Bistros, trattorias and the everyday places where Philadelphia actually eats.
Bistros, trattorias, taverns and neighbourhood rooms: the mid-tier places where Philadelphia actually eats.
Han Dynasty in Philadelphia is Han Chiang's Sichuan room on Chestnut, the kitchen that ranked the spice scale 1 to 10 and made the city order dan dan noodles.
OrderDan dan noodles, dry-pot rabbit at heat 7, three-pepper chicken, mapo tofu.
TipOrder one dish below the heat level you think you can handle. The 10 scale is honest.
Barbuzzo in Philadelphia is Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran's 13th Street Mediterranean room since 2010, with wood-fired pizzas and the salted caramel.
OrderWood-fired pizza of the week; salted caramel budino, the dish locals order by name.
TipThe bar counter overlooking the open kitchen takes walk-ups. Quietest table on a Friday night.
Pizzeria Stella in Philadelphia is the Stephen Starr Neapolitan pizzeria on Headhouse Square, a wood-burning oven turning out bubbly Margherita.
OrderMargherita with San Marzano and buffalo mozzarella; the Tartufo with black truffle and fontina.
TipWalk in at noon for the happy-hour pies; the main rush starts at 18:30. Reserve on Resy for weekend dinner.
Guided tour · 45 minutes
Explore the Reading Terminal Market of Philadelphia on a walking tour. Learn about the market's history, hear stories of some of the family-owned merchants, and choose...
Guided tour · 2.5 hours
Discover Philly's most popular food favorites on a guided foodie walking tour. Get a taste of the city's history and culture as you chow down on favorite local dishes.
Water activity · 2.5 hours
Celebrate the holiday season with a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day dinner cruise on the Delaware River. Enjoy a festive dinner with a live DJ and games.
Pizzeria Beddia in Philadelphia is Joe Beddia's Fishtown reincarnation of the Bon Appetit 2015 America's Best Pizza, with a margherita pie and a separate.
OrderMargherita with sungold tomatoes; a salad of every herb in the kitchen.
TipThe hoagie room books separately. Reserve it for groups of four to six who want lunch sandwiches.
Nam Phuong in Philadelphia is the 20-year Vietnamese banquet hall on Washington Avenue, with a 200-item menu running pho, clay pots, banh xeo and bun rieu.
OrderPho dac biet (everything bowl); banh xeo crepe; sugarcane shrimp paste with rice paper rolls.
TipThe clay-pot section at the back of the menu is the room's quiet best. The chicken with ginger or the catfish.
Street Side in Philadelphia is a tiny Vietnamese BYOB on West Girard, an Asian street-food counter with hand-rolled rice paper rolls, kroeung beef skewers.
OrderPork belly rice paper roll; kroeung beef skewer; a bowl of pho with the side plate of herbs.
TipBYOB. Bring a Vietnamese lager or a crisp Riesling. Mostly a takeout-friendly counter, so go early for a seat.
Famous 4th Street Delicatessen in Philadelphia is the 1923 Queen Village Jewish deli on the Bainbridge corner, 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand for over-stuffed.
OrderPastrami on rye; matzo ball soup; a chocolate-chip cookie at the door on the way out.
TipCash gets a discount at the register. Halve the triple-decker with a friend; it is two sandwiches in one.
Mike's BBQ in Philadelphia is the South Philly barbecue counter on 11th since 2018, founded by Mike Strauss and now run by Daniel Grobman, with whole-hog.
OrderA sliced brisket plate; pork ribs; the burnt-end sliders if they are running that week.
TipClosed Mondays through Wednesdays. Open Thursday to Sunday; brisket sells out by 14:00 on a Sunday.
Dim Sum Garden in Philadelphia is chef Shizhou Da's Shanghai dumpling room, reopened January 2025 on Race Street in Chinatown with a doubled soup-dumpling.
OrderXiao long bao by the basket; hand-pulled scallion-pancake noodles; the XL straw soup dumpling for the table.
TipSit at the front window seats to watch the pleating. Cash works but cards land too.
Standard Tap in Philadelphia is the Northern Liberties gastropub since 1999, with a daily chalkboard menu, all-Pennsylvania taps and the chicken pot pie.
OrderThe daily chicken pot pie; steak frites; whichever oysters are on the chalkboard that night.
TipThe roof deck opens April to October. No reservations; walk up and put your name on the list.
K'Far in Philadelphia is Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook's all-day Israeli bakery and cafe at 19th near Rittenhouse, the morning sibling to Zahav's evening.
OrderA bourekas filled with feta and za'atar; shakshuka at brunch; the babka to take home.
TipWalk in for the bakery counter at 08:00 before the work crowd lands at 09:30. Pastries sell out by 11.
Honey's Sit 'n Eat in Philadelphia is the Northern Liberties comfort-food counter at 4th and Brown since 2005, with challah French toast, latkes.
OrderChallah French toast; potato latkes with sour cream and applesauce; the brisket-and-egg plate.
TipNo reservations. Aim for 10:00 weekday or 09:30 Saturday. Cash and cards land equally.