No one was more surprised than Philadelphians when our restaurants and chefs started raking in James Beard Awards over the past half a dozen years. We knew we had good food, but we figured the rest of the country had long since written us off as the land of soft pretzels, cheesesteaks, and some mystery meat disturbingly known as scrapple.
Even COVID-19 couldn’t slow our culinary roll, and while we lost many old favorites and promising new spots to the pandemic, we quickly bounced back—and back onto the lists of internationally acclaimed restaurants—all somehow without losing our street cred for comfort food.
As an Annual Conference attendee, you’re doubly lucky to be stationed at the convention center. Across the street to the south is the 125-year-old Reading Terminal Market with its three-dozen food stands. And across the street to the east is Philly’s Chinatown, home to loads of inexpensive eateries serving great dim sum and other Asian delectables.
Here are the best of Philadelphia’s best, from old-school Italian joints to food hall cornucopias, whiskey bars to funky vegan eateries, and Pennsylvania Dutch smorgasbords to five(!) James Beard winners. And, yes, there will be cheesesteak.
Caribou Café 1126 Walnut St. 267-951-2190 This friendly French brasserie in the theater district is known for its delicious duck cassoulet, steak frites, goat cheese salad with Honeycrisp apples and fig vinaigrette, and wine list. There’s also outdoor seating, three-course prix-fixe menus at lunch and dinner, and happy hour food and drink specials 4–6 p.m. daily. Parfait. L, D (Tue–Sun) $$–$$$
El Vez 121 S. 13th St. 215-928-9800 Generous margaritas and five types of made-to-order guac keep this colorful modern spot in Center City busy night after night for classic Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes in a Mexi-Vegas lounge-like atmosphere. L, D daily $$
Federal Donuts & Chicken 21 S. 12th St. 215-964-9810 The name says it all: double-fried chicken and decadent donuts—“the combination you never knew you needed.” Purists prefer hot-and-fresh donuts tossed in cinnamon sugar or spice blends, but fancy frosted versions beckon, too. Other locations of the franchise include 1909 Sansom St. (near Rittenhouse Square), 1776 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. (near Logan Square), and 540 South St. B, L, D daily $
Goldie 1218 Sansom St. 267-239-0777 Finding it impossible to get into Zahav (see below)? Get your hummus, falafel, and other kosher vegan goodies on the go—including amazing vegan shakes (who knew tahini was so versatile?)—from its younger sibling at any of five Philly locations, including 1911 Sansom St. (near Rittenhouse Square) and 2101 Pennsylvania Ave. L, D daily $
Good Dog 224 S. 15th St. 215-985-9600 As the cheeky sign says: come. sit. stay. at Center City’s go-to spot for pub grub. Wooden booths, great microbrews, and an upstairs game room are just background noise to a Roquefort-stuffed burger that’s da bomb. Happy hour food and drink specials weekdays 3–6 p.m. L, D daily $$
Mari Mari 105 S. 13th St. 267-639-2698 At this Korean-owned sushi spot, find a minimalist interior and powerful flavors (kimchi and bulgogi sneak into some Japanese dishes). Alongside ramen are their specialties: mari (sushi with cooked ingredients) and inari—a fried tofu pocket overstuffed with rice and tasty toppings, kind of like a sushi empanada. L, D daily $–$$
Mercato 1216 Spruce St. 215-985-2962 This glittering modern Italian bistro makes every meal feel like a dinner party—only with a better braised short-rib ravioli than you could ever pull off at home. BYO libations. D (M–Sat) $$$
Vedge 1221 Locust St. 215-320-7500 A vegan restaurant even carnivores will love, Vedge was once named one of the 40 most important restaurants of the last 40 years by Food and Wine magazine. James Beard nominees (and married chefs) Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby turn out elevated seasonal dishes in a relaxed, elegant atmosphere. D (Tue–Sat) $$$
Vetri Cucina 1312 Spruce St. 215-732-3478 Bon Appétit and Esquire have both christened chef Marc Vetri’s intimate spot the best Italian restaurant in the US. It’s chef’s choice here—there’s no à la carte, only tasting menus ($165–$215). However, they will solicitously craft a menu to fit your preferences. And, boy, what a menu: two dozen (mercifully) tapas-sized dishes, served over several hours, along with a small but perfect wine list. D daily $$$
