Latimer Delicatessen

LOVE LOVE LOVE this place!
First of all, they know me by name which is a huge plus because they value their customers. They always have the best beer selection, and when I need a late night emergency run (like this past weekend), they are open until 1:50!
They have the essentials… and ice cream which is great for midnight snacking. They also have a deli in the back for sandwiches.
The only downside is that they don’t serve breakfast sandwiches past a certain point… which really kills my vibe when I need something on the weekend.
Latimer is great! Definitely stop in if you need a late night item!

Ordered food here via
and they sent the wrong dish — after which they refused to send the correct dish. It’s convenient and cheap but always call and call again to make sure they actually make the right food.

Latimer Deli is a small convenient store located on 15^th and locust. It’s and interesting place because it is a mix of a deli and take out Chinese food. They also have beers here to go as well. There’s a small dining area in the back and the lunch special prices are pretty cheap. The items in the store are a little more expensive. I got the sesame chicken lunch special and it was pretty good, better than what I expected to be. This is a decent little shop to grab something if you’re looking for a quick lunch.

Caveat: this rating is for breakfast food only.
From the outside one would not expect this bodega to have a kitchen that routinely (over the last 3 years) serves quality, delicious breakfast. Tucked beyond the multiple chip varieties and cases of beer is a small kitchen that serves up an egg and cheese sandwich that, within a 5 block radius, is second only to the cart on 15^th and Walnut (the second cart south of Walnut). The western omelette with sharp cheddar, though I’ve only had it once, was fluffy and light with refreshingly crisp vegetables.
4.5 stars would have been given for breakfast if Unilocal allowed halfsies and if Latimer served it past 11am on the weekends.

good beer selection but there are no prices on them and I get to the register to find out a run if the mill local beer is $ 15 for a FOUR pack

I tried this deli for lunch today based on a co– worker’s recommendation. I ordered the Kung Pao Happy Hour special, which was essentially the lunch special. It was the worst take out I’ve ever had. It was not edible. The chicken was so hard, — it could have been last week’s Kung Pao heated up. The dish was dry, the peanuts were stale. I got about ¼ through since I was so hungry and ended up just throwing it away.
Maybe I just ordered the wrong dish. THey had quite an extensive list which seems odd for a small deli that they can make that many dishes. I don’t think I’ll be going back.

Good beer selection, yet annoying that there are no prices on them. You can pick up a pricey one or a cheap one, but you have to wait in line to find out how much it is. But given that they’re less than a nearby competitor’s, I guess I shouldn’t complain.

Friendly? Check
Wide variety of food? Check
Wide variety of beer and open late night? Check
Reasonable prices? Nope…
This is a super convenient store, they have almost everything you need. However, the price leaves a lot to be desired. If you go 5 minutes elsewhere, you’re guaranteed to get a better price (CVS, other delis, Rittenhouse market, etc). But for the hours of operation and proximity to where I lived, this place deserves all four stars.
If you’re nice to the teller, you will get a very warm response each time you walk in.

3 years ago, I walked into Latimer Deli and thought to myself «ugh, just a quickie stop for drunks and their food fixes» due to their shitty selection, crazy late hours, and the degenerates I see hanging around outside waiting to score eough change to but a 40. But as I was passing a few weeks ago, I saw a sign outside, scribbled on a little poster board, advertising soft serve ice cream. What? Weird — I had to investigate, and figured maybe they made some improvements and I should assess the new products.
I went in and was FLOORED! Natural snacks, healthy and organic prepared foods, groceries, gluten free stuff, vegetarian stuff — really, I was impressed. I went to the back where the little deli counter with a basic selection of hoagies and sandwiches are sold, and I looked up from the boars head case… when I saw a COMPLETE CHINESE FOOD MENU. I thought I was crazy — I read it twice, noting the usual ameri-​chinese offerings — wonton soup, sweet and sour, lemon chicke, general tso’s — and I even peeked in to the kitchen area, where I sure as hell saw a little Chinese dude. I went to the cashier and I said «I love LOVE LOVE all these changes! The store looks GREAT!» He thanked me and I continued «But, uh, lemme get this straight — you’re doing CHINESE food out the back?» his response was an enthusiastic «YES! Since March!»
At 5.50 for most dishes, it’s a sure bet, but the only thing is, you would NEVER know unless you physically went in and migrated to the back. There’s no sign anywhere, no indicator of anything other than beer and shitty sandwiches. I’m dying to try the grub — who knows what kind of stuff they’re slinging in the kitchen chasm?
Like a bodega wormhole. Amazing.

