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What’s The Deal With Philly Pretzels?

Posted on September 20, 2022   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Brittany Valentine

Brittany Valentine

Fun fact: On average, Philadelphians eat more than 12 times as many pretzels as the average American. But can you blame us? Philly just *knows* how to make them extra special.

All across the city, you can find a wide variety of one of our favorite carbohydrates, like sourdough hard pretzels, chocolate-covered pretzels, and even peanut butter-filled pretzels.

You can find a classic Philly pretzel at virtually any corner store, local sporting event, school cafeteria, and of course, Wawa. There are also stand-alone bakeries that make them fresh every single morning. And we’re so glad they do.

What Makes Our Pretzels Stand Out?

The Philly Pretzel is thicker, doughier, and longer than a traditional soft pretzel. The paper-clip shaped treats come in rows of five or more, with crispy crust speckled with salt. Our love of these local delights could easily be compared to a New Yorker’s love of bagels.

Philly and soft pretzels are so historically connected that at one point in the early ‘90s, we had our own pretzel museum. Petition to bring it back, please.

In 2017, the city added a new mural depicting a large racoon munching on a soft pretzel. Have you seen it? 

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