On the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmerman, a bald-headed, somewhat loveable host tours the globe in search of the world's wackiest foods. Luckily for you, some bizarre delicacies are not all that far away. West Philadelphia’s vibrant (and growing) ethnic cuisine scene offers plenty of opportunities to try a taste of the weird.
Pattaya Thai Cuisine (4006 Chestnut St.) serves the staple Thai favorites — Pad Thai, Panang Curry, Satay Chicken — but what some may overlook while browsing Pattaya’s menu is their specialty alligator dish. Stir-fried with vegetables and a “homemade curry sauce,” the alligator is more novelty than culinary treat. And since most things do, in fact, taste like chicken, alligator is no exception. With a slightly gamier taste, the alligator ($16.95) might be another item to add to your weird food resume, but not much more. If you want to venture past West Philly, try the slightly more upscale Thai Chef & Noodle Fusion (2028 Chestnut St.) which claims its own alligator dish is more “tender” and “better than chicken.”
Set in a converted trailer, Kabobeesh (4201 Chestnut St.) is the “other South Asian country’s” (Pakistan) counterpart to New Delhi/Sitar/Tandoor. With a menu dictated by a wide selection of grilled meats, the restaurant offers a series of weekend meat and curry specials. On Saturdays, try a gelatinous curry dish of “feet of beef and lamb” called paya. While the hooves might make you all-too-aware that what you’re eating is actually an animal, they provide for one of the most hearty soups dishes you can get. The spicy paya also pairs well with the restaurant’s fresh naan.
Pho & Café Saigon (4248 Spruce St.) is known for its affordable bowls of piping hot Vietnamese soup. It is what you choose to put into your Pho, however, that has “weird” potential. Adding beef tendon and tripe (stomach) to your Pho adds an extra chew (or two) to your soup. The sinewy tendon soaks up the flavor of the broth well, though perhaps slightly more difficult to digest. Still, like most of the suggestions above, it can’t hurt to try it.
