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 record was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. 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.
The details, verified.
- 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
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.
Every award, on the record.
Each Centurion Award is its own dated annual record, and staying current means clearing the bar again each new year. The verification above is from the latest published award. Open a year for that year’s citation.
2025 Centurion Award
Best French Dip in Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation View the 2025 award →Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. Selection is by published criteria, never for sale.
Visit Philippe the Original
A signal you can check.
This page is the standing record for Philippe the Original (2025). It was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. For hours, bookings, and live reviews, go straight to the business itself.
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 for free to manage it, correct it, or remove it. If you want the award kit (badge, certificate, and announcement), you pay after you claim. Through December 31, 2026, publishing is $99. The evaluation itself is free. The $99 covers the first year only. Renewals are $199/year. That fee never buys selection.
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.