Tommy DiNic’s

We had to try this place while in the area on vacation in May 2016. We had heard so much about this place and even saw it featured on travel channel. Located in the middle of Reading Terminal, this place was a lot of fun. We got the pulled pork sandwich, it came with broccoli rabe and provolone cheese, nothing fancy but the pulled pork was delicious. I highly recommend having it with the cheese. We actually visited this place twice while in the area, because my partner neglected to have cheese on his first sandwich (big mistake, get the cheese). The seating in this place is a little crazy, especially at lunch time. Also, if you do not like crowds or standing in line… you might avoid this place during the peak lunch time rush.

Had their famous roast pork sandwich with broccoli rabe. It was good but not sure if it’s the best sandwich in america. The meat was marinated well and had a lot of flavor to it. The broccoli complemented the meat nicely… but i felt like something was missing. Maybe a sauce or gravy. Keep in mind, i had just ate a whole philly cheesesteak 45 minutes before i came here so my opinion is probably skewed. I was full already, and the few bites I took out of my sandwich were still good, but not «drop dead must have this“good. My brother and I thought the meat was marinated much better than the philly cheesesteak we had earlier at dalessandros.
I came around 145pm on a Thursday. Very short line which was nice. $ 2 for a bottle of water though :(

This review is based on the roast pork, brisket, and Italian-​style pulled pork.
Let’s get one thing straight. This is NOT the place to come for a regular roast pork sandwich. Anyone who isn’t a tourist could tell you that. The roast pork is bland and usually dry (at least the few times I’ve ever opted for it when they ran out of brisket or pulled pork).
I used to think the brisket was the best thing on the menu, but after having it probably ten times in my life, it’s lost its charm. The Italian-​style pulled pork (in a white wine sauce) is the most flavorful item on the menu. It’s everything you want it a pork sandwich.
I’ve seen bad reviews because the «sharp provolone overpowers the meat.» Oh, please, these are the people who think American cheese is good.
The broccoli rabe is better than other places I’ve been too because it is chopped up into smaller pieces instead of long stalks that are tough to eat.
They are always so busy and run out after the lunch rush, so your best bet is to get there promptly at 11am when the brisket and Italian-​style pulled pork come out. Yes, they always run out of half of their menu (brisket, pulled pork, meatballs, maybe sausage but I’m not sure because I never get it) by probably 2pm.

This place has great reviews on Unilocal,so I decided to try it out last time I was at Reading Terminal Market.
I ordered the brisket sandwich with sweet & hot peppers and provolone cheese.
The sandwich is huge, so it’s worth your money if you’re talking in terms of size. However, I felt that the meat in the sandwich wasn’t very flavorful; the peppers couldn’t salvage the meat’s plainness.
I ended up only eating half, because the other half got too soggy and gross before I could start on it. But it’s not like I really wanted to eat the other half anyways. This sandwich is a mess to eat, probably why they give you so many napkins!
I think if they added more to the sandwich like onions or something and some more flavor, it could’ve been better!

Oh, Philadelphia.
Over the course of the whole long weekend there, this was the only time where I questioned your sanity. I mean, really, who puts broccoli on a sandwich? The hot peppers were a great add, but… well, I’m not sure what «broccoli rabe» is, but I know I’m not a big fan.
The roast pork sandwich itself was awesome, I’ll give you that, and was definitely a nice break from all the cheesesteaks we ate…
…but, yeah… broccoli???

Never had a roast pork sandwich before so i cant compare to others.
Compared to other sandwiches its def not the best sandwich ive ever had.
I got the roast pork sandwich with provolone and broccoli rabe.
Pros: 1) roast pork wasnt dry. 2) You can REALLY taste the flavor of the provolone.
Cons: Flavor was just ok.
It seems other reviews say the pulled pork is amazing, if you somehow end up here maybe try that instead.

I’m normally not a fan of sandwiches, but Tommy DiNic’s has a great meatball sandwich (I’m not a roast pork or beef fan… yeah, shoot me). We saw the crowd and line so we decided to give it a shot and split our sandwich.
We were able to find seating and were able to order immediately. The woman who took our order was super friendly and even asked if we wanted the sandwich cut in half. We added provolone cheese and a hot spicy pepper as well. The bread was also perfectly toasted.
Definitely a must-​try when you’re at Reading Terminal Market!

I’ve heard so much about this place, I’ve even seen it on travel channel. Located in the middle of reading terminal, this place is a true gem.
I got the pulled pork sandwich, it came with broccoli rabe and provolone cheese, nothing fancy but the pulled pork really sealed the deal.

