Who doesn’t love mac and cheese? Sometimes it’s necessary to upgrade from our beloved Wawa mac and cheese (if you haven’t tried it, you have a lot more self–control than we do). Street taste–tested five mac and cheeses in Reading Terminal Market, so you’ll never have to waste your appetite on the sub–par. We tried everything from fried to gooey, from classic to seasoned. And here, ranked best to worst, is what we found:
#1 Venue name: Delilah’s at the Terminal Price: $5 for “small” Pros: The cheesy flavor is wonderful—rich and sharp but not too strong. The texture, both soft and bready, makes it stand out. Smooth and rich but not too creamy. Cons: It’s a little greasy, especially if you happen to get some from the bottom of the pan. The pasta is very mushy and soft. Prepare to shell out big bucks: $5 for a “small” that should really be called a “very-very-small.” Bottom-line: There’s a reason Delilah’s won “Best Macaroni and Cheese” in the country by Oprah in 2003. It’s worth the money, but with a container that small and a taste that good, you definitely won’t want to share.
#2 Venue name: Beck’s Cajun Cafe Price: $3.95 for two balls Pros: Fried mac and cheese balls. Essentially this is a mozzarella stick in ball form, and filled with mac and cheese instead of mozzarella. The outside is breaded and crunchy, while the inside is soft and cheesy. The seasoning is stellar—very garlicky. Cons: If you’re craving traditional mac and cheese, this won’t do the trick. Bottom-line: These fried-mac-and-cheese-balls-of-heaven are a very close second. You’ll regret it if you don’t try them on your next visit to Reading Terminal Market.
#3 Venue name: The Original Turkey Price: $3.75 for “small” Pros: Good balance of cheesy and creamy. Tasters agreed that it was good, but certainly conventional, nothing special. Cons: Very, very salty. Bottom-line: Bottom line, this dish tastes like a saltier Wawa mac and cheese. For this one, you might as well save yourself the trip to Reading and just go to Wawa.
#4 Venue name: The Rib Stand Price: $3.99 per lb, for a small container it was roughly $3 Pros: You get a big portion—the “small” here is probably three times the size of the “small” at Delilah’s. Spicy BBQ seasoning on the top layer adds a nice kick, but we wish there was more of it. Cons: Way too creamy and not cheesy enough. It tasted like something you could find in the frozen foods aisle at Frogro. Bottom-line: Skip it.
#5 Venue name: Franks A-Lot! Price: $2.65 for “small” Pros: The pasta is well cooked and not too mushy. Creamy, but not too creamy. Cons: There is a sweetness about the flavor that is a bit nauseating. The aftertaste is smoky and leaves a gross taste in your mouth. In our serving, the cheese was congealed on one side and not evenly distributed. Bottom-line: Save yourself the agony.
