One day in 1918, while making a sandwich, Mathieu inadvertently dropped the sliced French roll into the roasting pan filled with juice still hot from the oven. The patron, a policeman, said he would take the sandwich anyway and returned the next day with some friends asking for more dipped sandwiches. So called either because of Mathieu's French heritage, the French roll the sandwich is made on or because the officer's name was French. The answer is lost to history.
Free parking is provided for customeers while patronizing the restaurant.
Philippe's is located one block north of the Union Depot Train Station, Metro rail Station, and Olvera Street. It is located on the fringe of China town, within one mile of Dodger Stadium at the intersection of North Main, Almeda and Ord Streets.