Van Pelt Library does allow light food and beverages inside most of the library (with exceptions for rooms with rare books or equipment). Around the library (on the sides facing campus) there are also many benches and some cafe tables available for outdoor eating.
Public Outdoor Seating with tables is also available in the plaza outside the bookstore at the northwest corner of 36th & Walnut (map)
Less Expensive Options
Franklin’s Table Food Court (link) (map) is just across Walnut Street, and they have a variety of food vendors. But you will not find anything here under $10
- Mon-Fri 11am-8pm
- Sat 11am-7pm
- Sun 11am-5pm
Food Trucks – In March of 2023, a team of Penn students mapped the Food Trucks on campus. But be aware that there will be fewer active during the summer than there are during the school year.
Wawa – with locations at 36th & Chestnut (map), 38th & Spruce (map), and 34th & Market (map) they are a good place for a hoagie or simple salad (24 hours)
- summer hours (not yet posted)
Medium Expensive Options
New Deck Tavern (PDF menu)
3408 Sansom Street (map)
Indoor dining with a basement room available for group reservations. They also have covered outdoor dining. Not ADA accessible – not even the outdoor seating.
- Mon Closed
- Tues-Wed 11am-12am
- Thurs-Sat 11am-1am
- Sun 12 noon-11pm
Dig (menu)
140 S 36th St (map)
This is your standard bowl restaurant where you pick from a set of steam tables a base and a protein and some toppings, and it ends up costing a little over $15. Step free access with minimal seating on the first floor interior, more upstairs (with an elevator) and plenty outdoors.
- Mon – Sun 11am — 10pm
Sang Kee Noodle House (website)
3549 Chestnut St (map)
Spacious indoor dining and a small patio for covered outdoor dining (on the sunny side of the street). They also have a karaoke room.
- Mon – Sun 11:30am – 9:30pm
- Sat – Sun Dim Sum 11:30am-3pm
Ochatto (website)
3608 Chestnut St (map)
The low lighting is especially cooling on a hot summer day. There is step free access, but it can be a little tight to navigate. Indoor dining only, but there are a few larger tables in the back.
- Mon – Thu 11:15am-10:00pm
- Fri – Sat 11:15am-11:00pm
- Sun 12:00noon-10:00pm
The Board and Brew (website)
3200 Chestnut St (map)
This cafe has a full menu of food, beverages, and board games. Don’t forget to come back to the Symposium.
- Mon – Fri 7:30am – 11pm
- Sat 9am – 11pm
- Sun 9am – 9pm
Shake Shack University City (website)
3200 Chestnut St (more toward the middle of the block than it looks on the map)
Burgers and fries and custard-style frozen soft serve
- Sun – Wed 10:30am-10pm
- Thurs – Sat 10:30am – 11pm
Five Guys (menu)
3714 Spruce St (map)
Burgers and fries and milkshakes
- Mon – Sun 11am-10pm
Landmark Americana (website)
3333 Market St (map)
Basic food, step free access, indoor and outdoor dining
- Mon – Sun 11am-11pm
Heng Feng Hand Drawn Noodles (website)
3601 Market St #2 (map)
I don’t actually know if there’s seating. I’ve only ordered delivery. They have good soups and dumplings
- Mon – Sat 10:30 am – 8:45 pm
- Sun Closed
Han Dynasty (website)
3711 Market St (map)
Sichuan style restaurant that has indoor and outdoor seating with step free access (but heavy doors)
- Mon – Thurs 11:30am-9:30pm
- Fri – Sat 11:30am-10pm
- Sun 11:30am-9pm
Corner Bakery (website)
3737 Market St (on the northeast corner of the intersection with 38th – map)
Cafe chain with simple sandwiches
- Mon – Fri 7am-4pm
- Sat 8am-2pm
- Sun closed
Honeygrow – (menu)
3731 Walnut St (map)
This is your standard bowl restaurant where you pick from a set of steam tables a base and a protein and some toppings, and it ends up costing a little over $15
- Mon – Sat 10:30am – 11:00pm
- Sun 10:30am – 10:00pm
Poké-Man (facebook)
3737 Chestnut St (map)
I’ve only ordered delivery and don’t know about their seating options.
- Mon – Thurs 11:15am-10:00pm
- Fri – Sat 11:15am-10:45pm
- Sun 12 noon-10:00pm
More Expensive Options
White Dog Cafe (website)
3420 Sansom St (map)
Indoor dining, with a section (and restroom) that is wheelchair accessible. Some summers they have set up tables outdoors, and I do not know if they will do that again.
- Mon – Fri 11am-3pm (lunch menu PDF)
- Sat – Sun 9am-3pm (brunch menu PDF)
Pod (website)
3636 Sansom St (map)
Indoor dining only. Some of it is wheelchair accessible, but you should call ahead. Groups up to 20 can be accommodated in the main dining room, and there’s a private dining room that can seat up to 40. Bathrooms are all gender neutral.
- Mon – Thurs 11:30am-2:30pm (lunch), 5-10pm (dinner)
- Fri 11:30am-2:30pm (lunch), 5-11pm (dinner)
- Sat 5-11pm (dinner)
- Sun 4-9pm (dinner)
Louie Louie (website) (menu)
3611 Walnut St (map)
indoor and outdoor seating available. Step free access and nice large gender neutral restrooms (but with heavy manual doors). It can get loud in the main dining room. They do accept larger group reservations.
- Monday – Friday 11am – 3pm (PDF lunch menu)
- Saturday – Sunday 10am – 3pm (PDF brunch menu)
Lascala’s Fire University City (menu)
3200 Chestnut Street (more toward the middle of the block than it looks on the map)
Indoor and outdoor seating available
- Sun-Thurs 11:30am-9pm
- Fri-Sat 11:30am-10pm
LaTao Hot Pot & BBQ (yelp) (facebook)
3717 Chestnut St (map)
I wasn’t sure what price range to put this one in. It’s pricy, but All You Can Eat, but also on weekends it’s the dinner price all day. There are chairs and tables outside, but you can only have BBQ and hot pot at the special tables inside. There’s ramp access to the door, but then there might just be stairs down to the actual tables (if I remember correctly). But their meat is excellent quality and the variety of things you can cook is above average. Their selection is even good enough for satisfying vegetarian experiences. Reservations recommended (even for lunch).
- Mon – Sat 11:15am – 10:45pm
- Sun 12 noon – 10:45pm