Little Thai Market: Quick, Casual Thai Cuisine at Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia

Little Thai Market Introduce

Little Thai Market is a well-known vendor stall located within the historic and bustling Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This establishment provides a dedicated counter-service experience focused on quick, casual, and affordable Thai comfort food. Positioned amidst the dynamic energy of one of the city's most iconic destinations, Little Thai Market serves as a convenient stop for tourists, local workers, and solo diners seeking a fast and satisfying meal. The atmosphere is notably casual and trendy, fitting perfectly within the Market’s lively, collective food hall environment.

The menu at Little Thai Market concentrates on well-loved, straightforward Thai dishes, making it an excellent option for those who already know what they enjoy or need a reliable quick meal. Their offering includes a focused selection of soups, appetizers, and main entrees, often served over rice for maximum convenience and value. A standout item that has garnered significant attention and praise over the years is the Salmon Curry, which pairs a grilled salmon fillet with a rich Thai red curry cream sauce over rice—a dish frequently cited as a 'must-try' and a fantastic value. Other popular menu staples include the classic Pad Thai, various curry options like Chicken Red Curry and Vegetarian Red Curry, and the flavorful Chicken Basil stir-fry. Portions are designed to satisfy, and the pricing strategy, with many main dishes offered between $6.00 and $8.00, reinforces its appeal as a budget-friendly option in the heart of the city.

The location of Little Thai Market is one of its primary features, situated inside the world-famous Reading Terminal Market—a major Pennsylvania landmark in Center City Philadelphia.

The restaurant can be found at:

Address: 51 N 12th St #39, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA

Being housed within the Market means it benefits from the Market's general accessibility. The location is easily reachable by SEPTA regional rail at the nearby Jefferson Station (formerly Market East Station) and by various bus and trolley routes. For drivers, parking near the Market can be a challenge, though numerous paid parking garages and lots are available in the immediate vicinity of Center City and the Convention Center area. Once inside the Market, customers simply approach the counter service window to place and receive their orders. The Market is a hub for both family-friendly crowds and high volumes of tourists, making it a bustling environment, especially during peak lunch hours.

Little Thai Market focuses on speed and accessibility, providing the following core services to its Philadelphia patrons:

Takeout: Ideal for the busy city worker or tourist looking to grab a quick meal on the go from the Market.
Dine-in: Available via the Market's communal seating areas, allowing customers to enjoy their meal immediately after purchase.
Quick Bite Offerings: The menu is curated for speed, making it an excellent choice for a quick bite during lunch or dinner.
Dining Hours: Open for lunch, dinner, and offering dessert options.
Payment Versatility: Accepts Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and modern NFC mobile payments for a fast and convenient checkout process.
Offerings for Various Diets: Specifically caters to different dietary needs with clear Vegan options and Vegetarian options on the menu, such as the Vegetarian Red Curry.

This Reading Terminal Market vendor stands out due to several key aspects that appeal to the Philadelphia crowd:

High-Value Salmon Curry: The Salmon Curry is consistently highlighted by customers and reviewers as a must-try dish, known for its flavor, generous portion, and affordability at $8.00.
Central Location in a Historic Hub: Its position in the Reading Terminal Market provides unparalleled convenience, drawing in a mix of office workers, tourists, and convention attendees seeking quality food quickly.
Focused and Affordable Menu: The selection is streamlined to offer popular, comforting Thai dishes like Pad Thai, curries, and basil stir-fries at highly competitive prices (Chicken Red Curry and Chicken Yellow Curry are $7.00).
Dietary Accommodation: Offers a good range of healthy options, vegan options, and vegetarian options—such as the Vegetarian Red Curry for $6.00—making it accessible for many health-conscious or plant-based diets.
Quick-Service Efficiency: Little Thai Market operates with the speed necessary for the Market environment, making it popular for lunch and dinner among those with limited time.
Soups and Appetizers: Features unique soup choices like Chicken and Shrimp Coconut Soup ($2.50/$2.75) and Chicken and Shrimp Lemon Grass Soup ($2.50/$2.75), alongside simple appetizers such as Thai Style BBQ Chicken and Chicken Spring Rolls.

Little Thai Market is situated at the following address in Center City Philadelphia. For general inquiries, please use the provided phone number.

Phone: (215) 873-0231

Mobile Phone: +1 215-873-0231

Address: 51 N 12th St #39, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA (Inside Reading Terminal Market)

Little Thai Market is an excellent choice for a specific type of diner: the individual or group in Center City Philadelphia looking for a very quick, affordable, and filling meal. What is worth choosing about this establishment is its incredible value proposition, particularly with main entrees often priced under $8.00, a rarity in this prime location. The star of the show remains the Salmon Curry, which is frequently cited as one of the best affordable lunches in the entire Reading Terminal Market. For the diner who knows what they want—a simple, comforting, and fast Thai dish—Little Thai Market delivers. Its inclusion of healthy, vegan, and vegetarian options ensures that almost anyone can find a satisfying meal here. It is particularly popular for solo dining during the busy lunch rush. However, prospective diners should be aware that, as with any high-volume, quick-service food stall, the experience is purely functional, prioritizing speed and value. For those prioritizing a fast, budget-friendly meal over an authentic, sit-down Thai dining experience, Little Thai Market serves its purpose well.

