The story
Philippe Mathieu opened his first Philippe restaurant in 1908 at 300 N. Alameda Street. The most common version of the French dip story is that he accidentally dropped a roll into the pan drippings. Cole's Pacific Electric Buffet also claims it invented the sandwich in 1908.
Mathieu sold the business in 1927 to brothers David and Harry Martin. In 1951, when the Hollywood Freeway was built, the Martins moved Philippe's to its current location. Customers still share long communal tables over a floor scattered with wood shavings.
Everything that was here
- 1908–present · still open
Philippe the OriginalRestaurant
Philippe Mathieu opened his first restaurant in 1908, and its claim to inventing the French dip is still disputed by Cole's, which claims the same year.
See the map in 1909 →
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Connected places
Phoenix Restaurant
Sam Wo Restaurant
Port Arthur Restaurant
Won Kow
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Nearby history
Italian Hall (IAMLA)
Los Angeles Old Chinatown
Old Chinatown (Los Angeles)
Garnier Building
San Antonio Winery
Bradbury Building
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