From cozy neighborhood eateries to chic cafes and high-end fine dining, discover the best restaurants in Philadelphia for every palate.
If you’re a food enthusiast planning a trip to America, overlooking Philadelphia’s culinary scene would be a significant oversight, a mistake I’ve made myself. As a dedicated New Yorker, I spent a long time eating my way through New York’s boroughs, chronicling meals for food guides tailored to different tastes, and the culinary delights seemed inexhaustible. However, after my recent visit to the City of Brotherly Love this summer, it became clear what locals have always known: Philadelphia’s food scene is unmissable.
Philadelphia boasts an Italian food scene that rivals New York City’s, some of the best Middle Eastern cuisine in America, and a host of local favorites including Pretzels, Cheesesteaks and Amish pies. These culinary staples define the city’s unique gastronomic identity. However, Philadelphia’s food offerings extend far beyond these iconic dishes. In South Philly, renowned Thai and Mexican restaurants draw international acclaim for their bold flavors, while brasserie classics add a touch of sophistication to Center City’s dining scene. The city center alone boasts over 1,000 restaurants and 400 outdoor cafes, creating a rich tapestry of dining options. This extensive network of eateries has helped Philadelphia become a top destination for James Beard Award-winning food, reflecting the unique personalities and tastes of its residents.
Centre City and Chinatown
Reading Terminal Market, originally a historic train depot, is home to over 80 outstanding merchants, including numerous eateries in its bustling public market. Located in a National Historic Landmark building, it is just a few steps away from the Pennsylvania Convention Center, drawing a continuous stream of locals and visitors picking out fresh produce or enjoying delicious meals.
A visit to the market wouldn’t be complete without trying local classics, especially the unique Amish and Mennonite foods native to Pennsylvania Dutch farm communities. For savory treats, indulge in buttery, soft Amish pretzels at Miller’s Twist—Philly is, after all, the birthplace of the salted pretzel—or enjoy rotisserie chickens at Dienner’s, where the produce is delivered fresh daily from the farm. The market’s offerings extend well beyond Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. Try the roast pork sandwich, a Philly favorite, at Tommy DiNic’s, stacked with tender slices of pork, broccoli rabe, and provolone. Finish your market visit with sweet potato pie and iced tea from Sweet T’s Bakery or the renowned ice cream from Bassett’s Ice Cream, the first merchant to sign a lease at the market in 1892.
Philadelphia’s Chinatown district, adjacent to the Pennsylvania Convention Center District, is known for its excellent and conveniently located Chinese specialties. Visit Mayflower Café and Bakery for brioche rolls, mango tarts, and bubble tea, Lee How Fook for a variety of hot pots on North 11th Street, and Ting Wong for hearty Hong Kong-style noodles and roasted duck on North 10th Street. Race Street is home to one of America’s most unique speakeasies, Hop Sing Laundromat. For late-night fun, head to Yakitori Boy on North 11th, a karaoke lounge, or enjoy a late meal at David’s Mai Lai Wah, which stays open until 2:30 am, also on Race Street.
Old City and Society Hill Neighborhood
Chef Michael Schulson’s Independence Beer Garden situated across from the Liberty Bell, captures the perfect summertime atmosphere with its picnic tables, string lights, lush greenery, TVs, and games. The drink menu features seasonal beers, along with cocktails. For food, you can enjoy bar snacks such as wings, pretzel bites, and chips with guacamole, as well as a variety of salads and sandwiches.
Continue the culinary journey down cobblestone streets to Cuba Libre, where you can enjoy Cuban classics like minty mojitos, empanadas, steaks, and paellas in a setting reminiscent of a Havana avenue. Positano Coast brings Mediterranean flair to the table with Southern Italian dishes such as Sea urchin linguine, Grilled Salmnon, and Eggplant parmigiana. The highlight of this diverse spectrum is Zahav, the 2019 James Beard Award winner for Outstanding Restaurant known for its Israeli spread that includes pomegranate lamb shanks, Charcoal-grilled skewers with rice pilaf, and creamy in-house hummus.
Khyber Pass Pub serves up New Orleans inspired Cajun and Creole dishes like jambalaya and gumbo, while Fork Restaurant, run by restaurateur Ellen Yin and Executive Chef Eli Kulp, known for inventive Mid-Atlantic-inspired cooking offers specialties such as pork chops and dry aged burger.
Campo’s Philly Cheesesteaks, established in 1947, offers a taste of classic flavors in a nostalgic setting. This small corner shop in Old City is just three blocks from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Campo’s serves traditional steaks made with high-quality rib-eye cut against the grain on Liscio’s rolls, and they also cater to various dietary preferences with vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free options. Local brews from Yards Brewing are also available.
For dessert, explore the area’s traditional sweet treats. Franklin Fountain offers old-school hot fudge sundaes and peach melbas, creating a nostalgic 1904 ambiance. Nearby, Shane’s Confectionery, one of the oldest candy stores in the nation, invites guests to make bean-to-bar chocolate and enjoy seasonal creations, like the pumpkin-spice buttercreams.
Philadelphia’s pop-up beer gardens provide the perfect setting to wash down your culinary adventures. At Spruce Street Harbor Park, you can relax with beer and cocktails among shaded hammocks and suspended net lounges along the Delaware River.
Also Read: The Countryside of Philadelphia: A Guide to Road Tripping through Brandywine Valley and Valley Forge
Rittenhouse Square, Midtown Village and Washington Square West
Rittenhouse Square, Midtown Village, and Washington Square West (including the Gayborhood) form a connected area where outdoor dining flourishes on sidewalks, patios, rooftops, and gardens. Saturdays are perfect for enjoying in Rittenhouse Square, one of the five original public green spaces established by Philadelphia’s founding father, William Penn. The park hosts a year-round Farmers Market from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, adding to the vibrant atmosphere.
