Brown Sugar Bakery & Cafe

Stop by this Trini bakery in West Philly around noon, and you may find that the rest of the neighborhood has beaten you to all the flaky beef patties in the display case. Don't let this happen. (If it does, Brown Sugar also makes great, thin-crusted chicken curry patties as well as slightly sweet coconut rolls.) Head here when you want saltfish for breakfast, or on a Saturday for weekend-only doubles and curry goat platters.

The food is comforting enough to have you searching for a couch, but it's also fun to sit here and eat. The cook/owner might leave the kitchen just to hand you a utensil, and a stranger in line may give you a book they’re done reading. (Both of these things happened to us.) Whether you’re taking everything to go or hanging out for 30 minutes, there are plenty of photos of soca VIPs on the wall to keep you occupied while you wait for your order.