“Rooster Soup provides an accessible, responsible way for our guests to better the lives of their Philadelphia neighbors – just by eating lunch.”

Smoked matzo ball soup; local mushroom “cheesesteak”; and coconut cream pie.

Since 2011, Philadelphians have been crazy for the fast casual fried-chicken-and- donut micro-chain, Federal Donuts. Rooster Soup opened in 2017 as a way to turn a nourishing broth from all those Federal Donuts chicken backs and bones that had been going to waste - more than 700 chickens per week - into profits. Those profits go directly to Broad Street Hospitality Collaborative, a nonprofit that feeds the hungry and provides other vital services to Philadelphians in need. But eating at Rooster isn’t just a feel-good way to support a local charitable organization.

Flavors here are just as creative and vibrant as you would expect from both Federal Donuts and the CookNSolo restaurant group, the people behind Philly’s famed and award-winning Zahav. Subtly vegetable-forward, the diner-inspired menu prioritizes products from local farmers and growers. Salads have just as prominent place on the menu as the titular soups. With most menu items priced around $10, this is chef-driven food made accessible to all. It’s hard to imagine a better value than ethically produced food that benefits the community and doesn’t bust your budget.

“Rooster Soup Co. re-creates a perfect Nighthawks luncheonette – from its red swivel stools to the absurdly fluffy coconut-cream pies sitting in a case behind the Formica counter.” –Brett Martin, GQ magazine