The restaurants worth a reservation in Philadelphia, from neighbourhood bistros to the new classics.
The restaurants worth the trip in Philadelphia. bistros, neo-classics, neighbourhood favourites, and the rooms locals book first.
Zahav in Philadelphia is Michael Solomonov's modern Israeli room near Society Hill, James Beard's Outstanding Restaurant in America in 2019 and one.
OrderThe lamb shoulder for two with the hummus tehina, the way it has been ordered since 2008.
TipBook 30 days out on Resy at 10am Eastern. The Mesibah feast lands at the family table.
Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia is Marc Vetri's 1998 Spruce Street townhouse tasting menu, a Michelin-recognised Italian room with the spinach gnocchi.
OrderSpinach gnocchi in brown butter and ricotta salata; the whole roasted baby goat for the table.
TipBook 60 days out on the venue's own site. The eight-seat counter is the room's quiet best seat.
Friday Saturday Sunday in Philadelphia is Chad and Hanna Williams's narrow Rittenhouse townhouse, James Beard Best New Restaurant 2019 and the city's most.
OrderThe mushroom soup, with foie gras toast on the side. The dish that anchored their James Beard year.
TipThe upstairs bar takes walk-ups. The wine list runs natural and the pours arrive faster than reservations.
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 move.
OrderThe khua kling dry-fried pork with rice; the massaman curry; Nok's mother's coconut soup.
TipBook a week out on Resy. The 5pm seating clears quickest if you want a table without a wait.
Vernick Food & Drink in Philadelphia is Greg Vernick's James Beard Best Chef Mid-Atlantic 2017 Rittenhouse bi-level brownstone, with the avocado toast.
OrderThe avocado toast with chilli flake; whatever whole fish is on the wood fire that night.
TipThe chef's counter on the second floor watches the open kitchen. Book it specifically when reserving.
Royal Sushi & Izakaya in Philadelphia is the eight-seat Queen Village omakase counter behind the front-room izakaya, ranked among North America's 50 Best.
OrderThe omakase counter at the back; the crispy pork gyoza if you sit at the izakaya bar in front.
TipThe omakase books out 30 days at midnight on Resy. The izakaya front room takes walk-ups most weeknights.
Laser Wolf in Philadelphia is Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook's Israeli skewer-grill at Howard and Master in Olde Kensington, the casual sibling to Zahav.
OrderThe mixed grill plate with beef shipudim and lamb merguez; the salatim spread to start.
TipWalk in at the bar before 18:00 on a weeknight. Reservations stretch out 2 weeks on the Resy calendar.
Suraya in Philadelphia is the Fishtown Lebanese market, garden and restaurant on Frankford Avenue from Greg Root, Nicholas Kennedy and chef Roland Kassis.
OrderWhole roasted fish for the table, lamb shawarma platter, the labneh with shrak bread.
TipBrunch on the back garden patio in summer is the room's best seat. Saturday 10am books out the fastest.
Fork in Philadelphia is Ellen Yin's 1997 Old City flagship on Market Street, a James Beard Outstanding Restaurateur 2022 anchor of the Philadelphia dining.
OrderWhichever hand-cut pasta is on the seasonal menu; the roast duck if it appears.
TipThe bar runs a separate menu and a half-price oyster happy hour weekday afternoons. Walk in for it.
Parc in Philadelphia is Stephen Starr's Rittenhouse Square French brasserie on 18th Street, a Parisian-cafe room that runs croissants by 08:00 and onion soup.
OrderSteak frites with bearnaise; the croque madame at brunch; a half-bottle of Sancerre.
TipThe outdoor sidewalk seats on 18th Street face Rittenhouse Square. Book them specifically in summer.
Han Dynasty in Philadelphia is Han Chiang's Sichuan room on Chestnut in Old City, the kitchen that ranked the city's spice scale 1 to 10 and made the dan dan.
OrderDan dan noodles, dry-pot rabbit at heat 7, three-pepper chicken, mapo tofu.
