Food Scene
Best sushi in Philly. Has with full bar and large selection of Japanese beers (I reccomend Hitochino Red Rice), sakes, and Japanese Whiskeys (I love the Nikka Coffee Grain whiskey).
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Royal Sushi & Izakaya
780 S 2nd StBest sushi in Philly. Has with full bar and large selection of Japanese beers (I reccomend Hitochino Red Rice), sakes, and Japanese Whiskeys (I love the Nikka Coffee Grain whiskey).
Phenomanal Jewish Delis. Pastami is the best in the world (I'm from NY originally so I know). Try the Romanian Tenderloin I think it's the best steak in Philly, seriously.
44 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Famous 4th Street Delicatessen
700 S 4th StPhenomanal Jewish Delis. Pastami is the best in the world (I'm from NY originally so I know). Try the Romanian Tenderloin I think it's the best steak in Philly, seriously.
This is Philly cheesesteak in Philly, by far! There will likely be a line but it moves quickly. You will also leave smelling like onions, but it's worth it. I reccomend ordering with "whiz" and onions, but that's up to you.
204 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Jim's Steaks
400 N 62nd StThis is Philly cheesesteak in Philly, by far! There will likely be a line but it moves quickly. You will also leave smelling like onions, but it's worth it. I reccomend ordering with "whiz" and onions, but that's up to you.
This is a phenomenal Italian restaurant on the fancier side. May want to call ahead to get reservations.
10 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cry Baby Pasta
627 S 3rd StThis is a phenomenal Italian restaurant on the fancier side. May want to call ahead to get reservations.
This “coffee shop” is considered by many reviewers to be one of the best restaurants in Philly. Technically it is a restaurant not a coffee shop, but has a coffee shop feel to it, and great coffee/pastries. The menu is always changing and is farm-to-table style. It’s a great breakfast/lunch/coffee spot, but the dinner is where it really shines
50 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fitz and Starts
743 S 4th StThis “coffee shop” is considered by many reviewers to be one of the best restaurants in Philly. Technically it is a restaurant not a coffee shop, but has a coffee shop feel to it, and great coffee/pastries. The menu is always changing and is farm-to-table style. It’s a great breakfast/lunch/coffee spot, but the dinner is where it really shines
Their food is some of the best in Philly, and recognized as such by most food lists. The food is very spicy though and they won’t adjust. You can order stuff that is less spicy, but if you dislike spice I’d recommend going somewhere else. Their menu changes, but their dumplings are divine and their currys make my mouth water just writing about them. This place fills up fast so call ahead or make reservations if it’s prime time. It’s BYOB which means bring your own alcohol. There’s a liquor store at 724 South St., but Beer Love (714 S 4th st) is much closer and in addition to great beer selection by the bottle, also has some wine (but they’re higher end bottles starting around $25 I think).
10 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Kalaya Thai Kitchen
4 S 9th StTheir food is some of the best in Philly, and recognized as such by most food lists. The food is very spicy though and they won’t adjust. You can order stuff that is less spicy, but if you dislike spice I’d recommend going somewhere else. Their menu changes, but their dumplings are divine and their currys make my mouth water just writing about them. This place fills up fast so call ahead or make reservations if it’s prime time. It’s BYOB which means bring your own alcohol. There’s a liquor store at 724 South St., but Beer Love (714 S 4th st) is much closer and in addition to great beer selection by the bottle, also has some wine (but they’re higher end bottles starting around $25 I think).
This place is a VERY SMALL family-owned Mexican jaunt, serving some of the best Mexican food in Philly. The steaks are shockingly good and a very good choice. This is one of those places very few people know about and is an unbelievable hidden gem. It’s BYOB .
El Rancho Viejo
942 S 5th StThis place is a VERY SMALL family-owned Mexican jaunt, serving some of the best Mexican food in Philly. The steaks are shockingly good and a very good choice. This is one of those places very few people know about and is an unbelievable hidden gem. It’s BYOB .
This is the best artisanal wood-fired pizza (something we’ve become known for) in the city. Definitely the best place to grab a pizza and a beer.
55 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Nomad Pizza
611 S 7th StThis is the best artisanal wood-fired pizza (something we’ve become known for) in the city. Definitely the best place to grab a pizza and a beer.
This is a great example of a classic Italian BYOB, and you’d find it hard to find one much better. Food is great and it’s very reasonably priced, especially since you can bring your own booze. Some words of caution, dinner will take a long time and it’s a bit loud inside, but the food is worth waiting for.
Gnocchi
613 E Passyunk AveThis is a great example of a classic Italian BYOB, and you’d find it hard to find one much better. Food is great and it’s very reasonably priced, especially since you can bring your own booze. Some words of caution, dinner will take a long time and it’s a bit loud inside, but the food is worth waiting for.
