Taryn Pire

Now more than ever, Philadelphia’s vibrant culinary scene is far from a secret. It was named one of the best food cities to travel to in 2024, a designation that came on the heels of Philly’s record showing at the 2023 James Beard Awards. Both residents and tourists flock to the City of Brotherly Love for new high-end restaurants, decades-old brick-and-mortars, and hole-in-the-wall eateries alike. The TLDR? There’s way more than hoagies, pretzels, and water ice to indulge in, no matter your budget or craving.  Here, you’ll find 20 of the best restaurants in Philadelphia to add to your must-visit list, all of them with locals’ seal of approval. Some have been beloved by particular neighborhoods for years, while others have made their mark more recently—but they’re all dependably delicious. My favorites range from a new French fine dining resto with Korean flair in Society Hill, a no-frills taco spot in Passyunk Square, and a Vietnamese cornerstone in West Philly’s Cedar Park that makes a mean vermicelli bowl (not to mention potent Polynesian cocktails). Whether you’re looking for something fancy, affordable, indulgent, iconic, or just plain tasty, these staples around the city are sure to check all your boxes.  March 2025: In updating this month’s list, I wanted to include a few West Philly haunts that are consistently delectable (you do *not* need to venture to Center City—or spend an arm and a leg—to have an unforgettable meal, don’t @ me). I also prioritized a few newer est

Yes, we have the Liberty Bell, the Rocky steps and the tastiest cheesesteaks around, but Philly also has much more to offer both tourists and locals. Whether you’re seeking a lush garden or arboretum, a James Beard-approved dinner, a live show or a museum day, this uniquely unpretentious city checks all the boxes. Sports fans, history buffs, and art lovers alike flock to Philly for the obvious, while everyone in between (looking at you, foodies) can hit the cobblestones for cheesesteaks, murals, breweries, and beyond. Here, you’ll find 33 of the best things to do in Philadelphia right now, from limited-time events to evergreen activities that you can try whenever. My personal favorites include the delightfully macabre Mütter Museum, the Schuylkill River Trail for an Insta-worthy walk or bike ride and Reading Terminal Market for all things delicious. As for this month, you’ll have a chance to see spring’s first blooms at the Philadelphia Flower Show and don your best green outfit (read: Eagles threads) at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which has been a staple in Philadelphia since 1771. Get a pen handy—you’ll want to mark your calendar.  This guide was updated by Philadelphia-based writer Taryn Pire. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. Find out more on the best places to stay in Philadelphia. RECOMMENDED:The best Philadelphia hotels with hot tubs

I love cheesesteaks and roast pork sandwiches as much as the next Philly resident, but when I’m craving something lighter and more refreshing, I set my sights on Philly restaurants that specialize in sushi. Luckily, the City of Brotherly Love is full of places to get your raw fish on. Mainstays like Morimoto have been dominating the sushi scene for years—and with good reason—but there are plenty of other restaurants to explore at a range of price points. Whether you’re on the hunt for seasonal nigiri in Fishtown or a vegan eel roll in Old City, these Japanese favorites won’t disappoint. Read on, and the next time you have a hankering for sashimi, sake and karaoke, you’ll know where to head to these 10 places for the best sushi in Philadelphia. RECOMMENDED: Full list of best restaurants in Philadelphia This guide was updated by Philadelphia-based writer Taryn Pire. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.  

If you’re looking for a splurge-worthy dinner that you’ll remember forever, look no further than Chef Nich Bazik’s latest venture, which opened in summer 2024. With Philly staples like James, Fork, and The Good King Tavern on his resume, he knows a thing or two about the city’s food scene. Provenance, called “Philly’s most ambitious restaurant” by Jason Sheehan of Philadelphia Magazine, aims to serve Michelin-caliber cuisine that’s as innovative and unexpected as it is stunning.  The ever-evolving menu, which is split into four courses that total 20 to 25 dishes, puts an emphasis on seafood. You’ll start with raw bar-inspired canapes and seasonal produce before savoring partially cooked and cooked seafood, an entree, salad, and a series of desserts. Think everything from golden Osetra caviar with sweet potato to prawn with quince vinegar to smoked trout with chili oil.  You’ll also note hybrid dishes that put the resto’s French roots and Korean influence on display—homages to both Bazik’s career and his wife’s Korean heritage—like sweet adzuki soufflé and samgwang rice with lamb belly, truffle, and aged Parmesan.  The vibe: Minimalist French fine dining meets modern Korean, with a focus on seafood—in a 200-year-old row home The food: An unforgettable four-course, 20- to 25-dish tasting menu The drink: A sommelier-curated wine pairing, as well as non-alcoholic pairings and a full bar Time Out tip: With reservation-only seatings at 5:30 and 8:30pm four nights per week, it can b