Amada 217–219 Chestnut St. 215-625-2450 Chic and rustic contemporary tapas in the historic heart of town; don’t miss the Spanish cheeses and meats, or the plantain empanadas—oh, and the fabulous sangria. Brunch (Sat, Sun), D daily $$
Buddakan 325 Chestnut St. 215-574-9440 This eternally trendy Old City Asian fusion spot serves up lobster fried rice, edamame dumplings, five-spice duck breast, and chocolate pagodas at a communal table alongside a giant gold Buddha. D daily $$$
Cafe Ole 147 N. 3rd St. 215-627-2140 If you haven’t yet clocked why Old City has earned its nickname—the Hipstoric District—check out this trendy, laid-back café. Line up for all-day breakfasts, delicious pastries and sandwiches, and huge soup bowls filled with their signature shakshuka. B, L daily $
Café Tolia 26 N. 3rd St. 267-687-2533 This cozy neighborhood coffee shop is run by a young couple from Turkey by way of Germany, which helps explain why the display-case croissants are joined by flaky burek (buttery filo layered with cheese and a bit of spinach) and plump Berliner donuts stuffed with homemade strawberry jam. Turkey sandwiches with cheddar, pesto, and apple on sourdough are fantastic. B, L (Tue–Sun) $
Dutch Eating Place 1136 Arch St. 215-922-0425 Dig into the biggest, best breakfast in Philly—blueberry pancakes, apple toast, and oddly yummy scrapple (Pennsylvania’s meat-scrap specialty)—at this luncheonette of Amish favorites in the bustling Reading Terminal Market. Lunch is burgers, chicken pot pie, Reubens, and a hot apple dumpling or slice of shoo-fly pie. B, L (M–Sat) $
Fork 306 Market St. 215-625-9425 Fresh, seasonal ingredients—Cape May fluke, house-made sausage, spring rhubarb—shine at this softly lit date-night favorite, a neighborhood brasserie run by Ellen Yin, James Beard’s 2023 Outstanding Restaurateur. Brunch (Sat, Sun), L (Tue–F), D daily $$$
High Street 101 S. 9th St. 215-625-0988 A post-pandemic move from its original spot next to its sister, Fork, gave chef Christina McKeough a chance to reinvent the old High Street gourmet bakery and café as a proper restaurant—though its baked-good bona fides still shine in anything bready, including the excellent sourdough pizzas. Flavors and ingredients are inventive, from lunch sandwiches and salads to dinner pastas and brunch Dutch babies. Brunch (Sat, Sun), L (Tue–F), D (Tue–Sun) $$–$$$
Morimoto 723 Chestnut St. 215-413-9070 Witness original Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s signature flash in an aptly futuristic showplace—his first branded restaurant. Splurge on omakase ($165 per person) or à la carte specialties including Wagyu beef, perfect sashimi, and Faroe Islands salmon. A sake martini goes well with just about anything. D daily $$$
Reading Terminal Market 1136 Arch St. 215-922-2317 This 125-year-old farmers’ market and food hall in the old train station just south of the convention center has three-dozen food stalls, restaurants, and bakeries offering everything from Amish to Indian, soul food to kebabs, Cajun to cheesesteaks, plus Bassetts Ice Cream and Termini Brothers cannoli. Seating can get tight at lunchtime as Center City workers, tourists, and conventioneers pack the place. Most stalls are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; some accept credit cards; a few are closed on Sunday. B, L daily $–$$
Square Burger 200 N. 6th St. 215-629-4026 Inexpensive hamburgers, salami-wrapped kosher hot dogs, hand-cut fries, and cake shakes made with Tastykake Butterscotch Krimpets (a local, er, delicacy) shine at this walk-up stand—named, alas, for the location (Franklin Square), not the shape of the burgers. L, D daily $
Bon Kif Grill 627 South St. 267-319-1547 Quite possibly the friendliest spot on South Street serves up halal shawarma, grilled branzino, marinated lamb chops, fluffy couscous, and other Tunisian-inflected Mediterranean specialties with a complimentary mint tea at the end. B (M–Th), L, D daily $$
Brauhaus Schmitz 718 South St. 267-909-8814 Schnitzel, wieners, brats, spätzle, strudel, and 122 hearty Belgian and German brews make this convivial bierhalle the best wurst place in town [pause for appreciative groans]. L (F–Sun), D daily $$
Famous Fourth Street Delicatessen 700 S. 4th St. 215-922-3274 Philly’s most celebrated Jewish deli since 1923 offers pastrami sandwiches as thick as phone books, matzo balls as big as grapefruits, and marble cake that could double as a checkerboard. There’s a reason everyone from Adam Sandler to Barack Obama has noshed here. B, L, D daily $$
