Philippe the Original
Best French Dip in Los Angeles · CA
Home of the French dip sandwich since 1908.
Philippe the Original has claimed the invention of the French dip sandwich since 1908, when founder Philippe Mathieu (as the story goes) dropped a French roll into the roasting pan and a Los Angeles institution was born. Diners still line up at the long counter, order beef, pork, lamb or turkey dipped in jus, and carry trays to communal tables over sawdust floors.
More than a century on, it remains one of the oldest and most beloved restaurants in Los Angeles — and the 2025 Centurion Award winner.
What they're known for
- The original French-dipped sandwich
- House hot mustard
- Sawdust floors & 10-cent coffee heritage
Customers said it first.
A Centurion Award verifies the public record that’s already there. Read the reviews yourself on the platforms below.
Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.
Why this business cleared the bar.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. Founding cohort: evaluated in 2026 on public evidence available then, labeled 2025. Selection follows the published criteria; Philippe the Original met them on that evidence. The business can claim the listing or ask us to remove it.
- ✓Years in operation. Operating in Los Angeles since 1908 — 118 years of continuous business.
- ✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in Los Angeles.
- ✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: Los Angeles has kept Philippe the Original busy for 118 years.
- ✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by Los Angeles regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
- ✓Recognition in the local community. Named best French dip in Los Angeles for 2025 as a claimed birthplace of the sandwich itself, with sawdust floors and communal tables that haven't changed in a century.
The specific data behind this award, and the exact thresholds, stay internal so the standard can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. Own this business? Claim the listing to manage it, or ask us to remove it.
Award record
2025 Centurion Award
Best French Dip in Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Awarded under the 2025 evaluationVisit Philippe the Original
The details, verified.
Clean, checkable facts about Philippe the Original.
- Legal / trading name
- Philippe the Original
- Category
- Restaurant
- Founded
- 1908, Los Angeles, CA
- Founders
- Philippe Mathieu
- Location
- 1001 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
- Centurion Award
- Best French Dip in Los Angeles — 2025
- Record last verified
- July 2026
A signal you can check.
This is a dated award record published by The Centurion Awards after reviewing public evidence for Philippe the Original against the 2025 criteria for its market and category. The business did not have to apply for this page to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. The criteria are public. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. If an award stops holding up, we may revoke it. For anything current, like hours or bookings, go straight to the business itself.
Frequently asked questions.
What is Philippe the Original?
Downtown LA institution founded in 1908 and credited as a birthplace of the French dip sandwich, still serving them at communal tables near Union Station.
Is Philippe the Original award-winning?
Yes — Philippe the Original is the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best French Dip in Los Angeles, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best French dip in Los Angeles for 2025 as a claimed birthplace of the sandwich itself, with sawdust floors and communal tables that haven't changed in a century.
Where is Philippe the Original?
Philippe the Original is in Los Angeles, CA.
Run a business like this one?
If you’ve put in the years, you may already qualify. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.