Finally, spring is here – so why not treat yourself? Spring is all about a fresh start, which means it's the perfect excuse to order some culinary delights you've never tried before. The city of Brotherly Love has a rich, ever-changing food culture, and we've found 12 dishes that will prove exactly that. Whether you're planning a romantic date night, you want to impress some dinner guests or you're just having some much-needed me time, these restaurants won't let you down.
Originally opened in 2007 by Han Chiang and his mother Lung Chiang, Han Dynasty has since grown to ten locations in Philadelphia and New York City. It’s easy to see why, too, as all of their dishes are immediately gratifying. That’s especially true of the Dan Dan Noodles, which are the perfect mixture of saucy and spicy. The portions are huge, too.
Chef Mike Strauss’ take on the Philadelphia staple is mouth-watering to gaze at, let alone eat. Thanks to the juicy brisket, layers of cheese and onions, and sumptuous bread, it somehow tastes even better than it looks, too. Especially when paired with the Gouda Mac N Cheese.
A local Fairmount favorite, which in the summer is always bustling, Zorba’s also has the food to back up its popularity. Those of you looking for a home-cooked meal, without going near an oven, will find great comfort in its ground lamb and beef meatballs, which come lathered in a heavenly red wine tomato sauce.
Open for nearly 50 years, this authentic Mediterranean restaurant doubles as a Middle Eastern food store. Famous for its exquisite falafel, the Veggie Combo includes this as well as tabouli, hummus, and baba ganuj, all of which is bursting with freshness.
Philadelphia’s Chinatown is full of options, but Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House is easily the pick of the bunch. Its hand-pulled noodles are a speciality, and blend beautifully with the moist brisket and salty broth in its divine Beef Brisket Noodle Soup. It also helps that it’s wonderfully cheap.
Renowned for its traditional cuisine, Nemi uses high-quality ingredients to create authentic Mexican dishes. The Carnitas tacos epitomize their approach, as they are so tender that they fall apart in your mouth, while still leaving you feeling full.
Not only are Down North Pizza’s Detroit-style pies thick, doughy and packed full of flavor, but it exclusively employs formerly incarcerated individuals to aid their career prospects, too. Everything on their menu is delicious, but the What We Do’s combination of pepperoni, sausage, kale, banana peppers, and honey chipotle is satisfaction guaranteed.
One of the most popular restaurants in the city, White Yak’s Tibetan dishes manage to taste just as good when delivered. Everything on the menu will convert you to the culinary wonders of the region, but the Tibetan Style Curry will make you feel so warm and fulfilled that you’ll make it a staple.
Housemade sweet pea guacamole, crispy fish tacos with zingy pineapple relish, richly flavored beef and chorizo chilli... honestly, is there anything better than top-quality Mexican food? Heffe brings fresh flavors to its menu of tacos, burritos and quesadillas – but for our money, the Tijuana poutine is a must-order. Waffle fries are topped with macho chili, queso Americano, pickled jalapeno, over easy egg, crema, salsa rosa and queso fresco. We guarantee that if you order it to celebrate spring you'll end up re-ordering it for delivery year-round.
Philadelphia has its fair share of Ethiopian restaurants, but it’s Abyssinia that stands out. Primarily because of its Meat Combination platter, which brings beef in berbere sauce, spicy chicken legs, and lamb stew together all on one plate, alongside lentils, collard greens, and injera flatbread.
Finding a reliable Chinese restaurant can be a long and arduous process. Not for Philadelphians, though. Drunk Crab delivers consistently tasty food, and its flavorful seafood fried rice, with its huge shrimp, is the highlight.
Plenty of places in Philadelphia will tell you that they make the best hoagie. But thanks to its use of local products, nothing comes close to Liberty Kitchen’s Italian Salumeria, which comes layered with an endless array of Italian meats. Word of warning, it’ll knock you out like a punch from Rocky.