This is the 2nd best Pizza place in Philly (Pizza Shakamaxon is the #1 but is not in this neighborhood) and is outrageously good. Order the Upside down Jawnt, or the Diavlo if you like spice. They’re so good they don’t even have a phone to take orders; people line up and wait (usually about 20 min, but you can walk around the Italian Market while you wait). As good as their pizza is, their chicken cutlet sandwiches are even better. Go check out their Instagram if you need any more convincing. SO GOOD! FYI, it’s takeout only.
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Angelo's Pizzeria South Philly
736 S 9th StThis is the 2nd best Pizza place in Philly (Pizza Shakamaxon is the #1 but is not in this neighborhood) and is outrageously good. Order the Upside down Jawnt, or the Diavlo if you like spice. They’re so good they don’t even have a phone to take orders; people line up and wait (usually about 20 min, but you can walk around the Italian Market while you wait). As good as their pizza is, their chicken cutlet sandwiches are even better. Go check out their Instagram if you need any more convincing. SO GOOD! FYI, it’s takeout only.
This neighborhood bar and famous burger joint has won The Burger Brawl the last 3 years (a legendary annual Philly burger competition)! Great beer selection and award winning burgers. I highly recommend the PB&J, the Pickle Monster, or the Mac Attack.
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lucky's Last Chance Queen Village
848 S 2nd StThis neighborhood bar and famous burger joint has won The Burger Brawl the last 3 years (a legendary annual Philly burger competition)! Great beer selection and award winning burgers. I highly recommend the PB&J, the Pickle Monster, or the Mac Attack.
My pick for best breakfast. Sort of like a diner that only serves breakfast, and does it really really well. Closes at 3 pm.
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fitzwater Cafe
728 S 7th StMy pick for best breakfast. Sort of like a diner that only serves breakfast, and does it really really well. Closes at 3 pm.
Desserts
John's Water Ice
701 Christian StThe best old school Italian bakery in Philly. Forget about Termini Bros unless you’re looking strictly for cannoli’s. I love their cookies (rainbow cookies and pignolis are my favorites), my wife loves the almond horn, but literally you can’t go wrong with anything fresh that day. It’s a special place full of delectable treats.
45 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Isgro Pastries
1009 Christian StThe best old school Italian bakery in Philly. Forget about Termini Bros unless you’re looking strictly for cannoli’s. I love their cookies (rainbow cookies and pignolis are my favorites), my wife loves the almond horn, but literally you can’t go wrong with anything fresh that day. It’s a special place full of delectable treats.
A fun walk down famed South St to this unbelievably good Banana Pudding Specialty Store. Yes that’s right, Banana Pudding Specialty Store. They have several variations of the Southern classic, and they’re all good. I think they may have other treats there as well, but that’s not why you go there. One of my favorite Philly desserts, period.
The Sweet Life Bakeshop
740 South StA fun walk down famed South St to this unbelievably good Banana Pudding Specialty Store. Yes that’s right, Banana Pudding Specialty Store. They have several variations of the Southern classic, and they’re all good. I think they may have other treats there as well, but that’s not why you go there. One of my favorite Philly desserts, period.
One of the last remaining brick and mortar outposts of the iconic ice creamery. There’s a reason they’ve lasted so long and been so successful. I much prefer them to Rita’s Water Ice (Philly’s largest and most successful chain of water ice stores), which is also right across the st.
Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream Shop
242 South StOne of the last remaining brick and mortar outposts of the iconic ice creamery. There’s a reason they’ve lasted so long and been so successful. I much prefer them to Rita’s Water Ice (Philly’s largest and most successful chain of water ice stores), which is also right across the st.
This New Orleans themed bar/restaurant has great food in general, but is also a good late night dessert option. Banana fosters obviously to die for, but the Carrot Cake is also shockingly delicious.
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Catahoula Philly
775 S Front StThis New Orleans themed bar/restaurant has great food in general, but is also a good late night dessert option. Banana fosters obviously to die for, but the Carrot Cake is also shockingly delicious.
Once again a fantastic restaurant for Italian dining in general, but I listed it under desserts, because they have incredible house made gelato any time and world class pastries available in the morning. You can get gelato at the bar and there are always some unique mouthwatering flavors that change frequently.
Fiore Fine Foods
757 S Front StOnce again a fantastic restaurant for Italian dining in general, but I listed it under desserts, because they have incredible house made gelato any time and world class pastries available in the morning. You can get gelato at the bar and there are always some unique mouthwatering flavors that change frequently.