Lil’ Dan’s

Got a chance to check the truck out back in June during the International Beer Expo at the Navy Yard. My friend and I both ordered the Don (similar to a chicken parm sandwich). Eating hot sandwiches in 90 degree weather might not have been our best idea, but we both agreed that the sandwich was pretty delicious.

Ordered only one thing and it failed.
I sure hope the sandwiches are as good as they sound on the menu.
Sweet potato fries.
Soggy.
Undersalted.
Bland.
Blah.
Not comin’ back so fast.

I had the opportunity to experience Lil Dan’s at the LTL at the Navy Yard.
I understand it’s a food truck and they don’t have all the essentials of a kitchen but I thought the cutlet itself, on my Godfather, could have been a little warmer. Overall the sandwich was way to messy and beyond controllable. The bacon was extremely undercooked. I was a little surprised with the quality of the food because a coworker had the Godfather from Lil dan’s prior to this visit and it looked pretty good.
Not sure if I can muster up the courage to try it again.

A 30 minute wait during lunch? When there’s two guys ahead of me? Come on. I understand there’s only one guy working behind the counter cooking and taking orders, but there’s virtually no point in going to a food truck if it’s a) as time-​consuming and b) as expensive as a «real» restaurant. So 2 stars off for the abnormally long wait time with no sense of apology and no service whatsoever.
For lunch, I had the oreo-​encrusted sandwich (I would have had the sweet tea as well but it was sold out.). The bread was good, and the sandwich was filling, but for $ 8 I was expecting to be wowed. It was more of «yeah, that was decent». The interplay of sweet and savory is interesting but not revolutionary (see: Cucina Zapata’s Captain Crunch tilapia burritos…) and not worth the long wait and price.

Lil Dan’s comes by my office parking lot at least once a week, so I’ve eaten there a bunch lately. I think the sandwiches are good, if not a tad overpriced, but the service certainly leaves a little to be desired. Dan himself is super friendly, but the other people helping out (and Dan isn’t always there) tend to be grumpy, unhelpful and bored.
I recommend the Godfather sandwich — I’ve had almost all the others, and this one is a 5 star choice. The fries are delish too… and from my experience, stay away from any specials they offer. The crab cakes and hamburger were both blah.

The «Lil Dan» sandwich is. so. delicious. The chicken cutlet is breaded in golden oreos, which sounds bizarre, but turns out to be delectable. Something about the sweet and savory flavors combined works out wonderfully. I crave the «secret sauce» that comes on the sandwich! I’d buy a bottle of it.
Lil Dan’s has been coming to my office’s parking lot at 7^th and Callowhill for a month now, and everyone loves the sandwiches. Now that I’m writing about it, I’m getting hungry and excited about them coming tomorrow!
And Dan, the owner, is awesome. Always warm, friendly, generous. Happy to support him and his truck.

If you’re ever around Love Park on a week day, make sure you check out the food trucks that are frequently out and about on the southwest corner of the park. Be sure to check out the schedule on Chowspotter, which details most of Philly’s food truck schedules.
So on a recent Friday, I decided to check out Lil Dan’s, which offer specialty Italian-​style sandwiches.
These sandwiches are served on delicious and fresh Amoroso’s rolls. And on my quest for a perfect Philly-​based philly cheese steak, I was hoping to try Lil Dan’s version. Unfortunately, they were out of cheese steak that day. But they had a bevy of other options.
The Godfather ($ 8)
Freshly breaded chicken cutlet, with a touch of mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, aged provolone cheese. Topped with fresh bacon on a seeded Amoroso roll.
After checking out the reviews on Unilocal,I knew I had to try the Godfather. Three chicken cutlets were crisply fried, but were a bit dry and frankly, tough to chew. Seemed pre-​cooked to be sure, which is understandable during a lunch rush. However, I would have appreciated a fresh fried batch of juicy chicken. There were a couple of strips of nice smoky bacon, which added a bit more heft to the dish. The pickles added a nice vinegary tang to the sandwich. while the aged provolone added a nice salty funk. Still, I would have loved to have a bit more melted cheese all over this sandwich. The seeded roll was a nice touch. Overall, a substantial sandwich, but I was expecting more.
The Brookter ($ 7.50)
Breaded eggplant topped with spinach or rabe, roasted peppers, and provolone cheese on a seeded Amoroso roll.
You could also get this as a parm sandwich, but I was looking for some unadulterated eggplant. I was surprised to find that the ‘breaded eggplant’ was in fact mostly pure roasted eggplant, but that was fine with me. The roasted peppers melded nicely, and the broccoli rabe added a garlicky bitteriness to cut though the funk of the salty, aged provolone. Still, some textural contrast would have been nice here. In fact, this sandwich was advertised as being on a seeded Amoroso’s roll as well so perhaps a toasted sesame roll could have been key here.
Of course, if Level Up is offered, who am I to say no to some free credit? Make sure you sign up — there are no fees involved and it’s a quick and easy way to pay, while racking up credit for future purchases. Overall, Lil Dan’s has some nice sandwich options for lunch and while there were a few missteps, I found their sandwiches to be satisfying and filling,

