Meltkraft at Reading Terminal Market

Everyone knows that grilled cheese is awesome, but I didn’t know how awesome it could be until I found this place.
I’ve tried a bunch of their sandwiches, and they frequently have specials that rotate every few months or so. The Somerset and Melterskelter are both really good, and they used to have a special made with criminy mushrooms and walnuts that was amazing!
The chips they serve the sandwiches with are best when they’re fresh, but can be cardboard-​y when they’re not, but the grilled cheese is so good I usually don’t mind. I’d also recommend getting a side of tomato soup, it is simple, chunky, and goes amazingly well with their sandwiches.

There are no words for what this place is. I can honestly say this was the most incredible selection as well as the most incredible grilled cheese I have ever had. Guaranteed to kick your boring grilled cheese up a notch or five.

This place is always packed! Around lunch time expect to wait for about 30 minutes. The line moves quick and the staff is super friend. Its a grilled cheese persons dream! Daily/​Weekly specials that always seem pretty good.
I got the special which sadly I don’t remember what was on it but it was delicious! The quality of bread, cheese and toppings is def up there. You’ll probably pay around 10 bucks for a grilled cheese sandwich. Up to you if you want to but I’d rather pay a little more and get a real sandwich. Just a preference but i’ll most likely give this place another try.

Grilled Cheese, perfectly toasted and gooey delicious cheesiness inside… need I say more?
Meltkraft is a fantastic place to grab grilled cheese (and some other items they sell) when you are at Reading Terminal Market.
I cannot say enough about how delicious their grilled cheese is… any sandwich you get, you will be fat and happy after finishing your delicious cheesy treat.
Since I have tried most of these sandwiches here are my reviews:
Brielle (IMO, you cannot go wrong with brie, especially when there is chutney involved). I find this decadant and rich and I feel super classy eating it. Also, I do not like onions that much, but they seem to fit perfectly on this sandwich, so I don’t mind them one bit!
–The Brielle is Pasteurized brie, cranberry chutney, caramelized onions and pine nuts on brioche.
Shepherd Classic (You cannot go wrong with a classic grilled cheese, just the perfect combo of cheeses and delicious bread)
–The classic grilled cheese, made with three 3 month valley shepherd cheeses and nothing else.
Melter Skelter (spicy and sweet and savory… YUM!)
–Vsc melter skelter raclette style 3 month cheese, pickled green tomatoes, jalapeño, BBQ potato chips and watercress.
Red, White and Green Sandwich (Simple perfection, probably my favorite out of the options without meat. If you can, buy some of their mozzarella to take home!)
–Handmade mozzarella, fresh tomato and fresh basil.
Somerset (Just delicious, pickles and ham are a great combo. Add cheese and BAM! Delicious explosion of flavor.)
–Somerset Gruyère, cured ham, Cornichon pickles, and whole grain mustard. Served with Covered Bridge kettle chips.
Valley Thunder
–Valley Thunder cheddar, Bubbe’s beef brisket and baked macaroni and our cheese. Served with Covered Bridge kettle chips.
My Boyfriend LOVES the Valley Thunder and the Somerset is his second go to. I also enjoy these sandwiches, but I tend to get one without meat since he always gets one with and we tend to go halfsies! This way we get the best of both worlds AND don’t have to choose just one sandwich :)
If I had to choose one as my absolute favorite, it would be the Valley Thunder. But, as I said before, I like to order different things each time, I also like to try the specials. I can always count on my guy to get one with meat, so I tend to order one of the other options for myself since we share. This whole Menu is fantastic!
Don’t forget to see what their special sandwich is before you order! Some of these are serious gems!

BLESS. This place knows how it’s done. The Red, White and Green grilled cheese is absolute perfection.
The ingredients? So fresh.
And the bread! The bread! It has this sweetness to it. Must be something in the butter.
Cheese lovers: come one, come all! You will not be disappointed.

This place knows how to make a grilled cheese. The cheese is so fresh and filling. They grill them just right so that short extra time it takes to enter your stomach is totally worth it. If you’re not from town, I would definitely recommend stopping by here for a quick bite. We got the Red, White, and Green which had Fresh Mozz, Tomato, and Spinach. Lovely!

Best grilled cheese I’ve ever had. Period. I got the classic and added prosciutto. Also got a side of tomato soup… How do you eat grilled cheese without tomato soup??? Soooo delicious! Super friendly service too. 5 stars all around.

So Good. The tomato soup is the cure to all chills, fever, brokenheartedness, and grief. The Red, White, Green Grilled Cheese (tomato, mozarella, spinach) is perfected with the addition of bacon. Of course it is.
They make their own cheese, people. No need to say more.