Despite its popularity, Tommy DiNic’s has somehow not been high on my radar during my 6 years living in Philly. When I finally stumbled upon it, it was clear that I should try their roast pork sandwich.
A basic roast pork sandwich is $ 9 with just pork and bun, but I chose to add some broccoli rabe for an extra $ 1. The roast pork was definitely good quality — very moist/​tender and lightly flavored. The broccoli rabe definitely went well with it. I thought the amount, texture, and flavors of the filling were perfect — and that no extra sauce or condiments were needed. However, the bread did get soggy rather quickly, which is why I would recommend getting it «for here» and demolishing it ASAP, instead of getting it «to go» and eating one bite at a time like I did.
Also, I was not too crazy about the very large newsprint paper they wrapped it in, which made it hard for me to open the sandwich to eat it on the go. In addition, the paper carried a faint aroma of bleach, some of which got transferred onto my sandwich. The service was pretty neutral — not spectacular, but not particularly bad. I went there after 5pm and did not have to wait in line. Overall, 4-​stars for the pork and broccoli rabe, 3-​stars for the OK service, and 2-​stars for the bread and bleach-​flavored newsprint wrapping paper.

I split the roast beef with peppers and broccoli rabe. I think they get their bread from Sarcones. There was a long line so we waited our turn– I liked the flavor and the meat tasted like it was decent quality. Solid, but a bit soupy– the bread got pretty soggy. You’re not gonna look cute eating this and prepare to get messy hands. I would probably eat here again and recommend to others.

The line was super long for this vendor but it moves really fast.
I had ordered the traditional roast pork with greens sandwich for a hefty $ 8.75+tax and a dollar extra for our green toppings and another dollar for the cheese… so $ 11 for a medicore sandwich. Which was somewhat bland tasting on top of soggy bread. It wasn’t really enjoyable.
I expected much more from a place with 1400 reviews. I was a bit disappointed.

I was just perusing Unilocal, and noticed two things. One, I have never written a review for Dinics before, and two some people who have reviewed Dinics actually gave it less than four or five stars. So, allow me to correct the former, and then address the later.
Tommy Dinics was voted the «Best Sandwich in America». I remember watching this show from the first episode thinking «I hope they visit Dinics, because that’s the best sandwich in the country.» I was so happy when they were highlighted.
Dinics roasts their pork and beef fresh everyday. It is tender, it is packed with flavor, and it melts in your mouth. When you put this meat on a fresh Philly roll, with some sharp prov and broccoli rabe, you create the perfect sandwich. Period. I echo what Will Ferrell shouted out in Elf, «Congratulations! You did it! World’s best cup of coffee!» Or in this case, «World’s best sandwich!»
Now, to those who give Tommy Dinics 3 stars or less…
Please go back to Subway or Panera. It’s not your fault, many people have no idea what good food tastes like. It’s an epidemic, and unfortunately many of you are on Unilocal. You’re right, you will never understand the deliciousness and splendor that is Tommy Dinics. You’ve never had sharp provolone cheese on a sandwich before, you’re more of a pepper jack guy, or white American gal. I get it. But your lack of stars are leading good foodies astray.
Attention foodies– go to Tommy Dinics, and get you a roast pork with sharp prov and broccoli rabe. Go Iggles!

Voted America’s Best Sandwich a few years ago. More of a 3.5 but I rounded up since I was surprised how good it was.
Located inside of Reading Terminal Market. They take credit card.
Crazy long lines here. Be ready to wait a good amount of time. They have very limited counter seating so make sure you have someone hunt for a table if you want to eat it hot. Sandwich comes out really quick, they are made to order.
Roast Pork — $ 9 — Tender juicy pork with broccoli rabe. The hot peppers add a nice heat kick. All my Philly sandwiches have to have provolone cheese. Surprisingly I enjoyed this more then the cheesesteaks I had.
Would not consider it the best in America (Roli Roti and Paseo are a lot better) but it was good. Worth a try if you are at Reading.

I say it’s more of a 3.5, but it was definitely better the second time I had it. I first heard of this place when it was featured on Adam Richman’s show and he claimed it was one of America’s great sandwich. It was good but not really great, it’s a nice sandwich but not particularly exciting. I would have been pretty bored if I finished the whole sandwich.
The food:
Roast Pork– Sharp Provolone, Broccoli Rabe, Hot Peppers. I thought the flavor of the roast pork was nice but I wasn’t crazy about the texture of the meat, the rabe comes off bitter and it kinda tasted plain and boiled, the hot peppers did have a nice kick but I am not normally a fan of vinegar and heat. The sharp provolone was great and it went with the roast pork well.

