In 1918, while making a policeman a sandwich, French Mathieu Philippe accidentally dropped the sliced French roll into the roasting pan, which was filled with hot juices from the oven. The policeman said he’d still take the sandwich and left. The next day, the same policeman returned with some friends asking for more dipped sandwiches. The rest is history.

Philippe’s is located on the edge of Chinatown, in the historic district of Los Angeles. It's still in the same location it was in 1951, at a machine shop with a hotel on the second floor. When walking through the doors, you’ll see their unique setup. Philippe’s has ten servers that they refer to as “carvers.” The carvers are stationed at a long display counter with 10 lines. Once you reach your carver, everything else is done from there.

Whether your choice is one of their famous French dip sandwiches, a bowl of chili, or a hot cup of coffee, Philippe’s set-up is part of the tradition that has carried on. With the restaurant being family-owned, you’ll find an atmosphere and a menu that can always be counted on to be just like the original.