I’ve picked up grilled cheeses from here often and they’ve never let me down! They are always reliable, delicious, and fresh. They feature their own cheeses from Valley Shepard creamery. I’ve had The Classic and the Valley Thunder. You can’t go wrong with The Classic which has 3 different cheeses in it, and I usually add bacon and a few other things to mine. They have a large list of different add-​ons such as chicken, tomatoes and garlic to name a few. The Valley Thunder is also quite delicious and has beef brisket and macaroni in it, it’s very unique and I strongly recommend trying it! The sandwiches are large and oozing with warm melty cheese. They are always perfectly cooked with crispy, toasted outsides. They are also serves with a side of chips. And although, I’ve never had it here they do have tomato soup as most people like it with their grilled cheeses. You can eat it at one of the several seating areas inside Reading Terminal or take it to go. Service is fast, friendly and they can help make suggestions if you need help deciding (which you probably will)!

Growing up eating grilled cheese when momma used to make it right off a frying pan. Mmmmmh so delicious ! Just classic grilled cheese with nothing in it .
Meltkraft has brought me down memory lane. Their somerset grilled cheese sandwich is just perfect. How the cheese was stretching apart as you were splitting your sandwich to eat. It’s like having orgasm in your mouth (don’t judge me). Perfect combo with the chips. I would like to order it with a tomato soup next time. Their menu is very limited. The staff is very friendly and nice. As other Unilocalers stated. They do have cheeses you can try and buy to bring back home. Along with a section of olives and a cheese making/​tasting room. Yep! They make their own cheese.

I’m in love. Meltkraft is the reason why it’s so hard for me to try new places at Reading Terminal. The staff is friendly and helpful (even to indecisive people like me), and the food is heaven any kind of cheese lover.
The Brielle (brie, cranberry chutney on brioche) is my favorite. I can’t get enough of the savory sweet combination. Even my friend who doesn’t like brie loved this sandwich.
The Melter Skelter comes in a close second with its green tomatoes and watercress. It’s a little lighter than the Brielle because the veggies balance out the richness of the cheese.
Overall, definitely worth a taste if you’re in Reading Terminal.

Soooooooooooooo good!
You MUST try the Tomato Fennel soup. Delicious. Chunky tomato soup with incredible deep flavor.
The staff is super real, fun and polite.

YES YES YES!!!
This place is within Reading Terminal and has AWESOME grilled cheese sandwiches.
While I am sure they will, they don’t just use your normal American cheese but have a wide variety of cheeses and sandwich combinations to pick from. We stopped in just to do a «eat what you see» run though of the place and this was one of my favorite places we stopped at. The girl that worked there (Kat?!) knew her cheese and gave us some good recommendations. You can also buy some cheese to take back home (which we did) after finishing one of their amazing sandwiches. Worth a trip!

This is my favorite place to grab a bit at Reading Terminal. I honestly make a beeline for it in the back of the market as soon as I arrive. My favorite grilled cheese sandwich there is the Brielle, which is brie, cranberry chutney, car analyzed onions and pine nuts on brioche. It comes with potato chips on the side. It is so delicious! I definitely recommend trying this place out. And you can also get your parking validated if you park in the garage across the street and spend at least $ 10 at Reading.

Sometimes, a sandwich is just a sandwich. Sometimes, on the other hand, a sandwich is a religious experience.
I first had Meltkraft in June of last year. It’s a little tough for me to get to this location, but I happened to be within walking distance during a conference, so I stopped here for lunch. I ordered the Fresh Mozz sandwich with fresh tomatoes instead of roasted ones. The friendly food service employee informed me that I would lose a bit of flavor if I got fresh tomatoes, and asked whether I’d like to add garlic oil to that. I said yes, and would you mind throwing a bit of basil on there, too? It was no problem. I can’t remember what happened after that. It all went so fast. I took a bite of the sandwich, and I lost all touch with reality.
Today, I visited once more with a friend of mine. I ordered the same thing as before. Now, I remember it clear as day. The way the bread crackled as I bit down. The way the mozzarella pulled itself apart. The shameful noise that escaped my mouth after that first bite. About halfway through, I realized that there were tears on my face. I’m pretty sure I said the shehecheyanu.
Oh, I think the people I went with each time enjoyed their food, too. Whatever.
Please visit Meltkraft.

