Basic 4 Vegetarian Cafe
Hours
Profile
Neighborhood
- Chinatown
Smoke-free?
- Yes
Reservations?
- Not Accepted
Wheelchair Accessible?
- Yes
Cash only
$ - inexpensive
American
vegan sandwiches, snacks and fresh juices in reading market terminal
Located in Philadelphia's finest historical landmark, Basic 4
Vegetarian Cafe is the vegetarian connoisseur's paradise, delivering
delicious healthy renditions of American comfort classics. Owner/Chef
Alfoncie B. Austin opened the doors to Basic 4 in 1981 fulfilling a
niche of delectable dishes typically unavailable to the health
conscious. As a dietician, Alfoncie carefully designed each menu
item to provide the 4 basic elements necessary in a meal: whole
grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and legumes (protein). The store's
name represents the complete diet and caters to those who are concious
of health, the environment, and fresh ingredients, but don't want to
compromise mouthwatering meals. Fresh fruit and vegetable juices or
smoothies refresh and revive; dairy free deserts like Sweet Potato Pie
or Cheesecake are the perfect guilt free finishing touch to a hearty
meal. Basic 4 Vegetarian Cafe is the transparent staple inventing a
healthy indulgence for the conscience consumer. Eating here will make
anyone want to join the vegelution.
Inside Reading Terminal Market
- Delivery
Added by maureen grant on Mar 15 04 (updated Jul 21)
Reviews
Great! My family had a wonderful lunch here, couldn't have asked for anything more! Thanks!
I got one of their smoothies, and my first sip, i was punched in the face with an overpowering taste of honey.
it had honey in it? last I checked, honey wasn't vegan.
so if you're a non-honey eating vegan, you might want to make sure what you order is okay before blindly ordering it.
the carrot tuna sandwich was interesting, and the sweet potato cheesecake was pretty good (hopefully that didn't have honey in it)
This is the place that turned me on to the idea of even thinking about going vegan, I'm currently not vegan or vegetarian but after tasting this food I've definitely been hooked to the idea of making that a reality some day. The veggie burgers are out of this world I almost didn't try it because of the ones I had in the past but because I was losing weight and didn't want to substitute flavor too much I'd been looking for options to mix in my every day diet and these were fabulous only other thing I've tried there because I can't get past the veggie burger is pancakes in the morning with fake scrapple wasn't sold on the scrapple could be that the taste was too similar to what the veggie pattie tasted like not horrible but not a substitution either.
I wholeheartedly agree with these good reviews. The vegetarian Philly Cheesesteak I had at Basic 4 was much better than the real Cheesesteak I'd had a couple nights earlier (at Geno's, which is supposed to be one of the best cheesesteak places in Philly.) I would fly back to Philly just to have another. Reading Terminal is a great place to visit!!!!!
This was one of the highlights of my trip to Philadelphia.I had never been to the Reading Market Terminal, which was wonderful, but to have a business like the Basic Four Vegetarian Bar was a "Dream Come True".
Being a vegetarian I am use to a meat based society and when I ordered I was not expecting much. What I got was the exact opposite- It was the best sandwich that i had ever eaten.
I just wish they weren't so far away, I really could eat there every day !!
Just an absolutely excellent experience.
Bummer, went there on a busy Saturday afternoon and they were closed???????