Vietnamese$$
Street Side is a vietnamese room in Philadelphia. BYOB. Bring a Vietnamese lager or a Riesling; the room is small so go at 17:30 or take it to go.
Why locals love it: Tiny West Girard Vietnamese BYOB on the Northern Liberties side, more takeout counter than dining room, with rice paper rolls.
Tip: BYOB. Bring a Vietnamese lager or a Riesling; the room is small so go at 17:30 or take it to go.
Italian$$
Ambra is queen village 16-seat italian tasting menu on south 4th from chris d'ambro that locals quietly call the city's most personal multi-course room.
Why locals love it: Queen Village 16-seat Italian tasting menu on South 4th from Chris D'Ambro that locals quietly call the city's most personal multi-course room.
Tip: Book at 30 days out, 10am sharp on the venue site. Wednesday and Thursday clear faster than Saturday.
Irish$$
McGillin's Olde Ale House in Philadelphia: irish room. The 1860 Drury Street Irish tavern tucked down an alley between 13th and Juniper, the oldest.
Why locals love it: The 1860 Drury Street Irish tavern tucked down an alley between 13th and Juniper, the oldest continuously operating bar in Philadelphia.
Tip: Find Drury Street between 13th and Juniper. The McGillin family Real Ale is the order; the corned-beef sandwich the side.
American diner$$
Johns Roast Pork at Snyder and Weccacoe is the 1930 South Philly counter locals defend as the citys best roast pork while tourists queue at Pats a mile north.
Why locals love it: The 1930 South Philly counter at Snyder and Weccacoe that locals defend as the city's best roast pork while tourists queue at Pat's a mile north.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Go before 11:00 for lunch counter; cash and cards both work.
Bakery$$Thu-Sun 09:00-14:00
Machine Shop is a bakery room in Philadelphia. Walk in mid-morning. Pastry sells out by 13:00. The everything croissant with pistachio is the order.
Why locals love it: South Philly boulangerie tucked in the back of the Bok Building on 9th and Dudley, with everything-croissants and apple danishes from regional grain.
Tip: Walk in mid-morning. Pastry sells out by 13:00. The everything croissant with pistachio is the order.
Cantonese$$
Dim Sum Garden is a cantonese room in Philadelphia. Order the XL soup dumpling specifically; the regular xiao long bao basket is the baseline order.
Why locals love it: Reopened January 2025 on Race Street with the city's only XL straw soup dumpling, a six-inch xiao long bao slurped through a straw, served at lunch.
Tip: Order the XL soup dumpling specifically; the regular xiao long bao basket is the baseline order.