This place is really good… I mean really good. Aside from great food, cool names on sandwiches, they also have some really friendly and interesting staff. I love the Reading Terminal Market, however, some of the vendors come with an attitude of «we can treat you however we want… there’s a reason we’re here».
We were talking to the employee that took our order, she told us a quick story of how she lived in Rome for a while and became a mozzarella nut. She came back to Philly and tried the mozz at MeltKraft (which is advertised as being made fresh daily and never refrigerated). She bought a pound and walked home a few blocks away… she and her boyfriend ate it all on the way home and had to come back for more. When you can get an ambassador like this working for you… you’ve done a great job!
We split the Somerset, its made with Somerset gruyère (aged 12 – 18 months), cured ham, cornichon pickles and whole grain mustard. Our new friend at MeltKraft said, would you like to add bacon… and as I was about to say yes, she said or have it cooked in bacon or duck fat. Shut the front door… I wanted all three! But I opted for duck fat. The sandwich came up quickly we said our goodbyes and grabbed the first table we could find.
The sandwich was beautiful… like food artist beautiful. Perfect grill marks and when you picked up half the cheese stretched as far as you could pull it. The duck fat was used in moderation so the sandwich wasn’t greasy at all. The cornichons were a great idea and between those and the spicy «pops» of mustard seeds the sandwich had the perfect balance of savory and acid. The cheese was unreal… slightly nutty and salty but melted beautifully.
All in all a great place… I may return today, and tomorrow and the next day…

At first, my heart dropped, like Oh Emm Gee, there is a place solely dedicated to an all time American favorite, child hood favorite, when mom says make it your damn self, favorite «GRILLED CHEESE» say what??? Sidenote: Until I grew up I always called a Cheese Grill, idk why? Haha. I mean we had to do a double take, like what is this place?!! Anyways, this place is super cute on the inside with pretty pictures of little farm animals, the counter is small and welcoming and right above you view the all glorious menu of grilled cheese sandwiches I never even knew existed. So… I ask, «what would you recommend», the Valley Thunder is the most requested this sandwich… come on man, valley thunder cheddar aged and beef brisket, so glad I rocket launched my diet out the window a few days prior, because I was going to destroy this grilled cheese. The sandwich was pretty good, here is what I like, the creaminess of the cheese, the sharpness, the presentation, the crusty on the outside chewy on the inside bread, it had all the classics. Here is what I would change: more brisket please, it was sooo covered in the cheese I barely noticed it was there. :(, that bothered me just a little as I crammed the last piece down my throat, so I guess it wasn’t too bad. The chips were the last thing I ate, just not my thing. If only… if only, MeltKraft would open up shop in Anchorage, Alaska *hint *hint, that would make me very happy.

I loooove grilled cheese sandwiches and I really love Meltkraft. Each sandwich comes out to perfect golden gooey perfection. They are super quick. For example, I needed to catch my train in less than 10 minutes. I proceeded to mention this before placing my order and the cashier says, «Oh, it’ll definitely be ready in 2 minutes.» The cashiers and cooks at this location are always friendly. The service is very quick. Also, chips come with the sandwich in the same box. The seasoning on the chips is really tasty (like a malty vinegar sour cream and onion combination of sorts). Stop at this place when you are in the area. You will not regret it!

Awsome store everything maid in the store is maid at there own farms all the food is great and the costumer service is great wish they more stores like this in the city. Highly recommend to anyone.

Best grilled cheese I’ve ever had! I know I’ve said this before but this time it’s for real. You know why? Because this isn’t just a restaurant that has 1 grilled cheese sandwich on the menu this place specializes in grilled cheeses. Not only that but it’s a cheese shop too so they don’t just use regular cheeses like muenster or gouda instead, they’ll use a Valley Thunder cheddar that’s been aged for 12 months, a Somerset Gruyère that’s been aged for 12 — 18 months or a Valley Shepherd cheese that’s been cave aged. You get the picture. And believe me you can taste the difference in the quality of the sandwich, it makes all the difference in the world. They also sell several different kinds of cheeses by the oz/​lb if you want to buy some. Some were $ 14/​lb and some were $ 22/​lb. I’m pretty sure there were some cheeses that cost more than that but I can’t remember because I was too busy thinking about how delicious my grilled cheese was gonna taste.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any pics of my delicious sandwich because I had been so excited about this grilled cheese for like 6 months that when I got it I devoured it and didn’t even think about taking a pic. It was so amazing! And of course I had to get extra cheese on it. The 12 month aged Gruyère they added made it soooo delicious! I’ll just have to take a pic for you guys next time… if I remember.

Probably the BEST tomato soup I have ever had in my life!!! Oh and the grilled cheese was to die for also go her and great healthy soda selections too … Parking sucks downtown but if ur in the area give this spot a try! Quick too!

