If homestyle plates with a wholesome and local twist is your thing, then you have to head to Herban Quality Eats for a delicious meal. Located at 3601 Market Street in University City, this fun eatery has something for everyone. Comfort food has a new face and it’s become nutrient-rich, responsibly sourced, delicious and very affordable.
When they were graduate students at Wharton, Amir Fardshisheh and Kalefe Wright had a light-bulb moment that involved the idea to feed the masses healthy and affordable food. They wanted to develop an eatery whose vibe would be welcoming and hospitable. Their mutual goal was to create a dining option with “clean, healthy eating.” Along with Executive Chef Chris Paul, the three set out to enhance their vision for what would become Herban Quality Eats. Amir added, “We have no freezers or deep fryers. All of our food is thoughtfully sourced, mostly organic, always GMO-free and seasonal.”
Long story short, they first set out preparing meals at an incubator kitchen at the Dorrance H. Hamilton Center for Culinary Enterprises at 48th/Spruce Streets in West Philly. They prepared nutrient-dense dishes and filled pre-orders. They used a meal-courier service to deliver their delicious meals throughout University City. They knew that they were onto a great idea and decided to take their model to the brick-and-mortar stage.
Their storefront opened its doors in December 2015 to rave reviews, especially from the plant-based community. Meal selection is a breeze; you create your own plate in four easy steps. Choose a base, one protein, two sides and a delicious sauce. Everything is fresh and made in-house. My platter looked like this: (1) organic baby spinach, (2) Vegan Jawn (a quinoa and black-bean based “croquette” that is super delish and packed with protein), (3) roasted broccoli and a quinoa-parsley salad and (4) walnut-coriander sauce. Quinoa is a perfect protein because it contains all of the essential amino-acids. Did I mention that there are TWO Vegan Jawns on your platter? And all for the price of $7.87. Best vegan deal in town!
Joining me on this tasting was my friend and Executive Chef Dave Navarro. Dave trained at Johnson & Wales and is my go-to guy for food expertise—and he eats meat. Having him along was great because he had the Backyard Steak and Roasted Salmon. He remarked on the tenderness of the meat and the fact that the salmon was cooked with its skin on. “It was flaky and perfectly seasoned,” said Dave. The salmon platter will cost you $12.50 and, really, you get more than your money’s worth. If you’re like Dave, you can create your very own version of “Surf and Turf.”
Each meal is topped off with a selection of three sauces—herbed tomato, walnut coriander and Herban hot sauce. Dave sampled all three and was very fond of the jerk-like flavors of the hot sauce. Part of the menu also included a freshly made guacamole served with roasted plantain chips. Nice touch, and a great way to change it up in the “chip and dip” arena.
High regard is given to ingredients, seasoning and maintaining the nutrient-integrity of the foods used to create such beautiful and tasty dishes. Herban might be fast-casual, but the food is cooked slowly and tastes great. Team members are warm, kind and knowledgeable.
With spring around the corner (do not pay attention to the weather, please), Herban will unveil its NEW Spring Menu today between 5–8 pm. They’re serving complimentary beer and wine, so stop in, grab some dinner, enjoy the vibe and make sure you talk to Kalefe, Chris and Amir.
At a Glance
A few fun facts from Herban Quality Eats:
- With kale sales up more than 40% since 2014, Herban uses 72 bunches of kale per week! It’s all organic.
- The wall mural that reads HERBAN was created by GlossBlack, a local muralist. The wall art is mesmerizing.
- Chicken is raised on local farms in Lancaster. The chickens are free-roaming and antibiotic-free.
- Their food philosophy has three pillars: nutrient-rich, responsibly sourced and thoughtfully prepared.
- Kalefe and Amir cut their food-line chops at Shake Shack and Chipotle, respectively.
- Herban is very transparent and lists sources of all foods, ingredients, etc.
- They like to promote from within. Herban incentivizes and creates a work environment of empowerment for all team members.
- Delivery available, daily, from 5–9 p.m. Call for delivery specifics.
I could go on. But, right now, I am thinking about the Vegan Jawn. Finally the Philly-based word jawn has been put to good use and in a savory and delicious focal point for the Herban vegan, signature dish.
When You Go
- Meter-free street parking on 36th Street
- Hours are M–F from 11 a.m.–9 p.m., closed weekends
- Easily accessible via SEPTA (EL, trolley, etc)
- Great and reliable Wi-Fi (get some work done!)
- Did we mention: Say hi to Kalefe, Chris and Amir
Find Herban Quality Eats at 3601 Market St. in Philadelphia; phone: (267) 281-8920.
- Photos: Char Nolan