Jim’s South St. 400 South St. 215-928-1911 If it’s past 11 a.m., there’s a line at this art deco pioneer in the field of cheesesteaks since 1939. It reopened in 2024 after a devastating fire and expanded into the amazing space next door, decorated with the mosaic art of Philly icon Isaiah Zagar. It’s a friendlier cousin to South Philly’s famous Pat’s and Geno’s (the latter of which was started by the son of the founder of Jim’s). Bonus: Unlike its competitors, Jim’s has indoor seating and sells beer. L, D daily $
Pizzeria Stella 420 S. 2nd St. 215-320-8000 Philly restaurateur Stephen Starr’s most affordable place offers cleverly topped thin-crust pizzas plus juice glasses of Prosecco, egg-topped asparagus, and, for the adventurous, olive oil gelato. L, D daily $$
Zahav 237 St. James Place 215-625-8800 In 2019 the James Beard Foundation named Zahav, Philly’s favorite Israeli/Middle Eastern restaurant, the country’s Outstanding Restaurant—the first time a Philly dining room snagged the top honors. Even before the accolades, fans were swearing by the rich hummus and savory kebabs (both of which you can order off the bar menu if you don’t want to spring for the $90 set-price meal). Their classic entrée: a pomegranate lamb shoulder with greens and crispy Persian rice. D (Tue–Sat) $$$
Devil’s Alley 1907 Chestnut St. 215-751-0707 This is a casual, popular Rittenhouse spot for pulled-pork sliders, smoked chicken Cobb salad, creative burgers, and cold beers. Brunch (Sat, Sun), L, D daily $$
Friday Saturday Sunday 261 S. 21st St. 215-546-4232 I hesitate to include a second spot with a $165 tasting menu, but considering the James Beard Foundation dubbed it the Outstanding Restaurant of 2023, it deserves kudos. It certainly leans into its fancy dining motif, with items like sweetbreads, caviar, duck, and roasted quail. Arrive early enough before your reservation to enjoy the bartender’s exquisite concoctions. D (W–Sun) $$$
HipCityVeg 121 S. Broad St. 267-296-9001 This Asian-inflected vegan fast-food café just south of City Hall serves plant-based burgers, wraps, soups, and salads—largely locally sourced. Try the sweet potato fries and a signature smoothie. The original location, over in Rittenhouse, is at 127 S. 18th St. L, D daily $
Melograno 2012 Sansom St. 215-875-8116 With house-cured pancetta in the pasta amatriciana and black truffles on the house-made pappardelle, this ever-bustling BYOB bistro offers classic Italian fare in a modern setting. D (Tue–Sun) $$$
Middle Child 248 S. 11th St. 267-930-8344 Gourmet sandwiches with roots in Italian and Jewish deli classics star in a menu set by owner Matt Cahn, a veteran of New York City kitchens. B, L (Tue–Sun) $
The Oyster House 1516 Sansom St. 215-567-7683 This is the Philly seafood restaurant. Enjoy just about everything under the sea in classic preparations, including oysters opened by resident shuckers who’ve been at it for decades. L, D (Tue–Sat) $$–$$$
Parc 227 S. 18th St. 215-545-2262 Come nighttime, this glittery Parisian bistro absolutely bursts with the see-and-be-seen crowd enjoying homemade bread, duck à l’orange, and steak au poivre. At breakfast, however, the light is natural, the oatmeal is brulée, and the vibe is delightfully low-key. Brunch (Sat, Sun), B (M–F), L, D daily $$$
Sabrina’s Café & Bruncherie 2101 South St. 445-223-1419 Folks wait hours for a seat in this South Street joint, many of them pining for the french toast decked out with caramelized bananas and salted caramel mascarpone. At lunchtime, burgers and sandwiches shine. There’s another location near the Parkway Central Library at 1804 Callowhill St. Brunch, B, L daily $$
Skyhigh 1 N. 19th St. 215-419-5059 The Four Seasons Hotel occupies the top floors of the tallest building in Philadelphia, and it is crowned with a glass conservatory bar with breathtaking views—and prices. Marginally more affordable than the in-house Jean-Georges restaurant, but using the same bespoke kitchen, this is the perch to impress visitors to the city. Book ahead and be aware of the dress code. B, L, D daily $$$
Vernick Food & Drink 2031 Walnut St. 267-639-6644 Greg Vernick opened this nouveau American bistro—leaning seafood, but plenty of turf as well—in 2012. By 2017, the James Beard Foundation was calling him the Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic. D (Tue–Sat) $$–$$$
