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Best Find: Merion Square Gourmet Foods

Inquirer suburban staff

Posted: April 23, 2006

What it is: Merion Square Gourmet Foods, Gladwyne.

What we like about it: For hungry diners looking for takeout variety, Merion Square Gourmet Foods offers a wealth of choices with its hot and cold buffet menu and sandwiches. Menu items are made fresh by owners James and Kun Ji, who opened the takeout-only restaurant 11 years ago after moving from South Korea in 1989. Daughter Debbie Choi is the manager.

The salad bar and hot buffet are open for business from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The offerings range from cold salad fixings and toppings, including pasta salad, strawberries and watermelon, to hot fried rice, roast beef, meatballs, meatloaf, French fries and chicken wings. Salad bar and buffet items both cost $4.59 per pound.

The shop also makes sandwiches to order with popular local favorites, including the 12-inch cheesesteak for $5.09, chicken cheesesteak for $5.89, and cheesesteak with bacon for $6.49.

Lunchtime staples with the regulars are the 12-inch hoagies. Two popular choices: the turkey hoagie for $5.49 and the Italian hoagie featuring cooked salami, hot ham, hard salami, cheese and pepper ham with oil, lettuce and tomato for $5.09.

What else we like about it: Breakfast is available from 7 to 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday. The choices include sandwiches such as the bacon, egg and cheese for $2.79 and platters such as the Western cheese-omelet platter, which includes home fries and toast, for $4.99.

The shop also sells individual cookies, crackers, chips and soft drinks.

Where: 340 Righters Mill Rd., Gladwyne.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; closed Sundays. Cash only.

Phone: 610-649-4884.