TipOrder one dish below the heat level you think you can handle. The 10-spice scale is honest.
Pizzeria Beddia in Philadelphia is Joe Beddia's Fishtown reincarnation of the Bon Appetit America's Best Pizza of 2015, with a hoagie room behind the dining.
OrderThe margherita with sungold cherry tomatoes; a salad of every herb in the kitchen.
TipThe hoagie room books separately. Reserve it for groups of four to six who want lunch sandwiches.
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.
OrderXiao long bao by the basket; hand-pulled scallion-pancake noodles; the XL straw soup dumpling.
TipSit at the front window seats to watch the pleating. Cash works but cards land too.
Barbuzzo in Philadelphia is Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran's 13th Street Mediterranean kitchen, open since 2010, anchored by wood-fired pizzas.
OrderThe wood-fired pizza of the week; salted caramel budino for dessert, the dish that built its reputation.
TipThe bar counter overlooking the open kitchen takes walk-ups. It is the room's quietest table on a Friday.
Forsythia in Philadelphia is Christopher Kearse's modern French bistro on Chestnut Street in Old City, a 2025 Michelin Guide selection with rabbit porchetta.
OrderThe escargot with parsley and shallots; the duck if it appears on that night's tasting menu.
TipHappy hour from 16:30 weekdays runs half-price oysters and a French 75. Walk in for it.
Ambra in Philadelphia is Chris D'Ambro and Marina de Oliveira's 16-seat Italian tasting menu on South 4th in Queen Village, the city's most personal.
OrderThe full nine-course tasting; the four-seat kitchen counter rather than the main table when available.
TipBook at exactly 30 days out at 10am on the venue's site. Saturday seatings fill in the first 90 seconds.
Nam Phuong in Philadelphia is the 20-year Vietnamese banquet hall on Washington Avenue, with a 200-item menu running pho, clay pots, banh xeo and bun rieu.
OrderPho dac biet (the everything bowl); banh xeo crepe; sugarcane shrimp paste with rice paper rolls.
TipThe clay-pot section at the back of the menu is the room's quiet best. Order the catfish or the chicken with ginger.
Street Side in Philadelphia is a small Vietnamese BYOB on West Girard, an Asian street-food counter with hand-rolled rice paper rolls, kroeung beef skewers.
OrderPork belly rice paper roll; kroeung beef skewer; pho with the side plate of herbs.
TipBYOB. Bring a Vietnamese lager or a crisp Riesling. Tight room, so go early or get it to go.
Pizzeria Stella in Philadelphia is Stephen Starr's Headhouse Square Neapolitan pizzeria on the corner of 2nd and Lombard, with a wood-burning oven.
OrderMargherita with San Marzano and buffalo mozzarella; the Tartufo with black truffle and fontina.
TipWalk in at noon for happy-hour pies; main rush starts at 18:30. Reserve on Resy for weekends.
K'Far in Philadelphia is Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook's all-day Israeli bakery and cafe at 19th near Rittenhouse, the morning room before the Zahav night.
OrderA bourekas filled with feta and za'atar; shakshuka at brunch; the babka to take home.
TipWalk in for the bakery counter at 08:00 before the work crowd lands at 09:30. The pastries sell out by 11.
Mike's BBQ in Philadelphia is the South Philly barbecue counter on 11th Street since 2018, founded by Mike Strauss and now run by Daniel Grobman.
OrderA sliced brisket plate; pork ribs; the burnt-end sliders if they are running.
TipClosed Mondays. Open Thursday to Sunday; the brisket sells out by 14:00 on a Sunday.
Famous 4th Street Delicatessen in Philadelphia is the 1923 Queen Village Jewish deli on the Bainbridge corner, a 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand for over-stuffed.
OrderPastrami on rye; matzo ball soup; the chocolate-chip cookie at the door on the way out.
TipCash gets a discount at the register. The triple-decker is too much; halve it with a friend.
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