Remind me never to get Chinese food from a deli again

Great beer selection-​fancy random microbreweries and international beers (but a bit pricey).
They also have good obscure Korean things (kimchi, mandu, ramyeon, kim, bulgogi) and the owners are Korean and know me now so they always say hi which is great.
They also have a bunch of vegan things if you’re into that.
They also have a decent deli area and some seating.
Cash only and the ATM inside is kindof a ripoff.

It is more than it looks.
This is the store that saves everybody who works late nights with their good beer selection, and I am biased of course because they carry banana bread beer! They also have a good variety of snacks and food, I always get some chocolates!
The guys at the register are sweethearts! Their smiles always make me feel welcome. I just wish they took cards…:[

Really great selection of beer at reasonable prices. Beware-​cash only.

Open until 2 AM, really nice staff, and they almost definitely have a shitload of beers worth trying… though I usually just stick to Four Loko since it’s more cost effective at times.

Two words… Craft beers! This place has a surprising collection of by the bottle craft beers. I couldn’t tell you anything else about this place other than the beer selection is worth the trip.

I have not eaten anything that I’ve purchased from this joint. Just came in for the beer and then gone about my business.
Their beer selection is pretty awesome (although the selection is a little stale). It’s more fun to go all the way to The Foodery but if you’re in Center City and you want to go home after work, this is the place to go. It’s close to every major transportation hub in center city. It’s a little less expensive (we’re pinching pennies really) than the Colney Deli (which is by The Church) but the location is fantastic.
I know nothing about the supposed crime or the mushy bread. Again, just here for the beer.

It’s a deli… And I bought some snacks here when I desperately need them. What else can I say? I think I paid too much.

$ 17.04 for a sixer of Oskar Blue’s Mamma’s Little Yella Pils and one sack of Haribo Happy Colas is way too much.
Latimer still has a boss selection of foreign and craft beer, but the prices have risen so much they are now at the level of the Foodery, which is to say rapacious.
You may as well drink your fancy brew out of its proper glass while an attractive bartender flirts with you at these prices.

Ive had some pretty good wraps from here — very quick to make too. The chicken salad wrap and then the grilled chicken club with honey mustard. I find the bread to be too bready and not enough meat/​condiments but that is because it is huge! Breakfast is good too (but it is strict — be there before 11!). The wrap is really good as is the egg and cheese on a roll.
My biggest issue is that they arent open all of the time. Im not quite sure of their hours, but it is early on weekdays. Oh and they only take cash.

Front operation for selling drugs or stolen merchandise?
This place is a «deli» but having been in there probably 40 times I’ve never seen anyone order a sandwich with the exception of myself. I ordered one once (about a year ago) and they seemed confused, then they got it together after about 10 minutes and it was awful.
True, the place exists for the beer, but take the two following items of evidence:
1) today I observed the «deli» stack up about 35 buckets labeled «pickles» outside. They left two guys to guard the «pickles» until an unmarked white van came up and picked up the «pickles.» Again, having been the only person ever to buy a sandwich there, I don’t think they get much deli clientèle. Oh, and it’s worth mentioning, my sandwich didn’t come with a pickle!
2) They were closed a little while back with a sign that said they were busted for fencing stolen merchandise.
Looks like they’re back in the game?