On opposite sides of the park, you’ll find Parc and Lacroix at The Rittenhouse, both celebrating Philadelphia’s historical French culinary influences. Parc offers a delightful brunch with dishes like Steak frites, coq au vin, escargots and towering plateaus of fruits de mer in a charming bistro setting, while Lacroix serves up breakfast favorites such as roasted beets with blackberry, lavender, and sage, steak au poivre, lobster bisque.
As evening falls, unwind at The Dandelion, that pays tribute to British pubs, offering modern, seasonal interpretations of traditional dishes from the United Kingdom. If you’re in the mood for Mexican, visit El Techo, the rooftop taqueria, renowned for their Mexican menu made up of shareable snacks like airy chicarrones with salsa verde, queso fundido, and, of course, guacamole and chips, along with a list of tacos. The beverage menu features tequilas and mezcals, as well as beer and a selection of wines.
Midtown Village is a culinary playground. Start your day with coffee and pastries at Elixr Coffee Roasters. Nearby, you’ll find Alpen Rose, known for its sizzling steaks, and Sampan, serving a variety of Pan-Asian dishes. For those preferring plant-based fare, Vedge presents a seasonal menu of locally sourced vegetables, masterfully prepared by James Beard-nominated chefs Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby. Their Spicy Dan Dan Noodles and Eggplant Braciole with Italian salsa verde are two of their delicious entrées worth trying.
Fancy a tipple? Head to McGillin’s Olde Ale House, Philadelphia’s oldest continuously operating tavern, established in 1860. If you’re in search of vegan sides to accompany your drink, head to Nicole Marquis’ intriguing bar, Charlie Was A Sinner, on 13th Street. Here, you can sip dark bourbon, watch projections of Marilyn Monroe on white curtains, and enjoy food that’s entirely free of animal products.
Fishtown
The best way to immerse yourself in the culinary charm of Fishtown is to start with a bite of bagels crusted in sesame, poppy seeds, or everything spice on the bottom and the top at Philly Style Bagels. Pair these bagels with exceptional coffee from La Colombe’s (Philadelphia’s renowned coffee roasting company) flagship location on Frankford Avenue, housed in a giant refurbished Fishtown warehouse that is part restaurant, part bakery and part bar.
For lunch, make your way to the award-winning Kalaya restaurant, renowned for serving some of the finest Thai food in the United States. Consider ordering the delicate flower-shaped shaw muang dumplings filled with ground chicken, the cold and crunchy laab ped (ground duck salad with crispy duck skin), and a couple of their curry dishes. Be sure to secure a reservation in advance.
Dinner at Suraya is a memorable experience, featuring lavish Lebanese mezza and grilled meats. Reserve a table by the garden fire pit to enjoy marinated kebabs, spice-rubbed lamb chops, and the show-stopping dry-aged rib eye for two. Middle Eastern flavors continue to impress at Laser Wolf, an Israeli-style skewer house where whole branzino and short rib shishlik sizzle over a charcoal grill. Both restaurants offer excellent cocktails and typically require reservations weeks in advance.
Local distilleries enrich Fishtown’s craft booze scene. New Liberty Distilling specializes in whiskey and bourbon, while Philadelphia Distilling offers vodka and gin. Both have on-site bars where guests can sample their signature spirits.
South Philly
You might recognize scenes of South Philadelphia from the Rocky movies, but after indulging in the diverse culinary offerings of this sprawling neighborhood, you’ll remember it for the food. Nestled between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, the Italian Market on South Market Street is a year-round, open-air marketplace established by Italian immigrants in the 1880s. Here, vendors offer fresh produce alongside specialty shops selling everything from artisanal olive oil and vinegar to freshly made tortilla chips. The area’s restaurants showcase the rich culinary traditions of Philadelphia’s immigrant communities, offering a diverse array of dishes to suit any craving.
At the southern tip of Philly’s Italian Market, diagonally across from each other, stand the city’s iconic rival cheesesteak spots: Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks. Pat’s, still run by the Olivieri family, has been serving the original steak sandwich since 1930. Across the street, Geno’s has been offering its own take with thinly sliced rib-eye steak since 1966. This 24/7 rivalry between Pat’s and Geno’s attracts crowds to East Passyunk for their own cheesesteak taste-offs.
This dynamic district features long-standing Italian establishments such as Ralph’s, America’s oldest continually operated Italian restaurant, famous for its homestyle chicken parmesan, and Termini Brothers Bakery, renowned for their cannoli. These classics share the spotlight with newer culinary gems like South Philly Barbacoa, made famous by the Chef’s Table series, where you can savor the acclaimed lamb tacos.
End your evening with a view of the Philadelphia skyline at BOK Bar, a rooftop venue that also hosts chef collaborations, providing the perfect backdrop for a memorable night.
Philadelphia’s dining scene is as diverse and dynamic as the city itself. From iconic cheesesteaks and roast pork sandwiches to innovative fine dining and vibrant neighborhood eateries, there’s something to satisfy every palate. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, exploring the culinary delights of Philadelphia is an essential part of the Philly experience.
For more information, visit Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
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A New Yorker at heart, an unapologetic anglophile, national parks explorer and former head of National Geographic publishing in India, Ritika is the Global Editor for Travel and Food Network and leads all journalism across platforms, including news, digital, videos, and social media. She writes features focused on narrative storytelling, industry trends, destinations, culinary travel, and how-to advice and is an advocate for sustainable travel. You can follow her on Instagram @newyorkeratheart