New favorite vendor in the good ol’ Reading Terminal Market! I tried the Somerset for the first time today, which is a grilled cheese with gruyère, whole grain mustard, ham and cornichons. Holyyyyy hell this was a tasty sandwich, even at 9am (fatass alert). The chips that come with the sandwich were really good too, all vinegary and crispy. Mmmm. Can’t wait to try the other sammys!

Have you heard…
The best melted sandwich in the world could be found in Melt kraft, it will certainly melt your heart.
So Melt it be.
Meet the world’s greatest sandwich, the Valley Thunder, and here’s why.
There’s nothing like scrumptious and perfectly grilled 12 month-​aged cheddar, with baked macaroni and insanely tender Bubbe’s brisket, all placed between two slices of bread.
Want something on the lighter side? Try the Shepherd Classic, filled with 3 month aged three Valley Shepherd cheeses. You may add a twist of tomato. Divine!
P. S:
Melt kraft offers Seven epic grilled cheese sandwiches, AND one non-​grilled cheese. I’m hooked.
Four and Half Unilocal

I am a huge fan of Brie cheese, so with no hesitation I ordered the Brielle, which is pasteurized Brie, cranberry chutney, caramelized onions and pine nuts on brioche.
I really liked it, but I can’t say it was the best grilled cheese I’ve had. It was a bit too greasy and bland for me. The Brie was a bit too much and overwhelmed the other flavors. But I think it still deserves a ⁴⁄₅ because all of the ingredients tasted fresh — especially the cheese — and all of the components inside went well together. The bread was also soft and not too buttery. I went pretty early on Friday morning, so there was no wait and the people at the counter were also very polite and nice!
My friend tried the classic grilled cheese with tomatoes and I think that tasted cleaner and fresher than what I got so I might try that one later!

Tasty, good quality grilled cheese.
Albeit, I could make em myself like this at home, but I appreciate what they’re doing here. I had the Melter Skelter and enjoyed that cheesy raclette goodness with some kick. The bread was good and it thankfully was not dripping in grease.
It’s a little pricey, but given how they make all the cheese, I let it slide.

I had a Valley Thunder grilled cheese in the reading market this past spring and was pretty impressed. It was one of the most uniquely tasting sandwich I’ve ever had within the grilled cheese category. Tasted delicious. I would recommend this highly!

I ordered the Brielle, the first time I ordered from a grilled cheese from Valley Shepherd Meltkraft. This was the best grilled cheese I’ve ever had. The Brie was perfectly melted. The bread was nicely buttered leading to a golden brown toast. The sandwich also had caramelized onions and dried cranberries which added a satisfying element of sweetness. Unfortunately, the fresh mozzarella wasn’t ready at the time I visited, so that is why I suggested stopping by around noon or later.
The second time I visited, I came at a later time and shared the Fresh Mozz and Valley Thunder. Both were great sandwiches.
I would recommend the Brielle out of the three melts that I’ve tried so far.

There is nothing better than your standard grilled cheese sandwich. Gooey melted cheese in between two pieces of buttery grilled bread. That was until Meltkraft came along and turned my perception of this sandwich upside down.
I was on a day trip to Philadelphia, wandering around Reading Terminal Market when someone in my party suggested we have lunch at Meltkraft. Best idea ever.
I had the Brielle [$ 7.75] since I really enjoy a combination of savory and sweet items together. Brie also happens to be one of my favorite cheeses. Everything about this sandwich screams drippy greasy decadence but it was absolutely amazing.
The dill flavored chips on the side was a great touch, providing a much needed crunch to the meal.
By no means is Meltkraft meant for anyone on a diet, I needed a nap after.
…and then I found out there’s a New York location. :-O

3.5! Meltkraft definitely has great grilled cheese.
Their menu is always updated with specials and etc. If you go during lunch, the line may be a bit long.
The Valley Thunder is ridiculous. Great brisket. I actually wish there was more cheese though.
I like the Somerset too. It had some nice flavors.
I think I may have over hyped myself up for this though. I wasn’t wowed by the bread. Moreover, I think grilled cheeses should have toasty bread that crunches when i bite into it.
I liked the small sides of chips. The tomato soup was okay.
This is great nostalgia with fancy cheese, but this isn’t the best ever.

You ask «Is a grilled cheese really worth $ 8»
Answer «Yes! you silly bitch»
Not only is Reading Terminal Market one of the most important sites in Philadelphia, MeltKraft is the destination within a destination. Their sandwiches have funny names, their employees are super personable and funny, they will give you a taste of any cheese, just ask.
We had the classic, it was flavorful and just enough grease. (**I imagine some of the other options are a tad greasier, order wisely based on your tastes, if you think pork and cheese is low grease and healthy option, you have other issues)
I really liked this place alot, I’ve visited the creamery in Long Valley, made some cheese, pet some goats; this is a great company and they do great things.