Sure — Philly might be a cheese steak town, but spend only a few minutes inside the Reading Terminal Market and you’d think Pastrami and Roast Pork were equally as popular. Tommy Dinic’s rules the roast pork roost, and while I enjoyed my sandwich and especially the wonderful service, I’ll admit that I’ve had better sandwiches of late elsewhere in the city and the country.
Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere?
Like I said, while the Reading Terminal Market can at times feel overwhelmingly crowded with shoulder to shoulder lanes of folks seeking out grub, grab a stool at Tommy Dinic’s and you’ll feel like you’re in a much smaller neighborhood diner. My server was fantastic, and I had my sandwich out with all the fixings in absolutely no time. Star Granted.
Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost?
Value? Check. A standard Roast Pork sandwich with a mountain of meat will cost you well under $ 10.00, and it’s only because I got all the fixings that my price point shot up to nearly $ 12.00. Even so, this was a great deal, and you could easily split one of these sandwiches into two meals. Star Granted.
Stars 3 and 4: How was the food?
So here’s where Tommy DiNic’s Roast Pork sandwich fell a bit short. While my sandwich was topped with plenty of thin cut pork, the broccoli rabe overwhelmed the whole sandwich, and even the sharp provolone and gravy couldn’t quite stage a flavor recovery. Next time I’ll ask for no broccoli rabe, but I feel like a more flavorful pork could have established a bit more balance even with the quantity of rabe that was in the mix. Single Star Granted.
Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could?
There are simply too many good pork sandwiches in Philly to say that Tommy Dinic’s warrants your attention over all of the others. No Star Granted.

One of the first places I ate at here in Philly! What better way to start than to eat at Tommy DiNic’s you thought?
I thought it was alright, but definitely not a must have for me but I’m quite biased since I’m not a big fan on these type of breads (I don’t like Banh mi’s either and I’m viet). The meat itself was good, I wouldn’t say super flavorful but very tender.
The pricing is fine, though I wouldn’t come here often or at all. It’s not a must have for me, but my boyfriend would probably eat here again!
The line is probably the longest line @ Reading Terminal so be ready to wait. It moves by fast though!

Forget a philly cheese steak, everyone needs to get the roast pork with sharp provolone and broccoli rabe! Huge sandwich so save half or split it with someone so you can get more tasty food in reading market. Like dessert in Chinatown, or ice cream.
Get counter seating if you are in line wrapped around the area in a huge circle — usually faster to come by your sandwich.

So from the glowing Unilocal reviews, I had to stop at Tommy DiNic’s while I was in Philly.
This place is super convenient to the Greyhound bus stop, which is around the corner.
Located in Reading Terminal, this place isn’t that hard to find. It has its own island in the middle of the terminal.
I came to eat lunch pretty early, around 11am, so there weren’t that many people there and there wasn’t any line. So I sat at the sandwich bar.
Tried the infamous broccoli rabe and roast pork sandwich with provolone cheese. Unfortunately I wasn’t that impressed. While the sandwich was very fresh in its ingredients, it was pretty dry and there wasn’t much flavor to it.
On a positive note, the service was quick (but then again it was slow) and the waiters and waitresses were friendly.

Tommy DiNic’s is a great restaurant located within the Reading Terminal Market. The market itself is pretty decently sized but you will find Tommy DiNic’s right in the middle. I came at around 11:30 on a Sunday and was able to pull up to the bar immediately. By the time I had left, there was a crowd of people looking for a place to sit so I’d recommend coming early. Brunch plans anybody?
FOOD: Get the roast pork + broccoli rabe + sharp provolone. You can get your sandwich au jus if you’d like to make it more wet and juicy. Will say, sans jus, it’s still very good and moist. The portion is huge, but as much as I love eating, I finished the whole sandwich in one sitting. The brocolli rabe has a slight bitterness that’s complimented well with the richness of the roasted park and the slight saltiness of the provolone. Each bite was just as good as the one before!
SERVICE: Attentive, great, and fast!
Definitely a must visit in Philadelphia!

When ever I’m in the heart of Philly or near Reading Terminal Market I come to Dinic’s! There is an unexplained craving that must be fulfilled, even before a cheesesteak run.
The lines get long so get here early during the lunch/​dinner rush. The roast porks are a bit pricey, but sooooo worth it! The line can get moving fairly quickly so don’t despair if your late to the party. The juicy roast-​pork sand which will be yours soon enough.