Philippe's

What is Philippe's?

Philippe's is a long-running downtown restaurant whose name is tied to one sandwich: the French dip, which the restaurant claims as its own invention. The name is pronounced fi-LEEPS.

It occupies a building on North Alameda Street at the edge of Chinatown, within the city's historic district. Olvera Street is two blocks to the south, and Union Station is a short walk away. Restrooms are on site, and the restaurant is listed as wheelchair accessible.

History of Philippe's

The restaurant has operated continuously since 1908, which gives it a history longer than Route 66 itself. Its first decades were spent at another address; it moved to its present building on North Alameda Street in 1951, while Route 66 was still the main highway into Los Angeles. Over more than a century, its claim to the French dip has become part of the city's food lore.

Visiting Philippe's: tips

Philippe's lies in downtown Los Angeles, so it suits a meal on the day you arrive in the city or before the last miles to Santa Monica. Allow 45 minutes to an hour. Because Union Station is so close, the restaurant is also easy to reach by train for travelers who would rather leave the car at the hotel for the day. Small museums sit close by: the Velveteria is about 0.1 mile away, the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles about 0.2 mile and LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes about 0.3 mile.