I stopped by last weekend on a visit to RTM. I was originally planning to hit the Cajun/​Creole place, but when I found out that they have a location in 30^th St. Station, I decided to opt for somewhere else instead. Since I love the concept of gourmet grilled cheese, Meltkraft was on my short list, so I decided to give it a try.
After reading over the reviews, I decided to order the Brielle, which has brie, pine nuts, dried cranberries, and caramelized onions, with an add on of bacon. I was quite excited to try this sandwich, since it seemed like an interesting take on a sweet-​savory balance, and since it came highly recommended by several other Unilocalers. While the flavors and textures were pleasant, blending together nicely, I was a bit disappointed with several key aspects of the sandwich. First, the grilled cheese wasn’t quite as flavorful as I was hoping – although this was likely due to the use of brie, a cheese with a subtler flavor. Indeed, I feared that this would be the case for this reason, but I decided to order this grilled cheese anyway given others’ recommendations, and since I don’t eat beef, which means the Valley Thunder is off limits to me due to its inclusion of brisket. Second, as others have noted about other grilled cheeses, the sandwich was greasier than I’d like. (Note: I hail from Pittsburgh, where we don’t shy away from greasy food, so believe me when I say this.) Third, the version of the grilled cheese I ordered (w/​bacon) cost over $ 9, which seems a bit steep for a grilled cheese (even a gourmet one) – even the meatless version cost close to $ 8. Along the same lines, fourth, as others have also noticed, the grilled cheese wasn’t as substantial as I was hoping, esp. for a sandwich costing that much. In fact, even after eating the grilled cheese, the potato chips that came with it (which were okay, but I’ve had better), and drinking a bottle of Boylan Shirley Temple soda (which complemented the flavors of the sandwich nicely), I found myself still somewhat hungry, which shouldn’t be the case for a lunch costing over $ 11!
I have some comments about service, as well. When I walked up to the counter, I was confused about where to stand, since there appeared to be two lines. Although I never quite figured it out for sure, I suspect the right hand line was for buying cheese, so I went to stand in the left hand line. Despite that there were only two parties ahead of me in line, it took about 5 min. to be waited on. I suspect this was due to the fact that the guy taking new orders was also responsible for distributing orders that came up. Once I ordered, I asked him how long my order would take to come up, and he said about 5 min, so I said I was going to excuse myself to grab something else. He said to me, rather condescendingly, «Be sure to be back on time so your grilled cheese doesn’t get cold.» It took me about 4 min. to pick up something else from another vendor, and as soon as I returned, he called the name of the person who’d ordered before me. I checked to make sure that my name hadn’t been called yet, and the guy working the counter said, «Almost,» with a condescending smile. While I don’t mind what he said, per se, I could definitely have done without the unnecessary attitude. Because there was nowhere convenient to stand, I stood against the wall across from the counter, as people squeezed past me. I waited close to 5 min., and two more people’s orders were called before my order finally came up.
While I think Meltkraft has a lot of potential, due to the quality of their cheeses and the creativity of their sandwiches, I was a bit disappointed due to some flaws in the grilled cheese, its price, and the service I received. I’d be willing to give them another chance, but I think if I did, I’d try their fresh mozzarella sandwich instead, which I think would allow the quality of the cheese to shine through better. However, I admit that it’ll probably be a while until I do so, since RTM has so many other great products and vendors, and I only get to visit a few times a year. 3.5 stars.

When I discovered the fact that a «gourmet» grilled cheese place exists in our fair city of Philadelphia, I knew I had to check it out for myself – as if I needed another excuse to explore all of the goodies in the Reading Terminal Market!
I guess my expectations were a little higher than they should have been. I ordered the Valley Thunder and my boyfriend got the Shepherd Classic. There’s no denying it: the flavor was really phenomenal and unique. I mean, who would have thought to put brisket and macaroni and cheese on the same sandwich?
The thing that really disappointed me most was the service. The cashier made a couple of very awkward and unappreciated jokes. It was just very annoying. In fact, he was so preoccupied with being «witty» he actually had to have us repeat our order again.
With a ⁵⁄₅ for food and a ¹⁄₅ for service, I had no choice but to give ³⁄₅ overall. Once Meltcraft has secured employees it can be proud of, this will become one of the best spots in the RTM, have no doubt.