Stock in Philadelphia is Tyler Akin's 18-seat Fishtown BYOB on Girard, with a 14-hour pho stock and a rotating khao soi from a Zahav alum kitchen.
Signature dishes: Beef pho, Khao soi
Must order: Beef pho with the side plate of herbs; khao soi if it is on the board; a roast pork banh mi at lunch.
Tip: BYOB. Bring a crisp Riesling or a Vietnamese lager. Cash and cards both work.
Address: 308 E Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Famous 4th Street Delicatessen in Philadelphia is the 1923 Queen Village Jewish deli on the Bainbridge corner, 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand for over-stuffed pastrami sandwiches.
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.
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 brisket and ribs.
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.
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 operation.
Signature: Xiao long bao, Hand-pulled noodles
Order: Xiao long bao by the basket; hand-pulled scallion-pancake noodles; the XL straw soup dumpling for the table.
Tip: Sit 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 that locals reorder.
Signature: Chicken pot pie, Steak frites
Order: The daily chicken pot pie; steak frites; whichever oysters are on the chalkboard that night.
Tip: The 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 service.
Signature: Borekas, Shakshuka
Order: A bourekas filled with feta and za'atar; shakshuka at brunch; the babka to take home.
Tip: Walk 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 and a hangover-grade weekend brunch.
Signature: Challah French toast, Latkes
Order: Challah French toast; potato latkes with sour cream and applesauce; the brisket-and-egg plate.
Tip: No reservations. Aim for 10:00 weekday or 09:30 Saturday. Cash and cards land equally.