This West Philly cornerstone’s sister restaurant won a James Beard Award in 2024, and if you ask locals, it was long overdue. Started by husband and wife Nhu Lai and Thuyen Luu, who fled Vietnam to Malaysia in 1978, the restaurant welcomes you with sunny yellow walls, colorful lanterns, and a friendly staff the moment you enter. It’s nearly always buzzing with diners, creating a noisy-in-a-homey-way atmosphere that reflects the tight-knit community feel West is known for. In terms of food, there’s no shortage of deliciousness to indulge in. Crispy pork spring rolls with chili vinegar dipping sauce are a no-brainer, as are the herby, beef-stuffed grape leaves, and the refreshing shrimp green papaya salad. In the summer, you can’t go wrong with a vermicelli bowl, which can be topped with anything from beef to tofu to squid. In the winter, it’s all about soup. Options range from sweet and sour fish to chicken lemongrass.  The cocktails are also not to be missed, as the glassware is as fun as the drinks are delicious. Treat yourself to classics, like a zombie or mai tai, or brace your tolerance for the Bachelor’s Downfall, a mix of rum, bourbon, and fruit juice.  The vibe: A cozy, warmly lit dining room that’s always busy (but somehow, you can always score a table) The food: Unpretentious-yet-stunning Vietnamese fare The drink: Next-level Polynesian cocktails Time Out tip: Go with a friend and share the Flaming Volcano cocktail, which the menu describes as “the fantastic drink fo

White Dog Café has been offering an endlessly evolving menu since 1983. It’s one of the first farm-to-table spots in Philly, known for sourcing sustainable, organic and local ingredients from nearby farms.  The house-made breads are an absolute must (they often sell out on the weekends, so get there early if it’s on your to-devour list), as are the White Dog double cheddar burger, slathered with bacon mayo and served with truffle-Parmesan fries, and the goat cheese whipped ricotta, crowned with rotating seasonal accompaniments, like roasted pears and spiced hazelnuts.  For brunch, the pork belly benedict with rosemary-maple cream sauce and pickled onions will blow you away at first bite. You also can’t go wrong with the avocado BLT, piled high with smoked bacon, or any stuffed French toast (previous variations include pumpkin cheesecake with gingersnap crumbs and s’mores).  The vibe: Elevated neighborhood bar meets tastefully decorated, cozy-yet-chic brownstone The food: Modern American classics made with impeccably sourced, farm-to-table ingredients The drink: Seasonal cocktails that are not to be missed, plus wine and beer Time Out tip: You can often get lucky as a walk-in here for brunch, but it’s safest to make a reservation a few days ahead. Tables can fill up in a flash. 

With locations in University City and Kensington, you can savor delectable Laotian food on either side of Philadelphia. Opened by immigrants Chef Daovy Phanthavong, her husband and their two daughters, this resto started humbly under a blue tarp outside the chef’s home. Once enough residents got a taste of her $3 pad Thai and various curries, word spread of her culinary talents. Nowadays, she’s feeding the community from a cozy brick-and-mortar resto on West Philly’s main drag. You can, of course, still try the famous pad Thai, complete with bean sprouts and ground peanuts, and a rainbow’s worth of curries, each in a soul-warming coconut broth. But the laab, made with a protein of your choice that’s marinated in roasted rice powder, kalanga, fresh herbs, and an electrifying amount of fresh lime juice, is positively life-changing. It comes with a classic side of sticky rice for good measure. The king’s soup, starring a red curry coconut broth over vermicelli noodles, herbs, and fresh produce, is also a stellar choice for first-timers.  The vibe: Unpretentious and warm The food: Traditional Lao-Thai cuisine that’s teeming with vibrant flavors The drink: Bring your own Time Out tip: The Baltimore Avenue location is cash only, but don’t worry if you can’t get money in advance—there’s an ATM on site. 

Run by James Beard Award-winning chef Cristina Martinez, South Philly Barbacoa sticks to what it does best: drool-worthy, painstakingly slow-cooked lamb. Whether you order $6 tacos brimming with Capulhuac-style barbacoa, pancita (spicy lamb offal sausage), or steamed root veggies and greens in chile sauce, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more authentic—or delicious—alternative in the city.  You can also indulge in sweet tamales, quesadillas, fresh tortillas, uncooked masa, and consome (aka soup made from barbacoa drippings, plus rice and garbanzos). If you’re feeding a crowd, order meat by the kilo to assemble your own tacos at home. Each set includes tortillas, consome, and all the necessary fixings. P.S.: This spot is cash only, so come with plenty of bills on hand.  The vibe: Cozy, no-frills The food: Three types of tacos, plus tamales, quesadillas, and consome Time Out tip: Order the consome “con pata” for $3 more, meaning with the lamb’s foot.