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 renaissance.
Signature dishes: Hand-cut pasta, Roast duck
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
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 noodles famous.
Signature: Dan dan noodles, Dry pot
Order: Dan dan noodles, dry-pot rabbit at heat 7, three-pepper chicken, mapo tofu.
Tip: Order one dish below the heat level you think you can handle. The 10-spice scale is honest.
Forsythia in Philadelphia is Christopher Kearse's modern French bistro on Chestnut Street in Old City, a 2025 Michelin Guide selection with rabbit porchetta and bouillabaisse.
Signature: Escargot, Duck a l'orange
Order: The escargot with parsley and shallots; the duck if it appears on that night's tasting menu.
Tip: Happy hour from 16:30 weekdays runs half-price oysters and a French 75. 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 past 22:00.
Signature: Steak frites, Croque madame
Order: Steak frites with bearnaise; the croque madame at brunch; a half-bottle of Sancerre.
Tip: The 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 noodles famous.
Signature: Dan dan noodles, Dry pot
Order: Dan dan noodles, dry-pot rabbit at heat 7, three-pepper chicken, mapo tofu.
Tip: Order 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 room.
Signature: Margherita pizza, Hoagie
Order: The margherita with sungold cherry tomatoes; a salad of every herb in the kitchen.
Tip: The 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 operation.
Signature: Xiao long bao, Hand-pulled noodles
Order: Xiao long bao by the basket; hand-pulled scallion-pancake noodles; the XL straw soup dumpling.
Tip: Sit 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 and the salted caramel budino.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Salted caramel budino
Order: The wood-fired pizza of the week; salted caramel budino for dessert, the dish that built its reputation.
Tip: The 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 and bouillabaisse.
Signature: Escargot, Duck a l'orange
Order: The escargot with parsley and shallots; the duck if it appears on that night's tasting menu.
Tip: Happy hour from 16:30 weekdays runs half-price oysters and a French 75. Walk in for it.
