Neapolitan Pizza$$old-city
Pizzeria Stella in Philadelphia is the Stephen Starr Neapolitan pizzeria on Headhouse Square, a wood-burning oven turning out bubbly Margherita.
Signature: Margherita, Tartufo pizza
Order: Margherita with San Marzano and buffalo mozzarella; the Tartufo with black truffle and fontina.
Tip: Walk in at noon for the happy-hour pies; the main rush starts at 18:30. Reserve on Resy for weekend dinner.
Pizza, Italian$$$fishtown
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.
Signature: Margherita pizza, Hoagie
Order: Margherita with sungold tomatoes; a salad of every herb in the kitchen.
Tip: The hoagie room books separately. Reserve it for groups of four to six who want lunch sandwiches.
Vietnamese$$washington-avenueDaily 10:00-21:00
Nam Phuong in Philadelphia is the 20-year Vietnamese banquet hall on Washington Avenue, with a 200-item menu running pho, clay pots, banh xeo and bun rieu.
Signature: Pho dac biet, Banh xeo
Order: Pho dac biet (everything bowl); banh xeo crepe; sugarcane shrimp paste with rice paper rolls.
Tip: The clay-pot section at the back of the menu is the room's quiet best. The chicken with ginger or the catfish.
Vietnamese$$northern-liberties
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.
Signature: Pho, Pork belly rice paper roll
Order: Pork belly rice paper roll; kroeung beef skewer; a bowl of pho with the side plate of herbs.
Tip: BYOB. Bring a Vietnamese lager or a crisp Riesling. Mostly a takeout-friendly counter, so go early for a seat.
Jewish Deli$$queen-village
Famous 4th Street Delicatessen in Philadelphia is the 1923 Queen Village Jewish deli on the Bainbridge corner, 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand for over-stuffed.
Signature: Pastrami on rye, Matzo ball soup
Order: Pastrami on rye; matzo ball soup; a chocolate-chip cookie at the door on the way out.
Tip: Cash gets a discount at the register. Halve the triple-decker with a friend; it is two sandwiches in one.
American Barbecue$$south-phillyWed-Sun 12:00-18:00
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.
Signature: Brisket, Pork ribs
Order: A sliced brisket plate; pork ribs; the burnt-end sliders if they are running that week.
Tip: Closed Mondays through Wednesdays. Open Thursday to Sunday; brisket sells out by 14:00 on a Sunday.