Little Thai Market Food & drink

Soups
Chicken Coconut Soup $2.50
Shrimp Coconut Soup $2.75
Chicken Lemon Grass Soup $2.50
Shrimp Lemon Grass Soup $2.75

Appetizers
Chicken Spring Roll $2.75
(2) chicken, silver noodle, mixed vegetables wrapped with crispy spring roll skins served with sweet and sour sauce.
Thai Style Bbq Chicken $2.50
Grilled marinated chicken (thai style) served with sweet and sour sauce.
Steamed Crab Dumpling $6.45
(8) steamed crab dumpling served with garlic soy sauce.
Thai Salad $7.00
Sliced chicken tossed with lime dressing bedded with mixed vegetables.

Entrees
Salmon Curry $8.00
Grilled salmon filet served with thai red curry cream sauce over rice.
Pad Thai
Stir-fried rice noodle, tofu, bean sprout, ground peanut and lime.
Chicken Basil $7.00
Stir-fried chicken with sweet basil, chili paste, onion and bell pepper served over rice.
Spicy Shrimp Bamboo Shoot $7.00
Stir-fried shrimp, bamboo shoot, bell pepper, onion, basil and chili paste served over rice.
Vegetarian Red Curry $6.00
Sauteed mixed vegetables, basil and curry cream sauce served our rice.
Chicken Red Curry $7.00
Sauteed sliced chicken breast, basil bamboo shoots and curry cream sauce served over rice.
Chicken Yellow Curry $7.00
Sliced chicken breast cooked in yellow curry sauce with onion and potato served over rice.

Little Thai Market Details

Service options
Takeout
Dine-in

Popular for
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Offerings
Coffee
Comfort food
Healthy options
Quick bite
Vegan options
Vegetarian options

Dining options
Lunch
Dinner
Dessert

Amenities
Restroom

Atmosphere
Casual
Trendy

Crowd
Family-friendly
Tourists

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Little Thai Market Photos

Little Thai Market Location

Little Thai Market

Pennsylvania Philadelphia County Philadelphia Center City East North 12th Street

51 N 12th St #39, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA

Little Thai Market Reviews

An average rating of ★4 from 223 user reviews.

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★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

Been going to this place for years. However, after today I really wouldn’t even wanna go back to this place. The owner of this place is very unprofessional, rude and accusatory. I purchased two of the same order one of my platters had hair in it. I went back to the place to get my refund for both platters. The owner accused me of eating out of one of the platters and the cashier tried acting blind like she couldn’t clearly see the hair embedded in the food. After a long unnecessary back-and-forth argument because the owner wanted to be unprofessional, they eventually gave me my money back because they had to acknowledge they were wrong.
April 12 · Brina S
The Chicken Pad Thai and Chicken Red Curry were a letdown. Not the authentic Thai flavors I anticipated – they were bland and basic. See other people reviews. My mistake didn’t look it up first. Avoid this place at all costs !
April 25 · Hendra Widjaya
BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE, not kind for tourists, if you don’t know how to order correctly no one of the staff will help you or staff will be very rude with you. No one asked me about the sauces or the curry (I did not get curry, even if my dish name is salmon curry🤔), or even if I want to order or add something else. When I asked what sauces I got, the ladies in the from got mad at me 😡, was my first time there😒😒😒😒. Thank God a very kind costumer how was in the line help me 🙏(more people like her please🙏🤗🤗🤗). The salmon is really good 👍😍😍😍😍😍😍, I finished my plate 😌😌😌😌😌😌, was so delicious, just need a little bit of spicy 🌶️, but they need to work with their costumer service.
March 12 · Maza Zama
The salmon was really tender and delicious. The rice however was really mushy and grainy? This was my first time trying Thai food so maybe that’s how it’s supposed to taste. I can’t speak on service and atmosphere because the food was bought for me. I wouldn’t eat the rice again but the grilled salmon and chicken spring rolls were great.
March 26 · Hind As-Salafi
i had the chicken spring rolls and spicy bamboo shrimp and i liked both. are they the best thai food i've ever had? probably not. did i enjoy this meal that came up to an whooping 15 bucks? absolutely! somehow this was my fav meal in philly so far including cc from multiple wellknown shops. this is what i call asian comfort food and can't beat the price in this economy. spring rolls were warm and crispy the filling not overly salty which i appreciated. the sweet and sour sauce was more sour than sweet which is exactly how i like it. will have to try other dishes soon. keep up the good work!
May 17 · Lim Kim