Where to buy Kosher chicken in Center City or nearby

[barryg]

I need to get some Kosher chicken and don't want to stray too far from downtown. Ideally, I would just be buying leg quarters or a pre-quartered whole chicken, but I think this might be difficult without finding a real Kosher butcher and I don't know of any in the city besides in the northeast (too far).

Is there a Kosher butcher near downtown? It doesn't have to be strict; just somewhere where they can cut up a Kosher bird.

If I have to buy a whole bird, I know TJ's and (I think) Whole Foods carries them. Anyone know anywhere else? Do you think WF will chop up a wrapped Kosher chicken if I bring it to the counter?

Thanks
bg

[sylviag]

I used to buy Empire Kosher chickens in the freezer department of the supermarket.
Many markets used to carry them; I don't know about the situation currently.
They were very good.

[Quispy]

I think Trader Joe's carries fresh Empire Kosher Chickens.

[Beulah]

So do Superfresh and Shoprite.

[Philly Ray]

There is Tony and Sam's live poultry shop on 7th and Dickinson Sts in South Philly. The sign says "Kosher and Gentile killing" (or something like that). But that sign has been there since I used to go to elementary school across the street.

I'm sure that shop is a remnant from when there used to be a large Jewish population in that neighborhood, but I believe they are still up and running.

[barryg]

I think that place only sells live birds, but I could be wrong.

[Beulah]

Halal is not kosher -- I'm kosher but not orthodox and I would not find halal acceptable. Wegman's has kosher chickens but the nearest one is in Cherry Hill, not Center City. Sholprite also has kosher chickens, as well as other kosher meat -- and the Shoprite tores in NE Philly and in Cherry Hill have lots of kosher stuff.

[Bigley9]

It has been renamed and now has asian lettering as well as english on the sign - it still says kosher killing - so yes, you pick out your live bird I believe and then it is slaughtered as you choose.

[barryg]

Is this place really certified kosher anymore? I would be very surprised.

[Bigley9]

the new sign still indicates it is

[joluvscards]

Wegmans has them.

[Bashful3]

That's interesting about Halal. If Giuntas is at the RTM, that's probably a good quality chicken, but in terms of "kosher", it would not qualify any more than any other good chicken from Pennsylvania Dutch Farms sold at RTM. The ritual slaughter is probably similar in terms of non-cruelty, but I don't think that Jewish people would consider Halal a substitute for Kosher.

[urbanfabric]

Are you in a hurry? I wonder if a place like Guinta's in the RTM could order them for you. My very basic understanding of kosher would lead me to believe that Whole Foods wouldn't be able to butcher a chicken behind that counter unless their kitchen is kept kosher.

[Beulah]

They have cut up kosher chickens at the Superfresh on 5th Street between Pine & Spruce, and, by logical extension, at the larger superfresh on South between 11th adn 10th.

[barryg]

Beulah, thanks, I didn't know they carried Kosher meats--I'll check it out.

Urbanfabric, you are correct that this would un-Kosher the chicken for observant people but for my purposes it would be good enough.

[Bigley9]

Giunta's sign says they have halal meats which I believe are similar to kosher (most places I've seen say kosher/halal

[barryg]

Halal is not the same as Kosher. It's similar in some respects, but the oversight and certification is not the same at all.

[barryg]

The one at 10th & South only had whole birds and breasts, but the one on 5th had packages with leg quarters, which was exactly what I was looking for. It may have just been a stocking thing at the South St one, I'm not sure, but now I'm all set. Thanks!