Philippe the Original

Philippe the Original is a beloved Los Angeles favorite, known for its historical significance, its tasty food, and its welcoming atmosphere. But most of all -- it's known for its iconic French Dip sandwiches, legendary among Angelenos and visitors alike.

There’s running a rivalry with nearby “Cole's French Dip,” who also claims to have created the original French Dip sandwich, but luckily Philippe’s manager and fourth generation family member of the business Andrew Binder says it’s a “friendly rivalry.”

This ionic LA landmark was first established in 1918 and has stood the test of time since then, serving a broad range of visitors of all ages, backgrounds, and tastebuds. Philippe’s is still at the location it was in 1951 (after being forced to move to a new location from its original, to make room for the Santa Ana freeway), within a machine shop in downtown LA.

Philippe’s signature “French Dipped Sandwich” is stuffed with roast beef, roast pork, leg of lamb, turkey or ham served on a lightly textured, freshly baked French roll which is dipped in the natural gravy of the roast to give it its special flavors.

This eatery is also known for its unique and efficient service setup, where a customer is paired with one of the ten onsite, specialized “Carvers” who see through their meal from order to creation.

It’s filled with a lively atmosphere and offers friendly service -- an ideal spot for couples, friends and families to grab a bite to eat in downtown Los Angeles.