Even those unfamiliar with Philippe’s century-long legacy cannot help but ingest its history after stepping onto its sawdust-laden floors. The walls are decorated with memorabilia, preserved newspaper clippings and display cases with Dodger baseballs and old ticket stubs, documenting an entrenched history entwined with the city itself. 

Philippe's, or "Philippe the Original" is a restaurant located in downtown Los Angeles, California. The restaurant is known for continuously operating since 1908, making it one of the oldest restaurants in Los Angeles. It is also renowned for claiming to be the inventor of the French dip sandwich. A claim disputed by its rival Cole’s.

Philippe Mathieu began his eponymous enterprise in 1908 after emigrating to the United States from Southern France as a teenager. After several odd jobs, Mathieu found himself in the deli business, eventually opening Philippe’s as a takeaway stand for roast meat sandwiches. The restaurant moved several times throughout the northern edge of Downtown before settling at its current location on Alameda Street in 1951. 

It’s Alameda location puts it on the edge of Chinatown and two blocks north of Olvera Street, and close to Union Station, since 1951. Since 1962, when Dodger Stadium opened a handful of blocks away, Philippe’s has been the go-to destination for fans. For generations, baseball lovers have packed in on game days,

When walking through the doors, you’ll see their unique set-up. 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. Your carver has everything needed to take your order, make your order and give it to you right there on the spot.

French Dip Sandwich - In 1918, in the process of making a policeman a sandwich, Mathieu 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 they say is history.

The restaurant is open 16 hours a day, seven days a week, serving Angelenos from all walks of life from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Many regulars have frequented the restaurant for years, as did many of their forbearers. The multigenerational tilt extends from customers and management to the kitchen, where some carvers have worked for over 40 years and brought their children into the business.