For some reason I had never noticed Lil Dan’s until just a few weeks ago, even though its schedule says it’s parked in University City from Tuesdays-​Thursdays. I recently went to try it for lunch with my friend and we decided to split two sandwiches:
— The Lil Dan — golden Oreo chicken cutlet, lettuce, tomato, and spicy mayo between two pieces of toasted bread. The chicken breaded with Oreo crumbs was definitely something unique and interesting… but in a good way, because it made the chicken taste sweet.
— The Pauly — pork, spinach, cheese, and fried eggs served on a French roll. It was good, but I think I preferred the Lil Dan more. This one was also extremely messy because the egg got everywhere once we opened up the wrapper.
The food here is more expensive than other sandwich trucks in the area ($ 7 – 8 each), but the sandwiches are decent and it’s a good lunch option.

I noticed Lil Dans started showing up near the Penn campus a month or so ago. The small little truck was interesting from a distance. One day, I passed by it and saw they focused on Italian type of Chicken and Steak sandwiches, as well a sausage with peppers and onions hoagie. I was immediately intrigued and made sure to return.
On my first visit, I got a sandwich called the Godfather. It’s a chicken cutlet, bacon, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayo, and grated sharp provolone. The bread they use is fresh and soft. This was an awesome sandwich. It practically melts in your mouth. Everything about it was just right.
The second time I decided to mix it up, I got the Bella. It’s also a chicken cutlet, topped with spinach or broccoli rabe (I got the rabe) roasted peppers, grated sharp provolone, and drizzled with a balsamic glaze. This was a pretty tasty sandwich. But it was no Godfather.
The next time, I went with what I knew I loved and got the Godfather again. I plan to mix it up in the future. But I have this rule. If you love a specific item and get something else that doesn’t match it, go back to what you love again before venturing off to another unknown.
But one thing is for certain. I will be back.

So I returned to try another sandwich. This one, a breaded chicken cutlet sandwich with tomato sauce and mozzarella. It was freshly made and nice and hot. The cutlet and sauce had good texture and a clean taste that went well with the fresh roll, which absorbed a bit of the sauce (with more dripping out the top. However, it could have been spicier and, in general, the sandwich lacked the bit of pizzazz needed to enter the next level. Instead, it’s kinda forgettable. My recommendation: smaller sandwiches with a more interesting mix of ingredients.

Lil Dans is yet another one of my favorite food trucks in Philly. I’ve tried almost all of their delicious sandwiches, but my personal favorite is The Bella — Italian marinated grilled chicken, with spinach or rabe, roasted peppers, and sharp provolone cheese. Another amazing sandwich is The Pauly — fresh roasted Italian pork, with spinach or rabe, roasted peppers, sharp provolone cheese, and optionally, 2 fried eggs on top, served on a seeded roll. I actually think the roast pork here is the most tender and flavorful I’ve tried in Philly. The eggs on top were decadent and enjoyable — I had to give it a try with the eggs, and it was definitely worth it, but I think next time I’ll spare my arteries and go without (sort of like, you’re at a fancy burger place and you’ve just gotta try that foie gras truffle grassfed burger, and it’s all that, but afterwards you realize you’re fine with bacon and cheddar). Besides, the pork is definitely tasty enough to stand on its own, and the seeded roll makes it all that more of a treat. I’ve also tried the Brookter (eggplant, peppers, provolone), the Slick Nick (chicken cutlet, spinach/​rabe, provolone), The Don (chicken cutlet, red sauce, mozzarella), and a daily special of eggplant grilled cheese, which were all good, but not quite as impressive in my opinion as the Bella and Pauly. The service at the truck has always been warm and friendly. All in all, I’ve had enough success with Lil Dans to seek them out whenever they’re around, and I certainly recommend giving them a try.

With many choices in the gourmet food truck craze in this city this is one that I would keep coming back to again. Great food for the right price. Some trucks overcharge for mediocre food but their menu items really stand out.
My first visit, they seemed to be out of every menu item that I wanted but the staff offered to concoct up a new sandwich — burger with pork roll, cheese and a fried egg. It was excellent!
I also tried the Pauly, which is a slight twist on the iconic Philadelphia roast pork sandwich. Roasted peppers and the two fried eggs on top do well to compliment the traditional roast pork and your choice of greens (spinach and broccoli rabe). Definitely puts it up there with the top 5 in the city.
On my most recent visit I had to try the newest sandwich of the bunch — the golden oreo breaded chicken cutlet. The sweetness of the oreo was offset by the spiciness of the hot sauce and vice versa. Great blend of flavors, I would definitely recommend this as the top choice for anyone who hasn’t tried this cart yet.
I gave them such a high rating also based on the staff. They are very polite and nice, accommodating when they are out of menu items and always give great recommendations if you are unsure of which menu item you’d like to try first.

