Machine Shop is a bakery restaurant in Philadelphia.
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.
Editorially verified May 18, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
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.
Address: 1901 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19148
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.
Kabobeesh is university city halal pakistani-indian counter on chestnut with charcoal-grilled kebabs and biryani serving past midnight every night.
Why locals love it: University City halal Pakistani-Indian counter on Chestnut with charcoal-grilled kebabs and biryani serving past midnight every night.
Tip: Order the lamb chops on the bone and the chicken biryani; the lassi is enough for two.
Lost Bread Co. on Howard in Kensington is a whole-grain bakery milling its own flour from regional grains, open Saturday and Sunday for a four-hour window.
Why locals love it: Kensington whole-grain bakery on Howard that mills its own flour from regional grains and sells only Saturday and Sunday for a four-hour window.
Tip: Get in line by 09:30 Saturday. The country sourdough sells out by 11:00 on a busy weekend.
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.
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.
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.
