Fork in Philadelphia is Ellen Yin's 1997 Old City flagship on Market Street, James Beard Outstanding Restaurateur 2022, a cornerstone of the city's modern dining renaissance.
Must order: Whichever hand-cut pasta is on the seasonal menu; the roast duck if it appears.
Tip: The bar runs a separate menu and a half-price oyster happy hour weekday afternoons. Walk in for it.
Address: 306 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Kalaya in Philadelphia is Chutatip 'Nok' Suntaranon's James Beard Best Chef Mid-Atlantic 2022 Southern Thai room in Fishtown, on Palmer Street since the South Philly move.
Order: Khua kling dry-fried pork; massaman curry; the coconut soup that runs from her mother's recipe.
Tip: Book a week out on Resy. The 5pm seating clears quickest if you want a table without a wait.
Laser Wolf in Philadelphia is Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook's Israeli skewer-grill in Olde Kensington at Howard and Master, the casual sibling to Zahav.
Order: The mixed grill plate with beef shipudim and lamb merguez; salatim spread to start.
Tip: Walk in at the bar before 18:00 on a weeknight. Reservations stretch 2 weeks on Resy.
Forsythia in Philadelphia is Christopher Kearse's modern French bistro on Chestnut in Old City, a 2025 Michelin Guide pick with rabbit porchetta and bouillabaisse.
Order: Escargot in parsley butter; duck a l'orange if it appears on the menu.
Tip: Happy hour from 16:30 weekdays runs half-price oysters and a French 75. Walk in for it.
Suraya in Philadelphia is the Fishtown Lebanese market, garden and restaurant on Frankford Avenue, the modern Levantine showroom Michael Solomonov's team doesn't run.
Order: Whole roasted fish for the table, lamb shawarma platter, the labneh with shrak bread.
Tip: Brunch on the back garden patio in summer is the room's best seat. Saturday 10am books out fastest.
Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia is Marc Vetri's 1998 Spruce Street Italian townhouse tasting menu, the city's defining hand-cut-pasta fine-dining room since 1998.
Order: Spinach gnocchi in brown butter; whole roasted baby goat for the table.
Tip: Eight-seat counter at the back is the room's quiet best. Specify when booking on the venue site.
Zahav in Philadelphia is Michael Solomonov's modern Israeli room, James Beard's Outstanding Restaurant in America 2019 and the city's most-booked tasting menu since 2008.
Order: The Mesibah lamb shoulder feast for the table, with hummus tehina to start.
Tip: Resy opens 30 days out at 10am. The Mesibah books fastest. The salatim spread is what to order if you want a la carte.