Visited Lil Dan’s when they were down in the Navy Yard for the new Food Truck Line Up. By the time my coworkers and I pulled ourselves away from our computers, it was nearly 1 pm and many of the food items were sold out (i.e. chicken cutlets, greens).
They seemed to have a large selection of items, mostly sandwiches in the $ 6 – 8 range. I went with one of their specials– an eggplant grilled cheese. The sandwich was advertised with spinach or broccoli rabe, but since they were out of greens, I told them to just put whatever veggies they had on it.
The sandwich ended up having eggplant (which, by the way, was cooked perfectly– nice and tender with a light coating), roasted red peppers, lettuce, and of course, cheese. My gripe with the sandwich was that it was extremely soggy and extremely blackened. I had to eat it with a fork and knife! But despite that, it was a tasty sandwich. At $ 6, the price was also just right.
Not sure if I’d go out of my way to find Lil Dan’s, but if I come across them again, I’d check them out for a second time.

Came back around to try The Don (what I would have gotten the first time). It’s definitely an improvement upon the Slick Nick. Lots of tomato sauce makes this sandwich particularly enjoyable, and the bread is both soft enough and strong enough to soak up the excess «red gravy» and hold the sandwich together. Chicken was good but still a little dry in some places. Disappointed by the use of shredded cheese instead of sliced melted cheese. However, the sandwich was considerably less salty than the first time, so kudos to Lil’ Dans for making that improvement.
Also, Level Up was working this time, and I was able to get a small discount on lunch thanks to using that.

I am so happy that lil dan’s goes to Love Park all the time. Most of the food trucks there are great, but I think these guys stand out.
They had an eggplant, spinach, and mozzarella grilled cheese special this week that blew me away. My favorite sandwich there has to be the Godfather. I keep forgetting not to get tomatoes on it because of the walk back to my office. Protip: Tomatoes make things soggy.
Now after all that, the food is not the best part. It’s the efficiency. They have someone outside the truck expediting orders. They happen to take Levelup which does not hurt either. They are really focused, but are friendly and seem to have fun. Seriously, I bet they serve 3 customers to 1 over any other truck there (except cupcake trucks, but that’s cheating)
I also like that they didn’t just ask for my name, they asked me to give them a superhero. I mean what a great question, I almost forgot about lunch.

It was okay. I liked the food well enough, but it wasn’t as great as I expected. They were out of the sandwich I was looking to conquer in addition to the drink I wanted due to a festival the night before.
It just seemed a little odd they would come so under prepped to Love Park at the lunch rush. Don’t get me wrong, the overall food was good.
I got the balsamic chicken sandwich, both salty and sweet from the balsamic.
I would go back to try more on a better day.

Much like Barrett L., my experience with the Slick Nick (recommended by the employees at Lil Dan’s when I was stuck between options) was excessively dry and saltiness central (and I like salt). The sammie was big enough at $ 6.75, but a bit sparse with the contents: two small chicken cutlets (crispy, not bad) with brocoli rabe and an even smattering of cheese on a seeded Amoroso roll. I had hoped that the rabe or even the cheese would bring much needed moisture to the sandwich but as my teeth bared down through the roll (too much bread, there) I realized I was chewing through a desert.
Service was plenty friendly and wait time was insignificant (most of the people were lined up for Lucky Old Soul’s). For a place that prides itself on its chicken cutlets, the sandwich was incredibly forgettable.

I’ve had Lil’ Dan’s for breakfast, lunch, and even had an event catered by the guys. Great breakfast sandwiches, and way too many choices for lunch. The Godfather sandwich is incredible, the stuffed cheeseburger (ask for it if it’s not on the menu) is delicious, and the Bella is so tender and full of flavor.
I only wish they delivered!

I had the eggplant Parmesan special sandwich for lunch today. YUM YUM YUM. I got it with extra cheese — mozzarella and provolone. The roll is light and fresh, the sauce is perfectly seasoned, and the eggplant was cooked to perfection. So thinly sliced and flavorful and nice and mushy (how I like it) and the sharp provolone was… nice and sharp.
It was a super nice day out today at Love Park and I didn’t even have to wait that long. The prices are really reasonable as well, especially considering some of the food truck competition.
I will probably have to get this sandwich once per week for a few months.

Nice guys. I stopped at this truck about 2 weeks ago and ordered a roast pork off their board and was pretty impressed. Came about 4 days ago and they remembered my face. This time, I got a meatball sandwich. It was pretty legit.
They are near my office a couple days a week, and if I have the cash to afford it, I would eat here everytime. The prices are reasonable, not too high not too low. Its worth the extra dollar or two to get something the other standard trucks don’t have.
Keep up the good work.