, walk further down into the market and go to Tommy DiNics. for their roast pork sandwiches. (you’ll thank me)

I’ve never been a religious person… but I have always worshiped Oprah.
Therefore, when Oprah told me that the Mac & Cheese from Delilah’s is «The Best Mac & Cheese in America»… I stopped whatever I was doing and got my Oprah-​fearing booty down to Delilah’s.
Ugh. What an unholy experience. Southern comfort food is anything but bland, yet Delilah’s Mac & Cheese was the very definition of it– the pasta was mushy and the cheese was dry & clumpy!
Oprah, you have taken me down the wrong path. What is the meaning of this? I feel so lost. Until you answer my prayers and buy me a house, or a new car… I am renouncing my faith.

Southern Fried Chicken… what more can you say? First time I went, I got the dark meat and extra order of the wings ($ 1), can’t beat that… I got the green for my sides.
The chicken was finger licking delicious! By this time, I had already eaten like two other meals, but man, I knew I had to come back… so the next day, I came back and ordered five wings. the green was okay, I had better, but the fried chicken was excellent. If you are in reading terminal in Philly, give this place a try!

THE MAC & CHEESE. CAN I GIVE THAT 5 STARS ALONE?
Had the fried chicken, collard greens, a side of mac & cheese, and cornbread (random, but I had been craving cornbread for months). I should’ve just ordered a platter of mac & cheese since everything else was pretty blahh. Cornbread tasted like cornbread. Collard greens… wish I never ordered it and the fried chicken was way too dry. Funny because the lady working there highly recommended the fried chicken. I say get a side of mac & cheese and explore other food options inside the Reading Terminal Market!

Fried Chicken with Vinegar? Who knew? It’s AMAZING!
Ok, so this review is coming after my 2^nd time at Delilah’s at Reading Terminal. The first time I went, I specifically wanted to have their mac & cheese, and I am sorry to say that it was not what I was expecting or hoping it to be. It was dry and «lumpy»…I think they use egg in the mix because it bakes up like scrambled eggs. There’s a real sharp cheddar taste which is good but takes some getting used to. Everything else I had during my first visit was OK. The fried chicken was the best.
So, my second time eating at Delilah’s, I decided to give the mac and cheese another chance… no luck… still just OK… not really my favorite despite all the hype and rave reviews. I still got fried chicken this time and it was still delicious… until i discovered a bottle of cider vinegar on the table.
FRIED CHICKEN WITH CIDER VINEGAR IS AMAZING!!! I’m from the south and I’ve never eaten it this way before but I will never go back to regular fried chicken with hot sauce or ketchup. I was curious as to what this condiment on each table was and decided to try some on my chicken…*sigh* words can’t describe my surprise when I tasted the chicken. For those who have never eaten chicken with vinegar (and I’m pretty sure it was cider vinegar even though the server girl said was just plain vinegar… it was a light yellow/​tan color), it is not sour. Instead, adding vinegar to the fried chicken makes it sweet and more JUICY. The flavor is so subtle and it really enhances the flavor of the chicken. I compared it to adding hot sauce to your chicken but without all the spice. PLEASE TRY IT.
Also worthy of mentioning is the BBQ chicken… very yummy! I also tried a piece of their fresh fried catfish and some candied yams. The fish was fresh and the batter was good but it was overly moist which makes the fish taste under cooked. Oh, and the yams were TOO SWEET! Other things to mention: Black Eyed Peas — OK, Collard Greens — OK (little bitter but still OK) and Corn Bread — way too dry.
I will probably still go back to Delilah’s if I’m in the Terminal but I will only get the fried chicken or bbq chicken… I’m not a major fan of any of the side dishes.

Okay so my friend and I had been craving fried chicken. We were going to go to Meme for their thursday fried chicken special, but I’m a white girl who likes white meat. Meme is all about serving dark meat.
So off to the terminal we went firstly for the amish festival (fresh hot donuts… mmmmm donuts… sorry to steal your lines homer) and then for the chicken.
They give you a piece of cornbread with its own zipcode. I took mine home and fed the small family living in my closet. No, but I did eat it for lunch the other day.
Then you get to pick a side. We both wanted coleslaw, but they were out which led me on coleslaw craving for three days! I finally made some homemade which was killer!
I had stringbeans which are the good kinda canned tasting with bacon! Which I like as a treat every now and then. Sarah had the mac and cheese which is that casserole kinda mac and cheese. Lacking cheese flavor and crunchies. It was just kinda blah. Hard to believe Delilah went on the food network with that.
The chicken was moist and juicy and just greasy enough. We satisfied our fried chicken craving!
Then we got the hell out of there because we both had memory lapses and went to the terminal on a saturday during the amish festival and I nearly killed a few children.

This can’t be the best mac & cheese in Philly, much less the whole country. Oprah has tricked us all. Mine was overcooked, under-​flavored (surprising, considering her Ah, Ha! Mac & Cheese from Food Network Challenge), and generally boring. I like thick mac & cheese with a bread crust topping, but this was entirely too much. The fried chicken was fine, but nothing amazing. Ms. Tootsie’s serves much better. The strawberry lemonade was tasty. As a Southerner, all the food rated pretty low.
I hope the 30^th St. Station location is better than Reading Terminal Market in terms of service, because the woman who served up my order was painfully slow. The line barely moved and she had no enthusiasm (or even eye contact). Yikes.
I will avoid Delilah’s from now on in my hunt for great mac & cheese.

Places like Geno’s have taught me long ago not to believe the hype that comes with most famous Philly food institutions. But even so after reading through the history, many clippings of appraisal and the praise for it’s mac and cheese I was expecting Delilah’s to deliver. But sadly in a lot of ways it barely earned these three stars.
After paying $ 10 for a decent sized piece of fried chicken, a fairly humungo sized portion of their mac and cheese, and a piece of corn bread I was expecting it’s soul food to send me to food heaven. not even close, and I seriously have to wonder if I was trying the same Mac and Cheese as everyone else was? while I found it to be decent and filling, I didn’t find it to be worthy of the foodgasm most have been giving it, and I’ve definitely had better. The Southern fried chicken on the other hand was pretty damn good even if fried chicken isn’t rocket science.
Based on the fried chicken alone I could probably give them 4 stars, that is if there wasn’t a significant error on their part. The homestyle cornbread that the meal deal touted was M.I.A., but unfortunately the price tag for it wasn’t. And I overheard other tables talking about this oversight. Booooooooooooooooo! hopefully I just caught them on an off day.