McGillin's Olde Ale House is an irish restaurant in Philadelphia.
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.
Editorially verified May 18, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
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.
Address: 1310 Drury St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
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.
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.
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.
