Philippe The Original
Quick info
About Philippe The Original
Philippe The Original is a sandwich shop in Los Angeles, at 1001 N Alameda St, operating as a historic deli that serves signature French dip sandwiches and other comfort fare in busy communal digs. Its draw is a focused menu built around French dip sandwiches, with a range of mains and a total of 108 items. The signature plate is Beef Dip Sandwiches, while Lemonade is a popular drink side and Spicy Mustard is a popular condiment served with the sandwiches. The format is centered on communal seating, making it a stop for a meal rather than a leisurely sit-down. As both a sandwich shop and a breakfast restaurant, it covers more than one part of the day from the same location.
Good to know
- ReservationsWalk-in only
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Free parking lot · Paid street parking
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible car park · Has wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs available
Menu & Prices
108 dishes · mains $4–60Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention beef french dip sandwich, potato salad, old school vibe and pastrami sandwich.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention beef french dip sandwich, potato salad, old school vibe and pastrami sandwich.
Customer Review Summary
Diners consistently come for the French dip sandwiches, with the beef double dip singled out as the signature order, and many call the pastrami a standout as well. The old school atmosphere draws repeated praise, with reviewers describing a time capsule feel, sawdust on the floor, classic wooden booths, and vintage telephone booths that make the space as much a draw as the food. Sides earn mentions too, with potato salad, pickled bees, and macaroni salad noted favorably by several. On the other hand, a recurring cluster of complaints centers on inconsistent food quality: multiple reviewers describe the beef dip as dry, bland, or nearly cold, and one calls the coleslaw so bad they nearly got sick, though that reviewer notes a manager swapped it for potato salad without issue. Service and seating generally win approval, with table attendants described as quick to clear and the big dining room making seats easy to find even when the line is long. A few suggest going easy on the spicy mustard because it is genuinely hot, and several recommend the free parking directly across from the shop.
Customer Review Summary
Diners consistently come for the French dip sandwiches, with the beef double dip singled out as the signature order, and many call the pastrami a standout as well. The old school atmosphere draws repeated praise, with reviewers describing a time capsule feel, sawdust on the floor, classic wooden booths, and vintage telephone booths that make the space as much a draw as the food. Sides earn mentions too, with potato salad, pickled bees, and macaroni salad noted favorably by several. On the other hand, a recurring cluster of complaints centers on inconsistent food quality: multiple reviewers describe the beef dip as dry, bland, or nearly cold, and one calls the coleslaw so bad they nearly got sick, though that reviewer notes a manager swapped it for potato salad without issue. Service and seating generally win approval, with table attendants described as quick to clear and the big dining room making seats easy to find even when the line is long. A few suggest going easy on the spicy mustard because it is genuinely hot, and several recommend the free parking directly across from the shop.
Featured reviews
- Julio
“Philippe's The Original is an LA staple. I love going here before a Dodger game. There's always a line out the door before a Dodger game. This places a huge. There is a lot of seating. The atmosphere is energetic. There are a lot of Dodgers …”
- Timothy Huey
“Philippe's is more about the mastalgia than the food in my opinion. I'm not saying the food is terrible because it's not. In terms of a roast beef dip, theirs is flavorless. The sides are pretty good. Like the potato and …”
- Blueprint oc
“Got a beef dip with provolone, single dip, pickles, iced tea, and chips. The sandwhich was dry, nearly cold, no seasoning. …”
- Gabri van Cruchten
“I heard I had to visit this on my trip to LA, so I did. I parked the car for free in Chinatown and walked from there to Philippe's. The staff was very welcoming, even to a new and unsure customer like me. I took the beef double-dip with …”
- Ivy Mac
“It's wonderful that they have managed to keep this wonderful establishment going. It feels like a time capsule; servers in 40s uniform, sawdust on the floor, a row of old phone boxes, classic wooden booths, and a fantastic menu from the period. We had the beef and turkey dips and their famous macaroni salad...all delicious.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Historic deli serving up signature French dip sandwiches & other comfort fare in busy communal digs.”
- Has fast service
- Has great beer selection
- Serves great coffee
- Serves great dessert
- Serves local speciality
- Popular for popular for breakfast
Amenities
- Has wheelchair-accessible car park
- Free of charge street parking
- Offers delivery
- Offers takeaway
- Serves dine-in
- Good for kids
Show more amenities
- Serves alcohol
- Casual
- On-site services available
- Serves beer
- Serves coffee
- Serves comfort food
- Dining options· 7
- Serves breakfast
- Serves brunch
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Has counter service
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
- Facilities· 1
- Has toilet
- Crowd· 3
- Good for groups
- Popular with tourists
- Popular with university students
- Planning· 1
- Usually has a wait
- Offerings· 4
- Serves late-night food
- Quick bite
- Serves small plates
- Serves wine
- Popular for· 4
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Good for solo dining
- Parking· 3
- Free parking lot
- Paid street parking
- Plenty of parking
- Highlights· 4
- Has fast service
- Has great beer selection
- Serves great dessert
- Serves local speciality
- Atmosphere· 3
- Cosy
- Historic
- Trendy
- Accessibility· 3
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Family-friendly· 1
- High chairs available
Location
How this listing is sourced
Hours, contact details, and amenities are sourced from publicly available business data and re-checked regularly. Listings are ranked independently — no paid placement.