Village Whiskey 118 S. 20th St. 215-665-1088 Philly’s longest whiskey list (and even longer barstool wait) are the claim to fame at this popular Rittenhouse gastropub. Oh, and a burger that’ll knock you off that hard-won seat. Brunch (Sat, Sun), D daily $$
Angelo’s Pizzeria 736 S. 9th St. 215-922-0000 Long lines, no credit cards, no seats, closes early (7 p.m.) … and still everyone flocks to this Bella Vista takeout for a South Philly hat trick: some of the best pizza and cheesesteaks and hoagies in town. (Bonus: They bake their own rolls.) If you’d like to eat sitting down, there are benches in the playground at the end of the park around the corner. L, D (W–Sun) $–$$
Cosmi’s Deli 1501 S. 8th St. 215-468-6093 Looks like a bodega; delivers Philly steaks like a champion. This neighbor to Pat’s and Geno’s bests those more famous cheesesteakeries in taste tests time after time. (Opens at 10 a.m.) L, D daily $
Geno’s Steaks 1219 S. 9th St. 215-389-0659 This Passyunk street corner hosts a famous rivalry between two garish, outdoor-seating-only cheesesteak shacks: Geno’s and Pat’s. Taste-testing both in one visit is a gut-busting Philly rite of passage. Geno’s is bigger, brighter, and more controversial because of its original owner’s since-removed this is america—when ordering ‘speak english’ sign. Open 24 hours. No credit cards. B, L, D daily $
Isgro Pastries 1009 Christian St. 215-923-3092 When you’re ready to get your cannoli on, head to South Philly’s cannoli king since 1904, run by Sicilian immigrant Mario Isgro’s grandson and his adult sons. B, L (Tue–Sun) $
Le Viet 1019 S. 11th St. 215-463-1570 This Little Saigon standby is less expensive than it looks and does a mean bún bò Huể (a classic soup made with beef shank and flank, pig feet, and a steamed pork roll). Meat is more than ample in the stir-fry, noodle, and broken rice dishes. L (Sat, Sun), D (W–M) $$
Marra’s 1734 E. Passyunk Ave. 215-463-9249 One meal of sublimely simple pizza and homemade escarole soup at this no-nonsense eatery—opened by Nonno Salvatore in the 1920s—and you’ll never eat at Pizza Hut again. The pastas are good, too. L, D (Tue–Sun) $$
Pat’s King of Steaks 1237 E. Passyunk Ave. 215-468-1546 Back in 1930, when it was just a hot dog cart, Pat’s (arguably) invented the famous Philly cheesesteak. Now a roadside outdoor eatery, it has a slight edge over Geno’s, its glitzier rival across the street, if only for being a nicer place—though the service is still famously South Philly brusque and impatient. Order one “Whiz wit” (with Cheez Whiz and onions). Open 24 hours. No credit cards. B, L, D daily $
Ralph’s Italian Restaurant 760 S. 9th St. 215-627-6011 Meatballs and “red gravy” (marinara), chicken Sorrento, and unpretentious service are staples at this fifth-generation family trattoria that’s been serving American-style Italian food since 1900. L (Sat, Sun), D daily $$
Royal Sushi and Izakaya 780 S. Second St. 267-909-9002 A nondescript door opens into this classic sushi bar—no reservations, so get here early for a seat at the counter to watch chef-owner Jesse Ito and his crew craft exquisite rolls. Or splurge on the chirashi: sushi-grade tuna, king salmon, tamago, ikura, and other fish on a bed of seasoned sushi rice. (The super-splurgy $300-per-person omakase requires prepaid reservations.) D (Tue–Sat) $$–$$$
Tony and Nick’s Steaks 39 E. Oregon Ave. 215-551-5725 This is neon-lit, no-nonsense, two-handed dining on cheesesteaks and classic Italian sandwiches. Try the roast pork with garlicky broccoli rabe and sharp provolone. Note: This location changed its name in 2022; son Tony Jr. still runs a local chain under the (more famous) original name, Tony Luke’s. B (M–Sat), L, D daily $
Triangle Tavern 1338 S. 10th St. 215-800-1992 Closing in on a century of serving the locals of East Passyunk, this neighborhood bar has achieved what most thought impossible: a tasty vegan “cheesesteak” (the secret’s in the seitan). Carnivore companions will enjoy the burgers and chicken parm. Both can agree on the sweet potato fries. Even better: The kitchen stays open until 1 a.m. L, D daily $–$$
Victor Café 1303 Dickinson St. 215-468-3040 Giant veal chops and homemade pastas compete for fame with the classically trained, opera-singing servers at this 1933 trattoria. The Victor is such a splendid example of a South Philly Italian trattoria that it served as the set for Adrian’s, the retired champ’s restaurant in the 2006 film Rocky Balboa. D daily $$$
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